such an extent
that he knew the folly of judging others by outward appearance, and also
of promising them cosmic consciousness in return for obedience to
prescribed rules or commandments.

When it would seem to his critics that he did not sufficiently emphasize
the traditional laws, that he was seemingly making it too simple and too
easy for people to live, they sought to trap him into a statement that
would oppose the accepted commandments.

But this Jesus steadfastly refused to do. "I came not to destroy the law,
but to fulfill it," he said.

Like all those who have experienced cosmic consciousness, his policy was
one of construction, and not of destruction. Evolution accomplishes
peacefully what revolution seeks to do by force.

Jesus laid little stress upon the commandments as they stood. He neither
sought to emphasize them, nor to criticise them. All that he said was:

"A new commandment give I unto you: that ye love one another."

All truly illumined minds have made love the basis of their teaching, well
knowing that where true love reigns there can be no destruction.

Love conquers fear--the arch-enemy of mankind.

Love makes it impossible to harm the thing loved, and universal love would
make it impossible, for one experiencing it, to consciously bring the
slightest pain to any living thing.

Therefore Jesus taught repeatedly the doctrine of love, and he made no new
commandments other than this.

It has been said that inasmuch as Jesus laid greater emphasis upon this one
great need than had any previous inspired teacher, he deserves greater
honor.

Theologians whose purpose it is to promulgate the doctrine of Christianity
as superior to others, use this argument in support of their contention
that Jesus was the only true son of God.

But this view will be recognized as prejudiced, and lacking in the very
essentials taught and practiced by the Christ.

In the light of Illumination, it will readily be perceived that all persons
expressing any considerable degree of cosmic consciousness, have taught the
same fundamental and simple truths, as witness the following:

Do as you would be done by.--_Persian._

Do not that to a neighbor which you would take ill from him.--_Grecian_.

What you would not wish done to yourself, do not unto others.--_Chinese_.

One should seek for others the happiness one desires for
oneself.--_Buddhist_.

He sought for others the good he desired for himself. Let him pa