Paper 133 Overview: The Return from Rome

Paper 133 chronicles the journey of Jesus, Gonod, and Ganid as they traveled from Rome through Italy, Greece, and Asia Minor, ultimately ending at Charax on the Persian Gulf. Throughout this journey, Jesus continued his personal ministry, engaging in profound interactions with individuals from diverse backgrounds and offering tailored spiritual guidance that addressed their specific circumstances. These encounters not only transformed the lives of those he met but also provided rich learning opportunities for Ganid, who carefully observed Jesus' methods of approaching people with respect, wisdom, and compassion.

The paper illuminates several significant philosophical discourses Jesus delivered during their travels, including discussions on mercy and justice, gender equality, the nature of the soul, and the function of the human mind. In cities like Corinth, Athens, and Ephesus, Jesus engaged with learned individuals in ways that enhanced their understanding without directly challenging their beliefs. The journey culminated in an emotional farewell at Charax, where Gonod and Ganid returned to India while Jesus prepared to return to Palestine. Though Ganid later heard of Jesus of Nazareth, he never realized this was the same person who had been his beloved teacher, though he faithfully disseminated many of Jesus' teachings throughout India during his influential adult life.

When preparing to leave Rome, Jesus departed without formal farewells to any of his friends, quietly disappearing just as he had arrived. His impact, however, remained evident, as for a full year those who had known and loved him continued to hope for his return, and by the second year, small groups who had known him began gathering informally, drawn together by their common interest in his teachings and shared experiences of his friendship. These informal meetings of Stoics, Cynics, and mystery cultists continued regularly until the Christian preachers first arrived in Rome.

Gonod and Ganid had acquired numerous items during their travels in Alexandria and Rome, necessitating that they send their possessions ahead by pack train to Tarentum while the three travelers walked leisurely across Italy along the Appian Way. This route exposed them to a diverse cross-section of humanity, including noble Roman citizens, Greek colonists, and the descendants of slaves. During one rest stop midway to Tarentum, Ganid directly questioned Jesus about India's caste system, prompting Jesus to articulate his vision of human spiritual equality. He explained that before God, all mortals stand on equal footing, divided only between those who desire to do God's will and those who do not, emphasizing that while humans can be differentiated in various ways physically, mentally, and socially, in the spiritual brotherhood, such distinctions are meaningless.

An instructive incident occurred one afternoon near Tarentum when Jesus and his companions observed a larger boy bullying a smaller child. True to his pattern of intervention, Jesus immediately assisted the victim by physically restraining the aggressor until the smaller boy could escape to safety. When Ganid, filled with righteous indignation, attempted to physically punish the bully, Jesus promptly intervened again, creating a teachable moment about the fundamental distinction between mercy and justice. Jesus explained that while mercy is the domain of the individual, the administration of justice belongs properly to social, governmental, or universe administrative groups.

Jesus elaborated that as individuals, we are obligated to show mercy to those in need, as he had done by rescuing the smaller child, but we should not presume to judge the motives of others or determine appropriate punishment. He illustrated this principle by noting how individuals would rarely agree on what constitutes just punishment—one might suggest forty lashes, another twenty, and yet another solitary confinement. This diversity of judgment, Jesus taught, demonstrates why justice must be administered by designated groups or representatives with full knowledge of all circumstances. Despite Jesus' thorough explanation, Ganid remained troubled by scenarios involving self-defense, particularly wondering what Jesus himself would do if attacked. While Jesus acknowledged Ganid's confusion, he expressed absolute faith in divine protection and an unwavering commitment to nonresistance, a position Ganid could intellectually understand but found emotionally challenging to embrace fully.

While waiting at the ship landing in Tarentum, Jesus observed a man mistreating his wife in public and, consistent with his pattern of intervention on behalf of those being victimized, approached the situation with remarkable wisdom. Rather than publicly confronting or embarrassing the man, Jesus gently tapped him on the shoulder and requested a private conversation. Through his characteristic approach of asking thoughtful questions and showing genuine interest rather than condemnation, Jesus helped the man recognize his inappropriate behavior. The man, recognizing Jesus as a Cynic priest, was grateful for the intervention and acknowledged that his wife had done no significant wrong—he had simply lost his temper when she criticized him publicly, a reaction he now regretted.

As Jesus concluded their conversation, he delivered a profound teaching on the proper relationship between men and women that was revolutionary for its time. He emphasized that men have no rightful authority over women unless freely given, and that women deserve special consideration for bearing the greater burden of childrearing. Jesus elevated women to equal status with men in divine partnership, saying, "Your wife has engaged to go through life with you, to help you fight its battles, and to assume the far greater share of the burden of bearing and rearing your children." He further illuminated this principle by comparing the relationship between men and women to God's relationship with the Infinite Spirit, stating, "The Father in heaven treats the Spirit Mother of the children of the universe as one equal to himself." This teaching had immediate impact, as Gonod, who had overheard the latter portion of Jesus' message, spent the day meditating on these ideas and resolved to reorganize his household arrangements upon returning to India.

During their stay in Corinth, Ganid's intellectual curiosity led him to the local synagogue, where he developed a friendship with Crispus, the chief ruler, and his family of five children. The young Indian found particular value in observing Jewish family life, which provided him with new perspectives on familial relationships and religious practices. While Ganid studied these cultural and religious customs, Jesus engaged Crispus in more than twenty sessions of spiritual instruction about improved religious living. This quiet preparation would later bear fruit when, years after Jesus' departure, the Apostle Paul came to preach in this same synagogue, and Crispus, along with his entire family, embraced Christianity and became significant supporters of the early church in Corinth.

A particularly illuminating incident occurred one evening as Jesus and Ganid strolled near the citadel of Corinth when two public women approached them. When Ganid rudely dismissed them, Jesus provided gentle correction, saying, "You mean well, but you should not presume thus to speak to the children of God, even though they chance to be his erring children." Jesus proceeded to explain the divine indwelling spirit within each person and how life circumstances often lead people to desperate choices they would not otherwise make. Perceiving the women's genuine sorrow and difficult circumstances, Jesus invited them to dine with him at Justus' home, where he arranged for them to receive counsel from Martha. This compassionate intervention transformed their lives; one woman died shortly thereafter with "bright hopes of eternal survival," while the other became a lifelong member of the first Christian church in Corinth, demonstrating the profound impact of Jesus' approach of dignity and acceptance rather than condemnation.

Jesus and Ganid experienced numerous meaningful interactions during their two months in Corinth, with Jesus demonstrating his remarkable ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds and circumstances, offering personalized spiritual guidance relevant to their specific situations and occupations. The cosmopolitan nature of Corinth, which drew people from three continents, provided Jesus with abundant opportunities to demonstrate his method of ministry, which Ganid carefully observed. These encounters were characterized by Jesus' keen insight into human nature and his skill in translating profound spiritual truths into practical wisdom that resonated with each person's life experience and level of understanding.

The breadth and specificity of Jesus' counsel during these encounters revealed his profound understanding of various vocations and life circumstances: to a miller, he spoke about grinding truth finely to make it accessible to others; to a Roman centurion, he emphasized inner courage and loyalty to both God and Caesar; to a Greek contractor, he compared building physical structures to developing spiritual character; to a Roman judge, he encouraged both justice and mercy in judgment; to an innkeeper, he elevated mundane hospitality into sacred service; to a Chinese merchant, he spoke of the divine spirit's guidance; to a British traveler, he encouraged communion with the indwelling spirit; to a runaway youth, he taught the impossibility of escaping oneself; and to a condemned criminal, he offered the perspective of divine mercy transcending earthly judgment. Each message was uniquely tailored to help the recipient connect their immediate circumstances to eternal spiritual principles, embodying Jesus' philosophy that "to become acquainted with one's brothers and sisters, to know their problems and to learn to love them, is the supreme experience of living."

The travelers arrived in Athens, the historic center of Greek learning, which particularly excited Ganid as he recognized its significance as the cultural cornerstone of Alexander's empire that had extended to his homeland of India. With minimal business obligations, Gonod spent most of his time accompanying Jesus and Ganid as they explored the significant sites of the city and engaged in intellectual discourse. They frequently visited the university halls, building upon their previous discussions of Plato's teachings during their time in Alexandria. Athens, while past its zenith, still maintained its reputation as an educational center, though Jesus noted that many Athenians of that era were either intellectually proud of their historical reputation or mentally underdeveloped as descendants of slaves from earlier periods.

During their stay, Jesus engaged in a notable discourse with a Greek philosopher that illuminated the relationship between science, religion, and philosophy. After listening patiently to the philosopher's three-hour dissertation, Jesus responded with remarkable clarity about the limits of scientific inquiry. He explained that while science measures energy manifestations in the physical realm, it cannot define what these phenomena actually are—science deals with physical-energy activities, while religion addresses eternal values. He positioned true philosophy as the wisdom that correlates these quantitative and qualitative observations. Jesus illustrated the limitations of mathematical logic when applied to human experience by noting that while arithmetic states ten men could shear a sheep in one minute if one man requires ten minutes, the reality of human interaction makes this impossible. He emphasized that the universe is fundamentally friendly to those who can perceive that both quantitative facts and qualitative values originate from the Paradise Father, stating, "Reality of material existence attaches to unrecognized energy as well as to visible matter."

Upon reaching Ephesus, the capital of the Roman province of Asia, Jesus and his companions visited the renowned temple of Artemis, located about two miles from the city. This visit revealed that despite Jesus' previous teachings about idol worship, Ganid's early religious conditioning still influenced him, as evidenced by his purchase of a small silver shrine honoring the fertility goddess. That evening, the group engaged in an extensive discussion about the worship of human-made objects, with Jesus gently guiding Ganid toward a more spiritual understanding without directly condemning his actions or beliefs.

During their stay in Ephesus, Jesus had several productive conversations with a progressive thinker connected with the local school of philosophy. When asked specifically about his concept of the soul, Jesus provided a profound definition that distinguished the soul from both physical and intellectual aspects of human existence. He defined the soul as "the self-reflective, truth-discerning, and spirit-perceiving part of man which forever elevates the human being above the level of the animal world." Jesus explained that the soul represents the potential survival value of human experience and emerges when moral self-consciousness first appears. He clarified that the soul cannot exist apart from moral thinking and spiritual activity and is distinct from the divine spirit that dwells within the mind. Jesus further elaborated that the saving or losing of a soul depends on whether moral consciousness attains survival status through eternal alliance with its associated immortal spirit endowment. He concluded by acknowledging the difficulty in demonstrating the existence of the soul through either material investigation or spiritual testing, while asserting that every morally conscious person knows of its existence through personal experience.

The travelers next journeyed to Cyprus, stopping briefly at Rhodes along the way. They had intended this portion of their Mediterranean tour as a period of rest and recreation as their journey was drawing to a close. After enjoying the island's mountains for two weeks, their plans were interrupted when Ganid suddenly fell gravely ill with a high fever that lasted for two weeks. Jesus demonstrated remarkable skill and tenderness in caring for the young man, impressing Gonod with his ministrations. During Ganid's convalescence, Jesus spent considerable time explaining the intricacies of nature and engaging him in meaningful philosophical discussions that deepened their relationship and provided Ganid with valuable insights into the natural world.

As Ganid recovered, he inquired about the difference between human self-consciousness and animal consciousness, prompting Jesus to deliver a substantive discourse on the nature and function of the human mind. Jesus explained that self-consciousness represents the achievement of a higher form of intelligence that emerges when impersonal energy and spirit-conceiving mind are coordinated—this phenomenon warranting the bestowal of an absolute focal point for human personality, the spirit of the Father in heaven. He elaborated that ideas are more than sensory records; they include reflective interpretations by the personal self, which transcends the sum of one's sensations. Jesus described how truly reflective human intellect possesses supermaterial qualities not bound by time, explaining that the varying life performances of individuals reflect not only heredity and environment but also the degree of unification with the indwelling spirit of the Father. He concluded with insights about mental conflict, noting that the human mind struggles with double allegiance and that spiritual growth occurs through the stalwart assertion of truth's triumph over evil rather than through the compromise of spiritual ideals.

Antioch, the capital of the Roman province of Syria and the empire's third-largest city with half a million inhabitants, was notorious for its flagrant immorality. While Gonod attended to his considerable business affairs, Jesus and Ganid explored the city, though notably, Jesus declined to visit the infamous grove of Daphne, a shrine known for its degrading practices that repelled him despite his typically broad-minded approach to cultural experiences. As they neared Palestine, Jesus became increasingly reflective and reserved, showing uncharacteristically little interest in Antioch itself, a shift that prompted Ganid's curiosity.

When questioned about his unusual lack of interest in the city, Jesus offered only the cryptic response that perhaps he might return to Antioch someday—a subtle foreshadowing of the city's later significance in the spread of Christianity. During their stay, Ganid demonstrated his growing maturity and internalization of Jesus' teachings when he learned about a disgruntled Indian employee in his father's business who faced possible dismissal. Taking initiative, Ganid arranged a meeting with his countryman and applied Jesus' wisdom to the situation, particularly sharing a Hebrew proverb that had deeply affected him: "Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do that with all your might." This intervention proved successful, showing how Ganid was beginning to embody the spiritual principles he had observed in Jesus throughout their journey. This incident revealed not only Ganid's personal growth but also the indirect influence Jesus was having on individuals he never personally met, through those he had taught.

The final phase of their journey took them across the desert via camel caravan to ancient Mesopotamia. Jesus' versatility was again evident as he helped load their twenty camels and volunteered to drive their animal, prompting Ganid to marvel, "Teacher, is there anything that you cannot do?" Their route led them to Ur, the birthplace of Abraham, which held special significance for Jesus given his knowledge of Jewish history and the importance of Abraham in the religious heritage he himself embodied. Jesus' fascination with the ruins and traditions of both Ur and Susa revealed his deep appreciation for historical and cultural foundations, particularly those connected to monotheistic religious development.

The emotional climax of their three-year association came at Charax on the Persian Gulf, where Jesus bid farewell to his companions on December 10, A.D. 23. The parting was poignant yet dignified, with Ganid expressing his deep affection for his teacher: "Farewell, Teacher, but not forever. When I come again to Damascus, I will look for you." The scene concluded with Jesus standing on the shore, watching as the small boat carried his friends to their anchored ship, never to see them again in mortal flesh. The narrative provides a touching epilogue, relating that Ganid grew to become an influential man in India who disseminated many of Jesus' noble teachings throughout his homeland. Years later, when Ganid heard about Jesus of Nazareth and noted similarities with his former teacher's wisdom, it never occurred to him that they were the same person. The paper concludes by noting this was the end of "that chapter in the life of the Son of Man which might be termed: The mission of Joshua the teacher."