Words as Signposts
A word, number or a name is a signpost. If
you follow the direction of a signpost, you will arrive at the signposted place
or feature. You can only arrive with one’s own ability and effort. A signpost
is like a symbol, which is “an outwardly
perceptible thing, which in itself, however, is only an image - not an unreal
image, but one behind which stands a real thing or event.”
What is Essence?
Literally, an “essence” is the inner core or internal
quality of something life. It is called ‘Noumenon’ in Greek and the Arabic word is ‘sulaalah’ which means ‘something extracted, the best part of a
thing’.
The opposite of ‘Noumenon’ is the
external quantity called ‘Phenomenon.’
“Phenomenon –
the appearance which anything makes to our (physical senses) as distinguished
from what it is in itself.” (Chambers’ Twentieth Century Dictionary).
“…all
objective things, the world and all things in it, physically objectified to the
senses, are the phenomenal images of noumenal concepts, all things visible
being the concrete reproduction, and therefore the actual material presentation
of the ideas of a cosmic consciousness that framed them in thought. Such being
the case, the grandest and noblest, the most transcendent activity of intellect
is to discern the frame and content of the original cosmic Mind. The art or
science of such an activity for the human mind was, as is obvious at a glance,
an enterprise that fell within the capability of only the most cultivated
intellects. It lies quite beyond the reach of "average" humanity. It
was a heavy task even for the most capable among the philosophers.”
– Alvin Boyd Kuhn, ‘Shadow of the Third
Century.’
The Essence (inner
core or internal quality) is that
which is enduring, eternal and infinite. It is the ultimate reality. It can
also be called “the Absolute” (“Parabraham”
in Sanskrit). (Is
this the source of the scriptural name “Abraham”?)
“The word, ‘Absolute’ is derived from the Latin
“ab” and “solvo.” “Ab” means ‘from’. “Solvo” is derived from the Greek with the
prefix ‘se’ changed to ‘so’; it literally means ‘without ties’. Absolute means
‘self-sufficient’ or ‘self-evident.’ It is the opposite of ‘relative’,
which means ‘with ties.’ If there exists things with ties, there must be things
existing without ties.
Parabraham is “devoid of all attributes and
essentially without any relation to manifested, finite Being. It is ‘Be-ness’
rather than Being (in Sanskrit, Sat), and is beyond all thought and speculation”
(The Secret Doctrine, 1:14).
The Essence
is the reality independent of the physical senses. This dimension of reality is
absolute, infinite, universal and eternal. The Greek philosopher, Plato (an
initiate at a temple of the ancient Egyptian town of Sais and a student of
Sechnuphis, a priest of Heliopolis/Anu for 13 years) called this reality beautiful, goodness and justice. He
said to live by these standards, is the good life we should aspire for and to
grasp it is to grasp the ultimate Truth or the
Absolute.
Plato defined ‘Essence’
as that which has “real being,” and described it as colourless, formless, and
intangible visible only to the mind or higher reason that guides the soul.
The Divine as a Mystery
The Enligsh word “mystery” is derived from Greek
"musthrion," which means a "hidden secret thing, a
riddle, a religious secret, confined only to the initiated and not to ordinary
people, a mystic of hidden sense, a metaphor, an allusion to an Old Testament
saying, an image or form seen in a vision or a dream." - www.jesus888.com.
The Latin "mysterium" and Greek "musterios" are derived from the same verbal root "mus" which means "to close the eyes or lips" and one who was initiated into the ancient mysteries was called "mustes," meaning "one vowed to silence."
Thus, strictly speaking, silence and secrecy are integral components of the deep truth teachings about the Divine, nature and humanity, as the Taoist dictum puts it: "Those who know don't speak and those who speak don't know."
"The (Hebrew Scriptures) versions use the word mysterion as an equivalent for the Hebrew "Sod," which means ‘secret’ (Proverbs 20:19, Judith 2:2, Sirach 22:27, 2 Maccabees 13:21). In the New Testament, the word mystery is applied ordinarily to the sublime revelation of the Gospel (Matthew 13:11, Colossians 2:2, 1 Timothy 3:9, 1 Corinthians 15:51)." - Wikipedia.
The word "mystery" has the exact same meaning with "occult." Occult means "secret, not divulged." This is a word with origins in the 1530s and it comes from Latin, "occultus," which means "hidden, concealed, secret." A part of the word 'occult' is "cult" and this comes from Latin "cultus" which means to "labour, care, tend." "Cult" later gives us "culture" which means tilling of land from Latin, "cultura" which means agriculture. Today the word, “occult” has negative sentiments associated with it arising out of the popular or literalist ignorance about that which is hidden or concealed.
Siddhatha Gautama, the
Buddha, rebelled against the ceremonial rituals and priestly class of the
Brahmins in India and introduced a religion of the mind and heart. Likewise,
more than five hundred years later, Yahoshua ben
Pandera, the Nazarene Rabbi, (renamed “Jesus/Iesous the
Christos” by the Hellenic Jews) rebelled against the
conservative priest class of Judaism by preaching the need to realise the
kingdom of the Divine within onself, spoke openly against the priestly
hypocrisy and the insufficiency of Hebraic strict rules and severity of
religious procedures and rituals.
Both of the Siddhatha Gautama, the Buddha and Yahoshua ben Pandera, the Nazarene Rabbi, can
be considered religious reformers in Hinduism and Judaism, respectively, by focusing on the nobility of individual character
rather than institutional discipline or formal compliance of doctrines and
dogma.
“Those admitted to the
mysteries, were not allowed to divulge what they were shown. The unknown is
necessarily the misunderstood, hence in common parlance the words
"mystery" and "mysterious" came to mean not merely that
which cannot be spoken about, but owing no doubt to a later (vulgar) bias of
men's minds, something which does not really exist, or something contradictory
to sense and reason and which is only professed by charlatans or those who want
to mystify others and to get credit for knowledge they do not really possess.
“But this is a later development. What is properly
understood as a mystery, and consequently mysticism, is that which is related
to the essence and inner principle,
the ultimate reality of things,
precisely the reverse of the popular idea. It implies something which not only may not, but which cannot be fully divulged. It is
concerned with experiences on a plane beyond the reach of words, and when the
subject of these experiences tries to express them in ordinary language, the
result is a confused account, a sort of floundering in a sea of terms
altogether inadequate to the expression of such things.” - Emily Kislingbury, The Mystic Side of Christianity (Theosophical Siftings, Volume 5 -
1892-1893)
Thus, strictly speaking, silence and
secrecy are integral components of the deept truth teachings about the ultimate
and absolute reality of things, as the Taoist dictum puts it: 'Those who know don't speak and those who
speak don't know'.
The meaning of life is elaborately concealed
in the mystery and nature of the Divine and deep knowledge about the Divine
leads us to the innermost depths of life and creation.
In religious terms, there are three types of human beings – Theists, Atheists and Agnostics.
1.
A Theist is one who acknowledges the
existence of the Divine.
2. An Atheist is the direct opposite of being
a Theist. Many atheists are decent and rational human beings who are
law-abiding citizens even if some Theists may find their viewpoints
objectionable.
3.
Agnostics are those in the middle of Theists and Atheists, they have no position
over the existence or non-existence of the Divine.
There are two types of Theists – Externalist
and Internalist,
depending on whether the Divine is considered or acknowledged externally out
there or internally, respectively.
The Essence of the
Divine
In discovering the
essence of the Divine, let us now fully explore whether the Divine is an external or internal reality.
1. As
an External Reality, the Divine is an invisible Being with anthropological (human) attributes having
a separate place to live called heaven in the outer space of the sky who harshly punishes and kindly
rewards. The Divine, the invisible Supreme
Being, is considered to be "enthroned
in space, who dispenses good or evil, either according to His whim or fancy, or
according to our desires." He is also viewed as requiring appeasement by endless
petitioning or supplacation, through emotional admiration and fervent or
relentless adoration.
"When a human
being grasps (the Divine) as another being, albeit a more powerful than
him/herself, then he/she relates with (the Divine) as a dutiful slave, whose
duty is to do his bidding. Blindly following a set of narrowly defined rules
makes one Divine’s prisoner, or rather, the prisoner of dogma laid down by
humans for their own ends...” - Clara
Szalai, "Holophany: The Loop of
Creation" (Smashwords, 2007). Religious intolerance,
extremism and fanaticism have largely been the manifestation of this worldview.
The Divine becomes an individuation and projection of the
fears, insecurities and paternalistic needs of the Self. The base of this
religious worldview is the egoistic human wants and unconscious vulnerabilities
driven by the deepest infantile yearnings requiring a harsh, intrusive and
interfering paternal figure.
This is the definition
of the Divine whose mental picture is a essence and image is based
on the world of physical senses and mental perception. This type of perceiving the
Divine is as a result of individual or collective
alienation of the Self. It causes one to live in the egoistic or lower stages
of human development. “The mental perception and public representations of (the
Divine) in fact resemble things encountered in the sense-world.” The
Divine is of humanoid image and attributes that have been
imagined and perceived in the human mind. This is the concept of the
Divine of the religious literalists whose existence is
denied by atheists, doubted by skeptics and laughed off by esoterics or
mystics.
“The notion that
there is only one (force) – an omnipotent father figure who keeps a constant
watch over us, controlling everything which happens, rewarding us for doing
good and demanding complete subservience and devotion – obviously satisfied
(and continues to satisfy) a deep-rooted psychological need of fallen human
beings... …(Lowly developed) human beings need an externalist (Divine) in
response to the loss of the sense of meaning or the loss of awareness of spirit
force or receptive and present-centred awareness…The concept of an externalist (Divine)
is a way of dealing with a world that is cold, alien and hostile. Life is
considered as absurd and unnecessary. If (the Divine) was overlooking the
world, protecting people and arranging everything that is happening, then life
will not be absurd and the world was not going to be completely indifferent. An
externalist (Divine) is a reaction to the sense of separation and
incompleteness created by loss of life meaning. The belief that (the Divine) is
always present and watching over us is a defence mechanism against human
beings’ sense of isolation and loneliness…(Lowly developed) human beings need
to believe that there is an entity or entities who are always watching over
them, who is always there, wherever they are and whatever they are doing (even
if he is not actually in the world with them). If an externalist (Divine) was
there, people are never alone.” – Steve Taylor, “The Fall: The Insanity
of the Ego in Human History and the Dawning of a New Era” (O Books, 2005),
paraphrased.
Therefore
the externalist perspective is that Divine is a humanoid being (“having an appearance, character and
attributes resembling that of a human being”) located somewhere in the
universe ready to benevolently reward or viciously and harshly punish unless if
fervently supplicated and unquestionably submitted to.
2. As
an Internal Reality,
the Divine is a discovery and an experience within. Such a perspective
considers the Divine as an impersonal, formless, eternal and infinite life sustaining cosmic force or
energy (called
“chi” by the ancient Chinese and
“prana” in Sanskrit of India). It is
omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. In each individual, it is the "consciousness,
intelligence and creativity" and thus the final or grand court of
appeal for a human being’s punishment or reward. The journey of re-connection
with the life
sustaining cosmic force or energy (Genesis 1:27; 2:7),
is directed towards the internal Essential, Real or True Self to discover, awaken
and actualise the individualised grand or cosmic powers or faculties –
reasoning, discernment and causation. The life sustaining
cosmic force or energy does not reside in an
organisation, building or public sphere; but very deep within our hearts
awaiting discovery. The life sustaining
cosmic force or energy is considered the life “First
Cause” and “Sustaining Cause” of "consciousness, intelligence and creativity."
“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of (the Divine) is within you.”
- Luke 17:21 as based on Genesis 1:27; 2:7 and Psalm 82:6. This approach sees the
Divine, life
sustaining cosmic force or energy, as part of and
within a human being and the universe.
According to Pythagoras,
“(The Divine) is the Cause of all things, the Intelligence of all things and the
Power within all things. The motion of (Divine) is Circular, the body of (the
Divine) is composed of the substance of Light, and the nature of (Divine) is of the substance of Truth.”
Therefore, the expression ‘the Divine’ is just a signpost
or metaphor for the impersonal formless,
infinite and eternal life sustaining cosmic force or energy, the indwelling Infinite Great Spirit.
The
Divine as the Cosmic is the All (life-force or life sustaining energy)
within All (humanity and all aspects of the universe). The Cosmic Energy is the One (life sustaining force or
energy) within All (humanity and all aspects of the universe). This
whole worldview is centered around "harmony, vitality, and appreciation
of the world around."
This is the profound
understanding of those who consider things more deeply and are found in the
more advanced or higher stages of human development. Religious tolerance is the
forte of this worldview’s approach to life. It means affirming that each
religious and denominational view attempts to represent a valid way to the
divine from a certain insufficient and limited point of view.
“All
that humanity is or can ever hope to be depends upon its concept of (the life sustaining cosmic
force or energy). Humanity’s concept of (the life sustaining cosmic
force or energy) must pass
through three definite states symbolized by the Spirit/Energy (the Cause or
Source), the Mind (Line or the Means) and Matter (the Result or Effect). The
lowest concept of (the life sustaining cosmic force or energy) is Matter - as an individuality, personality or a
physical entity. Superior to this concept is that of (the Divine) as a mental
entity. The third and highest definable concept is that of the life sustaining cosmic
force or energy) as a
Spirit/Cosmic Energy - permeating and diffusing life-giving principle. Above
all these concepts and superior to (the Divine) as a spiritual entity is that
concept of Absolute SPACE – formless and but an incomprehensible fullness. The
absence of form means impossibility of destruction.
“Humanity’s
status in the cosmos is determined, therefore, by the quality of its thinking.
Quality, as applied to mental processes, is not necessarily intensity but
rather refinement and delicacy. Unless the inner nature transcends the
limitations of both the flesh and the mind, the Self can never attain to a full
measure of expression. Whether a human being be beastly or (divinely) does not
depend upon his outward appearance but rather upon the clarity of his inner
perceptions. Many of the most respected citizens of every community are
actually ravaging beasts concealing their primitive instincts under a thin
veneer of culture. On the other hand, some whom the world regards as failures
possess an innate beauty, which elevates them far above the level of their
fellows.
“Those
(divinely) may be defined as those in whom the state of knowing has reached a
degree of relative perfection, and those beastly are creatures in whom the
state of knowing is asleep. Between these two extremes is a human being, who
wanders about in a state of partial knowing, united to the bestial creation by
his ignorance and to the higher orders of divinities by his dawning rationality.” – Manley Palmer Hall, ‘Lectures on Ancient
Philosophy: An Introduction to Practical Ideals’ (1929). (my own emphasis)
“We do not have to
search for (the life sustaining cosmic force or energy), because the
presence of the Divine permeates all things. The closest we can come to
thinking about (the life sustaining cosmic force or energy) is as a
process rather than a being. We can think of it as “be-ing,” as verb rather
than noun…As long as we relate to (the life sustaining cosmic force or energy)
as Father and we as children, we sustain the dysfunctional model in which
Father knows best. We not only remain alienated with a sense of abandonment, we
relinquish our personal sense of responsibility. We think Father will take care
of everything.” – Rabbi David A. Cooper, ‘God is a Verb: The Nature of
God’ (Riverhead Books, 1997). (my own emphasis)
Therefore
the internalist perspective is that Divine is considered as an infinite, immortal and eternal breath of life found
within and around universe in general and humanity in particular as a cosmic
consciousness, intelligence and creativity, and needing
no human mention and supplication. The Divine is
within and around us as an immanent Life Force, Vital Force (“Elan Vital” in French) beyond the concept of
Time and Space. In ancient
Egypt, this single cosmic power was unrepresented except for its creative energies or
causal attributes and functions called “neteru” (plural for ‘neter’
and ‘netert’). The single and
universal Life Force is “Prana” in Sanskrit and “Chi/Qi” in Chinese, “Ki” in Japanese, “Pneuma” in Greek, “Great
Spirit” by Native Americans, "Shekinah" in Hebrew, "Spirit"
in Christian theology (Breath of Life, Genesis 1:3, 2:7), "Energy"
in science and "Cosmic Energy" in metaphysics. The word ‘spirit’ is
derived from Latin ‘spiritus,’ and it
means "breath," "air" or "wind.” This is the vital
energy and active principle found within and around all living things. It is pulsating and permeating within and around
everything as it throbs in intense rhythmic motion so that every life experience
is about its manifestation.
To the Internalist, the Divine cannot be worshipped or
supplicated to but rather imagined in the mind, felt in the heart and actuated in
our lives as the greatest and highest Good, Truth and Beauty. It is
not a way of dealing with pain, uncertainties, hardships and tragedies of life.
It is about allowing one to possess a grounded center "connected with
issues of confidence, power, will, trust, support, and equanimity."
"Freedom comes
through the realization that there is no (Divine) outside of Self. Then comes
the freedom; no need to beg, plead, and reach out to a god somewhere who may or
may not listen, depending upon his mood that day. A (Divine) who may or may not
grant your request depending upon you having spoken the right words or followed
a rigid list of standards with regard to the perfect words to be used or even some special magic words known only to
a select few." - The Acturus Group.
This means that the
cosmos or the entire universe is divinely animated to have what Jan Assman
called "cosmotheism." As a result of militant monotheism of organised
literalist religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), the world was separated
from its own indwelling Infinite Great
Spirit, as the life sustaining
cosmic force or energy.
"The religion of
the future will be cosmic religion. It should transcend (an externalist
divinity) and avoid dogmas and theology. Covering both the natural and the spiritual,
it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all
things, natural and spiritual and a meaningful unity." - Albert
Einstein.
“(An
externalist Divine) is a human social invention to keep insecurity in check
because being human is a very insecure thing to be. We’re self-conscious. We
know we’re going to die and we have to relate to that. Animals don’t have to
relate to that, they just live until they die. Human beings are the only animal
that commits suicide or uses drugs. (An externalist Divine) is part of our
defense system against the radical insecurity of life.
“In order for (an externalist Divine) make
you secure you have to make excessive claims…You have to make a claim that
locks security up tightly. It doesn’t work, but it’s popular. There will always
be fundamentalist churches…
“(The Divine within) is not supposed to make
you secure. (This view) is supposed to give you the courage to walk into an
insecure world knowing that you’re not alone and to embrace the radical
insecurity.
“(An externalist view of the Divine) is not
about truth, it’s about security. The sort of thing I’m presenting is never
going to be the majority view but it’s going to be the minority point of view
for those who are bold enough to look at life as it really is and not to need a
narcotic to get through it but as something that gives them the strength to
embrace the radical insecurity of life, and I think that’s worth doing.
“(The Divine within) is not about saving
people from their sins. It’s about expanding the sense of what it means to be
human. That’s a very big difference. I’m tired of being saved from my sins.
People say, “You don’t believe in sin.” But, that’s not true. I believe that
human beings are incredibly capable of doing evil. We do that because we’re
survival-oriented creatures. That means we can’t help but be self-centered—and
that’s what the church called “original sin.” (The Divine within) doesn’t rescue
us from that aspect of our humanity. What (the Divine) does is lift us beyond
the survival mentality into a kind of humanity that can give itself away in
love.” - Bishop John
Shelby Spong, in an interview about his book, 'Reclaiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World' (HarperOne, 2011).
The word 'spirit' is derived from the Latin, “spiritus,” which means “breath or to breathe, the act of inhaling
and exhaling” or "the Breath."
Job 33:4: "The Spirit of the Divine has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life" and Psalms
33:6: "By the word of the Lord were
heavens made, and all the host of them by the
breath of his mouth."
“Spiritual” means "1. Of, relating to, consisting of, or having the nature of spirit; not
tangible or material. 2. Of, concerned with, or affecting the soul. 3. Of,
from, or relating to the Divine; deific."
“Soul” is “1. the animating and vital principle in
human beings, credited with the faculties of thought, action, and emotion and
often conceived as an immaterial entity. 2. The spiritual nature of human
beings, regarded as immortal, separable from the body at death, and susceptible
to happiness or misery in a future state.”
The Hebrew schema for "Ruach Elohim"
(Spirit of the Divine) is “Resh-Vav-Chet
Aleph-Lammed-Hey-Yod-Mem” (RVCH ALHIM) and its gematria or numerical value is 200+6+8 = 214, 1+30+5+10+40 = 86,
giving a total of 300. The letter Shin (Sh) is 300, and is equivalent to the “Spirit of the Divine.”
In Genesis
1:2, "the Spirit of the Divine moved
upon the face of the waters." The words "the Spirit of the Divine" would thus be "the Breathing of the Divine" and this
is related to the "Swára" in
Sanskrit, it means the “Great Breath”
being the commencement of all life.
The ‘Spirit of the Divine’ is called ‘Ruach Elohim’ in Hebrew and it is the life giving and creative cosmic agency (Genesis 1:2); an active power (Isaiah
40:13); and works in providence (Psalms 104:30). It constitutes the animating
dynamic, which results in a human being to be a living creature (Genesis 2:7).
In many instances, the ‘Spirit of the Divine’ enabled an individual
to speak or act on behalf of the Divine as an energizing force - Genesis 1:2;
42:38; Exodus 31:3; 35:31; Numbers 24:2; 1 Samuel 10:10; 11:6. "By the word of the Lord were the heavens
made, their starry host by the breath (Ruach) of his mouth" (Psalm 33:6) and "The Spirit (Ruach)
of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life."
(Job 33:4).
In a living creature, 'Ruach' is the breath, whether of animals
(Genesis 7:15; Psalms 104:25, 29) or mankind (Genesis 2:7; Isaiah 42:5; Ezekiel
37:5). In humankind, 'Ruach' (Spirit)
denotes the principle of life that possesses reason, will and conscience.
In
the Hebrew Scriptures, ‘Ruach’ is
translated 180 times as spirit(s), 92 times as wind(s) and 32 times as
breath(s). Thus the word "Ruach"
generally means a spirit, mighty wind (air in motion) and breath of life. Breath
is ‘neshamah’ in Hebrew. A spirit is
the “vital force” ('prana' in Sanskrit) of nature and life.
It is that “which is invisible to
human sight and which gives evidence of force in motion. Such invisible force
is capable of producing visible effects.”
Scientifically,
breath brings oxygen into bodies and thus is a source of life because the whole
system is dependent on air.
The Hebrew schema and
gematria of Ruach is ‘Resh-Vav-Chet’ (200+6+8 = 214 = 2+1+4 = 7)
·
'Reish'
is the 20th Hebrew letter and the literal meaning of the Reish is
"first", "Head" and the symbolic meaning is
"first" "person", the "most important",
"highest" or the "highest/first person." It has a numerical
value of 200. When one spells out the letter Resh in Hebrew, it is Resh-Yod-Shin. Yod and Shin spell YESH -
THERE IS. The letter Resh means BEGINNING. So it is possible to say that the
Resh literally means THERE IS A BEGINNING.
·
‘Vav’ is
the 6th Hebrew letter, has a numerical value of 6, and is
constructed of a single vertical line. Vav means HOOK and makes a sound like
the V in Victory. When used as a vowel, Vav can sound like a long o or a long
u. Translated it means AND. It is the GREAT CONNECTOR. Vav appears in the Four
Letter name of Yahovah - YHVH.
·
‘Chet’ is
the 8th Hebrew letter of the alphabet and has a numerical value of
8. The number 8 is the number of new life/new beginning. Raised to its
triplicate, 888 is the numerical name of Jesus in the Greek Scriptures (New
Testament). The literal meaning of this letter is a "fence",
"hedge" or "chamber." The symbolic meaning is "to make
private" or "to separate." In ancient Hebrew the 8th letter was
drawn as a fence, and the word picture it gave was ‘brother’ (Genesis 24:29)
because the word brother is "a strong fence" (that protects).
The Hebrew word ‘Ruach’
means “the first and the infinite.” If
the Spirit (Breath) of the Divine (Ruach Elohim) is a life sustaining cosmic force or energy
and is internalized, then the Spirit
(Breath) of the Divine is exactly the same Life
Force or Cosmic Energy that
enlivens and animates life.
In the human body and
nature, energy is in a constant flux, running and returning, up and down. It is
dynamic not static. It pulsates as evidenced in the movement of the heart and
the pulse, breath’s inhalation and exhalation. It becomes each one’s ability
and effort as the vessel or vehicle of the life sustaining cosmic force or energy
to rise up to the level where it is completely transcendental. This way it
connects and submerges itself with its source.
In
the Greek Scriptures, the Spirit (Breath) is also seen as that dimension of human
internal nature whereby relationship with Yahovah is possible (Mark 2:8; Acts
7:59; Romans 1:9; 8:16; 1 Corinthians 5:3-5). It is this human essential nature
that enables continuing conversation with the Spirit (Breath) of the Divine
(Romans 8:9-17).
In
Sanskrit, the life
sustaining cosmic force or energy is 'prana,' an invisible bio-energy or vital
energy that keeps the body alive and maintains a state of good health. It is
also known as ‘Ki’ (Japanese), ‘Chi’ (Chinese), ‘Pneuma’ (Greek) and ‘Mana’
(Polynesian). It is also universal force and omnipresence that manifests itself
throughout the entire Universe.
The
life sustaining cosmic
force or energy is seen through the metaphor of the Bread of Life
and the Living Waters that represent the building energy blocks that constitute
the primo-material in the construction, creation and expansion of this Universe
as found in various instances in the Greek Scriptures (Luke 22:17-19; Mark
14:22-24; Matthew 26-29; John 4:1-26).
Let us get the other meanings and uses of the
"Ruach" in the Hebrew Scriptures:
· He gave life to Yahovah's creatures - "When you send your Spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth." (Psalm 104:30).
· He guided Yahovah's people - "Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among
them, who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses' right hand, who
divided the waters before them, to gain for himself an everlasting renown, who
led them through the depths?" (Isaiah 63:11-12) "You gave your good Spirit to instruct them."
(Nehemiah 9:20)
"Teach me to do
your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground."
(Psalm 143:10)
"Create in me a pure
heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your
presence or take your Holy Spirit from me." (Psalm 51:10-11).
· He gave power to leaders - "Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon
Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him."
(Judges 6:34) "So Samuel took the
horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day
on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power." (1 Samuel 16:13).
· He inspired Yahovah's prophets - "But Moses replied, 'Are you jealous for my
sake? I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would
put his Spirit on them.'" (Numbers 11:29) "But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and
with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his
sin." (Micah 3:8)
"They
made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the
words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier
prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry." (Zechariah 7:12)
"For prophecy never had its origin
in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the
Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:21).
· He
teaches - "But the Counselor, the
Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things
and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26)
·
He hears and speaks - "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all
truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he
will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me (Jesus) by taking
from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is
mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it
known to you." (John 16:13-15).
In all these instances, the Spirit both means the life sustaining cosmic
force or energy, and creative agent: “The Divine is a Spirit:
and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24)
and ‘Ruach’ is “the creative Spirit of the Divine, the
principle of all life (Psalm 33:6, 104:30), which worked upon the
formless, lifeless mass, separating, quickening, and preparing the living
forms, which were called into being by the creative words that followed."
(C.F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, ‘Commentary on the Old Testament’, Volume
I, 1978).
In
Genesis, the Spirit is the life sustaining cosmic force or energy,
humanised as an extension of the Divine in the work of creation not as a
separate entity. As an extension, it can be seen as the hand of the humanoid
Divine for it is the active component of the Divine. "The Spirit of (the Divine) is the vital power which belongs to the
Divine Being, and is seen to be operative in the world and in men. It is the
Divine Energy which is the origin of all created life, especially of human
existence and the faculties of human nature." - Swete, The Holy Spirit in the New Testament
(1909).
The Divine is said to be the "alpha
and omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" –
Revelations 1:11.
"Alpha" and "Omega" are the
first and last (24th) letters on the Greek alphabet, respectively.
"Omega" means 'o' mega, meaning the "great o." The
first and last (22nd) letters of the Hebrew alphabet are "Aleph" (the
potential of all existence) and "Tav."
In esoteric Hinduism, the divinehead is
a trinity consisting of “Brahma” (Creator),
“Vishnu” (Preserver) and “Shiva” (Destroyer) or the infinite life
cycle of birth, growth and death.
This is considered the "Beginning,
the Middle and the End," ("Alpha
and Omega"), as well as being the triude of being omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent.
1.
Isaiah
41:4 – “Who hath wrought and done it,
calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the
last; I am he.
2.
Isaiah
44:6 – “Thus saith the LORD the King of
Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last;
and beside me there is no God.
3.
Isaiah
48:12 – “Hearken unto me, O Jacob and
Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
4.
Revelations
1:11 – “I am Alpha and Omega, the
first and the last.
5.
Revelations
1:17 – “Fear not; I am the first and the
last:
6.
Revelations
2:8 – “These things saith the first and
the last, which was dead, and is alive;
7.
Revelations
22:13 – “I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end, the first and the last.
8.
Matthew
20:13 - “So the last shall be first,
and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”
This means the first and the last shall be the
same, or rather what manifests in the beginning remains constant.
The Divine, the life sustaining cosmic force or
energy, is also called ‘the Absolute’ and the word, ‘Absolute’
is derived from the Latin “ab” and “solvo.” “Ab” means ‘from’. “Solvo”
is derived from the Greek with the prefix ‘se’ changed to ‘so’; it literally
means ‘without ties’. Absolute means ‘self-sufficient’
or ‘self-evident.’ It is the opposite
of ‘relative’, which means ‘with ties.’ If there exists things with
ties, there must exist things without ties.
In the pre-Christian era
of India, a disciple went to a spiritual master and asked: “Sir, please tell me in a few words the
fundamental principles of the Vedanta philosophy.” The spiritual master,
who was a seer of Truth (Rishi), replied: “I
will tell you in half a couplet the fundamental principles of the Vedanta
philosophy that have been declared by millions of volumes. Brahman or the
Absolute, infinite and eternal Being, is Truth; the world is false and unreal,
and the individual soul is no other than Brahman or the Absolute Truth, which
is absolute existence, knowledge (intelligence), and bliss.”
"In Christian Science, the word ‘God’ is used
to signify the absolute Reality or unchangeable truth of the universe; so, in
Vedanta philosophy, the Sanskrit word ‘Brahman’ is used to designate that
all-pervading substance being, which is the reality of the universe. This
unchangeable reality of the universe forms the reality of all living creatures
and all mortal things, everything that we can see, hear or perceive with our
senses. If Brahman or the absolute being whose nature is absolute existence,
knowledge (intelligence) and bliss, be the one reality and all in all, it must
be one, because there cannot be many absolutes or infinites. Absolute must be
one and infinite must be one. As we find this idea in reading Science and
Health, so we find it also in the Vedanta philosophy. Granting, then, that the
absolute reality is one, the question naturally presents itself: why do we see
so great a variety in the phenomenal universe?”
PLEASE TAKE NOTE: In
physics, one learns that Energy exists in every single Thing. As a creative and life sustaining agency, energy causes,
animates and enlivens every Thing.
No Thing can live without energy.
Energy is present in every Thing all
the time. Energy is every Thing that
exists – “east and west, north and south,
above and below, infinitely everywhere.”
Energy is the indwelling Infinite Great
Spirit, then variously named YaHoVaH (Jehovah/Yahweh), “God,” Allah,
Brahman, Atum/Amun/Amen, etc.
The Jewish-Dutch mystic
philosopher, Benedict Spinoza (1632-1677) considered one of the great
rationalists of the 17th-century philosophy, laying the groundwork for the 18th
century ‘Enlightenment,’ said, “everything that exists is a part of (the
divine) and that (the divine) is in everything that exists.”
Pythagoras learnt in
ancient Egypt, Chaldea and India that “(The
Divine) is the Cause of all things, the
Intelligence of all things and the Power within all things. The motion of (the Divine) is Circular, the body of (the Divine) is composed of the
substance of Light, and the nature of (the Divine) is of the substance of
Truth.”
The dictionary meaning of the word
"being" is "the fact of
mortal or material existence as opposed to non-existence, the essential nature
of self, something that exists or is thought to exist, an actuality."
“Being” can be either visible or invisible. Therefore, “Being” denotes a form
or matter. Being is finite and a mortal. Although a form or matter takes up
space, it does not fill all space i.e. it is not omnipresent. Form is not mind
or thought, but rather form is in the mind and thought.
Therefore, the life sustaining cosmic force or
energy or the indwelling
Infinite Great Spirit is not a Being, whether visible or invisible, because
a Being denotes a form or matter. Although a form or matter takes up space, it
does not fill all space i.e. it is not omnipresent. Form is not mind or
thought, but rather form is in the mind and thought. The life sustaining cosmic
force or energy is not a Being because a Being is finite
and a mortal.
The life sustaining cosmic
force or energy is therefore a boundless and a formless
Principle "which cannot be seen,
tasted or touched…Principle does not
occupy space; neither has it any limitations of time or matter, but it
eternally exists as the one underlying cause out of which come forth all true
ideas." – Charles Fillmore, ‘Metaphysical
Bible Dictionary.’
"(Within the Divine is) the potential for all
things created and all things that are yet to be created… Anything visible and anything that can be
grasped by thought, is bounded. Anything bounded is finite. Anything finite is
not undifferentiated. Conversely, the boundless is called Infinite. It is
absolute undifferentiation in perfect, changeless oneness. Since it is
boundless, there is nothing outside of it. Since it transcends and conceals
itself, it is the essence of everything hidden and revealed…
In order to help you understand, you can
compare Ain Soph to a candle from which hundreds of millions of other candles
are kindled. Though some shine brighter than others, compared to the first
light they are all the same, all deriving from that one source. The first light
and all the others are, in effect, incomparable. Nor can their priority compare
with its, for it surpasses them; their energy emanates from it. No change takes
place in it-the energy of emanation simply manifests through differentiation."
– Mystical Judaism.
According
to Humanity Healing (www.humanityhealing.net),
there are three major sources of Life Force or ‘Prana’:
· The
sun: Solar Life Force invigorates
and it can be absorbed by sunbathing.
· The
air: Ozone Life Force, the most
effective is acquired through deep slow rhythmic breathing and through the seven
energy centers or states of consciousness (‘chakras’)
of the inner and outer aura, which is the ethereal body.
· The
earth: The Ground Life Force enters
though the souls of our feet. Trees and plants absorb life force from the sun,
air, and ground and exude a lot of excess life-force.
When
we make our own life
sustaining cosmic force or energy (whose religious
metaphor is the word “Yahovah”) idle, stagnant and unproductive, we are being irresponsible
and neglectful.
When a person is
dead and an electroencephalogram (EEG) test is taken to measure and record the
electrical activity of the brain, there is electrical activity registered. This
is because the spirit that brings life to the body and understanding to the
mind is an electrical energy. When a person is dead, the spirit would have left
the body. According to the ‘Theory of Relativity’ by Albert Einstein, matter is
just a dense form of energy. He summarized the ‘Theory of Relativity’ in the
formula, E=mc2, the energy content of a body is equal to
the mass of the body times the speed of light squared. His greatest discovery
was that light is the only constant in the universe.
Therefore, the
Spirit of the Divine (Ruach Elohim) that was breathed into a human being
to make him a living soul or creature (Genesis 2:7) is an electrical energy.
The life sustaining cosmic force or
energy is a condensation of molecules rotating or
vibrating at various rates of speed. To explain using Albert Einstein's
relativity theory, matter is a form of energy that is rotating slowly and at a
constant rate of speed. When energy is slow, it appears to be solid because the
slower the speed, the denser it appears. At a higher level, energy vibrates at a
much faster speed and therefore is freer and less dense.
Everything is constant motion or energized at different orders of densities. The faster form of energies creates invisible energies called spirit and is a life force. Those vibrating slower are visible and are discernible to natural senses as condensed energy or matter.
Substitute the word
‘Yahovah’ with “Life Force” or “Cosmic Energy” and you will have a new
perspective about your own life and your latent or dormant energy.
Energy is defined
as “the ability to bring about change or
to do work” and this is studied in physics. A human being has the “ability to bring about change or to do work”
and therefore humanity has energy within.
There are
two laws observed about energy:
First Law - “Energy cannot be created or destroyed but
can be changed from one form to another. Therefore, the total amount of energy
and matter in the Universe remains constant, merely changing from one form to
another.”
Second Law - "In all energy exchanges, if no energy enters
or leaves the system, the potential energy of the state will always be less
than that of the initial state."
This
scientific assertion confirms a religious assertion about YaHoVaH, the Divine, is
a life sustaining cosmic
force or energy as part of and
within a human being and the universe.
O you who dwell in the ocean of energy,
Near Heaven,
Prepare a ship for me that I might sail to the realm
of light.
Texts of the Sarcophagi, Ch.815
I follow the Great Divine,
Who has created Himself.
Who is He?
Energy.
The ocean of primordial energy,
The father of the Divinities.
Tomb of Queen Nefertari
I am the South,
I am the North,
I am the East,
I am the West,
I am the master of the universe.
I emerged from the ocean of primordial energy
at the same time as the divine light.
The Second Book of Breaths
I am a follower of the divine light,
I have taken possession of Heaven.
I have come to You, my father Ra, divine light.
I have traveled light-filled space,
I have called upon the Great One,
I have traveled through the Word,
I have crossed into the solitude of the shadows
which lie on the road to the divine light.
I have gained Heaven.
The Book of Leaving the Day, Ch.13
Therefore, the Divine, the
life sustaining cosmic
force or energy is NOT an individual or a Being
with a spirit body at a particular place where he resides. "(The Divine) is individualized within us or
personal to us when we recognize Him within us as our indwelling life,
intelligence, love and power. There is a difference between a personal (Divine)
and (the Divine) personal to us…(the
Divine’s) attributes come into expression and manifest through human beings,
who are his children and who are like him in Essence. (The Divine) is Spirit,
the principle of intelligence and life, everywhere present at all times. He is,
forever, as accessible as a principle of mathematics or music. "The Father
abiding in me" (John 14:10). " - Charles Fillmore, Metaphysical Bible Dictionary.
In the internalist
aspects of all organized religions, the Divine, the life sustaining cosmic force or
energy is seen as one who radiates not as a Being but as
an Infinite Energy that is found within all of existence. The life sustaining cosmic
force or energy is reflected in all creation through attributes as
different levels of reality. Scientifically, all forms of energy - heat, magnetism,
electricity, sound, radiation and Light, are different vibrations or spectrums
of the same energy.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE: To establish what is absolute reality, let us look around and pick on
an item we can easily relate with our physical senses. For example, a chair. A
chair appears as a chair because it is clothed with the usage, form, shape, appearance/manifestation
and name. If we mentally separate the usage, form, shape, appearance/manifestation
and name from the chair, we are left with a piece of wood. If we take away the usage,
form, shape, appearance/manifestation and name of the wood, we are left with
atoms and molecules. If we take away the mental usage, form, shape, appearance/manifestation
and name of atoms and molecules, there will be nothing but energy of “countless particles called
Corpuscles or Electrons.”
That energy or force is the absolute reality permeating everything.
We can therefore conclude that the chair appears as a chair because it
is clothed with a usage, form, shape, appearance/manifestation and name but it
is of the same essence as everything else. Human conflicts arise when there is
difference in naming the emanation, manifestation and expression of the same
infinite ocean of energy or force.
Therefore, the absolute or
supreme Truth is that everything is dualistic – an object of our physical
senses to earn a name from humanity and defined by structure, shape and
manifestation (MATTER/SUBSTANCE), and with the mutual relationship with its
internal make up of the same essence – ENERGY. Matter or substance is thus the
varying emanation, manifestation and expression of the same energy or force.
Such Truth is universal and cannot be monopolized by anyone, organisation or country.
“The Absolute is more than
Mountain or Ocean—Electricity or Gravitation—Monad or Man—It is
Spirit—Life—Being—Reality—the One that is. Omnipotent, Omnipresent; Omniscient;
Eternal; Infinite; Absolute; these are Man’s greatest words, and yet they but
feebly portray a shadow thrown by the One Itself.” - A Series of Lessons in
Gnani Yoga.
“Prana,” as it is called in
Sanskrit (the Chinese call this energy or force 'Chi', the Japanese call this energy or
force 'Ki', the Greeks called it 'Pneuma”), is that energy which is enduringly universal,
intelligent and life-giving. This is the source of All. It is everybody’s
responsibility to achieve essential unfoldment, realise the absolute Truth of
energy and attain the state of divine-consciousness.
"All that is glorious, grand, extremely
righteous or (essential), is the outcome of the powers that proceed from the
infinite source of all forces and of all energy in nature. Wherever there is
anything that is extraordinary or unusually uplifting to the soul, there is a
special expression of the divine power." – Vedanta.
"The whole universe is like
one infinite ocean of Reality, which is nameless and formless, and in that
ocean waves and bubbles rise spontaneously and take different names and forms.
These waves and bubbles are the objects of the phenomenal universe. As in the
ocean, waves and bubbles have no existence separate from or independent of the
ocean itself, so the waves and bubbles known as the phenomenal objects of the
universe have no existence separate from or independent of the ocean of
Reality. We are like so many bubbles in the infinite ocean of Reality; we owe
our existence to that ocean, live there, and play for a while, then merge into
it to reappear in some other form.
“Such is the conception of Vedanta
concerning the relation of phenomena to the absolute noumenon, or the
unchangeable Truth, which underlies all phenomenal names and forms." -
Swami Abhedananda (1886-1939).
Scientifically, energy cannot be created nor destroyed.
It simply changes form. Energy is infinite and formless. Everything that exists
is made from energy when it changed
from into matter. Similarly, “Yahovah” as the metaphorical or figurative term
for Energy, and scientifically cannot be created nor destroyed. Everything that
exists is the life
force or cosmic energy,
which changed form and the universe became matter.
"That which is eternal in the
midst of non-eternal phenomena, which is the life of all living creatures,
which is the infinite source of consciousness, is one. It is also the bestower
of happiness to all. Eternal happiness comes to those alone, who realize this
absolute Oneness; to them comes unbounded joy and peace, to none else, to none
else." – Vedanta.
The true essence of everything is an Absoluteness Reality of cosmic
energy. It assumes different names all over the world. It was called “Atum/Amen”
in ancient Egypt, “Brahman” in Hinduism, “YaHoVaH” in Judaism, “Spirit of the
Divine” or “the Divine” in Christianity and ‘Allah” in Islam. It is that very
same omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient absolute reality, the life sustaining cosmic force or
energy, which is then viewed
by externalist organised religions to have humanoid or anthropomorphic
attributes and behaviour.
In Christianity it was assumed by Roman political authorities that the
Divine, the life
sustaining cosmic force or energy, divinely incarnated itself in human form as Yahoshua the
Nazarene (misnamed “Jesus, the Christ” by Greeks under the political authority
of the Roman Empire) as a sign of love, mercy and kindness to the suffering
humanity to be saved from sin and death.
According to deeper truth, incarnation of the Divine, the life sustaining cosmic force or
energy,
means the human embodiment of sublime or noble qualities and powers. This takes
places whenever (time) and wherever (place). "Wherever true (or internalist) religion declines and irreligion
prevails and whenever the vast majority of mankind, forgetting the highest
ideal of life, travel on the path of unrighteousness which leads to the
bottomless abyss of ignorance, and sorrow, the (Sages’ scribes manifests Divine
powers to establish righteousness and true spirituality, by humanising it), but
at the same time showing to all that (the Divine) is the real master of nature
and absolutely free from all the bondages of the world and its laws." –
Vedanta.
To make the Spiritual (sublime) state to dominate, it means one
discovers and experiences the divine spark within. This is achieved by
embarking on a Labour of illumination or enlightenment by:
1. Taking note that
one should have goodness of intentions (mind), word (talking) and conduct
(action).
2. Developing a deep urge
or desire for the cultivation of higher mental or rational faculties so that
one becomes a useful member of society. One is advised to embark on
self-liberating studies of the classical liberal arts and sciences. One is also
encouraged that the journey to the source of all goodness is by morality,
inherent dignity and uprightness of actions.
3. Through coaching
and guidance, the development of an intuitive faculty or illumination that
should control and cultivate intellectual reasoning (mental and rational
faculties). En-LIGHTenment or
illumination is attained by a well-directed internal effort and ability under
the guidance of a teacher (mentor) or sage. By doing so, one discovers ‘light.’ Light
is a symbol of knowledge, intellectual illumination, consciousness and
knowledge properly used leads to wisdom and power. This is the reason why those
who were members of the Greater Mysteries
were known as 'Sons of the Light’ and
such mysteries were practiced by the ancients in Egypt, Sumer, Chaldea, India,
Greece and among Hebrews under the name of Lux
(Light).
The Essene
grouping was called the "School of
Prophets" and they called themselves "Children of the Light" and were in existence 150 years before the
time Yahoshua the Nazarene is purported to have lived. Trained in priesthood,
Essenes were also artisans and craftsmen, studied and practiced healing. The
Talmud sates that “wise-men are called
builders because they are always engaged in the up-building of the world.” The
members of the Essene sect among the Jews were called Bonaim, or builders,
because it was their duty to edify or perfect the spiritual temple in the body
of man.” – Manly P. Hall.
The early followers of Yahoshua the
Nazarene were called "the Sons of the Light" (John
12:35-36), while Yahoshua spoke of "the
sons of light" in the parable of the unjust steward. For the
Nazarenes, what separated Yahoshua apart from all other people was that he kept
well both the exoteric (externalist) and esoteric (internalist) of the Mosaic
Law and so he was a righteous man and thus we should be like him.
In the Gnostic
Gospel of Thomas Saying 50 and Gnostic Gospel of Judas 5:6, Yahoshua said, "If they say to you,
'Where did you come from?', say to them, 'We
came from the light, the place where the light came into being on its own
accord and established itself and became manifest through their image.' If
they say to you, 'Is it you?', say, 'We are its children, we are the elect of
the living father.' If they ask you, 'What is the sign of your father in you?',
say to them, 'It is movement and repose.'"
Philo Judaeus, the
first century Jewish philosopher of Alexandria, said, "That the Supreme Being is a Source of Lights, whose rays or
emanations permeate the universe; that the lights and shadows, in all time
hostile principles, dispute with each other the empire of the world..."
“And (the Divine) said, Let there be lights
in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them
be for signs, for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights
in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
And (the Divine) made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and
the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And (the Divine)
set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and
to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And
the evening and the morning were the fourth day.” - Genesis 1:14-19.
The search for metaphorical light is
a search for deep knowledge. Thus, the idea of “seeing the light,” “knowing
the light within ourselves” or “being
enlightened” are metaphorically related to this. It is not light in the
physical sense but enLIGHTenment
that is desired. When one is internally illuminated by light, he/she is
externally radiant and glowing. This is the Sanskrit origins of the word,
Divine!
In "Metaphor of the Sun", The Republic (507b-509c), Plato used the
sun as a metaphor for the source of "illumination," which is an
instruction that reveals hidden things. Accordingly the eye is the only sense
organ that needs a medium, namely light, in order to operate. The strongest and
best source of light is the sun; with it, we can discern objects clearly. A
plant in a dark room will grow in the direction of sunlight.
In an interview
with Bill Moyers in ‘The Power of Myth,’
Joseph Campbell stated, “All the gods,
all the heavens, all the worlds, are within us. They are magnified dreams, and
dreams are manifestations in image form of the energies of the body in conflict with each other.”
Therefore, all religious texts like the Bhavagad Gita (Hinduism), Hebrew
Scriptures (Judaism), Greek Scriptures (Christianity), Koran (Islam), etc are
records and narration throughout human history of the ceaseless quest and
search for and profound varying encounters with the Divine, the
indwelling Infinite Great Breath,
as a life
sustaining cosmic force or energy. All of the religious and spiritual texts are respectfully and solemnly
complex collection of writings compiled over many centuries reflecting the deep
understanding and inspiration of the writers at the time they were written.
The Divine,
the indwelling Infinite
Great Breath as a life sustaining cosmic force or
energy is revealed not
only in the majesty, beauty and orderliness of nature, but also in the vision
and moral striving of the human spirit. Revelation is a continuous process, not
confined to one group and one age. The numerous religious texts enshrine an
ever-growing consciousness of the Divine, the indwelling
Infinite Great Breath as a life sustaining cosmic force or
energy and of the moral
law. They preserve the historical precedents, sanctions and norms of human
life, and seek to mold it in the patterns of goodness and of holiness. Being
products of historical processes, certain of its laws have lost their binding
force with the passing of the conditions that called them forth. But as a
repository of permanent spiritual ideals, the religious texts remain the
dynamic source of profound knowledge about humanity. Each age has the
obligation to adapt the teachings of the religious texts to its basic needs in
consonance with the genius of religious expression. The religious texts were
not divinely given, but rather they are a reflection of historic sublime development
and an encounter with the indwelling
Infinite Great Spirit as a life-force or cosmic energy
in each succeeding generation.
In this way, the Divine, the indwelling
Infinite Great Breath as a life sustaining cosmic force or
energy, works through human
beings and each generation produces capable and inspired teachers and sages.
Some individuals of each generation may equal or exceed the preceding
generations and therefore simply assigning greater divinity to an earlier
generation because they are just of the past is unhelpful and unnecessary.
Historical and sociological studies of religious literature during the last two
centuries have proved this. This vast literature is viewed as the product of
reaction to varying needs motivated by thought and the human impulse.
Religious diversity among people are reflections of the different levels
of understandings of the divine aspiration, as well as the needs of specific
groups within their communities. Each period of history is analyzed and
different strands of the "the Path" are discovered. The strands
appear both in the decisions and underlying philosophy. There is existence of
diverse paths to the top of the aspirational mountain as the hallmark of humanity
and religious literature. Those who are of a sectarian approach choose a single
path and reject others. Those of sectarian approach are in many instances
so hostile to others.
When faced with new situations, the mainstream thought as well as the
divergent paths are approached for guidance as a vast repository of knowledge
and sound insights. The preceding or past debates or thoughts are often
relevant to new situations. Not every question can be resolved by
reviewing preceding authoritative literature. In some instances, totally new
thinking is appropriate and may be buttressed by precedent.
The events described in religious texts are not
only historical but also taking place in the present moment; that they are not
only geographical but also located in the inner life of the individual. By
taking the higher meaning of the religious texts, an event is an experience
that exists as a possibility of life and in the journey of self-realization. All
the different figures in the picture represent characteristics of the Self.
“All
that humanity is or can ever hope to be depends upon its concept of (the
Divine). Humanity’s concept of (the
Divine) must pass through three definite states symbolized by the Spirit/Energy
(the First Cause, Point or Source), the Mind (Line or the Means) and Matter
(the Result or Effect). The lowest concept of (the Divine) is Matter - as an
individual, personality or a physical entity. Superior to this concept is that
of (the Divine) as a mental entity. The third and highest definable concept is
that of (the Divine) as a Spirit/Energy – i.e. a permeating and diffusing life-giving
principle. Above all these concepts and superior to (the Divine) as a spiritual
entity is that concept of Absolute SPACE – formless and but an incomprehensible
fullness. The absence of form means impossibility of destruction.
“Humanity’s
status in the cosmos is determined, therefore, by the quality of its thinking.
Quality, as applied to mental processes, is not necessarily intensity but
rather refinement and delicacy. Unless the inner nature transcends the
limitations of both the flesh and the mind, the Self can never attain to a full
measure of expression. Whether a human
being be beastly or godly does not depend upon his outward appearance but
rather upon the clarity of his inner perceptions. Many of the most respected
citizens of every community are actually ravaging beasts concealing their
primitive instincts under a thin veneer of culture. On the other hand, some
whom the world regards as failures possess an innate beauty, which elevates
them far above the level of their fellows.
“Those (divinely) may be defined as those in whom
the state of knowing has reached a degree of relative perfection, and those beastly
are creatures in whom the state of knowing is asleep. Between these two
extremes is a human being, who wanders about in a state of partial knowing,
united to the bestial creation by his ignorance and to the higher orders of
divinities by his dawning rationality.” – Manley Palmer
Hall, ‘Lectures on Ancient Philosophy: An
Introduction to Practical Ideals’ (1929).
“I believe in Spinoza's (Divine within) in
the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns himself with the
fates and actions of human beings.” - Albert Einstein, following his wife's
advice in responding to Rabbi Herbert Goldstein of the International Synagogue
in New York, who had sent Einstein a cablegram bluntly demanding "Do you believe in God?" Quoted from
and citation notes derived from Victor J. Stenger, “Has Science Found God?” (draft: 2001), chapter 3.
“…Knowledge
without morality may be a curse, and not a blessing...Thus..the ancient Masters
of Wisdom were wise in their generation when they refused to permit a man to
delve into the hidden mysteries of nature and science until he had given proofs
that his morality was such that he could be safely entrusted with these secrets."
The radical and rapid
Western industrialization and economic development has been noticed to be
through the “Hermetic core” or Western “esoteric tradition.”
·
The
“Western esoteric tradition” or “Renaissance hermetic tradition, … was
not only congenial to modern science, but the causal factor in the emergence of
modern science…Esotericism is often seen as an
important factor in the understanding of early modern science.”
– Henrik Bogdan, “Western Esotericism and
rituals of initiation” (State University of New york Press, 2008);
·
“One way or another, modern Western civilization
owes an incalculable debt to the divine gift of “gnosis,” or sacred knowledge.”
– Tim Wallace-Murphy, “Hidden Wisdom: The Secrets of the Western Esoteric Tradition” (2010);
·
“Ideal
Commonwealths: Comprising, More's Utopia, Bacon's New Atlantis, Campanella's
City of the Sun and Harrinton's Oceana” edited by Henry Morley (Dedalus
Limited, 1989); and
Summary
There are two types of Theists – Externalists
and Internalists.
1. A Theist
of an externalist approach considers and affirms that the Divine, has a physical
address called heaven somewhere in the universe, has humanoid or
anthropological attributes (masculine, fatherly, judgemental, benevolent, etc).
He is said to intervene, respond to and gets involved in daily human behaviour.
This is exemplified by human expressions when
we talk about the Divine - “he” said and can say this and that, “he” did and
can do this and that, “he” wanted, wants and does not want this and that, “he”
wants and does not want us to do this and that, etc. In this externalist
worldview, the Divine is a humanoid or anthropological "Infinite Great
Being."
2. A Theist of an internalist approach considers and affirms that the Divine, is an infinite,
immortal and eternal life sustaining cosmic force or energy and breath of life found within humanity in
particular and universe in general as cosmic consciousness, intelligence and creativity, and not needing human supplication and attention. "A
human being is not a physical body with a life force (the Divine) but a life force
(the Divine) with a body." - Charles Haanel, "The Master Key
System." This is a theological development of Genesis 1:27 and 2:7. The Divine is
within us as a life sustaining cosmic
force or energy, Vital Force (“Elan
Vital” in French) beyond the concept
of Time and Space. It is called “Ka”
in ancient Egypt, “Prana” in Sanskrit
and “Chi/Qi” in Chinese, “Ki” in Japanese, “Pneuma” in Greek, “Great
Spirit” by Native Americans, "Shekinah" in Hebrew, "Spirit"
in Christian theology (Breath of Life, Genesis 1:3, 2:7), "Energy"
in science and "Cosmic Energy" in metaphysics. The word ‘spirit’ is derived from Latin ‘spiritus,’ and it means
"breath," "air" or "spirit.” This is the vital force
or energy and active principle found within all living things. It is pulsating and permeating
within everything as it throbs in intense rhythmic motion so that every life
experience is about its manifestation.
In many instances, strident Atheists
like Richard Dawkins may be responding to an externalist view of the Divine
while Agnostics are very doubtful of the veracity of an externalist view.
There are two
types of externalist-focused Theists:
1. There are those who belong to an
organised religion. There are many
and numerous organised religions in the world: Hinduism, Taoism,
Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Bahai Faith, etc. Within each of the organised
religions, there are various groups and denominational
persuasions. For example, Christianity is divided into Roman Catholic, Eastern
Orthodox, Coptic, Protestant (whose
international bodies are Anglican/Episcopalian, Methodist/Wesleyan, Lutheran,
Calvinist, Baptist, Seventh-day Adventist, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Presbyterian,
Quakerism, Unitarian, Reformed, Anabaptist, etc), Pentecostal, Charismatic,
Apostolic-Prophetic, etc.
2. There are those who do not belong
to any of the organised religions but are of the externalists by
disposition. These include those of an indigenous traditionalist outlook who
are of are externalist but not organised into a formal institution.
All organised religions are products
of human behaviour i.e. they are social constructs. They arose out of human imagination,
expression and actions. This means that all organised religions are not
naturally or divine-made. They are all “social constructs” in an attempt to
learn about and reach the Divine. No organised religion can claim exclusive
ownership or knowledge of the Divine, the
life sustaining cosmic
force or energy.
Christianity is an organised religion around the personality of a historical figure of Yahoshua the Nazarene Rabbi of Essene/Nazarene Judaism, whose identity was changed by Greeks under the political authority of the Roman Empire to become “Jesus, the Christ.”
The Christian religion is a product
of Greek-oriented intellectual effort of the 4th century under the supervision
of the Roman Emperor Constantine whose influence was his mother Helena and the
guidance of his religious and political advisors were Hosius, Bishop of Cordova;
Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea; and Lactantius, among others, when the basic
tenets of modern Christianity and its first canons were legislated by the state
in 325 CE. It is therefore important to seek finer details about the historicity
of Yahoshua the Nazarene Rabbi using “Early
Christianity” (Nazarene Judaism or Gnostic Christianity) resources.
From
the internalist approach or worldview,
- The Divine is an
eternal, immortal and infinite life sustaining cosmic force or energy
within the universe. Mencius (a Chinese philosopher who was arguably the most famous
Confucian after Confucius himself) described "chi/qi" (life
force) as an individual's vital energy, which is necessary to activities
controlled by one's effortful willpower. Since it is natural, it can be
augmented by "means of careful
exercise of one's moral capacities" (Mencius, 2A:2).
- All forms of life and
human beings are bearers, means and vehicles of the universal life
sustaining cosmic force or energy. “The
physical world and our physical bodies are the outermost aspect of the
universe. It exists at the lowest rate of energy vibration and the highest
density. The centre (Source or First Cause, the Divine) of all creation is
made up of the highest energy vibration and the lowest density.” -
Adrian P. Cooper, “Our Ultimate Reality, Life, the Universe and Destiny
of Mankind" Ultimate Reality Publishing (November 10, 2007).
- The innate or natural
divinity of every human being should be acknowledged and respected as the
diverse expression of the universal life sustaining cosmic force or energy.
- The universal life
sustaining cosmic force or energy is individualised in each human
being as the Divine or Higher Self
(‘Atman’ in Sanskrit or ‘Christos’ in Greek), and it is the
purpose of human life to internally discover and externally actualise the Divine or Higher Self (i.e. "know thyself") without the
burden of loyalty to divisive and conflictual religious doctrines and
dogmas, and avoidance of cultic tendencies (unquestioning or gullible obedience,
complete subservience and excessive or unrestrained devotion).
Quiz after
the reading
1. Do you acknowledge
and affirm the existence of the Divine?
A. Yes (Theist)
B. No (Atheist and Agnostic)
2. Do you NOW acknowledge and affirm the Divine as
A.
one who is invisible but has humanoid attributes or anthropological and is located
externally, or
B.
the universal sustaining cosmic force or energy within all forms of life?
( Answer
‘A’ or ‘B.’ You can make comments if you so wish)
3. Do you STILL or NOW
consider and view the Divine as
A.
a benevolent and judgemental male figure with human or anthropological
attributes who is affected by human ethical and unethical behaviour and
therefore needs to be placated against a threat of punishment or promise of
reward, or
B.
an indwelling cosmic force or energy in every expression of life?
(Answer ‘A’ or
‘B.’ You can make comments if you so wish)
Briefly,
how should you relate with the Divine if all your answers are ‘A’ or ‘B’?
Who
am I?
I am sleeping or static in the mineral,
breathing in the plant, moving or dynamic in the animal. I am the intelligence,
consciousness and creativity in humanity as I express myself at the highest
level in the innermost depth through imagination, innovation and creativity.
At this highest level, a knowledge of
the Cosmic Laws important.
These Cosmic Laws are "definite,
exact and scientific." They are also limitless, eternal and omnipresent.
The Laws enable one who knows about them
"to plan courageously and to execute fearlessly and masterfully."
They lead to growth, progress and expansion.
Wherever there are no limits, where
Infinity, Eternity and Immortality exist, is where I am.
I am not limited by time, space and
human constructs, nor can I be represented that way.
I cannot be confined within the habits
you have acquired and inherited from your family, world and received from your
education system.
Very good stuff. Lots of information that most of the public is unaware of. Keep up the great work guys.
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