How interest in the Essenes started.
The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran around 1946-7, led to a great interest and study of the lifestyle of the group known as Essenes. There are some good books written about this find, and after many decades of hard work by scholars the scrolls are available now in Jerusalem should you wish to see them for yourself.
The Essenes were historically the largest of three major Jewish sects, and had a significant political influence at the time. Disliked by the Romans many of the more spiritual of the sect settled in Qumran near the Dead Sea, where they created family communities we associate with a quieter spiritual life.
Two Roman Historians of the time Josephus and Philo wrote of the Essenes dedication to peace, shared ownership and aiming to lead a pure lifestyle. Their simple, healthy spiritual lives serves as an inspiration in our increasingly busy modern world.
Some of the men became scribes and copied the Scriptures, living very holy and dedicated lives. Among the scrolls found were their own esoteric writings. The Essenes wrote hymns on The Tree of Knowledge, cosmic mysteries and inner direct experience of divine revelation.
There is a belief that their mystical teachings go back in time to ancient wisdom from around 4000 BCE. The Essenes we know of in relation to the archeological findings around Qumran probably relate to those groups who settled there about 168 B.C.E. and were precursors to Christianity. Indeed, many think that as the Essenes were the largest group of that time the Rabbi Jesus (known as Yeshua Ben Joseph) may have followed the hidden teachings associated with the ‘Inner Circle’ of Essene mystics.
Jesus himself was probably raised in an Essene family and trained by Essenes. Although there is no direct evidence of this many of the scrolls refer to a ‘Teacher of Righteousness’ whom we believe to have been one and the same.
However many of us feel a deep connection with the historical Essenes on several levels including past lives.
