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The Kingdom Revealed

Hoffman's portrait of ChristPart 46 of the Aquarian Gospel for Awakening

“And Jesus said, There is no night where shines the sun; I have no secret messages to give; in light all secrets are revealed.

“Ajainin said, I came from far-away Lahore, that I might learn about this ancient wisdom, and this kingdom of the Holy One of which you speak. Where is the kingdom? where the king? Who are the subjects? what its laws?

“And Jesus said, This kingdom is not far away, but man with mortal eyes can see it not; it is within the heart. You need not seek the king in earth, or sea, or sky; he is not there, and yet is everywhere. He is the Christ of God; is universal love. The gate of this dominion is not high, and he who enters it must fall down on his knees. It is not wide, and none can carry carnal bundles through. The lower self must be transmuted into spirit-self; the body must be washed in living streams of purity” (Aquarian Gospel 29:16-22).

A reflection

How perilous is the search for truth! The moment we decide to seek for higher consciousness–especially if we decide to take up meditation–there unfolds before us a panorama of clamoring ignorance, a raucous carnival of spiritual ignorance demanding our trust and our time. A myriad teachers are hawked by devotee-barkers, each one God’s Special Messenger For The Age (some are even The Avatar of the Age), making outrageous claims that even the nineteenth century Medicine Shows could not surpass. And the spiritual rubes (dupes) crowd in with exuberant hope of being fleeced–and worse. Those who are worthy teachers, not joining in the sideshow, are like Saint John the Baptist, “a voice crying in the wilderness” (John 1:23) Yet those who are true of heart will hear those voices and find the real treasure they desire.

When Swami Vivekananda came to America he was immediately denounced by the fake yogis that were making a living off the uninformed sincerity of many Americans. Rabid with jealously they even tried to have him banned from the Parliament of Religions he was attending in Chicago. The same was true of Swami (Paramhansa) Yogananda. Nevertheless, they transformed the lives of numberless thousands, Yogananda personally teaching yoga meditation to one hundred thousand people. And through their printed works both Vivekananda and Yogananda are even now imparting spiritual truth and inspiration to seekers throughout the world. The light cannot be buried, yet aspirants can wander down many byways and endure frustration and disappointment. Some do give up in despair and spend another lifetime wandering in the mists of spiritual confusion. Therefore, when someone comes across an honest teacher who speaks the truth openly and fully, a treasure beyond price has been found. Such a one was Jesus, as Ajainin discovered.

In the Light

“And Jesus said, There is no night where shines the sun; I have no secret messages to give; in light all secrets are revealed” (Aquarian Gospel 29:16).

Surely Jesus was aware that at the end of his life Gotama the Buddha stated emphatically that he had no secret or advanced esoteric teachings to be imparted only to the wise. He even insisted that he had never spoken symbolically; that whatever he had said should be understood in a thoroughly ordinary manner–no symbols, no hidden meanings, no hints for only “the worthy” to comprehend. He had said exactly what he meant and had meant exactly what he had said–nothing more and nothing less.

Where the light of truth shines there are no secret teachings. Being embodiments of truth, genuine spiritual teachers keep nothing back and never veil anything. They speak openly to all, just as do guileless children. (This is one of the reasons why saints love children.) Jesus told his disciples that they must “become as little children” to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3; Luke 18:17). Saints are not childish–as are many fake gurus of today–but they are childlike in their straightforwardness and honesty. Truth and truth alone comes from their mouth, and that in fullness. For this reason many in the world do not love the saints. But that affects them not at all.

Secrecy

In spiritual life secrecy equals charlatanry. “I know something you don’t know” is as popular with infantile spiritual pretenders as it is with little children. This is not a trait of childhood recommended by the saints. All through childhood we encounter the “I know a secret” types, and some of them grow up to become secretive adults who believe themselves special and chosen if they know the arcana revealed only to the worthy few–especially in religion, and Eastern religion and yoga particularly.

Fake yoga literally traffics in Secret Teachings. Mystification and not mysticism characterizes quack yogis. Leading their ego-hungry followers ever onward and onward toward the next “advanced teaching” they keep them bound–oops! loyal–in greedy expectation. Atremble with egoic anticipation they crowd into the Chamber of Secrets–as spiritually deadly as the Harry Potter version, and just as fictional.

Lest you think this is a personal bee-in-the-bonnet with me, here are the words of Swami Vivekananda, one of the greatest spiritual figures known to the world. Speaking of yoga to his American students, he had this to say:

“In India, for various reasons, it [yoga] fell into the hands of persons who destroyed ninety per cent of the knowledge, and tried to make a great secret of the remainder.…

“Anything that is secret and mysterious in these systems of Yoga should be at once rejected. The best guide in life is strength. In religion, as in all other matters, discard everything that weakens you, have nothing to do with it. Mystery-mongering weakens the human brain. It has well-nigh destroyed Yoga–one of the grandest of sciences. From the time it was discovered, more than four thousand years ago, Yoga was perfectly delineated, formulated, and preached in India. It is a striking fact that the more modern the commentator the greater the mistakes he makes, while the more ancient the writer the more rational he is. Most of the modern writers talk of all sorts of mystery. Thus Yoga fell into the hands of a few persons who made it a secret, instead of letting the full blaze of daylight and reason fall upon it. They did so that they might have the powers to themselves.”

In short, Jesus followed the philosophy of the old country preacher in a joke I heard as a child. This preacher was very popular, and when asked the secret of his popularity he replied: “I tell them what I am going to tell them; and then I’ve done told them.” Divine simplicity.

The quest

The kingdom of God is not a secret, but it is unseen to most of humanity. So it must be sought. Therefore:

“Ajainin said, I came from far-away Lahore, that I might learn about this ancient wisdom, and this kingdom of the Holy One of which you speak” (Aquarian Gospel 29:17).

Because of the thrust of the later part of Ajainin’s words we can easily miss a profound insight that he certainly had. For he states that he had come to Jesus “that I might learn about this ancient wisdom.” Wise man. He knows that truth is eternal, primeval, that any “new truth” is no truth at all. This, along with secrecy is another bugaboo: “New Age Teachings For A New Age.” “Yoga For Modern Man.” “Ancient Truths Reinterpreted For Today.” Fiddlesticks. And somewhere lagging back along the parade of silliness is Yoga For Westerners taught by a host of American gurus. (No longer need we have an Indian who cannot understand our Western ways tell us what to do_–especially a monk.)

The human race has not mutated into another species. What was true at its inception is just as true now. Nor has the earth morphed into something else. Conditions today are as they were always. The discoveries of the ancient yogis are neither new nor old–they are the facts.

The kingdom

“Where is the kingdom? where the king? Who are the subjects? what its laws?

“And Jesus said, This kingdom is not far away, but man with mortal eyes can see it not; it is within the heart” (Aquarian Gospel 29:18, 19).

Can we think of a single religion that does not try to make the kingdom of the spirit a material, religio-political entity? Christians equate “the Church” with the kingdom–a kingdom to be found on earth, whose life is externalized and administered by those that claim to be representatives of God and interpreters of His revelation. “Outside the Church there is no salvation!” they trumpet, meaning only their faction of theological opinion. All religions claim that seekers must join them and become members “in good standing”–a “standing” that is really stagnation. The only religion we cannot join is the Eternal Religion to which we have belonged from eternity. It is sad that even in India people are busily creating differences and thinking of labels to distance themselves from each other. “I am a Vaishnava.” I am a Shaivite.” “I am a shakta.” I am a bhakta.” “I am a jnani.” And on and on and on. Rare are those who just want to be the Self.

The dweller in the heart

But Jesus tells Ajainin that the kingdom is both near and invisible to earthly eyes, for “it is within the heart.” And what is within the heart? Only the Self. We are ourselves (our Selves) the kingdom. Here are just a few passages regarding this from the Katha Upanishad:

“The ancient, effulgent being, the indwelling Spirit, subtle, deep-hidden in the lotus of the heart, is hard to know. But the wise man, following the path of meditation, knows him, and is freed alike from pleasure and from pain” (Katha Upanishad 1:2:12).

“This Self forever dwells within the hearts of all. When a man is free from desire, his mind and senses purified, he beholds the glory of the Self and is without sorrow” (Katha Upanishad 1:2:20).

“Both the individual self and the Universal Self have entered the cave of the heart, the abode of the Most High” (Katha Upanishad 1:3:1).

“This Brahman, this Self, deep-hidden in all beings, is not revealed to all; but to the seers, pure in heart, concentrated in mind–to them is he revealed” (Katha Upanishad 1:3:12).

“None beholds him with the eyes, for he is without visible form. Yet in the heart is he revealed, through self-control and meditation. Those who know him become immortal” (Katha Upanishad 2:3:9).

Any external “kingdom,” however religious and noble, is not the real spiritual kingdom, and we must not accept it as such, for we shall then be distracted from the real kingdom. Animals run in herds and are directed by the biggest and strongest animal. Those who have not fully emerged into humanity despite inhabiting a human body, still desire the security, the safety, of such a structure in their religion. Even the coercion, the bullying, assures them.

The masters all call us into the freedom and independence of the Self, but their ignorant followers hurriedly fix up a religion so they can feel comfortable in dependence and confinement. “Adore the Messenger and ignore the Message” is the motto of all externalized religion. The Great Ones call us to the glory of the Self, but the religions erected in their names extol the glory of the Holy Herd and preach the sinfulness, valuelessness, and helplessness of the herd members. They rob them of the kingdom which their founders came to open for them.

Yet in each religion we find those who spirits are awakened and who are actively seeking transcendence of the false self, the ego. Together they constitute the one true religion of the Spirit-Self. In time, however, they will find themselves alienated from those outer shells and will have to walk the path on their own. If they can find some others like themselves that is a blessing, but they must be careful not to join together to create another soul-trap. It is absolutely true that the way to God is the flight of the alone to the Alone.

Not there

“You need not seek the king in earth, or sea, or sky; he is not there, and yet is everywhere” (Aquarian Gospel 29:20a).

God is all-encompassing, yet He is not to be found in any “thing” whatsoever. That is, as long as we have “thing consciousness” we cannot have God Consciousness. Also, we must not look for God in a “place,” but utterly beyond time and space. God is everywhere and nowhere–so the yogis say.

Who he is

“He is the Christ of God; is universal love” (Aquarian Gospel 29:20b).

“God is love” (I John 4:8, 16). The Christ–Messiah, Christos–is the Anointed One. And the “oil” with which he is anointed is the Cosmic Love of God. For the Christ is nothing other than the Self which is bathed in the Love that is God and made eternally radiant. This is why a saint is the presence of God’s love for us.

Through the gate

“The gate of this dominion is not high, and he who enters it must fall down on his knees. It is not wide, and none can carry carnal bundles through” (Aquarian Gospel 29:21).

Saint Matthew recorded Jesus as saying: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13, 14). In this instance Jesus is saying that people can hardly even see the gate that leads to the life of the spirit. But in this verse from the Aquarian Gospel he is speaking of how hard it is to enter the gate of life after it is found.

The gate of this dominion is not high, and he who enters it must fall down on his knees. In ancient times the doors to sacred places were often made very low so that those entering would come in already bowing in reverence. It is said that the Mayan pyramids had such shallow and steep steps so worshippers were compelled to climb up bowing in humility all the way. Jesus is thus telling us that the gate of the kingdom must be entered through identical humility

It is not wide, and none can carry carnal bundles through. This is equally important for us to comprehend. Not only is the door short so we must enter on our knees, it is so narrow that we cannot bring anything through but ourselves–the consciousness of ourselves as spirit-beings. No “bundles” of material consciousness or attachments can come with us, and if we refuse to divest ourselves of such encumbrances we will find ourselves unable to enter. Many, oh so many, stick in the gate and never get through, like the greedy monkey unable to pull its fist out of the narrow-necked jar, yet refusing to “give up the goods.” This is why meditation is so necessary. Only through meditation do we learn to drop the bundles of materiality from our consciousness.

The needed change

“The lower self must be transmuted into spirit-self; the body must be washed in living streams of purity” (Aquarian Gospel 29:22).

This is an extremely important principle, for ignorant religion tells us we must either destroy or escape from the lower self–advice which Sri Ramana Maharshi said is like telling someone to bury their shadow.

Authentic spiritual teaching is what Jesus tells us: the lower self can be transmuted into spirit-self. This should not really be so amazing to us if we really believe that spirit is the only reality, that there is nothing but spirit at any time. Here, too, what is being presented to us is the need for a change in consciousness. When the consciousness changes, everything changes. We see this continually in the lives of saints and masters–matter continually behaves contrary to its supposed nature. This is because it is not really matter, but conscious intelligence. That is how Jesus walked on water and turned it into wine. He saw the water as solid and firm–and as wine. His seeing was sufficient. As Sri Ramakrishna often said: “The mind is everything.” Again, meditation is the key.

The body must be washed in living streams of purity. Jesus does not leave out even the lowest part of ourselves–the body. As John the Beloved Disciple wrote: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (I John 3:2, 3).

How is the body washed in living streams of purity? By thought, word, and deed. Absolute purity in these are essential–at least for those who seriously aspire to spiritual development. That which is right and good is also purifying. The moral principles found in all true religions are indispensable.

The supreme purifier is meditation, for in meditation the living streams of God-Consciousness arise from the core of the yogis being and cleanse him of all impurities.

“As the scripture hath said, out of his inmost heart shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38).

Read the next section in the Aquarian Gospel for Yogis: The King Revealed

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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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