Son of Man and Seven Inner Churches of Asia

The theme of ancient systems of inner cultivation and ascension continues from last week's rapture with a deeper look into the Book of Revelation. Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament, an apocalyptic parable written by John of Patmos, revealing the luminous path of the Son of Man and the Kingdom of Heaven within.

While the text is often taken for a prediction of future events, the events to come are primarily internal in nature — so much so that the narrative even features Son of Man in sequential future forms, inspiring each "earlier" church to move forward. The Book of Revelation is a revelation on how to build the Kingdom of Heaven within; with parallels in mystic traditions the world around.

"If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. (1 Corinthians 15)

Today's studies cover Revelation chapters 1-3, featuring John's vision of Son of Man and the mystery of seven churches, lampstands, angels and stars. In these chapters, Son of Man addresses the seven churches of Asia, dictating a series of approvals, cautions, and blessings for those who persevere in spirit — until claiming the everlasting crown of victory.

The last three of the seven inner churches (in chapter three) have been re-ordered for ease of sequential reading from ☺☺☺ Heaven to ☻☻☻ Earth. This is a short illustrated journey into the stars of the churches, although much remains to be said. Suffice it to say that every good child of luminosity should diligently attend the seven churches daily!

~≈☺≈☯≈☻≈~

Blessing: "Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth." (Revelation 1:4)

Background: "On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: 'Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea...
   "The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.'" (Revelation 1:10-11,19)

~≈☺≈☯≈☻≈~

Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20)

☺☺☺ [+++] Heaven — Son of Man (Rev. 1:12-16)

Luminous Christ: "I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a Son of Man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance."

~≈☺≈☯≈☻≈~

☺☺☻ [++-] Lake — To Church of Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7)

Speaker: Holder of seven stars who walks among seven golden lampstands. (Speaks from +++ Heaven: Crystal Sea Above the Stars.)
Approval: Deeds, hard work, perseverance, intolerance of wickedness, overturning false apostles, unweariness in face of hardship, aversion to immorality.
Caution: Forsaken their first love; "Repent and learn from your beginning, lest your lampstand be removed!"
Victory: Given right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

~≈☺≈☯≈☻≈~

☺☻☺ [+-+] Fire — To Church of Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11)

Speaker: Alpha and Omega who died and came to life again. (Speaks from ++- Lake: Well of Soul and Self.)
Approval:  Afflictions, inner wealth in poverty, slandered by misguided hypocrites.
Caution: Trials and persecution; "The devil will imprison some of you; stay firm to the point of death!"
Victory: Will not be hurt in the least by the second death.

~≈☺≈☯≈☻≈~

☺☻☻ [+--] Thunder — To Church of Pergamum (Rev. 2:12-17)

Speaker: Who has a sharp, double-edged sword in his mouth. (Speaks from +-+ Fire: Fierce and Grasping Analysis.)
Approval: Faithful despite temptation, living at Satan's throne, faith over fear of death.
Caution: Immorality and idolatry; "Repent or I will fight you with the sword of my mouth!"
Victory: Receives hidden manna and a white stone with a new concealed name.

~≈☺≈☯≈☻≈~

☻☺☺ [-++] Wind — To Church of Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-26)

Speaker: Eyes like blazing fire, feet like burnished bronze, searcher of hearts and minds, repays according to deeds. (Speaks from +-- Thunder, Striking Sacral Power.)
Approval: Love, faith, service, perseverance; "Now doing more than you did at first."
Caution: Followers of obstinate female prophet of idolatry and immorality: "Repent or be cast to a bed of suffering!". Others: "Hold on to what you have until I come."
Victory: Given authority to rule over nations with an iron scepter, along with the morning star.

~≈☺≈☯≈☻≈~

☻☺☻ [-+-] Stream — To Church of Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-21)

Speaker: Amen, faithful and true witness, ruler of God's creation. (Speaks from -++ Wind: Throat of Word and Testimony.)
Approval: Loved, therefore rebuked and disciplined.
Caution: Lukewarm deeds; "I wish you were cold or hot! I am about to spit you out". Satisfaction in wealth; yet wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. "Buy from me gold refined in the fire, cover your nakedness in white, put salve on your eyes to see."
Victory: Gains right to sit with Son of Man on the throne, as he sat with Father on the throne.

~≈☺≈☯≈☻≈~

☻☻☺ [--+] Mountain — To Church of Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13)

Speaker: Holy and true, who holds the key of David, who opens and shuts with might. (Speaks from -+- Stream: Noble and Open Beating Heart.)
Approval: Deeds, "open door", endurance, patience, recipients of love, of little strength yet faitful.
Caution: "Liars and hypocrites will fall at your feet in acknowledgement", "Spared from the hour of world trials", "Hold on to what you have to keep your crown".
Victory: Becomes a pillar in the temple of God to never return; receives the name and city of God, and the new name of the son of man.

~≈☺≈☯≈☻≈~

☻☻☻  [---] Earth — To Church of Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6)

Speaker: Who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. (Speaks from --+ Mountain: Third Eye and Glimpse of Heaven.)
Approval: Some are unsoiled, worthy and dressed in white, walking with the Son of Man.
Caution: Alive in name yet dead in works, unfinished in deeds before God; "Wake up and strengthen the remainder, or I will come like a thief in the night."
Victory: Name will kept in the book of life, acknowledged before God and his angels.

~≈☺≈☯≈☻≈~

"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'" (1 Corinthians 15:51-54)

~≈☺≈☯≈☻≈~

— Project: Code of Revelation —

Further reading:

≡ Dealing with Rapture Level Scenarios

≡ Enigmatic Soul Matrix of Eight Towers

≡ Ikthys Yogi and the Body of Heaven

≡ "IAHA: I Am Here Absolute" — Art and Perspectives

References:

≡ Book of Revelation (several versions), chapters 1-3
≡ High Resolution Source Images / Facebook Photo Album

≡ Art Foreground: The Transfiguration, Fra Angelico (1400-1445)

≡ Art Background: The Last Judgment, Michelangelo (1475-1564)

Advisory: Dealing With Rapture Level Scenarios

While the much-anticipated May 21st Judgment Day and Rapture seems to be seriously behind schedule, I observed a personal rapture today at 18:28 hours for a rapture exercise scenario. The End of Days comes like a thief in the night. You never know with certainty when the end is nigh for you, for our beautiful planet, for the universe as we know it — and for all composite objects ever fabricated into being for that matter.

"Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm." ~ Revelation 11:19

When time of rapture is at hand, Son of Man addresses the goods and evils of the Seven Churches of Asia. Then God will place his wrath in the Bowls of the Seven Angels, the Seven Trumpets will blow, the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse will ride, and the Two Witnesses will prophecy with the Two Friendly Fishes as the Day of Judgment rages in the human microcosm.

The Seven Churches of Asia form the basic lay of the land. Seven churches are seven angels, seven trumpets, seven lampstands, seven stars, etc. Rapture and Ascension are routed through the [++] Wheel at Clouds; and rapture rays sweep away those who have died in the [+++] Crown of the King of Heaven, already living in the Kingdom of Balance within. I will expand and cross-reference Revelation in upcoming texts, along with the rest of the apocalyptic toolbox.

"The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches." ~ Revelation 1:20 

~≈☺≈☯≈☻≈~

"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance." (Revelation 1:12-16)

~≈☺≈☯≈☻≈~

• ☺☺☺ [+++] Son of Man = Description of the "Son of Man" as John sees him in a luminous vision. (1:4-20)
• ☺☺☻ [++-] Ephesus = Earnestness, Righteousness = "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil." (2:1-7)
• ☺☻☺ [+-+] Smyrna = Tribulation, Wealth = "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty – but you are rich." (2:8-11)
• ☺☻☻ [+--] Pergamon = Abode, Satan's Throne = "I know your works, and where you live, where Satan's throne is." (2:12-17)
  
• ☻☺☺ [-++] Thyatira = Love, Service, Faith, Patience = "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience." (2:18-29)
• ☻☺☻ [-+-] Laodicea = Lukewarm, Spewn Out = "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth." (3:14-22)
• ☻☻☺ [--+] Philadelphia = Unclosable Door = "I know your works. I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it." (3:7-13)
• ☻☻☻ [---] Sardis = Dead Works = "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead." (3:1-6)

~≈☺≈☯≈☻≈~

"From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal." ~ Revelation 4:5

≡ Book of Revelation — Online Reference

≡ Ouroboros vs. Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

≡ Enigmatic Soul Matrix of Eight Dimensions

≡ Breakfast: Eating Straight from the Book of Life

Pyramids of Balance for a Healing Egypt

In celebration of the emerging freedom, peace and balance in Egypt, this is a human-readable version of the "For the Sons and Daughters of the Great Pyramid" message of balance from 01/02/2011 (12:21). Go Egypt, go forth and heal the hearts of your people, care for and tend to your abused lands — reach for a future of warm brightness and fertile wisdom!

≡  [+] Pyramid of Goodwill  ≡  [±] Pyramid of Balance  ≡  [-] Pyramid of Peace  ≡

Sail together, sons and daughters of the Great Pyramid of Balance! Seek for life in the Nile of Natural Heart. Sail with zeal through the stormy lake of wounded souls! First rattling the corrupt base, then scorching in flames of blue. Treasure wisdom at the peak, receive healing foresight. Rule justly as the gentle winds of life. You'll be ripe for the heaven's gifts and the dynamic stream of nature. Live in goodwill, balance and peace!

Calling the integral heaven into fertile earth, rule with the open two eyes of luminous ethos and logos, giving and receiving, wisely absorbing the broad perspective in introspection for perfect balance. A specifying eye without unity, a unifying eye without diversity — both are foul fountains of destruction and entropy. One-eyed authority and lethargic subjects have been the scourge of the earth since the cycles of the great ancestors!

Don't stray in the causal fires of the west; shun selfish partisanship, futile quarrel and destructive reactions. Introspect and bring forth a potent land of natural balance! By nature's primal wheel, the abused souls will in time of heaven be fulfilled and uplifted from the false rulers and the blind enforcers. The day of equalization is a thief in the night from the primal moon in balance and luminosity!

Breakfast: Eating Straight from the Book of Life

On Sunday I had [5x] five breads of life and [+/-] two friendly fishes for [--+] breakfast. Then I touched the [-+-] stream and the [-++] gentle wind. I saw the [-+] signs of [+--] thunder and [+-+] flames by the [++-] lake when gazing at the [+++] heaven [++] above. A [++] tender ray from [+] high above had fallen to [---] earth by the [+++] sea of crystal! Today we [--] contemplate on the crumbs of [+] tasty and [-] satisfying [±] soul food.

I [++-] laughed in [--] contemplation at the [++] spirit of the [∞0] clear infinity ![-] lurking in the [--] shadows of being, [+] revealed before [-] peaceful, [+] illuminated and [±] reflective eyes. The primal [+] sun and [-] moon are two channels of [∞0] infinite luminosity. Their [±] meeting [--+] boldly declares the [+] primal force of [++] benevolence and the [-] fabric of [--] root nature as the [+++] fulfillment of [+] clarity and [-] united harmony.

If you [+] specify the [+] sun and [-] unify the [-] moon, your [±] eyes of balance [-+-] flow in the stream of the [+/-] two integral fishes. The ![---] deep darkness of a ![±] confused heart would find [-] solace, [--] satisfaction and [---] perennial peace in the [+] luminous [++] love in the [+++] integral human of the [+] spirit. Seeking [+++] integrality, be [---] receptive to the two fishes of [+] luminous grace and [-] mysterious peace, let them first have their [±] loving dance in the [++-] lakes of your [4x][±] heart and [8x][-] physical self.

If you [-+] look forward to [+] brightness and [-] peace in [±] balance, you'll [-+] plan and [+-] act with [++] compassion and [--] equanimity for ![±] crying souls [+--] aroused and ![+--] tormented by the [8x] neurotic [4x] forces of [2x] duality in ![±] imbalance. Heed the [±] nature's [+/-] universal pairs: The [+++] creative heaven and the [---] receptive earth, the [--+] ruling mountain and the [++-] profound lake, the [+-+] analyzing fire and the [-+-] healing water, the [+--] shaking thunder and [-++] gentle winds, [+] gifts for [-] needs in serving [±] universal balance.

By [±] nature's [+] might and [-] law, the [--] emergent logos is [±] equally reflected both [+] above and [-] below, in the [++] big picture at the [4x] ![±] tangled heart of the [--] embryonic matrix. When the [+++] great objective of [±] holistic balance is [++] granted from [+] high above, [∞0] primal luminosity [+++] fills the ![---] fearful ![±] broken heart, [--+] forcing the ![--] roots of ![-] evil to the [-] bottom of the ![++-] lake of conscience.

[--+] Standing firm at the ![±] closed gates of [++] heaven, seek the [-] primal pattern and the [+] endless force. An [+++] integral being will find the key in [--] introspection, [++] revelations, [+-] acts and [-+] thoughts of [±] balance; the [4x] fundamental winds in our ![±] twisted lives. When the polarities of [8x] eight states and [4x] four perspectives [±] unite as one [+] illuminated [-] peace, the ![±] crooked world can be [±] healed with [+++] integral rays of [++] great benevolence.

Find the [+++] illuminated way to the [∞0] timeless [±] throne of balance. There you'll find the [--+] reign and [-+-] healing stream of the [±] primal soul as the [+] cognitive father and the [-] supportive son. There you'll see the [++-] lake of [±] divine pair, there [-++] expands their [8x] eight-fold [±] wheel of life. There you touch the [+] hopes and [-] truths of [++] macrocosm and [--] microcosm; there you find the [∞0] everlasting [+] light and [-] peace of [±] healed souls.

This is the [+] clear, [∞0] fundamentally straight and [-] truthful path of [+++] fulfilled life in [±] balance: [---] Material Birth of the Receptive Being -> [--+] Orienting Infancy of the Willful Being, -> [-+-] Playful Childhood of the Natural Being, -> [-++] Exploring Youth of the Expansive Being, -> [+--] Shaking Adulthood of the Aroused Being, -> [+-+] Grasping Middle-Age of the Analytical Being, -> [++-] Pondering Retirement of the Profound Being, -> [+++] Death and Ascension of the Integral Being. These are the [8x] progressive [-+] junctions and [+-] actions in the [++] big picture of [+] healing the ![±] sickly soul hiding [--] deep within.

Follow the [---] -> [+++] straight path of [±] nature's balance. Integrate your [-8x] deeds, [±4x] heart and [+2x] cognition and [---] die in [+++] wisdom [+] day and [-] night while still alive; the two witnesses of [+] day and [-] night log your [+] good and [-] evil deeds in the [±] book of life. When the ![±] book of life is ![-] dark, the state of the ![±] soul is the same. ![+-+] Scorching sermons, threats of ![+--] punishment and ![---] frights of pain are ![-] ignorant ![+] tyranny written in your [±] book of life, born of your ![±] love of self against [±] holistic balance!

When the [±] book of life is basking in [∞0] infinite purity, your [+] head, [±] heart and [-] deeds are [+++] anointed as [±] one. The [+] specifying spirit and the [-] unifying word will [--+] judge you from the [±] throne! Those who die in the [+++] integral being while living shall meet the [∞0] infinite light and find its [++] revelations in the [--] introspective [±] heart.

Those who have never [++-] died in thought ![-] have lost the [--+] lucid beacon from the [--] dawn of life. They will ![-] miss the [+++] falconer's [++] call for heaven. To die at [+] day and to die in the [-] night, to die in [±] twilight and to [∞0] die forever; such [+++] integral life leads [++] above and [+] beyond to the [±] throne and the [∞0] field of infinity.

![---] Damned are the ![±] enemies of [±] Balance, ![--+] obstinately [+-+] clinging to the ![++] false messiah of ![+] one-eyed power, [+--] arousing to [+-+] consume the [---] earth that [+] shelters life and [-+] heals with her [-++] winds and [-+-] flowing waters. When the [+] positive and [-] negative know no balance, they lead to ![---] corrupted earth and ![±] corrupted souls. Seek [∞0] primal luminosity and [±] balance both [+] above and [-] below!

Have the signs of balance and wisdom as your [+][±][-] three eyes and [∞0] base of sight. [±] Embrace the [+] light and [-] peace of [∞0] infinity in your [±] pristine heart, stand as an [--+] illuminating beacon of [++] universal goodwill for an [+++] fulfilled integral life in the [±] healing streams of [+] clarity,  [-] nature and [∞0] primal luminosity!

For the Sons and Daughters of the Great Pyramid

≡ A Vision of Primal Wisdom from the Sphinx of Heaven ≡

≡ For the Sons and Daughters of the Great Pyramid ≡

Sail [±] Together, [+] Sons and [-] Daughters of the [--+] Great Pyramid. Seek for [+] Life in the [-+-] Nile of Natural Heart. [-+-] Sail with [+-+] Zeal through the ![++-] Stormy Lake of ![±] Wounded Souls!

First [+--] Rattling the ![---] Corrupt Base, then [+-] Scorching in Flames of Blue. Treasure [±] Wisdom at the [--+] Peak, receive [-+] Healing Foresight. [++] Rule Justly as the [-++] Gentle Winds of Life. You'll be [++-] Ripe for the [+++] Heaven's Gifts and the [+] Dynamic [±->] Stream of Nature. Live in [+] Goodwill, [±] Balance and [-] Peace!

Calling the [+++] Integral Heaven into [---] Fertile Earth, [+-] Rule with [±] Open Two Eyes of [∞0] Luminous [+] Ethos and [-] Logos, [+] Giving and [-] Receiving, [++-] Wisely Absorbing the [++] Broad Perspective in [--] Introspection for |[±] Perfect Balance.

A [+] Specifying Eye without [-] Unity, a [-] Unifying Eye without [+] Diversity — both are ![++] Foul Fountains of ![+] Destruction and ![-] Entropy. ![++] One-Eyed Authority and ![---] Lethargic Subjects have been the ![+--] Scourge of the Earth since the [8x] Cycles of the [--] Great Ancestors.

Don't ![-] Stray in the ![+-] Causal Fires of West, ![-] Shun ![+] Selfish ![++] Partisanship, ![+-+] Futile Quarrel and ![+--] Destructive Reaction. [--] Introspect and [++] Bring Forth a [+++] Potent [---] Land of [±] Natural Balance!

By [-] Nature's [+] Primal [±] Wheel, the ![±] Abused Souls will in [++-] Time of Heaven be [+++] Fulfilled and [++] Uplifted from the ![++] False Rulers and the ![+-] Blind Enforcers. The ![±] Day of Equalization is a [--] Thief in the Night from the ![-] Primal Moon in [±] Balance and [∞0] Luminosity.

≡ Earth to Heaven and Beyond: Right to Left in Eight ≡
≡ Then Four to Two and Middle as One in None ≡
≡ 01/02/2011, 12:21 == 01->02->2 | 0->1+1 | 1->2, 2->1 ≡

Isa Masaha: The Holy Man West of Tibet

Yesterday's Jesus as Isa is a pair calling for explanation. This article explores the Jesus featured in a peculiar account of an old Hindu scripture, where Jesus is featured as a sage with a golden glow, clad in white robes, living in western Tibet in the years following his preaching of dharma among "uncultured civilizations" — the lands of the Mlecchas.

While the authenticity of the narration in the Bhavishya-purana is questionable, it is nevertheless worth studying to gain insight into the blending of Jesus Christ and the Dharmic religions. The topic of the Jesus of Aquarian Gospel and his possible travels across India is somewhat outside the scope of this article, written merely in explaining the word Isa and commenting on apocryphal references to Jesus found in Hindu scriptures.

"Shrine of Hazrati Yousa Asouph" — believed by some to be Jesus' tomb in Kashmir.
For more information, see Flickr photos and The Tomb of Jesus Christ Website.

In Arabic (and Qur'an), Jesus is known as Īsā, the al-Masīḥ one of his frequent titles. "He is also a word from God and a spirit from Him." He is also called Yasu in Arabic speaking countries, much like people in India call him Yeshu or Ishu, and many others in their own variants by culture and language.

Some versions of Bhavishya-purana ("Ancient Text of Future"), a popular Hindu text of uncertain origins, have an account of a great sage known as Isa Masaha. The Bhavishya-purana itself is largely in the "Hindu Apocrypha" department, in the body of texts that are somewhat canonized, but in many cases either entirely of more recent origin, or substantially enlarged by later authors over the centuries.

A persian miniature of Jesus / Isa
giving the famous Sermon on the Mount

The word Isa is also an often-used short form of the Sanskrit word Isvara, "Master" or "God", not unlike the word "Lord" in English and Christian usage. In a curious parallel, the word "Father" is "isä" in Finnish; also used for the Father-aspect of the Trinity: Isä, Poika and Pyhä Henki. For a Wisdom Wheel parallel: Yang: Creator, Father/Heaven; Yin: Neutralizer, Son/Lamb/Earth; Wuji: Nondual, Uncreated Holy Spirit. We are dealing with universals, once again.

The word "isä" in Finnish comes from Proto-Uralic ičä;  while Uralic languages are not directly related to Indo-European languages (such as Sanskrit and Latin), the two have shared plenty of terrain and culture with the Aryan languages over the millennia. (This is why even a language as peculiar as Finnish has some uncanny similarities with a wide range of European and Indic languages.)

It's more than likely that texts like Bhavishya-purana have been altered (read: critique that prompted this write-up) — whether by Christian missionaries eager to establish a predating legacy of Jesus for the Hindus, or by Hindus themselves in an attempt to absorb the emerging spread of Christianity under their syncretic umbrella. For reference, the relevant passage is in Bhavishya-purana, Catur-yuga Khanda, Second Adhyaya. (Link to text. The transliteration and translations there are sloppy, but sufficient to understand the meaning in the original.)

The following are summary notes of the text and the discussion of Isa Masaha and king Shalivahana, taking place following Jesus' years of preaching in the distant lands:

• Describes himself as Isa-putra (Son of Isa or God) and Kumari-garbha-sambhava (Begotten of virgin womb).
• Lives on a mountain in Western Tibet near Mount Kailash and Manasarovara (Hunadesh: Lands of the Huns).
• Acted as a teacher of dharma to the Mlecchas (barbarians and uncultured people outside Vedic civilization).
• Became Masiha (messiah) to dissipate the spread of the fearsome religions by the uncivilized, who had lost the way of the truth.

In the text, Isa presents to king Shalivahana (c. 78-102 CE) a summary of the principles of dharma he taught  (verses 27-30) for people, whose pure way had become corrupted over time:

1. The mind should be made pristine.
2. Embodied beings are subject to good and bad taints.
3. Abolishing sacrifices, one should pray in highest pristinity.
4. As duty and in thoughts one should speak the truth.
5. In contemplation one should worship the Lord, established in the Solar Field, the Immovable Master himself, everywhere like the light of the Sun.
6. Having the Lord firmly manifest in the heart leads to everlasting purity and welfare.
7. "In this way, my name came to be established as Isa Masiha (Jesus Messiah)."

While not exactly a reflection of the entirety of the key teachings in the Gospel (in that they omit the central teaching of love), these teachings are certainly very much in line with the spirit of the original teachings of Jesus. Also, the connection of Isa/Father as the Prime Solar Force goes well with my Wisdom Wheel model in contextualizing Christian triune theology with other cosmologies — something for another day.

The characterization of Christianity as the religion of the Mlecchas, or uncivilized barbarians, isn't particularly complementary — while certainly an accurate description from the Brahmana point of view, where people living in deserts were regarded as being of sinful birth, lacking in culture of purity and as such ineligible to study the finer truths of theology and philosophy. If this were the handicraft of a Christian missionary, I would have expected a more complementary spin to the story.

It would be interesting to read the text in its entirety at some point. Overall, the Puranas — including Bhagavata, which is relatively late — are in the habit of listing chronologies of rulers in a future tense, when the narration is placed into anciety. For reference, see the 12th book of Bhagavata-purana. The correlative tables I have drafted for some of these lists make for a reasonable match with the actual names and sequences in history, reaching well into the common era — as with king Shalivahana (Gautamiputra Satakarni), a historical ruler of the Satavahana empire who is told here to have met Jesus the Messiah.

Still, many fundamentalists subscribe to the idea of such texts being 5,000 years old in their current form, believing them to be literal and detailed predictions for some 4,000 years into the future. I'd take it all with a grain of salt when it comes to claims to the ancience of Indic scriptures from the believers — or any other scripture with an uncanny level of specific detail for a  "prediction" of the future for that matter.

Predictions are based on enlightened and inspired observation and intuition of the patterns and undercurrents of the world, and are therefore by definition more abstract in nature. They are also not a proof of anything else than of themselves — they certainly do not validate a number of other unrelated claims heard in the same general direction.

Whatever the historicity of all these predictions may be, let's remember the gist of the lesson to be learned: Great teachers and prophets do not concern themselves with the particularities of the future, they address the problems of the humanity here and now. The thought of a salvation is a slim joy if the primal peace of the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven is absent from within you during your lifetime.

On that note, souls in the Kingdom of Heaven do not wave the flag of Israel or the insignia of any collective of people on Earth, whether crosses and crucifixes or wheels of dharma. They live in both immanence and transcendence, dwelling in an absolute state of pristinity within — whatever the path they may have followed in reaching that supreme peaceful and enlightened destination of the heart.