Gnosticism is Alive

Gnosticism is one of the most fascinating and perplexing phenomena in western  theological history.   At the heart was the Greek word gnosis meaning,  “Knowledge or Direct knowledge of God”.  Existing far before its Christian descendants, Gnosis in Classical Greek meant true knowledge or wisdom depending on which ancient slide_3philosopher one reads. According to Plato, reality as perceived by the five senses is merely the surface of a highly complex and structured system. The act of seeing and recognizing this system Plato calls “ideas.” A key element in his philosophy, which would later transfer to Gnosticism and Gnostic, is the  concept that every human had a previous and thorough understanding of the structures of reality. Unfortunately, this knowledge was somehow lost. The reclaiming of this knowledge through the comprehension of reality underlying structures is Gnosis.

Gnosis in the first century was a quiet movement, adapting to the situations and locations of the societies it encountered. From early Christian literature, there is an impression that Gnosis was a threat to subvert Christianity, even though there seems to be no unified front of Gnosis during this time. The Gnostics were just a variety of independent, small sects that on the whole seem very different from each other. However, these different sects even debated the same metaphysical,  cosmologic, soteriological, and ethical themes as their more mainstream Christian counterparts.  Gnostics were the early movement of Christianity and lost the early E9F625CB-1D92-43E3-A3FC-33CC72001CE7Christian struggle to define orthodoxy.  

So who were the Gnostics?  Irenaeus of Lyon, a bishop in the late 2nd century was an enemy of the Gnostics whom he called heretics.  Irenaeus claimed that a single true Christianity originated with Jesus  and the apostles. In his view other groups, such as the Gnostics, may claim to be Christians, but they were false deviations for the one true Christianity, and all competing Christians were heretics.  Today we know Christianity was diverse from the very beginning.  Even the original apostles did not agree on a single Christian message.

One of the most striking features of the Gnostic myth as Irenaeus tells it is that the God of Genesis is  lower than the ultimate God and is arrogant, ignorant and evil. He is hostile to humans beings because humans beings have a share of the divine spirit that belongs to the  higher God.  The real name of the god who created this world is Ialdabaoth, a spiritual being who runs this universe like a tyrant.

This biblical father god of the Old Testament, also known as Yahweh or Jehovah, was hostile to human beings when he AdamEve-600x397commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, preventing them from knowing the spiritual truth.

When Adam and Eve eat from the tree, they gain gnosis, knowledge of the true God.  Eve was  encouraged to eat the fruit from a female deity  known as Sophea, (Wisdom).   As human beings continue to see true spiritual knowledge,  Yahweh grows jealous of their devotion to the higher God and causes a flood to wipe out humanity.  The higher God,  Universal Intelligence, saves Noah and his family from the Yahweh evil plot.

Finally, human beings begin to lose the knowledge that Adam and Eve gain when they ate from the tree, but Universal Intelligence sends Jesus to restore this lost gnosis and rescue them from Yahweh and his fellow rulers. 5a4da62576d47c9081ee29e510cd504e

The Gnostic Version of the Garden of Eden is much like the Sumerian Tablets and  the Law of One Yahweh is mentioned 19 times and agrees with much of what the Gnostics said about the God of the Old Testament.

Orthodox Christianity created the idea of heresy to condemn the Gnostics quest for higher knowledge because of the different belief system. Early Christians wanted a single harmonious system and considered themselves as a single body of Christ and did not want any division. Overtime, people who followed the Gnostics were considered godless and imperious members of a school of thought and therefore heretics. Some in the Christian religion still believe that today. The destruction of their sacred texts was inevitable, so some hid them in caves and various other places so they could not be found.

In 1945, one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the 20th century occurred. Thirteen ancient codices containing over 50 texts of Gnostic works were found in caves in Upper Egypt untouched by scribes. All of these can be found in the Nag Hammadi Library.

The discovery in 1945 provides a new and refreshing school of thought about spiritualitygnostic-christ-1024x791 and Jesus’s message. The discovery also came at a time when it could be shared with the world and not suppressed as it was for the last twenty centuries. Jesus is a teacher of wisdom and understanding, speaking in metaphors and parables of love and enlightenment. Much different from the sin and repentance as the Church teaches. Since the discovery and publications, the Gospel of Thomas has been the most celebrated of the 50 ancient texts discovered in 1945.

 Jesus said in saying 5 of the Gospel of Thomas,  “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.”  Have we come to a time when all the secrets of the world are manifesting?  Gnosticism was not confined to the Christians but is part of the belief systems of Sufism and the Saints of India and other eastern mystics. Gnosticism is not only alive but reemerging in a world that needs much love and wisdom in todays greatest   spiritual battle the world has even known.

The Gospel of Thomas

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For the first time  we have access to an apocrypha Jesus, hidden or secret teachings.  In 1945, original gnostic documents were found and is believed to be one of the most important archaeological finds in the 20th century. Thirteen ancient texts of Gnostic works called “codices” found in caves in Upper Egypt untouched by scribes, can be found in the Nag Hammadi Library .    Among the manuscripts was the  discovery of a complete copy of  114 secret sayings of Jesus , known as Gospel of Thomas, thought to be constructed in the 1st or 2nd century A.D.  Some of the sayings in the Gospel of Thomas can be found in the New Testament.

Gospel of Thomas Spiritual Studies: What the Eye Has Not Seen, and What the Ear Has Not Heard
The Sayings Gospel Q
Gospel of Thomas Commentary
The Hidden Teachings of Jesus

When You are AWAKE, You will realize, WE are the LIGHT, WE are the TRUTH, We are the WAY, We are CHRIST CONSCIOUSNESS, the second coming of CHRIST.  We are ONE! 

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.

 

Seeking the Truth

Spirituality is much like a newborn baby. First, we  learn to sit up, then crawl, stand, walk, run, and talk. As we become more aware of our thoughts, emotions, actions and the world around us, we begin to grow spiritual, at our own way and pace.

Buddha said, “The past does not exist. The future does not exist.  One should concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

For me,  I always had a connection to nature and felt it was alive and talking to me at a very young age. I grew up in a Christian community, but Religion never really helped me answer questions of who I was, why am I here or where am I going. I could not understand how God could save one group that believed one way and condemn another group that believed another way.  I learned later was man way of control.

By studying other religions, I began to realize religion as a whole, has kept man from truthly seeking God from within. Religion has humanity believing  you have to be in a tribe or group in order to find God. Reported  Near Death experiences and stories from Children about reincarnation also provided a great deal of insight.

images (27)My first real discovery was  The Gospel of Thomas, labeled as a Gnostic text,  was 114 saying of Jesus, left out of the new testament as well as other texts. The Discovery was made in 1945 in Egypt and now can be found  in the Nag Hammadi Library . It first became available to the public in 1975.    The “living Jesus” in these tests speaks of illusion and enlightenment not of sin and repentance like Jesus of the new testament. Jesus teaching were much deeper than what we were taught. Instead of coming to save us from sin, he comes as a guide and messenger who opens access to spiritual understanding, much like Buddha and Lao Tzu. Verse 50 in the Gospel of Thomas,  Jesus said,  “ If they ask you “Where are you from?” reply to them “We have come from the place where light is produced from itself. It came and revealed itself in their image.”  If they ask you “Are you it?” reply to them, “We are his sons. We are chosen ones of the living father.”  If they ask you “What is the sign within you of your father?” reply to them, Have “It is movement. It is rest.”

Then I discovered the Law of One, an event that occurred from 1981 to 1984 and again speaks of  love and light.  It put Jesus’ message in prospective, revealing our purpose of existence and the consequences of our behavior. It shares some of the same concepts we learned in our religious systems, but in a more metaphysical, scientific, and complex vocabulary. More importantly it put everything into perspective. The Infinite Intelligence or Creator is pure energy encompassing all. mistic46_00_small

Have each of us been chosen to be here  at this time and place?  Is our purpose to raise the planet vibration of love and light and if so how?  Love others as you would love yourself and being of service to others. We all have higher entities as guides trying to communicate with those who are seeking the truth, just as Jesus said, seek and you shall find.

Different translations of the Gospel of Thomas can be found at Gnostic.Org . In addition  Scott Mandelker PhD. has  34 videos including the Gospel of Thomas in an Introduction to Gnostic Studies playlist will provide the seeker with additional insight.

Law of One and the Seven Practices

2. PRACTICE TWO: LOVE YOURSELF – Apply the practice of Unity with All-One as an extension towards loving, honoring and respecting yourself. Acknowledge the precious life force within by holding reverence and respect for yourself in all ways. Loving yourself is the action of Self Sovereignty, which is the natural state of embodying God’s Eternal Love. As a manifestation of God’s eternal spirit of Love, one has the ability to choose to create personal freedom without harming others. Have courage to remove the obstacles of pain and fear to become embodied Love, as God’s spirit is always found within.
3. PRACTICE THREE: LOVE OTHERS – As you learn to love yourself, love others. Acknowledge the precious life force in others by holding love, reverence and respect for others. Loving others as you love yourself, is the natural state of Self Sovereignty as you give others the same reverence for their life, as you give your own life. Through practicing self-love and loving others, no approval, worth or esteem issues come into question, as all is loved equally.
4. PRACTICE FOUR: LOVE EARTH AND NATURE – Loving the Earth and all her creations, the kingdoms of nature, plants, animals and mineral, which are all alive, conscious and intelligent energy beings. Acknowledge the precious life force present in images (2)all of God’s creation, by holding reverence and respect for nature. Doing so restores balance and harmony to nature, and the intelligent energy of all of earth’s creations will respond to cooperate with humankind. Humans living in discord with nature create many events that are considered to be “at the mercy of” the untamed forces. As humans learn to live in harmony with earth and the nature kingdom, the natural creatures will align to be in harmony and cooperation with all inhabitants.
5. PRACTICE FIVE: SERVICE TO OTHERS – Upon firmly loving yourself and honoring your path, find methods to be of service to others that do not overstep personal boundaries of discernment. Being of service to others does not include consumptive childmodeling, such as victim-victimizer, parasitism or emotional vampirism. Being of service does not hold an ego perspective of entitlement, expectation or attachment. Practice being of service with unconditional love, and naturally flowing in the moment. The energy exchange made between participants being of service to others, amplifies and expands consciousness growth like no other method. The more you amplify the energetic field of being in service to others, the more joy, harmony and gifts will be brought into your life. The more service you dedicate to Gods plan, the Law of One, the more spiritual support and spiritual presence one can exchange with God Force.
6. PRACTICE SIX: CONSCIOUSNESS EXPANSION – Learn to develop inner clarity and spiritual integrity by intending to develop personal consciousness and/or spiritual identity. To embody one’s spiritual identity, one’s mind must be initiated and disciplined. If the ego is in authority of the body it will repel the spiritual identity from embodiment. If the mental body creates obstacles to the spiritual identity, the spiritual identity, therefore the consciousness, will not be experienced. The first step to consciousness old peopleexpansion is becoming aware of mind control and the quality content of thoughts and belief systems. The second step is to cooperate with the process of mental and physical discomfort by having patience and waiting in the void of silence. Learn to quiet the mind, sublimate the ego and be still. Once stillness, mental discipline and ego sublimation has been achieved, listen to your inner spirit to receive guidance. Inner Guidance will always lead to the process of re-education to experience continual consciousness expansion free of fear and dogma. The Inner Christos always guides one towards choosing more love and peace via consciousness expansion of the spiritual identity.
7. PRACTICE SEVEN: RESPONSIBLE CO-CREATION – As one becomes more infused with the eternal love of the spiritual identity, the intelligent blueprint activates the divine purpose of being as a co-creator with God. The spiritual identity and the intelligent blueprint of divine purpose are one and the same. Clarity of purpose and direction becomes clearer and clearer as one commits to live in service to the principles of All-ONE or Christ spirit. Knowing and Living our purpose brings joy, peace and fulfillment, even when facing adversity or challenges. Once we achieve “knowing”, we are responsible for that knowing, and practice responsible co-creation with the All-One. A responsible co-creator knows all manifestations are in partnership with the All-One. We do not possess cropped-hqdefault-1.jpgor control anything, so needs, desires and superimposing will, should be avoided. We are stewards of God Spirit to Serve Others in responsible co-creation with All-One. From this knowing, and living this principle, we are eternally free of karmic exchanges.
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