Sophian.org

[Damiean]

Salutations in the Light of Messiah!

The disciples said to Jesus, "We know you will depart from us. Who is to be out leader?
Jesus said to them, "Wherever you are, you are to go to James the righteous, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being."

As we know from the commentary on this verse, (See Gospel of Thomas, by Tau Malachi for further study of that commentary), James was given authority in the outer assembly to teach and guide. Yet, within this verse, there seems to be a sense of a deeper Light transmission and mission given to James that was not wholly public or maybe even understood by those who were with him.

Though exactly what that Light-transmission was, or is, I am not able to say. Yet, within this verse it seems there might be some clue.

For it calls James, the righteous. Righteous as we know from the Tradition often is spoken in the context of Tzaddik, represented by Yesod on the Tree of Life. Which as we know deals deeply with desire energy. As well as understanding of the astral and hidden planes of existance within and behind our own. This also speaks to the idea of prophecy as well. For one who can look and see what is transpiring within and behind events in our world will have knowledge of what will transpire in the future. And possibly to lesser or greater degree, may be able to influence that which manifests. Thus something of the wonderworking art as well.

As we know, ones desire energy needs to be channeled inward and upward, Godward. All that we are and do, and all that we think, feel, and imagine reflects the state of our conciousness. And what we most desire we will manifest. This gives a most interesting idea in relation to the last part of the verse, where it speaks; "for whos sake heaven and earth came into being."

Could it be that because James love and desire was only for the Holy One of Being, that Yeshua and Mary, as the descending and ascending force of the Spirit, were made manifest to him?

This would seem to imply that as ones desire becomes more centered within and focused upon the Holy One, that the natural result of such love and deveotion is the revelation of Hayyah Yeshua to the seeker. Could this verse be pointing us to such a wonderous and amazing revelation? That within and behind the teachings in the book of James in the Scriptures this book can become as a manual if you will, for preparation for reception of such a visitation and experience, if one knows how to look and see and meditate on these scriptures? Any insight or wisdom any feel led to share upon this is most appreciated.

May all who seek to be recieved, be recieved. And may all who seek acquaintance with the Holy One of being, gain gnosis. Amen.

Blessings and Shalom!

[paulnewman]

Wonderful contemplation, Brother Damien - I have often been struck by the singularity of that phrase "for whose sake..." - surely not, I've thought!

Indeed, James is a wonderful manual for the Christian life - my favourite teaching is about gaining control of one's tongue.

It has worlds of evil and kindles fires! Can a fountain bring forth sweet and bitter water?

Marvellous metaphors, and again as Master Yeshua says "that which entereth a man defiles him not, but that which comes forth out of his mouth, for out of the storehouse of his heart brings a man his treasure."
(or something like that)

May we be blessed to direct our desires and focus inward and upward that we may invoke light into the realm of Asiyah! Amen.

[Brooke]

Shalom, friends!

Indeed, this is a wonderful contemplation, isn't it? I think you're on to something about desire energy being channeled inward and upward. It's a seemingly simple truth but the most powerful of all when we come to experience it. What do we desire above all else? Who or what do we dream about above all else?

I think a verse from Matthew speaks to this: "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light; but if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!." (6:22-23)

If we first fill our heart and mind with the Light of the Holy One of Being, then everything else will assume its rightful position in our lives. If our eye is single or our desire is first and foremost for Ha-Shem, the Beloved, then our whole being shall be filled with Light. Could we translate that as "Light Transmission" ? We certainly open ourselves for reception of Light when we empty ourselves of all but desire for El Elyon.

May Our Eye Be Single and the Light of the Messiah Fill Our Being!

Blessings!
Brooke
_________________
Lady Mary said, "If you are seeking, it is the Holy Spirit that is seeking in you, and so be assured you will find."

[Leslie Kaneel]

Shalom!

This passage in the Gospel of Thomas also seems to point to the Matrix of True Light that becomes reality within the Sacred Circle of a Holy Tzaddik. "For whose sake heaven and earth came into being" is AS the Messiah. The Gospel of Thomas is many teachings of the Risen Messiah, and what I am hearing is Master Yeshua, Holy Tzaddik of the first Messianic Sacred Circle, saying to other members of the Assembly, that another in the Circle, James in this case, also embodies Messianic Consciousness. Showing that within such Sacred Circles there are inevitably more than one holy tzaddik; more than one who is given Messianic consciousness. Hence, the teachings in the tradition that emphasise that Yeshua is the Christ although One among many Christs in human form. This is beautifully stated in the Book of James:

"Blessed is the person who perseveres under trial, because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."(James 1:12)

The Crown being Keter on the Tree of Life where truly our desire-energy is elevated upward and Godward to repose then cessation in the Clear Light Nature of Messianic Consciousness - Supernal Consciousness. The meeting of Heaven and Earth on the dome of the hill - the Mount of the Skull.

Also interesting Brother Damiean is this definite side effect, if you will, of prophecy at this level of consciousness alluded to in another passage in James concerning Prayers of Faith:

"Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." (James 5:17).

If Elijah accomplished this in human form in that generation which was before the Advent of the Messiah on the Earth, then just think how much more open to this possibility we are Now!.........

May all who truly Seek Find! Amen!..........."when they find they will become troubled. When they become troubled, they will be astonished, and they will rule over all." (Saying 2 Gospel of Thomas)

Blessings!
Leslie

[Tau Malachi]

Salutations in the Light of the Messiah!

The phrase “so and so, for whom heaven and earth came into being,” is a common praise of a tzaddik in Judaic tradition – the praise of a righteous person, an authentic human being. If we look into the Book of Genesis the Human One (Adam) is the final creation of God – the culmination and completion of creation; if we look into Kabbalah, the very first Olam-Universe is Adam Kadmon, the Primordial Human Being, which alludes to the generation of the Human One as the intention of God in creation from the very outset. Thus, heaven and earth come into being for the sake of the Human One – the generations of the Human One.

The righteous person, the godly person, the compassionate person, the awakened person, the authentic human being, is the purpose of creation, for which heaven and earth come into being – heaven and earth are as the womb of God giving birth to the Human One (the Enlightened One).

Heaven and earth have, indeed, come into being for the generation of the Human One, and anyone who comes into being as a son or daughter of the Human One – an authentic human being, of that person it may be said that heaven and earth came into being for them; certainly so!

Now if we take this out of the isolate view of one world-system and one species of intelligent life and consider this on a cosmic level, we are speaking about Creative Evolution towards the Highest of Life throughout the universe or creation – a development and evolution of life-forms of progressively greater refinement and intelligence, more and more like unto God, the True Light; resembling God, God becomes embodied, and so the Human One that is divine and supernal is realized – the Messiah, the Anointed.

If we look into the Light Transmission, or the reception of the Holy Spirit, it is the facilitation of this, the generation of authentic human beings, the race of Seth (Shin-Tau); it is as though we receive a Gift of the Fiery Intelligence, and it is this Grace of God that makes us human, as surely as God’s Radiant Holy Breath gives us a living soul – if we look into the New Testament we will find this clearly spoken about, we will hear of baptism as a rite of purification and self-dedication, and we will hear about a distinct experience of the reception of the Holy Spirit, the Light Transmission. This is the generation of the race of the Great Seth – the Human One in the Messiah, the Anointed.

This is, indeed, the product of desire-energy sublimated and uplifted to God, the True Light – the force of evolution culminating in knowledge of God and conscious unification with God, the incarnation or embodiment of the True Light.

This is the labor of the Holy Spirit as Nature, and on all levels – this development and evolution to the Highest of Life.

Now, James the just, or James the righteous, is known as a master of the law and scriptures – a master of the tradition; among rabbis or teachers were those who were noted for their impeccable memory, knowledge and understanding of the law, and the writings and prophets, and thus were known as “masters of the law.” Therefore, their rulings were sought out, often even by other rabbi’s, for they were considered to have the final say on the interpretations of the law and scriptures. The implication here is that St. James is given this role in the original circle – of course, this also assumes a mastery of the Holy Gospel along with the Torah, for he is a master of the law among the apostles.

This is, indeed, reflected to us by the Letter of St. James, for when he speaks of faith generating good works – mitzvahot, he argues that in faith, although not bound by the law, nevertheless we will naturally keep the essence of the law, the activity of which is good works (active compassion and charity). Everything he has to say of our spiritual life in the Messiah has its foundation in a deep and penetrating insight into the law – as much as saying that heaven and earth came into being for James and other tzaddikim, so it may be said that the law, writings and prophets came into being for him, for one who would know and understand them, and attain wisdom through them.

The Word of God is spoken for the righteous – authentic human beings.

This praise of St. James speaks directly to the Yeshua Movement as a spiritual and mystical movement within Judaism originally; hence, a Jewish-Christian movement, if you will, or a new evolutionary branch of Judaism; only with time did anti-Semitism arise in the Christian stream and a very hostile view of Judaism come into being – but this saying indicates that such an antagonistic view was not intended by the Master, rather an integration and transformation into true spirituality.

It also indicates that originally there were many schools in the Christian stream – various schools headed by various apostles, and it indicates various gradations of Light Transmission, ranging from the outer to the inner and secret. This is reflected to us by the Letter to the Hebrews, for example, where clear reference is made to more advanced teachings and practices; also, by the passing references to more esoteric ideas by the apostles that appear to assume knowledge and understanding of them, whether St. Paul’s mention of the third heaven, which assumes knowledge of the seven heavens and what the “third heaven” means, or St. Jude’s mention of the Book of Enoch, which assumes intimate knowledge of that book.

Thus this comment opens our eyes to a much broader spectrum of views, teachings and practices in the original Christian movement and it reflects that is was not so cut off from its Judaic roots; after all, Master Yeshua was a Jewish rabbi, mystic and prophet!

If the apostles are sent to St. James, then he is the “harmonizer” of the various schools; likewise it tells us that there are different views regarding which disciples Adonai Yeshua chose as the leader of the circle and movement after him, or suggests an outer and inner head of the Holy Church, and points to an exterior and interior church, or an outer and inner Holy Order, exoteric and esoteric.

Now, the noble ideal of a true human being and of St. James as a master of the law who Hayyah Yeshua praises as an authentic human being points to something about the generation of the Human One – the aim of the law is harmony, balance and justice (righteousness), which ultimately is defined as compassion, as we see in the prophet Isaiah within the very first chapter.

Throughout the Gospel of St. Thomas the Master speaks often of the “solitary person,” the authentic individual; and the gospel defines this authenticity as a state of harmony and balance: harmony leading to balance, which in turn leads to righteousness, justice, or compassion. This is perhaps most directly taught in Saying 22 where disciples are instructed to make the inside and outside match or harmonize.

Harmony implies that our mind, heart and life align with our soul and the indwelling presence of the Messiah – that our intentions, thoughts and feelings, and our words and actions are in accord with one another and accord with the Spirit of Truth, the Divine Light; when this harmony is present, then we experience balance and the qualities of the Human One, which are also qualities of the Divine (Sefirot), naturally and spontaneously shine from within us –true righteousness.

This is reflected by the Sefirah of the Messiah on the Tree of Life – Tiferet, “beauty” or “harmony,” which is the place of balance and from which the Righteous One (Holy Tzaddik or Yesod) shines, generating Malkut, the Kingdom. Thus, as the Tree of Life reflects to us, when we are in harmony we will naturally experience the kingdom of heaven, whether in this life or the afterlife.

Indeed, it will be as though heaven and earth have come into being for us – as though a new heaven and new earth are actualized and realized in us.

It is interesting, before we receive the Holy Spirit we are, in effect, blind, deaf and dumb on a spiritual level – we receive our sight, hearing and speech from the Holy Spirit; it is as though we are raised from death to life, and arising to be among the living ones, heaven and earth come into being for us – we are empowered to look and see Reality as It Is, which is to look and see heaven and earth in harmonious union. In fruition what we behold is astonishing, for we do not simply see a single burning bush, but the entire world and whole of creation is on fire with the Supernal Shekinah – everything is ablaze and this Fiery Intelligence pervades all, God’s presence and power, God’s glory, is everywhere below as above.

In this, the law gives way to the Supernal Grace of God – the law and the prophets are fulfilled, and so also the intention of heaven and earth, for the divine and supernal humanity is born, of which Adonai Yeshua Messiah is the firstborn. Hallelu Yah! Praise the Lord!

Now here we may speak something of the Way – it is to live in harmony with heaven and earth; in this harmony the kingdom of heaven is manifest upon the earth in the Human One – an so the Holy Gospel teaches us that with the advent of the Messiah the kingdom has come! Hallelu Yah!

This contemplation of harmony and balance is perfectly delightful in the midst of packing and preparing for a move – harmony and balance in the flow of what’s happening, whatever that might be…

May we recognize and realize the harmony of the Pattern-That-Connects, which is the Living Word of God (Logos); amen.

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

[Damiean]

Greetings everyone!

Blessings upon all beings this day, a day that the Lord has made. May all that has breath, praise the Lord! Amen.

Tau Malachi, you wrote,"Now, the noble ideal of a true human being and of St. James as a master of the law who Hayyah Yeshua praises as an authentic human being points to something about the generation of the Human One – the aim of the law is harmony, balance and justice (righteousness), which ultimately is defined as compassion, as we see in the prophet Isaiah within the very first chapter.

Throughout the Gospel of St. Thomas the Master speaks often of the “solitary person,” the authentic individual; and the gospel defines this authenticity as a state of harmony and balance: harmony leading to balance, which in turn leads to righteousness, justice, or compassion. This is perhaps most directly taught in Saying 22 where disciples are instructed to make the inside and outside match or harmonize."

Indeed! For it is as you say, dear friend, that if we live in harmony, the compassion/Sacred Heart of Christ will naturally and spontaneously shine from within us. Hallelu Yah!

Now James as the "harmonizer" among the various schools of thought, is a totally new and wonderous contemplation for me. Seeing James in this role, truly brings new breath and insight into the teachings he shares in his text in the Scriptures.

And that this harmony speaks to the reception of the Holy Spirit is deeply moving to me. For, often in the teachings it has been shared, that we aren't so much as being "given" something, rather we are co-creating the conditions in which our truest nature can shine forth from within. Hosanna! Glory to God in the Highest!

What a wonderful gift to have someone whos insight into the Law, is as you say as well, is deeply penetrating. And from this deep insight bring forth such wonderous teachings on love, compassion, and even dare I say, forgiveness. For often in the outer, exoteric church this idea of forgiveness is often spoken of, but so often hatred, discord, and backbitting has become so prevalent. And often this is excused on account of the Holy Law, which has become a vehicle for many to such harshness and cruelty. May the Lord of Hosts, forgive us!

Yet, in light of this contemplation my hope and faith are uplifted, my joy kindled and my soul rejoices. For in this teaching we see the true nature of the Law, which is unity and harmony, and ultimately the fruition of the Divine's plan within all creation.

May all beings through the Grace of the Holy Spirit achieve such harmony, that we may attain to such excellence of righteousness. That the word of the Lord be true in us, "And those who are peacemakers shall be called sons/daughters of God." May the Peace of the Lord be with you all this day and all days. Amen and Amen!

And if I may take a moment on a personal note, to offer my joy and blessings to the move that our beloved friends of Sophia Fellowship are making. May your new residence be blessed as a Holy Tabernacle of the Divine and may the Grace of the Holy One of Being flow forth to all beings through the Light of your good works. Amen!

Blessings and Shalom!

[paulnewman]

Amen, Brother Damien.

Thank you for your post, Tau Malachi. Your saying:

"Heaven and earth have, indeed, come into being for the generation of the Human One, and anyone who comes into being as a son or daughter of the Human One – an authentic human being, of that person it may be said that heaven and earth came into being for them; certainly so! "

Reminded me of the lyric from an Elton John song - Your Song.

"But the Sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song -
It's the people like you that keep it turned on."

May I echo this sentiment to you and all those striving to embody the light in all traditions throughout the world.

Let love shine!

Peace and blessing, Paul.