Is the World Really Falling Apart — Or Is It Waking Up?

Let's be honest. You've scrolled the news, taken a deep breath (or several), and quietly asked yourself: Are we actually evolving, or just unraveling with better Wi-Fi?

If you've felt that particular flavor of low-grade existential panic, you're not alone, and you're not wrong. But what if the chaos isn't the story? What if it's the setup?

That's exactly what retired counselor, lifelong meditator, and longtime volunteer with Share International, Dick Larson, came on The Skeptic Metaphysicians to talk about. And fair warning: the conversation goes places we've never been before on this show. Think Masters of Wisdom, the return of the World Teacher, the Age of Aquarius...and the radical idea that you, yes you, have a starring role in all of it.

Ready for the full mind-expansion? Listen to our episode with Dick Larson here →

So... What Even Are the Ageless Wisdom Teachings?

Before we can talk about what's happening in the world right now, we need some cosmic context.

The Ageless Wisdom Teachings are an ancient body of spiritual knowledge that have quietly underpinned every major religion, philosophical tradition, and scientific revolution throughout human history. Think of them as the operating manual for consciousness that nobody handed you at birth, but that every great teacher has been pointing toward.

This body of wisdom was first brought into the modern public sphere in the late 1800s by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Society, and later expanded by Alice A. Bailey. Then, in the 20th century, Scottish artist and esotericist Benjamin Creme spent over 40 years, traveling the world, (giving lectures for free, and declining all royalties) to update and share these teachings for contemporary humanity.

Creme's central message? The greatest event in human history is quietly unfolding right now. And it involves a figure most of the world's major religions have been expecting.

Meet Maitreya — The Name You Didn't Know You Already Knew

Here's the trivia that will blow your mind at your next dinner party: virtually every major world religion is waiting for the same being, just under different names.

• Christians call this figure the Christ (the Second Coming)
• Muslims await the Imam Mahdi
• Jews look for the Messiah
• Buddhists expect the Fifth Buddha
• Hindus await the return of Lord Krishna

In the Ageless Wisdom tradition, all of these prophecies point to one individual: Maitreya, the World Teacher. The name itself comes from Sanskrit and means the happy one or the one who brings joy.

According to Dick Larson on our podcast, Maitreya is not a religious leader in the traditional sense; he comes as a teacher and guide for all of humanity, regardless of faith or background. As Dick explained, Maitreya's emergence isn't about founding a new religion. It's about teaching humanity what he calls "the art of Self-realization."

What's particularly fascinating from an interfaith perspective is this: the Ageless Wisdom teachings suggest that Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Confucius, and Muhammad were not competing founders of rival religions... they were all advanced disciples who channeled the teachings of this same lineage of wisdom for their particular era.

The Masters of Wisdom: 63 Enlightened Beings You've (Probably) Never Heard Of

One of the most jaw-dropping parts of Dick's interview is his description of the Masters of Wisdom — sometimes called Ascended Masters — a group of 63 perfected human beings who have completed their earthly evolution and now dedicate their existence entirely to supporting humanity's development.

We're talking about souls who have been Buddha, Krishna, and yes, Jesus in previous incarnations. Having mastered themselves across thousands of lifetimes, they no longer require physical bodies (though they can create them by thought). They reside in the remote mountains and desert regions of the world, away from noise and pollution, working ceaselessly on humanity's behalf.

And here's where it gets personal: Dick shared that 14 of these masters are currently physically present on Earth, in cities like London, Geneva, New York, Darjeeling, Tokyo, and even the San Bernardino Mountains of California. Before the Age of Aquarius ends, there will be over 40 of them walking among us in physical form, offering guidance, not commands, as teachers.

Dick even shared moving personal encounters he believes were with these masters: a homeless man on a park bench in Pasadena who looked through him (later confirmed by Benjamin Creme as the Master Jesus); a young woman on a university campus whose Mona Lisa smile flooded him with inexplicable joy (Maitreya himself). The sign? You can't stop thinking about it. Days go by and the encounter won't leave you.

Have you had an inexplicable encounter with a stranger that stayed with you? You might want to tune in to hear Dick's full stories, and consider what they might mean. Listen here. →

What the Age of Aquarius Actually Means for Your Daily Life

You've probably heard the phrase "Age of Aquarius"...maybe you hummed the song, maybe you rolled your eyes a little. But according to the Ageless Wisdom teachings, this transition from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius is the defining spiritual shift of our era.

The two primary energies of Aquarius? Cooperation and synthesis.

As Dick explained on the show, we're moving, however chaotically, from a "you or me" world to a "you and me" world. Competition will give way to cooperation. Separation will give way to synthesis. The spiritual turmoil we're experiencing right now isn't a sign of failure; it's the birth pangs of a new civilization.

Here's a thought to sit with: every great spiritual age has been inaugurated by a great teacher. The Age of Pisces gave us Jesus (who taught the love of God) and the Buddha (who taught the wisdom of God). The Age of Aquarius brings Maitreya, who according to these teachings will reveal the will of God...what divine will actually means in practical, livable terms.

For all of us who've been trying to "do God's will" without a clear map? Apparently, that map is coming.

Why the World Looks Like It's on Fire (And Why That's Weirdly Good News)

One of the most startling and ultimately hopeful ideas from Dick's interview is this: the current global chaos is intentional.

Not in a conspiratorial way, but in a spiritual one. According to the Ageless Wisdom teachings, the love energy being poured into the planet by Maitreya and the Masters is essentially forcing humanity to act more authentically. That love acts like a spotlight, exposing the shadow. Divisions become clearer because the choice becomes clearer: fear or love, competition or cooperation, separation or unity.

This idea echoes what many consciousness researchers and spiritual teachers have described as the dark night of the collective soul; a necessary phase of breakdown before breakthrough. Psychologist Carl Jung wrote extensively about how the unconscious must be made conscious before healing can occur. The world's current surfacing of long-buried divisions, injustices, and dysfunctions might not be the apocalypse. It might be the diagnosis.

The Aquarian energies of sharing and cooperation aren't going to fall from the sky. They're going to be built by people like you and me, once we've been stripped of our illusions about who we are and what actually matters.

Practical Steps: How to Tune In to Your Own Awakening Right Now

You don't need to wait for a World Teacher to appear on television to begin your own evolution. Here are some grounded, actionable ways to align yourself with what the Ageless Wisdom describes as the forward movement of consciousness:

1. Start a simple daily meditation practice. Dick Larson himself meditates for just 15 minutes every morning (and admits he falls asleep if he tries to do it at night — very relatable). The point isn't fireworks; it's consistency. Try the same time, same place each day. According to the Ageless Wisdom, meditating in the same space builds spiritual energy in that location over time.

2. Practice discernment, not blind belief. Dick's first request to listeners was: don't believe anything I say. Let information rest like a brick in your lap for a few days before reacting. This is a profound spiritual practice in itself; sitting with ideas without immediately accepting or rejecting them.

3. Notice inexplicable joy. If you've ever had an encounter with a stranger that left you feeling inexplicably flooded with love or peace, and you couldn't stop thinking about it for days, pay attention. Dick believes these are often the quiet signatures of master presences in the world.

4. Lean into cooperation over competition. This is Aquarian energy made practical. In your relationships, your workplace, your community...where can you replace competition with collaboration? Even small shifts in this direction align you with the larger evolutionary current.

5. Stay engaged with the planet. Maitreya's teachings, as shared by Benjamin Creme, consistently emphasize justice, sharing, and environmental stewardship. Spiritual awakening isn't a private affair, it flows outward into how we treat each other and the Earth.

The Big Picture Takeaway

Here's what strikes me most about this conversation with Dick Larson: in an age of spiritual content that often feels either cotton-candy light or impenetrably dense, he offers something genuinely rare; hope grounded in a coherent framework.

You don't have to believe in Maitreya to take something meaningful from this. The underlying invitation is the same one every wisdom tradition has offered: we are not separate. Our evolution is collective. And the chaos we're living through isn't proof that humanity is failing... it may be exactly the friction needed to push us into something extraordinary.

As Maitreya himself is quoted saying: "Do not be afraid of the future. All will be well. All manner of things will be well."

That's not a dismissal of suffering. It's the long view. And right now, the long view is exactly what we need.

🎧 Don't miss the full conversation with Dick Larson on The Skeptic Meta Physicians. He goes deep on nuclear pollution as the world's most underestimated spiritual threat, his personal encounters with masters, what the "Day of Declaration" actually looks like, and why he's more than hopeful — he's convinced. It's the kind of episode you'll want to listen to twice.

▶ Listen / Watch the Full Episode Here

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