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What Is A Messiah?

Hoffman's portrait of ChristPart 90 of the Aquarian Gospel for Awakening

A parable of a Messiah
Next day the multitudes were surging through the temple courts, intent on hearing Jesus speak. And when he came the people said, All hail! behold the king!

“And Jesus spoke a parable; he said, A king had vast domains; his people all were kin, and lived in peace. Now, after many years the king said to his people, Take these lands and all I have; enhance their values; rule yourselves, and live in peace. And then the people formed their states; selected governors and petty kings. But pride, ambition, selfish greed, and base ingratitude grew fast, and kings began to war. They wrote in all their statute books that might is right; and then the strong destroyed the weak, and chaos reigned through all the vast domain. A long time passed, and then the king looked out on his domain. He saw his people in their cruel wars; he saw them sick and sore distressed; he saw the strong enslave the weak, and then he said, What shall I do? Shall I send forth a scourge? shall I destroy my people all?

“And then his heart was stirred with pity and he said, I will not send a scourge; I will send forth my only son, heir to the throne, to teach the people love, and peace, and righteousness. He sent his son; the people scorned him and maltreated him, and nailed him to a cross. He was entombed; but death was far too weak to hold the prince, and he arose. He took a form man could not kill; and then he went again to teach the people love, and peace and righteousness. And thus God deals with men” (Aquarian Gospel 73:1-14).

This parable is easy to understand, so I need only point out a few things.

A king had vast domains; his people all were kin, and lived in peace. First of all, this parable has a much wider and deeper meaning than the versions we get in the Bible. That seems to be speaking only of the Hebrews, but this has a much wider application. In fact, the first part is speaking of Messiah-Christs in general.

This sentence is presenting the truth that all sentient beings in creation are “kin”–children of the One Father. The divine spark in each one is a part of God. Originally all lived together in oneness and perfect communication with each other. The following is a written description by Saint Ambrose of Optina (Russia), who was the spiritual guide to untold thousands in the nineteenth century Russian Orthodox Church. This is his own account of the experience that triggered his spiritual quest.

“Suddenly, I am outside of the forest, somewhere far away, in another world, quite unknown to me, never seen by me, never imagined by me. Around me there is bright, white light! Its transcendence is so pure and enticing that I am submerged, along with my perception, into limitless depths and cannot satisfy myself with my admiration for this realm, cannot completely fill myself with its lofty spirituality. Everything is so full of beauty all around. So endearing this life–so endless the way. I am being swept across this limitless, clear space. My sight is directed upwards, does not descend anymore, does not see anything earthly. The whole of the heavenly firmament has transformed itself before me into one general bright light, pleasing to the sight.

“But I do not see the sun. I can see only its endless shining and bright light. The whole space in which I glide without hindrance, without end, without fatigue, is filled with white, just as is its light and beautiful beings, transparent as a ray of the sun. And through them I am admiring this limitless world. The images of all these beings unknown to me are infinitely diverse and full of beauty“I also am white and bright as they are. Over me, as over them, there reigns eternal rest. Not a single thought of mine is any longer enticed by anything earthly, not a single beat of my heart is any longer moving with human cares or earthly passion. I am all peace and rapture. But I am still moving in this infinite light, which surrounds me without change. There is nothing else in the world except for the white, bright light and these equally radiant numberless beings. But all these beings do not resemble me, nor are similar to each other; they are all endlessly varied and compellingly attractive. Amidst them, I feel myself incredibly peaceful. They evoke in me neither fear, nor amazement, nor trepidation. All that we see here does not agitate us, does not amaze us. All of us here are as if we have belonged to each other for a long time, are used to each other and are not strangers at all. We do not ask questions, we do not speak to each other about anything. We all feel and understand that there is nothing novel for us here. All our questions are solved with one glance, which sees everything and everyone. There is no trace of the wars of passions in anyone. All move in different directions, opposite to each other, not feeling any limitation, any inequality, or envy, or sorrow, or sadness. One peace reigns in all the images of entities. One light is endless for all. Oneness of life is comprehensible to all.

“My rapture at all this superseded everything. I sank into this eternal rest. No longer was my spirit disturbed by anything. And I knew nothing else earthly. None of the tribulations of my heart came to mind, even for a minute. It seemed that everything that I had experienced before on earth never existed. Such was my feeling in this new radiant world of mine. And I was at peace and joyful and desired nothing better for myself. All my earthly thoughts concerning fleeting happiness in the world died in this beautiful life, new to me, and did not come back to life again. So it seemed to me at least, there, in that better world.

“But how I came back here–I do not recall. What transitory state it was, I do not know. I only felt that I was alive, but I did not remember the world in which I lived before on earth. This did not seem at all to be a dream. Actually, about earthly things I no longer had the least notion. I only felt that the present life is mine, and that I was not a stranger in it. In this state of spirit I forgot myself and immersed myself in this light-bearing eternity. And this timelessness lasted without end, without measure, without expectation, without sleep, in this eternal rest. Thus it seemed to me that there would not be any kind of change.”

This is a most perfect description of the state of all spirits before they entered into relativity to begin evolution unto divinity, and that is what Jesus is referring to in this first sentence of the parable. It in the context of this description that we can understand the rest.

Now, after many years the king said to his people, Take these lands and all I have; enhance their values; rule yourselves, and live in peace. Eventually the spirits were sent forth into the “world” of relative existence and took on material forms, evolving from one form to another, each one being a step on the ladder of evolution of consciousness. Each one was intended to be in perfect mastery of his growth and to rest in the peace of his original status. But something went wrong:

A long time passed, and then the king looked out on his domain. He saw his people in their cruel wars; he saw them sick and sore distressed; he saw the strong enslave the weak. Although human ills are described here, the entire earth was affected by ignorance and misery.

And then he said, What shall I do? Shall I send forth a scourge? shall I destroy my people all? And then his heart was stirred with pity and he said, I will not send a scourge. What a difference from “the God of the Old Testament” who supposedly “in his anger” destroyed the entire human race except for Noah and his family. There are many “flood stories” in the lore of ancient cultures, including that of India, none of which attribute vengeful anger to a peeved deity.

I will send forth my only son, heir to the throne, to teach the people love, and peace, and righteousness. In the Gita, God tells us: “When goodness grows weak, when evil increases, I make myself a body. In every age I come back to deliver the holy, to destroy the sin of the sinner, to establish righteousness. He who knows the nature of my task and my holy birth is not reborn when he leaves this body: he comes to me” (Bhagavad Gita 4:7-9). In every age God is “born” in the body of a liberated Master who, as a Son of God, appears on earth to turn people from evil back to the good–to God. Actually there are usually more than one “avatar” in every age. Those who draw near and learn fully from them are set on the path to liberation, themselves becoming Sons of God in that very life. In that way the avatar’s message is continued–not through an exclusive organization, but through living Masters who have understand the purpose of the avatar’s birth among humanity.

He sent his son; the people scorned him and maltreated him, and nailed him to a cross. He was entombed; but death was far too weak to hold the prince, and he arose. He took a form man could not kill; and then he went again to teach the people love, and peace and righteousness. Jesus is now speaking prophetically of his own particular future, but it is a sad truth that the avatars are hated and harassed by the evil ones whose love darkness rather than light. Rama was attacked by Ravana, the demonic king of Sri Lanka. For years the evil Duryodhana tried to kill Krishna, and before that his uncle Kansa did the same throughout his childhood. Attempts were made on the life of Buddha. Many people plotted the death of the great Master Yogananda. On occasion he refused to meet with people who came to the ashram. After they left he would tell the residents, “They were sent to kill me.” And of course we have the example of the Lord Jesus as described here.

What was true about Jesus is true about us: we cannot die. Our life may be interrupted by the interlude called “death” but we live forever and through many births arise to the same Christhood attained by Jesus.

And thus God deals with men. For he intends their perfection and liberation in Him. That is why Saint John said: “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” (I John 3:2). When after our own “resurrection” and “ascension” we meet with God again, face to Face, we will see that we are divine parts of him, rays of His great Light.

Jesus explains what is a Messiah

“A lawyer came and asked, What does messiah mean? and who has right to make messiah of a man?

“And Jesus said, Messiah is one sent from God to seek and save the lost. Messiahs are not made by men. In first of every age Messiah comes to light the way; to heal up broken hearts; to set the prisoners free. Messiah and the Christ are one.

“Because a man claims to be Christ is not a sign that he is Christ. A man may cause the streams to flow from flinty rocks; may bring storms at will; may stay tempestuous winds; may heal the sick and raise the dead, and not be sent from God.

“All nature is subservient to the will of man, and evil men, as well as good, have all the powers of mind, and may control the elements. The head gives not the proof of true messiahship, for man by means of intellect, can never know of God, nor bring himself to walk in light.

“Messiah lives not in the head, but in the heart, the seat of mercy and of love. Messiah never works for selfish gains; he stands above the carnal self; his words and deeds are for the universal good. Messiah never tries to be a king, to wear a crown and sit upon an earthly throne. The king is earthy, of the earth; Messiah is the man from heaven.

“And then the lawyer asked, Why do you pose as king? And Jesus said, No man has ever heard me say that I am king. I could not sit in Caesar’s place and be the Christ. Give unto Caesar what belongs to him; give unto God the treasures of your heart” (Aquarian Gospel 73:15-28).

Messiah is one sent from God to seek and save the lost. People become annoyed when asked: “Are you saved?” but the question is not amiss, even though the questioner may not understand what “being saved” really means. But the “saved” know, for God has touched them through the teachings of one of His avatars, and they have heard the call: “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Ephesians 5:14). The Christ light will be that of our own eternal Christ-nature.

Messiahs are not made by men. In first of every age Messiah comes to light the way; to heal up broken hearts; to set the prisoners free. Messiah and the Christ are one. Only a Christ can do the things Jesus lists here. And all humanity desperately needs light, healing, and freedom. Many may call someone a Christ, an avatar, but only those who can do these things are really so. We should never take a person seriously just because he has many followers, especially among the powerful–that is usually a sign that such a one is not a Christ. Christs never head large “movements” or start organizations which accumulate wealth and power. Sad to say, comparatively few people can really follow a Christ.

“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:23, 24). “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).

Because a man claims to be Christ is not a sign that he is Christ. A man may cause the streams to flow from flinty rocks; may bring storms at will; may stay tempestuous winds; may heal the sick and raise the dead, and not be sent from God. This is very important, because nearly all Christians cite the miracles of Jesus as proof of his Christhood, but he says differently. It is only those who can “save souls” from the ocean of samsara, of constant birth and death, by leading them to the path of enlightenment, that are Christs. Miracles should count for nothing in our eyes. Many evil and deluded people can work miracles through “black magic” or spirits. There are insane people that can read minds, foretell the future, know things beyond the normal scope of knowledge, levitate, become weightless, and even pass through walls or transport themselves from one point to another in an instant. I know this is true by my own experience and that of friends. I met a man who (in pre-Vatican II days) was an assistant to the official exorcist of the diocese of St. Louis. He told of astounding things he had seen possessed people do, including climbing or running up walls to escape the exorcist.

All nature is subservient to the will of man, and evil men, as well as good, have all the powers of mind, and may control the elements. Patanjali (Yoga Sutras 4:1) writes about how many yoga powers can be wielded by ignorant people through several means including drugs. Hypnosis can also be used to produce astonishing effects. We must be careful to distinguish between that which is merely psychic and that which is spiritual. Often their manifestations appear the same and it is assumed that psychically powerful people are spiritual when they are not. Truly spiritual phenomena proceed from illumined consciousness.

The head gives not the proof of true messiahship, for man by means of intellect, can never know of God, nor bring himself to walk in light. Messiah lives not in the head, but in the heart, the seat of mercy and of love. Messiah never works for selfish gains; he stands above the carnal self; his words and deeds are for the universal good. Messiah never tries to be a king, to wear a crown and sit upon an earthly throne. The king is earthy, of the earth; Messiah is the man from heaven. This only requires a careful, thoughtful reading–not a commentary.

And then the lawyer asked, Why do you pose as king? And Jesus said, No man has ever heard me say that I am king. I could not sit in Caesar’s place and be the Christ. Give unto Caesar what belongs to him; give unto God the treasures of your heart. It is the custom of the evil and foolish to make false and irresponsible accusations against those who seek higher life.

It is important for us to seriously ponder the implications of Jesus’s words: “I could not sit in Caesar’s place and be the Christ.” Earthly power is not compatible with Christhood, especially political power, and rare are those who can possess vast earthly wealth and not be controlled by it. Wealth and power are addicting and enslaving. We must clearly perceive the demarcation between the material and the spiritual, between the earthly and the heavenly. It is not for nothing that princes and kings have renounced the wealth and power of the world in order to win the kingdom of spirit. They were wise, and we should be, too, and follow their example.

Read the next section in the Aquarian Gospel for Yogis: The Laws of Healing

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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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