SEX TEACHINGS OF BALLARDISM

 

 

By Gerald B. Bryan

 

The Ballard cult with its distorted and fanatical view of sex has been a prolific cause of divorce and unhappiness among its members, and has produced widespread repercussions among non-members.

 

Sex, according to the Ballards and their “Ascended Masters,” is absolutely taboo except for procreative purposes, and even then they definitely discourage their members from bringing children into the world. The “Ascension,” they say, is too near for that.

 

To properly take care of the ever-growing sex and marriage problems among their students the Ballards brought forth a new “lady Ascended Master” and called her the “Goddess of Purity.” The “Goddess” thinks that I AM-ers, all and sundry, should get off the earth by making their “Ascension” instead of settling down and rearing families — a sort of race suicide of the elect. Let the others go through all the trouble and bother of raising families. The Goddess wants none of it. Says she:

 

“. . . Those of today who have the opportunity and the privilege of gaining their Freedom from human bondage through their Ascension, should certainly not contemplate sex or family relationship in that respect. You have served a long time in raising children, in exercising undesirable sex force. Is it not time now that you might forget it for a few years . . . ? There will still be enough of mankind left to take care of the requirements of birth . . . You cannot seek another for the desire of sex and expect yourself to be free!” (pp. 25-26, Nov., 1939, V.)

 

Despite the thumbs-down attitude on marriage and the rearing of children the Ballard cult goes in strongly for what they call “Twin Rays.” It must be explained that this had nothing whatever to do with ordinary twins or quintuplets, but presents the idea that each person is but half a human being — that somewhere in space is his other half, wandering, as it were, like a loosened planetoid from the part from which it was broken.

 

That is the deplorable condition the general run of humanity is in today, it seems, but the Ascended Masters and a few of the lucky I AM-ers have recovered their lost “halves” and are presumably living blissful lives together.

 

The “Accredited Messengers” of the Ascended Master Saint Germain are quite naturally one of those lucky couples, each being the Twin Ray of the other. Saint Germain himself has informed them that this is so.

 

Their book, The Magic Presence, is full of the Twin Ray idea, the lady and gentlemen Ascended Masters and young couples in it being paired off, for the most part, into blissful unions of Twin Rays.

 

In this book, along with Saint Germain’s other strenuous duties, he is revealed as a sort of Twin Ray specialist. Though peculiarly never mentioning his own Twin Ray, he can spot the Twin Rays of others most unerringly, and makes it his special Ascended Master duty to draw the young people together and tell them about the laws of love, marriage, and romance.

 

This all reads well in the Ballard story books (albeit a bit too heavenly for plain-thinking earth beings), but the sad fact remains that most of the Ballard students in the outer world do not know where their other “half” is. Saint Germain, it seems, is the only Ascended Master who is able to tell them — and he talks only through Guy and Edna Ballard. The students, therefore, must get all their information concerning 50% of themselves from two human beings who also have a large and growing option on the other 50%.

 

It is sometimes difficult for the Ballards to remember who-is-who in this Twin Ray business, and Guy Ballard at least one time in his Messianic career made a deep and tragic error.

 

It seems that he had informed two of his favorite staff members that they were Twin Rays; and this, as usual, came from the great Saint Germain, the Twin Ray specialist, himself.

 

However, a little later on, the “Great Divine Director,” not being a specialist in this particular field and perhaps forgetful of what brother Saint Germain had said, severely startled a little group of staff members and students one evening by saying that ALL the staff members’ Twin Rays had ascended and were not to be found on the earth plane.

 

That was a most grievous slip for a Perfect Being to make, and it had the result, among other things, of getting one of the “halves” of the combination out of the movement; and then Saint Germain had to inform the other remaining “half” that he had to choose between the “Light of God that Never Fails ” and his wife. The gentleman wisely chose the latter, and so as a result of the Great Divine director’s slip the Ballard organization lost both of Saint Germain’s favorite Twin Rays.

 

Twin Rays today in the Ballard organization are almost as scarce as quintuplets. Even Donald Eros Ballard is without his Twin Ray on the earth plane (“Saint Germain” told him so) — a little matter which must have been fully realized by his wife in her recent divorce suit against him.

 

As a result of an apparent scarcity of Twin Rays among duly wedded I AM-ers, one or both of the partners may be inclined to look for some imaginary Twin Ray or Rays out in space somewhere. And sometimes it has not been an imaginary “Twin Ray” on some heavenly sphere either, but some ecstatic earth love on this very mundane sphere. All of which is quite understandable in this weird cult which teaches that each I AM-er is only half an I AM-er, the other “half” being somewhere else — and may not at all be the present spouse.

 

But the Twin Ray idea is not the only reason for so many divorces among I AM-ers. Far from it. Complete abolition of sex is taught by this cult, and although they formerly taught that sex could be used to bring children into the world, they today teach quite differently. As we have seen from the Goddess of Purity’s (?) statement, a philosophy of race suicide is preached. No marriage, no children. Make the “Ascension” instead. Leave the earth to the morons. What a wonderful chance for the Dictators!

 

Despite the alleged “purity” of this cult, a disguised but easily discernible eroticism plays through this cult.

 

Guy Ballard, over and over again on the public platform, referred to his so-called “Sex Law,” and seemed to take delight in picturing the fearful consequences which would result for any violation of it. At one of his early classes in Los Angeles (August 19, 1935), he said:

 

“The sex urge was only to be used for procreation. When it is used for so-called pleasure, mankind loses the dominion of his physical form . . . When it is wasted, the body becomes decrepit and helpless . . . Your aura becomes charged with the most vicious entities you can imagine.”

 

Since then, with fanatical persistence, the Ballards have constantly referred to the subject of sex. They inject the strongest sort of fear-thought into the minds of their students should any violation of their instruction take place. Time and again their “Ascended Masters” come forth to keep this subject flaming before the minds of their audiences.

 

“. . . To seek these classes,” says their Great Divine Director, “to gain acquaintance and companionship for sex desire is the most infamous thing ever on this earth! . . . There are those who have been doing it . . . If you don’t stop it, I shall pick you out! . . .You have been told repeatedly that unless you cease your sex desire, you cannot gain your Freedom and Ascension . . . Do not be surprised if I release the Fire, the Flame of Life to burn these desires out of you tonight. (applause)” (pp. 18-19, April 1940, V.)

 

This sex taboo teaching has been given indiscriminately in public for over five years among people of all walks of life. It applies, they say, to all regardless of their circumstances, conditions, beliefs, obligations, spirituality, or anything else. It is the unalterable, inexorable “Law of Sex,” and will react upon all who disobey it, producing degeneration of both mind and body.

 

Naturally, such extreme views concerning the dominant, biological urge of sex, enunciated to people who in their marital lives had built up certain habits in regard to it, had widespread repercussions.

 

This sex teaching alone, has resulted in an extraordinary number of divorces, separations, and disagreements among married people, many of whom up to the time Ballardism entered their homes had doubtless been living normal, sensible sex lives.

 

With the sudden introduction of a fanatical religion into the home environment, with its rigid taboo of sex expression in any form, a condition of affairs was brought about which frequently became intolerable to the marriage partner who did not embrace the religious fanaticism of the other partner.

 

The result was separation or divorce in many homes which had formerly been happy and contented ones before the arrival of Ballardism and its extreme sex teaching. The instructions from the Ballards were to divorce the partner who desires marital relations, or leave the movement.

 

Referring to the unhappiness that has come to the I AM students as a result of this sex teaching, the Great Divine Director encourages them to go on with the program, even though it separates husband and wife, parent and child.

 

“I say to you blessed ladies of the Light,” says he, “be not dismayed in the unhappiness that has come of your search for and acceptance of the Light. Stand firm and unyielding . . . Everyone of you must now stand by your ‘I AM Presence’ — I don’t care how much you love your wives, husbands and children . . . If your home life has become unbearable and you have severed it, don’t seek the companionship of other men . . . Ungratified sex desires will make a human being the most vicious individual ever known . . .” (pp. 21-22, April 1940, V.)

 

But sex was not the only thing which broke up these homes. The general philosophy itself, with its devotion to “Masters,” fanatical inhibitions and prohibitions, caused and is causing today many intolerable conditions in the home environment, separating life-long partners and estranging children and relatives.

 

Decrees which have to be uttered the live-long day and half the night leave little time to devote to the duties and obligations of home building. Children are neglected, the husband or wife ignored, for this newer and more thrilling experiment of worshiping unseen “Masters” and “Goddesses.”

 

A marriage partner who before the advent of Ballardism was all that the other could reasonably expect, almost overnight became neglectful of things which had produced happiness in the past in a fanatical endeavor to follow this newer and more streamlined pathway to happiness.

 

All this, and much more than we have space to record, is the result of this teaching — in a land which the Ballards assertedly came to “Save.”

 

Further, much of the alleged “purity” and “morality” of this cult is puritanical and ridiculous. This is readily seen from the following quotations.

 

“A gentleman Ascended Master” who goes by the name of “Wondrous Harmony,” is responsible for the following gem of thought:

 

“Married ladies and married gentlemen,” admonished this disturbed gentleman, “if you want to save yourselves grave danger, do not go anywhere alone with each other for any reason whatsoever!” (p. 10, June, 1939, V., our italics.)

 

That was actually printed in the Ballard official magazine! and “Wondrous Harmony,” warming up to his subject, continued by saying:

 

“No married woman has a right to go with another man that is married. No married man has a right to go with a woman who is married and be with them except to transact business, and then only in the presence of others.” (p. 10, our italics)

 

That is surely definite enough, but it would look sort of silly to have to call in a chaperon to be present during business deals with members of the opposite sex.

 

The Twin Ray specialist, just as puritanical in thought as the Ascended Master “Wondrous Harmony,” on June 28, 1938, spoke to the members of the Ballard staff as follows:

 

“I ask in all kindness that no one of the staff take any other married or unmarried man or woman to dinner alone. No matter how innocent the individuals are, there are spies acting everywhere . . . There can’t be anything hidden from me — I know every motive and desire!”

 

The young people in particular are warned against the slightest expression of affection, however innocent, with members of the opposite sex.

 

“Remember,” says the Simon-pure Saint Germain to the boys and girls assembled at the class at Los Angeles on April 4, 1937, “you can love your friends more powerfully without your arms around them.” (p. 270, A.M.D.)

 

And Sanat Kumara, another Ballard “Master,” who hails paradoxically from the traditional planet of love, Venus, says: “The greatest mistake of mankind today is to think that they must have physical contact in order to express love.” (p. 8, Aug., 1938, V.)

 

The two Ballards themselves in a special plea to the “Young People of America” say: “We ask ALL under this Radiation to stop all practices of what the world calls necking, kissing and hugging those of the opposite sex who are not your own relatives.” (p. 33, Aug., 1938, V.)

 

To every good or bad rule, however, there seem to be always exceptions, even among Ascended Masters and Accredited Messengers, for the “Great Divine Director” in his great wisdom has said: “Oh dear hearts, our beloved Messengers have stood forth before the world; and if they feel the impulse to put their arms around a man or woman to give encouragement, they do it!” (p.

15, April, 1937. V.)

 

Even Saint Germain, despite his latter-day puritanism, is not altogether lacking in affectional responses. On August 30, 1936, at the class in San Francisco, he came forth on the stage (at least Guy Ballard said he did), and among other flattering remarks about the smiling but unblushing Lotus, said:

 

“This Blessed One here —your Little Dynamite— I have always held her in My Embrace of Light, many times in My Tangible Form — in My Tangible Embrace of Light.”

 

And feeling a good response from the audience, he added: “Do you notice how sort of chummy we are today? It is wonderful!” (p. 13, Oct., 1935, v.)

 

Nevertheless, despite these little occasional personal laxities and tolerances distributed properly among their membership, the “Ascended Masters” are generally most insistent and fanatical in their instructions to the married, unmarried, and would-be married. Their students are held under the spotlight of strict disciplinarianism, with the Ascended Master and Messengers claiming to know all that is going on within their lives.

 

One of the reasons for such puritanical sex teachings seems rather obvious.

 

In the failures of the average student to fulfill these sex admonitions in all particulars, the Ballards have a perfect alibi for the non-deliverance of their promised miracles. For the reason why these poor struggling students do not make their “Ascension,” have their “financial freedom,” achieve “radiant health,” and so on, is they have not kept sufficient “emotional control” over their feelings!

 

Knowing their weaknesses, these students blame themselves instead of the Ballards for the non-appearance of promised miracles; and so the stress and struggle of killing out the “entity-demons” within themselves —which they are assured are responsible for their backsliding— still continues.

 

What complexes are built up, what mental and physical reactions are brought about by such teachings, only time and an intimate investigation into their lives will reveal.

 

But certainly within the lives of students who go to such fanatical extremes, there are queer tangles of suppressed desires . . . “Twin Ray” complexes . . . condemnation of self or marriage partner for not being able to live up to the idea of a non-sexual love . . . lurking fear of alleged mental and physical degeneration as a result of giving in to the dominant biological urge . . . the spectre of divorce or separation . . . and dozens of other reactions from such ill-advised and distorted sex teachings.

 

There is consequently a sad need for a sane consideration of the sex question among the Ballard students, a real need for the psychoanalyst and psychiatrist to straighten out the tangles in the lives of these people.

 

 

 

(Psychic Dictatorship in America, chapter 25)