Jesus the Rishi Master
At the age of thirty, the Bible records that Jesus travelled from Galilee to the river Jordan where he was baptized by John the Baptist. According to St Matthew, as Jesus emerged from the river, the heavens opened and a voice cried out saying: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased“. (Matthew 3:17)
Hovever, Jesus did not begin his ministry of salvation at that point, for Matthew goes on to report that he retired into the desert, where he fasted for a period of forty days and forty nights. It was at this point that the devil came and tempted him.
The temptations that challenged Jesus bear a striking resemblance to the story of the temptations that assailed the Buddha. In the case of Jesus, the tempter was said to be the devil, whereas in the case of Gautama it was said to be the demon Mara.
In both of these cases, the forces of the Light triumphed over the forces of Darkness. In the case of Gautama, he was transformed into the Buddha (The Enlightened One). In the case of Jesus, he was transformed into the Christ (The Annointed One).
At that moment of transformation, both ascended in consciousness to the level of Supreme Awareness, where they were forever freed from the limitations of the flesh, and of the restrictions of matter, energy, space and time.
Like the Rishis of old that had trod the path before them, both were now masters of the universe, and all of the miraculous powers (Siddhis) that were associated with the Rishis, were now avalable for them to use as they desired.
When Jesus returned to Galilee after his forty day vigil in the desert, he was no longer Jesus the man. He was now the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And the message that he brought to the multitudes that gathered around him, was the same message that had been taught by the Rishis of old that had so impressed Alexander the Great.
As recorded in the Gospel of St John, Jesus came with a simple message for all mankind. His message was one of hope, of the overcoming of sorrow, of the liberation of the spirit, and of the transformation of the soul. Anyone who wanted to escape from the troubles of this world could attain eternal life, regardless of their age, race, gender, or the circumstances of their lives.
When the Jews asked Jesus what his purpose was in preaching to the multitudes, he replied: “I am come that they might have life, and they might have it more abundantly”. (John 10:10)
The life that Jesus spoke of was not a state that could only be experienced after death. It was something that could be experienced here and now. It was a life that transcended the power of death. “And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” (John 10:28)
Because Jesus experienced life at the level of Supreme Awareness, he was able to raise others to that same state, if they were prepared to do what he had done. “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” (John 10:9)
When the Jews asked him who he thought he was, Jesus replied that he was the Son of God: “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30) In fact Jesus went further. Not only did he have the power to do miraculous things, but others who believed in him would be able to do even greater things than he had done.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:12-14)
The Jews were so incensed at his words that they took up stones to kill him. Jesus challenged them: “Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, for a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thouself God.” (John 10: 32-33)
His response was telling. “Jesus answered them, is it not written in your law (Psalm 82:6), I said, Ye are gods; (and all of you are children of the most High?)” (John 10:34) In the two thousand years that have passed since that reply, mankind still refuses to believe this simple truth.
Truly, each one of us is Divine, and each one of us has the power to transform the world and the circumstances of our lives.
