Sunsets Into Sunrises
Bishop Martin - The Progress of a Soul in the Beyond
- Chapter 92 -
A HEALING BATH FOR THE HUNDRED LEPERS. - THEY ARE CLOTHED AND EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE. - ABOUT THE ESSENCE OF LAMA - QUESTIONS ABOUT JESUS AND THE LORD'S EXPLANATION.
1
(When, after a while, the hundred are satisfied and refreshed, I speak to them): "My dear friends, rise now from your seats, take off your clothes and enter the bath which you will find between this column and that light but still completely opaque, protective screen. This bath will cleanse you from your leprosy. So be it!"
2
The hundred quickly do as told, and as soon as they are all in the bath, they are clean once more. Their ugly, brownish skin turns smooth and white, and their limbs become shapely and supple.
3
(Noticing this change, the guests are overjoyed and begin to praise us three): "Whoever you three may be - whether you serve Lama or Ahriman - you have done us a very great service, and may your Lord reward you for it in eternity!
4
For an infinitely long time we were so utterly wretched. We searched the entire globe, but found no help whatsoever until, after more than ten thousand years must have passed, we found this friend [meaning Me] in the vicinity of this palace, and we begged him to help us if he could. And he said:
5
'Yes, I can and will help you! Follow me into this garden and I shall call the owner of the house, who will be only too glad to do what I shall ask of him on your behalf.'
6
He did immediately as he had promised, and all of us are now witnesses to what he has done for us. Therefore, he is mainly to be praised, but you two as well because you did willingly what this, our first friend, asked of you for our sake.
7
But now, dear friends, as you can see, we are completely naked. Since you have done already so much for us, would you do one more thing? Give us something to cover ourselves with. Then we shall be the happiest beings in all infinity!"
8
(Say I to Martin and Borem): "Brothers, open that golden chest, which contains sufficient clothing for our proteges, and is quite adequate for the time being. Eventually, they will be arrayed in the garb of the heavenly Kingdom, in accordance with the degree of perfection of their spirits. So be it!"
9
Bishop Martin and Borem hurriedly open the golden chest and pull from it a hundred blue robes, some heavily pleated, others with fewer pleats. The first they hand to the men, the last to the women. They all don their robes quickly and are delighted to see how well they suit them.
10
(All of them praise Me, saying): "Friend, you are so extremely kind, besides being wise and mighty. We were told on earth that the Great Lama was very good and wise, as long as he did not set eyes on Ahriman, the sight of whom would enrage him to such an extent, that for a thousand years he would vent his wrath on the earth, where Ahriman dwells. After that, he would cover his face for another thousand years, so as not to see his arch enemy. Consequently, he would not take any notice of mankind for a full two thousand years.
11
If all that should be true, we must say that you are much wiser, mightier, and better. We are saying this in defiance of the Lama, wishing to testify to the truth.
12
We did hear on earth of a certain Jesus through messengers from another world, who claimed that he had been the real, incarnate Lama. However, he was slain by Ahriman for having set men against him. If you should know any more about this story, please tell us, for we would like to find out the truth about it.
13
On earth, this interest cost us our lives. But we believe that here there does not exist a death any more. Therefore, it might be useful to hear more about this Jesus-Lama. Provided there is truth to the story, do tell us whether you know about him.
14
Everything seemed to be going well, and we had already learned certain good prayers, but then things went wrong. One of the messengers had gone too far; his mistress betrayed him - all of us and many more - and we had to pay with our lives for having deserted our Lama and for having turned to another god.
15
Probably the evil Ahriman played this trick on us and, therefore, we hope that the Lama will not blame us too much, especially if this Jesus was really an incarnation of him."
16
(Say I): "My dear friends, do still have a little bit of patience and you will find out all that you desire. But now follow us and you will find a big crowd, and among it the messengers who brought this teaching to you; also the Chinese woman who betrayed you and the messenger who had gone too far. But when you meet them, you must not be angry. You must forgive them for what they did to you and then you will recognize also the Jesus-Lama. So come out from behind that screen and follow us without misgivings and with your best intentions. So be it!"