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Chapter One Hundred Forty Four

Hoffman's portrait of ChristPart 156 of the Aquarian Gospel for Awakening

When they had journeyed through the towns and cities of the land of Galilee, the Lord with his disciples came to Tiberius, and here they met a few who loved the name of Christ. And Jesus told them many things about the inner life; but when the multitudes came up, he spoke a parable; he said (Aquarian Gospel 144:1, 2).

Here we see a plain demarcation between those who love the Gospel as their very lives and those who do not yet so understand. Direct and open instruction regarding the inner life is given to the first group, but the other must first understand how to skillfully live the outer life before the mysteries of the inner life can be revealed to them. It is not a matter of worthy or unworthy, but of capable and incapable. It is a matter of evolution, nothing more. This principle is uppermost in the mind and heart of a worthy teacher and he will never violate it.

A certain man with great possessions had two sons. The youngest son grew tired of life at home and said, My father, pray divide your wealth and give the portion that is mine to me, and I will seek my fortune in another land. The father did as he desired, and with his wealth the young man went into a foreign land.

He was a profligate and soon had squandered all his wealth in ways of sin. When nothing else remained for him to do he found employment in the fields to care for swine. And he was hungry, and no one gave him aught to eat, and so he ate the carob pods that he was feeding to the swine.

And after many days he found himself and said unto himself, My father is a man of wealth; he has a score of servants who are bountifully fed while I, his son, am starving in the fields among the swine. I do not hope to be received again as son, but I will rise and go straight to my father’s house, and I will make confession of my waywardness; and I will say, My father, I am come again; I am profligate, and I have lost my wealth in ways of sin; I am not worthy to be called your son. I do not ask to be received again as son, but let me have a place among your servants, where I may have a shelter from the storms and have enough to eat. (Aquarian Gospel 144:3-12)

And after many days he found himself and said unto himself. Self-forgetfulness is a major factor in earthly life. That is why in the esoteric Mass formulated by Bishops Wedgwood and Leadbeater of the Liberal Catholic Church the Confiteor (Confession) is vastly different from that of any other Mass form: “O Lord, thou hast created man to be immortal and made him to be an image of thine own eternity; yet often we forget the glory of our heritage and wander from the path which leads to righteousness. But thou, O Lord, hast made us for thyself and our hearts are ever restless till they find their rest in thee. Look with the eyes of thy love upon our manifold imperfections and pardon all our shortcomings, that we may be filled with the brightness of the everlasting light and become the unspotted mirror of thy power and the image of thy goodness; through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

This alone is the aspiration worthy of the children of God, immortal spirits rooted in the very being of God. Only when we realize that this is the truth about ourselves can we have any valid perspective on spiritual life and hope to make any progress.

One sign of a person having “come to himself” as the Gospel of Luke puts it is his taking himself in hand and beginning to reason within himself and directing himself to higher life.

I do not hope to be received again as son, but I will rise and go straight to my father’s house, and I will make confession of my waywardness; and I will say, My father, I am come again; I am profligate, and I have lost my wealth in ways of sin; I am not worthy to be called your son. I do not ask to be received again as son, but let me have a place among your servants, where I may have a shelter from the storms and have enough to eat. Buddha said more than once that the sign of spiritual awakening is the ability to feel shame. He did not mean self-loathing or self-condemnation, but the ability to realize when we have done something for which we should feel personal responsibility and regret. There are both spiritually healthy and spiritually unhealthy repentance. Regarding the healthy repentance Saint Paul wrote: “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter” (II Corinthians 7:9-11).

Therefore acknowledgment of culpability and the desire to not repeat the error is a holy and blessed thing. The desire to be a servant of God is also very healthy, because those who serve God serve humanity which we are told to love next to God. (“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself” Luke 10:27.) True humility is a great virtue. Who in the cosmos is as humble as God? Therefore holiness and humility are inseparable, but a positive humility based on love and respect for God and man.

And he arose and sought his father’s house, and as he came his mother saw him while yet a great way off. (A mother’s heart can feel the first faint yearning of a wandering child.) The father came, and hand in hand they walked a-down the way to meet the boy, and there was joy, great joy.

The boy tried hard to plead for mercy and a servant’s place; but love was all too great to listen to the plea. The door was opened wide; he found a welcome in the mother’s heart, and in the father’s heart. (Aquarian Gospel 144:13-17)

A mother’s heart can feel the first faint yearning of a wandering child. The boy tried hard to plead for mercy and a servant’s place; but love was all too great to listen to the plea. The door was opened wide; he found a welcome in the mother’s heart, and in the father’s heart. God is both our Father and our Mother. In God is the love and patience of Mother and the wisdom and order of Father. I once heard a great teacher say: “God is like an expert safecracker. The entire attention of the safecracker is engaged in listening for the sound of the tumblers falling into place. He immediately reacts to the slightest sound. In the same way God is listening with his whole being for even the least response from mankind. And he comes running at the slightest call of our heart.”

Again, true repentance is true love.

The father called the servants in, and bade them bring the finest robe for him; the choicest sandals for his feet; a ring of purest gold for him to wear. And then the father said, My servants, go and kill the fatted calf; prepare a feast, for we are glad; our son we thought was dead is here alive; a treasure that we thought was lost is found.

The feast was soon prepared and all were merry, when the eldest son who had been serving in a distant field and knew not that his brother had returned, came home. And when he learned the cause of all the merriment he was offended, and would not go into the house.

His father and his mother both besought him tearfully to disregard the waywardness and folly of their son; but he would not; he said, Lo, all these years I have remained at home, have served you every day, have never yet transgressed your most severe commands; and yet you never killed for me a kid, nor made for me a simple feast that I might make merry with my friends; but when your son, this profligate, who has gone forth and squandered half your wealth in ways of sin, comes home, because he could do nothing else, you kill for him the fatted calf and make a wondrous feast.

His father said, My son, all that I have is yours and you are ever with us in our joys; and it is well to show our gladness when your brother, who is near and dear to us, and who we thought was dead, returns to us alive. He may have been a profligate; may have consorted with gay courtesans and thieves, yet he is still your brother and our son. (Aquarian Gospel 144:18-29)

He may have been a profligate; may have consorted with gay courtesans and thieves, yet he is still your brother and our son. This must ever be our perspective about ourself and others. No matter what the past, even then and now and for always we and they are divine children of God. For that is our nature. Nothing can change it and nothing can prevent its eventual manifestation. Certainly a foolish past should be regretted but the ever-present potential for spiritual glory should be set in mind and its manifestation striven for.

Then Jesus said so all might hear: He who has ears to hear, and a heart to understand will comprehend the meaning of this parable.

Then Jesus and the twelve came to Capernaum. (Aquarian Gospel 144:30, 31)

The true Gospel of Jesus the Christ in its totality can only be known and understood by those whose hearts have been completely purified and opened to the divine light through the cultivation of spiritual consciousness, especially through meditation.

Read the next section in the Aquarian Gospel for Yogis

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The Aquarian Gospel—Commentary and Text

The Aquarian Gospel for Awakening—A Commentary on the Aquarian Gospel
by Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke)

  1. The Mother of Jesus
  2. Prophecies of the Births of Saint John the Baptist and Jesus
  3. The Birth of Jesus
  4. Revelations in the Temple
  5. Coming of the Wise Men
  6. Herod’s Reaction
  7. Revelations in Egypt
  8. The Two Selfs
  9. Deliverance From Gods and Demons
  10. About God the Tao
  11. From India to Chaldea
  12. The Wisdom of Buddha
  13. God and Prayer
  14. The Mission of Jesus and John the Baptist
  15. Sin and the Forgiveness of Sin
  16. The Universal Law of Man’s Free Will and the Divine Will For Man
  17. Understanding Death
  18. The True Teacher
  19. The Value of Ritual
  20. The Law Behind All Laws
  21. Opening To The Truth
  22. In the Temple at the Age of Ten
  23. Revelation to the Teachers and People in the Temple
  24. Jerusalem to Nazareth
  25. Nazareth to India
  26. What is Truth?
  27. What Is Man?
  28. What is Power?
  29. Understanding
  30. Wisdom
  31. Faith
  32. Healing and Healers
  33. Conflict Over Caste
  34. The Destiny of All Men
  35. God and Man
  36. The Voice in the Heart
  37. Seeing the Unseeable
  38. To God Through Man
  39. Who Is Jesus?
  40. The Real Versus The Apparent
  41. The Brotherhood of Life
  42. God…and Man
  43. Relating To God
  44. The Worthy Host
  45. Come to the Light
  46. The Kingdom Revealed
  47. The King Revealed
  48. Perspective On Death
  49. Fire and Sword
  50. Evolution: The Path of Glory
  51. The Real Heaven
  52. Getting to the Essence
  53. New Perspective on Religion
  54. In Tibet and Ladakh
  55. Words to the Worthy
  56. The Thirty-Eighth Chapter
  57. The Origin of Evil
  58. The Silence
  59. The Source of Healing
  60. The Fivefold Gospel
  61. Homecoming
  62. In Athens
  63. The Oracle of Delphi
  64. The Real God
  65. Return to Egypt
  66. First Steps to Wisdom
  67. Strong in Will and Intent
  68. Here Comes the Ego
  69. Blessed are the Merciful
  70. Claiming Our Freedom
  71. The Great Test
  72. Comprehending Death
  73. The Christ!
  74. The Asembly of the Masters
  75. The Seven Pillars of the Aquarian Age – I
  76. The Seven Pillars of the Aquarian Age – II
  77. The Declaration of Jesus
  78. John the Baptist – I
  79. John the Baptist – II
  80. John the Baptist – III
  81. Baptism – Jesus and John
  82. Self-Examination and Temptation
  83. The First Disciples Follow Jesus
  84. Jesus’ First Sermon
  85. The King and the Kingdom
  86. Dealing With Challengers
  87. The First Miracle of Jesus
  88. Kings and Kingdoms
  89. The Temple of God
  90. What Is A Messiah?
  91. The Laws of Healing
  92. Nicodemus Finds The Kingdom
  93. The Prince of Peace
  94. Dealing With Spiritual Opposition
  95. The Opened Gate
  96. John the Baptist Speaks of the Christ
  97. John Speaks Further About Jesus
  98. The Woman at the Well
  99. The Disciples and Samaritans at the Well
  100. Jesus in Sychar
  101. More Wisdom In Samaria
  102. The Imprisonment of John the Baptist
  103. In Jerusalem
  104. The Insights of Jesus
  105. Sabbath Wisdom
  106. Prayer and Good Deeds
  107. Divine Laws and Principles for Seekers of the Divine
  108. A New Understanding of the Ten Commandments
  109. Aspects of the Higher Law – 1
  110. Aspects of the Higher Law – 2
  111. Aspects of the Higher Law – 3
  112. Aspects of the Higher Law – 4
  113. Chapter One Hundred One
  114. Chapter One Hundred Two
  115. Chapter One Hundred Three
  116. Chapter One Hundred Four
  117. Chapter One Hundred Five
  118. Chapter One Hundred Six
  119. Chapter One Hundred Seven
  120. Chapter One Hundred Eight
  121. Chapter One Hundred Nine
  122. Chapter One Hundred Ten
  123. Chapter One Hundred Eleven
  124. Chapter One Hundred Twelve
  125. Chapter One Hundred Thirteen
  126. Chapter One Hundred Fourteen
  127. Chapter One Hundred Fifteen
  128. Chapter One Hundred Sixteen
  129. Chapter One Hundred Seventeen
  130. Chapter One Hundred Eighteen
  131. Chapter One Hundred Nineteen
  132. Chapter One Hundred Twenty
  133. Chapter One Hundred Twenty One
  134. Chapter One Hundred Twenty Two
  135. Chapter One Hundred Twenty Three
  136. Chapter One Hundred Twenty Four
  137. Chapter One Hundred Twenty Five
  138. Chapter One Hundred Twenty Six
  139. Chapter One Hundred Twenty Seven
  140. Chapter One Hundred Twenty Eight
  141. Chapter One Hundred Twenty Nine
  142. Chapter One Hundred Thirty
  143. Chapter One Hundred Thirty One
  144. Chapter One Hundred Thirty Two
  145. Chapter One Hundred Thirty Three
  146. Chapter One Hundred Thirty Four
  147. Chapter One Hundred Thirty Five
  148. Chapter One Hundred Thirty Six
  149. Chapter One Hundred Thirty Seven
  150. Chapter One Hundred Thirty Eight
  151. Chapter One Hundred Thirty Nine
  152. Chapter One Hundred Forty
  153. Chapter One Hundred Forty One
  154. Chapter One Hundred Forty Two
  155. Chapter One Hundred Forty Three
  156. Chapter One Hundred Forty Four
  157. Chapter One Hundred Forty Five
  158. Chapter One Hundred Forty Six
  159. Chapter One Hundred Forty Seven
  160. Chapter One Hundred Forty Eight
  161. Chapter One Hundred Forty Nine
  162. Chapter One Hundred Fifty
  163. Chapter One Hundred Fifty-One
  164. Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Two
  165. Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Three
  166. Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Four
  167. Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Five
  168. Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Six
  169. Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Seven
  170. Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Eight
  171. Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Nine
  172. Chapter One Hundred Sixty
  173. Chapter One Hundred Sixty One
  174. Chapter One Hundred Sixty Two
  175. Chapter One Hundred Sixty Three
  176. Chapter One Hundred Sixty Four
  177. Chapter One Hundred Sixty Five
  178. Chapter One Hundred Sixty Six
  179. Chapter One Hundred Sixty Seven
  180. Chapter One Hundred Sixty Eight
  181. Chapter One Hundred Sixty Nine
  182. Chapter One Hundred Seventy
  183. Chapter One Hundred Seventy One
  184. Chapter One Hundred Seventy Two
  185. Chapter One Hundred Seventy Three
  186. Chapter One Hundred Seventy Four
  187. Chapter One Hundred Seventy Five
  188. Chapter One Hundred Seventy Six
  189. Chapter One Hundred Seventy Seven
  190. Chapter One Hundred Seventy Eight
  191. Chapter One Hundred Seventy Nine
  192. Chapter One Hundred Eighty
  193. Chapter One Hundred Eighty One
  194. Chapter One Hundred Eighty Two

The Text of the Aquarian Gospel—by Levi Dowling

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