The following sections explain the values, goals, and background of the USB.
Introduction
As you may well be aware, we are continually evolving in consciousness and spirituality as a result of our individual actions and learning, both here on earth and in the spirit realms. And the most progressed beings in the spirit realms have the major responsibility of directing the help given to their brothers and sisters here on earth who have chosen to face earth’s unique and great challenges in order to make more rapid progress.
The Universal Spiritual Brother&Sisterhood (USB) is an organization led by a group of beings of extraordinary spiritual elevation and wisdom, including many of the greatest enlightened spiritual teachers of the past whose teachings ultimately led to great world religions. By spreading spiritual truth these Illumined Souls wish to help us develop our spirituality. The USB’s book Spiritual Light compiles their teachings and it will be an invaluable source of wisdom for those who consider the pursuit and practice of highest spiritual philosophy to be of great importance. It is for people seeking spiritually something more; for people interested in advanced and pure spiritual teachings from the highest levels; for people wishing to improve our world spiritually; and for people wanting to glimpse the beauty and grandeur of the higher spirit realms. However, it is not necessary to believe in an afterlife or in the source of these teachings to benefit greatly from them; just consider whether your reason embraces them and your inner being senses them to be true.
Through the teachings in Spiritual Light, these spirit inspirers want to help us to take earth’s challenges in stride, to progress up the scale to higher spiritual consciousness, to discover and feel closer to their loving assistance, to enhance life on earth, to avoid the misery and havoc we create, to spread love, and to embrace all our brothers and sisters on this journey with understanding, tolerance, and compassion. By doing these things and understanding these teachings all will be enriched, both givers and receivers, and we will better prepare ourselves for our returns to our true home, the spirit realms.
USB Principles and Purposes
USB Principles
- God is That Which Is All-Good—a God of Love and Wisdom, of Law and Justice.
- All humankind are God’s children, and this means we are all spiritual sisters and brothers without exception.
- Our lives are eternal, and we retain our individualities after the change called death.
- Under certain conditions we can commune with those in other expressions of life.
- We are each personally responsible for all we say, think, and do; and no belief in anyone, or allegiance to anyone, can absolve us from that responsibility.
- The law of cause and effect, like all other spiritual laws, knows no exception; and as we sow we reap, here or hereafter.
- The doors to spiritual progress are never closed to anyone—and loving ones will help us if we but reach out our hearts and minds to God.
- Aspiration and effort are inseparable, so one cannot truly aspire without making the effort.
- We should serve selflessly, as best we can, to bring love and peace and harmony to humanity, to bring the day ever nearer when all shall live in a universal spiritual brother-and-sisterhood.
USB Purposes
- To unfold to humanity a way of life, and a new understanding of God’s will and purpose.
- To bring a universal awareness of the spark of God within each of us, and a realization that love is the greatest basis of spiritual life.
- To bring to humanity peace and tranquility of spirit, and happiness of heart and soul.
- To break down the barriers that stand between one nation and another, between one people and another, and between one individual and another.
- To break down the barriers of creeds and dogmas.
- To set aside ignorance, and replace it with truth.
- To form one great spiritual brother-and-sisterhood throughout the world.
USB Goals
The USB’s Vision (what it plans to become and achieve)
The USB’s vision is that it will bring about a worldwide unification of people in universal love, peace, and harmony, understanding and living in accord with high spiritual philosophy; so creating a universal spiritual brother-and-sisterhood. (By “spiritual” we mean of high and noble character, ideals, aspirations, and efforts.)
The USB’s Mission
Understanding that the true major purpose of our lives is to further develop our spirituality, the primary mission of the USB is to teach and spread spiritual truth. Thereby it seeks to uplift and spiritualize humanity, and to awaken all to the spiritual realities of life and to the God within us. It was founded for this purpose, and is led, by a group of Great Souls in the highest spirit realms. The USB also strives to encourage members and others to live by high principles and improve themselves spiritually; to promote and provide high standards of service, particularly in teaching, public speaking, mediumship, and healing; to encourage all to think and act universally, in terms of all people; to break down barriers between people; to end widespread suffering and threats to life on earth; to unite humankind in peace and harmony based on love and service; and to build on earth a force of thousands of people committed to helping Illumined Souls with their aims just mentioned.
To teach and spread spiritual truth and related philosophy, the USB makes use of, among other things, publications and productions; web sites and advertising; private study groups; presentations to, or that are open to, the general public; and a growing USB membership dedicated to the same purposes.
The USB’s Fundamental Values
USB members and supporters strive to live in accordance with the following core values, which are central to the success of the USB mission in pursuit of its vision:
A commitment above all to truth, in all things we do;
A commitment to high spiritual teachings and philosophy, recognizing that the highest come from the highest levels of the spirit realms;
A dedication to universality in all our thinking and actions—including in the sources of the truth we accept, in our consideration of all people, and in practices at our meetings;
Living from the conviction that we are all linked to God and to one another by the eternal divine spark that each of us has been given;
Living from the conviction that love is the basis of all spiritual life. This leads to respect for all others, and to relationships between people as between loving brothers and sisters. It also requires all financial support for the USB to be given out of love and, therefore, freely and voluntarily given;
Selfless service to others—to our members, to anyone seeking truth, to all humankind, both on earth and in the spirit realms;
Giving everyone, above all, their personal freedom (including how to evaluate our teachings);
Total personal responsibility for ourselves;
Our need to make serious effort in support of our aspirations. This includes developing our own spiritual qualities, and serving others;
A dedication to humbleness and simplicity;
Undertaking the USB mission as a service to humanity, as far as possible on a volunteer basis.
Each person who links up with this movement, and each group that meets from time to time in love and harmony for purely spiritual purposes, adds to the spiritual reservoir that will be used for great things in the years to come.
“There are great powers,” says an Illumined Soul, “greater than any that you or any soul upon earth know of…, whereby we can, through the right people, when the time comes, demonstrate the power of God that flows through us.
“But we need thousands of souls”—“souls afire with the desire to do the will of God.”
How the USB Is Different
from other organizations that believe in human survival after death
The USB originated and was organized in the spirit realms, not on earth (the main difference);
It is inspired and guided by Illumined Souls;
It stresses higher teachings and philosophy;
It emphasizes each person’s direct connection with God and with all people through God;
It emphasizes that we can best worship God by serving our fellow human beings, and by living in love and peace and harmony;
It insists that no one should accept anything unthinkingly from anyone, including from the USB;
It opposes imparting beliefs that are known to be wrong;
It opposes discouraging anyone from seeking or examining truths, regardless of the reason;
The spiritual requirements it expects of its mediums and speakers;
It is not linked in any way with any other group or organization on earth;
It requires that its financial support must come freely, with love, from people’s hearts;
It is completely detachment from commercialism of any sort; and
Its positive no’s governing USB activities, which include:
no worship of any one or thing except God
no rituals or rites of any sort
no fees
no solicitation for funds or members
no “selling of blessings”
no titles that separate
no politics of any sort
no smugness
no excessive praise
no positions on certain controversial subjects; and
no unusual attire while working for the USB.
Major USB Tenets
Truth: The USB holds that “in all things we do, there is no cause greater than Truth.” It defines truth as that which is eternal. It can never be altered. Countless Laws That Govern (and particularly spiritual Laws), together with God who expresses through them, comprise truth.
Universality: The USB acknowledges truth wherever it is found, it does not confine its acceptance to any one person or book or authority. It stresses the importance of thinking and acting universally. It avoids activities and (if possible) things that tend to separate people spiritually. It considers all people to be equally important. It teaches that all humankind are God’s children, and that this means we are all spiritual brothers and sisters. Membership in the USB is open to all, without exception.
Personal freedom: We insist on the right of our fellow human beings to be free—so long as they do not intrude on the freedom of others. The USB stresses that all people should be free to live, worship, hold beliefs, and affiliate with others, in their own way. We have no wish to make anyone give up beliefs or affiliations or anything else. One need not accept every purpose or principle of the USB to become a member, should one wish to join.
Worship: The USB discourages the worship of any thing or person, on earth or in the spirit realms. We recognize one God, and we should worship only God. Illumined Souls, some of whom are revered by hundreds of millions of people on earth, say they do not want adulation; they only ask us to accept and treat them as sisters and brothers a little more enlightened.
Humility: Illumined Souls counsel understanding and humility, and they reveal those qualities (see Worship above). They say they do not expect perfection from anyone, because they themselves are not perfect; they remain conscious of what they lack. They say that anyone who would serve God, or serve the mighty spirit forces, should first learn humbleness of spirit. We need to realize and always remember that no one person, or USB group, is more important than another.
Simplicity: Simplicity and humility should mark the work of the USB in all its aspects. It strives to avoid things, titles, dress, music, and activities which separate people spiritually, or which suggest specific groups, organizations, or belief systems. It does not have rituals, rites, or prescribed ceremonies. It disapproves of excessive praise.
Why the USB Is Wonderful
The USB’s extraordinary spirit leaders, their incredible communications with a representative on earth, their beautiful and inspiring teachings, and the caring nature of their movement, are, all together, truly wonderful.
Its Spirit Leadership
Loving Illumined Souls, from the spheres of the highest spiritual attainment, and of great wisdom, show great concern for our welfare. They see so much chaos and suffering on earth, in so many ways; they are very concerned that from time to time they see life on earth itself in serious danger.
These souls include the most spiritually exalted teachers the earth has ever known. (By spiritual we mean noble and Godly.) They lead the USB in the spirit realms, a teaching organization that has existed there for ages, and they lead an immense spiritual service organization that works on both sides of life.
To give us their spiritual knowledge, and with the help of their representative Michael Flagg on earth, in 1956 they formed here the USB patterned after the USB in the spirit realms. They said they deliver such teachings at the dawn of each new age to provide truth simply, clearly, and accurately to humanity on earth in a form suitable for those times.
They will not interfere in our affairs but they offer to advise us.
Their teachings explain God’s spiritual laws, spirituality, and spiritual living that will rectify the problems. But it is up to us to bring it about.
Their Direct Communication
In order to communicate with Michael directly, those USB Inspirers overcame tremendous difficulties and hardships, with so much love, to reach down to our earthly environment from their refined and elevated realms (somewhat like descending to unwholesome depths in a deep sea diving suit). They did this to avoid any possible distortions of their teachings by spirit relays.
Some denied themselves earned upward progression in order to remain within range.
To be able to make such an extreme link, they needed and found unusual mediums who were both very skilled and highly spiritual.
Their Wonderful Teachings
The USB teachings reveal so much love, justice, beauty, common sense, and spirituality. In a word, they feel Godly.
Consider, for example, the teachings on the facets of truth, on spirituality, our eternal makeup (the real self), the contribution of the Law of Compensation to complete justice, our spirit bodies and the spirit realms (our future home), the reuniting of twin souls, the mechanics of healing, and on spirit communication. They are so uplifting. (We summarize the essence of the USB teachings on the USB Teachings page, and then provide numerous samples.)
Their Movement
Anyone can join forces with these incredible spirit leaders of this noble movement to spiritualize our world.
They tell us that in order to address earth’s problems, humanity needs to live in accord with God’s perfect spiritual laws, and so reflect God’s love and universal spiritual values.
They need interested people to join with them to help organize and spread their important spiritual teachings to all humanity on earth. They say: “We need helpers, those who are humble in spirit, to become one with us, to serve humanity, as instruments of God.” “We want us together to make this movement strong and powerful, for good in the world.” “Remember the truths of the Great Ones of the past. Remember what they have sacrificed and done. Try therefore to be like them.”
Formation and History
Michael Flagg (1903–1992) was a creative writer and editor, and he became interested in the spirit side of life in the early 1950s while living in San Francisco. He then taught spiritual philosophy, and before long began to receive spirit messages about a mission he was to undertake. When these messages became insistent, he visited England in 1956, where he was unknown, and through some of the most skilled and spiritual English mediums who knew nothing about him he learned of his important life mission.
Although sceptical at first, especially about the claimed stature of the spirit communicators, in time Michael came to understand his part in the USB spirit leadership. Michael asked hundreds of questions. Some of the spirit leaders spoke to him through up to four different mediums, so confirming their identities. According to present USB records, over a 30-year period Michael conversed with more than 20 different USB spirit leaders and inspirers and at least 30 other spirit communicators during his many more than 300 sittings, each typically of 45 minutes duration. (The USB has many records of Michael’s discussions with these communicators, including transcripts and tape recordings.) Michael got to know his communicators well. Some of the USB leaders returned in many dozens of different sittings; the pre-eminent leader returned in over 140 sittings to our present knowledge. And throughout all these years and sittings these communicators always maintained their high standards, respectful behavior, and humility, repeatedly emphasizing that no one should accept their (or anyone’s) teachings and philosophy unthinkingly.
Michael learnt that the USB leadership consists of the most spiritually enlightened souls the earth has ever known (Beings of Light, we call them Illumined Souls). They include many of the great teachers and prophets of the past, who have since risen to even greater spiritual heights, and a number of the best-known most spiritual and wise spirit guides of the 20th century. They have mentioned that they live in the highest spirit realms of planet Earth. Some of them are today still revered by hundreds of millions of people on earth. These USB leaders have been committed to their work for many ages. Their goal is to further spiritualize humanity, to make people aware of the Laws That Govern, of the truths that are eternal.
Michael founded the USB in California in December 1956, under the direction of USB Inspirers, and he led it for the rest of his life. The USB on earth does represent, and is patterned after, the USB in the spirit realms, an organization that has existed for ages.
Six newspaper articles of 1957–1959 by or about Michael Flagg indicate how early USB teachings were made public.
From 1958 to 1982 Michael compiled and published the teachings he received from the USB spirit leaders, in quarterly worldwide USB Letters. After each Letter was drafted, Michael checked it with great care with those leaders, often on a word-for-word basis. He did this through a highly spiritual, deep-trance (direct voice) American medium, who provided most of the needed mediumship after 1959. He distributed the Letters free to interested USB members around the world.
A USB member since 1959, from England, John Finnemore started meeting regularly with Michael in San Francisco in 1979 to help him compile the teachings from the Letters into complete and self-contained topics suitable for inclusion in a book. When more challenging questions arose, Michael would discuss them with spirit leaders of the USB. When the topics were largely completed but not yet assembled in any way, Michael developed a health condition that prevented him from working on it further. He returned to spirit life in early 1992, whereupon John inherited all the material.
With the assistance of volunteers, John transcribed the 510 topics into computer files, and edited and organized them into book form following guidelines Michael had provided. John clearly identified anything he added, such as cross references and biographic information. The resulting book, Spiritual Light, contains the only complete official teachings of the USB.
Since this book was published in 2014, volunteers and John have concentrated on bringing publicity to Spiritual Light and the USB by various means available.
USB Spirit Inspirers
What the USB Means By “Illumined Souls”
USB spirit inspirers teach that the spirit realms consist of the Astral Realms (closest to earth), and then in ascending order of more rapid rates of vibration, the Spiritual Realms, the Celestial Realms, and the Kingdoms.
Among those who live in the higher levels of the Celestial Realms are some who are qualified to enter the Kingdoms but who defer that step so that they may continue to have clear, unrelayed communication—almost always in direct voice or independent direct voice sittings—with those on earth with whom they are closely linked in love or great endeavor; for it is most difficult for residents of realms beyond the Celestial to have such communication. The USB considers such individuals, and of course those who actually live in the Kingdoms, Illumined Souls.
When the USB uses that term, however, it refers specifically to those who are also the founders and inspirers of The Universal Spiritual Brother&Sisterhood (USB); in other words, the spiritual leaders of this movement to uplift and spiritualize humanity, to awaken all people to the spiritual realities of life and to the spark of God within each of them, and to once again present Truth simply and clearly.
About Their Names
We (presenters of USB Teachings ) have been asked why we do not quote or mention by name in our writings, except indirectly, a certain Great Soul revered by many millions, although we once made it clear that he is a leader of the USB. There are several reasons.
First and foremost, it is his wish. For over the centuries, much that he taught long ago has been twisted and distorted by chroniclers and others, either in ignorance, or to suit their own ends or the aims of those who engaged or directed them. Some of the sayings and teachings attributed to him he did not say, and, being the soul he was, never could have said. It would serve no useful purpose, and in fact would make only for endless controversy and dispute, to now quote him specifically on such things.
As one can well understand, there is little joy over the way his teachings have been misinterpreted and mispresented, often deliberately, and over the stream of false prophets and teachers who have claimed, even as some do now, that he inspired or worked through them.
A second reason is his desire that people judge teachings and philosophy by their soundness or lack of soundness, by whether they appeal to or are repelled by people’s reason, by whether they strike a responsive chord within them or leave them unimpressed—and not by whether they believe that he teaches them.
For another thing, many people associate him with a particular religion only, although he did not found a religion, but taught a way of life for all people.
But while we do not quote or mention him by name, we can say this emphatically: nothing is dearer to his heart than the universal spiritual brother-and-sisterhood of humankind.
. . . . . .
The other Illumined Inspirers, whose names are recognizable today, have asked us to withhold their names for mostly the same reasons.
Illumined Souls and Truth
With the humbleness of truly Illumined Souls, USB Inspirers constantly remind us that they claim no monopoly of Truth. They claim no infallibility. All that they ask us to do is to ponder well over what they present, and to accept and make part of our life what we find, by the light of reason, to be good. They have said:
“We present things as we find them to be, and as we pray that others shall one day grow to understand them.”
Providing a feast and inviting us to the banquet table, they emphasize that ours is the freedom to accept or reject the invitation, and, if we accept, to partake only of what pleases us. As a Blessed Soul put it:
“It is our joy to share. It is our joy to prepare food for the hungry soul and to place before the seeker what we feel will provide a measure of enlightenment. But it is the prerogative of all to accept or reject what we place before them.”
Illumined USB Inspirers do not expect or desire unthinking acceptance of either themselves or what they share. In fact they tell us to question all we are offered, including what comes from them. They tell us to sift all that we hear and read and see. They tell us to always exercise that most precious possession: reason.
And this, of course, is what we should do. But as we do it, we should also remember the extraordinarily spiritually advanced vantage points of our Inspirers: because they have traveled much farther on the path of enlightenment, they are free from the misconceptions that some still hold in the less-advanced spirit realms.
If we repeat this advice often, to be questioning, it is because Illumined Souls emphasized it whenever we have had the privilege and joy of communion with them.
Overview
The Universal Spiritual Brother&Sisterhood is:
Universal because
— it acknowledges truth wherever it is found;
— it regards all people as equally important; and
— membership in the USB is open to all.
Spiritual because
— it was planned and is led by the most enlightened spiritual teachers;
— they teach spirituality, spiritual truth, simplicity, humility, and that love is the greatest basis of spiritual life;
— it is dedicated to spreading teachings from the highest spirit realms; and
— it only accepts financial support that is given freely and voluntarily, from the heart.
A brother-and-sisterhood because
— it is working to unite all people in peace, love, and harmony, in brother-and-sisterhood; and
— its illumined leaders teach that we all have a spark of God and so are all linked as spiritual brothers and sisters.
USB Functions
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On earth and in its spirit realms:
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On earth only:
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Further, the USB emphasizes:
- spiritual truth
- the use of reason
- personal freedom for all (so no need to give up other beliefs or affiliations)
- total personal responsibility
- giving selfless service
- an absence of commercialism and “glorification”
- no rituals, debating, smugness, or politics in its activities
- small local groups for study, service, development, and/or communion
- the need to make serious effort in support of our aspirations.
The USB is a way of life
If any teaching and/or philosophy in this USB document is in conflict with or is not supported by Spiritual Light (ISBN 978-0-9912422-1-4 deluxe flex-cover, 978-0-9912422-2-1 paperback), which contains the only complete official teachings and philosophy of the USB, then Spiritual Light governs. The inclusion of this statement, in a box in a prominent position, is required on every authentic USB publication containing its teachings and/or philosophy.