The Buddha
Without his knowing, certain members of the Brotherhood of Nazarenes watched him at all times, as had it so been since his sign was first seen in the firmament. Before his birth was due, and as his sign grew, Brothers had journeyed to the place where he would be born, and they were there. And because they were strangers they were not allowed to approach the palace or the queen whilst she was with child; and so he was anointed by them as a king at that time of his birth, but not as he should have been, for they did not possess the hallowed oils, as they were not known of in that place.
So they watched and they waited until they saw a safe opportunity. They knew that he would not receive them until his torment was great and his mind would be receptive to reason and the hallowed knowledge. They followed him in his footsteps wherever his feet did tread, for many years.
One day he was tired and was much disturbed, as he now felt that he was mad, as men did say of him; and he sat to rest beneath a Bodhi tree, in its shade.
One of the brothers who had been following him approached and spoke onto him, and asked him why was he troubled. This good brother showed him his own Caul, together with the brother's own Caul, as he began to speak unto him; and so did he impress him. He was receptive to him and to all that he did say onto him.
They were then joined by the other brothers there present; and Buddha knew kinship for the first time from the brothers and to the brothers; and they were overjoyed.
He listened to them and they talked to him for many days without rest or sleep. He did not tire, and he gained the power of true reason from them, and he gained knowledge of that which he was; and he was content with it. They took him with them; and so began his education for many years.
Again he did go amongst his people, and they were much amazed by his sayings, and he was full of the light of his knowledge; and this did he do for the rest of his life.
He healed the sick and performed great wonders; and as he did so he gained followers, and he taught them. Alas, to small avail, for upon his death all gain and reason lay twisted, and he was ill-used. Even whilst he lived was he ill used by lowly men who had knowledge only of lust for power, and lived in the darkness of their minds.
And the High Lord Buddha too was also exalted as a god long after he was dead and his children were dead; and the true greatness of him was lost. Men were still not ready for that which he had set before them. Again, men of greed for power used him and all that he was, to create something that was against all that he was, and all that he did, and all that he did say. And by the use of this vileness men did great wrong of him and his Caul, and they did believe whatever gave them power over his people. And they knew not anything except the vileness of belief and the evil of unreason.
And before he did die he did prophesy, and did prophesy of those High Caulbearers that would follow after him. And men heard his sayings not, for all was twisted, and his reason was not in their understanding.
He prophesied of another who would come after him and be sorely used, and would feign death to escape the evil of men in his time, so that he could prepare for the last and the seventh that was to come.
Again they heard him not, and all that was of him was dead to them, and all that he was not was breathed life into. He was as if risen from the dead of that which he was, to an everlasting life of that which he was not. Cursed are they who did this thing to this High Lord.
Extract from The Hallowed Book of Man – Chapter: The Buddha
