NextArticle Backto:Articles fromearly magazines Home ContactUs Directory/SiteMap TheoriginalsimpleteachingsofJesushaveundergonemanychanges,becauseofdiverstranslationsfromlanguagetolanguage, anddiverstranslationsoftranslations.ButalloftheGreatOneshaveexpressedThemselvessimply,andIcanfindverylittle differenceinthemessageofJesustheChristandtheotherGreatTeachers. Now,Iwanttotellyousomethinginthebeginning,lesttherebeanydoubtinyourminds:WhatIreceivedfromtheGreatOriental Masters,thatsamehaveIreceivedfromtheteachingsofJesustheChrist! TheGreatOnes,likewaves,batheintheEternalSea,andbecomeOnewithIt.Disciplesmakeallthetroubleanddifferences. Theybegintocreatenarrownessandbigotry.ThepureMessagebecomesdilutedwithignorance.Humanitydrinksofthepolluted watersandthencannotunderstandwhythethirstremains.Onlypurewatercanquenchthirst.

.Thetimehascometoseparatetruth fromfalsehood,knowledgefromignorance.Alltruthandknowledgemustbeusedtocombattheblackdoubtsandsuperstitions hedginghumanityintheprisonofunhappiness,thatthemightyfloodofTruthmayinundatethegathereddarknessoftheages, settingthesoulofhumanityfree. ItamusesmewhenIhearmyWesternbrotherssay"DoyoubelieveinChrist?"Ialwayssay"JesusChrist."AndIpictureHimin mymindasHereallywasOrientalChrist.ManypaintershavetriedtogiveHimblueeyesandlighthair,butHewasapure Oriental.AndyouoftheWesthavetakenfromanenslavednationJesusChristasyourPreceptor,andthegreatestgiftofall, spiritualfreedom,taughtbythisgreatOriental. Everyhumanbeingisaproductofhisclimaticconditions,heredity,familycharacteristics,andtheprenatalandpostnatalactions performedbyhim,asinfluencedbyrightorwrongwill,rightorwrongjudgment,rightorwronghabits,rightorwrongfeelings,and bythesoul'sintuitiveguidance.NomatterwhatJesusChristwasHimself,asregardsHisownSoulnonecandenythatHe,being bornintheOrient,hadtousethemediumofOrientalcivilization,customs,mannerisms,language,parables,etc.,inspreadingHis message.Hence.theteachingsofJesusChrist,nomatterhowuniversaltheymaybe,aresaturatedwiththeessenceofOriental civilization. JesuswasanOriental,bybirthandbloodandtraining.TheWiseMenoftheEast,orEastIndia,cametoconferaboutHimwhen Hewasborn,knowingHimtobeoneofthegreatestmessagebearersofTruth. IamnotsayingthatJesusChristlearnedeverythingfromtheGreatMastersofIndia,becauseGodneverteachesdirectlythrough humanvehicles.ButithasbeendefinitelyproventhatJesuswasconnectedwiththeHighInitiatesandtheMastersofIndia.Inthe UnknownLifeofChrist,byNicholasNotovitch,theRussianauthortellshowhewenttoTibet,hopingtostudyTibetanliterature, handwrittenonpapyrusscroll.BecauseofthesecretivenessoftheLamas,itwasimpossibletofindatraceofwhathewanted butastrangemiraclehappened.JustwhenhewasreturningfruitlesslytoIndia,hefellfromacliffandbrokehisleg,andwastaken backtotheMonasterytoreceivethenecessarycare!TheTibetansareveryhospitabletotheirinvitedorstrickenguests.While theinjuredmanwasrecovering,theheadLamaaskedhimwhathewanted.Hesaid,"Readtomethepapyrusscrolls!"From thesesacredscrollshesecuredconclusiveevidencethatJesusChrist'snamewasIsa,meaning"Lord,"whichafterwardswas pronouncedasJesus.HeconferredwiththeMastersonYogaandgreatproblemsofhumanupliftment,livingwiththematthe Monasterybutattheageoffifteen,itissaid,theytriedtogetHimmarried,sohefled.Idon'tblamehim.But,alas,thosewhodo notmarry,repentandthosewhodomarry,repent.ThatiswhyIamgladIammarriedtotheInfiniteNatureandSpirit.Thereis neveranyhurtanddisappointmentinthatkindofmarriage. ThesacredscrollsfurtherrevealedthatasJesusChristwasvisitedbytheWiseMenoftheEast,soHepaidthemareturnvisitto TibetandconferredwiththeGreatMasters.JesusthenwenttoIndiatocommunewiththeMastersthereandafterpreachingthe MessageinIndia,hewenttoAsiaMinor.HewantedtospreadHismessageuniversally.Mr.NicholasNotovitch,inorderto provetheabovefactaboutthetripofJesus,challengedmanymissionariestogowithhimtoTibet.Buttheydidnotwanttodoso. JesusChristgaveHissecretmessageinIndiafirstofall.IfyouloveJesus,youmusthavesomeconsiderationfortheOrientals.Do notgivethemnicknames,foryoudonotknowwhatnicknamestheywillgiveyouinreturn.Anexchangeofnicknameswillnot enrichyouspiritually.Givewisdom,andwisdomwillcometoyou.Givekindnessandlove,andkindnessandlovewillbereturned toyou.Youalwaysgetbackwhatyougiveout. Now,tocomeback.JesusChristwasanOriental.HisteachingswereOriental,expressedinOrientallanguage.TheOccidental triestomonopolizeJesusChrist,butcompletelyignorestheinfluenceofEasterncustoms,culture,andEasternlessonsin Christianity,andthusbecomesonesided.ItisnotpossibletoseparatetheTeacherfromHisnationalitywithoutcausinggreat misunderstandingandconfusion. Ishalltellyouafewthingswhichwillhelpyou.Iamgoingtotellyoufrankly,openly,withoutanyprejudiceorpartiality,aboutthe

OrientalChrist
byParamhansaYogananda EastWest,MarchApril1930
JesusChristwasanOriental.Therefore,histeachingswerederivedfromOrientalenvironmentandheredity.Truthisnota monopolyoftheOrientortheOccident.Thesunlight,thoughpuresilver,appearstoberedorbluewhenlookeduponthrough redorblueglassesso,also,doespure,undilutedtruthappeartobedifferentwhenexpressedthroughOrientalorOccidental civilization.

Now,tocomeback.JesusChristwasanOriental.HisteachingswereOriental,expressedinOrientallanguage.TheOccidental triestomonopolizeJesusChrist,butcompletelyignorestheinfluenceofEasterncustoms,culture,andEasternlessonsin Christianity,andthusbecomesonesided.ItisnotpossibletoseparatetheTeacherfromHisnationalitywithoutcausinggreat misunderstandingandconfusion. Ishalltellyouafewthingswhichwillhelpyou.Iamgoingtotellyoufrankly,openly,withoutanyprejudiceorpartiality,aboutthe WesternadaptationoftheteachingsofJesusChristitsdefectsanditsmerits.TheWesternadaptationemphasizesbrotherhood yet,wheneveryouthinkofaChurch,youthinkofabandofsecretariescollectingmoneyinsteadofthinkingoftheirdeedsof mercyandgood.YouthinkofsermonsaboutJesus,notsermonsgivingtherevealedmessageofJesusChrist,theGreatMaster. TheWesternspiritlacksmuchwhichthespiritoftheEastcansupply.Granted,thattheEastisnotpracticalenough!TheWestis toopracticaltobespirituallypractical.ThatiswhyIamtryingtounitethetwo.Theyneedeachother. Theprideofmaterialismshouldbedestroyed,thoughmaterialefficiencyisnecessaryandright.ThisisalessonfortheWestto learn.Notthecompleteignoringofthepractical,thoughthephilosophyofidealismshouldbecontinuallypracticed,blendedwith enoughpracticalcommercialismtoavoidhardshipandsufferingthisisthelessontobelearnedbytheEast. TounderstandJesusChristandHisteachingsonemustsympatheticallystudytheOrientalstheirancientandpresentcivilization, religiousscriptures,traditions,philosophies,spiritualbeliefs,andintuitivemetaphysicalexperiences.ThoughtheteachingsofJesus areuniversalandhavebeenmadeadaptabletoWesternenvironment,still,inordertounderstandChristianity,onemustfirsttake awayitsWesternveilandthenitsOrientalveil.Behindthetwoopaqueveils,realChristianityhides.WesternChristianityisthe outercrustandEasternChristianityistheinnercrust.TheOrientalChristalwaysemphasized:Takenoheedforthebodywhat yeshalleat,whatyeshallwear.Bread,themenoftheworldseekafterseekyetheKingdomofGod,andallthesethingswillbe addeduntoyou.TheOccidentalChristianmightsay,instead:Takeheedofthebodyfirst,thatinahealthybodytempleyemay findGod.Bread,yemenoftheworld,seekfirst,andafterwardsseekyetheKingdomofGod. InthewarmOrientalclimate,inabygoneage,itwaseasytogetbreadwithoutmuchthinkingormuchlaboring,andthusitwas easytomeditateonGodinleisureandsolitudewhereas,intheOccident,onehastothinkofbread,hardandfastand successfully,orhewillnothavetimeatall,orstrength,toseekthekingdomofGod. OrientalChristandHisteachingsaresuitedtotheOrientalsandtheOrientalclimaticconditions.Therefore,theteachingsofJesus mustbesojudiciouslyadaptedthattheymaybecomepossiblefortheOccidentaltofollow.Otherwise,itwouldhappenthat,as somedoctorssay,"theoperationwassuccessful,"butthepatientpeacefullydiedonthetable.TheuniversalteachingsofJesus ChristshouldbeadaptedaccordingtotheneedsoftheOrientalandOccidental,emphasizingtheprinciplesofChristianreligion andomittingthenonessentialformsaddedtothemfromtimetotime. Greatcareshouldbetaken,however,toembodytheessential,livingprinciplesofChristianitywhileitisbeingtransplantedfrom OrientalatmospheretoOccidentalenvironment.NodifferencemustbemadebetweenOrientalChristianreligiousmethodsof salvationandOccidentalChristianreligioustechniquesofsalvation.Rather,thedistinctionshouldbemadebetweentrueChristian principlesandfalse,formal,dogmaticChristiancreedboundbeliefs.EasternChristianityconsiderschurchgoingandintellectual studyofscripturesasspiritualkindergartenwork,theseonlyemphasizingthenecessityoftestingoutreligiousbeliefsinthe laboratoryofmeditation,undertheguidanceofarealmanofselfrealization,whohasfoundGodinthelightofhisintuitionthrough deepandunceasingscientificspiritualefforts. OccidentalChristianityadvocatesformalbutbeneficialmoralandreligiouswelfareandorganizationwork.WesternChristianity appearssatisfiedwiththeologicalbeliefsandtheproductionofvictrolarecord,cutanddriedsermons,andtheerectionofhuge edificesandchurcheswithawonderfulbusinesssystemtorunthem.ButwhileWesternChristianityhassavedWesterncivilization fromatheismandimmorality,ithasfailedtoawakenthedesiretoobtainintuitionalmetaphysicalexperiencesaboutGod,evolved outoftheselfcreatedeffortsofmeditation.OccidentalChristianityadvocatestoomuchformal,congregationalworshippingof God.OrientalChristianityemphasizesindividualcontactofGodbutisutterlylackinginphilanthropicorganizationandsocial welfarework. ThatiswhytheWest,withallthewonderfuldevicesofthepracticalOccidentalmind,isintheEasttoday,dominatingit.Butmark you,theEasternsoldiersarenotsilent.TheWesthaspowerandstrengthbuttheEastisarmedwithsilentphilosophynotto conquerlands,buttoconquersouls,withlove,service,andkindliness.WeareallchildrenofGodwehavealwaysbeenand willbealways.Thedifferencescomefromprejudicesandprejudiceisthechildofignorance.Weshouldnotbeproudofbeing AmericansorIndiansorItaliansoranyothernationality,forthatisbutanaccidentofbirth.Aboveallelse,weshouldbeproud thatwearechildrenofGod,madeinHisImage.Isn'tthatthemessageofChrist? TheEastmustlearnfromtheWest,andtheWestmustlearnfromtheEast.TheWestpreachespracticality!TheEastteaches spirituality!Withoutidealism,materialpracticalityistheharbingerofselfishness,sin,competition,andwars.Withoutpracticality combinedwithidealism,thereisconfusionandsufferingandlackofnaturalprogress.Letuscombineforcesandconquertogether, insteadofonenationconqueringtheother. TheOrientalsrevereandacknowledgeJesusasLeaderofhumanity,SonofGodandTruth,onlytheyinterpretHimdifferently. ThecommunityreligiousserviceoftheWestismarvelous,butthatisnotenough,fortheWesternservicelacksmetaphysical meditationandtheknowledgeofthemethodsofdirectcommunionwithGod.Ontheotherhand,theEastlacksorganizationbut emphasizesdirect,firsthandknowledgefromGod.Therefore,inordertounderstandJesusChrist'sdoctrines,itisnecessaryto combinetheorganizationefficiencyandsocialwelfarephilanthropywithpersonalverificationofChrist'steachingsbymetaphysical studyandcontactingGodindividuallyinthetempleofmeditation.Theneachonecan,himself,understandwhatJesusChristwas, throughtheintuitiveselfverificationofHisteachings. Bothorganizationandspiritualityarenecessaryfornormalandsatisfactoryhumanprogress.Ishallgiveyouapicture: Inoneplace,atenmilliondollartemplewithmarbledecorationsandaskyscrapergoldendome,allowingtenthousandtobe seatedcomfortably,withamilliondollarorganandafamouschoirchantinghymnstoGod.Itisallimpressiveandenjoyable,andI appreciateandadmiresuch.But,mindyou,Godcannotbebribedbybigchurches,bywealthypeople,norbysermons,songs, andformalprayers. Now,behold!sittingunderatreebeneathacanopyoffreeskies,aChristlikeman,withonlythreedisciples,butallinconscious contactwithGod!Wouldyounotprefertobethere,tofeelGod,andnotbeoverpoweredbyadmirationoftheevanescentglory

Inoneplace,atenmilliondollartemplewithmarbledecorationsandaskyscrapergoldendome,allowingtenthousandtobe seatedcomfortably,withamilliondollarorganandafamouschoirchantinghymnstoGod.Itisallimpressiveandenjoyable,andI appreciateandadmiresuch.But,mindyou,Godcannotbebribedbybigchurches,bywealthypeople,norbysermons,songs, andformalprayers. Now,behold!sittingunderatreebeneathacanopyoffreeskies,aChristlikeman,withonlythreedisciples,butallinconscious contactwithGod!Wouldyounotprefertobethere,tofeelGod,andnotbeoverpoweredbyadmirationoftheevanescentglory ofagorgeouschurch?ThatdoesnotmeanthatGodisnotinthechurches.Godisinthetemple,andHeisunderthetree.Butonly byearnest,scientificmeditation,byspiritualstrength,byunceasingdesirecantheclosedspiritualdoorofinnerSilencebe openedtothecongregationinthetempleortothedevoteesunderthetree.Pompandshowarenotabletoopenthatdoor,noris hardshipofanykindnecessary.Itswingsonmagicalhingesonlywhentheseekingsoul'shighvibrationturnsthefairykey.And behindthatunseendoorliesREALIZATION,theDivineRealizationofJesusChrist. HiddenawayinaMonasteryofTibet,pricelessrecordslie.Theworldisnotyetreadyforthem.Religiousfanaticswouldonly destroythem,shouldtheybegiventoosoontotheworld.ButnootherhistoryofthelifeofJesusbetweentheagesoffifteenand thirtyhaseverbeenfound.BecauseofthecustominTibet,thatasickguestmayhavehisdesiregrantedwhenpossible,the hospitableTibetanPriestsorLamashaveshowntheSacredScrollstoonemanwhoislivingtoday.Theywillbelongtotheworld eventually,whentheworldisreadyforthem. Meantime,theGreatMessageofJesusChristislivingandthrivinginbothEastandWest.TheWesthasbeenperfectingthe physicalman,andtheEasthasbeendevelopingthespiritualman.BothEastandWestareonesided.Andisitnotstrangetonote that,perhapsduetoGod'ssecretPlansincetheEastneedsmaterialdevelopment,ithasbeeninvadedbyWesternmaterial civilization!AndsincetheWestneedsspiritualbalance,ithasbeensilentlybutsurelyinvadedbyHinduphilosophy! Verily,theWestinvadedtheEasttoconqueritslandswithgunsandmaterialforce.ButtheEast,inreturn,hasinvadedtheWest withloveandphilosophytoconquersouls. JesusChrististhemodelforbothEastandWesttofollow.God'sstamp,asSonofGod,ishiddenineverysoul.Doawaywith masks!ComeoutopenlyasSonsofGod!Notbytalkandlearnedbyheartprayer,intellectualfireworksofwordedsermonsto pleaseGod,butbyREALIZATION!IdentifyyourselfwithChristconsciousness,notwithnarrowbigotrymaskedaswisdom. IdentifyyourselfwithUniversalLovebyservingall,bothmateriallyandspirituallyandthenyouwillknowwhoJesusChristwas, andcansayinyoursoulthatwearealloneband,allSonsoftheOneGod! Peace!Bliss!Peace!

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