Dr. Paul Leon Masters
History and Timeline
Founder of the International Metaphysical Ministry
University of Metaphysics and University of Sedona
January 1, 1935 – January 10, 2016
As far back as he could remember, Paul Leon Masters was drawn to the mysteries of life, the universe, the mind, the soul, and the Presence of a Higher Intelligence—or God—behind creation.In his teens, he decided to pursue his interests by becoming a member of the Rosicrucians and the Mayans (similar to the Rosicrucians, but based in Texas). The more he learned throughout his life, the more he envisioned a synthesis of science, psychology, transcendentalism and mysticism so that eventually, absolute spiritual truth and absolute scientific psychological truth complement and explain each other as one reality.
Rev. Cindy Paulos interviews Founder, Dr. Paul Leon Masters (2014)
In this 2014 radio interview, Dr. Masters and Rev. Cindy Paulos share their personal experiences regarding their own meditation practices. Dr. Masters describes how a daily practice gives one insight to a greater reality other than one’s everyday 5-sense perception, creating a higher level of awareness that carries over into day to day life. Through mystical meditation, benefits may include inner peace, connection to the still, small voice within, and awakening one’s consciousness to a deeper understanding of themselves and others. Dr. Masters’ spent over 40 years on higher consciousness research and it is the basis of his teachings within the IMM University System.
View More Interviews With Dr. Masters
Seeking the Mystical
The nature of reality—or speculative philosophy—is what most interested Dr. Masters. This comprises the basic premise of Mind and Universe leading to such foundational questions as, who am I; what am I; where am I; and where am I going? What he studied caused him to seek more knowledge about the mystical as well as any form of psychology that had an appreciation of the mystical. He also found that what he had learned, when applied to the lives of others, seemed to help them. This led him to seek a school that had a degree program in tune with the mystical/psychological path he wished to pursue. Traditional universities, particularly in the 1950s, did not offer anything close to what he was seeking.
The Institute of Parapsychology
He was diligent in his search until finding a nontraditional school where he could learn more about mystical teachings, as well as spiritual psychology, and in 1953 he enrolled in that college. He graduated with a doctorate in 1959 and went on to create his own metaphysical research and teaching organization: the Institute of Parapsychology, located in Beverly Hills, California. Eager to further his knowledge, he enrolled in another metaphysical college in 1960 called the New Thought Science Institute of Los Angeles, California, this time focusing on New Thought teachings. He graduated with a second doctorate three years later. Originating around the 1830s, New Thought schools, centers, and institutes began emerging quickly during the 1950s and 1960s, especially in California. Most operate today under the auspices of the International New Thought Alliance. The integration of spiritual, metaphysical, and philosophical teachings within the New Thought movement was widely received and continues its expansion to this day.
Higher Consciousness Research
A true pioneer, in subsequent decades Dr. Masters spent countless hours with thousands of people conducting higher consciousness research—all of which enormously expanded what he originally learned in the 1950s and early 1960s. He founded the National Metaphysics Institute in 1965, conducting research on the spiritual heights and potentials of mind and spirit, which produced even more information from which he could teach others. Ultimately, he hoped to encourage others to research further into the nature and source of consciousness and the ways in which such knowledge could be practically applied to human life.
Contributions to Mystical Psychology
Dr. Masters’ contributions to the field of mystical psychology were those of a trail-blazer. Having founded the University of Metaphysics (1976), he then founded the International Metaphysical Ministry (1989) to accommodate the world-wide interest and enrollment in his courses. Fourteen years after that, he founded the University of Sedona (2003). He deservedly earned recognition as the world’s foremost teacher of metaphysical doctors, teachers, counselors, life coaches, wellness practitioners, and ministers, offering self-paced, distance–learning degree programs in Transpersonal, Transcendent, Theocentric, Holistic, New Thought Metaphysics. But the most important achievements of all Dr. Paul Masters’ efforts were the support and advancement of higher consciousness research, education, and advanced New Thought Metaphysics.
Universal God Guidance from Within
As far as the wisdom and knowledge he gained, he gave full credit to prolonged contact with the Universal God Guidance from within himself during his experiences in higher consciousness meditation. People throughout the world, from all walks of life, have similarly heard an inner calling to help themselves help others through higher spiritual understanding and awareness. They have been able to fulfill their inner promptings as a result of learning about their true inner guidance as taught in the International Metaphysical Ministry’s Universities of Sedona and Metaphysics.
The International Metaphysical Ministry remains respectful of the individuality and independence of our Metaphysical graduates, ministers, teachers, and practitioners, encouraging independent research, the use of individual talents, modalities, and points of view, with the only requirement being that they stay true to the basic precepts of their Metaphysical education from the Founder.
Creating the World’s Largest Non-Secular and Theological Schools
Both universities offer life-improving, consciousness expanding curriculum that is strictly non-secular and theological in nature, and they have become the world’s largest schools of their kind, spanning over 120 countries and having enrolled over 14,000 students and graduates.
As Dr. Masters always wanted students and graduates to have options to continue learning and keep current with new developments in the field, the universities now offer enrolled students and graduates an opportunity to participate in postgraduate Continuing Education.
In addition, the websites, Newsletters, pearls of Timeless Wisdom, and the Metaphysical Blog continue to offer tools and resources for self-development and uplifting humanity through the archives of inspirational Improve Your Life–Daily Audio Messages, Weekly Inspirational Lectures, and the Mystical Insights teachings.