The Great Renunciation

2007-3-16 07:28:00

Dan writes:

"We have a (very) few examples of the 'great renunciation' from ancient history but I was hoping for a more modern example of what would be intense enough to truly qualify.

"My concern was that it makes the story a little inconsistent as well as incomplete in that it skips a major issue in one's spiritual progression.

"One solution might be to make up a fictional account that would satisfy the requirement for Joe in a flashback episode or some such. Or perhaps there might be some other way to work in some examples of renunciations as a teaching point from John or something."

JJ:

It is interesting that I have considered doing just what you were thinking. I have thought about writing in a fictional Great Renunciation in future Immortal Book. It would be out of sequence because he should have gone through the Renunciation before beginning a mission as described there.

The trouble with writing a fictional Renunciation is that sometimes fiction cannot portray the overwhelming reality with the same intensity as the soul as it sets the stage (for maybe several lifetimes) for the Renunciation to occur.

The advantage of fiction though is I can write it without making any claims or revealing unnecessary history in my own life.

In the Great Renunciation the disciple is required to utterly sacrifice everything he holds dear to the highest part of his emotional self. Sacrificing money, a house, a standard love relationship is not enough. He must be willing to sacrifice the highest ideals the emotional self can fathom.

For Abraham it was not his son, but it was the very promise of God that was at stake.

For Jesus it was his highest ideal of service by creating the kingdom of God on the earth so there could be peace and good will according to the song of the angels. He had to let this, his highest desire, evaporate for something higher.

So what could be asked of Joe in the book that would qualify him for the fourth [initiation]?

It's difficult to think of something as encompassing as the soul would dream up, but here is a possibility:

John approaches Joe and tells him he is to cease work on all his writings, and destroy them so not a trace of them remains. He must leave Elizabeth and go to India to a remote village and be a servant for a prince there that is a spoiled brat.

Joe tells John that this makes no sense and demands an explanation.

John says that he cannot give one. All he can tell him is that this is what he must do.

Joe refuses. He tells John that he will not even follow him if it goes again his inner self or soul.

John then says, "Then you should check with your soul. In three days I will visit you and you will tell me what your soul has said along with your decision."

Right after John leaves Joe feels something very disturbing at the core of his being. He knows it is the voice of his soul responding to John's words and it scares the daylights out of him. "My soul could not possibly go along with such a crazy notion," he thinks. But as the time passes the intensity of inner communion grows, and he has to face the fact that his soul agrees with John's command. In fact it more than agrees. He receives a fire that seems to descend from heaven and it is so all powerful that it seems he will burn up. There is no doubt what the Spirit is telling him.

Still he resists and looks for a way out. Maybe his soul or even God could be wrong he thinks. Then a vision of Philo appears. Philo joyfully tells him that Elizabeth needs his presence to have the strength to stay well. Without him she will get ill again and he will look for an opportunity to destroy her. With Joe out of the way it should be easy.

Now Joe is really upset. How can he betray his wife to this extent? How could she ever understand or forgive him?

He prays to God with all the intensity of his being, "Father, let this cup pass."

There is no answer.

He then sinks to a state that he never even imagines existed. If he follows John's words then all that makes life worthwhile for him will be gone.

He prays and prays again and there is no answer. By the third day all he has is a memory of his answer, but it seems that God, the soul and all that gives hope is gone. It is as if he were in some outer darkness.

He senses John will return soon and searches for strength to make the decision. He reflects on the feeling that he has had when he has felt the power of the Spirit, and decides he will go with Spirit because he has faith this will somehow lead to a final good. Besides, maybe this is a test like Abraham and the sacrifice will not be required.

John appears and asks for his decision.

Joe says he will accept halfway expecting a ram in the thicket to appear, but there is no deliverance. He must destroy his writings and leave the next day to India.

After years of struggle Joe eventually gains strength and learns a great lesson that will help humanity. But most powerful of all, he is now attached to nothing in this world. He is ready to do what is necessary to fulfill higher will.

That's one possibility in a nutshell. A whole book could be written on something like this.