Merry Christmas, Robert! I really like Alan Watts. I wish I’d been old enough in the sixties to visit his houseboat in Sausalito when he let people come to hear him. Although I heard years later from the film critic, Pauline Kael who lived in Berkeley at the time, that he was always roaring drunk. You are probably aware that “new” Watts philosophy is now being generated by AI. “Theologians may quarrel, but the mystics of the world speak the same language.” —Meister Eckhart
Interesting article, especially interested in Jesus' ability to manifest things into our common shared reality. This is laid out in the Gospel of Thomas, which was excluded from the "Bible" because early Church leaders deemed it Gnostic and un-orthodox, as it focused on "secret knowledge" (Gnosis) for salvation, which didn't align with the apostolic traditions that formed the New Testament canon.
(Book of Thomas was discovered near Nag Hammadi, Egypt, in 1945 among a group of books known as the Nag Hammadi library. Scholars speculate the works were buried in response to a letter from Bishop Athanasius declaring a strict canon of Christian scripture.)
I have an acquaintance that can read the "tapestries" of those that have passed before us. His reading of the life of Jesus (short version)...
Yeshua was an ascended master. He was born to simple parents. On June 27th in 23 BC. After King Herod issued his decree to murder all the boy babies in his kingdom, his parents took Yeshua and his brother to live with their cousin and the Essenes in Kumhra. At the age of 9 he started his training with them and learned with the greatest teachers of the time. When he was 13 he left the Essenes to go east and study with the masters of the east in the Himalayas. This is where he learned how to work with the energies of the earth and how to perform all of his miracles. He returned to Palestine at the age of 30 and demonstrated his advanced knowledge of the unseen world. (This is the part of his life that’s documented in the New Testament of the Bible)...
It is still a fact that Jesus was the 'Son of God', if one considers that his spirit volunteered to come to earth as an ascended master to spread the truth that we are immortal beings of light and that true salvation is within us all.
Please do your research before making such wildly inaccurate claims!
Yeshua spent those years as a carpenter in the small town of Nazareth. The people of his hometown were shocked to hear his teaching, since they’d known him and his family for many years.
He also taught about hell: that the religious leaders were hypocrites, and there are only two paths: be with him forever, or be apart from him forever. Acting “good” doesn’t automatically get you in to God’s house, but Yeshua can invite us in because he is God.
His teachings are contrary to Buddhism, and much older. The trinity explains his nature. Before time, God is three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) in one being, in perfect eternal unity and love to each other.
Yeshua spoke against insobriety and substances, because it makes it harder to love and focus on others. The santa mushroom theory could be true, but Nick didn’t do drugs and would be totally offended by the idea.
If you’re going to just say things without evidence I’d choose a topic that isn’t saturated with 2,000 years of historical evidence, tradition, and faith. CS Lewis said it best, Jesus was not just a great philosopher. He was either liar, lunatic or Lord. Christ is King. Peace on earth, goodwill towards all men brought to you this Merry Christmas.
What's next quoting the teachings of Charles Manson and how that relates to the Bible and Christianity? Which is just a blasphemous as the quotes from this post.
Very cool part about the magic mushrooms! Better than Charlie Browns' sister's story about Santa's Raingear (but this year she may be forgiven). Merry Christmas, amigo.
I'll stay out of the theological ranting, everyone can believe whatever they wish to be true.
BUT I WILL take a moment to remind locals of the visual of Santa and his sleigh that is a wonderful optical illusion in the ocean...
When coming North on Hwy 1 between Ventura and Santa Barbara at night, and passing the Chevron Island oil pier, the vision of the sleigh appears. The oil platforms and their lights make up a perfect sleigh with the reindeer stretching out towards the land, and as you drive they ride up the pier.
I've been greatly enjoying this optical display for decades, but I don't know how many people are aware of it. So sharing it is my Christmas gift back to everyone reading the SB Current.
And Merry Christmas to all. Also Happy Holidays, Joyous Noel, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, and all other Solstice Greetings.
If anybody wants a good laugh, I recommend the book The Gospel According to Biff, Christs Childhood Friend, by Christopher Moore. Very irreverently reverent.
One comment, it isn't necessary to look to Buddhism or Eastern doctrines to find the body, heart, head triad. It's right there in Plato and the early Greeks. Another interesting thing is the Stoic ascent in becoming a Sage. No Stoic ever claimed to be a Sage, only to be "progressing on the path," but it was an ideal. The idea was that through preforming correct actions and learning how to discern true from false impressions a person could rise through the planetary spheres (remember, they were geocentric), divesting oneself of the negative traits associated to each sphere, one by one, until reaching the Empyrean in a state of virginal purity where ones will would be united with (impregnated by) the Logos. So in the ancient world, the identification of Christ with the Logos said a lot more then we might think today.
And because the rain has stopped today, at least briefly, celebrating the return of the Sun. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas, Robert! I really like Alan Watts. I wish I’d been old enough in the sixties to visit his houseboat in Sausalito when he let people come to hear him. Although I heard years later from the film critic, Pauline Kael who lived in Berkeley at the time, that he was always roaring drunk. You are probably aware that “new” Watts philosophy is now being generated by AI. “Theologians may quarrel, but the mystics of the world speak the same language.” —Meister Eckhart
Interesting article, especially interested in Jesus' ability to manifest things into our common shared reality. This is laid out in the Gospel of Thomas, which was excluded from the "Bible" because early Church leaders deemed it Gnostic and un-orthodox, as it focused on "secret knowledge" (Gnosis) for salvation, which didn't align with the apostolic traditions that formed the New Testament canon.
(Book of Thomas was discovered near Nag Hammadi, Egypt, in 1945 among a group of books known as the Nag Hammadi library. Scholars speculate the works were buried in response to a letter from Bishop Athanasius declaring a strict canon of Christian scripture.)
https://www.marquette.edu/maqom/Gospel%20of%20Thomas%20Lambdin.pdf
I have an acquaintance that can read the "tapestries" of those that have passed before us. His reading of the life of Jesus (short version)...
Yeshua was an ascended master. He was born to simple parents. On June 27th in 23 BC. After King Herod issued his decree to murder all the boy babies in his kingdom, his parents took Yeshua and his brother to live with their cousin and the Essenes in Kumhra. At the age of 9 he started his training with them and learned with the greatest teachers of the time. When he was 13 he left the Essenes to go east and study with the masters of the east in the Himalayas. This is where he learned how to work with the energies of the earth and how to perform all of his miracles. He returned to Palestine at the age of 30 and demonstrated his advanced knowledge of the unseen world. (This is the part of his life that’s documented in the New Testament of the Bible)...
It is still a fact that Jesus was the 'Son of God', if one considers that his spirit volunteered to come to earth as an ascended master to spread the truth that we are immortal beings of light and that true salvation is within us all.
Have Very Merry Christmas!
Please do your research before making such wildly inaccurate claims!
Yeshua spent those years as a carpenter in the small town of Nazareth. The people of his hometown were shocked to hear his teaching, since they’d known him and his family for many years.
He also taught about hell: that the religious leaders were hypocrites, and there are only two paths: be with him forever, or be apart from him forever. Acting “good” doesn’t automatically get you in to God’s house, but Yeshua can invite us in because he is God.
His teachings are contrary to Buddhism, and much older. The trinity explains his nature. Before time, God is three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) in one being, in perfect eternal unity and love to each other.
Yeshua spoke against insobriety and substances, because it makes it harder to love and focus on others. The santa mushroom theory could be true, but Nick didn’t do drugs and would be totally offended by the idea.
Thank you for your post.
If you’re going to just say things without evidence I’d choose a topic that isn’t saturated with 2,000 years of historical evidence, tradition, and faith. CS Lewis said it best, Jesus was not just a great philosopher. He was either liar, lunatic or Lord. Christ is King. Peace on earth, goodwill towards all men brought to you this Merry Christmas.
What's next quoting the teachings of Charles Manson and how that relates to the Bible and Christianity? Which is just a blasphemous as the quotes from this post.
Thanks, interesting.
and from me Merry Christmas
Very cool part about the magic mushrooms! Better than Charlie Browns' sister's story about Santa's Raingear (but this year she may be forgiven). Merry Christmas, amigo.
I'll stay out of the theological ranting, everyone can believe whatever they wish to be true.
BUT I WILL take a moment to remind locals of the visual of Santa and his sleigh that is a wonderful optical illusion in the ocean...
When coming North on Hwy 1 between Ventura and Santa Barbara at night, and passing the Chevron Island oil pier, the vision of the sleigh appears. The oil platforms and their lights make up a perfect sleigh with the reindeer stretching out towards the land, and as you drive they ride up the pier.
I've been greatly enjoying this optical display for decades, but I don't know how many people are aware of it. So sharing it is my Christmas gift back to everyone reading the SB Current.
Well, that's an interesting version. New to me!
As you said interesting version but not Biblical truths
I personally enjoyed this post… thank you for sharing it! A blessed holidays to EVERYONE no matter how you choose (or not!) to spend it!❤️❤️❤️
Spook, Jew, or just a garden-variety Boomer? Which are you? And why is my inbox being polluted on Christmas with your blasphemies?
Thank you.
Thank you Robert, Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to you all.
Very much appreciate this article Robert and Rylan’s art!
Merry Christmas to you & yours
🎄🎅🏻🎄
Well then, Merry Christmas to all!
And Merry Christmas to all. Also Happy Holidays, Joyous Noel, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, and all other Solstice Greetings.
If anybody wants a good laugh, I recommend the book The Gospel According to Biff, Christs Childhood Friend, by Christopher Moore. Very irreverently reverent.
One comment, it isn't necessary to look to Buddhism or Eastern doctrines to find the body, heart, head triad. It's right there in Plato and the early Greeks. Another interesting thing is the Stoic ascent in becoming a Sage. No Stoic ever claimed to be a Sage, only to be "progressing on the path," but it was an ideal. The idea was that through preforming correct actions and learning how to discern true from false impressions a person could rise through the planetary spheres (remember, they were geocentric), divesting oneself of the negative traits associated to each sphere, one by one, until reaching the Empyrean in a state of virginal purity where ones will would be united with (impregnated by) the Logos. So in the ancient world, the identification of Christ with the Logos said a lot more then we might think today.
And because the rain has stopped today, at least briefly, celebrating the return of the Sun. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
If Jesus was missing how do we know what he was doing?
Good point