taijasi
Gnōthi seauton
Excerpted from Vision of the Nazarene, not because I cannot think for myself, or make my thoughts and feelings known (have I not done so?) ... but because I also value the direct Teaching of the Nazarene Master on this matter:
And the Master said:
Alas, for those who seek only to save themselves; for he who would save himself must strive to save others, because that very striving is the door which leads to salvation.
Truly, blessed to me is the figure who stands with one hand stretched high to receive, and the other hand stretched out to give; for God gives to those who give unto others.
And yet only the wise and joyful ones know how to give, for the foolish have nothing to offer except sad looks and lugubrious words, and a nebulous far-away reward.
"Believe as we do," they say, "and try to be like the `Man of Sorrows,' and thy reward shall be the entrance into a far-away place of continual worship, when thou art dead." But they do not add, "We ourselves have never seen that place"; and they forget that erewhile I said the Kingdom of Heaven is within and around you.
O my wise ones, what manner of a physician is he who says to his patients: "My medicine will cure thee some day very far hence?" For the skilled physician is he who can cure his patients here and now or in the near future.
But alas, much of the desire to "save" others is based upon vanity and not upon Love: for it arises not from the selfless wish that others may attain spiritual joy, but that those who seek to save them may take credit to themselves.
Countless times, through lack of understanding, have my followers besought God, saying: "Have mercy upon us, miserable sinners." Yet I say unto thee, he who repeatedly calls himself a miserable sinner blasphemes in the depths of his ignorance. For man is potentially divine and his spirit was made perfect in the image of God and is one with God.
Ay, this doctrine did I teach long ago when I said: I and my Father are One. Yet because of nescience, doubters called me a braggart and my followers exalted me as an exception to the Divine rule.
Yet what I said once I say again, and thus do I bid men to pray: "Because Thou and I are one, O Father, help me to manifest in my mind and body more of Thy Perfection, that I may become what in reality I am - the Essence of Love and Bliss."
So saith the Lord ...Alas, for those who seek only to save themselves; for he who would save himself must strive to save others, because that very striving is the door which leads to salvation.
Truly, blessed to me is the figure who stands with one hand stretched high to receive, and the other hand stretched out to give; for God gives to those who give unto others.
And yet only the wise and joyful ones know how to give, for the foolish have nothing to offer except sad looks and lugubrious words, and a nebulous far-away reward.
"Believe as we do," they say, "and try to be like the `Man of Sorrows,' and thy reward shall be the entrance into a far-away place of continual worship, when thou art dead." But they do not add, "We ourselves have never seen that place"; and they forget that erewhile I said the Kingdom of Heaven is within and around you.
O my wise ones, what manner of a physician is he who says to his patients: "My medicine will cure thee some day very far hence?" For the skilled physician is he who can cure his patients here and now or in the near future.
But alas, much of the desire to "save" others is based upon vanity and not upon Love: for it arises not from the selfless wish that others may attain spiritual joy, but that those who seek to save them may take credit to themselves.
Countless times, through lack of understanding, have my followers besought God, saying: "Have mercy upon us, miserable sinners." Yet I say unto thee, he who repeatedly calls himself a miserable sinner blasphemes in the depths of his ignorance. For man is potentially divine and his spirit was made perfect in the image of God and is one with God.
Ay, this doctrine did I teach long ago when I said: I and my Father are One. Yet because of nescience, doubters called me a braggart and my followers exalted me as an exception to the Divine rule.
Yet what I said once I say again, and thus do I bid men to pray: "Because Thou and I are one, O Father, help me to manifest in my mind and body more of Thy Perfection, that I may become what in reality I am - the Essence of Love and Bliss."
