Monthly Archives: February 2013

Love is the Fulfilling of the Law

ON LOVE; PART CLXXV

ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•Α

GoodWill IS Love in Action

ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•Α•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•Α

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:1-15).

In the last several posts we have been looking at the sayings below from the Apostle Paul which we see as our instruction as disciples and as aspirants regarding our actions and our attitudes as we express them to the world and from the Soul. The expression to the world is realized in the understanding that we “think on these things” and our source for these ideals and virtues is from the Inner man, the Soul, the Christ Within, who defines for each of us our intended expression of attitude toward others. From this perspective, if we ARE NOT thinking “on these things” then we are likely thinking on the things of the world which IS NOT the focus of the disciple nor the aspirant and this is the crux of our presentation which includes the Master’s admonition that we “take no thought” (Luke 12:22) for any of the things of the world, things with which we should have NO concern as they are provided for by the act of living the Life of the disciple in form.

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let our moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:4-8).

Our thoughts on this are not just fanciful fare but the reality that is taught us by the combined words of the Master and His apostles who ALL give us the same ideas in their words regarding the Life of the disciple and the attainment of His Kingdom which we as aspirants MUST take to heart if we are to progress. We got rather stuck on the last two words used by Paul, “any virtue” and “any praise” and we did so because of the realized importance of understanding the Truth of the apostles message and our seeing that there is no worldly thought in it for one to “think on” as to do so would detract from the reality of his message and the teachings of the Master. In this regard we have concluded that the apostle uses the idea and context of “any virtue” to tell us that the list IS NOT to be seen as the end but is to be added to as we encounter other ideals that the disciple can see as virtuous and worthy of his thought. On the word “any praise“, seeing the root and the meaning and the connection to the word virtue, we concluded that our discernible understanding of the intent of the apostle is not found in the definitions of commendation nor approbation nor praise from the lexicon ² nor the common understanding of praise as it is defined in our modern or even past usage, we see that there is a hidden reality. This hidden reality for us today is that the idea of praise that Paul intends for us to see is the expression and example  in the world that the disciple can make of the virtues that consume his mind. Thus we can convey ALL of the apostles words to tell us that we should think only on the Good, the Beautiful and the True as it is afforded the consciousness in form by the Soul for the man in form focuses his Life upon them.

We return now to the Fifteen Points by Emmet Fox which we used as our Quote of the Day and then moved into the main section so that we could discuss his doctrinal approach to the spiritual Life. It is this study that brought us to the words of Paul above which are the more True way to spiritual Life but which at the same time are focused upon the disciple while Mr. Fox is focused upon the average man in the street. It is likely that the church will not readily agree with what we say here on Paul’s words and it is just as likely that they would call us heretics and this much the same as many consider the New Thought teachings of which Mr. Fox is a part. In the first nine of these Fifteen points we have discovered that several are directly or indirectly about Love and the actions of the man in form in relation to his neighbor and while others are clouded by the doctrines of the New Thought movement, there is much of value here for ALL. We were first attracted to these Fifteen Points by number fourteen which, standing alone, encapsulates the True intent of the Master in His Golden Rule which we recognize as a great signpost that directs us to the Kingdom and His Presence; we will discuss this further in its turn. For now begin again where we left off:

• The tenth point is in relation to reading scripture which in itself is a good thing but is not a criteria for salvation, discipleship nor for attaining the Kingdom. For the average person this practice can and will bring greater revelation of the words so long as the reader is not totally dependent on the interpretations and commentaries that are based on doctrine. Additionally we would add that it makes no difference what scripture one reads and the broader the selection the greater one’s understanding of Truth will be as the Christians, Buddhist,  Hindu and other scriptures ALL do say the same things from the perspective of personal spiritual development if they are read in the Light of the Soul, the Christ Within, who the Apostle John tells us is the anointing, the only teacher that one Truly needs. This saying is not intended to show that one should not seek better understanding from others, understanding that can ‘turn on‘ the anointing that one does have but only to say that reliance upon a single doctrine, while perhaps comforting, is not the way to the broad understanding of Love. 
• The eleventh point is again doctrinal from the perspective of the New Thought movement which teaches the power of the mind. In Mr. Fox’s saying that I specifically claim spiritual understanding of myself every day, we should see the effort of thought controlling the activities of the outer form. The Buddha teaches a similar thing but we should remember that the Buddha is speaking to adherents and disciples and not to the general public as Mr. Fox is. The Buddha says:

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. Speak or act with an impure mind And trouble will follow you As the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart. We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. Speak or act with a pure mind And happiness will follow you As your shadow, unshakable ⁵. 

In the Buddha’s words we find the power of the mind to control the Life in form but we should understand that here in Buddhist’ thought there is the added idea that the Inner man, the Soul, controls the mind. The caution then becomes that if one allows an impure mind to influence the Life, that he IS NOT expressing the Life of the Soul, but of the man in form. This is a reality in the Life of ALL who desire to tread the Path and is a burden experienced until that time of perfection arrives. For the unperfected consciousness in form there are constant choices as the mind does drift to the things of the world; it is always the choice of the Soul infused individual consciousness to focus upon the things of God or the things of the world. The Master says comparable things from a different perspective among which is this saying that is one of our favorites: “For where your treasure is , there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21, Luke 12:34) and here we KNOW that the heart IS the consciousness that controls the mind. Mr. Fox, in his saying, seeks to change the content of the mind from the perspective of the man in form who, by claiming spiritual understanding, is setting his focus upon this for whatsoever time he is involved day by day. This forcing of the focus upon spiritual understanding will eventuate in bringing one closer to his spiritual goal so long as the focus is done with intent and in this the focusing can be seen as a meditation upon that goal.

The next point, the twelfth, is basically the same as this previous one as its intention is again to force one to focus upon the things of God instead of the things of the world and to do so as the first thing every day. The intent here is that this focus upon God should set the tone for one’s daily activity and from this perspective is a wise thing for the average man to do. From the perspective of the disciple and the aspirant the objective is that this focus upon God IS the tone of the day, every day, and we can look at Mr. Fox’s instruction here and above regarding spiritual understanding as a way to begin this process of changing one’s focus entirely. So also is the next point, the thirteenth, which is intended to center one’s focus upon the things of God in the middle of the day creating for the man in form an escape from his thoughts about the things of the world. Some of the esoteric wisdom includes similar fixed periods of focus upon God through a mantram that one says at noon and another perhaps as five and this after a morning meditation. All this has for its intent to focus the consciousness upon God and this, per force, takes the mind and the emotions along with it.

• The fourteenth point is the one that brought us to this listing of Fifteen Points as we say above. This wording by Mr. Fox captures the full intent of the Master’s saying as we KNOW that He would have us understand it. There is no quid pro quo in the Master’s wording of what we call the Golden Rule and this is reflected by Mr. Fox in his  simple saying that I am to practice it whether the other fellow does so or not. This understanding goes beyond the common understanding of the Master’s words and we KNOW that it is in doing this with sincere intent that we are able to express the Love that the Master tells us that we MUST express. This is the tool par excellence for accomplishing the reality of “Love thy neighbour as thyself” which is given to us eight times using these same words:
  • Said by Moses as the Law of God: “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:18).
  • Said by the Master to the rich young man: “Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 19:19).
  • Said by the Master to the lawyer who is asking Jesus of the great commandment in the Law: “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:39).
  • The Apostle Mark’s version of the Matthew’s above in response to a question by a scribe asking for the first commandment: “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31). 
  • The words of a lawyer addressing the Masters question about the way to eternal Life to which the Master agrees and commends the lawyer: “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself” (Luke 10:27 ).
  • Paul picks up the Master’s message twice; this one to the Romans outlines the idea that ALL of the Law is accomplished in Love: “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Romans 13:9).
  • Paul makes this idea clear to the Galatians as well and in a more direct and clear tone saying: “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Galatians 5:14).
  • Finally we have the Apostle James telling us that this Love is the royal law “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well” (James 2:8). In James words we should look at the idea of royal as to mean of or belong to a king, kingly, royal, regal ² which in James’ day, where Kings and Kingdoms ruled, should be seen in very high regard. Vincent tells us that this should be understood as the king of all laws ⁴ thereby carrying the same weight that both the Master and Paul give to this saying and we should remember that the Master Himself lifts this above ALL laws as well making it a part of the Great Commandment to Love God and thy neighbor. We should also see that there is a lightness in the translation of this saying as regards the rendering of the Greek word kalos as simply well; the lexicon tells us of kalos that it means: rightly, so that there shall be no room for blame, well, truly; excellently, nobly, commendably ² which give it us a much stronger sense of the reality of this Love.
    

Our subject verse, the Golden Rule, is the force of action as regards this Love for one’s neighbour and it helps to define for us who is the neighbor and the meaning of Love for oneself. We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.

I Am Really In Truth: ‡

1. If – I always look for the best in each person, situation and thing.
2. If – I resolutely turn my back on the past, good or bad and live only in the present & future
3. If – I forgive everybody without exception, no matter what he may have done; and if I then forgive MYSELF whole-heartedly.
4. If – I regard my job as sacred and do my day’s work to the best of my ability (whether I like it or not).
5. If – I take every means to demonstrate a healthy body and harmonious surroundings for myself.
6. If – I endeavor to make my life of as much service to others as possible, without interfering or fussing.
7. If – I take every opportunity wisely to spread the knowledge of Truth to others.
8. If – I rigidly refrain from personal criticism, and neither speak nor listen to gossip.
9. If – I devote at least a quarter of an hour a day to prayer and meditation.
10. If – I read at least seven verses of the Bible everyday.
11. If – I specifically claim spiritual understanding of myself every day.
12. If – I train myself to give the first thought on waking to God.
13. If – I speak the Word for the whole world every day, say at noon.
14. If – I PRACTICE, the Golden Rule of Jesus instead of merely admiring it. He said, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” The important point about the Golden Rule is that I am to practice it whether the other fellow does so or not.
15. If – above all, I understand that whatever I see is but a picture which can be changed for the better by Scientific Prayer.

 

Aspect of God	Potency	Expressed as Fire	Aspect of Man	In Relation to the Christ
GOD, The Father	Will or Power	Electric Fire	Spirit or Life	Life
Son, The Christ	Love and Wisdom	Solar Fire	Soul or Christ Within	Truth
Holy Spirit	Light or Activity	Fire by Friction	Life Within the Form	Way

Note on the Quote of the Day

This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment:

Leaving again the Great Invocation, we encourage ALL to read and reread it and our comments as in these words can be found the keys to our spiritual reality.

From the point of Light within the Mind of God
Let light stream forth into the minds of men.
Let Light descend on Earth.

From the point of Love within the Heart of God
Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.
May Christ return to Earth.

From the centre where the Will of God is known
Let purpose guide the little wills of men–
The purpose which the Masters know and serve.

From the centre which we call the race of men
Let the Plan of Love and Light work out
And may it seal the door where evil dwells.

Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.

This prayer is a part of our Prayers and Meditations section and there is much information about it there and in our discussion of it in the Quote of the Day section of In the Words of Jesus parts 128-132

The above Invocation or Prayer does not belong to any person or group but to all Humanity. The beauty and the strength of this Invocation lies in its simplicity, and in its expression of certain central truths which all men, innately and normally, accept—the truth of the existence of a basic Intelligence to Whom we vaguely give the name of God; the truth that behind all outer seeming, the motivating power of the universe is Love; the truth that a great Individuality came to earth, called by Christians, the Christ, and embodied that love so that we could understand; the truth that both love and intelligence are effects of what is called the Will of God; and finally the self-evident truth that only through humanity itself can the Divine Plan work out.

Like the Lord’s Prayer, this invocation is a World Prayer which is as all that a prayer is intended to be. It is a prayer for the uplifting of the Human Family out of the mire of materialism and selfishness. The Lord’s Prayer asks nothing for the individual praying it but asks that its benefits be for US and for WE which is why it was given by the Christ as a prayer and as a model over 2000 years ago. This invocation is also attributed to the Christ who, as He promised, has never left us; He, through channels that we do not readily understand, has Himself instructed His disciples to distribute this prayer and to encourage its use as a world prayer and as an aid in preparing the world for His return.

The first three stanzas of this prayer should be understood as reflecting the effective potencies of the Trinity which is God and which, when brought down to an individual level, the Trinity which is Man. His Will, His Love and His Light we should seen as the Potent Powers of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts!

• ‡  From The Fifteen Points by Emmet Fox; © 1932 HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• ¹ Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1828 and 1913
• ² from New Testament Greek Lexicon on BibleStudyTools.com
• ⁴ Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition, 1888
• ⁵ The Dhammapada (On Choices) Translated by Thomas Byrom