Dondi, cool parallels. As I say, I do believe the Divine is involved, for we cannot purify ourselves
of our own earthly effort alone. That is where the Soul enters in (the Christ within) ... and at a certain stage, a spiritual Master. This Master may or may not be the
Syrian (who was Jesus). This addresses what you're saying, too, Bandit. Again, just what I've come to believe in 33 years - though at age 3, the foundation was already laid.
The primary difference, I think, between how we regard Jesus ... is the question of
personality. In my way of seeing things, Jesus is not a personality at all. Technically, he isn't even what we might call a
Soul. Esoterically, he is an example of someone who has crossed the
bridge which the Soul provides (the Soul is the Christ principle,
No man comes to the Father except by "me") ... and become at-one with "the Father." The Father has many, many aspects, or "modes of being," so to speak. And while there remains a Transcendence, what I believe Christ (or rather, Jesus) accomplished ... was the at-one-ment of his own Soul with "Our Father who Art in Heaven," or - Pure Spirit.
And thus, a Master is a direct manifestation of the Spirit of God. But this Spirit - while singular, and whole, and ONE - is nonetheless capable of displaying itself in whatever means necessary (for all intents & purposes), for a given situation. And thus, Moses beheld the burning bush, while
no man, in my understanding, looks upon the face of God,
as a mortal. But Jesus, and the Christ, had transcended the mortal state - and did see and know God.
Hmmm, Bandit, you make a good point, and in response, I would say several things. Yes, I have certainly considered that. Let's say I'm 99.9999999% certain that Jesus doesn't stand at the head of the Heavenly Hierarchy. But that's in part, because I distinguish between
Jesus of Nazareth, and the Christ, whom and which descended (or overshadowed) him from the moment of the Baptism onward, as depicted in the Gospel account, and symbolized in art. So, I
do take it as a given - that Christ is the Master of Masters.
Esoteric teachings do not
arbitrarily rank the spiritual Masters, yet there are traditions more ancient than Hinduism (millions of years old) which teach that there is a Great Chain of Being - which originates in the Heavens, and encompasses
all of Cosmos. This vastness is such that I am not really worthy to even mention it ... yet upon this inner Reality, all that is outward is based. And this Chain of Being finds its reflection upon Earth.
Always it was thus, but esoteric records point to a time 18 million years ago, when the
third Lord of the World (of the Spiritual World, and thus, of
all of the Earth) came to His present post. He is also called the Silent Watcher, as well as
The Ancient of Days. In Sanskrit, His name is
Sanat Kumara, but Kumara is a type of being, and Sanat Kumara simply means
Eternal Youth. Strange that He has these apparently contradictory names, but what is meant is that this Being is
literally more Ancient than any of us can conceive - having vowed to
safeguard the progress of every last human pilgrim ... until the close of this cycle (whenever that is). This is the Great Sacrifice, and as I see it, this is God. He is not the Highest, but He is the One to Whom Christ referred when He said,
Abba, or
Father.
This is a being of incredible stature, and
everyting that we think of as "God" applies to Him - either directly, or indirectly. Indirectly, it must be considered (at least, as I believe it) ... that this being,
In Whom we live and move and have our Being ... acts directly upon the even greater Will - of a Being we can scarcely conceive. I just take this as granted, since I cannot apprehend the
least aspect of the consciousness of this
Greater Being. But God the Father, Christ
did tell us we may know. The Perfect Love of Greatest God is embodied for us, as the goal of the life of every human ... in God the Father. And while there are yet other beings of vast spiritual stature who stand with the
Ancient of Days, they together compose
The Father's House, and the Council Chamber of the Lord.
Because these beings are
so vastly ahead of us - or beyond us, in spiritual stature (intelligence, Love, and
Power) ... it is
necessary, for them (or we should just say,
God) to relate to us through the Christ, and His Church. I suppose it seems complicated, and even unnecessary, to consider that there might be more to Christ than just one being. I do understand that approach, and that belief. I respect it. And I
do think that it is right for many. My studies, my experiences, and my findings, have simply led me to regard
Christ and His Church as more of ... an
organization, or say, a living, spiritual
organism. Certainly, yes, composed of living, loving beings.
That, is the one, all-embracing characteristic of this
Inner Government that inwardly guides
all human affairs, and safeguards the Plan of God for this tiny planet.
Other planets operate similarly, as only seems natural to me. And again, our entire solar system mirrors a much more vast cosmic order, though even to conceive of
one Galaxy is beyond us. It's like an ant reaching out to conceive of the entire planet Earth ...
Anyway, I didn't mean to deliver a treatise, and this is only an attempt to demonstrate that I have a
belief system of my own. It does exclude quite a few of the teachings of the varous religions, but for the most part, I simply see things a bit different. I do not
ever mean to come across as sounding superior. Unfortunately, that's a human weakness, and I'm
all-too human ... and
that's on a good day!
As for Jesus though, I've probably learned more in the past few months, than in several years, because I've looked a bit more into things from a historical perspective. In terms of Initiatory standing, is was said that 2100 years ago, he was a 4th Degree Initiate. Not the first, and there have been
a few since then ... though such a high degree of Initiation is
not easy to attain. Certainly this implies Grace - I do not mean to take that part for granted, but I do.
Nothing could be accomplished without God, and I agree, one should give thanks,
constantly. But it doesn't mean we can't think about the stages of spiritual progression ...
if we can avoid the temptation to judge others. But a true esotericist never does this.
If Jesus of Nazareth was a 4th Degree Initiate, what does that mean? It means, since I believe in rebirth, that his
additional Initiations have taken place since then, in other lives. Upon becoming such a high Initiate, one is
never again unconscious. Thus, there is no sleep (only the "removal" to a higher spiritual plane). There is also no death, because one understands the process of rebirth
from the inside, so to speak. One is not yet "free," because the goal of evolution upon this planet takes us two Initiations higher. And that can be several lives, or perhaps just one.
Jesus is said to have reincarnated as
Appollonius of Tyana, and reading accounts of the "miracles" and healings performed by that curious adept ... is quite revealing. Jesus is also said to have been the Hindu sage,
Ramanujacharya ... but even as Appollonius he had attained the 5th Degree of Initiation. This was the goal of evolution at the time, and makes him a
Nirmanakaya, in Buddhist terms. This is very close to a Bodhisattva, and his continued presence upon
this planet (instead of pursuing the Way of Higher Evolution, which leads away from Earth) ... is evidence of his continued sacrifice for our sake. As of several hundred years ago, Jesus is said to have taken on a
Syrian incarnation, and is now a 6th Degree Initiate. Only a handful of such High Initiates exist upon the planet. And yes, I do believe that in a Spiritual sense,
he just happens to be my Master - or more accurately, I
aspire to one day have the honor of being a student. My best guess, Bandit, would be that you are on the 6th Ray line as well, though I could be dead wrong. It's just a guess. What do I mean?
The Ray line of Jesus is the 6th, and this is but one of Seven streams of energy, emanating from the Heart of God, which also bring us,
finally at long last, as the Prodigal, back to God. Many disciples approach upon another Ray, as there are Masters of all the Rays, some of the 6th Degree, as Jesus, others of the 5th Degree, such as one called simply,
The Tibetan. Not all Masters take students, as some are occupied with work in
purely spiritual spheres. A Master must be able to maintain a physical incarnation in order to be in contact (occultly) with his disciples, and in the case of the Master Jesus these must surely number in the many, many thousands. Perhaps only a few dozen, as I believe it, are able to enter into direct consciousness with him at will. But this is necessary. He is very busy. He works
ceaselessly And right now, the stimulation of the spiritual nature of
all of Humanity (but especially in the West) ... is occupying his attention. He works
directly with the Christ, helping prepare the way for the
Reappearance. That we will "see" it, I am certain.
I do not mean to suggest that the Masters are not in touch with
all of their disciples, all the time. For this is so. Such is the nature of their higher, spiritual awareness. A Master can be in two places or more at once, literally, and many times this is necessary. Stories exist about Jesus doing exactly this bi-location, as Appollonius of Tyana. And I think we know well that as we aspire to serve, and reach out to the Master in our heart,
there is a response.
Anyway, the other Masters - or at least those known - include Masters Morya and Jupiter (Ray 1), Masters Kuthumi and Djwal Khul (Ray 2), one called the Venetian (Ray 3), Master Serapis (Ray 4), Master Hilarion (Ray 5), and Master Rakoczy (Ray 7). I could name a dozen more, and it is also said that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is a Master, although she entered the
Deva, or Angelic evolution, which is an option for Initiates of high enough standing. But directing
all of the Masters (63, total) is the Christ,
Teacher alike of Angels and of Men. He also directs the entire Angelic Hierarchy, which is even more vast than the Human.
If you would like some kind of a testimony, then I can say that yes, I do know for certain that these beings exist, and that yes, they
do labor collectively -
not for the benefit of mankind alone, but rather, to carry forth the Plan of God. That Plan is vast, and we are but
one part of it, yet at the present time, there
is a tremendous focus upon Humanity, as we are the
pivot point of spiritual evolution for the entire planet. We are also on the verge of welcoming the Christ into outward activity again, as evidenced by the awakening of the Will-to-Good in the hearts of all peoples, worldwide, and in the accomplishing of many, many wonderful things. As is said, these cannot be done, without God.
But I have no interest in babbling on about supposed communications, or
messages from the Masters, since anything of the such,
if valid, is strictly between a disciple and the Master, or a
group of disciples, and the Master. However, there are
many dozens of books available, authored by at least a dozen or so of the Masters, some quite recently (1980s, or more recent). One of my favorite is the writing of the Master Jesus, through a British disciple (a composer), and I am rereading it now. Very wonderful. As beautiful as the snow that falls outside my window now. Yes,
manna from Heaven!
(yes,
many authors purport to "channel" so-and-so,
one must learn to discern, and it's not easy ... )
A
link to a chart of the Hierarchy of Masters, if a bit outdated ...
And if you would like to see drawings of some of the Masters, which are probably as accurate as any drawing could be ...
here. Christ is referred to by his Buddhist name,
Maitreya (yes, I know you're familiar with this idea - consider the picture, however, and notice it's not the same as Master J. - then also look at Master KH ...
interesting ... )
I do hope this is not seen as proselytism. I have no interest in changing anyone's beliefs or faith
one whit ... unless perhaps, in something I've said, you might find something of use. I have gained much from what's been said on this particular thread so far, and on many others. And for this, I am grateful.
Thus, in the spirit of sharing ...
Andrew
