Baird T. Spalding

Baird T Spalding
Occupation	Writer
Genre	Religion

Baird Thomas Spalding (1872-1953) was an American writer. He is the author of the spiritual book series : Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East.

Early life

Although Spalding's books claimed he was born in England in 1853, Spalding was born in North Cohocton, New York in 1872. He spent much of his life as a mining engineer in the American West.

Works

In 1924 Spalding published the first volume of Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East. It describes the travels to India and Tibet of a research party of eleven scientists in 1894. During their trip they claim to have made contact with "the Great Masters of the Himalayas", immortal beings with whom they lived and studied, gaining a fascinating insight into their lives and spiritual message. This close contact enabled them to witness many of the spiritual principles evinced by these Great Masters translated into their everyday lives, which could be described as 'miracles'. Such examples are walking on water, or manifesting bread to feed the hungry party.

These books have remained consistently popular with spiritual seekers, those interested in the philosophy of the East and those who enjoy a good story because of their accessible nature and easy-to-follow format. However, despite most of the action taking place in India, the Great Masters make it clear that the greatest embodiment of the Enlightened state is that of the Christ (as personified by Jesus): “The Masters accept that Buddha represents the Way to Enlightenment, but they clearly set forth that Christ IS Enlightenment, or a state of consciousness for which we are all seeking - the Christ light of every individual; therefore, the light of every child born into the world.” (From the foreword, Volume I, Life and Teaching of the Master of the Far East, DeVorss & Co.)

Spalding published three additional volumes before his death in 1953. Volumes 5 and 6 were published by DeVorss & Co posthumously from various articles that Spalding had written.

Authenticity

Although popular, Baird Spalding was an enigmatic figure and the authenticity of the events described in the Life and Teachings have never been confirmed. Spalding never produced any evidence of the claimed trip, and none of the other scientists were ever identified. Followers have argued that the high quality of the spiritual teachings contained therein are themselves evidence of contact with a higher power. Skeptics argue that Spalding did not visit India as claimed, and his works belong to the magical autobiography genre.

External links

• Spalding biography and research
• Biography