Keys Writings 2015, Part 2

This entry is part 2 of 13 in the series 2015B

Jan 15, 2015

The Kingdom of God, Part 1

The Outer Kingdom

Let us take a closer look at the parables of the mustard seed. Many people look at this and other parables and figure there is only one true meaning that needs to be discovered. Then when an interpretation is found that seems to work many will figure that is one is correct and all others are false.

This isn’t really the way it works. All inspired teachings contain true principles and true principles can manifest truth in a number of different ways.

On the other hand, any old interpretation will not work, but must correspond to the ingredients of the parable or teaching. In other words, the interpretation must have an internal harmony. If two interpretations have this harmony then they could both be true representations and beneficial for the receiver.

Here is the mustard seed parable:

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. Matt 13:31-32

The standard interpretation by the Christian community is that the Kingdom of heaven here was the gospel which had a very small beginning but now has many millions of believers.

That works for their belief system but the correspondence is somewhat flawed. The “gospel” is generally defined by them as the “good news” of the resurrection and not as the kingdom of heaven.

The kingdom of heaven has two aspects, the inner and the outer.

Many New Agers believe that the kingdom of heaven (or God) is only within us and has no external manifestation and quote this famous verse.

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:20-21

Jesus was placing emphasis here on the inner kingdom which he said would not be discovered throught outward observation. Some think that this means that there is no such thing as an outward kingdom, but Jesus never said such a thing.

We know he acknowledged an outer kingdom. In his response to the Jewish leaders he said:

“The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” Matt 21:43

A “nation” is an outward manifestation.

The Gospel of Thomas in the third saying supports the idea of both an inner and outer kingdom:

“the Father’s kingdom is within you and it is outside you.”

Jesus was asked about the outside kingdom just before his ascension:

“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” Acts 1:6-7

The apostles, who had been with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry to Israel, obviously still believed in an outer kingdom. It appears that Jesus taught them nothing to negate this thinking. As further evidenced of this, notice that in answer to their question he did not say something like: “You are in error in looking for an outer kingdom because there is only an inner one.”

Instead he said, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”

This is interpreted by most students to mean that a physical kingdom was in the plan, but its timetable was not revealed.

At that time Jesus was emphasizing the inner kingdom so that is where he wanted them to place their attention. Creating an outward kingdom within the Roman Empire was not feasible in that age

Jesus did look forward to an outer kingdom and told his followers to pray for such a thing as follows:

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matt 6:10

Here he prays for the kingdom to come on “earth.”

Ad what would cause that to happen? If the will of God is “done on earth as it is in heaven” then there will appear a physical kingdom on earth where that will is carried out.

This is only good logic. In history there have always been a few who have discovered the kingdom of God within, but there has never in recorded history been a significant gathering of such people. But what would happen if the numbers of such people increased and they gathered together? We would then have that which is the kingdom within manifesting as the kingdom without and fulfilling the words of Thomas:

“the Father’s kingdom is within you and it is outside you.”

Jesus lamented that an outer kingdom was not able to manifest:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Matt 23:37-38

Obviously, Jesus yearned for a physical gathering of lights and was disappointed that the times and seasons were not in alignment for such an event.

Now we have established that there is an inner and outer application to the meaning of the kingdom of God, let us see how this applies to the interpretation of the mustard seed parable.

The Outer Interpretation.

The parable begins saying: The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field.”

Notice that Jesus did not limit the manifestation of the kingdom to just the mustard seed for in the parable of the sower generic seeds were used. Jesus said:

“The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field.” Matt 13:24.

From this we gather that any “good seed” makes a usable correspondence for the kingdom of God.

So, what are the attributes of a bad or good seed?

Attributes of the bad seed:

(1) They produce a plant which is of little use or obnoxious and takes nourishment from the good plants.

(2) The seed may be dead and have no prospect of growing.

(3) A seed that may have good potential but doesn’t have the strength to mature and be of service.

Attributes of the good seed:

(1) It produces a plant that provides a good service or nourishing fruit.

(2) The seed is alive and able to grow.

(3) As it grows it gathers the strength to mature and be of service to humankind.

The mustard seed was not only a good seed, but unique enough to be singled out by Jesus. And why did he do this?

Because the mustard seed grew proportionally more than other seeds. It started out as something very small and grew into a very large and useful plant. It corresponds to the physical kingdom as predicted by Daniel who spoke of a “stone that smote the image (the kingdoms of the earth) became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” Dan 2:35

He clearly speaks of this physical kingdom:

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever… the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.” Dan 2:44-45

It is interesting that Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a small seed that became a great plant and Daniel compared it to a small stone that became a great mountain. Then it is interesting that Jesus talked about one who has the faith of a mustard seed being able to move either a mountain or a great plant.

Obviously both a mountain and a plant are symbolic of the Kingdom of God.

That said then how does the physical kingdom correspond to the parable?

It corresponds on two obvious levels. On the first level we correspond the seed to the word, or the message about the kingdom of God. This started as a very small thing with one man, Jesus, teaching the principle. Now the basic idea is understood in some form throughout all the earth.

The second level refers to the gathering of those who have the Word or seed planted in their hearts. According to Daniel, this will only materialize after the coming and going of other plants or kingdoms. In other words the seed will be alive but not nourished enough to sprout for a significant period of time. When it does sprout, however it will multiply and not only fill the earth, but replace all other kingdoms.

It is indeed a true principle that when a better idea is introduced that, even though it may be resisted at first, that it will eventually be embraced by all.

The time will indeed come that the song of the angels will become manifest – “Peace on earth, good will to men.”

When peace, good will and brotherhood start to manifest and grow as a wonderful plant then eventually all people will want to participate.

When this occurs “the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”

The birds represent freedom of thought and those who value freedom of expression are attracted to the kingdom of God and seek to join with it and rest under its protection.

Even the physical manifestation of the kingdom will not come in such a way that people will say ,”lo here” or “lo there!” It will develop as does a plant over a period of time, taking centuries to perfect.

Just as civilization developed over a long period of time and there is no single date that we can point to and say, “lo there” is when it appeared, even so will there be numerous stages in the manifestation of the kingdom of God on the earth. The journey for the lights is long and difficult, so let us begin.

 

Jan 16, 2015

The Kingdom of God, Part 2

Blayne:

It’s taken me a life time to come to grips that it will take generations and I may not see what I would like to see in the way of significant changes in this life time but I have made a decision that I am in it for the long haul and actively working toward that end with the highest I know. Hopefully I can live up to that in this and subsequent life times…

JJ

That is the attitude the disciple must have. Those who make plans for their part in the Great Work with only one life in view make a great mistake in planning. Unlike us mortals who have plans with a beginning, middle and end that can be accomplished within a lifetime, the great Plan of God for humanity is ongoing and spans through many lifetimes.

It is human nature to desire to wrap up a work or project or to see the fulfillment of a dream in one lifetime. This is why, for 2000 years now that Christians have expected something like the end of the world or the coming of Christ in their lifetime. In each age we think we are living in a special time where the most significant events in history are happening. Now it is true that some periods of history are more crucial than others but so far we haven’t seen anything close to the end of the world.

Unfortunately we do live in a crucial age where we have weapons of mass destruction that have the capacity to destroy civilization so let us hope we can navigate through the next couple generations holding civilization intact.

Barring mankind making a huge blunder, a couple hundred years from now historians shall look back on this time and see it as an interesting time, but probably no more crucial than numerous other time periods of history. When you think of it World War II is hard to beat as far as significant time periods go.

The U.S. presidential elections bear out this thinking. Every four years, as we approach the election, we begin to hear that this election just may turn out to be the most important in history. Then a decade or so after the election we look back and have a much better perspective. The election was important but no more than were many others.

It is interesting that Jesus said this to his followers:

“For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” Matt 13:17

So even Jesus saw his time as a significant one, but the significant part was his appearance more than any other event.

The outer kingdom of God was often discussed by the disciples as evidenced by the Gospel of the Nazirenes Chapter 91, verse 3

And Yeshua answered and said, “O Mary, I tell you, and to each of my disciples, the kingdom of heaven is within you. But the time comes when that which is within shall be made manifest in the without, for the sake of the world.”

The disciples seemed to be of the opinion that this event was going to happen soon:

“And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.” Luke 19:11

It has been two thousand years and the world has greatly changed but no acknowledged outward kingdom has manifest.

But let us suppose we took one of those disciples from the time of Jesus and transported him to our time and let him have a look at the life through the eyes of a typical American.

The guy wakes up in a quality mattress in a quality bed that is heaven to sleep on compared to anything he has experienced.

He gets up and turns a light that burns like the sun, but has no flame. This is an amazing sight.

He then showers using some unlimited source of heavenly hot water. He then flushes his waste down this magical device that makes it disappear with no unpleasant odors involved.

As he explores the dwelling place of this guy 2000 years in the future he is amazed at the spaciousness. It is an average home of a couple thousand square feet but it seems to be built for a king.

He sees the guy turn on the stove which supplies unlimited heat to cook up a meal suitable for a king. He puts leftovers in this strange refrigerating device that keeps it fresh for many days.

Next he watches the guy get in his car and speed down a wonderfully made road. This car doesn’t need horses and can go at unheard of speeds. In no time he arrives at this large building and begins his work day. As he enters his office he first makes a couple phone calls to clients thousands of miles away. The disciple is flabbergasted at this miracle.

Next the man turns on his computer and Googles for some needed information. This really seems miraculous. At the click of a button humankind in this age can discover almost any piece of knowledge on the earth.

He then contunues to observe and discovers other miracles such as television, movies, iPhones, iPads, video games, air conditioning, central heating and much more.

So what does the disciple conclude?

This has to be the manifestation of the Kingdom of God. What else can it be when an average man lives like a king?

Of course, we know that after the guy gets a better look at the planet as a whole with billions of people going hungry and wars and rumors of wars he would realize that we still have a ways to go.

Even so, I think the disciple would realize we have indeed made some progress and would probably figure that the vision of the prophets would more completely manifest in another couple thousand years.

Actually, the next couple centuries should transition us into a great new age that will have many elements of the kingdom of God as envisioned by the prophets.

 

Jan 17, 2015

The Dominion of God

The phrase “kingdom of God” or “kingdom of heaven” is found nowhere in the Old Testament. The New Testament indicates that John the Baptist and Jesus were the first to use the terms and teach about it. It is of course, possible that the kingdom of God was a common phrase before Jesus and John, but they are definitely responsible for bringing it to fruition in the public consciousness.

The Book of Daniel tells is that God will set up a kingdom in a future time so one would assume that it could be referred to as he kingdom of God.

The Old Testament also talks about Zion where the people will “see eye to eye.” Predictions of Zion seem to forecast an outward kingdom of God.

As we said some think the kingdom of God only refers to an inner consciousness, but we gave numerous references to prove that the kingdom will be something outer as well as inner.

One of the best is found in the Gospel of the Nazirenes Chapter 91, verse 3

And Yeshua answered and said, “O Mary, I tell you, and to each of my disciples, the kingdom of heaven is within you. But the time comes when that which is within shall be made manifest in the without, for the sake of the world.”

The word “kingdom” comes from the Greek BASILEIA which means the foundation of power, or dominion” and the Hebrew MALKUW which means “a rule or dominion.”

The most consistent one word synonym for “kingdom” would be “dominion”. The kingdom of God could be called “a dominion by those who recognize the presence of God within them.”

The Kingdom of God within would be a consciousness dominated by the God within and the kingdom of God without would be a kingdom dominated, or ruled, by those who have the kingdom of God within.

Jesus didn’t really give many details about what the kingdom of God would be like once it manifested on the earth. He did give numerous parables starting with “the kingdom of God is like…” But these just pointed seekers in the general direction or gave a glimpse of meaning.

The kingdom would make a good point of contemplation for the group. Consider these questions.

(1) What are the ingredients and attributes of the outward manifestation of the Kingdom of God?

(2) How would it be different living in the kingdom of God compared to where you are living now?

(3) Are we closer to living in the kingdom of God now than they were 2000 years ago? What progress have we made?

 

Jan 18, 2015

The Kingdom of God, Part 2

Good group comments on the questions. Here are my two cents:

(1) What are the ingredients and attributes of the outward manifestation of the Kingdom of God?

Perhaps the most obvious ingredient will be in the quality of the leadership. In the kingdom the leaders will be people who have soul contact and realize that the kingdom of God is within as well as without.

During the history of civilization most of the leaders who have surfaced have been selfish and dedicated to the lower personality. Once in a while a leader with spiritual qualities will pop up, but such a thing is a rare occurrence. Usually when an advanced soul gains prominence we see that he has to work outside the system. This is what Jesus, Paul, Buddha and many other spiritual leaders had to do.

Rare examples of evolved souls working within the system would be some of the founders of the United States such as Washington, Jefferson and Franklin. And even here they didn’t exactly get their places in history by being team players with their mother country.

Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill are two men who did work within the system yet helped to take us a couple steps closer to the manifestation of the kingdom.

If the kingdom of God is a dominion of God then the spirit of God must prevail and it can only prevail in a government where the leadership is in communion with the kingdom within.

It is not as essential that the inhabitants have soul contact as much as the leaders, but a certain percentage of them having contact is important. At least a third should have some degree of soul contact to insure the kingdom is not corrupted. If 50% achieve it then the kingdom will be stable.

The second prime ingredient is freedom. Freedom and the personal responsibility that comes along with it is the principle that separates the light from the dark as far as the consciousness of humanity is concerned. Only in an atmosphere where the maximum freedom is encouraged can the light of consciousness expand freely.

The next prime ingredient is goodwill. This was part of the song that the angels sang at the birth of Jesus.

Goodwill is contagious just as are negative feelings. Enlightened leaders will be agents of goodwill and cause the populace to see the benefits thereof and adopt the same attitude.

Abraham Lincoln was a good example of this. After the brutal civil war when many wanted to make the South suffer for what they did he wanted to accept them back in as brothers and not seek to punish the leaders of the rebellion, but extend the hand of fellowship.

Unfortunately he was killed before this unusual approach could be carried out and the South wound up being treated harshly which left behind bad feelings that simmers to this day.

The Allies did carry out the Lincoln approach to some extent with Germany, Japan and Italy after World War II and we have reaped the benefit of now having them be close allies.

The fourth ingredient is peace, the other key word sang by the angels.

The peace that is essential is within the kingdom itself. They shall “see eye to dye when the Lord shall bring again Zion” will be the keynote. Outside the kingdom may not be so peaceful but within the kingdom a fair degree of peace and stability is important. If the inhabitants are true ambassadors of goodwill then peace will follow.

(2) How would it be different living in the kingdom of God compared to where you are living now?

There will be a much greater sense of freedom than now exists and a lot fewer laws and regulations. The people will largely be governed by being taught correct principles and then governing themselves.

There will be greater stability. The inhabitants will not worry so much about an economic collapse. There will be little crime and violence. Citizens will feel safe walking the streets at night.

There will be an abundance of food, goods and services. People will have more free time to dedicate to creative endeavors.

A book could be written about this, but this will have to suffice for now.

(3) Are we closer to living in the kingdom of God now than they were 2000 years ago? What progress have we made?

We have definitely made some progress. Many religious figures say that the world now is more wicked than ever, but they are wrong. If one could time travel back to the days of Jesus he would be instantly convinced.

Back then slavery was accepted as being essential to civilization. All the governments were dictatorships. Rebels were publically crucified. Gladiators fought to the death for entertainment. People as a whole were unconcerned with the suffering of animals. Torture that makes waterboarding look like a picnic was common.

Overall, we have made a lot of progress in treating other humans as brothers and in honoring the value of all life. We are not perfect, but have moved forward.

We have in recent times taken two great steps that moves us closer to the kingdom. The first is the establishment of the U.S. Constitution with a government of the people. The second is the virtual elimination of slavery.

It is interesting that on the Great Seal of the United States appears these words: Novus ordo seclorum which means, “New order of the ages.”

Indeed the Founding Fathers did take us a great step further toward the manifestation of the Kingdom of God on the earth.

We still have a long way to go, but for initiates the joy is more in the journey than the arrival, so let us go forward with joyful spirits having peace and brotherhood in our hearts.

***

 

Is Peace a Bad Thing?

In response to some of my writings on the coming Kingdom of God Allan writes this on his forum;

If there was peace, then this world would be worthless to fulfill its purpose and objective.

This is actually a good thought for us to analyze. Here are some questions for the group.

Is there some truth to this statement? What is it?

Does this mean that it is fruitless to try to improve circumstances on the earth and we should only focus on inner development and ignore the outer?

Is there illusion in Allan’s view? What is it?

How does the Middle Way of the Buddha apply here?

 

The Question:

Would peace and goodwill on earth frustrate the plan of God?

On the surface most people would think that God would want such a thing but others have a different view which is this.

They conclude that the earth is a school and the conflict, pain and suffering that exists here are essential for us to learn our needed lessons when we incarnate. If we didn’t have to struggle and deal with a lot of conflict and discomfort then there would not be many opportunities for growth. We may want peace, but if we had it our growth would be stunted and the plan of God would be frustrated.

So, is this a correct view or not? If it is then should we not seek peace, not seek to cure cancer, and not seek to help the downtrodden? After all, we may be taking away the opportunity of others to learn by suffering. If this doctrine is true then maybe those we think are bad guys causing suffering are really good guys because they are providing opportunity to learn and progress.

So, what is the real truth behind this idea?

It is true that this planet is a great school and we do learn by struggle and hardship. The state it is in now does provide many opportunities for learning that does not exist on other planets with more peaceful societies.

But does this mean that we should not seek to improve it so we can keep the wars, disease and suffering available as lessons for us?

Anyone buying into this train of thought is caught in illusion on this matter.

The first point to understand is that students do not remain in the same class. When Algebra I is learned then they move to Algebra II. When high school is finished they move on to college.

During most of out history slavery was the norm. Did those who incarnated as slaves learn some lessons from this situation?

Yes, they did.

So, were we wrong to abolish this? Is the plan of God frustrated because we can’t be born as slaves in this age? Are Christians denied their learning because they can’t be crucified or thrown to the lions today?

The truth is that we were right to establish basic freedom just as we are also right to seek for peace and goodwill upon the earth.

While it is true that the hardships that exist on the earth provide good fodder for human lessons, it is also true that mankind is evolving and moving forward in their learning. Among the greatest of lessons we have to learn are those involved in moving society from a primitive state to an advanced state. Those who worked to abolish slavery advanced much more than those who were the slaves. Those who cure disease learn faster than those who suffer from them. Even so, those who work toward peace and actually make progress in that direction accelerate their progress and learn many wonderful lessons. They learn more than foot soldiers fighting for their lives.

So, what would be the situation then if we did finally secure peace on earth where “they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Isa 11:9

What would happen is what happened before. In the past we learned certain lessons by being slaves, but now we are moving on to a different class with different lesson materials. When physical peace is established on the earth so nation does not take up arms against other nations then we will move to the next class.

It is important to realize that the end of physical conflict does not mean there will be an end to all conflict. When physical conflict is transcended then the focus will be on the astral/emotional plane. In fact, this transition is already in the process of happening in many countries. We see this playing out in the emotional battles between conservatives and liberals in politics. They do not fight each other physically, as did some politicians in the old days, but have heated emotional debates.

The next step forward (after the astral) in establishing peace is to move to the mental plane. Today non physical conflict is on a very emotional level and often neither side uses much pure reason. When humanity moves to the plane of the mind disagreements will be expressed without hate and anger but as one reasoning person sparring with another while actually seeking solutions.

There are many advanced classrooms waiting for us in the future of this planet. We will advance from one grade to another until 60% of humanity attains to peace, abundance and tranquility in the physical, emotional and mental levels. These 60% will achieve a degree of soul contact. These 60% will move on to more advanced classes, as we never stop learning.

The 40% remaining will have failed to learn the needed lessons from suffering and conflict. So, just as some are held back in our society and have to take classes over, even so will these students have to be sent to another planet where pain and suffering prevail to learn the lessons that they failed to take in during their time here.

Indeed the plan of God is not frustrated by the establishment of peace. Accomplishing this allows us to learn our lessons and advance. Those who are slow to learn and need more pain and sorrow will always have a place to go. There are worlds without number in this universe and as planetary classrooms are needed they will manifest. The Great Plan is never frustrated by students who assist their brothers in moving toward greater peace, abundance, learning or spiritual power.

 

Jan 21, 2015

The Kingdom of God, Part 3

There are those who rely heavily on Old Testament predictions, such as Daniel and Isaiah, and teach only of a coming kingdom that is without and visible. Then there are others who quote Luke 17:21 which says ‘the kingdom of God is within you.” Some of these maintain that there will be no outer kingdom, but the Kingdom of God is only within us and that is the only place we’ll ever find it.

As usual, the truth is somewhere in the middle, as expressed in the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of the Nazirenes.

“the Father’s kingdom is within you and it is outside you.”

The Gospel of Thomas saying three

And Yeshua answered and said, “O Mary, I tell you, and to each of my disciples, the kingdom of heaven is within you. But the time comes when that which is within shall be made manifest in the without, for the sake of the world.”

The Gospel of the Nazirenes Chapter 91, verse 3

We have touched on the idea that the kingdom will manifest without. Now let us look at the kingdom within,

So, what is the kingdom within? Some seem to think it is only one thing such as Nirvana, merging or being one with the soul or Higher Self or maybe some specific state of consciousness. These miss the point of a teaching given by Jesus:

“In my Father’s house are many mansions…” John 14:2

Indeed the kingdom within has many mansions, or states of consciousness. It is interesting that several of these states has to be accepted by even the hardened atheist.

That got your attention, didn’t it?

So where are these states of consciousness that even the non believer has to accept?

First let us clarify. The many mansions within are states of consciousness within us, not constructed of physical matter. There are two general states within that we all recognize.

The first is the emotional world. The feeling world within has no physical form, but only exists within us. The feelings consists of positive feelings such as love, hope, happiness, aspiration etc. Then there are negative ones such as fear, hate, greed and loathing.

These and numerous other feelings directly affect our state of consciousness and well being, and they all reside within us and have no outward form that can be photographed, yet even the staunchest atheist acknowledges they exist.

Within this emotional kingdom are many mansions. Some experience love, peace and joy whereas others dwell in hate, disgust and rejection.

The next kingdom within is the plane of the mind. Again the world of thought cannot be photographed but dwells completely within us. All people, believers and non believers in God and his kingdom, will admit that they do some thinking and they have to admit that it happens within them and has no physical form.

Again, this kingdom within has many mansions. The lowest aspect of mind are the calculations made by the computer brain. As we go higher in this kingdom we move into areas of thought that go beyond the range of even a supercomputer. We move into logic, reason, the grasping of ideas, which have never been seen before, the merging of thought and feeling, discernment, judgment and much more.

There are seven main mansions in the plane of the mind within.

(1) The first is linked to the center at the base of the spine and is focused on survival. The need to survive and make the best of what life has to offer has called forth a powerful application of mental powers over the course of our evolution.

(2) The second is linked to the sacral center governing sex and physical form. In this mansion we focus our minds on the sexual nature and physical form, wealth and creation. Creating the best physical mansion we can have is accomplished with this aspect of the mind.

(3) The third level is linked to the solar plexus, the seat of the emotions. Here a merging of mind and emotion takes place and too much focus on this mansion causes the pilgrim to lose his way for a time and be led astray by the world of feeling. He is often deceived into believing that feelings are thoughts that must be followed.

(4) The heart center is the midway point. The scripture says that “as a man thinketh in is heart, so is he.” Even so, when the seeker arrives at this level of mind he reaches a fork in the road. One choice takes him back into the lower mansions and the other opens the door to the higher. If he chooses the higher he then knocks on the door of the soul which opens the vistas of the higher realms which are denied by the materialistic mind.

If he decides to dwell in this mansion his mind then explores the two major aspects of the heart. The first is true spiritual unselfish love as opposed to selfish possessive love that he knew in the lower mansions. The second is the discovery of wisdom. He finds that true wisdom can only be attained when spiritual love is comprehended.

He discovers this truth: For a person or thing to be loved, it must first be understood. He finds joy in this mansion when he realizes that love, wisdom and understanding are a trinity of building blocks in this breakthrough realm.

(5) Even though the throat is fifth as we proceed upwards in the body it is not considered to be of a higher order than the heart. Humanity as a whole corresponds to the throat center of the earth whereas advanced humanity, who have achieved soul contact and discovered the spiritual kingdom of God within, are considered the heart center of the planet.

The throat governs creative consciousness and the creative consciousness can be used by the mind for purposes very devious to the sublime. Whereas the spiritual essence of the heart can only be directed toward things that will benefit others, our creative consciousness can direct intelligence to make weapons of mass destruction, torture chambers, creative methods to cheat, steal, etc.

There are many highs and lows in this mansion as evidenced by observing creative people. They are among the happiest and most miserable on the planet. The suicide rate among them is high yet when they succeed and tap into some of the consciousness of the heart they can live very fulfilling lives.

The inner mansion of creativity is indeed overall a gift to the world and from this invisible inner kingdom has come great works of art, literature, movies, architecture, technology and many other endeavors.

The next inner mansion is linked to the sixth center which lays between the eyebrows and is often called the third eye, but is technically known as the ajna center. In this mansion the consciousness can see with higher vision, things that are not visible to the material person. He can see into the world of ideas and principles and bring concepts from higher mansions and apply them within the lower, even the physical plane.

In this mansion higher vision is unlimited and with focus the seeker can discover anything he wants. Part of this higher vision can be shared with all, even the non believer of spiritual things, but then as vision expands he leaves behind the doubters and finds that much of the knowledge he gains can only be understood by others who are seeking to dwell in this mansion.

Eventually the seeker becomes one with his Higher Self and sees through eyes of higher being.

Finally, we arrive at the seventh mansion connected with the center at the top of the head. It is called the thousand-petalled lotus representing a thousand different mansion attainments. This center links heaven and earth and connects us with divine purpose.

Even though all of these inner mansions have ingredients that escape the understanding of the average person they also all have aspects that both believers and non believers accept as being a part of reality here on earth. Such people even embrace energies from the higher mansions such as unselfish love, creativity, ideas and some aspects if purpose and will.

So what does it mean then to find the kingdom of God within us? Is all there is to it is getting in touch with feelings and thoughts.

No.

But that is where we start. “Know Thyself” was written on the forecourt of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi and has been a maxim since ancient times. To discover the mansions of the kingdom within we have to start wherever we are on the path and know and understand all the parts of ourselves. We begin with the part that is in contact with this physical world then move up to the invisible emotions and then to the mind. As we look within and discover how the inner world of feeling and thought works, and can be directed, we eventually open doors to new mansions of consciousness.

The breakthrough comes when we move from the lower levels of thought, governed by the lower centers, to the higher, governed by the heart, the ajna and the center at the top of the head. Higher mind, which operates with pure reason links heaven and earth and overlaps that which reaches down to the physical plane, yet extends up to the unseen worlds where dwells the soul and advanced entities.

Those who tell you to not use the mind are misled. We should not throw away the use of mind, but merely quiet mind chatter as we seek to commune with the higher realms. Mind must be with us as we seek the kingdom of God else we can fall into the many traps set by illusion, which can lead us on many false detours.

Energy follows thought and if the seeker continues to follow the highest he knows while focusing his consciousness on the highest he is aware of that dwells in him, then, after a time, he will sense movement. When the movement and the new is sensed he must put sublime attention toward it to see where it leads. Eventually, he will catch the attention of his Higher Self and be led to attain full soul contact.

There are many in the world who teach of some great shortcut that ranges from just believing in Jesus to be saved, to waiting for aliens to pick us up to take us to the kingdom.

There are no shortcuts. DK says it well – that students “have wisely learnt that enthusiastic rushing forward and a violent energetic progress has its drawbacks, and that a steady, regular, persistent endeavour will carry them further in the long run. Spasmodic spurts of effort and temporary pressure peter out into disappointment and a weighty sense of failure. It is the tortoise and not the hare that arrives first at the goal, though both achieve eventually.”

Treatise on White Magic, Page 54

I have already written extensively about making soul contact that opens the door to the inner kingdom. If readers will go to freeread.com and type “soul contact” into the search feature much reading material will be discovered.

 

Jan 25, 2015

Cremation

Alex asks for our views on cremation. I agree with DK that it is a beneficial thing to do, though it may be temporarily disturbing to those who are too attached to the physical form.

I am including some quotes from him on the subject at the end of this post.

The atoms that compose the physical body are greatly stimulated in their evolution after having the privilege of being a part of the most evolved physical form of creation in this system – the human. Then, after death what do we do with those atoms? We place then in a steel tomb where they will be imprisoned for thousands of years.

The elements of our bodies are the most evolved on the planet and deserve to be set free to seek any form that suits them.

The scripture says:

“And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.” Matt 27:52

One meaning of this scripture is a prediction that one day humanity will open the graves and free the advanced elements of the imprisoned forms.

I’ve told my wife that if I die before her that I want her to cremate my body and raise tomatoes with the ashes as fertilizer and the eat them and share then with my friends. This way the most advanced elements of my body can move on and aid others in the refinement of their own bodies.

Claude Nowell, the founder of Summum has a different teaching on the subject. He thinks the Egyptians were on the right track with mummification and advocates this. He thinks it will enable him to split his soul so there can be two of him to evolve along two different paths. I believe his followers had him mummified after he died.

Here are some quotes from DK which make more sense to me.

I would like to add one or two comments which will be of general or rather modern interest. I have said that these taints to which humanity is prone are found in the soil, and that their presence there is largely due to the burial, down the ages, of millions of corpses. By the increased use of the processes of cremation, this condition will be steadily improved. Gradually, very gradually, the taint will thus die out. It is therefore highly desirable that there be as much propaganda as possible for the use of this method of disposing of the discarded physical vehicles of the souls who are passing out of incarnation. As the soil becomes less tainted, and as soul contact is established, we can hope to see a steady decrease in the number of those who succumb to the inherited taints.

Esoteric Healing, Page 62

***

definite and rapid cures for the sexual diseases are being discovered, and these may tend to make people more reckless. When, however, they are perfected, they will in the long run safeguard the race and will return bodies to the soil after death freed from the plague which has contaminated the earth for endless ages. There will thus be brought about a gradual purifying of the soil. The growth of the practice of cremation will also aid this process of purification.

Esoteric Healing, Page 230

***

Much good will be brought about through the growing custom to cremate those forms which the indwelling life has vacated; when it is an universal custom, we shall see a definite minimising of disease, leading to longevity and increased vitality. The factor of resistance or the process whereby a form renders itself immune or non-responsive to the planetary pull and urge towards reabsorption requires the expenditure of much energy. When the life increases in potency within the form and there is less reaction to disease-conveying factors, the soul within the form will have fuller sway and greater beauty of expression and usefulness in service. This will be true some day of all the kingdoms in nature, and thus we shall have a steady radiance shining forth in the mounting glory of the Life of God.

Esoteric Healing, Page 249

***

The act of restitution is accomplished. This entire process of the focussing of the spiritual elements in the etheric body, with the subsequent abstraction and consequent dissipation of the etheric body, would be greatly hastened by the substitution of cremation for burial.

Two Main Reasons for Cremation

Occultly speaking, cremation is needed for two main reasons. It hastens the release of the subtle vehicles (still enshrouding the soul) from the etheric body, thus bringing about the release in a few hours instead of a few days; it also is a much needed means for bringing about the purification of the astral plane and for arresting the “downward moving” tendency of desire which so greatly handicaps the incarnating soul. It can find no point of focus, because essentially fire repels the form-making aspect of desire and is a major expression of divinity with which the astral plane has no true relation, being created entirely by the human soul and not the divine soul. “Our God is a consuming fire” is the statement in the Bible which refers to the first divine aspect, the aspect of the destroyer, releasing the life.

Esoteric Healing, Page 471

***

By the use of fire, all forms are dissolved; the quicker the human physical vehicle is destroyed, the quicker is its hold upon the withdrawing soul broken. A great deal of nonsense has been told in current theosophical literature about the time equation in relation to the sequential destruction of the subtle bodies. It should be stated, however, that the moment that true death is scientifically established (by the orthodox doctor in charge of the case), and it has been ascertained that no spark of life remains in the physical body, cremation is then possible. This complete or true death eventuates when the thread of consciousness and the thread of life are completely withdrawn from the head and the heart. At the same time, reverence and an unhurried attitude have their rightful place in the process. The family of the dead person need a few hours in which to adjust themselves to the fact of the imminent disappearance of the outer and usually loved form; due care must also be given to the formalities required by the state or the municipality. This time element has reference mainly to those who are left behind, to the living and not to the dead. The claim that the etheric body must not be rushed into the cremating flames, and the belief that it must be left to drift around for a stated period of several days, have also no true basis at all. There is no etheric need for delay. When the inner man withdraws from his physical vehicle he withdraws simultaneously from the etheric body. It is true that the etheric body is apt to linger for a long time on the “field of emanation” when the physical body is interred, and it will frequently persist until complete disintegration of the dense body has taken place. The process of mummifying, as practised in Egypt, and of embalming, as practised in the West, have been responsible for the perpetuation of the etheric body, sometimes for centuries. This is particularly the case when the mummy or embalmed person was of an evil character during life; the hovering etheric body is then often “possessed” by an evil entity or evil force. This is the cause of the attacks and the disasters which often dog the steps of those who discover ancient tombs and their inhabitants, ancient mummies, and bring them and their possessions to light. Where cremation is the rule, there is not only the immediate destruction of the physical body and its restitution to the fount of substance, but the vital body is also promptly dissolved and its forces swept away by the current of flame into the reservoir of vital energies. Of that reservoir it has ever been an inherent part, either in form or in a formless condition. After death and cremation these forces still exist but are absorbed into the analogous whole. Ponder on this statement, for it will give you the clue to the creative work of the human spirit. If delay is necessary from family feeling or municipal requirements, cremation should follow death within thirty-six hours; where no reason for delay exists, cremation can be rightly permitted in twelve hours. It is wise, however, to wait twelve hours in order to ensure true death.

Esoteric Healing, Pages 483-486

Another point, growing out of all the above, indicates the all-inclusiveness of the divine Life, for the lunar lords are aspects of that Life as much as is the energy of the soul.

It is therefore of prime importance that cremation should be encouraged, and not the present method of burial. Cremation returns the life of the lunar lords more rapidly to the central reservoir of life than any other method, for “our God is a consuming Fire” and all fires have affinity with the central Fire.

Esoteric Healing, Page 642

 

Feb 1, 2015

Permanent Atoms

Concerning those who take the left hand path and create a barrier between themselves and their souls Ruth asks:

So in essence, the person who ends up confined in this mental construct then reverts back into the lower elementals and is no longer self consciousness or self less.

JJ

Yes, he would go back to his essence and lose his self consciousness as an individual entity. DK tells us that in a future system he would start his progression all over again. This would probably involve fragmentation with parts of himself progressing through all kingdoms of nature until they are reunited again as human.

Ruth

What happens to the permanent atoms of the physical body and astral body etc? Is this still trapped within that mental construct also? Or are these taken back and absorbed back into Spirit or to the Akashic Records?

JJ

The permanent atoms remain in the causal, or soul body until the person is either liberated or takes the path of destruction

Here is DK’s words about those who misuse the inner fires.

If a man persists from life to life in this line of action, if he neglects his spiritual development and concentrates on intellectual effort turned to the manipulation of matter for selfish ends, if he continues this in spite of the promptings of his inner self, and in spite of the warnings that may reach him from `Those who watch, and if this is carried on for a long period he may bring upon himself a destruction that is final for this manvantara or cycle. He may, by the uniting of the two fires of matter and the dual expression of mental fire, succeed in the complete destruction of the physical permanent atom, and thereby sever his connection with the higher self for aeons of time. H. P. B. has somewhat touched on this when speaking of “lost souls”; we must here emphasise the reality of this dire disaster and sound a warning note to those who approach this subject of the fires of matter with all its latent dangers.

A Treatise on Cosmic Fire Pg 127

On the other hand here is what happens to the permanent atom if one achieves liberation:

The physical permanent atom absorbs the entire life force of the physical body, and its inherent heat and light is thereby increased until at the fourth initiation the seven spirillae are fully vitalised, and vibrant. The internal heat of the atom, plus the external heat of the egoic body wherein it has its place, produces then that which destroys the permanent atom. Temporarily, and just prior to destruction, it becomes a tiny sevenfold sun owing to the radiation and activity of the spirillae. So with the physical sun of the system; it will in a similar manner become seven suns, when it has absorbed the life essence of the fully evolved planes, and of the planetary schemes thereon. The ensuing conflagration is the final work of the Destroyer aspect. It marks the moment of the highest development of deva substance in the system, the consummation of the work of Agni and his fire angels, and the initiation of Brahma. Atomic substance will then individualise (which, as we know, is the goal for the atom) and after the great pralaya the next solar system will start with the threefold Spirit manifesting through substance which is essentially distinguished by active intelligent love. This is necessarily incomprehensible to our fourth round minds.

A Treatise on Cosmic Fire Pg 741

Ruth

Is the Mormon and Catholic establishments able to become restored to their original Note or Word? Or are these establishments also entrapped within a mental construct which will seal up their fate, and these foundations will eventually disintegrate?

JJ

They are both like entities, such as us humans, with a mortal life span. Neither have been successful enough for the greater lives to restore, but will live their lives onward as long as they have some usefulness. Then they will disappear or be reincarnated in another more advanced form.

 

Feb 2, 2015

Astrology

Here’s some highlights of a post I made on Allan’s list about DK’s teachings on progression through the signs of he Zodiac.

The Bailey writings on the progression seems to deal with progression related to the sun. This doesn’t mean the planets do not have influence.

No astrologer would ignore the sun sign as it is by far the most powerful influence in the chart. I’d say it would make up at least a third of the total influence of the natal chart.

The configuration of the heavens have changed somewhat over the centuries, but three things make astrology an accurate art.

(1) A thoughtform is created around various interpretations that have a strong influence even if the alignment of the heavens is not accurate.

(2) Astrologers over the ages have adjusted somewhat to the changes in alignment.

(3) If the individual astrologer has a good sense of intuition he can receive accurate impressions by focusing on he chart in relation to the vibration of he individual.

The Bailey writings introduce esoteric astrology promoting the idea that the planets that rule for those who have shifted consciousness from the personality to the soul are different as the soul conscious individual is not affected much by the thoughtforms of the past. For instance, the ruler of my sign, Aquarius, is Uranus, but the esoteric ruler is Jupiter.

Now when the Bailey writings talk about the progression of a soul, first clockwise and then counterclockwise through the zodiac we are not talking about one natal chart but many would be involved over many life times.

Bailey doesn’t say how linear this progression is, but I have developed my own views on the subject.

My personal investigation into past lives indicates a trend toward a step-by-step progression through the sun signs, but this is far from black and white. Often the incarnating soul will jump over a number of signs.

The reason for this is threefold.

(1) Before the lesson of the next sign can be properly learned the seeker must first be strengthened in other areas of his life. Hence, instead of incarnating into Capricorn he may take on Cancer influences.

(2) There are other influences besides the sun so maybe a Libra sun with lots of Gemini influences would count as a Gemini incarnation.

(3) Sometimes the seeker will not learn the needed lesson and have to repeat it. He may need a change of pace before this happens so he may jump over several signs and then come back later to tackle the lesson. Like they say a change is a rest.

In the final turn of the wheel the disciple must master and perform the twelve great labors. The key to mastery is shown in internal growth and even though twelve steps are involved all does not proceed with black and white precision, but proceed he must nevertheless.

If you are going to learn Algebra and it takes four classes to become proficient then you will need to start at Algebra I, not Algebra II or III. You will then need to move step by step through the classes. Even so, there are a number of approaches one could take. After your first class you could take a break with a class on basket weaving. You could also get materials for an advanced class to get an idea of what you will learn in the future. You can work hard and get through a class early or take it easy and spend more time on the subject. If you are doing well in Algebra I you might find some materials from Algebra III to be useful and do some advanced study to prepare for a future class.

All is not black and white but the principle of moving from a lower level to a higher one definitely takes a number of steps.

 

Feb 4, 2015

Principles of Prediction

ImAHebrew wrote:

Just exactly what is FULFILLMENT, and the Spiritual Principle behind it?

When I began reading his post I though he was talking about personal fulfillment or satisfaction, but as I read on I realized he was talking about fulfillment of prophecy, quite a different matter.

The fulfillment of prophecy is not a principle in itself but several principles are involved that can make it happen.

First, I need to make a clarifying point about prophecy itself and that is this. It is a mistake to think that any being, whether it be man, angel or God knows every detail about the future.

Here is a previous statement I made on the matter:

Many believe that God knows every single thing that will ever happen. Supposedly a thousand years ago God knew I would be writing this very sentence I am finishing now. He not only knew I’d be scratching my nose right now, but He knew who I would marry and the exact number of calories I would consume today.

The trouble is that the only way that God could know such things is if everything were predetermined and we had no free will to change it.

For those who think that God knows every detail that will ever happen I would ask why He would even want to know.

Does it not make much more sense to see that God knows his plan and what the end will be, but is unconcerned about the minutia.

When Leonardo DaVinci envisioned the Mona Lisa he undoubtedly had an idea of how he wanted the finished product to look. There was no way he could have predicted each brush stroke as the work progressed. Yet he had free will to make whatever strokes he wanted or any mistakes that happened along the way.

Even so, it is with God, and man who is in the image of God. We can plan the future but wouldn’t want to know all the details about it, even if such a thing were possible.

LINK

If we want to understand how the mind of God works all we need do is examine how the mind of man works. Why? Because we are created in the image of God.

When we create, as did DaVinci, we make a plan and know the end from the beginning, but do not know what all the happenings will be in between.

The same principle applies with higher lives. They make a plan and have a vision of how it will turn out, but do not know all the details that will unfold and neither do they want or need to know.

Many see the scriptures as a flawless guide to the future. The truth is that the words are a good source of meditation and contemplation and some glimpses of the future can be had from them, but in most cases specific predictions gleamed from them are far off the mark.

For instance, hundreds of sincere people have predicted either the end of the world or the coming of Christ over the past 2000 years and all have been wrong.

Those who are impressed with predictions that have come true always have to cite past events that seem to correlate, but rarely can find a prediction someone made from reading the Bible that came true.

The Bible Code has this same problem. Data can be found that seem to correlate past events to code in the Bible, but they can’t seem to use it to predict future happenings.

The writings of Nostradamus offer the same problem. Almost every major event, including the fall of the Twin Towers, is found in there after they occur, but no one can use his writings to consistently predict future events before they occur.

Of course, a stopped clock is right twice a day so some may come close once in a while.

That said, there are times when the future can be accurately forecast. We therefore, ask, what are the principles that will make this happen?

Here they are:

(1) Decision

If an intelligent being decides that he is going to make a thing happen that is within his power to achieve then he can successfully predict the event. For instance, if I decide to get up at 8 AM and set the alarm for that time then I can fulfill my prediction and make it happen. If I decide to build a house and have the money to finish it then I can also make that happen also.

The more evolved the life the more power at his disposal and the greater will be his range to control future events and make predictions about them.

Using this power he does not know the future because of psychism, but because he controls it.

(2) Receiving from Higher Intelligence.

We as humans are limited in our control over future happenings, but greater lives than ourselves have more power and foresight. If Higher Lives share with us some details of a planned future event then we can know some details with accuracy.

(3) Cycles

They say that history repeats itself. The repetition is never exact but the principle of cycles is always at play and by studying them one can often see the general direction we are headed.

(4) Common Sense and Reason

By studying trends and all the information at hand about them a savvy character can often predict what is coming. This is not an exact science, but is helpful. Investors spend untold amounts of time studying the stock market trends, commodities, real estate and other items. The wise ones can beat the law of averages, but none can predict exactly what will happen in the markets.

If a seeker wants guidance as to future events it is best to stay away from black and white interpretation of prophecy, as I have rarely seen such an approach bear fruit. Contemplate all the facts of the matter at your disposal and listen to the inner voice. When you choose the correct path it will just feel right.

 

Feb 6, 2015

JJ Quotes:

“Love is very closely associated with dark, but is the highest correspondence of the female polarity just as divine light is the highest correspondence to the male polarity.”

“When a light is turned on in the darkness, the darkness is no more. Darkness cannot extinguish light, but light can cause darkness to immediately disappear.”

Blayne

I think I understand what you are saying, however correct me if I am wrong. You are looking at light and dark more as positive and negative? I point this out because Love associated with the dark kind of rubs me the wrong way. I know that is because the more general consensus of dark being associated with being bad or the left hand path etc.

Actually those are two quotes written several years apart. The first is from archive #1258 written in 2001 and the second #318 from 1999. The first, as it reads, could cause one to be a little perplexed. I didn’t remember writing it and when I read it again I had to digest it to recall where I was coming from. I’ll post the original context at the end of this post to make it available.

The point is that the true duality of light and dark is different than commonly understood. Dark as is generally understood is a negative thing whereas true dark is the opposite of light and works with it to make creation possible. Light is outgoing, radiant and easy to see. The qualities of love are hidden in darkness for most people and cannot be seen but must be sensed, felt and magnetically pulled toward. The aspect of light functions in the visible world whereas love comes from the invisible and is esoterically dark to us.

Finally when the disciple balances the light and love within him he becomes a co-creator with God and his words and works are seen and felt as a blending of light and love.

“the Sun of righteousness (shall) arise with healing in his wings…” Mal 4:2

Except from post # 1258

Actually Dark appears to be the opposite of Light, but because of distortions in this physical world Dark is not a true opposite.

For instance, you can shine a Light and dispel Darkness, but you cannot shine “Dark” and dispel Light.

You can dispel hate with love, but you cannot eliminate love through hate.

Light is that which reveals (or that which is visible) and Dark is that which hides. Reality can exist in Light or Dark in the seen or unseen. Light in its highest essence is the radiation which is seen whereas its true opposite Love is not visible, but lies hid in the “esoteric dark” of life. Only by descending into the darkest depths can the fullness of Love become known.

Note what was written of Christ:

“Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.” (Eph 4:9-10)

Christ had to descend below all things so he could rise above all things and manifest the invisible love of God to us.

Love therefore is very closely associated with Dark, but is the highest correspondence of the female polarity just as Divine Light is the highest correspondence to the male polarity.

All these polarities are opposites in the general sense of the word. All these opposites work in partnership with the Divine Midway Point. Without opposition there is no creation, nothing “to act or to be acted upon.”

To say opposition is not the same as saying conflict. Conflict is the lowest correspondence of opposition, but creation is the highest. It just happens to be that conflict is sometimes an ingredient of creation. The higher correspondence of conflict is cooperation.

Opposites in conflict produce destruction and reorganization.

Opposites in cooperation produce creation and take us toward the dominating good.

Example: Male and female in cooperation create new life — a child — a product of Light and Love to fulfill Divine Purpose.

 

Aligning the Centers

Allan:

In the majority of the Eastern paths there is an attempt to suppress the lower centers, in order to focus on the upper centers — and this does permit the disciple to gaze at the Light of the Soul in meditation.

JJ

I’m sure there are some that may fit this description just as there are Christian teachers who seek to suppress the energies of the lower centers creating the same effect. However, this is not what the Bailey writings teach and neither is I what I teach.

All the centers are divine and in the perfected man they will all be properly tuned and vibrating in perfect harmony.

The problem is that the average person misuses the energies of the lower centers and these must be set on the right course through higher mind and will.

We agree with you about the importance of mind as mind is the essential link between heaven and earth.

DK though Alice A. Bailey said that the plane of the mind is where the masters can be found – as well as the Higher Self up to the even the Solar Logos.

Copyright by J J Dewey

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Keys Writings 2014, Part 25

This entry is part 29 of 33 in the series 2014

Oct 13, 2014

About Time

Here are some comments on time from my book The Molecular Relationship:

There was a beginning to time, but no beginning to God for God created time from a point that knows not time. … Because spiritual creation was produced outside of time and space it is eternal and all embryonic lives are eternal. From our point of view all creation has always been and will always be. The word creation is not an accurate word to describe spiritual manifestation because the word implies a beginning and an end. Since the origin of all creation exists outside of time and space there is no beginning and end to these things.

All there is existed and still exists within this Point of Life, for It dwells in Eternity, or the Eternal Now, for all things are present before It. There is no past or future for the Life, but only Now. It sees beginnings and endings as Now, just as we can see the beginning and end to a line we draw. We can see the whole line with its millions of possible sections in one glance.

Light and Love and Purpose exist for eternity beyond time in the Eternal Now.

If we substitute a picture for this Eternal Now we can visualize timeless creation. Assuming the left side of a picture is the beginning and the right side the end, we can see the beginning and end with one glance; so does the Life see all things in creation – past, present, and future – all at one glance and knows the end from the beginning. It, however, sees time and space constantly changing to fit that end, but even the changes between beginning and end are, before It’s eyes, seen as Now.

The Life is like a creative artist with one great paintbrush in Its hand, and with that paintbrush all that is, is made manifest. The hand which holds the paintbrush is that energy we call Purpose. Without Purpose, there would be no creation, for Purpose is behind all there is. It is the motivating Power of God.

Here are some additional thoughts from the archives:

It is an interesting thought, is it not, that we never really register an event the instant it occurs. It takes a sixtieth of a second to perceive it and a heartbeat to register it.

What is consciousness as we understand it in this reality? It is created by focusing our attention on quantums of time and space passing by our perceptions. These quantums are the result of decisions made somewhere.

Seeing the present would be the same thing as making time stand still. All of our perceptions as we understand perception are dependent on time and space. Thus if we were able to see the real present, the universe as we know it would disappear. All form in the universe is created by vibration. If we were to see the real present we would perceive no vibration; therefore, we would perceive no form; thus we would perceive no thing.

If we therefore could exist in the Eternal Now where there is no time, space, consciousness or form, what have we? We have the higher octave of consciousness.

https://freeread.com/archives/276.html

Time is different in the various worlds of vibration, but maintain that it does not exist when Purpose is found, because there is no vibration to cause time or beginning or end. There is only “Eternal Now”.

https://freeread.com/archives/4238.html

Speaking of that, I’ve been contemplating somewhat about time. We hear a lot of teaching about how there is an eternal now and everything is happening at once. I don’t think it’s quite happening that way. Things do happen in sequential periods of time but the eternal now is not where everything is happening at once, so to speak; instead there is a place that is beyond time. When you die and go into the higher worlds, time is not measured the way it is here. But when you’re reborn, time has actually passed so it’s not like everything is happening at once.

When we go to the higher worlds we go to places where time isn’t measured the way it is here. Yet time is still passing here even when we’re in the higher worlds. When we come back down to the lower worlds time has passed. It’s a popular teaching to teach that everything is happening at once. I don’t believe that’s exactly the way it’s transpiring. It’s just the fact that time is not measured in the higher worlds. It’s like you’re in a state of consciousness where there is no time. So you go out of time then back into time rather than into a place where everything is happening at one time. Yet there is also a way to step back and look at the canvas of eternity where we can see the past and the future unfolding yet these are like projections instead of the actual unfoldment. We come down here on the earth and here upon the earth we go through the actual unfoldment of time.

https://freeread.com/archives/1734.html

I could give more but will finish with a quote from my book The Lost Key of the Buddha. This starts out with me guiding Elizabeth in an attempt to find some answers.

She was quiet for about two minutes. I was just about to break the silence when she spoke. “Someone is here with me. A presence is here. It seems familiar, very familiar.”

“What do you sense from it?”

“It wants to help, like it’s a guardian angel or something.”

“Can you communicate with it?”

“I think so, but I can’t put it in words right now.”

“Try to ask it how you are supposed to talk to it?”

She was silent again for a few long seconds, then stated, “You are to call it forth.”

I paused a moment, not being exactly sure what to do, so I gave it my best shot. I tried to concentrate on what I thought was the presence and said, “Who are you?”

Suddenly, Elizabeth’s body went limp. Just as I became a little nervous she sat up straight again and a whisper came out of her mouth. “I am Aluma-EL.”

“What happened to Elizabeth?”

“I am Elizabeth.”

“But you don’t sound like Elizabeth and you say you are Aluma-EL. Who is Aluma-EL?”

“Elizabeth and Aluma-EL are one,” she whispered.

“Then why do you call yourself Aluma-EL?”

“I am Elizabeth many of your years from now.”

“Are you saying you are from the future?”

“Your future, yes.”

“How far in the future are you?”

“Many years, many lifetimes. We are one with the formless worlds and time is not as you know it.”

“But you are still Elizabeth?”

“Yes. But I cannot explain all because I am now a part of a We, a unity, and you are with me, Joseph.

“And you are Elizabeth or some composite in the future? In other words her future self?”

“I am a part of a unity but the part that was Elizabeth still is as Aluma-El.

Wow! I thought to myself. If I have found a time traveler this is about as fantastic as meeting John. I thought that I should test out this entity as much as possible. Who knows, it could be a Dark Brother or something in disguise.

“I’ve been in the presence of channeled entities before. How do I know you aren’t just a tricky spirit from the spirit world, or worse? How do I know you are not a Dark Brother?”

“A disciple such as you can feel the presence of a Dark Brother. Do you feel any dark presence?”

I had to admit to myself that I did not, but maybe I did not know all their tricks yet. “OK. I feel no negative presence, but you could be masking your true self somehow.”

“Then ask Elizabeth how she feels.”

“How do I do that?”

“How do you usually do it?”

I took that to mean that I should just speak to her. I called her name, “Elizabeth. Elizabeth.”

Her body went still for a moment and then she spoke in her regular voice. “Yes. I am here.”

“How do you feel?”

“Fine. Tired, but very peaceful.”

“Do you realize that I have just been speaking to someone who claims to be your future self?”

“I’m not sure, but that would explain why the presence seems so familiar. It’s like it is a part of me.”

“Do you think we can trust it to speak through you?”

“Yes. You need to call it forth again,” she said as she closed her eyes again.

Since I could sense no evidence of negativity or the Dark Brothers, I called her future self by name, “Aluma-EL!”

“I am here,” was whispered.

“Why are you here?”

“This was one of my most important lifetimes,” the voice said. “I am nurturing and guiding this childlike life of mine so she will become as I am now becoming. I am also putting attention on this life. It is sweet unto me.”

“You say you are guiding her. Does your guidance in the past change the future? What if she had given in to Philo? Would you not be as you are now?”

“From where we are, all lives and all things in time are before us in consciousness. This is why I can put attention on any past life I desire. If I had chosen the dark path as Elizabeth, I would still be where I am now. From your point of view it would have taken a much longer time period for me to arrive here, but from our point of view there is a part of Elizabeth that never left. This eternal part will wait for recovery from any setback for the union of souls. In the end, we all have the same destiny, but each has a different journey, and some take longer in time to learn lessons than others.”

“Are you saying that in the end, choosing good or evil makes no difference?”

“Your choices make a good deal of difference in worlds governed by space and time, and even continue to make a difference in the eternal worlds.”

“How could that be true if you say we all wind up in the same place?”

“Because in this world all the past is here before us as NOW. If Elizabeth had chosen the dark path she would have gone into such illusion that I would not want to put attention on such an unreal life. As it is, she is a joy to reflect upon. Her growth and reflection upon the Spirit brings a sense of eternal joy to me. Even though I have become and am still becoming so you hardly recognize me, this little life of becoming as Elizabeth made a great difference in the world of time. Have you heard a good story you like to reflect upon? It is a little like that, but not exactly.”

I was beginning to have a little confidence that this person was really from the future as I said, “If you are who you say you are then I have a million questions for you.”

“There is not time for that now,” said Aluma-EL. “My vibration is too high for Elizabeth to hold for long. You must tell me what you want.”

I noted the use of the word ‘is’ even though Elizabeth was past tense to Aluma-EL from our point of view. “When Elizabeth died she had some fascinating experiences but only has a sketchy memory. Is there anything you can do to bring them back?”

“Joseph…Joseph…Don’t you realize that nothing is ever lost? The entire event is before me even now, just as you are.”

“So if you see everything that will happen in Elizabeth’s life, is the future set then? Could you tell me all the decisions she will make, how long she will live and so on?”

“When I put attention on this point in time and space I am then here in your reality and absorbing it. When I am here I can give you the general direction of your future from the overall picture that I see when in the NOW, but cannot predict it exactly because when I am here I am seeing what is, not what will be.”

I found this quite fascinating and asked, “So can you move ahead to what will be and then come back and tell us?”

“I can move ahead, as you say, but when I come back to you I am then here and not there. In our world we do not have memory as you do because we do not need it, all things are before our eyes in the NOW. If all things are before me, then what do I need to remember?”

“So can’t you just tell us about some coming future events?”

“I am not seeing all things now because I have focussed attention and I am here; the only memory available to me is that which lies with Elizabeth.”

“So right now you cannot tell the future any better than Elizabeth can?”

“I can tell the future better than she only because I am closer to the soul of things, but I cannot be infallible. It is as it should be. No one in the universe is allowed to destroy the power of decision. DECISION will always BE.”

This should make it obvious that my views on time go way beyond the orthodox linear view.

***

Here’s the way I plan on dealing with Allan.

If he answers a post directed to him such as the one from One2 today then I will let it through. I think he should be able to respond to comments directed to him. If you want to read fewer posts from him then the best thing to do is ignore him.

If he makes a post repeating himself just attempting to convert us, illustrate our sinfulness, or something that may be a distraction then I will reject it. I have already rejected a number on these lines.

If he makes a post on topic, or saying something new or different that would seem to be of interest to the group then I will accept them.

If he makes a post that seems to be in a gray area then I will put it on the website I created for him so those who are interested can read it.

I think the cycle of Allan here is drawing to a close and he realizes that he is not preaching to the choir here. I certainly realized that about his group.

Keith points out that they are on the mystic path and we are on the occult one. This is mostly true but it doesn’t explain the total lack of cooperation. Keith and some others here are mystics and loved by us all. There is a mindset over there that certain authors are to be rejected and Allan’s views of the soul have to be totally accepted before anyone can be given credibility or worthy of dialog as fellow seekers.

***

Ra:

“your last sentence is totally untrue.”

JJ

Sounds like you were referring to this sentence.

There is a mindset over there that certain authors are to be rejected and Allan’s views of the soul have to be totally accepted before anyone can be given credibility or worthy of dialog as fellow seekers.

This is totally true, but you seem to think I am talking about myself and was not. Allan and others have, time and time again, condemned eastern writings, particularly Theosophy, H. P. Blavatsky and Alice A. Bailey as being at odds with the truth and not to be accepted. Then it is implied that the Keys members are in the same category. He even went so far as to say his Higher Self commanded him to not read them. I haven’t seen anyone, including yourself disagree with this notion.

I wasn’t even talking about my writings though most of what I have posted has received negative comments there largely because they are misunderstood. Beth and Flo seem to like some of the things I have written and can’t seem to figure out how such a bad character as I could write something that sounds good.

Ra:

On TheWay forum, I don’t think anyone has ever said you were down right wrong…

JJ

This doesn’t have anything to do with my post, but Allan and others have often said I was wrong. Allan just finished saying I was wrong about time, presenting myself as a prophet, giving value to the Bailey writings, wrong on the Higher Self etc. He makes post after post trying to correct me. All true believers over there seem to agree.

Ra:

In fact people gave many compliments to your writing, your book.

JJ

Really? I think Beth and Flo said they liked the parable I posed but I don’t recall much else posted.

Ra:

name one instance where I put down any of your works — suggested that it was all wrong, BS, mumbo jumbo, darkness

JJ

Why are you asking this? I never said you did. You have been civil on this list and this is why you are not moderated.

You are replying from a point of misunderstanding, as I said nothing about my writings in that post, but you have joined in an attempt to discredit Alice A. Bailey as racist. So, what do you think of her writings overall? Should we stay away from them and give them little or no credibility as Allan believes?

My point was that if the inner core have an automatic rejection of teachings we hold in high esteem then there is not much chance of productive sharing, just like it would be difficult for your group to share with Baptists.

Oct 14, 2014

Examining Thomas, Part 20

It is amazing how many distractions we have to take us away from actually learning something. Let us move ahead with discussing the Gospel of Thomas. We invite all to put on their thinking caps and see what you can come up with.

Here are the next two verses:

105 Jesus said, “Whoever knows the father and the mother will be called the child of a whore.”

108 Jesus said, “Whoever drinks from my mouth will become like me; I myself shall become that person, and the hidden things will be revealed to him.

Let us start with #105, which is an odd one

The group headed the right direction on this difficult one, but Jenny encapsulated the answer extremely well. There is not much I can do to improve upon it.

When one is rebirthed by Father/Mother and has a new life in them, others (church leaders) who are unfamiliar with this process and these higher experiences will look upon the individual as deceived. They will go so far as to cast then out of their midst and paint a scarlet letter A upon their chest for all to stone and mock at. (Announce their wayward ways to all the congregations they belong to). They believe the rebirthed one has gone outside the “marriage” relationship with them (any outward authority or beast) and formed a new relationship (oneness) with another being (their Christ and Father/Mother). They believe the new life you have must be from the parents of evil because it is so contrary to their beliefs and understandings.

Now let us look at the next verse:

108 Jesus said, “Whoever drinks from my mouth will become like me; I myself shall become that person, and the hidden things will be revealed to him.”

Here are some comments put forward:

Sharon says:

By following his example and living a spiritual life leading to knowledge/ wisdom and then giving out this knowledge to others what has been learnt more will be revealed to you.

Ruth:

Whoever swallows the Truth will become the Truth, and Jesus is Truth, so the two are swallowed up as one spirit in Truth.

Keith:

All members of the kingdom know all other members intimately. One is not just a part of the whole, but is the whole. Every member is equally the whole.

Good comments. Now let us take a closer look. Notice the odd phrase: “Whoever drinks from my mouth…”

How in the world do you drink from some else’s’ mouth? The only way you can do this is if you are that person. Is this a way of telling us that we will be like Christ or even one with him? Yes, and this is not an isolated scripture.

I John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Phil 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

I Cor 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

I Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

And finally:

John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they (disciples) may be one, as we are.

When we tap into the Oneness Principle we share the mind of Christ and many others so when they drink we drink also. We then become that person through the one spirit and knowledge from many minds can distil upon our souls.

Here is the next mind twister:

111 Jesus said, “The heavens and the earth will roll up in your presence, and whoever is living from the living one will not see death.” Does not Jesus say, “Those who have found themselves, of them the world is not worthy”?

Here is a possible interpretation that corresponds:

The earth represents the physical reality and the heavens represent the higher worlds of form, the emotional and mental. When one ascends to the formless worlds heaven and earth, or the form side, rolls up and the pilgrim enters a place of deathlessness. The world is not worthy and does not relate to one who has discovered this consciousness.

Here’s the next verse for consideration:

113 His disciples said to him, “When will the kingdom come?” “It will not come by watching for it. It will not be said, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Rather, the Father’s kingdom is spread out upon the earth, and people don’t see it.”

Notice that he doesn’t say the kingdom is within this time but that it “is spread out upon the earth…” What and where is this kingdom that is spread out all over the place and why do we not see it?

 

Oct 15, 2014

A Controversial Ending

The scripture:

113 His disciples said to him, “When will the kingdom come?” “It will not come by watching for it. It will not be said, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Rather, the Father’s kingdom is spread out upon the earth, and people don’t see it.”

Notice that he doesn’t say the kingdom is within this time but that it “is spread out upon the earth…” What and where is this kingdom that is spread out all over the place and why do we not see it?

Dan equates the kingdom with liberty which is available for all if we would just seek it. It is certainly true that there could be no kingdom of God without maximum liberty.

Ruth sees it as potentially existing within all humans who are spread out upon the earth.

It is interesting that there are two divisions among humanity as to where the kingdom resides. Many belonging to orthodox religions insist that it is in some physical location – that it is either in some heavenly realm of form or will physically manifest here on earth when the Messiah comes.

Others of New Age and Eastern thought see it is residing within us and many quote the scripture from Luke which reads:

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:20-21

So which view is true?

The answer is both of them and to this Thomas agrees. Remember he wrote in verse three:

“the Father’s kingdom is within you and it is outside you.”

The Kingdom of God is not just in a few people but all of us. All we have to do is look within to find it. And these people walking around with the kingdom within are “spread out upon the earth” as Thomas writes.

If the kingdom is then also “outside” us where do we look?

Two places.

(1) When you look at your brother or sister, even though he may be irritating, and see the Christ within him, you have found the kingdom.

(2) Then there is the kingdom that prophets and seers have dreamed of for thousands of years. When a gathering takes place of those who have discovered the kingdom of God within we shall have a manifestation of the kingdom of God without, revealing itself through a group of souls who see each other as true brothers.

Now we come to the final and most controversial verse. Many who like the Gospel of Thomas but do not like this verse claim it was not spoken by Jesus, but added later by some idiot. Other dispassionate scholars say there is no reason to believe it was not a part of the original text. Anyway, here it is:

114 Simon Peter said to them, “Make Mary leave us, for females don’t deserve life.” Jesus said, “Look, I will guide her to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who makes herself male will enter the kingdom of Heaven.”

So what do you think? Is there a problem with females entering the kingdom of heaven or was this writer just a crazy guy?

***

Keith writes:

I have a question. Why did you add the name EL at the end of Aluma-EL?

EL is the oldest name for god we have. Depending upon the legend or myth in which EL is depicted, one can come to the conclusion EL is a real pain in mankind’s butt.

JJ

It’s strange I posted an answer earlier and it didn’t show up so here it goes again.

Since then Ruth has posted some quotes from the archives that elaborates somewhat.

EL is a common Old Testament Hebrew word for God which is also translated as “mighty” or “strong.” It is usually used in a positive light there unless the writer is referring o false gods.

Here are three verses where it is used.

 

Ex 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, (EL) and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Num 23:22 God (EL) brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

Psa 82:1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; (EL) he judgeth among the gods (ELOHYM).

Which writings were you thinking of that portrayed EL in a negative light?

It is interesting that Superman’s name on his home planet was Kal-El and his father was named Jor-El.

 

Oct 16, 2014

Wrapping up Thomas

Today we will look at the last and most controversial verse in the Gospel of Thomas:

114 Simon Peter said to them, “Make Mary leave us, for females don’t deserve life.” Jesus said, “Look, I will guide her to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who makes herself male will enter the kingdom of Heaven.”

First let me say that the group is indeed on the right track in rejecting the literal rendering of this and seeing that if there is any truth here it is in relation to male and female energies.

That said, the wording of this is horrible no matter what high principles the writer was trying to convey. People back at the time of Jesus did not understand positive and negative energies and just about all would have taken it the way it was written. No wonder this gospel did not get placed in the Canon. It was scriptures and thinking like this that caused the suppression of women over the centuries.

The general idea in most esoteric teachings is that we need to balance the male and female energies within us, not that the female needs to turn into a male. But what many do not understand about balancing the energies is this. Balancing does not mean the negating, or the obliteration of either energy, but putting both energies in their proper place.

It would be like placing weights on the two ends of a scale. When one weight balances the other off it is not negated. It is still there applying its power, but is merely in balance, and, if removed from its opposite balancing weight, would reveal the full effects of the pull of gravity.

So why does he say the female must become male? If the writer knew what he was talking about, and not merely being prejudiced, he would have meant that being in the receiving mode (female) is not enough. One must also send out that which he has received.

What is unsaid here is that the male must also become the female. Many there are who try and send from a vacuum, but need to fill their minds with useful knowledge before they can become a real sender. Such a person must enter the receiving (female) mode and fill up his cup so he will have something useful to share.

That finishes off the Gospel of Thomas which some consider to be more accurate than the Gospels of the Bible.

Questions:

What do you think of the quality of this gospel? Do you think it should have been included in the Canon?

Did you learn anything from the Gospel itself? Did you find hidden knowledge that will lead you to overcoming death? Do you think the writings are allegorical?

 

Oct 17, 2014

Comments on Thomas

Questions:

What do you think of the quality of this gospel (Of Thomas)? Do you think it should have been included in the Canon?

Did you learn anything from the Gospel itself? Did you find hidden knowledge that will lead you to overcoming death? Do you think the writings are allegorical?

Thanks for your comments on the Gospel of Thomas. Here is my take.

Overall I am not very impressed with it and can see why it was not included in the canon. We have covered all the material that is not in the New Testament and nothing new seems to be revealed. Some of it stimulated some thinking and interpretive ideas, but Thomas itself does not contain anything that the average seeker already does not know.

If anyone has received some significant light revealing hidden knowledge from Thomas I would like to hear the specifics. I think there was some light in the interpretations given that resulted from using Thomas as seed thoughts.

It does make the claim that if we understand it that we would overcome death, and I suppose one could say that one of the keys to overcoming death is balancing the male and female energies which it hints at, but so do many other writings. The Bailey writings gives us many more details and inspiration on final liberation. Here is the most profound teaching I have read on the subject:

“When communion is established, words are forthwith used, and mantric law assumes its rightful place, provided that the One communicates the words and the three remain in silence.

“When response is recognized as emanating from the three, the One, in silence, listens. The roles are changed. A three-fold word issues from out the triple form. A turning round is caused. The eyes no longer look upon the world of form; they turn within, focus the light, and see, revealed, an inner world of being. With this the Manas stills itself, for eyes and mind are one.

“The heart no longer beats in tune with low desire, nor wastes its love upon the things that group and hide the Real. It beats with rhythm new; it pours its love upon the Real, and Maya fades away. Kama and heart are close allied; love and desire form one wholeone seen at night, the other in the light of day….

“When fire and love and mind submit themselves, sounding the three-fold word, there comes response.

“The One enunciates a word which drowns the triple sound. God speaks. A quivering and a shaking in the form responds. The new stands forth, a man remade; the form rebuilt; the house prepared. The fires unite, and great the light that shines: the three merge with the One and through the blaze a four-fold fire is seen.”

Treatise on White Magic, Page 75-76

A writing I find to be helpful is one that presents a concept in such a way that it brings a flashing forth of the intuition. I have had this experience from reading many of the scriptures in the regular Bible. Though I have found some o the non biblical scriptures interesting, I have not seen such power to stimulate the intuition.

I wouldn’t have recommended Thomas for the final canon, but neither would I discourage anyone from reading it. It may speak to some who like to read things in riddles. Different writings speak to different people and I would have been for a free flow of writings, even if many think they are ridiculous.

It is too bad that Allan didn’t weigh on in interpreting the Gospel of Thomas with us. This was one time he could be on topic and on a topic in which he professes interest and knowledge, yet instead he rambles on off topic.

In addition to distracting us here he distracts his own list by making many posts there criticizing you and me. Since I have joined his list there has not been much going on there except talking about us and not in a good way. Now he is criticizing us for not understanding the Gospel of Thomas yet doesn’t have the guts to give us a smidgen of evidence that his interpretation has any value whatsoever. We are just supposed to take it on faith that he knows what Thomas means when he quotes it to prove his point.

He makes the extremely flimsy excuse that giving out his interpretation would be taking away from our own experience of discovering the true answer. What a laugh. He doesn’t want to force his interpretation of Thomas on us but wants to elbow in here and order us to be vegetarians and follow his supposed Higher Self or be damned to extinction.

Oh, well, it takes all kinds.

***

The Seeker and Scriptures

Greg:

When I had an opportunity to sit with you at lunch at the gathering we got onto the discussion about the Book of Mormon, and the lack of DNA evidence. If I understood you correctly, you indicated that portions if not all of the book’s writings may have taken place on a different planet. I at one time loved the scriptures. In my pendulum swing reaction, at this time I do not trust them, I have not studied them much over the last year. I have mostly sought to develop that relationship between me and God. No intermediary. How important are they to my new life. You mostly used the words of John in the immortal. Can you give some direction here?

JJ

The scriptures and the powerful authority behind them benefit the beginning seeker because they plant powerful seed thoughts in the mind. Many of these seed thoughts, through contemplation, lead to greater light and truth. If not for the strong authority beginners would not take the words seriously to allow them percolate in their souls.

Then when the seeker reaches a certain level he begins to look at the scriptures in the same light as all other writings. He finds he must run all things, no matter what the source, by his own soul.

As far as he Book of Mormon goes I have never received a witness that it was historically accurate. I do not recall saying the events happened on another planet but have said that all things in there have happened in some reality or place somewhere. That could be another planet or ancient time.

What I was told about the Book of Moron and all scriptures was to look for the true principles for there are many indicated in both the LDS scriptures and the Bible.

The thing for the seeker to avoid is the black and white attitude. Many who discover the scriptures are not perfect will often discount them from that point on. Instead he should consider the injunction in Revelations to the disciple:

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen…

Rev 2:4-5

Many seekers leave their first love when they discover higher knowledge, but the correct path is to keep the disciplines acquired under strong authority and apply them in your new state of freedom. Take good care of your body and mind and continue to plant powerful spiritual thoughts in your mind for continued contemplation.

When I was younger and thought the scriptures were the highest source of written truth I spent a lot of time studying them. But then when I graduated I spent most of my reading in other materials since I had taken in the basic truths from the Holy Writ.

I find more light in the Bailey writings than I do any scriptures, but studying them is like moving from simple math to trigonometry. Once the adjustment is made the reward is great. You want to read the books dictated by DK though rather than the ones Alice A. Bailey wrote herself. Treatise on White Magic is a good start.

***

The next main topic will be vegetarianism. We have covered quite a bit about diet in the early days but it looks like we need to explore spirituality and vegetarianism to quiet our critics who see us as being on a coarse physical path to sin and death. If eating lots of vegetables will cause me to go where they are in the next world I think I will double my portion of meat eating so I can go somewhere else – maybe where meat eaters, Jesus, Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, and H. P. Blavasky are.

 

Jesus you say? Even the Gospel of Thomas verifies that Jesus are meat. It says:

 

When you go into any region and walk about in the countryside, when people take you in, eat what they serve you and heal the sick among them. After all, what goes into your mouth will not defile you; rather, it’s what comes out of your mouth that will defile you.”

 

Jesus is quoted here as commanding the disciples to eat what people serve them and obviously they would have been offered meat and fish, as well as wine on a regular basis.

Questions:

(1) What are the benefits of a vegetarian diet?

(2) Is a vegetarian diet essential to be a spiritual person?

(3) Will the meat eater experience bad karma?

(4) Are you or have you been a vegetarian?

Oct 18, 2014

The Bailey Writings and Vegetarianism

It is fairly amusing that Allan says he was told by his higher self that the Bailey Books are not to be trusted and that he shouldn’t read them, but is now preaching to us out of them. Unfortunately he has only read bits and pieces so he is not seeing them from a viewpoint of wholeness.

Here is the main text that he is using in an attempt to make us stop eating meat.

“Those who seek to read the akashic records, or who endeavour to work upon the astral plane with impunity, and there to study the reflection of events in the astral light correctly, have perforce and without exception to be strict vegetarians”

Esoteric Psychology I, Pg 241

If you superficially read this and other quotes from the Bailey material you may be inclined to think that vegetarianism is a commandment of some kind for all. But when you read all the material you realize that DK speaking through Alice A. Bailey often put emphasis on different approaches at different times for different purposes.

In this case, he was talking about those who wish to master the astral plane as well as read the Akashic records. To master the astral plane one has to master the emotions and if one has not yet accomplished this then a strict vegetarian diet is usually essential for two reasons.

(1) Emotional control takes a lot of self control and adhering to a strict vegetarian diet requires significant self control.

(2) Eating meat stimulates the desire nature and makes control of the emotions very difficult for the disciple at this stage. Eating live foods only will quiet the emotions, make them easier to control and aid with the inner work.

So, how do you know if you are at the stage where a vegetarian diet is necessary?

Answer, you check with your soul. If you are at this stage you will normally receive a strong impression that you are supposed to become a vegetarian.

If you are not sure what your soul is saying then ask yourself these questions?

Am I a seeker who desires to serve the human race?

Do I need greater control over my passions and emotions?

If the answer is yes to both of these questions then a vegetarian diet should be considered.

Now let us get back to the Bailey writings. Here are some quotes that give a more complete picture of the teachings.

No set diet could be entirely correct for a group of people on differing rays, of different temperaments and equipment and at various ages. Individuals are every one of them unlike on some points; they require to find out what it is that they, as individuals, need, in what manner their bodily requirements can best be met, and what type of substances can enable them best to serve. Each person must find this out for himself. There is no group diet. No enforced elimination of meat is required or strict vegetarian diet compulsory. There are phases of life and sometimes entire incarnations wherein an aspirant subjects himself to a discipline of food, just as there may be other phases or an entire life wherein a strict celibacy is temporarily enforced. But there are other life cycles and incarnations wherein the disciple’s interest and his service lie in other directions. There are later incarnations where there is no constant thought about the physical body, and a man works free of the diet complex and lives without concentration upon the form life, eating that food which is available and upon which he can best sustain his life efficiency. In preparation for certain initiations, a vegetable diet has in the past been deemed essential. But this may not always be the case, and many disciples prematurely regard themselves as in preparation for initiation.

Esoteric Healing – Page 334

Here is another:

The moment, however, that an inner orientation towards the world of higher values takes place, then the etheric or vital force is brought into conflict with the lowest aspect of man, the dense physical body, and the battle of the lower pairs of opposites takes place.

It is interesting to note that it is during this stage that the emphasis is laid upon physical disciplines, upon such controlling factors as total abstinence, celibacy, and vegetarianism, and upon physical hygiene and physical exercises. Through these, the control of the life of matter, the lowest expression of the third aspect of divinity can be offset, and the man set free for the true battle of the pairs of opposites.

Esoteric Psychology Vol II: Pg 309

Finally, here is a quite in Alice A. Bailey’s own words from her autobiography:

I am convinced that there comes a phase in the life of all disciples when they must be vegetarians. In the same way, there must come a life in which a man or woman should be a celibate. This they must be in order to demonstrate that they have learned control of the physical nature. Once they have learned that control and once they can no longer be swayed by the appetites of the flesh, they can be married or not married, they can eat meat or not eat meat as seems best to them and as their karma may indicate or their circumstances dictate. Once that has been proven, the situation is altered. The physical disciplines are a phase of training and when the lesson is learnt they are no longer needed.

Unfinished Autobiography, Page 153

The bottom line is that each seeker must check with his own soul and if one finds the vegetation diet is good for him then he must resist he urge to preach to others about it because the meat eater may be following a different set of instructions than himself.

Many great souls were vegetarians as well as meat eaters and there are also corrupt ones in both categories. Hitler was a vegetarian, but it did not insure that he was on the right path.

His opposition, Churchill and FDR, both broke all the rules. They ate meat, drank a lot and smoked. Even so, I think most of us would much rather dine with FDR or Churchill than Hitler. It is also a plus that DK identifies FDR and Churchill as agents working for the Christ.

In the esoteric world Alice A. Bailey was a vegetarian her whole life, but Madame Blavatsky was not, yet Blavatsky was the higher evolved of the two.

Rudolf Steiner and Gurdjieff were two other initiates who were meat eaters.

The point to remember is one size or diet does not fit all. Live and let live. Mind your own business.

Next: The scriptures, Jesus and Meat

 

***

I approved Allan’s post to me today because I thought he was responding on topic, since my last post was dealing with one of his favorite subjects – vegetarianism. But no. Again, instead of replying on topic he rambles off on his usual mantras that he has repeated here endlessly. Forgive me for not reading his post more carefully.

It has been said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Yet what does he do? He comes here and says the same thing over and over apparently expecting something different each time.

The topic was vegetarianism and with his post to me (not counting his longer post to One2) he covered these subjects below.

(1) The Gospel of Thomas – something we wanted him to discuss when it was on topic, but we have now moved on.

(2) The scriptures are allegory – How many times have we heard that?

(3) Secret knowledge was conveyed in the scriptures

(4) Plato’s Cave – If I hear that one more time I think I’ll scream. He can’t write more than a couple paragraphs without bringing that up. Newsflash: We know what Plato’s Cave is.

(5) The Key of Knowledge

(6) The Law of Octaves

(7) The Tree of Life.

(8) Holographic reality

In addition to this he accuses me of the same things over and over. This was just from his post to me.

(1) I ignore his enlighten statements

(2) I am a fundamentalist with the scriptures. LOL – he’s the only guy that has accused me of this.

(3) He misrepresents how I see the scriptures saying that I see them all as literal history.

(4) He says I do not see the allegory in the scriptures, while he gives little evidence that he sees anything of value there. Just saying the word “allegory” does not demonstrate that he sees allegorical truth. I have asked him for samples of allegorical interpretation several times and he has refused to respond. Still waiting for he allegorical meaning in the quote from the Book of Numbers I have out.

(5) He accuses the group of being “spiritually flat-lined.” Hey, say what you want about me Allan, but don’t insult my friends.

(6) He accuses me again and again of starting with an attack when we only were objectively analyzing a point of doctrine. Nothing personal was involved. He says we were “totally rejecting what I write about the true reality of the scriptures.”

Not true and I have explained the truth to him a number of times but it keeps going over his head.

It looks like if Allan had his way we would be covering the same material over and over endlessly. This is why members here are so exasperated with his posts but this also goes over his head.

If that is what you want to do on your forum that is fine Allan, but after we cover a subject we then move on to a new one. Right now the subject is vegetarianism yet you want to me discuss the Law of Octaves, the Tree of Life and who knows what else?

This shotgun approach only leads to confusion and no good coverage of any subject. We are now on diet so please make any comments in this direction or if you just repeat yourself off topic, your posts may be sent to the outer darkness page.

 

Oct 19, 2014

Steiner, Gurdjieff and Mouravieff

Dan wants me to give my thoughts on Rudolf Steiner, Gurdjieff and Mouravieff.

First allow me to make a correction on Steiner. I said he was a meat eater, but apparently he was a vegetarian. I was recalling statement he made that “It is better to eat ham than to think ham.” That and the fact that he didn’t force feed diet ideas on his followers may indicate he might have ate some meat on the side. The fact that he was frail in his later years and died at age 64 indicates that he didn’t quite have the principles of good health down to a science.

One of his problems was that he got too close to his thoughtform and this drew from his physical strength.

I have just read bits and pieces if his writings, but do plan on checking them out in greater depth sooner or later. I have read a biography of him by Gary Lachman and came away with the sense that his prime motivation was to be in the service of his fellow men. That is certainly to his credit for this is certainly not always the case as many spiritual teachers are more motivated by ego and self.

I do not sense a lot of new ideas in his writings, but a different slant on numerous ideas that will appeal to a certain class of seekers. He initiated in several areas of life and helped many people.

Whereas Steiner was an initiate who followed the standard path of service, putting the good of humanity first, Gurdjieff took a different route. He was a one of a kind teacher who was strongly motivated by his own self interest, but still with an objective to assist others. He was kind of a cross between H.P. Blavatsky and Aleister Crowley.

I think his accomplishments were more in his methods than in the light of his teachings. His unorthodox approach stirred up a drive in his students that would not have been so affected by other teachers. He shocked them out of orthodoxy and made them think out of the box.

Ouspensky supported him for many years, but finally withdrew and became his own man. He owed Gurdjieff a lot because of the stimulation he provided.

As far as Mouravieff goes, I never heard of him until you mentioned him. It appears that he has attempted to synthesize the best of Gurdjieff and Christianity. I do not get a “must read” vibe on him but intend to check him out more thoroughly in the future.

It is important for seekers to leave no stone unturned in the search for truth, but in that process to be very selective where he spends his time. He cannot read every writer or learn from every teacher. Once one finds a source that can move him forward or add new knowledge he should give attention to such a source until he has absorbed all that is possible. Many seekers make the mistake a scattering their energies rather than focusing them. It is better to know a lot about a small amount of teachings that contain great light than a little about a lot of a wide variety of mediocre materials.

Oct 20, 2014

Too Close to the Thoughtform

A reader asked me what I meant by saying that Steiner suffered ill health because he was too close to his thoughtform.

The work of an initiate is a thoughtform created by him that is in the process of materializing on the physical plane. As it works itself into manifestation several dangers become apparent. The first danger is that not enough energy, focus and sustaining power will be available to vitalize it. If this does not happen then the thoughtform will be aborted.

If this step is successful and some type of permanent results begin to appear two more dangers manifest. The first is on the emotional level and the warming is given in rule eight of White Magic:

“Let the magician guard himself from drowning at the point where land and water meet.”

Water is a symbol of he emotions and as the work assumes a concrete manifestation the initiate is in danger of being destroyed by too strong of emotional involvement. This happened to Joseph Smith when he was told to go west or he would be killed, but was over come with emotion and ignored the directive and returned and was killed.

The next danger to the initiate is mentioned in Rule Fourteen which says:

“Danger from fire and flame menaces now, and dimly yet the rising smoke is seen. Let him again, after the cycle of peace, call on the solar Angel.”

The danger here is that as his creation develops the fire of life that he can get burned by it if he gets to close.

In the first stage he can be destroyed by being too close to his thoughtform by being downed in emotion and in he second he can get burned by being too close to his fellow workers.

Steiner came too close to his thoughtform by becoming too involved in the lives of his students. He escaped being drowned by emotion which have led to death or imprisonment by Hitler, but faced the fire from his group. This drained him of his energy and caused an early death. If he had lived longer he could have produced a much more complete creation that would have greater influence today.

Both HPB and Alice A. Bailey suffered somewhat by the fire of too much involvement and suffered ill health that took them earlier than could have been.

Just like the parent must not be a kid and try to be the child’s best friend, but keep some distance to keep the aura of the wise parent, even so the initiate must keep a certain amount of distance from his fellow workers. If he becomes their best friend he will often lose their respect and they will drain him of energy and his physical body will become devitalized.

***

The Scriptures, Jesus and Meat

So, what do Jesus and the scriptures say about eating meat? Do they approve or not?

Those who promote Jesus as a vegetarian say that He was a Nazarite or Essene who believed in a strict vegetarian diet. The trouble is that there is no hard evidence that Jesus subscribed to any of these orders. He was called Jesus of Nazareth, not because he was a Nazarene, but because he was from the town of Nazareth.

And even if he was familiar with one or more of the vegetarian sects this does not mean that he subscribed to all their doctrine. After all, we know for sure he was a Jew and familiar with all Jewish scriptures, but he was far from an orthodox believer.

The main book quoted that supports Jesus being a vegetarian is the Gospel of the Nazirenes. This was claimed to be translated by some mysterious means from a manuscript in Tibet. Unfortunately, this manuscript has never surfaced to be analyzed so it cannot be authenticated. It appears to be a compilation of early writings mixed with creative inserts from whoever created the first copy.

Indeed, parts of it can be traced to the earliest gospels writings, but other parts are questionable, especially some of the parts that insist that Jesus was a strict vegetarian.

Why?

Two reasons. (1) Some of the verses just sound off and (2) they contradict so many other writings.

While the Gospel of the Nazirenes, for which we have no manuscript, claims that Jesus was a strict vegetarian, the Gospel of Thomas, which many Jesus/vegetarians believe to a first century document, and for which there are manuscripts, tells us that Jesus was not a strict vegetarian. In verse 14 Thomas quotes Jesus as saying:

“…when people take you in, eat what they serve you and heal the sick among them. After all, what goes into your mouth will not defile you; rather, it’s what comes out of your mouth that will defile you.”

Jesus was often invited to dinner and since most people eat meat, this is obviously what he was often served. When he was served meat, did he eat it? If he was not a hypocrite then, yes he did.

Why?

The verse explains that:

“what goes into your mouth will not defile you; rather, it’s what comes out of your mouth that will defile you.”

So the Jesus in Thomas tells us that he is not that concerned about what you eat, as far as defilement goes, but is very concerned about the words you speak, or what goes out of your mouth.

Strict vegetarians will have a difficult time dismissing or ignoring this scripture because it is backed up a number different places in the New Testament, which uses a similar wording. Here are the words of Jesus.

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” Matt 15:11

Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies… Matt 15:17-20

There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: Mark 7:15

Some foods may be better than others, but Jesus makes it clear that there is “nothing from without,” including meat that will defile us.

Paul must have been familiar with the saying of Jesus quoted in Thomas as he virtually said the same thing indicating that this was pretty standard doctrine among early Christians:

If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. I Cor 10:27-31

Eating and drinking with friendly people is actually good for us as pointed out by Solomon:

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs17:22

Paul also says:

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.

Romans 14:1-3 NIV

Several times Paul correctly put a lot of emphasis on not judging others because of what they eat:

Col 2:16

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days.

Then he spoke in very strong language against the vegetarian fundamentalists who sought to forbid meat eating:

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared

with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of

them which believe and know the truth.

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. I Tim 4:1-5

Both vegetarian and reasonable meat diets have their advantages and both Paul and Jesus tell us that we shouldn’t be overly concerned about either one. Of much more concern is what comes out of our mouths.

Oct 21, 2014:

Some on this forum seem to be of the opinion that Jesus should not be called Jesus (or Yeshua) of Nazareth, as Allan calls him many times.

It is interesting that Allan gives great credibility to the Gospel of the Nazirenes. He says this on his web page:

Gospel of the Nazirenes — Gospel Of Light: What did the Gospels look like before being edited and re-written by the Church of Rome? What were the original beliefs of the first followers of Yeshua? You will be astonished when you read a surviving text of The Gospel of the Nazirenes which was hidden away from the corrupters of the Roman Church. Are you ready for a truly enlightening experience?

According to this gospel (which some believe to be the original) Nazareth (or Nazireth) did exist in the days of Jesus and it was the hometown of him and his brother James. Here are some quotes:

Chapter 2, Verse 1 And in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel appeared at a place near Galilee, referred to as Nazireth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

4:2 And Joseph with Mary also went up from Galilee, out of the place of Nazireth to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem (because they were of the house and lineage of David), to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, who was great with child.

5:21 And the Lord said,”Out of Egypt have I called my son, who shall be called the Nazirene.” And he arose and took the young child and his mother and came into the land of Israel. And they came and dwelt in the place called Nazireth, where dwelt Nazirites and Essenes; and he was called the Nazirene.

6:6 And he went down with them, and came to Nazireth, and was subject to their guidance. And he made wheels, and yokes, and tables also, with great skill. And Jesus increased in stature, and in favour with the Lord and man.

6:17 Then, being fulfilled, they (Jesus and James) returned to Nazireth to visit their parents. And for a time they taught in Jerusalem.

10:28 And Nathanael said to him, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazireth?” Philip said to him,”Come and see.”

13:1 And Jesus came to Nazireth where he had been brought up; and as was his custom, he went into the Temple on the sabbath day and stood up to read. And there was delivered to him the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah.

I don’t really have any dog in this fight. If I learned tomorrow that Jesus was not really from Nazareth it would be no big deal and fairly inconsequential.

Since Allan claims to remember his life as James perhaps he can tell us what the hometown of Jesus and James really was. After all, there had to be a literal, physical hometown in this reality. Obviously Jesus was not raised in he city of Allegory.

 

***

I don’t see any contradictions between what you have written, Ra, and my teachings on the Observer. You have just gone somewhat in a different direction.

The Principle of the Observer is a different animal than self observation as taught in the Yoga disciplines. Placing yourself in the state of the observer has nothing to do with developing the ability to focus on certain parts of your body or bodily functions. It also will not work in negating physical pain. Physical pain can be negated with detachment through a trance state. In the trance state you are the opposite of being he observer. You are observing to a bare minimum.

Instead of reducing consciousness, as in a trance, the observer increases consciousness. This state can help to handle physical pain but it can greatly reduce emotional pain because it puts it in its right place.

The observer sees his three bodies of form, the physical, emotional and mental, as vehicles that he uses, not as something he identifies with as being the real part of himself.

This helps one to handle physical pain, but not negate it.

For example for most of my life I have not used any anesthetic for dental work including root canals, crowns and fillings.. This often bothers the dentist more than myself. Taking the viewpoint of the observer doesn’t reduce the pain, but puts it in its right perspective and I am able to pass through the experience with minimal discomfort.

On the other hand, being the observer helps tremendously as far as emotional pain is concerned. All emotional pain is merely created by a state of mind and by taking the vantage point of the observer you see that state affecting your emotional vehicle because you allow it to. Now physical pain happens whether you allow it or not, but emotional pain and feelings must be sanctioned by you on some level. Therefore, when you detach yourself and observe how your emotions are reacting, negative energy in the emotional body ceases getting fed and the emotional body quiets down and the pain or feeling subsides.

What I generally do is become the observer when my emotional body wants to experience something negative but cease being the observer when it is happy and enjoying itself. This gives my life a surplus of positive emotions over the negative.

Now there are exceptions to all things. There are times when it seems appropriate to identify with a negative emotion because it seems to serve a purpose. In this case I will make a mental decision to go with it until the purpose is served.

Oct 22, 2014

Using Scripture

Dave writes

I’m a little perplexed after reading your response, given that you recently posted the following to Allan:

Allan:

Paul’s Epistles are not scripture…

Quoting me:

Yeah, I know. The only thing that is scripture is what you say is scripture. How convenient. I could prove the moon is made of green cheese if I used that liberal approach.

Dave:

If you define scripture as being limited to words that ‘speak to your soul’ regardless of their source, might you be projecting your own views onto Allan when you say that ‘the only thing that is scripture is what Allan says is scripture?’

JJ

You then repeat the mantra that seems to be mysteriously programmed in everyone’s mind here:

“you can’t grasp the reality of scriptures.”

Your problem with understanding me is that the accusations are coming back to haunt you. You and many here are way too much into literalism with a black and white attitude. It seems that in Allan’s mind a writing is either scripture or not. If it is scripture it is to be totally accepted as true allegory. If not it is to be rejected and not to be trusted.

What is scripture is what he declared to be scripture. Even though society as a whole defines Paul’s writings as scripture he does not and changes the definition.

I do not do this with my teachings. For outward purposes I accept the definitions of the world. If you don’t your communications will not be understood by the masses. This marks a huge difference between us.

For the non religious person a scripture is merely that which is designated by society as such. For the very religious person a scripture is infallible truth. Approaching scripture from this or definition I see no writing on earth of any length as being scripture. The only thing that would fit that definition would be writings that are verified by my soul.

BUT…

Even though a writing may be verified by my soul I do not declare such as scripture to the world, but merely accept it for myself as verified truth.

If I quote something true from Paul and Allan does not like it, then he doesn’t change the truth by randomly declaring it is not scripture. The virtues of any statement has to be examined with reason rather than just declaring a thing wrong with black and white judgmental thinking.

In answer to your later question the Genesis account is largely symbolic with elements of truth.

Copyright 2014 by J J Dewey

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Keys Writings 2014, Part 23

This entry is part 27 of 33 in the series 2014

Sept 28, 2014

Examining Thomas, Part 8

Here’s the next scriptural riddle we’re considering.

22 Jesus saw some babies nursing. He said to his disciples, “These nursing babies are like those who enter the <Father’s> kingdom.” They said to him, “Then shall we enter the <Father’s> kingdom as babies?” Jesus said to them, “When you make the two into one, and when you make the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner, and the upper like the lower, and when you make male and female into a single one, so that the male will not be male nor the female be female, when you make eyes in place of an eye, a hand in place of a hand, a foot in place of a foot, an image in place of an image, then you will enter [the kingdom].”

As of when I posted this I hadn’t seen any explanation that sheds much light on this verse. Like Larry it would seem that the nursing babies merely symbolizes humility and a willingness to trust and learn new things or be born again, and, like Keith, it would seem that the rest is merely telling us that we need to balance the dualities within us.

Then Jim came up with an interesting interpretation that applies to us when we are separated from our bodies. He talks of:

the soul leaving the mind behind to travel to the Father’s Kingdom finally arriving there as a babe in Awe of finding itself among all the other Mansions in The Kingdom Within as Points of glittering Light, reflections of the magnificent BEING of LIGHT.

Arriving as the SPHERICAL Ball, or Point of Light that each member of THE MARKED ELECT that has succeeded in arriving as babes in the FATHER’s KINGDOM within, no longer has any remaining Earth Forms such as male or female anatomies or Genders, nor eyes, feet, hands, ears, or ANY THING of the earthly nature we left. We can’t tell the difference between the inside from the outside, or if we are right side up, or up side down, because now, we have become ONE with the FATHER in CHRIST!!!

This is a very interesting slant on interpreting this verse and corresponds to the words quite well. After death there are a number of different levels where various entities go in the spirit world. In the lower levels the occupants keep their human form because they are attached to it and feel comfortable interplaying with others through form.

But, in the higher levels the form is not seen as necessary and entities interplay as beings of light. As beings of light the inner is like the outer and the upper like the lower. There is no male and female form though there will be a male or female charge in the life force.

The verse also says you can make an image in the place of an image. The image of the old physical body is replaced by light and energy, but the consciousness, when meeting another individual, can read his vibration and create an image of how he looked in the body. He can thus interplay with others through the seeing of images or just sensing the vibratory signature.

Let us move on to verse 23:

23 Jesus said, “I shall choose you, one from a thousand and two from ten thousand, and they will stand as a single one.”

This illustrates how few there are who truly seek higher knowledge, but if such persons are gathered they have the capacity to see eye to eye through the soul and “stand as a single one.”

Verse 24:

24 His disciples said, “Show us the place where you are, for we must seek it.” He said to them, “Anyone here with two ears had better listen! There is light within a person of light, and it shines on the whole world. If it does not shine, it is dark.”

I think the wording is much better in Matthew:

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matt 6:22-23

Put simply, if our focus is on the light that comes from God we will be filled with light. If not, darkness will reign.

25 Jesus said, “Love your friends like your own soul, protect them like the pupil of your eye.”

The meaning here is pretty obvious.

26 Jesus said, “You see the sliver in your friend’s eye, but you don’t see the timber in your own eye. When you take the timber out of your own eye, then you will see well enough to remove the sliver from your friend’s eye.”

Again the Gospel of Matthew says basically the same thing:

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. Matt 7:3-5

The message is obvious. Work on you own faults before you go around correcting your neighbors.

Now we get to another verse that may require a little thinking:

27 “If you do not fast from the world, you will not find the <Father’s> kingdom. If you do not observe the sabbath as a sabbath you will not see the Father.”

To fast from the world is to not be attached to it. Does the second part mean that we must be like the good church goers and not work and go to church on the Sabbath? And does it matter if we rest on Saturday or Sunday?

Or is keeping the Sabbath a different thing than people have been led to believe?

***

Jim:

I owned the entire set of massive Hard Back volumes of the complete history of The Seventh Day Adventists and The Millerite’s.

JJ

I notice that this is a pattern with you, but in a good way. That is, when a subject interests you or you get involved in a philosophy that you get all the core materials and research leaving no stone unturned.

This approach is one thing that sets apart the true seeker.

As one with a Mormon background in my early days, I noticed that those who are most content with the religion are those who have studied very little into its doctrines and history. Those ex LDS on the list like Larry Woods, Susan, Tyler, Greg and others were serious students. These are the ones who see things that do not add up and are not content with just surface stuff. Once one becomes a true seeker he finds he is never satisfied with what he has devoured, but always wants more. If his religion does not give it to him then he will look elsewhere.

 

Sept 29, 2014

Examining Thomas, Part 9

The Question:

Is keeping the Sabbath a different thing than people have been led to believe?

Judging from the answers given by the group I’d say that most of the reject the orthodox view of the Sabbath. You are not asking whether we should rest on Saturday or Sunday, but are questioning whether a set time is even needed.

It is interesting that members of many orthodox religions place a lot of weight on obeying the Sabbath by not working, attending church and placing extra attention on God. On the other hand, those not caught up in the religious thoughtform and left to their own rational thinking can’t see much value in rigidly setting apart one day out of seven for the spiritual side of things.

When one frees himself from the Beast he finds he must have some reason for what he does. Just being commanded to do something by an outside authority doesn’t do the trick.

So are the Bible writers in illusion or just out of date concerning the Sabbath?

Not completely. What I have found is that even the scriptures that seem impractical are based on some principle and if we can understand the principle then we can see the benefit and will willingly apply it.

So, what is the principle behind the Sabbath?

To find it, let us return to Genesis.

There are two pauses or rests from labor in the creation account. Most are familiar with the one mentioned in Genesis 2:2-3

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

So where is the other rest? There is a Sabbath pause after each day of creation. During each of the six days God ceased laboring, looked at his work and saw to it that it was “good” or “correct.”

Where is the word correct you say? The King James says “and it was so” which is translated from the Hebrew KEN which more literally means “right” or “correct.”

Notice too that right after we are told that God took a Sabbath rest after the six days of creation that man was not yet physically on the earth and God did additional work on the Sabbath by creating man, the plants, the animals and the Garden of Eden.

It looks like then, if we copy God, that we will still perform labors on the Sabbath.

The problem for millennia is that the basic principle has not been understood which is this.

The Sabbath is a pause taken after a work is completed and the purpose of the pause is to examine and contemplate that work and assess whether it needs additional tweaking or not. After each day of creation God took a pause, examined his work and through contemplation made sure the work was good and correct.

After six cycles of work He took a greater pause and made sure everything was “good” and then completed his work.

The principle can be simply stated as follows. To initiate a successful work one must not just forge ahead and work ceaselessly, but at the end of each stage or cycle one must pause and contemplate the work and assess it. Normally corrections will be in order. After the pause one implements the corrections and moves on to the end of the next stage or pause and assess again.

If one does not follow this pattern his work will wind up having little value and often being destructive.

The world would be so much better off if politicians could follow this principle and pause, assess and correct their work, but they do not. They pass their bills and then move on to the next thing that will be an irritant to society.

When a major field of endeavor is completed one takes a greater pause, enjoys the fruits of his labor and then contemplates his next endeavor

Let us pause and go to the next verse:

28 Jesus said, “I took my stand in the midst of the world, and in flesh I appeared to them. I found them all drunk, and I did not find any of them thirsty. My soul ached for the children of humanity, because they are blind in their hearts and do not see, for they came into the world empty, and they also seek to depart from the world empty. But meanwhile they are drunk. When they shake off their wine, then they will change their ways.”

People do not thirst for true knowledge because they are drunk. What does this mean?

A drunkard in the scriptures does not always refer to one drunk with wine. David explains, “Thou hast showed thy people hard things; thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.” (Psalms 60:3) Another example: “And I will tread down the people in my anger, and I will make them drunk in my fury… .” (Isa. 63:6) “They are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of a deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.” (Isa. 29:9-10) “But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.” (Isa 28:7)

People become spiritually drunk not with alcohol, (which the American Indians called “spirits”) but by the spiritual doctrines they follow. Instead of seeing the spirit of their teachings they follow the letter and this makes them drunk and lead a life that would be shunned by any rational person free of such teachings.

The next verse is another tricky one:

29 Jesus said, “If the flesh came into being because of spirit, that is a marvel, but if spirit came into being because of the body, that is a marvel of marvels. Yet I marvel at how this great wealth has come to dwell in this poverty.”

What do you suppose this saying means? Can spirit come into being because of the body?

 

Sept 30, 2014

Examining Thomas, Part 10

Here is the verse under consideration

29 Jesus said, “If the flesh came into being because of spirit, that is a marvel, but if spirit came into being because of the body, that is a marvel of marvels. Yet I marvel at how this great wealth has come to dwell in this poverty.”

What do you suppose this saying means? Can spirit come into being because of the body?

This is a tough one and it is no surprise that only two took a stab at it.

The first part is a no brainer to the esoteric student for many teach that matter and flesh came into being because of spirit, but few say anything relating to spirit coming into being because of the body.

Ruth  points out that the body could be a molecule which draws a higher spirit or intelligence to it. This kind of fits. It creates a vehicle for a new life or spirit to manifest.

Then Keith tells us that matter cannot create spirit.

There is another interpretation that fits quite well. That is when the disciple advances beyond soul contact to achieving oneness with God, so he can say as did Jesus, “I and my Father are one” – then he achieves power to raise his vibrations to the level of spirit. Spirit thus comes into being from matter and as spirit the adept can walk through walls or teleport himself over long distances and then manifest a physical body from spirit.

One might say that the relation of spirit and matter is like water and ice. Water creates ice by reducing its vibration and ice creates water by increasing it. They are the same substance, but exist in different interchangeable states.

There is another time spirit comes into being because of a body and that is when the body of the entire material universe reaches its end. At this point pralaya, or the great rest, is entered through the process of all matter reverting back to spirit.

Verses 30-36 are covered in the Bible and have already presented there in more eloquent language.

Here they are from Thomas:

30 Jesus said, “Where there are three deities, they are divine. Where there are two or one, I am with that one.”

31 Jesus said, “No prophet is welcome on his home turf; doctors don’t cure those who know them.”

32 Jesus said, “A city built on a high hill and fortified cannot fall, nor can it be hidden.”

33 Jesus said, “What you will hear in your ear, in the other ear proclaim from your rooftops. After all, no one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, nor does one put it in a hidden place. Rather, one puts it on a lampstand so that all who come and go will see its light.”

34 Jesus said, “If a blind person leads a bind person, both of them will fall into a hole.”

35 Jesus said, “One can’t enter a strong person’s house and take it by force without tying his hands. Then one can loot his house.”

36 Jesus said, “Do not fret, from morning to evening and from evening to morning, [about your food–what you’re going to eat, or about your clothing–] what you are going to wear. [You’re much better than the lilies, which neither card nor spin. As for you, when you have no garment, what will you put on? Who might add to your stature? That very one will give you your garment.]”

Finally, the next verse says something not covered in the Bible:

37 His disciples said, “When will you appear to us, and when will we see you?” Jesus said, “When you strip without being ashamed, and you take your clothes and put them under your feet like little children and trample then, then [you] will see the son of the living one and you will not be afraid.”

So… are people who join nudist colonies more enlighten than people who like to wear clothes? Or, is there more to interpreting this verse?

***

They are also outraged when I quote anything from their forum (which is rare) but they feel it is fine to quote anything they wish from our forum.

Oh, well… In spite of distractions I will continue to guide the group toward positive learning. Anyone who wants to stay positive and on topic should comment on the topic of he day.

Off topic posts should be of something interesting to the group. Arguing ancient doctrinal disputes is not interesting to many here as they are looking for greater understanding of principles and why things are the way they are.

 

Oct 1, 2014

Examining Thomas, Part 11

37 His disciples said, “When will you appear to us, and when will we see you?” Jesus said, “When you strip without being ashamed, and you take your clothes and put them under your feet like little children and trample then, then [you] will see the son of the living one and you will not be afraid.”

So… are people who join nudist colonies more enlighten than people who like to wear clothes? Or, is there more to interpreting this verse?

It’s kind of funny that people I have met who are exhibitionists or into nudity have not been particularly enlightened though they seem to think that running around in the buff is an evolved thing to do.

Have you ever seen a streaker who looks like he could teach you anything?

Though not being ashamed of ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually is a good trait to acquire one must also honor the customs of society when appropriate.

Ruth says that “When we strip without shame, then we are reverting back to our true essence as Souls.”

She is on the right track. On earth we can hide our thoughts, desires and intentions, but after we die and go to the spirit world we are virtually naked in that nothing can be hidden. The higher you go in the spirit realms the more you share with others. When two can become one and share all, then they will see the Son of God in each other.

Ruth gave a good explanation of the dropping of clothes:

Putting your “garments” under your feet, demonstrates that you have put all your Earthly possessions under the control of the Soul, e.g. the image of washing Jesus feet also demonstrates the dusting off of our lower self, and placing our lower self under the control of our higher self, because our feet are the closest physical representation to being on Earth or walking on soil, which demonstrates that our feet are connected to Mother Earth and the lower part of materialism whilst our higher self is connected to that which is above soil and Earth and is more in touch with Spirit.

So anything to do with trampling our clothes under our feet, is representing our lower desires being trampled by our higher desires, and the higher outweighs the lower.

Here is the next verse:

38 Jesus said, “Often you have desired to hear these sayings that I am speaking to you, and you have no one else from whom to hear them. There will be days when you will seek me and you will not find me.”

No deep meaning here so let us move on:

39 Jesus said, “The Pharisees and the scholars have taken the keys of knowledge and have hidden them. They have not entered nor have they allowed those who want to enter to do so. As for you, be as sly as snakes and as simple as doves.”

This is similar to a passage from Luke:

Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. Luke 11:52

Notice though that there is one major difference. Thomas talks about the KEYS of Knowledge instead of just one Key.

So what is a key of knowledge anyway?

It is the understanding of a principle that opens the door to, not just one piece of information, but unlimited knowledge.

I teach about twelve keys if knowledge, but there are more. These are merely twelve important keys that enlighten the mind. The problem with the authorities in the days of Jesus is that they only doled out dry facts and did all they could to prevent the common people from learning principles that would free them from outer authority. The more the seeker learns true principles the less he will depend on some outer authority who is trying to be the voice of God to him.

Then finally the seeker will obtain soul contact and learn to trust in the inner voice and will be free.

40 Jesus said, “A grapevine has been planted apart from the Father. Since it is not strong, it will be pulled up by its root and will perish.”

Here you have the simple teaching that one must focus his consciousness on the true Source to receive nourishment and strength. If one focuses on the cares of the world he will not have strong spiritual life.

41 Jesus said, “Whoever has something in hand will be given more, and whoever has nothing will be deprived of even the little they have.”

This by itself makes little sense, but is explained much better in the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30

It (the kingdom of heaven) is like a man going abroad, who called his servants and put his capital in their hands; to one he gave five bags of gold, to another two, to another one, each according to his capacity. Then he left the country.

The man who had the five bags went at once and employed them in business, and made a profit of five bags, and the man who had the two bags made two. But the man who had been given one bag of gold went off and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

A long time afterwards their master returned, and proceeded to settle accounts with them. The man who had been given the five bags of gold came and produced the five he had made:

“Master,” he said, “you left five bags with me; look, I have made five more.”

“Well done, my good and trusty servant!” said the master. “You have proved trustworthy in a small way; I will now put you in charge of something big. Come and share your master’s delight.”

The man with the two bags then came and said, “Master, you left two bags with me; look, I have made two more.”

“Well done, my good and trusty servant !” said the

master. “You have proved trustworthy in a small way; I will now put you in charge of something big. Come and share your master’s delight.”

Then the man who had been given one bag came and said, “Master, I knew you to be a hard man: you reap where you have not sown, you gather where you have not scattered; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your gold in the ground. Here it is—you have what belongs to you.”

“You lazy rascal!” said the master. “You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered? Then you ought to have put my money on deposit, and on my return I should have got it back with interest. Take the bag of gold from him, and give it to the one with the ten bags. For the man

who has will always be given more, till he has enough and to spare ; and the man who has not will forfeit even what he has. Fling the useless servant

out into the dark, the place of wailing and grinding of teeth!” (New English Version)

This parable has many applications but an important one applies to our abilities to expand on our keys of knowledge, principles and understanding. Many religious people hide their talent deep in the physical side and think they can absorb further light by merely attending church. Many new agers are equally lazy. The one who gains the most knowledge will be given more, but the lazy ones will lose the little light they have.

This also applies collectively. Many organizations are started by an enlightened initiate, but those who do not seek will not see the original light. It will not be lost, but picked up by other seekers.

Jesus was thinking of this principle when talking to he authorities of his day:

Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Matt 21:42-43

Because they were merely caretakers of the spiritual treasure, they lost the light they had, but others picked it up and expanded upon it.

Next we have a short verse containing good advice:

42 Jesus said, “Be passersby.”

What do you suppose he means by this?

Also, feel free to comment on any verse already interpreted or passed over.

 

Oct 2, 2014

Examining Thomas, Part 12

The verse to interpret

42 Jesus said, “Be passersby.”

What do you suppose he means by this?

We have received some good comments on this – all going the right direction.

Ruth came up with the interesting twist that we are to pass by the distractive elements of material life and then hit the core of the matter saying, “we are to become as Observers to the lower self and realms and not become so entangled in the movie of Life, but become the Life in the Movie.”

Jim presented a similar idea in that we are to live in the world but not be of the world. He took the interpretation of this further than usual by stating that we can leave our bodies and actually live in higher worlds for a time without having to die to do so.

Johann reinforced the idea of the observer:

It means to take the stand of the observer and not get trapped in and used up by the world but put the outside world in it’s rightful place. Then your spirit is free to roam and serve.

Then Keith added this:

By passing by one does not get involved in the mundane events of life. Only the important happenings of the life of the soul should occupy your mind. This only applies to disciples on the path. The average person must immerse themselves into the trails of everyday life in order to learn the lessons which will bring them to the point of questioning their involvement and its purpose. Later burgeoning soul contact will emerge.

I have written a number of times about the importance of detaching ourselves from events and effects and taking upon ourselves the viewpoint of the observer. The problem many have, from the lesser evolved to intelligent seekers, is they identify too much with the form side of life, especially with the emotional effects produced.

Discussions around the first Key in the Immortal centers around the question, “who or what are you?” It is concluded that we are not our bodies and neither are we our emotions or even our minds, so what are we really?

Often seekers may think they are beyond attachment and then the moment someone says something offensive they take it way too personally and overreact. Why? Because they are not being the observer and identify too strongly with the emotions.

When we realize the emotions are not the real part of our being we can then step back and observe them and then we can use them intelligently with detachment.

Here’s the next verse:

43 His disciples said to him, “Who are you to say these things to us?” “You don’t understand who I am from what I say to you. Rather, you have become like the Judeans, for they love the tree but hate its fruit, or they love the fruit but hate the tree.”

It sounds like Jesus was hit with a version of the mantra of he Dark Brotherhood, which is, “Who do you think you are?” The problem was that it came from his own disciples. This is understandable as when disciples are learning the ropes they are often still attached to old ways of thinking causing errors as happened to Peter:

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Matt 16:21-23

That was a pretty strong rebuke to a friend who merely did not want his master to be executed. What Peter did not see was that Satan himself could not have spoken better words to tempt Jesus to flee from his mission.

Then we have the example of James and John who wanted to call fire down from heaven to consume those who rejected their message. To them Jesus said, “ye know not what manner of spirit ye are.”

Students seem to think that the disciples were to total awe of Jesus, that they accepted everything he said and did without question but such is not the case. They were concerned that he was taking too much authority on himself and may have too much pride because of his abilities and the attention he drew. The “who do you think you are” mantra did arise in their minds at times.

In the last part of the verse Thomas quoted Jesus saying that the disciples were acting like the Judeans who “love the tree but hate its fruit, or they love the fruit but hate the tree.”

What did he mean by this?

***

Jim:

You and Keysters here have been more than generous to me, and no one had disrespected me, regardless of any strange comments I may have made

JJ

Thanks for the comment. This is a point that goes over Allan’s head. He thinks he was rejected here because of his advanced teachings. He doesn’t realize that we will consider most any point of view if the person is considerate and tries to make it of interest to the group.

We agree with Allan’s main point that we need to become one with the Higher Self, but the problem was that he insults us by telling us we have it wrong and need to listen to is version of merging or we are on the path of death. Then he insults us comparing us to those who put Jesus to death among other things.

It is his manners that are the problem, not his teachings.

We’ll entertain a certain amount of comment on most any subject as long as it is not too distracting or generate complaints. What seems to irritate the group the most is when someone comes here accusing us of being ignorant and attempting to straighten us out.

If someone thinks they have a higher truth and just presents it with respect then they will fit in fine even if all do not agree.

***

Allan:

As I have stated, the only reason you are presently tolerating Jim, Ken (ImAHebrew) and Allen (Latuwr), is because they denigrate and disparage me.

JJ

That’s pretty outrageous. We accept all who come here and behave themselves, even you. How we treat people here is determined by themselves, not their opinion of you.

Allan:

As stated, I was guided to this forum to convey to you the esoteric knowledge of the Tree of Life and the Key of Knowledge. That you reject this Sacred Knowledge, is not mine to judge.

JJ

The problem is that you haven’t specified any knowledge that I have rejected. I accept the idea of merging with the higher self and embrace the tree of life. So shat are you complaining about?

 

Oct 3, 2014

Examining Thomas, Part 13

In the last part of the verse Thomas quoted Jesus saying that the disciples were acting like the Judeans who “love the tree but hate its fruit, or they love the fruit but hate the tree.”

What did he mean by this?

Good assortment of answers today and you all have good points. Here is my take:

What was overlooked was the verse was centered on Jesus. Note how it starts out:

His disciples said to him, “Who are you to say these things to us?” “You don’t understand who I am from what I say to you.

In principle the group was going the right direction but Jesus was using these words in reference to himself. In this context I would say that the tree was Jesus and the fruit was his works and teachings. Jesus saw himself as symbolizing the tree because he was linked up through Spirit to the Father within, the source of life for all of us.

Some of the disciples loved Jesus as a person, (the tree) but didn’t like some of his teachings, or even works or his direction. (the fruit). Others liked his teachings and works, but saw him as a flawed person.

Ruth made the point that “both pieces are the same pieces when joined as one.” In other words, he was saying that if you like me you should like my teachings because they came through me and if you like the teachings you should also accept me.

Verses 44-47 are a rewording of verses already in the Bible.

He gives a different twist of New Testament teachings here:

48 Jesus said, “If two make peace with each other in a single house, they will say to the mountain, ‘Move from here!’ and it will move.”

Here is Matthew’s account of a similar teaching:

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matt 21:21-22

The account of Thomas says that peace is needed to move a mountain but Matthew says it is faith that is the prime ingredient.

Are both qualities needed, just one or is this just wishful thinking? After all, not even Jesus or Moses is reported to have moved a mountain.

Or… Is this just a symbolic teaching? If so what is the meaning?

***

 

Oct 4, 2014

Examining Thomas, Part 14

The Question:

So what’s the meaning behind moving a mountain using peace, faith or both?

Ruth did take a stab at the symbolism saying that the mountain being cast into the sea is like the ego being drowned in the sea of emotions.

That doesn’t seem to completely fit through. She was right though that you can’t move a mountain by peace alone, at least not by peace as is generally understood.

Let us look at the verse gain. Thomas writes:

“If two make peace with each other in a single house, they will say to the mountain, ‘Move from here!’ and it will move.”

Now two or more people live in peace in many houses but haven’t heard of any of them moving a mountain by the power of their word. But the scripture is not talking about a peace that merely represents a lack of conflict, but the peace of the spirit which is called the peace that passes all understanding. When two people think as one in the peace of the spirit together they become a potent force indeed. Sometimes two people living together who understand this do not take the time to withdraw from the cares of the world and merge as often as they should.

Faith is the second ingredient mentioned in the other scripture. You need both ingredients to manifest the power of God on the earth. The disciple needs to stand focused in the light and speak and act by the power of faith.

So is it possible that a person or persons centered in peace and being full of faith can move a mountain? I think so. I believe the words of Jesus that through faith all things are possible even to the moving of a physical mountain. The elements themselves possess intelligence and can be commanded to move by one wholly centered in the originating monad.

There is only one example mentioned in the scriptures and this is from the LDS Book of Moses speaking of the acts of Enoch:

And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him. Moses 7:13

So what would the allegorical meaning be here?

A mountain is a symbol of a kingdom or belief system. The sea into which it is cast is a symbol of the masses of people centered in the emotions. He who has faith can topple a kingdom by the power of his words and cause it to return to the people to be reformed or replaced.

From this view Jesus did move mountains. He told he authorities that, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Matt 21:42-43

Jesus thus moved the kingdom (mountain) of God from the Jews to the Gentiles. Then through the centuries nations (mountains) have risen and fallen fighting over the meaning of the words of Jesus.

Let us move on to the next verse:

49 Jesus said, “Congratulations to those who are alone and chosen, for you will find the kingdom. For you have come from it, and you will return there again.”

I think that finding the kingdom has more to do with choices we make than waiting around to be chosen. It is possible that the aloneness referred to represents the disciple standing centered within his own soul.

We originated from spirit and to spirit we will return just as the verse says.

Next verse:

50 Jesus said, “If they say to you, ‘Where have you come from?’ say to them, ‘We have come from the light, from the place where the light came into being by itself, established [itself], and appeared in their image.’ If they say to you, ‘Is it you?’ say, ‘We are its children, and we are the chosen of the living Father.’ If they ask you, ‘What is the evidence of your Father in you?’ say to them, ‘It is motion and rest.'”

Does this turn on a light for anyone? One could wrestle with the symbolism and come up with something, but I do not see any aha moment here.

Simply put we come from the same source as does light and the interplay of light creates form. God is in us because of motion (higher consciousness) and rest (the peace that passes understanding).

51 His disciples said to him, “When will the rest for the dead take place, and when will the new world come?” He said to them, “What you are looking forward to has come, but you don’t know it.”

Interpretation: The kingdom of heaven is here now for those with eyes to see.

52 His disciples said to him, “Twenty-four prophets have spoken in Israel, and they all spoke of you.” He said to them, “You have disregarded the living one who is in your presence, and have spoken of the dead.”

Jesus is noting the tendency to give more credibility to dead authorities than a living one. The great sages of the past always seem to outshine any who are living.

Verses 53-76 are either self explanatory or already in the Bible. Verse 77 says something a little different:

77 Jesus said, “I am the light that is over all things. I am all: from me all came forth, and to me all attained. Split a piece of wood; I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there.”

So does this verse relate any truth to you? Can you really find Jesus under a rock?

***

Ron Says:

The whole passage is ”

Jesus said, “Lucky is the lion that the human will eat, so that the lion becomes human. And foul is the human that the lion will eat, and the lion still will become human.”

JJ, do you believe he is speaking about a main course for dinner hear?

What would a Lion represent inside of us, animal nature? Ego? Tame the lion of our being, perhaps.Just a thought.

JJ

I’ve already commented on this verse. Here is what I said a few days ago.

This verse is just not true. If one of the apostles heard Jesus talking about the evolution of humans and animals then he must have misunderstood and wrote it down wrong.

A lion does not become a human by eating a human. Some particles from the human may become part of the lion but that does not make him human. Neither does the reverse work.

If we interpret it allegorically we could say that partaking of either a higher or lower nature will cause us to progress or go backwards. If this is what the writer meant to communicate then it was a silly way to do it. It would have been much better to just come out and state the obvious meaning.

Copyright 2014 by J J Dewey

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