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diff --git a/13143-0.txt b/13143-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..44eba6b --- /dev/null +++ b/13143-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7103 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13143 *** + +MYSTIC CHRISTIANITY + +Or, The Inner Teachings of the Master + +by + +YOGI RAMACHARAKA + +Author of "Fourteen Lessons in Yogi Philosophy and Oriental +Occultism," "Hatha Yoga," "Science of Breath," "Advanced Course in +Yogi Philosophy," "Raja Yoga," "Psychic Healing," "Gnani Yogi," etc. + + + + + + + +PUBLISHERS' NOTICE. + + +The lessons which compose this volume originally appeared in monthly +form, the first of which was issued in October, 1907, and the twelfth +in September, 1908. These lessons met with a hearty and generous +response from the public, and the present volume is issued in response +to the demand for the lessons in a permanent and durable form. There +has been no change in the text. + +The publishers take the liberty to call the attention of the readers +to the great amount of information condensed within the space of each +lesson. Students have told us that they have found it necessary to +read and study each lesson carefully, in order to absorb the varied +information contained within its pages. They have also stated that +they have found it advisable to re-read the lessons several times, +allowing an interval between the readings, and that at each reading +they would discover information that had escaped them during the +course of the previous study. This has been repeated to us so often +that we feel justified in mentioning it, that others may avail +themselves of the same plan of study. + +Following his usual custom, the writer of this volume has declined to +write a preface for this book, claiming that the lessons will speak +for themselves, and that those for whom they are intended will receive +the message contained within them without any prefatory talk. + + +THE YOGI PUBLICATION SOCIETY. +September 1, 1908. + +INDEX + + +LESSON + + 1. The Coming of the Master + + 2. The Mystery of the Virgin Birth + + 3. The Mystic Youth of Jesus + + 4. The Beginning of the Ministry + + 5. The Foundation of the Work + + 6. The Work of Organization + + 7. The Beginning of the End + + 8. The End of the Life Work + + 9. The Inner Teachings + +10. The Secret Doctrine + +11. The Ancient Wisdom + +12. The Message of the Master + + + + + +THE FIRST LESSON. + + + +THE COMING OF THE MASTER. + + + +THE FORERUNNER. + +Strange rumors reached the ears of the people of Jerusalem and the +surrounding country. It was reported that a new prophet had appeared +in the valley of the lower Jordan, and in the wilderness of Northern +Judea, preaching startling doctrines. His teachings resembled those of +the prophets of old, and his cry of "Repent! Repent ye! for the +Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," awakened strange memories of the +ancient teachers of the race, and caused the common people to gaze +wonderingly at each other, and the ruling classes to frown and look +serious, when the name of the new prophet was mentioned. + +The man whom the common people called a prophet, and whom the exalted +ones styled an impostor, was known as John the Baptist, and dwelt in +the wilderness away from the accustomed haunts of men. He was clad in +the rude garments of the roaming ascetics, his rough robe of camel's +skin being held around his form by a coarse girdle of leather. His +diet was frugal and elemental, consisting of the edible locust of the +region, together with the wild honey stored by the bees of the +wilderness. + +In appearance John, whom men called "the Baptist," was tall, wiry, and +rugged. His skin was tanned a dark brown by the winds and sun which +beat upon it unheeded. His long black hair hung loosely around his +shoulders, and was tossed like the mane of a lion when he spoke. His +beard was rough and untrimmed. His eyes gleamed like glowing coals, +and seemed to burn into the very soul of his hearers. His was the face +of the religious enthusiastic with a Message for the world. + +This wild prophet was most strenuous, and his teachings were couched +in the most vigorous words. There was no tact, policy, or persuasion +in his message. He hurled his verbal thunderbolts right into his +crowd, the very force and earnestness emanating from him serving to +charge his words with a vitality and magnetism which dashed itself +into the crowd like a spark of electricity, knocking men from off +their feet, and driving the Truth into them as if by a charge of a +powerful explosive. He told them that the spiritual grain was to be +gathered into the garners, while the chaff was to be consumed as if by +a fiery furnace; that the axe was to be laid to the root of the trees +which brought not forth good fruit. Verily, the "Day of Jehovah," long +promised by the prophets, was near to hand to his hearers and +followers. + +John soon gathered to himself a following, the people flocking to him +from all parts of the country, even from Galilee. His followers began +to talk among themselves, asking whether indeed this man were not the +long promised Master--the Messiah for whom all Israel had waited for +centuries. This talk coming to the ears of the prophet, caused him to +answer the question in his discourses, saying: "There cometh one +mightier than I, after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy +to stoop down and unloose; he that cometh after me is mightier than +I." And thus it became gradually known to his following, and the +strangers attending his meetings, that this John the Baptist, mighty +preacher though he be, was but the herald of one much greater than he, +who should follow--that he was the forerunner of the Master, according +to the Oriental imagery which pictured the forerunner of the great +dignitaries, running ahead of the chariot of his master, crying aloud +to all people gathered on the road that they must make way for the +approaching great man, shouting constantly, "Make ye a way! make ye a +way for the Lord!" And accordingly there was a new wave of excitement +among John's following, which spread rapidly to the surrounding +country, at this promise of the coming of the Lord--the +Master--perhaps even the Messiah of the Jews. And many more came unto +John, and with him waited for the Coming of the Master. + +This John the Baptist was born in the hill country of Judea, nearly +thirty years before he appeared as a prophet. His father was of the +priestly order, or temple caste, who had reached an advanced age, and +who lived with his aged wife in retirement, away from the noise and +confusion of the world, waiting the gradual approach of that which +cometh to all men alike. Then there came to them a child of their old +age, unexpected and unhoped for--coming as a mark of especial favor +from God--a son, to whom they gave the name of _Johanan_, which in the +Hebrew tongue means "Jehovah is gracious." + +Reared in the home of his parents--the house of a priest--John +saturated himself with all the Inner Teachings reserved for the few, +and withheld from the masses. The Secrets of the Kaballah, that system +of Hebrew Occultism and Mysticism in which the higher priests of Judea +were well versed, were disclosed to him, and occult tradition has it +that he was initiated into the Inner Circle of the Hebrew Mystics, +composed of only priests of a certain grade, and their sons. John +became an Occultist and a Mystic. When the boy reached the age of +puberty, he departed from the home of his parents, and went into the +wilderness, "looking to the East, from whence cometh all Light." In +other words, he became an Ascetic, living in the wilderness, just as +in India even to-day youths of the Brahmin or priestly class sometimes +forsake their homes, renouncing their luxurious life, and fly to the +jungle, where they wander about for years as ascetics, wearing a +single garment, subsisting on the most elementary food, and developing +their spiritual consciousness. John remained a recluse until he +reached the age of about thirty years, when he emerged from the +wilderness to preach the "Coming of the Lord," in obedience to the +movings of the Spirit. Let us see where he was, and what he did, +during the fifteen years of his life in the wilderness and hidden +places of Judea. + +The traditions of the Essenes, preserved among Occultists, state that +while John was an ascetic he imbibed the teachings of that strange +Occult Brotherhood known as the Essenes, and after having served his +apprenticeship, was accepted into the order as an Initiate, and +attained their higher degrees reserved only for those of developed +spirituality and power. It is said that even when he was a mere boy he +claimed and proved his right to be fully initiated into the Mysteries +of the Order, and was believed to have been a reincarnation of one of +the old Hebrew prophets. + + +THE ESSENES. + + +The Essenes were an ancient Hebrew Occult Brotherhood, which had been +in existence many hundred years before John's time. They had their +headquarters on the Eastern shores of the Dead Sea, although their +influence extended over all of Palestine, and their ascetic brothers +were to be found in every wilderness. The requirements of the Order +were very strict, and its rites and ceremonies were of the highest +mystical and occult degree. The Neophyte was required to serve a +preliminary apprenticeship of one year before being admitted to even +partial recognition as a member and brother. A further apprenticeship +of two more years was required before he was admitted to full +membership, and extended the right hand of fellowship. Additional time +was required for further advancement, and even time alone did not +entitle the member to certain high degrees, the requirements being +that actual knowledge, power and attainment must first be manifested. +As in all true Occult Orders the candidate must "work out his own +salvation," neither money nor influence having any weight. + +Absolute obedience to the Rules of the Order; absolute poverty of +material possessions; absolute sexual continence--these were the +conditions of membership to be observed by both Neophyte and Initiate, +as well as High-degree Master. Understanding this, one may imagine the +disgust inspired in John by the amorous solicitations of Salome, which +caused him to lose his life rather than to break the vows of his +Order, as is so startlingly pictured in the stage productions of +modern times. + +One of the ceremonies of the Essenes was that of Baptism (literally, +"dipping in water") which was administered to Candidates, with +appropriate solemnity and rites. The mystic significance of the +ceremony which is understood by all members of Occult Orders, even +unto this day, was a part of the ritual originated by the Essenes, and +the rite itself was a distinctive feature of their Order. The +performance of this rite by John the Baptist, in his ministry, and its +subsequent acceptance by the Christian Church as a distinctive +ceremonial, of which the "sprinkling of infants" of to-day is a +reminder and substitute, forms a clear connecting link between the +Essenes and Modern Christianity, and impresses the stamp of Mysticism +and Occultism firmly upon the latter, as little as the general public +may wish to admit it in their ignorant misunderstanding and +materialistic tendencies. + +The Essenes believed in, and taught the doctrine of Reincarnation; the +Immanence of God; and many other Occult Truths, the traces of which +appear constantly in the Christian Teachings, as we shall see as we +progress with these lessons. Through its Exalted Brother, John the +Baptist, the Order passed on its teaching to the early Christian +Church, thus grafting itself permanently upon a new religious growth, +newly appearing on the scene. And the transplanted branches are still +there! + +Of course, the true history of the real connection between the Essenes +and Christianity is to be found only in the traditions of the Essenes +and other ancient Mystic Orders, much of which has never been printed, +but which has passed down from teacher to pupil over the centuries +even unto this day, among Occult Fraternities. But in order to show +the student that we are not making statements incapable of proof by +evidence available to him, we would refer him to any standard work of +reference on the subject. For instance, if he will consult the "New +International Encyclopedia" (Vol. VII, page 217) article on "Essenes," +he will read the following words: + + "It is an interesting question as to how much Christianity + owes to Essenism. It would seem that there was room for + definite contact between John the Baptist and this + Brotherhood. His time of preparation was spent in the + wilderness near the Dead Sea; his preaching of righteousness + toward God, and justice toward one's fellow men, was in + agreement with Essenism; while his insistence on Baptism was + in accord with the Essenic emphasis on lustrations." + +The same article contains the statement that the Essenic Brotherhood +taught a certain "view entertained regarding the origin, present +state, and future destiny of the soul, _which was held to be +pre-existent, being entrapped in the body as in a prison_," etc. (The +above italics are our own.) + +John emerged from the wilderness when he had reached the age of about +thirty years, and began his ministry work, which extended for several +years until his death at the hands of Herod. He gathered around him a +large and enthusiastic following, beginning with the humbler classes +and afterward embracing a number of higher social degree. He formed +his more advanced followers into a band of disciples, with prescribed +rules regarding fasting, worship, ceremonial, rites, etc., closely +modeled upon those favored by the Essenes. This organization was +continued until the time of John's death, when it merged with the +followers of Jesus, and exerted a marked influence upon the early +Christian church. + +As we have stated, one of his principal requisites enjoined upon all +of his followers, was that of "Baptism"--the Essenic rite, from which +he derived his familiar appellation, "The Baptist." But, it must be +remembered that to John this rite was a most sacred, mystic, symbolic +ceremony, possessing a deep occult meaning unperceived by many of his +converts who submitted themselves to it under the fervor of religious +emotion, and who _naïvely_ regarded it as some magical rite which +"washed away sin" from their souls, as the dirt was washed from their +bodies, a belief which seems to be still in favor with the multitude. + +John worked diligently at his mission, and the "Baptists" or +"Followers of Johanan," as they were called, increased rapidly. His +meetings were events of great moment to thousands who had gathered +from all Palestine to see and hear the prophet of the wilderness--the +Essene who had emerged from his retirement. His meetings were often +attended with startling occurrences, sudden conversions, visions, +trances, etc., and many developed possession of unusual powers and +faculties. But one day there was held a meeting destined to gain +world-wide fame. This was the day when there came to John the Baptist +the MASTER, of whose coming John had frequently foretold and promised. +JESUS THE CHRIST appeared upon the scene and confronted his +Forerunner. + +The traditions have it that Jesus came unannounced to, and +unrecognized by John and the populace. The Forerunner was in ignorance +of the nature and degree of his guest and applicant for Baptism. +Although the two were cousins, they had not met since childhood, and +John did not at first recognize Jesus. The traditions of the Mystic +Orders further state that Jesus then gave to John the various signs of +the Occult Fraternities to which they both belonged, working from the +common signs up until Jesus passed on to degrees to which John had not +attained, although he was an eminent high-degree Essene. Whereupon +John saw that the man before him was no common applicant for Baptism, +but was, instead, a highest-degree Mystic Adept, and Occult +Master--his superior in rank and unfoldment. John, perceiving this, +remonstrated with Jesus, saying that it was not meet and proper, nor +in accordance with the customs of the Brotherhoods, for the inferior +to Baptize the superior. Of this event the New Testament takes note in +these words: "But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized +of thee, and comest thou to me?" (_Matt. 3:14._) But Jesus insisted +that John perform the rite upon him upon the ground that He wished to +go through the ceremonial in order to set His stamp of approval upon +it, and to show that he considered himself as a man among men, come +forth to live the life of men. + +In both the occult traditions and the New Testament narrative, it is +stated that a mystical occurrence ensued at the baptism, "the Spirit +of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him," and a voice from +Heaven saying: "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." + +And with these words the mission of John the Baptist, as "Forerunner +of the Master," was fulfilled. _The Master_ had appeared to take up +his work. + + +THE MASTER. + + +And, now, let us turn back the pages of the Book of Time, to a period +about thirty years before the happening of the events above mentioned. +Let us turn our gaze upon the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, +in order that we may trace the Mystic and Occult forces at work from +the beginning of Christianity. There are occurrences of the greatest +importance embraced in these thirty years. + +Let us begin the Mystic Narrative of Jesus the Christ, as it is told +to the Neophyte of every Occult Order, by the Master Instructor, by a +recital of an event preceding his birth by over one year. + +In Matthew 2:1-2, the following is related: + + "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days + of Herod the king, behold, there came Wise Men from the East + to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the + Jews? for we have seen his star in the East, and are come to + worship him." + +In these simple words is stated an event that, expressed in a much +more extended narrative, forms an important part of the Esoteric +Teachings of the Mystic Brotherhoods, and Occult Orders of the Orient, +and which is also known to the members of the affiliated secret orders +of the Western world. The story of THE MAGI is embedded in the +traditions of the Oriental Mystics, and we shall here give you a brief +outline of the story as it is told by Hierophant to Neophyte--by Guru +to Chela. + +To understand the story, you must know just who were these "Wise Men +of the East"--The Magi. And this you shall now be taught. + + +THE MAGI, OR WISE MEN. + + +The translators of the New Testament have translated the words naming +these visitors from afar as "the Wise Men from the East," but in the +original Greek, Matthew used the words "_The Magi_" as may be seen by +reference to the original Greek versions, or the Revised Translation, +which gives the Greek term in a foot-note. Any leading encyclopedia +will corroborate this statement. The term "the Magi" was the exact +statement of Matthew in the original Greek in which the Gospel was +written, the term "the Wise Men" originating with the English +translators. There is absolutely no dispute regarding this question +among Biblical scholars, although the general public is not aware of +the connection, nor do they identify the Wise Men with the Oriental +Magians. + +The word "Magi" comes to the English language direct from the Greek, +which in turn acquired it by gradual steps from the Persian, Chaldean, +Median, and Assyrian tongues. It means, literally, "wonder worker," +and was applied to the members of the occult priestly orders of +Persia, Media, and Chaldea, who were Mystic Adepts and Occult Masters. +Ancient history is full of references to this body of men. They were +the custodians of the world's occult knowledge for centuries, and the +priceless treasures of the Inner Teachings held by the race to-day +have come through the hands of these men--the Magi--who tended the +sacred fires of Mysticism and kept The Flame burning. In thinking of +their task, one is reminded of the words of Edward Carpenter, the +poet, who sings: "Oh, let not the flame die out! Cherished age after +age in its dark caverns, in its holy temples cherished. Fed by pure +ministers of love--let not the flame die out." + +The title of "Magi" was highly esteemed in those ancient days, but it +fell into disrepute in the latter times owing to its growing use as an +appellation of the practitioners of "Black Magic," or "evil +wonder-workers" or sorcerers, of those days. But as a writer in the +New International Encyclopedia (Vol. XII, page 674) has truly said: + + "The term is employed in its true sense by Matthew (2:1) of + the wise men who came from the East to Jerusalem to worship + Christ. The significance of this event must be observed + because the Messianic doctrine was an old and established + one in Zoroastrianism." + +The same article says of the Magi: "... they believed in a +resurrection, a future life, and the advent of a savior." + +To understand the nature of the Magi in connection with their occult +"wonder working," we must turn to the dictionaries, where we will see +that the word "Magic" is derived from the title "Magi;" the word +"Magician" having been originally "Magian", which means "one of the +Magi." Webster defines the word "Magic" as follows: "The hidden wisdom +supposed to be possessed by the Magi; relating to the occult powers of +nature; mastery of secret forces in nature", etc. So you may readily +see that we are right in stating to you that these Wise Men--the Magi +who came to worship the Christ-child, were in reality the +representatives of the great Mystic Brotherhoods and Occult Orders of +the Orient--Adepts, Masters, Hierophants! And thus do we find the +Occult and Mystic "wonder workers"--the high-degree brethren of the +Great Eastern Lodges of Mystic Occultism, appearing at the very +beginning of the Story of Christianity, indicating their great +interest in the mortal birth of the greater Master whose coming they +had long waited--the Master of Masters! And all Occultists and Mystics +find pleasure and just pride in the fact that the first recognition of +the Divine Nature of this human child came from these Magi from the +East--from the very Heart of the Mystic Inner Circles! To those +so-called Christians to whom all that is connected with Mysticism and +Occultism savors of the fiery sulphur and brimstone, we would call +attention to this intimate early relation between The Musters and THE +MASTER. + + +THE STAR IN THE EAST. + + +But the Mystic story begins still further back than the visit of the +Magi to Bethlehem. Did not the Magi say, "Where is He? We have seen +His star in the East and have come to worship him." What is meant by +the words, "We have seen his star in the East"? + +To the majority of Christians the "Star of Bethlehem" means a great +star that suddenly appeared in the heavens, like a great beacon light, +and which miraculously guided the steps of the Magi, mile by mile, on +their weary journey, until at last it rested in the heavens, +stationary over the house in which the child Jesus lived, between the +ages of one and two years. In other words, they believe that this star +had constantly guided these skilled mystics, occultists and +astrologers, in their journey from the far East, which occupied over a +year, until it at last guided them to Bethlehem and then stopped +stationary over the house of Joseph and Mary. Alas! that these vulgar +traditions of the ignorant multitude should have served so long to +obscure a beautiful mystic occurrence, and which by their utter +improbability and unscientific nature should have caused thousands to +sneer at the very true legend of the "Star of Bethlehem." It remains +for the Mystic traditions to clear away the clouds of ignorance from +this beautiful story, and to re-establish it in the minds of men as a +natural and scientific occurrence. + +This story of the "traveling star" arose from the superstitious and +ignorant ideas of many of the Christians of the first, second, and +third centuries after Christ's death. These tales were injected into +the manuscripts left by the disciples, and soon began to be regarded +as a part and portion of the authentic Gospels and Epistles, although +the skilled Biblical critics and scholars of to-day are rapidly +discarding many of these additions as wilful forgeries and +interpolations. It must be remembered that the oldest manuscripts of +the books of the New Testament are known to Biblical scholars to have +been written _not less than three hundred years after the time of the +original writing_, and are merely _copies of copies_ of the originals, +undoubtedly added to, altered, and adulterated by the writers through +whose hands they had passed. This is not merely the statement of an +outside critic--it is a fact that is clearly stated in the writings of +the scholars in the Churches engaged in the work of Biblical study, +and the Higher Criticism, to which works we refer any who may have +reason to doubt our statement. + +That portion of the verse (_Matt. 2:9._) in which it is said that "and +lo; the star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came +and stood over where the young child was," is known to the Mystic and +Occult Orders to be a rank interpolation into the story of the Magi. +It is contrary to their own traditions and records, and is also +contrary to reason and to scientific laws, and this distorted story +alone has been the cause of the development of thousands of "infidels" +who could not accept the tale. + +All intelligent men know that a "star" is not a mere tiny point of +flame in the dome which shuts us out from a Heaven on the other side +of the blue shell, although this view was that of the ancient people, +and many ignorant men and women to-day. Educated people know that a +"star" is either a planet of our solar system, similar to the sister +planet which we called the Earth, or else is a mighty sun, probably +many times larger than our sun, countless millions of miles distant +from our solar system. And they know that planets have their +invariable orbits and courses, over which they travel, unceasingly, so +true to their course that their movements may be foretold centuries +ahead, or calculated for centuries back. And they know that even the +great fixed stars, those distant suns and centers of great solar +systems akin to our own, have their own places in the Universe, also +their Universal relations and movements. All who have studied even the +most elementary school book on astronomy know these things. And yet +such people are asked to swallow whole this story of the "moving +star," traveling on a little ahead of the shepherds for over a year, +and at last standing right over the home of Jesus, and thus indicating +that the search was ended. Let us compare this unscientific tale, with +the traditions and legends of the Mystics, and then take your choice. + +Had there been any such star in appearance, the historians of that day +would surely have recorded it, for there were learned and wise men in +the East in those days, and as astrology was a science closely +studied, it would have been noted and passed on to posterity by both +writings and tradition. But no such record or tradition is to be found +among the Eastern peoples, or the records of the astrologers. But +another record and tradition _is_ preserved, as we shall see in a +moment. + +Yes, there really _was_ a "Star of Bethlehem" which led the feet of +the Magi to the home of the infant Jesus. We have the following proof +of this fact: + + (1) the traditions and teachings of the Mystic Orders which + have been handed down from teacher to student for centuries; + + (2) the statements and records of the Ancient Astrologers, + which may be proven by modern astronomical calculations; and + + (3) the calculations made by modern astronomers, which shall + be stated a few paragraphs further on. These three sources + of information give us the same tale, as we shall see. + +Before proceeding to a consideration of this three-fold evidence, let +us pause for a moment and consider the relation of the Magi to +Astrology. To understand the narrative of the Magi's Visit to Jesus, +we must remember that they were the very Masters of Astrological Lore. +Persia and the surrounding Oriental countries were the fountain-head +of Astrological Teaching. And these Magi were Masters, and Adepts, and +Hierophants, and consequently knew all that was known to the greatest +schools of Astrology of that day. Much of their Ancient Astrological +Lore has been lost to the race of to-day, but to these ancient learned +men it was as much of a science as chemistry and astronomy are to the +learned ones of our day. + +The Magi had long waited for the appearance and incarnation of a Great +Master of Masters, whose appearance had been predicted centuries +before by some of the great Occult Fathers of the Mystic Orders, and +each generation hoped that the event would come in his day. They had +been taught that when the event took place, they would be informed by +means of the planets, according to the Higher Astrology. All students +of even our modern fragmentary astrology will understand this. And so +they waited and carefully scanned the heavens for the sign. + +Now the traditions of the Occult Orders inform us that at last the +Magi witnessed a peculiar conjunction of planets; first, the +conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, in the Constellation of Pisces, the +two planets being afterward joined by the planet Mars, the three +planets in close relation of position, making a startling and unusual +stellar display, and having a deep astrological significance. Now, the +Constellation of Pisces, as all astrologers, ancient and modern, know, +is the constellation governing the national existence of Judea. Seeing +the predicted conjunction of the planets, occurring in the +Constellation having to do with Judea (as well as the relative +positions of the other planets, all of which played its part in the +observation), the Magi knew two things, _i.e._, (1) that the birth of +the Master of Masters had occurred; and (2) that He had been born in +Judea, as indicated by the constellation in which the conjunction +occurred. And, so, making the calculation of the exact moment of the +conjunction, they started on their long journey toward Judea in search +of the Master of Masters. + +Now, again, the records of the Astrologers, preserved in the Oriental +Occult Brotherhoods, in their monasteries, etc., show that at a period +a few years before the Christian Era such a peculiar conjunction and +combination of the planets occurred in the Constellation symbolizing +the destinies of Judea, which was interpreted as indicating the +appearance of an Incarnation or Avatar of a Great Divine Soul--a +Master of Masters--a Mystic of Mystics. It must be remembered that +these Orders are composed of non-Christians--people that the average +Christian would call "heathens," and that therefore this testimony +must be regarded as free from bias toward Christianity or the +corroboration of its legends. + +And, in the third place, the calculations of Modern Astronomy show +without possibility of contradiction that in the Roman year 747 (or +seven years before the Christian Era) _the planets Saturn and Jupiter +farmed a conjunction in the Constellation of Pisces_, and that these +two planets, still in close position to each other, were joined by the +planet Mars in the Spring of 748. The great astronomer Kepler first +made this calculation in the year 1604, and it has been since verified +by modern calculations. To those who would object that all this +occurred seven years before the commonly accepted date of the birth of +Christ, we would say that any modern work on New Testament Chronology, +or any encyclopedia or reference work on the subject, will show that +the former calculations were several years out of the way, and that +the records of other events mentioned in the Bible, such as the +"enrollment" of the people, which brought Joseph and Mary to +Bethlehem, enable modern Biblical scholars to fix the date of the +birth of Christ at about six or seven years before the usually +accepted time. So that modern research fully corroborates the +astrological record and the Mystic traditions. + +And so it would appear that the coming of the Wise Men--the Magi--was +in accordance with the astrological signs, of the interpretation of +which they were adepts and masters. When this truth is known, how +puerile and petty seems the myth of the "traveling star" of the +commonly accepted exoteric version? And the pictures of the Wise Men +being led by a moving heavenly body, traveling across the skies and at +last standing still over the cottage of Joseph, with which the Sunday +school books are filled, must be relegated to the same waste-paper +basket which contains the Bible illustrations, formerly so popular, +which picture Jehovah as a bald-headed old man with a long white +beard, clad in flowing robes designed to hide his body. Is it any +wonder that skeptics, infidels, and scoffers of the spiritual truths +have arisen in great numbers, when they have been asked to accept +these things or be damned? + +And is not this connection of Astrology with Early Christianity a +rebuke to the modern Christian Church which sneers and scoffs at the +science of astrology as a "base superstition" fit only for fools and +ignoramuses? Does not this picture of the Magi give a clear view of +that which was formerly regarded as a mere fable, to be solemnly +smiled over and taught to the children, with whom the story has always +been a favorite owing to their intuitive perception of an underlying +truth. And now with this Mystic version, cannot _you_ enjoy the legend +with the children? In this connection let us once more quote from the +New International Encyclopedia (Vol. II, 170), a standard reference +work, as you know, which says: + + "Some of the earlier Christian Fathers argued against the + doctrines of the earlier astrology, while others received + them in a modified form; and indeed it formed a part of the + basis of their religion in the Gospel narrative of the visit + to Bethlehem of the Wise Men of the East, who were Chaldean + Magi or Astrologers." + +Here is the testimony in all of the standard reference books, and yet +how many of you have known it? + +To understand the importance of the event which drew the steps of the +Magi to Bethlehem, we must realize that the Coming of the Master was a +favorite subject of speculation and discussion among Occultists and +Mystic organizations all over the Oriental countries. It had been +foretold, in all tongues, that a Great Master would be given to the +world--a mighty _avatar_ or appearance of Deity in human form, who +would incarnate in order to redeem the world from the materiality +which threatened it. The Sacred Writings of India, Persia, Chaldea, +Egypt, Media, Assyria, and other lands had foretold this event for +many centuries, and all the mystics and occultists longed for the day +"when the Master would appear." The Jews also had many traditions +regarding the coming of a Messiah, who would be born of the seed of +David, at Bethlehem, but their Messiah was looked upon as likely to be +an earthly king, destined to free Israel from the Roman yoke. And so, +the tradition of the Jews was regarded as of inferior moment to their +own predictions, by the Mystic and Occult Brotherhoods of the East. To +them it was to be an _avatar_ of Deity--God in human form come to take +his rightful seat as the Grand Master of the Universal Grand Lodge of +Mystic--a descent of pure Spirit into matter. This conception +certainly was very much higher than that of the Jews. + +And so, knowing these things, we may readily understand why the Magi +pursued their search with such ardor and enthusiasm. They had many +weary miles of travel to Bethlehem, over a year being consumed in the +journey. They reached Bethlehem over a year after the birth of Christ +and the appearance of the Star, the sight of which had started them on +their quest. They sought not a new-born babe, as common belief has +it--they searched for a child born over a year before. (We refer the +student to any reference work, for a verification of this last +statement. The illustrations in the Sunday school books showing the +Wise Men worshipping a new born babe in the manger are on a par with +the others mentioned. The Wise Men had nothing to do with the stable +or the manger--for Joseph, Mary and the Babe were lodged in a house by +that time, as we shall see as we proceed.) + +At last after their long and weary wandering over hill and plain, +mountain and desert, the Magi found themselves in Jerusalem, inquiring +diligently as to the whereabouts of the Master of Masters--the +Promised One, whose coming had been the subject of prophecy for +centuries among the Eastern peoples. The Jews of whom they inquired, +although not familiar with the predictions regarding a Mystic Master, +or _avatar_ of Deity, were nevertheless thoroughly familiar with the +prophecies of the coming of the Hebrew Messiah, and naturally thought +that it was of this expected earthly King of the Jews that the Magi +inquired, and so they reported it far and wide that these Great Men +from the East had come to Jerusalem to find the Messiah--the King of +the Jews, who was to deliver Israel from the Roman yoke. And, as the +Gospel of Matthew (2:3) informs us: "When Herod the king heard it, he +was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." Naturally so, when it is +remembered that it was an Earthly Kingdom that they expected the +Messiah would inherit. And so, gathering the chief priests and scribes +of Jerusalem around him, he bade them tell him the particulars +regarding the prophecies regarding the Messiah--where he was expected +to be born. And they answered him, saying: "In Bethlehem of Judea for +so hath the prophets spoken." + +And hearing the testimony of the scribes and priests, the wily Herod, +who feared the realization of this old Hebrew prophecy which +threatened to cost him his throne if fulfilled, called the Magi to his +palace and in private consultation inquired of them the reason of +their search. And when they told him of the astrological +indications--of the "Star"--he was still more wrought up, and wished +to locate the dangerous child. And so he inquired of them the exact +date at which the star had appeared, that he might be better able to +find the infant, knowing its date of birth in Bethlehem. (See Matthew +2:7.) And learning this he bade them go to Bethlehem and find the +child they sought, and cunningly added, "And when ye have found him, +bring me word, that I also may come and worship him." Thus craftily +concealing his intentions to seize and kill the child, he endeavored +to press the Magi into his service as detectives, by pretending to +join in their desire to locate the Divine Child. + +The Magi traveled on to Bethlehem, and arriving there made diligent +inquiry regarding infants that had been born about the time that the +star appeared. There were many infants born in Bethlehem during the +same month, of course, and the search was difficult. But they soon +heard strange rumors about a babe that had been born to travelers in +Bethlehem about that time, the birth of whom had been attended by a +strange occurrence. This peculiar happening is related in Luke 2:8-20, +in which it is stated that at the time of the birth of Jesus in the +manger, certain shepherds keeping the night-watch over their flocks +saw an angel standing by them, and "the glory of the Lord" shining +around about them. And the angel bade them be not afraid, for to them +was to be given tidings of great joy, for there was born that very +day, in Bethlehem, one who was to be the Anointed Lord of the world. +And the angel further directed them that the babe would be found lying +in a manger in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes which was to be +their sign. And then suddenly the place was filled with a multitude of +supernatural beings, praising God, singing, "Glory to God in the +highest, and on earth peace and good-will among men." And the +shepherds flocked to the town, and there found the child in the +manger. And they spread abroad the report of the wonderful event +accompanying the birth of the child. And consequently the child and +its parents became objects of more or less public interest. + +And so when the Magi instituted their search they were in due time +informed of this strange occurrence. And they visited the house of +Joseph and Mary and saw the Babe. Making close inquiry of the parents, +they found that the time of the child's birth tallied precisely with +the moment of the astrological signs. Then they cast the Child's +horoscope and they knew that their shepherd's vision coincided with +their own science, and that here indeed was He for whom the Eastern +Occultists and Mystics had waited for centuries. They had found the +Master! The Star Child was before them! + +Then these Great Men of their own lands--these Adepts, Masters and +Hierophants--prostrated themselves on the ground before the child and +gave him the salutation due only to the great Occult Master of Masters +who was come to take his seat upon the Throne of the Grand Master of +the Great Lodge. But the child knew naught of this, and merely smiled +sweetly at these strange men in gorgeous foreign robes, and reached +out his little hand toward them. But Occult tradition has it that the +tiny fingers and thumb of his right hand, outstretched toward the +Magi, unconsciously assumed the mystic symbol of the Occult +Benediction, used by the Masters and Hierophants (and now used by the +Pope in Papal Benediction) and gave to the worshippers that Master's +benediction. The tiny Master of Masters thus gave his first blessing +to his followers, and exalted worshippers. But His Throne was not that +of the Great Lodge, but a still higher place--the knees of a Mother! + +And the Magi then made mystic and symbolic offerings to the +child--Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh offered they Him. Gold, signifying +the tribute offered to a Ruler, was the first symbol. Then came +Frankincense, the purest and rarest incense used by the Occult and +Mystic Brotherhoods and Orders, in their ceremonies and rites, when +they were contemplating the sacred symbol of the Absolute Master of +the Universe--this Frankincense was their symbol of worship. Then, +last symbol of all, was the Myrrh, which in the occult and mystic +symbolism indicated the bitterness of mortal life, bitter though +pungent, preserving though stinging--this was the meaning of the +Myrrh, that this child, though Divine in his inner nature, was still +mortal in body and brain, and must accept and experience the bitter +tang of life. Myrrh, the strength of which preserves, and prevents +decay, and yet which smarts, and tangs, and stings ever and ever--a +worthy symbol of Mortal Life, surely. Wise Men, indeed, ye Magi! Gold, +Frankincense, and Myrrh--a prophecy, symbol, and revelation of the +Life of the Son of Man, with His indwelling Pure Spirit. + +And the Magi, having performed their rites and ceremonies, departed +from Bethlehem. But they did not forget the Child--they preserved a +careful watch over his movements, until they saw him again. Saw Him +again? you ask? _Yes, saw him again!_ Though the Gospels say naught of +this, and are silent for a period of many years in the Life of Jesus, +yet the records and traditions of the Mystics of the East are filled +with this esoteric knowledge of these missing years, as we shall see +as we proceed. Left behind by the Magi, but still under their loving +care, the Child waxed strong and grew in mind and body. + +But the Magi, being warned by higher intelligences in a vision, did +not return to the wily and crafty Herod, but "departed unto their own +country another way." (_Matt. 2:12._) And Herod waited in vain for +their return, and finally discovering their escape wrathfully ordered +the massacre of all male children that had been born in Bethlehem and +its suburbs of two years of age and under. He calculated the two years +from the witnessing of the "star" by the Magi. Matthew 2:16 states the +story of the fixing of the time as follows: + + "And slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and + all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, + _according to the time which he exactly learned of the wise + men_." + +Herod sought to kill the feared Messiah--the King of the Jews, who +threatened to drive him from his earthly throne--by killing all the +male infants in Bethlehem that had been born since the astrological +indication as stated by the Magi. + +But this plot failed, for Joseph had been warned by "an angel in a +dream" (which mystics teach was the Astral Form of one of the Magi) +and was told to take the mother and child and flee into Egypt, and to +stay there until the death of Herod. And so Joseph, Mary, and Jesus +then fled from the wrath of Herod, and stole silently away to Egypt. +And the Occult traditions have it that the expenses of the journey of +this poor carpenter and his family--that journey into strange lands, +hurried, and without the chance to earn money along the way--was +accomplished by the means of the Gold that the Magi had offered to +Jesus, and which they had insisted upon his parents storing away for +His use. And so the gold of these Occult Mystics saved the founder of +Christianity from massacre. And how poorly has Christianity repaid the +debt, when one thinks of the persecutions of the Oriental "heathen" by +the so-called Christians of all times! + +And note this--they carried the child to Egypt, the home of Mystery +and Occultism--the land of Isis! A worthy resting place for the Great +Occult Master that was to be! And Occult tradition also has it that +one night, wearied with their long journey, the family halted and +passed the night in the place of the Sphinx and Pyramids. And that the +Mother and Babe rested between the outstretched forepaws of the mighty +Sphinx, which held them safe and secure, while Joseph threw himself on +the base before them, and slept on guard. What a scene--the Master as +an infant protected by the Sphinx, that ancient Occult emblem and +symbol, while close by, reared like mighty watchful sentinels, stood +the Great Pyramids of Egypt, the master work of Egypt's Mystics, every +line and inch of which symbolizes an Occult Teaching. Verily, indeed +is Christianity cradled in the lap of Mysticism. + +Thus endeth our First Lesson. The Second Lesson will take up the +Mystic Teachings regarding the Divine Incarnation of the Spirit in the +mortal body of Jesus--a subject of the greatest importance to all who +are troubled with this difficult point. We hope to be able to shed the +Mystic light of Truth upon this corner which so many have found dark, +non-understandable, and contrary to reason, natural law and science. +The Mystic Teachings are the great Reconciler of Faith and Reason. + + + + +THE SECOND LESSON. + + + +THE MYSTERY OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH. + +One of the points of conflict between Established Theology on the one +hand and what is known as Rationalism, the Higher Criticism, and +Comparative Mythology, on the other hand, is what is known as "the +Virgin Birth" of Jesus. Perhaps we may show the points of difference +more clearly by simply stating the opposing views and, afterwards, +giving the traditions of the Occult Brotherhoods and Societies on the +subject. We are enabled to state the opposing views without prejudice, +because we rest upon the Occult Teachings with a feeling of being +above and outside of the theological strife raging between the two +schools of Christian theologians. We trust that the reader will +reserve his decision until the consideration of the matter in this +lesson is completed. We think that it will be found that the Occult +Teachings give the Key to the Mystery and furnish the Reconciliation +between the opposing theological views which threaten to divide the +churches into two camps, i.e., (1) the adherents of the established +orthodox theology, and (2) the adherents of the views of the +Rationalists and the Higher Critics. + +The school of theology which clings to the old orthodox teachings +regarding the Virgin Birth and which teachings are commonly accepted +without question by the mass of church-goers, hold as follows: + + Mary, a young Jewish maiden, or virgin, was betrothed to + Joseph, a carpenter of Nazareth in Galilee. Before her + marriage, she was informed by an angelic vision that she + would miraculously conceive a son, to whom she would give + birth, and who would reign on the Throne of David and be + called the Son of the Highest. This teaching is based solely + upon certain statements contained in the Gospels of Matthew + and Luke. Matthew's account is as follows: + + "Now, the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as + his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came + together, she was found with the child of the Holy Ghost. + Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not willing + to make her a public example was minded to put her away + privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the + angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, + Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary + thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy + Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call + his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their + sins. And now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled + which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold + a virgin shall be with a child and shall bring forth a son, + and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being + interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from + sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took + unto him his wife: And knew her not until she had brought + forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus." + (_Matt. 1:18-25._) + +Luke's account is as follows: + + "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God + unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused + to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and + the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her + and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is + with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw + him she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind + what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said + unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with + God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring + forth a son and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be + great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the + Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. + And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of + his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the + angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the + angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come + upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow + thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of + thee shall be called the Son of God." (_Luke 1:26-33._) + +And so, this then is the commonly accepted, orthodox teachings of +Christian theology. It is embodied in the two best-known creeds of the +church and is made an essential article of belief by the majority of +the orthodox churches. + +In the Apostle's Creed, which has been traced back to about the year +A.D. 500, and which is claimed to have been based on an older creed, +the doctrine is stated thusly: "... and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, +our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin +Mary," etc. In the Nicene Creed, which dates from A.D. 325, the +doctrine is stated thusly: "... and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only +begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father ... and was incarnate by +the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary," etc. + +And so, the doctrine is plainly stated and firmly insisted upon by the +orthodox churches of today, although such was not always the case for +the matter was one which gave rise to much conflict and difference of +opinion in the early centuries of the Church, the present view, +however, overcoming those who opposed it, and finally becoming +accepted as beyond doubt or question by the orthodox, believing +Christian. + +But the present time finds many leading minds in the churches, who +refuse to accept the doctrine as usually taught, and the voice of the +Higher Criticism is heard in the land in increasing volume and many +doctrines unquestioningly held by the pews are being abandoned by the +pulpits, usually in the way of "discreet silence" being maintained. +But here and there courageous voices are heard stating plainly that +which their reason and conscience impels. We shall now consider these +dissenting opinions. + +We have to say here, at this point, that we have no sympathy for the +so-called "infidel" opinion, which holds that the whole tale of the +Virgin Birth was invented to conceal the illegitimate birth of Jesus. +Such a view is based neither on intelligent investigation or +criticism, or upon the occult teachings. It was merely "invented" +itself, by those who were unable to accept current theology and who, +when driven from the churches, built up a crude system of +reconstructed Biblical History of their own. And so we shall not stop +to even consider this view of the matter, but shall pass on to the +scholarly objectors and their views and thence to the Occult +Teachings. + +In the first place, the theologians who favor the views of the Higher +Criticism object to the idea of the Virgin Birth upon several general +grounds, among which the following are the principal ones: + + (1) That the story of the Divine Conception, that is the + conception by a woman of a child without a human father, and + by means of a miraculous act on the part of Deity, is one + found among the traditions, legends and beliefs of many + heathen and pagan nations. Nearly all of the old Oriental + religions, antedating Christianity by many centuries, + contain stories of this kind concerning their gods, prophets + and great leaders. The critics hold that the story of the + Virgin Birth and Divine Conception were borrowed outright + from these pagan legends and incorporated into the Christian + Writings after the death of Christ; + + (2) that the idea of the Virgin Birth was not an original + Christian Doctrine, but was injected into the Teachings at a + date about one hundred years, or nearly so, after the + beginning of the Christian Era; this view being corroborated + by the fact that the New Testament Writings themselves + contain very little mention of the idea, the only mention of + it being in two of the Gospels, those of St. Matthew and St. + Luke--St. Mark and St. John containing no mention of the + matter, which would not likely be the case had it been an + accepted belief in the early days of Christianity--and no + mention being made of it in the Epistles, even Paul being + utterly silent on the question. They claim that the Virgin + Birth was unknown to the primitive Christians and was not + heard of until its "borrowing" from pagan beliefs many years + after. In support of their idea, as above stated, they call + attention to the fact that the New Testament writings, known + to Biblical students as the oldest and earliest, make no + mention of the idea; and that Paul ignores it completely, as + well as the other writers; + + (3) that the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke bear + internal evidences of the introduction of the story at a + later date. This matter we shall now consider, from the + point of view of the Higher Criticism within the body of the + Church. + +In the first place, let us consider the Gospel of St. Matthew. The +majority of people accept this as having been written by St. Matthew, +with his own hand, during his ministry; and that the Gospel, word for +word, is the work of this great apostle. This idea, however, is not +held for a moment by the educated clergy, as may be seen by a +reference to any prominent theological work of late years, or even in +the pages of a good encyclopedia. The investigators have made diligent +researches concerning the probable authorship of the New Testament +books and their reports would surprise many faithful church-goers who +are not acquainted with the facts of the case. There is no warrant, +outside of tradition and custom, for the belief that Matthew wrote the +Gospel accredited to him, at least in its present shape. Without going +deeply into the argument of the investigators (which may be found in +any recent work on the History of the Gospels) we would say that the +generally accepted conclusion now held by the authorities is that the +Gospel commonly accredited to St. Matthew is the work of some unknown +hand or hands, which was produced during the latter part of the first +century A.D., written in Greek, and most likely an enlargement or +elaboration of certain Aramaic writings entitled, "Sayings of Jesus," +which are thought to have been written by Matthew himself. In other +words, even the most conservative of the critics do not claim that the +Gospel of St. Matthew is anything more than an enlargement, +elaboration or development of Matthew's earlier writings, written many +years before the elaboration of the present "Gospel." The more radical +critics take an even less respectful view. This being the fact, it may +be readily seen how easy it would have been for the latter-day +"elaborator" to introduce the then current legend of the Virgin Birth, +borrowed from pagan sources. + +As a further internal evidence of such interpolation of outside +matter, the critics point to the fact that while the Gospel of Matthew +is made to claim that Joseph was merely the _reputed father_ of the +child of Mary, the same Gospel, in its very first chapter (_Matt. 1_) +_gives the genealogy of Jesus from David to Joseph_ the husband of +Mary, _in order to prove that Jesus came from the "House of David_," +in accordance with the Messianic tradition. The chapter begins with +the words, "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of +David, the son of Abraham" (_Matt. 1_), and then goes on to name +fourteen generations from Abraham to David; fourteen generations from +David to the days of the carrying away into Babylon; and fourteen +generations from the Babylonian days until the birth of Jesus. The +critics call attention to this _recital of Jesus's descent, through +Joseph, from the House of David_, which is but one of the many +indications that the original Matthew inclined quite strongly to the +view that Jesus was the Hebrew Messiah, come to reign upon the throne +of David, rather than a Divine Avatar or Incarnation. + +The critics point to the fact that _if Joseph were not the real father +of Jesus, where would be the sense and purpose of proving his descent +from David through Joseph?_ It is pertinently asked, _"Why the +necessity or purpose of the recital of Joseph's genealogy, as applied +to Jesus, if indeed Jesus were not truly the son of Joseph_?" The +explanation of the critics is that the earlier writings of Matthew +contained nothing regarding the Virgin Birth, Matthew having heard +nothing of this pagan legend, and that naturally he gave the genealogy +of Jesus from David and Abraham. If one omits the verses 18-25 from +Matthew's Gospel, he will see the logical relation of the genealogy to +the rest of the account--otherwise it is paradoxical, contradictory +and ridiculous, and shows the joints and seams where it has been +fitted into the older account. + +"But," you may ask, "what of the Messianic Prophecy mentioned by +Matthew (1:23)? Surely this is a direct reference to the prophecy of +Isaiah 7:14." Let us examine this so-called "prophecy," of which so +much has been said and see just what reference it has to the birth of +Jesus. + +Turning back to Isaiah 7, we find these words, just a little before +the "prophecy": + + "Moreover the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a + sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in + the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither + will I tempt the Lord. And he said, Hear ye now, O house of + David; is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye + weary my God also?" (_Isaiah 6:13._) + +Then comes the "prophecy": "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you +a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call +his name Immanuel." This is the "prophecy" quoted by the writer of the +Gospel of Matthew, and which has been quoted for centuries in +Christian churches, as a foretelling of the miraculous birth of Jesus. +As a matter of fact, intelligent theologians know that it has no +reference to Jesus at all, in any way, but belongs to another +occurrence, as we shall see presently, and was injected into the +Gospel narrative merely to support the views of the writer thereof. + +It may be well to add here that many of the best authorities hold that +the Greek translation of the Hebrew word "_almah_" into the equivalent +of "virgin" in the usual sense of the word is incorrect. The Hebrew +word "_almah_" used in the original Hebrew text of Isaiah, does not +mean "virgin" as the term is usually employed, but rather "a young +woman of marriageable age--a maiden," the Hebrews having an entirely +different word for the idea of "virginity," as the term is generally +used. The word "_almah_" is used in other parts of the Old Testament +to indicate a "young woman--a maiden," notably in Proverbs 30:19, in +the reference to "the way of a man with a maid." + +But we need not enter into discussions of this kind, say the Higher +Critics, for the so-called "prophecy" refers to an entirely different +matter. It appears, say they, that Ahaz, a weakling king of Judea, was +in sore distress because Rezin the Syrian king, and Pekah the ruler of +Northern Israel, had formed an offensive alliance against him and were +moving their combined forces toward Jerusalem. In his fear he sought +an alliance with Assyria, which alliance was disapproved of by Isaiah +who remonstrated with Ahaz about the proposed move. The king was too +much unnerved by fear to listen to Isaiah's arguments and so the +latter dropped into prophecy. He prophesied, after the manner of the +Oriental seer, that the land would be laid waste and misery entailed +upon Israel, should the suicidal policy be adopted. But he held out a +hope for a brighter future after the clouds of adversity had rolled +by. A new and wise prince would arise who would bring Israel to her +former glory. That prince would be born of a young mother and his name +would be Immanuel, which means "God with us." All this had reference +to things of a reasonably near future and had no reference to the +birth of Jesus _some seven hundred years after_, who _was not a +prince_ sitting upon the throne of Israel, and who did not bring +national glory and renown to Israel, for such was not his mission. +Hebrew scholars and churchmen have often claimed that Isaiah's +prophecy was fulfilled by the birth of Hezekiah. + +There is no evidence whatever in the Jewish history of the seven +hundred years between Isaiah and Jesus, that the Hebrews regarded +Isaiah's prophecy as relating to the expected Messiah, but on the +contrary it was thought to relate to a minor event in their history. +As a Jewish writer has truly said, "Throughout the wide extent of +Jewish literature there is not a single passage which can bear the +construction that the Messiah should be miraculously conceived." Other +writers along this line have stated the same thing, showing that the +idea of a Virgin Birth was foreign to the Jewish mind, the Hebrews +having always respected and highly honored married life and human +parentage, regarding their children as blessings and gifts from God. + +Another writer in the Church has said, "Such a fable as the birth of +the Messiah from a _virgin_ could have arisen anywhere else easier +than among the Jews; their doctrine of the divine unity placed an +impassable gulf between God and the world; their high regard for the +marriage relation," etc., would have rendered the idea obnoxious. +Other authorities agree with this idea, and insist that the idea of +the Virgin Birth never originated in Hebrew prophecy, but was injected +into the Christian Doctrine from pagan sources, toward the end of the +first century, and received credence owing to the influx of converts +from the "heathen" peoples who found in the idea a correspondence with +their former beliefs. As Rev. R.J. Campbell, minister of the City +Temple, London, says in his "New Theology," "No New Testament passage +whatever is directly or indirectly a prophecy of the virgin birth of +Jesus. To insist upon this may seem to many like beating a man of +straw, but if so, the man of straw still retains a good deal of +vitality." + +Let us now turn to the second account of the Virgin Birth, in the +Gospels--the only other place that it is mentioned, outside of the +story in Matthew, above considered. We find this second mention in +Luke 1:26-35, the verses having been quoted in the first part of this +lesson. + +There has been much dispute regarding the real authorship of the +Gospel commonly accredited to Luke, but it is generally agreed upon by +Biblical scholars that it was the latest of the first three Gospels +(generally known as "the Synoptic Gospels"). It is also generally +agreed upon, by such scholars, that the author, whoever he may have +been, was not an eye witness of the events in the Life of Christ. Some +of the best authorities hold that he was a Gentile (non-Hebrew), +probably a Greek, for his Greek literary style is far above the +average, his vocabulary being very rich and his diction admirable. It +is also generally believed that the same hand wrote the Book of Acts. +Tradition holds that the author was one Luke, a Christian convert +after the death of Jesus, who was one of Paul's missionary band which +traveled from Troas to Macedonia, and who shared Paul's imprisonment +in Caesarea; and who shared Paul's shipwreck experiences on the voyage +to Rome. He is thought to have written his Gospel long after the death +of Paul, for the benefit and instruction of one Theophilus, a man of +rank residing in Antioch. + +It is held by writers of the Higher Criticism that the account of the +Virgin Birth was either injected in Luke's narrative, by some later +writer, or else that Luke in his old age adopted this view which was +beginning to gain credence among the converted Christians of pagan +origin, Luke himself being of this class. It is pointed out that as +Paul, who was Luke's close friend and teacher, made no mention of the +Virgin Birth, and taught nothing of the kind, Luke must have acquired +the legend later, if, indeed, the narrative was written by him at all +in his Gospel. + +It is likewise noted that Luke also gives a genealogy of Jesus, from +Adam, through Abraham, and David, and Joseph. The words in parenthesis +"as was supposed," in Luke 3:23, are supposed to have been inserted in +the text by a later writer, as there would be no sense or reason in +tracing the genealogy of Jesus through a "supposed" father. The verse +in question reads thusly: "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty +years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the +son of Heli," etc. Students, of course, notice that the line of +descent given by Luke differs very materially from that given by +Matthew, showing a lack of knowledge on the part of one or the other +writer. + +On the whole, scholars consider it most remarkable that this account +of the Virgin Birth should be given by Luke, who was a most ardent +Pauline student and follower, in view of the fact that Paul ignored +the whole legend, if, indeed, he had ever heard of it. Surely a man +like Paul would have laid great stress upon this wonderful event had +he believed in it, or had it formed a part of the Christian Doctrine +of his time. That Luke should have written this account is a great +mystery--and many feel that it is much easier to accept the theory of +the later interpolation of the story into Luke's Gospel, particularly +in view of the corroborative indications. + +Summing up the views of the Higher Criticism, we may say that the +general position taken by the opponents and deniers of the Virgin +Birth of Jesus is about as follows: + + 1. The story of the Virgin Birth is found only in the + introductory portion of two of the four Gospels--Matthew and + Luke--and even in these the story bears the appearance of + having been "fitted in" by later writers. + + 2. Even Matthew and Luke are silent about the matter after + the statements in the introductory part of their Gospels, + which could scarcely occur had the story been written by and + believed in by the writers, such action on their part being + contrary to human custom and probability. + + 3. The Gospels of Mark and John are absolutely silent on the + subject; the oldest of the Gospels--that of Mark--bears no + trace of the legend; and the latest Gospel--that of + John--being equally free from its mention. + + 4. The rest of the New Testament breathes not a word of the + story or doctrine. _The Book of Acts, generally accepted as + having also been written by Luke, ignores the subject + completely_. Paul, the teacher of Luke, and the great writer + of the Early Church, seems to know nothing whatever about + the Virgin Birth, or else purposely ignores it entirely, the + latter being unbelievable in such a man. Peter, the First + Apostle, makes no mention of the story or doctrine in his + great Epistles, which fact is inconceivable if he knew of + and believed in the legend. The Book of Revelation is + likewise silent upon this doctrine which played so important + a part in the later history of the Church. The great + writings of the New Testament contain no mention of the + story, outside of the brief mention in Matthew and Luke, + alluded to above. + + 5. There are many verses in the Gospels and Epistles which + go to prove, either that the story was unknown to the + writers, or else not accepted by them. _The genealogies of + Joseph are cited to prove the descent of Jesus from David, + which depends entirely upon the fact of Joseph's actual + parentage. Jesus is repeatedly and freely mentioned as the + son of Joseph._ Paul and the other Apostles hold firmly to + the doctrine of the necessity of the Death of Jesus; his + Rising from the Dead; and his Ascension into Heaven, etc. + But they had nothing to say regarding any necessity for his + Virgin Birth, or the necessity for the acceptance of any + such doctrine--they are absolutely silent on this point, + although they were careful men, omitting no important detail + of doctrine. Paul even speaks of Jesus as "of the seed of + David." (_Rom. 1:3._) + + 6. The Virgin Birth was not a part of the early traditions + or doctrine of the Church, but was unknown to it. And it is + not referred to in the preaching and teaching of the + Apostles, as may have been seen by reference to the Book of + Acts. This book, which relates the Acts and Teachings of the + Apostles, could not have inadvertently omitted such an + important doctrine or point of teaching. It is urged by + careful and conscientious Christian scholars that the + multitudes converted to Christianity in the early days must + have been ignorant of, or uninformed on, this miraculous + event, which would seem inexcusable on the part of the + Apostles had they known of it and believed in its truth. + This condition of affairs must have lasted until nearly the + second century, when the pagan beliefs began to filter in by + reason of the great influx of pagan converts. + + 7. There is every reason for believing that the legend arose + from other pagan legends, the religions of other peoples + being filled with accounts of miraculous births of heroes, + gods, and prophets, kings and sages. + + 8. That acceptance of the legend is not, nor should it be, a + proof of belief in Christ and Christianity. This view is + well voiced by Rev. Dr. Campbell, in his "New Theology," + when he says "The credibility and significance of + Christianity are in no way affected by the doctrine of the + Virgin Birth, otherwise than that the belief tends to put a + barrier between Jesus and the race, and to make him + something that cannot properly be called human.... Like many + others, I used to take the position that acceptance or + non-acceptance of the doctrine of the Virgin Birth was + immaterial because Christianity was quite independent of it; + but later reflection has convinced me that in point of fact + it operates as a hindrance to spiritual religion and a real + living faith in Jesus. The simple and natural conclusion is + that Jesus was the child of Joseph and Mary, and had an + uneventful childhood." The German theologian, Soltau, says, + "Whoever makes the further demand that an evangelical + Christian shall believe in the words 'conceived by the Holy + Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,' wittingly constitutes + himself a sharer in a sin against the Holy Spirit and the + true Gospel as transmitted to us by the Apostles and their + school in the Apostolic Age." + +And this then is the summing up of the contention between the +conservative school of Christian theologians on the one side and the +liberal and radical schools on the other side. We have given you a +statement of the positions, merely that you may understand the +problem. But, before we pass to the consideration of the Occult +Teachings, let us ask one question: _How do the Higher Critics account +for the undoubted doctrine of the Divine Fatherhood, as clearly stated +all through the New Testament_, in view of the proofs against the +Virgin Birth? Why the frequent and repeated mention of Jesus as "the +Son of God?" What was the Secret Doctrine underlying the Divine +Parentage of Jesus, which the pagan legends corrupted into the story +of the Virgin Birth of theology? We fear that the answer is not to be +found in the books and preachments of the Higher Criticism, nor yet in +those of the Conservative Theologians. Let us now see what light the +Occult Teachings can throw on this dark subject! There is an Inner +Doctrine which explains the mystery. + +Now, in the first place, there is no reference in the Occult Teaching +to any miraculous features connected with the physical birth of Jesus. +It is not expressly denied, it is true, but the Teachings contain no +reference to the matter, and all the references to the subject of +Jesus' parentage speak of Joseph as being His father, and Mary His +mother. In other words, the family is treated as being composed of +father, mother and child just as is the case with any family. The +Occult Teachings go into great detail concerning the _Spiritual +Sonship_ of Jesus, as we shall see presently, but there is no mention +of any miraculous _physical_ conception and birth. + +We can readily understand why the Virgin Birth legend would not appeal +to the Occultists, if we will but consider the doctrines of the +latter. The Occultists pay but little attention to the physical body, +except as a Temple of the Spirit, and a habitation of the soul. The +physical body, to the Occultist, is a mere material shell, constantly +changing its constituent cells, serving to house the soul of the +individual, and which when cast off and discarded is no more than any +other bit of disintegrating material. They know of the existence of +the soul separate from the body, both after the death of the latter +and even during its life, in the case of Astral Travel, etc. And in +many other ways it becomes natural for the Occultist to regard his +body, and the bodies of others, as mere "shells," to be treated well, +used properly, and then willingly discarded or exchanged for another. + +In view of the above facts, you may readily see that any theory or +doctrine which made the Absolute--God--overshadow a human woman's body +and cause her to physically conceive a child, would appear crude, +barbarous, unnecessary and in defiance of the natural laws established +by the Cause of Causes. The Occultist sees in the conception _of every +child_, the work of the Divine Will--_every conception and birth a +miracle_. But he sees Natural Law underlying each, and he believes +that the Divine Will always operates under Natural Laws--the seeming +miracles and exceptions thereto, resulting from the mastery and +operation of some law not generally known. But the Occultist knows of +no law that will operate to produce conception by other than the +physiological process. + +In short, _the Occultist does not regard the physical body of Jesus as +Jesus Himself_--he knows that the Real Jesus is something much greater +than His body, and, consequently, he sees no more necessity for a +miraculous conception of His body than he would for a miraculous +creation of His robe. The body of Jesus was only material +substance--the Real Jesus was Spirit. The Occultists do not regard +Joseph as the father of the Real Jesus--_no human being can produce or +create a soul_. And so, the Occultist sees no reason for accepting the +old pagan doctrine of the physical Virgin Birth which has crept into +Christianity from outside sources. To the Occultist, there is a real +Virgin Birth of an entirely different nature, as we shall see +presently. + +But, not so with the people who flocked to the ranks of Christianity +toward the close of the first century--coming from pagan people, and +bringing with them their pagan legends and doctrines. These people +_believed that the Body was the Real Man_, and consequently attached +the greatest importance to it. These people were almost materialists +as the result of their pagan views of life. They began to exert an +influence on the small body of original Christians, and soon the +original teachings were smothered by the weight of the pagan +doctrines. For instance, they failed to grasp the beautiful ideas of +Immortality held by the original Christians, which held that _the +soul_ survived the death and disintegration of the body. They could +not grasp this transcendental truth--they did not know what was meant +by the term "_the soul_," and so they substituted their pagan doctrine +of the resurrection of the physical body. They believed that at some +future time there would come a great Day, in which the Dead would +arise from their graves, and become again alive. The crudeness of this +idea, when compared to the beautiful doctrine of the Immortality of +the Soul of the original Christians, and by the advanced Christians +to-day, is quite painful. And yet these pagan converts actually +smothered out the true teachings by their crude doctrine of +resurrection of _the body_. + +These people could not understand how a man could live without his +physical body, and to them future life meant a resurrection of their +dead bodies which would again become alive. To them the dead bodies +would remain dead, until the Great Day, when they would be made alive +again. There is no teaching among these people regarding the soul +which passes out of the body and lives again on higher planes. No, +nothing of this kind was known to these people--they were incapable of +such high ideas and ideals--they were materialists and were wedded to +their beloved animal bodies, and believed that their dead bodies would +in some miraculous way be made alive again at some time in the future, +when they would again live on earth. + +In view of modern knowledge regarding the nature of matter, and the +fact that what is one person's body to-day, may be a part of another's +to-morrow--that matter is constantly being converted and +reconverted--that the universal material is used to form bodies of +animals, plants, men, or else dwell in chemical gases, or combinations +in inorganic things--in view of these accepted truths the +"resurrection of the body" seems a pitiful invention of the minds of a +primitive and ignorant people, and not a high spiritual teaching. In +fact, there may be many of you who would doubt that the Christians of +that day so taught, were it not for the undisputed historical records, +and the remnant of the doctrine itself embalmed in the "Apostle's +Creed," in the passage _"I believe in the resurrection of the body_" +which is read in the Churches daily, but which doctrine is scarcely +ever taught in these days, and is believed in by but few +Christians--in fact, is ignored or even denied by the majority. + +Dr. James Beattie has written, "Though mankind have at all times had a +persuasion of the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the +body was a doctrine peculiar to early Christianity." S.T. Coleridge +has written, "Some of the most influential of the early Christian +writers were materialists, holding the soul to be material--corporeal. +It appears that in those days some few held the soul to be +incorporeal, according to the views of Plato and others, but that the +orthodox Christian divines looked upon this as an impious, +unscriptural opinion. Justin Martyr argued against the Platonic nature +of the soul. And even some latter-day writers have not hesitated to +express their views on the subject, agreeing with the earlier orthodox +brethren. For instance, Dr. R.S. Candlish has said, + + "You live again in the body,--in the very body, as to all + essential properties, and to all practical intents and + purposes, in which you live now. _I am not to live as a + ghost, a spectre, a spirit, I am to live then as I live now, + in the body_." + +The reason that the early Church laid so much stress on this doctrine +of the Resurrection of the Body, was because an inner sect, the +Gnostics, held to the contrary, and the partisan spirit of the +majority swung them to the other extreme, until they utterly denied +any other idea, and insisted upon the resurrection and re-vitalizing +of the physical body. But, in spite of the official fostering of this +crude theory, it gradually sank into actual insignificance, although +its shadow still persists in creed and word. Its spirit has retreated +and passed away before the advancing idea of the Immortality of the +Soul which returned again and again to Christianity until it won the +victory. And as Prof. Nathaniel Schmidt has said, in his article on +the subject in a leading encyclopaedia, "... The doctrine of the +natural immortality of the human soul became so important a part of +Christian thought that the resurrection naturally lost its vital +significance, and it has practically held no place in the great +systems of philosophy elaborated by the Christian thinkers in modern +times." And, yet, the Church continues to repeat the now meaningless +words, "I believe in the Resurrection of the Body." And while +practically no one now believes it, still the recital of the words, +and the statement of one's belief in them, forms a necessary requisite +for admission into the Christian Church to-day. Such is the persistent +hold of dead forms, and thoughts, upon living people. + +And, so you can readily see from what has been said, why the early +Christians, about the close of the first century A.D., attached so +much importance to _the physical conception and birth_ of Jesus. To +them the physical body of Jesus was Jesus Himself. The rest follows +naturally, including the Virgin Birth and the Physical Resurrection. +We trust that you now understand this part of the subject. + +We have heard devout Christians shocked at the idea that Jesus was +born of a human father and mother, in the natural way of the race. +They seemed to think that it savored of impurity. Such a notion is the +result of a perverted idea of the sacredness of natural functions--a +seeing of impurity--where all is pure. What a perversion, this +regarding the sacredness of human Fatherhood, and Motherhood, as +impure! The man of true spirituality sees in the Divine Trinity of +Father, Mother and Child, something most pure and sacred--something +that brings man very close indeed to God. Is the beautiful babe, held +close in its mother's fond embrace, a symbol and type of impurity? Is +the watchful care and love of the Father of the babe, an impure result +of an impure cause? Does not one's own heart tell him the contrary? +Look at the well known picture of the Journey to Egypt, with Mary +carrying the babe, and both guarded and protected by the husband and +father--Joseph--is this not a beautiful symbol of the sacredness of +Parenthood? We trust that the majority of those who read these pages +have advanced spiritually beyond the point where The Family is a thing +of impure suggestion and relationship. + +And, now, what are the Occult Teachings--the Secret Doctrine--regarding +the Real Virgin Birth of Jesus? Just this: that the Spirit of Jesus +was fresh from the bosom of the Absolute--Spirit of SPIRIT--a Virgin +Birth of Spirit. His Spirit had not traveled the weary upward path of +Reincarnation and repeated Rebirth, but was Virgin Spirit fresh from +the SPIRIT--a very Son of the Father--begotten not created. This Virgin +Spirit was incarnated in His body, and there began the life of Man, not +fully aware of His own nature, but gradually awakening into knowledge +just as does every human soul, until at last the true nature of His +Being burst upon him, and he saw that he indeed was God incarnate. In +his short life of thirty-three years--thirty years of preparation, and +three years of ministry, Jesus typified and symbolized the Life of the +Race. Just as he awakened into a perception of his Divine Nature, so +shall the race awaken in time. Every act in the Life of Jesus typified +and symbolized the life of every individual soul, and of the race. We +all have our Garden of Gethsemane--each is Crucified, and Ascends to +Higher Planes. This is the Occult Doctrine of the Virgin Birth of +Christ. Is it not a worthy one--is it not at least a higher conception +of the human mind, than the physical Virgin Birth legend? + +As we proceed with our lessons, we shall bring out the details of the +Occult Teachings concerning the Divine Nature of Christ--the Spirit +within the Human Form. And, in these references and instruction, you +will see even more clearly that nature of the Spiritual Virgin Birth +of Jesus. + +The original Christians were instructed in the Truth concerning the +Virgin Birth, that is, those who were sufficiently intelligent to +grasp it. But after the great Teachers passed away, and their +successors became overzealous in their desire to convert the outside +peoples, the influx of the latter gradually overcame the original +teachings, and the physical Virgin Birth and the Resurrection of the +Body, became Doctrines and Articles of Faith, held of vital importance +by the new orthodox leaders. It has taken centuries of mental +struggle, and spiritual unfoldment to bring the Light of the Truth to +bear upon this dark corner of the Faith, but the work is now fairly +under way, and the great minds in the Church, as well as those out of +the Church, are beginning to lay the old legend aside as a worn out +relic of primitive days when the cloud of Ignorance overshadowed the +Light of Truth. + +In concluding this lesson, let us glance once more at the words of the +eminent divine, Dr. Campbell, in his _New Theology_, in which he +states: + + "But why hesitate about the question? The greatness of Jesus + and the value of his revelation to mankind are in no way + either assisted or diminished by the manner of his entry + into the world. Every birth is just as wonderful as a virgin + birth could possibly be, and just as much a direct act of + God. A supernatural conception bears no relation whatever to + the moral and spiritual worth of the person who is supposed + to enter the world in this abnormal way.... Those who insist + on the doctrine will find themselves in danger of proving + too much, for pressed to its logical conclusion, it removes + Jesus altogether from the category of humanity in any real + sense." + +Let us trust that these Higher Critics may become informed upon the +truths of the Occult Teachings, which supply the Missing Key, and +afford the Reconciliation, and which show how and why Jesus is, in all +and very truth, THE SON OF GOD, begotten and not created, of one +substance from the Father--a particle of Purest Spirit fresh from the +Ocean of Spirit, and free from the Karma of past Incarnations--how He +was human and yet more than human. + +In our next lesson we shall take up the narrative of the secret life +of Jesus from the time of his appearance, as a child at the Temple, +among the Elders, until when at the age of thirty years he appeared at +the scene of the ministry of John the Baptist, and began his own brief +ministry of three years which was closed by the Crucifixion and +Ascension. This is a phase of the subject of intense interest, and +startling nature, because of the lack of knowledge of the occult +traditions on the part of the general public. + + + + +THE THIRD LESSON. + + + +THE MYSTIC YOUTH OF JESUS. + +In our last lesson we promised to tell you the esoteric story of the +youth of Jesus. And there is such a story to tell, although the +churches know little or nothing about it. The churches have nothing +but the husks that have always been the property of the masses. The +real kernels of truth have been possessed by but the few elect ones. +The legends of the mystic brotherhoods and occult orders have +preserved the story intact, and you shall now be given the essence of +the mystic legends and traditions. + +At the end of our first lesson we left Joseph, Mary and the infant +Jesus in Egypt, the land to which they had flown to escape the wrath +of the tyrant Herod. They dwelt in Egypt for a few years, until the +death of Herod. Then Joseph retraced his steps, and returned toward +his own country, bringing with him his wife and the babe. For some +reasons unknown to those familiar with the legends and traditions, +Joseph decided not to locate in Judea, but instead, bent his way +toward the coast and returned to Nazareth where Mary and he had +originally met and become betrothed. And, so, in Nazareth, the humble +little mountain town the boyhood days of Jesus were spent, the +grinding poverty of the family being relieved (according to the occult +legends) by the yearly presents of gold from the hands of disguised +messengers of the Magi. + +The traditions relate that Jesus began His study of the Hebrew Law +when He was but five years of age. It is related that He displayed an +unusual ability and talent in the direction of mastering not only the +text, but also the spirit of the Hebrew Scripture, and far outstripped +His fellow students. It is also related that He displayed an early +impatience at the dreary formalism of His Hebrew teachers, and a +disposition to go right to the heart of the text before Him, that He +might discern the spirit animating it. So much was this the case that +He frequently brought down upon His head the censure of His +instructors who overlooked the spirit of the teachings in their +devotion to the forms and words. + +Nazareth was an old-fashioned place and it and its inhabitants were +made the target for the jests and witticisms of the people of Judea. +The word "Nazarene" was synonymous with "lout"; "boor"; "peasant"; +etc., to the residents of the more fashionable regions. The very +remoteness of the town served to separate it in spirit from the rest +of the country. But this very remoteness played an important part in +the early life of Jesus. Nazareth, by reason of its peculiar location, +was on the line of several caravan routes. Travelers from many lands +traveled through the town, and rested there overnight, or sometimes +for several days. Travelers from Samaria, Jerusalem, Damascus, Greece, +Rome, Arabia, Syria, Persia, Phoenicia, and other lands mingled with +the Nazarenes. And the traditions relate that Jesus, the child, would +steal away and talk with such of these travelers as were versed in +occult and mystic lore, and would imbibe from their varied founts of +learning, until He was as thoroughly informed on these subjects as +many a mystic of middle age. The traditions have it that the boy would +often delight and astonish these traveling occultists with His +wonderful insight into their secret doctrines and knowledge. And it is +also told that some of the wisest of these, seeing the nature of the +child, would overstay their allotted time of sojourn, that they might +add here and there to the various parts of general occult lore +possessed by the child. It is also taught that the Magi informed some +of these travelers regarding the boy, that they might impart to him +some truth or teaching for which He was ready. + +And so the boy grew in knowledge and wisdom, day by day, year by year, +until, finally, there occurred an event in His life, which has since +been the subject of greatest interest to all Christians and students +of the New Testament, but which without the above explanation is not +readily understood. + +The Feast of the Passover occurred in its allotted time of the +year--April--when Jesus was in his thirteenth year. This feast was one +of the most important in the Jewish calendar, and its observance was +held as a most sacred duty by all Hebrews. It was the feast set down +for the remembrance and perpetuation of that most important event in +the history of the Jewish people when the Angel of Death swept over +all of Egypt's land smiting the first-born child of every house of the +natives, high and low, but sparing all the houses of the captive +Hebrews who marked their door-sills with the sacrificial blood as a +token of their faith. This is no place to give the explanation of this +apparently miraculous event, which students now know to be due to +natural causes. We merely mention it in passing. + +The Law-givers of Israel had appointed the Feast of the Passover as a +perpetual symbol of this event so important by the nation, and every +self-respecting Jew felt obligated to take part in the observance and +sacrament. Every pious Jew made it a point to perform a pilgrimage to +Jerusalem at the time of the Feast of the Passover, if he could in any +way manage to do so. + +At the time of the Passover celebration of which we are speaking, +Jesus had just entered into His thirteenth year, which age entitled +Him, under the ecclesiastical law, to the privilege of sitting with +the adult men of His race at the Passover supper, and also to publicly +join with the male congregation in the thanksgiving service in the +synagogues. + +And so, on this year, He accompanied His father and mother to +Jerusalem and made His _second_ visit to the Holy City. It will be +remembered that His _first_ visit there was made when as an infant He +was carried thither from Bethlehem in His mother's arms in accordance +with the Jewish law, and at which time an aged priest and an old +prophetess had publicly acknowledged the divine nature of the child. + +The father, mother and child--the divine trinity of Human +relationship--traveled slowly over the highway that led from Nazareth +to Jerusalem. The father and mother were concerned with the details of +the journey, mingled with pious thoughts concerning the sacred feast +in which they were to take part. But the boy's mind was far away from +the things that were occupying his parent's thoughts. He was thinking +over the deep mystic truths which He had so readily absorbed during +the past few years, and He was looking forward in delightful +anticipation to His expected meeting with the older mystics in the +temples and public places of Jerusalem. + +It must be remembered that underlying the Jewish ecclesiastical +teachings and formalism, which were all that the mass of the people +knew, there was a great store of Jewish occultism and Mysticism known +to the few elect. The Kaballah or Jewish occult writings were closely +studied by the learned Jews, and this work with other similar +teachings were transmitted verbally from teacher to student, and +constituted the Secret Doctrine of the Hebrew religion. And it was +toward the learned teachers of this Secret Doctrine that Jesus +directed His mind and steps, although His parents knew it not. + +Four or five days were consumed in the journey, and at last the Holy +City--Jerusalem--came into full view, the wonderful Temple of Israel +showing plainly above the other buildings. The bands of pilgrims, of +which the family of Joseph formed a part, formed into orderly array +and led by flute-players they solemnly marched into the streets of the +Holy City, singing and chanting the Sacred Songs used by the faithful +upon this solemn occasion. And the boy walked with the rest, with +bowed head, and eyes that seemed to see things far removed from the +scene around them. + +The Passover rites were carried out--the duties were performed--the +ceremonies were observed. The Passover Feast extended over a full +week, of which the first two days were the most important, and during +which two days the obligatory ceremonies were performed. Each family +made the offering of the sacrificial lamb--each family baked and ate +the unleavened bread. The beautiful idea of the Passover had +degenerated into a horrible feast of blood, for it is related that +upon these occasions over a quarter-million of poor innocent lambs +were slaughtered and offered up as a sacrifice pleasing to Jehovah, +who was supposed to delight in this flood of the blood of innocents. +In pursuance of this barbarous idea, the altars and courts of the +Temple of the Living God ran red with the life-blood of these poor +creatures, and the hands and garments of the anointed priests of +Jehovah were stained like those of butchers, that the vanity of a +barbarous conception of Deity might be fed. + +All this for "the Glory of God!" Think of it! And think of the feeling +that must have been aroused in the mystic mind of Jesus at this +horrible sight. How His soul must have been outraged at this +prostitution of the sacred rite! And what would have been His thoughts +had He known that centuries after, a great religion would stand, +bearing His name, the followers of which would be carried away with +this same false idea of sacrificial blood, which would be voiced in +hymns about "A fountain filled with blood, flowing from Immanuel's +veins," and about "sinners plunged beneath that bloody flood losing +all their guilty stains?" Alas, for the prostitution of sacred truths +and teachings. No wonder that a people so saturated with the +abominable ideas of a Deity delighting in this flow of blood should +have afterward put to death the greatest man of their race--a Being +who came to bring them the highest mystic and occult truths. And their +prototypes have survived through the centuries, even unto today, +insisting upon this idea of blood sacrifice and death atonement, +unworthy of any people except the worshipers of some heathen devil-god +in the remote sections of darkest Africa. + +Disgusted and outraged by this barbarous sight, Jesus, the boy, stole +away from the side of His parents, and sought the remote chambers and +corridors of the Temple where were to be found the great teachers of +the Law and of the Kaballah, surrounded by their students. Here the +boy sat and listened to the teachings and disputations of the teachers +and exponents of the doctrines. From one group to another He wandered, +and listened, and pondered, and thought. He compared the teachings, +and submitted the various ideas to the touchstone of the truth as He +found it within His own mind. The hours rapidly passed by unnoticed by +the boy, who found Himself amidst such congenial environments for the +first time. The talks with the travelers of the caravans paled into +insignificance when compared with these of the great occult teachers +of Israel. For be it remembered that it was the custom of the great +teachers of that day to so instruct those who were attracted to their +company. And Jerusalem being the centre of the culture and learning of +Israel, the great teachers dwelt there. And so it will be seen that +Jesus now found Himself at the very fountain-head of the Hebrew Secret +Doctrines, and in the actual presence of the great teachers. + +On the third day, there began a breaking-up of the vast gathering of +the two million of people who had made the pilgrimage to the Holy +City. Those poorer in purse were the first to leave, after the +obligatory rites of the first two days had been performed. And Joseph +and Mary were among those preparing to retrace their steps to their +distant homes. Their friends and neighbors gathered together, and the +preparations for the return were completed. But at the last moment, +the parents discovered that the boy, Jesus, was missing. They were +alarmed, but friends told them that their boy had been seen in the +company of kinsmen and neighbors traveling along the same road, who +had preceded them but a few hours. Somewhat reassured, the parents +left with their company, hoping that they would overtake the boy +before nightfall. But when they reached the first station on the +caravan route--a village called Beroth--and the night descended upon +them, and the boy failed to appear among the neighbors and kinsmen, +the parents were sorely distressed. They slept but little that night, +and when the first rays of dawn appeared, they parted from the +company, and retraced their way back to Jerusalem, in search of the +boy apparently lost in the great capital amid the hundreds of +thousands of pilgrims. + +Every mother and father will enter into the feelings of Joseph and +Mary in their frantic return to the city, and in their subsequent +search for the lost child. They inquired here and there for the boy, +but not a trace of him was found. And night came without a ray of +hope. And the next day was likewise barren of results. And the next +day after. For three days the devoted parents searched high and low +for their beloved child--but no word of encouragement came to them. +The boy had seemingly dropped out of sight in the vast crowds and +winding streets. The parents reproached themselves for their lack of +care and caution. None but a parent can imagine their anguish and +terror. + +They visited the many courts of the Temple many times, but no sight or +word of the boy rewarded their search. The bloody altars, the showy +costumes of the priests; the chants; the readings; seemed like mockery +to them. They wished themselves back in their humble village, with +their boy by their side. They prayed and besought Jehovah to grant +their hopes and desire, but no answer came. + +Then, on the last day, a strange event occurred. The weary and heart +broken parents wandered once more into the Temple--this time visiting +one of the less frequented courts. They saw a crowd gathered--something +of importance was occurring. Almost instinctively they drew near to the +crowd. And then amidst the unusual silence of the people they heard a +boyish voice raised to a pitch adapted to a large circle of hearers, +and speaking in the tones of authority. It was the voice of the boy, +Jesus! + +With eager feet the couple pushed forward, unto the very inner row of +the circle. And there, wonder of wonders, they saw their child in the +centre of the most celebrated teachers and doctors of the Law in all +Israel. With a rapt expression in his eyes, as if He were gazing upon +things not of this world, the boy Jesus was standing in a position and +attitude of authority, and around him were grouped the greatest minds +of the day and land, in respectful attention, while at a further +distance stood the great circle of the common people. + +When one remembers the Jewish racial trait of reverence for age, and +the consequent submission of Youth, one will better understand the +unusual spectacle that burst upon the gaze of Joseph and Mary. A mere +boy--a child--daring to even speak boldly in the presence of the aged +teachers was unheard of, and the thought of such a one actually +presuming to dispute, argue and teach, in such an assembly, was like +unto a miracle. And such it was! + +The boy spoke with the air and in the tones of a Master. He met the +most subtle arguments and objections of the Elders with the power of +the keenest intellect and spiritual insight. He brushed aside the +sophistries with a contemptuous phrase, and brought back the argument +to the vital point. + +The crowd gathered in greater volume, the gray heads and beards grew +more and more respectful. It was evident to all that a Master had +arisen in Israel in the form of a boy of thirteen. The MASTER was +apparent in tone, gesture, and thought. The Mystic had found his first +audience, and his congregation was composed of the leading thinkers +and teachers of the land. The insight of the Magi was verified! + +Then in a momentary pause in the argument, the stifled cry of a woman +was heard--the voice of the Mother. The crowd turned impatient, +reproachful glances upon Mary, who had been unable to restrain her +emotion. But the boy, looking sadly but affectionately at his lost +parents, gave her a reassuring glance, which at the same time bade her +remain still until he had finished his discourse. And the parents +obeyed the newly awakened will of their child. + +The teaching ended, the boy stepped from his position with the air of +one of the Elders, and rejoined his parents, who passed as rapidly as +possible from the wondering crowd. Then his mother reproached him, +telling him of their distress and wearisome search. The boy listened +calmly and patiently until she had finished. Then he asked, with his +newly acquired air of authority, "Why sought ye me?" And when they +answered him in the customary manner of parents, the boy took on still +a greater air of authority, and in tones that though kindly, were full +of power, he replied, "Knew ye not, that I must be in my Father's +House? I must be about the things of my Father." And the parents, +feeling themselves in the presence of the Mystery that had ever been +about the child, followed Him silently from the Temple grounds. + +And here closes the New Testament story of the boy Jesus at the age of +thirteen, which story is not resumed until His appearance at the place +of the preaching of John the Baptist, _over seventeen years later_, +when the boy had reached the age of a man of thirty years. When and +how did he spend those seventeen years? The New Testament is totally +silent on this score. Can anyone who has read the above imagine that +Jesus spent these years as a growing youth and young man, working at +His father's carpenter bench in the village of Nazareth? Would not the +Master, having found his strength and power, have insisted upon +developing the same? Could the Divine Genius once self-recognized be +content to be obscured amid material pursuits? The New Testament is +silent, but the Occult Traditions and Mystic Legends tell us the story +of the missing seventeen years, and these we shall now give to you. + + * * * * * + +The legends and traditions of the mystic and occult organizations and +brotherhoods tell us that after the occurrence of Jesus and the Elders +in the Temple, and his recovery by his parents, the latter were +approached by members of the secret organization to which the Magi +belonged, who pointed out to the parents the injustice of the plan of +keeping the lad at the carpenter's bench when He had shown evidences +of such a marvelous spiritual development and such a wonderful +intellectual grasp of weighty subjects. It is told that after a long +and serious consideration of the matter the parents finally consented +to the plan advanced by the Magi, and allowed them to take the lad +with them into their own land and retreats that He might there receive +the instructions for which His soul craved, and for which His mind was +fitted. + +It is true that the New Testament does not corroborate these occult +legends, but it is likewise true that it says nothing to the contrary. +It is silent regarding this important period of between seventeen and +eighteen years. It is to be remembered that when He appeared upon the +scene of John's ministration, the latter did not recognize Him, +whereas had Jesus remained about His home, John, his cousin, would +have been acquainted with his features and personal appearance. + +The occult teachings inform us that the seventeen or eighteen years of +Jesus' life regarding which the Gospels are silent, were filled with +travels in far and distant lands, where the youth and young man was +instructed in the occult lore and wisdom of the different schools. It +is taught that He was taken into India, and Egypt, and Persia, and +other far regions, living for several years at each important center, +and being initiated into the various brotherhoods, orders, and bodies +having their headquarters there. Some of the Egyptians' orders have +traditions of a young Master who sojourned among them, and such is +likewise the case in Persia and in India. Even among the lamasaries +hidden in Thibet and in the Himalayan Mountains are to be found +legends and stories regarding the marvelous young Master who once +visited there and absorbed their wisdom and secret knowledge. + +More than this, there are traditions among the Brahmans, Buddhists and +Zoroastrians, telling of a strange young teacher who appeared among +them, who taught marvelous truths and who aroused great opposition +among the priests of the various religions of India and Persia, owing +to his preaching against priestcraft and formalism, and also by his +bitter opposition to all forms of caste distinctions and restrictions. +And this, too, is in accord with the occult legends which teach that +from about the age of twenty-one until the age of nearly thirty years +Jesus pursued a ministry among the people of India and Persia and +neighboring countries, returning at last to his native land where He +conducted a ministry extending over the last three years of His life. + +The occult legends inform us that He aroused great interest among the +people of each land visited by Him, and that He also aroused the most +bitter opposition among the priests, for He always opposed formalism +and priestcraft, and sought to lead the people back to the Spirit of +the Truth, and away from the ceremonies and forms which have always +served to dim and becloud the Light of the Spirit. He taught always +the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. He sought to bring +the great Occult Truths down to the comprehension of the masses of +people who had lost the Spirit of the Truth in their observance of +outward forms and pretentious ceremonies. + +It is related that in India He brought down upon His head the wrath of +the Brahmin upholders of the caste distinctions, that curse of India. +He dwelt in the huts of the Sudras, the lowest of all of the Hindu +castes, and was therefore regarded as a pariah by the higher classes. +Everywhere He was regarded as a firebrand and a disturber of +established social order by the priests and high-caste people. He was +an agitator, a rebel, a religious renegade, a socialist, a dangerous +man, an "undesirable citizen," to those in authority in those lands. + +But the seeds of His wisdom were sown right and left, and in the Hindu +religions of today, and in the teachings of other Oriental countries, +may be found traces of Truth, the resemblance of which to the recorded +teachings of Jesus, show that they came from the same source, and have +sorely disturbed the Christian missionaries that have since visited +these lands. + +And so, slowly and patiently, Jesus wended his way homeward toward +Israel, where He was to complete His ministry by three years' work +among His own race, and where He was to again raise up against Himself +the opposition of the priests and the upper classes which would +finally result in His death. He was a rebel against the established +order of things, and He met the fate reserved for those who live ahead +of their time. + +And, as from the first days of His ministry to His last, so it is +today, the real teachings of the Man of Sorrows reach more readily the +heart of the plain people, while they are reviled and combatted by +those in ecclesiastical and temporal authority, even though these +people claim allegiance to Him and wear His livery. He was ever the +friend of the poor and oppressed, and hated by those in authority. + +And so, you see the Occult teachings show Jesus to have been a +world-wide teacher, instead of a mere Jewish prophet. The world was +his audience, and all races His hearers. + +He planted His seeds of Truth in the bosom of many religions instead +of but one, and these seeds are beginning to bear their best fruit +even now at this late day, when the truth of the Fatherhood of God and +the Brotherhood of Man is beginning to be felt by all nations alike, +and is growing strong enough to break down the old which have divided +brother from brother, and creed from creed. Christianity--true +Christianity--is not a mere creed, but a great human and divine Truth +that will rise above all petty distinctions of race and creed and will +at last shine on all men alike, gathering them into one fold of +Universal Brotherhood. + +May the Great Day be hastened! + + * * * * * + +And so we leave Jesus, wending his way slowly homeward toward Judea, +the land of His father and the place of His birth. Dropping a word +here--planting a seed there--onward He pursued His way. Visiting this +mystic brotherhood, and resting a while in another occult retreat, He +slowly retraced the journey of His youth. But while His outward +journey was that of a student traveling forth to complete His +education, He returned as a Master and Teacher, bearing and sowing the +seeds of a great Truth, which was to grow and bring forth great fruit, +and which, in time, would spread over all the world in its primitive +purity, notwithstanding its betrayal and corruption at the hands of +those in whose keeping He left it when he passed away from the scene +of His labors. + +Jesus came as a World Prophet, not as a mere Jewish holy-man, and +still less as a Hebrew Messiah destined to sit upon the throne of His +father David. And He left His mark upon all of the great peoples of +earth by His journey among them. Throughout Persia are found many +traditions of Issa, the young Master who appeared in that land +centuries ago, and who taught the Fatherhood of God and the +Brotherhood of Man. Among the Hindus are found strange traditions of +Jesoph or Josa, a young ascetic, who passed through the Hind long +since, denouncing the established laws of caste, and consorting with +the common people, who, as in Israel, "heard him gladly." Even in +China are found similar tales of the young religious firebrand, +preaching ever the Brotherhood of Man--ever known as the Friend of the +Poor. On and on He went, sowing the seeds of human freedom and the +casting off of the yoke of ecclesiastical tyranny and formalism, which +seeds are springing unto growth even at this late day. Yea, the Spirit +of His real teachings are even now bearing fruit in the hearts of men, +and though nearly two thousand years have passed by the "soul" of His +social teachings still "goes marching on" round and round the world. + + + + +THE FOURTH LESSON. + + + +THE BEGINNING OF THE MINISTRY. + +When Jesus reached his native land, after the years of travel in +India, Persia and Egypt, he is believed by the occultists to have +spent at least one year among the various lodges and retreats of the +Essenes. By reference to the first lesson of this series you will see +who and what was this great mystic organization--the Essenic +Brotherhood. While resting and studying in their retreats His +attention was diverted to the work of Johannen--John the Baptist--and +He saw there an opening wedge for the great work that He felt called +upon to do among His own people. Dreams of converting His own +race--the Jews--to His conception of Truth and Life, crept over Him, +and he determined to make this work His great life task. + +The feeling of race is hard to overcome and eradicate, and Jesus felt +that, after all, here He was at last, at home, among His own people, +and the ties of blood and race reasserted themselves. He put aside His +previous thoughts of a world-wandering life, and decided to plant the +standard of the Truth in Israel, so that from the capital of the +Chosen People the Light of the Spirit might shine forth to all the +world. It was Jesus the man--Jesus the Jew--that made this choice. +From the broader, higher point of view He had no race; no country; no +people;--but His man nature was too strong, and in yielding to it he +sowed the seeds for His final undoing. + +Had he merely passed through Judea as a traveling missionary, as had +done many others before Him, he would have escaped the punishment of +the government. Although He would have aroused the hatred and +opposition of the priests, He would have not laid Himself open to the +charge of wishing to become the King of the Jews, or the Jewish +Messiah, come to resume the throne of David, His forefather. But it +avails us nought to indulge in speculations of this kind, for who +knows what part Destiny or Fate plays in the Great Universal plan--who +knows where Free-Will terminates and Destiny moves the pieces on the +board, that the Great Game of Universal Life be played according to +the plan? + +While among the Essenes, as we have said, Jesus first heard of John, +and determined to use the ministry of the latter as an opening wedge +for His own great work. He communicated to the Essenic Fathers His +determination to travel to John's field of work later on, and the +Fathers sent word of this to John. The legends have it that John did +not know who was coming, being merely informed that a great Master +from foreign parts would join him later on, and that he, John, should +prepare the people for his coming. + +And John followed these instructions from his superiors in the Essenic +Brotherhood to the letter, as you will see by reference to our first +lesson, and to the New Testament. He preached repentance; +righteousness; the Essenic rite of Baptism; and above all the Coming +of the Master. He bade his hearers repent--"repent ye! for the Kingdom +of Heaven is at hand"!--"repent ye! for the Master cometh!" cried he +in forceful tones. + +And when his people gathered around him and asked whether he, John, +were not indeed the Master, he answered them, saying, "Nay, I am not +He whom thou seekest. After me there cometh one whose sandals I am not +worthy to unloose. I baptize thee with water, but He shall baptize +thee with the Fire of the Spirit that is within Him!" It was ever and +always this exhortation toward fitness for the coming of the Master. +John was a true Mystic, who sank his personality in the Work he was +called on to do, and who was proud to be but the Forerunner of the +Master, of whose coming he had been informed by the Brotherhood. + +And, as we have told you in the first lesson, one day there came +before him, a young man, of a dignified, calm appearance, gazing upon +him with the expressive eyes of the true Mystic. The stranger asked to +be baptized, but John, having perceived the occult rank of the +stranger by means of the signs and symbols of the Brotherhood, +rebelled at the Master receiving baptism at the hands of himself, one +far below the occult rank of the stranger. But Jesus, the stranger, +said to John, "Suffer it to be," and stepped into the water to receive +the mystic rite again, as a token to the people that He had come as +one of them. + +And then occurred that strange event, with which you are familiar, +when a dove descended as if from Heaven and rested over the head of +the stranger, and a soft voice, even as the sighing of the wind +through the trees, was heard, whispering, "This is my beloved son, in +whom I am well pleased." And then the stranger, evidently awed by the +strange message from the Beyond, passed away from the multitude, and +bent his way toward the wilderness, as if in need of a retreat in +which he could meditate over the events of the day, and regarding the +work which He could now dimly see stretching its way before Him. + +The average student of the New Testament passes over the event of +Jesus in the Wilderness, with little or no emotion, regarding it as a +mere incident in His early career. Not so with the mystic or +occultist, who knows, from the teachings of his order, that in the +Wilderness Jesus was subjected to a severe occult test, designed to +develop His power, and test His endurance. In fact, as every advanced +member of any of the great occult orders knows, the occult degree +known as "The Ordeal of the Wilderness" is based upon this mystic +experience of Jesus, and is intended to symbolize the tests to which +He was subjected. Let us consider this event so fraught with meaning +and importance to all true occultists. + +The Wilderness toward which Jesus diverted His steps, lay afar off +from the river in which the rites of Baptism had been performed. +Leaving behind him the fertile banks, and acres, of cultivated land, +He approached the terrible Wilderness which even the natives of that +part of the country regarded with superstitious horror. It was one of +the weirdest and dreariest spots in even that weird and dreary portion +of the country. The Jews called it "The Abode of Horror"; "The +Desolate Place of Terror"; "The Appalling Region"; and other names +suggestive of the superstitious dread which it inspired in their +hearts. The Mystery of the Desert Places hung heavy over this place, +and none but the stoutest hearts ventured within its precincts. Though +akin to the desert, the place abounded in dreary and forbidding hills, +crags, ridges and canyons. Those of our readers who have ever traveled +across the American continent and have seen some of the desolate +places of the American Desert, and who have read of the terrors of +Death Valley, or the Alkali Lands, may form an idea of the nature of +this Wilderness toward which the Master was traveling. + +All normal vegetation gradually disappeared as He pressed further and +further into this terrible place, until naught remained but the +scraggy vegetation peculiar to these waste places--those forms of +plant life that in their struggle for existence had managed to survive +under such adverse conditions as to give the naturalist the impression +that the very laws of natural plant life have been defied and +overcome. + +Little by little the teeming animal life of the lower lands +disappeared, until at last no signs of such life remained, other than +the soaring vultures overhead and the occasional serpent and crawling +things under foot. The silence of the waste places was upon the +traveler, brooding heavily over Him and all around the places upon +which He set His foot, descending more heavily upon Him each moment of +His advance. + +Then came a momentary break in the frightful scene. He passed through +the last inhabited spot in the approach to the heart of the +Wilderness--the tiny village of Engedi, where were located the ancient +limestone reservoirs of water which supplied the lower regions of the +territory. The few inhabitants of this remote outpost of primitive +civilization gazed in wonder and awe at the lonely figure passing them +with unseeing eyes and with gaze seemingly able to pierce the +forbidding hills which loomed up in the distance hiding lonely +recesses into which the foot of man had never trodden, even the +boldest of the desert people being deterred from a visit thereto by +the weird tales of unholy creatures and unhallowed things, which made +these places the scene of their uncanny meetings and diabolical +orgies. + +On, and on, pressed the Master, giving but slight heed to the desolate +scene which now showed naught but gloomy hills, dark canyons, and bare +rocks, relieved only by the occasional bunches of stringy desert grass +and weird forms of cacti bristling with the protective spines which is +their armor against their enemies. + +At last the wanderer reached the summit of one of the higher +foot-hills and gazed at the scene spreading itself before Him. And +that scene was one that would have affrighted the heart of an ordinary +man. Behind Him was the country through which He had passed, which +though black and discouraging was as a paradise to the country which +lay ahead of Him. There below and behind Him were the caves and rude +dwellings of the outlaws and fugitives from justice who had sought the +doubtful advantage of security from the laws of man. And far away in +the distance were the scenes of John the Baptist's ministry, where He +could see in imagination the multitude discussing the advent of the +strange Master, who had been vouched for by the Voice, but who had +stolen swiftly away from the scene, and had fled the crowds who would +have gladly worshipped Him as a Master and have obeyed His slightest +command. + +Then as the darkness of the succeeding nights fell upon Him, He would +sleep on some wild mountain cliff, on the edge of some mighty +precipice, the sides of which dropped down a thousand feet or more. +But these things disturbed Him not. On and on He pressed at the +appearance of each dawn. Without food He boldly moved forward to the +Heart of the Hills, where the Spirit guided Him to the scene of some +great spiritual struggle which he intuitively knew lay before Him. + +The Words of the Voice haunted Him still, though He lacked a full +understanding of them, for He had not yet unfolded the utmost recesses +of His Spiritual Mind. "This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well +pleased"--what meant these words? And still, no answer came to that +cry of His soul which sought in vain for a freeing of that riddle. + +And still on and on He pressed, until at last He mounted the steep +sides of the barren forbidding mountain of Quarantana, beyond which He +felt that His struggle was to begin. No food was to be found--He must +fight the battle unaided by the material sustenance that ordinary men +find necessary for life and strength. And still He had not received +the answer to the cry of His soul. The rocks beneath His feet--the +blue sky above His head--the lofty peaks of Moab and Gilead in the +distance--gave no answer to the fierce insistent desire for the answer +to the Riddle of the Voice. The answer must come from Within, and from +Himself only. And in the Heart of the Wilderness He must remain, +without food, without shelter, without human companionship, until the +Answer came. And as it was with the Master, so is it with the +follower--all who attain the point of unfoldment at which the Answer +is alone possible, must experience that awful feeling of "aloneness" +and spiritual hunger, and frightful remoteness from all that the world +values, before the Answer comes from Within--from the Holy of Holies +of the Spirit. + + * * * * * + +To realize the nature of the spiritual struggle that awaited Jesus in +the Wilderness--that struggle that would bring Him face to face with +His own soul, we must understand the Jewish longing and expectation of +the Messiah. The Messianic traditions had taken a strong hold upon the +minds of the Jewish people, and it needed but the spark of a strong +personality to set all Israel into a blaze which would burn fiercely +and destroy the foreign influences which have smothered the national +spirit. The idea of a Messiah springing from the loins of David, and +coming to take His rightful place as the King of the Jews, was +imbedded in the heart of every Jew worthy of the name. Israel was +oppressed by its conquerors, and made subject to a foreign yoke, but +when the Messiah would come to deliver Israel, every Jew would arise +to drive out the foreign invaders and conquerors--the yoke of Rome +would be thrown off, and Israel would once more take its place among +the nations of the earth. + +Jesus knew full well the fact of this national hope. It had been +installed into His mind from childhood. He had pondered over it often +during the time of His wanderings and sojourn in foreign lands. The +occult legends, however, make no mention of His having ever thought of +Himself as the Messiah until he was about to re-enter His own land +after His years of foreign study and ministry. It is thought that the +idea of His being the long expected Messiah was first suggested by +some of the Essenic teachers, when He rested with them for awhile +before appearing before John the Baptist. It was pointed out to Him +that the marvelous events surrounding His birth indicated that He was +a marked individual destined to play an important part in the history +of the World. Then why was it not reasonable to believe that that role +was to be that of the Messiah come to sit on the throne of His father +David, and destined to bring Israel from her now obscure position to +once more shine as a bright star in the firmament of nations? Why was +it not reasonable that He was to lead the Chosen People to their own? + +Jesus began to ponder over these things. He had absolutely no material +ambitions for Himself and all His impulses and inclinations were for +the life of an occult ascetic. But the idea of a redeemed and +regenerated Israel was one calculated to fire the blood of any Jew, +even though the element of personal ambition might be lacking in him. + +He had always realized that in some way He was different from other +men, and that some great work lay ahead of Him, but He had never +understood His own nature, nor the work He was to do. And it is not to +be wondered that the talk among the Essenes caused Him to ponder +carefully over the idea expressed by them. And then the wonderful +event of the dove, and the Voice, upon the occasion of His baptism, +seemed almost to verify the idea of the Essenes. Was He indeed the +long-expected Deliverer of Israel? Surely He must find this out--He +must wring the answer from the inmost recesses of His soul. And so, He +sought refuge in the Wilderness, intuitively feeling that there amidst +the solitude and desolation, He would fight His fight and receive His +answer. + +He felt that He had come to a most important phase of His life's work, +and the question of "What Am I?" must be settled, once and for +all,--then and there. And so He left behind Him the admiring and +worshipful crowds of John's following, and sought the solitude of the +waste places of the Wilderness, in which He felt He would come face to +face with His own soul, and demand and receive its answer. + + * * * * * + +And up in the inmost recesses of the Heart of the Wilderness, +Jesus wrestled in spirit with Himself for many days, without +food or nourishment, and without shelter. And the struggle was +terrific--worthy of such a great soul. First the body's insistent +needs were to be fought and mastered. It is related that the climax of +the physical struggle came one day when the Instinctive Mind, which +attends to the physical functions, made a desperate and final demand +upon Him. It cried aloud for bread with all the force of its nature. +It tempted Him with the fact that by His own occult powers He was able +to convert the very stones into bread, and it demanded that He work +the miracle for His own physical needs--a practice deemed most +unworthy by all true occultists and mystics. "Turn this stone into +bread, and eat" cried the voice of the Tempter. But Jesus resisted the +temptation although He knew that by the power of His concentrated +thought He had but first to mentally picture the stone as bread and +then _will_ that it be so materialized. The miraculous power which +afterward turned water into wine, and which was again used to feed the +multitude with the loaves and the fishes, was available to Him at that +moment in order to satisfy the cravings of His body, and to break His +fast. + +None but the advanced occultist who has known what it was to be +tempted to use his mysterious powers to satisfy his personal wants, +can appreciate the nature of the struggle through which Jesus passed, +and from which He emerged victorious. And like the occult Master that +He was, He summoned His Inner Forces and beat off the Tempter. + + * * * * * + +But a still greater temptation than this arose to try Him to the +utmost. He found Himself brought face to face with the idea of +Messiahship, and Kingship of the Jews, of which we spoke. Was He the +Messiah? And if so, what must be His course of life and action? Was He +destined to throw aside the robe and staff of the ascetic, and to don +the royal purple and the sceptre? Was He to forsake the role of the +spiritual guide and teacher, and to become the King and Ruler over the +people of Israel? These were the questions He asked His soul, and for +which He demanded an answer. + +And the mystic legends tell us that His Spirit answered by showing Him +two sets of mental pictures, with the assurance that _He could choose +either, at will, and cause it to become realized_. + +The first picture showed Him true to His spiritual instincts, and +loyal to His mission, but which rendered Him indeed the "Man of +Sorrows." He saw himself continuing to sow the seeds of Truth, which +would, centuries after, spring up, blossom and bear fruit to nourish +the world, but which would now bring down upon His head the hatred and +persecution of those in power and authority. And He saw each +successive step, each showing the approach of the end, until at last +He saw Himself crowned with thorns and meeting the death of a criminal +on the cross, between two base criminals of the lowest classes of men. +All this He saw and even His brave heart felt a deadly sickness at the +ignominious end of it all--the apparent failure of His earthly +mission. But it is related that some of the mighty intelligences which +dwell upon the higher planes of existence, gathered around Him, and +gave Him words of encouragement and hope and resolve. He found Himself +literally in the midst of the Heavenly Host, and receiving the +inspiration of its presence. + +Then this picture--and the Host of Invisible Helpers--faded away, and +the second picture began to appear before the vision of the lonely +dweller of the Wilderness. He saw the picture of Himself descending +the mountain, and announcing Himself as the Messiah--the King of the +Jews--who had come to lead His Chosen People to victory and +deliverance. He saw Himself acclaimed as the Promised One of Israel, +and the multitude flocking to His banners. He saw Himself at the head +of a great conquering army, marching toward Jerusalem. He saw Himself +making use of His highly developed occult powers to read the minds of +the enemy and thus know their every movement and intention, and the +means to overcome them. He saw Himself miraculously arming and feeding +His hosts of battle. He saw Himself smiting the enemy with His occult +powers and forces. He saw the yoke of Rome being cast off, and its +phalanxes fleeing across the borders in terror and disgraceful defeat. +He saw Himself mounting the throne of David, His forefather. He saw +Himself instituting a reign of the highest type, which would make of +Israel the leading nation of the world. He saw Israel's sphere of +influence extending in all directions, until Persia, Egypt, Greece and +even the once-feared Rome, become tributary nations. He saw Himself in +the triumphant chariot on some great feast day of victory, with Caesar +himself tied to the tail of His chariot--a slave to Israel's King. He +saw His royal court outrivaling that of Solomon, and becoming the +center of the world. He saw Jerusalem as the capital of the world, and +He, Jesus of Nazareth, son of David the King, as its Ruler, its hero, +its demi-god. The very apotheosis of human success showed in the +picture of Himself and His Beloved Israel in the picture. + +And then the Temple was seen to be the Center of the Religious thought +of the World. The Religion of the Jews, as modified by His own +advanced views, would be the religion of all men. And he would be the +favored mouthpiece of the God of Israel. All the dreams of the Hebrew +Fathers would be realized in Him, the Messiah of the New Israel whose +capital would be Jerusalem, the Queen of the World. + +And all this by simply the exercise of his occult powers under the +direction of HIS WILL. It is related that accompanying this second +picture and attracted by its mighty power, came all the great +thought-waves of the world which had been thought by men of all times +who thought and acted out the Dreams of Power. These clouds settled +down upon Him like a heavy fog, and their vibrations were almost +overpowering. And also came the hosts of the disembodied souls of +those who while living had sought or gained power. And each strove to +beat into His brain the Desire of Power. Never in the history of man +have the Powers of Darkness so gathered together for attack upon the +mind of a mortal man. Would it have been any wonder had even such a +man as Jesus succumbed? + +But He did not succumb. Rallying His Inner Force to His rescue He beat +back the attacking horde, and by an effort of His Will, He swept both +picture and tempters away into oblivion, crying indignantly "Thou +darest to tempt even me, thy Lord and Master. Get thee behind me thou +Fiends of Darkness"! + +And so the Temptation of the Wilderness failed, and Jesus received His +answer from His soul, and He descended the mountains, back to the +haunts of men--back to the scene of His three years' labors and +suffering, and back to His Death. And He knew full well all that +awaited Him there, for had He not seen the First Picture? + +Jesus had chosen His career. + + * * * * * + +The Master descended from the mountains and forsook the Wilderness for +the place in which John and his followers were gathered. Resting for a +time, and refreshing Himself with food and drink, He gathered together +His energies for His great work. + +The followers of John gathered around Him, filled with the idea that +He was the Messiah come to lead them to victory and triumph. But He +disappointed them by His calm, simple manner, and His disavowal of +royal claims. "What seek ye of me?" he asked them, and many, abashed, +left His circle and returned to the crowd. But a few humble souls +remained and around these few gathered a few more, until at last a +little band of faithful students was formed--the first band of +Christian disciples. This band was composed almost entirely of +fishermen and men of similar humble occupations. There was an absence +of people of rank or social position. His people were of the "plain +people" which have furnished the recruits for every great religion. + +And after a time, Jesus moved away from the place, followed by His +band of disciples, which drew new members from each place of +gathering. Some stayed but for a short time, while others replaced the +faint hearted ones of little faith. But the band steadily grew, until +it began to attract the attention of the authorities and the public. +Jesus constantly disclaimed being the Messiah, but the report that +such indeed He was, began to spread and the authorities began that +system of spying and watching which followed His footsteps for three +years, and which finally resulted in His death on the Cross. And this +suspicion was encouraged by the Jewish priesthood which began to hate +the young teacher whose opposition to their tyranny and formalism was +quite marked. + +The band one day came to a small village in Galilee, and Jesus began +His usual meetings and teaching. Near where they gathered was a house +at which preparations were being made for a wedding feast. The wedding +ceremony has always been an important occasion among the Jews. The +most elaborate preparations consistent with the size of the purse of +the girl's parents are indulged in. Relatives from far and near gather +to the feast. Jesus happened to be a distant kinsman of the bride, and +according to custom He was bidden to the feast. + +The guests began to gather, each depositing his sandals in the outer +court, and entering the guest chamber barefooted, after carefully +bathing his feet and ankles after the custom still prevailing in +Oriental countries. Jesus was accompanied by a few of His faithful +followers. His mother, and His several brothers were also among the +blood-relations present at the feast. + +His appearance caused much interest and comment among the other +guests. To some He was simply a traveling religious teacher, not +uncommon in that land, to others He was an inspired prophet, bringing +a wonderful Message to the Jewish people, as He had to the Persians, +Egyptians and Hindus; to others he was more than this, and whispers of +"He is the Messiah"; "The King of Israel," etc., began to circulate +among those present, causing interest, uneasiness or disgust, +according to the views of the hearers. But whenever He moved, He +attracted attention by His manner, attitude and expression. All felt +that here indeed was an Individual. Strange stories of His wanderings +in strange lands added additional interest to His presence. + +A feeling that something unusual was about to happen began to creep +over the crowd, as is the case often preceding such events. Mary, His +mother, watched her son with longing eyes, for she saw that some +strange change had come over Him, that was beyond her comprehension. + +Toward the end of the feast, it began to be whispered around among the +near relatives that the supply of wine was about exhausted, the +attendance having been much greater than had been expected. This, to a +Jewish family, was akin to a family disgrace, and anxious looks began +to be exchanged among the members of the immediate family. + +Tradition has it that Jesus was besought for aid by His mother and +other female kinswoman. Just what they expected Him to do is not +clear, but it is probable that they unconsciously recognized His +greatness, and accorded Him the place of the natural Head of the +Family, as being the most prominent member. At any rate, they asked +His aid. What arguments they used, or what reasons they urged, we do +not know, but whatever they were, they succeeded in winning Him to +their side, and gaining from Him a promise of aid and assistance. But +not until after He had remonstrated that these things were of no +concern of His--that His powers were not to be trifled away in this +manner. But His love for His mother, and His desire to reward her +devotion and faith in Him, prevailed over the natural disinclination +of the mystic to be a "wonder worker" and to exhibit his occult powers +to grace a wedding-feast. He had long since learned the necessary but +comparatively simple occult feat from His old Masters in far off +India, that land of wonder-working. He knew that even the humbler +Yogis of that land would smile at the working of such a simple +miracle. And so the matter seemed to Him to be of but slight moment, +and not as a prostitution of some of the higher occult powers. And +feeling thus, He yielded to their requests for aid. + +Then moving toward the court in which were stored a number of great +jars of water, he fixed a keen, burning glance upon them, one by one, +passing His hand rapidly over them, in a quick succession, He made the +Mental Image that precedes all such manifestations of occult power, +and then manifesting His power by using His Will in the manner known +to all advanced occultists, He rapidly materialized the elements of +the wine in the water, within the jars, and lo! the "miracle" had been +wrought. + +A wave of excitement passed over the crowded house. The guests flocked +around the jars to taste of the wine that had been produced by occult +power. The priests frowned their displeasure, and the authorities +sneered and whispered "charlatan"; "fraud"; "shameful imposture"; and +other expressions that always follow an occurrence of this kind. + +Jesus turned away, in grief and sorrow. Among the Hindus such a simple +occult occurrence would have caused but little comment, while here +among His own people it was considered to be a wonderful miracle by +some, while others regarded it as a trick of a traveling conjurer and +charlatan. + +What manner of people were these to whom He had decided to deliver the +Message of Life? And, sighing deeply, He passed from the house, and +returned to His camp. + + + + +THE FIFTH LESSON. + + + +THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORK. + +There is but an imperfect record in the Gospels of the first year of +Jesus' ministry among the Jews. Theologians have spoken of it as the +"Year of Obscurity," but the Occult traditions speak of it as a most +important year of His ministry, for in it He laid firm foundations for +His future work. + +He travelled all over the country, establishing little circles of +disciples and centres of interest. In cities, towns, villages and +hamlets, He left behind Him little bands of faithful students who kept +alive the flame of Truth, which steadily kindled the lamps of others +who were attracted by the light. Always among the humblest He labored, +seemingly impressed with the idea that the work must be begun on the +lowest rounds of society's ladder. But after a while a few of the more +pretentious people began to attend the meetings, often brought there +by curiosity. They came to smile and be amused, but many were +impressed and remained to pray. The leaven had been well mixed in the +loaf of Jewish society and it was beginning to work. + +Once more the season of the Feast of the Passover arrived and found +Jesus with His followers in Jerusalem and in the Temple. What memories +the scene awakened in His mind. He could see the same scenes in which +He had participated seventeen years before. Once more He saw the +pitiful slaughter of the innocent lambs, and witnessed the flow of the +sacrificed blood over the altars and the stones of the floor of the +courts. Once more He saw the senseless mummery of the priestly +ceremonies, which seemed more pitiful than ever to His developed mind. +He knew that His vision had shown that He was to be slaughtered even +as the sacrificial lambs, and there arose in His mind that comparison +which stayed with Him ever after--that picture of Himself as the Lamb +sacrificed on the Altar of Humanity. As pure as was this figure in His +mind, it seems pitiful that in the centuries to come His followers +would fall into the error (as equally cruel as that of the Hebrews) of +imagining that His death was a sacrifice demanded by a cruel Deity to +satisfy the Divine Wrath which had been kindled by the sight of Man's +shortcomings and sins. The barbarous conception of a wrathful God +whose anger against His people could be appeased only by the bloody +slaughter of innocent creatures, is fully equalled by the theological +dogmas that the same Divine Wrath could be, and was, appeased by the +blood of Jesus, the Master who had come to deliver the Message of +Truth. Such a conception is worthy of only the most barbarous and +primitive minds. And yet it has been preached and taught for +centuries--in the very name of Jesus Himself--and men have been +persecuted and put to death because they refused to believe that the +Supreme Creator of the Universe could be such a malignant, cruel, +revengeful Being, or that the One Mind of All could be flattered and +cajoled into forgiveness by the sight of the death of the Man of +Sorrows. It seems almost incredible that such a teaching could have +arisen from the pure teachings of Jesus, and that such has been Man's +incapacity to grasp the Inner Teachings, that the Church built upon +Jesus' ministry has adopted and insisted upon the acceptance of such +dogmas. But this baneful cloud of ignorance and barbaric thought is +gradually lifting, until even now the intelligent minds in the Church +refuse to accept or teach the doctrine in its original crudity, they +either passing it over in silence, or else dressing it in a more +attractive garb. + +Jesus taught no such barbarous things. His conception of Deity was of +the highest, for He had received the most advanced teachings of the +Mystics, who had instructed Him in the Mystery of the Immanent God, +abiding everywhere and in all things. He had advanced far beyond the +conception of Deity which pictured the One as a savage, bloodthirsty, +vengeful, hating, tribal deity, ever crying for sacrifices and +burnt-offerings, and capable of the meanest of human emotions. He saw +this conception as He saw the conception of other races and peoples, +all of which had their tribal or national gods, which loved that +particular tribe or people, and which hated all other races or +nationalities. He saw that back of, and behind, all these barbarous +and primitive conceptions of Deity there dwelt an ever calm and serene +Being, the Creator and Ruler of countless Universes--millions and +millions of worlds--filling all space, and above all of the petty +attributes that had been bestowed upon the petty gods of human +creation. He knew that the God of each nation, of each person in fact, +was but a magnified idea of the characteristics of the nation or +individual in question. And he knew that Hebrew conception was no +exception to this rule. + +To anyone having grown to an appreciation of the grandeur and +greatness of the idea of an Immanent Universal Being, the dogma of a +Deity demanding a blood sacrifice to appease its wrath is too pitiful +and degrading to be worth even a moment's serious consideration. And +to such a one the prostitution of the high teachings of Jesus by the +introduction of such a base conception is a source of righteous +indignation and earnest protest. The Mystics in the Christian Church +throughout the centuries have never accepted any such teachings, +although the persecution of the church authorities have prevented +their protests being made openly until of late years. The Mystics +alone have kept alive the Light of the Truth through the Dark Ages of +the Christian Church. But now has come the dawn of a new day, and the +Church itself is seeing the Light, and the pulpits are beginning to +resound with the truth of Mystic Christianity. And in the years to +come the Teachings of Jesus, the Master, will flow pure and clear, +once more freed from the corrupting dogmas which so long polluted the +Fount. + +As Jesus wandered silently through the courts and chambers of the +Temple, His indignation was aroused by a sight which seemed to Him to +portray more forcibly than aught else the degradation which had fallen +upon the Temple by reason of the corruption of the priesthood. Grouped +around the steps and outer courts of the Temple He saw the groups of +brokers, money-changers and merchants who were doing a thriving +business with the thousands of strangers attending the Feast. The +money-changers were exchanging the coins of the realm for the inferior +coins of the outlying regions, charging a large commission for the +exchange. The brokers were buying articles, or loaning money on them, +from the poor pilgrims, who were sacrificing their personal belongings +for cash with which they might purchase the animals for the sacrifice. +The merchants had droves of cattle, flocks of sheep and cages of doves +within the sacred precincts of the Temple, which they were selling to +the pilgrims who wished to offer sacrifices. Tradition has it that the +corrupt priesthood profited by the sale of these "privileges" granted +to this horde of traffickers in the Temple precincts. The vile +practice had gradually crept in and established a firm foothold in the +Temple, although contrary to the ancient practice. + +To Jesus the horrible scenes of the Temple sacrificial rites seemed to +focus in this final exhibition of greed, materialism and lack of +spirituality. It seemed to be blasphemy and sacrilege of the most +glaring type. And His very soul felt nauseated and outraged by the +sight. His fingers twitched, and laying hold of a bundle of knotted +cords which had been used by some cattle-driver to urge forward his +herd, He rushed forward upon the horde of traffickers, whirling His +instrument of chastisement over the shoulders and backs of the +offenders, driving them out in a frantic rout, upsetting their benches +and paraphernalia, crying in a voice of authority, "Out, ye wretches! +This is the House of the Lord, and ye have made it a den of thieves." +The "Meek and lowly Nazarene" became an avenger of the prostitution of +the Temple. + +The brokers, money-changers and merchants fled before His mighty +charge, leaving their scattered money over the floors of the Temple. +They dared not return, for Jesus had aroused the wrath of the people +against them, and a cry arose for the old practice of protecting the +sacred place against such invasion. But the traffickers sought out the +High-priests and complained bitterly of this annulment of their +"privileges" and "franchises," for which they had paid so highly. And +the High-priests, being compelled to refund the price paid for the +concessions, were much wrought up over the matter, and then and there +swore vengeance against the Master who had dared interfere with their +system of what the world now calls by the suggestive name of "graft." +And this vengeance and hatred waxed stronger each moment, and was to a +great extent the moving factor in the schemes and intrigues which two +years later resulted in the frightful scene on Calvary. + +The succeeding months were filled with wanderings up and down the +land, spreading the work and making new converts and followers. Jesus +did not take the position of a great preacher at this time, but seemed +to be rather a teacher of the few whom He gathered around Him at each +point and place. He observed but few ceremonies, that of Baptism being +the principal one, and which, as we have shown, was an Essenic rite +having an occult and mystical significance. The students of the New +Testament may read between its leaves the history of the ministry of +Jesus at this time, noting the working of the leaven in the mass of +the Jewish mind. + +About this time Jesus was sorely distressed at the terrible news which +reached Him regarding the fate of his cousin, John the Baptist, who +had been His Forerunner. The Baptist had dared to thrust his +preachings and rebukes into the very precincts of a corrupt court, and +had brought down upon his head the natural consequences of his +rashness. Herod had thrust him into a gloomy dungeon and there were +rumors of a worse fate yet in store for him. And that fate soon +overtook him. Refusing the chance of life and liberty that was +promised him if he would but break his vows of asceticism and indulge +the passionate desires of a royal princess,--turning away from the +base proposal with the horror of the true mystic,--he met his fate +like a man knowing the Truth, and the head which graced the royal +platter bore upon its face no expression of fear or regret. John had +conquered even in Death. + +Jesus retired once more into the Desert upon the news of John's death +reaching him. Added to His sorrow came the conviction that there was a +new work set before Him to do. John's death necessitated a combining +of the work of the Baptist with that of Jesus' own ministry. The +followers of the two teachers must be combined into one great body, +under the supervision of the Master Himself, aided by the most worthy +and capable of His disciples. The tragic death of John played a most +important part in the future ministry of the Master, and He sought the +solace and inspiration of the Desert in His consideration of the plans +and details of His new work. Students will note that from the time He +emerged from the Desert He threw off the cloak of reserve and +retirement and stepped boldly before the people as an ardent preacher +to multitudes and an impassioned orator and public speaker. No more +the little circle of appreciative students--the rostrum with the great +crowds of hearers were His from that time. + +Returning from His work in Samaria and Judea, He once more made +Galilee the scene of His principal work. The new spirit which He now +threw into His preaching attracted the attention of the public, and +enormous crowds attended His meetings. He spoke now with a new air of +authority, differing greatly from His former mild tones as a teacher +of the few. Parables and allegories and other rich Oriental figures of +speech fell from His lips, and many of the educated classes flocked to +hear the wonderful young orator and preacher. He seemed to have an +intuitive insight into the minds of His hearers, and His appeals +reached their hearts as personal calls to righteousness, right +thinking and right living. From this time on His ministry assumed the +character of an active propaganda, instead of the usual quiet mission +of the Mystic. + +And here began that remarkable series of wonder workings or "miracles" +which He evidently employed to attract the attention of the public and +at the same time to perform kindly and worthy acts. Not that He used +these wonder-workings as a bid for sensational interest or +self-glory--the character of Jesus rendered such a course +impossible--but He knew that nothing would so attract the interest of +an Oriental race as occurrences of this kind, and He hoped to then +awaken in them a real spiritual interest and fervor, which would rise +far above the demand for "miracles." In adopting this course Jesus +followed the example of the holy men in India, with whose works He was +personally familiar, owing to His sojourn in that land. + +And, then let us say, that advanced occultists see nothing +"supernatural" nor incredible in these "miracles" of Jesus. On the +contrary, they know them to be the result of the application of +certain well established natural laws, which, while almost unknown to +the masses of people, are still known and occasionally made use of by +the advanced occultists of all lands. Skeptics and unbelievers may +sneer at these things, and many faint-faith Christians may wish to +apologize or "explain" these wonderful happenings, but the advanced +occultist needs no "explanations" nor apologies. He has more faith +than the church-goer, for he knows of the existence and use of these +occult powers latent in Man. There is no material effect or phenomenon +that is "supernatural"--the Laws of Nature are in full operation on +the material plane and cannot be overcome. But there are among such +Natural Laws certain phases and principles that are so little known to +the average mind that when they are manifested Nature's Laws seemed to +be transcended, and the result is called "a miracle." The occult +tradition tells us that Jesus was a past-master in the knowledge and +application of the occult forces of nature, and that even the wonders +that He wrought during His Jewish ministry were but as child's play +when compared with those that He might have manifested had He seen fit +to do so. In fact, it is believed that some of His greatest +wonder-workings have never been recorded, for He always impressed upon +His chosen followers the advisability of refraining from laying too +much stress on these things. The "miracles" recorded in the Gospels +were only those which were most widely known among the people. The +greater-wonders were deemed too sacred for common gossip. + +When the Master and His followers reached Cana, which, by the way, had +been the scene of his first "miracle"--the changing of the water into +wine at the wedding feast--one of the most striking of His earlier +manifestations of occult power occurred. An influential citizen of +Capernaum, a town a score of miles distant, who met Him and besought +His aid and power in the interest of his young son, who lay dying at +his home. The man besought Jesus to hasten to Capernaum to heal the +youth ere he die. Jesus smiled kindly upon him and bade him return to +his son, for the youth was even now restored to health and strength +and life. His hearers were astounded at the reply and the doubters +smiled knowingly, foreseeing a defeat for the young Master when the +news of the youth's death should become known. Those of His followers +who were faint of heart and weak of faith felt most uncomfortable and +began to whisper the "if" of doubt. But Jesus continued His working +with a calm air of certainty, without further remarks. It was _the +seventh hour_ of the day when the words were spoken. + +The father hastened homeward to see whether the Master had succeeded +or failed. A day or two passed with no word from Capernaum. The +scoffers of the wedding feast repeated their sneers and revilings--the +word "charlatan" was again heard passing from lip to lip. Then came +news from the distant village, and upon its arrival the voice of scorn +was stilled, and the hearts of the faint again beat freely. The word +came that when the father had reached his house he was greeted by the +household with cries of joy and news that _at the seventh hour_ the +fever had abated and the crisis had been passed. + +And yet the "miracle" above recorded was no greater than many +occultists have performed in all times--no greater than the many +similar cures that have been performed by the modern healers of the +many metaphysical cults. It was simply an application of the subtle +forces of nature called into operation by mental concentration. It was +an instance of what in modern phrase is called "absent treatment" +along metaphysical lines. In saying this we wish in no way to detract +from the wonder that Jesus had wrought, but merely to let the student +know that the power is still possessed by others and is not a +"supernatural" thing but the operation of purely natural laws. + +About this time there occurred another event in His life, and a +manifestation of His power which is noted in the New Testament and +which is told in the occult tradition with somewhat more detail. It +occurred when Jesus visited his home town of Nazareth on the eve of +the Jewish Sabbath. He rested over night and then the following +morning betook Himself to the regular services in the local synagogue. +He took the seat which He had occupied as a young boy with Joseph. No +doubt the familiar scene awakened memories of His strange youthful +history in His mind. Then, much to His surprise, He heard Himself +called to the platform to conduct the service. It must be remembered +that Jesus was a regular rabbi, or priest, by birth, education and +training, and was entitled to Conduct the Jewish service. No doubt His +townspeople wished to hear their young townsman address and exhort +them. He took the place of authority in the synagogue and proceeded to +read the regular service in the accustomed manner, as prescribed by +the custom and laws of the church. The prayers, chantings and readings +succeeded each other in their regular order. Then came the preaching +of the sermon. Taking the sacred roll from its receptacle, He read the +text from Isaiah, "The spirit of the Lord is upon me because He hath +anointed me to preach the good tidings," etc. Then He began his +exposition of the text He had just read. + +But instead of the expected customary words and +illustrations--technical theological hair-splitting and dreary +platitudes--He began to preach in a manner unknown to the Nazarenes. +His opening sentence broke the silence and greatly startled and +disturbed the congregation. "This day is this Scripture fulfilled in +your ears," were his opening words. And then He began a statement of +His conception of His ministry and His Message. Thrusting aside all +precedent and musty authority, He boldly proclaimed that He had come +to establish a new conception of the Truth--a conception that would +overturn the priestly policy of formalism and lack of spirituality--a +conception that would ignore forms and ceremonies, and cleave close to +the spirit of the Sacred Teachings. And then He began a scathing +denunciation of the lack of spiritual advancement among the Jewish +people--their materialism and desire for physical enjoyments and their +drifting away from the highest ideals of the race. He preached the +mystic doctrine, and insisted that they be applied to the problems of +every-day life and conduct. He brought down the teachings of the +Kaballah from the cloudy heights, and set them before the people in +plain, practical form. He bade them aspire to great spiritual heights, +forsaking the base ideals to which they had clung. He ran counter to +every custom and prejudice of the people before Him, and showed a lack +of reverence for all of their petty forms and traditions. He bade them +leave the illusions of material life and follow the Light of the +Spirit wherever it might lead them. These and many other things told +He them. + +And then arose a disturbance among the congregation. They began to +interrupt and question Him, and many were the contradictions and +denials hurled at Him from the benches. Some began to sneer at His +pretensions as the Bearer of the Message, and demanded that He work a +wonder or "miracle" and give them a sign. This demand He flatly +refused to grant, not deeming the same proper, or in accordance with +the occult custom which always frowned upon wonder-working in response +to such a demand. Then they began to abuse Him and cries of +"charlatan" and "fraud" began to resound from the walls of the +synagogue. They reminded Him of His humble birth and condition of His +parents, and refused to believe that any such person as He had any +right to claim extraordinary powers or privileges. Then came from His +lips the famous saying, "A prophet is not without honor, save in his +own country." + +Then He began a fresh assault upon their prejudices and narrow +views--their pet superstitions and bigotry. He stripped from them +their garb of hypocrisy and assumed piety, and showed them their naked +souls in all their ugliness and moral uncleanliness. He poured burning +invective and vitriolic denunciations into their midst, and spared no +terms that could properly be applied to them. In a short time the +congregation was beside itself with rage, and the pretended righteous +indignation of a flock of hypocrites and formalists who had heard +themselves described in disrespectful terms by one they regarded as an +upstart young man from the lower classes of their virtuous community. +They felt that they had bestowed a flattering honor upon Him, as a +mark of consideration for a young townsman upon His return from a +foreign and domestic missionary tour. And now to think that He had +thus basely betrayed their courtesy and showed in how little esteem He +really held them--surely this was beyond human endurance. And then the +storm broke upon Him. + +Leaving their seats in the synagogue, the congregation rushed upon the +young preacher, and tearing Him from the platform, they pushed Him out +of the building. And then the jostling, hustling, pushing crowd +carried Him before them along the village streets and out into the +suburbs. He resisted not, deeming it unworthy to struggle with them. +At last, however, He was compelled to defend Himself. He perceived +that it was the intention of the mob to push Him over a precipice that +had been formed on the side of a hill just beyond the town limits. He +waited patiently until they had urged Him to the very brink of the +decline, and until it needed but one strong push to press Him over its +edge and into the gorge below. And then He exerted His occult forces +in a proper self-defense. Not a blow struck He--not a man did He smite +with the wondrous occult power at His command, which would have +paralyzed their muscles or even have stretched them lifeless at His +feet. No, he controlled Himself with a firm hand, and _merely bent +upon them a look_. But such a look! + +A glance in which was concentrated the mighty Will developed by mystic +knowledge and occult practice. It was the Gaze of the Occult Master, +the power of which ordinary men may not withstand. And the mob, +feeling its mighty force, experienced the sensation of abject fear and +terror. Their hair arose, their eyes started from their sockets, their +knees shook under them, and then, with a wild shout of horror they +began to scatter and fly, making a wide pathway for the Man of Mystery +who now strode through their ranks with that awful gaze which seemed +to pierce the veil of mortality and to peer at things ineffable and +beyond human ken. And with His eyes refusing to look again upon the +familiar scenes of His youth, He departed from Nazareth, forsaking it +forever as His home place. Verily, indeed, the Prophet hath no honor +in His own land. Those who should have been His staunchest supporters +were the first in His own land to threaten Him with violence. The +attempt of Nazareth was the prophecy of Calvary, and Jesus so knew it. +But He had set his feet upon The Path, and drew not back from it. + +Turning His back upon Nazareth, Jesus established a new centre or home +in Capernaum, which place remained the nearest approach to home to Him +during the remainder of His Ministry and until His death. The +traditions have it that His mother came to live also at Capernaum, +together with some of His brothers. It is also related that his +sisters and brothers, both those remaining at Nazareth and those +removing to Capernaum, were sorely vexed with Him at His conduct at +the synagogue, which they deemed not "respectable" nor proper, and +they accordingly looked upon Him as an eccentric relative whose +vagaries had brought disrepute upon the family. He was regarded much +in the light of a "black-sheep" and "undesirable relation" by all of +His family except His mother, who still clung to her beloved +first-born. The mother made her home with some of the brothers and +sisters of Jesus, but He was not made welcome there, but was looked +upon as an outcast and wanderer. He once spoke of this, saying that +while the birds and beasts had nests and homes, He, the Son of Man, +had nowhere to lay his head. And so He wandered around in His own +land, as He had in foreign countries, an ascetic, living upon the alms +of the people who loved Him and listened to His words. And in so doing +He followed the plans and life of the Hindu ascetics, who even unto +this day so live, "with yellow-robe and begging bowl," and "without +money or scrip in their purses." The Jewish ascetic--for such was +Jesus--has His counterparts in the wandering holy-men of India and +Persia today. + +But it must be remembered that even in Jesus' time, the spectacle of a +rabbi living this ascetic life, forsaking the emoluments of His +priestly rank and deliberately taking up the roll of a poverty-stricken +mendicant, was a rare one. It ran contrary to all the thrifty and +prudent customs and ideals of the race. It was an importation from +the Essenes, or from the strange people of far-off lands, and it was +not relished by the Jewish authorities, or people who preferred the +synagogues and Temple, with their sleek, well-fed priests, with fancy +robes and attractive ceremonies. + +Making His base at Capernaum, Jesus began to form His band of +disciples with more show of a working organization. To some He +delegated certain authority, and bade them perform certain dues of the +ministry. For some reason He selected some of His leading lieutenants +from the ranks of the fishermen who plied their vocation along the +waters of that port of the country. The fishers of fish became the +fishers of men. Jesus became very popular among the fishing +fraternity, and the legends, as well as the New Testament narratives, +tell of instances in which He bade His poor fishermen friends (who had +been unfortunate in their day's haul) to let down their nets at some +point indicated by Him, when to their surprise and joy their nets +would be filled to overflowing. + +Little acts of kindness bestowed here and there among the humbler +classes tended to have Jesus looked upon and spoken of as a friend of +the people, but which reputation excited the jealousy of the +authorities who held that such acts could be prompted by none other +than a selfish motive, and that motive the incitement of the masses to +rebellion in the interest of Himself as a Messiah. And so, we see His +very acts of kindness and compassion served to increase the suspicion +and hatred which the authorities, both ecclesiastical and temporal, +had always felt toward Him. + +His desire to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and wretched took +Him much among these people and away from the so-called higher +classes. The "plain people" were regarded by Him as the salt of the +earth, and they, in turn, regarded Him as their champion and advisor. +And especially to the sick did He devote His time and powers. He made +many marvellous cures, a few only of which were recorded in the New +Testament narratives. The occult legends state that these cures were +of daily occurrence and that wherever He went He left behind Him a +trail of people healed of all kinds of disorders, and that people +flocked for miles to be healed of their infirmities. The Gospels +relate that He cured great numbers of people by the simple process of +laying on of hands (a favorite method of occult healers) "he laid his +hands on every one of them and healed them." + +It is related that at Capernaum his attention was directed toward a +madman, who suddenly cried out, "I know Thee, Thou Holy One of God," +whereupon Jesus spoke a few authoritative words and cured him of his +malady, by methods that will describe the nature of the man's psychic +disturbance to any advanced student of occultism. Demoniac possession +is not believed in by orthodox Christians of today, but Jesus +evidently shared the belief in obsession held by students of Psychism +and similar subjects, judging from the words He used in relieving this +man from his malady. We advise our students to read the Gospel records +in connection with these lessons, in order to follow the subject along +the old familiar paths, but with the additional light of the +interpretation of Mystic Christianity. + +The growing reputation of Jesus as a healer of the sick soon taxed His +physical powers to the utmost. He felt Himself called upon to do the +work of a dozen men, and His nature rebelled at the unequal task +imposed upon it. It seemed as if all Capernaum were sick. Her streets +were crowded by seekers after health and strength. At last He +perceived that His work as a Teacher was being submerged in His work +as a Healer. And, after a period of prayer and meditation, He put +aside from Him the claims of humanity for the healing of physical +ills, and turning His back upon the waiting patients at Capernaum, He +once more started forward on His pilgrimage as a Preacher of the +Message, and thereafter would heal physical ills only occasionally, +and, instead, devote the main portion of His time to preaching the +Truth to those who were ready to hear it. It was a hard thing for a +man with the tender heart of Jesus to leave behind Him the crowd of +patients at Capernaum, but it was necessary for Him to do so, else He +would have remained merely an occult healer of physical ailments +instead of the Messenger of the Truth whose work it was to kindle in +many places the Flame of the Spirit, that would serve as the true +Light of the World long after the physical bodies of all then living +had been again resolved to dust. + +And so, leaving behind Him Capernaum and its wailing multitudes, He, +followed by His disciples, moved out toward the open country, to +spread the glad tidings and to bring to the hearts of many "that peace +which passeth all understanding." + + + + +THE SIXTH LESSON. + + + +THE WORK OF ORGANIZATION. + +Leaving Capernaum behind Him, with its crowds of invalids seeking +healing, and fighting off the demands that would have rendered Him a +professional healer instead of a Teacher and preacher of the Message +of Truth, Jesus passed on to other parts of the land, taking with Him +the band of disciples and faithful followers who now traveled with +Him. + +But He did not altogether relinquish His healing work. He merely made +it an incident of His ministry, and did not allow it to interfere with +His preaching and teaching. The Gospel narratives show a number of +remarkable cures made by Him at this time, and the few recorded cases +are, of course, merely occasional incidents that stand out in the +minds of the people among hundreds of less noticeable cases. + +The cure of the leper is one of such remarkable cases. Leprosy was a +foul disease much dreaded by the people of Oriental countries. And the +unfortunate person afflicted by it became an outcast and pariah from +whom all others fled as from an unclean and impure thing. + +There was a leper in the part of the country in which Jesus was +traveling and teaching. He heard of the wonderful gift of healing +accredited to the young preacher, and he determined to get into His +presence and beg His aid. How the leper managed to get through the +crowds and into the presence of Jesus is not known, but it must have +required great strategy on his part, for such people were not +permitted to pass in and among crowds of other people. But in some way +the leper contrived to come face to face with Jesus as the latter +walked alone in meditation, away from his followers. + +The loathsome creature raised its repulsive form, the picture of human +misery and woe, and confronting the Master, demanded from Him the +exercise of the Gift of Healing. No doubt of His power was in the +leper's mind--his face shone with faith and expectation. Jesus gazed +earnestly into the distorted features that shone with the fire of a +fervent faith such as is rarely seen on the face of man, and touched +with this testimony to His power and motives, He moved toward the +leper, defying the laws of the country, which forbade the same. Not +only this, but He even laid His hands upon the unclean flesh, defying +all the laws of reason in so doing, and fearlessly passed His hand +over the leper's face, crying aloud, "Be thou clean!" + +The leper felt a strange thrill running through his veins and over his +nerves, and every atom of his body seemed to be tingling with a +peculiar burning and smarting sensation. Even as he looked he saw the +color of his flesh changing and taking on the hue of the flesh of the +healthy person. The numbness departed from the affected portion of his +body, and he could actually feel the thrill and tingle of the life +currents that were at work with incredible speed building up new +cells, tissue and muscle. And still Jesus held His hands against the +flesh of the leper, allowing the life current of highly vitalized +_prana_ to pour from His organism into that of the leper, just as a +storage battery of great power replenishes and recharges an electrical +appliance. And back of it all was the most potent, trained Will of the +Master Occultist directing the work. + +And then He bade the healed man depart and comply with the laws +regarding purification and change of garments, including the +appearance before the priests to receive a certificate of cleanliness. +And He also bade him that nothing should be said regarding the nature +or particulars of the cure. For some good reason He wished to escape +the notoriety or fame that the report of such a wonderful cure would +be sure to excite. + +But alas! this was asking too much of human nature, and the healed +leper, running with great leaps and bounds, began shouting and crying +aloud the glad tidings of his marvelous cure, that all men might know +what a great blessing had come to him. In spite of the injunction laid +upon him, he began to sing aloud the praises of the Master who had +manifested such an unheard-of power over the foul disease that had +held him in its grasp until a few hours before. With wild gestures and +gleaming eyes he told the story again and again, and it was taken up +and repeated from person to person, until the whole town and +countryside were familiar with the great news. Imagine such an event +occurring in a small country town in our own land today, and you will +realize what an excitement must have been occasioned in that home +place of the leper. + +And then occurred that which Jesus had doubtless seen when He +forbade the leper to repeat the news of the cure. The whole region +became excited and immense crowds gathered around Him and His +disciples, crying aloud for new wonders and miracles. The curious +sensation-seekers were there in full force, crowding out those whom He +wished to reach by His teachings. And more than this, great numbers of +sick and crippled people crowded around Him crying for aid and cure. +The scenes of Capernaum were repeated. Even the lepers began flocking +in, in defiance of law and custom, and the authorities were beside +themselves with anger and annoyance. Not only the temporal authorities +and the priests were arrayed against Him, as of old, but now He +managed to arouse the opposition of the physicians of those days, who +saw their practice ruined by this man whom they called a charlatan and +deceiver threatening and destroying the health of the people, whose +physical welfare was safe only in their (the physicians') hands and +keeping. + +And so Jesus was compelled to close His ministry at this place and +move on to another village. + +Another case which attracted much attention was that which occurred in +Galilee when He was preaching in a house. In the midst of His +discourse both He and His audience were startled by the sight of a +figure on a bed being lowered down among the crowd of listeners from +the roof surrounding the open court in the center of the house. It was +a poor paralyzed man whom friends had contrived to hoist up and then +lower down before Jesus in such a manner as could not escape the +attention of the Master. It is related that the piteous appeal of the +sufferer, and the faith which had inspired such great energy on the +part of his friends, attracted the interest and sympathy of Jesus, and +He paused in His discourse and made another of those instantaneous +cures which are possible only to the most advanced adepts in the +science of spiritual healing. + +Then came the scene of the Wells of Bethesda--a region abounding in +"healing waters" to which the sick and afflicted came to regain their +health. The crowds of sick were being carried to the springs by +friends or paid attendants, who pushed aside the weaker ones and +fought their way to the wells. Jesus walked among the crowds, and at +last His attention was attracted toward a poor fellow who lay upon his +cot away off from the waters. He had no friends to carry him nearer, +nor money for paid attendants. And he had not strength enough to crawl +there himself. He filled the air with his moans and cries and +bewailings of his unfortunate lot. Jesus walked up to him, and holding +his attention by a firm look of authority and power, cried to him +suddenly in a voice that demanded obedience, "Take up thy bed and +walk!" The man, startled into obedience, did as directed, and much to +his surprise, and that of the crowd gathered around, found that he was +able to move about freely--a well man. + +This cure also aroused not only the greatest interest but also the +antagonism of the ecclesiastical authorities. It appears that the cure +had been made on the Sabbath day, and that it was against the +ecclesiastical law to heal the sick in any way upon that day; and also +that the patient had performed manual work on the Sabbath in carrying +his bed upon the orders of the Healer. And the good pious folk, urged +on by the priests, began to abuse and condemn the Healer and patient, +after the manner of the formal pietists of all lands and times, even +of our own. Clinging to the letter of the law, these people overlook +its spirit--bound by the forms, they fail to see the meaning lying +back of all forms and ceremonies. + +Braving the storm that was arising around Him, Jesus boldly walked to +the Temple. He was plunged in a sea of conflicting opinions and +voices. On the one hand was the healed man and those who sympathized +with him, in earnest argument concerning the righteousness of the +deed. But arrayed against these few were the good folk of the place +who loudly denounced the Sabbath-breaker and demanded His punishment. +Were the ancient laws of Moses to be thus defied by this presumptuous +Nazarene, whose religious ideas were sadly lacking in orthodoxy? +Surely not! Punish the upstart! And again Jesus was in actual peril of +bodily hurt, or perhaps even death, owing to the religious bigotry of +the orthodox people. + +Jesus was ever a foe to the stupid formalism and ignorant fanaticism +regarding "holy days," which is ever a characteristic of certain +classes of mind among people. On the above occasion, as well as upon +other occasions, and notably upon the occasion of the Sabbath when He +directed His hungry disciples to pick corn to satisfy their hunger, +Jesus opposed the strict, ironclad law of Sabbath observance. He was +ever filled with the idea that the "Sabbath was made for man, and not +man for the Sabbath." There was nothing Puritanical about the Master, +and in view of His attitude regarding this matter it is surprising to +witness the attitude of some in our own time who, wearing His livery, +oppose these teachings of His in theory and practice. + +And so, driven out once more by the intolerance and bigotry of the +public, Jesus returned again to Galilee, His land of retreat and rest, +and the scene of much of His best work. Galilee was filled with His +many followers and admirers, and He was less in danger of disturbance +and persecution there than in the neighborhood of Jerusalem. Large +congregations attended His ministry there, and His converts were +numbered by the thousand. The village contained many persons healed by +His power, and His name was a household word. + +And upon His return He entered into a new stage of His work. He had +decided to divide His ministry among His twelve most advanced +disciples, as it had now reached proportions beyond His ability to +personally control. And, as was customary to Him upon all great +occasions, He sought the solitudes for meditation and spiritual +strength before finally investing His twelve Apostles with the high +authority of their mission. He spent the night on one of the hills +near Capernaum, from which He descended the following morning, wearied +in body from want of rest, but strong in soul and spirit. + +Then He gathered the Twelve around Him, and in a secret meeting +divulged to them certain deep truths and secrets, adding certain +instructions regarding healing work, and calling upon them for the +highest allegiance to Him and His work. + +The Gospel narratives have but very little to say regarding Jesus' +work in the instruction of the Twelve for their future mission. And +the average student of the narratives goes on without thinking of the +marvelous mental and spiritual development that must have been +manifested by the Apostles during their transition from humble +fishermen, and men of similar vocations, to highly developed teachers +of advanced spiritual truths. To the occultist especially this +ordinary view seems astounding, for he realizes the many arduous steps +necessary to be trodden by the feet of the Neophyte before he becomes +an Initiate, and the higher steps awaiting the Initiate before he may +become a Master. And such a one realizes the mighty task that Jesus +performed in developing and unfolding the spiritual natures of such a +body of men until they become worthy to be His chosen representatives +and teachers. The occult traditions have it that Jesus had pursued a +systematic course of instruction of His chosen disciples, bringing +them up rapidly through degree after degree of mystic attainment and +occult knowledge, until finally they were ready for the finishing +touches at His hands. And the occasion that we are now considering was +the time when the final degrees were imparted to them. + +It must be remembered that the Apostles were endowed with the mastery +of the occult forces of nature which enabled them to perform the +"miracles" of healing similar to those of Jesus. And it must not be +supposed for a moment that an occult Master of so high a degree of +attainment as that reached by Jesus would have allowed His disciples +to use such mighty power without also instructing them fully in the +nature of the forces they were using, and of the best methods of +employing the same. And such knowledge could not be imparted without +the fundamental truths of nature being understood by them, which +understanding was possible only to those who had grasped the great +Basic Truths of the Science of Being. + +In short, the traditions are that the Twelve Apostles were gradually +initiated into the great degrees of the Occult Brotherhoods of which +and in which Jesus was a Master. He gathered together a great store of +occult information and mystic lore, and condensing the same into a +plain, practical, simple system, He imparted it fully and thoroughly +to those whom He had elected to be His chief co-workers and His +successors after His death, which He knew full well was not far off. + +These facts must be fully understood by the student of Mystic +Christianity who wishes to grasp the secret of the early Christian +Church after the death of Christ. The wonderful headway manifested by +the movement could not have been given by mere followers and believers +in the Master. It usually follows that when the great head of an +organization dies the movement disintegrates or loses power unless he +has been able to "communicate his spirit" to some chosen followers. +And this Jesus did. And it was only to men who thoroughly grasped the +fundamental truths and principles of His teachings that such "spirit" +could have been imparted. + +There was an exoteric teaching for the multitude, and an esoteric +teaching for the Twelve. There are many Scriptural passages which go +to show this fact, which was well known to the early Fathers of the +Church. And upon the occasion which we have mentioned the last great +Basic Truths were explained to the Twelve, and from that time +henceforward they were regarded and treated as Masters by Jesus, and +not as mere students, as had been the case before that time. And +arising from that final instruction came the Sermon of the Mount. + +The Sermon of the Mount, that most wonderful and complete of any of +the public utterances of Jesus, was delivered almost immediately after +the Choosing of the Twelve Apostles. And it was intended even more for +them than for the multitudes gathered around to hear His preaching. He +knew that the Twelve could interpret it by reason of the Inner +Teachings that they had received from Him. And almost forgetting the +congregation gathered around and about Him, He elucidated the Inner +teachings for the benefit of the Chosen Few. + +The Sermon of the Mount can be understood only by means of the Master +Key of the Inner Teachings, which opens the door of the mind to an +understanding of the hard sayings and veiled mystic import of many of +His precepts. We shall devote considerable space in one of our later +lessons of this series to a consideration of the Inner Meaning of this +great sermon and teaching, and therefore shall not go into details +regarding it in the present lesson, deeming it better to proceed with +the story of the Master's Work. + +A few days after the delivery of the Sermon of the Mount, the Master +left Capernaum and traveled from town to town visiting His various +centers of teaching, as was His custom. On the journey Jesus performed +a feat of occult power that proved Him to be one of the Highest Adepts +of the Occult Brotherhoods, for to none other would such a +manifestation have been possible. Even some of the highest Oriental +Masters would have refused to undertake the task that He set before +Himself to do. + +The company was leisurely proceeding on its way, when nearing a small +town they met a funeral procession coming in their direction. Preceded +by the band of women chanting the mournful dirges according to the +Galileean custom, the cortege slowly wended its way. The etiquette of +the land required strangers to join in the mourning when they came in +contact with a funeral procession, and the company assumed a mournful +and respectful demeanor, and many joined in the dirge which was being +chanted by the procession. + +But Jesus invaded the privacy of the procession in a manner shocking +to those who held closely to the familiar forms and customs. Stepping +up to the bier, He stood in front of it and bade the carriers halt and +set it down. A murmur of indignation ran through the ranks of the +mourners, and some strode forward to rebuke the presumptuous stranger +who dared to violate the dignity of the funeral in this way. But +something in His face held them back. Then a strange feeling passed +over the crowd. Jesus was known to a number of the mourners, and some +of those who had witnessed some of His wonder-workings began to +whisper that strange things were about to happen, and the ranks were +broken as the people flocked around the Master at the bier. + +The corpse was that of a young man, and his widowed mother stood +beside the pale figure stretched upon the bier, and spreading her arms +in front of it, she seemed to ward off the profaning touch of the +strange man who confronted it. But the stranger looked upon her with a +look of transcendent love, and in a voice vibrant with the tenderest +feeling said unto her, "Mother, weep not--cease thy mourning." Amazed, +but impressed, she turned an appealing gaze to Him who had thus bidden +her. Her mother love and instinct caught a new expression in His eyes, +and her heart bounded with a wonderful hope of something, she knew not +what. What did the Nazarene mean? Her boy was dead, and even God +Himself never disturbed the slumber of the body from which the spirit +had flown. But still what meant that expression--why that leap and +throbbing of her heart? + +Then with a gesture of authority the Master caused the crowd to draw +back from the bier, until at last there remained only the corpse, the +mother and Himself in a cleared space in the center. Then a strange +and wonderful scene began. With His gaze fixed upon the face of the +corpse, and in an attitude that indicated a supreme effort of His +will, the Master was seen to be making some mighty effort which called +into play the highest forces at His command. The Apostles, having been +instructed by Him in Occult power, recognized the nature of the +manifestation, and their faces paled, for they knew that He was not +only pouring out His vital force into the body in order to recharge it +with _prana_, but that He was also essaying one of the highest and +most difficult of occult feats--that of summoning back from the Astral +Plane the higher vehicles and the Astral Body--the very soul of the +youth--and forcing it once more into its mortal frame, which He had +recharged with vital energy and strength. They knew that He, by the +mightiest effort of His will, was reversing the process of death. And +with a full appreciation of the real nature of the wonder that was +being worked before them, their limbs trembled beneath them and their +breath came from them in gasps. + +Then cried the people, "What saith this man to the corpse?" "Arise, +youth! Open thine eyes! Breathe freely! Arise, I say unto +thee--arise!" Did this stranger dare to defy God's own decree? + +The corpse opened its eyes and stared around in wild amaze, the glare +not fully faded away! Its chest heaved in great agonizing gasps as if +fighting again for life! Then its arms were lifted up--then its legs +began to move--now it raised itself upright and began to babble +meaningless words--now the look of recognition came into its eyes, and +its arms clasped themselves around the mother's neck, while sob after +sob broke from its lips! The dead lived--the corpse had come to life. + +The people fell back overcome with the awful terror of the sight, and +the funeral procession scattered in all directions, until only the +sobbing mother and the youth remained, weeping in their mutual love +and joy, and forgetting even the Master and His followers in their +great flood of affection. + +And, leaving them thus, Jesus and His followers passed away on their +pilgrimage. But the fame of the miracle spread from town to town, even +up to the great capital, Jerusalem. And men wondered or doubted, +according to their natures, while the temporal and ecclesiastical +authorities began to again ask themselves and each other whether this +man were not a dangerous person and an enemy to established custom and +order. + +In one of His journeys Jesus found Himself invited to the house of a +leading citizen of the town in which He was preaching. This citizen +was one of the class known as Pharisees, whose characteristics were an +extreme devotion and adherence to forms and ceremonies and a bigoted +insistence upon the observance of the letter of the law. The Pharisees +were the ultra-orthodox center of an orthodox people. They were the +straight-laced brethren who walked so erect that they leaned backward. +They were the people who thanked God that they were not like unto +other men. They were the "uncommonly good" members of church and +society. The very name stands even unto this day as a synonym for +"pious sham." + +Just why this Pharisee had invited the Master to dine with him is not +easily understood. It is likely that it was a combination of curiosity +and a desire to entrap his guest into statements and admissions that +might be used against him. At any rate, the invitation was given and +accepted. + +The Master noted that certain little ceremonies usually extended by +the Hebrews to a guest of equal standing were omitted by His host. His +head was not anointed with the ceremonial oil, as was the custom in +houses of this character when the guest was honored as an equal or +desirable addition to the family gathering. Clearly He was regarded as +a curiosity or "freak" rather than as a friend, and had been invited +in such a spirit. But He said nothing, and passed over the slight. And +the meal passed along smoothly up to a certain point. + +The host and his guests were reclining easily, after the Oriental +fashion, discussing various topics, when a woman pressed her way into +the banquet hall. Her dress proclaimed her to be one of the women of +easy virtue abounding in all Oriental towns. She was clad in showy +apparel and her hair fell loosely over her shoulders after the custom +of the women of her kind in that land. She fixed her eyes upon the +Master and moved slowly toward him, much to the annoyance of the host, +who feared a scene, for the Master would most likely administer a +rebuke to the woman for presuming to intrude upon the presence of Him, +a spiritual teacher. + +But the woman still pressed forward toward Him, and at last, bending +down low, her head touching His feet, she burst into tears. She had +heard the Master preach some time before, and the seeds of His +teaching had taken root and had now blossomed within her heart; and +she had come to acknowledge her allegiance and to render an offering +to Him whom she revered. The coming into His presence was her token of +a spiritual regeneration and a desire to begin a new life. Her tears +flowed over His feet, and she dried them off with her long hair. Then +she kissed His feet, as a token of her allegiance and worship. + +From her neck hung a chain holding a little box filled with precious +perfumed oil, which she esteemed highly, as did all the people of her +race. The oil was of the nature of attar of roses and was the +essential oil extracted from fragrant blossoms. She broke the seal and +poured the fragrant oil over the hands and feet of the Master, who +rebuked her not, but who accepted the tribute even from such a source. +The host began to indulge in thoughts not flattering to the +intelligence of his guest, and a scarcely concealed sneer appeared on +his lips. + +Then Jesus turned to His host and with a smile said to him: "Simon, in +thy mind thou thinkest these words: 'If this man be indeed a prophet, +would he not know what manner of woman this be who toucheth him, and +would he not rebuke her and drive her from him?'" And the Pharisee was +sorely confused, for the Master had read his thought word for word by +the method known to occultists as telepathy. And then in gentle +raillery the Master called his host's attention to the fact that the +woman had performed the service which he, the host, had neglected to +observe. Had she not bathed and dried His feet, as the Pharisee would +have done had his guest been deemed worthy of honor? Had she not +anointed Him with precious oil, as the host would have anointed an +honored guest? Had she not impressed upon even His feet the kiss that +etiquette required the host to impress upon the cheek of the esteemed +visitor to his house? And as for the character of the woman, it had +been fully recognized and forgiven. "Much hath been forgiven her, for +she hath loved greatly." And, turning to the woman, He added, "Go in +peace, for thy sins are forgiven thee." And the woman departed with a +new expression on her face and a firm resolve in her heart, for the +Master had forgiven and blessed her. + +But by this act Jesus brought upon His head the hatred of the Pharisee +and his friends. He had dared rebuke the host in his own palace, and +had moreover arrogated to Himself the sacred rite to pronounce +remission of sins, a right vested solely in the high-priest of the +Temple, upon the performance of certain ceremonies and sacrifices upon +the altar. He had flung defiance at vested ecclesiastical right and +functions, even in the house of one of the stanchest adherents of +formalism and authority--a Pharisee. + +In this incident was shown not only the broadness of Jesus' views and +the universality of His love, as well as His courage in defying the +hated formalism, even in the palace of its stanchest advocates, but +also His attitude toward women. The Jews as a race held women in but +scant esteem. They were not deemed worthy to sit with the men in the +synagogue. It was deemed unworthy of a man to mention his female +relations in general company. They were regarded as inferior in every +way to men, and were treated as almost unclean in their most sacred +natural functions. + +Toward fallen women especially Jesus was ever considerate. He saw +their temptation and the social cruelty of their position. He resented +"the double standard" of virtue which allowed a man to commit certain +offenses and still be respected, while the woman who committed the +same offense was damned socially, reviled and treated as a shameful +outcast. He was ever ready to voice a defense for women of this kind, +and seemed to be ever actuated by the sense of injustice in the +attitude of men toward them, which finally voiced itself on a notable +occasion when called upon to pass judgment upon the woman taken in +adultery: "Let him among ye who is without sin cast the first stone." +No wonder that the outcast woman kissed His feet and poured out the +precious ointment upon Him. He was the Friend to such as she. + + + + +THE SEVENTH LESSON. + + + +THE BEGINNING OF THE END. + +The ministry of Jesus went on in about the same channels. Wandering +here and there throughout the country, preaching and teaching in this +town and that village, gathering around Him new followers, Jesus +continued His work. He adapted Himself to His audience, giving to each +what it needed, and not making the mistake of speaking over the heads +of the people. He gave the general public the broad general teachings +that they required, but He reserved the Inner Teachings for the Inner +Circle of His followers whom He knew to be fit to receive the same. In +this He showed a deep knowledge of men, and a strict accordance with +the established custom of the mystics, who never make the mistake of +giving the higher spiritual mathematics to the students who are +learning the addition, subtraction and division rules of the occult. +He cautioned His apostles regarding this point of teaching, even going +so far as warning them positively and strongly against "casting pearls +before swine." + +One night He was in a boat crossing the lake of Gennesaret, in company +with some of His fisherman followers. Tired out by the strenuous work +of the day, He wrapped Himself up in His robe and fell into a deep +sleep, from which He was later awakened by a noise and commotion among +the crew and passengers. A terrible lake storm had sprung up, and the +little vessel was tossing and pitching about among the waves in a +manner which gave concern to even the experienced fishermen who manned +her. The sails had been torn off, carrying away with them a portion of +the mast, and the boat refused to respond to her rudder, the steering +gear being rendered useless. The crew became panic-stricken and +rushing to Jesus besought Him to save them from death in the storm. +"Master! Master! Help ere we perish. The boat is foundering! Save us, +Master!" + +The Master arose and, using His occult power, caused the winds to +cease their tempestuous activity, and the waves to become calm. He +followed the Oriental occultists' custom of voicing His commands in +words, not that the words had any virtue in themselves, but because +they served a vehicle for His concentrated thought and focused will +which He was using in his manifestation of occult power. With this +knowledge of the process, occultists smile when they read the _naïve_ +account of the occurrence in the Gospels, where Jesus is described as +addressing and rebuking the rebellious winds and then gently and +kindly soothing the waters with words of "Peace, be still!" The +fishermen who witnessed the occurrence, and from whom the reports +thereof spread among the people, not understanding the nature of +occult manifestations, thought that He was addressing the winds as +actual entities, rebuking them and bidding them cease their vicious +work, and soothing the sea in the same manner. + +They did not comprehend the mental processes back of the words, and in +their simplicity thought that He was actually rebuking the wind and +soothing the waters. All occultists know that in "treating" material +conditions the process is rendered much easier and simpler if we will +but think of and "speak to" the condition as if it had intelligence +and actual being, thus more easily directing the forces. + +Obeying the thought and will of the Master, the winds abated their +fury and the waters ceased their troubling. Gradually the boat rested +easily upon the bosom of the lake, and the crew breathed freely once +more, and then began their work of righting the mast and steering +gear. And they wondered as they worked and asked each other "What +manner of man is this, whom even the winds and the waters obey?" And +Jesus, looking sadly at them, voiced that cry of the mystic who knows +of the inherent and latent powers of man over material conditions, +awaiting the exercise of the Will that may be exercised only in +response to a great Faith. He answered them, saying, "Oh, ye of little +Faith. What had you to fear?" + +To the mystic it seems strange that people are able to read the Gospel +accounts of the above and similar events and yet see no more in them +than a mere recital of miracles wrought by some supernatural power. To +the reader who has learned the fundamental truths, the New Testament +record of the wonder-working of Jesus, even as imperfect as that +record is, is full of advanced occult instructions stated so plainly +that it seems as if even the casual reader must recognize it. But no, +the old rule is still in force--each reads only that for which he is +ready--each must bring something to a book, before he may expect to +take anything away from it--to him that hath shall be given. Ever the +same old mystic truth, manifest ever and ever, at all times and in all +places. It is a fundamental law of the mind. + +The journey across the lake was attended by another manifestation of +occult power which is often passed over by the church teachers without +comment, or at least with a labored endeavor to "explain" the evident +meaning of the narrative. The modern materialistic trend of thought +has invaded even the churches and has caused the preachers and +teachers to endeavor to escape the accusation of "believing in +spirits" and similar phenomena of the Astral World. + +When the company reached the coast of Gergesa, on the opposite side of +the lake, it disembarked and Jesus and His disciples pressed in toward +the coast towns. As they passed among the cliffs lining the shore, +they perceived two uncanny wandering figures which, gibbering, +followed them along. The two maniacs, for such they were, approached +the party, and one of them began to address the Master in a strange +manner, beseeching Him to relieve the two of the devils possessing +them. He called aloud, "O Master, thou Son of the Living God, have +mercy upon us, and drive away the unclean things that we have allowed +to enter into us." + +The Gospels say nothing regarding the cause of this demoniac +obsession, and the preachers prefer to pass over it rapidly, or else +to treat it as a delusion of the insane, notwithstanding the direct +statement of the New Testament narrative and its sequel or concluding +statement. But the occult traditions have it that these two men were +victims of their dabbling into certain phases of psychic phenomena, +i.e., the "raising up of spirits" by the arts of Black Magic. In other +words, these men had been experimenting along the lines of Jewish +Necromancy, or Invocation and Evocation of Disembodied Astral +Intelligences by means of Conjuration. They had raised up Astral +Intelligences that had then refused to retire to their own plane, but +which had taken possession of the physical organisms of their invokers +and had remained in possession, causing the men to be regarded as +maniacs, which resulted in their becoming outcasts among the caves +with which the cliffs abounded, the same places being also the tombs +of the dead. We do not wish to go into details here regarding this +matter, but we wish to give the occult explanation of this little +understood "miracle" of Jesus, which, however, is clearly understood +by all occultists. + +Jesus fully understood the nature of the trouble, and began at once to +drive out these invading Astral Intelligences by means of his occult +power. In a few moments, a cry was heard from the hills near by, and a +great herd of swine were seen rushing down the hill, and in a moment +were over the precipice and were soon drowned. The Gospel narrative is +perfectly plain on this subject--it states that the legions of devils +had passed from the men into the swine and the latter had plunged in +terror into the water and were drowned. Jesus had distinctly and +positively spoken to the demons, calling them "unclean spirits," and +bidding them "come out" of the men. And all advanced students of +Occultism understand why the pigs were used as intermediate +instruments of the driving back of the Astral Intelligences to their +own plane of life, which reason, however, is not in place or keeping +in this work intended for general public reading. + +The maniacs were restored to their normal condition, and the +traditions say that the Master instructed them regarding the evil +courses which they had been pursuing, and bade them desist from their +nefarious practices which had wrought such evil consequences upon +them. + +The church and its preachers, with but few exceptions, have seen fit +to ignore the frequent Biblical allusions to "devils," "demons," etc.; +their position being practically that the writers of the events of +Jesus' ministry (whom they otherwise consider to have been "inspired") +must have been superstitious, credulous people believing in "the +absurd demonology of their times." They ignore the fact that Jesus +Himself repeatedly spoke to these intelligences, bidding them depart +from the people whom they had been obsessing. Does the church wish to +hold that the Master was also an ignorant, credulous peasant, sharing +popular superstitions? It would seem so. We must except the Catholic +Church from this criticism, for its authorities have recognized the +true state of affairs and have warned its followers against indulging +in the dark practices of Necromancy or Invocation of Astral +Intelligences. + +Occult science informs its students of the various planes of life, +each of which contains its inhabitants. It teaches that on the Astral +Plane there are disembodied entities which should not be transplanted +to our plane. And it warns all against the dark practices, so common +in ancient times and in the Middle Ages, of invoking and evoking these +undesirable denizens of that plane. It is to be regretted that some of +the modern Psychic Researchers ignore these plain warnings, for some +of them are laying themselves open to grave consequences by reason of +their wilful folly. We urge upon our readers to refrain from this +dabbling in the phenomena of the Astral Plane. Some writer has well +compared "Psychism" to a great machine, in the cog-wheels of which +persons may become entangled only to be afterward drawn into the +machine itself. Keep away from the wheels! + +This "miracle" of Jesus aroused great excitement, and it was urged +against Him that He was going about the country driving devils into +people's flocks and herds, causing their destruction. The priests +fomented the popular feeling, and encouraged the distrust, hatred and +fear which the orthodox portion of the community was beginning to +entertain toward the Master. The seeds of Calvary were being sown +among the people. And their awful fruit was latent in them. Hate and +bigotry were the essence of both seed and fruit. + +Jesus returned to Capernaum, and once more the little town was crowded +with people seeking instruction and crying to be healed. The news of +his wonderful healing power spread far and near, and people were +carried on litters for many miles in order that they might be touched +by the hands of the Master. + +About this time there came to Him one Jairus, a man of eminence in the +community and in the church. Jairus had a little daughter about twelve +years of age, who was taken seriously ill, and who had been given up +as incurable by the physicians. + +With his daughter lying at death's door, Jairus hastened to the scene +of the Master's meetings, and, throwing himself at His feet, besought +Him to heal his beloved child ere she passed beyond the dark portals +of the unknown. The Master, feeling compassion for the father's great +grief, paused in His teaching and started toward Jairus' home. His +mind charged with the concentration of healing thought, and His +organism filled with the vital forces aroused to perform the task, He +felt some one touch the hem of His garment in search of healing power, +and He at once recognized the occurrence, saying, "The power hath been +drawn from me. Who touched my garment?" As they approached the house +of Jairus, the servants came running out with wild cries and +lamentations, announcing that the child had died while awaiting the +coming of the Healer. The father broke down at this terrible news, +coming at the very moment of his greatest hope. But Jesus bade him to +have faith and still believe. Then, accompanied by three of His +disciples--John, Peter and James--He entered the chamber of death. +Waving back the weeping family and the neighbors who had gathered, +"Stand back," He cried, "the child is not dead--she but sleepeth." + +An indignant cry went up from the orthodox relatives and friends at +these words of the Master. How dared He so mock the very presence of +the dead, whom the physicians had left, and over whom the priests had +already begun the last sacred rites? But, heeding them not, the Master +passed His hands over the child's head, and took her little cold palms +within his own. Then began a strange happening. The little chest began +to heave, and the white wan cheeks began to show traces of color. Then +the arms and hands began to move, and the wasted limbs drew slightly +up. Then, opening her eyes with a wondering look, the child gazed at +the Healer and smiled gently at Him. Then the Master, with a look of +gentle tenderness, withdrew from the room, after ordering that +nourishing food be brought for the child. + +Then began the usual dispute. Some declared that another had been +raised from the dead, while others declared that the child had but +been in a trance and would have awakened anyway. Had not even the +Healer declared that she only slept? But Jesus heeded not the +disputants, but returned to the scene of His work. + +The work went on in its accustomed way. He began to send His apostles +away on longer and more extended tours, having fully instructed them +in the occult methods of healing. Great success attended their efforts +and the best reports came in from all sides. The authorities +recognized to a still greater extent the growing influence of the +young Master, and His actions were still more closely watched by the +spies. Reports of His teachings and work were carried to Herod, who, +recognizing in them the same note that had been struck by John the +Baptist, who had been put to death, perceived that though men might +die, the spirit of their teachings would still live on. No wonder the +guilty ruler should cry in terror, "This verily is the spirit of John, +whom I put to death, risen from the grave to wreak vengeance upon me!" +And the authorities reported to Rome that here was a young fanatic, +whom many believed to be the Messiah and coming King of the Jews, who +had thousands of followers all over the land. And word came back from +Rome, in due time, to watch carefully over the man, who was +undoubtedly striving to incite an insurrection, and to imprison Him or +put Him to death as soon as the evidence was sufficient to convict +Him. + +Jesus about this time was near a small fishing town called Bethseda, +on the lake about seven miles from Capernaum. Near this place His boat +landed at a place on the beach where He had hoped to take a few days' +rest. But, alas, a great crowd had hastened to the place of +disembarkation, and now gathered around Him, demanding teaching and +healing. Putting aside His mental and physical fatigue, He attended to +the wants of the crowd. Healing now, and then teaching, He threw +Himself into His work with fervor and zeal. There were over five +thousand people gathered together around Him, and toward evening the +cry went up that there was not sufficient food in the camp to begin to +feed the multitude. A great tumult arose among the crowd, and +complaints and even curses began to be heard. The spiritual wants were +forgotten, and the physical began to manifest itself in a most +insistent manner. What was to be done? + +He called together those of His company who had been entrusted with +the care of the food which the little company carried with it. And, to +His sorrow, He learned that the entire stock of food consisted of five +loaves of bread and two fishes. And the little band carried +practically no money with it, for they depended upon the hospitality +of the country and the offerings by the faithful. The disciples +advised that the Master order the crowd to disperse and return to +Bethseda for food. But Jesus felt loath to do this, particularly when +there were so many invalids in the gathering who had traveled so many +miles to see Him, and who had not yet been healed. And so He decided +to give the company its food by means of His power. + +He bade His people divide the multitude into little groups of fifty +people, who were then instructed to be seated for a meal. Then He +ordered the scanty supply of available food to be brought before Him, +and, placing His hands over it, He offered a blessing, then ordered +His people to serve the throng. They began to serve out the food with +looks of wonder and amazement. Had the Master lost His senses? But in +some way the food seemed miraculously to increase and multiply, until +at last all of the five thousand had been fully supplied and their +hunger appeased. And then, after all had been served and had eaten, +the scraps and fragments which were gathered up filled many wicker +baskets and were distributed to the poorer people in the company for +tomorrow's use. + +But trouble arose. The people, with well filled stomachs, feeling that +here indeed was royal bounty and the power with which to feed them +forever free of charge, began to wax enthusiastic and shouts ascended. +"The Messiah! King of the Jews! Provider of the People! Son of David! +Ruler over Israel!" were the words which soon swept the crowd off of +its feet. And then some of the bolder ones, or else the hired spies +who wished to place Him in a compromising position, began to suggest +that the crowd form itself into an army and march from city to city +with Jesus at its head, until at last they would place Him upon the +throne of Israel at Jerusalem. Jesus, recognizing the peril to His +mission, managed to dissuade the hot-heads from their plans, but still +fearing that the authorities might come down upon the assemblage, +ordered that the Twelve take the boat and put out for the other side +of the lake. He sent them off as a precaution, but He, Himself, +remained with the crowd and faced the threatened danger. + +He retired to the hills near by and spent the night in meditation. +Then early in the morning, He noticed that a storm was rising over the +lake and that the tiny boat containing His disciples would be in great +danger. In a few moments they might be overwhelmed. He wished to be +with them to comfort and re-assure them. No boat being handy, he +stepped boldly out upon the water and walked rapidly toward the +direction in which He knew the boat must be. Scarcely conscious of the +occult power of levitation that He was using to overcome the power of +gravitation, He moved rapidly toward His followers. Soon He overtook +them, and they, seeing a white figure moving swiftly over the water +toward them, were affrighted, believing it to be a spirit or ghost. +"It is I, be not afraid!" called out the Master to them. Then Peter +cried out, "Lord, if Thou it be, direct me to walk to Thee also on the +waves!" And the Master, smiling, so directed him. And Peter, whose +latent occult power was aroused by his great faith in the Master, +sprang over the side and took several steps toward Him. But, suddenly +losing his faith and courage, his power also left him, and he began to +sink beneath the waves. But the Master grasped his hand and led him in +safety to the boat and both entered it. Then the crew fell to and with +great enthusiasm righted the boat and proceeded to the shore near +Capernaum. + +In the case of Peter and his experience in walking on the water, we +have a striking instance of the well known power of the mental +attitude of Faith in the manifestation of occult power. All occultists +know this, and without feeling an implicit faith in the Power with +them, they do not attempt certain forms of manifestation. They know +that with Faith miracles may be performed which are impossible +otherwise. So long as Peter held his Faith he was able to counteract +certain laws of nature by means of other laws not so well known. But +as soon as Fear took the place of Faith his power left him. This is an +invariable occult principle, and in the recital of this story of Peter +on the water is to be found a whole volume of occult instruction--to +those who are able to read it. + +Arriving safely on the shores of the lake, Jesus resumed His work +while the ever-present gathering of people went on in its accustomed +way. But on the opposite shore of the lake the crowd who had been fed +on the loaves and fishes were in an angry mood. They cried out that +they had been deserted by their leader, and that the expected loaves +and fishes--the free meals that they had expected would continue--had +been denied them. They also complained bitterly that the reign of +miracles had not continued. And they began to revile the Master that +they had acclaimed the night before. And so Jesus experienced the +ingratitude and the unreasonable words of the public just as all great +teachers have done. The seekers after the loaves and the fishes, +demanding to be fed and clothed without their own work--the seekers +after miracles, demanding fresh wonder-workings--have ever been the +bane of the great Teachers of the Truth. It is a hard and bitter +truth, but all teachers and true lovers of the Truth must learn to +meet and understand it. The mob which reveres a spiritual Master today +is equally ready to rend him to pieces tomorrow. + +And still more trouble arose from this mistaken kindness which led +Jesus to feed the crowd by His occult powers, which, by the way, He +knew to be in opposition to the well-established custom of the Occult +Brotherhoods. The formalists, Pharisees and Scribes, having heard of +the occurrence, gathered about the Master and accused Him of violating +one of the forms and ceremonies prescribed by the ecclesiastical +authorities--the rite which required the faithful to wash their hands +before beginning a meal. They accused Him of heresy and false +teaching, which tended to lead the people away from their accustomed +ceremonies and observances. Jesus waxed indignant and, turning on His +critics, hurled burning replies upon them. "Ye hypocrites!" He cried, +"You cling to the commandments of men and neglect the commandments of +God! You cleanse your hands but not your souls! You are the blind +leaders of the blind, and both yourselves and your followers fall in +the mire and ditches! Away with you and your hypocrisy!" But the +adverse comment aroused by His actions would not down, and, +discouraged and disheartened by the evidences of the barrenness of the +soil in which He had been sowing the precious seeds of the Truth, He +gathered together His followers and departed into Tyre and Sidon, a +quieter region, that He might rest and meditate over new plans and +work. He could see the beginning of the end. + +To understand the nature of the position of the Master at this time, +it must be remembered that His strong hold had ever been with the +masses of the people, who were His enthusiastic admirers. So long as +He remained entrenched in the heart of the populace, the temporal and +ecclesiastical authorities dared not attack Him without a popular +uprising of no mean proportions. But now that they had managed to wean +away His public from Him they pressed Him harder and harder with their +persecutions and complaints. And so at last they had managed to render +Him almost an unpopular outcast. They forced Him away from the larger +towns, and now He was wandering among the less populous regions of the +country, and even there the spies and agents of the authorities hunted +Him down, seeking to further entrap and compromise Him. + +About this time Jesus revealed to His apostles the facts of His Divine +origin which was now plain to Him. He also told them of the fate which +awaited Him, and which He had willingly chosen. He told them not to +expect the fruits of His work at this time, for He was but sowing the +seeds of the fruit which would not grow and bear fruit for many +centuries. He gave them the Mystic secret of the nature of His work, +which is taught to the Initiates of the Occult Brotherhoods even unto +this day. But even these chosen men scarcely grasped the true import +of His teachings, and once He was rendered almost broken hearted at +over-hearing a discussion among them regarding high offices which they +hoped to acquire. + +Jesus now felt that the time had come for Him to move on to Jerusalem +to meet there the crowning act of His strange career. And, knowing +full well that such a course would be virtually thrusting His head +into the very jaws of the lion of ecclesiastical and temporal +authority, He set His feet firmly on the road which led to Jerusalem, +the capital city, and the center of ecclesiastical influence. And that +road was a hard one to travel, for, as He neared the capital, His +enemies increased in number and the opposition to Him grew stronger. +At one village He had been denied the right of shelter, an indignity +almost unknown in Oriental lands. In another place a large rock was +hurled at Him and wounded Him severely. The mob had turned against Him +and was repaying His kind services with abuse and personal violence. +And this is ever the lot of the teacher of the Truth who scatters the +sacred pearls of Truth before the swine of the unworthy multitude of +people. Over and over again has this fact been brought home to those +who would labor for the good of the world. And still we hear the +querulous complaint that the Inner Teaching is reserved for the +Few--why not scatter it broadcast among the people? The stake, the +rack, the stones, the prison cell, the cross and their modern +prototypes--these are the silent answers to the question. + +Moving on toward Jerusalem the little company reached Perea, a number +of miles from Bethany, at which latter place dwelt a family of His +friends--the two sisters, Martha and Mary, and their brother Lazarus. +At this place He was met by a messenger from Bethany, who bore the sad +news that His friend Lazarus was sick unto death, and who also begged +the Master to return to Bethany and cure the man. But this Jesus +refused to do, and allowed several days to pass without answering the +summons. At the end of the several days He started toward Bethany, +telling His disciples that Lazarus was dead. And reaching Bethany they +found that it was indeed so--Lazarus was dead and in the tomb. + +Jesus was received with scowling antagonism. The people seemed to say, +"Here is this heretical imposter again. He feared to come even to the +aid of His dying friend. His power has failed Him and He now stands +discredited and exposed!" Then came Martha, who reproached the Master +with His indifference and delay. He answered her that Lazarus should +rise again, but she doubted His word. Then came Mary, whose grief +brought tears even from the Master, who had seen so much of human +suffering as to have found his eyes refuse to weep. + +Then asked the Master, "Where have you laid him away?" and they took +Him to the tomb, followed by the curious mob hungering for the sight +of more wonders from the man whom they feared even while hating and +reviling Him. Jesus stood before the dreary tomb and bade the men roll +away the stone that closed the mouth of the tomb. The men hesitated, +for they knew that a corpse lay within, and they even perceived the +characteristic odor of the tomb issuing therefrom. But the Master +insisting upon it, they rolled away the stone and Jesus stood full in +front of the dark opening to the cavern. + +He stood there for a few moments wrapt in meditation and showing +evidences of strong mental concentration. His eyes took on a strange +look, and in every muscle He showed that He was summoning to the task +every particle of the power at His command. He was throwing off the +matters that had been occupying His mind during the past weeks, that +He might hold his mind "one-pointed," as the Oriental occultists term +it--that He might concentrate clearly and forcibly upon the task +before Him. + +Then, arousing His reserve force, in a mighty effort, He cried loudly, +in a voice of authority and power, "Lazarus! Lazarus! Come forth!" + +The people gasped with horror at this calling forth a corpse which was +in the process of disintegration and decay, and a cry of remonstrance +went up, but Jesus heeded it not. "Lazarus! Lazarus! Come forth, I +command thee!" he cried again. + +And then at the mouth of the cavern could be seen something startling. +It was a ghastly figure, bound and clad in the grave-clothes of that +country, which was struggling to free itself and to move toward the +light. It was indeed Lazarus! And, after tearing off the stained +grave-clothes which still retained the horrid stench of decaying +matter, his body was found to be sweet and clean and pure as that of +the infant. Jesus had performed a wonder-work far beyond any +manifestation He had heretofore shown to the world. + +The excitement occasioned by this crowning wonder, coming to Jerusalem +after a lull in which it had thought that the Master had retired into +insignificant seclusion, aroused again into activity the authorities, +who now determined to make an end to the matter and to suppress this +pestilent charlatan once and for all. Raising a decaying corpse from +the tomb, indeed! What new fraudulent marvels would He not work next +in order to delude the credulous people and to bring them once more +around his rebellious standard? The man was dangerous without doubt, +and must be put where He could do no harm--and that at once. + +Within a few hours after the receipt of news that Lazarus had walked +from the tomb, the Sanhedrin, the great Jewish ecclesiastical council, +was in session, called hastily by its officers to take vigorous action +concerning this impious, heretical imposter who had been allowed to +mock at established order and religion for too long a time. He must be +quieted ere he arouse the people once more. The Roman authorities were +warned by the Jewish ecclesiastics that this dangerous man now +approaching the capital claimed to be the Jewish Messiah, and that His +aims were to overturn the Temple authorities first, and then establish +Himself as King of the Jews, and place Himself at the head of a +revolutionary army which would attempt to defy and defeat the rule of +mighty Rome herself. + +And so all the machinery was set in motion, and the officers of the +law were all on the alert to take advantage of the first overt act of +Jesus and His followers, and to throw them into prison as enemies of +society, religion and of the state. The Roman authorities were +agitated at the reports coming to them from the highest Jewish +authorities, and were prepared to crush the rebellion at the first +sign. The Jewish priests were in solemn convocation and at the +instigation of Caiaphas, the high priest of the Jews, they determined +that nothing but the death of this false Messiah would put an end to +the agitation which threatened to drive them from power and authority. +And so the die was cast. + +And meanwhile Jesus was resting in Bethany, surrounded by great +throngs who were pouring into the place to see Lazarus, and to renew +their allegiance to the Master whom they had so basely forsaken. +Time-servers ever, the latest miracles had revived their fading +interest and waning faith, and they flocked around the Master as +noisy, enthusiastic and as full of fulsome praise as ever. And +yesterday they had damned Him, and tomorrow they would cry "Crucify +Him!" For such is the nature of the multitude of men. Of the +multitudes of Jesus' followers, none remained to acknowledge +allegiance in His hour of arrest--even among the chosen twelve, one +betrayed Him, one denied Him, and _all_ fled away when He was taken +captive. And for _such_ the Son of Man lived and taught and suffered. +Surely His _life_ was the greatest miracle of all. + + + + +THE EIGHTH LESSON. + + + +THE END OF THE LIFE WORK. + +Resting for a short time before His formal entry into Jerusalem, the +Master sought the seclusion of the sparsely settled districts near the +wilderness. In and around the village of Ephraim, in Perea, in parts +of Galilee, He wandered with the Twelve. But even there He continued +His work of healing and teaching. + +But even this temporary respite from the inevitable lasted but a short +time. Jesus determined to march direct to the seat of the +ecclesiastical and temporal authority which was arrayed against Him. +And so, just before the coming of the Passover time, He gathered +together the Twelve and set out on the final stage of the journey. The +pilgrims journeying to the capital were burning with curiosity and +excitement concerning this journey of the Master to the home of His +foes. Rumors were circulated that He intended to gather His forces +together and sweep the enemy from its seats of power. It was known +that the Sanhedrin intended to attempt to punish Him, and the people +asked why should He move on to face His foes unless He contemplated a +fight to the finish? + +This belief in His determination caused a revulsion of feeling of the +people in His favor, and many who had deserted Him now again gathered +around Him. They dreamt again of victory, and scented again an +unfailing supply of loaves and fishes. They crowded around Him wishing +to be among the victorious host. But He encouraged them not--neither +spoke He a word to them. He knew them for the time-servers that they +were. + +The crowds of Jerusalem hearing of His approach, and moved by +curiosity to witness His triumphant entry into the City, flocked +around the suburbs through which He would approach. At last the cry +went up, "Here He comes!" and to their amazement and disgust the crowd +saw Him riding quietly info the City mounted on an ass, without +display, pretense or pose. The crowd scattered, sneering and reviling +Him. But the pilgrims were becoming more and more enthusiastic, and +they strewed His way with palms, shouting, "Blessed be our Messiah! +The King of Israel approacheth." + +The Master proceeded directly to the Temple and performed the +customary rites. So amazed were the authorities by His fearless +demeanor, that they deferred laying violent hands upon Him. They +feared a trap, and moved cautiously. They even allowed Him to retire +to Bethany and spend the night. The next morning He returned to the +city and dwelt among His friends there. He attended the Temple +regularly, and pursued His work of teaching and healing in its very +shadows. + +Meanwhile the clouds of the persecuting forces gathered closely around +His head. One of the Twelve, Judas Iscariot, who was sorely +disappointed at the Master having refused to take advantage of the +support of the crowd to assist His claim as the Messiah and King of +the Jews, and also fearing that he would become involved in His +inevitable downfall, began a series of bargainings and dickerings with +the authorities, which had for their object the betrayal of the Master +into the hands of the authorities, the reward to be immunity from +persecution for himself and a few pieces of silver for his pocket in +addition. + +And so the time passed on, the nights being spent at Bethany and the +days at the Temple in the capital. Finally the priests made an +important move. They confronted Him in their official capacity and +demanded that He prove His ordination as a Jewish Rabbi and consequent +right to preach to the orthodox members of the church. Jesus answered +them by asking questions that they feared to answer. Then they began +to question Him, hoping to involve Him in ecclesiastical heresies +which would give them their excuse to arrest Him. But He evaded them +skilfully. They sought also to compel Him to state opinions contrary +to the Roman authority, but He likewise escaped this net. + +Finally, however, they drew from Him a savage attack upon authority, +and He cried out in indignation: + + "Woe unto you, ye generation of vipers! Ye serpents! Ye + hypocrites! Ye oppressors of the poor! Ye professed + shepherds, who are but as wolves in disguise, seeking but to + devour the sheep whom ye have in charge! Woe unto you, ye + Scribes, Hypocrites, Pharisees!" + +Then He left the Temple and returned to Bethany to spend the night, +after foretelling the destruction of the Temple, when there should not +be left one of its stones upon another. + +That night he had a heart-to-heart talk with the Twelve. He told them +that the end was in sight--that He was to die before many hours had +passed--that they, the Twelve, were to become wanderers on the face of +the earth--hunted and persecuted in His name and for His sake. A +terrible revelation to some among them who had dreamt of earthly +grandeur and high positions for themselves! And then Judas felt that +the time to act had come, and he stole away to meet the High-priest +and to close the frightful bargain with him which was to make his name +the synonym for treachery throughout the ages. + +The next day, Wednesday, He rested in Bethany the whole twenty-four +hours, evidently gathering together his reserve forces to meet the +ordeal which He now knew was before Him. He kept apart from even His +disciples and spent the time in meditation. And likewise was passed +the early part of the following day, Thursday. But when the even time +had come, He sent for the Twelve and gathered them around Him for the +Paschal Supper, one of the rites of the Passover time. + +Even this last solemn occasion was marred by a petty squabble among +the disciples regarding the order of precedence to be observed in +their seats at the table. Judas succeeded in gaining the seat of honor +next to the Master. Jesus startled the company by insisting upon +washing the feet of the Twelve, an act which placed them on a pedestal +above Him. This occult ceremony, which was not comprehended by the +Twelve, apparently was one which the Hierophants of the Occult +Brotherhoods performed for their associates when the latter had been +chosen to carry out some important office or mission, or when a +successor was about to take the place of one of them. And Jesus +evidently so intended it. Then He bade them wash one another's feet, +in token of the recognition of each of the high mission of the others. + +Then Jesus, overcome by the knowledge of the morrow, burst out in +anguished tones, saying: "And even one of you, my chosen ones, shall +betray me!" And several asked Him in turn, in a tone of reproach, "Is +it I?" And Jesus shook His head at each question. But Judas asked not, +but overcome with confusion he reached over and took a portion of +bread from the plate before the Master. Then Jesus took a bit of bread +and, moistening it from His plate, handed it to Judas, saying to him +firmly, "Judas, do thy work without loss of time." And Judas, abashed, +slunk away from the table. + +Then began that remarkable conversation of the Last Supper, as +recorded in the Gospels. Then also was performed that first +celebration of the Holy Communion, the Mystic significance of which +shall be explained in a later lesson. Then Jesus chanted the Passover +hymn. + +Then shortly after, the company left the room and walked into the +streets, and over the meadows near by. Then under the trees of the +Garden of Gethsemane, apart from His disciples, now reduced to Eleven, +He gave Himself up to prayer and meditation. He called aloud to The +Father to give Him strength for the final ordeal. Struggling with His +doubts and fears and misgivings--conquering His physical inclination +and impulses--He gave utterance to that supreme cry: "O Father, Thy +will, not mine, be done!" and in so saying He cast behind Him forever +His right of choice to stay the awful course of events which was +pressing upon Him. Resigning His mighty occult power of defense, He +laid Himself upon the altar of sacrifice even as the Paschal Lamb. + +Leaving behind Him the Garden in which He had just performed this +greatest miracle of all--the miracle of Renunciation--He stepped out +among His disciples, saying, "The hour has come--the betrayer is here +to do his work." + +Then were heard sounds of clanking arms, and martial tread, and in a +moment the military guard appeared on the scene, accompanied by a +delegation of ecclesiastics, and with them, walking in advance, was +Judas Iscariot. Judas, walking as one in a trance, approached the +Master and, saluting Him with a kiss, cried, "Hail, Master," which was +the signal to the guard, arranged between Judas and the High Priest. +Then cried Jesus, "Ah, with a kiss--thou, Judas, betrayeth the Son of +Man with a kiss! Oh!" And in that moment it seemed that the Master's +grief had reached its utmost limit. Then the guard closed around Him +and carried Him away. + +But He resisted them not. As they approached Him He called out, "Whom +seek ye?" And the leader answered, "We seek him whom men call Jesus of +Nazareth." Then answered the Master, "I am He whom thou seeketh!" But +the disciples resisted the arrest, and Peter cut off the ear of one of +the party, a servant of the High-priest. But Jesus bade His followers +desist, and, approaching the wounded man, placed his severed ear in +place and healed it instantly. Then He rebuked His disciples, telling +them that, had He so desired, the whole of the legions of heaven would +have come to His assistance. Then He bade the leader conduct Him from +the place. But alas! as He left, He turned to bid farewell to His +disciples, and lo! to a man they had fled and deserted Him, leaving +Him alone in His hour of trial--yea! as every humble soul must be +alone in its moments of supreme struggle--alone with its Creator. + +Then down toward the city they led Him--the Master of All Power, an +humble captive, non-resistant and awaiting the course of The Will. +They took Him to the palace of the Jewish High-priest, where the +Sanhedrin was assembled in secret session awaiting His coming. And +there He stood erect before these ecclesiastical tyrants to be +judged--bound with the cord as a common criminal. He, whose single +effort of His will would have shattered the whole palace to pieces and +have destroyed every human being within its walls! + +And this was but the beginning. During the next eight hours He was +subjected to six separate trials, if indeed such mock proceedings +might be so designated. Subjected to blows, and all manner of low +insults, the Master remained a Master. Perjured witnesses testified, +and all manner of crimes and heresies were charged against Him. Then +Caiaphas asked Him the all-important question, "Art thou the Christ?" +and Jesus broke His silence to answer positively, "I am!" Then the +High-priest cried out vehemently, rending His sacred robes in his +pious indignation, "He has blasphemed!" + +From that moment there was no possible chance of escape for the +Master. He had virtually condemned Himself by His own words. There was +no retreat or reprieve. He was roughly pushed from the hall and like a +common criminal was turned over to the taunts and revilings of the +mob, which availed itself of its privileges to the full in this case. +Insults, curses, revilings, taunts, and even blows, came fast and +furiously upon Him. But He stood it all without a murmur. Already His +thoughts had left earthly things behind, and dwelt on planes of being +far above the wildest dreams of men. With His mind firmly fixed on the +Real, the Unreal vanished from His consciousness. + +In the early part of the day following the night of His arrest, Jesus +was taken before Pontius Pilate, the Roman official, for His trial by +the civil authorities. Pilate, in his heart, was not disposed to +condemn Jesus, for he believed that the whole trouble consisted in +theological and ecclesiastical differences with which the civil law +should not concern itself. His wife had warned him against becoming +involved in the dispute, for she had a secret sympathy for the Master, +for some reason. But he found arrayed against him the solid influence +of the Jewish priesthood, whose power must not be opposed lightly, +according to the policy of Rome. Then the priests had made out a civil +case against Jesus, claiming that He had sought to incite a rebellion +and proclaim Himself King of the Jews; that He had created public +disorder; that He had urged the people to refuse to pay taxes to Rome. +The case against Him was weak, and Pilate was at a loss what to do. +Then some one of the priests suggested that as Jesus was a Galilean, +He be turned over for trial to Herod, in whose territory the principal +crimes were committed, and Pilate gladly availed himself of this +technical excuse to rid himself of responsibility in the matter. And +so the case was transferred to Herod, who happened to be in Jerusalem +at that time on a visit. To Herod's palace the captive was taken, and +after suffering indignities and humiliation at the hand of the tyrant, +He was remanded back to Pilate for trial, under Herod's orders. + +Back to Pilate's court, followed by the crowd, went Jesus. Pilate was +greatly annoyed that Herod should have shifted the responsibility once +more upon his (Pilate's) court. Then he bethought himself of an +expedient. He took advantage of the Jewish custom, observed by the +Roman rulers, which led to the pardoning of a notorious criminal on +the occasion of the Passover. And so he announced that he would pardon +Jesus according to custom. But from the Jewish authorities came back +the answer that they would not accept Jesus as the subject of the +pardon, but demanded that Barabbas, a celebrated criminal, be pardoned +instead of the Nazarene. Pilate found himself unable to escape the +designs of the Jewish priesthood, and so, yielding in disgust, he +pardoned Barabbas, and condemned Jesus to death. The cries of the mob, +incited by the priests, sounded around the court. "Crucify him! +Crucify him!" Pilate appeared before the priests and the populace, +and, washing his hands in a basin, according to the Oriental custom, +he cried to the Jews, "I wash my hands of this man's blood--upon you +be it!" And the crowd responded with a great shout, "Upon us and our +children be his blood!" + +Jesus, in the meantime, had been cruelly scourged by the barbarous +instruments of torture of the time. His body was lacerated and +bleeding, and He was faint from the torture and loss of blood. Upon +His head had been thrust, in ghastly mockery, a crown of thorns which +pressed deep into His flesh. He was refused the usual respite of +several days before sentence and execution--He was to die that very +day. + +His cross was tied to His back and He was compelled to carry it, +fainting though He was from fatigue and torture. He staggered along +and fell, unable to bear His heavy burden. Finally Golgotha, the place +of the crucifixion, was reached, and the Man of Sorrows was nailed to +the cross and raised aloft to die a lingering and painful death. On +either side was a criminal--two thieves--His companions in suffering. + +He refused to partake of the drug which was granted to criminals to +relieve their intense suffering. He preferred to die in full +possession of His faculties. Above His head was a tablet bearing the +inscription, "The King of the Jews," which had been placed there by +Pilate in a spirit of ironical mockery of the Jews who had forced him +to place this man on the cross. + +As the cross was raised into position the Master cried aloud, "O +Father, forgive them--they know not what they do." + +Taunted by the crowds, He hung and suffered the terrible agonies of +the cross. Even one of the crucified criminals reviled Him, asking Him +why He did not save Himself and them? The crowd asked Him why He who +saved others could not save Himself? But He, who could have brought +forces to bear which would have wrought the miracle they demanded, +answered not, but awaited the end. + +Then set in the delirium of death in which He cried aloud to the +Father, asking if He had been forsaken in His misery. But the end was +near. + +There arose a strange storm--darkness fell over the place--weird +electrical disturbances manifested themselves. The winds abated and a +strange quiet fell over all the scene, which was lighted by a ghastly +glow. And then came the earthquake, with strange groanings and +moanings of the earth; with frightful stenches of sulphur and gas. And +the very foundations of Jerusalem quaked and shivered. The rocks +before the tombs flew off, and the dead bodies were exposed to view. +In the Temple, the veil before the Holy of Holies was rent in twain. + +The cries of the people as they rushed to and fro in mortal terror +took the attention of all from the cross. Then the Roman officer in +charge of the execution, glancing upward, saw that all was over, and, +falling before the cross, he cried out, "Verily, this man was a god!" + +Jesus the Master had passed out from the body which had served as His +tenement for thirty-three years. His body was borne away for burial, +in a secret place. Embalmed by loving friends, it was carried to a +place of last earthly rest. + + * * * * * + +And now we come to a portion of the narrative in which the occult +traditions and teachings diverge from the account stated in the +Gospels. We should have said _apparently_ diverge, for the two +accounts vary only because of the varying points of view and different +degrees of understanding of the teachers. + +We allude to the events of the Resurrection. + +It must be remembered that Jesus had informed His disciples that in +three days He would "rise from the dead" and appear once more among +them. To the ordinary understanding these events seem to indicate that +the Master would once more occupy His physical body, and that His +reappearance was to be so understood. And the Gospel narrative +certainly seems to verify this idea, and was undoubtedly so stated +that it might be more readily understood by the popular mind. + +But the occult traditions hold otherwise. They hold that Jesus really +appeared to His disciples three days after His death, and abode with +them for a time teaching and instructing them in the deeper mysteries +and secret doctrines. But the mystics have always held and taught that +His reappearance _was in the Astral Body_, and not in the discarded +physical form. + +To the popular mind the physical body was almost everything, as we +have shown in one of the earlier lessons of this series. So much was +this so that the mass of the people expected that all mankind would +arise from the dead at the Last Day clad in their former physical +forms. And so, any other teaching would have been unintelligible to +them. + +But to the occultists and mystics who understood the truth about the +more ethereal vehicles of the soul, such an idea appeared crude and +unscientific, and they readily grasped the Inner Teachings regarding +the Resurrection, and understood the reason why Jesus would use the +Astral Body as the vehicle of His reappearance. + +The Gospel narrative informs us that a guard was placed around the +tomb to prevent the body being stolen and a consequent assertion of +the Resurrection which the priests well knew to be expected. It +further states that the tomb was sealed and guarded by a squad of +Roman soldiers, but that notwithstanding these precautions the body of +the Master actually came to life and emerged from the tomb, and that +His followers were disturbed by the evidences that His body had been +stolen. + +The occult traditions, however, state that the close friends of Jesus, +aided by a prominent Jew who was a secret believer, obtained from the +willing Pilate a secret order which enabled them to deposit the body +in a safe and secret resting place where it gradually resolved itself +into the dust to which all that is mortal must return. These men knew +that the Resurrection of the Master had naught to do with mortal +fleshly form or body. They knew that the immaterial soul of the Master +still lived and would reappear to them clad in the more ethereal body +made manifest to their mortal senses. Every occultist will understand +this without further comment. To others we advise that they read the +occult teachings concerning the Astral Body and its characteristics. +This is no place in which to again describe at length the phenomena of +the Astral Body of Man. + + * * * * * + +The first to see the Master in His Astral Form was Mary of Magdala, a +woman admirer and follower of her Lord. She was weeping beside the +empty tomb, when looking up she saw a form approaching. The Astral +Form was indistinct and unfamiliar, and at first she did not recognize +it. Then a voice called her name, and looking up she saw the form +growing more distinct and familiar, and she recognized the features of +her Master. + + * * * * * + +More than this, the occult legends assert the truth of some of the +traditions of the early Christian Church, namely, that in the three +days succeeding the scene of Calvary there appeared in and around +Jerusalem the disembodied forms of many persons who had died a short +time previously. It is said that the Astral Bodies of many dead Jews +revisited the scenes of their former life, and were witnessed by +friends and relatives. + + * * * * * + +Then Jesus appeared in His Astral Body to the disciples. The +traditions have it that two of the eleven met Him on the afternoon of +the day when He first appeared to Mary--Easter Sunday. Strange to say, +they did not at first recognize Him, although they walked the road +with Him and afterward ate at the same table. This failure to +recognize the Master is wholly beyond ordinary explanation and the +churches make no real attempt to make it understandable. But the +occult traditions say that Jesus had not wholly materialized His +Astral Body at first, for reason of prudence, and that consequently +His features were not distinctly and clearly marked; then at the meal +He caused His features to be fully materialized so that the disciples +might readily recognize Him. All occultists who have witnessed the +materialization of an Astral Body will readily understand this +statement. The orthodox theory of Jesus having reappeared in His +physical body wholly fails to explain this nonrecognition by His +disciples, who had been His everyday companions before His death. The +slightest consideration should show which statement is nearer the +bounds of reasonable probability. + +Jesus remained visible to the chosen few for forty days. The testimony +of several hundred people attested the fact. There are a number of +mystic legends about some of His appearances, which are not mentioned +in the Gospel narratives. One of these states that He appeared before +Pontius Pilate and forgave him for the part he had played in the +tragedy. Another that Herod witnessed His form in his bedchamber. +Another that He confronted the High-priests in the Temple and brought +them to their knees in terror. Another that He came one night to the +Eleven, who sat behind bolted doors in hiding, and saying to them, +"Peace be unto you, my beloved," vanished from sight. + +The Gospels record another appearance before the Eleven, upon which +occasion Thomas, the doubter, satisfied himself of the identity of the +Astral Body by placing his fingers in the wounds, which, of course, +were reproduced in the Astral Form according to the well known laws +regarding the same. + +This coming and going of Jesus--these sudden appearances and +disappearances--these manifestations of His form only to those whom He +wished to see Him, and His concealment from those whom He desired to +remain in ignorance of His return, all show conclusively to every +occultist the nature of the vehicle which He used for manifestation +upon His return. It would seem incredible that there could be any +general doubt on the subject were the public informed on the laws +concerning the Astral World phenomena. + + * * * * * + +The Gospel narrative shows that the disciples recognized that Jesus +was not a "spirit" in the sense of being an airy, unsubstantial form. +They felt His body, and saw Him eat--but what of that? The laws of +materialization of Astral forms make it possible, under certain +conditions, that the Astral Form become so thoroughly materialized +that it may not only be seen but actually felt. Even the records of +the English Society for Psychical Research prove this fact, leaving +out of account the phenomena with which all advanced occultists are +familiar. + +Then, one day He appeared to the disciples, and they accompanied Him +to the hills, Jesus talking to them regarding their future work on +earth. He then bade them farewell, and began to fade away from their +sight. The common account pictures Him as ascending into the air until +out of sight, but the mystic account informs us that His astral form +began to slowly dematerialize and He gradually faded away from the +sight of His beloved followers, who stood gazing in wistful longing at +His form which, each moment, grew more and more ethereal in structure, +until finally the dematerialization was complete and His soul had cast +off all material form, shape and substance, and so passed on to the +higher planes of being. + + * * * * * + +In view of this explanation, does not the commonly accepted version +seem childish and crude? Can any one at all familiar with the laws and +phenomena of the land Behind the Veil, suppose that _a physical body_ +could or would pass on to the planes in which the ordinary forms of +matter do not exist? Such ideas are fit only for minds which find it +necessary to think of the "resurrection of the body" of all departed +souls, in order to conceive of Immortality. To the occultist, the +physical body is merely a temporary vehicle for the soul which the +latter discards at the proper time. It has nothing to do with the real +being of the soul. It is merely the shell which is discarded by the +soul, as the chrysalis shell is discarded by the butterfly when it +spreads its wings for its aerial flight into a new world. + +All these ideas about the immortality of the mortal body are the +product of materialistic minds unused to thinking of the higher planes +of life, and unable to grasp even the mental concept regarding the +same. Of the earth, earthly, are these conceptions and ideas. And the +sooner that Christianity sheds them as discarded shells the sooner +will the church experience that revival of true spirituality that +devout souls see the need of, and for which they are so earnestly +praying. + +The churches are so wedded to materialistic thought that a preacher +does not even hint at the existence of phases of life above the +physical lest he be termed "a spiritualist" or accused of being +"spooky." In the name of Truth, is the teaching, that _man is a +spiritual being_, inconsistent with the teachings of Christ and the +records of the Scripture? Must one forego all such beliefs, in favor +of a heathenish creed of "physical body" resurrection of the dead--an +immortality in the worn-out mortal body long since discarded? Which is +the true spiritual teaching? Can there be any doubt regarding the same +in a mind willing to think for itself? It seems sad that the orthodox +churches do not see this, and cease forcing out of their congregations +all thinkers who dare assert the existence of a soul independent of +the physical body. + +What is the use of a soul, if the physical bodies of the dead are to +be resurrected in order that their owners may enjoy immortality? And +where are the souls of these dead bodies now residing and abiding +pending the coming of the Last Day? Are the souls of the dead with +their bodies? If not, then they must be living a life independent of +the physical body--and if such be the case, why should they afterward +be required to take on their worn-out physical bodies which they have +managed so well without during their disembodied life? What becomes of +those who had diseased, deformed or frail bodies during their mortal +life--will they be compelled to inhabit these bodies through all +eternity? Will the owners of aged, worn out bodies be compelled to +re-assume them at the Last Day? If not, why the necessity of a +physical body at all, in the future life? Do the angels have physical +bodies? If not, why should souls require them on higher planes? Think +over these questions and then realize how materialistic is the current +Christian conception, when compared with that of Mystic Christianity, +which teaches spiritual evolution from lower to higher planes of +being, and on to planes of being beyond even the faintest conception +of men of the present day. + + * * * * * + +The occult traditions teach that during the forty days of Jesus' +appearance in the Astral Body, He imparted many of the Higher Truths +to His disciples. They state that He even took some of them out of +their bodies and showed them the higher Astral Planes of Being. He +also informed them regarding the real nature of His mission which He +now clearly saw with His spiritual mind, the cloud of His mortal mind +being now removed. + +He told them that the real work of His followers was the sowing of the +seed of the Truth, without regard to immediate results. He told them +that the real fruition would not come for many centuries--yea, not +until the passing of over two thousand years or more. He told them +that the passage of the centuries would be like the preparing of the +soil for the great work of the Truth, and that afar in the distance +would be the real fruit season. + +He taught them regarding the Second Coming of Christ, when the real +Truth of His teachings should become apparent to mankind and the true +Life of the Spirit should be lived by the race. He taught them that +their work was to keep alight the Flame of the Spirit and to pass it +on to worthy followers. + +This and many other things He told them, before He passed on. + +And the mystics teach that He still lives in the world, diffused among +all the living souls on earth, striving ever to lead them to a +recognition of the Real Self--the Spirit Within. He is with us ever as +an Abiding Spirit, a Comforter, a Helper, an Elder Brother. + +He is not gone from us! He is here with us now and forever, in Actual +Spirit Communion! + +The Lord hath indeed Risen--Risen from Mortal Form to Immortal +Spiritual Existence! + + + + +THE NINTH LESSON. + + +THE INNER TEACHINGS. + +The first and main phase of the Inner Teachings of Mystic Christianity +is that connected with the Mystery of the Life of Jesus. The outer +teachings give but an imperfect view of the real life and nature of +the Master, and theologians have built up an edifice of dogmatic +theory around the same. The Mystery of the Life of Jesus forms the +subject of some important Inner Teachings of the Mystic Fraternities +and Occult Brotherhoods, and is considered by them to be the +foundation of the other teachings. And so we shall consider this phase +of the subject at this point. + +In the first place we must remember that the soul of Jesus was +different from the souls of other men. His was a "virgin birth"--not +in the commonly accepted sense of the term, but in the occult sense as +explained in the second lesson of this series. His soul was fresh from +the hand of the Creator--His spirit had not been compelled to work +through repeated incarnations, pressing forward for expression through +humble and ignoble forms. It was free from taint, and as pure as the +Fountain from which is flowed. It was a virgin soul in every sense of +the term. + +This being so, it follows that it was not bound by the Karma of +previous incarnations--as is the case with the ordinary soul. It had +no entangling ties--it had no seeds of desire and action planted in +previous lives, which were pressing forward toward expression in His +life. He was a Free Spirit--an Unbound Soul. And therefore He was not +only unbound by any Karma of His own, but was also free (by nature) +from the Karma of the race or of the world. + +The absence of personal Karma left Him free from the selfish personal +Desire which binds men to the wheel of action and personal ambition. +He had no desire or thought for personal aggrandizement or glory, and +was perfectly free (by nature) to work for the good of the race as an +outside observer and helper, without suffering the pains and sorrows +of race-life, had He so wished. But He chose otherwise, as we shall +see in a moment. + +The absence of Race-Karma, or World-Karma, freed Him from the +necessity of the pains of humanity, which are a part of its collective +Karma. He would have been perfectly able to live a life absolutely +free from the pains, trials and troubles that are the common lot of +Man, owing to the Race-Karma. He would have escaped persecution, +physical and mental pains, and even death, had He so elected. But He +chose these things of His own free will, in order to accomplish the +great work that He saw before Him as a World-Savior. + +In order for Jesus to enact His part as the Redeemer and Savior of the +race, it was necessary for Him to take upon Himself His share of the +Karma of the race--virtually taking upon Himself the "sins of the +world." Before He could lift the burden from the race of men, He must +become a man among men. + +To understand this more clearly we must remember that to a being such +as Jesus--a soul free from Karma--there would be no such thing as +temptation, longings, desires, or any of the mental states of the +ordinary man with the Karma of successive past incarnations resting +within him as seeds of action pressing forward ever for unfoldment and +expression. + +Jesus, the free soul, would have been practically an outside observer +of the world's affairs, and not influenced by any of its ordinary +incentives to action. In this state He could have aided the world as a +teacher and instructor, but He would not have been able to accomplish +His great task of Redeeming the world, in its highest spiritual +significance, as we shall see as we proceed. It was necessary for Him +to take upon Himself the burden of the earth-life in order to become +the Savior of the people of the earth. + +The occult teachings inform us that during His sojourn abroad, Jesus +was simply a teacher, with but a dim perception of His real mission. +But gradually He began to experience periods of Illumination in which +He recognized His real nature and the difference between Himself and +other men. Then came to Him the conviction of the mighty work that lay +before Him in the redemption of the race, and He began to see the +necessity of entering into the Karmic circle of the race in order to +carry out the plan. This came gradually, by slow degrees, and the +final sacrifice was made only in the Wilderness after His Baptism by +John. + +In the Wilderness, after His long fast and His days of meditation, the +way opened up for Him to take upon Himself the burden of the Karma of +the earth people. In that scene of the most tremendous spiritual +struggle that the earth has ever witnessed, Jesus deliberately bent +His shoulders that the weight be placed upon His back. From that +moment the earth-souls received a blessing far beyond the +comprehension of the mind of the ordinary man. Into the Karma-bound +circle came this mighty soul, animated by Pure Spirit, for the purpose +of lifting a great portion of the burden, and of joining in the work +of the actual unfoldment and redemption of the race. + +For be it remembered that, being a free soul animated by Pure Spirit, +Jesus was A GOD--not a man, although inhabiting the fleshly garments +of humanity. His power was superior to that of many of the high +intelligences scattered throughout the universe, and playing important +parts in the cosmic processes. Jesus was Pure Spirit incarnate in +human form, with all the powers of a God. Although of course +_subordinate in expression_ to the Absolute--the Great Spirit of +Spirit--He was in His essential nature the same in substance. Verily, +as He Himself said, "I and the Father are One." + +His youthful mind was not able to grasp the truth of His real nature, +but as that human instrument became perfected by age and training, He +realized the Truth and perceived His own Divinity. + +But even a God, such as he, could not raise up the world from its +burden of Karma, by acting _from the outside_. Under the Cosmic Laws, +established by the Absolute, such work could be performed only _from +within_ the circle of earth-life. And so Jesus saw that to raise up +Man, He must become a Man. That is, to help lift the earth's Karma, He +must enter into it, and place Himself within its Circle of Influence. +_And this He did_. + +We wonder if our readers can realize, even faintly, just what this +sacrifice meant? Think of a Pure Spirit--a Free Soul--so filled with +the love for the race of men as to renounce deliberately, for aeons of +time, total immunity from all mortal existence, and willingly to place +itself under the burden of pain, woe, misery and sin which formed the +earth-people's Karma. It was a thousand-fold greater sacrifice than +would be that of a Man of the Highest spiritual and mental +development--an Emerson, for example--who, in order to raise up the +race of earth-worms, would deliberately place himself within the being +and nature of the Group-Soul animating the race of earthworms, and +then stay within its influence, striving ever upward and onward until +finally, after aeons and aeons of time, he was able to bring up the +earthworm Group Soul to the level of Man. Think of this, and then +realize what a sacrifice Jesus made of Himself. + +In the Wilderness, when Jesus took the final steps of renunciation and +sacrifice, He at once passed within the circle of the Race Karma and +laid Himself open to all the pain, misery, temptations and limitations +of a Man. His power, of course, remained with Him, but He was no +longer a God outside of the world-life, but an imprisoned God working +from within the race, using His mighty power, but bound by the Karmic +Law. He became open to influences from which previously He had been +immune. For instance when He was "tempted" by the Devil of Personal +Attainment, and urged to seek worldly glory and renown, He was tempted +only because He had taken on the world's Karma and was subject to its +laws. As a God, He would not have felt the temptation any more than a +man would feel the temptation of the earthworm. But as a man He was +subject to the desires and ambitions that perplex and "devil" the +race. And according to the rule that the greater the mental +development the greater the power of such temptation toward +self-aggrandizement (because of the mind being able to see more +clearly the opportunities), Jesus was subjected to a test that would +have been impossible to an ordinary man. + +Jesus, knowing full well that He had in His possession the power to +manifest the things with which He was tempted, was compelled to fight +off the temptation to place Himself at the head of the race as its +ruler--as the King of the World. He was shown this picture to compare +with the other whose last scene was Calvary--and He was called upon to +feel the desire of the race for such things, even unto its highest +degree. Imagine the desire for personal aggrandizement of all the +world thought beating upon His mind demanding the expression which +could be had through Him alone. And then imagine the struggle +required to defeat this opposing power. Think of what the ordinary +man has to meet and overcome to conquer the desire for Personal +Aggrandizement--and then think of what the Master had to fight, with +the focussed desire of the entire Race-Thought striving to express +itself through Him! Truly the Sins of the World bore down upon Him +with their mighty weight. And yet He knew that He had taken upon +Himself this affliction by entering upon the Life of Man. And He met +it like a Man of Men. + +It was only by fixing His mind fully and firmly upon what He knew to +be His Real Self--the Spirit Within His soul, and holding His mind +"one-pointed" upon the fact--that He was able to fight the fight and +conquer. Seeing the Truth, He could see the folly and illusion of all +that the world had to offer, and He could put forth His mighty Will +bidding the Tempter retire from the scene and from His mind. It was in +this full knowledge of His Spirit--His Real Self--that He was able to +rebuke the Tempter, saying, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy God!" +He held fast to His realization of the God Within--the Spirit that was +within Him and all men--and thus denied out of existence the power of +the earth-things--the illusions of mortality--the _maya_ of the race. + +But not alone this and other weaknesses of man's mortal nature were +constantly besieging the mind of the Master after He had taken upon +Himself the Karma of the Earth. He had also taken upon Himself the +mortal life consequent of the human frame which He inhabited. He must +live, suffer and die--even as all men--and according to the law of +mortality. And so He moved forward toward the end, knowing fully what +lay before Him. He, a God, had taken upon Himself all these attributes +of mortality, in order to be able to perform His work as the Redeemer +and Savior of the race. + +And so, He lived, and suffered and died--even as you and I. He drank +the cup to the dregs, suffering as only such a finely organized mental +nature could suffer. And, men, poor creatures, speak of His sufferings +as terminating with the last breath upon the cross. Why, they only +_began_ there! + +For know ye, that Jesus the Christ is still within the race of men, +suffering their woes, paying with them their penalty, every day, every +hour--yea, and must remain so throughout the ages, until finally the +soul of every man, yea, even that of the last man; the most degraded +man in the world, is fully cleansed of the Karmic taint, and thus +fully "redeemed" and "saved." And within the soul of every man is +found the Christ Principle, striving ever to elevate and lift up the +individual toward that realization of the Real Self--and this is what +"redemption" and "salvation" really means. Not a saving from +hell-fire, but a saving from the fire of carnality, and mortality. Not +a redemption from imaginary sins, but a redemption from the muck and +mire of earth-life. The God within you is like the fabled Hindu god +who descended into the body of a pig and then forgot Himself. It is to +bring you to a realization that you are a god and not a pig, that +Jesus, the Master, is working within your soul as the Christ +Principle. Have you never heard His voice, crying from within your +soul, "Come out--come out of your pig-nature and realize the god that +you verily are!" It is this "recognition, realization and +manifestation of the god within you" that constitutes "salvation" and +"redemption." + +The Occult Teachings tell us that Jesus, after His final disappearance +from before the eyes of His apostles, passed on to the higher planes +of the Astral World where He rapidly discarded all of His astral and +mental vehicles which the soul had used in its manifestation. The +Astral Body and its corresponding higher sheaths were cast off and +discarded. That is, all except the very highest of all. Had He +discarded every vestige of individual soul-existence His spirit would +have immediately merged itself with the One Spirit--the Absolute--from +which it had originally proceeded and Jesus, as an entity, would have +disappeared entirely within the Ocean of the One Spirit. _This highest +state of all He had deliberately resigned until the passage of ages, +in order that He might accomplish His work as the World-Savior_. + +He retained the highest vehicle--the Spiritual Mind in its highest +shade of expression--in order that as an entity He might labor for the +race. And so, He exists at this time--one in substance with the +Father, but yet maintaining an apparently separate entity-existence. +But this must be remembered, that Jesus, _as Jesus the son of Mary and +Joseph_, no longer exists. When He cast off the lower vehicles of His +personality, His personality disappeared. But His _individuality_ +persisted--that is, He is still HE, although His personality has +disappeared, leaving Him--the real Him--existing as the CHRIST +PRINCIPLE. + +By the above statement, we mean that when a soul reaches the highest +spiritual stage short of absolute absorption into the One Spirit, _it +is no longer a person_, but exists as _a principle_. But that +principle is not an inanimate mechanical force--it is a living, +knowing, acting principle of life. This occult fact cannot be +explained in the words of men, for no terms have been coined by which +men can speak of it. It is only indirectly that we can hope to have +even the advanced student grasp the fact. + +Jesus exists today, as the Christ Principle which _actually lives_ and +acts, but which is not confined in a body of any kind, using the word +"body" in its accustomed sense. As the Christ Principle or "The +Christ" He is mingled with the life of the human race, and may be +found immanent in the mind of every man, woman and child that has ever +existed, does now exist, or will exist _so long as Man is Man_. Not +only is this true of those who have lived since His passage from the +physical body, but it is equally true of those who lived before His +birth. This apparently paradoxical statement may be understood when we +remember that these souls did not "die," but only "passed on" to the +Astral Plane, from whence they re-incarnated in due time. The Christ +(for so we shall speak of the present-state of Jesus) even entered +into, and still abides in, the Astral Plane, as well as upon the +Material Plane, for wherever the souls of men abide--or whatever place +their residence may be--there is found The Christ, ever working for +the salvation and redemption of the race. + +On the Astral Plane He is working in the minds of the souls abiding +there, urging them to cast off the dross of earth-desires and to fix +the aim upon higher things, to the end that their re-incarnations may +be under improved conditions. On the Physical Plane He is working in +the hearts and minds of the earth-people, striving ever to uplift to +higher things. His aim is ever toward the liberation of the Spirit +from its material bonds--the Realization of the Real Self. And so, in +the hearts of all men, Christ is living, suffering, and being +crucified every day, and this must continue until Man is redeemed and +saved, even the last man. + +This wonderful sacrifice of Christ far surpasses the physical +sacrifice of Jesus, the man. Try to imagine, if you can, even the +faintest pangs of a being so exalted compelled to dwell in the world +of the hearts and minds of a humanity so steeped in materiality as our +race, knowing always the possibilities of the souls if they would but +reach upward to higher things, and yet constantly suffering the +knowledge of the base, carnal, material thoughts and acts flowing from +these souls. Is not this the extreme refinement of torture? Does not +the agony of the cross sink into insignificance beside such spiritual +agony? You rail at the cruelty of the Jews who crucified their Savior, +and yet you crucify _your_ Savior, with a thousandfold degree of +torture, every day of your life, by your persistence in the +carnalities and foolishness of mortal thought and action. + +The mighty uplift of the world since the death of Jesus, of which the +present is but a faint prophecy of the future, has been due largely to +the energizing influence of The Christ in the hearts and minds of the +race. The sense of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man, +which is now manifesting so powerfully in the world of Men, is but an +instance of the work of the Christ--the Savior and Redeemer. And the +highest dreams of the exalted souls of this generation are but +inadequate visions of what the future will hold for the race. The work +is just beginning to bud--the blossom and the fruit will render this +earth a far more glorious place than even the highest ideals of heaven +entertained by the faithful in the past. But even these things of the +future will be poor things, when compared with the life of the higher +planes which await the race when it has demonstrated its fitness to +pass on and on and on to these greater glories. And ever and ever The +Christ is working, and toiling and striving and suffering, in His +efforts to raise humanity even one petty degree in the spiritual scale +of being. + +The Christ is always with us, and if we but recognize His presence we +shall be able to feel that warm, loving response to our soul-hunger +and spiritual thirst which will result in our being given that we are +so longingly craving. Here within us dwells The Christ, ever +responding to the cry of Faith, "Believe in Me and ye shall be saved." +What a promise this is seen to be when properly understood! What a +source of power and comfort is opened up to every human soul when the +Inner Truth underlying the teachings is understood! Mystic +Christianity brings this Message of Truth to each and all of you who +read these lines. Will you accept it? + +We would ask our students to pause at this point and contrast the +teachings of Mystic Christianity regarding the doctrine of Christ, the +Savior, with the corresponding teachings of the current Orthodox +Theology. + +On the one hand we have Jesus the God-Man deliberately choosing the +work of the World Redemption and Salvation, and descending into the +circle of the World-Karma, relinquishing the privilege of His Godhood +and taking upon Himself the penalties of Manhood; not only undergoing +the sufferings of the physical man, but also binding Himself upon the +Cross of Humanity for ages, that by His spiritual presence in and of +the race He might lift up humanity to godhood. + +On the other hand, we have a picture of an angry Deity, manifesting +purely human emotion and temper, bent on revenging himself upon the +race which he had created, and demanding its eternal punishment in +hell-fire; then the same Deity creating a Son whom he sent into the +world, that this Son might be the victim of a blood-atonement and +death upon the cross, that the Deity's wrath might be appeased and the +blood of this Divine Lamb be accepted to wash out the sins of the +world. + +Can you not see which is The Truth and which is the perversion? The +one is from the pure fountain of Spiritual knowledge--the other +originated in the minds of ignorant theologians who were unable to +grasp and understand the Mystic teachings, but who built up a system +of theology in accordance with their own undeveloped minds; making a +God who was but a reflection of their own cruel animal natures, +demanding, as did they themselves, blood and pain--physical torture +and death--in order to appease a most un-Divine wrath and vengeance. +Which of the two conceptions seems most in accord with the intuitive +promptings of the Something Within? Which brings the greater approval +from The Christ within your heart? + + +THE CHRISTIAN CREED. + +There are three creeds recognized by the Christian Church--the +Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. Of these, +the first two are commonly used, the third being not so well known and +being seldom used. + +The Apostles' Creed, which is the most commonly used, is believed (in +its present form) to be of later origin than the Nicene Creed, and +many authorities believe it to be a corrupted rendering of the +original declaration of faith of the Early Christians. It is as +follows: + + "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and + earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was + conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, + suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and + buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose again + from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the + right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall + come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy + Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, + the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and + the life everlasting." + +The Nicene Creed was drawn up and adopted by the Council of Nice in +the year A.D. 325. As originally adopted it ended with the words "I +believe in the Holy Ghost," the present concluding clauses being added +by the Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381, excepting the words "and +the Son," which were inserted by the Council of Toledo, A.D. 589. It +is as follows: + + "I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Maker of Heaven + and earth, and all things visible and invisible; and in one + Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of + his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, + very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one + substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who + for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and + was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was + made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius + Pilate; he suffered and was buried and the third day he rose + again according to the scriptures and ascended into heaven, + and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and he shall + come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, + whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy + Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the + Father and the Son, who with the Father and Son is + worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets; and I + believe in one catholic and apostolic church; I acknowledge + one baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the + resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come." + +Let us now briefly examine the principal statements of these creeds, +which were compiled centuries after Jesus' death, viewing them by the +light of Mystic Christianity. + +"I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and +earth, and all things visible and invisible."--(_Nicene Creed_.) + +The form of the above fundamental principle of Christian belief is +taken from the Nicene Creed, which is somewhat fuller than the similar +declaration in the Apostles' Creed. It requires no comment. It is a +statement of belief in a One Creative Power, from which all things +have proceeded. There is no attempt made to "explain" the nature of +the Absolute, or to endow it with any of the human attributes which +theologians have delighted in bestowing upon the One. It merely +asserts a belief in the existence of One Supreme Being--which is all +that is possible to man--all else is ignorant impertinence. + +"And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the +Holy Ghost."--(_Apostles' Creed_.) + +"And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten +of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God +of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the +Father."--(_Nicene Creed_.) + +In this declaration, the belief in the Divinity of Jesus is made. The +Apostles' Creed shows the cruder conception, rather inclining toward +the perverted idea of the conception of the Virgin by the aid of the +Holy Ghost, similar to the origin of the hero-gods of the different +religions in which the father was one of the gods and the mother a +woman. But the Nicene creed gives at least a strong hint of the mystic +teachings. It speaks of Him as "begotten of his Father"--"begotten, +not made." The expressions, "God of God; Light of Light; very God of +very God," show the idea of identical spiritual substance in the +Spirit. And then the remarkable expression, "being of one substance +with the Father," shows a wonderful understanding of the Mystery of +The Christ. For, as the mystic teachings show, Jesus was a pure +Spirit, free from the entangling desires and clogging Karma of the +world. Identical in substance with the Father. "The Father and I are +one," as He said. Is there anything in the Orthodox Theology that +throws such light on this subject as is shed by Mystic Christianity's +teaching regarding the nature of the soul of Jesus? + +"Born of the Virgin Mary."--(_Apostles' Creed_.) + +"Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was +incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made +man."--(_Nicene Creed_.) + +The Nicene Creed here gives a surprisingly clear statement of the +Mystic teachings. "Who for us men and our salvation came down from +heaven" shows the purpose of the incarnation. "Came down from heaven" +shows pre-existence in the bosom of the Absolute. "And was incarnate" +shows the descent of the Spirit into the flesh in the womb of Mary. +"And was made man" shows the taking on of the physical body of the +infant in the womb. Does not the Mystic teaching give a clearer light +on this statement of the Creed? + +"Was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; the third +day he rose again from the dead."--(_Apostles' Creed_.) + +"He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again +according to the scriptures, and sitteth on the right hand of the +Father."--(_Nicene Creed_.) + +The "descent into hell" of the Apostles' Creed of course meant the +passing to the place of disembodied souls--the lower Astral Plane. +Even the orthodox teachers do not now pretend that the term "hell" +meant the place of torture presided over by the Devil, which theology +has invented to frighten people into the churches. "The third day he +arose from the dead" (and the corresponding passage in the Nicene +Creed) refers to the appearance in the Astral Body--the return from +the Astral Plane in which He had sojourned for the three days +following the crucifixion. "And ascended into heaven"--this passage +shows the belief that He returned to the place from which He came, for +the Nicene Creed has stated that he "_came down from heaven_ and was +incarnate ... and was made man." + +The passage in both creeds stating that He then took his place "on the +right hand of the Father" is intended to show that He took the place +of the highest honor in the gift of the Father. The mystic teachings +explain this by showing that The Christ is separated from The Father +by but the most ethereal intervening of spiritual substance, and that +He is a Cosmic Principle second in importance only to the Father. +Truly this is the place of honor on "the right hand of the Father." + +"He shall come to fudge the quick and the dead." + +In this passage we see the intimation that not only with the "quick" +or living people is The Christ concerned, but also with the "dead," +that is, with those who "passed out" before and after His time and who +have passed on to the Astral World, as we have explained in this +lesson. Whether or not the framers of the Creed so understood +it--whether or not they were deluded by the tradition of the "Day of +Judgment"--certainly the Early Christians, or rather, the mystics +among them, understood the teachings as we have given them and spoke +of Him as "living in the dead as well as in the living," as one of the +occult records expresses it. + +"The communion of saints" is the spiritual understanding of the +Mysteries by the Illumined Ones. "The forgiveness of sins" is the +overcoming of the carnal mind and desires. "The resurrection of the +dead and the life of the world to come" is the promise of life beyond +the grave, and not the crude idea of the physical resurrection of the +body, which has crept into the Apostles' Creed, evidently having been +inserted at a later date in order to bolster up the pet theories of a +school of theologians. Note that the Nicene Creed says merely "the +dead" and not "the body." The version of the teachings preserved by +the Mystics has a corresponding passage, "And we know the _truth_ of +the _deathlessness of the soul_." (The italics are ours.) + +The consideration of remaining passages in the creeds, relating to the +existence of the "Holy Ghost," must be deferred until our next lesson. + + + + +THE TENTH LESSON + + + +THE SECRET DOCTRINE. + +The concluding statement of the Creeds (brought over from the +preceding lesson) refers to the Holy Ghost. + +"I believe in the Holy Ghost." (_Apostles' Creed_.) + +"And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life." +(_Nicene Creed_.) + +To the average Christian the nature of the Holy Ghost--one of the +beings of the Trinity--is veiled in obscurity, and is generally +pronounced "not to be understood." A careful examination of the +orthodox Christian writings will show the student that the Church is +very much at sea regarding this subject, which should be of the +greatest importance to its priests and congregations. Ask the average +intelligent churchman regarding the nature of the Holy Ghost, and see +for yourself the vague, contradictory and unsatisfactory concepts held +by the person questioned. Then turn to the encyclopaedias and other +books of reference, and see how little is known or taught regarding +this important subject. + +It is only when the teachings of Mystic Christianity are consulted +that one receives any light on the subject. The Occult Teachings are +quite explicit on this subject so fraught with difficulty and lack of +comprehension on the part of the orthodox teachers and students. + +The teaching of Mystic Christianity, regarding the Holy Ghost, may be +summed up by the great general statement that: _The Holy Ghost is the +Absolute in its phase of Manifestation, as compared to its phase of +Unmanifestation_--_Manifest Being as compared with Unmanifest +Being_--_God Create as compared with God Uncreate_--_God acting as the +Creative Principle as compared to God as The Absolute Being_. + +The student is asked to read over the above general statement a number +of times and to concentrate his or her attention carefully upon it, +before proceeding further with the lesson. + +To understand the above statement it is necessary for the student to +remember that the Absolute may be thought of as existing in _two +phases. Not as two persons or beings_, remember, but as in _two +phases_. There is but One Being--there can be but One--but we may +think of that One as existing in two phases. One of these phases is +Being Unmanifest; the other, Being Manifest. + +_Being Unmanifest_ is the One in its phase of Absolute Being, +undifferentiated, unmanifested, uncreated; without attributes, +qualities, or natures. + +It is impossible for the human mind to grasp the above concept of +Being Manifest in the sense of being able to think of it as a "Thing, +or Something." This because of the essential being of it. If it were +like anything that we can think of, it would not be the Absolute, nor +would it be Unmanifest. Everything that we can think of as a "thing" +is a relative thing--a manifestation into objective being. + +But we are compelled by the very laws of our reason to admit that the +Absolute Being Unmanifest exists, for the Manifest and Relative +Universe and Life _must have_ proceeded and emanated from a +Fundamental Reality, which must be Absolute and Unmanifest. And this +Being which our highest reason causes us to assume to exist is Being +Unmanifest--God the Father--who cannot be known through the +senses--whose existence is made known to us only through Pure Reason, +or through the workings of the Spirit within us. In the material sense +"God is Unknowable"--but in the higher sense He may be known to the +Spirit of Man, and His existence may be _known_ and proven by the +exercise of the highest faculties of the reason. + +Being Unmanifest is the One in its _actual_ existence and being. If +all the world of objective life and manifestation, even to its highest +forms, were withdrawn from manifestation, then there would be +left--what? Simply and solely, Being Unmanifest--God the Father, +alone. Into His Being all else would be withdrawn. Outside of Him +there would be _nothing_. He would be Himself--One--existing in the +phase of Being Unmanifest. + +We are aware that this idea may seem to be "too abstruse" for the +minds of some of our students at first reading--it may appear like an +assertion of a Being who is Non-Being. But, be not too hasty--take +time--and your mind will assimilate the concept, and will find that it +has a corresponding Truth imbedded in its inmost recesses, and then it +will know this to be the Truth. And then will it recognize the +existence of God the Father, as compared with God, the Holy Ghost. + +The Holy Ghost, as we have said, is the Absolute in its phase of +Manifest Being. That is, it is God as manifest in the Spirit of Life, +which is immanent in, and manifest in, all objective life and +phenomena in the Cosmos or Universe. + +In previous series of lessons in the Yogi Philosophy, we have shown +you that there was a Spirit of Life immanent in, and manifesting +through, all forms of life. We have also shown you that everything in +the Universe is alive--down to even the minerals, and the atoms +composing matter. We have shown you that inasmuch as the Spirit of +Life is the source of all Manifestations in the universe, and the "God +in the machine" of all phenomena of force, matter and life, then it +naturally follows that there can be nothing dead in the world--that +there is LIFE manifesting in every object, varying only in the degree +of manifestation. In our "Advanced Lessons" and in "Gnani Yoga" this +subject is considered in detail. Then what is this Spirit of Life? If +God is All, then it cannot be Something other than God. But it cannot +well be God the Uncreate--the Absolute in its Absolute phase--the +Being Unmanifest. Then what can it be? + +The student will see that the natural and logical answer to the +question with which we have closed the preceding paragraph must be: +Being Manifest--God in Creation--the Holy Ghost! And this is the +Occult Teaching concerning this great mystery of Christianity. And see +how well the framers of the Nicene Creed grasped the traditions of the +Early Church, when it said: "And I believe in the Holy Ghost, _the +Lord and Giver of Life_." + +The teaching regarding the Immanent God lies at the foundation of all +of the Mystic teachings of all peoples, races, and times. No matter +under what names the teaching is promulgated--no matter what the name +of the creed or religion in which it is found imbedded--it is still +the Truth regarding the God Immanent in all forms of life, force, and +matter. And it always is found forming the Secret Doctrine of the +philosophy, creed or religion. The Outer Teaching generally confines +itself to the instruction of the undeveloped minds of the people, and +cloaks the real Truth behind some conception of a Personal Deity, or +Deities--gods and demi-gods, who are supposed to dwell afar off in +some heavenly realm--some great Being who created the world and then +left it to run itself, giving it but occasional attention, and +reserving his consideration principally for the purpose of rewarding +those who gave him homage, worship and sacrifices and punishing those +who failed to conform with the said requirements. These personal +deities are believed generally to favor the particular people who give +them their names and temples, and accordingly to hate the enemies of +the said tribe or nation. + +But the Secret Doctrine or Esoteric Teaching of all religions has +brushed aside these primitive conceptions of undeveloped minds, and +teach the Truth of the Immanent God--the Power inherent in and abiding +in all life and manifestations. And Christianity is no exception to +the rule, and in its declaration of faith in the Holy Ghost its +esoteric principle is stated. + +While the tendency of the orthodox churches today is to say very +little about God the Holy Ghost, for the reason that it cannot explain +the meaning of the term, Mystic Christianity boldly declares its +allegiance to this principle of the earlier teachings and reverently +repeats the words of the Nicene Creed, "I believe in the Holy Ghost, +THE LORD AND GIVER OF LIFE." + + * * * * * + +That there is a Secret Doctrine of Christianity is not generally known +to the majority who claim the name of "Christian." But it has always +been known to the mystics in and out of the church, and its flame has +been kept steadily alight by a few devoted souls who were chosen for +this sacred task. + +The Secret Doctrine of Christianity did not originate with Jesus, for +He, Himself, was an Initiate of Mysteries which had been known and +taught for centuries before His birth. As St. Augustine has said: + + "That which is called the Christian Religion existed among + the ancients _and never did not exist_, from the beginning + of the human race until Christ came in the flesh, at which + time the true religion which already existed began to be + called Christianity." + +We would like to quote here a few paragraphs from the writings of a +well known writer on religious subjects, with which statement we +heartily agree, although our views on certain other points of teaching +do not agree with those of this writer. He says: + + "It may be said that in the present day these doctrines are + simply not taught in the churches; how is that? It is + because Christianity has forgotten much of its original + teachings, because it is now satisfied with only part, and a + very small part, of what it originally knew. 'They still + have the same scriptures,' you will say. Yes, but those very + scriptures tell you often of something more, which is now + lost. What is meant by Christ's constant references to the + 'Mysteries of the Kingdom of God'--by His frequent statement + to His disciples that the full and true interpretation could + be given only to them, and that to others He must speak in + parables? Why does He perpetually use the technical terms + connected with the well known mystery-teaching of antiquity? + What does St. Paul mean when he says, 'We speak wisdom among + them which are perfect'--a well known technical term for the + men at a certain stage of initiation? Again and again he + uses terms of the same sort; he speaks of 'the wisdom of God + in mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the + world began, and which none even of the princes of this + world know'--a statement which could not by any possibility + have been truthfully made if he had been referring merely to + ordinary Christian teaching which is openly preached before + all men. His immediate followers, the Fathers of the Church, + knew perfectly well what he meant, for they all use + precisely the same phraseology. Clement of Alexandria, one + of the earliest and greatest of all, tells us that 'It is + not lawful to reveal to the profane persons the Mysteries of + the Word.'" + + "Another consideration shows us clearly how much of this + early teaching has been lost. The church now devotes herself + solely to producing good men, and points to the _saint_ as + her crowning glory and achievement. But in older days she + claimed to be able to do much more than that. When she had + made a man a saint, her work with him was only just + beginning, for then only was he fit for the training and + teaching which she _could_ give him then, but cannot now, + because she has forgotten her ancient knowledge. Then she + had three definite stages in her course of + training--Purification, Illumination and Perfection. Now she + contents herself with the preliminary Purification, and has + no Illumination to give." + + "Read what Clement says: 'Purity is only a negative state, + valuable chiefly as the condition of insight. He who has + been purified in Baptism and then initiated into the Little + Mysteries (has acquired, that is to say, the habits of + self-control and reflection) becomes rife for the Greater + Mysteries for the Gnosis, the scientific knowledge of God.' + In another place he says: 'Knowledge is more than faith. + Faith is a summary knowledge of urgent truths, suitable for + people who are in a hurry; but knowledge is scientific + faith.' And his pupil Origen writes of 'the popular, + irrational faith' which leads to what he calls physical + Christianity, based upon the gospel history, as opposed to + the spiritual Christianity conferred by the Gnosis of + Wisdom. Speaking of teaching founded upon historical + narrative, he says, 'What better method could be devised to + assist the masses?' But for those who are wise he has always + the higher teachings, which are given only to those who have + proved themselves worthy of it. This teaching is not lost; + the church cast it out when she expelled the great Gnostic + Doctors, but it has nevertheless been preserved, and it is + precisely that Wisdom which we are studying--precisely that + which we find to answer all the problems of life, to give us + a rational rule by which to live, to be to us a veritable + gospel of good news from on high." + +St. Paul indicates the existence of the Secret Doctrine of +Christianity, when he says to the Corinthians: + + "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto + spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ. I + fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able + to bear it; nay, not even now are ye able, for ye are yet + carnal." (_I Cor. 3:1._) + +Jesus said: "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast +your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their +feet, and turn and rend you." (_Matt. 7:6._) + +St. Clement of Alexandria has said regarding the above saying of +Jesus: + + "Even now I fear, as it is said, 'to cast the pearls before + swine, lest they tread them underfoot, and turn and rend + us.' For it is difficult to exhibit the really pure and + transparent words respecting the true Light to swinish and + untrained hearers." + +In the first century after Christ, the term "The Mysteries of Jesus" +was frequently used by the Christian teachers, and the Inner Circle of +Christians was recognized as a body of advanced souls who had +developed so far as to be able to comprehend these mysteries. + +The following passage from St. Mark (4:10-12) is interesting in this +connection: + + "And when He was alone, they that were about Him with the + twelve asked of Him the parables. And He said unto them, + 'Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but + unto them that are without, all things are done in parables: + that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they + may hear, and not understand.'" + +The same writer says (4:33-34): + + "And with many such parables spake He the word unto them, as + they were able to hear it; and without a parable spake He + not unto them; but privately to His own disciples He + expounded all things." + +Jesus said to His disciples (_John 16:12._): "I have yet many things +to say to you, but ye cannot bear them now." The Occult Teachings +state that when He returned in His astral form, after the crucifixion, +He taught them many important and advanced mystic truths, "speaking of +the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." (_Acts 1:3._) + +The early Christian Fathers spake and wrote openly regarding the +Christian Mysteries, as all students of Church History well know. +Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, writes to certain others hoping that they +are "well versed in the sacred Scriptures and that nothing is hidden +from you; but to me this privilege is not yet granted." (_The Epistle +of Polycarp, chapter 7._) Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, says that he is +"not yet perfect in Jesus Christ. For I now begin to be a disciple, +and I speak to you as my fellow disciple." He also addresses them as +being "initiated into the Mysteries of the Gospel, with St. Paul, the +holy, the martyred." Again: + + "Might I not write to you things more full of mystery? But I + fear to do so, lest I should inflict injury on you who are + but babes. Pardon me in this respect, lest, as not being + able to receive their weighty import, ye should be strangled + by them. For even I, though I am bound and am able to + understand heavenly things, the angelic orders, and the + different sorts of angels and hosts, the distinction between + powers and dominions, and the diversities between thrones + and authorities, the mightiness of the aeons, and the + preëminence of the cherubim and seraphim, the sublimity of + the Spirit, the kingdom of the Lord, and above all the + incomparable majesty of Almighty God--though I am acquainted + with these things, yet am I not therefore by any means + perfect, nor am I such a disciple as Paul or Peter." + +Ignatius also speaks of the High Priest or Hierophant, of whom he +asserts that he was the one "to whom the holy of holies has been +committed, and who alone has been entrusted with the secrets of God." +(_Epistles of Ignatius._) + +St. Clement of Alexandria was a mystic of high rank in the Inner +Circle of the Church. His writings are full of allusions to the +Christian Mysteries. He says among other things that his writings were +"a miscellany of Gnostic notes, according to the time philosophy," +which teachings he had received from Pontaemus, his instructor or +spiritual teacher. He says of these teachings: + + "The Lord allowed us to communicate of those divine + Mysteries and of that holy light, to those who are able to + receive them. He did not certainly disclose to the many what + did not belong to the many; but to the few to whom He knew + that they belonged, who were capable of receiving and being + moulded according to them. But secret things are intrusted + to speech, not to writing, as is the case with God. And if + one say that it is written, 'There is nothing secret which + shall not be revealed, nor hidden, which shall not be + disclosed,' let him also hear from us, that to him who hears + secretly, even what is secret shall be manifested. This is + what was predicted by this oracle. And to him who is able + secretly to observe what is delivered to him, that which is + veiled shall be disclosed as truth; and what is hidden to + the many shall appear manifest to the few. The mysteries are + delivered mystically, that what is spoken may be in the + mouth of the speaker; rather not in his voice, but in his + understanding. The writing of these memoranda of mine, I + well know, is weak when compared with that spirit full of + grace, which I was privileged to hear. But it will be an + image to recall the archetype to him who was struck with the + Thyrsus." + +(We may state here that the Thyrsus was the mystic-wand carried by the +Initiates in the Mystic Brotherhoods--the Initiate being first tapped +with it, and then receiving it from the Hierophant, at the ceremony of +formal Initiation.) Clement adds: + + "We profess not to explain secret things sufficiently--far + from it--but only to recall them to memory, whether we have + forgot aught, or whether for the purpose of not forgetting. + Many things, well I know, have escaped us, through length of + time, that have dropped away unwritten. There are then some + things of which we have no recollection; for the power that + was in the blessed men was great." + +"There are also some things which remain unnoted long, which have now +escaped; and others which are effaced, having faded away in the mind +itself, since such a task is not easy to those not experienced; these +I revive in my commentaries. Some things I purposely omit, in the +exercise of a wise selection, afraid to write what I guarded against +speaking; not grudging--for that were wrong--but fearing for my +readers lest they should stumble by taking them in a wrong sense; and, +as the proverb says, we should be found 'reaching a sword to a child.' +For it is impossible that what has been written should not escape, +although remaining published by me. But being always revolved, using +the one only voice, that of writing, they answer nothing to him that +makes inquiries beyond what is written; for they require of necessity +the aid of someone, either of him who wrote or of someone else, who +walked in his footsteps. Some things my treatise will hint; on some it +will linger; some it will merely mention. It will try to speak +imperceptibly, to exhibit secretly, and to demonstrate silently." +(_The Stromata of St. Clement._) + +St. Clement, in the same work from which the above quotation was +taken, has a chapter entitled "The Mysteries of the Faith, not to be +Divulged to all." In it he states that inasmuch as his writings might +be seen by all men, the unwise as well as the wise, "it is requisite, +therefore, to hide in a Mystery the wisdom spoken, in which the Son of +God is taught." He then adds, "For it is difficult to exhibit the +really pure and transparent words to swinish and untrained hearers. +For scarcely could anything which they could bear be more ludicrous +than these to the multitude; nor any subjects on the other hand more +admirable or more inspiring to those of noble nature. But the wise do +not utter with their mouths what they reason in council. 'But what ye +hear in the ear,' said the Lord, 'proclaim upon the houses; bidding +them receive the _secret traditions of the true knowledge_, and +expound them aloft and conspicuously; and as we have said in the ear, +so to deliver them to whom it is requisite; but _not enjoining us to +communicate to all without distinction_ what is said to them in +parables. But there is only a delineation in the memoranda, which have +the truth sown sparse and broadcast, that it may escape the notice of +those who pick up seeds like jackdaws; but when they find a good +husbandman, each of them will germinate and will produce corn." + +"Those who are still blind and dumb, not having understanding, or the +undazzled and keen vision of the contemplative soul, must stand +outside of the divine choir. Wherefore, in accordance with the method +of concealment, the truly sacred Word, truly divine and most necessary +for us, deposited in the shrine of truth, was by the Egyptians +indicated by what were called among them _adyta_, and by the Hebrews +'the veil.' Only the consecrated were allowed access to them. For +Plato also thought it not lawful for 'the impure to touch the pure.' +Thence the prophecies and oracles are spoken in enigmas, and to the +untrained and uninstructed people. Now, then, it is not wished that +all things should be exposed indiscriminately to all and sundry, or +the benefits of wisdom communicated to those who have not even in a +dream been purified in soul, for it is not allowable to hand to every +chance comer what has been procured with such laborious efforts. Nor +are the Mysteries of the Word to be expounded to the profane. The +Mysteries were established for the reason that it was more beneficial +that the holy and the blessed contemplation of realities be conceded. +So that, on the other hand, then, there are the Mysteries which were +hid till the time of the apostles, and were delivered by them as they +received from the Lord, and, concealed in the Old Testament, were +manifested to the saints. And on the other hand, there is the riches +of the glory of the mysteries of the Gentiles, which is faith and hope +in Christ. Instruction, which reveals hidden things, is called +Illumination, as it is the teacher only who uncovers the lid of the +ark." (_The Stromata of St. Clement_.) + +St. Clement also quotes approvingly the saying of Plato, that: "We +must speak in enigmas; that should the tablet come by any mischance on +its leaves either by sea or land he who reads may remain ignorant." He +also says, concerning certain Gnostic writings: + + "Let the specimen suffice to those who have ears. For it is + not required to unfold the mystery, but only to indicate + what is sufficient for those who are partakers in knowledge + to bring it to mind." + +We have quoted freely from St. Clement, for the purpose of showing +that he, a man in a very exalted position in the Early Christian +Church, recognized, and actually taught, the Inner Teachings, or +Secret Doctrine of Mystic Christianity--that the Early Christian +Church was an organization having a Mystic Centre for the few, and +Common Outer for the multitude. Can there be any doubt of this after +reading the above words from his pen? + +But not only St. Clement so wrote and taught, but many others in +authority in the Early Christian Church likewise voiced their +knowledge of, and approval in, the Inner Teachings. For example, +Origen, the pupil of St. Clement, a man whose influence was felt on +all sides in the early days of the Church. Origen defended +Christianity from the attacks of Celsus, who charged the Church with +being a secret organization which taught the Truth only to a few, +while it satisfied the multitude with popular teachings and +half-truths. Origen replied that, while it was true that there were +Inner Teachings in the Church which were not revealed to the general +public, still the Church, in that respect, was but following the +example of all teachers of Truth, who always maintained an esoteric +side of their teachings for those fitted to participate in them, while +giving the exoteric side to the general body of followers. He writes: + + "And yet the Mystery of the Resurrection, not being + understood, is made a subject of ridicule among unbelievers. + In these circumstances, to speak of the Christian doctrine + as a _secret system_ is altogether absurd. But that there + should be certain doctrines, not made known to the + multitude, which are divulged after the exoteric ones have + been taught, is not a peculiarity of Christianity alone, but + also of philosophic systems in which certain truths are + exoteric and others esoteric. Some of the hearers of + Pythagoras were content with his _ipse dixit;_ while others + were taught in secret those doctrines which were not deemed + fit to be communicated to profane and insufficiently + prepared ears. Moreover, all the Mysteries that are + celebrated everywhere throughout Greece and barbarous + countries, although held in secret, have no discredit thrown + upon them, so that it is in vain he endeavors to calumniate + the secret doctrines of Christianity, seeing that he does + not correctly understand its nature." + + "I have not yet spoken of the observance of all that is + written in the Gospels, each one of which contains much + doctrine difficult to be understood, not merely by the + multitude, but even by certain of the more intelligent, + including a very profound explanation of the parables, which + Jesus delivered to 'those without' while reserving the + exhibition of their full meaning for those who had passed + beyond the stage of exoteric teaching, and who came to Him + privately in the house. And when he comes to understand it, + he will admire the reason why some are said to be 'without' + and others 'in the house.'" (_Origen against Celsus_.) + +In the same work Origen considers the story of the Syria-Phoenician +woman (_Matt. Chap. 15_) and says concerning it: + + "And perhaps, also, of the words of Jesus there are some + loaves which it is possible to give to the more rational, as + to the children, only; and others as it were crumbs from the + great house and table of the well-born, which may be used by + some souls like dogs." + +And, again, + + "He whose soul has, for a long time, been conscious of no + evil, especially since he yielded himself to the healing of + the Word, let such a one hear _the doctrines which were + spoken in private by Jesus to His genuine disciples_." + +And, again, + + "But on these subjects much, and that of a mystical kind, + might be said: in keeping with which is the following: 'It + is good to keep close to the secret of a king,' in order + that _the doctrine of the entrance of souls into bodies_ may + not be thrown before the common understanding, nor what is + holy given to the dogs, nor pearls be cast before swine. For + such a procedure would be impious, being equivalent to a + betrayal of the mysterious declaration of God's wisdom. It + is sufficient, however, to represent in the style of a + historic narrative what is intended to convey a secret + meaning in the garb of history, that those who have the + capacity may work out for themselves all that relates to the + subject." + +He also says, in the same work: + + "If you come to the books written after the time of Jesus, + you will find that those multitudes of believers who hear + the parables are, as it were, 'without,' and worthy only of + exoteric doctrines, while the disciples learn in private the + explanation of the parables. _For, privately, to His own + disciples did Jesus open up all things, esteeming above the + multitudes those who desired to know His wisdom._ And He + promises to those who believe on Him to send them wise men + and scribes." + +In another work, Origen states that: + + "The Scriptures have a meaning, not only such as is apparent + at first sight, but also another, which escapes the notice + of most men. For such is written in the forms of certain + Mysteries, and the image of divine things. Respecting which + there is one opinion throughout the whole Church, that the + whole law is indeed spiritual; _but that the spiritual + meaning which the law conveys is not known to all_, but to + those only on whom the grace of the Holy Spirit is bestowed + in the word of wisdom and knowledge." (_De Principiis_.) + +We could fill page after page with live quotations from the writings +of the Early Christian Fathers, and their successors, showing the +existence of the Inner Teachings. But we must rest content with those +which we have given you, which are clear and to the point, and which +_come from undoubted authority_. + +The departure of the Church from these Inner Teachings was a great +calamity, from which the Church is still suffering. As that well-known +occultist, Eliphias Levi, has said: + + "A great misfortune befell Christianity. The betrayal of the + Mysteries by the false Gnostics--for the Gnostics, that is, + _those who know_, were the Initiates of primitive + Christianity--caused the Gnosis to be rejected, and + alienated the Church from the supreme truths of the Kabbala, + which contains all the secrets of transcendental + theology.... Let the most absolute science, let the highest + reason become once more the patrimony of the leaders of the + people; let the sarcerdotal art and the royal art take the + double sceptre of antique initiations and the social world + will once more issue from its chaos. Burn the holy images no + longer; demolish the temples no more; temples and images are + necessary for men; but drive the hirelings from the house of + prayer; let the blind be no longer leaders of the blind; + reconstruct the hierarchy of intelligence and holiness, and + recognize only _those who know_ as the teachers of _those + who believe_." (_The Mysteries of Magic, Waite + translation_.) + +And now, you ask, what were taught in these Christian Mysteries--what +is the Inner Teaching--what the Secret Doctrine? Simply this, good +students--the Occult Philosophy and Mystic Lore which has been taught +to the Elect in all times and ages, and which is embodied in our +several series of lessons on THE YOGI PHILOSOPHY AND ORIENTAL +OCCULTISM, _plus the special teaching regarding the nature, mission, +and sacrifice of Jesus the Christ, as we have tried to explain in the +present series of lessons_. The Truth is the same no matter under what +name it is taught, or who teaches it. Strip it of the personal +coloring of the teacher and it is seen to be the same--THE TRUTH. + +In these lessons we have tried to give you the Key to the Mysteries, +but unless you have studied the other lessons in which the Occult +Teachings have been set forth, you will not be able to see their +application in Mystic Christianity. You must bring Knowledge to these +lessons, in order to take away knowledge. + + + + +THE ELEVENTH LESSON + + + +THE ANCIENT WISDOM. + +The doctrine of Metempsychosis or Re-incarnation has its roots deeply +imbedded in the soil of all religions--that is, in the Inner Teachings +or Esoteric phase of all religious systems. And this is true of the +Inner Teachings of the Christian Church as well as of the other +systems. The Christian Mysteries comprised this as well as the other +fundamental occult doctrines, and the Early Church held such teachings +in its Inner Circle. + +And, in its essence, the doctrine of Re-birth is the only one that is +in full accord with the Christian conception of ultimate justice and +"fairness." As a well known writer has said concerning this subject: + + "It relieves us of many and great difficulties. It is + impossible for any one who looks around him and sees the + sorrow and suffering in the world, and the horrible + inequality in the lives of men--not inequality in wealth + merely, but inequality in opportunity of progress--to + harmonize these facts with the love and justice of God, + unless he is willing to accept this theory that this one + life is not all, but that it is only a day in the real life + of the soul, and that each soul therefore has made its place + for itself, and is receiving just such training as is best + for its evolution. Surely the only theory which enables a + man rationally to believe in Divine justice, without + shutting his eyes to obvious facts, is a theory worthy of + study. + + "Modern theology concerns itself principally with a plan for + evading divine justice, which it elects to call 'Salvation,' + and it makes this plan depend entirely upon what a man + believes, or rather upon what he says that he believes. This + whole theory of 'salvation,' and indeed the theory that + there is anything to be 'saved' from, seems to be based upon + a misunderstanding of a few texts of scripture. We do not + believe in this idea of a so-called divine wrath; we think + that to attribute to God our own vices of anger and cruelty + is a terrible blasphemy. We hold to the theory of steady + evolution and final attainment for all; and we think that + the man's progress depends not upon what he believes, but + upon what he does. And there is surely very much in the + bible to support this idea. Do you remember St. Paul's + remark, 'Be not deceived, God is not mocked; whatsoever a + man soweth, that shall he also reap'? And again, Christ said + that 'They that _have done good_ shall go unto the + resurrection of life'--not they that have believed some + particular doctrine. And when He describes the day of + judgment, you will notice that no question is raised as to + what anybody has believed, but only as to the works which he + has done." + +In this connection, we think that it is advisable to quote from the +address of a well known English churchman upon this important subject. +The gentleman in question is The Ven. Archdeacon Colley, Rector of +Stockton, Warwickshire, England, who said: + + "In the realm of the occult and transcendental, moved to its + exploration from the Sadducean bias of my early days, I have + for the best part of half a century had experiences rarely + equaled by any, and I am sure, surpassed by none; yet have + they led me up till now, I admit, to no very definite + conclusions. With suspension of judgment, therefore, not + being given to dogmatize on anything, and with open mind I + trust, in equipoise of thought desiring to hold an even + balance of opinion 'twixt this and that, I am studious still + of being receptive of light from every source--rejecting + nothing that in the least degree makes for righteousness, + hence my taking the chair here tonight, hoping to learn what + may help to resolve a few of the many perplexities of life, + to wit: Why some live to the ripe old age of my dear father + while others live but for a moment, to be born, gasp and + die. Why some are born rich and others poor; some having + wealth only to corrupt, defile, deprave others therewith, + while meritorious poverty struggles and toils for human + betterment all unaided. Some gifted with mentality; others + pitiably lacking capacity. Some royal-souled from the first + naturally, others with brutal, criminal propensities from + beginning to end. + + "The sins of the fathers visited upon the children unto the + third and fourth generation may in heredity account for + much, but I want to see through the mystery of a good father + at times having a bad son, as also of one showing genius and + splendid faculties--the offspring of parentage the reverse + of anything suggesting qualities contributive thereto. Then + as a clergyman, I have in my reading noted texts of Holy + Scripture, and come across passages in the writings of the + Fathers of the Early Church which seem to be root-thoughts, + or survivals of the old classic idea of re-incarnation. + + "The prophet Jeremiah (1:5) writes, 'The word of the Lord + came unto me saying, before I formed thee, I knew thee, and + before thou wast born I sanctified thee and ordained thee a + prophet.' + +"Does this mean that the Eternal-Uncreate chose, from foreknowledge of +what Jeremiah would be, the created Ego of His immaterialized servant +in heaven ere he clothed his soul with the mortal integument of flesh +in human birth--schooling him above for the part he had to play here +below as a prophet to dramatize in his life and teaching the will of +the Unseen? To the impotent man at the Pool of Bethesda, whose +infirmity was the cruel experience of eight and thirty years, the +Founder of our religion said (_John 5:14._), 'Behold, thou art made +whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.' Was it +(fitting the punishment to the crime proportionately) some outrageous +sin as a boy, in the spring of years and days of his inexperienced +youth of bodily life, that brought on him such physical sorrow, which +youthful sin in its repetition would necessitate an even worse ill +than this nearly forty years of sore affliction? 'Who did sin, this +man or his parents, that he was born blind?' (_John 9:2._), was the +question of the disciples to Jesus. And our query is--Sinned _before_ +he was born to deserve the penalty of being born blind? + +"Then of John the Baptist--was he a reincarnation of Elijah, the +prophet, who was to come again? (_Malachi 4:5._). Jesus said he _was_ +Elijah, who indeed had come, and the evil-minded Jews had done unto +him whatsoever they listed. Herod had beheaded him (_Matt. 11:14_ and +_17:12._). + +"Elijah and John the Baptist appear from our reference Bibles and +Cruden's Concordance to concur and commingle in one. The eighth verse +of the first chapter of the second Book of Kings and the fourth verse +of the third chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel note similarities in them +and peculiarities of dress. Elijah, as we read, was a 'hairy man and +girt a leathern girdle about his loins,' while John the Baptist had +'his raiment of camel's hair and a leathern girdle about his loins.' +Their home was the solitude of the desert. Elijah journeyed forty days +and forty nights unto Horeb, the mount of God in the Wilderness of +Sinai. John the Baptist was in the wilderness of Judea beyond Jordan +baptizing. And their life in exile--a self-renunciating and voluntary +withdrawal from the haunts of men--was sustained in a parallel +remarkable way by food (bird--brought on wing--borne). 'I have +commanded the ravens to feed thee,' said the voice of Divinity to the +prophet; while locusts and wild honey were the food of the Baptist. + +"'And above all,' said our Lord of John the Baptist to the disciples, +'if ye _will_ receive it, this is Elias which was for to come.' + +"Origen, in the second century, one of the most learned of the Fathers +of the early Church, says that this declares the pre-existence of John +the Baptist as Elijah before his decreed later existence as Christ's +forerunner. + +"Origen also says on the text, 'Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have +hated,' that if our course be not marked out according to our works +before this present life that now is, how would it not be untrue and +unjust in God that the elder brother should serve the younger and be +hated by God (though blessed of righteous Abraham's son, of Isaac) +before Esau had done anything deserving of servitude or given any +occasion for the merciful Almighty's hatred? + +"Further, on the text (_Ephesians 1:4._), 'God who hath chosen us +before the foundation of the world,' Origen says that this suggests +our pre-existence ere the world was. + +"While Jerome, agreeing with Origen, speaks of our rest above, where +rational creatures dwell before their descent to this lower world, and +prior to their removal from the invisible life of the spiritual sphere +to the visible life here on earth, teaching, as he says, the necessity +of their again having material bodies ere, as saints and men made +'perfect as our Father which is in heaven is perfect,' they once more +enjoy in the angel-world their _former_ blessedness. + +"Justin Martyr also speaks of the soul inhabiting the human body more +than once, but thinks as a rule (instanced in the case of John the +Baptist forgetting that he had been Elijah) it is not permitted us to +remember our former experiences of this life while yet again we are in +exile here as strangers and pilgrims in an uncongenial clime away from +our heavenly home. + +"Clemens Alexandrinus, and others of the Fathers, refer to +re-incarnation (or transmigration or metempsychosis, as it is called +in the years that are passed of classic times and later now as +_re-birth_) to remind us of the vital truth taught by our Lord in the +words, '_Ye must be born again_.'" + +These words, falling from the lips of a man so eminent in the staid +conservative ranks of the Church of England, must attract the +attention of every earnest seeker after the Truth of Christian +Doctrine. If such a man, reared in such an environment, could find +himself able to bear such eloquent testimony to the truth of a +philosophy usually deemed foreign to his accepted creed, what might we +not expect from a Church liberated from the narrow formal bounds of +orthodoxy, and once more free to consider, learn and teach those noble +doctrines originally held and taught by the Early Fathers of the +Church of Christ? + +While the majority of modern Christians bitterly oppose the idea that +the doctrine of Metempsychosis ever formed any part of the Christian +Doctrine, and prefer to regard it as a "heathenish" teaching, still +the fact remains that the careful and unprejudiced student will find +indisputable evidence in the writings of the Early Christian Fathers +pointing surely to the conclusion that the doctrine of Metempsychosis +was believed and taught in the Inner Circle of the Early Church. + +The doctrine unquestionably formed a part of the Christian Mysteries, +and has faded into comparative obscurity with the decay of +spirituality in the Church, until now the average churchman no longer +holds to it, and in fact regards as barbarous and heathenish that part +of the teachings originally imparted and taught by the Early Fathers +of the Church--the Saints and Leaders. + +The Early Christians were somewhat divided in their beliefs concerning +the details of Re-birth. One sect or body held to the idea that the +soul of man was eternal, coming from the Father. Also that there were +many degrees and kinds of souls, some of which have never incarnated +in human bodies but which are living on many planes of life unknown to +us, passing from plane to plane, world to world. This sect held that +some of these souls had chosen to experiment with life on the physical +plane, and were now passing through the various stages of the +physical-plane life, with all of its pains and sorrows, being held by +the Law of Re-birth until a full experience had been gained, when they +would pass out of the circle of influence of the physical plane, and +return to their original freedom. + +Another sect held to the more scientific occult form of the gradual +evolution of the soul, by repeated rebirth, on the physical plane, +from Lower to Higher, as we have set forth in our lessons on "Gnani +Yoga." The difference in the teachings arose from the different +conceptions of the great leaders, some being influenced by the Jewish +Occult Teachings which held to the first above mentioned doctrine, +while the second school held to the doctrine taught by the Greek +Mystics and the Hindu Occultists. And each interpreted the Inner +Teachings by the light of his previous affiliations. + +And so, some of the early writings speak of "pre-existence," while +others speak of repeated "rebirth." But the underlying principle is +the same, and in a sense they were both right, as the advanced +occultists know full well. The fundamental principle of both +conceptions is that the soul comes forth as an emanation from the +Father in the shape of Spirit; that the Spirit becomes plunged in the +confining sheaths of Matter, and is then known as "a soul," losing for +a time its pristine purity; that the soul passes on through rebirth, +from lower to higher, gaining fresh experiences at each incarnation; +that the advancing soul passes from world to world, returning at last +to its home laden with the varied experiences of life and becomes once +more pure Spirit. + +The early Christian Fathers became involved in a bitter controversy +with the Greek and Roman philosophers, over the conception held by +some of the latter concerning the absurd doctrine of the +transmigration of the human soul into the body of an animal. The +Fathers of the Church fought this erroneous teaching with great +energy, their arguments bringing out forcibly the distinction between +the true occult teachings and this erroneous and degenerate perversion +in the doctrines of transmigration into animal bodies. This conflict +caused a vigorous denunciation of the teachings of the Pythagorean and +Platonic schools, which held to the perverted doctrine that a human +soul could degenerate into the state of the animal. + +Among other passages quoted by Origen and Jerome to prove the +pre-existence of the soul was that from Jeremiah (1:5): "Before thou +comest from the womb I sanctified thee and I ordained thee a prophet." +The early writers held that this passage confirmed their particular +views regarding the pre-existence of the soul and the possession of +certain characteristics and qualities acquired during previous birth, +for, they argued, it would be injustice that a man, before birth, be +endowed with uncarnal qualities; and that such qualities and ability +could justly be the result only of best work and action. They also +dwelt upon the prophecy of the return of Elijah, in Malachi 4:5. And +also upon the (uncanonical) book "The Wisdom of Solomon," in which +Solomon says: "I was a witty child, and had a good Spirit. Yea, +rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled." + +They also quoted from Josephus, in his book styled "De Bello Judico," +in which the eminent Jewish writer says: "They say that all souls are +incorruptible; but that the souls of good men are only removed into +other bodies--but that the souls of bad men are subject to eternal +punishment." They also quoted from Josephus, regarding the Jewish +belief in Rebirth as evidenced by the recital of the instance in +which, at the siege of the fortress of Jotapota, he sought the shelter +of a cave in which were a number of soldiers, who discussed the +advisability of committing suicide for the purpose of avoiding being +taken prisoners by the Romans. Josephus remonstrated with them as +follows: + + "Do ye not remember that all pure spirits who are in + conformity with the divine dispensation live on in the + loveliest of heavenly places, and in the course of time they + are sent down to inhabit sinless bodies; but the souls of + those who have committed self-destruction are doomed to a + region in the darkness of the underworld?" + +Recent writers hold that this shows that he accepted the doctrine of +Re-birth himself, and also as showing that it must have been familiar +to the Jewish soldiery. + +There seems to be no doubt regarding the familiarity of the Jewish +people of that time with the general teachings regarding +Metempsychosis. Philo positively states the doctrine as forming part +of the teachings of the Jewish Alexandrian school. And again the +question asked Jesus regarding the "sin of the man born blind" shows +how familiar the people were with the general doctrine. + +And so, the teachings of Jesus on that point did not need to be +particularly emphasized to the common people, He reserving this +instruction on the inner teachings regarding the details of Re-birth +for his chosen disciples. But still the subject is mentioned in a +number of places in the New Testament, as we shall see. + +Jesus stated positively that John the Baptist was "Elias," whose +return had been predicted by Malachi (4:5). Jesus stated this twice, +positively, i.e., "This is Elijah that is to come" (_Matt. 11:14_); +and again, "But I say unto you that Elijah is come already, but they +knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would.... Then +understood the disciples that he spoke unto them of John the Baptist." +(_Matt. 17:12-13._) The Mystics point out that Jesus saw clearly the +fact that John was Elijah re-incarnated, although John had denied this +fact, owing to his lack of memory of his past incarnation. Jesus the +Master saw clearly that which John the Forerunner had failed to +perceive concerning himself. The plainly perceptible characteristics +of Elijah reappearing in John bear out the twice-repeated, positive +assertion of the Master that John the Baptist was the re-incarnated +Elijah. + +And this surely is sufficient authority for Christians to accept the +doctrine of Re-birth as having a place in the Church Teachings. But +still, the orthodox churchmen murmur "He meant _something else_!" +There are none so blind as those who refuse to see. + +Another notable instance of the recognition of the doctrine by Jesus +and His disciples occurs in the case of "the man born blind." It may +be well to quote the story. + + "And as he passed by he saw a man blind from his birth. And + his disciples asked him, saying, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this + man or his parents, that he should be born blind?' Jesus + answered, 'Neither did this man sin nor his parents.'" + (_John 9:1-3._) + +Surely there can be no mistake about the meaning of this question, +"Who did sin, this man or his parents?"--for how could a man sin +before his birth, unless he had lived in a previous incarnation? And +the answer of Jesus simply states that the man was born blind neither +from the sins of a past life, nor from those of his parents, but from +a third cause. Had the idea of re-incarnation been repugnant to the +teachings, would not He have denounced it to His disciples? Does not +the fact that His disciples asked Him the question show that they were +in the habit of discoursing the problems of Re-birth and Karma with +Him, and receiving instructions and answers to questions propounded to +Him along these lines? + +There are many other passages of the New Testament which go to prove +the familiarity of the disciples and followers of Jesus with the +doctrine of Re-birth, but we prefer to pass on to a consideration of +the writings of the Early Christian Fathers in order to show what they +thought and taught regarding the matter of Re-birth and Karma. + +Among the great authorities and writers in the Early Church, Origen +stands out pre-eminently as a great light. Let us quote from a leading +writer, regarding this man and his teachings: + + "In Origen's writings we have a mine of information as to + the teachings of the early Christians. Origen held a + splendid and grandiose view of the whole of the evolution of + our system. I put it to you briefly. You can read it in all + its carefully, logically-worked-out arguments, if you will + have the patience to read his treatise for yourselves. His + view, then, was the evolutionary view. He taught that forth + from God came all Spirits that exist, all being dowered with + free-will; that some of these refused to turn aside from the + path of righteousness, and, as a reward, took the place + which we speak of as that of the angels; that then there + came others who, in the exercise of their free-will, turned + aside from the path of deity, and then passed into the human + race to recover, by righteous and noble living, the angel + condition which they had not been able to preserve; that + others, still in the exercise of their free-will, descended + still deeper into evil and became evil spirits or devils. So + that all these Spirits were originally good; but good by + innocence, not by knowledge. And he points out also that + angels may become men, and even the evil ones themselves may + climb up once more, and become men and angels again. Some of + you will remember that one of the doctrines condemned in + Origen in later days was that glorious doctrine that, even + for the worst of men, redemption and restoration were + possible, and that there was no such thing as an eternity of + evil in a universe that came from the Eternal Goodness, and + would return whence it came." + +And from the writings of this great man we shall now quote. + +In his great work "De Principiis," Origen begins with the statement +that only God Himself is fundamentally and by virtue of His essential +nature, Good. God is the only Good--the absolute perfect Good. When we +consider the lesser stages of Good, we find that the Goodness is +derived and acquired, instead of being fundamental and essential. +Origen then says that God bestows free-will upon all spirits alike, +and that if they do not use the same in the direction of +righteousness, then they fall to lower estates "one more rapidly, +another more slowly, one in a greater, another in a less degree, each +being the cause of his own downfall." + +He refers to John the Baptist being filled with the Holy Ghost in his +mother's womb and says that it is a false notion to imagine "that God +fills individuals with His Holy Spirit, and bestows upon them +sanctification, not on the grounds of justice and according to their +deserts, but undeservedly. And how shall we escape the declaration, +'Is there respect of persons with God?' God forbid. Or this, 'Is there +unrighteousness with God?' God forbid this also. For such is the +defense of those who maintain that souls come into existence with +bodies." He then shows his belief in re-birth by arguing that John had +earned the Divine favor by reason of right-living in a previous +incarnation. + +Then he considers the important question of the apparent injustice +displayed in the matter of the inequalities existing among men. He +says, "Some are barbarians, others Greeks, and of the barbarians some +are savage and fierce and others of a milder disposition, and certain +of them live under laws that have been thoroughly approved, others, +again, under laws of a more common or severe kind; while, some, again, +possess customs of an inhumane and savage character rather than laws; +and certain of them, from the hour of their birth, are reduced to +humiliation and subjection, and brought up as slaves, being placed +under the dominion either of masters, or princes, or tyrants. Some +with sound bodies, some with bodies diseased from their early years, +some defective in vision, others in bearing and speech; some born in +that condition, others deprived of the use of their senses immediately +after birth. But why should I repeat and enumerate all the horrors of +human misery? Why should this be?" + +Origen then goes on to combat the ideas advanced by some thinkers of +his times, that the differences were caused by some essential +difference in the nature and quality of the souls of individuals. He +states emphatically that all souls are essentially equal in nature and +quality and that the differences arise from the various exercise of +their power of free-will. He says of his opponents: + + "Their argument accordingly is this: If there be this great + diversity of circumstances, and this diverse and varying + condition by birth, in which the faculty of free-will has no + scope (for no one chooses for himself either where, or with + whom, or in what condition he is born); if, then, this is + not caused by the difference in the nature of souls, i.e., + that a soul of an evil nature is destined for a wicked + nation and a good soul for a righteous nation, what other + conclusion remains than that these things must be supposed + to be regulated by accident or chance? And, if that be + admitted, then it will be no longer believed that the world + was made by God, or administered by His providence." + +Origen continues: + + "God who deemed it just to arrange His creatures according + to their merit, brought down these different understandings + into the harmony of one world, that He might adorn, as it + were, one dwelling, in which there ought to be not only + vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay (and + some, indeed, to honor, and others to dishonor) with their + different vessels, or souls, or understandings. On which + account the Creator will neither appear to be unjust in + distributing (for the causes already mentioned) to every one + according to his wants, nor will the happiness or + unhappiness of each one's birth, or whatever be the + condition that falls to his lot, be accidental." + +He then asserts that the condition of each man is the result of his +own deeds. + +He then considers the case of Jacob and Esau, which a certain set of +thinkers had used to illustrate the unjust and cruel discrimination of +the Creator toward His creatures. Origen contended that in this case +it would be most unjust for God to love Jacob and hate Esau before the +children were born, and that the only true interpretation of the +matter was the theory that Jacob was being rewarded for the good deeds +of past lives, while Esau was being punished for his misdeeds in past +incarnations. + +And not only Origen takes this stand, but Jerome also, for the latter +says: "If we examine the case of Esau we may find he was condemned +because of his ancient sins in a worse course of life." (_Jerome's +letter to Avitus_.) Origen says: + + "It is found not to be unrighteous that even in womb Jacob + supplanted his brother, if we feel that he was worthily + beloved by God, according to the deserts of his previous + life, so as to deserve to be preferred before his brother." + +Origen adds, "This must be carefully applied to the case of all other +creatures, because, as we formerly remarked, the righteousness of the +Creator ought to appear in everything." And again, "The inequality of +circumstances preserves the justice of a retribution according to +merit." + +Annie Besant (to whom we are indebted for a number of these +quotations), says, concerning this position of Origen: + + "Thus we find this doctrine made the defense of the justice + of God. If a soul can be made good, then to make a soul evil + is to a God of justice and love impossible. It cannot be + done. There is no justification for it, and the moment you + recognize that men are born criminal, you are either forced + into the blasphemous position that a perfect and loving God + creates a ruined soul and then punishes it for being what He + has made it, or else that He is dealing with growing, + developing creatures whom He is training for ultimate + blessedness, and if in any life a man is born wicked and + evil, it is because he has done amiss and must reap in + sorrow the results of evil in order that he may learn wisdom + and turn to good." + +Origen also considers the story of Pharaoh, of whom the Biblical +writers say that "his heart was hardened by God." Origen declares that +the hardening of the heart was caused by God so that Pharaoh would +more readily learn the effect of evil, so that in his future +incarnations he might profit by his bitter experience. He says: + + "Sometimes it does not lead to good results for a man to be + cured too quickly, especially if the disease, being shut up + in the inner parts of the body, rage with greater + fierceness. The growth of the soul must be understood as + being brought about not suddenly, but slowly and gradually, + seeing that the process of amendment and correction will + take place imperceptibly in the individual instances, during + the lapse of countless and unmeasured ages, some + outstripping others, and tending by a swifter course towards + perfection, while others, again, follow close at hand, and + some, again, a long way behind." + +He also says: "Those who, departing this life in virtue of that death +which is common to all, are arranged in conformity with their actions +and deserts--according as they shall be deemed worthy--some in the +place called the 'infernus,' others in the bosom of Abraham, and in +different localities or mansions. So also from these places, as if +dying there, if the expression can be used, they come down from the +'upper world' to this 'hell.' For that 'hell' to which the souls of +the dead are conducted from this world is, I believe, on account of +this destruction, called 'the lower hell.' Everyone accordingly of +those who descend to the earth is, according to his deserts, or +agreeably to the position that he occupied there, ordained to be born +in this world in a different country, or among a different nation, or +in a different mode of life, or surrounded by infirmities of a +different kind, or to be descended from religious parents, or parents +who are not religious; so that it may sometimes happen that an +Israelite descends among the Scythians, and a poor Egyptian is brought +down to Judea." (_Origen against Celsus_.) + +Can you doubt, after reading the above quotation that Metempsychosis, +Re-incarnation or Re-birth and Karma was held and taught as a true +doctrine by the Fathers of the Early Christian Church? Can you not see +that imbedded in the very bosom of the Early Church were the +twin-doctrine of Re-incarnation and Karma. Then why persist in +treating it as a thing imported from India, Egypt or Persia to disturb +the peaceful slumber of the Christian Church? It is but the return +home of a part of the original Inner Doctrine--so long an outcast from +the home of its childhood. + +The Teaching was rendered an outlaw by certain influences in the +Church in the Sixth Century. The Second Council of Constantinople +(A.D. 553) condemned it as a heresy, and from that time official +Christianity frowned upon it, and drove it out by sword, stake and +prison cell. The light was kept burning for many years, however, by +that sect so persecuted by the Church--the Albigenses--who furnished +hundreds of martyrs to the tyranny of the Church authorities, by +reason of their clinging faith to the Inner Teachings of the Church +concerning Reincarnation and Karma. + +Smothered by the pall of superstition that descended like a dense +cloud over Europe in the Middle Ages, the Truth has nevertheless +survived, and, after many fitful attempts to again burst out into +flame, has at last, in this glorious Twentieth Century, managed to +again show forth its light and heat to the world, bringing back +Christianity to the original conceptions of those glorious minds of +the Early Church. Once more returned to its own, the Truth will move +forward, brushing from its path all the petty objections and obstacles +that held it captive for so many centuries. + +Let us conclude this lesson with those inspiring words of the poet +Wordsworth, whose soul rose to a perception of the Truth, in spite of +the conventional restrictions placed upon him by his age and land. + + "Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting, + The soul that rises with us, our life's star, + Hath elsewhere had its setting, + And cometh from afar. + Not in entire forgetfulness, + And not in utter nakedness, + But trailing clouds of glory do we come + From God, who is our home." + + + + +THE TWELFTH LESSON. + + + +THE MESSAGE OF THE MASTER. + +Running throughout nearly all of the teachings and messages of Jesus, +is to be found the constant Mystic Message regarding the existence of +the Spirit within the soul of each individual--that Something Within +to which all can turn in time of pain and trouble--that Guide and +Monitor which stands ever ready to counsel, advise and direct if one +opens himself to the Voice. + +"Seek ye first the Kingdom, and all things shall be added unto you." +And, again, as if to explain: "The Kingdom of Heaven is within you." +This is the Mystic Message which gives one a key to the Mysteries of +the Inner Teachings. + +Let us take up a few of His sayings and endeavor to interpret them by +the light of these teachings. But before doing so we must call the +attention of the student to the fact that, in order to understand +intelligently what we are saying, he must carefully re-read the +"Fourteen Lessons in Yogi Philosophy" wherein the details of the +teachings are set forth--that is the fundamental truths are explained. +In the "Advanced Course" and in "Gnani Yoga" the higher phases of the +teachings are presented. And, although in the said works there is +little or no reference made to Christianity, yet the teachings are so +fundamental that the Inner Teachings of all religions--including +Christianity--may be understood by one who has acquainted himself with +these fundamental truths. + +There is but one real Occult Philosophy, and we find it in evidence +everywhere--once the Truth is grasped, it is found to be the Master +Key with which to unlock the various doors leading to the esoteric +phase of any and all religions or philosophies. The Yogi Fathers, +centuries and centuries ago, solved the Riddle of the Universe, and +the highest efforts of the human mind since that time have but +corroborated, proven and exemplified the original Truth as voiced by +these Venerable Sages. + +Let us read the words of Jesus in the light of this Ancient Wisdom. + +Let us consider the Sermon on the Mount as given in Matthew (_Chapters +5; 6; 7_). + +"Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of +Heaven." (_Matt. 5:3._) + +By these words Jesus indicated the occult teachings that those who +renounced the vain glory and petty ambitions of this world would be on +the road to the realization of the Real Self--the Something +Within--the Spirit. For is it not written that "the Kingdom of Heaven +is within you"? + +"Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted." (_Matt. +5:4._) + +By these words Jesus pointed out the occult teachings that those who +had so far advanced that they could see the folly of human ambition, +and who consequently felt the pain that comes to all who stand above +the crowd, and who mourned by reason of their realization of the folly +and uselessness of all for which men strive so hard? would, in the +end, be comforted by that "peace which passeth all understanding" +which comes only to those who enter into a realization of the Kingdom +of Heaven which is within them. + +"Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth." (_Matt. +5:5._) + +By these words Jesus sought to teach that those who had acquired the +attitude of obedience to the Power of the Spirit Within them would +become as Masters of the things of earth. This message is frequently +misunderstood by reason of the lack of perception of the Mystic +meaning contained in the words. The word "meek" does not mean that +"I'm so meek and humble" attitude and expression of the hypocritical +followers of form. Jesus never taught this--and never acted it. He was +always the Master, and never sought to make of his followers cringing +creatures and whining and sniveling supplicants. He asserted His +Mastery in many ways and accepted the respect due him--as for instance +when the vial of precious ointment was poured upon Him. His use of the +word, which has been poorly translated as "meek," was in the sense of +a calm, dignified bearing toward the Power of the Spirit, and a +reverent submission to its guidance--not a hypocritical and cowardly +"meekness" toward other men. The assurance that such should "inherit +the earth" means that they should become masters of things +temporal--that is, that they should be able to rise above them--should +become lords of the earth by reason of their "entering into the +Kingdom of Heaven" within them. + +"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness; for +they shall be filled." (_Matt. 5:6._) + +This is the promise of the Master that they who sought the Kingdom of +Heaven (within them) should find it--that their spiritual hunger and +thirst should be satisfied in the only way possible. + +"Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy." (_Matt. +5:7._) + +Here is taught the blessing for forbearance, kindness, tolerance and +absence of bigotry, and the reward that comes as a natural consequence +of such a mental attitude. + +"Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." (_Matt. +5:8._) + +Here is the assurance that "to those who are pure all things are +pure"--that the purity of one's own heart, and the recognition of the +God Within, leads to a perception of the God within everything. "He +who sees God within himself, sees Him in everything," says an old +Persian writer. And verily such a one "sees God" where He abides--and +that is _Everywhere_. + +"Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called sons of God." +(_Matt. 5:9._) + +Here is the call to the disciple to use his wisdom and power in the +direction of remedying the strife that arises from the differing +conceptions of Deity and Truth prevailing among men. He who is able to +point out the Truth underlying all religions and beliefs indeed +becomes as a beloved son of God. He who is able to show that under all +forms and ceremonies, under various names and titles, behind various +creeds and dogmas, there is but one God, to whom all worship +ascends--he is a Peacemaker and a Son of God. + + "Blessed are they that have been persecuted for + righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. + Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute + you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my + sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your + reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets that + were before you." (_Matt. 5:10-12._) + +In these words Jesus sought to comfort and encourage those who would +be called upon to carry the Message in the centuries to follow. And +one has but to look over the list of names of the courageous souls who +have sought to keep the flame alight--to preserve the teachings in +their original purity--to protect them from the cant, hypocrisy, +self-seeking and formalism of those who sought and obtained places of +power in the Church. The gibbet; the stake; the dungeon;--was their +reward. But the Faith that was called into manifestation during the +persecutions served to bring them to the realization of the Spirit, +and thus indeed "theirs is the kingdom of heaven." + +"But ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost its +savor wherewith shall it be salted? It is henceforth good for nothing, +but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men." (_Matt. 5:13._) + +Here Jesus warned against the failure of the Illumined to serve as the +yeast which should leaven the mass of men by their thoughts and +actions. The use of the term "salt" in this connection is familiar to +all students of ancient mysticism. Food without salt was deemed +unpalatable and undesirable. The Few were the salt of the earth, +designed to render it worthy and perfect as a whole. But where a grain +of salt had parted with its savor, there was naught else that could +impart saltiness to it, and it became worthless and fit only for the +refuse heap. The duty of the "salt" is to impart savor--the duty of +the Elect is to impart savor to the race of men. + + "Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot + be hid. Neither do men light a lamp and put it under a + bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are + in the house. Even so let your light shine before men; that + they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is + in heaven." (_Matt. 5:14-16._) + +These words, like those preceding it, teach the Elect to shed abroad +the light which has come to them. They are warned against concealing +it beneath the cover of conventional conduct, but are urged to live +and act so that men may perceive the light that is within them--the +Light of the Spirit--and may see the right road by means of its rays. +A man having the Light of the Spirit shining bright within him is able +to rouse the lamps of understanding in the minds of other men, to +become kindled and alight. That is the experience of the majority of +those who read these words--they have had their lamps of knowledge +kindled by the rays of the Spirit emanating from some soul, either by +word of mouth, writings, or by personal contact. Spirituality is +contagious! Therefore spread it! This is the meaning of this passage. + + "Think not that I came to destroy the law of the prophets: + I came not to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto + you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle + shall in no wise pass away from the law till all things be + accomplished." (_Matt. 5:17-18._) + +In this passage Jesus asserted positively the fact that He was not +teaching a new doctrine, but had come simply to carry on the work of +those who had preceded Him. He asserted the validity of the Ancient +Wisdom, and told that the Law that had been in force would so continue +until heaven and earth should pass away--that is, until the end of +this great World Cycle. In these words Jesus proclaimed His allegiance +to the Occult Teachings. To those who would claim that He referred to +the current Jewish teachings we would point out the fact that these he +_did_ come to destroy, for Christianity is opposed to the Jewish +formalism and outer teachings. Jesus referred to the Inner Teachings, +not to the outer religious creeds or forms. He came not to destroy the +old Teachings, but merely to "fulfill," that is, to give a new impetus +to the Ancient Wisdom. + + "Whoever therefore shall break one of these least + commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least + in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach + them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. For + I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed + the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in + no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." (_Matt. + 5:19-20._) + +Here Jesus cautions against violating the fundamental occult +teachings, or of teaching false doctrines. He also again bids men to +do and preach the truth. Note the reference to the "kingdom of +heaven." Again He points out that the "righteousness" required to gain +the "kingdom of heaven" is a far different thing from the formalism, +ceremonialism and "churchism" of the scribes and pharisees--people +who, in that day, stood for that which the "churchy" preachers and +their bigoted, narrow flock of sheep-like parishioners stand for +today. It requires more than "faithful performance of church duties" +to enter into the real "kingdom of heaven." Jesus was ever a foe of +the narrow formalism which clings close to the empty forms and words, +and which ignores the Spirit. Were He to return today, He would drive +from the temples the horde of money-making preachers and hypocritical +followers who make a mock of sacred things. + + "Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou + shall not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger + of the judgment: but I say unto you that every one who is + angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; + and whosoever shall say to his brother 'Raca,' shall be in + danger of the council; and whosoever shall say 'Thou fool' + shall be in danger of the hell of fire. If therefore thou + art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest + that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy + gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled + to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with + thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him; lest haply + thine adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge + deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. + Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out + thence till thou hast paid the last farthing." (_Matt. + 5:21-26._) + +These verses emphasize the teachings that sin consists not only of +deeds and actions performed, but equally of _thoughts and desires +entertained and encouraged in the mind_. The desire and thought, made +welcome in the mind of a person, is the seed and germ of the sin or +crime, even though they may never be manifested in action. To wish to +kill is a sin, just as is the deed of killing. This is an old occult +teaching, imparted to all candidates for Initiation. + + "Ye have heard that it was said Thou shalt not commit + adultery, but I say unto you that every one that looketh on + a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her + already in his heart. And if thy right eye causeth thee to + stumble pluck it out and cast it from thee; for it is + profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish + and not thy whole body be cast into hell. And if thy right + hand causeth thee to offend, cut it off and cast it from + thee, for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members + should perish and not thy whole body go into hell. It was + said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give + her a writing of divorcement, but I say unto you that every + one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of + fornication, maketh her an adulteress, and whosoever shall + marry her when she is put away committeth adultery." + (_Matt. 5:27-32._) + +In this passage, Jesus expressed the abhorrence of all advanced +occultists for the abuse of the functions of sex. Not only the act, +but the thought behind the act was condemned by him. The advanced +occult teaching is that the function of the sex organization is +entirely that of procreation--aught else is a perversion of nature. +Jesus speaks in strong words to men and women, in this passage, +regarding this great question. The concluding portion of the passage +is a condemnation of the abuse of the marriage relation, and the +privilege of divorce, which was being strongly agitated in His time. +He aimed a blow at the careless contracting of marriages, and the +consequent careless dissolution of the tie. Jesus believed in the +sacredness of the home life, and the welfare of the family. His +utterance on this subject is unmistakably clear and forcible. + + "Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, + Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the + Lord thine oaths: but I say unto you, Swear not at all; + neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by + the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; nor by + Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King; neither + shall thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one + hair white or black. But let your speech be Yea, yea, Nay, + nay: for whatever is more than these is of the evil one." + (_Matt. 5:33-37._) + +Here Jesus attacks the custom of swearing, which was so prevalent in +His time among the Jews and other Oriental peoples. He urges +simplicity and moderation of speech. In this He is true to the Occult +traditions, which teach the value of simple thought and simple speech +to all the Initiates and the Neophytes. + + "Ye have heard that it was said an eye for an eye and a + tooth for a tooth, but I say unto you, Resist not him that + is evil, but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn + to him the other also, and if any man would go to law with + thee and take away thy coat, let him have. And whosoever + shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two. Give to + him that asketh thee and from him that would borrow of thee + turn not away." (_Matt. 5:38-42._) + +In this passage Jesus alludes to the Law of Non-Resistance, which in +its esoteric aspect is fully understood by all Initiates. This law is +for application on the Mental Plane, and those who understand it, know +that the precepts refer to the Mental Attitude of the Initiates toward +others, which attitude is in itself a defense against imposition. Love +turneth away Hate and Anger. The high thought neutralizes the evil +designs of others. + + "Ye have heard that it was said Thou shall love thy + neighbor and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your + enemies and pray for them that persecute you, that ye may be + sons of your Father who is in heaven, for he maketh his sun + to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the + just and the unjust. For if ye love them that love you, what + reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if + ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? + Do not even the Gentiles the same? Ye therefore shall be + perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." (_Matt. + 5:43-48._) + +Here is taught that broad tolerance, charity and love that form such +an important part of all of the mystic teachings. It is a doctrine +entirely at variance with the orthodox idea of tolerance only to those +who agree with one, or who may live in accordance with one's own views +of life and conduct. It is the great broad doctrine of Human +Brotherhood. Jesus teaches that God's love is bestowed upon all--the +just and the unjust--and that this perfect love is the aim and goal of +all who desire to attain to "the kingdom" of Spirit. + + "Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to + be seen of them; else ye have no reward with your Father who + is in heaven. When, therefore, thou doest alms sound not a + trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues + and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily + I say unto you They have received their reward. But when + thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right + hand doeth, that thine alms may be in secret and thy Father, + who seeth in secret, shall recompense thee." (_Matt. + 6:1-4._) + +This is another denunciation of ostentatious "churchiness" and +"goodness," and religious posing. It is a lesson needed as much today +as in the time of Jesus. + + "And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites, for + they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the + corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily + I say unto you, They have received their reward. But thou, + when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and + having shut thy door, pray to thy Father, who is in secret, + and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall recompense thee. + And in praying use not vain repetitions as the Gentiles do, + for they think that they shall be heard for their much + speaking. Be not therefore like unto them, for your Father + knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him. After + this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, + Hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as + in heaven, so on earth. Give us this day our daily bread, + And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our + debtors; And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us + from the evil one. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, + your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye + forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father + forgive your trespasses." (_Matt. 6:5-15._) + +Here are the words of Jesus regarding the subject of Prayer. He +cautions against the ostentatious exhibition of "piety," so prevalent +in all churches, in all lands, in all times. He bids one approach the +Father in a reverent spirit, devoid of all public notice. Then He +gives to his disciples the famous "Lord's Prayer," in which is +condensed a wealth of true religious instruction and precept. This +glorious prayer needs no special interpretation. _Let all students +read the words themselves, filled with the realisation of the Spirit; +and each will receive a message fitted to his requirements and +development. The Lord's Prayer is a very Arcanum of the Mystic +Message_. + + "Moreover, when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a + sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they + may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have + received their reward. But, thou, when thou fastest, anoint + thy head and wash thy face, that thou be not seen of men to + fast, but of thy Father, who is in secret, and thy Father, + who seeth in secret, shall recompense thee." (_Matt. + 6:16-18._) + +This is a caution against the "sanctimonious" attitude and pose +assumed by certain "good" people of the churches, who would make a +display of their adherence to and observance of forms. Jesus, as a +true mystic, detested all religious posing and neglected no +opportunities to condemn the same. + + "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where + moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and + steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where + neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not + break through and steal: for where thy treasure is there + will thy heart be also. The lamp of the body is the eye; if + therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full + of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be + full of darkness! No man can serve two masters; for either + he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will + hold to one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and + Mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your + life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for + your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than + the food, and the body than the raiment? Behold the birds of + the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor + gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. + Are not ye of much more value than they? And which of you by + being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his + life? And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider + the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, + neither do they spin, yet I say unto you that even Solomon + in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if + God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and + tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more + clothe you, ye of little faith? Be not therefore anxious, + saying, What shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or + wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things + do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that + ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first then his + kingdom, and his righteousness, and all these things shall + be added unto you. Be not therefore anxious for the morrow; + for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto + the day is the evil thereof." (_Matt. 6:19-34._) + +This is the most remarkable passage in the New Testament. It is the +most remarkable saying of Jesus of Nazareth. In it is condensed the +whole of the occult teachings regarding the Conduct of Life. It +condenses, in a few lines the entire doctrine of Karma Yoga--that +branch of the Yogi Philosophy. It forms a veritable epitome of that +which has been styled "The New Thought" as taught and expounded by its +various cults and schools. There is no need of one reading and +studying the various Metaphysical "Sciences" which have sprung into +such favor of late years, if one will but read, ponder, study and +practice the precepts of this wonderful passage of the Sermon on the +Mount. Every sentence is a gem--a crystal of the highest mystic and +occult philosophy. Book after book could be written on this one +passage, and even then the subject would be but merely approached. The +doctrine of single-mindedness toward the Spirit and the things of the +Spirit, is taught. The folly of being tied to material things is +pointed out. The lesson of non-attachment is forcibly put. But the +great Truth expounded in this passage is the Power of FAITH. Faith is +the Great Secret of all Occult Teachings and is the Key to its Inner +Mysteries. Faith is the Master-Key that unlocks the doors of the +Castle of Attainment. We trust that all students of these lessons will +take this single passage from the Sermon on the Mount and memorize it. +Make it a part of yourself--make it a part of your life--make it your +rule of action and living. The life taught by this passage is the true +life of the Spirit. Here is the true Light on the Path, for the +guidance of the feet of all Mystics and Occultists! + + "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment + ye judge, ye shall be judged, and with what measure ye mete + it shall be measured unto you. And why beholdest thou the + mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the + beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy + brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye, and lo, + the beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first + the beam out of thine own eye and then shalt thou see + clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." + (_Matt. 7:1-5._) + +Here Jesus deals another powerful blow to the self-righteousness of +the Pharisaical "good" people of the sects, creeds and cults of all +lands, time and religions. He warns against that "Thank God! I am +holier than thou" attitude that so many vain formalists affect in +their dealings with other men. In these immortal words Jesus has sent +ringing down the aeons of time a scathing rebuke to the hypocritical +judges of other men--those men who wish to "reform" others to conform +to their own standards. Out of the mouth of their Master are many +so-called followers rebuked. + +"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls +before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet and +turn and rend you." (_Matt. 7:6._) + +Here is the warning to Initiates not to spread out a feast of their +highest teachings to the mob, who with swinish instincts would defile +the Divine Feast, and tear to pieces those who had spread it for them. +The truth of this warning has been attested by the fate of those +glorious souls who, disregarding it, attempted to give the Truth to +the animal minds of the mob and were done to death for their folly. +Even Jesus Himself met His fate from neglecting this very rule,--for +allowing His sympathy to overcome His judgment. + + "Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; + knock and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that + asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him + that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of + you who if his son ask him for a loaf will give him a stone, + or if he shall ask for a fish will give him a serpent? If ye + then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your + children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven + give good things to them that ask him? All things therefore + whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do + ye also unto them, for this is the law and the prophecy." + (_Matt. 7:7-12._) + +Here is another burning message to men to live by the light of Faith +in the Spirit. And a warning that unless one would act toward other +men rightly, he could not expect to be dealt with rightly. It is the +lesson of sowing and reaping--the lesson of the Law of Karma. Jesus is +most emphatic in these statements. He does not alone say "Do this! Do +that!" He states emphatically: "This is _the Law_!" And so it is--men +are punished by their wrong deeds, not _for_ them. + + "Enter ye in by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and + broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many are + they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate and + straitened the way that leadeth unto life, and few are they + that find it." (_Matt. 7:13-14._) + +This is the highest occult teaching. How few are they who find their +way to the Realization of their own Divinity? Narrow indeed is the +gate and straitened the way that leadeth to the goal. The masses +follow the broad path, like fools--but few even see the narrow +entrance to The Path. + + "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's + clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By their fruits + ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs + of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good + fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A + good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a + corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that + bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the + fire. Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not + every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into + the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of the + Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, + Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name + cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? And + then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from + me, ye that work iniquity." (_Matt. 7:15-23._) + +Here is the notable warning against the perverted use of the occult +powers--the prostitution of the Gifts of the Spirit--Black Magic, in +short. For, as all well know, the occult forces may be applied to base +as well as worthy uses. By their fruits shall ye know the good from +the evil. He whose teachings render men weak, sheeplike and cringing, +credulous leaners upon leaders, is a tree that bringeth forth evil +fruit. Such are wolves in sheep's clothing, who fatten upon the +bodies, substance and souls of their dupes. But those who lead men to +be Men--yea, Super-Men--bring forth the good fruit of the Spirit. Be +ye not deceived by names, words, creeds nor claims--nay, not even by +miracles. Look always at the effect produced--the fruits of the +tree--and govern yourself accordingly. + + "Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine and + doeth them shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his + house upon the rock, and the rain descended and the floods + came and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it + fell not, for it was founded upon the rock. And every one + that heareth these words of mine and doeth them not shall be + likened unto a foolish man who built his house upon the + sand, and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the + winds blew and smote upon that house and it fell, and great + was the fall thereof." (_Matt. 7:24-27._) + +In these parting words of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gave a Message +to all who would hear, or read His words, and profess to be His +followers. He bade such build upon the eternal rock of the Truth--the +rock of ages, that had its foundations in the very basic principles of +Being. He warned them against building upon the shifting sands of +theology and dogmatism, which would be surely swept away by the storms +of Time. Upon the eternal Mystic Truths is Mystic Christianity +founded. And it is still standing untouched by the storms of +criticism, opposition and knowledge that have swept away many +theological edifices in the past, and which are now beating with +renewed vigor upon the remaining frail structures, which are even this +day quivering under the strain. Mystic Christianity invites the "New +Theology," the "Higher Criticism," the "Criticism of Science"; for +these will only tend to prove the truths of its fundamental +principles. In Mystic Christianity, Religion, Philosophy and Science +are known to be one and the same thing. There is no conflict between +Science and Religion; Philosophy and Religion; or Philosophy and +Science. They are all but names for the One Truth. There be but one +Truth--there cannot be more than one. And so call it by the name of +Religion--the name of Science, the name of Philosophy--it matters not, +for the same thing is meant. There is naught but Truth--nothing else +really exists. All that is not Truth is Illusion, _Maya_, Nothing. And +Mystic Christianity is based upon the Rock of Truth, fearing not the +winds nor the storms that try out the stability of all structures of +thought. Like its founder, it has always existed--always will +exist--from the Beginningless Beginning to the Endless Ending. The +same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. + + + + +A SERIES OF LESSONS IN GNANI YOGA (THE YOGA OF WISDOM) + + +By YOGI RAMACHARAKA + +This course gives the highest Yogi teachings regarding the Absolute +and its Manifestations--the relations between the One and the +Many--the Secret of the One Life--the Mystery of the Evolution of the +Soul--the Law of Spiritual Cause and Effect--the Group-Soul--the Birth +of the Ego--the Unfoldment of the Self--the Cycles of the Race--the +Chain of Worlds--the Truth about Nirvana--the Divine Paradox--the +Problem of Consciousness--the Reality and the Illusory--the offices of +Will and Desire--the Future of the Race--the Past History of Man and +the Races--the Adepts and Masters--the Brotherhoods--the Problems of +Life--the Riddle of Existence. These and many other subjects of equal +importance are taken up, explained and the dark corners illuminated. +Some of the teachings to be given are entirely new to the general +Western public, and partake of the nature of the Inner Teachings of +the occultists. + +Bound in Blue Silk Cloth, 302 Pages. + +PRICE $1.10 POSTPAID. + +E.B., North Side, Pittsburgh, Pa., writes she has just finished +reading your book "Science of Breath," and considers it priceless. + +I have studied many Occult and Mental Science works, but none Of which +ever developed Spiritual Illumination or produced that Tranquil state +of mind that I derived by studying the Yogi Philosophy.---N.R.B. New +Zealand. + + + + +JESUS THE LAST GREAT INITIATE + + +By EDOUARD SCHURE + +Mr. Schure in this volume, has done much to strengthen the belief that +Jesus was an Essene, in whom a Messianic consciousness was awakened by +special initiation. + +A remarkable full account is given of his experiences among the +Essenes and how his early life, (about which the Bible is so reticent) +was spent studying with the advanced Occult masters. + +The problem of how Jesus became the Messiah, he holds to be not +capable of solution without the aid of intuition and esoteric +tradition. + +The life of the great Teacher as pictured by the writer is one to be +dreamed over and capable of imparting both knowledge and stimulus to +that inner life which is in so many undeveloped and even unsuspected. + +Bound Silk Cloth. + +PRICE $0.80 POSTPAID. + + + + +KRISHNA AND ORPHEUS + + +THE GREAT INITIATES OF THE EAST AND WEST + + +By EDOUARD SCHURE + +The lives and teachings of these two great Masters who preceded Jesus +are very much like the latter's. You cannot help noting the remarkable +resemblance they bear to each other. + +Krishna's Virgin Birth, His Youth, Initiation, The Doctrine of the +Initiates, Triumph and Death, are all told in a fashion that shows +that Mr. Schure has devoted much time to thought and research work. +The mighty religious of India, Egypt and Greece are passed in rapid +review and the author declares that while from the outside they +present nothing but chaos, the root idea of their founders and +prophets presents a key to them all. + +Bound in Silk Cloth. + +PRICE $0.80 POSTPAID. + + + + +THIS IS OUR COMPLETE LIST OF PUBLICATIONS + + PRICE + POSTPAID + +Hatha Yoga. By Ramacharaka. Cloth $1.10 + +Science of Breath. By Ramacharaka. Bound in paper .53; Cloth .75 + +Fourteen Lessons in Yogi-Philosophy, and Oriental Occultism. + By Ramacharaka. 1.10 + +Advanced Course in Yogi Philosophy, and Oriental Occultism. + By Ramacharaka. 1.10 + +Raja Yoga. By Ramacharaka. 1.10 + +Gnani Yoga. By Ramacharaka. 1.10 + +Philosophies and Religions of India. By Ramacharaka. 1.12 + +Psychic Healing. By Ramacharaka. 1.10 + +The Hindu-Yogi Practical Water Cure. By Ramacharaka. .55 + +Mystic Christianity. By Ramacharaka. 1.10 + +Bhavagad Gita. By Ramacharaka. .80 + +Kybalion. By Three Initiates. 1.08 + +Reincarnation and Law of Karma. By Wm. W. Atkinson. 1.10 + +Secret of Success. By Wm. W. Atkinson. .50 + +Inner Consciousness. By William Walter Atkinson. .50 + +Practical Mental Influence. By W.W. Atkinson. .50 + +Practical Mind Reading. By W.W. Atkinson. .50 + +Practical Psychomacy and Crystal Gazing. By W.W. Atkinson. .50 + +Light on the Path and Illumined Way. By M.C. Cloth. .44 + +Light on the Path. By M.C. Paper. .10 + +A Visit to Gnani. By Edward Carpenter. Paper. .28 + +Jesus: The Last Great Initiate. By Edouard Schure. .80 + +Krishna and Orpheus. By Edouard Schure. .80 + +Karma. By A.P. Sinnett. Occult Novel. Cloth. .60 + +The Spirit of the Upanishads. .55 + +Mystery of Being. Heeralal Dhole. .50 + + + +DIRECTIONS FOR ORDERING + +Write name of Books desired, plainly and fully. + +Write plainly your name, street address (if in city); town or city; +and state. Don't forget the state, as there are many towns of the same +name in the country--yours is only one of many. + +Send money by Post Office Money Order, or Express Money Order, or +Registered Letter. This is the only Safe Way. If Personal Checks are +sent add l0c extra for exchange. + +Write your own name and address on the upper left hand corner of the +envelope (this saves many lost letters). + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13143 *** |