About the Book

It has been called one of "the great spiritual classics of all time," and yet its origins and message are shrouded in mystery.

It's pages are filled with a rare wisdom that spans ages. But it also contains a story of the not-so-distant past—of remarkable events at a crucial time in history.

The story weaves a thread connecting the ancient past with the modern world. And at its heart—connecting all the times, places, and people of the narrative—is a single man. He appears in the streets of South America during the troubled times of the Second World War. He writes of the Maya people and of the path that reaches beyond the Andean Mountains. And he describes, from a first-hand perspective, events 2000 years past in ancient Jerusalem: the life and betrayal of Jesus Christ.

How do these disparate times and places fit together? Can this man be Judas of Kariot, the disciple of Jesus? Could this be a record of his experience and his teaching?

First Book

The first section of the book is narrated by a South American journalist and begins shortly before the outbreak of World War II. The journalist encounters a strange person who begins to accompany him through the events of his life, offering guidance and advice. Although rarely understanding the meaning behind his obscure statements, the journalist comes to value the stranger’s friendship and eventually is rescued from very difficult circumstances through his friend’s help. With his mysterious yet profound teachings, this friend helps the journalist begin to question all that he sees around him and to search for a greater understanding.