Enoch, a Missing Link?

The Book of Enoch was probably one of the most influential book used by writers of the bible but was omitted in the  Old Testament and the Tanakh, the Jewish Bible.  It was one of  many ancient sacred texts omitted from the Bible that are available to us today . The Book of Enoch was first discovered in the 18th century and most assumed it was penned after the beginning of the Christian era because it had quotes and paraphrases as well as concepts found in the New Testament. However, the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran in 1946,   proved the book was in existence long before Jesus  and believe to be written sometime in the 2nd or 3rd Century BC.

Much of the ideas written down would influence later thought across nations. Religious leaders. Secular leaders. Focus on China, India, Greece and SW Asia.

The time period from  800 BC-200 BC was   known as the Axial age.  It was a time in our history  when the most creative and influential  thinking in the  world, amazingly occurring in four separate civilizations; West Asia, South Asia, East Asia, and northeastern Mediterranean. Some of the Sages included Zoroaster, Jeremiah, Isaiah, The Buddha, Confucius, Heraclitus, Socrates, plato and Aristotle , Varhamma Mahavira,  and Pythagoras. In different ways, they responded to an array of spiritual ideas and concepts; the emergence of the self-consciousness. It was early in our history when humans beings began to reflect on individual existence, and the meaning of life and death.

The Book of Enoch  was once cherished by Jews and Christians alike. It is read in certain Coptic Christian Churches in Ethiopia. There is  evidence Jesus not only studied the book, but also respected it highly enough to allude to the doctrine and content. And, there are over one hundred comments in the New Testament which find precedence in the Book of Enoch.

One of the interesting aspects of the Book of Enoch for me, starts in Chapter 6. ” And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters.
2 And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: ‘Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men.”   It is the story of the fallen angels and is virtually identical with Genesis 6.1-2. In the Book of Enoch, we get their names and many other details. The angels, referred to as the watchers, were the children of the heaven. Some saw and lusted after human women and said to each other that they should choose wives from among the children of men. At 7.2, he says they had giant sons and were able to easily dominate Enoch’s people.  This Youtube video may provide evidence Giants did exist according to this article,    When Giants Roamed the Earth.

“A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty – it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitute the truly religious attitude; in this sense, and in this alone, I am a deeply religious man.” Albert Einstein

The Law of One references higher level entities more sophisticated that  we can use as guides, if we pay attention. The Law of One also mentions quarantine , possibly because of incidents of the Giants to protect us from further intrusions.    

No one really knows why the Book of Enoch was not included in the bible.  There is only  speculation. What is important though is, they are  available now like so many other sacred texts that were not so-called “canonized “by the Church authority.

Sacred ancient texts labeled as heresy or not approved by the Church, certainly peaks my interest. The discovery of thirteen ancient texts called “codices” were discovered in Upper Egypt untouched by scribes in 1945. They were translated in the 1970’s and are known as the Nag Hammadi Library. Scriptures such as the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, and the Gospel of Truth were found, and labeled as Gnostic Gospels thought to be destroyed during the early Christian struggle to define “orthodoxy.”

One should contemplate why once treasured ancient sacred texts are being revealed during our time,  providing a different understanding than church teaching. In the Gospel of Thomas verse 5, Jesus said, “Recognize what is in your sight, and that which is hidden from you will become plain to you. For there is nothing hidden which will not become manifest.”  Gospel of Thomas is 114 secret sayings of Jesus  revealing a different understanding and teaching than church fathers have taught us.  Next post will include the discussion of the sayings of Jesus,   “I shall give you what no eye has seen and what no ear has heard and what no hand has touched and what has never occurred to the human mind.” (Saying 17 Gospel of Thomas). 

The Book of Enoch and the Book of the Secrets of Enoch are at your fingertips. 

We Are Connected

We are all connected to the same source, the One Infinite Creator,  and we are all trying to images tefind our way back home. Even scientific research has suggested that we are wired with spiritual brains and how meditative prayers actually changes our brain.

According to various sacred texts and the more recent contact, the Law of One, “All things, all of life, all of the creation is part of one original thought.” We move our body, mind, and spirit in somewhat eccentric patterns because we have not grasped the concept that we are part of the original thought, that we are all one. To know the truth is to know yourself.

quote-if-you-want-to-be-wrong-then-follow-the-masses-socrates-85-17-67.jpgOur ancient teachers provided the message over the years, but man has misinterpreted the meaning and the masses follow. We are condemn by religions and those  who follow that religion if our beliefs are different than theirs.

The Christian Gnostics, who lost the battle with orthodox Christianity tells us a Divine spark exist within us and is also taught by the Syriac Christians mystics as other world belief systems and religions. Edgar Cayce said Christian Gnosticism was the highest form Rumi-Quotes-1of Christianity.

Buddha taught us that the Universal mind is not subject to birth and death. It is beyond all concepts of duality and Divine matter is eternal, it contains within itself all reality and all truth. Buddha taught us meditation, the gateway to find our way home, an essential part of our spiritual journey.

Krishna from the Hindu Religion said, “the Lord dwells in the heart of all things. He is the only reality so do not be deceived by appearances.”

Lao Tzu in the Tao Te Ching said the Tao (God) never answers with words. It does not reach out for things, but all things come to it. The unspoken plan unfolds slowly. It gathers all things as if in a net, so nothing is lost.

images1Jesus, the messenger of love, said we are from the light in the Gospel of Thomas, discovered in 1945 and can be found in saying 50 in the Nag Hammadi library. The discovery provided striking differences from orthodox beliefs. Instead of being separate from God, we are One with God. Instead of sin and repentance, Jesus speaks of illusion and enlightenment. And finally, instead of Jesus being Lord and God, we are all from the same source, and Jesus is our spiritual guide. We all have the power within. In the Gospel of Thomas saying (3) Jesus said: If those who lead you say to you: See, the kingdom is in heaven, then the birds of the heaven will go before you; if they say to you: It is in the sea, then the fish will go before you. But the kingdom is within you, and it is outside of you. When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will know that you are the sons of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you are in poverty, and you are poverty.all-religions-one3

God is spirit of pure unknowable energy encompassing all. We are all connected spiritual beings , all from the same source. According to the Law of One, no religion has all the truth, but all religions  have some truth.  Our requirements are the same regardless of religion or no religion, to  learn the ways of love, wisdom and be a service to others. Meditation, contemplation, prayer and study will help with that endeavor. If you fail to learn the lessons in this life perhaps you will in the next, but eventually we all find our way back home.

 

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Jesus Secret Sayings, 9-16

In the last posting we discussed how the Christian Gnostics had some of the same spiritual concepts as Buddha, Lao Tzu and Kristna. You also may be surprised  how closely related Jesus’  teachings are to the eastern mystics traditions. The traditionsb2f79f613c6c6aaa3912be59c692ca8d are a spiritual way of life that includes developing respect, trust, and love for all and discovering our full potential as true human beings.  All spiritual concepts ask us to look within ourselves to find answers. The answers are in plain site, as  Jesus tells us in various parables.   “Recognize what is in your sight, and that which is hidden from you will become plain to you . For there is nothing hidden which will not become manifest.” (Saying 5)

Perhaps it is time to listen to our higher self.   We all have deep seeded belief systems, affecting our understanding of not only Jesus’ parables and metaphors, but our understanding of God. Many have been engrained with orthodox Christians sources. Today we have the world at our fingertips to help us understand  Jesus true teaching to help us find our way back home.   The Gospel of Thomas provides new insight into the true teachings of Jesus. This 12 minute video provides an overview of the Gospel of Thomas.

Last time we discussed verses 1 through 8, Jesus’ message was to seek the truth, look within ourselves to find the kingdom. Many believed Jesus died for our sins.  Perhaps one should consider he died so we could see the light and to follow his message and be like him; pure love and light. This is up to each one of us to contemplate and decide for ourselves.  Now let’s discuss verses 9 through 16.

seed-sprouting(9) Jesus said, “Now the sower went out, took a handful (of seeds), and scattered them. Some fell on the road; the birds came and gathered them up. Others fell on the rock, they did not take root in the soil, and did not produce ears. And others fell on thorns; they choked the seed(s) and worms ate them. And others fell on the good soil and it produced good fruit: it bore sixty per measure and a hundred and twenty per measure.”

There are comparable sayings in Matthew 13:3-9, Mark 4:2-9 ,  Luke 8: 4-8  and Luke 8:13 .  Each time the author has added their interpretation of the seed parable as found in the Gospel of Thomas.  Similar stories are also found in the Sirach 6:19.

Meditation-quotes-Paramahamsa-YoganandaThe seed parable describes  the divine seed God planted within each of us. In order to grow, one should find their way by seeking the truth, being caution of the pitfalls of life and false teachings that produce no fruit.    Those who discover the truth, will begin to sprout and grow.  The more you cultivate the divine seed with a fertile foundation,  the more abundant your  love and light grows. The illuminating light and love affects those around you, doubling in measure.

Jesus said, ” The truth will set you free.”

(10) Jesus said, “I have cast fire upon the world, and see, I am guarding it until it blazes.”

In a similar parable,  Verse (16),  Jesus said, “Men think, perhaps, that it is peace which I have come to cast upon the world. They do not know that it is dissension which I have 20251920-put-the-world-on-firecome to cast upon the earth: fire, sword, and war. For there will be five in a house: three will be against two, and two against three, the father against the son, and the son against the father. And they will stand solitary.  Comparable sayings in  Luke 12:49  , and Matthew 10:34-36,

Most would agree  Jesus message has cast fire on the world.  He is  known throughout the world as either a spiritual leader, messiah, divine prophet,  Jewish preacher, religious leader, son of man, son of God and even God. Was Jesus’ message  love and enlightenment or  sin and repentance as the Orthodox view  teaches? That difference has divided many,  including religions and families.  We have been indoctrinated since birth with the orthodox view.  The  Muslims and Christians seem to stay in conflict,  both believe in Jesus but in different roles.  All  those in conflict believe they are right.  In the end,  each will stand alone.

(11) Jesus said, “This heaven will pass away, and the one above it will pass away. The dead are not alive, and the living will not die. In the days when you consumed what is download (30)dead, you made it what is alive. When you come to dwell in the light, what will you do? On the day when you were one you became two. But when you become two, what will you  do?”

Comparable saying Matthew 24:35  Mark 13:31 Luke 21:33 Matthew 5:18 and  Luke 16:17.

All of reality as we realize it, is an illusion and will pass.  Even the illusion of birth and death will be realized as such. Everything is in flux, ever changing to a higher state of reincarnation (1)consciousness.  We pass through periods of incarnation, eventually returning to the spirit world of light. To learn our lessons we must  become two to be able to come into this world of illusion, with all the confusion and distortions. When we consume what is dead, we make alive. We are all here to learn our lessons plus the ways of love and wisdom  and must return to the positive polarity to return  to the One. We are here now as two, so what will you do in this material world to return to the one.

(12) The disciples said to Jesus, “We know that you will depart from us. Who is to be our leader?”
Jesus said to them, “Wherever you are, you are to go to James the righteous, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being.”  Comparable saying can be found in  Luke 9:46-48Luke 22:24-27Matt 18:1-4, and  Mark 9:33-35.  It is interesting to note,  Jesus mentions no names in those parables.

James was the brother of Jesus, and the leader of the Church in Jerusalem until his death godsaystrustmein 62 CE. There are five books of James in the New testament. Also discovered later was  The Secret Book of James and The Apocryphon of James. James did not drink wine or eat meat or cut his hair.  He was found kneeling and praying to the point his knees were like a camels because he was alway kneeling. He was an extraordinary character and righteous.  In the Secret Book of James, he presents himself as the person who sends the other followers of Jesus on their missions. Today, Christianity has followed more of Paul’s teaching, Many biblical scholars and lay Christians have noted that Jesus preached almost exclusively about the kingdom of heaven, while Paul highlighted justification by faith—and not vice versa. Some conclude that they preached two different gospels. Others argue that really they both preached justification; still others say it’s all about the kingdom.  The true teacher is within each of us, our higher selves.

(13) Jesus said to his disciples, “Compare me to someone and tell me whom I am like.”
Simon Peter said to him, “You are like a righteous angel.”
Matthew said to him, “You are like a wise philosopher.”
Thomas said to him, “Master, my mouth is wholly incapable of saying whom you are download unitedlike.”

Jesus said, “I am not your master. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring which I have measured out.”
And he took him and withdrew and told him three things. When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, “What did Jesus say to you?”
Thomas said to them, “If I tell you one of the things which he told me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me; a fire will come out of the stones and burn you up.”

Comparable sayings can be found in Matthew 16:13-23, Mark 8:27-33 and Luke 9:18-22. 

Consider after each answer, Jesus responded by telling them he was not their master and that they were drunken by his presence and their perceived idea of who he was. They looked upon Jesus as a being unlike themselves. When believing Jesus was more than he was, they were unable to see themselves as equals. When Jesus took Thomas aside, he said three things or words which could have been along the lines of,’ “We are equal.” “We are the from the light” or “we are all sons of God”. That would justify Thomas’ response to the others when asked what was said.

(14) Jesus said to them, “If you fast, you will give rise to sin for yourselves; and if you pray, you will be condemned; and if you give alms, you will do harm to your spirits. connect to your higher selfWhen you go into any land and walk about in the districts, if they receive you, eat what they will set before you, and heal the sick among them. For what goes into your mouth will not defile you, but that which issues from your mouth – it is that which will defile you.” Comparable says are  Luke 11:1-4, Luke 9:1-6, Luke 10:1-12,   and Matt 6:2-18, 

This one is probably more difficult than most because of the ways we have been taught since birth. Consider we all have a higher self, a divine spark within; a divinity from God. We are suppose to allow our higher self guide us because we have all the answers within. Like overindulgence with food, fastingimages (91) for too long also harms the body. We have the ability to heal when we seek the truth and  look within ourselves as Jesus said in saying 2 and 3. What we eat will not defile us but what comes out of our mouth will.

(15) Jesus said, “When you see one who was not born of woman, prostrate yourselves on your faces and worship him. That one is your father.  Comparable saying is John 10:30 

big_thumbNot born of a woman is our father. Again, Jesus is telling us we are all equal with Jesus.  When we worship other humans, there is division instead of uniting and finding our way home.  We are all divine beings of infinite worth and we are here to learn our lessons specific to us, and the ways of love and wisdom.

Each parable has many answers and within your own reflection you will find a greater answer than anyone else could give you.  Perhaps we should consider the Gospel of Thomas was used by the others to write the Books of the New testament. Next month we review the next group of the 114 secret sayings of Jesus.

 

Spirituality and Addiction During Chaotic Times

How do addictions  affect our spiritual journey? We all have addictions, all part of our  images101life lessons.  There are addictions to foods, drink, media, sports, sex, drugs, material possessions, religion and the list goes on and on.  Addiction is defined as a fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity. A good example is the media. It does a wonderful job of getting your attention over matters that you have no control over,  inciting  your thoughts and emotions over something you are passionate about.   I was once a news junky, believing I needed to know what was going on in the world. Then I realized being involved in matters that were beyond my control served no positive purpose. Not only was it taking away my time from more important matters, but it was taking  control over my thoughts, emotions and actions.   One day I simple said enough. I made a concerted effort to images (5)avoid the media, which can be done, but difficult.  We are being program from every direction, ABC, CBS, NBC CNN, Fox,  in  airports, businesses, phones, radio, facebook, twitter; the list goes on and on. Media is owned by the few, but has such a hold on society, it may actually be worse than being addicted to a substance. It certainly affects many  more people as well as distorting the truth.  That is just one example of the many addictions we experience during our lifetime.

download (3)Our teachers provided insight. Buddha said, “If you wish to be free of from old age and rebirth, become an island unto yourself, and eliminate all your imperfections.” and Jesus said, “Those who seek pleasurable things already have their treasure. But the pleasures of the world are an illusion. Gold and silver are without substance.”  Rumi said “There are thousands of wines that can take over our minds. Don’t think all ecstasies are the same!”

images111The world was designed with all the catalyst,  distractions, and Chaos for us. We are in school to  learn the ways of  love, the strongest and most powerful emotion, with wisdom.  We are being tested on how we can  be of service to others.  Most would agree, it t is very difficult to treat people badly and connect to God at the same time. Every morning  we wake up to a new day to continue our journey up the mountain. As we venture on our life path, we learn and discard what is not needed or what does not benefit us. The goal is to reach the top of the mountain where you can bask in the love and light of the One Infinite Creator. When a person reaches that point, any and all addictions or cares about the material world will fall away, and one becomes enlightened.

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