CEBU, Philippines - Thank you for your warm reception of this column. I received questions texted by readers right after our debut release last Sunday. The questions below represent a cross section of your thoughts.
Q1. Could you please tell me why it is called 12 Days of Christmas?
A1. It refers to the 12 festive days from December 25 to January 5.
Q2. Why is the birth of Jesus on December 25 not in the bible?
A2. Winter solstice is the traditional birth of great avatars, including Mithras of Persia and Horus of Egypt whose image, an infant Bambino, was involved in some peculiar ceremonies. Other avatars include Osiris, Hercules, Bacchus and Adonis. Tertullian wrote that the birth of Adonis was in the same cave where Jesus was born. In Rome, the religious festival Natalis Solis Invicti (birthday of Sol, the Invincible) antedated Christianity. The actual birth of Jesus was some time in May. Declaring it to be on winter solstice was apparently intended to upstage pagan worship.
Q3. What is the name of the father of Jesus? They say it is Jehovah, is it true?
A3. Jesus has no father in the physical plane. That God the father is his father is a transliteration because the human brain cannot understand the mystery of the virgin birth.
Q4: In different religions people worship different gods. But isn’t it we actually worship the same God but having different names?
A4 The God-of-your-Heart comes in all forms, including man’s wrong conceptions, his fears and desires. This God is both personal and impersonal. Only the practicing mystic can experientially know this God.
Q5: How old was Jesus when he went to India?
A5: He was 12 years old.
Life and Works of Jesus in India
CHAPTER 22
The friendship of Jesus and Lamaas. Jesus explains to Lamaas the meaning of truth, man, power, understanding, wisdom, salvation and faith.
AMONG the priests of Jagannath was one who loved the Jewish boy. Lamaas Bramas was the name by which the priest was known.
2) One day as Jesus and Lamaas walked alone in plaza Jagannath, Lamaas said, My Jewish master, what is truth?
3) And Jesus said, Truth is the only thing that changes not.
4) In all the world there are two things; the one is truth; the other is falsehood; and truth is that which is, and falsehood that which seems to be.
5) Now truth is aught, and has no cause, and yet it is the cause of everything.
6) Falsehood is naught, and yet it is the manifest of aught.
7) Whatever has been made will be unmade; that which begins must end.
8) All things that can be seen by human eyes are manifests of aught, are naught, and so must pass away.
9) The things we see are but reflexes just appearing, while the ethers vibrate so and so, and when conditions change they disappear.
10) The Holy Breath is truth; is that which was, and is, and evermore shall be; it cannot change nor pass away.
11) Lamaas said, You answer well; now, what is man?
12) And Jesus said, Man is the truth and falsehood strangely mixed.
13) Man is the Breath made flesh; so truth and falsehood are conjoined in him; and they strive, and naught goes down and man as truth abides.
14) Again Lamaas asked, What do you say of power?
15) And Jesus said, It is a manifest; is the result of force; it is but naught; it is illusion, nothing more. Force changes not, but power changes as the ethers change.
16) Force is the will of God and is omnipotent, and power is that will in manifest, directed by the Breath.
17) There is power in the winds, a power in the waves, a power in the lightning’s stroke, a power in the human arm, a power in the eye.
18) The ethers cause these powers to be, and thought of Elohim, of angel, man, or other thinking thing, directs the force; when it has done its work the power is no more.
19) Again Lamaas asked, Of understanding what have you to say?
20) And Jesus said, It is the rock on which man builds himself; it is the gnosis of the aught and of the naught, of falsehood and of truth.
21) It is the knowledge of the lower self; the sensing of the powers of man himself.
22) Again Lamaas asked, Of wisdom what have you to say?
23) And Jesus said, It is the consciousness that man is aught; that God and man are one;
24) That naught is naught; that power is but illusion; that heaven and earth and hell are not above, around, below, but in; which in the light of aught becomes the naught, and God is all.
25) Lamaas asked, Pray, what is faith?
26) And Jesus said, Faith is the surety of the omnipotence of God and man; the certainty that man will reach the deific life.
27) Salvation is a ladder reaching from the heart of man to heart of God.
28) It has three steps; Belief is first, and this is what man thinks, perhaps, is truth.
29) And faith is next, and this is what man knows is truth.
30) Fruition is the last, and this is man himself, the truth.
31) Belief is lost in faith; and in fruition faith is lost; and man is saved when he has reached deific life; when he and God are one.
The Aquarian Gospel was transcribed from The Book of God’s Remembrance (Akashic Records) by Levi H. Dowling (1844-1911)
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This column answers questions not adequately covered by conventional wisdom. Our point of view comes from ancient gnosis, Christian mysticism and the Aquarian Gospel. This column is for SEEKERS who find interest in ancient, esoteric, mystery traditions and Christian mysticism. Forward your questions thru text: (0928)720-7717, or email: aquariangospelcolumn@yahoo.com
The local reprint of Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ contains Frequently Asked Questions, Regarding the Authenticity of the Aquarian Gospel, and an Introduction to Christian Mysticism. It is now available by order.
Summary of the 18 Lost Years of Jesus in the Aquarian Gospel
Life and Works of Jesus in India
CHAPTER 21
Ravanna sees Jesus in the temple and is captivated. Hillel tells him about the boy. Ravanna finds Jesus in Nazareth and gives a feast in His honor. Ravanna becomes patron of Jesus, and takes Him to India to study the Brahmic religion.
CHAPTER 22
The friendship of Jesus and Lamaas. Jesus explains to Lamaas the meaning of truth, man, power, understanding, wisdom, salvation and faith.
CHAPTER 23
Jesus and Lamaas among the sudras and visyas. In Benares, Jesus becomes a pupil of Udraka. The lessons of Udraka.
CHAPTER 24
The Brahmic doctrine of castes. Jesus repudiates it and teaches human equality. The priests are offended and drive Him from the temple. He abides with the sudras and teaches them.
CHAPTER 25
Jesus teaches the sudras and farmers. Relates a parable of a nobleman and his unjust sons. Makes known the possibilities of all men.
CHAPTER 26
Jesus at Katak. The car of Jagannath. Jesus reveals to the people the emptiness of Brahmic rites,and how to see God in man. Teaches them the divine law of sacrifice.
CHAPTER 27
Jesus attends a feast in Behar. Preaches a revolutionary sermon on human equality. Relates the parable of the broken blades.
CHAPTER 28
Udraka gives a feast in Jesus’ honor. Jesus speaks on the unity of God and the brotherhood of life. Criticizes the priesthood. Becomes the guest of a farmer.
CHAPTER 29
Ajainin, a priest from Lahore, comes to Benares to see Jesus,and abides in the temple. Jesus refuses an invitation to visit the temple. Ajainin visits Him at night in the farmer’s home, and accepts His philosophy.
CHAPTER 30
Jesus receives news of the death of His father. He writes a letter to His mother. The letter. He sends it on its way by a merchant.
CHAPTER 31
Brahmic priests are enraged because of Jesus’ teaching
and resolve to drive Him from India. Lamaas pleads for Him. Priests employ a murderer to kill Him. Lamaas warns Him and He flees to Nepal.
CHAPTER 32
Jesus and Barata. Together they read the sacred books. Jesus takes exception to the Buddhist doctrine of evolution and reveals the true origin of man. Meets Vidyapati, who becomes His co-laborer.
CHAPTER 33
Jesus teaches the common people at a spring. Tells them how to attain unto happiness. Relates the parable of the rocky field and the hidden treasure.
CHAPTER 34
The Jubilee in Kapivastu. Jesus teaches in the plaza and the people are astonished. He relates the parable of the unkept vineyard and the vine dresser. The priests are angered by His words.
CHAPTER 35
Jesus and Vidyapati consider the needs of the incoming age of the world.