ON LOVE; PART CMXX
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GoodWill IS Love in Action
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FIRST IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS: “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).
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WHAT THEN IS LOVE? In a general sense love is benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men. While this IS from an older definition of Charity, which IS rendered in the King James Bible from the same Greek word agape which IS generally rendered as Love, we should amend our own definition here to include the idea that in the reality of Love a man will accord to ALL men ALL things that he would accord to himself and to say that Love IS our thoughts and attitude of the equality of ALL men regardless of their outward nature or appearance…that ALL ARE equally children of Our One God
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PLUS THE EVER IMPORTANT AND HIGH IDEAL TAUGHT TO US BY THE CHRIST: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).
In the last essay we discussed the Festival of the Buddha, the Wesak Festival, which IS celebrated by Buddhists around the world and, while we may NOT KNOW that this IS a celebration of His birth or His death or even His Enlightenment, this IS a day of significance for ALL Buddhists and for ALL of humanity. When the reality of the relationship between the Buddha and the Christ can be better understood by men in this world, away from their doctrinal approach to God and away from the glamour that comes in ownership of a particular sense of Deity, the greater Truths can be seen and understood. In this we should be able to see and to understand how that while their approach to men and their teaching may seem divergent, that there IS an essential Unity in the Truths that they DO express. In the end there IS NO difference between following the Buddha through the Four Nobel Truths and the Eightfold Path and following the words of the Master as we see them in the Sermon on the Mount and His deeper teachings offered to His disciples and made available for ALL who can discern them. The end result of both of these approaches to God IS the same: they ARE the realization of the Presence of God in one’s own Life and the expression of this Presence through Life in this world.
We should understand here how that realization of the Presence of God MUST necessarily lead to the expression of what Truths ARE revealed and this IS the Way of the True disciple as well as the aspirant as ALL men will express whatsoever measure of Truth that they have received. When the reality of Truth comes into the Life of the man in this world, into his consciousness, his heart as the Master calls this, there IS NO choice but to make this one’s own expression. This IS NOT religion, this IS NOT evangelizing and this IS NOT that feeling that comes to men who believe that they ARE close to God; this IS the DOING, this IS keeping His words for the Christian and this IS following the Eightfold Path for the Buddhist. And there IS NO choice when True revelation comes….there IS NO choice because the Inner man, the Soul and the Christ Within, overwhelms the carnal sense and, while there may be a struggle as one moves through the aspirant’s and the disciple’s world of duality, there IS ever the guiding Light that the aspirant and the disciple has found.
And while the Buddhist may NOT understand the idea of the Christ Within from the Christian perspective, the idea that there IS and Inner Man DOES NOT escape him as it IS this same struggle that the words of the Buddha ARE intended to lessen and to dispel. For the Buddhist we should try to see how that by following the Way that it IS the Inner man that flourishes and it IS the Inner man who overwhelms the carnal sense as we see in these words that we have been carrying as our Quote of the Day for some time now. It IS here in the idea of choices that the man chooses the Path to what he may see as Nirvana and here we should see the reality of that state of being as that it IS the same as having the Presence of God in Life; this IS the reality of what we have been calling the trifecta: the Presence of God, the attainment of the Kingdom of God and the reality of discipleship. This trifecta IS Nirvana, this trifecta IS that state of being in the Kingdom of God which IS within and which IS our realization of the Presence of God whose Kingdom this IS.
The Apostle John can help us to understand the idea of the Christ Within as regards the view of the Buddhist and of Nirvana which IS defined by Google as: a transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth. It represents the final goal of Buddhism*. The keyword here for us should be that this Nirvana IS a transcendent state and when the Christian can look at the idea of the Kingdom of God in this same way, a better understanding will be achieved and the Truth of the Master’s words saying that “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21) will take its proper place in his Life. The doctrinal view of this idea of the Kingdom IS still largely based in the traditions and the doctrines of the Jews from many centuries ago; doctrines and traditions that are based in the emotionally charged Life of the man in that day and His own superstitious nature….a lack of vision and of understanding along with a sense of fear of the unknown reality of death.
John shows us how that it IS the Christ Within as “the anointing which ye have received of him” and it IS in this tone of the “unction from the Holy One” that we should see the reality of the Kingdom Within and understand the deeper meaning of revelation and realization as these bring this anointing to bear on the Life of the man in the world. This IS Nirvana then: the realization of that transcendent state in which a man comes to KNOW that unction, that anointing, that IS the Soul, the Christ Within, and it IS in this realization that a man expresses what has been revealed to his conscious mind by measure; the same measure by which he follows the Eightfold Path, the same measure by which he keeps His words. This should be clear from the context of the apostle’s words saying:
“But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him” (1 John 2:20-27).
While doctrines may see these words in terms of the antichrist and as they ARE in support of the developed Christian doctrines, the greater Truths ARE found in the whole of the idea of the unction. When we can see how that it IS the anointing that “teacheth you of all things” and that it IS through one’s realization of this unction that “ye know all things“, the greater ideas can be discerned and one can understand the apostle’s point that to NOT KNOW that the Christ IS come and to NOT KNOW that relationship between the Son and the Father IS to NOT have such realization of the anointing, the Christ Within, in one’s Life. And here, as we look again at the Buddhist and understand that he will NOT KNOW Christ or the anointing or any of these Christian ideas, we should see however that he will KNOW the nature of that transcendent state of being. We should understand that to come to this realization one must NOT deny the reality of Nirvana any more than one can deny the reality of the Kingdom and the Presence of God and we should try here to properly understand how that this idea of deny IS NOT merely a verbal thing but rather a state of mind that DOES NOT SEE.
It IS in the reality of the greater Truth of the transcendent state that we find the intent of the apostle’s words on this anointing and understand that it IS in this state of realization that a man can “know all things“. There should be NO mystery here in these ideas of realization save for the confusion that comes from one’s own mind as he IS conflicted by those things that he has come to KNOW through his nurturing, his experience and, yes, his accepted doctrines which elevate such ideas as the antichrist to be above the intended thoughts on one’s own realization of Truth. We should see here in John’s words two other things as well; first that he has NOT “not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it“; in this we should see our own idea that ALL of these writings ARE intended for the man who IS the disciple and the aspirant, the man who IS striving to keep His words. The second IS John’s earlier reference to the antichrist where he shows us his own belief that the end IS near much in the same way as this has happened through the centuries and even yet today; we read: “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” (1 John 2:18).
It IS in this mold that the many theories of eschatology have been formulated and there ARE entire philosophies that explore and teach these ideas that ARE based only on tradition and doctrines and in men’s interpretation of ideas that they have taken literally from the words of the Master and His apostles; words that have deeper meanings than translations and interpretations reveal. By example, much of an eschatologic bent IS taken from the Apostle Paul’s words to the Thessalonians where we read: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
Here, while the common belief IS that the Lord IS Himself descending from heaven and then taking back with Him all ‘believers‘ as they “meet the Lord in the air“, a better understanding can come from alternate translations as in this from Young’s Literal Translation: “because the Lord himself, in a shout, in the voice of a chief-messenger, and in the trump of God, shall come down from heaven“. Can we see here how that it can be the word of God that comes down from heaven and, when we consider that “the kingdom of God is within you” the whole nature of Paul’s meaning changes. While these ideas from the apostle ARE obscure and likely intentionally so, they ARE taken literally by most and have become part of several varying doctrines regarding an end time that DOES NOT exist in the reality of the Life of the True man, the Soul, the Christ Within. Here we repeat again our charge against doctrines of men which take literally such things as these while they ignore the Master’s words that ARE intended to be taken in a most literal fashion; words such as:
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:21-24).
And the Buddhist IS also victim to these aberrations of Truth that pose as doctrines. They too have doctrines that teach such eschatology and while these may differ somewhat from the Christian doctrinal view, they ARE both founded in the reality that men DO NOT see clearly the Truth of their own existence. That this created world can and likely will find its demise IS NOT questioned here but the effect upon the True man most certainly IS; and we should remember here that the Truth of Life and of the Kingdom of God IS a protected mystery….one that IS protected from men until such time as they can more clearly see. For both the Christian and the Buddhist there IS ever the burden of doctrines that must be seen for what they ARE in relation to the Truths that the words of God Truly reveal; words that ARE ONLY revealed to the man who will DO the necessary work to bring the Inner man into his Life in this world. The Master’s words above ARE rather clear insofar as keeping His words as well as what we see the reward for DOING: the Presence of God. There IS much similarity between this Presence, which IS the Truth that will make us free according to our sense of the trifecta and His words saying “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32), and the reality of freedom that the Buddha shows us below as the result of DOING such things of joy;
Live in joy, in love, even among those who hate.
Live in joy, in health, even among the afflicted.
Live in joy, in peace, even among the troubled.
Live in joy, without possessions.
Like the shining ones.
The winner sows hatred because the loser suffers.
Let go of winning and losing and find joy.
There is no fire like passion, no crime like hatred,
No sorrow like separation, no sickness like hunger,
And no joy like the joy of freedom.
There IS clarity here insofar as what must be done and while the idea of freedom IS but alluded to, we should try to see that this IS the result of those joys in which a man will Truly Live. And we should understand here that as the Master’s words show us that we have the fullness of His Presence, the fullness of discipleship and the fullness of the Kingdom of God in keeping His words entirely, so the Buddha’s words reflect that it IS following ALL His precepts that will bring a man the fullness of “the joy of freedom“. We close today as we closed the last essay, with the words of the Buddha on the Way. In these words we should endeavor to see the reality of the instructions offered as the Master offers His and we should try to see in the Buddha’s idea of detachment, the Master’s own thoughts on forsaking ALL which he gives us NOT only in terms of possession but in terms of ALL things that bind a man and his focus to the things of the world. We read this in His words saying “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26) and we should remember here how that the Truth of discipleship IS a part of our trifecta. Finally we should see the Buddha’s final point regarding the idea that men MUST DO and understand that this IS NOT unlike the Master who came and showed us in His words and His example the Way of Truth as the way for us to follow.
The way is eightfold.
There are four truths.
All virtue lies in detachment.
The master has an open eye.
This is the only way,
The only way to the opening of the eye.
Follow it.
Outwit desire.
Follow it to the end of sorrow.
When I pulled out sorrow’s shaft
I showed you the way.
It is you who must make the effort.
The masters only point the way.5
We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.
| Aspect |
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.
GOODWILL IS
LOVE IN ACTION
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: James 2:8
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Galatians 5:14
Our Quote of the Day is a stylized version of the footer that has been a part of this blog from the beginning. It is in a few words our motto and our slogan and as we have posted so many times, it is the method par excellence of bringing about a world in Peace and in Harmony. The words of the Master that accompany our motto here are the source for our understanding of GoodWill and our method of practice and the words of His apostles are their echo of the second part of the Greatest Commandment as enunciated by the Christ. Let us all strive to do our part for in so doing we are doing as the Master instructed; we are striving to enter at the strait gate into His Glorious Kingdom.
This idea of GoodWill takes on added meaning as we approach the third of the annual festivals this year. Beginning with the Festival of Easter which IS followed by the recent Festival of Wesak, the Festival of GoodWill IS the third and comes to us at the full moon of June, the Gemini full moon which IS on June 2, 2015. While there IS much symbolism in the full moon idea, the reality for us IS more simple and IS intended to show the relationships between the Christ and the Buddha and the Truth of Love and humanity. This festival IS alternately call the Christ Festival, the Festival of Humanity and World Invocation Day and it IS ALL of these qualities plus the unifying idea of GoodWill that should be seen flowing through the ideas behind it.
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts
- 4 Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition, 1888
- 5 The Dhammapada Translated by Thomas Byrom
