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A Series of Lessons in Mystic Christianity968
regarding this important period of between seventeen and eighteen years.
It is to be remembered that when He appeared upon the scene of John’s
ministration, the latter did not recognize Him, whereas had Jesus remained
about His home, John, his cousin, would have been acquainted with his
features and personal appearance.
The occult teachings inform us that the seventeen or eighteen years of
Jesus’ life regarding which the Gospels are silent, were filled with travels
in far and distant lands, where the youth and young man was instructed
in the occult lore and wisdom of the different schools. It is taught that He
was taken into India, and Egypt, and Persia, and other far regions, living for
several years at each important center, and being initiated into the various
brotherhoods, orders, and bodies having their headquarters there. Some
of the Egyptians’ orders have traditions of a young Master who sojourned
among them, and such is likewise the case in Persia and in India. Even among
the lamasaries hidden in Thibet and in the Himalayan Mountains are to be
found legends and stories regarding the marvelous young Master who once
visited there and absorbed their wisdom and secret knowledge.
More than this, there are traditions among the Brahmans, Buddhists and
Zoroastrians, telling of a strange young teacher who appeared among them,
who taught marvelous truths and who aroused great opposition among the
priests of the various religions of India and Persia, owing to his preaching
against priestcraft and formalism, and also by his bitter opposition to all
forms of caste distinctions and restrictions. And this, too, is in accord with
the occult legends which teach that from about the age of twenty-one until
the age of nearly thirty years Jesus pursued a ministry among the people
of India and Persia and neighboring countries, returning at last to his native
land where He conducted a ministry extending over the last three years of
His life.
The occult legends inform us that He aroused great interest among the
people of each land visited by Him, and that He also aroused the most
bitter opposition among the priests, for He always opposed formalism and