In his 1986-1991 studies with The Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA), John Mr. Fetzer would have been exposed to the idea of awakening through meditation, ultimately to spiritual realms above the mind where we realize our self as a Soul—which MSIA calls “Soul Awareness”—and where The Divine is experienced as Unconditional Love. (see the 2018 memo by Fetzer Memorial Trustee Thomas Beaver, Surat Shabd Yoga and John Fetzer)

In his Founder’s Statement, September 29, 1989, Mr. Fetzer said of this process of inner awakening, “When one calls out in such a way, the consciousness of liberation is stirred within, as well as without, and liberation becomes reality. This is how the liberating action begins, to free one of the downward turns in a spiral of consciousness, and brings one up into the higher focus, back into your higher self.” (The Founders Statement 9-29-89, p. 6)

For one thing, he wanted people from diverse spiritual backgrounds and approaches who could follow the Institute’s vision based on the integrity of their perspective and relying on their intuition and “inner guidance” rather than following some strict set of rules or guidelines.

In the Founder’s Statement to his Trustees, on September 29, 1989, John Fetzer said, “I am most thankful that we have a board of trustees and the nucleus of a staff that is willing to move forward on this agenda by sharing in the intuitive process.” (The Founders Statement, 9-29-89, p. 4)

In his Opening Remarks to the March 3-4, 2989 Board Meeting, John Fetzer said, “It’s my hope that all of us identified with this endeavor will seriously consider what it means to go through self-examination to the extent of seeking Soul Awareness (see the 2018 memo by Fetzer Memorial Trustee Thomas Beaver, Surat Shabd Yoga, and John Fetzer, for an explanation of the MSIA term, “Soul Awareness”) … The Foundation actually was put together on a very simple premise, the simplest of premises. To that of research, education, and service. … Three sides of the triangle. That’s why our building was designed the way it was … I charge all of you with that responsibility, that you are the ones that must generate policy and generate the ways and means of getting the job done.” (Board Opening Remarks, 3-3&4-89, pp. 1-2)

Bruce Fetzer noted, “John Fetzer had a 500-year vision, and he was very clear with me that the most important decisions that trustees in the future will make are selecting future trustees for the organization, because it's the trustees that have to individually have an inner life of spirit and then come together in community and form the purpose and the programs out of that community discernment.” (JEF Legacy – pt. 3, p. 25)

Channeling, according to Jon Klimo, “is the communication of information to or through a physically embodied human being from a source that is said to exist on some other level or dimension of reality than the physical as we know it, and that is not from the normal mind (or self) of the channel.” (Jon Klimo, Channeling: Investigations on Receiving Information from Paranormal Sources {Los Angeles: Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc.} 1987, p. 2.)

According to Professor Brian Wilson, author of John Fetzer’s biography, John E. Fetzer and the Freedom of Spirit, “When channeling arose in the 1980s, John E. Fetzer was one of those who was perfectly comfortable with it, since he had encountered similar phenomena throughout his spiritual development.” (Brian Wilson, John E. Fetzer and the Phenomenon of Channeling, Nov. 2017, p. 12)

• As awareness. Mr. Fetzer often spoke of reaching into higher consciousness, into awareness of higher levels of being (see “Awakening” elsewhere in this Glossary)

• As information. “One organ transmits consciousness to another. How does it do that? One gland transmits information to the body so that certain actions take place within it.” (Thoughts on Research, 10-4-89, p. 1)

• As a state of awareness, e.g., the consciousness of oneness or wholeness. “I believe there is a certain consciousness of synthesis that brings forth a light that some refer to as the ‘avatar symmetry’ that is here, ready to assist all who are connected with the institute to delineate its mission.” (The Founders Statement, 9-29-89, pp. 6-7)

• As a perspective: “… the institute should strive toward achieving a common goal, a united effort, a clear focus, a family consciousness, a oneness in motivation…” (The Founders Statement, 9-29-89, p. 2)

In his 1988 Memorandum to the Fetzer Foundation Board of Trustees, Mr. Fetzer noted, “The John E. Fetzer Foundation supports and provides research, education, and action designed to discover and enhance the integral relationships of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of experience which foster human growth, service, and responsible improvement of the human and cosmic condition.” (Memorandum to Board, 7-15-88, p. 1)

And in his Opening Remarks to the March 3-4, 2989 Board Meeting, Mr. Fetzer emphasized, “The Foundation actually was put together on a very simple premise, the simplest of premises. To that of research, education, and service. … Three sides of the triangle. That’s why our building was designed the way it was.” (Board Opening Remarks, 3-3&4-89, pp. 1-2)

So, education in this context is specifically intended to facilitate the integration of the whole person toward the betterment of the personal and cosmic all.

So, while usually relate it to feelings, for this glossary, emotional refers to one of the several levels of consciousness through which a human can experience and express.

In stating the purpose of the John E. Fetzer Foundation in the late 1980s, Mr. Fetzer said, “The John E. Fetzer Foundation supports and provides research, education, and action designed to discover and enhance the integral relationships of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of experience which foster human growth….” (Memorandum to Board, 7-15-88, p. 1)

In a practical sense, he posited that healing might be assisted by balancing the flow of energy in and around the physical body; what researchers referred to as biofield energy including the aura. For him, energy could have many forms, though he generally viewed it as electronic.

In 1988 Fetzer said, “All my professional life has been identified with electronic energy. It was that identification that was the guiding voice that led to the establishment of the Foundation. Hence, my priority is relatively simple and that is to open the door to research into biofield energy medicine which investigates energetic mechanisms of the total organism.”  (Memorandum to Board, 7-15-88, p. 4)

In 1989 he said, “The healing art and technique, particularly the innovations that will contribute to health in this new age, will be in the field of electronics. It will become the primary tool of a healing practitioner. Science will awaken to the electronic field as it applies to diagnosing the human aura.”  (Draft of Memorandum, 1-4-89, p. 1)

He went on to say, also in 1989, “All of our research, whatever it be, in house or out, should, in the long term, basically open the door into the investigation of biofield energy as applied to the mechanism of the total organism … I conceive this program to be an investigatory research of subtle energy which represents sound, light and color, as it applies to the physical well-being of humankind.” (The Founders Statement, 3-29-89, pp. 4-5)

John Fetzer also referred to energy in the context of the essence, or emanation, of the Divine. For example, in his opening remarks to the John E. Fetzer Institute Board Meeting in March of 1989 he said, “I constantly draw on the energy of the Father for guidance.” (JEF Board Opening Remarks, 3-3&4-89, p. 1)

John Fetzer considered that medicine had become almost solely focused on the chemical aspects of the body. However, he stated in a speech, “We feel that there is an electronic aspect to the species that needs to be explored. We think that there is radiation of all kinds that emanate from the physical being of man…” (Hepy Fetzer Interview, 1-5-85, p. 2) The Fetzer Institute promoted and supported research in healing that, Fetzer said, addressed the “energetic mechanisms of the body.”

He went on to say, also in 1989, “All of our research, whatever it be, in house or out, should, in the long term, basically open the door into the investigation of biofield energy as applied to the mechanism of the total organism … I conceive this program to be an investigatory research of subtle energy which represents sound, light and color, as it applies to the physical well-being of humankind.” (The Founders Statement, 9-29-89, pp. 4-5.)

In 1989 he also wrote: "Science will awaken to the electronic field as it applies to diagnosing the human aura. Research in this field under the sponsorship of science will lead to the invention of diagnostic (instruments) that will be used to diagnose the human aura ... Proceeding from diagnosis to treatment, the new age physician will then turn to another newly projected piece of electronic equipment. The auric penetrating equipment will beam a force field of healing ray to that area in need of balance as indicated ... A further piece of equipment will be designed to "charge" the physical energy field, the magnetism and metabolism of the body ..." (Draft Memorandum, 1-4-89, pp. 1-2)

The following notions came through to Mr. Fetzer in Jim Gordon’s early 1980’s channelings: (St. Germaine:) “…healing through a non-medication and non-surgical means, through working with certain vibrations and sounds, [and] working with machinery that can change and alter vibrational patterns of the aura and the chakras” (… such machines, the Masters asserted, had been commonplace in Atlantis and Lemuria, and many more ‘have been developed over the centuries at Mt. Shasta’). Thus, ‘through the protection of the foundation,’ great minds would be able to ‘find ways of manifesting that which is needed to change and alter the healing procedures of man today,’ which in turn would alter ‘the genetic factor towards a healthier oriented physical body’. Ultimately, this will ‘change the karmic pattern of [humankind’s] spiritual development and begin once again to open up the spiritual identity of the I AM within’.” (Jim Gordon Channeling, Dec 20-21 1981)

In 2011 Bruce Fetzer summed up John’s views on Energy Medicine as follows: “There’s an energy signature to the body that shows up as the aura, that you can use not only to diagnose but to treat. For instance, if you could balance an imbalance through treating the energy field of the body, that would stave off serious physical disease, and you would have a non-invasive, less costly intervention. The whole purpose of John’s intent in this was to balance the physical, emotional, and mental, in order to attain spiritual enlightenment. That was a precursor. Because when you have extreme pain or extreme hunger or whatever, you can’t develop spiritually because you’re being held back.” (BFetzer Interview, 02-2011 p. 11)

While Mr. Fetzer steadfastly pursued tangible experience of God, his endeavors were underpinned by a strong and abiding conviction that God exists. However, while that conviction regarding the existence of a Higher Power never wavered, his approach to experiencing and proving God’s existence went through continual evolution.

As a young man, at the beginning of his spiritual journey, when speaking in front of his college graduating class in the early 1920’s he referred to this faith in basic religious terms. “Every noble achievement they [our forefathers] made was measured by simple faith, child-like faith, … the greatest faith ever given to man – faith in an all-seeing, all-powerful God.” (Faith of Our Fathers, 5-22-27 p. 4)

By the 1960’s, after 30 years of going to mediums, practicing Freemasonry, and reading Theosophy, his views had progressed. In his genealogy book, One Man’s Family, written in 1964 he noted, “Some have said in the past that this philosophy is imbedded in the spiritual; presently some venture to scientifically refer to it as the cosmic; in the future, when science and religion have an understanding about the wholeness of the universe, it will be called the power of God! … Just as the religionists of this days find a measure of mental therapy in the Lord's Prayer, so in time to come the scientific religionist may find solace in the Great Invocation (which was designed by Theosophist Alice Bailey to invoke the physical presence of a Master into the room).” (One Man’s Family, 1964 Chap 19 - Truth and Consequences. P. 183)

And in 1967, in “This I Believe," Mr. Fetzer said, "I am not addicted to church activity, although I have had exposure to strong fundamental religious teaching and have a long line of ancestral “believers” dating to the time of the Christian Crusade ... it is my view that there is a crying need, the world over, for a new concept concerning the extra-terrestrial order of things in relation to individual spiritual needs ..." (This I Believe, 4-10-67, p. 1)

In 1971 Fetzer laid out a scientific approach to spiritual practice, writing, “The physical man is an intricate electronic device (instrument) with a set of transistor-like cells built in from head to toe. … Each and every one of them vibrates with cosmic energy and is a permanently adjusted miniature receiver of electronic wave-forms from the Central Source – the Universal Mind. … This entire body system is known as the subconscious mind. Thus, the subconscious mind of man is in complete attunement with and has every attribute of the Universal Mind at all times.”  (America’s Agony, 1971, pp. 400-401)

In 1986, Fetzer was asked what the Fetzer Institute has to do “with merging science and religion and spirituality?” Fetzer answered, "I think one of the ultimate goals of the Foundation is just exactly that -- the merging of science with what I prefer to call infinite energy. We're trying to find other words that will include this concept." (A Talk with John Fetzer, 1986).

Throughout his lifetime Fetzer was a ‘spiritual seeker’. In the 1930’s he began his decades-long involvement with Freemasonry and mediums/channelers/clairvoyants. By the 1950’s he was reading Theosophy, and Alice Bailey, and the Theosophically-inspired series, Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East by Baird T. Spaulding. In the 1960’s he associated with the well-known clairvoyant Jean Dixon. In the 1970’s he was initiated into and practiced Transcendental Meditation and was one of the earliest practitioners of A Course in Miracles. In the 1980’s he made the clairvoyant Jim Gordon his spiritual advisor, and, following the advice of Mr. Gordon became an initiate of the surat shabd yoga meditation practice (through The Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness or MSIA).

In his later years he founded and, in the early 1980’s, endowed the John E. Fetzer Foundation which, under his guidance, supported disciplined scientific research into non-traditional healing methods, particularly energy medicine, and also into communication with the non-physical world through meditation and other means.

Highly service oriented, Fetzer strove to integrate science and spirituality and was uncommonly successful in creating both material success and inner spiritual development through wide ranging study and practical experience.

For a more extensive bio, search for the biography of John E. Fetzer (link).

He articulated this in the context of the Fetzer Foundation in this way: “…[We are] trying to create a community of freedom within the Foundation, which is based upon freedom of consciousness, freedom of the individual, freedom of movement, freedom of thought, freedom of development and freedom of expression, which will allow the Foundation to succeed in its mission, to find balance within and without, in the educational process.” (Review of Past Remarks, 2-13-91, p. 2)

He also spoke of “freedom from;” that is, freedom of consciousness from this earth plane, from the body, from anything that would restrict it. In some of his last words to his Board of Trustees, he wrote, “The liberation on the individual level only manifests when one cries out for freedom. Free me of these -- of those bonds, of these chains. Free me of these pains, these anguishes. Free me and bring me into that place of loving. When one calls out in such a way, the consciousness of liberation is stirred within as well as without and liberation becomes reality. This is how the liberating action begins to free one of the downward turns in a spiral of consciousness and brings one up into the higher focus back into your higher self. It is here you will find the answers to the final definition of the institute's purpose in accordance with the agenda we have put in place." (Review of Past Remarks 2-13-91, p. 2)

Mr. Fetzer saw freedom in a higher context, as a spiritual “freedom of consciousness.” In a 1987 interview about the Hall of Records he had built into the Fetzer Administration Building (which was removed in the later 1990’s), he said: “Well, when it comes to Thomas Jefferson we are going back again to a question of freedom. Because when we talk about balance [he had earlier in the interview spoken of this balance as, "the balance between the physical, and emotional, the mental, and the spiritual"] we are actually talking about a new Declaration of Independence. We had a Declaration of Independence which was inaugurated by the Founding Fathers of this country. And when we come back to this aspect of it, we are talking about a new Declaration of Independence -- seeking again to bring about a new source of freedom to man which he has never experienced heretofore. Because if man can really find that balance, then he will be in a position not only to handle his problems of living in the physical, but he will also be on a path that can lead him to that balance which is the real cause of what we're talking about. … When he becomes a balanced person, he's traveling towards what? The soul (the first ‘spiritual region’ above the mind region in MSIA parlance {see the 2018 memo by Fetzer Memorial Trustee Thomas Beaver, Surat Shabd Yoga and John Fetzer}) - which is the ultimate goal.  So that's again tying all these things together, each one of them." (4-8-87 Fetzer interview with Jan Anderson, quoted in the memo, John Fetzer’s Hall of Records, by Tom Beaver, 6-3-13)

Mr. Fetzer alluded to this in his Founders Statement speech in September 1989 saying, “Over a period of time, if a greater liberation to find balance is to manifest upon this planet, this freedom must first manifest. The liberation on the individual level only manifest when one cries out for freedom. Free me of these bonds, of these chains. Free me of these pains, these anguishes, free me and bring me into that place of loving. When one calls out in such a way, the consciousness of liberation is stirred within, as well as without, and liberation becomes reality. This is how the liberating action begin, to free one of the downward turn in a spiral of consciousness, and brings one up into the higher focus, back into your higher self.” (Founder’s Statement, 9-29-89, p. 6)

In an interview, Bruce Fetzer noted how John Fetzer looked at this idea: “Freedom of spirit is being spiritually free. He [John Fetzer] also talked about soul awareness (see “soul awareness” elsewhere in this glossary) and being ‘free of the chains that bind’, in his words.” (Bruce Fetzer, BFetzer 02-2011, p. 39)

The evolution of Mr. Fetzer’s awareness of the nature of God can be tracked in his remarks over time.

In America’s Agony (1971), John wrote, “The human body is composed of over eighty trillion such electric cells. Each and every one of them vibrates with cosmic energy and is a permanently adjusted miniature receiver of electronic wave-forms from the Central Source – the Universal Mind.

“This, in the East, is known as the ‘Thousand Petaled Lotus’ but, in the West, as a high-gain parabolic antenna of supreme sensitivity, which is electronically tuned to the incoming rays of the Infinite Intelligence as referred to above. This concentration of Universal Energy is transmitted from this vital nerve-ending antenna to the cerebellum…” (America's Agony, 1971, p. 29±)

As a ‘counterbalance to his 1924 “Faith of our Fathers” college graduation speech where he spoke within a Christian context of a Supreme Being, he told a graduating class at his alma mater (Andrews University) in 1980, “Seek compatibility with the Infinite Mind. As a result of laying down your defense, it assumes safety. It is peace that brings the satisfaction of knowing and puts you in tune with the Creative Intelligence of the Divine Pattern.  … The higher you can lift your thoughts, the greater will be your achievements. …To still the human mind and to let the Inner Spirit prevail is to bring harmony and serenity to your life, here and now.” (JEF Speech to Andrews University graduating class, 6-1-80)

In 1986 Mr. Fetzer said, “I think that Love is the core energy that rules everything. It is the force field out of the electronic energy of Creation. Love is the one ingredient that holds us all together." (A Talk with John Fetzer, 1986)

In his 3-3-89 "Board Meeting Opening Remarks,” John Fetzer said, “I constantly draw on the energy of the Father for guidance.” (JEF Board Opening Remarks, 3-3&4-89, p. 1)

In November 1990, addressing the entire assembled Fetzer staff as well as Trustees and other friends who had gathered at the Fetzer Institute for the Hologram Dedication ceremony, Mr. Fetzer said, “This Hologram is receiving, from the consciousness of the high order of Melchizedek [see below for a definition of Melchizedek], a form of energy that the planet earth hasn't seen in many a decade. That form of energy is coming from the source of the highest level, directly from the throne of the highest Spirit. And for those of you that are ready to assume a path of development and advancement for yourself, now is the opportunity—because this new form of energy is at your disposal. It will lift you up and give you exposure of the very, very highest order of Deity.”  (Hologram Dedication transcript, 11-13-90, p. 6)

In western or allopathic medicine, healing is accomplished through manipulating the body chemistry with pharmaceuticals or through surgical procedures to remove diseased tissue. There are also healing modalities that physically manipulate the body structure. All of these address aspects of the physical body.

Mr. Fetzer became convinced over time that there were effective healing methodologies that did not directly involve the physical body but had influence on it. At the World Conference sponsored by the Fetzer Foundation, he said, “…living things represent a form of transmission, reception and amplification, of electronic wave forms, and faces head-on the question, that as a dynamic force of energy, we are much more than mere chemical machines.” (World Conference Closing Remarks 6-25-88, p. 5)

In particular he was a proponent of scientifically approached healing methods dealing with the energetic levels in and around the body. In a memorandum he stated, “Healing will take place in the physical form as the electronic beam is administered through the electromagnetic field of the body of the patient, the treatment being administered to the identical spot in the human auric field.” (Draft Of Memorandum 1-4-89, p. 2)

In his 1989 Founders Statement, Mr. Fetzer addressed the broader aspect of healing. Referencing the Fetzer Institute logo image, he wrote, “Let us look for a moment at the foundation and its symbol and meaning. So that's the Fetzer logo, which is a downward-pointing triangle with the J and the F in it. ... We have a triangle and that triangle has three points of service within the Foundation -- body, mind, and spirit. And yet, within that triangle, there is the four square that makes up the activities of the foundation of working within humankind on a physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual level. For in order to have perfect balance, we must have the perfect awareness. We must have the understanding of body, of mind, and of spirit, and we must have balance of the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual in order that we might find fully the true spiritual expression leading to complete healing.” (The Founders Statement 9-29-89, p. 1)

John Fetzer stated that true health was, “…the integral relationships of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions of humankind.” (Board Meeting, 3-3&4-89, p.2)

He also said, “Health is the unified flow and function of a finite human creative system that is self-correcting and sustaining.” (World Conference Closing Remarks, 6-25-88)

As Tom Beaver stated in a 2011 interview, “Maybe the point is, as soon as you believe in reincarnation, this ultimate heaven notion of orthodox Christianity, and perhaps orthodox Islam and perhaps orthodox Judaism as well, falls by the wayside. Without that notion of an ultimate heaven that faith would get you into, then faith really loses its pre-eminence.”  (Fetzer Interview1 5-5-2011, p. 5 Tom)

Mr. Fetzer considered that there were a number of higher realms of consciousness that might be considered heavens, and the teachings of surat shabd yoga—including The Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA) which Mr. Fetzer studied in the final years of his life—posits that the heavens of some traditional religions are actually waypoints where Souls may rest on Their journey into even-higher spiritual regions. MSIA teachings proposed that when the body dies, who we are—the Soul—would reach into the highest level to which it had become established, and then would continue to evolve from that state of being until, possibly, a future physical life where additional progress can take place through inner practice.

Also, in the teachings of surat shabd and of MSIA are that Souls that have incarnated into the earth plane can reach ‘a higher realm’ through spiritual practice, (MSIA calls it the Soul Realm, the first positive level of Spirit, above the realms of the physical body and the mind), from which the Soul need not reincarnate; and from there progress into even higher realms of Spirit. (BF Interview 5-5-2011 p. 5)

In 1986, Fetzer was asked what the Fetzer Institute has to do “with merging science and religion and spirituality?” Fetzer answered, "I think one of the ultimate goals of the Foundation is just exactly that -- the merging of science with what I prefer to call infinite energy. We're trying to find other words that will include this concept." (A Talk with John Fetzer, 1986).

In America’s Agony (1971), John wrote concisely regarding this dynamic notion, saying, “The human body is composed of over eighty trillion such electric cells. Each and every one of them vibrates with cosmic energy and is a permanently adjusted miniature receiver of electronic wave-forms from the Central Source – the Universal Mind … The confederation of intelligent entities or cells … is connected through the nervous system to the more sensitive cells of the brain and culminates in a concentrated center in the frontal dome of the head. This, in the East, is known as the ‘Thousand Petaled Lotus’ but, in the West, as a high-gain parabolic antenna of supreme sensitivity, which is electronically tuned to the incoming rays of the Infinite Intelligence as referred to above. This concentration of Universal Energy is transmitted from this vital nerve-ending antenna to the cerebellum … This entire body system is known as the subconscious mind. Thus. the subconscious mind of man is in complete attunement with and has every attribute of the Universal Mind at all times. … Divine knowledge is realized, not taught. It is attained by concentration which disciplines one’s conscious mind to remain quiescent and allow his subconscious to perceive the radiation from Universal Mind to bring the peace and security.” (America's Agony by John E. Fetzer, 1971, from The Men From Wengen, p. 401-403)

In a channeled letter to John from Jesus (via Jim Gordon), John was told, “The Foundation is an experiment that we are conducting, just as you will conduct experiments with certain machinery presented to you, we are conducting an experiment through this Foundation in homes to find success.” (Channeled Letter to John Fetzer from Jim Gordon, channeling Jesus, 12-21-81)

In a channeled letter to John from a being that became known to John Fetzer as Cato (via Jim Gordon), it was stated, “The Foundation is to be a center where all ideas are taken into account, medical and non-medical, mechanical and medicinal, secular and religious, to find the key for the healing of the whole man.” (Channeled Letter to John Fetzer from Jim Gordon, channeling Cato, 3-18-82)

In his Memorandum to The Board of Trustees, 7/15/88, John wrote:

"All of my professional life has been identified with electronic energy. It was that identification that was the guiding voice that led to the establishment of the Foundation. Hence, my priority is relatively simple and that is to open the door to research into biofield medicine which investigates energetic mechanisms of the total organism." (Memorandum to The Board of Trustees, 7-15-88, p.2)

In 1988, the Foundation’s mission was formally stated to be: The John E. Fetzer Foundation supports and provides research, education, and service designed to discover and enhance the integral relationships of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of experience which foster human growth, action, and responsible improvement of the human condition.” (Memorandum to the Board of Trustees, 7-15-88, p. 1)

In his March, 1989 opening remarks to his Board of Trustees, John Fetzer said, “The Foundation actually was put together on a very simple premise, the simplest of premises. To that of research, education, and service.” (JEF Board Opening Remarks, 3-3&489, p. 2)

John Fetzer also very clear that the Institute was not to duplicate existing research. In the September, 1989 Founder’s Statement he said, “Let me tell you what the Foundation is not. The Foundation is not here to duplicate that which is being done by others. This cannot be over emphasized.” Later in those remarks he said to the Board of Directors, “You are not designed to duplicate or compete with existing institutions but rather to complement them by addressing critical gaps ...” (Founder’s Statement, 9-29-89, p. 2)

In a 2011 interview with two of the Trustees involved during the formation of the Foundation/Institute it was noted that John Fetzer thought in the 1970’s that, “…the purpose of the Foundation was to solve the question of whether consciousness survives death.” (BFetzer/TBeaver Interview 11/2/2011 channelings2, p. 29)

John Fetzer had a 'deep view' of the intuitive process, connecting it with the process of spiritual development.

In 1974, in an interview for Psychic Magazine, Fetzer spoke about the importance to him of his intuition, saying, "Success is a thing that I've always taken for granted," he notes, "and I should suspect it's because I do trust intuition to the point that I don't make enough wrong decisions to undermine a successful rhythm." To Fetzer, intuition is synonymous with the workings of the subconscious mind: "I literally order the subconscious mind to do research and come up with answers. Ultimately I find the answers." 

In 1971, in America's Agony, Fetzer wrote that the source of intuition is the subconscious mind: "The subconscious mind of man is in complete attunement with and has every attribute of the Universal Mind at all times. … The conscious mind issues the command and the subconscious mind fulfills the order. " 

In "Truth or Consequences," the last chapter of his 1964 genealogy book, The Men From Wengen, Fetzer again expounded on this subject: "The subconscious mind is a powerful storage condenser of material, which can be spontaneously drawn upon by the conscious mind when needed. ... the subconscious mind annihilates time and space, and acts as a powerful transiting and receiving station, communicating with the physical, mental and cosmic forces to supremely unify all energy into intelligent use by the conscious mind. It ... radiates from mind to mind on a man-to-man meetings-of-minds basis."

The mission of the John E. Fetzer Memorial Trust is to ensure the integrity of the founder's spiritual legacy, by seeking to advance integrated, relational views of reality through exploring scientific frontiers and universal spiritual practices.

A key role of the John E. Fetzer Memorial Trust encompasses researching and documenting the founder's life, vision and mission for the John E. Fetzer Institute.

A complete history of the Trust appears here (link to Trust History in fetzertrust.org). Importantly, the Trust developed a statement of donor intent to capture John E. Fetzer’s intent for his perpetual philanthropy. “To inquire into the interconnectedness between science and spirituality, for the transformation of self and society.” (link to Trust Mission Statement in fetzertrust.org)

In a 1982 interview, Fetzer connected his beliefs in reincarnation and karma, saying about his notion of past lives, "I think all of this has had to satisfy karma. The truth about our lives in other times, that we were back here, all of our relationships were such that we had to have, this time around—it goes the way it did, to satisfy previous karma. We had debts we had to pay, and I think we have paid those this time around. That's the only answer on the spiritual level that you could come up with."

In 1989 Fetzer wrote to the Fetzer Institute trustees, "The Foundation was established to pursue a health program designed to discover the integral relationships of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of human-kind; to enhance partnerships in resources, alliances in global networking, and educational programs; and basically to open the door to research into bio-field medicine which investigates the energetic mechanisms of the total organism. My intent here was to make laboratory research a top priority." And, “All of our research, whatever it be, in house or out, should, in the long term, basically open the door into the investigation of biofield energy as applied to the mechanism of the total organism." And, "In the laboratory, unbiased truth can be pursued."

And: "As for the research in our in-house laboratory, I conceive this program to be an investigatory research of subtle energy which represents sound, light, and color, as it applies to the physical well-being of humankind. All of our research, whatever it be, in house or out, should, in the long term, basically open the door into the investigation of biofield energy as applied to the mechanism of the total organism."

Further: "I believe there are many willing listeners, including an Einstein or Edison, hidden from normal view, awaiting to be brought into manifestation. Many conventional laboratories are manned by young scientists, awaiting the inspiration of a guiding hand."

And in a 1986 interview, he said, "I think one of the ultimate goals of the Foundation is ... the merging of science with what I prefer to call Infinite energy."

In the teachings of surat shabd yoga (through the Movement of Spiritual Awareness, MSIA) that John Fetzer was studying in the final half-decade of his life, it is stated that the nature of the Soul is liberation from the physical body and the mind. And that this liberation is to be attained through spiritual inner practice (that is, surat shabd yoga). This level of awareness is also referred to in MSIA as Soul awareness—the attainment of what they call the Soul Plane, above the realms of the physical body and the mind. When this level of awareness is attained, the Soul is liberated from the cycle of birth and rebirth (reincarnation).

In a Jim Gordon channeling it was stated, “But the true purpose, the true desire and goal, is spiritual liberation, to be liberated from one plane, that of the physical and all of the universes that coordinate with that, to be liberated into the soul and there free, able to move into the realms of spirit and search out the onement with God.”  (Jim Gordon Channeling, 1984 – 08-00)

In a 1985 channeling by Jim Gordon to John of the “Masters of Inner Light,” it was said, “There are many different groups, organizations and religious philosophies one can follow. … they will lead you only into the astral, and others on into the causal and mental, and there are a few that will lead you to the doorway of the etheric. … There are only a few spiritual philosophical groups in the world today that offer the path of spiritual liberation.” And the next day, in subsequent channeling: “John Roger (the “Mystical Traveller” of MSIA) is one who does this. Charan Singh (Satguru of Radhasoami Satsang, Beas, India), and Darshan Singh (Satguru of Ruhani Satsang, Delhi, India), are individuals in India doing this. … Study them and find the one that you feel comfortable with, and then follow it to the end. Follow it to liberation.’ (Jim Gordon Channelings, 1-29-85 and 1-30-85)

In This I Believe, 1967, Mr. Fetzer expanded his notion of life further: "On the scientific side, we have attempted herein to extend the explanation of Einstein's Quantum Theory, which is the approach to electronics as the basis of life; namely, that there can be no effective religion, science, social or philosophical structure, nor satisfying living, outside the indisputable and basic fact that there is oneness in all things. Thus, the spiritual forces united with the scientific ... now become the essence of the inner life force of man. Furthermore, your growth is in direct proportion to your degree of enlightenment concerning this Universal Principal. … In the new age that lies immediately ahead, through electronic instruments, direct communication between persons on the earth plane and those of the higher planes will become commonplace. This will solve forever the efficacy of the reality of life in other vibratory forms and the eternity of the human soul."

Mr. Fetzer’s conception of life included the notion of reincarnation—birth, death, and rebirth again—both on this physical plane of existence and progressing into higher non-physical or spiritual realms as well. In an interview in 1984, Mr. Fetzer referred to life in the context of past existences or past reincarnations with the same fellow-beings. “We’ve been associated innumerable times before. When you understand the principles of reincarnation, all of your groupies come back, they all find each other in life after life. They all come back about the same time, and fulfill different capacities each time they come back. Just as it did with … innumerable people around me. We’ve all been associated before.” (JEF Interview with KAveritt, Lafayette, IN, 10-28-82)

Through the 1960’s, John Fetzer also held this generally-accepted view. In 1971 wrote in America’s Agony, “The ultimate objective of meditation is to experience true serenity and tranquility. It is not an intellectual theory that is sought, but perception and total Wisdom. Divine knowledge is realized, not taught. It is attained by concentration which disciplines one's conscious mind to remain quiescent and allow his subconscious to perceive the radiation from Universal Mind to bring the peace and security. It cannot be overly emphasized that the conscious mind must be isolated and not allowed to encumber the subconscious in its quest for Wisdom.  (The Men from Wengen, p. 403)

By the mid-70s (when he was in his mid-70’s in age), Fetzer shifted his notion of meditation into one of focusing the mind by chanting (inwardly) a sound, or mantra, and then ‘riding’ the sound that comes in from, and back to, higher spiritual levels. In 1975 he took initiation into Transcendental Meditation, which involves the initiate being given a unique mantra to chant, and to go where the mantra ‘takes’ the meditator inwardly. And in early 1986 (when he was 85 years old), Mr. Fetzer took initiation into surat shabd yoga (Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, aka MSIA, version), where the initiate chants five Sanskrit words and then inwardly ‘rides’ an upward-moving ‘sound’ (the “shabd” of “sound current” of the higher spiritual regions) up-and-out of the body and into higher spiritual regions. (see the 2018 memo by Fetzer Memorial Trustee Thomas Beaver, Surat Shabd Yoga and John Fetzer)

From the channelings of Jim Gordon and other sources, John Fetzer considered that meditation was the foundation of spirituality and living a spiritual life. Specifically, he accepted the idea that “Meditation, study, and service is the path back to God.” More to the point, “Meditation is the key. It’s number one. If you meditate and follow that inner path, you’ll be free and liberated in God.” (BFetzer Interview 8-8-2012, p. 23)

In Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA) parlance, they consider themselves to be the spiritual lineage of the Order of the Melchizedek Priesthood, and Melchizedek is known as the first “Mystical Traveller” or Satguru (with John-Roger, who founded MSIA in the 1960’s, considering himself to be the contemporary “Mystical Traveller”).

The Roman Catholic Priesthood’s offering of bread and wine in their Sacrament of the Eucharist is taken from the tradition of Melchizedek (In Genesis 14:18, Melchizedek offers a sacrifice of bread and wine). And, similarly to MSIA, the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) consider their high officials to be in the lineage of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

It is in the mental realm of consciousness that the mind operates and thoughts occur. And when one is traveling in surat shabd practice in this level, structures can be created by thought alone.

Through his studies of Freemasonry and Theosophy, as well as the Theosophically-inspired writings of Shafica Karagulla (Breakthrough to Creativity) and meeting with Karagulla herself in the 1960’s, by the time Jon Fetzer wrote Americas Agony in 1971, he had a well formulated notion of the possibility of communication by the Universal Mind through a person’s subconscious and conscious mind.

In America’s Agony, John Fetzer wrote, “The conscious mind is your center of control … the supreme ruler or high command of our mental world. Through this, our power to think, to will, to know, to choose and to deal with all impressions gathered through the senses are demonstrated.

But it is the subconscious mind that Fetzer found to be particularly spiritually connected. “The physical man is an intricate electronic device with a set of transistor-like cells built in from head to toe,” Fetzer wrote in America’s Agony. “The human body is composed of over eighty trillion such electric cells. Each and every one of them vibrates with cosmic energy and is a permanently adjusted miniature receiver of electronic wave-forms from the Central Source – the Universal Mind. The confederation of intelligent entities or cells which biologically formulates the total human anatomy, from the first to the last, is connected through the nervous system to the more sensitive cells of the brain and culminates in a concentrated center in the frontal dome of the head. This, in the East, is known as the “Thousand Petaled Lotus,” but, in the West, as a high-gain parabolic antenna of supreme sensitivity, which is electronically tuned to the incoming rays of the Infinite Intelligence as referred to above. …  This entire body system is known as the subconscious mind. Thus, the subconscious mind of man is in complete attunement with and has every attribute of the Universal Mind at all times. Every member of the human family without exception is the recipient of this omnipresent flow of electronic Infinite Goodness. … Divine knowledge is realized, not taught. It is attained by concentration which disciplines one’s conscious mind to remain quiescent and allow his subconscious to perceive the radiation from Universal Mind to bring the peace and security.” (America’s Agony, 1971, from The Men From Wengen, p. 401-403)

In 1974, Mr. Fetzer talked about the intuitive abilities of his own subconscious mind, saying, “Success is a thing that I've always taken for granted, and I should suspect it's because I do trust intuition to the point that I don't make enough wrong decisions to undermine a successful rhythm. I literally order the subconscious mind to do research and come up with answers. Ultimately, I find the answers. … I’m generally able to find the answers intuitively.” (JFetzer interview in Psychic Magazine, Men in Business issue, 1974)

In a mid-1980’s channeling for John Fetzer, Jim Gordon talked about the importance of focusing the mind in this meditative process. “The mind can act as a tool or as an enemy. For most people today, it acts as an enemy and blocks the path to God consciousness, for it limits man's potential for focus and keeps man focused on the physical and emotional realms; so he loses sight of that where he is really wanting to go into God awareness. … It is important to understand this principle, that if you are going to rise into God consciousness.” (Jim Gordon Channeling, 8-17-85, p. 2)

In surat shabd yoga parlance, as denoted in the MSIA version which John Fetzer practiced the last five years of his life, there are two higher realms pertaining to the mind, which can be traveled to and through, inwardly, using the surad shabd meditation practice. These are: the astral plane (or the lower mind, or imagination), and the mental realm (of the higher mind). (see the 2018 memo by Fetzer Memorial Trustee Thomas Beaver, Surat Shabd Yoga and John Fetzer)

“The John E. Fetzer Foundation supports and provides research, education, and service designed to discover and enhance the integral relationships of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of experience which foster human growth, action, and responsible improvement of the human condition.

“Let us look for a moment at the Foundation and at its symbol and its meaning. We have a triangle and that triangle has three points of service, within the foundation – of body, mind and spirit. For in order to have the perfect balance, we must have the perfect awareness. We must have the understanding of body, mind and spirit and we must have balance of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual in order that we might fully find the true spiritual expression leading to complete healing.

“We must have the understanding of body, mind and spirit and we must have balance of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual in order that we might fully find the true spiritual expression leading to complete healing. … So what the Foundation is achieving for itself, and eventually for all to see, to understand, and to participate in, if they choose, is the comprehension, the knowing of this principle.” (Founder’s Statement, 9-29-89, p. 1)

John Fetzer had a broader understanding of the term, in the sense that he connected it to repeatable, or scientific, processes (that is, particular forms of meditation and ritual) through which communication with high spiritual consciousness, and beings, can become the means of tangible improvement—physical, mental and emotional—for the human condition and experience. He subscribed to Einstein’s statement, “The most beautiful and most profound emotion we can experience, is the mystical. It is the source of all true science.” (Founders Statement, 9-29-89, p. 5)

In a 1989 paper to his Institute Trustees, Mr. Fetzer wrote of this process, “It is stepping back in time, but if one looks at it in a different perspective and moves away from the mythology of alchemy and moves in to the patterning of medical science, one can begin to perceive that in the ‘time of mysticism’, and in the time of alchemy and mythology, there were great statements of fact (Truth) presented. It was presented in the consciousness of that day. Now it is presented through the eyes of quantum physics. That approach is something that needs to be brought in consonance with interpretations of the old mysticism and then be brought forward.” (Thoughts On Research, 10-4-89, p. 2)

John Fetzer defined oneness in the context of becoming one with the Universe and its Creator. In his paper, “Thoughts on Research,” he wrote: “The Foundation can bring forward through its research program this understanding through the physical, through the emotional, through the mental and through the spiritual wherein man unfolds unto himself the universality of oneness, the brotherhood, the sisterhood, the loving, leading to Truth.” (Thoughts On Research, 10-4-89, p. 1)

“I believe this understanding will precipitate the consciousness of oneness with the great Creative Intelligence in which we are all a part.” (Thoughts On Research, 10-4-89, p. 2)

And in his 1989 Founder’s Statement, Fetzer added, “It seems apparent to me that there has been a great outpouring of energy and that humankind, on a mass level, is seeking to bring into embodiment, this greater balance, individually and collectively. This consciousness is one having to do with the collective synthesis, a coming together of the many into the one – recognizing that we are all equal, and all the same and all of one body. Mankind has been walking a path towards this knowledge for some time, seeking understandings of this collective oneness.” (Founders Statement, 9-29-89, p. 1-2)

John Fetzer had reason to believe he had had a number of physical embodiments and also that many of his current associates in this lifetime had been with him in some of those past lives.

According to Brian C. Wilson, in his study of John Fetzer and channeling done through Western Michigan University, “Fetzer had long believed in the reality of past lives and had always been keen to discover the details his.” (John E. Fetzer and the Phenomenon of Channeling, by Prof. Brian Wilson, p. 20) … According to [channeler, Jim] Gordon, Fetzer had past lives as [among others] an unnamed Egyptian Pharaoh, Joseph of Arimathea, Aristides (a Greek philosopher), St. Francis, Francis I and Louis XIV of France, and Thomas Jefferson. Gordon also confirmed that during each of these lives, not only were Fetzer’s associates present, but Gordon himself was a contemporary of the group.” (John E. Fetzer and the Phenomenon of Channeling, by Prof. Brian Wilson, p. 20)

In another Jim Gordon channeling of John Fetzer’s past life in Atlantis which was referred to in Wilson’s study, Wilson stated, “Throughout this channeled narrative, Jim Gordon was careful to identify many of the story’s characters … as past lives of individuals in the Monday Night Group, thereby underscoring that Fetzer and the group had been reincarnating together since Atlantis in order to complete a joint task left undone with the cataclysm that destroyed the island.” (John E. Fetzer and the Phenomenon of Channeling, by Prof. Brian Wilson, p. 20)

In a 1984 interview, Mr. Fetzer referred to reincarnations with the same fellow-beings in life after life. “We’ve been associated innumerable times before. When you understand the principles of reincarnation, all of your groupies come back, they all find each other in life after life. They all come back about the same time and fulfill different capacities each time they come back. Just as it did with … innumerable people around me. We’ve all been associated before.” (JEF Interview with KAveritt, Lafayette, IN, 10-28-82)

For this glossary, philosophy refers mainly to religious and spiritual systems of belief.

As John Fetzer was interested in exploration into areas that extended beyond what are recognized as natural law—i.e., energy medicine, alternate non-physical realities, past lives—he was not averse to employing non-traditional or psychic means to further research into them. He particularly considered channelings from sources that proved empirically to be reliable and of value (from persons referring to themselves as psychics, mediums, channelers, clairvoyants).

Fetzer tried out a lot of psychics over the course of his lifetime. Many he found to be useless, or fake, but sometimes he found a psychic that he got valid information from and learned to trust … and these trusted psychics were used by him again and again. These included astrologer Ella McLaren in Washington DC in the later 1930’s, Indiana mediums Charlie Swann, Clifford Bias and Lillian Johnson in the 1940’s-1970’s, Jean Dixon in the 1960’s, Helen Schucman (channeler of “A Course in Miracles”) and Ken Killick in the 1970’s, and Jim Gordon in the 1980’s.

Through his own experience and study, John Fetzer had what he accepted as convincing evidence of the veracity of this concept.

Some systems of spirituality, including surat shabd yoga with John Fetzer practiced, include reincarnation in their teaching that a person keeps reincarnating until he/she is able to advance (or evolve) into higher levels of creation through inner practice and ritual. John Fetzer was an adherent of this notion.

By 1989 Mr. Fetzer had honed this mission into succinct concepts. He told his Trustees, "The Foundation was actually put together on a very simple premise, the simplest of premises that of research, education and service. Very simple - research, education and service. Three sides of the triangle. …The Foundation was established to pursue a health program designed to discover the integral relationships of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of human-kind; to enhance partnerships in resources, alliances in global networking, and educational programs, and basically to open the door to research into bio-field medicine which investigates the energetic mechanisms of the total organism. My intent here was to make laboratory research a top priority." (Opening Remarks to the 3-3&4 -89 Foundation Board Meeting, p.2)

He further stated, "In the laboratory, unbiased truth can be pursued. … We must search out one avenue, one area, in the beginning, then let the ripple effect have its way to move the energy into the scientific community." (Thoughts on Research, 10-4-89, p. 3)

John Fetzer was dedicated to discovering new insights in non-traditional areas.  Initially, these included alternative healing, communication with those who had passed on or who lived in other ‘non-physical regions of creation’, and what might be termed psychic phenomena (ESP, telepathy, healing using the aura, etc.).  He had a life-long inquiry into the interconnectedness between science and spirituality for the transformation of self and society.  Had he lived until today, he would have moved beyond the specific interests discussed in this digital library.  He established the Fetzer Foundation (later the Fetzer Institute) in perpetuity to fund the leading edges of this inquiry.

Being an engineer, John Fetzer had scientific training, and therefore he was a pragmatist and realist. So, while he was interested in non-traditional areas of study and research, he demanded that any research the Fetzer Foundation funded be conducted according to the highest scientific standards.

In 1989, Fetzer wrote, "In the laboratory, unbiased truth can be pursued. (Thoughts on Research, 10-4-89, p. 3)

 In a 2012 interview, Bruce Fetzer stated, “We are thinking in a very catalytic way, we’re taking the routes of this spiritual impulse, and we’re creating this bridge between the alternative view and reductionistic traditional view. That is the core purpose of Fetzer Franklin, to realize the legacy of the scientific vision of the founder, but to do it in a way that makes an impact.” (BFetzer Interview 6-27-12, Channelings 5, p. 8)

In a channeled letter to Fetzer in 1981, he was told, “Know that you are embarking on a Path of Service, not just to a few but to the many. Hear me Beloved and know that I (Jesus) am with you and soon shall share in this service to man.” (Letter from Jim Gordon to John Fetzer, where he is channeling Jesus, Nov. 1981).

And, “Meditation, study and service is the path way back to God.” (Channeling by Jim Gordon to John Fetzer of “Cato,” 1-30-85)

And, “The upward triangle is outer service, the downward triangle is inner service.” (Channeling by Jim Gordon to John Fetzer and ‘The Monday Night Group’ of Archangel Michael, 1-5-82)

And in 1992, John’s spiritual advisor Jim Gordon wrote, “There are three major pathways to the knowing of God.  These are the path of study, the path of service, and the path of prayer and meditation.” (The Knowing of God, Jim Gordon, 1992, p. 78)

In Fetzer’s 1989 “Founder’s Statement,” he wrote of the soul as the spiritual aspect of a person: “In order (for a person) to have the perfect balance, we must have the perfect awareness. We must have the understanding of body, mind and spirit (soul) and we must have balance of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual in order that we might fully find the true spiritual expression leading to complete healing.”

This three-part and four-part description of a person was, for Fetzer, a connection to the Masonic triangle and square … and it also connected to the MSIA description of a person consisting of body (the physical), lower-mind (imagination), emotions, higher mind (mental), subconscious mind, and the soul (the aspect of a person connected to the high spiritual aspects of creation).

John Fetzer, through his practice of a version of surat shabd (Light and Sound) yoga (meditation) taught by the Movement of Spiritual Awareness (MSIA), came to adopt a (MSIA’s) dual notion of “soul.” Thus, to John Fetzer (for the last five years of his life), “soul” referred to the highest part of a person’s being, and also to the first spiritual plane (above the mind) of existence, the “soul plane” or “soul realm,” the attainment of which is called (in MSIA) “Soul awareness.” (see the 2018 memo by Fetzer Memorial Trustee Thomas Beaver, Surat Shabd Yoga and John Fetzer.).  

In MSIA, the 5-part description of the levels of creation are as follows:

-- (i) the astral realm … the realm of the lower mind

-- (ii) the causal realm … the realm of the emotions

-- (iii) the mental realm … the realm of the higher mind

-- (iv) the void plane … the realm of the unconscious mind … which is described as a dark crooked tunnel (making it akin to the top of the astral plane in RSSB parlance)

-- (v) the Soul realm (the first spiritual realm, at which point the soul is free of the mind) … the attainment of which is called “Soul awareness” … at which point an initiate is free of the ‘wheel of reincarnation’.

In his “Opening Remarks to the Board” [of the Fetzer Institute] John Fetzer said, “It is my hope that all of us identified with the endeavor will seriously consider what it means to go through self-examination to the extent of seeking Soul awareness, because if you can’t find your way on this great learning planet, it’s a tragedy.” (Board Opening Remarks, 3-3&4-89, p. 1)

In a 1989 interview, Mr. Fetzer said, “…Because I believe that until you can actually experience, you can philosophize, you can talk about, you can write, and you can add all...you can put it all together, so it makes a nice scheme of things. But until you experience it, I don't think you made any headway whatsoever. So my challenge is to try to effectuate that experience of Soul awareness.” (JEF interview with KPellitier, Jan.-Feb. 1989, p. 22)

In discussing Mr. Fetzer’s view on Soul awareness in 2012, Bruce Fetzer noted, “He saw a crying need, and these alternative therapies were aimed solely at finding an alternative way of balancing the physical, emotional, and mental, so that people could awaken to spirit. This is the whole thing. If you don’t get that, you miss the whole point of these channelings. It’s not about an alternative of ‘whatever’. It’s about the spiritual awareness. The reason why the channelings talked about some of these therapies was on the premise that alternative therapies that were natural, that they came from within the body or treated the energy systems, and so were less invasive, had fewer side effects; they would help people to move further along the path of awakening, so that they could then become aware of soul.” (Fetzer Interview 6-27-12, Channelings 5, pp. 9-10)

Mr. Fetzer described this in this way. “When one calls out in such a way (through meditation) the consciousness of liberation is stirred within, as well as without, and liberation becomes reality. This is how the liberating action begins to free one of the downward turns in a spiral of consciousness and brings one up into the higher focus, back into your higher self.” (The Founder’s Statement, 9-29-89, p. 6)

For John Fetzer, the meaning had more to do with one’s personal pursuit of the experience of the spiritual, which is generally known as mysticism. His view of spirituality included the possibility of participation in a traditional religion for this purpose, but more commonly what in the West is considered to be non-traditional practices of meditation and/or ritual (and also the reading of various metaphysical or mystical materials) intended to produce an experience of Divine presence.

He also used the word in the context of one of the higher layers or realms of the inner spiritual journey; in surat shabd parlance these can be grouped into (i) the levels, or chakras, in the physical body, then the higher realms of (ii) the mind, and (iii) those above the mind—what are referred to as spiritual realms—where the soul lives spiritually free and released/liberated from the need to reincarnate back to the physical plane for a future life-or-lives. (for more on the subject of surat shabd yoga, see the 2018 memo by Thomas Beaver, Surat Shabd Yoga and John Fetzer)

Much of the work of the Fetzer Institute was dedicated to research into the balance of these various levels (with the notion that this ‘balance’ would enable a person the freedom to move between them). Mr. Fetzer stated, “The John E. Fetzer Foundation supports and provides research, education, and action designed to discover and enhance the integral relationships of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of experience which foster human growth, service, and responsible improvement of the human and cosmic condition.” (Memorandum to Board, 7-15-88, p. 1)

Thus Fetzer had the conviction that Spirit was an energy which was available to mankind to raise it to a higher consciousness—and that this process was not one of ‘religious mystery’ but rather of a scientifically-verifiable nature. In fact, he advocated for scientific research into what he also called “infinite energy.”

In 1986, when asked in an interview what the Fetzer Institute mission has to do with merging science and religion and spirituality he answered, "I think one of the ultimate goals of the Foundation is just exactly that -- the merging of science with what I prefer to call infinite energy.” (A Talk with (John Fetzer, 1986).

And in 1988 statement to his Trustees, he said, “Suffice it to say, I have long held the view, that energy scientific research, that is not accompanied by Spirit is suspect.” John E. Fetzer, Memorandum to Board 1988, p. 6)

In his Opening Remarks to the 4/24/89 Foundation Board Meeting, Fetzer said: "The Foundation was actually put together on a very simple premise, the simplest of premises. To that of research, education and service. Very simple - research, education and service. Three sides of the triangle. That's why our building was designed the way it was, to carry forward that purpose in that manner." (Opening Remarks to the Foundation Board Meeting, 4-24-89)

And in his 1989 Founders Statement, Fetzer said, “Let us look for a moment at the Foundation and at its symbol and its meaning. We have a triangle and that triangle has three points of service within the foundation – of body, mind and spirit. And yet, within that triangle where is the four square, that also makes up the activities of the Foundation – of working within humankind on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level. For in order to have the perfect balance, we must have the perfect awareness. We must have the understanding of body, mind and spirit and we must have balance of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual in order that we might fully find the true spiritual expression leading to complete healing. Otherwise, we will come from places of limitation. So what the Foundation is achieving for itself, and eventually for all to see, to understand, and to participate in, if they choose, is the comprehension, the knowing of this principle. … We must always keep the triangle purpose foremost, and search for that completion of the four-square within.” (The Founders Statement, 9-29-89, pp. 1-2)

John Fetzer considered the subconscious mind to be the ‘receiver’ for communication and spiritual energy from the highest spiritual regions including from Providence itself. In 1971 he wrote in America’s Agony: “The physical man is an intricate electronic device (instrument) with a set of transistor-like cells built in from head to toe. …  Each and every one of them vibrates with cosmic energy and is a permanently adjusted miniature receiver of electronic wave-forms from the Central Source – the Universal Mind. … The confederation of intelligent entities or cells …  is connected through the nervous system to the more sensitive cells of the brain and culminates in a concentrated center in the frontal dome of the head. This, in the East, is known as the ‘Thousand Petaled Lotus,’ but in the West as a high-gain parabolic antenna of supreme sensitivity, which is electronically tuned to the incoming rays of the Infinite Intelligence. …  This entire body system is known as the subconscious mind. Thus, the subconscious mind of man is in complete attunement with and has every attribute of the Universal Mind at all times. Every member of the human family without exception is the recipient of this omnipresent flow of electronic Infinite Goodness. … The conscious mind issues the command and the subconscious mind fulfills the order. The subconscious mind will find the solution to specific problems …” (America’s Agony, 1971, pp. 400-401)

Fetzer considered the subconscious mind to be the source of intuition. In a 1974 interview he said, “Success is a thing that I've always taken for granted, and I should suspect it's because I do trust intuition to the point that I don't make enough wrong decisions to undermine a successful rhythm. I literally order the subconscious mind to do research and come up with answers. Ultimately, I find the answers. … I’m generally able to find the answers intuitively.” (JFetzer interview in Psychic Magazine, Men in Business issue, 1974)

While the meanings are similar, John Fetzer used the word subtle to describe the energies the Foundation was considering in their research on healing, even including ‘higher’ (in frequency), non-physical energies. As he stated in his Founders Statement in 1989, “As for the research in our in-house laboratory, I conceive this program to be an investigatory research of subtle energy which represents, sound, light and color, as it applies to the physical well-being of humankind.”  (The Founders Statement, 9-29-89, p. 5)

In his closing remarks at the World Conference presented by the Fetzer Foundation, Mr. Fetzer said, “I do understand that this program represents one of the longest running scientific debates in history. Although Greek civilization did not use the word electronics as a mechanism to describe subtle energy forces, the subject was dealt with then, as we choose to do so now. But in alternate terms; possibly in the light of quantum physics. The interaction of consciousness, with our physical environment, introduces mind, in a fundamental way, and suggests a framework, to answer cosmological questions. In my view, living things represent a form of transmission, reception and amplification, of electronic wave forms, and faces head-on, the question, that as a dynamic force of energy, we are much more than mere chemical machines.” (World Conference Closing Remarks, 6-25-88, p.5)

And in his 1989 Founders Statement, he wrote to his Trustees, "As for the research in our in-house laboratory, I conceive this program to be an investigatory research of subtle energy which represents sound, light, and color, as it applies to the physical well-being of humankind. All of our research, whatever it be, in house or out, should, in the long term, basically open the door into the investigation of biofield energy (such as ‘the aura’) as applied to the mechanism of the total organism." (The Founders Statement, 9-29-89, p. 4)

John Fetzer’s usage referred more to the hermetic (and Freemasonic) notion of mirror-like symmetry between the material and spiritual planes: “As above, so below.”

In his Review of Past Remarks in 1991, Mr. Fetzer said, “I believe there is a certain consciousness of synthesis that brings forth a light that some refer to as the ‘avatar symmetry’ that is here, ready to assist all who are connected with the institute to delineate its mission.” In other words, the avatar, or ‘deity’, operates both ‘above’ in the higher spiritual worlds and also ‘below’ on the physical plane. (Review of Past Remarks, 2-13-1391, p. 3)

John Fetzer used this word in the sense of a consciousness of spiritual unification, or wholeness, that is possible through spiritual practice to all members of humankind. For example, he said, “I believe there is a certain consciousness of synthesis that brings forth a light that some refer to as the “avatar symmetry” (the deity, or avatar, moving and operating from above to below, that is, from the higher worlds down to the lower) that is here, ready to assist all who are connected with the institute to delineate its mission.” (Review of Past Remarks, 2-13-91, p. 3)

In his 1989 Founders Statement to the Fetzer Institute Trustees, Mr. Fetzer said, “It seems apparent to me that there has been a great outpouring of energy and that humankind, on a mass level, is seeking to bring into embodiment, this greater balance, individually and collectively.  This consciousness is one having to do with the collective synthesis, a coming together of the many into the one – recognizing that we are all equal, and all the same and all of one body.” (The Founders Statement, 9-29-89, p. 2)

The word "white" in the term refers to 'white magic' meaning 'using the spiritual white light'. During Fetzer's life, this usage was universally known and accepted amongst New Agers. It doesn't refer to anything racial in nature, whatsoever, whether Aryan, or Caucasian, or anything of the sort. Sometimes the term would be shortened to "The White Brotherhood," but the meaning was exactly the same, referring to 'Masters of white spiritual/inner light'.

Blavatsky originally just referred to these Masters generally, without naming specific personages, saying that they were Tibetan or Indian in origin.

The various Masters of the Great White Brotherhood that have been named by Theosophy and it's various split-offs over the years include: 

-- From Tibet/India: Kuthumi, Djwal Khul, Gautama Buddha, Sunat Kamara

-- From China: Confucius, Kwan Yin

-- From the Middle East: Master Jesus, Mary the Mother of Jesus, Enoch

-- European: Paul the Venetian, Hilarian, Count St. Germain/Master Rákóczi

All of these various names were familiar to John Fetzer.

In his Opening Remarks to the April 1989 Foundation Board Meeting, John Fetzer said:

"The Foundation was actually put together on a very simple premise, the simplest of premises. To that of research, education and service. Very simple - research, education and service. Three sides of the triangle. That's why our building was designed the way it was, to carry forward that purpose in that manner." (Opening Remarks to the Foundation Board Meeting, 4-24-89, p. 2)

In his September 1989 Founder’s Statement to his Trustees, John said, “Let us look for a moment at the Foundation and at its symbol and its meaning. We have a triangle and that triangle has three points of service, within the foundation – of body, mind and spirit. And yet, within that triangle where is the four square, that also makes up the activities of the Foundation – of working within humankind on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level. For in order to have the perfect balance, we must have the perfect awareness. We must have the understanding of body, mind and spirit and we must have balance of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual in order that we might fully find the true spiritual expression leading to complete healing. Otherwise, we will come from places of limitation. So what the Foundation is achieving for itself, and eventually for all to see, to understand, and to participate in, if they choose, is the comprehension, the knowing of this principle. … We must always keep the triangle purpose foremost and search for that completion of the four square within.” ” (The Founders Statement, 9-29-89, pp. 1-2)

In 1974 John Fetzer presented his thoughts in a speech titled “The Flying Saucer Hoax” in which he presented evidence of countless documented (though often suppressed) reports of UFO sightings by credible observers, largely military and commercial pilots. He concluded the speech with this statement, “I believe it‘s time we mustered the top scientific talent in this country, even at the expense of changing the NASA program, and begin a hard scientific study to determine the existence and purpose of the UFOs which are assumed to be extraterrestrial vehicles.” (The Flying Saucer Hoax, 5-14-74, 9. 39)

Additionally, Fetzer’s interest into UFOs was quasi-spiritual in nature, with the notion of UFOs possibly being the vehicles of spiritual beings from other dimensions as well as from other planets. In a paper “Fetzer and Channeling,” Western Michigan University Professor Brian C. Wilson wrote about this particular take on the UFO phenomenon. “Indeed, after the appearance of UFOs in the late 1940’s, much of the subsequent literature of UFO contactees was couched in the language of Ascended Masters. This is not surprising since many of the contactees came from strong Theosophical backgrounds and interpreted their experiences as empirical evidence for the existence of the Great White Brotherhood. Importantly, many of the UFO contactees related that not only had they communicated with the “Space Brothers” via telepathy face to face, but they also claimed that telepathic communication could continue even when the aliens had departed the planet. George Van Tassel, for example, said that he remained in psychic touch with the alien being Ashtar long after Ashtar and his band had left the earth. In other words, many contactees claimed they could function as a “channel” for alien intelligences, much like the channels on a television set received invisible electronic signals out of the ether.” (Fetzer and Channeling, by Prof. Brian Wilson, p. 4)

In the surat shabd yoga tradition, one of the qualities of the highest spiritual realms which can be attained through its meditation practice, is that of the Divine energy of “unconditional love.” (see the 2018 memo by Fetzer Memorial Trustee Thomas Beaver, Surat Shabd Yoga and John Fetzer)

John Fetzer was referring to this surat shabd (which he had been practicing for four years by this time) interpretation when he stated in his 1989 Founder’s Statement to the Fetzer Foundation board, “Remember, whatever the final verdict turns out to be, its summary will be ‘unconditional love’. That is our avatar of the future, because love is the unifying energy field, that mobilizes the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual resources in the caring and sharing with one another.” (The Founders Statement, 9-29-89 p. 6)

Furthermore, one of the most powerful motivations for Mr. Fetzer was a vision he had as a young boy of 9 or so years of age. His mother had a millinery shop in a multi-story building that had an elevator in it. At the time of course, elevators were run by human operators, and the controls were quite manual. On this day John had accompanied his mother to work, and, somehow, the elevator in the building was left unattended. And so John got in it and decided to operate it. On the way down, John goofed somehow and the elevator fell, banging onto the ground floor and temporarily stunning the boy. What happened next was related by his long-time friend and Institute Trustee Judy Scutch-Whitson in an interview she gave years later, in 2013. “All of the sudden, there was a being that was towering over him just wearing a robe made of light and said, ‘Put your arms around my legs.’ And he put his arms around this being's legs and instantly when he touched it, he knew it was Jesus. And they rose beyond the elevator, beyond the confines of that little elevator, right out into the cosmos. And he felt himself expanding to meet the cosmos, where he felt at one with Jesus, who was leading him, and with God, and all that was. There was no time, there was no space; there was only feeling that intense love. Within moments he was back in the elevator with Jesus' reminder, "I will always be with you.” … And he always wanted to go back there.” (Judy Skutch-Whitson interview, May 2013)

As is fairly common with spiritual seekers, this experience put John Fetzer on a life-long journey in search of similar spiritual experiences. And for the final five years of his life, he conscientiously practiced a form of meditation called surat shabd yoga, the practice of which takes the meditation up-and-out of the body through the crown chakra and into such higher spiritual regions and experiences.

Fetzer also wished that the Fetzer Institute be operated through a visionary, or intuitive, process, by his Board of Trustees. Although he was careful in how he presented this notion to his Trustees, not wishing to interfere with their own individual spiritual journeys, he did exhort them in this regard.

At the opening of the March 1989 Board meeting, he told his Trustees, “It’s my hope that all of us identified with this endeavor will seriously consider what it means to go through self-examination to the extent of seeking soul awareness (one of the highest levels of attainment in the MSIA teachings—though John did not spell this out here … (see the 2018 memo by Fetzer Memorial Trustee Thomas Beaver, Surat Shabd Yoga and John Fetzer) because if you can’t find your way on this great learning planet, it’s a tragedy. It’s a real tragedy.” (Board Opening Remarks, 3-3-89, p. 1)

And in his very last memo to his Trustees, in February 1991, he wrote, “I am most thankful that we have a board of trustees and the nucleus of a staff that is willing to move forward on this agenda by sharing in the intuitive process. In order to do this, the institute should strive toward achieving a common goal, a united effort, a clear focus, a family consciousness, a oneness in motivation.” (Review of Past Remarks, 2-13-91, p. 2)

As early as 1964 Mr. Fetzer wrote of his personal philosophy in the following way: “Some have said in the past that this philosophy is imbedded in the spiritual; presently some venture to scientifically refer to is as the cosmic; in the future, when science and religion have an understanding about the wholeness of the universe, it will be called the power of God!” (One Man’s Family, 1964, p. 184)

In a 1982 channeling by John Gordon to John Fetzer, the future mission of the Fetzer Foundation was laid out in a nutshell, as follows: “the Foundation is to be a center where all ideas are taken into account, medical and non-medical, mechanical and medicinal, secular and religious, to find the key for the healing of the whole man. Don't get sidetracked from this goal.” (Channeled letter from Jim Gordon, channeling “Cato,” to John Fetzer, 1982)

In 1988, the Fetzer Institute hosted a World Conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It’s stated theme: “Helping Heal the Whole Person and the Whole World.”

In his 1989 Founder’s Statement to the Fetzer Foundation Mr. Fetzer said, “Our mission is clearly to pursue these programs and not be tempted to take on other expensive and time consuming programs, that may, or may not, belong in our future. Here we must face a challenge. As we formulate these tightly focused objectives we must do so through inclusiveness and wholeness, balancing our disciplined vision with the capacity to be flexible.” (The Founder’s Statement, 9-29-89, p. 4)

John wrote concisely in his Founder’s Statement about what this holistic program—promoting the complete healing of the whole person and the whole world—was to entail: “We must have the understanding of body, mind and spirit and we must have balance of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual in order that we might fully find the true spiritual expression leading to complete healing.” (The Founder’s Statement, 9-29-89, p. 1)