6-Wisemen1-A

And We Thought We Knew You:
Soul Journey With the Real Jesus

The Wise Men - I

CELESTIAL SECRETS AND STAR SEARCH

BC 6
Ctesphon, Persia, the Orient [1]

�� One God?� Many gods?� One God by one name?� One god by many names?� Who can tell?

�� God in one person?� God in three persons?� God in a thousand persons?

�� God in spirit?� God in nature?� Signs of god?� What are the answers?� Are answers even possible?

�� That light!� Where is it coming from?� A star exploding?� A planet erupting?� An angry god?� More questions.� Always more questions.� Frightening questions.

�� "Sir!� Sir!� Come look!� Something's happening in the heavens!"

�� The young astronomer rushes down the steep steps from the roof and down the hall.� He motions to the first magum he sees.� He is one of several who habitually work late to observe the omens of the gods through the stars. [2]

�� "Young man!� Have you left your post?"

�� "You have to see this!"

��"I don't have to do anything," he replies sharply.� "How long have you been on our staff, anyway?"

�� "Sir, you may be missing it!� Please, sir!� The universe is exploding!"

�� Seeing that a little gruffness does not turn off the fairly new apprentice, Vish Taspa leaves his charts and follows the young man down the hall.� As they do, the younger one speeds up almost to a run.� Eventually the older man catches up and climbs the stairs to the roof.

�� He does not have to be told where the amazing star is.� He stares, wondering secretly if he should rejoice or cringe in terror.� Something great. A cataclysmic evebt.� Something like nothing he has ever seen before.� Surely King Phraattes has seen it too.� He will be demanding an explanation. [3]

�� "The phenomenon, sir.� What is it?"

�� "It is not for you to question," Vish Taspa replies, trying to cover up his own confusion.

�� He stares still, trying to decide what his first strategy should be.� Should he go to the king unsummoned?� Or should he wait and give the impression he is ignorant of what is going on around him?

�� "Anything else happen before I got here?" Vish Taspa inquires.

�� "No, sir.� Only in this one location in the western sky." [4]

�� "This bears close observation, young man.� I want a constant watch on it."

�� "Yes, sir."

�� "Amazing!" Vish Taspa repeats, heading back toward the steps.

�� "Sir, you know what it reminds me of?" the apprentice interrupts, hoping the elderly man is not angry at his brashness.� There is no reply, so he continues.� "It reminds me of, well, of angel glow."

�� "Angels?"

�� "You know.� Spirits!"

�� Vish Taspa turns and looks sternly at the younger man.� "Or a god," he adds.� Quickly he turns to leave, then stops and turns back around.� "I'll be back later to check on the status of the new star."

�� He never has that chance.� For after only a few minutes, the sky light is gone.� No explanation.� Just gone.� Completely disappeared. How could it have been? [5]

�� Common people who are up late and outside during the heavenly event stare in wonder too.� What caused it?� Their terror increases because of the ignorance they know they will be forced to remain in.� the magi advise royalty.� No one else is entitled to know.� Will the world come to an end without warning?

�� Vish Taspa returns to his study to think.� What shall he do?� It is nearly midnight.� Will the king wish to be awakened?� He paces.� Or was he still up when the star light came?� He paces still.

�� The king will demand a meaning.� Vish Taspa looks over his charts of the heavens.� He calculates and broods.� Never has there been a star in that location.� What is happening with the gods?� What can he tell the king temporarily to keep him placated until he can uncover its true celestial secret?

�� He pulls out the scrolls which refer to the Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha.� He turns hurriedly through the MAHA-VAGGA, but does not try to read it.� He has nearly memorized it.

�� Once more he paces, interrupting himself only to look again at his zodiac charts.� A knock on his door.

�� "King Phraattes wishes to see you immediately." [6]

�� "And the others?"

�� The messenger is well aware Vish Taspa is referring to the other magi.

��"They are being summoned also."

�� Vish Taspa dons the official court vestments which he keeps on hand in his study for such times as this.� Then, wishing to look as important and knowledgeable as possible, he picks up his celestial charts and leaves his quarters.

�� As he approaches the throne room, he hears angry shouting.� He pauses at the doorway long enough to be recognized by the king, then proceeds to the front to join the others, bowing as he goes.

�� "I don't care what you think!" King Phraattes is bellowing.� "I want answers, and I want them now!"

�� "But, your majesty, that is impossible so quickly."

�� "Then do the impossible!� It is your job to keep me informed of the secrets of the gods.� What are they trying to warn me of?� Is my kingdom safe?� When the Roman senate appointed me king, I was promised security for the rest of my life.� So what is going on?� Augustus liked me enough to send me an Italian wife.� Has Rome changed its mind after twenty five years?� I demand an answer!"

�� The king spots Vish Taspa, prostrate on the floor in front of the throne waiting to be recognized.� "Yes, yes, Vish Taspa!� Rise.� You've always been a little more sane than the other magi.� Tell me what you know of this new star that suddenly appears and then just as suddenly disappears."

�� Everyone knows that Vish Taspa is of the Magi Tribe which was rebellious to Darius the Great some five hundred years earlier, but which proved later to be useful.� They had long been a recognized priestly tribe since the time of the Greek invasion under Alexander the Great two centuries later, and have served succeeding kings faithfully. [7]

�� Vish Taspa, buying time, opens his scrolls wherein he has charted the skies.

�� "Your majesty, the star appeared in the western sky."

�� "Any idiot knows that.� Tell me something I don't know."

�� "In the western sky we have the constellations of Leo the slaughtered lion on exhibit by the great hunter, Cancer the battle gates to heaven, Gemini the twin navigators, and Taurus the bull upon which the sun god rides."

�� Somewhat calmed by this display of knowledge, even though every magum is expected to know this, the king lowers his voice.� "So, what secret are they trying to tell me?"

�� "Impending disaster on our enemies, your majesty," one of the other magum interrupts, picking up an idea from the king's own question.

�� King Phraattes turn in his direction.� "You're so predictable, I don't know why I keep you around."�

�� He turns back to Vish Taspa.� "Well, what is this star an omen of?"

�� "Your majesty, I am dumbfounded by it.� No human has ever witnessed the birth of a star.� The gods have been from eternity to eternity.� And what makes this omen so difficult to interpret is that the god was born, and then died in its infancy, conceivably because it was so evil."

�� King Phraattes stands and pounds his sceptor on the arm of his throne.� What if the gods believe his kingdom is similarly evil?� The veins in his neck stand out.� Something must be said to calm him.

�� "Or a second possibility," Vish Taspa continues quickly, "is that the god apparently came into existence and then was immediately absorbed by the Essence of the Universe because it was so good."

�� "Any other ideas?" the king says, turning toward the other magi gathered in the throne room.

�� "There are any number of possibilities, your majesty.� We will need some time."

�� "Well, since no one has an answer for me, I have no choice but to wait for the truth of the star's secret, do I?� I want this to receive priority.� Drop everything else you are doing."

�� King Phraattes returns to his throne, sits back down, and clinches his teeth in an obvious show of impatience and disapproval over his priestly advisors' apparent incompetence.

��"I want my first report in the morning!� Now leave me!"

�� Some of the magi leave in small groups forming investigative teams.� Others leave in pairs.� Still others alone, believing their best work is done solo.

�� Vish Taspa is joined only by Ashoka.� His interest had been piqued when his colleague mentioned the god being absorbed into the Essence of the Universe.� Ashoka is from India and is a Hindu.� Vish Taspa, a native Persian, is Buddhist.� They both believe in the Essence of the Universe, though from different points of view.

�� But things are serious enough they know they must get more input from others expert in their beliefs.� They have done it in the past.� They must do it again.� The entire kingdom - or even world - may depend on it.� This god's influence may know no bounds nor boundaries.� This god's star has surely been seen worldwide.� This god must not be ignored.� To do so may mean doom.� Of the entire human race.

�� The two men rush to the captain of the guard and request a chariot and escorts to keep them safe in the streets now occupied only by drunks and thieves.

�� "Dayukku!� Open up!"� They pound on the door.� "Get up, Dayukku!� Get up!� It's urgent!� Open up!� We must see you!"

Their knuckles become scraped by the rough wood of the door.� The soldiers take over and pound on the door with the butt of their swords.

�� A light from above.� It is in Dayukku's room.� Holding a lantern in the window, a disheveled man calls down to the street below.� His voice is quaking, though not in fear.� He has lived a long time and his voice is not as strong as in earlier years.

�� "Come on up!� My doorman should be there by now!� come on up!"� There is no mistaking his Median accent.

�� While the soldiers stand guard outside the gate, the two magi enter and follow their escort to the second floor bedroom.� Dayukku has made no effort to get dressed or even put on a robe.� He is past the age of trying to impress people.

�� Condescendingly, he looks up from his seat as his two longtime friends enter.� "So what's eating you in the middle of the night?" he says, taking a goblet of juice from a second servant in the room.� It is nearly impossible to impress him any more.� He has seen it all.� There is nothing new.

�� "Dayukku, it's about the star."

�� "Which star is it this time?"

�� "Well, we don't know."

�� "That's brilliant.� You wake me in the middle of the night to tell me about a star you don't know anything about."

��"It appeared, stayed several minutes, then disappeared."

�� Dayukku has been friends with the two magi for many years.� He had been a magum himself at one time.� Before he was forced into retirement.��

�� "What sky was it in?"

�� "Western.� Does that mean anything in the Zoroastrian religion?"

�� "How easily could it be seen?" he continues, not nearly ready to speculate.

�� "It overshadowed all the other stars around it."

�� "You mean it outshined all the others," his friend corrects, trying to lighten up what they know will be a very dreary and long night.��

�� "The king is in an execution mood.� He fears the doom of his kingdom.� He is expecting answers by morning."

�� "Well, you know we must call in Nebo."

�� "You're right, of course,"the others hesitatingly agree.

�� Neither of the other magi takes Nebo seriously.� He's Babylonian and far inferior of mind than the rest of them. [8]

��" You may consider him a maverick, but so are the rest of us, you know," Dayukku reminds them.� "If the leaders of our different religions knew we were in league, trying to find the best of each, they'd execute us before the king got a chance."

�� "Yes, we must bring in Nebo."

�� "Never found much use for his religion, though.� Judaism.� Never studied it much.� but it has too many rules and regulations.� Never liked anyone telling me what to do."

�� Ashoka temporarily leaves the room and goes downstairs.� The outside gate can be heard, then the marching of soldiers.� Soon he reappears in their room on the second floor.

�� "Nebo will be here in an hour.� Now, where do we start?"

�� "Ashoka," Dayukku says, "your Hinduism is the oldest of our religions.� We should start with it.� We should search your scriptures for mention of all stars."

�� "Do you still have the copy I gave you?" Ashoka replies.

�� "Yes, hidden under my old scrolls in the cabinet over there."

�� The men divide up the scrolls and begin to can.� Everyone lapses into silence.� Before they know it, Nebo has joined them.� they do not need to explain the star; he had seen it.� They give him his scroll.� Once more the silence.� The dead silence.

�� Day dawns.

�� "Well, we've found two references to stars."

�� "We must be the first to appear before the king," Vish Taspa, a real politician at heart, explains.� "We cannot look hesitant."

�� The four are gradually joined by most of the other magi as they wait at the entrance to the throne room.� All looking suspiciously at the others.� Some taking peeks at notes they have brought with them.� One by one they are recognized and given permission to enter.

�� King Phraattes does not look as though he had much more sleep than anyone else in the room.� the interrogations begin.� And the shouting.� Shouting of a desperate king who is yet to be informed of the celestial secret, but convinced he is about to lose his kingdom.

�� At last their turn comes.� Vish Taspa approaches the throne with the other three.

�� "So far I haven't heard anything that makes sense," the king says, motioning for the four men to come closer and obviously disgusted with them even before they start.� "We're running out of time.� Vish Taspa, are you and your colleagues ready to save our kingdom this morning?"

�� Ashoka reads the passage he had found the night before.� "It is in THE UPANISHADS under 'Chan-Dogya.'� 'Within the lotus of the heat are heaven and earth, the sun, the moon, the lightning and all the stars.'� this, your majesty, means that the star we saw is a manifestation of the heart of the Great God Brahman.� You have nothing to worry about.� You are in harmony with Brahman."

�� The king looks over at the other magi seated on royal cushions nearby.� "What do you think of this?" he asks, half in suspicion and half in hope.� "Do the rest of you believe in Hinduism?"

�� One man walks forward.� "Your majesty, I am somewhat knowledgeable of Hinduism, but need time to read their writings.� If it please your majesty, I will return tomorrow with an opinion."

�� "Tomorrow?" the king shouts.� "Tomorrow?� What if there is no tomorrow?"

�� "Your majesty, I cannot give it justice immediately."

�� King Phraattes relents.� "All right.� But you will be here first thing in the morning.� If we have a morning.� Next!"

�� Attention is passed on to the next group of magi while Vish Taspa's group talks with the fifth magus, giving him a copy of the pertinent scroll.� They go home to sleep awhile, but sleep cannot come.� Not when they know it is true what the king said:� The world may end tonight.

�� Morning.� Back in the palace.� Back to the throne room.� The four are called forward to hear rebuttals by critics of the Hindu opinion of the star.� They do not like what they hear.

��"Your majesty, the same passage these men quoted yesterday about the star has some contradictory statements in it.� It says that the Great God Brahman thought to himself, 'Let me be many.'� If Brahman, the great Self, the Essence of the Universe, voluntarily and happily divided himself up to be many, why do the Hindus consider themselves evil by being separated from Brahman, but good by becoming one with the Self, Brahman.

�� "Furthermore, your majesty, if a person must renounce all relationships and wealth, why does this passage say that being cows and horses, elephants and goats are poor existences?� They have what the good Hindu wants:� No wealth and relationships.� Why would Hindus consider it punishment to be reincarnated as an animal?

�� "Furthermore, this passage talks of a sage seeing the dead - his fathers, mothers and brothers of previous lives in the spirit world.� How can this be possible since Hindu scriptures say everyone is continually reincarnated?� The spirit world would be empty with everyone reincarnated or absorbed into the Essence of the Universe, Brahman.

�� "And finally, your majesty, it says that when we move about in our dreams we enjoy sensuous delights and are clothed in glory when we experience the Self, the Brahman.� That, too, is contradictory.� In order to be joined with the Self, one must renounce all desires and delights of the senses.

�� "I do not see how Hinduism could have the answer for you.� Therefore, the star being a manifestation of the Great God Brahman's heart could not be true."

�� "Gentlemen," King Phraattes replies, turning his attention to Vish Taspa and his three colleagues, "Do you have a rebuttal?"

��"Yes, your majesty" says Dayukku.�"In 'Brihad-Aran-Yaki,' it says this:� 'Among the gods, he who awakened to the knowledge of the Self became Brahman.� He it is who dwells in the sun, in the moon, in the stars.'� This is just further proof that the star is a good omen.� An omen that your kingdom is in harmony with Brahman."

�� Once more King Phraattes turns to the critic.� "Any comments?"

�� Once more the contending magus requests the scroll and permission to return the next day with his reactions.� The scroll and time are begrudgingly granted.

�� Once more night.� Sleepless night.� What kind of games are the gods playing on them this time?� Will there ever be another morning?

�� Morning.� Once more.� To the palace.� Once more.

�� "Your majesty, this passage quoted yesterday says that we must live a life of renunciation of wealth, desire and relationships in order to lose our individuality and become one with the god Brahman.� This is inconsistent with their teachings that, if we live bad lives, we are reincarnated small animals or even unthinking objects such as rocks.

�� "Since rocks automatically have an existence of renunciation and no thoughts of their individuality, wouldn't being a rock be considered a reward rather than a punishment?� Wouldn't a rock be closer to being one with Brahman, the Essence of the Universe, than a human?"

�� "Furthermore...."

�� King Phraattes interrupts.� "I've heard enough.� None of this reincarnation things makes sense to me."

�� "Your majesty," Vish Taspa interjects.�"If you will give us a little more time, we will search through the documents of the Buddhist religion.� There are references to stars there"

��"Very well.� It looks like the gods have given us somewhat of a reprieve.� But for how long?� I will give you two days.� No longer.� After that, you will be executed or banished.� I haven't made up my mind yet."

��"We are certain there is no imminent danger to you, sir.� Therefore, we are asking for a week so we may be better prepared than previously."

�� "Are you willing to lay your life on the line like this?� Are you willing to give your life for that star?"

�� Everything heavy.� Heavy in the thoughts of the king.� Heavy in the minds of the magi.� Heavy in the fears of the common man who will never be allowed to know the mind of the gods.� Or will they?

�� A week later Vish Taspa, Ashoka, Dayukku and Nebo arrive at the throne room.� They wait nervously in the growing crowd.� Await their turn.� Listening to the wisdom of each magus, secretly hoping all the others will be wrong, and only they right.� One by one the king shouts impatiently at each as their ideas are presented.

�� "You're an idiot!� Do you expect me to believe that?� Leave!� And don't come back!� If I ever see you again, you will be thrown to the lions!"

�� King Phraattes' anger grows with each magus he interrogates.� Eventually it is their turn.

��"Well, Vish Taspa, I see you are back.� What foolishness were you going to tell me?"

��"The wisdom of the compassionate Buddha," Vish Taspa reminds the king.

��"Compassionate?� What does compassion have to do with anything? �My kingdom is about to come to an end and you talk about compassion!� Forget it!� I don't want to hear any of your foolishness!� Leave me!"

�� Desperately, Vish Taspa hurriedly turns and faces all the magi gathered in the throne room.� "Truth!� I bring you truth!"; he shouts.�"Truth reveals all secrets!� Truth is stronger than l things!� Truth will bring us freedom from the threat of the star!� Truth will bring our kingdom everlasting happiness!"

�� Feeling cornered by the expert politician, the king has no choice but to let Vish Taspa continue.

�� "Your majesty, from the SUTTA PITAKA we found this statement in chapter 15 called 'Happiness':� 'One ought to follow such a good and wise man, as the moon follows the path of the stars.'� This means that you are a good and wise king as long as the moon follows the path of the stars."

�� King Phraattes takes an urn filled with wine and throws it at the magi.� "I am not a fool, Vish Taspa!� Your explanation is no explanation at all!"

��"Your majesty, may I speak?"� It is another magum from the assembly.� "I have studied the Buddhist religion.� It is full of flaws.� I would like to study this passage and return later to explain the contradictions I am sure I will find."

�� "I suppose you want your week.� As though I have all the time in the world.� Are the Medes rebelling again?� How about the Babylonians?� What's going on?� I demand to know" [9]

�� With the renewed shouting, everyone in the throne room joins in the shouting.� And during the melee, Vish Taspa and his friends

�� "Guards!" the king shouts.� Arrest Vish Taspa and his friends.� When the guards appear before the king, the other magi stop and stare.� At the king.� And beyond.� Beyond to a world that may not be much longer.� They stare in fear they dare not feel, and desperation they dare not show.

�� Realizing they have slipped through his fingers, the king motions the guards back once more and begins interrogating the next magi about the secret of the star.

�� A week later, Vish Taspa and his colleagues show up again at the throne room.� The king is astonished.� Admiration for their courage and audacity makes him allow their entrance and an audience.� The magus who had challenged the Buddhist interpretation of the star is there too.� It is he who begins the discussion.

�� "Buddhists," the man begins, "state the highest good is unity with Nirvana, personal annihilation, unity with the Essence of the Universe.� One the other hand, Buddha said, 'There is one sole Truth and apart from consciousness, no diverse truths exist.� We must remain free from lusts and dogmas.'

��"But then in 'Sutta-Nipata' Buddha said he had preached the Truth.� How can someone preach something that is only consciousness?"

�� Vish Taspa clinches his teeth in an effort to not show his anger.� He must not show anger.

��"Furthermore," the critic continues, "in his 'Sutta Pitaka' Buddha says a wise man rejoices always in the law.� Later he talks about the sinner following false doctrine.� What law and doctrine can he refer to if there is only one truth, and that is consciousness?

�� "And one last comment, your majesty.� In the 'Spirit of Theravada Buddhism' in chapter eight, 'Majjhima-Nikaya,' it is said that Buddhism makes no claim to the exclusive possession truth.� If there is no exclusive truth, then there is no truth.� So how can anyone's statement be known to be true?"

�� King Phraattes stands, then paces.� He looks at Vish Taspa, Ashoka, Dayukku and Nebo.� "You are a bunch of idiots!� You're supposed to be telling me the secret of the gods, and you don't even know what truth is.� Get out of my sight!"

�� Vish Taspa and his colleagues, feeling grateful the king has seemingly forgotten his execution threat, bow to the floor then partially rise and back slowly away from the throne, heads bowed in submission until they reach the doorway.�

�� Hurrying out the palace, they talk.� "We must keep searching," Dayukku tells the others.� "This time we will pursue my scriptures, the scriptures of Zoroaster.� And this time we will get it right."

�� "Come to my house and I will give each of you a different book of Zoroaster to study.� We'll meet at the end of two weeks and compare notes.� We must be more thorough!"

�� Two more weeks.� Searching.� Searching for a star that was and no longer is.� Searching, perhaps, for a god that was and no longer is.� Finally they come back together.� They compare notes.� Each prays to his preferred god, for the king's good graces.� They head for the palace.

�� "Your majesty, Vish Taspa, Ashoka, Dayukku, and Nebo wish an audience.� They have found the secret of the star." The magi are taking a chance.� The emperor could turn them down if he is in another bad mood, and they could be executed for their impudence. [10]

�� But King Phraattes' 14-year-old son is on a smaller throne next to his proud father.� They are laughing at something.� The king looks up at the magi in the doorway.

��"Star?� What star?� Oh, yes, the star.� That was over a month ago.� Well, these magi are harmless enough.� It'll give young Phraataces some experience in how to deal with the magi.� Besides, I like them.� They're the only ones with nerve to stand up to me.� Send them in."

��"Your majesties," Dayukku begins, "we believe we have found the secret of the star.� It is found in the beliefs of the Zoroasters.� I know you will be pleased, because this is the religion of the Persians."

��"Go ahead," the king responds while his son hands him a cluster of grapes.

�� "In THE YASNA 12,1 it says the Glorious Beings are clothed in the light of the stars.� As you know, each of the gods is clothed with a star.� The writer of this scripture said he was a praiser of the Bountiful Immortals and Ahura Mazda, and sacrifices to them." [11]

�� "I made a list of the Bountiful Immortals as I found them in THE YASNA," Nebo interjects:� The sun god, the god of truth, the rain god, god of the earth, the god of metals, the god of best righteousness, the god of the air, and the guardian god of dead souls. [12]

�� "I went through the VENDIDAD," Ashoka adds.� "I found the god of good mind and guardian of sheep and cattle, the god of fire....[13]

�� The king begins whispering to his son and the two laugh.� Things are not going well.� Vish Taspa interrupts.� "Your majesty, Tishtrya, the rain god, is identified with the star Sirius.� As you know, Sirius is the brightest star in the heavens.� The new star we saw must have been the son of Tishtrya."

�� "So, what you're trying to tell me, gentlemen," the king interjects, poking his son and giving him a wink, "is that the rain god had a son, but the son did not live.� If the son did not live, that means you are predicting a drought this year."

��"No, your majesty.� That is not the meaning at all.� When the new star appeared, it...."

�� "What did I tell you, son?� These magi expect me to believe all this.� Now, as you know I do believe in deity.� I believe in as many gods as the next man.� But there are only so many you can believe in.

�� "Gentlemen, you are lucky I am in a good mood.� Today is my son's birthday.� You are thenceforth exiled from my kingdom."� �

"Your majesty," Vish Taspa hurriedly interjects, convinced even their lives are on the line, "I must strongly object to your treatment. We are your priests. We are doing the best we can to watch for the welfare of both you and your kingdom. We are the only intercessors you have between yourself and the gods."

�� Two powers have locked horns.� The head of a kingdom on earth.� The heads of kingdoms in the heavens.� Who is more powerful?

�� The king stands in fury.� ";Because you insist on pursuing that star, the only way you will be allowed back into my kingdom is that you present me an interpretation that is provable.� Provable!� Do you hear me!� Provable!"

�� "But your majesty...."

�� "I have had it with you!� If I ever see you again, you will be executed immediately!� Now out!� Leave me!� It's my son's birthday!" [14]

�� The four magi bow to the floor, then, standing still stooped, make their ways backward until they reach the exist from the throne room.� they rush through the outer courtyard and out into the street.

�� "You should have listened to me in the first place," Nebo criticizes.� "I told you to investigate the Jewish religion."

�� "That is out of the question," Vish Taspa objects.� "That religion makes no sense.� We will systematically study the religions of all the nations west of us, the nations in the direction of the star."

��"In that case, we must go down to Babylon," Nebo replies.� "The greatest libraries in the world are there.� At Tello is the largest one.� Over 60,000 writings there."� After a moment's reflection, he resumes.� "However, they are mostly governmental.� We should go to Nippur, my home town, where there are over 50,000 writings, some governmental, but mostly religious"

�� Only their closest relatives know where they disappear to.

Nippur, Babylon [15]

�� It has now been six weeks since the illusive star was spotted.� The four magi have vowed to stay in Babylon until they find the explanation of the star.� They must.� Their only alternative is permanent exile from Persia.� Or execution if they return with the wrong answer to the celestial secret.

�� They begin with the obvious.� Research into the gods of the Babylonians.� they find Baal the god of the earth, Anu the god of heaven, and Ea the god of waters.� Nothing to do with a star.� they find Marduk, a more recent name of Baal.� They find Sin the god of the moon, Shamash the god of the sun.� Still nothing about a star.

�� They find Nabu identified with Mercury, Nergal identified with Mars, Ninim identified with Saturn.� But everyone knows these are planets and not stars.� a full month has now passed.

�� They switch to another nation's gods - that of the Grecians to the northwest of Persia.� Persia had conquered Greece centuries earlier.� Later the Greeks reconquered Persia.� But the Grecian gods are strictly over nature or general activities of mankind.� they are identified with the planets and the sun, but not with the stars.

�� So the magi check further in the northwest, Rome which now controls Persia.� But their gods are almost identical to the Grecian ones, only with different names.� There are the usual ceremonies of appeasement by the priests, but that is all.

�� Another month passes.

�� "We have no choice but to begin researching the gods to our southwest," Vish Taspa explains one evening.

�� "No, we must study the nation directly west of us."

�� "You are determined to get us to investigate the Jewish religion in Palestine, Nebo," Dayukku replies.� "They only believe in one God.� They are narrow minded and it would be a waste of time."

�� And so they turn to Arabia in search of the star.� Northern Arabia seems useless.� The Bedouins stay too busy raising each other and rich southern settlements to develop many gods.� their main god is born out of a stone.� All the lesser deities are the daughters of this god.

�� Southern Arabia is much like India on its coast nearest India, and much like Africa on its coast nearest Africa.� then there's Sheba who is ever striving for an empire of its own carved from the other Arabian areas.

��"These Sabaeans claim to be believers only of Ilmuqah, the moon god,"; Nebo tells the others one day.� "But they also worship the stars which they claim to be angels."

��"Then I say we investigate these stars."

�� So they do.� But, as usual, the magi end up with more questions than answers.

�� "There's no way we can prove any of these angel stars had anything to do with the birth and death of the star last year."

�� "Remember what the king said.� It must be provable."

�� "But you cannot prove religion.� It is unprovable.� It's strictly what you want to believe.� Strictly faith."

�� "You're wrong, gentlemen.� You can prove the Jewish religion to be of divine origin."

��"Nebo, if we agree to study that religion later, will you keep your attention focused on the ones at hand from the larger and more important nations?"

�� Next the magi turn their attention to the African kingdoms.� Nebo is quite aware of the fact that these kingdoms are usually smaller than Palestine, but he bides his time.� He knows one day in their desperation when they have no other alternatives, they will investigate Judaism.

�� The Kushites in the Sudan along the Red Sea worship a lion god, and the other kingdoms are not much different.� Each kingdom believes in a single high god but without personality.� Below him are many lesser gods controlling nature.

�� Below the gods are the spirits of the ancestors.� they are the ones who take an interest in the lives of their descendants on earth.� They are the ones all Africans devote their time and attention to.� After all, the gods don't really care what happens to humans.� they are busy manipulating nature.

�� No answers in Africa.� After another month of research and analysis, the magi decide to move on to Egyptian beliefs.

�� Among the Egyptians the magi find and investigate the gods of the sun, earth, water, joy, love, learning, childbirth, the netherworld, craftsmen, and on and on.� But no specific star god other than the Zodiacs which they got from the Babylonians.� Nothing new there.� Still now answers.

�� It has now been six months since the appearance and disappearance of the mighty but strange star.� The star that nags at them and tugs at them and refuses to let go.� The star that controls their every waking moment by just the memory of it.� The star that could have brought an end to the world.� But didn't.� The star that has to be holding some great secret.� But what?

�� The questions.� Ever lingering.� The unknowable.� the unanswerable.� But still the star glint.� Star glint of hope.

�� "Nebo, it looks like your religion is going to have a hearing after all," Vish Taspa says.� "Not that we'll find any answers in it either.� We've exhausted all the others."

�� "In that case, gentlemen, I suggest we return to Persia to look through the royal archives."

�� "How could government archives prove anything about the gods?� And what if the king finds out we're back?"

�� "The archives I have in mind are in Ecbatana, the capital when Media controlled Persia.� We will go there and stay out of the king's way until we find our answer." [16]

�� Do they not know it is impossible to prove religion?� They can never uncover the secret of the star.

LIFE APPLICATION

1.�� Think back on beliefs you have had about non-religious things ~ health, history, science, geography, etc. ~ something fairly important to you.� Did you ever have a wrong belief?� Recall how you felt when you discovered the latest and truest information about it.� Did it excite you?� Why?

2.�� What religion do you believe in right now?� Whatever your belief, will you locate the official writings of your belief?� You can get the name of the headquarters of your religion by calling the reference desk of your library.� Will you then write them for a copy so you can investigate for yourself what their official beliefs are?

3.�� Once you get these official writings and read them, you could also compare them with the writings of the Bible by using a CONCORDANCE.� A concordance is a large book like an unabridged dictionary, containing every word in the Bible in alphabetic order.� It is an unabridged index to the Bible.� Some libraries have concordances.� All Christian-related colleges and universities have them.� They can be ordered from any non-religious bookstore.� Is your faith important enough to you to find out the facts for yourself?� No one can do it for you.� Will you?

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