The Lost Symbol

that ascended from this level. . climbing higher still. God help me. These narrow stairs, according to the Architect, led up to a small metal door that could be unlocked with the iron key in Langdon’s hand.

Beyond the door lay something that Peter insisted Langdon and Katherine see. Peter had not elaborated, but rather had left strict instructions regarding the precise hour at which the door was to be opened. We have to wait to open the door? Why?

Langdon checked his watch again and groaned.

Slipping the key into his pocket, he gazed across the gaping void before him at the far side of the balcony. Katherine had walked fearlessly ahead, apparently unfazed by the height. She was now halfway around the circumference, admiring every inch of Brumidi’s The Apotheosis of Washington, which loomed directly over their heads. From this rare vantage point, the fifteen-foot-tall figures that adorned the nearly five thousand square feet of the Capitol Dome were visible in astonishing detail.

Langdon turned his back to Katherine, faced the outer wall, and whispered very quietly, «Katherine, this is your conscience speaking. Why did you abandon Robert?»

katherine was apparently familiar with the dome’s startling acoustical properties. . because the wall whispered back. «because robert is being a chicken. he should come over here with me. we have plenty of time before we’re allowed to open that door.»

Langdon knew she was right and reluctantly made his way around the balcony, hugging the wall as he went.

«This ceiling is absolutely amazing,» Katherine marveled, her neck craned to take in the enormous splendor of the Apotheosis overhead. «Mythical gods all mixed in with scientific inventors and their creations? And to think this is the image at the center of our Capitol.»

Langdon turned his eyes upward to the sprawling forms of Franklin, Fulton, and Morse with their technological inventions. A shining rainbow arched away from these figures, guiding his eye to George Washington ascending to heaven on a cloud. The great promise of man becoming God.

Katherine said, «It’s as if the entire essence of the Ancient Mysteries is hovering over the Rotunda.»

Langdon had to admit, not many frescoes in the world fused scientific inventions with mythical gods and human apotheosis. This ceiling’s spectacular collection of images was indeed a message of the Ancient Mysteries, and it was here for a reason. The founding fathers had envisioned America as a blank canvas, a fertile field on which the seeds of the mysteries could be sown. Today, this soaring icon — the father of our country ascending to heaven — hung silently above our lawmakers, leaders, and presidents. . a bold reminder, a map to the future, a promise of a time when man would evolve to complete spiritual maturity.

«Robert,» Katherine whispered, her gaze still fixated on the massive figures of America’s great inventors accompanied by Minerva. «It’s prophetic, really. Today, man’s most advanced inventions are being used to study man’s most ancient ideas. The science of Noetics may be new, but it’s actually the oldest science on earth — the study of human thought.» She turned to him now, her eyes filled with wonder. «And we’re learning that the ancients actually understood thought more profoundly than we do today.»

«Makes sense,» Langdon replied. «The human mind was the only technology the ancients had at their disposal. The early philosophers studied it relentlessly.»

«Yes! The ancient texts are obsessed with the power of the human mind. The Vedas describe the flow of mind energy. The Pistis Sophia describes universal consciousness. The Zohar explores the nature of mind spirit. The Shamanic texts predict Einstein’s ‘remote influence’ in terms of healing at a distance. It’s all there! And don’t even get me started about the Bible.» «you, too?» langdon said, chuckling. «your brother tried to convince me that the bible is encoded with scientific information.»

«It certainly is,» she said. «And if you don’t believe Peter, read some of Newton’s esoteric texts on the Bible. When you start to understand the cryptic parables in the Bible, Robert, you realize it’s a study of the human mind.»

Langdon shrugged. «I guess I’d better go back and read it again.»

«Let me ask you something,» she said, clearly not appreciating his skepticism. «When the Bible tells us to ‘go build our temple’. . a temple that we must ‘build with no tools and making no noise,’ what temple do you think it’s talking about?»

«Well, the text does say your body is a temple.»

«Yes, Corinthians 3:16. You are the temple of God.» She smiled at him. «And the Gospel of John says the exact same thing. Robert, the Scriptures are well aware of the power latent within us, and they are urging us to harness that power. . urging us to build the temples of our minds.»

«Unfortunately, I think much of the religious world is waiting for a real temple to be rebuilt. It’s part of the Messianic Prophecy.»

«Yes, but that overlooks an important point. The Second Coming is the coming of man — the moment when mankind finally builds the temple of his mind.»

«I don’t know,» Langdon said, rubbing his chin. «I’m no Bible scholar, but I’m pretty sure the Scriptures describe in detail a physical temple that needs to be built. The structure is described as being in two parts — an outer temple called the Holy Place and an inner sanctuary called the Holy of Holies. The two parts are separated from each other by a thin veil.»

Katherine grinned. «Pretty good recall for a Bible skeptic. By the way, have you ever seen an actual human brain? It’s built in two parts — an outer part called the dura mater and an inner part called the pia mater. These two parts are separated by the arachnoid — a veil of weblike tissue.»

Langdon cocked his head in surprise.

Gently, she reached up and touched Langdon’s temple. «There’s a reason they call this your temple, Robert.»

As Langdon tried to process what Katherine had said, he flashed unexpectedly on the gnostic Gospel of Mary: Where the mind is, there is the treasure.

«Perhaps you’ve heard,» Katherine said, softly now, «about the brain scans taken of yogis while they meditate? The human brain, in advanced states of focus, will physically create a waxlike substance from the pineal gland. This brain secretion is unlike anything else in the body. It has an incredible healing effect, can literally regenerate cells, and may be one of the reasons yogis live so long. this is real science, Robert. This substance has inconceivable properties and can be created only by a mind that is highly tuned to a deeply focused state.»

«I remember reading about that a few years back.»

«Yes, and on that topic, you’re familiar with the Bible’s account of ‘manna from heaven’?»

Langdon saw no connection. «You mean the magical substance that fell from heaven to nourish the hungry?»

«Exactly. The substance was said to heal the sick, provide everlasting life, and, strangely, cause no waste in those who consumed it.» Katherine paused, as if waiting for him to understand. «Robert?» she prodded. «A kind of nourishment that fell from heaven? » She tapped her temple. «Magically heals the body? Creates no waste? Don’t you see? These are code words, Robert! Temple is code for ‘body.’ Heaven is code for ‘mind.’ Jacob’s ladder is your spine. And manna is this rare brain secretion. When you see these code words in Scripture, pay attention. They are often markers for a more profound meaning concealed beneath the surface.»

Katherine’s words were coming out in rapid-fire succession now, explaining how this same magical substance appeared throughout the Ancient Mysteries: Nectar of the Gods, Elixir of Life, Fountain of Youth, Philosopher’s Stone, ambrosia, dew, ojas, soma. Then she launched into an explanation about the brain’s pineal gland representing the all-seeing eye of God. «According to Matthew 6:22,» she said excitedly, » ‘when your eye is single, your body fills with light.’ This concept is also represented by the Ajna chakra and the dot on a Hindu’s forehead, which — »

Katherine stopped short, looking sheepish. «Sorry. . I know I’m rambling. I just find this all so exhilarating.