Sophian.org

[crystal]

This morning's Gospel reading was Matthew 25: 14-30.
I have a translation of The Hebrew Gospel of Matthew (this is dated approx. 1380-1400). Verse 30 is translated as "To the one who has it will be given, but to the one who does not have that which was intended for him will be taken from him." My underline. This morning I saw this verse more in terms of a veiled description of the wealth of the Kingdom. A similar verse is Matthew 13:12 and saying 41 from the Gospel of Thomas. So, the third servant does not mix the leaven with dough in order to make more bread but allows it to sit apart and its activity to die, or at least stagnate.
"Whoever has something in his hand will receive more..." It is so easy to see this in terms of the 'haves' get more, and the 'don't haves' get less, but I cannot see my Teacher speaking about making money for the sake of gaining money, nor profiting from or by the expense of another. I can see this in terms of an admonishment to be engaged in bringing forth the Kindgom. That some have been given greater understanding than others, but whatever our gifts, we (I) need to walk the path. By engaging in the struggle we will be given greater gifts.
I welcome comments!

[Tau Malachi]

Talents: Seeds of the Kingdom

Greetings Crystal!

One way of interpreting the “talents” is as seeds of the kingdom; hence, spiritual teachings and practices, and associated initiations or empowerments we may receive. These are seeds that we must cultivate and bring to fruition, using what we have received from the Tzaddik to unfold our Self-realization, our enlightenment and liberation. I’m reminded of the parable of the sowing of seeds and the various fates of seed sown under various conditions – only the seed falling on fertile soil, received in the right conditions, bears fruit. Likewise, only when teachings and practices are actively used, and the spiritual energy of initiation or empowerment is integrated, can more be shared.

The idea of something given, but taken away, reflects the transmigrations of the soul-stream. If we have the good fortune of contacting a Light Transmission Lineage, and receiving teachings, practices and initiation, we do not want to waste the opportunity, for it is precious. This life is short and we want to make the most of it in terms of the development and evolution of the soul towards Christ Consciousness; if we waste this precious opportunity, there is no telling when we will have the opportunity again. It could be many lives into the future before the opportunity arises in our experience again if we do not cultivate the seeds for its arising in the next life.

I must admit, having met my Tzaddik, Tau Elijah, and having received teachings and initiation from him, there is no way I would let the opportunity pass – frankly, I would have gone anywhere he went to continue receiving the teachings until they were brought to fruition. The only real way I could give anything of equal value back to him was to take up the spiritual life and practice, and to share what I received with others – to seek to generate something more from what he so generously shared with me. I believe this is exactly what Master Yeshua is talking about.

Today there is much spiritual materialism. People receive all kinds of teachings from many and diverse wisdom streams, but few truly dedicate themselves to a path and follow through; few actually put into practice the teachings they receive – but they are constantly in search of new teachings and practices, as though just receiving them means something. It is a great problem in modern spirituality and the new age movement – teachings and practices are not fully cultivated and integrated, and there is a gross spiritual consumerism. Perhaps this same tendency also existed in the time of Master Yeshua, and he was commenting on this tendency – that it will not lead to actual Self-realization.

As far as the different amounts of teaching or practice given – this corresponds to the relative capacity of the student or disciple. The greater the capacity, the more can be shared.

This, coupled with what is written in The Gnostic Gospel of Thomas on verse 41, reflects my own contemplation of this teaching, as well as interpretations that are commonly found in the Sophian lineage. Of course, there are potentially many other interpretations as well, all equally drawing upon the luminosity and wisdom the scriptures and oneself.

May the Mother Spirit instruct us, amen.

Blessings & shalom!
_________________
Tau Malachi
Sophia Fellowship
Ecclesia Pistis Sophia

[crystal]

Thank you Tau Malachi for your post. I had not thought of this in terms of opportunity for soul progress. In the Kabbalah school I have been associated with, it is taught that each soul has three life times in which to begin the tikkun process. If one starts during one of these, the soul then is given additional lives. If all three are missed, then the soul is denied another chance. But it has always been a sticky point to me, could you mess up in the next life and lose whatever progress had been made? Your answer would say this is possible.

[Tau Malachi]

Greetings Crystal!

Perhaps the Jewish sages are speaking with skillful means to motivate people to take action and to be involved in the spiritual life and practice, saying in effect, “If you do not act now, you may be lost forever.” After all, helping people acquire actual self-motivation for the spiritual path is no easy task here in this world, for the delusions of karmic vision are very strong and there are many glittering false lights to chase after – so many vain and futile things that can occupy a lifetime, as said in the Book of Ecclesiastes.

Yet, in my experience, I cannot say that a person has “three lifetimes” to begin their tikkune, and then perhaps get some sort of extension; rather, my experience suggests that the very nature of the mind or soul-stream has an infinite capacity of self-generation, and can potentially generate incarnations without end (hence, the principle of Ain Sof). Herein lies the motivation for the Path of Enlightenment – the soul can remain bound to the gilgulim, endless rounds of life, death and rebirth, and the sorrow and suffering innate to them, potentially forever (aeons and aeons). If once consciously on the path, an individual strays from it, depending on the karmic continuum, the detour could span any number of lives and significant sorrow and suffering could result from it. I do not know that whatever progress has been made is every truly “lost,” but there can certainly be wandering in-between points of contact with Light Transmission Lineages; for a while we can definitely loose our way.

I do know that some teachings and methods may lead to a slower and more gradual progress towards enlightenment and liberation, while other methods are significantly swifter. For example, among the swifter vehicles there are teachings and methods that can facilitate enlightenment and liberation in three to seven lifetimes, and there are teachings and methods that can lead to realization within one lifetime, dependent upon our capacity to receive the transmission of teachings and apply the methods.

In any case, it does seem that we would be wise to take advantage of our present lifetime and apply ourselves to spirituality while the opportunity presents itself – the more we do so, the more likely it will be that we will pick up the golden thread through the afterlife states and in the next life. It is really a wonderful time to be a spiritual practitioner, for because it is a difficult time (a “dark age”), and spiritual practice is not exactly natural to this time and place, whatever is accomplished in the way of progress is far greater than its equivalent in a more conducive time and place – much progress can be made. You might say, "the return on our investment is allotted at a higher interest rate!”

May the Mother Spirit lead us in the Way, amen.

Blessings & shalom!
_________________
Tau Malachi
Sophia Fellowship
Ecclesia Pistis Sophia

[AO]

Crystal,

I read the "he who has, more will be given; and he who has not, what he has will be taken away" in a Zen context, that one who can stop their mind from thinking, or who can witness their mind thinking, ultimately enters the Void, the void-mind, and it is limitless and un-measurable. The more he goes into the Void the more will be revealed, the more he will revel. But the person who cannot objectively look at his mind thinking will not be able to stop his mind from thinking, will not be able to go into the Void, and therefore whatever little understanding he has will cause confusement. Therefore more life will be given to the living and more death will be given to the dead.