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36 Builders of the Adytum
BOTA is viewed by its members as a mystery
school following the Western interpretation of
ancient wisdom. Followers are taught mastery of
their physical environment and development of
the mental capacities, as well as provided with
answers to such metaphysical questions as the
nature of immortality. Its teachings are based on
the Holy Cabala, which is described by BOTA
members as the Mystical (occult) Wisdom
Teaching of Ancient Israel, and which is based on a
diagrammatical and symbolic glyph called the Tree
of Life, a pictorial-symbolic representation of the
One God and humanity’s relationship with God
and creation. BOTA’s teachings also draw upon the
tarot (viewed as a pictorial textbook of Ageless
Wisdom), the hermetic teachings of Hermes
Mercurious Trismegistus, alchemy, and astrology.
The doctrine of the Oneness of God, the
brother/sisterhood of humanity, and the kinship
of all life patterned after the Ageless Wisdom
mystery schools constitute the principal subjects
of BOTA’s teachings and practices, which, like in
other occult orders, have as their major objective
“the promotion of the welfare of humanity.” The
meaning of the welfare of humanity is embodied
in a seven-pointed program: (1) Universal Peace,
(2) Universal Political Freedom, (3) Universal
Religious Freedom, (4) Universal Education, (5)
Universal Health, (6) Universal Prosperity, and (7)
Universal Spiritual Unfoldment.
Members work to transmutate the personality
through their work with the tarot, the use of
symbols, and other techniques. It is believed that a
transformed personality will empower the individual
to change his environment and bring it
closer to the heart’s desire. New affiliates of the
inner mystery school standing behind BOTA are
referred to as associate members, and receive
graded lessons on the order’s teachings. They may
become members, that is to say Working Builders,
and may affiliate with active chapters around the
United States, Canada, and a number of other
countries around the world. Upon receiving
advanced instruction, they may participate in the
esoteric activity of BOTA.
The headquarters of BOTA, which is located in
Los Angeles, is governed by the grand chapter,
consisting of four initiates called grand chiefs. The
prolocutor general and president of the corporation
represent the link between the Inner School
and the rest of the order. BOTA groups can be
found in numerous U.S. states as well as in
Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands, West
Germany, New Zealand, Columbia, and the island
of Aruba in the Caribbean.
See also Magic and Magical Groups
For Further Reading:
Melton,J.Gordon.Encyclopedia of American
Religion. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, 1996.