7rcTIX1xP

The Eighth Lesson: The End of the Life Work.1043
The first to see the Master in His Astral Form was Mary of Magdala, a
woman admirer and follower of her Lord. She was weeping beside the
empty tomb, when looking up she saw a form approaching. The Astral
Form was indistinct and unfamiliar, and at first she did not recognize it. Then
a voice called her name, and looking up she saw the form growing more
distinct and familiar, and she recognized the features of her Master.
* * *
More than this, the occult legends assert the truth of some of the traditions
of the early Christian Church, namely, that in the three days succeeding the
scene of Calvary there appeared in and around Jerusalem the disembodied
forms of many persons who had died a short time previously. It is said that
the Astral Bodies of many dead Jews revisited the scenes of their former life,
and were witnessed by friends and relatives.
* * *
Then Jesus appeared in His Astral Body to the disciples. The traditions
have it that two of the eleven met Him on the afternoon of the day when
He first appeared to Mary—Easter Sunday. Strange to say, they did not at
first recognize Him, although they walked the road with Him and afterward
ate at the same table. This failure to recognize the Master is wholly beyond
ordinary explanation and the churches make no real attempt to make
it understandable. But the occult traditions say that Jesus had not wholly
materialized His Astral Body at first, for reason of prudence, and that
consequently His features were not distinctly and clearly marked; then
at the meal He caused His features to be fully materialized so that the
disciples might readily recognize Him. All occultists who have witnessed the
materialization of an Astral Body will readily understand this statement. The
orthodox theory of Jesus having reappeared in His physical body wholly
fails to explain this nonrecognition by His disciples, who had been His
everyday companions before His death. The slightest consideration should
show which statement is nearer the bounds of reasonable probability.