Chapter 2

From The Aquarian Gospel: Jesus in India and Tibet

The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, has had a very considerable influence amongst Christian mystical sects, and the worldwide New Age movement. The book has run into innumerable editions and has never been out of print since the charismatic Levi Dowling revealed it to the world as a direct transmission from the Kingdom of Supreme Intelligence. As a mere youth, Dowling had a vision in which he was told that he was to ‘build a white city’. This vision was repeated three times in his later years. Dowling believed that the ‘white city’ was the Aquarian Gospel transmitted to him over a period of time in the small hours of the morning. None of this lessens the charm or the esoteric insight of this book. Nor should its subterranean impact on popular spirituality in the United States be underestimated. The Aquarian Gospel was rediscovered during the spiritual ferment of the 1960s; a copy of this book was almost de rigueur in many New Age households, and it no doubt played an unsung role in naming this era as the ‘Age of Aquarius’. Although they might never admit it, many a staid evangelical Christian probably had their spiritual awakening while coming under its influence.

This 260-page gospel covers a very wide field. It has 22 sections each containing a different number of chapters. It is written in what may be described as neo-biblical language, echoing much of the cadence contained in the New Testament. It commences with the Annunciation and Jesus’ early life and education, and then jumps to the ‘missing years’ when we find Jesus travels to India, Tibet and then western India. He returns through Persia, Assyria, Greece and Egypt, back to Jerusalem. It tells about the ministry of John the Baptist whom it calls the ‘Harbinger’, and then Jesus’ own ministry, ending with his betrayal, trial, execution, and resurrection and the establishment of the Christian Church. It is full of startling esoteric ideas which have inspired fringe sects and cults to a mystical interpretation of Jesus’ teaching not encountered since the early apocryphal Gnostic gospels in the mediaeval world. It has received a great deal of attention both by enthusiasts and critics.

The author Michael F O’Keefe has written this enthusiastic commendatory review, in the public domain, which illustrates how sincere devotees of the Aquarian Gospel feel about the book.

In this marvellous book of Christ, Jesus reveals that every living thing is a deity manifest, and each has a soul, which is on a very long trek – from total unawareness of its own divinity, to full consciousness. Every creature, after many incarnations, eventually becomes fully aware of its own divine lineage; and later, during subsequent incarnations, each one learns more and more about developing and exercising divine Strength, Wisdom and Love; until eventually, every one (plant, animal and human) achieves pure perfection – oneness with God (our Father). He said that he, Jesus, is our example of a man who achieved oneness. He also proclaimed that he is simply our elder brother, come to teach us; and that he is our example of that which we all will eventually become. Jesus, the first person of Earth’s history to conquer death, said, ‘You may follow me,’ and thus, he leads the way. He became immortal. He is always with us. He and those who followed him continually labor for us (beyond the veil), so that we too may learn, and become wise and strong enough to follow him. As they constantly labor for us, they also patiently wait for us. The Book of God’s Remembrance is a recording – imprinted on disc-like plates smaller than atoms. Every event that ever occurs leaves an imprint on these elemental particles, which continuously emit extremely fine energy waves. Anyone who knows how to fine-tune certain mind-receptors to the frequencies to these tiny transmissions can witness all events that have ever occurred; and this sacred recording can never be revised or edited. It was only a matter of time before someone would become strong enough to open our Father’s Record Book. As God’s Children, our souls grow stronger and wiser with each incarnation. Levi H. Dowling (1844–1911) attained enough strength and knowledge to open The Book of God’s Remembrance. Levi became strong enough (and worthy enough) sometime after his fiftieth year on Earth. He gained the strength and know-how through many years of practicing all-night sessions of meditation, combined with fasting. After reaching his goal, he was able to focus his mind on particular persons, places and times, and clearly view ancient events – as if happening ‘here and now’. Levi concentrated on just a small portion of God’s History Book; he focused on ‘the little book’ – that tiny part of world history that is the record of Jesus’ life. Therefore, there is no longer any reason to wonder who Jesus was, or to speculate or debate what he said or did. His entire life-story is now available in the Aquarian Gospel, and anyone who wishes may read. During meditation, Levi was able to re-play events (as many times as necessary) in order to provide us with a perfect transcript. He spent many months transcribing the events he directly witnessed in ‘The Book of God’s Remembrance’ (also called The Akashic Records). His original manuscript, entitled ‘The Aquarian Age Gospel of Jesus, the Christ of the Piscean Age,’ is widely published under the title, ‘The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ,’ and is commonly referred to as simply, ‘The Aquarian Gospel.’ Have other people verified the existence of the Akashic Records? Yes; people who are (authentic) psychics and remote viewers perform their remarkable feats because they are able to catch fleeting glimpses (or impressions) of our Father’s sacred recording. Prophets and seers have been more successful – sometimes able to clearly view past events (and foresee future incidents); but Levi gained complete access to Nature’s hidden portico. He is the first person in Earth’s history to be granted full access to the Mystic Records of Time, with permission to write down what he witnessed. Anyone who reads the Aquarian Gospel carefully, sincerely and comprehensively will recognize its authenticity; and indeed, only those who read this book carefully, sincerely and comprehensively can recognize its authenticity, and know it is genuine. Levi’s sacred transcription far outshines all previous books of divine origin. It is not filled with enigmas, secret codes and riddles; nor does it contain long, arduous passages that offer little insight. This sacred book is succinct. Levi did not mince words – each chapter gets right to the point. The parables are comprehensible, and the text is superbly plain and clear and easy to understand. Levi is the transcriber, but who is the author of the Aquarian Gospel? None other than Jesus, Christ Himself, wrote this book! How can this be? Jesus knew that every word he spoke and every act he performed was being recorded in The Book of God’s Remembrance; and He knew that 1,800 years after his lifetime (in preparation for Christ’s return), a man would be born into the world who would gain enough strength to open our Father’s sacred Recording, and thereby become a direct eyewitness to all the events of Jesus’ life; and he would transcribe a totally accurate and detailed account of his life and teachings. Therefore, except for the introductory chapters and some of the narrative, Jesus is the true author of the Aquarian Gospel. He wrote the book by living it. ‘Hisstory’ is inscribed on nature’s tiny discs (smaller than atoms), which form ‘the walls of time,’ and Levi, through years of practicing meditation and fasting, discovered the ‘password,’ and he has viewed the mystic walls, and he has transcribed. Levi has given us the most precious book ever written. His publication paves the way for Christ again. Our Father knew Levi’s soul was poised to develop enough strength to open His sacred Book of Records, and so He sent Levi to Earth at the proper time – as the Age of Pisces draws to a close (during these ‘end times’), and as The Age of Aquarius (the ‘new age’) commences. Levi is a messenger sent from God. Furthermore, Jesus was well aware that, during his life on Earth, few people were prepared to comprehend and accept his precious message, and so he shared much of his profound wisdom and understanding with only a few; but now, vast multitudes of human souls on Earth are finally mature enough to comprehend and assimilate the deep truths He conveyed – concerning the nature of God, the nature of Man, and our relationship. Thus, by the hand of Levi, God has given us this new book of scripture, which contains the life and teachings of Jesus; and anyone who wishes, may now read and comprehend the deep, precious knowledge and wisdom (which our Lord shared with only a few 2,000 years ago). I suggest that anyone who doubts this is true is well advised to read this book (carefully and comprehensively) before he would suggest it is anything less than God’s most recent Scriptural Gift to Mankind. It is a mistake to assume that God would never send us a new book of scripture.

So ends Michael O’Keefe’s adulatory review.

It is not the purpose of this book to discuss the whole of the gospel’s voluminous content, but to concentrate, single-mindedly, on our quest. For this reason I will render only sections V, VI and VII and Chapter 176 in Section XXI. In sections VI and VII, his adventures and teaching in India and Tibet are fully recounted. In section V, Dowling gives us his transcription from the Akashic records, or Book of God’s Remembrance, of Jesus’ childhood and early education. This section is important to us, not only as a precursor to his travels to India and Tibet, but also as the principle revelation Dowling received on the mysterious ‘missing years’ before Jesus left for India. He studied with the great Pharisaic Rabbi Hillel in the Temple, and assisted his father as a carpenter. It is interesting to note that according to Levi’s rendition, it was Mary who first introduced Jesus to the Hindu Vedas. Unfortunately for the contemporary reader, the language of the Aquarian Gospel is archaic and somewhat obscure, and broken up into biblical style verses without textual continuity. I have therefore decided, for ease of comprehension, to paraphrase the salient events central to our investigation from these three sections, including their different chapters, into a literary narrative in modern English. The later sections concern his adventures on his return journey through Persia, Assyria, Greece, and Egypt, then his ministry, trial, execution, resurrection, and eventual establishment of the Christine Church. While these may be of considerable interest to the general reader, and are portrayed in the film The Aquarian Gospel they are not germane to our central question. But chapter 176 of section XXI is apposite to our investigation. In this chapter, Dowling tells us that Jesus appears again, after the resurrection, to the Eastern sages in Prince Ravanna’s palace in India, as a way of confirmation of his earlier visit. For those who wish to pursue these fascinating matters further, the Aquarian Gospel is still readily available in print. It is, however, impossible for us to form a considered judgement on the veracity of Dowling’s revelation regarding his visit to India and Tibet without reading these actual sections, which are primarily concerned with this journey.

THE AQUARIAN GOSPEL SECTION V

Childhood and Early Education of Jesus

Joseph’s house was on the Marmion Way in Nazareth. Here Mary taught her son the lessons to be learned from the Bible stories. The child Jesus also greatly loved the Vedic Hymns and the Avesta, but most of all he enjoyed King David’s Psalms and the powerful words of King Solomon’s wisdom. The prophetic books of Judaism were his delight, and when he was seven years old, he no longer needed the books to read, as he had remembered every word. Joachim and his wife, the grandparents of Jesus, provided a great feast in honour of the prodigious child, and their entire family were honoured guests. During the meal, Jesus stood up before the assembly and said, ‘I had a dream, and in my dream I stood before the sea, on a sandy beach. The waves were high, and a great storm was raging. Someone from above handed me a wand. I held the wand and touched the sand, and every grain became a living thing. The whole beach was a wonderful mass of beauty and song. I touched the waters with my feet, and they changed to trees, flowers, singing birds, and everything was praising Almighty God. A voice spoke, whom I didn’t see, and the voice said, “There is no death”!’

His grandmother Anna loved the child, she laid her hand on Jesus’ head and said, ‘I saw you stand beside the sea, I saw you touch the sand and waves, I saw them turn into living things and then I knew the dream’s meaning. Your wand is the Truth. With this wand, you touch the multitudes, and every man becomes a messenger of holy light and life. You touch the waves upon the ocean of life, their turmoil ceases, the very winds become a song of praise. There is no death, because the wand of Truth can change the driest bones to living things, and bring forth beautiful flowers from stagnant ponds, and turn the most discordant musical notes to rapturous harmony and praise.’ Grandfather Joachim said, ‘My son, today you pass the seventh milestone of your journey through life, and we shall give you, as a remembrance of your seventh birthday, whatever you desire. Choose that which will give you the most delight!’

Jesus replied, ‘I do not want any gifts, for I am satisfied and content, but if I could make a multitude of children happy on this day, I would be greatly pleased. There are very many hungry boys and girls in Nazareth who would love to eat with us at this feast, and share all the pleasures of the day. The richest gift that you can give to me is your permission to go out and find these needy children, and bring them back here, so they may feast with us all.’

Joachim replied, ‘It is well! Go out and find the poor boys and girls, and bring them here. We shall prepare enough food for them all.’ Jesus did not wait one moment. He ran and entered every dingy hut and shack in the town. He did not waste words, but told them of this invitation everywhere. In a short time, 103 happy, ragged boys and girls followed him up the Marmion Way. The guests made room, the banqueting hall was filled with young Jesus’ guests and both he and his mother helped to serve. There was sufficient food for everybody, and all were very glad. So this birthday gift of the young Jesus was a crown of righteousness.

Now Rabbi Barachia of the Nazareth Synagogue helped Mary in her son’s education. One Sabbath after the Synagogue service, the Rabbi said to Jesus, as he sat in silent meditation, ‘Which is the greatest of the Ten Commandments?’ Jesus replied, ‘I don’t see a greatest of the Ten Commandments. I see the golden chord that runs through all of the ten commands that binds them fast and makes them one. This cord is Love, and it belongs to every word of all the Ten Commandments. If one is full of love, he cannot kill, cannot testify falsely, cannot covet, can do nothing but to honour God and mankind. If one is full of love, he does not need commands of any kind.’

Rabbi Barachia replied, ‘Your words are well seasoned with the salt of wisdom, from above. Who is the teacher who has opened up this truth to you?’ Jesus replied, ‘I do not know of any teacher who opened up this truth for me. It seems to me that truth was never closed, and that it was always open, for the truth is one, and available everywhere. If we open up the windows of our minds, the truth will enter, and make herself at home. The truth can find her way through any crevice, window or open door!’ The Rabbi responded, ‘Tell me what hand is strong enough to open up these windows and doors of the mind so truth can enter?’ Jesus answered, ‘It seems to me that Love, the golden cord that binds the Ten Commandments into one, is powerful enough to open any human door, so that truth can walk in and cause the heart to understand.’

Now that evening Jesus and his mother sat alone and Jesus said to her, ‘The Rabbi seems to think that God is partial in his treatment of the sons of men, and that the Jews are favoured and we are blessed above all other men. I do not see how God can have His favourites and be just. Aren’t the Samaritans, Greeks and Romans just as much the Holy One’s children as are we Jews? I think we Jews have built a wall around ourselves, and we see nothing the other side of it. We do not know that flowers are blooming out there, that sowing and reaping times belong to everybody, not only to the Jews. It would surely be good if we could break these barriers down so that the Jews might see that God has other children that are just as greatly blest. I wish to go from Israel and meet my kin in the other countries of my Father’s lands.’

The great Jewish Festival of Passover took place, so Joseph, Mary and their son, and many of their relations, went to Jerusalem. The boy was now ten years old. Jesus watched the butchers kill the lambs and birds and burn them on the sacrificial altar in the name of God. His tender heart was shocked at this display of cruelty. He asked the presiding priest, ‘What is the purpose of this slaughter of the beasts and birds. Why do you burn their flesh before the Lord?’ The priest answered, ‘This is our sacrifice for sin. God has commanded us to do these things, and said that in these sacrifices, all our sins are blotted out.’ Jesus replied, ‘Will you be kind enough to tell us when God proclaimed that sins are blotted out by sacrifices of any kind? Didn’t King David say that God requires a sacrifice for sin? That it is sin itself to bring before his face burnt offerings, as offerings for sin? Did not the prophet Isaiah say exactly the same?’

The priest answered, ‘My child you are beside yourself. Do you know more about the laws of God than all the priests of Israel? This is no place for young boys to show off their cleverness.’ Jesus ignored his taunts, but went to the famed Rabbi Hillel, head of the Sanhedrin and talked with him. He said, ‘Rabbi, I wish to discuss with you. I am disturbed about this Passover festival. I thought the Temple was the house of God, where love and kindness dwell. Don’t you hear the bleating of those lambs, the pleading of those doves, that the men are killing there? Don’t you smell the awful stench that comes from burning flesh? Can a man be kind and just, and still be full of cruelty? A God that takes delight in sacrifice, in blood and burning flesh, is not my Father-God. I want to find a God of Love, and you my Master, you are wise, surely you can tell me where to find the God of Love?’

Hillel, however, could not find an answer for the boy. His heart was stirred with sympathy. He called the lad to him, he laid his hand upon his head and wept. He said, ‘There is a God of love, you shall come with me, and hand in hand, we shall go forth and find the God of love.’ Jesus then said, ‘Why do we need to go anywhere? I thought that God is everywhere. Can’t we purify our hearts and drive out cruelty, and every wicked thought, and create within a temple where the God of love can dwell?’

The Head of the great Sanhedrin felt as though he was himself the child, and that before him stood a rabbi, a master of the higher law. He said to himself, ‘This child is surely a prophet sent from God.’ He sought the boy’s parents and asked that Jesus might live with them to learn the precepts of the law, and all the lessons of the Temple priests. Joseph and Mary gave their consent, and Jesus did live in the holy Temple in Jerusalem, and Rabbi Hillel taught him every day. So each day, Hillel also learned from Jesus many lessons of the higher life. The youth remained with Hillel for a whole year in the Temple, and then went back to his home in Nazareth, where he worked with Joseph as a carpenter.

Once more the great Passover Festival was on, so Joseph, Mary and Jesus went to the Temple in Jerusalem, once again. Jesus was now 12 years old, one year before his Bar Mitzvah confirmation. There were many Jews and converts from different countries present. Jesus sat among the priests and doctors of the law in the Temple hall.

The youth opened up a prophetic book and read, ‘Woe, woe, to Ariel, the town where David dwelled! I will dismantle Ariel, and she shall groan and weep. I will camp against her round about with hostile posts; and I will bring her low and she shall speak out of the earth; with muffled voice like a familiar spirit shall she speak; yea, she shall only whisper forth her speech; and foes unnumbered like the grains of dust shall come upon her suddenly. The Lord of Hosts will visit her with thunder and with tempest, and with storm; with earthquake, and with devouring flames. Lo all these people have deserted me. They draw to me with speech, and with their lips they honour me; their hearts are far removed from me; their fear for me is that inspired by man. And I will breathe an adverse breath upon my people, Israel; the wisdom of their wise men shall be lost; the understanding of their prudent men shall not be found. My people seek to hide their counsel from the Lord, so that their works may not be seen. They fain would cover up their works with darkness of the night, and say, “Who sees us now? Who knows us now?” Poor foolish men! Shall that which has been made say of its maker, “He is naught, I made myself”? Or shall the pot say, “You have no skill; you do not know”? But this will not for ever be; the time will come when Lebanon will be a fruitful field, and fruitful fields will be transformed to groves. And on that day the deaf will hear the words of God; the blind will read the Book of God’s Remembrance. And suffering ones will be relieved, and they will have abundant joy; and everyone that needs will be supplied; and it will come to pass that all the foolish will be wise. The people will return and sanctify the Holy One, and in their heart of hearts, lo, they will reverence him.’

When Jesus had finished reading, he set aside the book and said, ‘You Masters of the Law, will you make plain for us the prophet’s words?’ Rabbi Hillel was there, and he rose and said, ‘Perhaps our young Rabbi who has read the words will be the interpreter?’ So Jesus replied, ‘The Ariel of the prophet is our own Jerusalem. By selfishness and cruelty this people have become a stench unto Elohim. The prophet saw these days from afar, and it was of these times that he wrote these words. Our doctors, lawyers, priests and scribes oppress the poor, while they all live in luxury. The sacrifices and the offerings of Israel are but abominations unto God. The only sacrifice that God requires is one’s self. Because of this injustice and this cruelty of man to man, the Holy One has spoken of this commonwealth, “Lo, I will overturn, yes, I will overturn, it shall be overturned, and it shall be no more until he comes whose right it is and I will give it unto him. In all the world there is one law of righteousness, and he who breaks that law will suffer grief; for God is just.” For Israel has gone far astray; has not regarded justice, nor the rights of man, and God demands that Israel shall reform, and turn again to ways of holiness. If our people will not hear the voice of God, lo, nations from afar will come and sack Jerusalem, and tear our Temple down, and take our people captive into foreign lands. But this will not be forever; though they will be scattered far and wide, and wander here and there among the nations of the Earth, like sheep that have no shepherd. The time will come when God will restore the captives as hosts; for Israel shall return and dwell in peace. And after many years Solomon’s Temple shall be built again, and the one in whom the pure in heart delights will come and glorify the house of God, and reign in righteousness.’ When Jesus had finished speaking he stepped aside, and all the congregation were amazed and said, ‘This surely is the Christ.’

The great Pesach Festival was over and the Nazarenes went journeying back to their homes. When they were in Samaria, Jesus suddenly disappeared, and Mary asked everybody where he was but nobody knew. Joseph asked all the family members, who were on their way to Galilee, but nobody knew. Then Joseph, Mary and a son of Zebedee searched the whole of Jerusalem, but he was nowhere to be found. They enquired at the Temple courts, and asked the guards if they had seen a fair-headed boy, with deep blue eyes, 12 years old, anywhere. ‘Yes,’ they replied, ‘He is in the Temple now disputing with the Doctors of the Law.’ So they entered and found him as the guards had said. Mary scolded Jesus, and said, ‘Why do you treat your parents like this? We have searched for two whole days for you. We were very afraid you had come to some grievous harm.’ Jesus answered and said, ‘Don’t you know that I must be about my Father’s work?’ He then went around the Temple hall and pressed every learned Doctor of the Law’s hand, and said, ‘I trust we shall meet again.’

Then he went back with his parents on their way to Nazareth, and when he reached home, he settled down again, assisting his father in his workshop. One day as he was fetching some tools, he said, ‘These tools remind me of the ones we handle in the workshop of the mind, where things are made of thought, and whereby we build character. We use the square to measure all our lines, to straighten out the crooked places on the way, and make the corners of our conduct perfect. We use the compass to draw a circle around our passions and desires to keep them within the boundaries of righteousness. We use an axe to cut away the knotty, useless and ungainly parts, and make our characters symmetrical. We use the hammer to drive home the truth, and pound it in, until it is a part of every part. We use the plane to smooth the rough, uneven surfaces of joint, block and board that go to build our inner temple of truth. The chisel, line, plummet and saw all have their uses in the workshop of the mind. And then this ladder with its threefold steps, faith, hope and love, we use to climb up to the dome of purity in life. And there on a 12-step ladder we ascend until we reach the pinnacle of that which life should be spent to build – the Temple of Perfected Man.’

SECTION VI

The Life and Works of Jesus in India

The Royal Prince, Ravanna of Orissa, southern India, was a man of considerable wealth, with a notable reputation for administering impartial and fair justice. With a party of learned Brahmin priests, he once decided to visit Jerusalem, in order to study the wisdom of the West. He chanced, one day, to be in the main Temple, when the young Jesus was there to discuss points of the Torah with the most senior rabbis of the day. As Jesus discoursed among them, Ravanna was stunned with amazement by the lad’s erudition and wisdom. He enquired of the famed Rabbi Hillel who this prodigious lad was, where he came from, and what he represented in his eyes.

Hillel informed Ravanna that the rabbis call this child ‘The Day Star From on High’, because he has been sent to bring a light, the light of life, to enlighten mankind’s way and redeem his people, Israel. Hillel told Prince Ravanna as much as he knew about the boy, about the biblical prophecies concerning him, about the miracles of the night when he was born in a stable, and the visitation by Magi priestly kings. He also told him of his divine protection from King Herod’s wrath, his escape into Egypt, and how he served his father the carpenter Joseph in Nazareth.

Ravanna was enchanted and asked about the most direct route to Nazareth that he might go and honour such a one, whom he saw as a son of God. So with the full panoply of his sumptuous train he travelled to Nazareth near Galilee. There he found the young Jesus working, engaged in building dwellings for the needy. He was climbing a 12-step ladder carrying a compass, a carpenter’s square and an axe.

Ravanna could not resist shouting loudly, ‘All hail, most favoured son of heaven!’ There and then, Ravanna decided to arrange a feast for all the townsfolk at the inn where he was to stay. He held a feast at which Jesus and his parents Joseph and Mary were the honoured guests. To reciprocate Joseph invited the Prince to spend some days with his family, in their house in Marmion Way. Ravanna was determined to learn the secret of his son’s wisdom, but it was beyond Joseph’s comprehension to explain it too him.

Ravanna asked that he might become the child’s patron and take him on a journey to the East where he might learn the knowledge and teachings of the Brahmins. Jesus was enthusiastic to accept the invitation, and after some time Joseph and Mary gave their consent.

So Ravanna with his companions began their journey to India, along the fabled Silk Route, and after several days arrived at the River Sind, which they crossed, and on to Orissa where they went to the Prince’s palace. The Brahmins were pleased to see the return of their beloved Ravanna, and with delight received the Jewish lad who was to be their pupil. He was accepted to study in the famed Jagannath Temple and be taught the Sacred Vedas and the Laws of Manu. His Brahmin teachers were astounded at his clear conception of the ancient texts, and were even more amazed when he was able to comment on the subtle meanings of these scriptures.

Among the Jagannath priests was a Brahmin named Lamaas who greatly admired the boy, and one day while walking, encountered the lad and said, ‘My young Jewish master – what is Truth?’

Jesus answered, ‘The Truth is changeless. In the whole world there are two principles, one is Truth and the other is Falsehood. Truth is “what is” and Falsehood is that which only “appears to be”. Truth is the All, which has no cause, yet is the cause of everything. Falsehood is nothing. Whatever has been created will be dissolved. All beginnings have an end. All that is seen is only a reflection of the All and therefore nothing, and must eventually pass away. The objects we see are mere reflections, just appearances, while the ether vibrates, in such and such a way, and when conditions alter they disappear. The Holy Spirit is Truth, and is that which was, is, and evermore shall be; it cannot change or pass away.’

Lamaas said, ‘You have answered well, now what is man?’

Jesus replied, ‘Man is a strange admixture of Truth and Falsehood. He is the spirit made flesh, so Truth and Falsehood are conjoined. When they strive one against the other, Falsehood is defeated and man as Truth abides.’

Lamaas then asked, ‘What do you say about Power?’

Jesus replied, ‘Power is God’s will and is all powerful. It is that which will manifest, directed by the Holy Spirit. There is power in the winds, the seas, lightning, human strength and sight. Thought of God directs these forces until they have completed their work.’

Then Lamaas asked what he would say about Understanding. Jesus said, ‘It is the rock on which man builds himself, it is the gnosis of the All and of the Naught. It is knowledge of the lower self, the sensual realization of man’s own powers.’

Then Lamaas asked about Wisdom. Jesus replied, ‘It is the Pure Consciousness that knows Man is the All, and that God and Man are One; that falsehood is falsehood; power is an illusion; heaven, hell and earth are not above, around, or below, but inside man himself; which in the light of the All becomes the naught, and God is the All.’

Lamaas then asked about Faith. Jesus said, ‘Faith is the certainty of God’s omnipotence and Man’s, the surety that he can reach the divine life. Salvation is the ladder reaching from the heart of man to the heart of God. The three steps are belief; that is what man thinks is truth. Then faith, this is what he knows to be truth. Then fruition is last, when man himself becomes the truth. Belief is lost in faith, man is saved when he reaches the divine, when he and God become One.’

Then Jesus with his new friend Lamaas travelled through Orissa, and the Ganges Valley, seeking wisdom from the common folk, the untouchables, the merchants and the masters. They stayed in Benares where Jesus sought to learn the Hindu arts of medicine, and became a pupil of Udraka, the foremost of the Hindu healers. Udraka taught him the uses of herbs, heat and cold, sunlight and darkness. He said that the laws of nature were the laws of health, and transgressions of these laws led to illness. Obedience to the laws of nature resulted in bodily equilibrium. Harmony was health, disease was discord. The body was like a harp, and when the strings were too tight or too loose, the body was out of tune. Man may exercise his will to relax or tighten the strings as needed. When man has faith in God, in Nature and himself, he knows the Word of Power, which is balm for every wound, and a cure for all ills. The healer is the man who inspires faith. Souls are reached by souls that speak to souls. What suits one may many not suit another. There are evil spirits which cause illness and discord. The true healer, by force of will, can vanquish these demonic spirits. He also has helpers in the higher realms that will aid in exorcism.

Jesus bowed his head in recognition of this Master Soul, and went on his way. He stayed in the Jagannath Temple for four whole years. One day sitting among the priests he enquired about the system of castes and asked, ‘Why do you not say that all men are equal in the sight of God?’

An elder Brahmin replied, ‘The Holy One, whom we call Brahman, created men according to his will, and men should not complain about their destiny.

‘Four men stood before Brahman at the time of world creation. Four men stood before him. One came from Brahman himself, and was white, he was like Brahman and was called a Brahmin. He was raised high, and stood above all needs, he had no need to labour. He was named the priest of Brahman, the holy one to act for Him in all earthly affairs. The second man was red. He was called the Warrior. He was destined to be the king, the ruler and the soldier whose highest duty was protection of the priests.

‘The third man came and he was yellow in colour. He was named the Merchant, and it was his duty to farm, and to be responsible for commerce. The fourth man was black. He was called the Untouchable, whose duty it was to be the servant of mankind, without the rights of the others, or access to the holy scriptures, and be in a state of servitude to the other castes.’

Then Jesus spoke and said, ‘This Brahman is not a god of justice and of righteousness, for he has exalted one and brought another low!’ He said no more but lifted up his eyes to heaven and prayed, ‘My Father, God, who was, is and evermore shall be, within Thy hands are the scales of justice and righteousness. Who in Thy boundlessness of love has created all men to be equal in Thy sight, so all can look up equally to Thy Name and say our Father. I praise Thee.’

The Brahmins, hearing his prayer, were angry and seized him in such a way that could have done him bodily harm. But Lamaas intervened and said, ‘You Brahmins, beware, you know not what you do! Wait until you know the God this youth adores! I have seen this youth at prayer, when a halo of golden light surrounded him. Beware! His God may be more powerful than Brahman. If Jesus speaks the truth, you cannot force him to desist, if he is wrong and you are right, his words will come to naught. For right is might, and in the end shall prevail!’ Then the Brahmins refrained from harming Jesus, but one spoke out saying, ‘Within this holy place has not this reckless youth done violence to Brahman? The law is plain: it says, “He who reviles the name of Brahman shall die”!’

Then Lamaas pleaded for Jesus’ life; and the Brahmins merely took a scourge of cords and drove him out of the temple. So Jesus went his way and took refuge with the merchants and untouchables. To them he declared the doctrine of equality. He told them of the Brotherhood of Man and the Fatherhood of God. These common folk listened with delight, and learned to pray ‘Our Father who art in heaven’.

When Jesus saw the untouchables, the farmers and merchants in such vast numbers, drawing near to hear his words, he told them a new parable. He said, ‘Once there was a great nobleman who owned a large estate. He had four sons, and he wished that all would grow up to be strong by standing tall, and using all the talents that God had given them.

‘So he gave each one a share of his wealth and told them to go, each on his own way. The eldest was very self-centred, ambitious, cunning, and could think very quickly. He said to himself, “I am the eldest son, and therefore my brothers should become servants at my feet.” So he summoned them, and one he made the puppet ruler, gave him arms, and told him he must defend the whole estate. To the next he gave the use of all the land, the wells, the flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. He instructed him to bring him the best of all his gains. To the youngest he said, “You are the youngest son, the rest of the estate has now been assigned, you have no part or place in anything here.” Then he took a chain and cruelly bound his brother to a bare rock in the desert and said to him, “You have been born a slave without any rights, you must rest here contented with your lot, as there is no release for you until you die and leave the body.”

‘After a certain time, the day of reckoning came. The nobleman called up his sons to render their accounts. When he found out that his eldest son had seized the whole estate and made his brothers slaves, he seized him, stripped him of his Brahmin robes and threw him into a dungeon, where he was forced to stay until he atoned for all the wrongs he had done to the others. Then, as though they were children’s toys he tossed in the air the throne and armour of the puppet ruler, and locked him up in a prison cell. Then he called his farmer son and asked him why he hadn’t rescued his younger brother, chained up in the desert? When the son didn’t answer he took away all his flocks, herds, fields and wells. He sent him out to the desert, until he too had atoned for all he had done. Then he went to where the youngest son was chained and freed him, telling his son to go in peace. Now when the sons had all paid their debts of contrition, they were summoned before him to stand before the bar of justice. They had all learned their lessons well, so the father again divided his estate. He gave each an equal share, and told them to respect the laws of equity and righteousness, and dwell in peace.’

Then an untouchable spoke up and said, ‘May we who are but slaves, cut down like beasts to satisfy the whims of the priests – may we have hope that someone will come to break our chains and set us free?’

Jesus said, ‘The untouchables shall be as free as the priests. The farmers and merchants shall walk hand in hand with the King, for all the world will possess the brotherhood of man. So men, arise! Be fully conscious of your powers, for he who wills it, need not remain a slave. Just live as you would your brother live; unfold each day like the lily of the field, for the Earth is yours, and God will bring you all to your own.’

Then all the people cried, ‘Show us the way so that like the lily of the field we may unfold and come unto our own!’

In every city in Orissa, Jesus taught the people. At Katak, by the riverside, thousands came to follow him. One day a juggernaut of Jagannath was hauled along by scores of frenzied men. Jesus said, ‘Behold a form without a spirit passes by, a body without a soul, a temple without altar fires. This juggernaut of Lord Krishna is an empty vehicle, for Lord Krishna isn’t there! This carriage is an idol of a people drunk on the wine of carnal lust! God doesn’t live in the babble of tongues, there is no way to reach Him from an idol shrine. God’s meeting place with man is in the heart, and He speaks with a still small voice, and he who hears is silent.’

Then the people said,‘Teach us to know the Holy One who speaks within the heart, the God of the still, small voice.’

Jesus said, ‘The Holy Spirit cannot be seen by mortal eyes, nor can man ever see the Spirit of the Holy One. Yet in their image, man is created, and he who looks into the face of a man or woman, looks at the image of their God who speaks within.

‘When man honours man, he honours God, and what man does for man, he does for God. You must bear in mind that when man harms in thought, or word or deed another man, he wrongs God.

‘If you would serve the God who speaks within the heart, just serve your next of kin, and those that are not kin, the stranger at your gates, the foe who seeks to do you harm. Help the poor and the weak. Harm no one, and don’t envy that which isn’t yours. Then with your own tongue the Holy One shall speak, and he will smile behind your tears, will light your countenance with joy, and fill your hearts with peace.’

Then the people asked, ‘To whom shall we bring gifts? Where shall we offer sacrifices?’ Jesus replied, ‘Our Father doesn’t ask for needless waste of plants, doves, or lambs. That which you burn on any altar, you throw away. No blessing can be bestowed on anyone who takes food from hungry mouths to be destroyed by fire. When you would offer sacrifices to God, just take your gift of grain or meat and lay it on a poor man’s table. From that, an incense will arise to heaven, which shall return to you with blessedness. Tear down your idols, they can’t hear you! Turn all your sacrificial altars into fuel for the flames. Instead, make human hearts your altars, and burn your sacrifices with the fire of love.’ And all the people were overawed, and would have worshipped Jesus as a god; but Jesus said, ‘I am your brother, a man who has just come to show the way to God; you shall not worship man; praise God, the Holy One!’

The fame of Jesus as a teacher spread through all the land, and people flocked from near and far to hear his words of truth. He taught at Behar, by the sacred river of the Brahmins, for many days. There, Ach, a wealthy citizen of Behar, honoured him with a feast, and invited everyone to come. Many did come, including thieves, extortionists and prostitutes. Jesus sat down with them and taught, but some who followed him were aggrieved because of the company he kept. They upbraided him and said, ‘Rabbi, master of the wise, this day shall be an evil one for you. The news will spread that you consort with prostitutes and thieves, and men will shun you like they shun an asp!’

Jesus answered them saying, ‘A Master never hides himself for the sake of reputation or fame. These are worthless baubles of the day. They rise and sink, like empty bottles on a stream. They are illusions and will pass away. They are emblems of what the thoughtless think, the noise that the noisy make, for shallow men judge by their own shallowness!

‘God and all Masters judge men and women by what they truly are, and not what by what they seem to be; neither by their reputation nor their fame!

‘These thieves and prostitutes are all children of my Father. Their souls are just as precious in His sight as yours, or those of the Brahmin priests. They are working out the same destinies that you, who pride yourselves on your so-called respectability and moral worth, are also working out. Some of them have solved much harder problems than you have solved, you men who regard them with scorn! Yes, they are sinners, but confess their guilt, while you are guilty, but are hypocritical enough to wear a polished appearance to mask your guilt.

‘Suppose you men and women who scorn these prostitutes, drunkards and thieves, who know that you are pure at heart and in life, that you are morally superior to them, stand up that we may know just who you are!

Sin lies in the wish, the desire, not in the deed. You covet other people’s wealth, you look at beautiful bodies, and deep within your hearts you lust after them! You practise deceit every day, and crave gold, honour and fame for your own selfish selves! The man or woman who covets is a thief, and she or he who lusts is a prostitute. You whom are none of these, speak out!’

Nobody spoke out, the accusers held their peace.

Then Jesus said, ‘The pure in heart never accuse. The vile in heart who desire to cover up their guilt with the holy smoke of piety are ever loathing the drunkards, thieves and prostitutes! This loathing and scorn is a mockery, for if the tinselled coat of reputation could be torn away, the loud protestor would be found to be revelling in his lust, deceit and many forms of secret sin. The man who spends his time in pulling out other people’s weeds can have no time to pull out his own, and all the choicest blooms of life will soon be choked and die, and nothing will remain but darnel, thistles, and burs.’

Now Jesus told them another beautiful parable. He said, ‘A farmer owned fine fields of fully ripened grain, but when he looked at the crop, he saw that the blades of many of the stalks of wheat were bent and broken. So when he sent his reapers into the field he said, “We will not save the stalks of wheat that have the broken blades. Go, cut and burn the stalks with broken blades!” After some days he went to inspect his grain, but he couldn’t find even a single kernel. So he summoned the harvesters and asked them where was his grain? They replied, “We followed your orders, we gathered up and then burned the stalks with broken blades, and not a stalk was left to take into the barn.” So I am telling you all, if God saves only those who have no broken blades, who have been perfect in his sight, who will be saved?’

After hearing this parable, his accusers hung their heads in shame, and Jesus proceeded on his way.

Benares is the sacred city of the Brahmins, and he taught there. He was hosted by Udraka who arranged a feast in his honour, and many high-born Brahmin priests and scribes were invited. Jesus addressed them saying, ‘It is with great delight that I speak to you all concerning life and the brotherhood of life. Our universal God is One, yet He is more than One. Everything is God; all things are One. Through the sweet spirit of God, all life is bound in Oneness; so if you touch a fibre of any living thing, you send a vibration from the centre to the outer limits of life. And when you crush beneath your foot the meanest worm, you shake God’s throne, and cause His sword of righteousness to tremble in its sheath. The bird sings its song for mankind, and men vibrate in unison to help it sing. The ant builds his home, the bee its sheltering hive, the spider weaves her web, and the flowers breathe to them a spirit in their fragrance that gives them the strength to work. Men, worms, birds, beasts and creeping things are deities made flesh, so how dare men kill any creature? It is cruelty that makes the world crookedly askew. When men have learned that whenever they harm a living creature they harm themselves, they surely won’t kill, nor cause a creature that God has made, to suffer pain.’

A lawyer then asked, ‘I pray you, Jesus, tell us who is this God you speak about? Where are His priests, His temples and His shrines?’

Jesus answered, ‘The God I speak about is everywhere; He cannot be enclosed by walls, nor hedged with boundaries of any kind. All people worship God the One, but they don’t all see Him alike. This universal God is wisdom, will and love. All men don’t see this Triune God. One sees Him as the God of might, another as the God of reason, another as the God of love. A man’s ideal is his God, and so, as man unfolds, his God unfolds. Man’s God today or tomorrow is not God. The nations of the Earth see God from different standpoints, so He doesn’t seem the same to all. Man names the attribute of God he sees, and this to him is all of God; and every nation sees a part of God, and every nation has a different name for God. You Brahmins call Him Parabrahman, in Egypt He is Thoth, in Greece He is Zeus, Jehovah is His Hebrew name; but everywhere He is the causeless Cause, the rootless Root from which all things have grown.

‘When men become afraid of God and take Him for a foe, they dress each other in fancy garbs and call them priests. They charge them to restrain the wrath of God by prayers, and when they fail to win His favour by their petitions, they try to buy Him off with the sacrifice of an animal or a bird. When man sees God as One with him, as their Father-God, he needs no intermediary, no priest to intercede. He goes straight to Him and says, my Father-God! And then he lays his hand in God’s own hand and all is well. And that is God. Each one of you is a priest, just for yourself, God does not want the sacrifice of blood. Just dedicate your life in sacrificial service to the All of life, and God is well pleased.’

When Jesus had said all this, he stood aside. The guests were amazed, but argued amongst themselves. Some claimed he was inspired by Holy Brahman, while others said he was insane, and others said he was obsessed and that he spoke as the devils speak.

But Jesus did not wait. Among the guests was a tiller of the soil, a generous soul, a seeker after truth, who loved the words that Jesus spoke, so Jesus left with him, and stayed in his home.

Among Benares’ temple priests was one, a guest named Ajainin, from Lahore. Through merchants, he heard about the Jewish youth, and about his words of wisdom; so he travelled to see the lad, and hear him speak. The Brahmin priests did not accept the truths that Jesus brought, and were angered by much of what he had said at Udraka’s feast. Nevertheless they wished to know more about the boy, and hear him speak, so they invited him to temple. Jesus told them, ‘The Light is most abundant, and it shines for all; if you would know the Light, come to the Light. If you would hear the message that the Holy One has given to me to give to mankind, come to me.’

Now when the priests heard what Jesus had to say, they became enraged. Ajainin didn’t share their wrath, and he sent a messenger with costly gifts to Jesus at the farmer’s house with this message. ‘I pray to you, Master, listen to my words. The Brahmin’s law forbids that any priest should enter the home of one of low estate, but you can come to us, and I am sure these priests will hear you speak. I hope you will come and dine with us today.’ Jesus replied saying, ‘The Holy One regards all men alike. The dwelling of my host is good enough for any council of the sons of men. If pride of caste keeps you away, you are unworthy of the Light. My Father-God does not regard man-made laws. Your gifts I return, you cannot buy the knowledge of the Lord with gold, or precious presents.’ These words angered the priests more and more, so they began to plot and plan how they may drive him out of the country. Ajainin did not join them in their plotting, he left the temple that night, and came to the house where Jesus stayed. Then Jesus said, ‘There is not any night when the sun shines. I have no secret messages to give. In the Light all secrets are revealed.’

Ajainin said, ‘I came all the way from Lahore that I might learn about your ancient wisdom and this kingdom of the Holy One of which you speak. Where is the kingdom? Where is the King? Who are subjects and what are its laws?’

Jesus replied, ‘This kingdom is not far away, but man with his mortal eyes cannot see it for it lies within his heart. You need not seek the King in earth, sea or sky, he is not there, yet he is everywhere. He is the Christ of God, universal love. The gate of this dominion is not high, and he who enters it must fall down on his knees. It is not wide, but none can carry sensual, fleshy, carnal bundles through that gate. The lower self must be transmuted into the Spirit Self. The body must be cleansed in living streams of purity.’

Ajainin asked, ‘Can I become a subject of that King?’ Jesus replied, ‘You are yourself a king, and you may enter through the gate and be a subject of the King of kings. But you must set aside your priestly robes, must cease to serve the Holy One for payment in gold. You must give your life, and all you have, in willing service to the sons of men.’

Jesus said no more, and Ajainin left. Although he could not comprehend the truth that Jesus said, he saw what he had never seen before. The realm of faith had never been explored by him, but in his heart, the seeds of faith and universal brotherhood had found good soil. As he travelled home, he seemed to sleep, to pass through the darkest night, and when he awoke the Sun of Righteousness had arisen. He had found the King. So, in Benares, Jesus stayed for many days and taught the people.

One day as Jesus stood beside the Ganges, busy with his work, a caravan returning from the west drew near. Approaching him, a member said, ‘We have just come to you from your native land and bring unwelcome news. Your father is no longer on Earth and your mother grieves. None are able to comfort her. She wonders whether you are still alive or not as she longs to see you again.’ Jesus bowed his head in silent thought. Then he wrote a letter and this is what he said. ‘My mother, noblest of woman-kind. A man from my native land has brought me word that father is no longer in the body, and that you grieve, and are disconsolate. My mother, all is very well, is well for father, and is well for you! His work in this “earth round” is over, and it was nobly done. In all walks of life, no man can charge him with deceit, dishonesty, or wrong intent. Here in this life, he completed many laborious tasks, and he has left us, prepared to solve the problems of this “round of soul”. Our Father-God is with him there, as he was with him here, and his angel guards his footsteps in case he goes astray. Why should you weep? Tears cannot conquer grief. There is no power in grief to mend a broken heart. The plane of grief is idleness; the busy soul can never grieve; it has no time for grief. When grief comes trooping through the heart, just lose yourself by plunging deeply into the ministry of love, and grief vanishes. Yours is a ministry of love, and the whole world is calling out for love. Let the past go with the past. Rise from the cares of mundane concerns, and give your life for those who live. Furthermore, if you should lose your life in serving life, you will be sure to find in it the morning sun, the evening dews, the song of birds, the beauty of flowers by day, and the stars by night. In a short while your cares of this “earth round” will all be solved, and when your sums are all worked out it will be unalloyed joy for you to enter wider fields of usefulness, and solve the greater problems of the soul. Strive then to be contented, and I shall come to you some day and bring you richer gifts than gold or precious stones. I am sure that John will care for you, supplying all your needs; and I am always with you. Jehoshua.’ So by the hand of a merchant, travelling to Jerusalem, he sent this letter on its way.

The words and works of Jesus caused considerable unrest throughout the country. The common folk were his friends, believed in him, and followed him in throngs. The priests and rulers were afraid of him, his very name sent terror to their hearts. He preached the brotherhood of life, the righteousness of equal right for all, and taught the uselessness of priests and sacrificial rites. He shook the very foundations on which the Brahmin’s system stood. He made the Brahmin idols seem so petty, sacrifice fraught with sin, so that shrines and prayer wheels were all forgotten. The priests declared that if this Hebrew youth should stay any longer in the land, there would be a revolution. The common people would rise up, kill the priests and destroy the temples. So they sent a summons around and about, and the priests from every province assembled. Benares became on fire with Brahmin zeal.

Lamaas from the temple Jagannath, who knew the inner life of Jesus well, was in their midst, and heard the rantings of the priests. He stood up and said, ‘My brother priests, take care, this is an important day. The world is watching, the very life of Brahmin thought is now on trial. If we are blind to reason and prejudice rules so that we resort to brutish force, and dye our hands in the blood of one that may, in the sight of Brahman, be innocent and pure, his vengeance may fall down on us! The very rock on which we stand may shatter beneath our feet, and our beloved priesthood, our laws and shrines will fall into decay!’

His fellow priests refused to allow him to continue. They rushed up and beat him, spat on him, and called him a traitor. They threw him out of the temple and he lay bleeding in the street. Then confusion reigned; the priests became an unruly mob. The sight of human blood led to fiendish acts and called for more. The rulers, fearing war, looked for Jesus, and found him calmly preaching in the market place. They urged him to leave, so he might save his life, but he refused to go. Then the priest tried to find a cause to arrest him, but he had not committed any crime. So false charges were preferred. But when the soldiers went to arrest him and take him to the Judgement Hall, they were afraid, because the people stood in his defence. The priests were perplexed, and decided to take his life by stealth. They found a man who was a murderer by trade, and sent him out by night to slay him. But Lamaas heard about this plot and sent a messenger to warn Jesus, who decided it was best to leave. That night he left Benares and hastily journeyed north. Everywhere he went, the farmers, merchants and untouchables helped him on his way. After many days he reached the foothills of the mighty Himalayas and rested in the city of Kapivastu. There the Buddhist priests opened wide their temple doors to receive him.

Among the Buddhist priests, there was one who perceived the truth in the words of wisdom that Jesus uttered. His name was Barata Arabo. Together they studied the Psalms of David and the Prophetical Books. They also read the Vedas, the Zoroastrian Avesta and the wisdom of Gautama Buddha. So they read about and discussed the possibilities of mankind.

Barata said, ‘Man is the marvel of the universe. He is a part of the whole, for he has been a living being, on every plane of life. Time was, when man did not exist, he was merely formless substance in the moulds of time, then a protoplast. By universal law, all things evolve towards a state of perfection. That protoplast evolved, becoming worm, then reptile, bird and animal. Then finally it reached the form of man. Now man himself is “mind”, and “mind” is here to attain perfection through experience. “Mind” is often manifest in fleshly form, best suited to its development. So “mind” may manifest as worm, bird, animal or man. The time shall come when the whole of life will be evolved up to the state of perfect man. Then after man, is man in perfection, he will evolve to even higher forms of life.’

Then Jesus questioned him and asked, ‘Barata Arabo, who taught you this, that “mind” which is the man, may manifest in animal flesh, bird or creeping thing?’

Barat replied, ‘From time immemorial our priests have told us so, and so we know.’

Jesus said, ‘Enlightened Arabo, are you a mastermind, and do not know that man knows nothing by being told? Man may believe what others say, but this way he never knows. If man would know, he must himself become what he knows!

‘Do you remember, Arabo, when you were an ape, a bird or a worm? Now if you have no better proof of your supposition, than what the priests have told you, you do not really know! You only guess. Take no notice then of what any man has said. Let us forget the flesh and go with the mind into the land of fleshless things; mind never forgets. Backward through the ages masterminds can trace their origins, and so they know. Time never was when man was not. That which begins will have an end. If man was not, the time will come when he will not exist. From God’s own Record Book we read, “The Triune God breathed forth, and seven spirits stood before his face. The Hebrews call these spirits Elohim and these are they who, in their boundless power created everything that is or was. These spirits of the Triune God moved on the face of boundless space and seven ethers there were, and every ether had its form of life. These forms of life were the thoughts of God, clothed in the substance of their ethereal plane, and all the forms of life. Because all forms of life on every plane are thoughts of God, all creatures think, and every creature is possessed of will, and in its measure, has the power to choose. And in their native planes all creatures are supplied with nourishment from the ethers of their planes. Men call these ether planes the planes of protoplast, of earth, of plant, of animal, of man, of angel and of cherubim. These planes, with all their teeming thoughts of God, are never seen by the eyes of man in the flesh. They are composed of substance far too fine for fleshly eyes to see, and still they constitute the soul of things. And with the eyes of soul all creatures see these ether planes, and all the forms of life. And so it was with every living thing until the will became a sluggish will, and then the ethers of the protoplast, the earth, the plant, the beast, the man, began to vibrate very slowly. The ethers all became denser, and all the creatures of these planes were clothed with coarser garbs, the garbs of flesh, which men can see; and so this coarser manifestation which men call ‘physical’, appeared. And this is what is called ‘the Fall of Man’, but man fell not alone, for protoplast, and earth, and plant and beast were all included in the fall. The angels and the cherubim did not fall, their wills were always strong, so they held the ethers of their planes in harmony with God. Now when the ethers reached the rate or numerical proportion of the atmosphere, as all the creatures of these planes must obtain their food from the atmosphere, the conflict came. Then that which the finite man has called ‘survival of the fittest’ became a law.

‘“The stronger ate the bodies of the weaker manifestations, and here is where the carnal law of evolution had its rise. Now man in his utter shamelessness, strikes down and eats animal flesh, the animal eats the plant, the plant thrives on the soil, the earth absorbs the protoplast. The Kingdom of the Soul beyond this carnal evolution is unknown, and the great work of masterminds is to restore the birthright or heritage of man, to return him back to the estate which he has lost, when he will live again upon the ethers of his native plane. The thoughts of God do not change. The manifestations of life on every plane unfold into the perfection of their kind. So as the thoughts of God can never die, there is no death for any being of the seven ethers of the seven spirits of the Triune God. Thus soil can never be a plant, nor an animal, bird, nor reptile ever be man. The time will come when all these seven manifestations will be absorbed, and man and animal, plant, earth and protoplast will be redeemed.”’

Barata was amazed; the Gnostic wisdom of this Jewish sage was a revelation! While Jesus was speaking, Vidyapati, wisest of the Indian sages, head of Kapavistu Temple, heard Barata speak to Jesus about man’s origin, and heard the response of the Hebrew prophet. He spoke to all the priests of Kapavistu. ‘Listen! We stand today upon a crest of time. Six times in the past a master soul was born, who gave glorious light to mankind. Now such a master sage stands here in Temple Kapavistu! This Hebrew prophet is the rising star of wisdom deified. He brings to us a knowledge of God’s secrets. All the world shall hear his words and will pay attention to him, and glorify his name. You priests of Temple Kapavistu, stay! Be still and listen when he speaks. He is the Living Oracle of God.’ Then all the priests gave thanks and praised the Buddha of Enlightenment.

Jesus sat beside a flowing spring, in silent meditation. It was a festival, and many untouchables were nearby. Jesus saw the hard-drawn lines of toil on every brow, and in every hand. There was no look of joy in any face. Not one of all the group could think of anything but their hard labour. Jesus spoke to one man and asked, ‘Why you are all so sad? Have you no happiness in life?’

The man replied, ‘We scarcely know the meaning of that word. We toil to live, and can hope for nothing else but toil, and bless the day when we can cease, and lay ourselves down to rest in Buddha’s city of the dead.’ Jesus’ heart was moved to compassion and with love for these poor labourers said, ‘Toil should not make a person feel sad. Men should be happiest when they work. When hope and love are behind the work, then all life is full of joy and peace, and that is heaven. Do you not know that such a heaven is for you?’

The man answered, ‘We have heard of heaven, but then it is so far away, and we must live so many lives before we reach that place!’

Jesus said, ‘My brother, your thoughts are wrong, your heaven is not far away, and it is not a place of measurement and boundaries, nor is it a country to be reached, it is a state of mind. God never made a heaven for man nor a hell. We are creators, and we make our own. Now cease to seek for heaven in the sky; just open wide the windows of your hearts, and like a flood of light, a heaven will come and bring a boundless joy; then work will not be a cruel task.’ The people were astonished and came closer to hear this strange young master speak, imploring him to tell them more about his Father-God, and about the heaven that men can make on Earth, and about the boundless joy.

Then Jesus told them a parable. ‘A certain man owned a field with poor, hard soil. In spite of constant toil, he could barely provide enough food to keep his family alive. One day a gifted miner, who could detect metals beneath the soil, passed by and saw the poor farmer and his infertile land. He called the weary peasant over and said, “My brother, do you know that I am certain that just below the surface of your barren field, rich treasures are concealed? You plough, sow, and reap in a scanty way, but day by day you are treading upon a mine of gold and precious stones. This wealth does not lie upon the surface of the ground, but if you will dig away the rocky soil, and delve down deeply into the earth, you will no longer need to till the soil for such little reward.” The man trusted his judgement and believed him. He thought, “This man surely knows, I will do what he says, and find these treasures.” So he dug and dug away into the rocky soil, and deep down he found a mine of gold.’ Then Jesus said, ‘The poor sons of men are toiling hard on desert plains, burning sands and rocky soils. Are they doing what their fathers did, not dreaming they could do something better with the land? Behold, a master comes, and tells them of hidden wealth, that lies beneath the carnal flesh, treasures that no man can count. That deep in the heart, the richest gems abound, and that he who wills may open up the door and find them all.’

When the people heard this parable they said, ‘Make known to us the way that we may find the wealth that lies deep in the heart.’ Jesus opened up the way for them, and the labourers saw another side of life, and toil became a joy.

Next day there was a gala in sacred Kapavistu. A crowd of Buddhist worshippers met to celebrate a jubilee. Priests and masters from all parts of India were there. They taught, but embellished little truth with very many words. When Jesus went into the public square, he also taught, and spoke about his Father-Mother-God and the brotherhood of life. The priests and all the people were astounded at his words and said, ‘Has the Buddha come again in the flesh? No one else could speak with such simplicity and power!’

Then Jesus gave another parable. He said,‘There was a neglected vineyard, all badly maintained. The vines were high and not pruned, the growth of leaves and branches was out of control. The broad leaves shut out the sunlight from the vines. The very few, small grapes were sour. One day a pruner came and, with his sharp knife, cut off every branch, and not a leaf remained, leaving just the root and stalk and nothing more. The busy neighbours came round and were amazed, and said to the pruner, “You foolish man, you have over-pruned, and the vineyard is spoiled. What desolation! There’s no beauty left, and when harvest time comes, the gatherers will find no fruit.” The pruner replied, “Content yourselves with whatever you may think, but come again at harvest time and watch!” So when harvest time came round, the busy neighbours came again and were amazed. The naked stalks had sprouted leaves and branches, and heavy clusters of delicious grapes weighed down every vine. The gatherers rejoiced, as every day they carried the rich fruitage to be pressed.’ Then Jesus paused, before he spoke again to his rapt audience, ‘Behold the vineyard of the Lord! His earth is spread with human vines. The exotic forms and rites of men are the branches, and their many leaves are merely words. They have grown so great that light no longer reaches the heart, and there is no fruit. Then a pruner comes, and with a two-edged knife, he cuts away the branches and the leaves of words, and nothing is left but the naked stalks of human life. The priests, and those of pompous show, rebuke the pruner, and would stop him in his work. But harvest time will come, and they who scorned the pruner will look again and be amazed! For they will see the human stalks, which seemed so lifeless, bending low with precious fruit. They will hear the harvesters rejoice, because the harvest is so great.’

The priests were unhappy with Jesus’ words but they did not rebuke him, as they feared the multitude.

Vidyapati and the Hebrew sage often met, and talked about the needs of nations and of men, the sacred doctrines, and forms and rites best suited to the coming age. One day they sat together in a mountain pass, and Jesus said, ‘The coming age will surely not require priests, shrines and the sacrifice of life. There is no power in the sacrifice of beast or bird to help a man to reach the holy life.’

Vidyapati replied, ‘All forms and rites are symbols of what a man must do to attain the holy life, within the temple of the soul. The Holy One requires man to give his life in willing sacrifice for men, and all the offerings on altars and shrines, that have been made since time immemorial, were made to instruct man how to give himself to save his brother. Man can never save himself unless he loses his life to save another. The perfect age will not require forms, rites and carnal sacrifice. The coming age, however, is not the perfect age, and men will call for object lessons and symbolic rites. In the great religion you shall introduce to men some simple rites of washings and remembrances. But cruel sacrifices of animals, and birds, are not required by the gods.’

Jesus said, ‘Our God must loathe the tinselled show of priests and priestly garbs. When men array themselves in ostentatious robes, to indicate that they are the servants of the gods, and strut about like gaudy peacocks, to be admired by men, because of their piety, the Holy One must turn away in sheer disgust! All people are equal and alike, the servants of our Father-God, and are themselves kings and priests. Will not the coming age demand complete destruction of the priestly caste, as well as every other caste and inequality amongst the sons of men?’

SECTION VII

The Life and Works of Jesus in Tibet and Western India

In Lhasa, Tibet, there was a master’s temple, rich in manuscripts of ancient lore. The Indian sage had already read these manuscripts, and he revealed to Jesus many of the secret lessons they contained, but Jesus wished to study them for himself. Also, Meng-tzu, the greatest sage of the Far East, was in this Tibetan temple. The path across the Emodus Heights was very difficult, but Jesus started on his way, and Vidyapati gave him a trustworthy guide. Vidyapati sent a message to Meng-tzu, in which he told him about the young Hebrew sage, and asked for him to receive a welcome from the temple priests. After many days and great perils, the guide and Jesus reached the Lhasa Temple. Meng-tzu opened wide the temple doors, and all the priests and masters welcomed the young Hebrew sage.

They gave Jesus access to all their sacred manuscripts and, with the help of Meng-tzu, he read all of them. Mengtzu often talked with Jesus about the coming age, and the sacred service best adapted for that generation. Jesus did not teach in Lhasa. When he had finished his studies, he travelled towards the west. On his way he stayed in different villages for a time and did teach. At last he reached the pass, and in the Ladakh city, Leh, he was favourably received by the monks, the merchants and the men of low estate. He stayed in the monastery and taught there. He sought the common people in the markets of trade and commerce, and taught there also. Nearby a woman lived, whose infant son was ill, and approaching death. The doctors had declared that there was no hope, and the child would surely die. The woman had heard that Jesus was a teacher sent by God, and she believed he had the power to heal her son. She clasped the dying infant in her arms and ran hastily to see that man of God. When Jesus recognized her faith, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, ‘My Father-God, let your power divine overshadow me, and let the Holy Spirit fill this child that he may live!’ Then in the presence of the crowds, he laid his hand upon the child and said, ‘Good woman, you are indeed blest, your faith has saved your son.’ Miraculously the child recovered, and was well again. The people were astonished and said, ‘This surely must be the Holy One made flesh, for man alone cannot rebuke a sickness like this and save a child from death!’ Then many of the people brought their sick, and Jesus spoke the Word, and they were healed.

Among the Ladakhs, Jesus stayed for many days. He taught them how to heal, how sins are blotted out, and how to make, on Earth, a heaven of joy. The people adored him for his words and deeds, and when he decided to leave, they grieved like children grieve when their mother departs. When he left that morning, the multitude was there to press his hand. Before leaving he addressed them with a parable.

‘A certain king so loved the people of his land that he sent his only son to give precious gifts for all. The son went everywhere, scattering gifts lavishly all over the land. But there were priests who ministered at shrines of foreign gods, who were displeased, because the king had not dispensed the gifts through them. So they decided to stir up the people to hate the son, claiming that these gifts were worthless counterfeits. So the gullible people threw the precious gems, gold and silver, into the streets. They caught the son and beat him, spat on him and drove him away. The son did not resent their insults and treatment, but prayed instead, saying, “My Father-God, forgive these creatures of your hand, they are slaves, and know not what they do.” And while they were still beating him, he handed out food and blessed them with his boundless love. In certain cities, the son was received with great joy, and he would have stayed to bless their homes, but he did not wait, as he wished to carry gifts to everyone in the whole of his father’s kingdom.’ Then Jesus said, ‘My Father-God is King of all mankind, and He has sent me forth with all the bounties of His incomparable love and infinite wealth to all the peoples of all lands. I must bear these gifts, this living water and the bread of life! I go my way, but we shall meet again, for in my Fatherland there is room for all, and I shall prepare a place for you.’ He raised his hands in silent benediction and went on his way.

A caravan of merchants was journeying through the Kashmir vale as Jesus passed that way, and they were going to Lahore, a city of the Hind, the five-stream land. These merchants had heard the prophet speak, had witnessed his mighty works in Leh, and they were very glad to meet him once more. When they heard that he was going to Lahore, and then across the Sind, through Persia and the farther west, and that he had no beast to ride, they gladly offered him a noble bactrian beast, well saddled and equipped, so he could journey with their caravan. When he reached Lahore, Ajainin and some other Brahmins priests greeted him with delight.

One day in Lahore, Ajainin sat with Jesus in the temple porch while a band of wandering singers and musicians paused before the court to sing and play. Their music was lively and tuneful. Jesus said that among the highly bred people of the land, he had heard no sweeter music than these uncouth children of the wilderness had brought here. From where had this power and talent come? In one short life they surely could not gain such grace of voice, and such knowledge of the laws of harmony and tone. Men call them prodigies, but there were no prodigies. Everything results from natural law. These people are not young. A thousand years would not suffice to give them such divine expressiveness, and such purity of voice and touch. Ten thousand years ago these people mastered harmony. In days of old they trod the busy thoroughfares of life, and caught the melody of birdsong, and played on harps of perfect form. Now they have come again to learn still other lessons from the varied notes of manifestations. These wandering peoples form a part of heaven’s orchestra, and in the land of perfect things, the very angels will delight to hear them play and sing.

Then Jesus taught the common folk of Lahore. He healed their sick and showed them the way to rise to better lives by helpfulness to others. He said, ‘We are not rich by what we get and hold. The only real things we keep are those we give away. If you would live the perfect life, give forth your life in service for your kind, and for forms of life that men will esteem the lower forms of life.’

But Jesus could not stay any longer in Lahore. He said farewell to the priests and other friends, and then took his camel and went his way towards Sind.

Here this Section ends. In the next Section he enters Persia. But as we are concerned with Jesus’ visit to India and Tibet I will take up the story later, with his dramatic reappearance in India after the Crucifixion.

SECTION XXI

Chapter 176

Ravanna, Prince of India, gave a magnificent feast. He chose his palace in Orissa, the place where men of wisdom from the whole of the Far East were accustomed to meet. Ravanna was the same prince with whom the boy Jesus went to India many years before. The feast was held in honour of the wise sages of the East. Among the guests were Meng-tzu, Vidyapati and Lamaas. The wise men sat at table discussing the needs of India and the world in general. The door opening on to the banqueting hall was on the eastern side. There was a vacant chair at the table, also on the eastern side. As the wise men conversed a stranger entered, unannounced, and raising up his hands in benediction said, ‘All hail!’ A halo rested on his head, and a bright light, similar to sunlight, filled the hall. The wise men all rose spontaneously, bowed their heads and responded, ‘All hail!’

Jesus sat down in the empty chair, and the wise men realized it was the Hebrew prophet who had come. Jesus said, ‘Behold, for I am risen from the dead. Look at my hands, my feet, my side. The Roman soldiers pierced my hands and feet with nails, and then one pierced my heart. They put me in a tomb, and then I wrestled with death, the conqueror of men. I conquered Death, I stamped upon him and rose up. I brought immortality to light and painted on the walls of time a rainbow for the sons of men; and what I did all men shall do. This gospel of the resurrection of the dead is not only confined to Jew and Greek, it is the heritage of every man of every time and clime. And I am here as a demonstration of the power of man.’ Then he arose and pressed the hand of every man and of his royal host, and said, ‘Behold, I am not myth made of the fleeting winds, for I am flesh, bone and brawn, but I can cross the borderland at will.’ Then they discussed together a long, long time. Then Jesus said, ‘I go on my way, but you shall go to all the world and preach the gospel of the omnipotence of man, the power of truth, the resurrection of the dead. He who believes this gospel of the son of man shall never die, the dead shall live again.’ Then Jesus disappeared, but he had sown the seed. The words of life were spoken in Orissa, and all of India heard.

This ends the Aquarian Gospel’s accounts of Jesus in India and Tibet. After this Indian reappearance, Jesus appears again to the Magian priests in Persia, then in Israel, Greece, Rome, and finally to the Apostles. In this Chapter I shall not discuss the arguments for and against Dowling’s revelation. I shall reserve that for the concluding chapter. Meanwhile we shall move on to Notovitch and the Gospel of Issa, which he discovered in Tibet.