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Madonna and Child with an Angel, Sandro Botticelli [16th cent.] (Public Domain Image)
Madonna and Child with an Angel, Sandro Botticelli [16th cent.] (Public Domain Image)

The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ

By Levi H. Dowling

Introduction by Eva S. Dowling

[1920]


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This book is an extensive reworking of the Jesus story with strong Theosophical and Spiritualist influences. Of interest is the attempt to fill in the two decade gap in the Jesus's traditional biography. According to Dowling, Jesus spent a lot of time in the mystical East where he learned esoteric methods from the masters, while rebelling against the caste system. The narrative, unfortunately, has numerous historical inconsistencies, including Jesus meeting historical figures who lived hundreds of years before or after the first century, e.g. Mencius. The book has Jesus studying in India in the Orissa area; while this is an historically important ceremonial area, it didn't come into prominence until nearly a millenium later. In addition, this work appears to be derivative of The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ.

None of this lessens the charm or the esoteric insight of this book. Nor should its subterranean impact on popular spirituality in the United States be underestimated. The Aquarian Gospel was rediscovered during the spiritual ferment of the 1960s; a beat-up paperback copy of this book was de rigeur in every hippie pad, and it no doubt played an unsung role in naming the 'Age of Aquarius'. The Aquarian Gospel was probably one of the catalysts for the 'Jesus freak' movement. Although they would never admit it, many a staid evangelical Christian probably had their spiritual awakening while browsing this book in a head shop.


Title Page
Contents
Who was Levi?
Introduction

Section I: Aleph: Birth and Early Life of Mary, Mother of Jesus

Chapter 1

Section II: Beth: Birth and Infancy of the Harbinger, and of Jesus

Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6

Section III: Gimel: Education of Mary and Elizabeth in Zoan

Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12

Section IV: Daleth: Childhood and Early Education of John the Harbinger

Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15

Section V: He: Childhood and Early Education of Jesus

Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20

Section VI: Vau: Life and Works of Jesus in India

Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35

Section VII: Zain: Life and Works of Jesus in Tibet and Western India

Chapter 36
Chapter 37

Section VIII: Cheth: Life and Works of Jesus in Persia

Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41

Section IX: Teth: Life and Works of Jesus in Assyria

Chapter 42
Chapter 43

Section X: Jod: Life and Works of Jesus in Greece

Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46

Section XI: Caph: Life and Works of Jesus in Egypt

Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55

Section XII: Lamed: The Council of the Seven Sages of the World

Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60

Section XIII: Mem: The Ministry of John the Harbinger

Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64

Section XIV: Nun: The Christine Ministry of Jesus--Introductory Epoch

Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71

Section XV: Samech: The First Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of Jesus

Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90

Section XVI: Ain: The Second Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of Jesus

Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Chapter 118
Chapter 119
Chapter 120
Chapter 121
Chapter 122
Chapter 123

Section XVII: Pe: The Third Annual Epoch of the Christine Ministry of Jesus

Chapter 124
Chapter 125
Chapter 126
Chapter 127
Chapter 128
Chapter 129
Chapter 130
Chapter 131
Chapter 132
Chapter 133
Chapter 134
Chapter 135
Chapter 136
Chapter 137
Chapter 138
Chapter 139
Chapter 140
Chapter 141
Chapter 142
Chapter 143
Chapter 144
Chapter 145
Chapter 146
Chapter 147
Chapter 148
Chapter 149
Chapter 150
Chapter 151
Chapter 152
Chapter 153
Chapter 154
Chapter 155
Chapter 156
Chapter 157
Chapter 158

Section XVIII: Tzaddi: The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

Chapter 159
Chapter 160
Chapter 161
Chapter 162
Chapter 163
Chapter 164

Section XIX: Koph: The Trial and Execution of Jesus

Chapter 165
Chapter 166
Chapter 167
Chapter 168
Chapter 169
Chapter 170
Chapter 171

Section XX: Resh: The Resurrection of Jesus

Chapter 172

Section XXI: Schin: Materialisation of the Spiritual Body of Jesus

Chapter 173
Chapter 174
Chapter 175
Chapter 176
Chapter 177
Chapter 178
Chapter 179
Chapter 180

Section XXII: Tau: Establishment of the Christine Church

Chapter 181
Chapter 182