Born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1922, Benjamin Crème began studying art at an early age, developing into an accomplished painter in the modernist style. Throughout his early years Crème also studied various aspects of esoteric philosophy, in particular the teachings released in the late 1800s through Helena Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society, and more recently through Alice A. Bailey. Benjamin Crème has become the principal source of information about the emergence of Maitreya, the World Teacher. Throughout his life Benjamin was a student of occult and spiritual literature, especially literature about the Masters of Wisdom, a group of perfected individuals who are the custodians of the Divine Plan for this planet. In 1959 Benjamin was contacted by one of these masters who told him that the world teacher would be emerging in physical form on the earth soon, and that Benjamin had a role to play in preparing the public to know about this:

"Everyone is being affected by the new energy pouring into the world. Those who believed in political, religious and philosophical systems have become disillusioned because they have failed to bring peace, prosperity and happiness. You can only solve the problems of the world with a sense of realism that is not clouded by ideology or market forces."

"Life in the universe is absolute; in creation it is always relative. That is why people should not cry at death; it is not something horrible or ghastly. Their friends and loved ones have simply returned to their homeland. The books and writings received by writers through channeled sources are a sign that this message about life on the other side of death is beginning to get through to humanity. The human race is now being inspired to experience a feeling of awareness. People will not be able to explain it. They just know that they feel different about life."

"Little by little, a new consciousness is awakening humanity to its inner needs. The old, competitive spirit dies hard, but nevertheless a new spirit of co-operation is likewise to be seen. This augurs well for the future for it is by co-operation alone that mankind will survive; by co-operation alone that the new civilization will be built; by co-operation only that men can know and demonstrate the inner truth of their divinity."