The Master Jesus, within the metaphysical system of Theosophy, refers to the theosophical concept of Jesus as opposed to the Jesus Christ of the Christian religion.
Master Jesus' position in the Hierarchy of Masters of the Ancient Wisdom
The Master Jesus, in the teachings of Theosophy is one of the "Masters of the Ancient Wisdom"and in the Ascended Master Teachings is one of the Ascended Masters (also collectively called the Great White Brotherhood). The "Master Jesus" is regarded by Theosophists, was regarded by Alice A. Bailey, and was previously regarded by students of the "Ascended Master Teachings" as the Master of the Sixth Ray[1] (see Seven Rays). It is believed by "Ascended Master Teachings" organizations that the Master Jesus was "Chohan of the Sixth Ray" until December 31, 1959, when, according to Elizabeth Clare Prophet, Lady Master Nada fully took on that Office in Hierarchy. According to the Elizabeth Clare Prophet of the Ascended Master Teachings, Jesus became World Teacher, along with Kuthumi, on January 1, 1956, succeeding Maitreya (who took the Office of "Planetary Buddha" and "Cosmic Christ").[2][3] This belief is not accepted by adherents of traditional Theosophy and the followers of Alice A. Bailey and Benjamin Creme - they believe that the Master Jesus is still the Chohan of the Sixth Ray.
Master Jesus' previous incarnations
According to Elizabeth Clare Prophet, the Prophet of the Church Universal and Triumphant, the largest Ascended Master Teachings religion, the Master Jesus incarnated twice as the Emperor of Atlantis, once in 33,050 BC and again in 15,000 BC.[4] He did this in order to aid the white magicians in the war of the white magicians and the black magicians that was going on in Atlantis at that time.
According to Alice A. Bailey, the Master Jesus was previously incarnated as Joshua, the Hebrew military leader in the 13th century BC, and Joshua the High Priest in the sixth century BC.[5]
According to the Ascended Master Teachings,[6][7][8][9][10] Jesus was also incarnated as Joseph of the Coat of Many Colors in the 17th century BC/16th century BC (approximately between 1550 BC and 1650 BC), as well as King David (who lived c. 1037 BC until around 970 BC), and Elisha in the 9th century BC.[11]
Activities between the ages of twelve and thirty
According to the Ascended Master Teachings, to prepare for his ministry, Jesus first studied at the Brotherhood of Luxor (a mystery school), and then went to India to study under the Great Divine Director, Maitreya, and Lord Himalaya, the Manu of the Fourth Root Race (Atlantean).[12]
Ministry of Jesus
The followers of Benjamin Creme and Alice A. Bailey believe in the Nestorian/Gnostic Christology promulgated by C.W. Leadbeater which asserts that the powerful being known as the Maitreya overshadowed the Master Jesus during the Ministry of Jesus, such that there were two beings in one body—Maitreya was the Christ and the Master Jesus was Jesus of Nazareth; the combination of the two beings functioned as Jesus Christ.[13][14] Those adherent to the Ascended Master Teachings believe in the existence of the Maitreya; however, they believe that although he encouraged the mission of Jesus, he did not actually overshadow Jesus.[15]
Jesus' crucifixion
Theosophists and those adherent to the Ascended Master Teachings alike believe that the Master Jesus underwent the fourth level of initiation (the crucifixion) at his crucifixion in Jerusalem. According to Alice A. Bailey, for most people at the fourth initiation the crucifixion is symbolic as a severe life test of renunciation, but for Jesus it was literal.[16]
Jesus' resurrection
Ascended Master Teachings organizations adhere to the Christian view that Jesus Resurrected and Ascended with his own physical body. Some with backgrounds in traditional Theosophy, the teachings of Alice A. Bailey, and Benjamin Creme believe that Jesus resurrected from the body that he had when he incarnated as Apollonius of Tyana.
Activities after his resurrection
It is believed in the Ascended Master Teachings that when Jesus ascended on the 40th day after the resurrection, he levitated from Judaea to Kashmir (presumably he teleported back to Judaea briefly on the 50th day after his resurrection in order to observe from afar the events of the Day of Pentecost; in the Ascended Master Teachings it is believed that these events were coordinated by the Maha Chohan, who, it is asserted, is the representative of the Holy Ghost on Earth), where he lived until he was 81, and then ascended to Shamballa to be with the Lord of the World, Sanat Kumara.[17]
Controversy regarding Jesus' incarnation as Apollonius of Tyana
Helena Blavatsky, a founder of the Theosophical Society, wrote in 1877: "Apollonius, a contemporary of Jesus of Nazareth, was, like him, an enthusiastic founder of a new spiritual school. Perhaps less metaphysical and more practical than Jesus, less tender and perfect in his nature, he nevertheless inculcated the same quintessence of spirituality, and the same high moral truths."[18] Some Theosophists such as C.W. Leadbeater and the teachers of Neo-Theosophy, Alice A. Bailey and Benjamin Creme, have written that the Master Jesus was also incarnated as Apollonius of Tyana after his incarnation as Jesus of Nazareth. It is believed that he attained the fifth level of initiation (the resurrection) when he became an Ascended Master at the end of his life as Apollonius of Tyana. However, if Apollonius was a contemporary of Jesus as Blavatsky wrote, Jesus could not have reincarnated as him. Benjamin Creme gets around this by claiming that Jesus lived from 24 BC to 9 AD[19] (instead of the usual dates given of Jesus's lifetime as being circa 6 BC to circa 33 AD). This means that Jesus could have incarnated as Apollonius of Tyana, since according to Creme, Apollonius lived from 16 AD to circa 97 AD[20]. However, modern scholarship gives the dates of Apollonius of Tyana's life as being 40 AD to 120 AD[21], thus making it possible that, even if the usual dates of Jesus' lifetime are accepted (circa 6 BC to circa 33 AD), he still could have incarnated as Apollonius of Tyana.
Jesus' incarnation as Apollonius of Tyana is accepted by the followers of traditional Theosophy, of Alice A. Bailey, and of Benjamin Creme, but not by those who are adherent to the Ascended Master Teachings, who believe that the incarnation as Jesus was his last embodiment on Earth.
Jesus' incarnation as Ramanuja
C.W. Leadbeater stated that the Master Jesus, after his resurrection in the body of Apollonius of Tyana, again incarnated in India as the Tamil religious reformer Ramanuja (1017–1137), a leading figure within the bhakti movement in Hinduism; thus, by incarnating as Ramanuja, Jesus became an avatar. According to Leadbeater, the Master Jesus incarnated as Ramanuja as part of his spiritual work as Master of the Sixth Ray of Love-Devotion (bhakti is the Sanskrit word for devotion).[22]
That Jesus incarnated as Ramanuja is believed by many traditional Theosophists, but not by those adherent to the Ascended Master Teachings.
Benjamin Crème’s views
According to Benjamin Creme, the Master Jesus visited the Americas not immediately after his resurrection as recounted in the Book of Mormon, but several hundred years later.[23] Like the Mormons, Creme believes that this visit gave rise to the legend of Quetzacoatl.
Also, Benjamin Creme has stated that since 1990 the Master Jesus has been living in secret in Rome.[24] After the Maitreya makes his Emergence (the Day of Declaration), Creme asserts, the Master Jesus in his immortal body will assume the papal throne for the next 2,000 years of the Age of Aquarius.
Twin flame
Ascended Master Teachings groups describe the Master Jesus or Sananda as having a twin flame (celestial wife) named Lady Master Magda one of whose two known incarnations was Mary Magdelene; the other was Aimee Semple McPherson.[25]
Skeptical view
The scholar K. Paul Johnson maintains that the "Masters" that Madame Blavatsky wrote about and produced letters from were actually idealizations of people who were her mentors. [26]
Also see the article “Talking to the Dead and Other Amusements” by Paul Zweig New York Times October 5, 1980, which maintains that Madame Blavatsky's revelations were fraudulent.
However, the Master Jesus was never one of the "Masters" that Madame Blavatsky claimed to have met. He was added as a "Master" by Annie Besant and C.W. Leadbeater in their 1913 book Man: Whence, How and Whither. [27]
The Master Jesus in popular culture
Anime
Panelology
Notes
- ^ Bailey, Alice A, A Treatise on Cosmic Fire (Section Three - Division A - Certain Basic Statements), 1932, Lucis Trust. 1925, p 1237
- ^ Luk, A.D.K. The Law of Life: Book II Pueblo, Colorado: A.D.K. Luk Publications 1989; pages 267-272
- ^ Prophet, Mark L. and Elizabeth Clare Lords of the Seven Rays Livingston, Montana: Summit University Press 1986 page 225
- ^ Prophet, Elizabeth Clare and Prophet, Mark (as compiled by Annice Booth) The Masters and Their Retreats Corwin Springs, Montana:2003 Summit University Press Pages 142-143
- ^ Bailey, Alice A. Initiation, Human and Solar New York: 1922--Lucis Publishing Page 56
- ^ I AM Ascended Master Dictation List Saint Germain Press Inc., 1995, Listing of Ascended Masters by The I AM Activity
- ^ Schroeder, Werner Ascended Masters and Their Retreats Ascended Master Teaching Foundation 2004, Listing of those who are believed to be Ascended Masters by The I AM Activity and The Bridge to Freedom
- ^ Luk, A.D.K.. Law of Life - Book II. Pueblo, Colorado: A.D.K. Luk Publications 1989, Listing of Ascended Masters by The I AM Activity and The Bridge to Freedom
- ^ Booth, Annice The Masters and Their Retreats Summit Lighthouse Library June 2003, Listing of those who are believed to be Ascended Masters by The I AM Activity, The Bridge to Freedom, and The Summit Lighthouse
- ^ Shearer, Monroe & Carolyn I AM Adorations, Affirmations & Rhythmic Decrees Acropolis Sophia Books and Works 1998, Listing of Ascended Masters by The I AM Activity, The Bridge to Freedom, The Summit Lighthouse, and The Temple of The Presence
- ^ Prophet, Elizabeth Clare and Prophet, Mark (as compiled by Annice Booth) The Masters and Their Retreats Corwin Springs, Montana:2003 Summit University Press Page 143
- ^ Prophet, Elizabeth Clare and Prophet, Mark (as compiled by Annice Booth) The Masters and Their Retreats Corwin Springs, Montana:2003 Summit University Press Page 144
- ^ Leadbeater, C.W. The Masters and the Path Adyar, Madras, India: 1925--Theosophical Publishing House Page 278
- ^ Creme, Benjamin Maitreya's Mission--Volume III Amsterdam:1997 Share International Foundtion Page 64
- ^ Prophet, Mark Studies of the Human Aura Colorado Springs, Colorado: 1975 - Summit University Press (Claimed to have been dictated from "Kuthumi") Page 17
- ^ Bailey, Alice A. Initiation, Human and Solar New York: 1922 Lucis Publishing Co. Page 89
- ^ Prophet, Elizabeth Clare and Prophet, Mark (as compiled by Annice Booth) The Masters and Their Retreats Corwin Springs, Montana:2003 Summit University Press Pages 144
- ^ Helena P. Blavatsky: Isis Unveiled, vol. 2, New York 1877 (reprinted 1999), p. 341.
- ^ Creme, Benjamin Maitreya's Mission Vol. I London:1986--Share International Foundation Page 382
- ^ Creme, Benjamin Maitreya's Mission Vol. I London:1986--Share International Foundation Page 373
- ^ For the chronology see Maria Dzielska: Apollonius of Tyana in Legend and History, Rome 1986, p. 30-38.
- ^ Leadbeater, C.W. The Masters and the Path Adyar, Madras, India:1925 Theosophical Publishing House Page 239
- ^ Creme, Benjamin Maitreya's Mission--Volume III Amsterdam:1997 Share International Foundation Page 378
- ^ Creme, Benjamin Maitreya's Mission--Volume III Amsterdam:1997 Share International Foundtion Page 46
- ^ Prophet, Elizabeth Clare and Prophet, Mark (as compiled by Annice Booth) The Masters and Their Retreats Corwin Springs, Montana:2003 Summit University Press Lady Master Magda Pages 196-200
- ^ Johnson, Paul K. Initiates of Theosophical Masters Albany, New York:1995 State University of New York Press
- ^ Besant, Annie and Leadbeater, C.W. Man: How, Whence, and Whither? Adyar, India:1913 Theosophical Publishing House Page Page 133
- ^ Occult Laff-Parade San Francisco:1973 The Print Mint-—See 4-page strip by Jay Kinney and Ned Sonntag entitled "Bud Tuttle and Commander Jesus". It was a satire of a series of UFO messages from the Master Jesus that had been allegedly channeled by a woman named Nada Yolanda. Nada Yolanda:.
Sources
- Leadbeater, C.W. The Masters and the Path Adyar, Madras, India: 1925—Theosophical Publishing House
- Prophet, Mark L. and Elizabeth Clare Lords of the Seven Rays Livingston, Montana, U.S.A.:1986 - Summit University Press
See also
Further reading
- Campbell, Bruce F. A History of the Theosophical Movement Berkeley:1980 University of California Press
- Godwin, Joscelyn The Theosophical Enlightenment Albany, New York: 1994 State University of New York Press
- Johnson, K. Paul The Masters Revealed: Madam Blavatsky and Myth of the Great White Brotherhood Albany, New York: 1994 State University of New York Press
- Melton, J. Gordon Encyclopedia of American Religions 5th Edition New York:1996 Gale Research ISBN 0-8103-7714-4 ISSN 1066-1212 Chapter 18--"The Ancient Wisdom Family of Religions" Pages 151-158; see chart on page 154 listing Masters of the Ancient Wisdom; Also see Section 18, Pages 717-757 Descriptions of various Ancient Wisdom religious organizations
