Monthly Archives: July 2013

ON LOVE; PART CCCXXXII

ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•Α

GoodWill IS Love in Action

ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•Α

“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things . Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed , and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom” (James 3:1-13).

In the last post we addressed again the first line of our selection from the Apostle James regarding teaching as this is interpreted by doctrine. We established that the Greek word didaskalos must have more force than merely being a teacher in the common understanding of the word as this word is used as a title for the Master, the Christ, and is also the reference for the Soul and the Soul’s expression as the disciple in other disciplines, including Buddhism as we noted in the words of the Buddha. Applying some words from Strong’s regarding the definition of didaskalos and its origin word didasko, we found the ideas of this word rendered master as implying authority over the students or followers ³ and the idea of this master’s role as to provide information in a manner intended to produce understanding ³. While this may not seem to be a great discovery on its own, it does provide more than the common understanding of teacher when one considers the proper intent of the word authority which is for us: the ability to influence or control others: a man of authority ¹⁰;  and not the view that would better resonate in the ideas of James above which should be avoided such as: the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control, command, or determine ⁷. Now these first ideas of having the ability to influence or control are not generally in the purview of the ordinary teacher as these would be accorded by the listener or the student while the second ideas of having power over another is contrary to the Truth of teaching but likely more common and it is these latter ideas that we should see that James is speaking against. When our view of this master and this Master is from the spiritual perspective in which it is offered by the apostle, we can easily see the influence of the Master and, in our right focus we can see this as well as the influence of the Soul on the Life of the individual man in the world. At best this is an obscure rationalization of an obscure saying by the apostle but one that makes ever more sense than believing that James is warning men to not be teachers; he is warning them to not be masters as we see in the man exercising authority and control over the lives of others in conformance with whatsoever rules and laws such a master would hold to. It is as John Gill tells us as well that the role of the master in James’ words should not be performed in a magisterial way, as lords over God’s heritage, and as claiming a dominion over the faith of men, but as helpers of their joy, peace, and comfort; nor according to the commandments of men, but according to the oracles of God. Or it may be, this exhortation may have respect to censorious persons, rigid and severe reprovers of others, who take upon them, in a haughty manner, to charge and rebuke others for their faults ⁸.

It may seem that we are sort of stuck on these words of master and teacher and in a way we are as it IS important to understand the reality of the title Master as given to the Christ as well as master as used of the Soul and the disciple. It is also important to understand that James words are not intended to defer any from teaching but only from teaching with the wrong type of authority and from teaching the spiritual in the conventions of men, much like the Pharisees and others of their ilk in that day. And, these ideas that we have assembled here, including the words of Mr. Gill, should be used to mediate the ideas of the apostle yet today. From this saying James moves on to his words about the tongue and in this word IS intended not only the spoken word but the written word and even the thought as well. The apostles ideas are clear here in telling us of the monumental power that is found in this organ of speech and the other things that it represents and he tells us early on that “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man” and this we should understand perfect in our way which the Master tells us IS our goal saying: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48) and it IS this state of perfection that we understand as the pinnacle of discipleship. The Master tells us that this state of perfection IS our way of being Christ like and thereby being Truly as He IS as He says: “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master” (Luke 6:40) and we should note that this same didaskalos IS the word used by Luke. Perhaps as an example or perhaps in reality, the apostle is telling us that our control of our words is the final part of discipleship and that this use of words IS the final thing that we must overcome; this IS indeed an important point to give our fullest consideration. As we noted, the Buddha speaks on these ideas of words and their uses and we present here some of His instructions:

• “Never speak harsh words For they will rebound upon you. Angry words hurt And the hurt rebounds. Like a broken gong Be still, and silent. Know the stillness of freedom Where there is no more striving” (Dhammapada; on Violence).
• “Beware of the anger of the body. Master the body. Let it serve truth. Beware of the anger of the mouth. Master your words. Let them serve truth. Beware of the anger of the mind. Master your thoughts. Let them serve truth. The wise have mastered Body, word and mind. They are the true masters” (Dhammapada; on Anger).
• “Master your words. Master your thoughts. Never allow your body to do harm. Follow these three roads with purity And you will find yourself upon the one way, The way of wisdom” (Dhammapada; on The Way).

These are simple thoughts but they go a long way in understanding the power of the word, the thought and the action and again, we should ever remember that these ideas of words and of the tongue reach much further than only what one audibly says; they reach into the written word and the thought as well and we can likely find that the omission of right words and thoughts can be harmful as well.

Finally we discussed the idea offered in the last verse of our sayings by James above and here is likely a key to the idea that the apostle gives us for our perfection: that we offend not in word but that we control the tongue and what it represents in meekness, a meekness that IS founded in our ability to control what we say in the same ways that we must control what we do. And yes, this is a difficult undertaking but, as we see in the many words above, a necessary one. Here the apostle takes us into the realm of Wisdom and the reality that we can take from these next verses is that it IS only what we KNOW that IS that Wisdom from above that we should express. He says:

“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth  not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:14-17).

In closing today we repeat what we have previously said about these words that are our guide to so many things and especially our understanding of what it is in our thoughts, our attitudes and our actions that is Truly from the Soul, the Christ Within:

• From In the Words of Jesus part 465 we read: We should be careful here as to how some of this is interpreted because “bitter envying and strife” do not just cover the harshest of ideas that these bring forth but, in envy we should also see emulation which Vincent is as tells us is a better translation and of which he says: Emulation is the better general rendering, which does not necessarily include envy, but may be full of the spirit of self-devotion ⁴. Strife is rendered wrongly according to Vincent who tells us that: Thus it comes to be applied to those who serve in official positions for their own selfish interest, and who, to that end, promote party spirit and faction ⁴; (For more on these words see In the words of Jesus part 323). Can we understand “bitter envy and strife” as things for the self? These can be ideas, interpretations, assumed revelations or the fulfillment of desires which ALL have for their common thread that they are for the self, the carnal man in the world. In the list of what IS “the wisdom that is from” there IS NO sense of self whatsoever, the ideas, interpretations, assumed revelations or the desires of the carnal man ARE NOT and CAN NOT be included in the words of this list. This is the Truth of the ‘still small voice‘, there is NO SELF involved in the revelation and NO THING that is of the world; it is ONLY the Love and the Power that flows from the Christ Within, the Soul.

• From In the Words of Jesus part 556 we read: Perhaps a bit of biblical reality can be seen in the comparison of the words of James with those of Paul. Paul tells us of “the wisdom of this world” that it is “is foolishness with God” and tells us that this is the way of things in the world saying “hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” and putting this onto an equal footing with the vanity to which we have been subjected. In this we should try to see that this illusion and glamour that we speak of, the vanity of the apostle, is the same as the wisdom of this world. Can we also see that the wisdom of this world IS NOT Wisdom at all? This James tells us by defining the nature of the wisdom of the world which we must see as self serving as are most all attitudes and actions that are carnal in nature. James tells us of “bitter envying and strife in your hearts” and tells us that these things are “not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish” and, as we have seen in previous discussion on these words, these ideas themselves are clouded and colored by illusion and glamour. Generally seen as envying or jealousy plus a sense of selfish ambition, these ideas are not counted for the actual harm that they can do; they are treated as words that we can cast upon others seeing them as envying and jealous, as self seeking in ambition and yet seldom see them as our own frailties. Vincent gives us some help on these words by inserting the idea of emulation where we read bitter envying in the King James Version. Webster’s 1828 version defines emulation as An ardor kindled by the praise-worthy examples of others, inciting to imitate them, or to equal or excel them. Contest; contention; strife; competition; rivalry accompanied with a desire of depressing another ¹. Here we can see a different dynamic than in the common understanding of envy or jealousy, one that is much more personal. We should note here that this definition includes strife as a part of it which plays into the next part of James’ saying. Vincent tells us that strife here is A wrong rendering, founded on the mistaken derivation from e]riv and here he tells us it should refer to those who serve in official positions for their own selfish interest, and who, to that end, promote party spirit and faction ⁴.

While there is some duplication in these ideas from previous posts, there IS at the same time much importance in the lesson that there IS NO self to be found in the things that we believe come from above, from the Soul or from God. These things of the self ARE NOT what IS the Wisdom from above and the apostle does tell us what IS in a list that is very similar to Paul’s words on the Fruit of the Spirit. Perhaps the most important part of the reality of these lists of virtues is that there is naught in either that is of or for the self, the man in the world….ALL IS spiritual.

We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.

Aspect of God	Potency	Aspect of Man	In Relation to the Great Invocation	In relation to the Christ
GOD, The Father	Will or Power	Spirit or Life	Center where the Will of God IS KNOWN	Life
Son, The Christ	Love and Wisdom	Soul or Christ Within	Heart of God	Truth
Holy Spirit	Light or Activity	Life Within	Mind of God	Way

Note on the Quote of the Day

This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment.

Repeating another quotation from the Buddha as our Quote of the Day:

Better than a thousand hollow words Is one word that brings peace. Better than a thousand hollow verses Is one verse that brings peace. Better than a hundred hollow lines Is one line of the dharma (law), bringing peace. It is better to conquer yourself  Than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, Not by angels or by demons, Heaven or hell. Better than a hundred years of worship, Better than a thousand offerings,  Better than giving up a thousand worldly ways In order to win merit, Better even than tending in the forest A sacred flame for a hundred years –  Is one moment’s reverence For the man who has conquered himself.

(Dhammapada Part 8; the Thousands)5

Today’s Quote of the Day is again from the sayings of the Buddha; this one is call the Thousands. One is hard pressed to find differences between these teachings of the Buddha and the teachings of our Master the Christ. What do we see above? First there is PEACE and how much better it is than the hollow sounds of Pride and Arrogance so often heard around the world. Next there is the idea of conquering one’s self and this should be likened to all that the Master and His apostles have to say about overcoming the carnal life, the flesh. Once a life is governed by the Inner Man, the Soul he can stand free and clear of all the worldly ways; here is our Victory and here is our PEACE.

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts!

• ² New Testament Greek Lexicon on BibleStudyTools.com
• ³ Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible – 2001
• ⁴ Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition, 1888
• ⁵ The Dhammapada Translated by Thomas Byrom
• ⁷ Dictionary.com Unabridged based on Random House Dictionary – 2011
• ⁸ Bible commentaries on BibleStudyTools.com 
• ¹⁰ Dictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. HarperCollins Publishers