Monthly Archives: March 2012

Love is the Fulfilling of the Law

ON GOD; Part LXI

How few the birds who escape the net and fly to heaven! 

Dhammapada; on The World

“strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it“

Matthew 7:14

We ended our post yesterday with the two sayings above and our comment regarding the message that is contained within each being essentially the same message albeit from a different perspective. The Buddha speaks to the disciple and cautions him that there are but few who can escape the pull of illusion, glamour and deception that is in the world and He relates this to the ability of a bird to escape from a net in which he is caught. This is the nature of Life in the world, the consciousness of the man in form is, in a strange way, actually the Soul of the man enmeshed in this illusory world of form. Without the illusion, glamour and deception through which the Soul, as the consciousness in the threefold form, must navigate, it is likely that he could see clearly and it is some form of  this clarity that overtakes to the Soul as he progresses through incarnation after incarnation; he, the Soul, develops a greater and greater ability to navigate through the pull of the world and of life in form. This does not come automatically but rather it requires that the personality consciousness, the consciousness that is the Soul in form, overcome his worldly nature and nurture and does heed the call of the Soul as we have previously discussed. The ability developed does however mount over a series of lives in form and it becomes an easier fare for the consciousness to sense the Truth and the reality of the Life that is the Soul, perhaps being able to accomplish this at a younger and younger age as the consciousness in form. This is not necessarily true however as so much of one’s progress  is tied to the idea of the focus of one’s consciousness and it is likely not very difficult to get ‘lost’ in the world for many years or even an entire lifetime. Can we see here the idea that we are trying to build? That the Soul and the consciousness are the same except that the consciousness exists in time and space and the Soul is beyond these in the Spiritual realm. We should relate this to our last topic regarding the Holy Spirit being the activity of the Christ Within in time and space, in the world, as it is when the consciousness is actually escaped the net and is functioning as the Soul in form that has overcome the world as the disciple, that we would see that consciousness as the Holy Spirit, the activity of the Christ Within. Until this point of departure when, as the Apostle Paul paints it, the man can “make in himself of twain one new man” (Ephesians 2:15), he is not the activity of the Christ Within in the form but he is the personality consciousness living as the man in the world. As we discussed yesterday there may be some double-mindedness and moving of the focus of consciousness from the higher to the lower as the duality and the confusion of Life in form becomes that net that holds the man. Mired in the net of illusion, glamour and deception the conscious Life of the man goes on and if he can find his focus and sense the Truth then he can  escape the net and fly to heaven!

The saying from the Master is, for those who can understand it, a more practical approach and this verse follows another that is from the opposite perspective: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it“. (Matthew 7:13-14). The wide gate and the broad way can be seen as the net that the Buddha speaks of above and the Master tells us that many do get caught. The strait gate and the narrow way are the way of escape and just as the Buddha tells us that few escape the net, the Master tells us that few find the way of escape. We have used these verses from Matthew’s Gospel before in our posts to show to us the difficulty of discipleship and of attaining the Kingdom as they are told us by the Master. That many believe that the way is easy, that one must just believe or confess and not Truly repent and focus, is a part of the  illusion, glamour and deception that is found in the wide gate and the broad way which are synonymous with living one’s Life in the world. The consciousness of man is attracted to the wide gate and the broad way over the strait and narrow because of the ease of passage and because he can see the immediate rewards, so called, of comfort and pleasure and the abundance of things. There is an allusion here to the state of much of the church doctrines and dogma as it affects the world of men; we are all mired in this world of illusion and likely none of us has escaped yet from the net. Until we are acting out our lives in a selfless state where we wish nothing for the individual self in any way, emotionally, mentally or physically, that we do not require good feelings or thoughts or rewards from others, we will not, we can not, escape. We can take nothing with us when we die on this Earth and we can take nothing with us when we escape from the net and “Enter…in at the strait gate“. These are difficult things to comprehend and to understand but they are clearly phrased for us in the sayings above and in the other teachings of the Master and the Buddha. That we believe that we can overcome in any other way is but another part of the illusion, glamour and deception. Ponder on this.

There are a few New Testament sayings that give us the proper idea of deception and we will look at these here today. First however let us understand the meanings of the words that we are using to define our lives in the world; words which the Christian world has personalized into yet another part of the illusion which are in effect the illusion, glamour and deception in themselves. These personalizations of our theme words are Satan and the devil and whatsoever reference is made to the idea of demons. We discussed the defining terms for Satan and the devil in a previous post and here take up our theme words:

• Illusion: Webster’s tells us that illusion means: An unreal image presented to the bodily or mental vision; a deceptive appearance; a false show; mockery; hallucination. Hence: Anything agreeably fascinating and charning; enchantment; witchery; glamour.  (Physiol.) A sensation originated by some external object, but so modified as in any way to lead to an erroneous perception; as when the rolling of a wagon is mistaken for thunder. &hand; Some modern writers distinguish between an illusion and hallucination, regarding the former as originating with some external object, and the latter as having no objective occasion whatever. A plain, delicate lace, usually of silk, used for veils, scarfs, dresses, etc. Syn. — Delusion; mockery; deception; chimera; fallacy. See Delusion. Illusion, Delusion. Illusion refers particularly to errors of the sense; delusion to false hopes or deceptions of the mind. An optical deception is an illusion; a false opinion is a delusion. E. Edwards¹. For our purposes we see illusion and delusion as one and both as the perceived result of what we may see and hear physically, feel emotionally and think mentally. This word does not appear in any of the regular translations of the New Testament.
• Glamour: This word has taken on new meanings in modern language but our 1913 version of Webster’s gives us this which is applicable to our understanding: A charm affecting the eye, making objects appear different from what they really are. Witchcraft; magic; a spell. Tennyson. A kind of haze in the air, causing things to appear different from what they really are. Any artificial interest in, or association with, an object, through which it appears delusively magnified or glorified. Glamour gift, Glamour might, the gift or power of producing a glamour. The former is used figuratively, of the gift of fascination peculiar to women¹. Can we see here the illusory nature in these definitions of glamour? While we may not separate our use of these three keywords, we should understand that glamour is more to do with emotions and desires while the idea of illusion is more on the mental side. This word also does not appear in any of the regular translations of the New Testament.
• Deception: Webster’s tells us of deception that it is: The act of deceiving or misleading. South. The state of being deceived or misled. That which deceives or is intended to deceive; false representation; artifice; cheat; fraud¹. Deception is a word that is found in the New Testament and may be helpful to view its meaning form some of our scriptural sources. There are a number of different Greek words that are rendered as deceive or deceived or deceiving but they all refer to basically the same thing and that is our common understanding being misled or led astray by what is around us and this is illusion and this is glamour. Thus, while the New Testament does not mention these words illusion and glamour, it does mention frequently the effect of these as deception. Because there are so many words that are translated as a form of deception, let us look at Vine’s where these are all together in a single article:

• Topic: Deceit, Deceitful, Deceitfully, Deceitfulness, Deceive, Deceivableness

  <A-1,Noun,539,apate>
  “deceit or deceitfulness” (akin to apatao, “to cheat, deceive, beguile”), that which gives a false impression, whether by appearance, statement or influence, is said of riches, Matt. 13:22; Mark 4:19; of sin, Heb. 3:13. The phrase in Eph. 4:22, “deceitful lusts,” AV, “lusts of deceit,” RV, signifies lusts excited by “deceit,” of which “deceit” is the source of strength, not lusts “deceitful” in themselves. In 2 Thess. 2:10, “all deceit of unrighteousness,” RV, signifies all manner of unscrupulous words and deeds designed to “deceive” (see Rev. 13:13-15). In Col. 2:8, “vain deceit” suggests that “deceit” is void of anything profitable.Note: In 2 Pet. 2:13, the most authentic texts have “revelling in their love-feasts,” RV (agapais), for AV, “deceivings” (apatais).

  <A-2,Noun,1388,dolos>
  primarily “a bait, snare;” hence, “craft, deceit, guile,” is translated “deceit” in Mark 7:22; Rom. 1:29. See CRAFT, GUILE, SUBTILTY.

  Notes: (1) Plane, rendered “deceit” in 1 Thess. 2:3, AV, signifies wandering (cp. Eng., “planet”), hence, “error” (RV), i.e., a wandering from the right path; in Eph. 4:14, “wiles of error,” AV, “to deceive.” See DELUDE, ERROR.

  (2) For dolioo, “to use deceit,” see C, No. 4.

  <B-1,Adjective,1386,dolios>
  “deceitful,” is used in 2 Cor. 11:13, of false apostles as “deceitful workers;” cp. A, No. 2 and Note (2).

  <C-1,Verb,538,apatao>
  “to beguile, deceive” (see A, No. 1), is used (a) of those who “deceive” “with empty words,” belittling the true character of the sins mentioned, Eph. 5:6; (b) of the fact that Adam was “not beguiled,” 1 Tim. 2:14, RV (cp. what is said of Eve; see No. 2 below); (c) of the “self-deceit” of him who thinks himself religious, but bridles not his tongue, Jas. 1:26.

  <C-2,Verb,1818,exapatao>
  ek (ex), intensive, and No. 1, signifies “to beguile thoroughly, to deceive wholly,” 1 Tim. 2:14, RV. See BEGUILE.

  <C-3,Verb,5422,phrenapatao>
  lit., “to deceive in one’s mind” (phren, “the mind,” and No. 1), “to deceive by fancies” (Lightfoot), is used in Gal. 6:3, with reference to self-conceit, which is “self-deceit,” a sin against common sense. Cp. Jas. 1:26 (above).

  Note: Cp. phrenapates, No. 2, under DECEIVE.

  <C-4,Verb,1387,dolioo>
  “to lure,” as by a bait (see A, No. 2), is translated “have used deceit” in Rom. 3:13.

  <C-5,Verb,1389,doloo>
  a short form of No. 4, primarily signifies “to ensnare;” hence, “to corrupt,” especially by mingling the truths of the Word of God with false doctrines or notions, and so handling it “deceitfully,” 2 Cor. 4:2. Cp. kapeleuo, “to corrupt by way of hucksterizing,” 2 Cor. 2:17. For the difference between the words see CORRUPT, A No. 1.

  <C-6,Verb,4105,planao>
  akin to plane, A, Note (1) (Eng., “planet”), in the Passive form sometimes means “to go astray, wander,” Matt. 18:12; 1 Pet. 2:25; Heb. 11:38; frequently Active, “to deceive, by leading into error, to seduce,” e.g., Matt. 24:4,5,11,24; John 7:12, “leadeth astray,” RV (cp. 1 John 3:7). In Rev. 12:9 the present participle is used with the definite article, as a title of the Devil, “the Deceiver,” lit., “the deceiving one.” Often it has the sense of “deceiving onself,” e.g., 1 Cor. 6:9; 15:33; Gal. 6:7; Jas. 1:16, “be not deceived,” RV, “do not err,” AV. See ERR, LEAD (astray), SEDUCE, WANDER, WAY (be out of the).

  <C-7,Verb,3884,paralogizomai>
  see BEGUILE, No. 3.

We should remember that the ideas in Vine’s are generally given with a doctrinal bent but we should still be able to see the ideas of illusion and of glamour in the thoughts put forth. Remembering that the devil and Satan are blamed extraneously for the sin of the world and remembering our thoughts above regarding these personalized aspects of our keywords, we should be able to cut through the doctrine and see some of the reality of the illusion and the glamour that lead to this deception. Let us close today by listing some of the New Testament verses that include the idea of deception; we will not comment on them here but will begin in the next post by addressing how these ideas of the Master and His apostles reflect our understanding.

• “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many….And many false prophets shall rise , and shall deceive many….For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; in so much that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 24).
• “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17-18).
• “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to bewise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19).
• “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived….” (1 Corinthians 6:9.
• “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself” (Galatians 6:3).
• “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14).
• “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another” (Titus 3:3).
• “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But who so looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall beblessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. (James 1:22-26).
• “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (John 1:8).
• “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:7-8).
• “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9).

These are not all of the references to deception in the New Testament but these will serve our purpose in outlining the teachings regarding illusion and glamour. While these verses speak only of the effect which is deception, our discussion of them should shed the necessary Light so that we can see some degree of reality. There is one last verse that is included as the verse of the day as it has a profound message for us all as we “Strive to enter in at the strait gate” (Luke 13:24).

Note on the Quote of the Day