Customer Reviews

The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

First, let's get one thing out of the way: It has now been *proven* that Nicolas Notovitch, *did* visit the Hemis lamasery (see page 132-135 of the recently released book, Saving the Savior: Did Christ Survive the Crucifixion?).

Dr. Fida Hassnain, a living scholar who currently resides in Srinagar, Kashmir (the city that houses the Roza Bal--the mausoleum that houses the physical remains of Jesus Christ), visited the Hemis monastery in recent times, and he stated the following: "...the other Lamas who also were present belonging to the monastery immediately said that their older monks *did remember* an Englishman being injured and brought to their monastery and that some MSS (manuscripts) were shown to him." In those times, any European was referred to as an "Englishman" by the inhabitants of Tibet.

One wonders *why* we should believe the claims of Dr. Archibald Douglas *over* the claims of an Asian scholar, Dr. Hassnain, who knows the languages of the area, and the culture of the people. Why? Because Dr. Douglas was a European, hum? Why should he be believed? Just because he made a statement?

Anyway, this is a fascinating book that will hold your attention from beginning to end. The style of the teachings of Jesus that Notovitch reveals, as contained in the manuscripts he saw, are strikingly similar to Gnostic, Afghani, Persian, Hindu, Kashmiri and Nazarene traditions (See Saving the Savior) that record the teachings of Jesus Christ. I doubt that Notovitch even knew of these other traditions, which gives more weight to his account.

The *real* reason that Douglas and others *fabricated* their claims that Notovitch did not visit Hemis (now disproven by Hassnain) is that the teachings of Jesus revealed in the Buddhist documents at Hemis *match* the teachings revealed in Gnostic, Afghani, Persian, Hindu, Kashmiri and Nazarene accounts.

And those teachings *do not* speak of death, "resurrection" and ascension. They speak about finding God *within.* They repeat the idea of Gnosis [recall how the Paulene Christians eventually, and violently, destroyed the Gnostic and other *original* Christian movements that *did not* believe the Paulene death and resurrection myth.]

So let's do the arithmatic: We have 7 traditions (Buddhist, Gnostic, Afghani, Persian, Hindu, Kashmiri and Nazarene) that reveal a very *human* Jesus who spoke of Gnosis and God within, and ONE tradition that claims he is the literal "Son of God." Seven against one. *That's* why they fear and hate Notovitch--he confirmed what *already* existed about Jesus in 6 other traditions, and that confirmation went AGAINST Paulene Christianity.

Notovitch remains a BIG thorn in the side of Church Christianity, and THAT is why the lie was fabricated that Notovitch never visited Hemis. This lie was further disproved by the great Swami Abhedananda, who went to Hemis and *saw* the documents. Abhedananda, again, was an *Asian.*

So we have the word of two Asians against the word of two Europeans. And NATURALLY, the word of the Europeans must CERTAINLY be correct...right!? NOT!

Read Notovitch's book. And then read Jesus Lived in India (Kersten); Jesus Died in Kashmir (Kaiser); Jesus in Heaven on Earth (Nazir Ahmad), etc. If you can't find those, then read Saving the Savior: Did Christ Survive the Crucifixion? (2001), the latest and most complete book on the subject.

I personnally believe that the content of Notovitch's book dealing with the probable stay of Christ in India is very convincing. What is most interesting is that different versions of the story of the life of Jesus made by different sages of India converge with the one which Notovitch read in the manuscripts of Himis. Very accurate details of Isa's life are given by Yogananda Paramahansa, by Sathya Sai Baba.... These two saints of India never met, but their stories of the life of Jesus outside India do not contradict at all with the one brought forward by Notovitch. For both of these sages, Christ mission was to create a bridge between the east and the west to allow spirituality and materialism to work hand in hand. For both of them, it seems that the message of Christ has not yet been fully understood by humanity. Christ is supposed to be a universal master.

This is a belief-stretching book that reveals the secrets of the Hemis monastery in Ladhak, Northern India. It is here that two Russian scientists become isolated by the winter snows. They then hear of a "western Dalai Lama" of 2000 years earlier! This figure closely correlates to Jesus and his 'missing years'. This story has been taken further and in greater detail by Richard G. Patton in his compelling novel "The Autobiography of Jesus of Nazareth and the Missing Years". Notovitch scores heavily on research but could have improved it considerably in style. This is a minor criticism since the book DOES bring original material to the discussion table.

The Unknown life of Jesus Christ is a surprise and a shock only to those who are still under the influence of their cultural programming. And the assumtion that there is only one path to God.

This work is just the beginning of more records from India that will help verify why the New testament concepts are the same as those of the Sanatana Dharma (or "Hinduism" to the uneducated).

These unifying spiritual principles were brought out very cleraly in both the "Autobiography of a Yogi" & God Talks With Arjuna" by Paramahansa Yogananda. Who by the way, also attests that Jesus was in India. The difference here of course is that Yogananda did not have to rely on Other spirits to tell Him so, He did not dabble in those methods.

Some writers claim that eastern sages try to make Jesus words fit into their own molds. This is not in the least way true or necessary. they are the same! When I was a youth and studying the New Testament for the first time, the later the Bhagavad Gita, it was clear to me then (without any other influence)that it was the same teaching in both sacred books.

Since there presently are no records that contradict the records in India re Jesus visited there for many years, and since persons in that part of the world do not have the goal of world domination (exclusivism). I accept the findings of Notavich and those great ones who state that Jesus was in India.

Much has been made of Dead Sea Scrolls uncovered in Qumran during the late 40s to mid 50's. Little has been noted however about scrolls located within Buddhist monasteries and convents in Kashmir, Tibet and India.

There is much that will cause the reader to be challenged as they read through this short book. Brevity in the number of pages in this manuscript diminishs the amount of time that the reader might find themselves questioning longstanding beliefs.

The author, Nicolas Notovich was on an expedition in 1887 when first mention was made of Issa (Jesus) having been in India during his teenage and young adulthood years. Intrigued, the author relentlessly attempted to track down the documents that would support these claims. Gaining the trust of monks not accustomed to westerners was an amazing feat. Subsequently,Nicolas broke his leg during that trip and found himself being cared for by Buddhist monks in the very convent that possessed a manuscript that challenges many of the basic facts contained within the canonical gospels. The author took extensive notes and eventually came back to the west to publish the manuscript.

What is in it? Some startling facts. You may feel like history is being re-written. It may have been; by the early church several hundred years later. This document is purported to be written much earlier.

I found myself having many "aha" moments as I read this fascinating book. The travel narrative in the beginning was a bit boring for me. But as Nicolas laid down some historical contexts in which to undertstand this document and detailed the religious practices of the Buddhists in which he came into contact with, I was unable to put this down.

I had always questioned the so-called missing years of Jesus' life. Now, the reader is provided with explanations. A couple of other facts in this document which are contradictory to what I was taught as a child, had me wondering why I hadn't questioned these things before.

I won't comment on the historical accuracy of these supposed scrolls. Nor will I do so on the basis of scriptural accuracy. I am neither historian nor biblical scholar.

But does the material within resonate with me? Yes.
Does it make for an interesting read? Yes.

That's enough for me.
Enjoy.

The book is very rich in details on the author's journey through Asia. Basically half the book is about his journey to the Tibetan monastery. I was expecting more details on his findings. He simply cites the findings in a chronological order he made, which are interesting by the way (e.g saying that Pilate was the one to condemn Christ), but I'd like more exploitaion into the findings.
Overall it's good with very different perceptions from the Catholic Bible.

In this book, Nicolas Notovitch includes discussions he held with Tibetan Buddhist lamas. The discussions make the Tibetan lamas appear to be monotheistic, which Tibetan Buddhism is not. The book also makes it appear that Isa (Jesus) is an important saint for Tibetan Buddhists, but I have never heard or read about Isa from any Tibetan Buddhist source. The quotes of Jesus in the book don't resemble his Biblical quotes, nor his quotes from the Nag Hammadi. I don't believe Notovitch's story is true.

If you want to learn more about Jesus in the East, a book I would recommend instead of this one is "Christ in Kashmir", by Aziz Kashmiri. It is broader in scope (e.g., it also deals with Moses and the possible Jewish origins of Kashmiris) and has actual facts to back it up.

Archibald Douglas and Max Müller recognized Notovich's work as fraudulent, although it was not immediately clear (to Müller, at least) what the source of the fraud was. Perhaps the best thing is to read excerpts from the original, absolutely scathing account, from the Nineteenth Century academic journal itself (long out of copyright):

(from The Nineteenth Century, 39 (January-June 1896) pp. 667-677
THE CHIEF LAMA OF HIMIS ON THE ALLEGED 'UNKNOWN LIFE OF CHRIST')

"I was resident in Madras during the whole of last year, and did not expect to have an opportunity of investigating the facts respecting the Unknown Life of Christ at so early a date. Removing to the North-West Provinces in the early part of the present year, I |668 found that it would be practicable during the three months of the University vacation to travel through Kashmir to Ladakh, following the route taken by M. Notovitch, and to spend sufficient time at the monastery at Himis to learn the truth on this important question. I may here mention, en passant, that I did not find it necessary to break even a little finger, much less a leg, in order to gain admittance to Himis Monastery, where I am now staying for a few days, enjoying the kind hospitality of the Chief Lama (or Abbot), the same gentleman who, according to M. Notovitch, nursed him so kindly under the painful circumstances connected with his memorable visit.

Coming to Himis with an entirely open mind on the question, and in no way biassed by the formation of a previous judgment, I was fully prepared to find that M. Notovitch's narrative was correct, and to congratulate him on his marvellous discovery. One matter of detail, entirely unconnected with the genuineness of the Russian traveller's literary discovery, shook my faith slightly in the general veracity of the discoverer....

...I will now call attention to several leading statements in M. Notovitch's book, all of which will be found to be definitely contradicted in the document signed by the Chief Superior of Himis Monastery, and sealed with his official seal. This statement I have sent to Professor Max Müller for inspection, together with the subjoined declaration of Mr. Joldan, an educated Tibetan gentleman, to whose able assistance I am deeply indebted.

A more patient and painstaking interpreter could not be found, nor one better fitted for the task.

The extracts from M. Notovitch's book were slowly translated to the Lama, and were thoroughly understood by him. The questions and answers were fully discussed at two lengthy interviews before being prepared as a document for signature, and when so prepared were carefully translated again to the Lama by Mr. Joldan, and discussed by him with that gentleman, and with a venerable monk who appeared to act as the Lama's private secretary.

I may here say that I have the fullest confidence in the veracity and honesty of this old and respected Chief Lama, who appears to be held in the highest esteem, not only among Buddhists, but by all Europeans who have made his acquaintance. As he says, he has nothing whatever to gain by the concealment of facts, or by any departure from the truth.

His indignation at the manner in which he has been travestied by the ingenious author was of far too genuine a character to be feigned, and I was much interested when, in our final interview, he asked me if in Europe there existed no means of punishing a person |670 who told such untruths. I could only reply that literary honesty is taken for granted to such an extent in Europe, that literary forgery of the nature committed by M. Notovitch could not, I believed, be punished by our criminal law.

With reference to M. Notovitch's declaration that he is going to Himis to verify the statements made in his book, I would take the liberty of earnestly advising him, if he does so, to disguise himself at least as effectually as on the occasion of his former visit. M. Notovitch will not find himself popular at Himis, and might not gain admittance, even on the pretext of having another broken leg.

The following extracts have been carefully selected from the Unknown Life of Christ, and are such that on their truth or falsehood may be said to depend the value of M. Notovitch's story.

After describing at length the details of a dramatic performance, said to have been witnessed in the courtyard of Himis Monastery, M. Notovitch writes:

A fter having crossed the courtyard and ascended a staircase lined with prayer-wheels, we passed through two rooms encumbered with idols, and came out upon the terrace, where I seated myself on a bench opposite the venerable Lama, whose eyes flashed with intelligence (p. 110).

(This extract is important as bearing on the question of identification; see Answers 1 and 2 of the Lama's statement: and it may here be remarked that the author's account of the approach to the Chief Lama's reception room and balcony is accurate.) Then follows a long résumé of a conversation on religious matters, in the course of which the Abbot is said to have made the following observations amongst others:

We have a striking example of this (Nature-worship) in the ancient Egyptians, who worshipped animals, trees, and stones, the winds and the rain (p. 114).

The Assyrians, in seeking the way which should lead them to the feet of the Creator, turned their eyes to the stars (p. 115).

Perhaps the people of Israel have demonstrated in a more flagrant manner than any other, man's love for the concrete (p. 115).

The name of Issa is held in great respect by the Buddhists, but little is known about him save by the Chief Lamas who have read the scrolls relating to his life (p. 120).

The documents brought from India to Nepal, and from Nepal to Tibet, concerning Issa's existence, are written in the Pāli language, and are now in Lassa; but a copy in our language----that is, the Tibetan----exists in this convent (p. 123).

Two days later I sent by a messenger to the Chief Lama a present comprising an alarum, a watch, and a thermometer (p. 125).

We will now pass on to the description given by the author of his re-entry into the monastery with a broken leg:

I was carried with great care to the best of their chambers, and placed on a bed of soft materials, near to which stood a prayer-wheel. All this took place under the immediate surveillance of the Superior, who affectionately pressed the hand I offered him in gratitude for his kindness (p. 127).

While a youth of the convent kept in motion the prayer-wheel near my bed, |671 the venerable Superior entertained me with endless stories, constantly taking my alarum and watch from their cases, and putting me questions as to their uses, and the way they should be worked. At last, acceding to my earnest entreaties, he ended by bringing me two large bound volumes, with leaves yellowed by time, and from them he read to me, in the Tibetan language, the biography of Issa, which I carefully noted in my carnet de voyage, as my interpreter translated what he said (p. 128).

This last extract is in a sense the most important of all, as will be seen when it is compared with Answers 3, 4, and 5 in the statement of the Chief Superior of Himis Monastery. That statement I now append. The original is in the hands of Professor Max Müller, as I have said, as also is the appended declaration of Mr. Joldan, of Leh.

The statement of the Lama, if true----and there is every reason to believe it to be so----disposes once and for ever of M. Notovitch's claim to have discovered a Life of Issa among the Buddhists of Ladakh. My questions to the Lama were framed briefly, and with as much simplicity as possible, so that there might be no room for any mistake or doubt respecting the meaning of these questions.

My interpreter. Mr. Joldan, tells me that he was most careful to translate the Lama's answers verbally and literally, to avoid all possible misapprehension. The statement is as follows:

Question 1. You are the Chief Lama (or Abbot) of Himis Monastery?

Answer 1. Yes.

Question 2. For how long have you acted continuously in that capacity?

Answer 2. For fifteen years.

Question 3. Have you or any of the Buddhist monks in this monastery ever seen here a European with an injured leg?

Answer 3. No, not during the last fifteen years. If any sahib suffering from serious injury had stayed in this monastery it would have been my duty to report the matter to the Wazir of Leh. I have never had occasion to do so.

Question 4. Have you or any of your monks ever shown any Life of Issa to any sahib, and allowed him to copy and translate the same?

Answer 4. There is no such book in the monastery, and during my term of office no sahib has been allowed to copy or translate any of the manuscripts in the monastery.

Question 5. Are you aware of the existence of any book in any of the Buddhist monasteries of Tibet bearing on the life of Issa?

Answer 5. I have been for forty-two years a Lama, and am well acquainted with all the well-known Buddhist books and manuscripts, and I have never heard of one which mentions the name of Issa, and it is my firm and honest belief that none such exists. I have inquired of our principal Lamas in other monasteries of Tibet, and they are not acquainted with any books or manuscripts which mention the name of Issa.

Question 6. M. Nicolas Notovitch, a Russian gentleman who visited |672 your monastery between seven and eight years ago, states that you discussed with him the religions of the ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, and the people of Israel.

Answer 6. I know nothing whatever about the Egyptians, Assyrians, and the people of Israel, and do not know anything of their religions whatsoever. I have never mentioned these peoples to any sahib.

[I was reading M. Notovitch's book to the Lama at the time, and he burst out with, 'Sun, sun, sun, manna mi dug!' which is Tibetan for, 'Lies, lies, lies, nothing but lies!' I have read this to him as part of the statement which he is to sign----as his deliberate opinion of M. Notovitch's book. He appears perfectly satisfied on the matter. J. A. D.]...

Regarded, then, in the light of a work of the imagination, M. Notovitch's book fails to please, because it does not present that most fascinating feature of fiction, a close semblance of probability.

And yet, if I am rightly informed, the French version has gone through eleven editions; so M. Notovitch's effort of imagination has found, doubtless, a substantial reward. In face of the evidence adduced, we must reject the theory generously put forward by Professor Max Müller, that M. Notovitch was the victim of a cunning 'hoax ' on the part of the Buddhist monks of Himis.

...I do not believe that the venerable monk who presides over Himis Monastery would have consented to the practice of such a deception, and I do not think that any of the monks are capable of carrying out such a deception successfully. The departures from truth, on other points, which can be proved against M. Notovitch render such a solution highly improbable....

...I have visited Himis, and have endeavoured by patient and impartial inquiry to find out the truth respecting M. Notovitch's remarkable story, with the result that, while I have not found one single fact to support his statements, all the weight of evidence goes to disprove them beyond all shadow of doubt. It is certain that no such passages as M. Notovitch pretends to have translated exist in the monastery of Himis, and therefore it is impossible that he could have 'faithfully reproduced' the same.

The following "postscript" was amended to the article by Max Müller himself:

"...After having read, however, the foregoing article by Professor Douglas, I feel bound most humbly to apologise to the excellent Lamas of that monastery for having thought them capable of such frivolity. After the conrplete refutation, or, I should rather say, annihilation, of M. Notovitch by Professor A. Douglas, there does not seem to be any further necessity----nay, any excuse----for trying to spare the feelings of that venturesome Russian traveller. He was not hoaxed, but he tried to hoax us. Mr. Douglas has sent me the original papers, containing the depositions of the Chief Priest of the Monastery of Him is and of his interpreter, and I gladly testify that they entirely agree with the extracts given in the article, and are-signed and sealed by the Chief Lama and by Mr. Joldan, formerly Postmaster of Ladakh, who acted as interpreter between the priests and Professor A. Douglas. The papers are dated Himis Monastery, Little Tibet, June 3, 1894.

I ought perhaps to add that I cannot claim any particular merit in having proved the Vie inconnue de Jésus-Christ----that is, the Life of Christ taken from MSS. in the monasteries of Tibet----to be a mere fiction. I doubt whether any Sanskrit or Pāli scholar, in fact any serious student of Buddhism, was taken in by M. Notovitch. One might as well look for the waters of Jordan in the Brahmaputra as. for a Life of Christ in Tibet.

F. Max Müller.

November 15, 1895."

The author's veracity is in doubt from both his writing and the attempts by F. Max Muller to verify the story in 1895. This book is disappointing in more ways the one. First, the bulk of the book is devoted to the adventures of Notovitch as he travels through India and Tibet. If you are old enough to remember the "Professor" from the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons- the one that tells tall tales of the adventures of his youth, you will get some idea of how Notovitch comes off as a person through his writing. The examples that come to mind are his story of one of his "coolies" being eaten by a panther as well as his shooting a mother bear in the middle of the road, and then the non-threatening cub just so he could skin them for their "fine black fur." Also noteworthy- what kind of a man leaves the remains of another human on the side of a road, with no further thought?

When the reader finally gets to the transcripts, they seem to be not much more then a regurgitation of the Gospels. The one salient difference is that the Pharisees are shown to be loyal to Jesus, with the scrolls laying the blame for the death squarely on Pontius Pilate. That may be possible, but why would that information be in the scrolls in Tibetan monastery and nowhere else? So, according to Notovitch, we have Buddhist scrolls telling of the aftermath of Jesus' death and crucifixion? Where are the details of the life of young Jesus while he was tutored under the guidance of a spiritual guru? Where are the truly novel ideas espoused by Jesus in the 16 years he was traveling in Asia? Nowhere in this book.

The premise of Jesus being spiritually educated in India and/or Nepal is certainly a subject to be entertained if not investigated. However, this particular book is more than likely a work of poor fiction by an egotistic and fraudulent man that lived more than a century ago. If the subject matter fascinates you, look elsewhere for elucidation. Also, as a minor note: the book is full of typos and is printed the next business day after you order it, which is in keeping with its questionable writing.

Excellent short work by NICOLAS NOTOVITCH accidentally discovered the history recorded in Buddhist scriptures about Issa (or Jesus)'s life, his preaching of God in Asia, and studied Buddhism in Tibet Buddhist temples, his persecution and his death.