I certainly appreciate the thoughts, Q, and I think simplicity
is best. I assume Thomas will have some sort of rebuttal, but in the meantime ... (and apologies before hand for length ...
so much for simplicity! 
)
Mmmm, my argument is that God is not a being
beyond order, reason & logic. I think the Divine Reason, of which unconditional love, compassion, and forgiveness are expressions, is something which none of us has yet perfected (though there are those who
have!). But just because we do not yet understand things, and thus refer to them as
Mysteries, does not mean that they violate Universal Laws. In fact, just the opposite!
It is by understanding Universal Laws, and learning to apply them at
subtler and subtler levels of our being ... that we gain mastery -
first over the world around us (and I can hear Thomas objecting and calling this black magic, so let me rephrase -
mastery over our expression IN the outer world), and
second, even over our higher nature - or that spiritual aspect of our being which is Divine, is Holy, and is Pure
already, on its own (or rather, by virtue of its participation in the Life of God) ... but is simply, relative to the Divine,
as yet undeveloped, or not fully unfolded.
So, although this is a Christian forum, I will not hestitate to put it in terms of the Eastern practice: Buddhistically, we must live the life of outer purity if we are to receive empowerments or initiations, and if we are to expect these to stimulate the
better parts of our nature, and not the lesser (the vices). We work to cast off the fetters of the personality - the illusions & delusions brought about by life in the world,
sakkyaditthi (the delusion of a separate self),
doubt, irritability, pride, etc. - and eventually the innate
Buddha Nature (St. Paul's
Christ in you, the Hope of Glory) is able to radiate forth unhindered. This needs but further cultivation & development (through spiritual service), leading us all to Buddhahood. Christ taught no different. He simply had a different audience, and thus he expressed the same
Ancient & Universal Teachings differently. He was the
Perennial Philosopher par excellence, as well as the Hierophant of the Mysteries (presiding over the first Two Initiations), and truly, the Human Savior for both the Piscean and Aquarian Eras.
To put this into Christian terms, Christ taught, with the assistance of his disciple
Jeshua ben Josef, that the Royal Road, or spiritual path (of discipleship), open to
all people, regardless of outer creeds or religious practices (or even lack thereof!), leads to the Bliss of Union with the Divine - the
Father (
Abba) of which he spoke, and with whom He, Himself, had already attained union in previous embodiments (incarnations, or rebirths). Christ emphasized that although the attainment of such bliss is good, it is by no means the highest goal, or highest attainment, of the Human Soul ... for in revealing that He, Himself, was a former Nirvanee, or
Liberated Soul, he naturally left the obvious question -
"Why, then, are you still among us?" This
certainly leads us to ponder the Higher Mysteries, which indicate (but are seldom, seldom appreciated) that
Human Perfection,
attainable and destined for all (!!!) ... is but a doorway. The door that opens, upon the taking of a certain High Initiation (the 6th, or
Decision Initiation), leads us to the Higher Spiritual Path, and for the majority of Humanity that translates (a telling word, pregnant with meaning) into existence
within the Star Sirius (obscure as that surely sounds).
Christ codified, or symbolized, the path of discipleship, leading to Initiation, through the following
Five Great Events from his lifetime:
the Birth, the Baptism, the Transfiguration ... the `Renunciation' (or Crucifixion
) ... and the Resurrection/Ascension. In truth of fact, Christ Himself, being a High Initiate, did not undergo these experiences; rather it was the
Syrian Initiate, or Nazarene, who
recapitulated or symbolized the first three of these, accomplished
even for him in prior incarnations. Certainly during the
Baptism experience, at the river Jordan, a great event
did take place, as the Christ "entered in" to the personality of the Initiate Jesus. None of us can possibly imagine what it means to
so fully step out of the way, that the Christ could express Himself thus, yet we do, I presume, seek to do the same on a daily basis, as fully & best as possible ... and in these days of the
Reappearance, Christ overshadows many, many disciples, the world over - as well as the hearts & minds of Humanity at large. This, in addition to a presumed physical expression, perhaps within 20 years or fewer.
The Transfiguration Initiation shows us that the physical, emotional/astral, and mental/mind bodies are fully purified/mastered/consecrated to service, as Peter, James, and John, symbolic of these three ... are
cast down (pure symbolism!) - and the
Initiate Jesus is raised up! To do the same within our own, little lives (exalt the Spiritual above the personality, leading eventually to the 3rd, or Transfiguration Initiation), is to guarantee that Christ will fulfil
his promise - and show the way to
all of Humanity. And
in part, that is what it means to "
lift him up." For Christ dwells within each of us, whether attended and exalted -
or no. And Christ comes to us
in Aquarius to continue the Teaching he started in Pisces - and reveal the Higher Path, or Path of Greater Mysteries, having shown us the Lesser Mysteries, leading through the first two Initiations, in Pisces.
Some will certainly take the 4th, or
Renunciation Initiation in Aquarius, and yet the fact that this sacrifice is
so little understood is evidenced by the belief of most christians that somehow the death of Jesus brings them life eternal. Nothing could be a worse perversion and mis-statement of Christ's teachings. And here's why: St. Paul knew the Mystery, for
He Himself (worthy of the same honor & respect as Jesus before him)
also took the 4th Initiation, or
passed the portal of the Crucifixion/Renunciation. He expressed this in the words, "I die daily," leaving it to us to understand the Mystery of the Phoenix, so beautifully demonstrated by the Christ and by
Christ-Jesus. Even an advanced Initiate (3rd Degree, for example) can make errors, and the karma of such errors is great. Because such a person has
tremendous influence over the minds & hearts of men, it comes as no surprise that St. Paul
before his "conversion" (4th Initiation) did such great damage, perhaps as much as the other Apostles combined ... to the Mission & Teaching of Christ. Since then, however, his contributions as
Iamblichus, and as the Master
Hilarion, have more than atoned for his errors 2100 years ago.
But this is an aside, and the symbolism of the Renunciation of Jesus is, as I say, all but lost. The Church can be thanked for this, including some of the very
otherwise-Great theologians who are so cherished in catholic tradition. Still, I agree that we can look to Clement of Alexandria for wisdom, and to Origen (who
most certainly did teach Rebirth, or
reincarnation, just as did the Buddha ... Origen himself being either
overshadowed by Jesus, or else a
literal incarnation of Jesus, following his lifetime as Appollonius of Tyana). But even the apostles surely failed to grasp the true meaning, nature, and spiritual role of the Renunciation (4th Initiation). It need not always lead to or involve physical death, yet it is a sacrifice
far, far greater than a thousand deaths of the physical body! The well-meaning Christian who insists that "jesus died for me," echoes a truth,
imho, which he could but little comprehend ... yet he is not far at all from the plain & simple facts - and this
despite my best guess that
Jesus didn't actually even die, bodily, for he (and the Christ) needed that vehicle
far too much for the work that had yet to be done, and karma would not have allowed the creation of another so soon.
Jesus
symbolized for us the then-final Initiation, the Fifth, or
Resurrection/Ascension, through the story
so well known to every Christian. In actuality, we are told that Jesus underwent this Initiation in his subsequent incarnation as Appollonius of Tyana, but the Christ also took Initiations (two!) at the same time Jesus did, and thus there was a
tremendous spiritual occurrence 2100 year ago. Our world was forever changed, and Deity took
one step closer to His Humanity ... this I should readily attest! Every Christian knows it, and people of almost every other faith nod in some form of assent. Why is it then, that
every other religion has room in its heart for Christ and His own Christianity, yet so many Christians close theirs
to the very teachings which complement those of their own savior? I am saddened by the perpetual insistence that "Christ alone is the only way," when this was
not his meaning in the Sermon on the Mount. Trust me, you've gotten it all wrong. And it's not a crime to say so, nor is it an offense in the slightest, except to what may be pinned
far to tightly to the sleeve of some.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are folks like me, who could stand to
practice the Dharma (the Law of Love, the Teachings of Christ & Buddha) about 99% more, and speak about 99% less. Then there are those ... who could still, at least somewhat, do likewise, and strive for greater balance. But I know many, many dozens of
true Christians, and of these, precious few talk about Christ on a daily basis, or attend church, or even pray, as such. They do not follow, or even know, any of the
trappings, and some are even religious in other respects, being Buddhist, or "New Agey," or what-have-you. When the average Christian has understood and accepted that Christ is a
World Figure and a
World Savior, and does not come
just for them (no more for them than
any other set of religious believers, in fact) -
then our world will perhaps be ready for him. The Peace among the Nations will have begun, and
into such a world the Christ will be welcomed, and able to operate. But not until then. And this is why some, who insist on certain presentations only, and on exclusivity, will
never see him, and will miss him entirely!
Why you feel (and that's a very personal question) you must
claim him for your own, and for your own alone ... I would urge you to investigate. Explore your feelings, do a little introspection. I think you might learn something,
if you do this sincerely. If you had some
bread, and say maybe some
fish ... and I was hungry - would you share? What if you only had enough for yourself. What then? What if, indeed, it was
special bread, and
special fish? Yeah, a really neat guy gave it to you, and it was the only thing you even had to remember him by. Think about it.
Christians, imo, could learn a lot from the Hindus, who are always able to simply open their hearts, minds, and the proverbial doors of their spiritual philosophy a little wider, and receive almost anyone! They have long ago learned and understood that there are many paths of approach, though each one must eventually recognize the same Divinity operative at heart (in the heart). And by that point, it matters not what our outer practices may be.
The sad part, is that even on these forums, I seldom see it discussed what are the
qualities ... the spritual values, ideals, and virtues ... which Christ (and the other Great Ones) taught. Instead, we'd rather wrangle over appearances. This is rather shallow, and surprises me - because the folks who post here should by & large be
beyond such differences. I too, should be.
Thus it was like a breath of fresh air when Ms. Alhajjri asked the question on another forum about "Why Mary?" She specifically asked,
What were her qualities? And I think if we stick to questions like this, the Thomases and the Andrews ... might learn something.
Meanwhile, I'm still excited to see some of the pieces begin to come together, which for me have always made sense, but only in recent months have
gelled into a better picture. It is always like this, but for me the need to
put my money where my mouth is ... might be at an all time high.
I know that
in essence, what I babble on about ... in on the mark. I don't need any kind of confirmation. And one day, I'd love to share it. But people (since we are all children at heart) learn by example, by observing actions, and not just by listening to words. Christ did not sit around preaching 24/7, and I would make a rough guess that his lessons were perhaps only 10% of his Teachings, maybe even 5%. The rest, was not going around doing
inexplicable miracles ... but rather he was showing his disciples, and those receptive, "
See, this is how that demonstrates," and "
Now you can observe how these things we've been discussing come together." Only thus did the disciples ever learn one thing from Him.
peace ...
Love & Light,
protokletos
