“The Greek philosophy was full of pungent truth, and Jesus longed to study with the masters in the schools of Greece. And so he left his home in Nazareth and crossed the Carmel hills, and at the port took ship, and soon was in the Grecian capital.
“Now, the Athenians had heard of him as teacher and philosopher, and they were glad to have him come to them that they might hear his words of truth. Among the masters of the Greeks was one, Apollo, who was called, Defender of the Oracle, and recognized in many lands as Grecian sage. Apollo opened up for Jesus all the doors of Grecian lore, and in the Areopagus he heard the wisest masters speak.
“But Jesus brought to them a wisdom greater far than theirs; and so he taught” (Aquarian Gospel 44:1-6).
The unseen power of the earth
“Once in the Amphitheatre he stood, and when Apollo bade him speak he said, Athenian masters, hear! In ages long ago, men, wise in nature’s laws, sought out and found the place on which your city stands. Full well you know that there are parts of earth where its great beating heart throws heavenward etheric waves that meet the ethers from above: where spirit-light and understanding, like the stars of night, shine forth. Of all the parts of earth there is no place more sensitized, more truly spirit-blest, than that where Athens stands” (Aquarian Gospel 44:7-11).
Before considering these words of Jesus, I would like to point out that those who are wise in matters of spirit usually are wise in lesser things, as well. The saints I met in India were every one extremely sensible people, possessing a wealth of practical knowledge. And this we see in Jesus, as well. In the twentieth century, Sri Ramana Maharshi was a marvel of intellectual power, even possessing knowledge of herbology which today is embodied in the many herbal formulas that are made and used by those in the Ramanashram. The range of Paramhansa Yogananda’s practical knowledge was immeasurable.
Only in the last century did people in the West begin to realize that there is a kind of energy grid on the face of the earth, but the ancients knew about it very well, and often built spiritual centers where the energy lines intersected. Here we see that the acropolis of Athens is built on one such power spot. The Druids used this knowledge in both Ireland and England. In India for centuries past calculation the location of “tapobhumis”–places so magnetic that any kind of esoteric practice is greatly amplified–have been known. In America there are government maps that show the magnetic patterns. Our ashram is presently located at the strongest positive magnetic area in the state.
The true glory of Greece
“Yea, all of Greece is blest. No other land has been the homeland of such mighty men of thought as grace your scrolls of fame. A host of sturdy giants of philosophy, of poetry, of science, and of art, were born upon the soil of Greece, and rocked to manhood in your cradle of pure thought.
“I come not here to speak of science, of philosophy, or art; of these you are the world’s best masters now” (Aquarian Gospel 44:12-14).
Wisdom is the greatest heritage any culture can transmit, and Jesus rightly praises Greece.
Yet there is more…
“But all your high accomplishments are but stepping stones to worlds beyond the realm of sense; are but illusive shadows flitting on the walls of time. But I would tell you of a life beyond, within; a real life that cannot pass away. In science and philosophy there is no power strong enough to fit a soul to recognize itself, or to commune with God” (Aquarian Gospel 44:15-17).
Jesus acknowledges and respects all the cultural greatness of Greece, but points out that even the intellectual brilliance of the philosophers is not and end in itself, but is meant to lead to the knowledge that will raise human beings to the transcendent Reality, beside which, as he says all things “are but illusive shadows flitting on the walls of time.” In other words, the highest knowledge is that of yoga, by means of which we rise from the limitations of materiality and expand into the vastness of spirit.
One of the traits of a cult is militant anti-intellectuality and a prohibition of reading or studying anything that is not produced by the cult to indoctrinate its members. Sadly, there are quite a few yoga cults in the West which try to reduce their members to ignoramuses (if they are not already so; some cults mostly attract the ignorant and foolish). They fear independent thinking and especially hate creativity, accusing both of being “ego” and “maya.” Mediocrity alone is acceptable. But Jesus is not a cultist–whatever those who claim to be his followers may be–and so he continues:
“I would not stay the flow of your great streams of thought; but I would turn them to the channels of the soul” (Aquarian Gospel 44:18).
Jesus explains
Respecting the intelligence of his hearers, Jesus explains his position so they can realize its correctness for themselves.
“Unaided by the Spirit-breath, the work of intellection tends to solve the problems of the things we see, and nothing more” (Aquarian Gospel 44:19).
This is not a condemnation of practical intelligence, but a reasonable statement regarding its limitations. No one reasonably expect that ordinary intelligence can reach to and grasp anything beyond the earth plane, and the same is true of language. It is impossible for normal thought or speech to express what which lies beyond earthly life–and therefore beyond the comprehension and even experience of the majority of people. That is why religions that conform to those limitations actually bind their members to limitation and prevent their growing beyond them. But if some do break through into a wider insight or view of things, they find that all they have previously known is basically useless. Confusion and frustration alone can result until they find and apply the teachings of those who have gone beyond and established themselves in expanded awareness.
Without the body and the senses we could not live and evolve on the earth, “the field of dharma,” but:
“The senses were ordained to bring into the mind mere pictures of the things that pass away; they do not deal with real things; they do not comprehend eternal law” (Aquarian Gospel 44:20).
The body and its faculties are invaluable, but they, too, have their limitations. We never really see or hear or taste or smell what is going on, but experience only the neurological translations of external objects. The world truly does exist outside us, but our experience of it is purely subjective and internal. That is why we call it maya–illusion. Not that the world is unreal or non-existent, but that our perception of it can be mistaken and therefore unreal. The mind and senses cannot by their very nature perceive or interact with that which is “real” in the sense of being eternal and unchanging. Since we ourselves are really eternal and unchanging, we cannot know our own self until we open faculties beyond the mind and senses. Again, that is what yoga is all about.
“But man has something in his soul, a something that will tear the veil apart that he may see the world of real things” (Aquarian Gospel 44:21).
This is a most important fact: the impulse to transcendence of mundane experience and existence is inherent in each one of us. Like leaven in dough, in time it will bring about expansion of awareness and the dispelling of past and present illusions, opening our inner eyes to realms of increasing reality as we ascend in consciousness. At first that opening is spontaneous, but after a certain point–the advent of yoga–we take charge and methodically continue our growth under the aegis of our own will.
“We call this something, spirit consciousness; it sleeps in every soul, and cannot be awakened till the Holy Breath becomes a welcome guest. This Holy Breath knocks at the door of every soul, but cannot enter in until the will of man throws wide the door” (Aquarian Gospel 44:22, 23).
Here again, this is a matter of evolution. The Holy Spirit pervades all and continually draws each sentient being onward to further evolution, but the real opening of each one of us to/in the life of spirit only takes place when we decide to seek for such opening. Our will must become operative, for it is superior even to our intellect. The moment we decide to pursue higher life, the needful opening begins. However:
“There is no power in intellect to turn the key; philosophy and science both have toiled to get a glimpse behind the veil; but they have failed” (Aquarian Gospel 44:24).
We must look elsewhere for the ability to attain our aspiration, and Jesus gives us the first, absolutely necessary step:
“The secret spring that throws ajar the door of soul is touched by nothing else than purity in life, by prayer and holy thought” (Aquarian Gospel 44:25).
We must purify our mind and body in the manner recommended by the yogis as yama and niyama, we must reach out in mind and heart toward God, our Supreme Self, and engage in meditation and prayer. This alone will enable us to open the door to Life Divine. Just being interested in yoga and practicing its mechanics is in no way enough. We must follow this counsel of Jesus. Nearly every yogi I met in the last half-century eventually fell or faded away. Why? Because they did not purify themselves in the manner Patanjali prescribes as the first step in the practice of yoga. Their failure was inevitable.
Let us, then, take seriously the final exhortation of Jesus:
“Return, O mystic stream of Grecian thought, and mingle your clear waters with the flood of Spirit-life; and then the spirit consciousness will sleep no more, and man will know, and God will bless” (Aquarian Gospel 44:26).
It is up to us:
“When Jesus had thus said he stepped aside. The Grecian masters were astonished at the wisdom of his words; they answered not” (Aquarian Gospel 44:27).
Once we learn the way, then it is all up to us. There is nothing the teacher, even the greatest of masters, can do. Even God has no part in it. We must set our will and work at the Great Work of uncovering our spirit consciousness.
Let us not be silent like the Grecians, but give a resounding YES and begin running the race that ends in Liberation.
Read the next section in the Aquarian Gospel for Yogis: The Oracle of Delphi