In her best-selling book, _Out on a Limb,_ Shirley MacLaine recounts how a friend once said to her: "You know that nothing is recorded in the Bible about Christ from the time he was about twelve until he began to really teach at about thirty years old. Right?" "Yes," MacLaine replied, "I had heard about that and I just figured he didn't have much to say until he got older." "Well, no," her friend responded, "a lot of people think that those eighteen missing years were spent traveling in and around India and Tibet and Persia and the Near East....They say he became an adept yogi and mastered complete control over his body and the physical world around him....[he] tried to teach people that they could do the same things too if they got more in touch with their spiritual selves and their own potential power."[1] Did Jesus travel to the East to study under gurus? Did He _become_ "the Christ" as a result of what He learned and accomplished there? Are there mystical "gospels" that have been suppressed by the church, keeping us from knowing the _real_ Jesus? In this article, we will look at these and other important questions related to the Jesus of the New Age movement. We begin by examining the claims of a controversial Russian writer. ------------------------------------------------------------------- *Glossary of Key Terms* *Caste.* A term applied to the social groups in India which rank in a hierarchical order. The four primary castes -- from highest to lowest -- are: _Brahmins_ (priests), _Kshatriyas_ (warriors), _Vaishyas_ (peasants), and _Sudras_ (unskilled laborers). *Cosmic Christ.* Variously defined, but always seen as divine. Many New Agers speak of him (it) as a universal, impersonal entity who -- among other things -- indwelt the body of the _human_ Jesus for three years (from his baptism to his crucifixion). *Jains.* Followers of Jainism. Jainism is a religious system of India that arose in the sixth century B.C. in protest against the ritualism of Hinduism and the authority of the _Vedas._ Jains are rigidly ascetic, believing in a strict control of wrong thought and action as a means of escaping from the transmigration of the soul (rebirth) that results from one's past actions (karma). *Monism.* A metaphysical theory which sees all reality as a unified whole. Everything is seen as being composed of the same substance. *Sutras.* Collections of aphorisms (or proverbs) which highlight the teachings of the _Vedas_ and _Upanishads_ (Indian scriptures). *Vedas.* The oldest and most sacred scriptures of Hinduism. (The word _veda_ means "sacred knowledge.") *Zoroastrians.* Followers of Zoroastrianism, a Persian religion founded by Zoroaster (c. 628 B.C.-c. 551 B.C.). Zoroastrianism is an ethical religion which espouses an ongoing struggle between two primal spirits: _Ahura Mazda_ (the good spirit), and _Angra Mainyu_ (the evil spirit). Ahura Mazda will ultimately triumph. Note: Additional technical terms used in this article are defined _within_ the text. ------------------------------------------------------------------- *THE LIFE OF SAINT ISSA* As the story goes, in 1887, Nicolas Notovitch -- a Russian war correspondent -- went on a journey through India. While en route to Leh, the capital of Ladakh (in Northern India along the Tibetan border), he heard a Tibetan lama (i.e., monk) in a monastery refer to a grand lama named Issa (the Tibetan form of "Jesus"). Notovitch inquired further, and discovered that a chronicle of the life of Issa existed with other sacred scrolls at the Convent of Himis (about 25 miles from Leh). Notovitch visited this convent and was told by the chief lama that a scroll did in fact exist which provided details about the Prophet Issa. This holy man allegedly preached the same doctrines in Israel as he earlier did in India. The original scroll, the lama said, was written in the Pali language and later translated into Tibetan. The Convent of Himis possessed the Tibetan translation, while the original was said to be in the library of Lhassa (the traditional capital of Tibet). Notovitch eventually persuaded the lama to read the scroll to him, and had it translated from Tibetan by an interpreter. According to Notovitch, the literal translation of the scroll was "disconnected and mingled with accounts of other contemporaneous events to which they bear no relation," and so he took the liberty to arrange "all the fragments concerning the life of Issa in chronological order and [took] pains to impress upon them the character of unity, in which they were absolutely lacking."[2] He went without sleep for many nights so he could order and remodel what he had heard. From the scroll, Notovitch learned that "Jesus had wandered to India and to Tibet as a young man before he began his work in Palestine."[3] The beginning of Jesus' alleged journey is described in the scroll this way: When Issa had attained the age of thirteen years, the epoch when an Israelite should take a wife, the house where his parents earned their living...began to be a place of meeting for rich and noble people, desirous of having for a son-in-law the young Issa, already famous for his edifying discourses in the name of the almighty. Then it was that Issa left the parental house in secret, departed from Jerusalem, and with the merchants set out towards Sind, with the object of perfecting himself in the Divine Word and of studying the laws of the great Buddhas.[4] According to Notovitch, the scroll proceeds to explain how, after briefly visiting with the Jains, young Issa studied for six years among the Brahmins at Juggernaut, Rajagriha, Benares, and other Indian holy cities. The priests of Brahma "taught him to read and understand the Vedas, to cure by aid of prayer, to teach, to explain the holy scriptures to the people, and to drive out evil spirits from the bodies of men, restoring unto them their sanity."[5] While there, the story continues, Issa sought to teach the scriptures to all the people of India -- including the lower castes. The Brahmins and Kshatriyas (higher castes) opposed him in this, and told him that the Sudras (a lower caste) were forbidden to read or even contemplate the Vedas. Issa denounced them severely for this. Because of Issa's controversial teachings, a death plot was devised against him. But the Sudras warned him and he left Juggernaut, establishing himself in Gautamides (the birthplace of the Buddha Sakyamuni) where he studied the sacred writings of the Sutras. "Six years after, Issa, whom the Buddha had elected to spread his holy word, had become a perfect expositor of the sacred writings. Then he left Nepal and the Himalayan mountains, descended into the valley of Rajputana, and went towards the west, preaching to diverse peoples the supreme perfection of man."[6] Following this, we are told, Issa briefly visited Persia where he preached to the Zoroastrians. Then, at 29, he returned to Israel and began to preach all that he had learned. According to Notovitch's "scroll," by the end of Issa's three-year ministry, Pilate had become so alarmed at his mushrooming popularity that he ordered one of his spies to accuse him falsely. Issa was then imprisoned and tortured by soldiers to force a confession which would permit his being executed. The Jewish priests tried to act in Issa's behalf, but to no avail. Issa was falsely accused and Pilate ordered the death sentence: At sunset the sufferings of Issa came to an end. He lost consciousness, and the soul of this just man left his body to become absorbed in the Divinity...Meanwhile, Pilate became afraid of his action and gave the body of the saint to his parents, who buried it near the spot of his execution...Three days after, the governor sent his soldiers to carry away the body of Issa to bury it elsewhere, fearing otherwise a popular insurrection. The next day the crowd found the tomb open and empty. At once the rumor spread that the supreme Judge had sent his angels to carry away the mortal remains of the saint in whom dwelt on earth a part of the Divine Spirit.[7] Following this, some merchants in Palestine allegedly traveled to India, came upon some people who had known Issa as a casual student of Sanskrit and Pali during his youth in India, and filled them in on Issa's demise at the hands of Pilate. And, as the story concludes, _The Life of Saint Issa_ was written on a scroll -- author(s) unknown -- three or four years later. *Nicholas Roerich.* In _The Lost Years of Jesus,_ Elizabeth Clare Prophet documents other supporters of Notovitch's work, the most prominent of which was Nicholas Roerich. Roerich -- a Theosophist -- claimed that from 1924 to 1928 he traveled throughout Central Asia and discovered that legends about Issa were widespread. In his book, _Himalaya,_ he makes reference to "writings" and "manuscripts" about Issa -- some of which he claims to have seen and others about which people told him. Roerich allegedly recorded independently in his own travel diary the same legend of Issa that Notovitch had seen earlier. Throughout the twentieth century, many individuals have responded positively to the work of Notovitch, including Janet and Richard Bock (makers of the film, "The Lost Years of Jesus"), Swami Abhedananda, Sai Baba, Paramahansa Yogananda of the Self-Realization Fellowship, and Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Evidence abounds that the Issa legend is alive and well today. *THE AQUARIAN GOSPEL OF JESUS THE CHRIST* Another major source for the New Age Jesus is _The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ,_ written by Civil War army chaplain Levi Dowling (1844-1911). The title page of this "gospel" bears the words: "Transcribed from the Book of God's Remembrances, known as the Akashic Records." (Occultists believe the physical earth is surrounded by an immense spiritual field known as "Akasha" in which is impressed every impulse of human thought, will, and emotion. It is therefore believed to constitute a complete record of human history.) Hence, unlike Notovitch whose conclusions were based on an alleged objective ancient document, Levi's book is based on an occult form of illumination. The bulk of Levi's gospel, first published in 1911, focuses on the education and travels of Jesus. After studying with Rabbi Hillel (a Jewish scholar), Jesus allegedly traveled to India where he spent years studying among the Brahmins and Buddhists. Jesus supposedly became interested in studying in the East after Joseph (Jesus' father) hosted Prince Ravanna from India. During his visit, Ravanna asked "that he might be the patron of the child; might take him to the East where he could learn the wisdom of the Brahms. And Jesus longed to go that he might learn: and after many days his parents gave consent." So "Jesus was accepted as a pupil in the temple Jagannath; and here he learned the Vedas and the Manic laws."[23] Jesus then visited the city of Benares of the Ganges. While there, "Jesus sought to learn the Hindu art of healing, and became the pupil of Udraka, greatest of the Hindu healers."[24] And Jesus "remained with Udraka until he had learned from him all there was to be learned of the Hindu art of healing."[25] Levi proceeds to chronicle a visit to Tibet, where Jesus allegedly met Meng-ste, the greatest sage of the East: "And Jesus had access to all the sacred manuscripts, and, with the help of Meng-ste, read them all."[26] Jesus eventually arrived in Egypt, and -- in what must be considered a climax of this account of the "lost years" -- he joined the "Sacred Brotherhood" at Heliopolis. While there, he passed through seven degrees of initiation -- Sincerity, Justice, Faith, Philanthropy, Heroism, Love Divine, and THE CHRIST. _The Aquarian Gospel_ records the bestowal of this highest degree: "The hierophant arose and said...upon your brow I place this diadem, and in the Great Lodge of the heavens and earth you are THE CHRIST....You are a neophyte no more; but God himself will speak, and will confirm your title and degree....And then a voice that shook the very temple said, THIS IS THE CHRIST; and every living creature said, AMEN."[27] Later, following his three-year ministry as THE CHRIST and his subsequent death, Jesus' resurrection is described by Levi in terms of a "transmutation" which all men may accomplish. He made many appearances to people all over the world to substantiate this transmutation. For example, he appeared to the "Silent Brotherhood" in Greece and said: "What I can do all men can do. Go preach the gospel of the omnipotence of man."[28] *THE READINGS OF EDGAR CAYCE* Like Levi, Edgar Cayce claimed the ability to read the Akashic Record while in a trance. During his life, he gave over 16,000 readings, 5,000 of which deal with religious matters. It was from the Akashic Record that Cayce set forth an elaborate explanation of the early years of Jesus. The person we know as Jesus, Cayce tells us, had 29 previous incarnations: "These included an early sun worshipper, the author of the _Book of the Dead,_ and Hermes, who was supposedly the architect of the Great Pyramid. Jesus was also Zend (the father of Zoroaster), Amilius (an Atlantean) and other figures of ancient history."[29] Other incarnations include Adam, Joseph, Joshua, Enoch, and Melchizedek. This particular soul did not become "the Christ" until the thirtieth incarnation -- as Jesus of Nazareth. The reason Jesus had to go through so many incarnations is that he -- like all other human beings -- had karmic debt to work off. Jesus received a comprehensive education. Prior to his twelfth year, he attained a thorough knowledge of the Jewish law. "From his twelfth to his fifteenth or sixteenth year he was taught the prophecies by Judy [an Essene teacher] in her home at Carmel. Then began his education abroad. He was sent first again into Egypt for only a short period, then into India for three years, then into that later called Persia....From Persia he was called to Judea at the death of Joseph, then went into Egypt for the completion of his preparation as a teacher."[30] During his alleged studies abroad, Jesus studied under many teachers (including Kahjian in India, Junner in Persia, and Zar in Egypt), and learned healing, weather control, telepathy, astrology, and other psychic arts. When his education was complete, he went back to his homeland where he performed "miracles" and taught the multitudes for three years. *JESUS THE CHRIST AND HIS TEACHINGS* There are many differing views regarding how Jesus attained "Christhood." As we have seen, Levi said Jesus went through seven degrees of initiation, the seventh being THE CHRIST. Cayce said Jesus became "the Christ" in the thirtieth incarnation. Many modern New Agers say the _human_ Jesus merely "attuned" to the _cosmic_ Christ, or achieved _at-one-ment_ with the Christ by raising his own "Christ-consciousness." But however Jesus attained "Christhood," New Agers agree that he was a teacher _par excellence_ of New Age "truths." *The Gospel Sayings of Jesus.* According to New Agers, we must all seek first the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 6:33), recognizing that the "kingdom" has reference to our inner divinity.[31] For indeed, Jesus said "Ye are gods" (John 10:34). The parable about those who foolishly build a house on sand (Matt. 7:24-27) teaches us that those who fail to recognize their divinity will not be able to stand against the storms of life.[32] But if we come unto Jesus, we will find rest, for his yoke (i.e., _yoga_) is easy and his burden is light (Matt. 11:28-30).[33] *"Newly Discovered" Sayings from Extracanonical Sources.* Jesus taught a form of pantheism according to _The Life of Saint Issa,_ for he said that "the Eternal Spirit [God] is the soul of all that is animate."[34] He also taught that all humans have unlimited potential: "I came to show human possibilities....that which I am, all men will be."[35] And, according to the Gnostic gospels, Jesus spoke of "illusion and enlightenment, not of sin and repentance."[36] Indeed, man can save himself: "If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you."[37] *"Newly Discovered" Sayings from the Akashic Record.* According to Levi's _Aquarian Gospel,_ Jesus was just a way-shower: "And all the people were entranced, and would have worshipped Jesus as God; but Jesus said, I am your brother man just come to show the way to God; you shall not worship man."[38] Jesus also taught _pantheism_ and _monism_: "The universal God is one, yet he is more than one [i.e., he takes many forms]; all things are God; all things are one."[39] Jesus also tells us that "the nations of the earth see God from different points of view, and so he does not seem the same to every one."[40] *A CLOSING REFLECTION* What if a manuscript should one day surface in India which speaks of Issa?_ Would this prove that Jesus did in fact go East during His youth? For such a manuscript to be convincing, it would have to have the same kind of irrefutable manuscript evidence as the New Testament, the same quality of eyewitness testimony, and be written very close to the events on which they report like the New Testament.