| Torkom Saraydarian | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1917 Turkey |
| Died | 1997 Sedona, Arizona |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Teacher, Author, Spiritualist |
| Known for | Researching and teaching the Ageless Wisdom, authoring over 170 books |
| Spouse | Joann Saraydarian |
Contents |
Torkom Saraydarian (1917–1997) was born in Turkey of Armenian parents. Since childhood he was trained in the Teachings of the Ageless Wisdom under the guidance of his father.
As he grew up, he visited monasteries, ancient temples, and mystery schools in order to find the answers to his questions about the mystery of man and the Universe. He was musically trained and was able to play the violin, piano, oud, cello, and guitar. He composed hundreds of musical pieces.[1]
His works represent a synthesis of sacred culture of the world by creating a truly universal approach to spirituality. His written legacy spans over 170 books (half of which have been published), hundreds of musical pieces and lectures.[2]
At the age of nine, Torkom began to receive education in the Ageless Wisdom under the guidance of his father. At that time, people did not discuss these things in the open, but would disappear to attend meetings - in caves, under the stars - where they would hold ceremonies and dramatizations to reveal the mysteries of the subtle worlds.
In 1959, he came to the U.S.A. with his family. It was a different world from the one he left in Jordan - changing rapidly and in very demonstrative ways. He saw people in need of guidance. In response to this need, he began inviting them into his home in Van Nuys, California to study and to learn how to lead themselves into more productive, healthy, right living via the principles of the Ageless Wisdom. This was the inception of The Aquarian Educational Group. The following excerpts were told by Torkom at the 35th anniversary celebration of the Aquarian Educational Group in Agoura, California:
"Now, how we started this group. This group was started in 1961 - unofficially. One day I was coming home from the church. I saw 15 boys sitting and doping themselves. All my neighbors - very beautiful boys and girls. When I saw them doping and smoking, my heart broke. I said, ‘Don't they have fathers, don't they have mothers?' Because I was from the old country and could not understand America. (That was not America, but I say ‘America.') I couldn't understand how people could drug themselves and dope themselves. So I went home, I meditated, I thought. I said, ‘We must form a group to bring all these children in and slowly educate them.'..."
For the first ten years, he taught classes and lectured in a one-room garage without a salary except for the small donations left by students.[3]
Torkom Saraydarian's seven principles of right living are Beauty, Goodness, Righteousness, Joy, Freedom, Striving, and Sacrificial Service.
Through the practice of these principles and others, Torkom taught people how to:
Other quotes:
He left a legacy of sacrificial service and a passionate love to understand and serve the Teaching, including:
Over 50 years of service, groups formed in the US and internationally, and counseling to thousands of people.
Collected over 8,000 books, booklets, and periodicals about the Teaching. Formed the TS library.
Wrote 170 books and thousands of articles.
Presented thousands of lectures, seminars, and workshops in the US and Internationally.
Presided over the translation of his books into Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Greek, Armenian, Danish, Swedish, German, Yugoslavian, and Russian.
Created The Creative Trust with Gita Saraydarian to house all his creative works.
Helped create, with Gita Saraydarian, TSG Foundation as the major publishing house for his works.
Composed and recorded hundreds of musical compositions and sacred songs.
Created Meditation courses and spiritual training curriculum. TSG University Curriculum is founded on his instructions and courses.
Continued his study of the Teaching and meditation, creative expression and service to the end of his life.
Studied and wrote summaries of major books of the Wisdom Teachings, including The Secret Doctrine, The Bhagavad Gita, Treatise on Cosmic Fire, and the Agni Yoga Books.
The one, overriding and remarkable achievement in his life was the ability to synthesize and make understandable the huge body of the Wisdom Teachings and to move the entire body to a new level of expression.
The TSG Foundation’s focus is on a comprehensive spiritual educational program of life enhancement teachings written and designed by an internationally recognized scholar, philosopher, and author Torkom Saraydarian.
TSG continues to be run by Gita Saraydarian, who has established a worldwide audience as a creative educator for progressive ideas, transformation, and goodwill. The Foundation’s headquarters is in Cave Creek, Arizona. Its books, study courses, and seminars are distributed and conducted throughout the world.
The prime objective of the TSG Foundation’s work is to help people to unfold their potentials; deepen their non-sectarian spiritual learning through practical, transformational processes; increase their capacity to serve others; and make their lives more beautiful. TSG provides progressive ideas — defined as those ideas which are designed for the betterment of human relationships and for humanity as a whole, through which a person is empowered to make better life choices in every aspect of life.
We believe that new education is not found in new methods; it is found in the subject matter that is being taught. TSG’s subject matter involves principles and standards that can be applied by people of all backgrounds and cultures. It is a system of education that is designed to train the mind to think in terms of the whole. TSG labels this education ‘living ethics’. This includes:
The science of Meditation
Understanding Karma and Reincarnation
Learning about the Divine source of all human beings
Higher Worlds of life and Divine guidance
The principles of Beauty, Goodness, Righteousness, Joy, and Freedom
Continuous improvement and growth through application of spiritual Teachings
Service for human welfare in all fields as a way of life
The development of true inner confidence
The healing of our physical, emotional, mental, and higher spiritual bodies
Understanding the flow of psychic energy
The science of the soul and the work of the Guardian Angel
The science of right human relations in marriage, friendships, and child rearing
Developing the power of the human soul
Ageless Wisdom
Ashrams
Aura, Shield of Protection and Glory
Avatars, Revelations of God
Battling Dark Forces
Bhagavad Gita
Breakthrough to Higher Psychism
Buddha Sutra - A Dialogue with the Glorious One
Challenge for Discipleship
Christ, The Avatar of Sacrificial Love
Commentary on Psychic Energy
Cosmic Shocks
Cosmos in Man
Creative Fire
Creative Sound, Sacred Music, Dance, and Song
Dialogue with Christ (2nd Ed.)
Dynamics of the Soul
Dynamics of Success
Education as Transformation, Vol. I
Education as Transformation, Vol. II
Eyes of Hierarchy
Flame of Beauty, Culture, Love, Joy
Flame of the Heart
From My Heart - Collection of Poetry, Vol. I
Glossary - A Concordance of Torkom Saraydarian's Works
Hiawatha and the Great Peace
Hidden Glory of the Inner Man
Initiation, The Path of Living Service
I Was
Joy and Healing (3rd Ed.)
Karma and Reincarnation
Leadership, Vol. I
Leadership, Vol. II
Leadership, Vol. III
Leadership, Vol. IV
Leadership, Vol. V
Legend of Shamballa
Mysteries of Willpower
Mystery of Self-Image
New Dimensions in Healing
Obsession and Possession
Olympus World Report - The Year 3000
One Hundred Names of God
Other Worlds
Psyche and Psychism (2 Volume Set)
Psychology of Cooperation and Group Consciousness
Purpose of Life
Science of Becoming Oneself
Science of Meditation
Sense of Responsibility in Society
Sex, Family, and the Woman in Society (2nd Ed.)
Solar Angel, Vol. 1
Solar Angel, Vol. 2
Spiritual Regeneration
Spring of Prosperity
Subconscious Mind and
the Chalice
Symphony of the Zodiac
Talks on Agni, Vol. I
Talks on Agni, Vol. II
Talks on Agni, Vol. III
Teaching the Ageless Wisdom
Thought & The Glory of Thinking
Transformation
Triangles of Fire
Unusual Court
Woman Torch of the Future (2nd Ed.)
Wisdom of the Zodiac Volume 1: Aries-Taurus-Gemini
Wisdom of the Zodiac Volume 2: Cancer-Leo-Virgo
Wisdom of the Zodiac Volume 3: Libra-Scorpio-Sagittarius
Wisdom of the Zodiac Volume 4: Capricorn-Aquarius-Pisces
The Year 2000 & After
Dance of The Zodiac
Misty Mountain
Far Horizons
Piano Compositions
Fire Blossom
Rainbow
Infinity
Sacred Songs
Lao Tse Spirit of My Heart
Let My Dreams Come True Sun Rhythms
Tears of My Joy
Light Years Ahead
A Touch of Heart
Lily in Tibet
Toward Freedom
The TSG University is a Spiritual Training Center for the systematic study of the Ageless Wisdom Teachings.
Students may study courses for self enrichment, take individual meditation courses, or follow a specific program for specialized training.
TSG University was founded by Gita Saraydarian. Classes began online and on-site in September 2000. The curriculum was created by Gita and is based on the many courses, classes, instructions, and visions of a specialized Spiritual University that Torkom discussed in his writings and speeches.
The University provides courses in meditation and intensive study of the esoteric Wisdom. All the courses provide opportunities for self-transformation. Students study the theory and practical application of the Ageless Wisdom Teachings and learn how to be transformed parents, partners, creative artists, leaders, healers, ministers, and teachers. Seminars and workshops in the United States and Europe provide additional opportunities for first-hand experience of the Sacred Teachings of the Ancient Sages.
Courses of study begin with a focus on the Ageless Wisdom Teachings of Torkom Saraydarian, and slowly expand to include reading and study from the books of Alice A. Bailey, Helena Roerich, and H. P. Blavatsky and others from a wide variety of scholarly literature in comparative religions and spirituality.
Courses help the participant to develop skills in observation, meditation, analytical and critical thinking, the development of virtues, and to becoming one's True Self.
The TSG University provides non-accredited certification as well as non-accredited degrees in BA, MA, and PhD in spiritual and philosophical education.