Esoteric study, when coupled with esoteric living, penetrates the world of appearances and reveals in time the world of meaning.

Aim and Purpose of the School

The School's objective is to help aspirants prepare for esoteric discipleship and to help disciples prepare for initiation. A disciple is one who is pledged to:

• serve humanity.
• cooperate with the Divine Plan as far as perception and ability allow.
• achieve fusion with the Soul, or Higher Self, and subsequently with the Monad, or Highest Self.

The work is non-sectarian and conducted by correspondence (email or postal mail), maintaining strict confidentiality between the student and those who guide his or her work through regular, personalized commentary. The sequence of training has been developed and tested over a period of 50 years.  There are no grades, and the student's progress is measured against his or her own highest potential. (“Is SES Right for You?” may help one determine this potential.) The emphasis is on three lines of effort that supplement each other and must be carried on simultaneously: meditation, study and service.

Background of the School

The School for Esoteric Studies was founded in New York City in 1956 by former co-workers of Alice A. Bailey at the Arcane School and has since moved its base to North Carolina (“How SES began”).  From the outset, the purpose of the School has been to train disciples in order to equip them to cooperate with the Spiritual Hierarchy of the planet in implementing the divine Plan on Earth.  The School seeks to train students to work in the realm of meaning – of causes rather than effects.  To this end, training in the understanding and use of energies – human, planetary, and extra-planetary – is offered.  The motive behind the work is service to humanity.