Emin (esoteric movement)
The Emin or The Emin Society is an esoteric movement based on the work of Raymond Armin, known to members as "Leo".[1] Originally, The Emin was named The Eminent Way[2] or The Way.[3] The movement arose in the 1970s in the wake of the New Age. The Template Network is a movement which offers activities inspired by the Emin philosophy.
History
In 1973, the movement started in London.[4] It was first known as the Emin society and then Eminent Way, which was later abbreviated to "Emin". The organisation was not formally represented by the "Emin Foundation", it was a sub-vector of the emins work. In 1977, an Israeli branch emerged and a center was established in a Tel Aviv neighborhood in 1980. In November 1978, Emin founder Armin travelled to the US to start the Church of the Emin Coils in Florida. As of 1978 there were also groups in Canada and Australia.[2]
In Israel, Emin members established the village Ma'ale Tzviya[2] in 1986.
Raymond Armin (Leo)
Raymond Armin was born in London (1924) under the name Schirtenlieb (which he later changed to Armin), and did most of his schooling in London, living around the St. Johns Wood area. He started his working life as an apprentice tool maker at Borehamwood near London England. Armin did time in the R.A.F. as a quartermaster (His rank was staff sergeant), eventually and finally serving in India (for 1 year) at the climax and end of the World War 2, during which time he married Violet Burton from Waterloo, (eventually becoming known as Ruth within the Emin).
After the war, Armin worked at various locations around the London areas such as manager of a furniture company, based in Camden Town, London and then as a market demonstrator. During the late 40's and early 50's whilst still living in central London, he became father to four children (one died soon after birth). He relocated in 1958 to Yorkshire, England to follow a new profession as a travelling salesman selling furniture polish and then a few years later as an encyclopaedia salesman. In 1960, Armin again relocated to Nottingham, England, ending in 1965, when he moved back to London and worked as a civilian driver for the police and a guard for a security firm.
In 1968 John Armin (his son) and Raymond Armin teamed up with a group of people who were staying in London after travelling around the world 'looking for something', (they were first met by John Armin, an ambulance driver at the time). They formed into a group under their (the Armin’s) leadership. They all met regularly over the next two years, in different places around London and at their own homes. During this time one of the group (Deborah McKay) joined Raymond and Violet Armin as a live in companion, eventually becoming known in the Emin Society as 'Ethra'.
In 1972 the group began officially as 'The Emin Society' at which time Raymond Armin became known as 'Leo' and John Armin as 'Orman' within the society itself. The society opened various other administration processes and printing company's, such as 'The Eminent Way', 'Emin Ten', 'Esoteric and occult productions', 'Emin Ceremonies' and so on. The society used many halls around the London areas eventually coming together as a whole society in 1975, when occupying a small centre at Gospel Oak in London, and then expanding/moving on in 1976 to a larger centre, known as 'Emin Putney', at Hotham Road, Putney, London.
At some point in time during the late 1980s Raymond Armin moved with his wife (violet) to America eventually both becoming American citizens. They were last known to live in the Florida area near Miami. Raymond Armin died in August 2002 from a burst Aortic Aneurysm. Violet Armin (Ruth) died in 2008 in her sleep.
The Emin was founded by members of the Armin family and a gathering of friends interested in Leo's work. Armin was born on 27 July 1924, and died in 2002.[5]
Philosophy
The Archives
Armin has left numerous lectures, written and recorded on audio and video tape. These include writings on psychology and personal development, theology, cosmology, history, meditation, and various practical personal development and perception exercises. Most, but not all, of these writings were written by Raymond Armin.
The Template
The Template is a philosophical concept, introduced by Armin in 1992. It describes the spiritual development of the non-physical body through a hierarchically structured system of 16 spheres. Every sphere, with a symbolic name like amethyst or ruby, represents a level of consciousness.[6]
Offshoots
The Template Network
The Template Network, with its umbrella organisation Template Foundation, is an organisation based on the Emin philosophy.[7][8] It is an international network of independent groups, with interests including education, art, ecology, well-being, science and spirituality.[9] As of 2009 there were some 1700 people regularly engaged within these groups. There are groups in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and United States. There are several independent organisations and companies offering courses on a commercial basis, that draw on Emin concepts and practices. These include Blue Rose Wellness, an Emin/Template center of spiritual healing, located in Brier, Washington state, USA, and the Ruby Care Foundation, an Emin/Template charity group concerned with grief and loss management.
The Template Foundation's first premise is that creation is continuously evolving and that human life is part of that evolution. The second premise is that human life is an opportunity to consciously find one's own purpose within that evolution. Each individual is responsible for his or her own development and destiny.
Gemrod Foundation
In 1985, Emin established a centre in Leiden, Netherlands. In the 1990s it founded the "Gemrod Foundation", which organized esoteric workshops, e.g. courses on clairvoyance and aura reading.
See also
References
- ↑ Emin Website—Background. Retrieved 10-10-2013
- 1 2 3 Despair and Deliverance: Private Salvation in Contemporary Israel. Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi, pp. 17- ; ISBN 0-7914-0999-6 (1992). On Google books
- ↑ White - The Emin Unto Itself. Retrieved 10-10-2013
- ↑ Oxford Reference — Emin Foundation. Retrieved 19 October 2013
- ↑ Leo died in 2002. ref www.emin.org
- ↑ J.H. van Splunter, Template (Dutch!)
- ↑ The Authors of the Emin Site. Retrieved 10-10-2013
"This site has been compiled by a group of people from the international template network who have pursued the work and development of the Emin for many years, and who, together with others, steadfastly pioneer its way today." - ↑ Template Network Germany—Who we are. Retrieved 10-10-2013 on web.archive.org
- ↑ Template Network. Retrieved 10-10-2013. (The Template Network website is maintained by the Template Foundation)
Books
Emin and Template publications
Various books have been published in limited editions. They include:
- The trilogy of Leo's writings:
- The Blue Book Writings (Leo's poetry)
- Sayings of Leo: Towards Yourself (Cobwebs Press, London 1978.)
- Cobwebs & Tears: A Study to Inform & Prepare ISBN 0-904486-12-5 (Regal Print Company, London 1982)
- Toir.
- The Tear by John Turner, Eminent Productions Limited 2003. ISBN 1-874717-06-0.
- The Beacon of Hope by Marion Verweij, Eminent Productions Limited 2002. ISBN 1-874717-05-2.
- A new Template of Human Qualities for the Future Bound Scientist by Anne Marmenout, Eminent Productions Limited. ISBN 1-874717-03-6.
Books inspired by the Template
- The Seven Steps of Spiritual Intelligence by Richard A. Bowell, Boston, Nicholas Brealey Publishing 2004 ISBN 1-85788-344-6. The back of the title page reads: This book has been derived from and inspired by the philosophical writings and researches of Leo Armin under the title of the "Template".
Books by outside observers
- Despair and Deliverance – private salvation in contemporary Israel by Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi, State University of New York 1992 ISBN 0-7914-1000-5. The book analyzes various religious groups in Israel from a psychological and sociological perspective, among them the Israeli branch of the Emin. The discussion of Emin beliefs and practices draws primarily on writings from the mid 1970s that are now somewhat dated.
External links
- Emin web site
- Despair and Deliverance: Private Salvation in Contemporary Israel. Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi, pp. 17- ; 1992. At Google books
- Slider Ecyclopedia