“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(Jane and I were tired from our recent activities and might have missed the session, except that she didn’t want to interrupt the rhythm we’d built up. Sue sat in as a witness. All of us expected an easygoing session — one that might touch upon current events involving the three of us, from a very ill feline, say, to our impromptu Friday evening “reincarnational dramas.” But we certainly didn’t expect Seth to continue the material he’d begun in his book relating to biblical times.)

I should frighten you by saying, “Chapter One,” but I will not. And good evening to our friend here (Sue). You will shortly be able to read my book in its entirety. (To me): I have a few notes for your edification.

Give us a moment. Now. The Essenes had deep roots in some of the mystery religions of the Greeks. Some of the Essenes set up schools that were not what they appeared to be. Subterfuge was used. There were various tests applied before an initiate could come close to the interior doctrines. (Pause.) There were other groups of Essenes, therefore, beside the one generally spoken of.

The Essenes, as they are known, were a surviving group from a larger and more ancient brotherhood. Some existed in Asia Minor. Efforts were made to infiltrate into national or group cultures. Certain basic ideas united the Essenes, therefore, though often they went by different names. (Pause.) There were three basic groups: the one generally thought of, an offshoot in Africa, and the Asia Minor group mentioned earlier. Little contact existed between these groups, however, and gradually the inner doctrines themselves showed important variations.

(9:46.) There was some jealousy, then, from certain members of the Essenes at John’s progress. At one time John attempted to join various divergent groups together as one brotherhood, but he failed. The failure weighed heavily upon him. Fire is seldom gentle, and John the Baptist was as filled with fire as Paul.

(To Sue): I talk to this one in the dream state often. I do not want to take up all your waking time besides.

Before too long you may have reason to check upon what I have said, for records will appear that seem to contradict previous ones — as indeed they shall — and because of the reasons just given.

(The session was being held in our living room. Jane sat in her rocker, facing Sue and me on the couch. Our long coffee table separated us. There was a light to Jane’s left, and one lit beside me. Sue handed Jane a piece of paper and a pen, while I continued to take notes.

Now, number one is an attempt to get at number two, which was simply a sign of a copy made, a distorted or doctored copy. The middle one, (three), was a mark made for a much less distorted copy, and the last mark, (five), was for an undoctored record.

(Some weeks after this session Jane and I were interested to read that the St. Mark’s Isaiah Scroll, from the Qumran find, contains marginal symbols that had still not been deciphered by the 1960’s; this according to the last printing of the reference work we consulted. Some of the symbols, which were illustrated, bear more than a little resemblance to those Seth-Jane drew — especially the last one.)

It would be nearly impossible for anyone except one of the innermost circle to distinguish between some of the versions presented. These signs would not appear isolated, but in such a fashion that only those who knew how to look for them would find them. They were not blazed in gold on the title page. (Humorously.)

(10:17.) Now, in some of these records, the dating, for example, would be just off enough so that only one well-versed would recognize a discrepancy. Some would include an obvious error. Those in the know would immediately recognize that the record was a fake.

(No doubt Seth’s amusement at the Vatican holding doctored records stems from his own brief tenure as Pope in one of his lives.

(10:55.) All professions, to one extent or another, had such fashions. The records meant life or death if they were discovered at the wrong time. Falsifications were often put in simply to lead any readers astray if the books fell in the wrong hands.

Many of the men involved did lead double lives then, known in their villages by one name, and in their brotherhoods by another. In some cases, their more mundane identities were never divulged but to a few. Later, when the Christians were being persecuted, there were many safeguards taken — particularly by those who believed they had a responsibility to live long enough to see the new creed find fertile ground.

(Our apartment is divided by a long hall. When ESP class is held in the living room, I’m usually typing material in one of the rooms on the other side of the corridor. Sometimes I can hear Seth through the two closed doors.)