We Are One With God

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Below is the first chapter from my metaphysical primer, Take Away The Stone: Resurrecting The God Within, recently republished on Amazon with updated content. 

“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30

“Now that which is that subtile essence (the root of all), in it all that exists has its self. It is the True. It is the Self, and thou, O Svetaketu, art it.” Khandoyga Upanishad

“And indeed We have created man, and We know whatever thoughts his inner self develops, and We are closer to him than (his) jugular vein.” Quran 50:10

To the average religious person – reared in the traditions of orthodox belief – the idea that Divinity dwells in the human heart reeks of heresy. Having been brought up with a picture of the Infinite as an angry old man in the sky, dispensing rewards and punishments as he pleases, they regard with dogmatic suspicion the notion that Deity is “closer than breathing, nearer than hands and feet.” This sectarian attitude is personified vividly in the Gospel of John as the group who sought to stone Jesus for uttering the above quoted truth.

“Because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” (John 10:33)

To which the Master replied:

““Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’?” (John 10:34)

Referring to the sixth verse of the 82nd Psalm:

“I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’”

This is only a reiteration of the truth given in the first chapter of Genesis:

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

When we see through our eyes, not merely with them, we discover the true spirit of the Scriptures stretched in smiling repose, behind the stumbling block of the literal letter which kills true understanding; in this instance the lesson being that, despite the seeming differences of race, language, and religion, we are the progeny of “One God and Father… who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:6) whether we know this Power as Allah, Jehovah, Brahma, Tao, the All, the Absolute, Reality, Nature, or Life.

Science reinforces this idea, showing us that the myriad forms of life share the same fundamental building blocks biologically, chemically, and molecularly. “We are all one” as Nikola Tesla observed, conduits of the same vital energy in which we “live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

Beyond the bounds of biology, on every link of the Great Chain of Being, each form of manifested Life – from the smallest pebble to the human genius embodied in an Einstein or Shakespeare – possesses some form of consciousness; which modern science is increasingly identifying as perhaps the fundamental factor in our perception and experience of the physical world. It is that innate awareness animating the vibrational orbit of the smallest particle, guiding the plant towards the nourishing sunlight, serving as the instincts of our animal brethren, and spurring humanity on to greater heights of creativity and ingenuity.

This intangible but potent power has been called Cosmic Consciousness, Universal Mind, Buddha Nature, Atman, the Superconscious, the subconscious, and the Oversoul among other names, but was known to the ancient Hebrews as the great I AM or Yahweh, translated as Jehovah and rendered as the Lord and God in subsequent English translations of the Bible. The name most famously appears in Chapter 3 of the Book of Exodus, when Moses sees the essence of God in the burning bush in the wilderness and, being tasked with liberating the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt, asks, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” (Exodus 3:13-14)

Throughout the Gospels Jesus expressed his understanding of and relationship with this power, which he called “the Father within” and has been dubbed Christ Consciousness by some spiritual schools, to differentiate the man Jesus from the illumined state of consciousness he attained (Christ being a title rather than a surname, derived from the Greek Christos, meaning “anointed one”):

“Before Abraham was, I am!” (John 8:58)

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples… “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:13, 15)

As shown in the first example at the beginning of this chapter Jesus didn’t claim to have a monopoly on access to this Power:

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me (the I AM or Christ consciousness) will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these.” (John 14:12)

The Apostle Paul expounded upon this same point in his letters:

“God has chosen to make known… the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27, emphasis added)

“Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you?” (2 Corinthians 13:5, emphasis added)

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20, emphasis added)

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5 King James Version, emphasis added)

Both Jesus and Paul are talking about an impersonal spiritual power (Christ), rather than an individual human personality (the historical man called Jesus of Nazareth). Taking the above literally (that the physical man Jesus is dwelling in us) would leave us in the darkness of confusion, but thankfully “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33, King James Version)

We’ll discover further how the Biblical writers, using the story of Jesus, were trying to illustrate how every person could attain conscious contact with the indwelling I AM to realize “the freedom and glory of the children of God.” (Romans 8:21) Let us begin this eye opening process by delving deeper into the nature of this eternal, omnipresent principle.

#MeToo: A New Thought Perspective

Source: The Daily Beast

Out of the trying year that was 2017, there was arguably no greater seismic cultural watershed than the #MeToo movement. Heralded as a long overdue reckoning of the institutionalized misogyny in entertainment, politics, business, academia, and just about every walk of life, it has led to the ouster or repudiation of figures once esteemed in their respective fields, including: Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Louis C.K., Bill O'Reilly, former Senator Al Franken, Mario Batali, and perhaps most infamously Donald Trump, who now occupies the White House. Response to the visceral revelations of predatory behavior, and the subsequent calling out of the patriarchal attitude which sired it, has gone one of two ways. 

Conservative leaning men (and women for that matter) have been violently defensive and suspicious of the aims of the movement, with some viewing it as the latest incarnation of an vast ultra - feminist conspiracy to further advance an all-consuming male hating agenda. Others have followed the lead of President Trump - who has loudly denounced his own accusers as liars with a political ax to grind - and one time Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, who denied knowing any of the women who accused him of misconduct - in dismissing the veracity of claims put forward by the movement, citing sensationalized examples like the discredited 2014 Rolling Stone UVA rape story and the 2006 Duke University Lacrosse scandal.

Conversely others have gone to the other extreme, becoming ardently gung-ho in denouncing and crusading against such egregious behavior, only to be called onto the carpet for their own misdeeds (as in the case of ex-Senator Franken, who made it his zealous mission to expose "the depravity of Republicans"). Whether born out of paranoid fear of a feminist witch hunt, a sense of self-righteous superiority, or from a guilt driven attempt to overcompensate for past failures, such knee-jerk responses only serve to perpetuate the problem, adding to the noxious din of sound and fury that pollutes all attempts at real resolution, not to mention trivializing the all too real experiences of victims.

This begs the question: Does New Thought and mental metaphysical philosophy offer a mature middle path to thoughtfully navigate, reflect, and respond to this volatile issue, one that doesn't further fan the flames of the partisan fire, along with respecting the experiences of victims? I submit that it does.

"But," some may say, "doesn't New Thought claim that we bring our circumstances on ourselves through our thoughts and feelings? Won't that reinforce an attitude of victim blaming toward accusers?"

A most valid point, and one that any student or practitioner of mind metaphysics must consider.  While the central premise of New Thought - which is a syncretic blend of Western and Eastern spiritual/metaphysical philosophies - is that our mental states are causative of individual and collective experience, its primary emphasis is on the up-building and refinement of individual character, rather than the divisive "us vs. them" moral judgmentalism of traditional religion. Though, unfortunately, some New Thought teachers have issued dogmatic statements more in keeping with the latter mode (like the claim of Rhonda Byrne, author of The Secret, that victims found themselves a part of tragedies like the Holocaust "because their dominant thoughts were on the same frequency of such events"), a more nuanced view lies at the heart of the philosophy.  As metaphysical historian and author Mitch Horowitz writes:

"Spiritual insight arrives through self-observation—not in analyzing, or justifying, the suffering experienced by others. To judge others is to work without any self-verification, which is the one pragmatic tool of the spiritual search. The private person who can maturely and persuasively claim self-responsibility for his own suffering, or who can endure it as an inner obligation, shines a light for others. The person who justifies someone else’s suffering, in this case through collective fault, only casts a stone."


This ethic of radical, or transcendental, self accountability, stands in stark contrast to the deflecting projection engaged in by the sides mentioned above, who continue to insist that groups of nefarious "others" are orchestrating a modern day Inquisition against men; or that it's only those "conservative hypocrites" and "sexist dinosaurs" who are perpetrating such offenses. Rather than viewing it as an opportunity to take stock of our own attitudes as men toward sex, dating, and gender dynamics - and if said attitudes are contributing either consciously or unconsciously to the larger problem - we: A. Cry "conspiracy!", circle the wagons, and try to paint ourselves as the true victims or B. Insist that we would never engage in such vile sexist behavior.  

If I sound like I'm speaking from experience, you'd be right. As a former high school "jock" I absorbed through osmosis the old "boys will be boys" attitude, which viewed forceful come-ons, pick up lines, and the "No really means yes" concept as perfectly natural behavior, reinforced by affirmations of "Atta boy!" and "That's how a real man scores!" This dovetailed into my college years when I made the 180 into conservative Christianity, simmering over how women always picked 'assholes'  over 'good' guys like me, who would never treat them like that (all while mentally condemning them as sluts, of course). It was much easier to blame the deceptive 'wiles' of the opposite sex (Eve had tempted Adam after all: and yes, that was a real thought I had) than to look inward and see how my domineering, obnoxious, and close minded attitude was a major turnoff, which I was able to finally do at long last a few years later.

It is this aggressive, primal, and hostile side of the psyche that Carl Jung aptly described as the Shadow. If not addressed and incorporated into conscious awareness by the individual, the ignored or neglected Shadow is projected outward on other individuals and groups who are labeled threats or enemies. And as history has shown, the collective shadow of a nation, race, or religion can be channeled and directed toward the most hideous ends, ending in genocide, religious persecution, war, and other atrocities. Indeed, it has been suggested that the election of President Trump and the subsequent rise of the "Alt-Right" is a direct reflection of the repressed contents of the Shadow of the American psyche.    

To make any lasting headway politically and socially when it comes to the issue of sexual assault and abuse, the reactive attitude of projection must end. If the mantra of "We, the People" is to evolve past a cheap platitude, we must cease blaming everything and everyone - Feminists, liberals, the Russians, the Illuminati, and the whole roster of bogeymen - and realize that all of us men in some way, shape, or form, have laid the cobblestones of thought and belief that constitute the road of our present course. The following injunction of Jesus has never been more relevant:

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." (Matthew 7:3 - 5)


And as Jung wrote in his "Psychology and Religion":

"If you imagine someone who is brave enough to withdraw all his projections, then you get an individual who is conscious of a pretty thick shadow. Such a man has saddled himself with new problems and conflicts. He has become a serious problem to himself, as he is now unable to say that they do this or that, they are wrong, and they must be fought against… Such a man knows that whatever is wrong in the world is in himself, and if he only learns to deal with his own shadow he has done something real for the world. He has succeeded in shouldering at least an infinitesimal part of the gigantic, unsolved social problems of our day."

Such a unsparing process of self-inventory and examination may not generate headlines or make for quick soundbites, but it is the time tested Middle Way through which genuine progress is possible.  

  

New Year, New Projects

Source: connectsavannah.com

A belated Happy New Year, dear readers! After a bit of a meditative hiatus during the last few months of 2017, I'm back with a charged creative battery and a new slew of projects in the works for 2018, including:

- A wide-ranging weekly feature to be posted on this blog, covering the intersection of metaphysics, the paranormal, spirituality, current events, and pop culture.

- A continuing collaboration with paranormal researcher, author, and musician Joe Cetrone, including a soon to be launched podcast and a forthcoming collection of supernatural/horror short stories, tentatively titled Suspicions of Destiny: Frightening Tales from Beyond. Updates and information on both will be posted here, so stay tuned!

- A companion volume to my metaphysical primer, Take Away The Stone, titled The Art and Science of Prayer, which will examine the principles and mechanics behind effective prayer techniques and how to apply them for practical, concrete results.

- New article contributions to the popular New Thought blog, HarvBishop.com, which ran two of my posts last year. 

- And a couple of other surprises to look out for!

I'm aiming to have my first post of the New Year up by next week. Until then: onward, upward, and God-ward!

Metaphysical Bible Meditations - 9/12/17

The Pharisees question Jesus. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Welcome back, readers! In today's post we will be examining verses 37-52 of Luke Chapter 11, which as we will see serve to expound on some of the points explored in our last post. 

"And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.

And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.

And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?"

Jesus, or illumined reason, enters the house (mental dwelling place or atmosphere) of the Pharisee (belief in the supremacy of outward conformity to creed or dogma), to elucidate further on the discourse he began in previous verses regarding the importance of internal belief in and conviction of Divine principle over slavish performance of hollow, man-made ritualism. The Pharisees, scribes, and lawyers present are all personifications of the various concepts comprising the holier than thou attitude of religious dogmatism which, despite its incessant confessions of belief in the power of God, places emphasis on secondary material effects, theoretical philosophies and sectarian theologies. They foolishly champion adherence to the letter of the law (outside of the cup or physical effects) while neglecting the animating spirit of the law (inside of cup or internal I AM shaping all physical circumstance and experience). 

"But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them."

We are called to "give alms of such things" as we have, i.e. giving up those prejudices, predilections, and proclivities of thought and belief, which lead us to criticize and condemn as "unclean" the ideas and actions of others with whom we disagree, as well as placing ourselves in limitation of expression, for of fear of engaging in an "unclean" act. Once this log of ignorance is removed from our mind's eye we will see with St. Paul that "there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him that regardeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean." (Romans 14:14) And as Shakespeare said through Hamlet, "For there is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

Once more Jesus refers to the Pharisaical mind's misguided emphasis on external conditions and rituals (illustrated in the form of the sacrificial herbs) over the judgment and love of God (knowledge and application of psycho - spiritual principles and the vitalizing constructive element of love and respect toward God in all forms) demonstrated by their egoistic pleasure in receiving the perks of their religious office, while neglecting the finer points of the Law of God. Through their assumed air and appearance of being holy, wise, and pious on the surface, the Pharisee thoughts and beliefs are "as graves which appear not", leading unsuspecting seekers down into the pit of soul killing superstition, fear, shame, guilt, etc. 

"Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.

And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.

Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.

Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:

That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered."

The lawyers, which represent the unyielding legalistic attitude, give utmost primacy to obeying the exact letter of the law, lay heavy burdens by forcing all to meet every one of their narrow edicts. In laying too much stress on the oppressive mechanistic power of the law they eschew the guiding principle of which the law is the medium, i.e. mercy, equity, justice, and harmony. "For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Cor. 3:6) In elevating the isolated operation of their part over the integrated function of the whole, they sow the seeds of disharmony, confusion, and ultimately chaos, individually and collectively.

"Hear, O Israel (awakened and illumined consciousness): The LORD our God (Universal Spirit) is one LORD (in nature, essence, and function)." (Deuteronomy 6:4)

It is adherence to this attitude which results in the killing (through denial and neglect) of the prophets (Divine archetypes and ideas of God's inherent Goodness and Wholeness, looking to bring the spiritual system back into balance).  The "lawyer" consciousness has reared its head countless times through the ages whether in the collective form of inquisitions, dictatorships, oligarchies, tyrannical households, and in the minds of individuals as various complexes and neuroses, persecuting those who dare to speak out and dissent from their superstitious, limiting beliefs. "The blood of the prophets" (the effects of the misapplied and abused Divine Power/Energy) is required of "this generation", who continue to dwell in the same state of ignorant cruelty  as their fathers (destructive concepts and beliefs). Unwilling to transcend the bounds of their own prejudiced limitations, they seek to deny others the knowledge to do likewise, in the collective forms of religious edict, civil oppression, familial tyranny as well as individual psychological complexes, neuroses, and phobias.

I hope you enjoyed today's post! Until next time, keep on keeping onward, upward, and God-ward.

  

Metaphysical Bible Meditations - 9/6/2017

The Sign of the Prophet Jonah. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Good morning, readers: Let's launch into some verses of Luke 11 (27-36) which carry some significant symbolic import.

"And it came to pass, as he (Jesus) spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it."

The "certain woman" of the multitude personifies the attitude of mind which attributes great acts and demonstrations of wisdom to be the result of material causes, i.e. having good genetics, hereditary strengths and tendencies, or the influence of one's family and environment ("Blessed is the womb... and the paps (breasts)"). While these factors indeed have a part to play in the building up of one's character and constitution, they are ultimately subordinate to the higher functioning of spiritual and mental laws (the word of God), which when properly understood and applied can adjust or alter physical conditions for optimal expression of the indwelling Life Principle.

"And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here."

The "evil generation" is composed of the thoughts, ideas, and complexes which, despite acknowledging conceptually the unity and supremacy of God, Infinite Intelligence, Universal Mind, etc., continue to cleave to the notion of existence and necessity of evil, opposition, and the turning of the Karmic wheel, always seeking for a tangible physical "sign", or cause, to rest in, rather than inquiring further beyond the limitations of sense evidence to uncover the hidden spiritual spring. 

Both the people of Nineveh (as recorded in the Old Testament Book of Jonah) and the Queen of Sheba (whose audience with King Solomon is found in 1 Kings 10), representations of the above type of consciousness, were ultimately able to overcome their misguided beliefs through the preaching of Jonah and Solomon respectively; both prophets who, while in possession of some knowledge of the workings of Divine Mind, are still lesser than Jesus, or the fully realized expression of Christ Consciousness. Hence why they will "rise in judgment" against "this generation" of false and faulty thinking, who despite being given the sign of Jesus "the Son of Man" (the faculty of mind to discern truth from error) , refuses to repent (which is translated from the original Greek term metanoia, literally "a change of mind") from the old attitudes.

"No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light."

The single eye here refers to that psycho-spiritual quality of judgment and vision which can see and discern the underlying unity behind all diversity and multiplicity of appearances, circumstances, and experiences that the Infinite Life is through all, above all, and in all. As long as the vision remains double, giving equal attention and attributing equal power to light and dark, imperfection will remain the predominant experience in the objective world whether it be in the form of ill health, frustrated relationships, financial turmoil, or an unholy host of other maladies, individually and collectively. We are to be channels and carriers of the light, shining forth to illuminate both ourselves and others.  

I hope you enjoyed today's post! Until next time, keep on keeping onward, upward, and God-ward.

Metaphysical Bible Meditations - 9/5/2017

Jesus admonishing the Pharisees. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Good morning, readers! After deviating from last Monday's post to write about the recent slew of criticism of Joel Osteen and the Prosperity Gospel and taking a break for the holiday weekend, I'm back to pick up where we left off on our last meditation, with Luke 11: 14 - 26.

"And he (Jesus) was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.

But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.

And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven."

The people denouncing Jesus' work of psychological healing as being of "Beelzebub" (prince or lord of devils) represent those which hold the attitude of sectarianism, which upon witnessing an act that doesn't conform to what they believe to be true or for which their narrow viewpoint can't otherwise explain label it evil, or the "work of the devil", rather than inquire about it with an open mind. We need not look too far to see this attitude at work in our own world at all levels: politically, socially, scientifically, spiritually, demanding endless "signs" or justifications for why their hallowed opinions and theories have been rendered insufficient. 

"But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.

And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.

But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you."

Jesus (illumined reason personified) exposes the faultiness of this type of thinking by pointing out that, if he were indeed a servant of evil, why would he be driving out his own? Furthermore he says that, if the work he is performing is evil, then the very same efforts of the Pharisees, etc. are equally so, and they have no right to pass judgment, effectively exposing the pernicious and petty motives behind their accusations, spurred by their inability and refusal to entertain the soundness of Jesus' methods which are born of the "Kingdom of God" (union with the Healing Power and Presence through understanding).

"When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:

But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.

Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first."

In the parables of the strong man and the unclean spirits, Jesus illustrates the inefficiency of the methods employed by the Pharisees, which believe that through mere mechanical ritual and obedience to their dogma that the mind and heart will be made virtuous. Unless the mental and emotional houses are cleansed through sincere introspection and reflection, followed by strong desire to change via prayer and meditation, the habits which were temporarily quelled or suppressed due to conforming to external pressures (threats of hell, Divine punishment, Karma, etc.) will only return stronger and more formidable once the same stimuli present themselves, triggering the untreated subconscious patterns and complexes. 

"He that is not with me (creative and transforming power of the indwelling I AM) is against me: and he that gathereth (the wisdom and truth of God) not with me scattereth (through believing in evil, opposition, duality, etc.)

I hope you enjoyed today's content! Until next time, keep on keeping onward, upward, and God-ward.

Metaphysical Bible Meditations - 8/24/17

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Hello again, readers! Today we'll begin our exploration of Luke Chapter 11 with verses 1-4, which detail Jesus' teaching the Lord's Prayer to the disciples.

"And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth."

"Our Father, which art in heaven..." Here, contrary to orthodox Christian belief, Jesus is not counseling us to pray to a personal God, dwelling far off in some remote corner of space, but rather is telling us to turn to the One Source, Power, Cause, and Substance, which indwells each of us in our subconscious mind.

"God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:24

Webster's defines Spirit as "an animating or vital principle held to give life to physical organisms." As research in psychology and neuroscience has increasingly revealed, the vast majority of our biological processes, behaviors, actions, ideas, thoughts, and emotions (good, bad, or indifferent) are governed by the imprints made upon the subconscious or unconscious mind by our environments and the beliefs and opinions of parents, teachers, relatives, and peers. It is this "vital principle" that we are to "worship in spirit and in truth" by being discerning in the thoughts, attitudes, concepts, and values that we entertain and form our philosophy of life around. To paraphrase the late Dr. Joseph Murphy, author of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, the law of life is the law of belief: think good and good follows; think evil and evil follows.

With that established it logically follows that Heaven, rather than being a material realm where a personal God dwells, is symbolic of the state of conscious awareness of and union with the Divine Ideals of peace, harmony, love, compassion, wholeness, and vitality.  Even Saint Augustine, that most orthodox Church Father, thought as much, writing in his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount that heaven is "in the hearts of the righteous, as it were in His holy temple."

Furthermore:

"...God is not contained in space. For the heavens are indeed the higher material bodies of the world, but yet material, and therefore cannot exist except in some definite place; but if God's place is believed to be in the heavens, as meaning the higher parts of the world, the birds are of greater value than we, for their life is nearer to God. But it is not written, The Lord is near unto tall men, or unto those who dwell on mountains...

And for the purpose of showing this, when we stand at prayer, we turn to the east, whence the heaven rises: not as if God also were dwelling there... but in order that the mind may be admonished to turn to a more excellent nature, i.e. to God."

And as Jesus himself said, "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17: 20 -21, emphasis added).

"Hallowed be thy name..."

As written in the book of Exodus, God reveals his name to Moses from the Burning Bush as "I Am That I Am" (Exodus 3:14). A name is representative of the nature of the person, place, or object that it is affixed to. In this case, the name of "I AM" is indicative of unconditioned consciousness. We are to "hallow" the name of God (the subconscious) by meditating on "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report." (Philippians 4:8) We take this name "in vain" by wedding it with false and destructive beliefs such as "I am weak", "I am poor", "I am unwanted", "I am a failure", etc.

"Thy kingdom come..."

This represents the manifold blessings (physical, material, intellectual, spiritual) which are born of joining wholesome, constructive concepts and imagery to the creative, receptive mold of the I AM (subconscious mind).

"Thy will be done..."

The "will of God" here refers to the plan of growth, unfoldment, and evolution of the indwelling Word (Christ Consciousness) of every individual soul.

"But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it." Deuteronomy 30:14

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men." John 1: 1-4

"As in heaven..."

Heaven, as we've discovered, refers to the mental state of conscious unity with the Divine Essence.

"So in earth..."

The realm of earth, metaphysically, refers to the objective, three dimensional plane on which the contents we impregnate our subconscious minds with are given physical manifestation on the screen of space. This is at the heart of the well known Hermetic axiom, "As within, so without."

"Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil."

"Our daily bread" is the bounty we receive when we tune in to the Infinite Storehouse, which "knoweth what things" we have need of and will bestow to us "pressed down, and shaken together, and running over" when we ask in confident faith. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1

"The forgiveness of sins", when stripped of the sense of wallowing guilt and self pity with which it has unfortunately been equated, is nothing more than the active cleansing and renewal of the subconscious mind, sifting out our false beliefs and perceptions, and cultivating new ones through dedicated and affirmative study, prayer, and meditation. We are also to "forgive" others who may have wronged us by changing our view of them, seeing them in a new light by wishing for them all the blessings of life. In doing this they no longer hold the "debt" of our previous judgment of them.

God, or Universal Spirit, being Love itself, does not "lead us into temptation." It is the metaphorical devils of ignorance, fear, and jealously which divert us from the path of perfection, leading us into limitation and calamity of all kinds (see James 1:12 - 15). Jesus, knowing this, was simply telling us to affirm and cleave to the good in thought, word, and deed, which "keeps us from evil."  

I hope you enjoyed today's content! Until next time, keep on keeping onward, upward, and God-ward.

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Metaphysical Bible Meditations - 8/23/17

Source: artbible.net

Good morning readers! Today's reading will focus on the last verses from the 10th chapter of Luke's Gospel, 38-42, which contain one of the shortest but richest troves of metaphysical insight in the New Testament, contained in the well known story of Jesus in the home of Martha and Mary.

"Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

But Martha was cumbered about much serving..."

The Gospel writer, through this story, powerfully illustrates and contrasts two methods of devotion toward the I AM presence (personified in Jesus). Martha represents the active, service orientated state of conscious dedication to spiritual principles, which while starting from a place of sincere and and loving intention to unfold the faculties of the indwelling I AM (depicted in the story as Martha's rushing to and fro to minister to Jesus)  becomes caught up in the realm of physical action and effects. Losing its original spiritual compass, this attitude falls into the commonly held belief that only through great struggle and toil can illumination be reached.

Perceiving the receptive and engaged presence of her sister Mary (the still, assured soul), who sits attentively in the present moment at the feet of Jesus (I AM) to receive inspiration and strength, to be idleness, Martha petitions Jesus:

"Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me."

Jesus, knowing that Martha's steadfast devotion was a necessary step toward contacting the I AM, does not rebuke her, rather taking the opportunity to tell her that she would do well to emulate her sister's spirit of attunement to the now, and not let her works become mere rote habits and rituals, devoid of Divine Love and Inspiration:

"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

May we all be mindful to always choose "that good part" by honoring the Divine in every moment, now matter how seemingly trivial or insignificant.

Stay tuned until tomorrow, when we will launch into Luke chapter 11!

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Metaphysical Bible Meditations - 8/22/17

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Hello again, dear readers! I hope you were able to enjoy yesterday's spectacular celestial event of the eclipse. For today's metaphysical meditation we'll pick up once more with chapter 10 of the Gospel of Luke, verses 25 - 37.

"And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?"

The lawyer seeking to "tempt" Jesus represents the legalistic consciousness, who only understands the workings of Universal Law on the material level, and considers anything outside of his limited purview to be heretical or blasphemous. Not satisfied with Jesus' affirmation of the Two Great Commandments, in which love of God (who is "above all, through all, and in all" Ephesians 4:6) is equated with love of neighbor, the lawyer demands to know, being rooted in his sectarian preferences and inability to see beyond the letter of the law, "who is my neighbour?"

"And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him."

Through the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus powerfully illustrates the inner meaning of the principle of "love thy neighbor". The priest and the Levite who go out of their way to avoid assisting the wounded traveler are personified aspects of the same self righteous state of mind as the lawyer who, while quick to preach and extol the virtues of obeying spiritual law to others, lack the conviction to abide by it themselves. 

"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." Matthew 15:8

It can also be inferred from the text that these "holy" men of the cloth, who as Jesus points out throughout the Gospels reveled in their sense of superiority, viewed the unfortunate traveler as a miserable sinner who got his just desserts from a vengeful, punitive God, for not obeying every last letter of the law. 

"Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers." Luke 11:46

It was a Samaritan, a member of a race whom the Jewish priestly caste viewed as ignorant and inferior, that stopped without reservation to bind and anoint the traveler's wounds and bring him to the inn, giving of his own substance to insure the traveler's speedy recovery, demonstrating his superior faith in God as healer and provider of all.  This illustrates that true charity is not and cannot be confined to the narrow confines of theological and sacerdotal dogma and theory. God, or Universal Spirit, is "no respector of persons", races, nations, and creeds, giving to all freely and lovingly.

"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32

"Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."

The attitude personified by the lawyer, now illumined by Jesus (divine reason) realizes the error of its previous thinking, is commissioned to "go, and do likewise," in emulation of the unconditional compassion of the Samaritan.

That's it for today, my friends! Tomorrow we'll pick up with verses 38 through 42.

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