ON LOVE; PART CDXCI
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
In yesterday’s essay we closed out our look at the Gospel of Thomas and made some statements about the effect of nurturing and of doctrine on the man in the world. That what it IS he becomes as a man in the world IS largely influenced by his nurturing and the doctrines involved in that nurturing be they religious, political, national, educational or any other idea to which the idea of doctrine may be applied. This includes of course what he learns at home, at school and in the general tenor of Life in that place where he IS. With rare exception, and the Life of Jesus is the only one that we can readily see, a man must overcome most ALL of this to Truly cross onto the spiritual Path and the True way to God. It IS a most difficult thing to overcome when find oneself in the midst of the thoughts, attitudes and actions with which one was raised from a child. ALL of this nurturing into the various doctrines instilled by parents, teachers, nation and friends create a man who believes what he had been indoctrinated into and while he may put his own stamp upon this nurturing as he matures, and as the times themselves force change, these things will remain in the forefront of his thoughts and his emotions.
There is a song written by one Steve Van Zandt which we used in a earlier post to show forth the ideas of what it IS that happens to a man religiously and patriotically and here repeat these ideas from the perspective of the overall effect of doctrines. And this idea stretches far; from what and how one may eat, to his own view of his own status as a man, to religion and to politics and onward in to ALL manner of indoctrination. We read this regarding patriotism but any and ALL other ideas can easily be inserted:
I am a patriot and I love my county
Because my country is all I know
I want to be with my family people who understand me
I’ve got nowhere else to go
In this simple idea we can find most ALL things that a man can be indoctrinated into and the result of them and we should try to see here that not ALL men who can walk away from such indoctrination are free from ALL that has been instilled in them. And we must consider as well that the are many, many variables involved in this scenario of indoctrination; there are degrees of indoctrination and there is as well the acceptance of it, especially as a child begins to mature which in itself IS a variable. How much baggage does one have when that sense of maturity sets in IS dependent upon so many factors and the degree to which each has been applied; and there are none that can Truly escape this including those like the Dali Lama whose birth is presumed to be of a spiritual nature and whose Life is then indoctrinated into the core beliefs of that system that he must represent. There is much rite and ritual involved in finding the Dali Lama and our point here is that we have a boy who becomes what he IS nurtured to be, the leader of the Tibetan School of Buddhism and a man of world renown. Here we should understand that this man, this Dali Lama, has far less to break down in his own search for Truth and Love and that at the same time he has his own sense of baggage.
Few there Truly are who can break out and this only when the can see the Truth as it is presented by their own Souls, by conscience, and by what seems to be an innate sense to change. It IS the aspirant who IS among these few and this is regardless of what religion, what nation or what political philosophy one may have be indoctrinated into; it is the aspirant whose aspiration IS Truth and Love. And there are few; not because there are few men whose vision IS Truth and Love and Justice and Freedom but because it IS most difficult to look past oneself and DO, to take up the mantle of righteousness and stand apart. Here we should try to see the reality of the apostles of the Master; these are men who came into the world as the ready help that Jesus required to accomplish His mission; not only in His time here on the Earth, but in the fulfillment of what has come to be KNOWN as the Great Commission. These man had to DO, they could not be bystanders and in this we should understand our point from previous essays that these apostles were not selected by happenstance nor by some magical spell that turned them from men in the world to disciples of the Lord. These men were Souls of previous accomplishment in Life in this world, Souls who could more easily break free of their own indoctrination into Life in that day; here we should understand again that none are free from this nurturing but some DO have the greater ability to break free.
And this ability IS NOT haphazard but it IS based upon the results of previous incarnations as while the reality of one’s previous Life ARE covered over by the birth, infancy, childhood and adolescence where one IS nurtured only in the ways of the world, the man who has previously achieved some degree of freedom from the world in past lives will have the easier time in the next. In this achievement comes this ability to an easier time through a greater connection, more secure if you will, between the form nature and the Soul, the True man; for this man the very nature of the psychic bodies, the mental and the emotional, is that they are better suited to this connection. It is here that we find then those who can break out, those who can more readily see the Truth, and we should note here that this too works out by degree in Life in this world. Unfortunately there ARE yet few who do break out and who can act like the True disciples and the apostles of the Master and carry forward the lamp of Truth and of Love. Many there are who may sense the Truth of their own lives but CAN NOT bring themselves to that necessary perspective that the Master teaches regarding discipleship and the Kingdom and which we sum up in these words; that the aspirant to discipleship learn to “take no thought” (Matthew 6:25, Luke 12-22). There are likely many who see the Light and see the cost and who then choose to stay in the world; they never realize the cost IS NOT a cost at ALL; it IS merely forsaking that which is temporal and fleeting for that which is permanent and fulfilling of the goal of everyman.
It is here that the small realizations are important; to KNOW that one IS the Soul and that the Soul IS the Christ Within; to KNOW that Life in this world is a Life entrenched in the illusion and the glamour of carnal Life, of the mind and the emotions, and that while the carnal nature will fight to maintain its place in the Life of the man through doubt and uncertainty, the Truth IS within and visible to each man who Truly seeks it. There is of course no real fight, there is only the predisposition of the man in the world to remain in that place that he KNOWS and that place where he sees his own family and friends and those that he believes may understand him to use the song’s words from above. This IS however the power of illusion and glamour, the vanity that Paul tells us about, and this is the Power as well of duality.
The Master tells us clearly that the journey is not easy, He does not say that it IS hard but He tells us by way of the inner meaning of His words that this IS so. And this IS in itself a part of our problem as aspirants, that we see the inner meaning and at times this IS radically against the opinions and the thoughts of others, even others who are seemingly authorities on the matter. Can we see here how we can doubt our own sense of Truth because it may be rather far removed from others beliefs and especially when these others include ‘authorities’? It IS in this light that we should understand some of the deeper meaning from the Master’s words on moving the mountain or the sycamine tree; we read in Matthew’s Gospel that “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” (Matthew 21:21). We should remember here that this level of certainty, the level that can move the mountain, is only in the ability of the True disciple, the disciple who Truly KNOWS; we should remember as well that this is the end point, this level of KNOWING, and that there are many points that we must reach before this. First there IS that place where we no longer doubt our own sense of Truth and Love even in the face of those who may speak and act against us; this too is an important place and a difficult one to come to. It IS here also that we MUST rely upon the ideas of the apostles on the fruit of the Spirit and the Wisdom from above; it is here in our own sense of Truth and Love that we must examine our every thought and motivation and be sure that they are in tune with these ideas, that there IS NAUGHT in them for the benefit of the self in the world.
And this in itself is a difficult thing to face; that naught can be for the self in the world. We should KNOW however that in the right reading of the Master’s words that this IS the True Way to discipleship and ALL other thoughts, attitudes and actions are based in the illusion and the glamour against which we MUST stand. The Master tells us that we should:
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
Most believe that this saying refers only to the physical things of the Earth that treasure is money and wealth and possessions but the deeper meaning is found in the reality that there are no such things in the Kingdom of Heaven. Here we see the reality of the Master’s words to the rich young man saying: “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven” (Mark 10:21) which, when we understand that the Kingdom IS within us, brings us a very different understanding. Not that we trade the worlds goods for the Peace and Joy of heaven but that we trade the very thoughts and attitudes that we treasure for the Peace and the Joy of heaven here and now. We should also see this reality of treasure in this saying from Jesus: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45). Here in our understanding of the heart of man, that it IS his consciousness and his awareness in this world, we should be able to see the depths of this idea of treasure; that it IS as much a psychic treasure as it IS a physical one.
Here men can claim that this only involves physical treasure and wealth and that if we treat our treasure ‘spiritually’ then we are understanding this saying but this IS NOT the Truth, the Truth is as we say here, that this treasure IS every thing to which we are attached and attracted, every thing that we call our own and every thought or attitude that we hold dear. John Gill tells us this regarding the idea of treasure in heaven: lay up your earthly treasures in heaven; that is, put them into the hands of God in heaven; and this is done, by liberally communicating to the poor; by which means men “provide themselves bags which wax not old, and a treasure in heaven that faileth not”, ( Luke 12:33 ). They shall never want any good thing here, and they “lay up in store for themselves, a good foundation against the time to come”, ( 1 Timothy 6:18 1 Timothy 6:19 ). This is the way to have worldly treasure secured from moth, rust, and thieves; for to lay it up in heaven with God, to give it to him, to his poor, to make use of it for his glory, is to lay it up in a place 8. Can we see our point here? That we believe that this treasure IS ALL things that become important to a man, ALL things that are his focus and that take his time and his attention while the ‘authorities’ believe that it is fine to have physical treasure so long as we give and they give no credit to these other treasures. However, it IS possible and normal that we could be dissuaded and drop our own idea because it is not the view of those who we may think DO KNOW.
And there is much in His words that fall into similar scenarios where the world and the aspirant may disagree and which can have the effect of keeping the aspirant in doubt and in uncertainty as though he IS standing alone on an island. It IS however in the Wisdom from above and in fruit of the Spirit that we find our resolve and it IS also in the totaltity of the Master’s words which do cover our every concern. And for the difficulty we have the Master’s words as well as He tells us that we can accomplish in striving, in continually facing forward and marching toward our goal, in continually assessing our position and our place and in continually standing against the forces of illusion and glamour and those who use these unknowingly in pronouncements of ‘authority’, that we can overcome. There are few who DO overcome but there are many who can if they can find the wherewithal to stand.
- “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:23-24).
- “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).
In these sayings we have our reality and our sense of difficulty and the rest of our ideas on this we read into our thoughts by way of Jesus other words and on the Truth that this strait gate IS found in keeping His words and, because this IS NOT a black and white affair, we DO NOT just turn on this ability as a switch, that we must ever strive. Taking this back to our previous discussion, this ALL begins with Love; there IS NO other way to keep His words and there is no greater way to strive. We ended yesterday with some words from John’s Gospel that set us as equal to the apostles by way of keeping His words and we repeat these here again so that we can continue from that perspective in the next post:
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17: 20, 21-23).
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.
This is the Prayer of Saint Francis which we repeat again from a previous post as our Quote of the Day. If we were all to accept these ideas as guiding Lights in our lives, we would be expressing the Love and the Faith that the Master teaches. It is attributed to the 13th-century saint Francis of Assisi, although the prayer in its present form cannot be traced back further than 1912*. Regardless of the True authorship, the sentiments revealed in this prayer are genuine and are in keeping the intent of the teachings of the Master and His apostles. We should note here that the dying is not necessarily the death of the body but the death of the carnal man in the world when one is born again. In this context we read this about Saint Francis: Francis was the son of a wealthy foreign cloth merchant in Assisi, and he lived the high-spirited life typical of a wealthy young man, even fighting as a soldier for Assisi. While going off to war in 1204, Francis had a vision that directed him back to Assisi, where he lost his taste for his worldly life**. Here is the antithesis of the rich young man of the gospels. While he may not have authored this prayer, many do attribute it to him and in reading about his Life one can easily see these ideas in his heart.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
This is a prayer that is Truly in line with the teachings of the Master and the ideals encapsulated in this should be those that govern our lives and our prayer should be that ALL can see Life in this same way. We should try to see the reality of these words in the verses above regarding feeding and visiting the least of His and our brethren; in these words is a deeper meaning, as clearer expression of Love and, we should look at the Master’s words above as an expression of Love and not merely in the terms that He presents as this is the intent of the entirety of His teachings.
Additional background information on Saint Francis of Assisi can be found in a rather lengthy article in the Catholic Encyclopedia; a link to this is provided below.†
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts!
- 8 Bible commentaries on BibleStudyTools.com
- † Link to New Advent http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06221a.htm*
- * Wikipedia contributors. “Prayer of Saint Francis.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 24 Jan. 2013.
- **Wikipedia contributors. “Francis of Assisi.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 24 Jan. 2013.
