What One Can Do

 

Following are a number of things an interested person could do.

 

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Participate

If you wish to participate in any of the USB’s activities, below are some ways you can do so. We remind you that the USB does not charge people any membership fees whatsoever. Three possible “levels” of participation are:

As a follower:

You may learn about the USB and study its teachings, subscribe to its free newsletters, use its blog, attend its meetings, and join its groups.

But note that an Illumined Soul has said “…to those of you who come seeking for self alone, we say to you: ‘Bless you, my child; we do not share with you for self alone.'”

As a supporter:

Participate like a follower, but also actively assist the USB to promote its mission, in any of the ways available that you feel suited for. Please see below The Need for Help and How One Can Help.

The Illumined Soul quoted above continued by saying “There are those among you who have a great realization of our mission—to free the children of earth from the shackles that bind them, and to bring to them the truth of the brother-and-sisterhood of humankind in its fullest expression, encircling the globe, and at last bringing peace to the children of earth.”

As a member:

If, as a supporter, you feel an inner desire to be more closely linked with or committed to the USB mission, its illumined spirit leaders, and their philosophy, you may wish to become a USB member. Besides no membership fees there are no requirements to believe in or give up anything. Read more about becoming a USB member.

At any level, if you feel drawn to this great work and you want to be part of it, we are delighted and welcome you! What a great privilege and joy it is to participate together.

 

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The Need for Help

The world needs help, and in major ways. The USB is striving to help the world in important ways, and to do this the USB needs helpers. The USB does not solicit your help or anyone else’s, but it makes quite clear its need for helpers. It wants help that is voluntarily given, with love, humbly and selflessly.

In 1956 an Illumined Inspirer said to the founder of the USB on earth:

“There is so much that we want to do. And it shall be achieved. For behind this great and momentous work are souls of high stature in spirit, some who you know, and many souls who you do not know. But all coming from the spheres of the highest [spiritual] attainment and achievement—realizing the need, as we do, that the earth shall have this revelation, that it might save itself while there is yet time, from destruction.

“In your world today there is chaos in people’s hearts and minds throughout the world. In all nations, in all peoples, in all creeds, in all religions, there is doubt, there is fear, there is uncertainty. We come to bring assurance, we come to bring knowledge. And above all we come to bring love for the great Divine Creator of all, into the hearts, into the minds, that in time the peoples of earth shall see, and know, of that which is of God; and in themselves shall become changed, and shall become disciples of the Most High, that their one desire is to serve God, and to do God’s work; to bring peace into your world, to bring love into the hearts of all God’s children. And all the barriers that stand between people shall be broken down by the love and the power of the spirit.

“You [Michael] are a humble instrument of our work. But we need many, many such as you. And they shall come, into the fold, and become one with us and for us. And our great and glorious truth shall set them free, and they shall know and realize the purposes of life. And they shall change the face of humanity upon earth. And joy and peace and love shall reign, where now chaos and hatred and intolerance reign. We see in your world the great need for our truths. If only there were more and more disciples like unto yourself. But we shall find them.

“And those who hear my voice now, I call upon them to come, to join with us, to organize this great spiritual work for humanity, that they might play a part now, that we can do together so much for the world, which is in such travail and torment of the soul. You have seen how human beings have brought into their lives such unhappiness, such bitterness. How, through wrong thinking and wrong living, they have created havoc, and indeed a hell upon earth. We come to sweep away many things of the old order. We come to break down many of the barriers that have stood between people. We come to break the chains that have bound them. We want to make them free and unfettered, in spirit and in truth. We need all the helpers.”

In 1957 and 1958 another Illumined USB Inspirer said:

“Be with us in heart and in spirit and in truth. Forget yourselves in love, and in true service.

“Remember the truths of the Great Ones of the past. Remember what they have sacrificed and done. Try therefore to be like unto them.

“Come to us! Work with us! Give us the opportunity to serve through you! And the channels [mediums]–let them be found, let them be cleansed, let them be made whole! And we can serve through them, and work with them, and we can illumine the lives of all humanity!

“Our task is God’s task. And you who are God’s servants, as we are also—let us strive together, in sincerity and in truth, and in complete oneness, in harmony, in brother-and-sisterhood!”

. . . . . .

We need thousands of souls, afire with the desire to do the will of God.

We need souls with courage, souls that realize that “those who would serve must be prepared to sacrifice,” souls that have been “waiting for direction as to what they shall do to propagate the work of the spirit.”

Many such souls have already joined us. Not only individuals, but groups, some of which have for years been blessed by the spirit realms with inspiration and teaching of a high order.

The foundation has been built … and soon the lighthouse will be erected. Forth from it shall come a great light across your world, and many shall see the illumination, and shall bless it. And they shall indeed grow in strength from it, and they shall be lifted up.

. . . . . .

This movement, the USB, began in a humble way, but its power will grow with the years, and it will in time “sweep the world with love and tenderness.”

But it will remain humble always, as must those who serve it. We have the inspiration and example of Illumined Souls who come with such a burning desire to bring enlightenment and knowledge and truth to the world.

 

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How One Can Help

The following suggestions are drawn principally from Spiritual Light.

The USB teaches that love is the greatest basis of its work, as indeed it is the greatest basis of all spiritual life. So it wishes to be joined in giving help with love.

“Each child of light that bears the torch of Truth… plays an important role in the scheme of things”
— an Illumined Inspirer.

. . . . . .

To those who ask how they can serve, we suggest they can do so in the following ways.

We can better prepare ourselves for service by:

• further spiritualizing our own lives (the USB volume gives many suggestions);
• ridding ourselves of our weaknesses;
• rereading USB topics 1426 (On Fighting the Good Fight) and 112 (How One Can Serve);
• restudying USB topic D25 (Qualities Needed, see below) and 105 (Universality);
• restudying USB topic D12 (There Is Work For All; no contribution is greater than another’s);
• maintaining a working familiarity with the USB purposes, principles, teachings, publications and recordings, code of conduct, and USB information on the Internet.

We can help with the USB’s work by:

• sending out healing thoughts and prayers for those in need;
• directing our minds to thoughts of love and peace, away from all that is destructive;
• sitting in the stillness for a few minutes each day, and asking to be used for good;
• visualizing leaders of peoples and nations meeting in harmony, and directing to them constructive thoughts we would like them to have;
• planting the seed of spirituality in others–gently, unobtrusively–by the way you live, and by what you do;
• meeting with others who in humility and love wish to serve and reach out to God;
• discussing with interested people the USB aims and principles, and how they can be put into effect in daily life (we must never force our views on anyone);
• forging heart-to-heart links with others around the globe;
• getting involved with The Brother&Sisterhood (USB), a movement guided by Illumined Souls, if we feel an inner call to do so; and by
• interacting with USB members and others, for spiritual discussion, study, worship, communication with spirit friends, unfoldment, or development, where possible by meeting regularly, or otherwise (for some of these purposes) by communicating from a distance.

Although the USB does need financial support for many of its activities, it does not solicit contributions because it wants to be supported entirely by funds that are given freely and voluntarily. For those who wish to support the USB financially in this way, they may use this donation link or e-mail our staff via Contact Us to explore other methods.

People might like to help the USB itself

The USB does not solicit anyone’s help. But people do ask how they can help it, so we have prepared a list of some specific needs at USB headquarters.

Please let us hear from you, from all countries,
on how you think that we together can help this movement grow and spread.

A Key Need

A key need is for people to dedicate themselves to organizing USB activities in their local areas, in order to make the USB teachings widely known and a chosen life-guiding philosophy for many. Such activities need to be led by USB members, who will surely appreciate any help they get.

Volunteers should have first found within themselves a strong inner response and commitment to the USB philosophy. Also, they should be happy with, and be happy to strive for, the requirements for USB workers (see below, Code of Conduct, etc).

Helping to organize discussion groups will be a key form of service. For it is very important that everyone interested should have the opportunity to join a discussion group, preferably one that meets regularly, but otherwise one that communicates by mail, e-mail, over the Internet, etc.

Some can help by offering to distribute information to members and enquirers who do not have Internet access.

It would be best if a new volunteer would first share duties with a friend, or assist another organizer in order to “learn the ropes.” In time, some will form additional needed groups, and some experienced local workers will organize regional or national coordinating centers, to help link groups together.

Qualities needed: Those who work for The Brother&Sisterhood (USB) should develop or foster many qualities within themselves. Love, integrity, humility, simplicity, charity, understanding, compassion, gentleness, tolerance, patience, universality—all these are needed.

It may be hard to be patient with those who are consumed with envy and jealousy, or who lie and vilify and slander. But surely we should be patient with those who are spiritually afflicted, for spiritual ills are far longer lasting than any physical ills, and have far greater consequences.

What we need especially is to think universally—in terms of all people, in terms of all humankind.

We must remember that nothing is ours until we apply it. Love, charity, tolerance, the brother-and-sisterhood of humankind—these are idle words or phrases from our lips until we apply them in our daily lives.

Those who work for the USB owe it not only to themselves but to the USB to live by its principles.

 

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Studying the USB Teachings

Because of the nature of the USB’s purposes, we consider studying the USB teachings to be vital;
other activities follow from it.

Please note in all cases:

a. It is important always to remember that whatever interpretations and conjectures are made by anyone, the only definitive USB teachings are those contained in the USB volume itself.

b. We recommend that all students, from beginners to advanced, reread the USB volume from time to time, to retain familiarity with the teachings.

c. Our Illumined Inspirers have constantly reminded us to not accept anything unthinkingly from anyone, themselves included.

 

METHODS OF STUDY

1. Study in a Group (recommended)

From experience, we have found it to be easier and more enjoyable for most people to study the USB teachings as a member of a harmonious group. For this reason we give most of our advice for studying and discussing our teachings in a section on Study and/or Discussion activities, below.

2. Self Study

It is perfectly acceptable to study the USB teachings alone. We ask individuals who are unable to join a USB group, or who prefer to study alone, to be guided as far as possible by information in the USB’s Study and/or Discussion activities, below.

Besides having a copy of the USB volume, students should find other study aids listed under the USB Bookstore, which could help them organize their studies and provoke deeper thinking about the material. Watch for revisions and additions to those aids.

We hope that all people undertaking self study will be able to strike up friendships with at least one or two USB members somewhere and somehow. But if a serious need for assistance arises, and they have no other appropriate person to ask, such students should definitely contact their regional offices (if any) or the worldwide headquarters.

3. Study with Correspondence

People who wish to join a discussion group (see below) but are unable to find one within commuting distance, may be able to join a remote group by corresponding over the Internet. They should check the listings below for USB groups (“NetGroups”) offering to accept corresponding members, or ask their regional offices or worldwide headquarters, with the understanding that this is an optional, voluntary service provided by such groups.

Many of the same comments apply as for self study. However, the group leader may assign “homework” (see below), and may be able to comment on your work.

 

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USB Groups

USB groups allow people to meet and share with those who are like-minded, and to form teams that work on issues of interest to them. Much of the USB’s work will be accomplished by small groups in all parts of the world.

Of the greatest importance is harmony within such groups. Below we provide guidance on how to form, join, and run various types of USB groups.

These suggestions have been prepared for those people who, after reading Spiritual Light, the USB booklet, or this Web site, feel that they wish to meet or communicate regularly with others interested in the same subjects, or to work with them towards the USB’s goals. This material is drawn largely from Appendix D of Spiritual Light; please refer to that volume for further details.

 

Group Purposes

USB groups may be formed for the following purposes, among others:

Study and/or discussion (usually the most important);

Service;

Worship;

Development;

Communication with spirit friends.

Groups are welcome to undertake more than one of these activities. But if more than one activity becomes major, we suggest that a separate group be formed for each.

 

Benefits

Group members will benefit from:

Spiritual learning and understanding;

Interaction with like-minded people;

Giving satisfying service; and

Taking part in a movement that is important to Illumined Souls.

If they choose to, and group members have the needed abilities, they may also experience:

Personal development; and

Spirit phenomena.

Joining a USB Group

To see if there is a USB group in your area that you could join, or USB members in your area that you could contact, first check the list of groups below. (Note: You may need to resend your e-mail right away to the group’s address due to spam protection.) Next, contact your regional offices (if any; see Contact Us). Otherwise, please contact the USB worldwide headquarters. (You will need to give headquarters permission to pass on some of your contact information to other USB members.)

For discussion/study groups, and some types of service groups, if there are not yet members close enough to meet with, consider forming a “NetGroup”, in which members communicate by e-mail, “chats,” or voice and possibly video (conference calls?) by telephone or Internet telephony (VOIP). We hope to have volunteers who will help members form such groups.

LIST OF USB GROUPS

Name and Location	Major Activities	Language	NetGroup	Contact
Australia:
Derwent Group, Hobart, Tasmania	Study/discussion	English	Yes	{Enable javascript!}
Spain:
Los Naranjos Group, Javea	Study, communication, healing, development	English	Yes	{Enable javascript!}
Santo Domingo Group, Madrid	Discussion, healing	Spanish, English	No	{Enable javascript!}
USA:
Sunset Group, San Francisco, California	Discussion	English	No	{Enable javascript!}
Foothills Group, Cupertino, California	Study/discussion	English	No	{Enable javascript!}
The Lakes Group, Las Vegas, Nevada	Discussion	Spanish, English	Yes	{Enable javascript!}
The North Lake Tahoe Group, Tahoe City, California	Discussion	English	No	{Enable javascript!}

The Organization and Form of a USB Group

If you cannot find a USB group, or one that suits you, you can form your own if you are a USB member. Please write to headquarters for permission, explaining your plans.

It is required that leaders of groups (and other USB activities) are USB members. Where possible, it is preferred that group leaders should be experienced members (see Responsibilities), and that new group leaders should have previously studied in a group led by a more experienced leader.

Groups are to be named after their geographic location, in a way which clearly distinguishes them from other groups, eg: The Willowvale Group (of the USB), in San Francisco, California.

For most group purposes (other than service and worship), the preferred group size is between 4 and 10 members.

People joining a group should have already read most of this web site or the USB leaflet, and preferably also the USB volume, Spiritual Light.

 

USB Group Activities

Activities of USB groups may include any of the following:

Study and/or Discussion. Because of the nature of the USB’s purposes, we consider this group activity to be vital; other activities follow from it. We point out that studying does not necessarily mean accepting; the Illumined Inspirers constantly remind us to not accept anything unthinkingly from anyone, themselves included.

The USB encourages small groups of members to study and discuss its teachings of spiritual truth and enlightenment. In this way it seeks to help people understand the teachings, to promote the enjoyment of discussing such interests and ideas with like-minded people, and to lead us to put the teachings into practice and spread them in our daily lives. You may read more about USB study/discussion groups.

Service. There are many avenues of service open to USB members and groups, such as healing, distant healing, and prayer (including for world leaders). Members can creatively express their desires to help others, while doing so wisely. The “How One Can Help” section above will suggest other potential areas of service.

We should not forget service to those in need on the spirit side of life, such as that given by prayer and “rescue circles.”

Worship. USB members and groups are welcome to organize USB meetings or services of worship, providing they follow the USB Code of Conduct and philosophy. Such meetings could be private and closed, or open to the public with formal speakers and mediums.

Development and/or Communication. These are USB groups dedicated to helping members develop mediumship, or to communicating with spirit friends. We expect that development groups will have the goal of improving members’ abilities to serve others, and that communication groups will emphasize USB teachings and philosophy, rather than personal or other matters.

Such groups should always be led by an experienced and spiritual medium. Members of such groups should always remember that all efforts to develop or communicate are experiments.

It is fully acceptable, and often desirable, for members of a development group to participate with the purpose of helping others but not for themselves to develop; they should make this clear to the group leader. Group members wishing to develop their own mediumship, to be better able to serve others, should understand that their own success will depend in part on the efforts they make to help others succeed.

In order to link up with USB leaders or members in higher levels of spirit life, it will be necessary for the members of a USB group on earth to themselves be of high spirituality; this is even more important than their mediumship skills.

 

Activities not permitted in the USB

USB groups and members are not permitted to participate in the following activities at USB functions, in USB publications, or when representing or working for the USB (what members do at other times is not for the USB to say):

Commercialism;

Politics;

Affiliating with any other (non-USB) group or organization;

Soliciting for financial support or for members;

Charging fees for membership;

Selling “blessings”;

Worship of any one or thing other than God;

Imparting beliefs that are known to be wrong;

Discouraging anyone from seeking or examining truths;

Debating (seeking the triumph of a personal view or position);

Rituals or rites;

Using titles;

Expressing smugness/self-satisfaction;

Expressing excessive praise;

Taking positions in public on certain controversial subjects, such as abortion, vivisection, and vegetarianism;

Wearing unusual or outlandish attire.

 

Responsibilities of USB Members and Group Leaders

Harmony is of the greatest importance to the USB. To help establish harmony at USB meetings, we have listed some responsibilities of USB group leaders and members for their guidance. Read more…

 

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Supporting the USB

Would you like to offer your help and support in some way
to the illumined teachers and inspirers of the USB?
Would you like to feel more closely aligned with them?

After reading about the Universal Spiritual Brother&Sisterhood (USB), on this website and in the book Spiritual Light ( see Bookstore and Spiritual Light), you hopefully have a good understanding of the USB and its work.

If so and your heart reaches out to the wonderful teachings these Illumined Souls offer us, perhaps you feel the desire to support and help this movement to change the world. Perhaps you would like to help those Illumined USB leaders and inspirers carry out this very important work for all humanity, for much help is needed (see earlier sections). You are not asked to do so, but your help and participation would be most welcome to them. They need so many loving hands and they cannot do it without our help. They have said they need thousands of such helpers so that they can demonstrate their great spirit powers, the power of God, and the path of Truth. Their invitation is open to everyone and they especially seek helpers who are humble in spirit.

If you do feel an inner “reaching out” to this great work and you would like to be part of it, we welcome you! What a great privilege and joy it is to participate together. Please see the following Information for Supporters.

And if you would like to feel even more closely aligned with these Illumined Souls and their work, please read about USB membership.

 

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Information for Supporters

Activities

The USB is an organization for learning, developing, and giving. The more we learn and develop, the more we can give. (This does not mean we cannot enjoy good humor and sometimes socialize!)

USB groups provide the most important arena for initiating and benefiting from activities. Supporters are encouraged to be creative in these and all matters. Above we provide more information about various kinds of USB groups and some possible activities.

Each and every supporter can make a great difference to the USB in his or her own ways. We encourage people in particular to review topics 112, D26, and D27 in the USB’s principal volume, Spiritual Light, and any other guidance documents and topics available regarding activities. Please visit the USB Bookstore and Spiritual Light for more information.

Every supporter should have a copy of Spiritual Light. We hope you will try to remain familiar with its contents, and to put into practice and live by those parts that feel right to you.

If you seek certain activities that you cannot find, please ask for them, with persistence. If no one offers them, then please consider offering them yourself, if you have the right background, and if you do not, please consider obtaining it.

Group members are asked to keep their group leaders up to date with all their contact information. They should also make it clear which items of personal information group leaders may give (a) only to other group members, and (b) to others who appear to have a valid interest in the USB.

The USB leaflet and booklet

The USB leaflet is designed for easy duplication on one sheet of paper and distribution to potential members. While we hope you will introduce the USB and its philosophy to people who appear to be seeking such information, and perhaps suggest that they consider joining it, please note that the USB does not actively seek members or promote membership, so it does not push itself on anyone. Instead, it prefers membership to come from people who are searching for an organization and/or teachings like the USB’s.

If we find it necessary to have a more complete reference document for people who do not have Internet access, we will consider preparing a small booklet to introduce the USB more fully than the leaflet does.

USB requirements and guidelines

To protect the integrity of the USB, we ask you to be familiar with its requirements and guidelines (Appendix D in Spiritual Light), so that you know how to comply with them, and you can recognize possible transgressions by others. We summarize them (only) in a USB Code of Conduct.

If you believe any USB group member is willfully contravening the USB requirements and guidelines, you should in no way cover that up, but neither should you sensationalize it. We suggest that you discuss it with others who might or should be aware of it, and if possible also with the suspected transgressor. If you cannot accept that behavior in your USB group, in view of the great importance of harmony in USB groups, remember that you can always join or form another group. If the problem is sufficiently serious or persistent, please inform USB headquarters.

An important USB statement

All USB documents containing teachings and/or philosophy are required to include the following boxed statement. Please check that it is present.

 

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Operation of the USB

The USB is an organization of spiritual truth open to all. (It is not a religion, sect, or cult. By spiritual we mean noble, Godly.)

The Brother&Sisterhood on earth will remain under the inspiration and direction and guidance of Great Souls. No changes in USB policies will ever be made unless they so direct, under conditions and circumstances similar to those at which they outlined the mission of the USB in 1956, gave its full name, and confirmed its principles and policies.

The USB on earth is a nonprofit organization. Its 1956 Articles of Incorporation, amended in 2009, state: “The property of this corporation is irrevocably dedicated to religious and charitable purposes and no part of the net income or assets of this corporation shall ever inure [accrue] to the benefit of any director, officer or member thereof or to the benefit of any private person;…”

It is not linked in any way with any other group or organization on earth.

The USB does not have a special symbol. Such symbols typically differentiate people who display them, whereas our purpose is to unite them. We know that all people are brothers and sisters, whether or not they realize it, and whether or not they are associated with the USB.

It charges no membership fees or dues of any kind, it keeps other costs (e.g., of publications, admissions) to a minimum, and it does not solicit funds. It accepts only contributions and volunteer assistance that are freely given.

It is operated as far as possible by volunteers.

Every supporter plays a part. There is work for all. No one person or group is greater or more important than another, even though some may have greater gifts or opportunities to serve. No USB group has jurisdiction over any other. We of the USB are one; and whatever any contribute, they contribute for all.

To help protect the Truth it teaches, The Brother&Sisterhood has a code of conduct with a few requirements, all of a spiritual nature. These conduct requirements are in harmony with noble teachings throughout the ages, and they have had the blessing of USB spirit leaders and inspirers.

We must expect opposition to the USB to grow as the USB grows. It will come from some who see their strongholds weakening—threatened from without by Truth, threatened from within by the spirit of freedom. Inspirers have warned us of this at sittings in London as long ago as 1956 and 1957. But whether it is the destructive or the well-meaning that oppose us, we do not condemn them.

The USB has already accomplished much. An Illumined Soul stated [in 1963] that the USB has changed the thinking “of hundreds of people on earth, and many, many thousands in spirit [life].” Thousands on the other side of life have been helped by visiting sisters and brothers on earth who have humbleness of heart, sincerity of purpose, and the desire to be used to help others. The USB has made many realize that nothing is part of our universe unless we live it or live by it — that knowledge without application is useless. By the constructive thoughts and prayers of brothers and sisters on both sides of life, the USB, together with all those who share its ideals, has more than once helped to postpone or avert a world in flames. And the USB has given those who have weighed and accepted its teachings and philosophy not only a new life, in a sense, but a greater understanding of the purpose of life.