Father Gabriele Amorth, the Vatican’s chief exorcist has publicly stated that Hitler and Stalin were possessed by the Devil. This is an important statement that evil entities do exist and do obsess and possess individuals and groups and even nations. This is not news to anyone who has studied the Ageless Wisdom Teachings. Indeed, an entire book exists on the topic of obsession and possession written by the foremost esoteric scholar Torkom Saraydarian. If you want to know more about obsession and possession and the way evil works, read the following two books: Obsession and Possession and Battling Dark Forces, both by Torkom Saraydarian.
I believe fully that Father Amorth is right and thank God that he does exorcism. If you speak to or see those who are possessed, you will want very much to have Father Amorth and others like him in your neighborhood!

As for Father Amorth’s comments about the Harry Potter books, my opinion will open up a can of worms for sure. I can’t stand the books and I think they do focus on lower psychism and the use of psychic powers for entertainment and personal aggrandizement. These types of books make it glamorous for the reader to think that knowing how to fly on a broom or performing various other tricks of the trade is just wonderful stuff. I for one do not want to endorse thinking that flying around on a broom is anything to be desired or take it as an example of the height of spiritual attainment. I think these sorts of books do not clearly indicate the harm of dabbling in astral and lower entities and this is confusing for children and adults alike.

I believe that there are natural abilities that people have and that they must not be used for controlling nature, controlling others, nor for gaining favors for oneself. Learning to fly, to control brooms and objects and such are not exactly the height of soul consciousness. I also think such books breed spiritual selfishness and spiritual self indulgence. There are certainly angelic beings and beings of all sorts in the subtle levels of life. There are also devils and evil of all kinds that people can invite into their homes and lives. These sorts of books do not differentiate between these kinds of beings. Not every entity should be welcomed into our homes and become playmates for our children.

If you, the reader, really wants to know about the various levels of existence, I heartily recommend another book about this topic that will blow you away: It is called Other Worlds, also by Torkom Saraydarian.

Now, regarding the states of consciousness of murderous dictators as Hitler and the like, I believe that they were definitely possessed by the highest form of evil. They were not hoodwinked into it, but chose it as a part of their life and part of their agenda for the world. It was too late for such people to be exorcised. Of course the skeptics will scoff at these and say this is blaming someone else for what the person does. I do not remove the blame from someone who commits atrocities; the person is completely responsible. But I also believe and understand how obsession and possession do occur on a regular basis in the world. Let me emphasize that the individual is responsible for what he or she does; it is not the devil who makes anyone do anything. You do it; you invite the devil into your life; you are responsible.

Hitler, Stalin, the Fascists in Italy and Japan during World War II, as well as numerous other obsessed leaders and individuals all over the world have committed horrible crimes against humanity. It is common knowledge in my field that this exits and we understand how it happens. Esoteric Teachings do not “blame the devil” for the crimes but on the contrary, hold the person completely responsible for the crimes.

How does a person fall into such horror? He or she does so by living many lifetimes in rejecting decency, human dignity, and the divine origin of life in every person. These people reject the guidance given in spiritual and religious traditions. If we live a life of continuous ugliness and denial of freedom and dignity for others, slowly and slowly, the “frog gets cooked” so to speak and we loose our sensitivity and our dignity ourselves. In so doing, we invite any kind of evil to make a home inside of us. Ugliness invites ugliness. It keeps growing until the entire existence of the individual is controlled by an outside entity. The entity is not to blame; the person is to blame for neglecting the greater principles of life. It starts with little things and moves onto full-fledged possession.

Let us also not put the blame only on one person or a group of evil persons. Dictators and murderers do not commit crimes in a vacuum. People close their eyes and do not care until it is too late. People allow such people to lead them, they vote for them, they let them speak for them; people cheer for dictators and turn their face away from atrocities as long as it is not in their backyard. Religious leaders, sane and nice people, do not speak up and even allow atrocities to take place in the name of their religious beliefs. For a most remarkable document, read Martin Luther King’s “Letter from the Birmingham Jail.” How many peoples and nations around the world closed their eyes to genocides and dictators? Well, read the history and also see what is happening on the news today and let us ask ourselves, “in what ways am I aiding and abetting these atrocities to continue?”

Although, thankfully, most of humanity is sane and wants to live a good life, there are bad people out there who have real psychic problems. They hurt others. As long as we do not see that, we will tolerate such “leaders” and even allow them to operate in our lives. We cannot blame such ideas on the church or religion or the Vatican. It is people who allow such behavior in their midst. People allowed dictators to take over their countries; other nations allowed it as well.

In addition, we cannot think that our life is so exemplary that we do not have dangerous behaviors ourselves. We need to take responsibility for our lives and see in how many ways we demean others, hurt others, make others feel less of themselves, become judgmental and hurtful.

Lastly, I do not subscribe to the notion that if I don’t like a person, a religion, or a nation, that they are automatically evil. This kind of thinking is rife with dangerous implications. Branding someone evil or possessed by evil is a serious statement and must not be make lightly or used as a tool of revenge to push a personal, religious, or national-political agenda. Evil is serious business and we need to understand it, we need to learn how it operates in every facet of our life, we need to learn how we can remove it, and learn how to shield and protect ourselves from it.

Does obsession and possession exist? Certainly it does. Just take a look at history, look at the criminals in jails, look at terrorists, look at so called leaders, look at mothers and fathers and such “adults” who continue to abuse and torture their very own families and children.

For your reading enjoyment, I have included below some basic information about obsession and possession. If you want to really know more and want to read about this, take a look at the books I mention. Here are a few quotes:

What is Obsession?

“In esoteric literature, obsession and possession are very clearly defined. Medical literature recognizes only obsession, not possession, because most orthodox scientists have not yet accepted the concept of possession.

“What is obsession, and how does it occur? Obsession is a phenomenon in which your physical, emotional, and mental bodies are controlled by outside or inside forces other than yourself. When you are obsessed, you do things that you are not supposed to do. For example, being obsessed is like abandoning your car on the side of the road and someone jumps in it and drives it away. This “someone” has different goals and directions than you; he controls your car. Any time a human being loses control over his mind, emotions, or body, he is either obsessed or possessed.

For example, if you tell your body to do certain things and the body does not obey, there may be many medical reasons for this, but from the esoteric viewpoint, your nerve centers are controlled by an obsessing entity or by an obsessing thought, event, or image.” (Obsession and Possession by Torkom Saraydarian, p. 9)

About Possession:

“In the Teaching, obsession and possession are two different things. Gradually, science is beginning to recognize possession as well as obsession, and many experiments are being performed to prove scientifically that possession exists. The Teaching, throughout ages, has taught that possession is a reality. I have seen it in many, many people. It is not a theory; I know that possession exists.

Possession occurs when an entity takes control of your mechanism. It occurs in two stages. In the first stage, the entity controls you from the outside by “remote control.” In the second stage, the entity enters your etheric, emotional, or mental bodies.

Insanity and mental disease are considered by most great Teachers to be the result of possession. When your mental body is possessed, a focal point of energy is created that may become a tumor or cancer in the brain.

If an entity possesses your emotional body, it creates six conditions that are very dangerous. These conditions are expressed as hatred, fear, anger, greed, jealousy, and revenge.

If your etheric body is possessed, the entity creates blind urges and drives for sex, food, alcohol, drugs, and so on.” (Ibid., p. 20)

“Remember this principle: Your destiny is to be free. You are not to be under the influence of anything. You must develop your own reason, logic, and intuition. You most do only those things that you want to do, free of imposition. You must know what you want to know, without being enslaved by entities.” (Ibid., p. 21)

For more information about what the Ageless Wisdom teaches on these topics, please see the following books by Torkom Saraydarian: Obsession and Possession, Battling Dark Forces, and Other Worlds, .