1999-12-2 00:35:00
The Question:
"Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." John 7:16-17
What principle was the Master teaching here and how can we use it in the discovery or confirmation or truth?
Perhaps some additional questions will get us going here. Where do we look to find the will of God? How is following our perception of the will of God a test that proves the perception true or false?
We are also told that "By their fruits you shall know them." What does this mean and how is it a guide to the discovery of truth? What are the different fruits?
Marylin writes:
It sounds to me like this is the principle of discernment. We can use discernment to determine whether or not something is true or not.
I think we find the Will of God by looking within, making soul contact.
Dave writes:
I think the Master was speaking of the Principle of Discernment. Discernment is using any tool at your disposal to determine fact from fiction, and being willing to accept the truth when you find it.
Glenys:
It seems that obedience is the key here - following the highest that we know. If we do that, the knowledge we receive will testify to the 'doctrine' or Truth and we will be given more. On the other hand, if we receive knowledge and ignore it (i.e. don't follow the highest that we know), what we have will be taken away from us.
So an unwavering and wholehearted commitment to, and love of the Truth will always lead us towards the Light.
It is inevitable that those who have a genuine love of Truth and its application will display these characteristics in their lives.
When Jesus was talking about knowing them by their fruits he was saying that 'false prophets' bear bad fruit and genuine teachers bear good fruit. As he taught, people were amazed at his wisdom and his teaching them as 'one having authority...not as their scribes'; in other words, he displayed good fruit, the hallmark of someone people could listen to with confidence.
One of the ways of discovering truth is to identify teachers who bear good fruit and to listen to what they have to say. Unfortunately, this gift is missing from the lives of those who feel they don't need a teacher or who are not ready to listen.
Margaret:
"Where do we look to find the will of God?"
Everywhere! In everything! In books, in sacred writings, in people, in our vocations and avocations. Always open. Always searching. Listening within for recognition to know when we find it. [PS: JJ, it always comes back to soul contact, doesn't it??]
....when both bodies are resonating, their very vibrations act to stimulate each other and actually increase the intensity of each of their vibrations, resulting in increased amplitude of resonance. i.e. the whole is louder than the sum of its parts! So when I'm on my path and resonating with the Divine and another "truth" is offered to me I will know it because it increases the resonance I already feel. If I don't feel an increase in vibes, then I know that the idea being offered does not mesh gears with the truth I am already feeling, so can be discarded.
Anni:
When I started getting interested in New Age and The Ancient Wisdom 30 years ago, I always looked at the results the different movements created. Were they working for all mankind or only for a small group? Who benefited from the teachings? Especially did I look at the "leader" - was he making a lot of money on this, living in luxury and taking care only of himself? Or did he use the money from his organization for the benefit of all?
Of course I also looked at the way people in the organizations were affected. Did they seem to learn and benefit? Did they develop a higher understanding? Or did they just lose their free will and do a lot of work for some smart guy? Lol
Samu:
Truth is the seed, and a deed stemming from this seed is the fruit, containing a new seed and so on. Fruitful action is based on truthful thoughts :) A fruit nourishes current life and holds the seed for new potential manifestations of growth. Truth bears fruit - we can go pick an apple from a tree; but in truth we all carry a lush garden in our hearts.
Ok, so if my creations result from my decisions and represent God's will, then I think it makes sense to say that to me the will of God is the highest unselfish good I can perceive within which I act upon. If I follow this inner perception of the omnipresent will, my creations will on some level make the world, both mine and those around me, a better place, it will solve and free instead of weighing down or complicating, bringing unity and power thru harmonizing of diversity. Whatever I will, will be consistent with God's will in that moment of time and space.
Xavier:
By experience, by putting the teaching through the test of action, and seeing what fruits it gives, what results, in the physical world, and in the spiritual one.
"What principle"? Creation. Letting words give birth to children;-) The principle could be phrased as this: the value of a theory is measured to the results it gives through practice. The value of a teaching is measured to the evolution it promotes. It can promote evolution for the personality, and for the soul.
Rokus (Associate of Sterling's)
It seems to me that the unveiling of greater truth in our lives becomes a real issue when we make a dimensional shift in our perception of the truth. Your six criteria seem reasonable enough if truth is to be tested in the same general level where you already are, but when there is a shift (as out of traditional Mormonism or fundamental Protestantism) any criteria you might set would tend to keep you in the place where you are when you created these criteria. You have stimulated my thinking nevertheless.
Perhaps the one thing I would respond is that greater truth has always increased my level of Joy.
JJ
Thanks for the good comments my friends. All of them are good food for thought. Obviously, I am not the only one here with teachings to help others along the path. I will, however, attempt to make several comments to add to what has been said. Again the first question:
"Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." John 7:16-17
What principle was the Master teaching here and how can we use it in the discovery or confirmation or truth?
Jesus basically told us that if we "do" God's will two things will happen. We will "know of the doctrine." In other words we will discover whether or not the teachings are true. "... Whether I speak of myself." We will know whether the teacher just speaks for himself out of his own imagination or whether he speaks for one higher than he.
What do we have to do to be able to have these two gifts of discernment? We must "do his will." Notice what the injunction does not say as well as what it does say. It does not say "believe his will," or "think his will." It does not say "preach his will," or "write his will," but "do."
Do what? "I'd love to know what God, Christ or a Master has for me to do, but I just haven't heard any voices lately," says the seeker. Actually you do not have to receive a divine revelation to know the will of God for there are always parts of the divine will that all can perceive. Then when that which we perceive is followed, additional will is sensed and additional truth is also perceived.
Question:
Try and name three things the average seeker would correctly perceive as the will of God - that all of us should "do" so the truth can be known.
Copyright 1999 by J.J. Dewey, All Rights Reserved