Once upon a time, long, long ago, in a small village in the East, a man came and lived among the people. He was very kind, and gentle, especially to the children.
The people grew to love this man, and before long, he began to teach them how to live more fruitful and exciting lives. He some times worked in his little shop at the edge of town, but he sometimes came to the village-square and talked to the people who would gather there.
After some months, the townspeople started to call him, teacher, and came to him for personal, private advice and counsel as well as for his little lectures.
One day, he surprised the group by announcing that he had discovered some secret formulas for bringing health and joy to the sick. Since medical care was not available to most of the villagers, and its quality poor, they reacted with surprise and expectation. In Accordance to the times and his style, he handpicked several people from among the villagers to work with him to learn the principles of healing and health.
“I have only a very few years to stay in this place before I must return home. So, it is important that you learn As much as possible about these principles so you can then choose a group like this to pass them to in the same manner as I am giving them to you. I am giving you the power and knowledge to change the world, so go teach students everything I have taught you.”
In the early years after the teacher left the town, his students did just as they were told. Many people came to them and asked for the formula for healing and they passed it on with happiness and joy. Before long, the authorities, which were worried that the group was going to form a political party, passed laws prohibiting them from giving the formula away. As a result, they formed into small groups and scattered around the whole world telling people in other countries about their teacher’s great discovery and how they too could learn the his secrets. Much to their surprise and shock, many leaders and physicians were angry with them for telling their good news. In some places, those who took the secrets to the people were persecuted and even killed.
Despite the harassment and persecution, the news spread far and wide as more and more people were formed into small groups who were taught how to pass it on to others. Before long, the whole of the area was abuzz with talk about the teacher and his formula for life.
It is a well-known fact that stories that start off so well must have a part where something awful happens. In this story, it is no different, because a few of the people who were supposed to spread the good news became involved in politics. It seemed like a good idea at first because the king promised them safety and security if they would only give him the right to use the teacher’s words as his own political slogans. He even went into war with the peace logo of the teacher in his weapons, and told everyone that, unless they followed him, they would be enslaved or killed. He also suggested that the teachers stop giving the formula away. “Since it is so valuable,” he said, “ we should make sure that only those who are in our political party should get it. Here is what we shall do. Our first task is to place the formula in a special safe so only our own leaders can get to it. Next, we will set up a school for teaching the formula that will only be open to our select group of students. I know that the teacher said that anyone could take the formula and pass it on to others, but he was a bit naive in how the world of politics really works. In fact, we should teach the formula in a secret language so only the most select people can learn it. Then, we will make special clothes for the Code Keepers to wear and the regular people will realize that they are too ignorant to read it for themselves or apply it to their own lives.”
Lastly, we shall take the formula and allow people to come and look at it only once per week. We do not want it to become too popular or profane. Let us make its appearance into a very special, holy act.”
The result was just as you might predict. The formula for life, health and peace was locked in a vault in a large, fancy building. Each week, a few beautifully dressed officials would take the formula from the vault and read a small part of it to the assembled crowd. They were always careful not to read too much lest the rabble learn the formula and destroy the authority of the politicians in charge.
On a few occasions, some member of the rabble stole copies of the book and wrote it in the language of the people. In most cases, however, they were caught and killed in a very painful manner to warn others not to try the same thing.
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