Talks Given to Students of the Christian Gnosis
A group of teachings given in the late 1980s at a time when the “New Age” was a very prevalent concept, when many were seeking out new meanings and expressions for Life. They show how the Truth of Being is ever the same but expressed outwardly differently according to the school and society to which a person belongs. There can be no ‘ownership’ of the Truth.
I
Being aware that the key to the true gnosis of God is that everything works from within outwards, indicates to the Priest that the innate Sonship or Daughtership of God needs to be externalised into “worldly” realities. We transmute the lower nature of the mass subconscious into the Divine Nature. Note we never destroy anything: we uplift everything into a new dimension of a more beautiful and refined experience so that our external world becomes a real pattern of the inner “heavenly kingdom” in our everyday experience. No longer do we dream or hope for the manifestation of a Divine Pattern on earth – we actually project It into a three dimensional Reality. This can be achieved by complete submission to the Divine Will in each one of us – that our personal will be illumined by the Greater Light of Truth from within. No longer do we chase after rainbows or ‘inner’ states of peace and harmony; but bring these things into the whole range of human experience – the God made ‘flesh’. “In Him (the Divine Reality) lies the fullness of the Godhead bodily,” writes St. Paul.
If you are already following a philosophy of life and you do not find fulfilment in it, or it does not help you to overcome your own weaknesses, then you should use your powers of discrimination and be honest with yourself that you are not really succeeding. Too many students of Truth – or whatever one calls it – fall by the wayside because they try to uplift themselves from the point of their own limited understanding and refuse to look at their blockages or limitations through the eyes of their teacher or elder brother. Although we are each personally responsible for our own rising and falling the Hierarchy provides an Elder Brother or Sister to assist us when we reach “blind spots” in our own perception. Some students are afraid to face up to their own pitfalls and therefore remain unfulfilled and unhappy.
In this new society we have no personal life – this is given over to God who fills it in for us. The true ‘new age’ community functions as one whole unit and everyone shares each others experiences and become a closely knit Holy Family externalising the Inner Kingdom in their everyday life: in their minding of babies, household duties, wage-earning and everything over the whole gamut of human experience. In this kind of situation one discovers the Real Person within oneself and a sense of satisfaction and joy is the result.
We have met those who are afraid to take this step because they fear that they will lose their individuality and just exist like a “vegetable.” This is only a concept maintained by the fear that they are going to lose the ‘lower nature’ attachments. The truth regarding the situation is that one becomes more of an individual because one discovers one’s own level and is able to express themselves more fully in contributing their personal gifts to the community. In fact in the sharing of joys and disappointments one is able to grow into a state of maturity in the very work of becoming a server of God. By “community” we do not mean a number of people settled in a kind of ‘Campus’ as is the usual practice. In our work we lead our lives where we are in our own homes serving our family, then at times come together with the other members to learn, share and refresh ourselves. This indicates that wherever we are the idea of community exists – even in the seemingly ‘divided’ world, we are living right where we are yet knowing that we really belong to the Real Kingdom which manifests from within outwards. We subscribe only to the kingdom in philosophy and practice and regard the ‘religio-political’ state of the world as alien to the true nature of mankind. This Inner Kingdom will gradually emerge Principality by Principality in the outward area until the whole planet vibrates to the full power of Love.
What can we do to help ourselves further on the way to the Christos?
First, all we should ever keep in mind is that all there is in Reality and Truth is God and God meted out in Its Creation. Thus God is the All-inclusive Principle in the Cosmos and This Principle is manifested in Its Wholeness and Completeness in each one of us. There are no favourites – not even with Saints or Priests, Bishops or Popes, or even Sun Priest Kings: God is no Respecter of Persons but He/She emanates Its qualities and nature evenly throughout all space. Thus, as we mentioned earlier, in this knowledge (Divine Gnosis) it is possible to experience the fullness (Pleroma) of the Godhead bodily. When we are able to externalise this Life within to the full then we make a ‘Quantum” leap in our spiritual enlightenment. Because that which is Ever True and is the Reality of Being I can never be destroyed – for it is the Permanent Spirit of Life. All we have to do then is to remove all the dross of human supposition and conjecture about Life and Reality then must be in evidence for you. This is an individual task and therefore we follow Jesus’ instruction when he taught, “Work out your own salvation.”
Each of us has to be born again in the Light that is each of us has to clear away our own dark clouds which obscure the Inner Light (mentioned in St. John’s Gospel). As we clear away our clouds of doubt, fear and selfish pursuits the Light of Truth fills the areas which are purified by Love and Wisdom. The more practice we get at emptying ourselves, the more the Love and Wisdom of God shines forth. This is not an easy path otherwise we would have the Kingdom of God realised on Earth in a very short time.
Because each one of us is unique to God it behoves us to unfold our own personal gifts which He/She will use within the whole community to that which is required to maintain harmony. Not one of us has to be lost because each of us is rather special inasmuch as we each represent a facet of God’s own Life and therefore are needed to complete a wholeness of Divine Function here in the world. We are not here just for a “willy-nilly” existence!
Every effort you make towards your own Divine Self is met by help from God’s own Hierarchy. This Hierarchy is made up of special ‘people’ who have trod this path before you and are in a special situation to help you – or offer you a brotherly or sisterly hand over the sticky patches through which you will often find yourself. God meets you at every level through one of His/Her representatives or Elders when you sincerely and honestly need help. In this light it is unwise to judge or formulate (pre-conceive) the way in which help will come to you. If you try to envisage how help might come – you will either keep it away or fail to recognise it when it comes your way. In all things then live in contemplation of God’s ever-presence and get on with doing the things you have to do – to shoulder your everyday responsibilities to your family and those around you. God is realised in every situation no matter how trivial it might seem.
One might ask “Why do we need Priests in a New Age – since the institutionalised religions cannot provide effective spiritual teaching anyway?”
It seems that there is a need for a new type of Priesthood – the type envisaged by the Order of Melchisedek – where every person becomes a priest in their own right. This does mean, however, that they need to be trained at this point in the right Cosmic Laws wherein to bring up children and apply their energies to an upliftment of society in general. Unless we are aware of the right conditions we muddle along in ignorance of our calling. There are those who are claiming that they are being guided from within yet their lives show a different story. If one is still applying the current understanding of Truth as indicated by the establishment one is still in the dark for there is only a “false vestige of Truth” which is perpetuated by those tainted by worldly pursuits.
A practical working truth which can bring real changes in one’s life is one which has to be learned at this time until one can discriminate between that which is designated as truth and that which constitutes the Reality of Being. There is a vast difference. In fact the human concept of Truth is alien to that which Really Is. For some time yet people will need guidance from the Elder Brothers and Sisters sent out from the Hierarchy. Whilst we are all equal in the economy of the whole we still need guidance – for as we can see around us there are some people more experienced than others in all kinds of things. This same rule applies in Spiritual matters – although the Elders say Spirituality is really another human concept. We all need just to become our pure natural selves.
“It can be found that when people are allowed to live nearer to nature – the harmony it produces enables them to acquire more accurate information about the Universe itself; whereas the minds that are following set doctrines and dogmas, when feeling the need to break free, find themselves revolving within a mental boundary beyond which they cannot pass. Our knowledge regarding the Universe and man can only equal that amount according to the limits we place upon it. Knowing, therefore, the precise area of investigation allowed us by our five senses, we should enquire into those areas of seeking which demonstrate that man is not limited by his senses and that other forces and energies, farther afield, are in operation.” – The Ancient Patriarchs and Their Teachings.
II
The true spiritual schools on this planet teach the following basic principles:
The Parenthood of God
The Brotherhood of Man
The constant evolution of all living things towards the perfection within the consciousness of the Divine Parent
The Eternal Presence of the Living Christ
Knowing the difficulties arising from ignorance of Cosmic Laws, the Great Teachers left guidelines to follow for those who desired to align themselves with the truths of being or, in common language, to become disciples of The Way or Living Stream of Life.
Thus meditative systems and ceremonies were established and these proved to be great helps in keeping the mind fixed on its goal: we find by experience that the human phase of mind is very forgetful and unreliable as a means of understanding Divine Truth, therefore by these helpful systems we learn how to slowly integrate all departments of our life into the Cosmic Reality. In this process the human phase of mind becomes a tool rather than a faction with seemingly awkward tendencies. Also, to avoid crystallisation of ideas, the spiritual schools continually update their material to conform to the ever-awakening consciousness of mankind. Set rituals can very often stifle one’s free expression and so these are kept to the minimum. Our own rituals and ceremonies must then contain the relevant material in line with that which we wish to achieve.
There can be some misunderstanding regarding the idea of keeping a discipline as well as allowing a free expression. One might say, “How can I express myself freely when the church requires a strict discipline to God?” What we are taught is that our way of life is not like other professions in the world because we seek to be ‘unworldly’ in the sense that we follow a different set of guidelines. What we are free in is the reality of being ourselves, and we come to learn that this freedom is the experience of being ‘free’ from the turmoil and cares which beset those following the dictates of the world. ‘The Way’ is the real and lasting way to freedom. Whilst we take on the responsibility of helping others we release our inner selves and discover a world within with lasting values which remain unaltered by the clamour of secular standards. The discipline is the way – or pathway – leading out of the transient joys and worries, the constant see-saw of a hectic life, to a more balanced understanding, giving an assurance of the things which constitute the reality of life.
There is a pattern of life which remains true to its nature known as Divine Love. From the Hierarchy down to the teachers of mankind this Love is held in deep respect and in all circumstances this Love is never known to fail. It never fails inasmuch as that which will occur when It is invoked will be right for the individual, or individuals, no matter what circumstances appear to the senses. The outcome of allowing this Love full sway gives rise to the opportunity to know and experience that which one really desires. “Trust the Lord and He will give you your hearts desire” is the message of the Psalmist (Psalm 37). We really come to understand another kind of freedom.
What do we need to take a new look at in this day and age?
Marriage: A new understanding of marital love needs to be taught. The Church dogma that “what God has put together let no man put asunder” has proved in many cases that a religious ceremony does not mean that God has joined the pair together. We understand that whatever God joins together cannot be put asunder. So a new teaching on love, sex and family is in need of being released to priests, then to responsible people.
Death: “This is Life Eternal” taught Jesus. Thus in this eternal life we journey from experience to experience. When we understand the continuity of life we know that the person who appears to die is going on to new vistas. It is those who are left who need comfort and support in learning of the Love which binds people together forever.
The Christ: The Anointed – referring to absolute Sovereignty as of the Kings of Old who were all “anointed Sons of God.” The Christ represents the Perfected Soul – or the Soul which has risen above all limitations of the flesh as taught by Jesus the Galilean. Jesus, the Greek form of Jehshuah, means ‘Redeemer’. Therefore Jesus Christ refers to the fact that the discipline of Perfection releases us from human bondage and frees us as Sons of God. Jesus Christ being the keyword (Logos).
The Devil: God created no harmful thing, neither does God demand loyalty nor does He/She punish for sin. The Devil is no more than the active destructive forces set into motion by man himself. Man is responsible for his own selfish striving and exploitation of all things in nature.
On the Initiatic Path we should be prepared also to sacrifice all our “sacred cows” and be not dismayed by those who claim oneness with the Universe yet abhor those who come to true knowledge because these claimants say that one can never be too sure, or know, what is true and what is illusion for, they say, Truth is elusive. We admit that Truth is elusive but the Great Teachers assured us that It can be known and that we can come to prove for ourselves that a very deep understanding of Truth can be known – otherwise there could be no Illumination or Enlightenment or overcoming of human weakness or unreliability.
We also know, as we have mentioned, that we can set energies and forces for ourselves in the future, and we KNOW that there is a RIGHT way and a WRONG way of coming into this knowledge at a quicker rate than if we have to learn by trial and error. The Sacred Schools have always taught this way: they do not charge fees for the teachings or arrange costly seminars, you only pay for books and food, but they do select their pupils and turn away those who do not seek the right things. The ancient mystery schools were always run by the Priesthood, for Priesthood is in itself the path of service. However, in this day and age the subjects originally taught by the priests have become secular forms of study such as mathematics, medicine, hygiene, astronomy and the arts and inventive sciences; but any of these disciplines without priesthood usually results in their misuse as we can see from the over-commercialisation rampant today. The Priest King of old was an initiate of every school of thought and was expected to rule with compassion and justice. Sometimes human desires overcame those with earlier weaknesses and chaos resulted. What we should learn firstly is that we should be responsible persons and our human requirements come second being “Divine in our divinity and human in our humanity.”
“Jesus saw himself as a forerunner of a future, Christed humanity. He lived the life in the flesh, to which all human souls may aspire. The initiate Christi is the Gate, the Way, the pattern and template of the Higher Nature that lies dormant in most of humankind, yet must be awakened, practiced and refined in flesh….
“Humanity is destined for spiritual maturity in which it serves as the fingers, hands, and voice of the Higher Nature. Humanity is indeed a divine heir of God, for it is emerging as from the state of puberty into the responsibility of full adult maturity as co-creator with God.” – Life in Flesh by Dr. Lewis Keizer.
III
During the last half century there have been several books relating to historical incidents and affairs which the religious and academic world have tried to keep from the public. It appears from the information referring to other teachings and groups imparted in these books that, if accepted by the populace, they would undermine the hold gained by the established institutions on the minds of the people which enables them to manipulate the masses in order to achieve whatever they wish at the expense of goodwill.
Such books as The Myth of God Incarnate; The Legacy of the Gods; Holy Blood, Holy Grail; and The Hidden Church of the Illuminati plus many others, give sufficient provable facts to indicate that those in charge of our affairs are trying to avoid or hide something. In spite of their claims of ‘psuedo’ history, or ‘false facts’, the truth remains that there are other areas of the human psyche to be explored and that there are some beings of a higher calibre amongst us who can teach us how to make our lives more harmonious and happier. History can also prove that these people, who worked to enlighten mankind, were persecuted and even put to death by the so-called ‘spiritual leaders’ who were afraid of losing their power over the people and believed that Spiritual Truth was only as they saw it: this attitude still prevails today but they cannot murder anyone for it.
History also confirms the presence of negative forces operating behind the scenes as it were through establishment powers with motives hidden even from those that they operate through.
We will now give you some facts related in some of the aforementioned books which can be proved by anyone who wishes to take the necessary steps.
For example, there is an existent Order of St Mary Magdalene which traces its succession back to the Mary legend which came from the ancient tradition of the feminine mysteries. The facts are that the Marian churches of old were dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene and not the Virgin Mary as is now taught. The institutionalised church hoped to bury the Mary Magdalene legend but it has survived.
It is also a known fact that St. Augustine did not bring Christianity to Great Britain. It was the Celtic Church from the first century onwards which actually evangelised Europe and such Saints as Patrick and Columba were never Roman Catholics but Celts. The early Christianity of Europe stemmed from the Coptic Church whose first Patriarch was St. Mark. Early Coptic Christianity mingled Greek Philosophy and healing in a balanced synthesis; therefore the Alexandrian mysteries were contained in early Christianity and this contained the true Gnosis of God. The evidence of this is found in archaeological evidence in County Donegal, Ireland, where ampoules with inscriptions of figures of Egyptian Martyr Menas were found.
It was not until the political church was founded by Constantine with headquarters in Rome that the Coptic Patriarch was condemned as a heretic for teaching the Gnosis, at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD. The institutionalised churches have deliberately given misdirecting evidence to historical researchers to hide what actually happened, but they can no longer hide the records of the atrocities they committed to bury the evidence.
Those people who are engaged in propping up the status quo with the aim of diverting evidence which would help people, have yet to learn that there is a greater power directing human affairs and that Truth cannot be hidden or destroyed. In our own private and individual affairs we have the lesson to learn.
That a law of Cause and Effect exists cannot be denied and it was Jesus and the Buddha who laid great stress on its importance. This law is the key to being able to balance our lives. Both Jesus and the Buddha gave us to understand that it was our wrong way of living which causes all our suffering. Argue as we may otherwise, the Truth is the Truth, we are foolish to ignore it. To go on believing that ‘God’ or that a person who died on a cross two thousand years ago ‘redeem us’, is acting like an ostrich which buries its head in the sand believing it can escape danger. The ‘way’ or ‘path’ is not in believing in Christ or Buddha but in purifying our natures to eradicate hate, possessiveness, resentment and fear in order that Truth can manifest Itself within the Temple of the Body. Did not Paul say, “Work out your own Salvation?”: this we can do effectively if we follow what Jesus taught and not the priests of the institutionalised church.
Gerald Massey claims that the Church at Rome remained Gnostic at the beginning of the second century and that Marcion did not separate it until about 136 AD. The division was caused through the gradual materialising of the Christ mysteries and this came more or less complete during the 7th century. The Coptic Church today has also forsaken its heritage and has submitted to the requirements of the World Council of Churches.
As the Church began to exercise its political powers during the middle or dark ages by persecution and murder of spiritual reformers, the true teachers were forced to work ‘underground’. The Church today by propaganda gives its members a false picture of history by claiming that it was fighting heresy to maintain the Truth. This is a blatant misrepresentation of the facts and therefore its members find themselves in utter confusion of disbelief, war, increase in crime, divided families and incurable diseases. As we have mentioned before this is the effect of erecting false ‘causes’. What the people have, in the main, is a ‘false vestige of Truth.’ Man’s weird and wonderful opinions must finally be shown up for what they are. Man fools himself: he cannot deceive Divine Law.
Eusebius, the bishop involved with Constantine in regulating the Christian dogmas in the fourth century, admits in his writings that the four Gospels came from the Essenes. Thus the present claim of those following the Gnosis today that the true Teachings of the Christos are “pre-Christian” as it relates to the institutionalised church, are founded on indisputable facts whether or not modern theologians wish to avoid the issue.
“In 120 – 70 BC Christ came to establish the ‘Mysteries of Jesus’ (Jesus being the Way of Truth) which was to blend with all the earlier mysteries. The successors of Christ were the Gnostics and the Essenes (Dead Sea Scrolls) from them came the Catholic Church which destroyed outwardly the Gnostic movement in the 3rd century.”
The writer of the above then goes on to explain that Orders of Chivalry were formed and these were followed by the ‘Illuminati’ Orders such as the Brothers of Light, Rose Cross 14th century; the 18th century brought the Unknown Philosophers, Freemasonry, then the Bavarian Illuminati which embodied all the former systems. These lines have all come together and are perpetuated within The Sanctuary of the Gnosis and are passed on to The New Church Universal which goes forward with an entirely new concept of Priesthood. A Priesthood which is acquainted with all traditions – East and West – and yet retains the recognised moral concepts so necessary before one can set foot on the path of Illumination.
Whilst there are many records of those who have worked to bring more Light to humanity there are also records to which the average researcher has no access, which tell the story of the comings and goings of the Elder Brothers and Sisters of a Great Hierarchy of Beings linked throughout space by brotherly love and compassion. It is only when the disciple follows the true way can he or she become aware of the many inner dimensions available in our present Eternal Life.
IV
The Keys of the Kingdom
Most religions are founded on the assumption that there is some kind of God, or Being, in charge of everything including human affairs. Buddhism however has no conception of an individual God but achieves its success by its philosophy which is a practical and provable way of experiencing peace of mind. Another reason why Buddhism is so successful is that the religion has never been used as a weapon in political warfare as has Christianity, Judaism and Mohammadism. The keys of attaining a balance of mind and body therefore have been preserved in Buddhism, mainly Tibetan, because there have been no attempts to force it upon people for political ends.
However, Christianity with which we are more directly influenced here in the west, has revealed throughout its history that the doctrines and dogmas preached bear little resemblance to the teachings of the supposed founder Jesus Christ and this is reflected in the turbulent history of those people who have embraced Christianity or come into conflict with it. In spite of this a person with a little effort on their part can still discover and keep to peace and harmony from Jesus teachings if they cease to rely upon information and interpretation given by the ministers and priests of institutionalised Christianity.
Let us look for the keys in Biblical teaching which can help us enter into a Life of Knowledge and Truth. By the keys we mean the ways of understanding correctly the real import of the message or good news contained therein.
To understand the deeper Truths of Universal Love as described in St. Paul’s Epistle to the Corinthians we need to get our “fundamentals” right. In no place in the New Testament did Jesus imply that “to be saved” one had to believe that He was dying on the cross to redeem the people. He was already teaching them to pray to their Father and that if they observed the moral commandments and sought first the Kingdom of Heaven, this was sufficient unto Salvation.
We do teach things for the more mature person in our Church but they are difficult to understand if one has been following the ‘heretical’ dogmas of institutionalised religion. It takes a long time to unwind from error. One needs to take a long look at the history of organised Christianity with misplaced dogmas leading to the horrors of the Crusades, the Inquisitions and persecutions, to see that the Church did not understand its own Teacher.
Jesus, in the Gospels, spoke to everyone - to no particular sect or group even though he had been brought up as a Jew. His teachings were not exclusive, as depicted in the account of his contacts with all sorts and conditions of people: men and women, Jew and Gentile, rich and poor.
To understand his teachings more fully we need to realise that he externalised the Love and Wisdom of the Divine Parent – being a Son – therefore, by logic, it follows that he sought to understand all types of people and would discuss matters of concern with them on every topic and we believe he intended this kind of understanding to extend to the Church following in his name. He taught, according to St. Paul, that sectarianism is of no import to him for neither Greek, Jew or Gentile was excluded from God’s Love – nor His.
In no place did Jesus say that we have to approach our Father through him like the Christians do. He taught the Prayer which sought help direct from the Father, we do not need to ‘weedle’ our way in by dropping a hint too Mary, to put it to Jesus and then to the Father – this is typical human intrigue. Neither do we need to qualify to our Father that we are asking Him through His Son, for if this is implied in a personal way, it says, “Well, look God, I believe in your Son so you ought to do something about my plea.” If Jesus taught that our bodies are the Temple of God – where else can we look? Also, “The Kingdom is within you.”
In following Jesus the Christ do we also need to remember that He was referred to as King of Israel and it was Israel only to whom He taught the “Good News” (Matthew 10: 5-6 and 15:24). It was Paul who carried his version of the teaching to the Gentiles and through successive turn and overturn we have Christianity in the form it is today.
The Rites and Ceremonies of the present day have been borrowed from the ancient pagan religions who wore special clothing for their rituals. We do, however, wear our ‘cassocks’ in the church – not forgetting that Jesus never told his disciples to put on their cassocks and surplices before sharing communion with the people. The garb worn by Priests is the continuation of the priestly profession from pre-Christian times. So we are not opposed to this priesthood which in its real sense exists in many forms and exists in the state of being a Shaman or Witch Doctor. These people undergo rigorous training and live out the discipline relevant to their calling.
Basically the way to a freer and healthier life lies in observing natural morals, a pure outlook on life without self-seeking and a deep faith in the always imminent presence of Divine Protection and Inspiration. These are workable precepts.
The deeper mysteries of man’s relationship to God or the Universal Mind or Spirit follows naturally by mankind desiring to express him or her self in a more fulfilling way. Mankind can become naturally attuned to its surroundings so that the environment becomes affected by its wise approach to all things. Man learns of his higher psychic qualities which can influence the plant and animal kingdoms alike and befit him as a guardian of earth’s treasures. At the moment man has raped the earth for profitable ends and finds that his resources are running out. When he learns to co-operate with nature he can balance things up and have all he needs without starvation or privation for nature will respond to love and wisdom.
Jesus taught us to pray for the Kingdom of Heaven to be revealed on earth “as it is in heaven”. This dream can become true to all who follow the Truth of this statement. The state of wholeness, harmony and peace is already a fact in nature otherwise the teaching is untrue. The confidence of Jesus in the already established Kingdom enabled him to show us the way to externalise It. This Kingdom is not a place littered with priests and churches but a state of mind and a way of living in which harmony exists in all areas. Humanity being one family.
Jesus never set Himself up as being different from any one of us. “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:50)
We have the same situation today wherein the facts about Jesus’ teaching are sidetracked. To those in charge we could still say “Woe unto you, lawyers, for ye have taken away the key of knowledge (gnosis) ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered (or forbade).” (Luke 11:52)
Jesus taught that we can “enter in” to the Heavenly state of mind revealed by Him if we seek this kingdom first above all else because we need to be totally dedicated to ‘the Way’ to get results. Firstly, we need to follow the moral code and act rightly to our fellows and obey community rules (Caesar). Secondly, we need to understand that Our Father resides in our Hearts and in the Heart of everyone – we find Him equally there as in a temple or sanctuary for our bodies are living sanctuaries wherein we can each have communion with Him. By leading a dedicated and pure life we gradually experience His presence and times when we are troubled and uneasy about life slowly disappear.
The priests of the New Church are not here to force any creed or dogma upon you but rather show you ways of overcoming the barriers of your own nature which prevent the Light of Truth from entering your life. If we have been living according to standards set up by the masses in our society – or even by our own concepts – there is much that needs to be done in the manner of changing our way of life to enable us to be harmonised with the “Kingdom of God”. When mankind has learned wisdom and understanding of God’s Laws it can have heaven on earth. When mankind learns that to force issues in the external world is only like changing the ornaments around on the shelf, it can receive direct guidance from within to learn of the true way to harmony and peace for all.
The Truth is that God’s Kingdom is always ‘at hand’. Let us open our eyes to see it.
V
In our last talk we emphasised the importance of Jesus’ practical and simple teachings which are necessary for finding the Kingdom of Heaven within and “inheriting eternal life.” These facts are based upon the recorded incidents in the Gospels wherein Jeshua was challenged or asked pertinent questions regarding ‘salvation’. The interpretations of what he said can be understood, or misunderstood, in a variety of ways; but no matter what our personal opinions are there is a Truth existent which remains so whether we believe in it or not.
The answers which Jesus gave to those asking serious questions about their own ‘salvation’ were based upon the eternal and fixed laws of the Universe. Therefore, in whatever guise these facts are presented – that is – in Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Mohammadism, Humanism, or whatever – the essence cannot be changed. Whatever terminologies we use to express our ides, the unseen meaning behind all our efforts, adjectives and feelings must convey the Truth underlying all things. Whatever ideologies mankind invents the results for benefiting humanity will be only as helpful as the tenets of the ideology approximate the Truth. In this light, any wise Leader or Teacher, Politician or Bishop, will realise that his ideas are only cosmetic and be sincere in investigating the real issues. Otherwise, those seeking to dominate others will try to perpetuate their transient powers by stepping up their ruthless pressures. Any system not based upon Universal Truths must eventually collapse and we have much evidence in the history of mankind to confirm this view.
We have heard the old saying that what we learn from history is that mankind does not learn from history. It appears that those who place themselves in charge of human affairs fail to understand that the teachings given by the great spiritual teachers are “scientifically” based truths on the real nature of life and no matter what other ideas many humans have they need to be checked against Universal Realities.
In truth the teachings of Jesus have nothing to do with the human view of morals, although to follow the teachings the disciple decides, by his or her own choice, to become ‘moral’ and follow the discipline – the word from which the term ‘disciple’ is derived. What we are saying is that the blessings of God cannot be withheld from any human being whether they be bank-robber, bishop, homosexual or heterosexual, king, dustman, theologian, saint or sinner – these are the transient labels placed upon people by other people. We could even coin a phrase as such with respect to the state of affairs in organised religion, “When does a theologian decide to become a Christian?” or “Is it better to be a Christian than a theologian?” The implication being that being a theologian does not necessarily make us a Christian. It matters though that we need to follow the discipline of a perfect life if we want to really claim to be following “Christ”. The speculative techniques of what is called “theology”, by many, are usually the personal opinions of intellectuals who do not understand the real nature of God. Dr. Keizer in his book Wandering Bishops says “Christianity began as a heresy of Judaism. Perhaps today it might manifest once again as a heresy of Christianity.”
In our efforts to explain the true nature of Gnosis it should be understood that “Gnosis” does not belong to any specific religion, society or group. It is the Heart Centre of all spiritual experience and although mankind segregates the search of “Gnosis” into separate churches and groups, the divisions are based only upon the different approaches and the previous programming of the organisations to which the new candidates have belonged. Thus we have a Roman Catholic approach, Protestant approach, Hindu, Buddhist and even magical approaches, we have the Masonic, Rose Cross, Martiniste and numerous other groups all separated by the original programming of their respective communities or groups. It appears that in spite of all their efforts they fail to recognise unity apart from the ways in which they have been informed to approach Truth – thus the separate groups still remain separate and the ultimate object of their exercise fails. They do not seem to be able to converge at the “grass roots” level by failing to tolerate the presence of other groups, that is, “If you do not belong to our group and see it our way, it cannot be correct.”
In fact the “New Age” approach in any department of spiritual seeking is only a ploy to satisfy the masses that something is being done. The teachings for the ‘New Age’ are really the wisdom teachings for ‘All Ages’. It is only in the departments of spiritual organisation wherein the inner truths have been suppressed in the past that the stirring is taking place to realise that they have missed out and therefore must move themselves to do something about it, or be left behind. The danger in this lies that in their zeal they are apt to forget that the Christ they really seek is just as much within as it always has been and not in the man who lived 2,000 years ago. We cannot take the ‘New Age’ teaching out of context and graft it on to already outmoded beliefs, or beliefs not founded on Cosmic Truths. You cannot put new wine into old bottles.
In this light, the ‘New Age’ teachings are new to those from religions just discovering them but are not new to those teachers and hierophants who have come and gone silently, with risk of their lives, to pupils all along the way; that the inner “Right of Succession” has never been broken. This fact has remained so in what is now known as The Sanctuary of the Gnosis which is really the externalisation of the heart philosophy of man throughout the ages. This fact being true in its actual existence which traces its history back to the sixth century B.C. when the Christos teachings were being realised in a deeper way and were part of the inner doctrines of the Middle Eastern mystery schools of Egypt and Greece.
+ George Boyer
George Boyer now deceased was the last Bishop of The Sanctuary of the Gnosis
A group of teachings given in the late 1980s at a time when the “New Age” was a very prevalent concept, when many were seeking out new meanings and expressions for Life. They show how the Truth of Being is ever the same but expressed outwardly differently according to the school and society to which a person belongs. There can be no ‘ownership’ of the Truth.
I
Being aware that the key to the true gnosis of God is that everything works from within outwards, indicates to the Priest that the innate Sonship or Daughtership of God needs to be externalised into “worldly” realities. We transmute the lower nature of the mass subconscious into the Divine Nature. Note we never destroy anything: we uplift everything into a new dimension of a more beautiful and refined experience so that our external world becomes a real pattern of the inner “heavenly kingdom” in our everyday experience. No longer do we dream or hope for the manifestation of a Divine Pattern on earth – we actually project It into a three dimensional Reality. This can be achieved by complete submission to the Divine Will in each one of us – that our personal will be illumined by the Greater Light of Truth from within. No longer do we chase after rainbows or ‘inner’ states of peace and harmony; but bring these things into the whole range of human experience – the God made ‘flesh’. “In Him (the Divine Reality) lies the fullness of the Godhead bodily,” writes St. Paul.
If you are already following a philosophy of life and you do not find fulfilment in it, or it does not help you to overcome your own weaknesses, then you should use your powers of discrimination and be honest with yourself that you are not really succeeding. Too many students of Truth – or whatever one calls it – fall by the wayside because they try to uplift themselves from the point of their own limited understanding and refuse to look at their blockages or limitations through the eyes of their teacher or elder brother. Although we are each personally responsible for our own rising and falling the Hierarchy provides an Elder Brother or Sister to assist us when we reach “blind spots” in our own perception. Some students are afraid to face up to their own pitfalls and therefore remain unfulfilled and unhappy.
In this new society we have no personal life – this is given over to God who fills it in for us. The true ‘new age’ community functions as one whole unit and everyone shares each others experiences and become a closely knit Holy Family externalising the Inner Kingdom in their everyday life: in their minding of babies, household duties, wage-earning and everything over the whole gamut of human experience. In this kind of situation one discovers the Real Person within oneself and a sense of satisfaction and joy is the result.
We have met those who are afraid to take this step because they fear that they will lose their individuality and just exist like a “vegetable.” This is only a concept maintained by the fear that they are going to lose the ‘lower nature’ attachments. The truth regarding the situation is that one becomes more of an individual because one discovers one’s own level and is able to express themselves more fully in contributing their personal gifts to the community. In fact in the sharing of joys and disappointments one is able to grow into a state of maturity in the very work of becoming a server of God. By “community” we do not mean a number of people settled in a kind of ‘Campus’ as is the usual practice. In our work we lead our lives where we are in our own homes serving our family, then at times come together with the other members to learn, share and refresh ourselves. This indicates that wherever we are the idea of community exists – even in the seemingly ‘divided’ world, we are living right where we are yet knowing that we really belong to the Real Kingdom which manifests from within outwards. We subscribe only to the kingdom in philosophy and practice and regard the ‘religio-political’ state of the world as alien to the true nature of mankind. This Inner Kingdom will gradually emerge Principality by Principality in the outward area until the whole planet vibrates to the full power of Love.
What can we do to help ourselves further on the way to the Christos?
First, all we should ever keep in mind is that all there is in Reality and Truth is God and God meted out in Its Creation. Thus God is the All-inclusive Principle in the Cosmos and This Principle is manifested in Its Wholeness and Completeness in each one of us. There are no favourites – not even with Saints or Priests, Bishops or Popes, or even Sun Priest Kings: God is no Respecter of Persons but He/She emanates Its qualities and nature evenly throughout all space. Thus, as we mentioned earlier, in this knowledge (Divine Gnosis) it is possible to experience the fullness (Pleroma) of the Godhead bodily. When we are able to externalise this Life within to the full then we make a ‘Quantum” leap in our spiritual enlightenment. Because that which is Ever True and is the Reality of Being I can never be destroyed – for it is the Permanent Spirit of Life. All we have to do then is to remove all the dross of human supposition and conjecture about Life and Reality then must be in evidence for you. This is an individual task and therefore we follow Jesus’ instruction when he taught, “Work out your own salvation.”
Each of us has to be born again in the Light that is each of us has to clear away our own dark clouds which obscure the Inner Light (mentioned in St. John’s Gospel). As we clear away our clouds of doubt, fear and selfish pursuits the Light of Truth fills the areas which are purified by Love and Wisdom. The more practice we get at emptying ourselves, the more the Love and Wisdom of God shines forth. This is not an easy path otherwise we would have the Kingdom of God realised on Earth in a very short time.
Because each one of us is unique to God it behoves us to unfold our own personal gifts which He/She will use within the whole community to that which is required to maintain harmony. Not one of us has to be lost because each of us is rather special inasmuch as we each represent a facet of God’s own Life and therefore are needed to complete a wholeness of Divine Function here in the world. We are not here just for a “willy-nilly” existence!
Every effort you make towards your own Divine Self is met by help from God’s own Hierarchy. This Hierarchy is made up of special ‘people’ who have trod this path before you and are in a special situation to help you – or offer you a brotherly or sisterly hand over the sticky patches through which you will often find yourself. God meets you at every level through one of His/Her representatives or Elders when you sincerely and honestly need help. In this light it is unwise to judge or formulate (pre-conceive) the way in which help will come to you. If you try to envisage how help might come – you will either keep it away or fail to recognise it when it comes your way. In all things then live in contemplation of God’s ever-presence and get on with doing the things you have to do – to shoulder your everyday responsibilities to your family and those around you. God is realised in every situation no matter how trivial it might seem.
One might ask “Why do we need Priests in a New Age – since the institutionalised religions cannot provide effective spiritual teaching anyway?”
It seems that there is a need for a new type of Priesthood – the type envisaged by the Order of Melchisedek – where every person becomes a priest in their own right. This does mean, however, that they need to be trained at this point in the right Cosmic Laws wherein to bring up children and apply their energies to an upliftment of society in general. Unless we are aware of the right conditions we muddle along in ignorance of our calling. There are those who are claiming that they are being guided from within yet their lives show a different story. If one is still applying the current understanding of Truth as indicated by the establishment one is still in the dark for there is only a “false vestige of Truth” which is perpetuated by those tainted by worldly pursuits.
A practical working truth which can bring real changes in one’s life is one which has to be learned at this time until one can discriminate between that which is designated as truth and that which constitutes the Reality of Being. There is a vast difference. In fact the human concept of Truth is alien to that which Really Is. For some time yet people will need guidance from the Elder Brothers and Sisters sent out from the Hierarchy. Whilst we are all equal in the economy of the whole we still need guidance – for as we can see around us there are some people more experienced than others in all kinds of things. This same rule applies in Spiritual matters – although the Elders say Spirituality is really another human concept. We all need just to become our pure natural selves.
“It can be found that when people are allowed to live nearer to nature – the harmony it produces enables them to acquire more accurate information about the Universe itself; whereas the minds that are following set doctrines and dogmas, when feeling the need to break free, find themselves revolving within a mental boundary beyond which they cannot pass. Our knowledge regarding the Universe and man can only equal that amount according to the limits we place upon it. Knowing, therefore, the precise area of investigation allowed us by our five senses, we should enquire into those areas of seeking which demonstrate that man is not limited by his senses and that other forces and energies, farther afield, are in operation.” – The Ancient Patriarchs and Their Teachings.
II
The true spiritual schools on this planet teach the following basic principles:
The Parenthood of God
The Brotherhood of Man
The constant evolution of all living things towards the perfection within the consciousness of the Divine Parent
The Eternal Presence of the Living Christ
Knowing the difficulties arising from ignorance of Cosmic Laws, the Great Teachers left guidelines to follow for those who desired to align themselves with the truths of being or, in common language, to become disciples of The Way or Living Stream of Life.
Thus meditative systems and ceremonies were established and these proved to be great helps in keeping the mind fixed on its goal: we find by experience that the human phase of mind is very forgetful and unreliable as a means of understanding Divine Truth, therefore by these helpful systems we learn how to slowly integrate all departments of our life into the Cosmic Reality. In this process the human phase of mind becomes a tool rather than a faction with seemingly awkward tendencies. Also, to avoid crystallisation of ideas, the spiritual schools continually update their material to conform to the ever-awakening consciousness of mankind. Set rituals can very often stifle one’s free expression and so these are kept to the minimum. Our own rituals and ceremonies must then contain the relevant material in line with that which we wish to achieve.
There can be some misunderstanding regarding the idea of keeping a discipline as well as allowing a free expression. One might say, “How can I express myself freely when the church requires a strict discipline to God?” What we are taught is that our way of life is not like other professions in the world because we seek to be ‘unworldly’ in the sense that we follow a different set of guidelines. What we are free in is the reality of being ourselves, and we come to learn that this freedom is the experience of being ‘free’ from the turmoil and cares which beset those following the dictates of the world. ‘The Way’ is the real and lasting way to freedom. Whilst we take on the responsibility of helping others we release our inner selves and discover a world within with lasting values which remain unaltered by the clamour of secular standards. The discipline is the way – or pathway – leading out of the transient joys and worries, the constant see-saw of a hectic life, to a more balanced understanding, giving an assurance of the things which constitute the reality of life.
There is a pattern of life which remains true to its nature known as Divine Love. From the Hierarchy down to the teachers of mankind this Love is held in deep respect and in all circumstances this Love is never known to fail. It never fails inasmuch as that which will occur when It is invoked will be right for the individual, or individuals, no matter what circumstances appear to the senses. The outcome of allowing this Love full sway gives rise to the opportunity to know and experience that which one really desires. “Trust the Lord and He will give you your hearts desire” is the message of the Psalmist (Psalm 37). We really come to understand another kind of freedom.
What do we need to take a new look at in this day and age?
Marriage: A new understanding of marital love needs to be taught. The Church dogma that “what God has put together let no man put asunder” has proved in many cases that a religious ceremony does not mean that God has joined the pair together. We understand that whatever God joins together cannot be put asunder. So a new teaching on love, sex and family is in need of being released to priests, then to responsible people.
Death: “This is Life Eternal” taught Jesus. Thus in this eternal life we journey from experience to experience. When we understand the continuity of life we know that the person who appears to die is going on to new vistas. It is those who are left who need comfort and support in learning of the Love which binds people together forever.
The Christ: The Anointed – referring to absolute Sovereignty as of the Kings of Old who were all “anointed Sons of God.” The Christ represents the Perfected Soul – or the Soul which has risen above all limitations of the flesh as taught by Jesus the Galilean. Jesus, the Greek form of Jehshuah, means ‘Redeemer’. Therefore Jesus Christ refers to the fact that the discipline of Perfection releases us from human bondage and frees us as Sons of God. Jesus Christ being the keyword (Logos).
The Devil: God created no harmful thing, neither does God demand loyalty nor does He/She punish for sin. The Devil is no more than the active destructive forces set into motion by man himself. Man is responsible for his own selfish striving and exploitation of all things in nature.
On the Initiatic Path we should be prepared also to sacrifice all our “sacred cows” and be not dismayed by those who claim oneness with the Universe yet abhor those who come to true knowledge because these claimants say that one can never be too sure, or know, what is true and what is illusion for, they say, Truth is elusive. We admit that Truth is elusive but the Great Teachers assured us that It can be known and that we can come to prove for ourselves that a very deep understanding of Truth can be known – otherwise there could be no Illumination or Enlightenment or overcoming of human weakness or unreliability.
We also know, as we have mentioned, that we can set energies and forces for ourselves in the future, and we KNOW that there is a RIGHT way and a WRONG way of coming into this knowledge at a quicker rate than if we have to learn by trial and error. The Sacred Schools have always taught this way: they do not charge fees for the teachings or arrange costly seminars, you only pay for books and food, but they do select their pupils and turn away those who do not seek the right things. The ancient mystery schools were always run by the Priesthood, for Priesthood is in itself the path of service. However, in this day and age the subjects originally taught by the priests have become secular forms of study such as mathematics, medicine, hygiene, astronomy and the arts and inventive sciences; but any of these disciplines without priesthood usually results in their misuse as we can see from the over-commercialisation rampant today. The Priest King of old was an initiate of every school of thought and was expected to rule with compassion and justice. Sometimes human desires overcame those with earlier weaknesses and chaos resulted. What we should learn firstly is that we should be responsible persons and our human requirements come second being “Divine in our divinity and human in our humanity.”
“Jesus saw himself as a forerunner of a future, Christed humanity. He lived the life in the flesh, to which all human souls may aspire. The initiate Christi is the Gate, the Way, the pattern and template of the Higher Nature that lies dormant in most of humankind, yet must be awakened, practiced and refined in flesh….
“Humanity is destined for spiritual maturity in which it serves as the fingers, hands, and voice of the Higher Nature. Humanity is indeed a divine heir of God, for it is emerging as from the state of puberty into the responsibility of full adult maturity as co-creator with God.” – Life in Flesh by Dr. Lewis Keizer.
III
During the last half century there have been several books relating to historical incidents and affairs which the religious and academic world have tried to keep from the public. It appears from the information referring to other teachings and groups imparted in these books that, if accepted by the populace, they would undermine the hold gained by the established institutions on the minds of the people which enables them to manipulate the masses in order to achieve whatever they wish at the expense of goodwill.
Such books as The Myth of God Incarnate; The Legacy of the Gods; Holy Blood, Holy Grail; and The Hidden Church of the Illuminati plus many others, give sufficient provable facts to indicate that those in charge of our affairs are trying to avoid or hide something. In spite of their claims of ‘psuedo’ history, or ‘false facts’, the truth remains that there are other areas of the human psyche to be explored and that there are some beings of a higher calibre amongst us who can teach us how to make our lives more harmonious and happier. History can also prove that these people, who worked to enlighten mankind, were persecuted and even put to death by the so-called ‘spiritual leaders’ who were afraid of losing their power over the people and believed that Spiritual Truth was only as they saw it: this attitude still prevails today but they cannot murder anyone for it.
History also confirms the presence of negative forces operating behind the scenes as it were through establishment powers with motives hidden even from those that they operate through.
We will now give you some facts related in some of the aforementioned books which can be proved by anyone who wishes to take the necessary steps.
For example, there is an existent Order of St Mary Magdalene which traces its succession back to the Mary legend which came from the ancient tradition of the feminine mysteries. The facts are that the Marian churches of old were dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene and not the Virgin Mary as is now taught. The institutionalised church hoped to bury the Mary Magdalene legend but it has survived.
It is also a known fact that St. Augustine did not bring Christianity to Great Britain. It was the Celtic Church from the first century onwards which actually evangelised Europe and such Saints as Patrick and Columba were never Roman Catholics but Celts. The early Christianity of Europe stemmed from the Coptic Church whose first Patriarch was St. Mark. Early Coptic Christianity mingled Greek Philosophy and healing in a balanced synthesis; therefore the Alexandrian mysteries were contained in early Christianity and this contained the true Gnosis of God. The evidence of this is found in archaeological evidence in County Donegal, Ireland, where ampoules with inscriptions of figures of Egyptian Martyr Menas were found.
It was not until the political church was founded by Constantine with headquarters in Rome that the Coptic Patriarch was condemned as a heretic for teaching the Gnosis, at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD. The institutionalised churches have deliberately given misdirecting evidence to historical researchers to hide what actually happened, but they can no longer hide the records of the atrocities they committed to bury the evidence.
Those people who are engaged in propping up the status quo with the aim of diverting evidence which would help people, have yet to learn that there is a greater power directing human affairs and that Truth cannot be hidden or destroyed. In our own private and individual affairs we have the lesson to learn.
That a law of Cause and Effect exists cannot be denied and it was Jesus and the Buddha who laid great stress on its importance. This law is the key to being able to balance our lives. Both Jesus and the Buddha gave us to understand that it was our wrong way of living which causes all our suffering. Argue as we may otherwise, the Truth is the Truth, we are foolish to ignore it. To go on believing that ‘God’ or that a person who died on a cross two thousand years ago ‘redeem us’, is acting like an ostrich which buries its head in the sand believing it can escape danger. The ‘way’ or ‘path’ is not in believing in Christ or Buddha but in purifying our natures to eradicate hate, possessiveness, resentment and fear in order that Truth can manifest Itself within the Temple of the Body. Did not Paul say, “Work out your own Salvation?”: this we can do effectively if we follow what Jesus taught and not the priests of the institutionalised church.
Gerald Massey claims that the Church at Rome remained Gnostic at the beginning of the second century and that Marcion did not separate it until about 136 AD. The division was caused through the gradual materialising of the Christ mysteries and this came more or less complete during the 7th century. The Coptic Church today has also forsaken its heritage and has submitted to the requirements of the World Council of Churches.
As the Church began to exercise its political powers during the middle or dark ages by persecution and murder of spiritual reformers, the true teachers were forced to work ‘underground’. The Church today by propaganda gives its members a false picture of history by claiming that it was fighting heresy to maintain the Truth. This is a blatant misrepresentation of the facts and therefore its members find themselves in utter confusion of disbelief, war, increase in crime, divided families and incurable diseases. As we have mentioned before this is the effect of erecting false ‘causes’. What the people have, in the main, is a ‘false vestige of Truth.’ Man’s weird and wonderful opinions must finally be shown up for what they are. Man fools himself: he cannot deceive Divine Law.
Eusebius, the bishop involved with Constantine in regulating the Christian dogmas in the fourth century, admits in his writings that the four Gospels came from the Essenes. Thus the present claim of those following the Gnosis today that the true Teachings of the Christos are “pre-Christian” as it relates to the institutionalised church, are founded on indisputable facts whether or not modern theologians wish to avoid the issue.
“In 120 – 70 BC Christ came to establish the ‘Mysteries of Jesus’ (Jesus being the Way of Truth) which was to blend with all the earlier mysteries. The successors of Christ were the Gnostics and the Essenes (Dead Sea Scrolls) from them came the Catholic Church which destroyed outwardly the Gnostic movement in the 3rd century.”
The writer of the above then goes on to explain that Orders of Chivalry were formed and these were followed by the ‘Illuminati’ Orders such as the Brothers of Light, Rose Cross 14th century; the 18th century brought the Unknown Philosophers, Freemasonry, then the Bavarian Illuminati which embodied all the former systems. These lines have all come together and are perpetuated within The Sanctuary of the Gnosis and are passed on to The New Church Universal which goes forward with an entirely new concept of Priesthood. A Priesthood which is acquainted with all traditions – East and West – and yet retains the recognised moral concepts so necessary before one can set foot on the path of Illumination.
Whilst there are many records of those who have worked to bring more Light to humanity there are also records to which the average researcher has no access, which tell the story of the comings and goings of the Elder Brothers and Sisters of a Great Hierarchy of Beings linked throughout space by brotherly love and compassion. It is only when the disciple follows the true way can he or she become aware of the many inner dimensions available in our present Eternal Life.
IV
The Keys of the Kingdom
Most religions are founded on the assumption that there is some kind of God, or Being, in charge of everything including human affairs. Buddhism however has no conception of an individual God but achieves its success by its philosophy which is a practical and provable way of experiencing peace of mind. Another reason why Buddhism is so successful is that the religion has never been used as a weapon in political warfare as has Christianity, Judaism and Mohammadism. The keys of attaining a balance of mind and body therefore have been preserved in Buddhism, mainly Tibetan, because there have been no attempts to force it upon people for political ends.
However, Christianity with which we are more directly influenced here in the west, has revealed throughout its history that the doctrines and dogmas preached bear little resemblance to the teachings of the supposed founder Jesus Christ and this is reflected in the turbulent history of those people who have embraced Christianity or come into conflict with it. In spite of this a person with a little effort on their part can still discover and keep to peace and harmony from Jesus teachings if they cease to rely upon information and interpretation given by the ministers and priests of institutionalised Christianity.
Let us look for the keys in Biblical teaching which can help us enter into a Life of Knowledge and Truth. By the keys we mean the ways of understanding correctly the real import of the message or good news contained therein.
To understand the deeper Truths of Universal Love as described in St. Paul’s Epistle to the Corinthians we need to get our “fundamentals” right. In no place in the New Testament did Jesus imply that “to be saved” one had to believe that He was dying on the cross to redeem the people. He was already teaching them to pray to their Father and that if they observed the moral commandments and sought first the Kingdom of Heaven, this was sufficient unto Salvation.
We do teach things for the more mature person in our Church but they are difficult to understand if one has been following the ‘heretical’ dogmas of institutionalised religion. It takes a long time to unwind from error. One needs to take a long look at the history of organised Christianity with misplaced dogmas leading to the horrors of the Crusades, the Inquisitions and persecutions, to see that the Church did not understand its own Teacher.
Jesus, in the Gospels, spoke to everyone - to no particular sect or group even though he had been brought up as a Jew. His teachings were not exclusive, as depicted in the account of his contacts with all sorts and conditions of people: men and women, Jew and Gentile, rich and poor.
To understand his teachings more fully we need to realise that he externalised the Love and Wisdom of the Divine Parent – being a Son – therefore, by logic, it follows that he sought to understand all types of people and would discuss matters of concern with them on every topic and we believe he intended this kind of understanding to extend to the Church following in his name. He taught, according to St. Paul, that sectarianism is of no import to him for neither Greek, Jew or Gentile was excluded from God’s Love – nor His.
In no place did Jesus say that we have to approach our Father through him like the Christians do. He taught the Prayer which sought help direct from the Father, we do not need to ‘weedle’ our way in by dropping a hint too Mary, to put it to Jesus and then to the Father – this is typical human intrigue. Neither do we need to qualify to our Father that we are asking Him through His Son, for if this is implied in a personal way, it says, “Well, look God, I believe in your Son so you ought to do something about my plea.” If Jesus taught that our bodies are the Temple of God – where else can we look? Also, “The Kingdom is within you.”
In following Jesus the Christ do we also need to remember that He was referred to as King of Israel and it was Israel only to whom He taught the “Good News” (Matthew 10: 5-6 and 15:24). It was Paul who carried his version of the teaching to the Gentiles and through successive turn and overturn we have Christianity in the form it is today.
The Rites and Ceremonies of the present day have been borrowed from the ancient pagan religions who wore special clothing for their rituals. We do, however, wear our ‘cassocks’ in the church – not forgetting that Jesus never told his disciples to put on their cassocks and surplices before sharing communion with the people. The garb worn by Priests is the continuation of the priestly profession from pre-Christian times. So we are not opposed to this priesthood which in its real sense exists in many forms and exists in the state of being a Shaman or Witch Doctor. These people undergo rigorous training and live out the discipline relevant to their calling.
Basically the way to a freer and healthier life lies in observing natural morals, a pure outlook on life without self-seeking and a deep faith in the always imminent presence of Divine Protection and Inspiration. These are workable precepts.
The deeper mysteries of man’s relationship to God or the Universal Mind or Spirit follows naturally by mankind desiring to express him or her self in a more fulfilling way. Mankind can become naturally attuned to its surroundings so that the environment becomes affected by its wise approach to all things. Man learns of his higher psychic qualities which can influence the plant and animal kingdoms alike and befit him as a guardian of earth’s treasures. At the moment man has raped the earth for profitable ends and finds that his resources are running out. When he learns to co-operate with nature he can balance things up and have all he needs without starvation or privation for nature will respond to love and wisdom.
Jesus taught us to pray for the Kingdom of Heaven to be revealed on earth “as it is in heaven”. This dream can become true to all who follow the Truth of this statement. The state of wholeness, harmony and peace is already a fact in nature otherwise the teaching is untrue. The confidence of Jesus in the already established Kingdom enabled him to show us the way to externalise It. This Kingdom is not a place littered with priests and churches but a state of mind and a way of living in which harmony exists in all areas. Humanity being one family.
Jesus never set Himself up as being different from any one of us. “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:50)
We have the same situation today wherein the facts about Jesus’ teaching are sidetracked. To those in charge we could still say “Woe unto you, lawyers, for ye have taken away the key of knowledge (gnosis) ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered (or forbade).” (Luke 11:52)
Jesus taught that we can “enter in” to the Heavenly state of mind revealed by Him if we seek this kingdom first above all else because we need to be totally dedicated to ‘the Way’ to get results. Firstly, we need to follow the moral code and act rightly to our fellows and obey community rules (Caesar). Secondly, we need to understand that Our Father resides in our Hearts and in the Heart of everyone – we find Him equally there as in a temple or sanctuary for our bodies are living sanctuaries wherein we can each have communion with Him. By leading a dedicated and pure life we gradually experience His presence and times when we are troubled and uneasy about life slowly disappear.
The priests of the New Church are not here to force any creed or dogma upon you but rather show you ways of overcoming the barriers of your own nature which prevent the Light of Truth from entering your life. If we have been living according to standards set up by the masses in our society – or even by our own concepts – there is much that needs to be done in the manner of changing our way of life to enable us to be harmonised with the “Kingdom of God”. When mankind has learned wisdom and understanding of God’s Laws it can have heaven on earth. When mankind learns that to force issues in the external world is only like changing the ornaments around on the shelf, it can receive direct guidance from within to learn of the true way to harmony and peace for all.
The Truth is that God’s Kingdom is always ‘at hand’. Let us open our eyes to see it.
V
In our last talk we emphasised the importance of Jesus’ practical and simple teachings which are necessary for finding the Kingdom of Heaven within and “inheriting eternal life.” These facts are based upon the recorded incidents in the Gospels wherein Jeshua was challenged or asked pertinent questions regarding ‘salvation’. The interpretations of what he said can be understood, or misunderstood, in a variety of ways; but no matter what our personal opinions are there is a Truth existent which remains so whether we believe in it or not.
The answers which Jesus gave to those asking serious questions about their own ‘salvation’ were based upon the eternal and fixed laws of the Universe. Therefore, in whatever guise these facts are presented – that is – in Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Mohammadism, Humanism, or whatever – the essence cannot be changed. Whatever terminologies we use to express our ides, the unseen meaning behind all our efforts, adjectives and feelings must convey the Truth underlying all things. Whatever ideologies mankind invents the results for benefiting humanity will be only as helpful as the tenets of the ideology approximate the Truth. In this light, any wise Leader or Teacher, Politician or Bishop, will realise that his ideas are only cosmetic and be sincere in investigating the real issues. Otherwise, those seeking to dominate others will try to perpetuate their transient powers by stepping up their ruthless pressures. Any system not based upon Universal Truths must eventually collapse and we have much evidence in the history of mankind to confirm this view.
We have heard the old saying that what we learn from history is that mankind does not learn from history. It appears that those who place themselves in charge of human affairs fail to understand that the teachings given by the great spiritual teachers are “scientifically” based truths on the real nature of life and no matter what other ideas many humans have they need to be checked against Universal Realities.
In truth the teachings of Jesus have nothing to do with the human view of morals, although to follow the teachings the disciple decides, by his or her own choice, to become ‘moral’ and follow the discipline – the word from which the term ‘disciple’ is derived. What we are saying is that the blessings of God cannot be withheld from any human being whether they be bank-robber, bishop, homosexual or heterosexual, king, dustman, theologian, saint or sinner – these are the transient labels placed upon people by other people. We could even coin a phrase as such with respect to the state of affairs in organised religion, “When does a theologian decide to become a Christian?” or “Is it better to be a Christian than a theologian?” The implication being that being a theologian does not necessarily make us a Christian. It matters though that we need to follow the discipline of a perfect life if we want to really claim to be following “Christ”. The speculative techniques of what is called “theology”, by many, are usually the personal opinions of intellectuals who do not understand the real nature of God. Dr. Keizer in his book Wandering Bishops says “Christianity began as a heresy of Judaism. Perhaps today it might manifest once again as a heresy of Christianity.”
In our efforts to explain the true nature of Gnosis it should be understood that “Gnosis” does not belong to any specific religion, society or group. It is the Heart Centre of all spiritual experience and although mankind segregates the search of “Gnosis” into separate churches and groups, the divisions are based only upon the different approaches and the previous programming of the organisations to which the new candidates have belonged. Thus we have a Roman Catholic approach, Protestant approach, Hindu, Buddhist and even magical approaches, we have the Masonic, Rose Cross, Martiniste and numerous other groups all separated by the original programming of their respective communities or groups. It appears that in spite of all their efforts they fail to recognise unity apart from the ways in which they have been informed to approach Truth – thus the separate groups still remain separate and the ultimate object of their exercise fails. They do not seem to be able to converge at the “grass roots” level by failing to tolerate the presence of other groups, that is, “If you do not belong to our group and see it our way, it cannot be correct.”
In fact the “New Age” approach in any department of spiritual seeking is only a ploy to satisfy the masses that something is being done. The teachings for the ‘New Age’ are really the wisdom teachings for ‘All Ages’. It is only in the departments of spiritual organisation wherein the inner truths have been suppressed in the past that the stirring is taking place to realise that they have missed out and therefore must move themselves to do something about it, or be left behind. The danger in this lies that in their zeal they are apt to forget that the Christ they really seek is just as much within as it always has been and not in the man who lived 2,000 years ago. We cannot take the ‘New Age’ teaching out of context and graft it on to already outmoded beliefs, or beliefs not founded on Cosmic Truths. You cannot put new wine into old bottles.
In this light, the ‘New Age’ teachings are new to those from religions just discovering them but are not new to those teachers and hierophants who have come and gone silently, with risk of their lives, to pupils all along the way; that the inner “Right of Succession” has never been broken. This fact has remained so in what is now known as The Sanctuary of the Gnosis which is really the externalisation of the heart philosophy of man throughout the ages. This fact being true in its actual existence which traces its history back to the sixth century B.C. when the Christos teachings were being realised in a deeper way and were part of the inner doctrines of the Middle Eastern mystery schools of Egypt and Greece.
+ George Boyer
George Boyer now deceased was the last Bishop of The Sanctuary of the Gnosis
