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Did the Youngest not try to counter the false teachings implanted by the Elder in human thought?
When the Youngest beheld their elder brother's profound sorrow over human blindness, intolerance and lack of understanding, they agreed for a time to unite their efforts upon a single task, that of destroying the false doctrines of the Darkness and bringing forth the pure teaching of Christ.
A number of the Youngest let themselves be bound to human bodies again for this purpose, and to be born in various countries at various places.
And when they reached bodily and spiritual maturity, they stood forth and strove mightily to destroy the false doctrines and to make the truth be known.
But only few understood them, and only few followed them, while many scorned them—yes, some were even put to death!
And among them was a man known to the people by the earthly name of Mani.
This man brought to the people some of the truths of the Light, and he spoke wisely and with eloquence on that which lay beyond the earthly world.
But the Elder was able also to instill false doctrines into his preaching of the spiritual truths and neither, therefore, was full clarity shed upon the teachings of Mani.
Many listened to his words, some followed him; but still more mocked and persecuted him and they rewarded him with death for the truths he tried to give them.
Thus the Youngest continued in many ways to strive for a true teaching.
But Darkness and the Elder hindered the advancement of the Light; Darkness blinded human beings and bound their thoughts.
Thus the Youngest strove on from century to century, while Christianity, the false teaching of Saul, spread to distant lands.
Then came the century in which one of the Youngest, known under the earthly name of Mohammed, succeeded in proclaiming to people the doctrine that God is One, that none is over Him, none under Him, and none is at His side. And he taught that God alone was the source of creation, was the Creator of the universe.
When Mohammed appeared before his countrymen with his teaching, he was met with anger and contempt.
Few only listened to his words, few only followed him.
But as the years passed, he gained more and more followers until finally his enemies feared his rising power and plotted to take his life. When Mohammed heard of their evil intentions, he left his house in the city of Mecca and fled to that city later called Medina.
Mohammed's dominance over the people became ever greater; more and more gathered about him, and his words were carried far and wide.
But the Elder, the Servant of the Darkness, tried to confuse his thoughts, tried to pervert his mind.
And the Elder implanted pride and the lust for power in his heart, roused the passions of his body; and Mohammed’s desire for beautiful women became insatiable.
Darkness fell over him and he stumbled often, for his foot was caught in the snares that were laid for him.
Then Mohammed summoned some of the highest in the land, spoke to them and bade them make war on their enemies in order by force to spread his teaching; for he proclaimed, falsely, that this would please God. And He promised that God would reward the valiant warriors who fell in battle with the pleasures of paradise.
And he went with a large army to the city of Mecca, made himself master over it and over the people, and all who refused to follow him were put to death or banished.
From that time, Darkness gained still greater power over him. His thoughts became still more confused, his teaching even less clear, and, often, he would contradict his own words.
But Mohammed never lost his dominance over the people, and he was much honored. But he found no rest for himself, for the Darkness was over him; for the Elder opposed him.
And when his body succumbed to earthly death, his spirit grieved that in human form he had not been able to proclaim the whole truth; grieved that he had not been able to overcome the power of the Darkness.
Some time after Mohammed’s passing, people began to gather and put into writing his teaching. Many sayings and doctrines appeared and were ascribed to Mohammed, that he had never uttered or formulated; and this gave rise to much dispute.
Thus became also the Sacred Writ of the followers of Mohammed a mixture of good and evil, a mixture of the teachings of Mohammed, of the works of man, and of the false doctrines of Darkness.
After the passing of Mohammed, the Elder incited his followers and they waged war on the neighboring peoples, and they seized much land, much power and untold riches; and they compelled many of those they conquered to submit to the teaching of Mohammed.
The Christians watched in anger as they saw the teachings of the Prophet spread further and ever further; and they were astonished to hear that many even followed his teaching freely.
And when it became known among Christians that the Arabian people had made themselves masters over Jerusalem, the Holy City, they felt yet more anger and they despaired when they came to the city to worship and to tarry at the holy places; and from this arose, over the years that followed, much strife between the Christians and the followers of Mohammed, the Prophet.
And still later, when the tidings reached Christians afar that a warlike Mohammedan people15 had by force taken Jerusalem, then did desire for revenge burn in Christian hearts; many swore upon the Cross of Christ that they would turn out the foreigners and retake the city; yes, they pledged even to crush and destroy all who were enemies of the teachings of Christ.
Then began the terrible strife between the Christians and the Mohammedans.
Now the followers of the Prophet won, now the Christians. Thousands upon thousands were slain, for one power would not yield to the other; and as century followed century, acts of violence, murder and gruesome deeds were done in the name of God and Christ.
But as time passed and the Christians saw that the Holy Sign of the Cross by which they fought brought them not the expected victory, their zeal began to wane. And when two centuries had passed the Christians had to yield, for the followers of the Prophet were the stronger.
But during these many and lengthy wars, the Darkness gained ever greater power over human beings.
Bound to mortal bodies, the Youngest strove on in their attempts to bring forth the truth and the Light; but they had always to give way to the Darkness, for it had many and powerful helpers among the embodied Eldest.
Nor were the Youngest able to bring an end to the interminable quarreling among the Christians.
New doctrines came about and gave rise to fresh quarreling. The bishops and the priests gathered to themselves greater and greater power, more and more riches. And above them all—over the peoples, the princes, the kings, and the emperors—was the highest of the bishops, the Pope, so called, in the city of Rome; and against all who would not acknowledge his power, he directed his mighty curses; for the Vicar of God and Christ remembered no longer Christ's words: Forgive your enemies!
And with unappeased hatred, the Christians persecuted all who would not profess the Christian faith. At many places in many countries, the pyres blazed as Mohammedans and Jews and those accused of heresy were tortured and burned to the honor of God and Christ. Many Christians even, who tried to protect the persecuted, were to follow the condemned to the stake and suffer the same tortures, the same terrible death; for none any longer remembered the tender words of Christ: Love one another as brothers and sisters!
Truly the power of the Darkness was awesome!
Darkness fell still more densely over the Earth, and it blinded people and dulled and bound their thoughts.
Many Christians kneeled in worship before painted and sculptured images of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, kneeled before numerous images of holy men and women16.
But in all this idolatry16 they often failed to remember to pray to God the Almighty, failed to pray to their God and Father, failed to pray to Him Who alone was able to hear them.
More and more pious men and women—monks and nuns—withdrew from the world to live in their own retreats under their own laws. But though these pledged to live chastely, they were not all able to keep their pledge. Few only were pure of mind, few only found their way to their Heavenly Father, few only supported the poor from true compassion, few only ministered to the sick from pity for their suffering.
Darkness fell still deeper over the Earth, and but few of the Youngest dared in human form to combat the evil.
Then came the time when many of the Youngest were gathered once more with their brother, the eldest of the Youngest, in the outermost habitat about the Earth.
And they spoke much with one another of events at that time in the earthly world, spoke to one another of the ways they should follow to lead the human beings out of Darkness.
But all were faint of heart.
And one said: "Let us cease our work among the human beings, for we are not able to lead them to our Father's Kingdom. Again and again have we let ourselves be bound to mortal bodies, but as yet have none of us, whilst in human form, been able to break the curses of our eldest brother; as yet have none of us whilst in human form, been able to pray for our brother and thus release him from the binding power of the Darkness. Our mission amongst humanity has brought but sorrow and suffering upon ourselves; let us therefore return to our Father's Kingdom, that the children of the Earth may walk their own ways."
But when he fell silent, Christ, the eldest of the Youngest, stood forth.
And he said: "Though you may all turn from the human beings, yet will I not forsake them; though there be none amongst you to help me carry the burdens laid upon me by humankind, yet will I never thrust these burdens from me, but ask our Father's help that I may bear them all.
"Truly, I tell you: break not your pledge, for is the power of the Darkness great, then is the power of the Light greater; and our Father's words to me were these: that if we but have the will then can we also lead humanity to His glorious Kingdom and overcome the Darkness. And our Father's words stand, unshakeable! But would you follow me, then let us ask our Father to show us the way that is once more lost in the mists."
When he had spoken, they all kept silent while they searched their hearts.
Then came God’s voice through the stillness.
And God said: "My children, be you patient! For only those who persevere will become victorious. Fail not one another, nor fail your elder brother; and never forsake the pledge you have given me, your Father, for you must remember that My blessing is with you, My thought follows you, and My hand steadies you while you strive for the Light, for the true, and for that which is good.
"My children! Listen all to my words, and I shall guide you.
"I tell you then, that once more must you bring spiritual enlightenment and clarity of thought to the human beings, for they are no longer able to reason clearly; for they cannot tell the true from the false, the pure from the impure. This, teach them! And gradually must you teach them to discover some of the eternal laws, teach them to release and to use some of the many powers that still lie hidden. You must teach them to look out into the vastness of space, to follow and to measure the paths and the orbits of the heavenly bodies; and you must open their eyes to the simple beauty of earthly forms, to the splendor and diversity of color, and to listen to the resonant harmony of sound.
"And when you have taught the human beings some of all this, then will they themselves, with eyes opened and thoughts clear, begin to see through the web of falsehoods that Darkness has spun around them; then will they themselves begin to search the old sacred Writings to sift out the grains of gold and cast away the dross of the Darkness.
"My children! I, your Father, have shown you the way. Follow it! For do you this, then shall my blessing be with you."
When God's voice fell silent, they answered all: "Father, we shall follow your way as shown us! Sustain us that we may not fail!"
Once more many of the Youngest let themselves be bound to human bodies that again they might bring the spiritual Light and clarity of thought to those human beings who had been led astray by the Darkness and by the Eldest.
And when these had brought mankind new and greater learning and dispersed some of the surrounding Darkness, others would follow and attempt to overturn some of the Elder’s false doctrines, and thus prepare the way for human beings to study for themselves the sacred Writings come down from their forefathers.
The first among the Youngest who ventured forth to speak to the children of the Earth of that which was as yet beyond their understanding, were met with the usual scorn and anger.
But more and more of them came forward with that which they had vowed to bring.
Some of the Youngest taught people to carve characters in wood and metal and thus to duplicate the handwritten word and bring this to more people. Others brought more knowledge of the world in which they lived; and, through perilous voyages, new lands were discovered, and hidden treasures were brought to light from the bosom of the Earth. 17
Some of the Youngest brought the human beings new and useful discoveries by means of which daily life was made easier. Others tried to bring to light some of the forgotten, profound writings of the past.
Some of the Youngest brought pleasure to the human beings through semblances of forms faithfully molded in clay and chiseled in wood and in marble.
Others depicted in beautiful paintings the men and women of sacred scripture, and the life of Christ; depicted human lives and activity—all in profuse and splendid color.
Again the human beings began to awaken; their eyes were opened, their thoughts became freer, became more lucid. But only slowly did the Light advance; for the Elder, the Servant of the Darkness, never ceased his attempts to hinder its progress.
Closer and closer he drew Darkness over the Earth, and he sowed yet more of his evil seed. And hatred, anger, violence, murder and other misdeeds continued without cease among the human beings.
And the Elder induced the Christians to greater worship of the Virgin Mary, strengthened them in their belief in the help and intercession of holy men and women, to thus prevent them from approaching God alone. And he inspired them further in their belief in the torments of Hell, that the fearfulness born in their faint hearts might give him greater power over them. And in their dread of Hell, many Christians sought to evade future punishment with gold, silver and precious gifts, sought to buy absolution from the powerful popes.
But the Youngest continued to strive for the advance of the Light, for God strengthened them and God sustained them.
And again they taught the human beings to build magnificent temples to the glory of God, taught them to build fine palaces for their princes, kings and emperors; taught them to embellish temples and palaces with vaulted domes, with lofty towers and slender spires.
And human beings rejoiced when they saw all this splendor.
But Darkness lay heavily upon the Earth.
War and strife was everywhere.
The princes of the countries made war upon each other; the popes fought with the clergy under them, fought with each other,18 fought emperors, kings and princes, while mighty curses were pronounced upon all who would not yield.
And the Elder, the Servant of the Darkness, continued to inspire human belief in the power that the Prince of Hell possessed over all sinners. And he implanted in the fearful the thought that many men and women were able to bring harm to their enemies by calling upon the Evil One for aid, and those who were seen as sorcerers and witches were persecuted with zeal. Many were tortured and burned for deeds they had never committed; for people believed they saw demonic spirits wherever they turned.
But the Youngest continued with patience their work for the progress of the Light, for God strengthened them and He sustained them.
And once more they taught human beings to peer into the vast depths of space, taught them to follow the movements of the shining stars. But for a long time this knowledge was not yet complete, for humanity possessed but few and unsatisfactory means by which they could follow the movements of the heavenly bodies so as to measure and reckon their positions and paths.
Some of the Youngest gave expression to their deeper thoughts and feelings in beautiful, rhythmical lyrical writing; and many people rejoiced over all these beautiful new things given them.
And the times came when those Youngest who had pledged to prepare the way for human investigation of the sacred Writings, came forth and attempted to separate some of the grains of gold from the heavy dross of Darkness.
Among them were two known by the names of Luther and Zwingli, who each grieved much over the blindness and debased state of humanity, and both sought to break the yoke laid by Darkness upon mankind.
And in their zeal they turned against the highest authorities of the church to show how small, how petty were the popes despite their might; showed how wretched were they in their anger, their hatreds and their lust for power; and they maintained that the popes—the Vicars of God and Christ—were not without failings, were not by any means infallible.
And they attempted to show those calling themselves Christians how idolatrous they had become by their worship of the many images of holy men and women; for many knelt only before these, remembering no longer to bow to God the Almighty.
Luther and Zwingli won many followers by their clear writings and authoritative speech, for they roused people to reflection.
But the Elder, the Servant of the Darkness, attempted to divide them. And these two, who before their journeying upon the Earth began, had pledged their Heavenly Father to walk together, became bitter adversaries; for the Elder stood between them, and he drew Darkness closer about them so that they were not able to agree upon a common teaching; for they disagreed over many matters; for they opposed each other on a number of the dogmas of old.
And over the years they acquired many adversaries.
Luther was a mighty warrior, though; and he met all onslaughts with harsh words, in fiery and uncompromising sermons; for his proud spirit would yield to none.
But even if Luther himself at times erred, he yet strove to lead people towards the Light; thus he caused some of the old Writings to be given through the printed word, that people might seek consolation and support by their own study into the words and doctrines come down from their forefathers.
Though Luther’s authority was great, though he was strict and unyielding with his enemies, he remained faint of heart when alone; for he sensed that God’s full strength was not upon him. At times he was seized by great fear brought on by the Darkness that streamed toward him, and he felt that he was bound by the hatred that emanated from the Elder, the Servant of the Darkness, so that he heeded not always the inner voice that tried to guide him.
And the Darkness closed even more about him. Harsh, condemning words passed his lips. And when some laboring and suffering people united in an effort to gain better rights, he grew angry with them and in his anger declared that these unworthy individuals ought to be put to death that their evil intentions be ended.
But even with his many grave faults as the man Luther, he did succeed in rejecting some of the Elder's false doctrines, and he and Zwingli were together able to bring people some steps further towards the goal.
But neither was able to carry out that great work which was planned before they were born to the Earth—that great work which they should have together performed among human beings.
When Luther and Zwingli met again in the heavenly abodes after physical death, they grieved over the enmity the Elder had called forth between them while they lived upon the Earth.
But still more of the Youngest tried to support their brothers in the struggle against the Papacy, and one of these was known as Calvin.
His thoughts were clear and alert, and with wise words he elaborated upon the new teaching.
But he was not fully agreed with Luther, or with Zwingli. And, influenced by the Elder, he brought forth some of the rejected old doctrines, wording them anew and defending them with much authority.
Many joined with him, and he was much honored.
But Calvin was an austere man, and he demanded much of his followers, demanded purity, piety and obedience. And he was unbending in his sternness; for the Elder, the Servant of the Darkness, was by his side and hardened his heart, so that he pronounced harsh judgment upon any who were against him; indeed, in the hardness of his heart he even allowed one of his adversaries to suffer death at the stake; for he had forgotten the words of Christ: Forgive your Enemies!
Thus neither was Calvin able to break the power of Darkness and to overcome the maledictions of the Elder.
But although Luther, Zwingli and Calvin were not able to bring forth the full truth, they did succeed in bringing to light some of the grains of gold of the old Writings, they did succeed in teaching the Christians themselves to study and to reject more of the false doctrines. And thus was dispelled some of the Darkness which enveloped the human beings.
But in the wake of the attacks that these intrepid men aimed at the Papacy and at the many fallacies of Christian teaching, lengthy and terrible conflicts broke forth anew at many places throughout the lands; for while the years passed and more and more joined the new forms of the Christian faith, some of the followers of the old faith sought to uphold the faltering Papacy.
New and more austere monastic orders were founded, some of the old fallacies rejected, and stringent new laws enacted, demanding greater purity, greater piety, greater obedience.
And, by cruel persecution, torture, and murder, the followers of the Papacy sought to punish the apostates, attempting thus to stem progress of the new Christianity.
Again, Darkness sank deeper upon the Earth.
Again the pyres blazed to the honor of Almighty God. Thousands upon thousands perished. And in their blind hatred and vengefulness, certain of the followers of the Papacy let several thousand opponents be slain in a single night.
The power of the Darkness was truly fearsome.
And again the times came when peoples turned upon peoples, brother against brother, ruler against ruler.
And while songs of praise rang out in the churches to the honor of God, there took place murder, plunder and other dreadful deeds in His name.
Darkness sank yet deeper upon the Earth, and there was misery in the lands.
Fear in human hearts became even greater, and they feared yet more the Prince of Hell, feared yet more all of his helpers; and sorcerers and witches were tortured and burned.
Everywhere there was Darkness, everywhere there was suffering; for the evil seed of the Elder sprouted and bore fruit.
But no longer were the Youngest faint of heart, for they had trust in their God and Father; for he strengthened them, and He guided them.
Amidst suffering, violence, death and misery, they strove on to advance the Light, strove to bring the human beings ever greater learning.
And when, upon completion of their lives on Earth, they returned to the heavenly abodes, many declined the time of rest that was their due; for all longed to break the power of the Darkness, all longed to overcome the Elder’s maledictions; and they hastened to let themselves be bound to new bodies on the Earth, that they might lead the human beings forwards to the goal.
As century was added to century, the Youngest sought in many ways to further the knowledge they had already brought mankind.
And they gave to humanity yet more paintings in magnificent colors, wherewith to adorn churches, palaces and the mansions of princes.
Slowly the Youngest taught human beings to study the structure of the human body, its tissues and vessels; taught them to discover healing for some of the body’s many ills; taught them to follow the fleeting ways of their thought; taught them to form, express and preserve such thoughts in wise words.
And they taught them to listen to the beauty and fullness of sound; to fashion instruments, large and small, wherewith to bring forth an abundance of pure, full tones in a diversity of beautiful and harmonious sound.
They taught them to fashion instruments with which better to unravel the paths and positions of the shining stars in distant space.
And they taught men to release some of the hidden powers and to profit from this knowledge; taught them to study the many forms of life in nature; taught them to discover some of the laws that govern the creation of all things—the least as well as the greatest.
As the centuries passed, people learned to build and to further develop routes and intercourse between the many kingdoms and lands of the Earth; learned to uncover some of the great cities, mighty temples and proud mansions of bygone times. And they brought many hidden treasures to light from the Earth’s bosom, to tell of the life and customs of their forebears.
Thus did the Youngest forge onward to bring ever greater knowledge to the human beings.
And as the years passed, the Light began slowly to spread once more over the Earth.
But still there was discord and killing, and other acts of immoral nature were rampant; for princes, kings and emperors were still able to rouse peoples against peoples in destructive warfare.
Many Christians still kneeled in worship and prayer before the lifeless images of holy men and women. Many still debated old and new doctrines with insistent authority and fiery speech, and numerous forms of Christianity arose. Nevertheless, the Light continued to spread throughout the Earth — and slowly Darkness began to recede.
But the Elder, the Servant of the Darkness, continued to drip his venom into human hearts.
And, in the minds of some, he evoked the idea that God had no existence. And those who believed him stood forth, and in their folly they defended with much authority such profane thoughts.
But Darkness continued to recede, and the Elder understood that no longer could he stem the advancing Light; and he knew that the hour drew near when the power of the Darkness should be broken.
Then was born dread in his heart. For he knew that should the Light overcome him, then must he himself reap the evil seed he had sown amongst human beings, knew that all his maledictions must turn on him. And he feared he would be crushed and destroyed forever, for he believed there could be no forgiveness for his sins; for he no longer remembered the boundless love of his Father, no longer remembered His omnipotence, His mercy.
FOOTNOTES
15) The Selukians. —Editor's note.
16) Many Christians prayed directly to the Virgin Mary and to the holy men and women, rather than asking them to intercede with God on their behalf. Saint-worship thus became idolatry. And since the mother of Jesus, and all “saints”—despite their good deeds—are subject to the law of reincarnation (rebirth), any calls to them for intercession is in vain, and indeed often senseless; for the worshipped saints live on Earth from time to time as humans, and consequently must be deaf to calls for intercession or help from fellow humans.
Among those who have been bound to the earthly bodies of the so-called saints can be found the Youngest, the Eldest, and human spirits alike. For the humans, the law of rebirth has been given by God so that they can go forward and upward. The Eldest have by their arbitrary first incarnations drawn themselves under this law. The Youngest have submitted voluntarily to it while they work for the advancement of mankind. Thus, when human beings call upon holy men and women, they pray to beings whose existence as saints is imaginary.
17) The explorers of those days included not only the Youngest but also a number of the Eldest.
18) At times disagreements among the clergy were so fierce that they resulted in the election of a number of popes who then mutually fought over the Holy See in Rome. —Editor's note.
19 twice) Those Youngest whom the Elder had tempted to commit misdeeds in their lives on the Earth, were often bound by their consciousness of sin, after death, to lead a restless existence among the Earth-bound human spirits.
20) 1857.
21) 1900.
22) 1911.
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