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In Athens

Hoffman's portrait of ChristPart 62 of the Aquarian Gospel for Awakening

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

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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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