ON LOVE; PART CDXCVII
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GoodWill IS Love in Action
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“The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is 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 12:29-31).
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“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40).
The last several essays had the theme of Love as seen through the Apostle John’s First Epistle where we find some of the more profound statements on Love aside from the Great Commandments which have been gracing the top of our posts in recent days. It IS here in the fourth chapter of this epistle that the apostle tells us that God IS Love and while this IS a difficult idea to Truly understand as men in the world, it can become easier if we look at it in the Light of Unity and of Oneness. If we can view Our God as a Homogeneous Whole in which ALL men exist and try to see this concept on a spiritual level, as the True man who IS the Spirit manifest as the Soul, we can better see that ALL IS ONE and in this cohesive Unity we can then see Love as the Master teaches; that every part sees every other part in the equality in which ALL exists. This equality IS ONLY visible when we look for the True man within the man in the world IS caught in time and space and who is also caught in the illusion and the glamour of Life in the world. Here in this Earth, we find that reality that the Apostle Paul tells us of as he says that man and mankind IS “made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope” (Romans 8:20). Here we can understand that Life in this world IS different, here we find that the Soul in form IS subjected to that vanity which we call illusion and glamour and which Vincent defines for us as: a perishable and decaying condition, separate from God, and pursuing false ends; (for a better understanding of Vincent’s ideas on this see In the Words of Jesus part 353 and 646).
In this condition this Love that IS God and therefore IS the True man, the Soul, IS lost in this illusory world that shows the man to be the self in the world whose interests are in the self and those things that please the self and to which he has formed unions and bonds. We should see from Paul’s words that this IS the very Plan of God that causes this existence in this vanity, in this illusory world of Life in form, and the idea to be understood here is that it IS in the state of mind of the man in the world, the carnal mind of the personality in form, that the illusion exists; not that his experiences or Life itself are the illusion as some may try to paint this but rather that the illusion IS the thoughts and the feelings regarding WHO one Truly and this IS compounded by what one comes to believe is important. In this state of consciousness the sense of Love IS lost; it is lost in the illusion, lost in the clamor of Life in the world and it is lost in the desires of the self in the world; man no longer sees every part as equal because he can only see the separated self in the world. So much of the Master’s teaching IS intended to combat this state of mind and, as history proves, this sense of the self in the world IS an extremely difficult sense to break. Here the Master’s teaching on Love as we see above in the Great Commandments IS the centerpiece and He follows this with those ideas that are intended to clarify this as He tells us that the Love goes so far as to the Love of enemies and then that in this Love one should give to others ALL things as he would have others give to him. He shows us in parables and in parabolic sayings that this Love for ALL is Love for Him and thereby for God. He shows us that to be accounted worthy of the Kingdom of God one must forsake ALL, that one must look past his existence in this world and see the Truth and the reality of his own Soul. He tells us to “take no thought” (Matthew 6:24) and He tells us to refrain from seeking the treasures of this world, both material and psychic, and that we should seek the treasures of the Kingdom; and He tells us that when we have accomplished these things that we are accounted among His disciples that we should teach others these same things.
ALL of this teaching is to bring us, individually and corporately, to the Path as it IS on this Path that we can see the vision, that we can see the strait gate that opens into the Kingdom of God; ALL this teaching is intended to break down the sense of self in the world and the show forth the reality of the Life of the True man, the Soul. Most ALL of the Master’s teaching is focused upon breaking down the walls of illusion and glamour that cause a man to see the unimportant as the important and to fight to maintain his view. But we DO NOT find these realities in the teachings of the most churches that claim His Name as Jesus words have not been interpreted spiritually but have be allowed to devolve into doctrine and tradition which may be sufficient for some who CAN NOT yet grasp the higher Truths, but which are wholly insufficient for the man who IS Truly seeking His Kingdom. ALL who make the effort to interpret the Master’s Truths according to the ways of man are trapped in the illusion and the glamour, and there are very few who are free from this; many see His words as the Truth but then conveniently adapt them to suit the psychic tendencies of the self in the world. There are very few who will actually turn the other cheek. In the Master’s words from the Sermon on the Mount as recorded by the Apostle Matthew we find the great Truths of Life, of Love and of the Kingdom of God and it would likely serve us ALL to read and reread His words. It IS in these ideas that we can break down the walls of illusion and glamour as for one to conform to the ideas of the Sermon, IS to look past the separated self and see ALL men in the same Light; that ALL are Souls seeking the expression of the Truth of Love through form and this whether a man can recognize this or not.
It IS not for ALL to follow this Path today, many are too entwined in the world and in their own little lives to notice Truth as it presents itself in the promptings of the Soul; many DO NOT hear the call over the clamor of Life in form and others intentionally tune it out as they continue to see the unreal as the real and as the trivial as important. Some however do see a bit of the Truth and others but a faint glimpse as the prompting of the Soul is ever there in the Life of the man in the world. And for many of these this seeing and glimpsing can become the needed drive to seek greater Truths, to read the Master’s words and the words of the Sages of the ages, ALL of which point to the same reality which IS Love as the Master teaches. The Buddha has much to say about the Right conduct of the man in the world and His words are also a guide when they are seen away from the Buddhist doctrines that work out in the world in much the same way as Christian doctrine. In the Truth of the Four Nobel Truths and the Eightfold Path of the Buddha are the same realities that we find in the Master’s words, in the fullness of His Sermon on the Mount, and, in the end we can see that both of these Truly Spiritual teachings is the reality of our fight to suppress the effects of illusion and of glamour in our lives. Volumes are written on the words of the Master which interpret His intended ideas to the convenience of man in the world thereby removing the simplicity of the ideas which are Truly seen ONLY when one looks away from the self in the world. And this same IS True of the Buddha’s teachings as the Four Nobel Truths and the Eightfold Path are in their simplicity ALL that one needs to KNOW when the attitude of the self in the world IS removed. Perhaps here is the difficulty as the quest and the answer ARE the same; the words of both Master and the Buddha show the Way out of the malaise of the self in the world and, at the same time, this Way is covered by those same words that will set one free.
In this we should try to see the reality that it IS ONLY one’s self that can achieve enlightenment; it does not come from the reading or the hearing, it comes from the revelation that one can receive by hearing and reading and DOING and, from our perspective it IS ONLY in DOING that realization and revelation come. Here we should see that reading about the idea that one must “love thy neighbour as thyself” IS meaningless unless one can glimpse the Truth as it IS presented to him by His own Soul and focus upon that Truth; it IS from there that the reality of this Truth will build. The man who sees these words however and does not let the Truth enter into his thoughts and feelings but maintains that attitude of prejudice and hate that he may have been nurtured in, will NOT glimpse the Truth of this Love. Both are hearing the Truth in the prompting of the Soul to the Good, the Beautiful and the True; for the one who can bring himself to focus upon this there is greater enlightenment and for the man who chooses to maintain his position in the illusion and the glamour, there is none and he continues in the carnally oriented self. So then these words of the Master or the Buddha that are intended to break down the walls of illusion and glamour can work for one man and be wasted on another and this lack of vision is further exasperated by the many who never take the time to read nor to hear True words of Wisdom. And so there ARE the few and the Master tells us this Truth about our spiritual journey, that: “many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). Here we should see that there are some that never hear the call and there are some that do hear the call but there are few that heed the call and what IS hidden within Jesus’ words it the reality that both the calling and the choosing take place within the consciousness of the man in the world.
Our point here is that the whole of one’s ability to spiritual advancement lies with him; there is no outside force that can make a man see clearly nothing can do any more but to point the way. Scripture has this idea at its heart as most things ARE NOT clearly stated except those most simple tools that can lead a man in the right direction and in the Master’s words this tool IS the teaching on Love that is ever so clear. It is only what that Love brings to the man that is covered in parabolic language; it IS only the Kingdom and the Truth of the Life of man that are hidden. It IS left to each man as an individual to find His own way and to “be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). Scripture can help one to see and this especially if those things that are painted clearly are accepted by the carnal mind and emotions and the man strives to accomplish them; it IS in this DOING that more and more of that which IS hidden can be seen. Similarly with works such as our blog; here, while it IS addressed to an audience who has seen some degree of Truth and has been able to somewhat overcome the carnal mind and emotional attachment to the illusion and the glamour, the intent is to reveal some of the deeper mysteries that are hidden in the words of scripture and to show the practical application of these as well as a picture of the goal. Again however all that we can do is offer words; the realization of the Truth MUST come from each man himself. And the True key IS Love, Love as the Master teaches us, Love through which a man sees ALL men as he sees himself and when a man can allow the Master’s words on Love to resonate, and allow the Inner promptings of Truth to prevail, he can begin to live in that Love. For the man who IS more aware this Life of Love can be difficult without the understanding that it IS the Soul that IS the True man and that the apparent inequalities are created by the focus of the man in the world. If one can see that the Soul is incarnated in a place where his potential can be best realized based upon his own past and understand that ALL Souls pass through ALL stages and that karma is that potent force that sets man in his state of being in this world and the place in which each finds himself, then one can find that greater ability to NOT see men as their physical presentation but as the Life that is behind this presentation, the Soul.
This IS the Buddha’s message as we read from the Dhammapada in that section called The World and this is the message from the Sermon on the Mount; both show us the reality of Life as looking past the physical and the carnal and looking towards the True man. Here we repeat both of these in part and we should note Jesus words to those who listen: “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15) and we should understand that these are not the physical ear alone and that the he who will hear is the he who IS listening to the Inner voice of Truth.
The World:
Do not live in the world, In distraction and false dreams. Outside the dharma. Arise and watch. Follow the way joyfully through this world and beyond. Follow the way of virtue. Follow the way joyfully Through this world and on beyond! For consider the world – A bubble, a mirage. See the world as it is, And death shall overlook you. Come, consider the world, A painted chariot for kings, A trap for fools. But he who sees goes free. As the moon slips from behind a cloud And shines, So the master comes out from behind his ignorance And shines. The world is in darkness. How few have eyes to see! How few the birds who escape the net and fly to heaven! 5
The Sermon on the Mount:
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill ; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…..if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift….Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart…..resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:21-24, 27-28, 39-45).
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men….But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth….And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men….But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret….if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast…..But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast….Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,….But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven….Ye cannot serve God and mammon….Take no thought for your life….seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6: 1, 3, 5-6, 14-20, 24, 25, 33).
“Judge not, that ye be not judged….first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye….Ask , and it shall be given you; seek , and ye shall find ; knock , and it shall be opened unto you….Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it…. Beware of false prophets….Ye shall know them by their fruits….Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:1, 5, 7, 12-14, 15-16, 21).
And the Master ends this sequence with this parable: “whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:24-+27).
There IS a resounding clarity in these words from the Master and the Buddha, a clarity that is missed by so many yet today.
We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.
| Aspect |
Potency |
Aspect of Man |
In Relation to the Great Invocation |
In relation to the Christ |
|
GOD, The Father |
Will or Power |
Spirit or Life |
Center where the Will of God IS KNOWN |
Life |
|
Son, The Christ |
Love and Wisdom |
Soul or Christ Within |
Heart of God |
Truth |
|
Holy Spirit |
Light or Activity |
Life Within |
Mind of God |
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.
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.
God is love;
and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness
in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love;
but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.
He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
We love him, because he first loved us.
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:
for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen,
how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
And this commandment have we from him,
That he who loveth God love his brother also
1 John 4:16-21
Today’s Quote of the Day from the First Epistle of John is his reflection on God and on Love. John tells us that God is Love and, as we have discussed, Love is certainly as aspect and an attribute of the Godhead and one which is supremely represented by the Christ. John tells us further that without Love there is no relationship with God and likens the Truth of dwelling in Love to being in His Kingdom and in His Presence. He draws for us the idea of Love for ones fellowman being the prime prerequisite for Love of God for although one may say that he Loves God, it cannot be True unless he first Loves his fellowman. In John’s words the equation is certain: “he who loveth God love his brother also“. And, lest we forget that the idea of Love that the Master teaches in not the emotional attraction that we live with daily, we repeat again: LOVE is….
In a general sense love is benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men’. To this we add the ever important High Ideal as taught by the Christ: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts!
- 4 Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition, 1888
- 5 The Dhammapada Translated by Thomas Byrom
