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Onward and Upward

Chapter 88 of the Gospel of Thomas for Awakening

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Jesus said, The angels and the prophets will come to you and give to you those things you (already) have. And you too, give them those things which you have, and say to yourselves, ‘When will they come and take what is theirs?’ (88)

Part of the cosmic order includes the existence of a hierarchy which watches over the evolution of those just beneath them on the evolutionary ladder. In this way they, too, evolve upward for even in the higher worlds the order is: “love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:39). Human beings are meant to spiritually foster the plant and animal life as well as the general life sphere of the earth itself. In the same way the angels and saints are appointed to assist human beings in their spiritual development.

The angels and the prophets will come to you and give to you those things you (already) have. Those who resolve to lead the higher life immediately attract the attention of those angels and saints whose task it is to protect and guide those who truly desire ascension in consciousness. It is good if the aspirant is aware of this and prays to them frequently and is aware of their patronage that comes to those who ask for it. Learning about saints and angels is a vital part of the Christian’s spiritual life, especially those of esoteric perspective, because the assistance of these holy beings can contribute tremendously to success in all spiritual endeavors.

Though they help us greatly, yet it is as Jesus says: they give us what is ours already, but of which we were not previously aware. For example, a person of esoteric bent may be so absorbed in metaphysical forces and practices that he forgets the great power of simple, heartfelt prayer to God and his saints and angels. That power is inherent in him, but he does not realize the magnitude of such a simple thing as prayer. So they inspire him to pray and his inner resources make it effective. In that way they give us what is ours already. Especially assuming that the Christian is one that has access to a full sacramental life, there is much of his inner resources that remain to be shown him by his sacred patrons. (See The Yoga of the Sacraments.)

And you too, give them those things which you have. By heeding and forming a bond of spiritual friendship with them we “give” them what we have.

And say to yourselves, When will they come and take what is theirs? If we are totally faithful in our cooperation with our blessed helpers, then the higher powers that are fully manifest in them will begin to arise in us, and we will become more like the saints and angels and begin to yearn for the time when, as Jesus promised, “they may receive you into everlasting habitations” (Luke 16:9) where we shall join their ranks and then in turn begin helping those remaining on earth in their journey to ascension to higher worlds so like Rumi we will be able to say: “Thus o’er the angels’ world I wing my way onwards and upwards, unto boundless lights.”

Read the next article in the Gospel of Thomas for Yogis: Twofold Life

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Chapters in The Gospel of Thomas for Awakening

  1. The Open Secrets
  2. Seeking Is More Than Just Finding
  3. Seeking the Kingdom Realistically
  4. The One Goal
  5. From the Seen to the Unseen
  6. What Jesus Wants Us To Do
  7. Eat Or Be Eaten
  8. Fishing Wisely
  9. The Inner Field
  10. Guarding the Flame
  11. What Will You Do?
  12. Who Shall Lead?
  13. The Unspeakable
  14. When Virtue is Vice
  15. Father in Heaven; Father on Earth
  16. Divine Discord
  17. The Divine Gift
  18. The Origin is the End
  19. Original Being
  20. A Mustard Seed
  21. Disciples of Jesus
  22. How to Enter the Kingdom
  23. Unity of Vision
  24. Where is Christ?
  25. Love and Protect
  26. Seeing
  27. The Fasting and Sabbath of the Spirit
  28. How Jesus Saw the World
  29. Hidden Treasure
  30. One
  31. The Power of Unbelief
  32. Spiritual Strength
  33. Speak It Out
  34. The Blind
  35. The Secret of Spiritual Security
  36. Live Carefree
  37. Unashamed Before God
  38. At the Source
  39. The Religion of Ignorance
  40. Within God
  41. Spiritual Gain and Loss
  42. Move On
  43. Challenging the Master
  44. The Source of Good and Evil
  45. Great in the Kingdom
  46. Impossible Duality
  47. Peace That Moves Mountains
  48. Back to the Source
  49. Children of the Light
  50. Here and Now
  51. Seeing Yet Blind
  52. Outer Ritual or Inner Growth?
  53. Infinite Transcendence
  54. “Hate”
  55. True Understanding
  56. Wheat and Weeds
  57. Finding Life
  58. Live and Die Not
  59. “Lest Thou Also…”
  60. Who Will Die; Who Will Live
  61. The Path of Unknowing
  62. Awakened by Death
  63. Turning Ourselves Away
  64. Gullibility
  65. The Rejected is Truly Accepted
  66. All–and Nothing
  67. The Blessings of Persecution
  68. Life or Death Lie Within
  69. Admission
  70. Not a Divider
  71. Seeking the Harvest
  72. Thirsting in Vain
  73. Who Shall Enter?
  74. Unfailing Treasure
  75. The All Speaks
  76. Well-dressed Ignoramuses
  77. True Blessedness
  78. A Duplication
  79. Balancing the Inner and the Outer
  80. Near and Far
  81. Seeing the Unseeable
  82. Seeing Your Unknown Side
  83. Our Forefather Adam
  84. Blessed Homelessness
  85. Doubly Wretched
  86. Onward and Upward
  87. Twofold Life
  88. The Yoke of Christ
  89. Knowing the Unknown
  90. Asking and Hearing
  91. Give Not…
  92. Seeking and Knocking
  93. Right Generosity
  94. The Expanding Kingdom
  95. The Fulfilled Universe
  96. Taking Stock
  97. The Spiritual Family
  98. Three Debts
  99. Father and Mother
  100. Exoteric Religion
  101. Ready for Invasion
  102. Penitential Discipline, Anyone?
  103. Daring to Know
  104. Ending Duality
  105. “I Love You More…”
  106. At the Source
  107. Finding the Hidden Treasure
  108. Having Come to the End
  109. Immortal and Above the World
  110. Body and Soul
  111. Where is the Kingdom?
  112. Male and Female?
  113. In Conclusion
  114. Glossary
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