Sophian.org

[Tau Malachi]

Yeshua said, "I will choose you, one out of a thousand, two out of ten thousand, and they shall stand as a single one." (Gospel of St. Thomas, Saying 23)

"I will choose" speaks to a divine election, as though it is not we who choose the Teacher, nor we who choose to be a student or disciple, but rather it is the Spirit that chooses. The same might be said from the perspective of the Teacher, for my beloved Tzaddik said that it was the Spirit that gave him his true spiritual companions. It reminds one of falling in love, for who can say that we choose to fall in love? In our experience it just happens.

"One in a thousand, two in ten thousand" is the distinction between students and disciples. One is a friend, the other is a lover on a spiritual and psychic level; hence the disciple draws very close and the bond runs deeper. But it is also the distinction between the faithful and elect, and between those who enter the Generation State of the Path and those who enter the Fruition Stage; fewer are they who pass through the Fruition Stage to actual Self-realization. But this is true of the peak in any field of human endeavor, few go to the height of success in the field. Even one in a thousand is esoteric; hence what Yeshua teaches is not for the masses but for the few.

"And they will stand as a single one" indicates the Divine Order or Mystical Body of the Anointed, of which there are many members of diverse grades, of one mind and heart, knit together in the bonds of love. Yet more, they are bound by a shared experience of the Lght-Presence and Light-Continuum, of which they are as a Body or Vehicle.

We may say that this verse indicates the outer, inner and secret level of the teachings - to each is given her or his own portion, and it is good and it is enough.

Some thoughts...........

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

[ejackpete]

How are you my friend? I have referred some people to your site... I hope they enjoy. I've been pretty active on the yahoo dzogchen group site...you know, "stirring up the water" so to speak!

Is there some teaching you've put out there recently that you'd like to direct me to?

Yours in Christ,

Jackson

[Tau Malachi]

Hi Jackson!

Just saw your post after all this time.

Newest item on the site is the Secret Gospel of St. Mary, which contains quite a bit of Gnostic transmission. I suspect you might enjoy it. Other then that I have not written much for the site because I've been focused on writing a few books for publication. I imagine I'll be writing more for the archives on the site in the near future, once I complete a commentary on the Gospel of Truth for companions.

Good hearing from you and glad you are having fun...

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

[alx]

this quote reminds me powerfully of something that Krishna, the Indian avatar of the last yuga or epic age of humanity before the current one, is said to have spoken, about how among a thousand people who hear the divine truths taught, only 100 of them will be attracted to want to know about the Truth-with-a-capital-T, and out of that 100, only about 10 will be serious students, and out of those 10 serious students, only 1 can really hold the energy (shakti or shekinah) and win the divine channels necessary for the highest enlightenment.

pretty slim odds for spiritual victory, if viewed from the perspective of 'quantity vs quality'!

but of course, as you mentioned above, Tau, the divine isn't interested as much in quantity as it is in quality.

the love of the Christ energy -- the Christ Consciousness -- has touched gazillions of lives and souls, over the last 2000 years.

but the truth of the Christ energy, the actual mechanisms implicit in what He knew and demonstrated on this planet.... have been available -- or even desirable -- to very very very few.

so, to me, this quote is also about spiritual eligibility, on the part of the student as well as the 'selective' quality of the divine, embodied in a master.

pax,

Alx

[Tau Malachi]

Greetings Alx!

There is a contemplation that seems to go hand-in-hand with what you have shared. In speaking about Christ’s love embodied in the Master, then hearing that Master Yeshua loved some disciples “more than others,” the question naturally arises, “How can this be in unconditional love? Was the love of the Master therefore conditional?”

Of course, there is really no contradiction, for the love of Christ is unconditional and in the Sacred Heart the Master loves all just the same; yet, the love of Christ embodied in the Master can only be expressed to the degree any given individual desires to receive it – to the degree they, themselves, are willing to such love. Thus, the love of Christ is conditioned when the desire to receive is limited – when the desire to receive is not joined to the desire to give.

This is the guardianship of the divine embodied in a master, for the desire to give and desire to receive must meet, and the circuit necessary for the flow of Divine Grace must be present for the Light Transmission to occur; if gradations occur in the Light Transmission these are restrictions of the desire to receive, which restricts the desire to give – to love.

There is something very intriguing that happens when an embodiment of the Light-presence (Christ) and Light-power (Holy Spirit) is encountered – some are drawn close and others are repelled, some become close friends and others only acquaintances, some are oblivious and remain strangers, while others react in a violent fashion and become enemies. Then, to those encountering the Divine Presence and Power, the countenance of the Light-presence and Light-power seems to change – peaceful, blissful or wrathful, though in truth the Light-presence and Light-power remains the same and shines upon one and all like. This judgment is not in the True Light, but it is in those who encounter the emanation of the Light-presence, whether or not they love the True Light and desire to enter into the True Light, or instead, love the darkness (negativity) and choose to cleave to the darkness. Naturally, between those who love the True Light and those who love the darkness there is all manner of admixture and gradations in between; hence, the apparent gradations of the Gnostic and Light Transmission.

It seems as though it is all divine play for the sake of the soul’s education, though – a process of the development and evolution of the soul-being. When the soul-being acquires its education, and is ripe and mature, then it is gathered in the harvest of souls, all in due season. Over the course of the great cosmic aeon (or cycle), and the generation of the countless great cosmic aeons, eventually all souls shall be drawn into union with the True Light, reintegrated into the Light Continuum. Though in much modern spirituality and the new age this may become a justification for perpetual distraction, with many saying, “All will enter the light any way,” it betrays a profound lack of understanding of this process – for left to random chance and the passage of countless aeons, it is a journey through immeasurable sorrow and suffering, which if “seen” would swiftly invoke the desire for enlightenment and liberation.

It appears, however, that this is not something that can be told to another, but something that must be recognized and realized through experience – when it appears to be told and believed, it was not really “told,” but rather the one who is able to listen and hear, and believe, is one who has the necessary development and evolution in place; in a manner of speaking, they are one who knows already, and the appearance of “telling” and “believing” is an invocation of remembrance.

It is interesting, for as various scriptures and sacred writings propose, there is an innate guardianship of the Truth and Light – distracting desires and fear of cessation is the guardianship of the Divine Truth; the Truth and Light is an open secret for all to see and hear, only few desire to look and see, or to listen and hear, for most are bound up in desire and fear, the potentially endless play of attachment and aversion arising from self-cherishing.

May we be blessed to receive and impart the fullness of Christ’s love; amen.

Blessings & shalom!

_________________
Tau Malachi
Sophia Fellowship
Ecclesia Pistis Sophia

[alx]

Tau!

nice to meet with you here.

it's a beautiful point, what you're making, about the receptivity and how the divine love can flow (or not) into a student/person, based on their capacity to receive. in the Indian tradition I've been steeped in, I've heard this referred to as 'soul capacity' and, perhaps more relevantly, 'resistance power.' (resistance to what? to the Illusion, to that which distracts and dissuades the soul from attending to its unfolding and creating more divine receptivity.)

I particular like what you wrote, here, as a kind of observation of the dynamic of different souls coming into contact with the divine energy:

"There is something very intriguing that happens when an embodiment of the Light-presence (Christ) and Light-power (Holy Spirit) is encountered – some are drawn close and others are repelled, some become close friends and others only acquaintances, some are oblivious and remain strangers, while others react in a violent fashion and become enemies."

I can't tell you how many times I've witnessed this same phenomenon in my own life and teaching.

what I recognize is this: that the love flowing from a Christ-like figure (a saint) is so intense and so dis-integrating to the ego structure and personality of a person, that it is often disturbing and upsetting to people who come into contact with it.

we don't like to think of people's experience of the divine as being 'upsetting' or difficult (and yet, reading the stories of saints both modern and ancient often yields a similar account!) -- we'd like to think we're all so evolved and divinely open, ourselves, that contacting the Christ love and energy is a kind of 'walk in the park.'

but because that love, by Its very nature, creates purification in the souls It comes into contact with -- well, some people take purification well, having been conditioned through fire over many lifetimes.... and some people have a hard time recognizing and adjusting to the divine energy when it's feeling more like a 2x4 (to them) even though it is of course pure love.

in a sense, then, your statement, above, about some who react 'in a violent fashion and become enemies' is less of a constant, but more like a snapshot, a frozen observational moment of someone's evolution rather than the sum total of their divine experience -- what I mean (and maybe am not articulating so well!), is that in the moment, when the purification is stimulated, people do and say all kinds of ridiculous and even terrible things (witness the Biblical account of Christ being asked to LEAVE a village after he'd just cast out demons for the people, there, doing an amazing healing service for the whole village!).

but later, they often come around to realize how idiotic and misguided their initial reactions were -- and some become the most ardent and capable divine instruments!

what I love most, is that the truth always wins in the end. it may take 2000 years (grinning) in some cases -- but the Truth always wins.

so people may, like you're saying above, attach themselves to the dark side or embrace the light or find themselves, at any given time, somewhere in between.... but eventually, finally, all souls wind up back at the Source of themselves.... (whether they 'like it or not'!!!!!)

given all this, and the infinite gradations of light, dark, and shadow, we can really start to see how extraordinary it is, then, when a human being not only experiences the internal urge to 'wake up' but then pursues the process of waking up AND is willing to stand in the fire and the testing of purification and the 'stripping away' of illusion that it takes to wake up.

that one in ten, in a hundred, from a thousand -- becomes a real radical in this world.

blessings to you, dear brother -- may we all be filled with the joy of Christ's love and keep drinking from His well until we brim over with that love and spill it outwards into this world!

Alx

[Tau Malachi]

Greetings and salutations Alx!

Yes, indeed, the idea of a “snapshot” well portrays any single appearance within space-time or the realm of becoming, whether at a certain point in an incarnation or an entire incarnation itself in relationship to the countless incarnation of the mind or soul in the process of its evolution. After all, in truth, what we mean by “mind” or “soul” is not a fixed or static entity, but rather is more akin to a stream or fluid flow of being-consciousness-force in a constant continuum of flux or change; likewise, the mind or soul-stream has no independent or substantial self-existence separate and apart from everyone and everything else in existence, or separate and apart from the source of its being. Thus, whatever appearance is assumed is just that – an appearance, and is a temporary phenomenon in the midst of a constant continuum of change or transformation.

It is completely true that any relationship that can be named in reaction or response to the Light-presence, whether it is an appearance of “friend,” “enemy” or “stranger,” can change until the mind or soul-stream is brought to fruition in Supernal or Messianic Consciousness – enlightenment and liberation. In truth, these appearances are illusory in the sense that they are not as they seem in the unenlightened condition, but rather are relative and temporary phenomenon – impermanent, much like the dust-devil generated by wind moving across a desert.

Essentially, if we encounter an embodiment of the Divine Presence and Power we find that the Divine Presence works with what is happening and within what is happening, just as it is happening, responding with skillful means for the enlightenment and liberation of the mind or soul-stream; if there are peaceful, blissful or wrathful manifestations of the Divine Presence and Power, these are skillful means interacting the karmic condition of sentient beings – their own karmic vision, as it were.

In the midst of this Divine Play it is perfectly true that many great wonders transpire and many sentient beings are liberated, both from the material and metaphysical dimensions, visible and invisible – even dark and hostile forces may be brought into the Path of the Great Ascension (or Great Liberation).

In a dualistic state of consciousness the mind is prone to fall into either a view of nihilism or eternalism – yet neither is the ultimate truth, but as mental conceptions, both are partial truths; the ultimate truth is that which transcends such dualism and in which there is no contradiction between apparent opposites: it is a non-dual realization (supernal or supramental).

It is an interesting question what is meant from one person to another when the term “Christ Consciousness” is used, for by this same term individuals are indicating various gradations of Self-realization, and by it many are speaking of one or another gradation of cosmic consciousness, which represents peak levels of mental consciousness. The mental consciousness, even in its peak, is inherently dualistic, though in its peak the dualism is most subtle and sublime – nevertheless it is not supernal or supramental, it is not the non-dual realization. The distinction is most subtle and cannot be put into words or into terms of the mental being – save in the Supernal or Supramental Consciousness the distinction cannot be perceived. Entering into the delights of cosmic consciousness, the mental and vital consciousness must be brought into cessation, and it is in this womb of cessation that the Supernal or Supramental Consciousness dawns. In this sense it may be said that the tendency to grasp at cosmic consciousness or to grasp at the concept of cessation is the final guardianship of the ultimate truth of non-dual realization. Thus, as much as distractions of the world, there are “distractions of heaven,” for many will assume the fruition of the Self-realization process prematurely, confusing peak experiences of mental being with the attainment of Supernal or Supramental Being – cosmic consciousness and the experience of cessation both representing the peak of mental being, as though the threshold to the Supernal or Supramental Consciousness.

This is all part and parcel of evolution, for how shall one species of being know and understand the new species of being emerging from within it until it is taken up in the new wave of evolution; likewise, if there are various gradations of evolution in a species before the emergence of the new species, until the higher gradations of evolution are in place, how shall the perception of a completely new generation dawn? An intuitive sense of the evolution beyond the present “peak” must come before the mind or soul-stream can pass beyond the heavenly guardianship into the new realm of evolution, the new species of being, as it were. Thus, the very same phenomenon can occur with those having an advanced stage of Self-realization in place as we may see with seekers early on the Path to Enlightenment – the assumption of our peak in consciousness as the fruition of Self-realization in Christ can become an obstruction to a greater development. In truth, it is really just an extremely subtle and sublime form of the very same obstruction, though far more challenging to recognize and therefore far more powerful in its enchantment or intoxication.

This harkens back to the words of the Living Yeshua, “…one in a thousand, two in ten thousand...”

Of course, if the Divine is rightly called Ain Sof, One-Without-End, then where is there an end to this adventure in consciousness, this play of the evolution of consciousness? (In this we may have a hint to the actual truth of enlightenment and liberation, quite different than whatever concepts might arise regarding it.)

In the Sophian Gnostic view, this development and evolution of consciousness towards enlightenment and liberation is not isolate to humankind, but transpires among all manner of sentient beings – a view very similar to what one might find in Buddhism. All of creation labors towards the Supernal or Supramental, and that which lies beyond; the Entirety labors towards the realization of the Pleroma of Light. Thus, just as it transpires among humankind, the Christ revelation occurs among all forms of sentient existence, within all realms, worlds and universes of the Entirety, and all shall be drawn up in the Great Ascension, the Great Liberation, regardless of appearances within the Entirety – all in due season. This is the play of the Christ revelation depicted in Gnostic scriptures, which reflects our Gnostic experience of Christ, the Human One of Light – the Enlightened One.

I’m reminded of one of my most favorite chants from Buddhist tradition, the mantra of Prajnaparamita, the Mother of the Buddhas (Mother Sophia-Wisdom): Om Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha Hum – Om gone, gone, gone beyond, gone beyond even the beyond into full enlightenment, so be it, Hum.

This seems to me as a prayer of the Risen Christ – Going beyond, may we be blessed to go beyond the beyond; amen.

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

[Leslie Kaneel]

Shalom +Malachi!

Something said above causes a slight conflict in understanding:

"Many sentient beings are liberated, both from the material and metaphysical dimensions, visible and invisible - even dark and hostile forces may be brought into the Path of the Great Ascension..."
This is very good news! But.....

In saying 23, Master Yeshua seems to be speaking about human beings rather than all sentient beings, but, "...one in a thousand, two in ten thousand.." partially or completely Liberated, isn't "many." As far as I can "see," which may not be very far and somewhat hazy, "many" don't appear to be Liberated, but more like the small amount associated with saying 23.

From one who can "see" further, How is this "labour towards the Supernal or Supramental" going? Is there headway being made through the heavy "dampening effect" of cosmic ignorance?

I guess if we're all still "Going," there is always faith, hope, and love for "Going Beyond!"......Again, and again, and again - with no end...until we all have "Gone."

Love and Peace,
Leslie

[Tau Malachi]

Greetings Leslie!

Yes, in the Gnostic Gospel of St. Thomas the sayings are oriented towards the enlightenment and liberation of human beings; yet, whatever may be said of the Christ revelation within the human realm may also be said of the Christ revelation in any realm, world or universe of the Entirety, other Gnostic scriptures, such as the Pistis Sophia for example, make this clear.

Given the millions of people living in the world today and the millions and millions of people that have lived in the world since the first manifestation of the Light Transmission (prior to the time of Master Yeshua), “one in a thousand, two in ten thousand” is a rather significant number – certainly more than the symbolic number of 144,000 given in the Book of Revelation.

There is an acceleration of consciousness underway in humanity and while, indeed, it amplifies the conflict inherent in dualistic consciousness, the conflict between the appearance of light and darkness, and may be the cause of great tribulation, what may rightly be called an “evolutionary crisis” in the collective of humankind, at the same time there have been a significant number of adepts and masters incarnating among us in the past hundred to two hundred years, and several different masters have lived among us who have taught directly about the Supernal or Supramental Attainment – a realization beyond the threshold of cosmic consciousness and nirvana.

This, of course, heralds something of a quickening in human consciousness that moves towards the “Second Coming” – a dawn of Supernal or Messianic Consciousness in a larger segment of collective humanity. Still, however, based upon the laws of nature and evolution, in any movement of evolution, only a certain percentage of life comes to its ultimate fruition, whether on a material, psychic or spiritual level. We may look into Nature herself to see this: How many salmon in a given year’s run arrive at the spawning ground out of all that enter the journey, or how many sea turtles that hatch make it into the ocean and go out to sea, and then come full cycle in life? However harsh this may seem, this reflects the evolution of life on all levels, including the spiritual – such is the play of Reality as It Is.

Quite naturally, in the life-cycle of any world-system, and the evolution of life-waves upon it, some mind or soul-streams become enlightened and liberated, and some make great progress, drawing near to full realization, but there are also many that may accomplish minimal progress; those not taken up into the Path of the Great Ascension go on in the gilgulim (transmigration) to continue their development and evolution in other world systems. In this process nothing is really lost, for soul-beings pass into other realms, worlds and universes of the Entirety, just as they pass from one incarnation to another in a world-system; in fact, this process of transmigration between realms, worlds and universes occurs constantly throughout the cycles of development and evolution in a world-system.

Thus, just as the development and evolution of a soul-being is not isolate to a single life-time, as the outer and unspiritual church would have us believe, so also it is not isolate to a single world-system, but may pass through incarnations in various realms, worlds and universes. (In fact it is said that many of the great adepts and masters who appear in our world have attained realization in other world-systems before entering into incarnation in humankind on Earth.)

In the context of a discussion of the Christ revelation to all manner of sentient beings, and as something not isolate to humankind, it must also be said that in the process of the gilgulim our soul-stream has not always been a human being, but has incarnated as many and diverse forms of sentient existence (many different life-forms). Thus, from the perspective of the Light Realm or eternal realm, when the Light Transmission occurs during an incarnation of a soul as a human being and is received, all the incarnations of the soul-stream are uplifted in the Great Ascension; hence, in your reception of the Light Transmission, when it is realized in full (or received in full), all manner of sentient beings, in effect, also receive this Light of Christ.

We may also point out something else in terms of the Christ revelation within humankind and this world – this divine revelation must naturally occur among spiritual beings-forces (sentient beings) that form the metaphysical matrix within and behind the human life-wave and world; in other words, various divinities and powers must receive the Christ revelation in order for it to occur within humankind. After all, we are completely interconnected and interdependent with all sentient beings in the Entirety, especially those that form the immediate region of the matrix in which we are incarnate – thus, unless the Christ revelation transpired among the spiritual beings-forces of the matrix it would not transpire among us.

All of this is to say that there is a much bigger picture to this evolution of consciousness than that of our present lives or the present world-system we are incarnate in; if we let go of self-grasping to listen and hear, no longer identifying so strongly with this limited name and form, and personal history, there is a significantly greater message within and behind these teachings of the Master – indeed, as live in a very magical universe, one that is metadimensional, and within which there are countless world-system, in countless dimensions.

In this process we are also not alone, but as we become open and sensitive we receive divine assistance from tzaddikim and maggidim, both incarnate and disincarnate. Yet, as the teaching in this saying implies, we must be willing to the labor of the Great Work, willing to cooperate with the Holy Spirit; although salvation may be universal, and all shall eventually realize the truth of enlightenment and liberation, it is not exactly automatic, but rather comes by way of an actual struggle for conscious evolution.

We can say this, however: It is during an incarnation as a human being, with relatively auspicious circumstances for the spiritual life and practice, that the mind or soul-stream has the best possible opportunity to recognize and realize Divine Truth. Thus, here and now, we have the best possible opportunity to progress towards Supernal or Messianic Consciousness and, per chance, to allow the dawn of the Supernal or Supramental in our experience. In fact, we do not know when auspicious circumstances may arise again in the process of our soul’s transmigration – the awareness of this is good motivation to pay attention to what we are doing in this life and, recognizing the precious opportunity we have, it may empower us to do whatever it takes to unfold our Self-realization in Christ.

What is the sign of a ripe and mature soul for the harvest? It is one who is willing to do whatever it takes to bring realization to its greatest possible fruition in their present life-time. As one Jewish rabbi has said, “If not now, when?”

Remember – all phenomena arising in the material dimension are impermanent, they have a beginning, middle and end, and they appear and disappear. Just as your body has a limited duration of life, so also does every world-system and star-system in the material dimension of the universe, as well everything else that appears, whether great or small; the whole point to the Great Matrix (Entirety) is this conscious evolution, the realization of the Highest of Life (El Elyon), the Divine I Shall Be (Eheieh).

May the Divine Mother carry us full term and give birth to Christ in us; amen.

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

[Brooke]

This theme also came up in today's devotional meditation on Saying / Verse 49: "Blessed are the solitary and elect, for you will find the kingdom. For you are from it, and to it you will return."

What a wonderful promise, knowing we will all ultimately return to the Kingdom upon recognition of our Neshamah. Understanding the soul stream and the various manifestations of the soul in various incarnations is beautifully complex, although at first the contemplation was a bit daunting to someone raised in the outer church tradition. Until understood, the "unfamiliar" (the seat of most fears and prejudices) can appear threatening. When doors and windows of understanding begin to open up, what was once threatening becomes, suddenly, inspiring and uplifting.

Verse 23, like Verse 49, raises serious considerations about the Nefesh. For some reason I was under the impression that the Nefesh Behamit disintegrates after physical death. But it would appear that it incarnates (or just resides) in other worlds / dimensions or in other sentient beings. Are we to understand that our Neshamah, on the other hand, returns to God (or a heavenly plane?) until the next incarnation? Also, is every Nefesh associated with one soul also uplifted when that soul is finally uplifted through realization of the Neshamah? What about the Nefesh Elokit? If we are able to reach the Elokit state during an incarnation what does that mean for our Nefesh? Does it still separate from the heavenly soul until self-realization of the Neshamah? Does Nefesh Elokit still reside in another dimension or sentient being until supernal attainment?

By the Divine Mother's grace may we all come to realize our Neshamah!

Brooke

[Tau Malachi]

Greetings Brooke!

Yes, in fact you are correct – ruach and nefesh form the incarnation of the soul-stream, and upon completion of an incarnation they dissolve into their root, neshamah. From one incarnation to another ruach and nefesh arise anew, based upon the karmic continuum of the mind or soul-stream; essentially, ruach and nefesh are the karmic continuum of the soul-being in the unenlightened condition, and are the aspect of the soul-being that exists in continual flux and evolves, while neshamah is the divine or enlightened potential of the soul-being that is actualized and realize through the process of transmigration. Neshamah is the being of the becoming and ruach and nefesh are the becoming; this being and becoming, of course, are inseparable from one another, completely interconnected and interdependent with one another.

Essentially, neshamah is transcendent of incarnation and, yet, to the extent that ruach and nefesh express neshamah, neshamah is actualized and realize, and embodied, and ruach and nefesh are illumined – when neshamah is realized in full, the soul is enlightened and liberated.

What is neshamah? It is our divine nature, our bornless nature – the nature of mind. Yechidah, the divine spark, may be said to be the emptiness or spaciousness of this nature, hayyah may be said to be the self-generating or radiant quality of this nature, and neshamah may be said to be the intelligence or awareness. These three aspects of the nature of the mind or soul-stream are inseparable, thus this nature of mind is spacious radiant awareness – this is the holy neshamah.

Ruach and nefesh arise from this bornless nature, and are the radiant display of this divine nature – how they arise or the forms that they assume is dependent upon the karmic continuum of the mind or soul-stream, the development and evolution of the soul being. In just the same way that thoughts arise in the mind, abide in the mind and dissolve in the mind, so ruach and nefesh arise, abide and dissolve – this being an incarnation; just as one thought appears and disappears, and gives rise to another thought, so the soul-stream moves from one incarnation to another – it is fundamentally the same mechanism of consciousness at play. Until we recognize and realize our divine nature, the nature of mind, neshamah, and bring the arising of thought and desire into cessation or repose, this play of arising according to karmic conditioning continues, potentially without end; hence, the gilgulim.

This teaching of cessation or repose is innate to the mystery of the crucifixion and resurrection, for with the recognition and realization of the nature of mind ruach and nefesh may arise as a pure emanation or direct expression of this bornless nature, no longer bound by the continuum of karma (the law) or gilgulim, just as we see in the appearance of the Risen Messiah – this is the realization of Messiah Melchizedek (or Christ Melchizedek).

When the mind is concentrated, and there is one thought, one desire, a singularity occurs, and in effect there is no thought, no desire – cessation or repose; in this womb of emptiness the Supernal or Messianic Consciousness dawns, enlightenment and liberation.

On the one hand, we may speak of the gilgulim and Entirety as a dominion of bondage to ignorance (the demiurge), and speak of the immeasurable sorrow and suffering of this bondage of the mind or soul-stream; yet, on the other hand, the gilgulim and Great Matrix are the vehicle through which Self-realization in Christ transpires, the vehicle through which we are able to awaken and realize our divine or bornless nature. In other words, this ignorance is our bondage, and the cause of great sorrow and suffering, and yet it is the vehicle of our enlightenment and liberation. Thus it is said, “The force that binds is the force that liberates.”

The interplay of nefesh behamit and nefesh elokit reflects our orientation within an incarnation. Basically, nefesh behamit is a state in which we are primarily outward oriented, living only in the surface consciousness, completely bound up in self-cherishing, greed-lust and fear-anger, attached to name and form and the world that appears corresponding to it; nefesh elokit, however, is an inward and upward orientation – Godward, going within and living within, seeking to let go of self-grasping, attachment and aversion, to live according to our divine or bornless nature. Essentially, nefesh elokit is the product of the spiritual life and practice, the state of nefesh and ruach as a reflection and expression of something of our holy neshamah.

In a manner of speaking, nefesh behamit is a state of regression in the evolutionary movement, while nefesh elokit is a state of progression – this reflects the play of positive and negative karma, understanding karma as an evolutionary movement within the realm of becoming, the Entirety.

In the midst of all of this there is something more to be said, for at the outset, to the novice it might seems as though we are speaking of a personal salvation, or a personal enlightenment – yet we are speaking of something far more subtle and sublime, a greater mystery. In the midst of this Self-realization in Christ we recognize that we are inseparable from all mind or soul-streams, and from the source of all being – the Divine Mind (God and Godhead); we realize that we are completely interconnected and interdependent with all sentient beings and the Holy One of Being. Thus, innate to this Self-realization is the dawn of the Sacred Heart – unconditional love, boundless compassion, not as a noble sentiment as found in religious consciousness, but as the very essence and force of our being, the very essence and force of Divine or Enlightened Being.

Enlightened and liberated, the holy ones send forth emanations of their mind or soul-stream into the realms, worlds and universes of the Entirety, taking up incarnations as light-bearers and messengers, and labor for the harvest of souls within world-systems that appear in the material and metaphysical dimensions; this is the expression of the Sacred Heart of Christ, the innate good of Divine or Enlightened Being in us. Thus, this state of enlightenment and liberation is active and dynamic – the Great Work. This is made quite clear by the actions of Master Yeshua in the Holy Gospel, who makes a sacrifice of himself so that many might be enlightened and liberated, set upon the Path of the Great Ascension.

First, we live according to this Divine Truth by faith – an intuition of the Truth and Light; then, taking up the spiritual life and practice, we labor to recognize and realize the Divine Truth, our faith leading to Divine Gnosis. This is the Gnostic Path.

May our faith bear the fruits of hope and love, and yet more, the gnosis or our perfection in Christ Melchizedek, our bornless nature; amen.

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

[alx]

hello, Tau!

with regard to the Christ consciousness --

you wrote, above: It is an interesting question what is meant from one person to another when the term “Christ Consciousness” is used, for by this same term individuals are indicating various gradations of Self-realization, and by it many are speaking of one or another gradation of cosmic consciousness, which represents peak levels of mental consciousness.

yes, I agree -- people have all kinds of ideas or meanings imbedded when they're using the phrase "Christ Consciousness." my experience of the word is quite specific; the part of the soul that is always awake, always connected to and aware of itself in the greater Consciousness. I'd also call it the Brahma Consciousness, since it's the pure seat of the knowledge and the creation energy as well.

because I'm referencing the soul mechanism, as I'm pretty sure you are, too, it's clear that we're not talking about mental states or mental awareness of consciousness, yes? when I say "Christ Consciousness" I mean something that is a soul experience. beyond the mind.

I think you've gone into a little bit about what your definition of Christ Consciousness is, but maybe you can reframe it here, for clarity?

you also wrote, above: Thus, as much as distractions of the world, there are “distractions of heaven,” for many will assume the fruition of the Self-realization process prematurely, confusing peak experiences of mental being with the attainment of Supernal or Supramental Being – cosmic consciousness and the experience of cessation both representing the peak of mental being, as though the threshold to the Supernal or Supramental Consciousness.

it is very interesting how many divine illusions there are in the planet, like the angels and certain kinds of experiences -- simply another layer of Mother's game of hide-and-seek (and distraction).

easy to mistake enlightenment experiences for enlightenment, itself.

that's a really important point that doesn't seem to be discussed much in America. the Eastern traditions have this understanding -- but somehow it hasn't osmosed into the New Age consciousness.

in blessings --

Alx

[Tau Malachi]

Salutations Alx!

In relationship to what I would mean by “Christ Consciousness,” the mental consciousness, even at its peak (cosmic consciousness), is rather like a caterpillar versus a butterfly. There really is little or no comparison, for the physical, vital and mental consciousness are dualistic in nature, but Christ Consciousness is a non-dual realization in which there is no contradiction between any apparent opposite – there is timeless-eternity and time-eternity, oneness and multiplicity, without any contradiction; it is akin to a “quantum consciousness” in which all are One and each is the One, and yet the One is transcendent, while immanent. It is a Supernal or Supramental Consciousness within which is All-Truth; no longer a truth by exclusion of other views, nor by annexation of other views to itself; but rather encompassing All-Truth as the Divine Truth – the View of All-Views, in such a way as cannot be spoken in a body-mind complex of the present human condition.

We may speak of this Messianic Consciousness as an ever-present Truth within the Light realm or eternal realm – as That Which Is always “awake”; yet it is That Which Shall awaken in us and is awakening in us: this Being of the Becoming.

It is the source and ground of all modes and functions of consciousness-force, and it assumes the form of all modes and operations of consciousness-force, and is manifest as all modes and operations of consciousness-force; yet, in this Supernal or Supramental Realization all gradations of consciousness may be said to be taken up and transformed by the Supernal Force, the Supernal Light.

What is the nature of this Divine Power, this Divine Light? It is akin to a “spiritual nuclear fir” that transforms every level of being-consciousness-force into itself, potentially even capable of transforming the very substance of matter, as we witness in the resurrection and ascension, or other similar events with great adepts and masters. Thus, we may say that it is the force of a radical transformation or evolution in consciousness – a Divine Force that may be embodied and that may transform the physical, vital and mental life, and yet that is ever transcendent.

There are various gradations of Divine Light – various gradations of spiritual and astral light, but the Supernal Light is very distinct because if its power to transform all levels of being-consciousness-force; likewise it is distinct because of its affect on many who may encounter it here – the reaction is something like a “psychic radioactivity” and many may be repelled by this True Light, as though the Light of an “Alien God.” Yet, within this Supernal Light-Consciousness there is no conflict, because there is no dualism; all apparent conflict exists only in the Ignorance, only in the dualistic consciousness that arises on account of self-grasping, attachment and aversion.

If the present humanity is mental being, then this is the consciousness of a new species of being – one that is “more than human” by ordinary definitions.

If this Christ Consciousness is in place, there is the experience of consciousness beyond the body and, yet, the experience of the body fully infused with consciousness; likewise, there is a continuity of the presence of awareness throughout all states of consciousness, whether waking consciousness, sleep and dream or death and the afterlife; and the experience of conscious unification with the Divine, the source of all being, is innate to it.

Perhaps this indicates a bit more of what is meant by “Christ Consciousness” in our Gnostic lineage; but, of course, all of this is a pointing at the Divine Truth in terms of mental consciousness – a dim reflection of this Supernal Truth-Consciousness.

Glimpsing, may all be blessed to look and see, and know; amen.

Shabbat Shalom!
_________________
Tau Malachi
Sophia Fellowship
Ecclesia Pistis Sophia

[alx]

hello, hello, Tau!

you wrote:


If the present humanity is mental being, then this is the consciousness of a new species of being – one that is “more than human” by ordinary definitions.

all I can say is, "hear, hear!!!!!"

I think it can't come too soon........................ (grinning)

and, yes, I think we're saying (insofar as words can get there) more or less the same thing in reference to the Christ Consciousness.

thank you for your statements -- it helps to solidify the ground underneath a discussion, to know what the terms different traditions & people are using, and what the deeper sense of those words is.

If this Christ Consciousness is in place, there is the experience of consciousness beyond the body and, yet, the experience of the body fully infused with consciousness; likewise, there is a continuity of the presence of awareness throughout all states of consciousness, whether waking consciousness, sleep and dream or death and the afterlife; and the experience of conscious unification with the Divine, the source of all being, is innate to it.

if it's not too forward, I'm curious about your experience of this state of being -- that is, are you in this particular awareness that you describe?

my master in India, a Christ-like figure himself, often leaves his physical body for dead (up to 72 hours, sometimes). during this time, his soul is gone from his form and is taking care of other business on other planes -- and while he is 'gone,' the body is literally cold, no heartbeat, respiration, etc. when he returns, it's a matter of a few seconds and all systems are go.

knowing that kind of soul technology, exactly what differentiates the life-and-death states, and collapsing that dualism onto itself, points, to me, to one of the most critical expressions of the Christ Consciousness in this world -- that there are univeral soul mechanisms available to one who is in extreme union with this Consciousness, and those kinds of mechanisms can be shared with other people (anyone who witnesses such a miraculous 'death-defying' experience, for example, is already tasting something of that Christ Consciousness whether they necessarily know it or not).

it's a little off-topic from the '1 in a thousand' -- or maybe it isn't (grinning again) -- but I'm often struck by the passage in the Gnostic Gospel of Mary Magdalene (what's left of the fragmented beginning) where she's sharing with the other students of Jesus that Christ was telling her, in detail, the doorways and the mechanism of how the soul leaves the body consciously.

like you're saying above, people who come into contact with that wave of intense divinity, the Christ Consciousness, often are repulsed by it (even despite their better inclinations). witness the students' response to Mary's account -- some don't believe her at all, from their own jealousy they don't want to believe that what she is saying is true, or that Jesus shared it with her.

fascinating.

it's a delight to be in communion with you, Tau. may all the beautiful knowledge you're sharing here illuminate the hearts of many many people....

namaste,

Alx

[Tau Malachi]

Salutations Alx -

Greetings and blessings in the Light of the Messiah!

Thank you for your kind words of blessing and your prayers…

I do not know that I would be inclined to speak or write of teachings and practices apart from my own experience, as the Gnostic and Light Transmission is founded in one’s own experience, and rather than another religious creed or doctrine to be blindly believed and followed, Christian Gnosticism is a vehicle of Self-realization; thus, always, what is shared must have a foundation in our own experience.

As a little boy I was prone to visitations of tzaddikim and maggidim, and to luminous dreams and visions, and with Tau Elijah and Mother Sarah I witnessed many wonderful events – in terms of my spiritual and mystical experiences then, as much as guidance in the Way, they were like flashbacks from previous incarnations, but I cannot say that it was Christ Consciousness, though perhaps there were glimpses in the midst. Through the eighties glimpses increased, and higher gradations of mental and vital consciousness became common, until finally, at the end of the eighties, gradations of cosmic consciousness came into play; however, I found no significant transformation in these states of higher mental and vital consciousness – I found that one could enter into them, run and return, but remain unchanged. This led me to the desire for the cessation or repose of the mental and vital consciousness, and to open to a higher consciousness, seeking the True Light – in a manner of speaking, all previous “attainments” became a sacrifice on the altar of El Elyon, in surrender to the True Light.

The previous states of higher consciousness came with many psychic and magic powers, and were extremely intoxicating – thus, a very distinct mystical death was invoked as I sought to pass “beyond” them.

The experience of the first dark night of the soul transpired at the beginning of the eighties, and this desire for cessation or repose became the invocation of the second dark night of the soul. About two or three years passed in what may be called a “void state” of transition, the Divine Presence and Power I had formerly known only being present when working with others, but at any other time I felt like and empty shell, as though my soul and all light had departed from me. In the midst of this, at some point, repose in the Clear Light Nature began to transpire spontaneously, and it became like a sanctuary in the midst of the void – an abiding without attachment and aversion, waiting upon the movement of the Holy Spirit.

Then in 1994 I received a call to go out into the Nevada desert, to a place called Pyramid Lake, and to take twelve of my spiritual companions of the time with me – there was no vision or voice to this call, but rather it was in inner knowing that it was time for something of a “push without pushing,” the exercise of a silent volition to bring a cycle to its fruition. During that retreat the breakthrough to the supernal or supramental occurred, and since that time the labor to integrate the Supernal Force into the body-mind complex and to facilitate the transmission of the Supernal Light has become the focus of the spiritual labor.

The supernal or supramental is quite distinct, for as a metadimensional consciousness it is dynamic; for example, rather than the experience of “leaving the body,” consciousness may be experienced beyond the body, while yet being in the body – the dualism of “out of the body” and “in the body” no longer exists, just as the dualism of “height” and “depth” no longer exist, but rather the Pleroma of Light that is “above” is everywhere “below,” and the operation of consciousness in the various dimensions is simultaneous in the experience of the supernal or supramental. The experience of coming and going from the body was common with cosmic consciousness, but not with the supernal or supramental; it is the consciousness that encompasses and pervades all gradations of consciousness, all expressions of consciousness – it is inclusive rather than exclusive. Thus, in the midst of shifts in consciousness there is no longer a fall into unconsciousness, and in union with the universal the individual is not lost; but rather the presence of awareness – the Supernal Light-presence, abides in the body and beyond the body, and there is an experience oneness and multiplicity without contradiction.

Yes, indeed, wonderworking may have its place in spiritual transmission – it may increase faith and facilitate glimpses or experiences of Christ Consciousness; just as sacred discourse of Christ Consciousness, at times, may serve as a vehicle of transmission under certain conditions. Yet, in the play of spiritual transmission it is also a very delicate balance; for too much wonderworking can also create an obstruction in the consciousness of the disciple regarding their own potential realization, making it seem further removed from them than it really is and it can become a distraction, so that they do not recognize the enlightenment experience transpiring within themselves. Ideally, in the midst of the play of wonderworking – the dance of the Shekinah of the Messiah, the disciple is also taken up into something of the same experience, so that initiation and empowerment might transpire. All of this, of course, depends on the capacity of those who gather around a holy tzaddik, and depends upon the capacity of each spiritual companion – the spiritual labor and transmission of an adept or master is entirely interdependent and interconnected with their retinue, and what is revealed to any given companion is dependent upon their own capacity.

This seems well reflected in the play of spiritual transmission with Master Yeshua, for while taking up a play of wonderworking with his disciples and with the people, during such events as his walking on the water, only his disciples were present, and in such intimate moments as the transfiguration, only his inmost disciples were present; the drama of the crucifixion appears to be all about creating the necessary conditions for more of his disciples to receive the Gnostic and Light Transmission in full – a negation of the karma vision that would otherwise obstruct and prevent the revelation of Divine Gnosis.

There is something of the mystery of the bridal chamber in this, for our spiritual and mystical experiences, and the play of wonderworking in transmission, is akin to the love-play between lovers; something most intimate and secret, known only in the shared experience – known to those who draw near to the Beloved. The gift of such spiritual experience is priceless, for it is through such direct experiences that the mind or soul-stream is enlightened and liberated; after all, until we recognize the dream-like nature of the reality of our experience, how shall we desire awaken and to know the delight of Union?

It seems to me that this is the whole point to the play of wonderworking – not to prove an attainment, but rather to reveal the true nature of reality and to encourage us to look and see, listen and hear, and to seek Divine Gnosis; hence, an empowerment in the Great Work.

You once asked in another forum if I thought a person could experience Divine Gnosis without practicing “Gnosticism.” The answer seems to be in another question: Was Jesus Christ a “Christian”?

The Buddhist tradition has a wonderful analogy of wisdom traditions or dharmas as “boats” used to go to the “other shore,” as though the path to enlightenment was like crossing a great sea. It really does not matter which boat we use to get to the other shore, but only that we get in a boat and go to the other shore – once on the other shore we can leave the boat behind, or we can take up the boat as a ferry for others, or fashion another boat as a ferry for others, all as we are inclined in the Divine Light. In any case, arriving at the other shore is the same, regardless of what the boat is named or what kind of boat it is. The one thing that must be said though, considering the plight of spiritual materialism prevalent in modern spirituality and the new age, is that one must get into a boat and stay in the boat until they reach the other shore, and the boat needs to be seaworthy, capable of serving as a vehicle to the other shore; the boat is necessary until we get to the other shore, and in the crossing we need only one boat – pieces of multiple boats arbitrarily stuck together are unlikely to form a seaworthy craft. Rather, what we need is a holistic and integral vehicle of enlightenment, one that is fashioned upon the actual experience of enlightenment – hence, a boat that is fashioned with knowledge and understanding boat making and of the sea, knowledge and understanding the nature of the journey and its fruition.

This is not to say that we cannot draw from various wisdom traditions along the way, considering the darkness of fundamentalism in the world today it is good that we do – but it is to say that it is good for us to have some self-discipline and commitment, and a primary focus with a vehicle that might actually lead to Divine Gnosis, Enlightenment or Self-realization, or whatever we might be inclined to call the awakening of the mind or soul-stream.

In terms of Divine Gnosis, in my experience it transcends “Gnosticism”; yet, various Gnostic traditions may serve as vehicles to Divine Gnosis – but, then, so may many other wisdom traditions. A “Gnostic” just happens to be a person who uses Gnosticism as their vehicle…

Following in the Way as we are called, may we be blessed to bring our soul to its fruition in Christ Consciousness; amen.

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

[alx]

Tau, hello again -- I'm really moved by your sharing experience here. it didn't occur to me you would offer so much of your own path, directly, and its impacts as it twists and turns.

when you wrote this

The experience of the first dark night of the soul transpired at the beginning of the eighties, and this desire for cessation or repose became the invocation of the second dark night of the soul. About two or three years passed in what may be called a “void state” of transition, the Divine Presence and Power I had formerly known only being present when working with others, but at any other time I felt like and empty shell, as though my soul and all light had departed from me.

it reminded me a great deal of something a dear friend, a Mother Divine avatara, told me, chuckling, that the four stages of human experience in spirituality are:

first you come as a body
then you think you're somebody
then you realize you're nobody
then you become everybody!

I'm guessing the 'dark night' you've described, above, was the passing through that 'nobody' stage.

I do know Pyramid Lake, have been there many times, as it turns out. I can imagine how intense the next step of your journey, then, was.

about 'wonderworking' (your terminology) and what I would call the miracle energy, it's an incredible point about WHY Christ demonstrated so many miracles, and what his play there was really all about. included, I think, in the general category, would also be miraculous healings, and the biblical accounts of those are that he was known to heal thousands of people at a time. (so I'm not sure he only shared with his intimate students.)

mentioning the capacity to leave the body and re-enter it at will wasn't an implication that one need only visit the Christ Consciousness now and again, rather than living in that Awareness all the time, in a physical form. I brought it up because it strikes me -- as does the conversation with Magdalene about the soul's mechanism -- as an important demonstration of the principle of union with the Christ Consciousness. at a certain point, the energy itself makes the saints show certain things, whether they really want to or not.

traditionally, many saints have avoided the miracles or suggested that their students should avoid them, as well. numerous are the stories of spiritual students who got completely sidetracked and wide-eyed with the wrong kind of wonder, when they received some small miraculous abilities. there are good reasons to avoid all that -- or there used to be.

what I'm observing -- I'm curious about your insights -- is that times are changing rapidly. what was true a few generations ago, spiritually, isn't necessarily so now, in the larger scheme of things. there were certain restraints on the holy people in many traditions, about what they could and couldn't share (from their own experience) or demonstrate. I mean, certain holy souls had incredible spiritual knowledge but no permission to share it -- the karma of humanity wasn't yet ready to receive it and avoid misusing the knowledge.

in my own experience, having witnessed numerous miracles flowing from the Christ Consciousness in action, through a divine soul -- the miracles are super-important today. they provide a clear infusion of divinity into the soul of the person who witnesses the miracle -- and the soul starts to wake up. (I'm pretty sure this was the underlying reason Jesus showed what he showed, too.)

perhaps humanity has shifted enough in its collective consciousness and karma that many souls are not only eligible to receive this kind of energy, but to utilize it properly, ie, in the service of the Divine.

maybe, one thousand out of ten thousand.............. ?

I'm curious about your response.

blessings,

Alx

[Tau Malachi]

Greetings again, Alx!

Recently I responded to a person’s question regarding the Sophian view of the Book of Revelation in the “Mysteries of the Bible & Gnostic Scripture” forum; that post may relate to the present question of why we are seeing a radical dissemination of spiritual and esoteric teachings, along with spiritual adepts and masters who may be more inclined to a display of wonderworking power.

In a nutshell, there is a radical acceleration of consciousness underway in the human collective, and a corresponding evolutionary crisis – the extension of deeper spiritual teachings is the response of the Divine Order to an evolutionary crisis. Although there is much talk about a new “Golden Age” in much of modern spirituality, generally speaking that is not exactly the view or experience of initiates of the wisdom traditions around the world, nor is it what appears in their prophecies; but rather, before the dawn of a new Golden Age there must be a passage through a Dark Age – a very tumultuous time.

In this acceleration of consciousness there is a radical influx of the Divine Presence and Power – the Supernal Light, but because the present humanity is, basically speaking, mental being and dualism is inherent to mental consciousness, with a great influx of Divine Light there is also an equal and opposite manifestation of Darkness. The result of this is an increased intensity of the conflict in the play of cosmic and spiritual forces, and an amplification of the conflict within the collective consciousness of humanity – one that must either be resolved inwardly or become externalized and enacted outwardly.

This is a natural stages of development in any world-system in which an intelligent species arises – an evolution of consciousness through influxes of a Fiery Intelligence that leads towards a Supernal or Supramental Consciousness, Christ Consciousness; and as everything in Nature and the play of creative evolution, ready or not the movement continues its course. Those soul-beings that are ripe and mature are taken up in the Path of the Great Ascension, undergoing the Great Transformation; those that are not ripe and mature continue on in the process of transmigration – but all are taken up in the movement, regardless of whether they are prepared or not.

The response of the Divine and Universal Order is an increased influx of the incarnation of realized beings and divine beings within the life-wave of the world-system, and the dissemination of teachings and practices, and the wonderworking that may transpire, is like the “casting forth of nets fishing for souls” that are ripe and mature, and ready for the harvest; at the same time, it is the creation of sanctuary for younger siblings who are, as yet, immature and unprepared.

The teachings and practices of many Light Transmission lineages are, indeed, being made accessible to all who desire to receive them; but in these dark and perverse times there are relatively few who are willing to an actual Path to Enlightenment – most are too occupied with materialism and too busy with matters of the unenlightened society. Likewise, false teachers and false teachings abound – teachings that tell people what they want to hear and that cater to egotism; they take up the names of authentic wisdom traditions and distort their teachings, so that even souls of a higher grade who are sincere seekers are deceived and led astray. Nevertheless, as many as may be gathered are gathered, and as many as may be given sanctuary are given sanctuary – a great Matrix of Light is made manifest, serving as a balance to the darkness, the ignorance.

This process, of course, is completely natural, and it is all Divine Play – the world is sacred as it is, and there is nothing “wrong” with this process; it is akin to the labor pains of the Great Mother giving birth, and the holy ones and divine beings that incarnate are as midwives in her labor – Nature’s development and evolution is a tumultuous affair, as every mother knows and understands in her own experience of giving birth.

In the midst of all of this there is an influx of Supernal Light, Supernal Consciousness-Force, and there are many centers of this Divine Presence and Power in the world – there is a great spiritual transmission underway for those who desire to receive and integrate it, a push towards the generation of a Divine and Supramental Humanity. The great resistance against the forward progress in these times, the great struggle to take up the spiritual life and practice, the great challenge to conscious evolution, is exactly what serves to facilitate the new development – it is exactly what is necessary to bring about the “Second Coming of Christ,” the emergence of Christ Consciousness in a larger segment of collective humankind. Thus, far from any view of doom and gloom, it is a vision of great hope and, in fact, is a movement of great mercy – a liberative movement, through which a radical evolution of soul-beings is possible.

There is a basic principle that operates in consciousness – the ascent of consciousness is equal to its descent, so that for as “high” as we wish to go in the ascent of consciousness we must be willing to an equal and opposite descent into the “depths.” Indeed, the energy that propels the ascension of consciousness is energy liberated from the husks of darkness in the depths – this is reflected in the Holy Gospel by the descent of Lord Yeshua into the depths of Hades and the underworld before his resurrection and ascension. Until the dawn of the Supernal or Supramental Consciousness – the non-dual realization, this principle remains in effect, and to experience the ascent into Supernal Consciousness we must be willing to the full descent: hence, the full cessation through which Christ Consciousness dawns.

This, no doubt, is part of the message of the sign of wonder enacted by the beloved master you follow – leaving the body, as though dead, and returning. It is akin to another manifestation of this wonderworking power that has been displayed in the Sophian lineage – the capacity of a few lineage-holders in our succession to “send” the soul-stream of an initiate into a direct experience of death and the afterlife, and then to “call” their soul-stream back into their body. It is a rare initiation or empowerment that a few Sophian lineage-holders have been able to impart, and those witnessing the rite and the one taking the journey have had quite a tale to tell. It seems that the purpose is to reveal that sin and death have never substantially self-existed, and to point to the necessity of our willingness to the descent and cessation; after all, there is no resurrection and ascension without such surrender.

Holy signs, such as these, are a great blessing and are especially suited to these times, for they empower practitioners in the midst of challenging times, providing them with a glimpse of the Divine Presence and Power, dispelling shadows of doubt and fear, and inspiring faith and hope, and perchance love (or charity); in most cases such holy signs will unlikely occur in public, but even when they occur in private there is a greater transmission that happens through them. As much as an outward sign for the people, there is no doubt an inner work negating the karma of disciples in this activity of your sacred friend, as well as a spiritual transmission that might bring about a radical shift in the consciousness of those who believe – there is much more to this movement than the appearance of death and restoration to life, as you know and understand in your own experience.

This speaks to the larger spiritual labor within and behind appearances – a spiritual labor not only in the material dimension, through a more radical dissemination of teachings and practices, and through outward signs of wonder, but also a spiritual labor within the inner or metaphysical dimensions. The outward dissemination of spiritual and esoteric teachings, and outward signs of wonderworking, is talismanic of a greater theurgic operation laboring for the enlightenment and liberation of souls – the “Great Ascension.” We see this in Gnostic scriptures, like Pistis Sophia, which speak of the Light Transmission flowing from the Risen Christ and that reveal the spiritual labor within and behind the outward events of the Holy Gospel.

Of course, whatever we read in such scriptures is an ongoing divine revelation – an ongoing spiritual labor of the Divine and Universal Order (“Order of Melchizedek”); at present this spiritual labor is intensified, as is necessary to meet the need of soul-streams in a time of great transition.

In the remembrance of the Light Realm, may we abide in the peace and joy of the Risen Christ; amen.

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

[alx]

Jeepers, Tau!

that's a whole lotta response!

again I have to thank you for your kind responsiveness -- I worry about distracting from strict Gnosticism and don't want to poke and prod too much, out of a sense of politesse. at the same time, I really do want to poke and prod and see what things are made of -- I am grateful to be able to be engaging in this discussion with you, and that you are so forthcoming.

it's kind of difficult for me to go skimming around all the different threads of discussion here -- mostly time doesn't permit -- I'm content with this one on-going dialogue and am appreciating it as a kind of end-of-the-day treat.

(it's enjoyable to read your post, and think about it for a few days, and digest the concepts and terminology (we are in accord about pretty much everything, it seems to me, just having some different names for the principles or ideas). then again I come back, read it again, and respond to the points that strike me as intrguing or super-relevant.)

you wrote:

Although there is much talk about a new “Golden Age” in much of modern spirituality, generally speaking that is not exactly the view or experience of initiates of the wisdom traditions around the world, nor is it what appears in their prophecies; but rather, before the dawn of a new Golden Age there must be a passage through a Dark Age – a very tumultuous time.

yup. it's coming fast, and it's coming through the elements (earth quaking, water moving, etc.) -- it's difficult for me to share much with the more superficial spiritual people in America because many can't fathom that dark night before the clear new day.

yet we know that there is no new creation possible without destruction. certainly every tradition has their equivalent of the flood stories, the pralaya (it's called in Sanskrit). and the destructive process is never an end itself but part of the larger cycle, leading to a new cycle of creation/evolution.

at the same time, on one hand it's kind of unfathomable, on another hand it's a relief, on yet another hand (okay, more like an octopus than a person at this point!) it's painful. and on yet another, joyous. a lot of conflicting perceptions about the highly necessary changes that are about to rock this planet.

I wonder how you're steadying and readying for/with this? and your students?

my own process is tangled up with miracles and meditation, and the development of a strong spiritual group in my local area (with quite a number of folks from my home town also staying in India to develop their own abilities and understanding more).

and a constant, clear focus on the divine.

The result of this is an increased intensity of the conflict in the play of cosmic and spiritual forces, and an amplification of the conflict within the collective consciousness of humanity – one that must either be resolved inwardly or become externalized and enacted outwardly.

yes, again. a kind of churning and purification. increasingly the awareness is that the internal experiences aren't personal, any more -- they are, as you say, stemming from the collective consciousness.

This is a natural stages of development in any world-system in which an intelligent species arises – an evolution of consciousness through influxes of a Fiery Intelligence that leads towards a Supernal or Supramental Consciousness, Christ Consciousness;

"see -- I have cast fire on the world, and am tending it until it blazes."

The teachings and practices of many Light Transmission lineages are, indeed, being made accessible to all who desire to receive them; but in these dark and perverse times there are relatively few who are willing to an actual Path to Enlightenment – most are too occupied with materialism and too busy with matters of the unenlightened society.

(grinning out loud here) how many times are people encountered who want their enlightenment in a hurry -- "oh, can you give it to me over lunch?" -- if at all. "definitely without doing hard work, please."

as if the enlightened masters didn't do hard work, themselves. we only see their surface, historical life snippets -- not all the past lives that went into honing a great soul, a pure avatara, or all the hours spent in private meditations and hard spiritual practices along the way.

I guess this is the hallmark of Kali Yuga -- really in the thick of the material age. conversely, the divine can be easily accessed because of the increased negativity.... It makes Itself more readily available.....

Likewise, false teachers and false teachings abound – teachings that tell people what they want to hear and that cater to egotism; they take up the names of authentic wisdom traditions and distort their teachings, so that even souls of a higher grade who are sincere seekers are deceived and led astray.

I suppose this is also a result of our (human) collective karma. many sincere people have come into my life having suffered tremendous heartbreak with the divine, since they were surrendered to teachers who turned out to be charlatans, or spent decades serving traditions that really didn't have the full enlightenment -- either in terms of understanding, or in terms of sharing.

it's a real challenge, seeing that refined kind of heartbreak heal and gather courage to try, one more time, spirituality.

This process, of course, is completely natural, and it is all Divine Play – the world is sacred as it is, and there is nothing “wrong” with this process;

at the same time it's fair to say the most people are indeed frightened by their nightmares. believing events in bad dreams to be real even when they're not really happening.

sometimes I think the real work will come in terms of soothing -- and waking up -- the hearts of the sort of medium souls; those folks you were referencing before, caught up in the materialism and surface world concerns. what happens to them when the surface world crumbles? huge opportunity for spiritual illumination, on the one hand. tremendous, radical heartbreak on another hand. (but the two hands are most likely interlaced).


Thus, far from any view of doom and gloom, it is a vision of great hope and, in fact, is a movement of great mercy – a liberative movement, through which a radical evolution of soul-beings is possible.

when the fire really starts blazing.

I agree, one thousand percent, with the vision of hope and mercy you're expressing here -- if one really knows that the divine is running the show in a beautiful way (even when the outward surface doesn't seem so pretty), there is the grace. and the enlightenment, from one view.

and it HAS to be radical, doesn't it, given the collective garbage that human beings have managed to produce throughout this entire epoch? Jesus was such an unbelievably radical character -- the exact right master for this entire age, to really initiate an entire planet and jump-start this kind of rapid evolution into motion. and to then preside over its unfolding.

it is almost inconceivable, that degree of love and faithfulness, to all of us, that He is demonstrating.

It is akin to another manifestation of this wonderworking power that has been displayed in the Sophian lineage – the capacity of a few lineage-holders in our succession to “send” the soul-stream of an initiate into a direct experience of death and the afterlife, and then to “call” their soul-stream back into their body.

it's so important for the soul itself to understand its dis-attachment to the physical form and egoism, etc. once and for all, that illusion of "I am my body and it is finite therefore I must be finite, too" breaks in the face of the direct experience of the soul, free and clear on its own, without the physical form and accompanying illusions.

I wonder how the Sophian lineage you represent views the crucifixion -- from one angle, my understanding is that Jesus did a similar process on the cross, ie, he took his own soul out and brought it back after three days. this is a fairly well-known (though not commonly performed) spiritual process among the top masters in India.

his statement in the conventional gospels about being able to tear down this temple and rebuild it in three days, to me, is a glaring announcement that he was in possession of that spiritual process and was getting ready to implement it.

I also wonder what your lineage's information about Jesus' activities after the crucifixion involves.

It is a rare initiation or empowerment that a few Sophian lineage-holders have been able to impart, and those witnessing the rite and the one taking the journey have had quite a tale to tell.

I'll bet!

It seems that the purpose is to reveal that sin and death have never substantially self-existed,

ABSOLUTELY. and also -- that what we call 'life' is also part of the dream of god, not an end (or even a play) unto itself. that kind of high-level soul travel (and please don't misunderstand me to mean what people popularly refer to as 'astral travel' -- I mean a much deeper principle) is essential for the evolution of humanity.

in so-called 'normal life,' it's noticeable in people who've had near-death or even full-on death experiences from which they've returned to life on this planet -- something in their understanding of this world has gotten expanded, with or without their conscious (mental) notice.

but the soul has learned something crucial about itself and its relationship to the source of all light.

and to point to the necessity of our willingness to the descent and cessation; after all, there is no resurrection and ascension without such surrender.

that's a really deep point you're making, Tau -- it bears a lot of contemplation.

that the soul knows itself to be immortal and unconstrained, a part of the great cosmic light that is in and through all things manifest and unmanifest is only part of the journey.

the other component, if I'm reading you right, is that the human side of the human being, the part that doesn't necessarily know all that the soul knows, STILL has to volunteer to go through whatever it will go through, no matter how rough that may be -- in order to transcend, in effect, both apparent dualities.

(hence the sacrifices of the avataras and ascended masters since time immemorial.)

in most cases such holy signs will unlikely occur in public, but even when they occur in private there is a greater transmission that happens through them.

this is absolutely true. it is a tremendous transmission of shakti, that accompanies the miracle itself -- my perception is that the physical manifestation of a miracle (say, a healing object or some material thing) isn't the real transaction at all.

the real soul cleansing and upliftment the master is communicating to anyone who witnesses or receives such an experience is on a far subtler level. and far more powerful.

As much as an outward sign for the people, there is no doubt an inner work negating the karma of disciples in this activity of your sacred friend, as well as a spiritual transmission that might bring about a radical shift in the consciousness of those who believe

clearly, otherwise why bother to waste one's spiritual energy in showing stuff like this?

and, in effect, we're back to Jesus and the miracles He showed. one can only imagine the karmic cleansing he offered complete strangers, daily, through his demonstrations and healings -- and where those same souls may be, today, after who knows how many lifetimes spent digesting the radical awakening He gifted them with 2000 years ago.


– there is much more to this movement than the appearance of death and restoration to life, as you know and understand in your own experience.

there has to be. more, I mean. otherwise the surface appearance remains the surface appearance.

in addition to the transmission of shakti, itself, for healing (washing out the karmas) and waking the soul up to its deeper nature, there's also the component of reminding the soul it has similar abilities; ie, if it's in charge (rather than the personality), the understanding of life-death and the traversing of the distance between those two apparent opposites becomes, suddenly, accessible. once that understanding can be accessed, it can be implemented in that individual soul, as well.

This speaks to the larger spiritual labor within and behind appearances – a spiritual labor not only in the material dimension, through a more radical dissemination of teachings and practices, and through outward signs of wonder, but also a spiritual labor within the inner or metaphysical dimensions.


'let those who have the ears to hear, hear.'

ironically enough, we're back again at the one in a thousand, two in ten thousand, aren't we? -- of the thousand people witnessing a miracle (like the loaves and fishes, for example), very few will receive the energy in a way that is lasting, or comprehensible.

the majority of the people receive the physical by-product of the energetic transmission (ie, they ate the fish!) but walk away not at all inspired by, or curious about, how the actual thing itself -- which should be impossible in the material world -- transpired.

of the few who think, "how did He DO that?" only very few are willing to hang around and take deeper instruction into spirituality.... and of those few, maybe one will be able to achieve a similar level and actually understand the exact workings of the energy, the light, the transactions and the karmic principles that allow such miracles to happen.

my beautiful teacher in India used to say, in the early days, "it takes a master to understand a master."

it's not at all a simple statement.

Of course, whatever we read in such scriptures is an ongoing divine revelation – an ongoing spiritual labor of the Divine and Universal Order (“Order of Melchizedek”); at present this spiritual labor is intensified, as is necessary to meet the need of soul-streams in a time of great transition.

having passed through your own stage of void and detachment (I forget your exact terminology but you described it above), and come back into the world more empowered to live out your role -- how do you relate to the reality of the challenges this transition will bring to the people who AREN'T yet awake(ning)? (the impression I have of you is one of compassion and love, not of a detached observational stance.) do you envision yourself as a more active, or a more behind-the-scenes participant -- and is the Sophian tradition, primarily, shaping whatever role you do take on?

god bless you, dear brother, for all the hard work and dedication you're sharing so freely.

may the great work keep revealing itself in the hearts of each one of us.

in blessing,

Alx



[/b]

[Tau Malachi]

Greetings Alx!

It is, indeed, delightful to contemplate the mystery of the crucifixion and resurrection, and to look and see the Divine Grace that flows from the Risen Christ – though many these days might be inclined to speak of it as a “mythical event,” in the experience of the Supernal or Supramental Consciousness it is not mythical but actual. On the one hand, we may speak of the crucifixion as a theurgic action to dispel the negative or obstructing karma of those who have faith in Yeshua Messiah and who cleave to the Risen Christ – as a holy sanctuary for the faithful; on the other hand, we may speak of it as a vehicle of the Divine Revelation, placing the inmost secret teachings of the Holy Gospel into their proper context so that they might be known and understood – a Gnostic and Light Transmission for the spiritual elect.

The Master demonstrates the capacity to restores souls to the body with those whom he raised from the dead, and perhaps we may speak of the departure of the soul and return of the soul to the body as the mystery of the crucifixion and resurrection – the reanimation of the body; yet, that would not necessarily dispel the karmic continuum that binds the soul to the gilgulim (cycles of transmigration) or liberate the soul from the dominion of the demiurge (cosmic ignorance). Although, perhaps, we can speak of the running and returning of the soul as part of this mystery, there is also something more subtle and sublime within and behind this movement – something that dispels the dualism between the body and the mind or soul-stream.

We may gain a sense of the deeper mystery by looking into the Rainbow Body Attainment that has occurred with Mahasiddhas who practiced Dzogchen and Vajrayana in Tibet. At the time of death they rest their mind in the Clear Light Nature – they “bring Mother and Daughter Clear Light into Union,” and abiding in this spacious radiant awareness the light-power bound up in their bodies is released, and they leave no body behind. In essence they disappear like a rainbow in the sky, every level of consciousness reintegrated into the primordial ground of consciousness (Supernal Consciousness). In this attainment, on account of compassion, it is entirely possible for a realized individual to generate a Body of Glory that appears in the inner dimensions and a Body of Emanation that appears in the material dimension – a body that might be perceived with physical senses, though not physical in the typical sense, for it is the direct expression of love and compassion, not karmic compulsion. (Generally speaking, the Rainbow Body Attainment occurs three to four days after the apparent transition we call “death.”)

The attainment of the Rainbow Body reflects the attainment of non-dual realization during an incarnation, so that even before the display of the Rainbow Body Attainment such realized individuals abide in a Body of Emanation; the display of the Rainbow Body Attainment is, of course, a spiritual transmission for those who can look and see, and listen and hear – a liberative action for the sake of all sentient beings.

Thus, rather than the departure and return of the soul to the body (the reanimation of the body) we would speak of the complete dissolution of the body and remanifestation of the body – the complete spiritual transformation of the substance that composes the body. Quite naturally, such a Body of Light is no longer bound by space and time, and is liberated from the law of causality; it arises from the fruition of non-dual realization – full enlightenment and liberation.

This indicates the subtle and sublime teachings in Christian Gnosticism that speaks of Master Yeshua as “Pure Emanation,” which is all too often misunderstood by non-initiates. It is not that Gnostics are proposing that the appearance of the Master was not “real,” but rather they are pointing to the true nature of his appearance as a realized or enlightened being; likewise, they are speaking of a specific state of Self-realization in Christ – the non-dual realization of the Supernal or Supramental Consciousness, and what may be called the “Tantra Yoga” through which it is attained.

There is something quite distinct within the Supernal or Supramental Consciousness, for we recognize that all gradations of consciousness are encompassed by the Supramental Consciousness, and that it manifests as all gradations of consciousness – all gradations of consciousness being emanations of this primordial ground of consciousness; but we also discover that the Supernal Force (Light) is a great transforming power, that it can transform every expression of consciousness into a pure emanation of itself, and potentially can even transform the substance of matter. In the Supernal Self-realization, body and soul are no longer two apparently separate entities, but rather they are recognized as two expression of one and the same Divine Power, sharing the same essence and nature (Ain, No-Thingness).

This Divine Light that we sought “above” we discover everywhere “below” – it is the secret center of every particle of matter; hence the display of the Rainbow Body Attainment if and when this Divine Light is released from one of these bodies. However, even apart from the display of the Rainbow Body Attainment, with Supernal Realization these bodies are transformed to become vehicles of the Supernal Light-presence and Light-power; hence vehicles of the Gnostic and Light Transmission.

From the breakthrough to Supernal or Supramental Consciousness to its fruition there are many gradations of Supernal Realization; yet the Light-presence and Light-power is the same – though the generation of the Body of Glory and Body of Emanation arising from the Body of Truth may be individual and unique with every adept or master (tzaddik), the Light-presence and Light-power is the same, for the Body of Truth (essence and nature) is the same. This “Threefold Body of Melchizedek” is the Mystical Body of the Risen Christ, and in it all Apostles of Light “stand as a single one,” just as we read in this saying of the Gnostic Gospel of St. Thomas.

Although in the outer and unspiritual church the true nature of the apostolic succession has long been lost, no longer appearing to have any Divine Power in it, what we are talking about is the true apostolic succession – a Gnostic Apostolic Succession, which is founded upon an actual Self-realization in Christ and represented by a lineage of adepts and masters who bear an actual Light Transmission, just as we see in many lineages within Eastern Enlightenment Traditions. What we are speaking about is the apostolic succession of the interior church, one that is imparted not by vain outward ordinations and consecrations, but by the Divine Power of the Holy Spirit, the Shekinah of Messiah (Shakti).

The Gnostic gospel begins where the Orthodox gospel ends – at the resurrection and ascension, for it is said that the Risen Christ appeared to the disciples in Glory Body and Emanation Body, continuing to teach and initiate them for many years following the resurrection, and it is said that the Risen Christ appeared in Glory Body and Emanation Body to other peoples in other lands, imparting outer, inner and secret teachings, all depending upon the desire and capacity of people to receive the Light Transmission. Quite naturally, the Living Yeshua continues to appear in Glory Body and Emanation Body, just as adepts and masters of the Light Transmission continue to incarnate among us – the Divine Revelation and Great Work of the harvest of souls is ongoing.

We may speak of living in the onslaught of a Dark Age, or even at the threshold of the End-Of-Days on a collective level – yet there is something of a process of creative evolution underway, as I have written elsewhere; but aside from this, frankly speaking, the Light Transmission remains the same in its essence and nature, and the spiritual labor to impart teachings, practices and empowerments remains the same – the preparation of disciples or spiritual companions is the same in every generation. After all, sorrow and suffering has always pervaded the present human condition, tumultuous and challenging circumstances are always transpiring upon this earth, and all generations have come to the end-of-days, for that transition we call “death” comes to one and all alike until enlightenment and liberation dawns. Always, the Light Transmission is a play of Wild Gnosis or Crazy Wisdom, all in skillful means, all accomplished by Divine Grace – the Mother Spirit.

The Sacred Heart, love and compassion, is innate to Messianic Consciousness – compassion is composed of a play Mercy and Severity, and in the dance of the Shekinah of Messiah the face of the Divine Presence and Power assumes peaceful, blissful and wrathful forms, all in skillful means seeking the enlightenment and liberation of souls. As we see with the Perfect Master, Yeshua Messiah, such love and compassion is not idle and passive, but it is active and dynamic, engaged in the spiritual labor of conscious evolution and the harvest of souls – it is a passionate impulse for the spiritual transmission on all levels, akin to the impulse of the sun to shine upon one and all alike, according to its self-radiant nature. In this sense Master Yeshua spoke very clearly to his disciples, saying, “You are the light of the world,” and “Let your light shine.”

The Light Transmission manifests in a unique fashion for each and every individual – it is all the dance of the Shekinah of Messiah; the Holy Spirit moves with, in and through us, and in fruition comes to manifest as us, all for the sake of the spiritual transmission – how shall what is done be spoken? Whatever needs to be done, however it needs to be done, that is what is done – but there is no doer save the Light-presence (Christ) and Light-power (Holy Spirit).

I do not know that the personality and life display, or even the physical body, needs to remain in the Ignorance; the dualism in the mind of the “body” and “soul” must be brought into cessation – it is not a submission in ignorance, as in religion, of which I would speak, but rather a submission in Divine Illumination, every level of consciousness filled with the Fiery Intelligence and taken up in the movement of Gnostic Being, while yet in repose.

I cannot say that the role of a Light-bearer is shaped by the vehicle they use for the Light Transmission – the vehicle itself is an expression of the realization, and is an extension of the Glory Body and Emanation Body of the adepts and masters who have generated it; the Light Transmission remains the same in essence and nature, but assumes various forms according to the karmic vision and karmic condition of those to whom it is manifest – Christian Gnosticism matches the karmic vision and karmic condition of souls incarnate in Western society and culture, and is skillful means of Light Transmission, specifically designed for Western practitioners. It is really all a matter of skillful means for the sake of the Light Transmission and the harvest of souls. Taking up a vehicle in skillful means I do not know that we are in any way bound or conditioned by it, as the Continuum of Light Transmission is primordial and universal, transcending all vehicles throughout the three times (past, present and future), yet manifest as all vehicles within the three times.

In the spiritual labor of the harvest of souls, first and foremost we must seek out those soul-beings that are ripe and mature for the harvest – ripened by their desire to receive the Divine Light; in the midst of this labor, at the same time, there is a generation of sanctuary for younger siblings who are, as yet, unripe and immature in their development and evolution – but this spiritual labor does not occur by way of force, rather it occurs by way of influence. We labor to cocreate the conditions necessary for Divine Grace to move, and she moves whenever the necessary conditions are present; whenever and wherever the Desire to Receive meets and embraces the Desire to Give, the Light Transmission happens, all according to the degree of the Desire to Receive, the desire to enter into the Divine Light and abide in the Divine Light. (On account of this there are vehicle of various gradations – outer, inner and secret teachings, reflecting various capacities to receive and impart.)

May the Light of the True Cross, the Spiritual Sun, shine at midnight; amen.

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