Union with the Living Yeshua – the Risen Christ

In the Gospel of St. Thomas the name Living Yeshua appears: “These are the secret sayings the Living Yeshua spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down” (Logion 1). In Christian Gnosticism the name Living Yeshua is very specific – it means the Risen Christ or Risen Savior, and indicates inner and secret teachings, along with the corresponding initiations, that Lord Yeshua imparted to his disciples following the resurrection. This reflects a significant distinction between the orthodox forms of Christianity and Gnostic Christianity, for orthodoxy is focused primarily upon the outer and public teachings Yeshua gave before the crucifixion, while Christian Gnosticism is founded upon the inner and secret teachings given by Master Yeshua after the resurrection; the secret teachings of the Living Yeshua. That the Gospel of St. Thomas begins in this way connotes that these sayings come from the Risen Christ.

Most Christian Gnostics do not place the same importance on the teachings of St. Paul that orthodox Christians do. After all, by Paul’s own account, he is the “least of the apostles.” However, Gnostics take note of the conversion of Saul into St. Paul, for his conversion takes place by way of the Living Yeshua or Risen Christ in a spiritual or mystical vision. (See Acts chapter 9) Not only did his metanoia (spiritual transformation) take place through a mystical contact with the Living Yeshua in vision, but the disciple who received him also experienced the Living Yeshua in a vision instructing him to heal Paul’s sight, and thus to receive Paul into the Circle.

The orthodox church speaks of such events as something of the past and proffers a vain “apostolic succession” completely apart from any direct experience of the Living Yeshua – a faith of blindness leading the blind, and ignorance teaching the ignorant. The principle of the apostolic succession and the Light-Transmission that moves through it means something completely different to a Gnostic Christian: For the Gnostic knows that the Christ Presence exists within him or herself, and that direct experience of the Living Yeshua is open to anyone who seeks to receive the Anointed – hence True Gnosis.

Gnosis and communion with the Living Yeshua is not isolate to the past but is an on-going experience in the present for Gnostics. And it is this direct spiritual or mystical experience of the Living Yeshua that is the foundation of Christian Gnosticism and the True Apostolic Succession.

It is this belief, above all others, that earned Gnostics the brand of being heretics, for Gnostics know that the Living Yeshua and Holy Spirit transcend all manmade religious institutions and that the apostolic succession is not dependent upon association with any external church. Essentially, Gnostics know anyone who wishes to contact the Living Yeshua – the Risen Christ – can do so, and that everyone can receive the teachings and Light-Transmission directly from the Anointed. Spiritual Teachers and discipleship are highly valued among most Christian Gnostics, specifically for the purpose of guidance on the Path of Self-realization and teaching aspirants how to enter into Gnosis and Communion with the Living Yeshua and the Luminous Assembly of Tzaddikim and Maggidim directly. This is the essential intention of Gnostic Christianity.

It is for this reason that Gnostic Elders (Adepts) and Tau (Masters) have designed and evolved Partzufim Meditations – methods of uniting oneself with Divine Personifications – in order to teach aspirants how to invoke and experience direct contact with the Living Yeshua. On the one hand, it is the rehearsal and remembrance of the Truth and Light within oneself, and, on the other hand, it is a way to contact and experience the Anointed directly for oneself – hence a Path of Gnosis.

In Gnosticism the resurrection is taught as primarily a spiritual event that is perceived not with the physical eyes, but with the spiritual eye. The story of St. Paul reflects this very well, for he experiences physical blindness as his spiritual eye is opened, symbolic of the necessity of learning to see, hear, smell, taste and touch on a different level through interior senses. The methods of spiritual practice and meditation in Gnosticism are specifically designed to facilitate the opening of the interior senses through which one might receive instruction directly from the Risen One and Holy Spirit. Partzuf Meditations are meant to do just that – open one’s interior senses and generate a Body of Light (a more Subtle Body of Consciousness).

Partzuf Meditations have another purpose, however; what is called the “generation of Divine Pride.” Essentially, this is the dissolution of one’s self-identification with limited name and form and, in place of it, the generation of a new self-identification with fully evolved and realized being – hence the Christos or Gnostic Being. Because this is the truth of our Inmost Being – the Soul of Light in us – practicing it we naturally and spontaneously bring forth the Light-Presence from within us. Coupled with Spiritual Humility, which is the state of being empty of ourselves and completely open and sensitive to the Spirit, the cultivation of Divine Pride is central to the Sophian Way. Thus, typically, every Sophian knows and practices at least one form of Union with a Partzuf.

The basic aim in all Partzufim Meditations is to experience a conscious unification with the Partzuf and to embody the Partzuf in one’s life. Essentially, it is one’s aim to merge one’s mind, heart and life with the Light-Presence represented by the chosen Partzuf and to live as that Light-Presence as fully as one can. This idea is reflected by the name Didymos Judas Thomas, which literally means “Twin” Judas Thomas – the “Twin of the Living Yeshua.” Through Partzufim Meditations we also become Twins of the Light-Presence. It is a very powerful practice that lends itself towards the acquisition of secret wisdom, mystical experiences and various wonders.

Here we shall give the Union with the Living Yeshua Meditation, but you will also find Union Meditations on this website with the Holy Mother, St. Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist and St. Lazarus, each of which represents a Face of the Beloved – the Christ Presence. The Living Yeshua Meditation is, perhaps, the most common among Gnostic Christians, though the meditations with the Holy Mother and Bride are also very common.

Union with the Living Yeshua Meditation

Sit in a place where you will not be disturbed and let yourself settle in. Perform the Kabbalistic Cross and abide in Primordial Meditation, letting your heart return to the place (the present moment). This is the foundation of all good things.

From this Primordial Ground, shift your focus to the Image of the Spiritual Sun in your heart, envisioning the Spiritual Sun shining within you, illuminating your whole body-mind. Let your mind and heart turn to the Living Yeshua and pray that the Anointed might come and be with you. Then, envision a ray of light streaming forth from your heart – leaping out of you like a shooting star – and the Image of the Living Yeshua magically appearing in the space before you, an Image of Radiant and Translucent Glory. (The Divine Image appears as though formed of translucent light, like a rainbow which is bright and distinct, yet through which you can see.)

Meditation Image: The Risen One appears as though his body is made of sunlight, wearing an inner robe of white brilliance and an outer robe of violet or amethyst. His gaze is intense, though deeply loving, and he is enshrouded with a great rainbow aura, the red band nearest his body and the violet band on the outermost edge. He does not appear with his feet on the ground, but hovers in the space before you as though standing on air.

Open your mind and heart to the Holy One completely, and pray to the Anointed. As much as speaking your prayers, become a womb of silence, listening and hearing the Word of the Life-Power he speaks to you – entertain gnosis and communion with the Risen Christ. As you commune hold the visualization as clearly as you can, and not only see, but let yourself feel the warmth and vibration, love and compassion, understanding and acceptance of the Lord. When you feel your prayer and communion is complete, take up a chant of the Anointed:

The most simple is the Blessed Name of the Anointed – Yeshua. Alternatively, you can intone Adonai Yeshua or Yeshua Messiah or Hayyah Messiah. The most common chant for this practice is Adonai Yeshua, Yeshua Messiah.

As you chant the Name of the Anointed envision that he answers your prayers and invocations, smiling upon you and sending forth streams of light from his body and aura, pouring out grace and blessings upon you and empowering you in the Great Work. See your own body-mind shining brighter and brighter and your own aura transformed into Rainbow Glory. When you conclude the chant, envision the Divine Image dissolving and becoming fluid flowing light, pouring back into the Spiritual Sun in your heart. In the silence, know the Christos as your very own Soul of Light and let your mind merge with the Mind of Christ, your heart merge with the Sacred Heart of Christ and your body merge with the Mystical Body of Christ. Abide in this Unification as long as you can, whether an instant or a prolonged period of time. When your mind and heart move, close with thanksgiving and praise and a prayer extending the Light of the Great Seth (Cross), and perform the Kabbalistic Cross.

Let the energy settle and ground for a few minutes before getting up. When you go out into the world, consider everything you see as the Light Abode and Body of the Anointed; every sound hear as the Living Word of the Holy One; every thought and emotion that arises in your mind, receive as the innate Wisdom of Christ. In this way practice the Holy Seal of your Unification throughout the day – live as a Christ-bearer. This is the Essential Meditation of Union with the Living Yeshua – the Risen Christ.

Opening the Interior Stars Method

This is an extension of the same practice. In this method the initiate envisions the seven interior stars within the Divine Image of Yeshua, from Crown Star to Root Star (which follow the spectrum of the rainbow, violet-crown to red-root), as well as the Transcendent Star of diamond-like brilliance above the head of the Lord. When one is envisioning the extension of blessing during the chant of the Blessed Name, one envisions a ray of jeweled colored light emanating from each of the interior stars in the body of the Anointed to the points of the interior stars in one’s own body, and the interior stars opening in one’s own body. (Another method is to envision an intense ray coming from the Transcendent Star over the head of the Lord to the point of the Transcendent Star over one’s own head, and the seven interior stars spontaneously appearing as the rainbow glory of the Transcendent Star.) The whole practice is exactly the same, except for this detailed visualization. This method is still an Essential Practice. Advanced practices developed from this base are taught in the Tradition, though special instruction and initiation from an Elder or Tau is necessary.

Essential Transference of Consciousness Method

This method is also basically the same. The only difference is that at the end of the meditation the initiate envisions his or her own body-mind condensing into the Spiritual Sun at the heart and dissolving into fluid light and shooting into the Sacred Heart of the Divine Image. Essentially, in this way, the initiate shifts the center of his or her consciousness into the Body of Light or Divine Image. This is a practice of consciousness beyond the body and for conscious dying. Typically, special instruction along with an initiation or empowerment is necessary for success with any form of the Transference of Consciousness Practice. However, this is an essential method that can prove productive for any sincere practitioner once knowledge and experience of the base practice is in place. For this reason it is provided here in a relatively public forum.

We pray that all who seek Gnosis of the Living Yeshua may receive it, and that the Light of the Great Seth might illuminate all! Amen.