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: