“More of a question for you and Ms. Misaki,” she said in a melodic southern drawl that added at least two additional syllables to Kristin’s last name.
“Go ahead,” Kristin said, folding the paper in her lap.
“With all the controversy still surrounding the Issa Gospels, how are we ever to know two thousand years later what the truth is?”
“Another way to ask your question,” Kristin said, “is do the actual historical events even matter? Do we care whether Jesus actually learned his theology on his travels to India?”
“Don’t we? Isn’t that the whole point of your Issa Project—to encourage more interfaith communication and cooperation based on the commonalities of these religions rather than their differences?”
“When I was in graduate school”—Grant strolled in front of the class—“I was obsessed with distinguishing myth from history, story from fact. But during my search for the Issa Gospels, I realized that my focus was obscuring the original purpose of these stories. The Issa Gospels are more than a historical explanation of the influences in the early life of Jesus. These texts point to a deeper truth underlying religion, a truth independent of the historical details, which we will never truly know.”
“And that ultimate truth is what?” Hodges called out from the front row.
Without missing a beat, Grant replied, “The answer to Mr. Hodges’s question can only be answered by one person.”
“Me?” Hodges answered.
“Yes, you. You do not need me, or a priest, or a rabbi to tell you what to believe. We can only provide you with the tools and the knowledge that will allow you to experience the ultimate truth for yourself.”
“Don’t you think that most people want to be told what they should believe in?” the student persisted.
“It’s often easier to believe than to question,” Grant said. “But what happens when you have an experience that shakes your belief system—you learn facts about another religion that contradict your own, scientific advancements disprove elements of your faith, or new texts like the Issa Gospels are discovered?”
Marcus Park, a dark-haired junior in ripped jeans and a black T-shirt who with his Eurasian features could have been Kristin’s younger brother, raised his hand. When Grant nodded to him, he asked, “So, by studying other religions, we can expand our own spirituality, maybe even deepen our own faith, or take it in new directions?”
“Like Issa did on his journey,” Lynn added.
Grant smiled at his students. “I knew I had a purpose behind teaching this class.”
“But ultimately,” Hodges persisted, “regardless of any common themes or practices among the different religions, they can’t all be right. One has to be closer to this ultimate truth than the others.”
Grant heard a familiar tone in his student: he heard himself, his own dualistic logic. He was reminded of his conversations with Kinley, while the monk patiently sat with him for weeks during his recovery. Grant could hear his friend’s voice through his own when he answered, “When a deer walks through the forest, he will take a path along the ground, while the squirrel will leap from branch to branch. The bird may fly above the trees, while the worm will tunnel underneath them. Each of these animals reaches its destination, but is one way through the forest the best? Will one path even work for all the animals?”
Kristin glanced at her wrist and tugged on Grant’s shirt. He looked at her watch, since he’d stopped wearing one. Class should have ended five minutes earlier, yet not a single student had started to pack his or her books.
“Looks like we ran over a bit today. I apologize if we’ve made anyone late for another lecture.” Grant rubbed his hands together before clasping them behind his back.
“Professor, just one more question,” Hodges said with his hand in the air. No one groaned at having their departure delayed again. “When you strip away the myths and the stories from a religion to access its deeper truth, do you not also take away the essence and character of that religion? I mean, what’s left?”
Grant looked from Hodges to the sea of faces waiting expectantly for his answer. “A friend of mine once told me the story of a student who asked his master, ‘When the leaves fall from the tree, what then?’” Grant paused and then continued, “The master replied, ‘The body is exposed in the autumn wind.’”
Grant turned to his desk and reached for the leather binder that contained his class notes. His eyes caught the brilliant yellow flower floating in the bowl. He allowed his vision to linger.
He saw the lotus.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
THIS NOVEL WOULD not have been possible without the support, encouragement, and infinite patience of my wife, Alison, and my daughter, Gabriella. I am also deeply indebted to Chris Russell, who started me down a path many years ago through our discussions on spirituality and his meditation instruction that changed my life. Although I was a math and science geek in high school, my English teachers at the Westminster Schools (Eddie, Frank, Nedra, and John) taught me the fundamentals and appreciation of writing that have stayed with me all these years and given me the skills to complete what has been the most difficult yet rewarding accomplishment of my life. I would like to thank my early readers who provided many great suggestions: Rev. Sam Candler, Jon Ezrine, Tom Flanigan, Steve Floyd, Anna McGarrity, Dr. Art Schiff, Ambassador Raymond Seitz, and my sister Chanley Small. To my YPO Forum, thank you for believing in me and encouraging me to pursue my passion. To my parents, Jeff and Eileen, your confidence in me and your support throughout my life have meant more than I can express. To my editors Brooke Warner and Danelle McCafferty, without your attention to detail and instruction on craft, this first-time novel would be much less than it is. Infinite gratitude goes to my publisher Mark Bernstein and Hundreds of Heads Books and the folks at PGW for taking a risk on a first-time novelist. Finally, the writings of the following scholars have inspired me and contributed to many of my themes: Marcus Borg, Thich Nhat Hanh, John Hick, Stephen Mitchell, John Robinson, Huston Smith, John Shelby Spong, and Paul Tillich.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JEFFREY SMALL GRADUATED summa cum laude from Yale University and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. He holds a master’s degree in the study of religions from Oxford University. Jeffrey is an acclaimed speaker on the topics of rethinking religion in the twenty-first century and the common spiritual themes in the world’s religions.
For more information, please go to www.jeffreysmall.com.
PUBLISHED BY WEST HILLS
a division of Hundreds of Heads Books, LLC
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced—mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying—without written permission of the publisher. Trademarks: West Hills, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of Hundreds of Heads Books, LLC, and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
All of the characters and events in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 by Jeffrey Small
All Rights Reserved
eISBN : 978-1-933-51229-7
S.A.
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