Master Jesus

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The Master Jesus [1] ^[1] is Jesus as understood by the metaphysical system of Theosophy as opposed to the Jesus Christ of the Christian religion.

Contents 1 Master Jesus' position in the Hierarchy of Masters of the Ancient Wisdom 2 Master Jesus' previous incarnations 3 Jesus' crucifixion 4 Jesus' resurrection 5 Controversy regarding Jesus' incarnation as Apollonius of Tyana 6 Jesus incarnation as Ramanuja 7 The Master Jesus in popular culture 8 Notes 9 Sources 10 Further reading 11 External links

[edit] Master Jesus' position in the Hierarchy of Masters of the Ancient Wisdom

The Master Jesus, in the teachings of Theosophy is one of the "Masters of the Ancient Wisdom"and in the Ascended Master Teachings is one of the Ascended Masters (also collectively called the Great White Brotherhood). The "Master Jesus" is regarded by Theosophists, was regarded by Alice A. Bailey, and was previously regarded by students of the "Ascended Master Teachings" as the Master of the Sixth Ray (see Seven Rays). It is believed by "Ascended Master Teachings" organizations that the Master Jesus was "Chohan of the Sixth Ray" until December 31, 1959, when Lady Master Nada fully took on that Office in Hierarchy. According to the Ascended Master Teachings Jesus became World Teacher, along with Kuthumi, on January 1, 1956, succeeding Maitreya (who took the Office of "Planetary Buddha" and "Cosmic Christ").^[2][3] This belief is not accepted by adherents of traditional Theosophy and the followers of Alice A. Bailey and Benjamin Creme - they believe that the Master Jesus is still the Chohan of the Sixth Ray. This belief is also not accepted - at any point - by many other spiritual seekers, e.g. Biblical Christians.

[edit] Master Jesus' previous incarnations

According to Alice A. Bailey, the Master Jesus was previously incarnated as Joshua, the Hebrew military leader in the 13th century BC, and Joshua the High Priest in the sixth century BC.^[4]

According to the Ascended Master Teachings,^{[5][6][7][8][9]} Jesus was also incarnated as Joseph of the Coat of Many Colors in the 17th century BC/16th century BC (approximately between 1550 BC and 1650 BC), as well as King David (ruler of Israel approximate 1005 BC until around 965 BC).

[edit] Jesus' crucifixion

Theosophists and those adherent to the Ascended Master Teachings alike believe that the Master Jesus underwent the fourth level of initiation (the crucifixion) at his crucifixion in Jerusalem. According to Alice A. Bailey, for most people at the fourth initiation the crucifixion is symbolic as a severe life test of renunciation, but for Jesus it was literal.^[10]

[edit] Jesus' resurrection

Ascended Master Teachings organizations adhere to the Christian view that Jesus Resurrected and Ascended with his own physical body. Some with backgrounds in traditional Theosophy, the teachings of Alice A. Bailey, and Benjamin Creme believe that Jesus resurrected from the body that he had when he incarnated as Apollonius of Tyana.

[edit] Controversy regarding Jesus' incarnation as Apollonius of Tyana

Helena Blavatsky, a founder of the Theosophical Society, wrote in 1877: "Apollonius, a contemporary of Jesus of Nazareth, was, like him, an enthusiastic founder of a new spiritual school. Perhaps less metaphysical and more practical than Jesus, less tender and perfect in his nature, he nevertheless inculcated the same quintessence of spirituality, and the same high moral truths."^[11] Some Theosophists such as C.W. Leadbeater and the teachers of Neo-Theosophy, Alice A. Bailey and Benjamin Creme, have written that the Master Jesus was also incarnated as Apollonius of Tyana after his incarnation as Jesus of Nazareth. It is believed that he attained the fifth level of initiation (the resurrection) when he became an Ascended Master at the end of his life as Apollonius of Tyana. However, if Apollonius was a contemporary of Jesus as Blavatsky wrote, Jesus could not have reincarnated as him. Benjamin Creme gets around this by claiming that Jesus lived from 24 BC to 9 AD^[12] (instead of the usual dates given of Jesus's lifetime as being circa 6 BC to circa 33 AD). This means that Jesus could have incarnated as Apollonius of Tyana, since according to Creme, Apollonius lived from 16 AD to circa 97 AD^[13]. However, modern scholarship gives the dates of Apollonius of Tyana's life as being 40 AD to 120 AD^[14], thus making it possible that, even if the usual dates of Jesus' lifetime are accepted (circa 6 BC to circa 33 AD), he still could have incarnated as Apollonius of Tyana.

Jesus' incarnation as Apollonius of Tyana is accepted by the followers of traditional Theosophy, of Alice A. Bailey, and of Benjamin Creme, but not by those who are adherent to the Ascended Master Teachings, who believe that the incarnation as Jesus was his last embodiment on Earth.

[edit] Jesus incarnation as Ramanuja

C.W. Leadbeater stated that the Master Jesus, after his resurrection in the body of Apollonius of Tyana, again incarnated in India as the Tamil religious reformer Ramanuja (1017–1137), a leading figure within the bhakti movement in Hinduism; thus, by incarnating as Ramanuja, Jesus became an avatar. According to Leadbeater, the Master Jesus incarnated as Ramanuja as part of his spiritual work as Master of the Sixth Ray of Love-Devotion (bhakti is the Sanskrit word for devotion).^[15]

That Jesus incarnated as Ramanuja is believed by many traditional Theosophists, but not by those adherent to the Ascended Master Teachings.

[edit] The Master Jesus in popular culture

Anime

• In the H-anime known as Bible Black, several groups mention Master Jesus in their ritualistic prayers and incantations.

Panelology

• In an issue of Anarchy Comics, underground comics artist Jay Kinney drew a cartoon in which the Master Jesus is portrayed as commanding a flying saucer fleet orbiting Earth looking for evil-doers. He is shown as being dressed in a military uniform with a crewcut and having the title Commander Jesus.

[edit] Notes

[edit] Sources

• Leadbeater, C.W. The Masters and the Path Adyar, Madras, India: 1925--Theosophical Publishing House
• Prophet, Mark L. and Elizabeth Clare Lords of the Seven Rays Livingston, Montana, U.S.A.:1986 - Summit University Press

[edit] Further reading

• Campbell, Bruce F. A History of the Theosophical Movement Berkeley:1980 University of California Press
• Godwin, Joscelyn The Theosophical Enlightenment Albany, New York: 1994 State University of New York Press
• Johnson, K. Paul The Masters Revealed: Madam Blavatsky and Myth of the Great White Brotherhood Albany, New York: 1994 State University of New York Press
• Melton, J. Gordon Encyclopedia of American Religions 5th Edition New York:1996 Gale Research ISBN 0-8103-7714-4 ISSN 1066-1212 Chapter 18--"The Ancient Wisdom Family of Religions" Pages 151-158; see chart on page 154 listing Masters of the Ancient Wisdom; Also see Section 18, Pages 717-757 Descriptions of various Ancient Wisdom religious organizations

[edit] External links

• [2] Images of the Master Jesus
• Full text of “Masters and the Path” by C.W. Leadbeater: