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by Maury Lee ISBN13: 978-0-7388-3566-2 (Trade Paperback) ISBN: 0-7388-3566-8 (Trade Paperback) Pages: 300 Subject: FICTION / Historical	Availability Paperback prices reflect 15% discount off retail Hardback prices reflect 10% discount off retail Trade Paperback $19.54

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Xlibris book description The screenplay is currently being written by a writer/director who is passionate about the book. Financing for the project is also in the works. Stay tuned. The Alternative to The Passion is coming! Jesus of India (100K words). This work falls in the category, religious or historical fiction. It is a deeply spiritual book, breaking taboos that have kept Jesus locked in a theological prison. Two thousand years is long enough. This novel is an attempt to break all the locks on who and what Jesus was. It is not an attempt to denigrate Jesus, although many will proclaim otherwise. The intention of the author is to open the gates of critical thinking outside theological boxes. First, Maury Lee insists, Jesus needs to be taken out of the box, then perhaps, we will find where he fits in our lives. This is not just a biblical novel, though it may seem like one. This is a spiritual journey, taken by an author through the vehicle of a traveling Jesus. It is a serious work. If you cry, that’s good. If you laugh, that’s good. If Jesus takes on new meaning for you, he may get his prison break. Jesus of India brings the religious philosophies of the East and the West together through an account of Jesus’ childhood and training in the Near and Far East. The final third of the novel is a loose rendering of the New Testament Gospel from a non-dual perspective. This new understanding of the life and teaching of Jesus, shows that his message was at its core, essentially the same as that of the Buddha, the Sufi mystics, and the Eastern gurus. Sri Nissargadatta Maharaj, Paramahansa Yogananda, Ramana, and many other Eastern sages, claim and know Jesus as one of their own. The West has yet to come off its pedestal and claim the Eastern sages as one with Jesus. Is the public ready for a work such as this? The October 13, 1998 issue of Time Magazine shows a blond, white male in Indian garb with the title, AMERICA’S FASCINATION WITH BUDDHISM. Random House is still publishing under their Value Press, The Greatest Story Ever Told. A search online for Jesus in India, brings up 1,960,000 pages on this subject. This subject is hot! A few years ago there were only two or three such sites. Isn’t it time a new story of Jesus’ life were told, where Jesus is a wandering student and teacher, not all that different from the Buddha--a mystic, a real human? Jesus of India, takes the reader on this adventure, sharing Jesus’ childhood in Alexandria Egypt, where he studies at the Great Library and learns meditation from Buddhist monks. We follow him along the Silk Road to Kashmir, India, and China, where he studies further. After becoming enlightened in India, Jesus vows to take spiritual enlightenment to his own people, returning to Israel, full of the perennial philosophy. In Israel, Jesus brings the great non dual message of enlightenment to all. It is not new to the Jews, but lost. The reader viscerally experiences Jesus’ frustration at not being understood. The religious elite persecute him. By corrupting his message, the dry brained clergy regain control. The rest is history. But what is the real story of Christ’s thirty unknown years? And what if everyone could see the non-dual “I AM” message of Jesus. What if the “I Am” of the Hebrews, and the “I Am” of the Eastern sages is the same spirit? What if Jesus, and not the Buddha, was the greatest non dual teacher the world has ever known? This story will take you there. In this story, Jesus survives the crucifixion, and travels widely, teaching for many years. Does this make his teachings in the Gospel less valid? Perhaps not. Jesus of India paves a brave new path out of the crucifixion wilderness. There is a core of oneness behind all religions. Knowing the gospels well and comparing them with the Hindu and Sufi texts of enlightened masters, it is obvious that Jesus’ message was the same as theirs. Any great Eastern Guru readily acknowledges Jesus as one of their own, an enlightened master—with a similar understanding. In the West, Jewish Theocracy has held sway. Though Maury Lee respects the Christians’ strong faith, it is not the understanding that Jesus taught. The common understanding in the West is a corruption of Jesus’ original message. The time has come to share the non dual insight Jesus taught. The author has a BA in Creative Writing and an MA in Counseling. He hopes this novel brings a healing between East and West. As a professional writer, writing for a fortune 500 company, Maury Lee publishes online and off. He has written a well researched, entertaining, and believable book. The screenplay is currently being written by a writer/director who is passionate about the book. Financing for the project is also in the works. Stay tuned. The Alternative to The Passion is coming! Option to Produce Film Several movie producers and directors have contacted me suggesting that Jesus of India would make a terrific movie. One of those was very excited about the prospect of developing the screenplay and creating the film. After exchanging emails it was clear that this director had excitement and passion for the project. When we spoke on the phone it was like we were old friends. My wife commented that she thought I was talking to someone I´d known for a long time. Such IS synchronicity. Obviously, for a writer, there could hardly be better news than finding a director who wants to turn your novel into a movie. As for myself, I always had faith that the book would become a movie. It would happen of its own accord when the time was right. I also knew that when that time came, the sales of my book would pick up -- that the energy surrounding the movie production would increase the sales. I expected a convergence of energies contributing to, and receiving from, a growing spiritual consciousness in the world. I expect that offers to help with the project will come from many unexpected sources. I have been patient. I knew that my book was ahead of its time. But my reading of the current gurus and sages continued to indicate a rising in the world´s consciousness level. At some point, I knew the level of consciousness in the world would be vibrating at a level that would begin to make my book appealing. Then the energies unleashed would contribute to sales of my book, and the book would give energy back to that consciousness. It is happening now. Jesus of India was written before Mel Gibson´s "The Passion" was made. Gibson had to make the film with his own money because Hollywood financiers didn´t believe a Jesus film would make money. It has turned out to be one of the biggest money producers. From the reviews I was not inclined to see the film. However, since it was about Jesus, I had to see it. On the way to the theater, I told my wife "I don´t think we should pay to see this." It was an off-handed comment. When we arrived at the theater a large burly man in his mid thirties began to approach us. I thought he´s a bouncer, telling us that the movie is sold out. Or maybe he´s going to give us a tract. Instead, he asked if we were going "to see The Passion." We said, "Yes." "Would you like some free tickets? My church group bought tickets for our youth group and we have two extras. They´re yours." We couldn´t believe our ears. I had just said we shouldn´t pay to see this move. My thinking was that we would be supporting it. I did not want to support a film that I felt was toking the standard line -- the typical conservative view that was regular fair in the conservative Christan churches. Now I didn´t have to contribute support. Synchronicity at work! The film was as I suspected -- nothing new theologically -- nothing enlightening. When it was over, most of the audience was still in their seats, quiet. We got up and left. It was obvious that many others were deeply affected. A young girl next to us had been in tears much of the time. I thought it strange, yet telling, that me and my wife were not so affected. I realized then how far I was from mainstream spiritual understanding. Jesus of India will be an alternative to "The Passion." It will be uplifting, consciousness raising, enlightening, challenging, and well done. This will be the case if I am consulted on the film or not. It is out of my hands. It is in the hands of Source. Source knows how to do movies, just as well as It knows how to make universes. I am well aware that most books do not get made into movies. Many screenplays never get made into movies. Many great screenplays hardly get shopped because the screenwriter can´t even get in the front door of a studio for consideration. I am therefore humbled and greatly appreciative that someone in the industry came to me wanting to make the movie. How lucky can I get. Very lucky, I believe. I wish to thank the director for his willingness to pursue making a movie from my book. I thank God that He has the same passion that I had in writing the book. May Source bless this project. At this time a screenplay is in the works. It should be done sometime in 2005 or early 2006.
Click here to read an excerpt from the book.

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