Literal or Veiled Teachings

Are Scriptures Literal or Deeper Lessons?

Take a moment and ask yourself, "how is this any different than anything else that promotes hatred and violence?"

"of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end, you shall not yield to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him. but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. "

~Deuteronomy 13:7-9

Now, ask yourself WHY the religious scriptures of nearly 4 billion people worldwide promote violence? Rape, murder, mayhem ... without any regard to life whatsoever?

The answer is simple. The Truth contained within the stories is masked/veiled. These scriptures are allegorical and metaphorical. They are an outward representation of an inward teaching.

These scriptures were never meant to be historical or literal. Every civilization had their versions. Murdering evil is to destroy dark thoughts. Keeping virgins is to retain the creative principle of mind ... to bring forth the child of thought. Boats, arks, vessels are the body in which we are bound. Water and air is Life Source. Adam and Eve are all of us ... masculine (thought) and feminine (form).

Take the time to read BETWEEN the lines. It's what is being said BEHIND the stories that we are to use to ascend to a higher level of consciousness ... the Mind of the Divine ... to bring Heaven (thought/Spirit) on Earth (form/matter). THIS is "The Father" and "The Mother" ... Heaven and Earth ... thought and form/manifestation.

The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth Life!

Just a thought ...

~Justin Taylor, ORDM.

What is The Hebrew Name For Jesus?

Jesus and Joshua are the same word. One is transliterated from the Greek/Latin, the other from Hebrew. It is more of a title than a name. "Jesus The Christ" is derived in English from many things.

First, know that the Hebrew word for GOD is symbolic. The Hebrew alphabet is also symbols. Each letter actually has a meaning beyond being just a letter. The letters are YHVH (in English) and this combination is called the Tetragrammaton (meaning 'four-letters' in Greek).

In Biblical times, all names had meanings. Hebrew linguists believe YHVH is a form of the verb havah, meaning "to be or become." A form of the "I AM" given to Moses.

So, YHVH ... (also represented as Yehuda, Yehovah, Ya, Yehoshua, Jehovah, etc.) is symbolic of God. By adding the Hebrew letter "S (shinn) we now have YHSVH which literally means "God Saves" or God is Saviour.

Therefore YHSVH (Yeshua, Joshua, Iesous, Jesus) literally means "God Is Saviour." The word Christ is Greek (Christos) meaning "anointed", derived from Greek χριω (chrio) "to anoint". This was a name applied to Jesus by early Greek-speaking Christians. It is a translation of the Hebrew word מָשִׁיחַ (mashiyach), commonly spelled in English messiah, which also means "anointed."

Though somewhat complicated, the title/name of Jesus Christ has the meaning kind of like "the anointing of God saves."

The Old Testament story of Joshua and the New Testament story of Jesus are nearly identical it their message. Even the names are the same.  

Remember also that the English letter "J" was not developed until after the 1400's. Even in the original King James it is written as Iesus and Yoshua (Joshua) ... since the "I" and "Y" were used prior to the letter "J". Technically, the names Jesus and Joshua were never known until much later when the "J" was added to the English alphabet.

So ... the original question of "what is the Hebrew name for Jesus" can be summed up as "Joshua." But there is much more to the meaning than just words or names.

Stop Should-ing on People

Stop Should-ing On People

Today's post is dedicated to the memory of my friend and spiritual mentor, Rick Pinette. 

Why do we spend so much time should-ing on people? We should on ourselves and on others. "You shouldn't do this, and you should do that." Or, "I should've done this, and I shouldn't have done that? Stop should-ing, and start living. 

Every ancient society had their Wisdom and it always revealed the Divine spark within all humanity. Forgiveness, love, compassion ... are all human characteristics and will keep us all living in peace and harmony with each other when we practice them in unity.

Life is an experience, and in every experience We find a lesson hidden beneath the surface, waiting to be unveiled ... our own personal revelation. We learn through these experiences, good or bad, how better to improve our life and the lives of those around us.

It's such a waste of time to linger in past events. Learn your lessons and move forward. We can't keep being stuck in the negative emotions of what we shouldn't have said, or done. It's destructive and wears us down. We lose sight of forward motion and we lose the present moment, which is all we ever really have. Look back in reference but do not linger in regret.

Use what you've learned and apply it to your life. Choose the good, and use it to benefit all people and all things. Do not rehash your past thoughts and actions have been ... turn them around using the lessons you learned and simply BE. Live each moment is awe of the universe that unfolds before you each and every moment.

In reality, good and bad are opposite polarities of One spectrum. Everything just IS ... Do your best not to label it or judge it ... just take the lesson learned and rise above any negativity. From a Biblical perspective, the New Testament says:

"you shall love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the 1st commandment. The 2nd is this: love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."

~Mark 12:30-31

This scripture is the summary of the whole of biblical scripture. Do this, and ALL of humanity will benefit. This God, is the power within. This is the Source of all that is ... The very breath that brings life. You may call this force whatever you choose, but the evidence of a life-force is undeniable. Begin within ... change begins inside ... in the realm of the unseen. 

When your last day comes upon you, it is best to be remembered by all the positive goodness that you did for others - through the lessons learned -  than for any negative experiences you had that helped you get to that point. 

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM. 

Literal or Veiled Teachings?

Are Scriptures Literal or Deeper Lessons?

Take a moment and ask yourself, "how is this any different than anything else that promotes hatred and violence?"

"of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end, you shall not yield to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him. but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. "

~Deuteronomy 13:7-9

Now, ask yourself WHY the religious scriptures of nearly 4 billion people worldwide promote violence? Rape, murder, mayhem ... without any regard to life whatsoever?

The answer is simple. The Truth contained within the stories is masked/veiled. These scriptures are allegorical and metaphorical. They are an outward representation of an inward teaching. 

These scriptures were never meant to be historical or literal. Every civilization had their versions. Murdering evil is to destroy dark thoughts. Keeping virgins is to retain the creative principle of mind ... to bring forth the child of thought. Boats, arks, vessels are the body in which we are bound. Water and air is Life Source. Adam and Eve are all of us ... masculine (thought) and feminine (form).

Take the time to read BETWEEN the lines. It's what is being said BEHIND the stories that we are to use to ascend to a higher level of consciousness ... the Mind of the Divine ... to bring Heaven (thought/Spirit) on Earth (form/matter). THIS is "The Father" and "The Mother" ... Heaven and Earth ... thought and form/manifestation. 

The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth Life!

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM.

Who OR What Is This I AM THAT I AM?

Who Or What Is This I AM Anyway

Before we get too deep into this subject, let's look at a couple of Bible verses first.

Exodus 3:14

"And God answered unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM. And he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the sons of Israel: I AM (YHWH) has sent me unto you."
~Jubilee Bible Translation

"And God saith unto Moses, 'I AM THAT WHICH I AM;' He saith also, thus dost thou say to the sons of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
~Young's Literal Translation

John 14:6

"Jesus said unto him, I AM the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes unto the Father, but by me."
~Jubilee Bible Translation

"Jesus saith to him, 'I AM the way, and the truth, and the life, no one doth come unto the Father, if not through me;"
~Young's Literal Translation

So here we see the use of "I AM" in multiple verses. So first, we establish according to the story told in Exodus, that Moses climbed the mountain (reached a higher level of consciousness) and talked with God/Source Energy - The Almighty. Moses was told, according to the scripture, BY GOD ... that this gods' NAME was "I AM." Or, IAM THAT I AM, or I AM WHICH I AM. This of course, dependent upon translations from the original Hebrew and Greek, both of which are far more powerful than that later languages of Latin and English.

Just to interject something here ... for your consideration. God says "I AM ... THAT ... I AM." Much in the same way that we might say "John ... THAT ... John." Or even "oh ... That ... Place." So as to avoid any confusion, we may emphasize the word "THAT." However, keep also in mind ... as used in Exodus 3:14 - "Ehyeh asher ehyeh" literally translates as "I Will Be What I Will Be", with theological and mystical implications in the Hebrew tradition. However, in most English Bibles, in particular the King James Version, this phrase is rendered as I AM THAT I AM.

We also read in the Book of John, Jesus is saying "I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. Let's stop here for a second. Who is? "I AM" is who is. I AM ... the Source Energy and God of all. We were told back in the OT Book of Exodus presumably from the mouth of God, at least according to the Biblical record, this I AM ... GOD IS. So ... GOD IS (I AM) the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Remember also that as you introduce yourself to someone you have never met, you say "I AM ... David." By doing this, you unknowingly acknowledge your inner Divinity and the individualized essence or particle/spark of God (the Divine) that your parents named you ... David. So in Truth, you are as GOD IS (I AM) while being David. Do you find this coincidental? I do not.  

Now we move to the second half of the verse from John. "no one comes unto the Father, but by me." We must now define the "Father." He didn't repeat I AM, this time he says "the Father." Father is representative of Source. The masculine aspect of creation. The SPIRIT. Mother, is the feminine creative aspect. The MATTER. The Greek word for Spirit is PNEUMA. The Greek for Mother is MATERA. In Greek, Father is Patera, in Latin Patter, and in Latin the word for Mother is MATER. So we have Spirit and Matter. Seen and Unseen. Heaven and Earth (Father &  Mother).

When we graduate from a University, it becomes our "Alma Mater." This means "nurturing Mother" in Latin. Also, the Hebrew word "Almah" means young maiden, as does Parthenos in Greek. This is where we get the translation of "Virgin" Mary from. It is not sexual ... as in a virgin unsexed, but is meant as a young and innocent maiden.

So I stray once again, but so much inter-locking pieces are everywhere. Scripture is like a box of puzzle pieces ... Without the picture on the cover of the box. Now we return to "no one comes unto the Father, but by me." Father being SPIRIT.

So, this Itinerant Preacher from the hills of the Galilee has something. He has either found it through self-discovery given to him by his Higher-Self, or he has experienced it first hand in one on many Mystery Schools in existence at that time. It is the GOD within us ... the Divine Spark ... the Christ Consciousness.

When we are lost, we ask a guide for help and directions. Jesus, as a guide for many at the time among his followers is saying ... "I know how you can get to Spirit." I have experienced GNOSIS (knowingness) and I KNOW the way, and I KNOW the Truth, and I KNOW the life ... and you can't get there unless I SHOW you. Jesus, Master Teacher, Spiritual Guide, Sage, Avatar, Hierophant, Shaman, Illuminated Master, Teacher of Righteousness ... this is the guy that can show Neo the door as Morpheus did in the Matrix.

Are you getting this? Like a manufacturer label, or an ID chip, there is something within each and every one of us that branded us. Inside the drivers door of a car is the manufacture date, who built it, when and where, etc. We have one too ... and it is Spiritual and Invisible by our physical vision. But we KNOW it is there. Just like we can't see the wind, but we know it's there. We can't see the molecules, atoms, quarks, neurons, electrons, and protons that bind all thing together as one but they are there. Collectively, we are ALL one organism ... what we have called the universe. Universe means the entire cosmos, the totality of all things joined together ... ALL in ONE. Entire and WHOLE (Holy).

Jesus WAS God. WE are God. Everything is God. Jesus said in the Bible "you would do greater things than I." It was said in the 2nd Book of John "as Jesus is, so are we in this world." We are ALL sons and daughters of God. The story of Jesus is OUR-story, not just HIS-story. It is the story of the Spiritual, emotional, metal, and physical life cycle and existence in both Spirit and Matter. God/Source experiences life with us, through us, and AS US. The light from the back of the theatre is the light of life that we project from the great within on the screen of life.

I AM ... YOU. You are me. Al that is ... IS. The Source Energy of every cell in this organism is GOD. I don't care what name or label you give it. I AM "THAT" I AM. And you are THAT I AM. And we are THAT I AM. Acts 17:28 says:

"for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own wise men have said, 'For we also are His children.'"

Just a thought ...

~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.

The Apotheosis of Man

APOTHEOSIS

The goal of the Orthodox Church is Theosis. Let's look at how they arrived at this goal, and how scriptures tell us that we too can become the Christ - the annointed of God - the Divine Spark:

a·pothe·o·sis
əˌpäTHēˈōsəs/
definition: "elevation to divine status"

"Apotheosis" literally means the process of becoming divine.  Here,  George Washington is sitting in the heavens, literally made into a god.

Photograph of Constantino Brumidi’s 1865 fresco in the Capitol dome, entitled The Apotheosis of Washington. The fresco (a painting done on fresh, moist plaster) depicts George Washington’s apotheosis — or elevation to the rank of a god. In the painting, Washington has ascended to the heavens. He sits in the center of the image, with a rainbow at his feet. The female figures to his right and left represent Liberty and Victory/Fame.

It is the goal of these scriptures to enter into the very essence of God. That which is ALL things. Consciousness, Spirit, energy, all of existence.

Jesus did it, and tried to tell us in his mission here that the Christ Principle is within ALL of mankind:

JOHN 10:34 (Jesus)
"Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I SAID, YOU ARE GODS'?"

GALATIANS 4:19 (Paul)
"My little children, of whom I am in labour again, until Christ be formed in you. "

1 JOHN 4:17 (John)
"... because as He is, so also are we in this world."

Apotheosis (from Greek ἀποθέωσις from ἀποθεοῦν, apotheoun "to deify"; in Latin deificatio "making divine"; also called divinization and deification) is the glorification of a subject to divine level. In theology, apotheosis refers to the idea that an individual has been raised to godlike stature.

APO: from the Greek APO: "from, in descent from"

THEOSIS:

Theosis is the belief, mostly found within the Eastern Orthodox Church, that Christians can experience a union with God and become like Him so much that they participate in the divine nature.

In Eastern Orthodoxy deification (theosis) is a transformative process whose goal is likeness to or union with God. As a process of transformation, theosis is brought about by the effects of katharsis (purification of mind and body) and theoria ('illumination' with the 'vision' of God). According to Eastern Orthodox teaching, theosis is very much the purpose of human life.

To recognize the Christ within each of us, and to connect with that Divine essence, is the purpose and goal of our Spiritual nature.

Just a thought ...

~Justin Taylor, ORDM/OCP

The Difference Between Giving Up And Letting Go

The Difference Between Giving Up And Letting Go

People have a tendency to "give up" easily, and they seem to have a hard time "letting go." The difference is really in their attitude. In some cases,” giving up” means quitting something. For example: "He gave up a project because it was too hard." or, "She gave up yoga because it was too time consuming."

These types of giving up are negatively influenced. The persons don't feel they have to willpower or ability to overcome it. Rather than continue, they simply quit (give up). Sometimes, it is an act of some sort of sacrifice. For example: "He had to change careers due to his family situation." Or, "She had to move to a less-expensive town to better afford her children's needs."

Letting go, on the other hand, can provide freedom for the individual. Letting go of anger, jealousy, and any other influence that can benefit ALL parties involved. Remember, that which you resist, will persist. 

Giving up is more suited to quitting something for a particular reason, whether you actually wanted to or not. Letting go relieves you and other of any further consequence or burden. If you are arguing with someone, and you just quit and walk away ... then you both suffer frustration. 

If you both choose to let go, then the entire event and its consequences will dissipate. Even if it is only you who lets go, you will be free of the burden and relieve yourself of the emotion or thing. Letting go shows good intentions for all who are involved. An old Zen Proverb says: "Let go, or be dragged."

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM.