In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 St. Paul teaches, “Pray constantly; and for all things give thanks to God, because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus” (Jerusalem Bible). A simpler translation renders this verse as “Pray without ceasing.” Tertullian of Carthage instructs, “Of prayer, nothing at all has been prescribed, except clearly ‘to pray at every time and every place…’ why should we not understand that, with absolutely perfect indifference, we must pray?” This admonition — that we must work to achieve an omnipresent state of “perfectly indifferent” prayer, or in simpler words meditation — might come as a shock to contemporary Christians who, unfortunately, are increasingly distant from the original meditation tradition. Many Christians now associate meditation with non-Christian eastern traditions, but really, the prolonged “indifferent” Christian prayer that we ought to pray is not much different than oriental meditation. For the sake of ease, I will now be referring to this specific style of prayer as “meditation.”
When we are taught to “Pray without ceasing” St. Paul doesn’t mean you should spend all of your waking hours prostrated in prayer! Rather, he is talking about being in a constant state of thanksgiving, echoing the Psalmist in Psalm 105: “Give thanks to Yahweh, call his name aloud/proclaim his deeds to the peoples!/Sing to him, play to him/tell over all his marvels!/Glory in his holy name/let the hearts that seek Yahweh rejoice!” (Psalm 105:1-3). The easiest way to maintain this state of mind is to train the mind to be able to reach prolonged states of intense contemplation. Sitting down to devote an hour or even 30 minutes to God can help you to feel the Holy Spirit at that moment, but more importantly, you are cultivating your mind and attaining insights that you continue to carry with you. Spontaneous prayer arises out of having insight into the all-encompassing significance of prayer, an insight that is best taught experientially through cultivating various states of contemplation.
The key to meditation practice is found in an esoteric reading of the Bible and careful study of ancient wisdom traditions which, east or west, all testify to the power of deep contemplation. People sometimes oversimplify meditation to be just about “clearing your mind” or sitting down for a long time focusing on your breath. That is fine, but decontextualizing your meditation practice from religious teaching is unlikely to have as lasting an impression. Jesus said, “I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved” (Matthew 5:18). Esoterically, this verse means that awakening the Christ nature within requires the mastery of not just the higher mind, but also the lower mind. To awaken Christ mystically, you must first awaken Christ intellectually. In the spirit of “precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little” (Isaiah 28:13) let us proceed to look at the Bible in an esoteric way to uncover the teachings of attaining the Christ nature within.
Phillippians 2:6-8 reads “His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and become as men are; and being as all men are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.” Here we can see that death does not just mean physical death, but a deeper rift between Jesus’s godly nature and His descended condition, which is echoed in His cry of abandonment on the cross (“My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”). This is not unique in the Bible; death usually signifies something deeper than just the end of mortal life. This is shown when Yahweh God tells Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree. Genesis 2:17 says, “The day you eat of it you shall most surely die.” Obviously, this didn’t refer to physical death, because when Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree they did not physically die. Like with Jesus’s Passion, death here signifies being abandoned by God. Jesus, being fully man as well as fully God, echoes our anguish in being separated from God, but through the mystery of His Incarnation, the hope of reconciliation manifests. Jesus’s prayer to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane is a divine mystery through which Jesus’s Ascension back to His Father is foreshadowed even as He experiences the bitter pain of abandonment. And as we too have the hope of reconciliation with God, we too must follow His example and pray. Jesus told St. Margaret Mary Alacoque “I will make you partake of that sorrow unto death which it was My will to suffer in the Garden of Olives. United with Me in the humble prayer which I then offered to My Father.” Understanding the profound significance of this event, not only as part of Jesus’s redemptive passion which would provide for the remission of sins but also as a mystery in which we are called to partake in, let us examine the account of the garden of Gethsemane esoterically.
“After psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives.” (Matthew 26:30) First, we must establish what the Mount of Olives signifies. The Mount of Olives, or the Garden of Gethsemane, like other gardens in the Bible, signifies purity and fruition. In Genesis we read, “Yahweh God took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden to cultivate and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). The garden represents the plane of the mind that is fertile (“From the soil, Yahweh God fashioned all the wild beasts and all the birds of Heaven” — Genesis 2:19) where virtues of the soul are brought forth. Singing psalms implicates the elevation of the self; through psalms, one acquires the spirit of thanksgiving proper to ascend to the Garden of Gethsemane.
“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Stay here while I pray.’ Then he took Peter and James and John with him” (Mark 14:32-33). Peter, James, and John are generally considered Jesus’s most favored of the disciples; this exact trio shows up several times throughout the Bible. They signify faith (Peter), the intellect (James), and love (John). Notably, these are the only disciples, and therefore the only qualities of the self, that are permitted to ascend to the Garden.
“When they reached the place he said to them, ‘Pray not to be put to the test’” (Luke 22:40). As Peter, James, and John represent faith, the intellect, and love, here Jesus is saying to treasure the virtues of faith, the intellect, and love, and to pray that they do not waver. As we will read, even these virtues are not infallible; however, preemptively rejecting them prevents us from transcending them. To the contrary of rejecting the virtues, Jesus tells the disciples, “My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here and keep awake with me” (Matthew 26:38).
“Then he withdrew from them, about a stone’s throw away, and knelt” (Luke 22:41). Here, the soul is still very near to the three virtues, only a stone’s throw away, but it has “withdrawn” from them, prepared to transcend.
“He threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, this hour might pass him by. ‘Abba (Father)!’ he said. ‘Everything is possible for you. Take this cup away from me. But let it be as you, not I, would have it’” (Mark 14:35-36). The “cup” in esoteric literature is traditionally understood to be a receptacle of wisdom; so the Pistis Sophia says “A higher power bringeth a Cup full of intuition and wisdom.” This verse is demonstrating the disconcerting quality of wisdom; our primal instinct flees wisdom, but the Christ nature turns over the instinctive self to God. The human aversion towards wisdom is well documented throughout theology, psychology, and history. The primordial human problem can be seen to be the human preference of illusions over reality; indeed, the comical lengths that each one of us will go to in order to maintain the illusion is inexplicable. The triumph over the instinct of delusion is fulfilled only in the elusive Garden.
“Then an angel appeared to him, coming from heaven to give him strength” (Luke 22:43). This verse demonstrates that despite the utter isolation experienced by Christ in the Garden, it is impossible for Him (or for us) to ever be completely severed from the Heavens above, and always the Father is with us sending His heavenly messengers to embolden us for the coming battle.
“He came back and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you asleep? Had you not the strength to keep awake one hour? You should be awake, and praying not to be put to the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’” (Mark 14:37-38). Here we see the failure of the three virtues. Sleep signifies oblivion; this passage shows that the three virtues do not together contain all wisdom, but that the Christ nature transcends them. “Flesh” represents the lower nature of the self; spirit, as Gaskell put it, is the “formative aspect of the Divine outpouring.” In other words, the spirit is the receptacle in which God resides in us. When we are “put to the test,” for the Christ nature to rise within us the spirit must ultimately transcend the weaker virtues of the flesh.
“Again he went away and prayed, saying the same words…He came back a third time and said to them, ‘You can sleep on now and take your rest. It is all over. The hour has come’” (Mark 14:39;41). The number “three” represents completeness, as in the Holy Trinity and the Resurrection (Jesus arose from the dead on the third day). The number denotes that something transformative has transpired here. By saying “It is all over,” Jesus is foreshadowing His final victory on the Cross — “It is consummated” (John 19:30). The spirit has finally triumphed over the weaker aspects of the self, and the weaker self can “rest.” This calls back to Genesis 2:3; “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on that day he had rested after all his work of creating.” Of course, the word “day” does not refer to a 24 hour period but to the final stage that follows the creative period. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus has finished His anguished mystery, and His disciples, not destroyed but in a state of repose, are justly restored to the rest that has no end.
An esoteric reading of the Garden of Gethsemane provides us with a template wherein the Christ nature in us triumphs over the weaker flesh. Through understanding the significance of the Garden, may you feel driven to start a practice of contemplation so that you may experience this elusive mystery yourself.
Elizabeth, excellent post! Thank you for the contribution. Clear and concise.
I will only add that readers that appreciate this post look into the Theosophical view of the three stages of meditation (which Elizabeth hints at) consisting of:
1) First stage concentration
2) Second stage truer meditation
3) Third stage deep contemplation.
For a very thorough understanding of how this also works out practically in daily life and decisions, check out this video for a more in depth coverage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUAfCaijIYE&t=1665s
Thank you again! I was not even aware of the theosophical view, but I will definitely look into that.
No problem, Elizabeth. With your intellectual acumen, I have no doubt you would be able to make much headway with Blavatsky and William Q Judge, and few others. Blavatsky’s knowledge of the Bible and all other scriptures is quite astounding.
First off glad the site is back online. I missed it as I read here daily.
Second thanks for explaining some of meditation because I’ve always been a bit confused about it. There are so many explanations that it has caused me to not be sure of what to do. Not that I don’t do my own type of meditating and get results, but is there really a right or wrong way to mediate?
Anyway, enjoyed what you wrote. Really good.
Hi, John, I’m glad you found my post helpful. There are a lot of dissenting opinions on the “right” way to do meditation, but I think many of the differences are more preferences on technique, which will inevitably vary based on the individual. You can still reap great benefits from meditation regardless of your exact technique or even what your religious affiliation is. I think so long as your practice is grounded on esoteric truths as explained in this post, such as the fundamental “rock” of faith, the intellect, and love (symbolized by the three apostles). The Bible has been a great help to me in that aspect, as when read esoterically it helps me understand a way of meditation that is tried and true. I try to use that as my guide, but don’t get too caught up in the “right” or “wrong,” at least not trying to discern truth from a place of empiricism or rational evaluation (which would go against what Jesus taught about discernment, as He taught discernment by the Holy Spirit.). Experience is the best teacher 🙂
Thanks Elysabeth.
I am totally confused though.
Warm greetings,
Leo.
Sorry about that, I’ve heard my writing can be kind of confusing at times. I think I have trouble articulating what I want to say a lot of the time because a lot of what I refer to is something best understood experentially. Kikregaard argued that only in paradox can reality be understood in its deepest sense, and that’s sort of the school of thought I adhere to. Sorry about the confusion again, but I hope it’s the edifying kind of confusing that brings good merit your way 🙂
Elizabeth,
This is so true. All human language is limited. This well said, because no one can magically transfer the true essence of an experience, but we can only hope that our clarity of words someone shines through, and if another has had a similar experience, then that person can relate and connect the experiences. I can study every botanical book ever written about the rose, understand all its parts in a myriad of ways through intellectual knowledge, and still cannot precisely relate through language the smell of the rose, or its true essence and beauty. But if another who has actually smelled the rose like me, and then reads my words, that might birth and deeper mental understanding. Mental thoughts expressed through language and words can deepen understanding, but only in connection which a true experience as well. Experience is the best teacher. Words written about that experience often connect minds who have both had the experience to deepen the appreciation for it as both might express it in different ways. But both the experience, and the words written about it have their place 🙂
That reminds me of the idea of qualia, or the thought experiment of whether someone who had complete knowledge of the color red (like what wavelength combinations emit the colors for instance), would gain any additional “knowledge” from actually seeing the color! And what type of information or edification this experience brings. You are right about words connecting minds. St. John of the Cross’s poetry, for example, is like a siren song for mysticism. I’m not sure if anything has been more of a force for spiritual edification than the literary form, especially literature reiterating or involved with ancient wisdom tradition.
Thanks Elizabeth.
The confusion is working GREAT !
After about one hour the notion of hope and faith poured through.
The forebodens of Getsemane brought me in a dark place and at the same time the bright light was there ….
I hope to share some more of my findings later.
I am looking forward to new experiences.
Rad
Hello Elizabeth,
Hooray! SOS is back, baby!
Great post about the esoteric interpretation of Christ’s agony in Gethsemane. I have been digesting your post for the last three days.
Metaphysically speaking, Gethsemane and Olives mean a place of “pressing” or squeezing, like a winepress or olive press, almost to the point of agony. From the Metaphysical Bible Dictionary:
“Metaphysical. [Gethsemane represents] The struggle that takes place within the consciousness when Truth is realized as the one reality. All the good is pressed out and saved and the error is denied away. This is often agony–the suffering that the soul undergoes in giving up its cherished idols or in letting go of human consciousness.
The great work of everyone is to incorporate the Christ mind in soul and body. The process of
eliminating the old consciousness and entering into the new may be compared to Gethsemane, whose
meaning is oil press, press for extracting unguents and ointments; a press is an emblem of trial, distress,
agony, while oil points to Spirit and illumination.”
I can personally attest to the difficulty and pain of relinquishing the old, false consciousness and entering the new way of the Kingdom of God. I look forward to reading more of your posts. Thank you kindly.
Your friend,
Thank you for your comment, the olive symbol is definitely very central to the myth. Is the metaphysical Bible dictionary you refer to the one by Charles Fillmore?
Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you kindly for this really ‘meaty’ article, really enjoyed it. And, of course, welcome to ‘Spirit of the Scripture’ as an article author.
I read your article twice fully then re-browsed sections to more appreciate the vital points you were articulating. I find second, third and even fourth reading of esoterically based material to be really helpful in grasping and establishing the understanding — ‘seeing’ more clearly the gems of wisdom/insight being presented through the author.
Paul’s term ‘pray without ceasing’ yes, I would agree, equates to spontaneous prayer.
And, here, if i may elaborate:
It is said, ‘life is a prayer’. In other words, our daily living is a qualifying expression of our spiritual status, our awakened or asleep state of soul. Are we living either through mortal mind, sin, or divine mind, heart-centered consciousness..
Spontaneous prayer thus can also mean, living eternal life automatically through enlightened heart-centered or transcendent cosmic consciousness.
Gaining this awakened or spontaneous prayer state of soul, of mind/heart, would indeed be the imperative of each soul — it’s our life’s purpose on this planet.
To this end, Elizabeth, you are absolutely correct in highlighting meditation as a means of directly experiencing our Higher Self, experiencing spiritual heart-centered consciousness.
If I may also add: while using terms such as concentration and contemplation, its spiritually helpful if we incorporate also the term transcendence into this understanding. For, without actually transcending the lower-ego self in meditation — including transcending the act of concentration and contemplation — we can miss Samadhi, the goal of meditation, that of directly experiencing purifying bliss.
Transcendence thus is pivotal. Its What transforms our born-into animalistic nature unto higher spiritual cosmic consciousness, also referred to as Christ-consciousness.
In other words, gaining transcendence in meditation is the actual process of crucifying the “flesh”, of transforming non-spiritual, ignorance-based nature unto eternal life standard of consciousness.
Thanks again, Elizabeth, for posting this fine article.
Blessings always.
.
Hi Raymond,
I wanted to weigh in on your comment here, as I think it’s a good one where a certain distinction should be understood. This is also for Leo above who said he was a little confused, which I thought was also a good comment to make because I am sure he is not alone. I know I was confused when I first came to meditation also, because there are so many different ideas about what it really is.
You state: If I may also add: while using terms such as concentration and contemplation, its spiritually helpful if we incorporate also the term transcendence into this understanding. For, without actually transcending the lower-ego self in meditation — including transcending the act of concentration and contemplation — we can miss Samadhi, the goal of meditation, that of directly experiencing purifying bliss.”
As you know, Raymond, meditation has become sort of a diluted Western idea used for commercial purposes for personal benefit such as to just relax the mind and attain a better focus for personal benefit, and the motivation for such a thing doesn’t have anything really to do with the true meaning of Samadhi, which transcends any intellectual exercise. The rational thinking mind must also be transcended as well to achieve a true state of Samadhi, and even here, there are many levels of experience.
I think these words (concentration, meditation, contemplation, and Samadhi) have been used in a lot of New Age material interchangeably, and as you point out, Samadhi has a “transcendence” aspect to it which distinguishes a certain experience altogether different from the three former states. In the higher sense, Samadhi, when experienced from the original Eastern meaning of the Yogis, is becoming the silent witness of Atma which may be likened to a state of pure conscious awareness, very acute, but without any object to concentrate, meditate, or contemplate upon. Such a state is very advanced and achieved by those which have prepared for it.
I really like the Theosophical idea which breaks these different states down so they can be somewhat managed intellectually, taking one to the door of the true intent and purpose of liberation, but of course once at the door words become meaningless if one truly walks through that door.
Nonetheless, here it goes.
1) The first stage being defined as concentration simply means being able to stop the monkey mind from aimlessly grasping at different phenomena. It is an exercise of the lower mind and proceeds from Will. Without being able to concentrate one’s mind, there is not even a chance of moving forward into deeper states because the mind is undisciplined and uncontrolled, and therefore will automatically grasp and become each thought and emotion that enters its sphere of influence, which is the function of the lower mind connected without our personal desire and passion nature.
2) The second stage beyond concentration is more of what we might term truer meditation, which is when the mind can become fixated on one concept, thought, or even a feeling to the exclusion of all else. In this act we have what one might term a disciplined mind, and the length of time this can be accomplished varies with each individual and their practice and use of volition.
3) The third stage, sometimes termed contemplation, is when one becomes absorbed by that one object to the point of becoming one with it, and intuition begins to flood the attuned physical brain giving knowledge above the intellectual or reasoning and rationalization process as the frequency of higher reality is cognized as a DIRECT experience, i.e,. intuition. Here, there is no judgement or active “thinking,” going on, but more of a reception and flood of the intuition nature of Buddhi.
Then Samadhi may proceed ( a very rare experience), when even that object of absorption can be “dropped,” so there is no more object at all, and the mind, almost as if a blank because it has no object, is still experiencing a heightened awareness of pure consciousness, without form. It is here that the Yogi begins to experience the Self, as Atma, or Atma – Buddhi to be more accurate, where the direct cognization of the Self is happening, through the higher mind or higher manas. In this state there isn’t even a volitional will involved because the process is beyond any doing of the mind, but it is a state of consciousness itself in its natural, non-modified state beyond the dual relationship of subject / object, and there is nothing to do, think, or experience as the lower ego and mind, but simply the pure aspect of “BEING” consciousness in a much purer aspect itself.
So this is the state of effortless grace conferred in some of the scriptures. But the road to getting to this state requires relentless effort in order to purify one’s state to be able to receive what some may term as grace of the Christ consciousness, to use another new age term.
There is a lot of New Age material out there which states one just has to stop thinking altogether to achieve this state, but trying not to think is simply grasping at something, and I believe, the wrong way to approach the subject altogether, because the mind first has to be trained and disciplined before the higher states can be achieved.
Anyway, just wanted to throw this tidbit out there from my own personal opinion. There is so much more to this subject and I recommend anyone truly interested to go deeply into Pantanjali’s teachings about these stages and processes. William Q Judge does and excellent translation of Pantanjali, and one can simply do a google search with both terms and a PDF for download. Pantanjali also shows that the right motivation has to be always in the backdrop as well, for it one seeks personal liberation from desire to escape the world, it won’t work. The truest intent, which includes a strong intellect and ethical jumping point, is that one seeks liberation not for any personal benefit, but because it is the truth itself, and one desires this above any desire for personal wealth, health, peace of mind, etc., which are more grasping mentalities.
Would love anymore opinions you might have on this Raymond as well. Blessings!
hi Josh,
Thank you for this most astute overview of concentration and contemplation.
As I see it, these two verbs are a form of mental activity. I see both as one and the same: an effort of mind at holding a focus or pattern, which of course is fine in the appropriate situation. While, conversely, we could also say they’re each forms of inner waiting, watching or witnessing.
But, regards meditation practice, neither concentration nor contemplation are per-requisites, rather concentration is an outcome of meditation, as we shall see.
So, for meditation and personal spiritual consciousness development, how practically does the mind orientate itself?
So, every thought is a subtle form of sound. Thus, at the beginning of our practice, the mind identifies with inner sound, the sound of our chosen or given mantra. The mind, on commencing meditation, attunes itself with vibrational sound through the faculty of our inner hearing. In other words, our subjective nature hears or picks up the ever subtle vibrational mantra sound. Thus, by engaging or experiencing the mantra sound, the mind gradually re-patterns itself cosmically, divinely.
This waiting on the mantra sound to enter the mind cultivates convergence, cultures the mind in ever-deepening receptivity to spiritual, cosmic awareness. When this subtle mantra sound comes into our deeper inner hearing range, it triggers bliss waves in consciousness, thus is how ability of intellect to connect naturally with Infinite Being develops effortlessly — and such how concentration is the outcome of meditation, and not a prerequisite.
If I may use a tree as an analogy.
Where does the tree’s Sap come from?
Many might reply: Sap comes from the root of the tree.
But, that’s not the case, it’s not the full picture.
The tree’s root does not manufacture or produce Sap. The Sap, in fact, comes from outside the tree’s boundaries; the root simply attracts and distributes Sap to the entire tree — trunk, branches and fruits. In other words, the root is the go-between, the conduit; it draws Sap from beyond itself; it draws from the transcendental realm and distributes the sap / life-force to the entire tree. Thus, while appearing as a tree, the tree essentially is solidified Sap.
Similarly, where does bliss come from?
Well, bliss comes from the Transcendent, from Infinite Being.
When mind is in meditation — hearing the mantra sound through the subtly focused, converged mind — mind begins absorbing bliss, becoming attuned unto bliss status, or, assimilation unto God-nature. In other words, mind draws bliss into itself from the Transcendent, which activity automatically distributes bliss life-force to all ares of the physiology, to include the human nervous system. To experience bliss purely, the human nervous system must be capable of withstanding the nature of pure bliss, pure consciousness for, such is how bliss is actually experienced and reflected through the senses, thus experienced within the mind/nervous system, thereby relate with people, nature and the cosmos spiritually. In other words, for the mind to have any experience, there must first be a corresponding setup within the nervous system.
So, for the nervous system to reflect divinely within consciousness, bliss must first be drawn and infused into the very nature of the mind from Being — through meditation practice and direct experience of the inner hearing of the vibrational mantra sound. This infused bliss must then be expressed through the physiology for such to become a permanent setup within the nervous system. Bliss cannot be stored as such, it must be expressed.
Transcendence thus is that point when our relative individuality, our lower ego self nature, ceases to be; the mantra fades and we’re no longer experiencing confinement, limitation — mind is left alone to itself in its unbounded status — in the experience of the eternal Transcendent Self. In other words, as the mind transcends the limitations of the relative lower world in meditation, the eternal soul comes home, comes upon its unbounded absolute eternal status experientially. Post meditation, of course, we return naturally to the physical realm, but this time infused with divine wisdom and a resolute intellect for decision making in accordance with cosmic, divine law. Return equipped with the glorious attributes and nature of eternal Being.
Repeating this process twice daily will soon bear spiritual and health dividends.
Blessings…
Raymond, thank you for this insightful reply. You never disappoint, my friend. So much meat here. I loved the analogy of the root, sap, and the tree as well.
I was also very intrigued with this line, in which you state:
“So, every thought is a subtle form of sound.”
At first I registered “sound” as something you were speaking of as “sound interpreted,” but we know that sound is actually a fiction, interpreted through an evolved brain into something we actually “hear” through our evolved senses. Then it dawned on me what you were actually saying as “inner” sound in its true nature, which is “vibration or “frequency.”
Silence can actually be experienced by a noisy contraption if another contraption is set up that functions on a vibrational scale that can cancel out the original noise because the vibrations of both become in sync. So inner silence, literally, can be experienced admist two objects producing sound in the right mental atmosphere, even within the physical brain. In esoteric literature, there is a correlation of this physics interpretation relating to frequencies becoming in sync between the pineal gland (the spiritual aspect) and the pituitary (the psychic) aspect of the soul, or lower and higher mind function becoming one, also known as the divine marriage.
Your other very powerful statement here is this:
“Post meditation, of course, we return naturally to the physical realm, but this time infused with divine wisdom and a resolute intellect for decision making in accordance with cosmic, divine law.”
That “resolute intellect” you speak of that KNOWS intuitionally of the cosmic, or divine law, which is what the New Testament speaks of as love, not as a feeling only, but a divine order of unfoldment “cognized” according to the inherent nature within that divine law itself, because it becomes in sync with it, universally. Evolution proceeds according to it and all other laws are subsets of it. Great stuff, Raymond! Some really deep thinking here.
But I think what I meant to convey in the original post, and still have to give some credit to Blavatsky’s and theosophy’s logic, is this – In order for one to practice a mantra, one has to make a choice, against all the daily onslaughts of life, and to make that personal effort to even begin the process. This is what I meant by the statement, that without some concentration, no further states are possible relating to any type of meditation. Many state that meditation is meant to be effortless. The results become effortless, yes, but the beginning of the practice takes GREAT personal effort. Even in this state, we see the divine order of cosmic law necessitating a “personality,” or the false image of self. Everything has it’s place. The Self cognizes through the “not self.” Or the real becomes self aware of its potential through the maya, or illusion, in grades of evolutionary unfoldment according to the divine principle.
Committing to the practice is still a form of concentration, where one makes the decision and subsequent action to follow it. So to sum up, all I meant was to practice this effort is a form, though very basic, of mental concentration. This is the first stage of a self aware conscious entity that has developed enough conscious awareness and intellect that knows something is wrong in the personal ego, and so it strives after something greater, to stop the modifications of the lower mind based on a sensual existence only. Eventually, after some practice, a spontaneous impulse to continue may arise, but in the beginning one must dedicate one’s self to it in a disciplined way. And if one does not hold to that discipline of mind, one will not go very far in the practice. Concentration then is actually a form of discipline, and the personal effort part can never be negated. So this is also what is meant in Theosophy as “cultivating concentration” as the beginning. So the first step to truer meditation begins with the practice of concentration. What I ultimately mean then by concentration is simply the first step in stopping the modification of the mind to egoic lower self impulse, which can be practiced with a mantra, or other beginning points and methods of meditation, etc.
I agree with you when you allude to the process of concentration being a natural outflow of meditation. Concentration is actually not just a “first step,” but a gradual and continual process of growth that leads to a more spontaneous (this is still limited in words) action of spiritual influx. It’s kind of like, you build a scaffold to construct higher states of the entire edifice, but the original scaffolding is not taken down right away. It may be strengthened as it is extended, but it doesn’t exasperate its purpose until the edifice is finished, then all is deconstructed.
I have read in many new age circles that free will of the personal nature is non-existent. True free will only comes from the higher mind. Yes, this is true in a sense, but not completely. It is not black and white, or that there is free will or no free will. Free will as personal choice begins small, and grows with exercise of its inherit nature, as one conquerors first the lower limitations of maya.
All growth takes effort, from the physical, psychic, mental, and even spiritual realms. Karma is the ever guiding structure even in the higher realms, except those of Atma-Buddhi. Even after reaching certain stages of Samadhi, one can become “attached” to the bliss, and subtle forms of will are necessary to even negative THAT, working in the ordered process from the highest to lowest, and also from the lowest to higher, once self mastery is achieved.
One of the great teachings of Theosophy reside here: even in the midst of achieving bliss, an adept will have the capacity to cast the well earned Nirvana state aside to reincarnate to lift up his or her brother to that state also, which would mean an abandonment of ultimate bliss between the great cycles so that the ultimate purpose of the great ONE law can be fulfilled in all of humanity. Jesus stated that no greater love is to lay down one’s life for his brother. It the ultimate scheme, consider:
In esoteric astrology there is a parable about the man who achieved the highest mountaintop and attained bliss, but once there, heard the calls of his brother still in the midst of pain climbing. So just as he reached the peak, he forsook even that, to return to uplift his brother to be there with him and to confer his own self knowledge even if it meant he or she suffered some aspect of lower existence once again.
The rabbit hole never ends 🙂 The ONE law in its ultimate scheme is quite grand and truly relates to all being ONE.
At least, I can find no other logic as of yet. But I will continue searching 🙂
Thanks again, Raymond, for your very insightful comment. Always appreciated!
Thanks again Josh for another in-depth comment which comments I find always to be spiritually stimulating.
Yes, the words meditation and concentration, as you say, are grossly distorted in the commercial context. And, of course, I’m solely referring to ‘concentrate’ in the spiritual once-off meaning context, as in “con” meaning to join, and “centrate” from the Latin, meaning centre – joining with our inner spiritual centre. Or coming upon our higher Self.
I’m separating heavy mental drilling — concentration — from natural inner awareness of the subtle state. In other words, if we remain constantly in worldly concentration we remain thus on the surface level of mind. But when we’re AT ‘concentrate’ we’re at our inner spiritual centre, which state is just prior to transcendence. Thus, the ideal means of fulfilling ‘concentrate’ is focusing the hearing inwardly on the mantra sound – which is more a waiting / watching exercise than ‘deep concentration’, which word I find to be a very relative, vague and abstract term. One approach gently engages the subtle subjective aspect, while the other – deep concentration – conjures up a sort of outer punctuating of the objective surface level.
In ‘concentrate’, there is no seeking or, effort, only waiting or watching innocently. But, yes, you’re correct, Josh, the awareness or attention has first to be brought into play. But, application of cognitive attention is surely a given in everything we do in life. And, because it’s a given, I was not referring to cognitive awareness as we know the term. My point regards ‘concentrate’ is solely regards joining with our centre through gentle inner hearing: waiting for our sound — similar to any thought — to surface into awareness from within, thereby fulfilling the term concentrate, the connection which reveals our true nature.
But, of course, we must first know what our mantra sound is.
While I see clearly the point you’re making, Josh, of course, but my point is only that we understand ‘concentrate’ in its purer truer meaning. That, ‘con’ ‘centrate’ in meditational terms is a triggering process, an outcome brought about by inner hearing resulting in spiritual awakening and expansion of consciousness, but particularly in establishing the intellect as resolute, thereby ability of living true concentration in daily life — of living true meditation or spiritual Self awareness naturally.
Switching Track
Your understanding, Josh, of John 15:13 in your comment here is most interesting. In that, my esoteric understanding tells me…’no greater love/bliss has a man (post meditation) than to give up his/her lower-ego life for another’, meaning, for a more advanced spiritual life. I would read this verse as surrendering one’s lower conditioned life in meditation for the higher spiritual plane of values. Thus, others, or, the inner world, would gain enormously through this intentional act of lower-self crucifixion. I see the verse as, ‘laying down the lower-ego’, whereby all the inner creative faculties (inner friends/others) can thrive spiritually thereby live purposefully and in harmony with each other, within. That, our spiritual awakening represents the utmost value to the outer world and the entire cosmos, thus representing our highest form of prayer unto God. Which enlightened state has indeed evolved many cosmically-driven souls unto heroic acts of personal courage, both male and female, of all denominations, for the greater good and evolution of others and the world. Blessings, Josh.
Thanks for clarifying, Raymond. A great discussion which may allow other readers or seekers looking for clarity into these points to get some. I know one thing, I still have to so much to learn and experience as life trudges on, and its great to have these convos and interactions where we talk about our understandings and experiences. If you ever write anything that explores the deeper aspects of meditation (as you have before here), know that it is always welcome!
Blessings.
You are absolutely correct in pointing out transcendence as an important goal in meditation. The transcendent “bliss” you refer to is also mentioned as the first jhana in Buddhism, and is the pivotal basis for meditation practice. Concentration and contemplation have their places as well but in the end, the goal is assimilation with God. This is the meaning of Jesus being the “bread of life;” Christ is the complete sustenance and completion of our selves, which is also why we are instructed to “be not soliticious therefore” like the lillies of the valley. The focus of this article was more so oriented towards an intellectual understanding of what place meditation has in Christianity, but of course other aspects of the understanding are pivotal; technical aspects, metaphysical, etc., and this might be a good topic to expand on in the future.
Elizabeth, you state: “The transcendent “bliss” you refer to is also mentioned as the first jhana in Buddhism, and is the pivotal basis for meditation practice. Concentration and contemplation have their places as well but in the end, the goal is assimilation with God”
Excellent point.
Yes The Metaphysical Bible Dictionary by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore
Hello Josh glad to see SOS is back and I hope you are well and a very warm welcome to you Elizabeth to SOS contributors.
Very helpful tips and interesting insights into meditation.
Nevertheless, Josh, no truer words have been spoken than what you said Josh:
“The rabbit hole never ends 🙂 The ONE law in its ultimate scheme is quite grand and truly relates to all being ONE.
At least, I can find no other logic as of yet. But I will continue searching 🙂.
I say you are really spot on here. And I say this from my own personal experience so far on the Ascension Path aided by a spontaneous Kundalini Awakening a decade or more ago, which basically is the INNER GURU / the Agatha Dameon the Good Serpent / the Messiah rising up from dormant sleep ‘to conquer and go on conquering’ and as it’s goal, reach the state of Unity of Opposites what is called Hierogamos or Sacred Marriage in Christianity.
But Alas even after the ‘two brains are fused’ and Spirit and Matter are ONE..and the Hierogamos state is actually seen as being ‘established’ , and that ,..not just metaphysically but also ‘physiologically’ ( as Raymond pointed out correctly the nervous system has to stand the higher volts of electrical infusion of the grand Energy that is coming in into the body),… it seems to ‘me’, the alchemical work of the Fire never seem to have an End.
It seems to keep on purifying more and more ..until and until ??? wonder much if all of our Shadow can surface and be Accepted and Integrated and Balanced to the point that there actually is a Post-ascension state in which we still can function in this world , even without much ego left ? Personally, and I could be wrong, but I don’t see nor can imagine that the Ego can be ‘killed’ by us. (by he effort of the Doer).
It is the Spirit itself that ‘slays’ it..as it sees fit and when.
Anyway,..enough of my own views lol, ..just sharing a bit of my own experience so far.
But ..just to share more with all of you regarding our topic of Meditation I highly recommend
OSHO’S Meditation tips from his Orange Book. The book itself is called The Orange Book and you can download it from this link in pdf form for free:
The Orange Book by Rajneesh Osho
IN English
https://instapdf.in/download-pdf/?pdfid=2696
A short excerpt here from the book which kinda supports what you said Josh about the never ending Rabbit Hole and I agree,.. as also does Osho when he says:
MEDITATION HAS NO GOAL.
pg.94 The Orange Book – Meditation has no goal
“Meditation is adventure, the greatest adventure the human mind can undertake. Meditation is just to be,
not doing anything – no action, no thought, no emotion. You just are and it is a sheer delight.
From where does this delight come when you are not doing anything? It comes from nowhere, or it comes from everywhere. It i s un-caused, because the existence is made of the stuff called joy.
MEDITATION HAS NO GOAL
MEDITATION comes into existence only when you have looked into all motives and found them lacking, when you have gone through the whole round of motives and you have seen the falsity of it.
You have seen that the motives lead no where, that you go on moving in circles; you remain the same. The motives go on and on leading you,driving you, almost driving you mad, creating new desires, but nothing is ever achieved.
The hands remain as empty as ever. When this has been seen, when you have looked into your life and seen all your motives failing …
No motive has ever succeeded, no motive has ever brought any blessing to anybody.
The motives only promise; the goods are never delivered.
One motive fails and another motive comes in and again and again b y motives, on e day suddenly you become a ware –suddenly you see into it, and that very seeing is the beginning of meditation.
It has no seed in it, it has no motive in it. If you are meditating for something, then you are concentrating, not meditating.
Then you are still in the world – your mind is still interested in cheap things, in trivia.
Then you are worldly.
Even if you are meditating to attain to God, you are worldly.
Even if you are meditating to attain to nirvana, you are worldly – because meditation has no goal.
Meditation is an insight that all goals are false. Meditation is an understanding that desires don’t lead anywhere.”
94 The Orange Book Meditation has no goal
_______
Just for contrast and comparison and on the other hand Ramana Maharishi has the view that Effort on our part is an unavoidable , in fact is a necessary component to the path of Ascension.( concentration / contemplation , etc.. as Josh and also many of you have tried to explain in comments.)
“No one succeeds without effort… Those who succeed owe their success to perseverance.” ~
Ramana Maharishi
Ramana Maharishi often recommended Self Inquiry. This helps to bring the mind to a meditative Stillness.
“When there are thoughts, it is distraction: when there are no thoughts, it is meditation.”
Ramana Maharishi
And another ‘over-comer’ .. Nisargadatta Maharaj says outright that Meditation has ‘A Primary Purpose”:
“We know the outer world of sensations and actions. But of our inner world of thoughts and feelings we know very little.
The primary purpose of meditation is to become conscious of, and familiar with, our inner life.
The ultimate purpose is to reach the source of life and consciousness.
Incidentally, practice of meditation affects deeply our character.
We are slaves to what we do not know. Whatever vice or weakness in ourselves we discover and understand its causes and its workings, we overcome it by the very knowing; the unconscious dissolves when brought into the conscious.
The dissolution of the unconscious release energy; the mind feels adequate and become quiet.”
Well.. I hope this helps..and again Elizabeth ..Warm Welcome and happy joyful Rest in your Meditation !!!
Hi Genet
Really liked your comment, particularly the elaboration on the unending rabbit hole, as mentioned by Josh in his earlier comment. This ‘rabbit hole’, in order to get a meaningful grasp and understanding regards it, does indeed need some teasing out, or simplified,
Let’s glean some understanding from the Bhagavad-Gita, understanding which is not much different than the Bible’s.
Bhagavad-Gita refers to this rabbit hole (not in such words, of course) as the three gunas of nature. The gunas are: Rajas, Tamas and Satva; where, one guna creates, another maintains, and the other dissolves. In other words, a never-ending cycle of, creation, maintenance and dissolution. This is how the universe maintains and renews itself. These gunas thus are the eternal ‘laws of nature’. Everything in physical creation comes under their controlling influence without exception.
So, in life, when we come upon a good or purple patch, or otherwise, one of these gunas will then come into play and counteract and balance this situation – thus we experience ‘the rabbit hole’ effect. Remember, it’s only a balancing, evolution exercise and not so-called bad interference. These rabbit hole occasions can also present as new opportunity although disguised as ‘unhelpful’.
As said, the laws of nature are eternal, so, yes, as Josh mentioned, the journey indeed never ends. BUT, the journey doesn’t have to be never-ending on this earth plane within physical bodies. But here every change level upwards is contingent on the level of purity gained in consciousness and our level of expressed compassionate love on this plane. This compassionate expression, of course, can be as simple as being nice to someone rather than being automatically angry with them or situations.
So, there are two eternals: Matter and Spirit, both potentials, or eternals, reside within us, but that consciousness and physiology have to be developed through inward silence, meditation and its post outward expression through the nervous system or physiology. Thus consciousness /physiology development becomes our prime focus, where we can live both these eternals simultaneously, as opposed to only one level, that level which we’re each born into — the spiritual ignorance mode.
Due to the laws of nature, the gunas, the relative world of Matter is ever-changing, while the absolute state is never-changing. In other words, the relativity state will always be present and ever evolving through Matter, for that’s the divine Plan, while the absolute realm, as said, is never-changing. The secret being, once we understand this interactive phenomenon of the gunas, then we should not react negatively.
Now, while observing this amazing outpouring of nature, freeing ourselves from this rabbit hole, this never-ending wheel of birth, death and reincarnation is what we need to be focused on, by direct application.
Here, the Bhagavad-Gita in verse 45 chapter 2, supplies the practical answer: it states, to Arjuna — representing you and me:
“Be without the three gunas, O Arjuna, freed from duality, ever firm in purity, independent of possessions, possessed of the Self”.
This level of inward activity or mantra meditation represents transcendence.
So, when we find situations in our life in a sort of upheaval, even though we’re meditating regularly daily, the upheaval is caused by ‘the gunas acting upon the gunas’. It’s what the three gunas or laws of nature are there for. Our job thus is to transcend the gunas in meditation, thereby establish purity, which purity represents expansion of consciousness and occurs during transcendence. At this point in transcendence, the soul is liberated from the rabbit hole, but that it takes many visits into ‘transcendence’ to establish permanent liberation — achievable in this lifetime.
Transcendence brings the innate never-changing absolute status into daily awareness, when the awakened soul sees Matter and life situations through this view lens of eternal transcendence. In other words, the Self experiences itself as separate from the world of Matter and events yet still aware in the relative world. Realization dawns that, we can step off this unending wheel cycle whenever we choose to, simply by establishing permanent transcendental consciousness — when regular transcendence brings about integration or neutralization of all our previous karmic patterns and conditioning.
In conclusion, if I may add.
The Blessed Trinity, as we all know, consists of, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. So, when we say ‘God created’ this or that, this ‘creating’ is referring to ‘God the Holy Spirit’ – meaning the universal kundalini life energy has created someone or something such as you and me and the physical universe.
In other words, being the eternally ever-changing primordial energy, kundalini or the laws of nature, is the universal life force which alone creates, maintains and dissolves, thereby is everything made new again, and evolution continues unimpeded.
We read, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth – Genesis 1-1
But, what does this scripture mean at practical level?
Genesis 1-1 is not referring to the creation of the outer physical universe, rather, the creation of an inner universe of mind, body, or human soul.
‘Heavens’ here is symbolism for the mind and its latent creative aspects, with ‘earth’ symbolism for the body-physiology. Which aspects, post physical birth, are developed, as you’ve already experienced, Genet, through daily raising of the kundalini up to the pineal and pituitry glands in the brain.
Hope this is helpful, Genet. And thanks also, Josh, for bringing the rabbit hole subject up. Blessings
Hello Raymond..phewww.. you let lose of all your considerable and valuable knowledge. And yes it is of course helpful to know the rationale of the whole process of the evolutionary journey and it’s /our ‘goal’ as interpreted by the various revelations in our established world religions and or/ philosophies. These are the ‘validation’ props so to say that we can avail ourselves to in order to understand our own processes, although, I got to add that not all processes we experience or Revelations we ourselves receive will hand-idly fit into them nor will they avail themselves to such ‘constraints’ and may remain a ‘mystery’ to our waking Conscious. At least for while until another revelation/gnosis my open it up for us to Know it’s meaning etc.
That said, Raymond ..it seems to me your path is a totally different one than the one I am walking. What I mean by that is: To me..You seem to be a real Master Builder of the Temple. Consciously!!
Whereas I had a spontaneous kundalini awakening. Never meditated nor studied at all except having an orthodox Christian background and was taught the Bible stories in elementary and high school. So when the kundalini suddenly rose in my body like a tsunami (literally) my whole body was shaking which seemed to me at ‘the speed of light’ ..so.. it was a bewildering , shocking and confusing experience to say the least.
But one thing I wish to share with you about my first experience of Awakening is, the Kundalini first of all was actually elongating my body to straighten out my Spine. I mean she was pulling it like a rubber band. I read about this phenom in the Catholic Church annals , the elongation of the body is one criteria they consider to beatify their ‘Saints’.
So basically what I am trying to explain is, since the Kundalini is Conscious Energy..when she activates She and only SHE is the one directing the show. A person who never sat in lotus position The Rod /Spine has first of all to be worked on..since that it basically the whole Laboratory in addition to the Brain and Neverous system although the Circulatory is also greatly featured ( change of Water into Wine)..
This tells me:
She knows where the ‘carcasses’ are buried in our Energy Field ( including old and new karma records)…and how to handle them and when the timing is right. She is Fire she will burn everything that needs to be burnt.
Not to mention it is also She who opens the ‘KNOTS’ our ‘book on our backside’ /our chakras.
Chronology of opening the chakras, again is not linear.
Btw.. I just received a Heart Opening with it’s 12 chakras and yes the K has long pierced Crown Chakra..but in her recent trip, the energy of crown/keither is spewing forth dark Indigo Color.
Too Lovely for words ..and amazing experience. But lol. who knows about tomorrow though?
I love to read and learn, but really there is not much time to do
extra studies, since her Directives keep me busy. So I go by the directives I receive from within and do read and research based on her guidance as well to understand what is being done within. She is the Absolute Director of the whole show.
In fact I was told to Surrender and that it would be rather very Naive of me to think that I am the Doer.
Now you can perhaps understand why I feel this is one huge Rabbit Hole, since I find the path is NOT linear but goes backwards and forwards..not complaining lol, but which is why I am always kinda thrown off.
I do suspect the gunas you mentioned of course, but more than likely my feeling may be based on ‘expectations’ , based on my own ‘conditioning’ per what I thought I knew about the Path per the Bible. I refer to the Path Jesus took..where it makes it sound like there would be some kinda chronology to it:
Like Crucifixion, Death Burial, Resurrection and Ascension. You know?
That said: you speak of Transcendence. This to me is thru the expansion of Consciousness itself based on the Revelations I receive directly regarding a topic or subject such as for instance regarding Reality itself.
I find..This is the best way for me to totally discard old beliefs and conditioning. I have faith but that faith should be large enough to admit doubt.
But, as for you..lol.. I got to give it to you though..since I know how hard the path really is, you must have really worked with your will and desciplen and stuck with your focus, although of course I have no doubt no path is UN-assisted yours included. That is of course not possible either. But still,your confidence must have not been tested as much is mine?
I will read thru your answer again..since it covers much info I will mull over. I may have a few questions for you after. Prolly..regarding the state of ONENESS vs Duality which I wish to hear what you have to offer.
Thanks a lot my friend..much appreciated for taking your preceious time to help me sort things out.
correction: I just received a Heart Opening with it’s 12 chakras should read > with it’s
12 petals.
Genet,
I very much appreciate the comment, especially sharing your own experience and the differing viewpoints of some of the other popular meditators that have provided their own unique way of explaining things. Meditation is not an easy concept to grasp, and there are so many differing viewpoints.
As far as your interesting comment about the ego not being able to be killed by us…
Yes, I agree, and would even say that it should never be the point to try. I think we have to reign it in though, and then it becomes a tool of the spiritual soul. But what does this even mean? In Theosophy it is taught that there are two egos, the spiritual or higher ego, which while individual, is not the same as the “personal” ego. The personal ego is fleeting, but the higher ego immortal. But the catch. The personal ego, when acting in any act of self sacrifice, seeking to unite itself to the parent or father above, takes this experience and adds it to the totality of the higher ego and causal body.
At any rate, all very interesting. Thanks again for the great comment! And yes, Elizabeth did a great job and I hope she writes more in the future 🙂
Thank you Josh for your reply. Re Ego >> I have not studied Theosophy much except here and there and in between other traditions input for comparison of what the different perspectives and interpretations have to say about the Same Subject/s. One thing I found is the terminology being used to express one and the same thing may not or is not standardized. So we have to kinda make a synthesis of all of them.
That said: the higher spiritual Ego of Theosophy sounds confusing, cause the Ego is mostly understood as the Bad guy in popular culture as well our understanding of the self vs Self..it is dubbed as the False i…persona = mask = personality.
But there is much more to the ego even in it’s fallen state. It has a purpose and a necessary function on the evolutionary path of the souls journey: Experience.
For that reason I am not sure we should ‘force’ or try to rein in our Ego.
To me the only way to mature the Ego is first to see thru it (when the consciousness matures and we naturally outgrow it etc.)..Mindfullness helps. When we become Aware of it’s uncountable number of urges and desires and even playful shenanigans that are no longer useful to us even when it provides with short term pleasure/s we will transcend it.
Otherwise, resistance to Ego will only bring more Repression and Division within ourselves rather than the state of Unity which is the only way to experience Harmony and Peace within. Wonder if the scripture in N.T. that speak of letting the wheat and tares grow together until the time Harvest..means the to tell us to leave our Ego alone except just Observe and WATCH ..just as Jesus says in N.T.?
As for the Spiritual Ego of theosophist, I think they mean the Higher Self by Spiritual Ego?
I have learned much from you over the years and one foundational knowledge is :
Humans have tow natures. Lower and Higher. Lower basically is the Ego’s realm ..as it relates to energy vibration/ lower chakras.
Josh..In one of your decoding of the Genesis myth, if I recall correctly, you identify Cain as the Ego who killed his brother Abel the spiritual archetype within.
Regarding that take, I don’t know if you already aware or familiar that there is another perspective on that same myth and it’s esoteric understanding but I would like to share it here with you and readers:
It comes from the Masonic and Rosicrucian’s understanding of the Creation myth.
I find it rather interesting that Cain is rather a real hero in their view:
exerpt/s from my file/s:
“Yoga teachers suggest that the pineal gland (which they call the ’third eye’ or ’eye of wisdom’) is significant in the process of becoming ’aware’, for it is the
ultimate source of the Light.
Illuminists and other Rosicrucian adepts have long referred to the pineal as the secret ayin – an ancient word for ’eye’.
This spelling (a-y-i-n) is actually quite important because the original spelling of Cain (whether with a ’C’, a ’K’ or a ’Q’) was not ’C-a-i-n’ as we now know it, but ’C-a-y-i-n’.
The name Cain, in its various forms, actually denoted One of the Inner Eye.
Hence, from Kayin with a ’K’ derived the word ’King’, and from Qayin with a ’Q’ derived the word ’Queen’.
you can also read re the whole myth of the Masons and their Hero Hiram Abiff , the builder of Solomons Temple, at the lower link.
Of course all these myth not matter from what source we find them, will have again to be decoded and/ or synthesized so that they line up and reflect Truth which is ONE.
https://www.universalfreemasonry.org/en/article/the-widows-son-a-deeper-dive
thanks again Josh!
Thank you Josh for your reply. Re Ego >> I have not studied Theosophy much except here and there and in between other traditions input for comparison of what the different perspectives and interpretations have to say about the Same Subject/s. One thing I found is the terminology being used to express one and the same thing may not or is not standardized. So we have to kinda make a synthesis of all of them.
That said: the higher spiritual Ego of Theosophy sounds confusing, cause the Ego is mostly understood as the Bad guy in popular culture as well our understanding of the self vs Self..it is dubbed as the False i…persona = mask = personality.
But there is much more to the ego even in it’s fallen state. It has a purpose and a necessary function on the evolutionary path of the souls journey. For that reason I am not sure we should ‘force’ to rein in our Ego. To me the only way to mature the Ego is first to see thru it (when the consciousness matures)and become Aware of it’s uncountable number of urges and desires and even playful shenanigans that are no longer useful to us even when it provides with short term pleasure/s. Otherwise, resistance to Ego will only bring more Division within ourselves rather than the state of Unity which is the only way to experience Harmony and Peace within. Wonder if the scripture in N.T. that speak of letting the wheat and tares grow together until the time Harvest..means the to tell us to leave our Ego alone except just Observe and WATCH ..just as Jesus says in N.T.?
As for the Spiritual Ego of theosophist, I think they mean the Higher Self by Spiritual Ego.
I have learned much from you over the years and one foundational knowledge is :
Humans have tow natures. Lower and Higher.
In one of your decoding of the Genesis myth, if I recall correctly, you identify Cain as the Ego who killed his brother Abel the spiritual archetype within.
Regarding that take, I don’t know if you already aware or familiar that there is another perspective on that same myth and it’s esoteric understanding but I would like to share it here with you and readers:
It comes from the Masonic and Rosicrucian’s understanding. I find it rather interesting that Cain is rather a real hero in the myth.
exerpt/s from my file/s:
“Yoga teachers suggest that the pineal gland (which they call the ’third eye’ or ’eye of wisdom’) is significant in the process of becoming ’aware’, for it is the
ultimate source of the Light.
Illuminists and other Rosicrucian adepts have long referred to the pineal as the secret ayin – an ancient word for ’eye’.
This spelling (a-y-i-n) is actually quite important because the original spelling of Cain (whether with a ’C’, a ’K’ or a ’Q’) was not ’C-a-i-n’ as we now know it, but ’C-a-y-i-n’.
The name Cain, in its various forms, actually denoted One of the Inner Eye.
Hence, from Kayin with a ’K’ derived the word ’King’, and from Qayin with a ’Q’ derived the word ’Queen’.
you can also read re the whole myth of the Masons and their Hero Hiram Abiff at the lower link.
Of course all these myth not matter from what angle, will have again to be decoded and/ or synthesized so that they reflect Truth which is ONE.
https://www.universalfreemasonry.org/en/article/the-widows-son-a-deeper-dive
thanks again Josh!
my first comment reply to you Josh seemed it has disappeared..pls delete if double posted. thx.
Genet…
Now we’re getting to some real meat. And your comment is so appreciated because we can “unveil” the confusion here. Trying to cram all this into one post would have confused readers, but your comment leads into the discussion perfectly.
Cain, nor the personality, which is what Cain really is (termed the personal ego in Theosophy), is not evil by any stretch of the imagination, and has to fulfill it’s purpose. Remember in the scripture that God protects Cain with a mark of 7-fold vengeance. Why is this esoteric key given?
It is simply relating the development of the human soul in addition to the monad. Another way to see this: where does the Israelite return to as the “Promised Land,” flowing with milk and honey and grapes as large as men, with a plentiful bounty? The land of Canaan.
Cain is not necessarily the “hero” nor the divine, but the divine builds its temple upon him after he is conquered. Not killed, mind you, but reigned in, or defeated, as an expression in mythical terms. But trust me, without Cain becoming strong, there would be nothing for the higher self to cognize, for the development of Cain and his progeny provides one line of evolution for the unfolding of Spirit.
Here is one of the very misunderstood truths to the process after death between incarnations which might make this entire process intelligible, and how the higher mind is assimilated, and how the next personality is developed in that incarnation, according to the unfolding of divine law, which brings together both seemingly contradictory veins of thought but which is not truly:
“After a lifetime comes to an end, all the truly spiritual, noble, pure, and good, qualities and attributes of that now defunct personal self become assimilated by and part of this Reincarnating Ego, the soul. The qualities, attributes, and characteristics which were of a personal nature – not by any means necessarily “bad” but simply attached to the earthly being in a way that is not completely selfless and altruistic – do not dissolve into oblivion but will go to form the skandhas, this being a Buddhist term used in Theosophy for the traits, tendencies, and characteristics, which comprise our personal self in a particular lifetime.
We can – and hopefully are! – improving the colouring and “flavour” of our skandhas as we go through life. Whether we make them better or worse, this in turn will have significant bearing on what our personal self is like in the next incarnation. This is an important part of Karma, the law of cause and effect, action and reaction, sequence and consequence, sowing and reaping.”
In the early stages of the developing intellect Cain must become strong, go out and build cities, and establish a nation. As Blavatsky makes clear through some of the most intelligent discourse imaginable, the intellect is progressed at the expense of the spiritual nature for a time. Without this intellectual development, which in the early stages of man is quite selfish and personal, there would not be a chance to cognize something greater later on.
Abel is the first spiritual aspirations which are the other side of evolution which are first killed out by the over strong personality of the individual, but Seth is born which is similar to the “germ” of Abel only LATENT in the this personality, and so the spiritual nature in man begins to “strive” against the lower personality as time goes on. Out of this line comes the more latent spiritual qualities BEGINNING” to develop. Eventually we get to a Noah, an Abraham, a Joseph, and a Moses, etc., where truly the spiritual and ethical and intellectual nature of man and women is beginning to assimilate, through each personal experience, part of it’s latent divine potential. Noah is a tough one, and needs special attention as he doesn’t symbolize anything other than the divine spirit incarnating as the individual (similar to Job and Daniel), but that’s for another time 🙂 Ezekiel 14:14 should make this clear to you. Read it carefully.
But getting back to the above quote which hopefully will make sense now…
Blavatsky gives a good analogy of how the higher mind or causal body (spiritual ego in combination with Atma – Buddhi – Manas, the trinity or upper triad), grows through each personality. Think of it, she states, like a necklace. Each personality after death represents one of the pearls strung on that necklace. But it is only when that personality (the lower manas), had a selfless thought related to some act that conquered, as the blood that “crieth from the ground out of Abel,” that reaches God still, becomes one of those pearls and adds to the permanent individuality (not the fleeting personality), and makes the necklace larger. This is a LONG process of unfoldment of latent spiritual qualities, which start out slow and few, but should grow. But also as stated above, the self acts of Cain, even though these acts are dissolved at death and become the basic constituents of astral particles again, there remains a germ of THAT must be recombined with, through karma (a man reaps what he sows), into that next incarnating personality. This forms the basic subsets of a personality and what makes one child differ so much from another, which is not related to environment alone but also heredity, which is determined by those Skandas, or traits and germs from the form lower aspects of the former life’s personality.
The next incarnation then is a combination of the highest aspirations from the former life, always remaining “pure,” but also combined with those of the lower personality of the former life. This is why EACH THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED is so important according to the true LAW, or karma, which informs EVERY PRINCIPLE in man according to his or her works in each life.
In my personal opinion, Blavatsky was one of the most acute intellects of the past few centuries who truly put the original teachings back together going back from Plato, the Valentinians, and the high cultured mystics for ages. She was even talking about some of Einstein’s thoughts included in Relativity about space and time in 1887 in her Blavatsky Lodge discussions with disciples many decades before Einstein put them all together! She was absolutely brilliant, and the world is none the wiser because she is mostly ignored. Ghandi was a friend of hers, and great thinkers like Einstein, Edison, Tesla, and many of the grand poets like Keats and others at the return of the century were heavily influenced by her.
If you REALLY want to get at the bottom of what even the serpent and Lucifer is, she is a good place to start. And this is why such scriptures such as in Revelation mention Jesus Christ as the bright and morning star which is connect with Venus and Lucifer in mystical thought. But to correctly interpret it all one has to be able to release religious strongholds and former conditioning, which is what people steeped in religion can’t do yet because they are stuck in a Cain stronghold. But we have all been there, done that, and so we have no right to judge even when we begin to see the “bigger picture.”
Hi Josh thanks a lot for such detailed reply that carries much vital info.
But I believe you may have perhaps misunderstood what I was trying to say or I did not clarify well enough.
I was not confused by your original decoding at all nor was I in disagreement with it.
In fact I do agree with your interpretation of the archetypes Cain and Abel since I also did my own comparison research and do feel I have pretty good grasp of the concept.
But when I mentioned the other version of the Masons and Rosicrucian decoding of the Genesis Myth it was in addition to your version.
I feel,if we are open to look into what is being said there, ie. that Cain is the Son of the Serpent and Eve, and not of Adam and Eve, he is being represented as the opposite of Abel/spirit.. as per your decoding.
In the Rosicrucian version then, Cain would be the Spirit/Fire and Abel would be the soul/Water in it’s esoteric decoding of the two archetypes.
We might even shrug and say: It many not be a ‘big’ thing as such, since both Cain and Abel as archetypes are present within our own energy field at any rate ( I mean, if the labeling of the names crossed or switched around would not matter?) just as long as we understand that both stand as symbols of what is present in our human and spiritual structure.
However, I would now like to restate my point here re their version of Genesis Myth, that there is or may yet be another huge angle to look into if we take what is being said there as ‘also’ valid and would ‘seriously’ consider it’s input and it’s connotation/s.
For instance: Their view would provide those who are researching into the Origins of Man, and man-kinds Histories on the planet and as it may relate to our DNA and basically try to back track our evolutionary track record.
That said: This comment may run a bit too long but I will now try to share a bit of info what I gleaned from my own research into this subject/s.
First I will try to expound re Cain as identified as being the Ego: (your take and version )
Cain:
The etymology of the word Cain is that it comes from a noun meaning spear, and a verb meaning to fit together or forge.
Descended from the biblical Cain who murdered his brother, Cain’s descendatTubal Cain is credited as being one of the first metal workers, forging weapons in brass and iron.
Tubal Cain is described in the Bible:
Isaiah 2:4 –“He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”
And also in Joel 3:10 – Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong! ‘
Genesis identifies the first metal-worker as Cain’s descendant Tubal-Cain.
Bible >> says that Tubal-Cain was the “forger of all instruments of bronze and iron” (ESV) or an “instructor of every artificer in brass and iron” Gen 4:22 (KJV).
The Masons who hold Tubal Cain in high esteem claim that the roots of Freemasonry can be traced back all of the way to Tubal-Cain in Genesis 4:22
Why do the Masons consecrate Tubal Cain?
Born Tubal-cain Other names Tubal-Cain, Tubalcain, Tubal (simplified name) Occupation Smith Known for >>> For The Mark of Cain, or cross, symbolizes a Hammer, for Cain was a Worker in Metals, which is what a practitioner of Al-chemical Sorcery is called.
In other words: Tubal Cain is known as the father of witchcraft and sorcery which is to say a master in the Alchemy of the Great work/ Magnum Opus of turning ones lead into Gold) and thus his name is a Free-masonic password.
Masonic Password in Master Masonry:
Attainment of the third Masonic degree, that of a Master Mason, represents the attainment of the highest rank in all of Masonry.
Thus > In Masonry, Tubal Cain is the name of the secret recognition password for the Master Mason (or third) degree.
“Light is a symbol of intelligence, refinement, and true civilization, enlarged and liberal views — of all that is good, all that is virtuous, all that is beautiful. The secret password of Freemasonry is “Tubal Cain” (Heckethorn, “Secret Societies,” p. C. Cathy Burns).”
Cain in Gnostic Teaching/s of Samael Aun Weor:
Re: Transformation of Cain /Ego:
Abel represents the Buddha-dhatu, the embryo of soul that we need to nourish and Cain must suffer a transformation too:
First Cain, then Tubalcain and then Cainan at the end.
We know a lot of evil but we have to learn how to go out from that evil through meditation, by comprehension, by analysis and by annihilating the comprehended evil.
The wisdom of good and evil will remain in our consciousness.
This is how we will know good and evil.
Cainan is the outcome of good and evil, the son Enosh, the son of Seth.
“And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of יהוה. – Genesis 4: 25, 26
And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan. – Genesis 5: 9
So when you start doing the alchemical work, then you beget Seth inside of you, which is the outcome of Daath, the knowledge of good and evil (Ob and Obd).
Thus, this is how Seth is being born within you, and Seth gives birth to Enosh, which means that the fire, Seth, the outcome of the cross, better said, the mystery of the fire within the cross, in other words, INRI (Ignis Natura Renovatur Integra); thus from that Seth, Enosh is born.
In other words, the human being that human being which we always think we are, is the outcome of INRI.
Enosh, the true human Being has seven bodies.
Enosh is similar to Enoch, the son of Cain.
“And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.” – Genesis 4: 17
This Enoch is different, it relates to a type of vision that relates to the lower chakras, a vision when humanity knows evil and is awakened in evil and perceiving things in Klipoth in hell.
Yet, in the process of time when you repent and transmute and transform yourself, then Seth is born within you.
And Seth, the energies rising in the spinal column, gives birth to Enosh, a name which is also written with Shin at the end.
Enosh אנוש is written with Aleph, Nun, Vav and Shin (the fire is at the end of the word) yet Shin is at the beginning of the word Shatan; this means that when Shin, the fire of Shatan is already transformed by אנו “Anu” (“we” in Hebrew, man and woman), then “Anush” Enosh, the “Manu” is born.
And Enosh lived ninety years, and begat Cainan. – Genesis 5: 9
Thus, “Anush” Enosh (the “Anu” atom and Shin, the fire) gives birth to Cainan, who is the outcome of all the alchemy of the fire.
“All the atoms of the universe are nothing but passing vestures of the primordial Anu atom. This primordial Anu atom is Nirvanic. The objective material universe is born from a Nirvanic condensation. The entire universe is granulated Fohat (Shin). The entire material universe is elaborated with the granulations of Fohat (Fire). – Kundalini Yoga by Samael Aun Weor
We have to become Cainan, the son of Enosh (the “Anu” atom and Shin, the fire) in order for us to say: “now we now good and evil,” now I am Cainan.
Nevertheless, now we are only Cain and as Cain is how we start doing the work, the alchemical work.
This is important to comprehend, because all these fiery archetypes that you find named in the bible relate to alchemy and Kabbalah, they are not personages of the past but alchemical elements of the present.
The Bible is a guide in order for you us to do the alchemical work.
We need to reach the level of Enosh in order to receive “Anu” the grace of God.
Because only Enosh can receive the grace of God, meaning that gift that Christianity call Jesus Christ, which is an archetype that you have to incarnate, but first you have to reach the level of Enosh.
Before that you cannot incarnate it.
Because you have to build the vessels, that will take that “Shin” within you in order for you to receive the grace, which is that salvation, which is hidden in the word והשיה Yeshua.
Behold the name Yeshua which is translated as Jesus in Hebrew also has the letter Shin in the middle; that is the higher aspect of Shin.
In order for you to receive that Shin in the middle of Iod Hei Vav Hei, because when you write the letter Shin in the middle of the word Iod Hei Vav Hei you read Yeshua, who is the Messiah, the fire that anoints you when you reach the level of Enosh; then you can say:
We are not yet saved, but the Lord is with me in order to keep this alchemical work that is to be done by grace.
“My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden (Malkuth): for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” – Luke 1: 47, 48
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” – Roman 10: 13, 14
Because the Lord, the Christ which is fire will help us to annihilate all that animality that is impossible for us to annihilate and to deal with our karma, our debts, that we have because of all the evil deeds which we did in the past. Thus, the fire within you will do the work with you; that is to receive the grace of God.
But you have to reach the level of Enosh. And Enosh the level of Cainan, and Cainan the level of Mahalaleel, and Mahalaleel the level of Jared, and Jared the level of Enoch (the heavenly seer):
“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” – Genesis 5: 24
Thus, it is not like many people think that salvation comes solely because this is how it is literally written in the gospels.
Understand Paul of Tarsus talks about it.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. – Ephesians 2: 8. 9
Meaning, when Enosh, the human being is built, then we continue working, not by initiatic deeds but by faith, because all initiations end with Enosh.
The rest, which are the heavenly levels relate to the annihilation of our animality; such alchemical work is performed by the Holy Denying and that Holy Denying is precisely Habel, united with Christ, the fire.
That Habel is Tiphereth, the human soul which has to deny himself completely, to become worthless for evil, the one who says: “I am nothing.”
The Lord is eliminating all of that, which is something within us, this, in order to make of Habel an empty vessel again, in order for God to enter, into that human being and to appear within him.
This Holy Denying is precisely the work performed by Jesus Christ, that archetype that was represented by the Master Aberamentho (Jesus of Nazareth) and that is written in the gospels.
Sadly, the people took that teaching in the wrong way; since now, everybody thinks that we are going to receive that archetype, right now, just by believing on him or by reading or memorizing what is written in the gospels or in the letters of Paul. Such a way of thinking is wrong 100%.
Comprehend that we need to do a lot of alchemical work, because faith without alchemical works is dead.
The works of faith comes after we reach the level of Enosh.
Faith is the other aspect of human development after the initiations.
Well..Josh..since this comment was a bit too long already..I will save it for now and try to post the other portion in different segment.
Thanks again for the long detailed answer.
Genet,
Whether you realize it or not, you have produced an esoteric blog post here already as a comment!
And sorry, I do not mean to imply you disagreed here, only that you were bringing out a deeper revelation of it, which I tried to use as a stepping stone to present in another way off your original comment. But one thing I am noticing for sure, and that’s that we are having some deep exploration of this theme here on SOS, which is so appreciated. This comment is execellent!
I would like to emphasize part of it:
“We need to reach the level of Enosh in order to receive “Anu” the grace of God.
Because only Enosh can receive the grace of God, meaning that gift that Christianity call Jesus Christ, which is an archetype that you have to incarnate, but first you have to reach the level of Enosh.
Before that you cannot incarnate it.
Because you have to build the vessels, that will take that “Shin” within you in order for you to receive the grace, which is that salvation, which is hidden in the word והשיה Yeshua.”
In simple English, you made the statement, “because you have to BUILD the vessels…”
This is the concept of what all the scriptures are culminating in: building the higher vehicles, or vessels, for the purpose of the evolution of consciousness, and we are meant to do this process in the human constitution. Yes. As Paul said, there are bodies of different grades, but the celestial one is the goal.
And how is this accomplished? I quote Blavatsky:
“Will is the exclusive possession of man on this our plane of consciousness. It divides him from the brute in whom instinctive desire only is active.
Desire, in its widest application, is the one creative force in the Universe. In this sense it is indistinguishable from Will; but we men never know desire under this form while we remain only men. Therefore Will and Desire are here considered as opposed.
Thus Will is the offspring of the Divine, the God in man; Desire the motive power of the animal life.
Most of men live in and by desire, mistaking it for will. But he who would achieve must separate will from desire, and make his will the ruler; for desire is unstable and ever changing, while will is steady and constant.
Both will and desire are absolute creators, forming the man himself and his surroundings. But will creates intelligently – desire blindly and unconsciously. The man, therefore, makes himself in the image of his desires, unless he creates himself in the likeness of the Divine, through his will, the child of the light.”
But Genet, if you would ever like to expound on your thoughts as you have done in this comment, please, I would welcome a blog post from you as it would be a pleasure. No pressure. But it would be an honor 🙂
Josh glad you enjoyed my comment, and I feel honored for the invitation you’re giving me to write an article on SOS. So thank you for your consideration and invitation. But ..Josh..you and I have been sharing in the past few days more than anytime I believe,… although I have benefited much for years from your extraordinary teaching. There is obviously a good reason why I don’t even come out to participate in comments let alone to sit down and write an article. Can you guess it?
Well..it is the RABBIT HOLE you so astutely observed and mentioned recently in you comments, which actually ‘smoked’ me out, besides the fact that I was very happy to see you posting again on SOS.
So long story short.. I am living out literally the Rabbit Hole on this kundalini ascension path. It is no exaggeration when I say, though it is undeniable that it is one unbelievable adventure so far, it is so Extremely demanding in every part of my life. My body itself is being worked on to the point where some days I have no energy to do much but stay in stillness mostly until the next ‘surprise’ phase again starts etc. Rinse / Repeat…
Anyway..I just wanted you to know why it is you don’t hear from me as much, it is most certainly NOT, cus ..you are not being appreciated. YOU MOST CERTAINLY ARE !! So, I feel ..for starters I will do well..if I at least show my voice in comments..whenever I can do so. And I will try to do so going forward..God Willing!
That said, in your comment back to my post..you did right away zero in on some of the most important points: the inevitable part of the Spiritual journey being >> The Building of the various ‘vessels’.
And you also did connect this process to the use of WILL..per the teaching of Madam Blatavsky. I am sure she taught more keys about as to how that process is done, but nevertheless the Will is for sure One KEY. (starting with the lower will and combining it with Higher Divine Will as we progress on the path). I know that in our time today, that there are some Advaita Vedanta teachers who teach the Direct Path to Liberation.
But IMHO..after the discarding of the Illusion, ( of who am I really?)..we do still have to do the Progressive Path. ( the building of the superior vessels)
That said:
Here I would like to share a few other keys as taught by the Master Omraam Mikhail Aivanhof, to add to what you posted and a few related pointers from the teaching of the Hindus in their outlining of the hows of building these bodies and how our Will is most definitely a Component:
About
“Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov was a Bulgarian philosopher, pedagogue, mystic, and esotericist. A leading 20th-century teacher of Western Esotericism in Europe, he was a disciple of Peter Deunov, the founder of the Universal White Brotherhood.”
Wikipedia
The Master Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov always insisted on the importance of having some spiritual Methods and Exercises to guide and control our impulses / ego.. for improving our life:
He had said:
“The only knowledge that interests me is knowledge people can put into practice; therefore, what I will tell you will find immediate application in your daily lives…”
I have the Synoptic Tables given by Master Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov in a chart form. But I picked everything out of the chart/ graph and here is what he taught his disciples:
The Master gave six keys or Six Principles: and for each of them he gives a corresponding categories as ideals and essentials for spiritual practice.
The Six Principles are in Ascending Order :
Physical Body, Will, Heart, Intellect, Soul, Spirit
And the corresponding ‘feeders’ to the six Principles are given under 4 categories:
Ideal, Nourishment, Price and Activity.
So we start at the bottom:
Physical Body : Unconscious
Ideal >Vigor Health Life.
Nourishment > Food
Price > Money
Activity: Activity, Dynamism, Work
Next is the Will.
Will: Subconscious
Ideal >Domination of Power movements
Nourishment > Strength
Price >>Gestures , Breathed
Activity >>> Breathing, Gymnastics , Paneurhythmy
Next is Heart.
Heart: Consciousness
Ideal >> Joy, Happiness, Warmth.
Nourishment >> Feelings
Price >>> Love
Activity >> Music , Song , Poetry, Harmony.
Next is Intellect.
Intellect: Self – Consciousness
Ideal >> Knowledge, Learning , Light
Nourishment >>> Thought
Price >>Wisdom
Activity >> Meditation, Profound Study.
Next is Soul.
Soul: Super-consciousness.
Ideal >>Space, Immensity, Infinity
Nourishment >>Impersonality, Self- lessness
Price >>>Fusion, Dilatation, Ecstasy.
Activity >> Contemplation, Adoration, Prayer.
Next is Spirit.
Spirit: Divine Consciousness
Ideal > Time, Eternity, Immortality
Nourishment >>Freedom.
Price >> Truth
Activity >> Union, Creation, Identification.
So..The above table was given to assist spiritual growth by practical application by the Master Mikhail Aivanhov.
As it relates to the WILL:
We may all agree our greatest challenge may lie in controlling ourselves for Efficient use of our Energies.
For,.. when achieving balance is our goal, it all comes down to our ‘limited’ Energy being utilized efficiently by us.
On this very point, Hinduism has a spiritual practice and/or philosophy that is called Brahmacharya which may be translated in English to Self Restraint.
Traditionally, the ‘Restraint’ is predominantly focused on sexual energy reservation, and transmutation.
However it is a powerful concept that can also be applied to all energy application in our Life.
So why did the Hindus insist/ say that Brahmacharya is a very important practice on our Spiritual path?
Well,..we know from our Science, that everything manifest and un-manifest in the Universe is Energy:
This of course means that our very Life Force is also energy and it is wise to note that it is limited and precious.
So our energy is actually the most valuable thing we can share with anyone, (including sexually),or give to anything, yet we often are careless with our Energy, our most valuable asset and many of us do tend to mismanage it.
But, when we really pay attention and think about all of this a bit deeper :
Everything in our life impacts our energy levels – everything will take energy, maintain our energy levels, or if we are in conscious conservation mode, increase our energy.
Brahmacharya aims to teach us to monitor how we expend and gather our energy.
I believe the forerunner to the practice of Brahmacharya, is first of all the development of the human WILL that by and by will be flexible enough to bend and give way/ obey the Higher Will of our own Divine Nature, and will have at that point no prob. in declaring>> ‘NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS!’
So..the will H.P. B. mentions must be applied towards areas in our life, that is certain to be fruitful in the end.
Well..Josh..thanks again for your input re Will ..
..I know you are no beginner in the path..but I thought the Spiritual keys of Omraam I have re-posted..who knows they may be helpful to some readers here. If I can find time..I may still post the other portion re Cain from the other angle..hoping it is not altogether veering us off topic..and into a complete dif. direction lol.
A powerful comment, Genet. The cool thing here is how you go beyond the sexual energy transmutation which applies to all areas of life in self-restraint. The ideas are also very similar to Pantanjali’s Yoga Sutras, one of the highest and most logical standards I that I can see, and so they seem to be one.
Have you ever read the difference between the path of Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga, where as taught by Blavatsky, Hatha Yoga is mostly a dangerous path and Raja Yoga the best one because there is no danger. The basic idea is that all Hatha Yoga practices seek to force Kundanlini before the lower personality is ready, whereas Raja Yoga prepares the entire human so that Kundalini can arise naturally.
I will provide a link to a very excellent article if it interests you of the differences.
https://blavatskytheosophy.com/pranayama-and-raja-yoga/
Thanks for the link to Theosophy,..Josh. I read the post.
Just one quick comment: Hatha vs Raja Yoga,..I agree Raja makes sense overall, for Kundalini to rise in a natural way.
However, Hatha Yoga may also help to keep the body a bit more supple and strong. By that I mean only the stretch exercise and not including Pranayama.
I say this cause, after Kundalini rise it may ease the Kriyas (involuntary movements and jerks and spasms the body makes to move energy freely where there maybe blocks ( even muscular ones and not just energy blocks ).
Don’t know if you read my reply comment to Raymond, but there I’ve explained, how at the time of my K awakening, one of the very first things I noticed this conscious energy did was stretch my whole spine/body like a rubber band.
I found out later from my research:
In the Catholic Church they call this Body Elongation, and is a part of the criteria they look for when they try to determine to beatify their ‘saints’.
So, we could say, nature is prepared to do what needs to be done when necessary and let it go at that, or..we could try to keep the body a bit more flexible and supple while we practice Raja.
As for the ‘claim’ that Hatha Yoga maybe ‘inviting unwanted negative energies and vibration/s that may present danger to the practitioner etc. I can’t say if that claim is true or not, but we do know that the Indians sages for thousands of years have practiced it safely. But the fact is they initially di design Hatha body movements as part of the Spiritual Path with ultimate goal to prepare the body to withstand the rise of Kundalini Fire energy.
Their Pranayama practice seems to me a bit excessive manipulation and could be dangerous if not trained for this properly.
That said:
Wonder what Theosophist think now about Hatha, since in our day not only Hatha Yoga but also Kundalini Yoga practice is now gone mainstream across the U.S.?
My honest view on this whole new craze ( if we could call it that ?)..people doing Kundalini Yoga now to raise their Kundalini etc :
There absolutely should not be a rush nor contest to raise Kundalini by hook or crook at all.
I believe, this type of obsession to force K before her Time to wake her up ,.. now, that could or may be dangerous.
IMHO >>The Best spiritual path ever is to try and live a balanced life..while we also try our best to let go of as much of our illusions and conditioning/s.(meditation)… and try to stay Aware and >>>
JUST BE!!
Nature will make sure that >>All will happen in it’s own designated Time. I mean, it is an evolutionary journey…so all manifest energies are already on the Spiritual Path of Climbing /Falling,..the Inner Ladder.
For this reason then:
It is wise to accept: One can only do so much in one incarnation.
thx again for the Link. ..will browse the site and take a closer look at Theosophy.
Elizabeth e.a. thanks for this exchange.
I am eating as much as I possibly can digest ( and that takes time ).
Bramacharya, restraint from a yoga perspective, that resonates with me. Dynamic balance.
https://www.ekhartyoga.com/articles/philosophy/the-yamas-brahmacharya-right-use-of-energy
Thanks Leo ..for the link. I am the one who mentioned Brahmacharya,… but your link takes it even further. So thanks for sharing. Your comment re your study re Egyptian Hieroglyphs I found is quite interesting:
“The old Egyptian hieroglyp ‘heh’ is Unicode Character “𓎛”.” I have not looked into this closely, but right of the top of my mind, I see prominently the number 3.
The three Loops within this symbol:
If we can follow the meaning via the number 3,..then.. Could this image stand or represent the Trinity?
The three in one, the Atum/ Atom?
Or is meant as a sencretized form to symbolize all the forms of Energy >> Dielectric, Magnetic and Electric? Leo..Have you found out about what the Egyptians really symbolized by this image? I would be interested to know if you have further breakdown for this. Thanks!
Elizabeth, Thank you for sharing such beautiful insights, so generous and moving, clear water for a thirsty man. I feel nourished and loved for receiving.
Raymond and Joshua, Oh how I have missed your conversations, the meat my Brothers, the meat!, it is a feast and I am so very grateful.
Blessings to you all.
Thanks, Robert!
Elizabeth’s article was exceptional. And yes, Raymond is sharp guy with a lot of insight into meditation and experience there as can be seen from his posts and comments. I am thankful to have finding SOS.
Hi Robert..
Thank you so much for your kind comment. Yeah, as they say: absence makes the heart grow fond.’ The main thing is, SOS is back, and, like yourself, and so many other readers here, I too am really happy about this. Thanks again, Robert.
Blessings.
@Josh
Thanks for the reminder.
I am a western and for a while (in the mid 80’s, about two years) I pursued the various ‘new age’ movements. It took me more than 10 years to get rid of the bad habits taught by the various artists in this field. I even give up on a relation with a person very dear to me.
I occasionally read Blavatski or some article published by the original theosophist movement. To be honest i am in no way very apt in this, nor do i pretend to be. But i have seen many people come into a problem area, where they get stuck for the rest of their remaining life.
quote ‘The negation of the phenomenal world is known as breathing out (Rechaka), the thought “I am verily Brahman” is called breathing in (Puraka), and the steadiness of that thought thereafter is called restraining the breath (Kumbhaka). This is the real course of Pranayama for the wise, whereas the ignorant only torture the nose.”
I believe the physical body to be a container of many life forms ( holobiont ) and it is imo important to come into a loving relationship with all members of that community.
I am assume that ‘living 40 years in the wilderness’ is the biblical term for this condition (there are several blogs on SOS about this). My quarter dropped (dutch saying for being able to connect the dots) while reading about the projects of King Rama IX here in Thailand. That King went on expiditions to improve the conditions of his people. On some occasions he came to areas that were uncharted. Our bodies contains many unchartered areas.
It resembles the Egyptian story of ISIS to reassemble all body parts of her beloved Osiris, which then results in the birth of Horus. And the how is explained by studying ‘the book of going forth by the day’ (translation of Sir Budge, egyptologist).
And . . . . only in doing one can, step by step, come back in Unity.
refs :
holobiont : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holobiont
go forth by the day : https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Books/Papyrus_Ani.html
An appetizer ( i am not sure whether this comes across, because of the unicode i use 🙂
This is about HEY used as saluation, a bit similar to HELLO as coming from HALO.
Studying the scroll of ANU brought me to visit many websites that show original old-egypt hieroglyphs. Those are not to be read (a mental proces) they need to be spoken, vocalysed.
The name of Jahweh was not be spoken outloud ! WHY ? Because it contains the magic of HEH (pun intended).
I am finding lots of references in the murals from the Egyptian historical sites.
My (intermediate) idea : jahweh is a ‘lower’ entity then the ones venerated by the Egyptians.
Proof : (lol) the Egyptians give some of their ‘deities’ 3 ‘heh’s and jahweh got only 2. I know, speculative. But you know that is my feeling about it. And yes, it is personal.
Some things are empirical (based on personal experience) and those experiences can not be transmitted easily. One can wonder and hope for signs in the right direction.
There is a lot of conjecture about godly names. And looking at it from my personal perspective i find lots of clues.
The references in Egyptian hieroglyphs describe it (jahweh) as a ravenous entity holding rein over groups of wandering plundering cattle people. While theirs (the egyptians of old) hold 3 heh’s (and i compare that to the 3 power centers). A note : a being is always becoming, we are all progressing while being also becoming 🙂
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_God_in_Judaism
The old Egyptian hieroglyp ‘heh’ is
Unicode Character “𓎛” (U+1339B)
And probably more shocking I believe that “i am the alpha and the omega’ is a misinterpretation of “𓎛”
And again : I am not sure the website can display this unicode ( U+1339B )
Look at https://unicode-table.com/en/1339B/
then turn the symbol 90 degree to the left
then read it right to left
gives the alpha symbol first and then the symbol of infinity (ohmega)
About the truth :
Je Tsong Khapa
Je Tsong Khapa’s interpretation of the central Buddhist doctrine of the Two Truths.
ref : https://mesocosm.net/2011/06/30/nondualism-as-first-philosophy/
In the article
Apart form historical influence, we also find a deep philosophical affinity between post-Kantian Germany and the east. It was first pointed out to me by an Oxford student vacationing in Kathmandu that the basic arguments of Kant and the Tibetan exegete Je Tsong Khapa are extremely similar. Both of them are empirical realists and transcendental idealists.
In Kant, we find this duality embodied in his famous distinction between the appearing object, or phenomenon, and the thing-in-itself, or noumenon. The phenomenon that we perceive, Kant argued, always appears to consciousness having already been structured by categories that constitute the necessary conditions for any possible experience, like space, time, and causality. Of the thing in itself, we can neither know nor say anything.
This is remarkably similar to Je Tsong Khapa’s interpretation of the central Buddhist doctrine of the Two Truths, which distinguishes between the conventional object of experience and the ultimate truth of that object. The conventional object is the appearing phenomenon, and like Kant’s phenomenon, when it appears to the mind it has already been structured by categories that are active in the mechanisms of perception. Drawing from the great Indian epistemologist Dharmakirti, Je Tsong Khapa argues that the object that appears to consciousness is always fused with its “meaning-generality,” or the conceptual framework by which we associate objects with comparable phenomena of their category. Whenever we see a leaf, for example, we perceive not just the image of the leaf, but also the concept of “leaf” by which we immediately recognize it as a leaf.
And as with Kant’s noumenon, Je Tsong Khapa affirms that the nature of the thing-in-itself, its ultimate truth, is, by virtue of its transcendental status, unknowable and ineffable. The ultimate truth of a phenmenon is its intrinsic nature, prior to its formulation by conceptual or perceptual terms.
Where Kant and Je Tsong Khapa part ways is that Kant believes the absolute truth of any phenomenon to be beyond human reach, while Je Tsong Khapa believes that ultimate truth can be directly perceived through yogic contemplation, and this direct perception has the power to liberate from suffering.
lg :
in other words – contemplate on meaning and you may find something interesting
In my case : 3 1/2 the so-called biblical coil, the snake the kundalini
Finding that symbol as an old-egyptian hieroglyph, learning that hieroglyphs are about sound, the sound of ‘heh’ reflects a godly status, aspects. And then practice humming ‘hey’.
@Genet about Egyptian lore :
1. The myth of Isis very much resembles the story of Christ and of Krishna.
But additionally it says Isis asks assistance of higher beings to bring back her beloved Osiris. Osiris have been cut in pieces by Seth, the opponent and spead all over the underworld. When Isis has finally assembled the whole (minus the penis), she has intercourse (no penis hints at an esoteric, hermeneutic process) and the result of this union is Horus. Horus, who will travel with Ra.
2. This story is described in the Papyrus of Ani, translated by Sir Budge. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus_of_Ani#Contents
There are several higher beings being addressed, such as Anubis, Thoth, Isis, Osiris, Seth, Nephthys, Sobek, and more. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/885/egyptian-gods—the-complete-list/ Interestingly Sobek is not mentioned here. And if you look at the scrolls you can see that Sobek is depicted as a chimera, containing 3 parts ! Anubis, Toth, have 2 parts. And in accompanying hieroglyphs these beings get the attributes like depiicted by the glyph ‘HEH’. Looking at many murals, Thots evolves from 2 glyphs to 3 glyphs. And in literature he is referred to as Hermes Trimegistus, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes_Trismegistus. Thrice great. Three whirls (three centers ?)
3. My conjecture. The biblical 3 1/2 coils comes directly from translating the ‘HEH’ glyphs into ‘mental language’, thus loosing context.
4. I believe going to sleep is the little-death, with the awakening afresh the next morning. And it can be used to practice dying. I can ask Anubis to help see and communicate in my underworld, find back the parts of me that i dis-owned, rejected. And so becoming whole again. (cf Carl G Jung about the shadow). Seth is the opponent inside all of us and is needed to give people a life experience. Not eating this, processing it and take a lesson, but repressing it, makes that parts of us ‘split’ off and go into hiding. Seth cut Osiris’ body in many parts and hide these in different areas. Our job is the find and re-connect our own parts. Parts that are now reflecting back to us in other people around us (shadow-projection).
5. In that process (unifying our parts) we will rise to a higher self and learn to use our energy centers for the benefit of all. When learning we get to experience these centers, the Chinese call them diantan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dantian#Three_dantians. The first to develop is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dantian#Importance_of_the_lower_dantian, because it will keep us safe in the physical world.
And NO conclusions, at least not from me. Simply because conclusions are killing further studies and new discoveries.
There is so much more, but only for those that actually start doing things, not just an intellectually fly-over.
work in progress
Raymonnd,
The myth of Isis goes so quite deep. Some good thoughts here. Similar to this in the Bible are such phrases as the Lord God gathered together all the dried land, etc. And the Greek word for church has an underlying esoteric meaning of “gathering together,” as a unified whole, as you point out. This is part of the process I agree 🙂
Apparently my narrative does not sit well with other people.
Is this because I do not believe Kundalini is a cause but rather an effect ?
Just wondering 🙂
@Genet i replied to you, but still waiting moderation
February 23, 2022 at 4:20 am
Hi Leo..gee..I am so sorry about not answering you to your reply to my Q in a timely manner. But really,believe me, I was kinda hijacked you could say, I really had to go off again and tend to my very demanding kundalini awakening process. So pls. forgive me.
Since I have a bit of respite today and am feeling a little better, I am trying to go back and tie up some lose ends.
So I recalled my pending questions to you and did come to check if u left me an answer.
Wow, ..you did give a very detailed and interesting answer/s and also have provided me with some links form me to look into the meaning of the Heh. Will follow your links to explore and learn more.
Leo,…although a bit late in my response, I would nonetheless would still like to say THANK YOU, and I do hope u read this post and do forgive me.
.
Hi Genet, don’t worry. You did no wrong at all.
My patience was tempted, so that is a good thing. Restraint, lol.
Thanks for replying,
warm greetings,
Leo
So glad and relieved you did get my post and thanks for your good-natured and wise observation: Cultivated Patience and practice Restraint.
Blessings to you my friend.
Hi Leo, thanks for your good-hearted reply and your wise observation: Cultivation of Patience and Restraint.
Blessings to you my friend and thanks again.
Genet
@Elizabeth and all other contributers.
Today, about 10 weeks after the publication I reread the blog entry and I could understand all of it !
So there is still hope for me.
Even the comments of others i could follow without raising too many question marks 🙂 I will read it again in 2 months time 🙂
Thanks again for lighten my path from ignorance to some light coming through.
Warm greetings from Thailand,
Leo.
Elizabeth, i hope you will challenge me again with your next blog.
Confusion works for me. lol