BOOK OF TRUTH 1

I have the privilege of working with a group each Sunday morning as we explore Paul’s and the Guide’s book—The Book of Knowing and Worth—and some of you are in that group with me. 

I have been drawn to the practice of sharing some reflections on the work we have done together.

I am aware of being asked to do the same with our Tuesday group.

Please feel free to share your reflections, questions, comments as well.

Let me know if email is the best way to do this or if an interactive blog site would be more helpful.

Peace.

BOOK OF TRUTH 

p. 161-170

I do not remember the exact wording of the question, but the substance seems to be “Did Jesus ever reach a state where this “personality self” was no longer interfering with His knowing of Truth?” 

I recalled some passages from The Holy Spirit’s Interpretation of the New Testament. Here are the exact passages as follows.

Soon after Jesus came back from the desert and began his public teaching, the book states:

“(v 43 – 45)1Not yet knowing where he was being led, the man of Jesus harbored some fear deep within his mind. 2During this time, he kept this fear hidden from himself. 3And so the Spirit led him down a useful and helpful path, that one day he may find the strength to face and lay down his fear.”

Then in a later passage, reference is made to Jesus in the Garden of Olives, a short time before he is taken prisoner.

“4He took Peter, James and John with him into the garden. 5Jesus seemed troubled, and the three asked him about it.

6“I feel the fear of death upon me,” he answered. 7“I must join with my Father now. 8Stay here, and keep watch on your own fears.”

9Jesus went further into the garden to a private place, where he fell to the ground and went within to meet the Father. 10Jesus understood the obstacle before him, and he knew what he must do. 11In full faith and trust, he called upon the Father’s Name.

12“Everything is possible with You,” he said. 13“Take this cup.”14In his mind, Jesus handed the fear to the Holy Spirit. 15He waited quietly in trust and certainty. 16He knew this was the final handing over. 17 From this point forward, there would be no Jesus, but only the Will of the Holy Spirit.

18“Your Will, not mine,” Jesus whispered. 19He let his self sink into the Will of the Holy Spirit. 20And his mind was filled with light and joy.

21Jesus returned to the three apostles and found them sleeping.

22“Simon,” Jesus said to Peter. 23“Could you not keep watch on your mind for one hour? 24Watch and pray, that you do not accept the temptations.”

25And then Jesus recognized a temptation lingering in his own mind. 26“Oh, the Spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 27So once more, Jesus went away and prayed. 28He prayed once again for the same thing, that he may let go of the will that seemed separate from the Father’s. 29When Jesus returned again to the three, he again found them sleeping. 30Jesus said nothing to them, but returned to the place in the garden to pray for a third time.

31When Jesus came out of the garden the third time, he was ready, for he had fully accepted the Holy Spirit’s Will as the only Will. 32There was no longer a separate will within the mind of Jesus.”

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You are both the wave and the shore. You are the creator and the creation; you are the energy of transformation and that which is transformed. You know exactly where you are headed and you have no idea what that might look like.

And each one of us has willingly put ourselves in this place of movement and spaciousness.To call our participation in this process “surrender” diminishes it somehow, because our alignment with this activity of spiritual evolution is much more than a passive letting go, although that is certainly an aspect of the process.

We are living in the mystery as well as participating in creating it.

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The small self thinks; the Divine self knows.

“Before you study Zen, mountains are mountains and rivers are rivers.

While you are studying Zen, mountains are no longer mountains, and rivers are no longer rivers.

But once you have enlightenment, mountains are once again mountains, and rivers again are rivers.”

As I began to walk this path consciously, everything was still in its literal form in my mind. For my own sense of safety (and separateness) everything I came across in the world including people was neatly catalogued in my mental filing system. If someone or something did not fit, I would usually discard it as some sort of mistake or aberration. 

Then I began realize that most of my thoughts and definitions are smoke screens, illusions, and that everything and everyone are an aspect of the Divine. ( I know that, but forget it often.)—the mountains are not mountains..

What is dawning on me now is that each “thing” each being, each bit of creation is a unique expression of the Divine.The mountains are back being mountains again, but in a much different perspective than before—the are not mountains in the sense that I am defining or categorizing them. They are mountains as a unique expression of God.

I’m reminded of that famous Zen question: What do you do after enlightenment?You chop wood and carry water.

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I am not sure if all of us are having the same experience, so I will attempt to articulate mine as best I can.

At the closing of our meetings, when I suggest that you close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths, I am always amazed at the “spaciousness” I experience. There is  both and openness and a quiet, a spaciousness beyond words. Although my mind would love to analyze this phenomenon, my soul simply desires to rest in the beauty of it. 

This “spaciousness” that I am naming it seems to be that profound state of of Oneness or quiet consciousness that meditators seem to reach in their deep practice. What is both precious and frustrating to me is that I think I ought to be able to reach that state “by myself’” yet it appears to be a product of our joined consciousness. 

So I am presented again with a paradox. We are all One and this divine state of Oneness is available to us all, but up until now, it is manifested through a group consciousness more than anything else.

What ever the cause, whatever the result, I am grateful for what we are creating.