“The tendency to synthesis is the first of the factors revealing the divine nature and the first of the great psychological aspects of God. This tendency runs through all nature, all consciousness, and life itself. The motivating urge of God, His outstanding desire, is towards union and at-one-ment.” (Treatise on the Seven Rays II, page 231)

“But the synthesis of Deity, His tendency to blend and fuse, is far more inclusive and universal than any possible expression in the human kingdom, which is, after all, but a small part of the greater whole. Man is not all that is possible, nor the consummation of God’s thought. The sweep of this instinct to synthesis underlies all universes, constellations, solar systems, planets, and kingdoms in nature, as well as the activity aspect and achievement of man, the individual. This instinct is the governing principle of consciousness itself.” (Treatise on the Seven Rays II, page 232)

We can consider all phenomena in the Universe in the light of the tendency to synthesis, including human evolution and human activities such as the development of international relations.

Synthesis thus has many steps, from the atom to the relations between planets and solar systems, and also within ourselves: “Man, know thyself”. The tendency to synthesis leads individuals to integrate the different aspects of their personality, physical, emotional and mental, and then to fusion with the higher consciousness, the soul, who in turn is a group conscious entity integrated in one of the seven groups of souls corresponding to each of the seven rays.

In the entire known history of humanity, this trend to synthesis is recognised as greater and greater unities become organised and integrated: the family, the clan, the tribe, the city, the nation, federations of nations and universal organisations such as the United Nations.

This trend to synthesis is very well described in the chapter “Striving for Synthesis”, on page 231 of the book Esoteric Psychology, vol. II, of Alice Bailey, from which we took the quotations above.

There is another important point to consider, especially in the present world situation in which great changes and crises are manifesting, if we want to avoid being misled by our emotional reactions and materialistic, intellectual interpretations of events. This is best summarised in the following words of Master Morya, in the Book Supermundane IV, paragraph 724:

“...Often the Great seems to become obscured, and waves of destroyers engulf it. These signs must be observed closely, for they too contain within themselves the steps for the future. Evolution must be loved in all stages. Eternal change is the basis of life”.

When observing the present world situation, we must always keep in mind these two factors: the striving for synthesis which, consciously or unconsciously, motivates all events, and the fact that even apparently separative, disintegrating and destructive developments represent stages of evolution that ultimately lead to synthesis. Like Mephistopheles said to Faust: “I am part of that force which would do evil evermore, and yet creates the good.” If we can interpret all events on the basis of these two realisations, our will to good will not be undermined.

Thus, with all their evils, Western imperialism and colonisation helped to bring together all the peoples of the world. Today, economic globalisation, which is pursued for materialistic reasons, is also leading to the synthesis of humankind. At the same time, imperialism, colonisation and globalisation illustrate the obstacles to true synthesis. They represent enforced unity, the imposition of the will and interest of a small part onto the whole, destroying the diversity which would allow true synthesis to emerge.

As stated by Alice Bailey, “The entire modern economic situation is...the outcome of desire and the result of a certain selfish use of the forces of matter. (...) Heat and cold, as we understand the terms, in a most peculiar manner are the result of the interplay of the pairs of opposites, and an interesting line of study concerns itself with the effects of racial emotions on climatic conditions. We must truly make our climate in one significant sense”. (White Magic, page 225)

Thus we seen that even our climate changes can be interpreted as results of the ongoing process of integration of humanity. Economic chaos, climate change, wars, the destruction of the environment, are all born of human choices to put personal political power and profit before the common good. And yet, even these destructive developments ultimately contribute to the integration of humanity. The impact of global catastrophes develops people’s awareness of the need to find global solutions to global problems. Mass movements arise in response to these global challenges: thus, before the invasion of Irak by the United States, demonstrations demanding a peaceful resolution were held all over the world. It is interesting to note that the symbol chosen for this movement was the rainbow flag – the rainbow is one of the most perfect symbols of synthesis, unity in diversity.

Many workers in the international political arena are not willing to include thoughts of the Higher World in their activities, and consider them to concern only the religious or mystical fields. They think that there must be a separation between religion and State. This belief is strong in France, for example. In other countries, institutional religions are very much involved in national and international politics. Synthesis, however, needs to develop first of all between human beings, not between organisations. Ethical values form an integral part of the human being. Harmonious relations are first developed between people, who in turn create useful forms of cooperation between the institutions they created, and between humanity and the planet. The understanding of synthesis is directly related to the level of consciousness of the human being. In our process of globalisation, mutual respect opens the door for a deeper understanding of synthesis.

The tendency to synthesis can also be strongly felt in many international fora. We are told that the Avatar of Synthesis, a very high cosmic entity that in this century will influence human affairs, overlights the General Assembly of the UN, as well as the masses of people everywhere. This is an example of the planetary inclusiveness that will transform all humankind into a centre of light and love. In the General Assembly, all countries of the world can express themselves and their points of view, and attempt to solve world problems on the basis of dialogue instead of warfare. The true difficulty is to arrive at unity amidst so many conflicting points of view.

In the newly formed Human Rights Council, many voices, especially of women, are heard asking for an attitude of Oneness and mutual respect. This is a continuation of the many important steps were taken in the XX century  to bring about humanity integration, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which sets down the principles which, if implemented, could lead to the betterment of the entire humanity. The Human Rights Council, building on the experience acquired in the Human Rights Commission, attempts to implement more effectively the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, placing all nations on an equal footing as far as their human rights record is concerned. For that purpose, it proposed a procedure, the so-called Universal Periodic Review, to which all nations would be subjected, and which would enable the Human Rights Council to monitor the extent to which human rights are respected in all countries of the world equally. Of course, many governments are objecting to the implementation of this procedure, as it would bring to light human rights violations in many so-called democratic countries.

The path to planetary synthesis is based on a sense of universality, on a consideration of humanity as a wholistic ONE. In the meditation on synthesis given by the Arcane School, it is said that “the yoga of synthesis, the yoga of Life itself, as the sense of universality, is a conditioning factor in the emergency of humanity into the right human relationships of the Aquarian Age”. The energies of the Avatar of Synthesis, the Spirit of peace and the wisdom of Lord Buddha flow into the planet through the Christ, the planetary heart centre, through the New Group of World Servers, the planetary Ajna centre, and through the five active planetary centres: Geneva, London, New York, Darjeeling and Tokyo.

This idea of synthesis increasingly penetrates the consciousness of humanity today – even banks are named after synthesis! – and once it has permeated our civilisation, it will lead to constructive attitudes of cooperation between people on a global scale, and to their freely given integration into the divine plan through applied goodwill.

In the book Supermundane IV, paragraph 722, this process is described as follows:

“When any step of ascent is achieved in earthly life, without departing from one’s daily routine, it can be called the highest test. True, it is difficult to hold one’s torch high amidst crude vibrations, malice and ignorance, but then the greatest is the achievement. By maintaining a constant striving towards the Higher Worlds without turning away from daily life, that containment will be found which people call synthesis. But how rarely does one find in life the toilers who have dedicated themselves to the services of the Higher World!”

All events today point in the direction of planetary synthesis. The sense of universality finds expression in the ten seed group structure, which is described by the Tibetan Master in the book “Externalisation of the Hierarchy”. Many experiments are going on today, attempts to form spiritual groups or to work in group formation, and all these experiments contribute to the process of planetary synthesis. Even failed experiments help us understand the obstacles on the path to planetary synthesis, and eventually to overcome these obstacles. Most of all, we must learn not to blame others and accept responsibility for our own problems. In “The Externalisation of the Hierarchy”, the Tibetan writes:

“Blame yourselves, therefore, for what is today transpiring and seek not to evade responsibility by placing it upon the shoulders of spectacular men or any statesmen, dictator or upon any group. (...) Humanity must take action and will do so, when the right time comes. To recognise joint responsibility, joint mistakes, ancient errors of judgment, wrong attitudes and habits of thought, worldwide selfish purpose and intent, a universal spirit of aggression which, down the ages, has influenced first one nation and then another, the tendency last century to crystallise and become static, the reactionary forces on every hand – these are universal qualities and no nation and no race is free of guilt or has entirely clean hands. Also, no one national group is purely wrong and evil or purely good and unselfish. There are mixed motives everywhere. Nationalism, aggression, selfishness and cruelty in all countries face a desire for world understanding, peaceful relations, and an unselfish and beneficent spirit also in all countries. The Forces of Light find their adherents and their workers in every country though some are subjected to greater handicaps in expression than others. So also do the Forces of Materialism. And in between these two great groups stand the masses – waiting for the emergence of fresh opportunity and new revelations.” (pages 124-137)

Humanity at present is for the most part not aware of the underlying synthesis of the divine Plan. That is why, in the Great Invocation, we exclaim: “Let light, and love, and power, restore the plan on earth!”. Used in our daily meditation, for example as a fifth stanza to be added to the Great Invocation, the following invocation of the Avatar of Synthesis can also help in this process:

From the Avatar of Synthesis, who is to come,

Let His energies pour down in all kingdoms.

May He lift up the Earth to the Kings of Beauty.

Let Love, and Light, and Power, restore the Plan on Earth!

Geneva, 25 December 2007