" {FN35-6}
Again, Christ says: "For all the prophets and the law prophesied
until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was
for to come." {FN35-7} When John denied that he was Elias (Elijah),
{FN35-8} he meant that in the humble garb of John he came no longer
in the outward elevation of Elijah the great guru. In his former
incarnation he had given the "mantle" of his glory and his spiritual
wealth to his disciple Elisha. "And Elisha said, I pray thee, let
a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast
asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken
from thee, it shall be so unto thee. . . . And he took the MANTLE
of Elijah that fell from him." {FN35-9}
The roles became reversed, because Elijah-John was no longer needed
to be the ostensible guru of Elisha-Jesus, now perfected in divine
realization.
When Christ was transfigured on the mountain {FN35-10} it was his
guru Elias, with Moses, whom he saw. Again, in his hour of extremity
on the cross, Jesus cried out the divine name: "ELI, ELI, LAMA
SABACHTHANI? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken
me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This
man calleth for Elias. . . . Let us see whether Elias will come to
save him." {FN35-11}
The eternal bond of guru and disciple that existed between John and
Jesus was present also for Babaji and Lahiri Mahasaya. With tender
solicitude the deathless guru swam the Lethean waters that swirled
between the last two lives of his chela, and guided the successive
steps taken by the child and then by the man Lahiri Mahasaya.
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