Shangra-la, Parallels to the Tree of Life

KEY 1. It begins in the mind

PARALLELS

The first goal of religion and spirituality is to empower us to improve our lives. The key to improving our outer circumstances is to improve our inner circumstances.
The basis for all progress, individually and for humankind as a whole, is to increase our understanding of life. To increase our understanding, we must be willing to look beyond the mental box represented by our current knowledge and beliefs. We must be willing to transcend our current image of ourselves and the world in which we live.
Our image of the world, our world view, exists only inside our minds. Therefore, all true progress begins with a process in the mind. If we want to improve our lives, we must improve our understanding of who we are and why we are here.
It is the goal of religion and spirituality to help us answer the fundamental questions of life. When used correctly, religion and spirituality will expand our understanding, sharpen our awareness and empower us to raise our state of consciousness. The purpose of spirituality is to help us follow a path that leads from our current state of consciousness to a higher state of consciousness.
It is a universal law that if we want to improve our world, we must begin by improving ourselves. To begin this process of spiritual growth, we must begin by adopting the most beneficial approach to religion.

Jesus clearly sought to empower people to improve their lives. He stated that he came to give all life, even abundant life. He also implied that the key to achieving this new life was a change in consciousness.

Jesus often sought to increase people’s understanding of the scriptures, of life and of the nature of God. He often amazed people with his understanding of the scriptures, and he gave his disciples a deeper understanding of spirituality.

Jesus considered it important that people had a higher understanding of life, but not for the sake of knowledge alone. His concern was to give people an understanding that would change their consciousness. For example, see the following quote:

Matthew 16. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
17. Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18. But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

Jesus seems to say that it is people’s inner conditions, their state of consciousness, that determines their course in life. He also indicates that it is not enough to simply change outer behavior. Whereas the Old Testament law stated that people should not commit adultery, this was not enough for Jesus. He said that people needed to overcome the desire for adultery. In other words, they needed to change the conditions of the heart, their state of consciousness, so they no longer desired to do self-destructive acts.

Jesus often talked about the need for a change of heart. He made it clear that it is the conditions of the heart that determine a person's thoughts and actions. He seemed to understand that the key to changing outer behavior and improving our lives is to first change our inner circumstances, our state of consciousness.

Jesus often told people to not be so concerned about changing others but to start by changing themselves. Don’t be concerned about the mote in your brother’s eye, but remove the beam in your own. Don’t judge, but repent and change your consciousness, change your heart.

KEY 2. Two approaches to religion

PARALLELS

We can take two approaches to religion. The key to experiencing maximum growth is to embrace the inner, spiritual approach to religion.
If we want maximum spiritual growth, we must adopt the right approach to religion. We can take two basic approaches to religion:
The outer approach. This approach is based on fear and causes us to cling to what is familiar and makes us feel comfortable. We believe in an automatic salvation that is the product of outer conditions, such as membership of a certain religion, belief in outer doctrines and adherence to outer rules and rituals.
This approach causes us to remain trapped in our current world view and our current state of consciousness. It also causes us to want religion to remain unchanged. The outer approach inevitably leads to conflicts between religious people.
The inner approach. This approach is based on love. We love something more than the limitations of the human consciousness, and therefore we are willing to leave behind that state of mind. We believe the key to salvation is to follow a systematic path to a higher state of consciousness, thereby leaving behind the human consciousness.
An outer religion can serve as a base for the inner path, but it must not become a trap. You do not have to abandon a religion or be converted to a religion in order to follow the inner path. However, you do need to spiritualize your approach to religion.
When we take the inner approach, we realize that religion is meant to be a dynamic process. We embrace the possibility that as we raise our consciousness, we can discover or receive more advanced spiritual teachings. The inner approach helps us overcome conflicts with other religious people and empowers us to build a universal brother/sisterhood of truly spiritual people.
If we want to attain spiritual freedom and make maximum progress, we must adopt the inner approach to religion.

Jesus often talked about the need to overcome fear. He told people not to fear because it is the Father’s good pleasure to give them the kingdom. He talked about the perfect love which casts out fear.
One of his main commands were:

Luke 10:27: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

Obviously, it is difficult to love God with all your heart if you fear God. Therefore, it seems clear that Jesus wanted people to approach God with a sense of love rather than fear. He wanted them to approach God with the curiosity, openness, trust and love of a little child.

When we consider the approach to religion taken by Jesus himself, it is not difficult to see that he took the inner approach and that he vehemently denounced the outer approach to religion.

Jesus was in continuous conflict with the scribes and Pharisees, and he often rebuked them for being concerned about the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law. When they accused him for healing a sick man on the sabbath, he answered that the sabbath (representing the outer law) was made for man and not the other way around.

It seems clear that to Jesus the outer aspect of religion, such as a church, the scriptures, rules and doctrines were simply tools for attaining a higher state of consciousness. If they served this purpose, they were used correctly. But if people became attached to the outer expressions, Jesus clearly considered them hypocrites and denounced them forcefully.

Jesus encouraged people not to do their alms or say their prayers in public, but to practice religion in privacy, even in the stillness of their hearts. For Jesus religion was clearly an inner path, an inner walk with God.

It seems obvious that Jesus continuously encouraged people to adopt the inner approach to religion and to understand the inner mysteries of the scriptures. One of this most forceful denouncements of the outer approach to religion is:

Luke 11:52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

Jesus seems to say that there is a key to a deeper understanding, a deeper knowledge. Those who are concerned with the letter of the law, with doctrine and with an outer interpretation of scripture have missed this key. And on top of that they have, by seeking to force others into compliance with their interpretations and rules, attempted to prevent others from finding the inner key to knowledge.

It seems clear that Jesus did not consider religion as something that does not change. He came to institute changes in the field of religion and to fulfill the Old Testament law. To him religion seems to have been a dynamic interaction between himself and the spiritual realm. He clearly raised his own consciousness and received a more advanced spiritual teaching. Furthermore, he seems to have told his disciples to do the same. Jesus did not organize the writing down of a fixed doctrine. Instead, he sent his disciples to preach by the Holy Spirit and told them to take no thought for what they should say.

Jesus also attempted to help people overcome conflicts, and he encouraged them to establish a universal brotherhood based on love of people, love of truth and love of God.

KEY 3. Everything is energy

PARALLELS

Everything is energy, everything is one reality. Reality is a continuum of vibrations with two major divisions, the material realm and the spiritual realm. The human mind can perceive both realms.
When we adopt the inner approach to spirituality, we can create a new world view that can help us answer the fundamental questions of life.
We live in a world in which everything is energy. Energy is vibration and various energies are set apart only by differences in vibration. Behind the myriad forms and appearances is one basic substance, one universal source.
The continuum of vibrations can be divided into two realms that are separated only by a difference in vibration. One is the material realm, made of lower vibrations. The other is the spiritual realm, made of higher vibrations.
While the physical senses can detect only material vibrations, the mind can be trained to detect spiritual vibrations. This makes it possible for human beings to see beyond the material realm. Direct contact with the spiritual realm opens up for a new approach to religion and spirituality.

Jesus taught that everything was created by God and from God’s substance. Genesis states that the first act of creation was the statement, “Let there be Light.” Light can be seen as another word for energy. God then started by creating a basic formless substance that can be molded into the myriad forms found in this world. So everything is created from the same substance; without him was not anything made that was made.

Jesus often talked about a division of the world into two spheres, namely this world and the spiritual world. He talked about the kingdom of man and the kingdom of God. Yet he also indicated that there was no fundamental difference and that people could inherit the kingdom. He told people to seek the kingdom of God above all else and to find it by becoming as little children.

Jesus made it clear that he had many visions of the spiritual realm. Likewise, some of his disciples had such visions, sometimes facilitated by Jesus. Thus it seems possible that Jesus considered it natural that the mind can be trained to perceive the spiritual realm. Perhaps such perception is even a natural effect of the raising of our consciousness.

KEY 4. Religion is communication

PARALLELS

Religion is a form of communication between intelligent beings in the spiritual realm and human beings. True spiritual teachings are adapted to the consciousness of human beings but come from a higher consciousness.
In the spiritual realm are conscious, intelligent beings. These beings serve as the spiritual teachers for humankind. It is possible for human beings to communicate with these spiritual teachers. Religion is a form of communication between the spiritual realm and the material realm. Religion is given to us by a group of spiritual beings who serve as our teachers.
True spiritual teachings originate from our spiritual teachers. However, many teachings are given through the consciousness of a human being and are adapted to the state of consciousness of a particular group of people. There are many different religions that are all valid.
Unfortunately, some spiritual teachings become influenced by interpretations and additions that originate in the human mind. This inevitably leads to conflict between religious people. It can be overcome only by reconnecting to our spiritual teachers. There is an obvious force of progression working in the world. Today, our knowledge and understanding is far beyond what was achieved in the past. This opens the possibility that as we raise our individual and collective consciousness, our spiritual teachers can give us more advanced spiritual teachings in the form of progressive revelation.

Jesus clearly believed in the existence of intelligent beings in the spiritual realm. He claimed to have communion with such beings and to receive all of his teachings directly from the spiritual realm.
In one instance, two spiritual beings appeared to him and were visible to his disciples:

Matthew 17:1 ¶ And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Jesus obviously adapted his own teachings to the time and the culture in which he appeared. He used images and metaphors that were familiar to the people at that particular time and many of his parables are obviously adapted to an agricultural society. Thus we see that Jesus did adapt his teachings to the people he was trying to reach.

We also see that Jesus was keenly aware of the possibility that people can impose interpretations that distort the original spiritual teachings. That is why he denounced the lawyers, the scribes, the Pharisees and even the temple priests.

Jesus clearly understood the importance of a progression in he field of religion, and his entire ministry was an example of progressive revelation. The fact that he did not codify a fixed doctrine but sent his disciple to preach by the Holy Spirit (which bloweth where it listeth) could indicate that he did not intend to put an end to progressive revelation. In fact, he appeared to his disciples for a period of at least 50 years and gave them new revelations. Did Jesus stop this revelation, or did human beings stop it by becoming attached to outer doctrines and interpretations? Could Jesus possibly bring forth new revelations today?

KEY 5. The goal of religion

PARALLELS

The goal of spirituality is to help us reach a higher state of consciousness. We must reach beyond the human consciousness and manifest a spiritual consciousness.
Our spiritual teachers give us spiritual teachings to help us increase our understanding of ourselves, the spiritual side of life and our relationship to our spiritual source.
The essential problem on Earth is that we humans are trapped in a lower state of consciousness in which we see ourselves as separated from our spiritual source. It is this state of consciousness that causes divisions and conflicts within the psyche of the individual and between people.
The goal of religion is to help us expand our awareness of the spiritual side of life, so that we can transcend the human consciousness and attain a higher state of consciousness. In this spiritual state of consciousness, we no longer see ourselves as separated from our source.
It is the lower state of consciousness that causes us to commit selfish acts that violate the rights of other people and often are detrimental to ourselves. An important goal of spirituality is to help us stop committing such acts. While a change in behavior can be forced through the power of will, it is far more effective to first produce a change in consciousness. Our actions, feelings and thoughts are reflections of our state of consciousness and sense of identity. When we change our consciousness, our outer actions and even thoughts and feelings will naturally and effortlessly follow.
When you adopt the inner approach to religion, you begin to see life as a process of growth. You engage in a systematic effort to increase your understanding and raise your consciousness. This path, this spiritual path, then becomes the focus of your life, and it gives you a new sense of direction and purpose. Life suddenly has meaning and it begins to make sense.

Jesus made it clear that he wanted people to go through a change of heart, a change in consciousness. He often talked about his relationship with the Father, and he seemed to consider God to be the spiritual source not only of himself but of all life. He quoted the Old Testament saying, “Ye are Gods.”

Jesus often talked about people being in a lower state of consciousness, being spiritually blind, being selfish and having little faith. He talked about a house divided against itself, which could be interpreted as the mind or psyche.

Jesus clearly sought to expand our awareness of the spiritual side of life and to seek first a more spiritual state of consciousness. He made the spiritual path the focus of his personal life and admonished people to do the same.

Paul talked about the need to put off the old man and put on the new man. This could mean to put off the human state of consciousness (what Paul called the carnal mind) and put on the higher state of consciousness. Paul also made a very interesting statement, namely, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

Is it possible that Jesus told all his disciples to put on the mind of Christ? Is Paul saying that all people have the potential to attain a state of consciousness similar to that attained and demonstrated by Jesus?
Jesus himself made the following statement:

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

How could we possibly do the works that Jesus did? Jesus clearly stated that he of his own self could do nothing, and that it was the Father who was working through him. So to do the works that Jesus did, we must overcome the lower self and let God work through us. This clearly requires us to attain the same state of consciousness attained by Jesus. If we are not in the same state of union with our source, how could we possibly do the works done by Jesus?

KEY 6. Knowing truth from within

PARALLELS

Human beings have the ability to know truth from within themselves. This can be done by making contact with the higher self, eventually attaining union with that self.
When you take the inner approach to religion, you realize that it is not enough to blindly follow an outer doctrine. You cannot let a religious authority tell you what to believe and how to live your life.
True changes come from within as a result of you internalizing spiritual truth. A spiritual truth that is not internalized becomes a dead, outer doctrine that keeps you at your present level of consciousness. A spiritual truth that is internalized becomes the catalyst for positive and lasting change in your life.
The key to internalizing spiritual truth is our intuitive faculties. There is more to our total beings than the conscious and subconscious minds. A part of the mind enables us to tune in to the spiritual realm. We can call this the "higher self." This higher self gives us the ability to know and experience truth from within ourselves, or rather through direct contact with the spiritual realm.
Through contact with your higher self, you develop the discernment that allows you to know what is a genuine spiritual truth and what comes from the human mind or other sources. This discernment is essential to overcoming doubt, confusion and erroneous or incomplete beliefs. Without vision the people perish, and without discernment you cannot know which visions are genuine and valid.
The goal of the inner path is to help you achieve union with the higher self. Thereby, you become spiritually independent and self-sufficient. This does not mean that you have to give up on outer religion. However, it does mean that you are no longer attached to an outer religion and therefore you no longer feel threatened by religions other than your own. You now develop true respect for other religions and the people who follow them.

Jesus told people not to follow the blind leaders who knew only the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law. He clearly wanted people to go beyond believing and following an outer doctrine. He wanted them to internalize his teachings. He often rebuked his disciples for not having internalized his teachings and therefore being lacking in faith.

Jesus talked about those who only believe when they see outer signs. He said that blessed are those who see not and yet believe. If you believe without seeing outer signs, it must be because you have recognized a spiritual truth from within yourself and you have internalized that truth as a part of your being. When a truth is internalized in your heart, your thoughts and actions will naturally and effortlessly reflect that truth.

Jesus clearly had the ability to tune in to the spiritual realm. If we all have the potential to let that same mind be in us, then we too can tune in to this realm and receive a direct, inner experience of the truth and reality of God. We can therefore go beyond faith and truly know the reality of God. It is obvious that for Jesus the truth and reality of God were not mere theoretical concepts. They were a living reality that was a foundational part of his being.

Was the inner knowing of Jesus due to the fact that he had attained union with his higher self, his Christ self? If we can let the same mind be in us which was in Jesus, then we too must have a higher self. We must be able to attain union with this Christ self and thereby know our true identity.

Jesus had the discernment to know what was a genuine spiritual truth and what came from the human mind or dark forces. He could see through the snares and temptations of the serpentine logic and "rightly divide the word of truth." Our only chance of having this discernment is to let the Christ mind be in us because it is only through the Christ mind that we can know what is of God and what is not of God.

This will make us spiritually independent as Jesus clearly was. Although he grew up in a Jewish culture, Jesus transcended that culture and became spiritually self-sufficient. Even though the Jewish authorities denounced him and his teachings, Jesus was unmoved. His life was based on a higher authority than any human or worldly authority, and this is truly the key to spiritual freedom. One might therefore say that Jesus was a spiritual freedom fighter and revolutionary.

It is clear that Jesus did not teach as the scribes and Pharisees. These religious teachers used the scriptures and gave interpretations of the letter of the law. Jesus taught with the authority that can come only from knowing the spirit of the law. He knew what he was talking about because he had internalized the truth; he had become one with truth.

In fact, Jesus had so identified himself with truth that he could rightfully make the statement, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” He also said, “No man cometh to the Father, save by me.” Is it possible that Jesus was not talking about his outer person, but about the state of consciousness with which he had fully merged? Could it be that the Christ consciousness is the way, the truth and the life, and that it is this state of consciousness that will allow us to enter the kingdom of Heaven?

Consider the parable of the man entering the wedding feast without a wedding garment. Might this wedding garment be the Christ consciousness? Because the man had not attained this state of consciousness, he was cast into the outer darkness of the lower, human state of consciousness.

Jesus obviously did not give up on religion. Yet he was never threatened by other religions or those who challenged his own teachings. He also had a clear respect and love for people, even those who attacked him. He was willing to forgive them for he realized that they were acting out of ignorance.

KEY 7. Opposition to growth

PARALLELS

Certain forces, from within and without, oppose our spiritual growth. We must learn to overcome the subtle temptations of these forces and continue to transcend ourselves.
We recognize that there are forces or energies that oppose our spiritual growth. These can be divided into two groups.
The enemy without. The material universe contains a force or state of consciousness which opposes growth. Growth is self-transcendence, and the magnetic pull of the world and of the mass consciousness seeks to prevent us from transcending ourselves.
The enemy within. This is an inner variant of the magnetic force that works against growth. It seeks to make us attached to the things of this world and to prevent us from letting go of the human consciousness. It seeks to prevent us from transcending ourselves.
These two enemies are active forces that aggressively seek to prevent our growth. They seek to make us attached to our current level of consciousness and to prevent us from going beyond that level.
They use many different tools to prevent us from transcending our current level of consciousness. All of these tools are based on a certain subtle form of logic which seeks to make us believe that we do not need to transcend ourselves. We do not need to grow but can stay where we are comfortable.
To make maximum spiritual progress, it is necessary to become aware of these forces and to counteract their downward pull. We must learn to see through the illusions created by the forces of this world. True spirituality gives us the tools to avoid the snares of the worldly logic.

Jesus often talked about forces that oppose our growth. He talked about the Devil, Satan, the prince of this world and demons. He was tempted by the Devil after his 40 days in the wilderness and gave a profound example of how to resist the subtle logic of the serpentine mind.

Jesus even rebuked his own disciples for being tools of the dark forces, as when he said to Peter: “Get thee behind me, Satan.” So it seems clear that Jesus was well aware of the enemy without and wanted his followers to be aware of it also.

Jesus gave a profound teaching on how to resist the forces of this world when he said that “the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” When we compare this to our earlier discussion about attaining Christ consciousness, we see that this state of consciousness helps us overcome all attachments to the things of this world. Therefore, the prince of this world has nothing in us whereby he can tempt us, deceive us or manipulate us into going along with his schemes.

Jesus made several remarks that point to the enemy within. He said that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Since Jesus often used metaphors, it is not unreasonable to assume that “house” can mean psyche or mind. Thus, a person who is divided in his own psyche is vulnerable to the enemy within. Likewise, his statement that a man’s enemies shall be those of his own household might be referring to the enemy within if we consider “household” as a symbol for the mind.

Jesus also said that the condition of people’s hearts is what determines their actions. If their hearts are evil, their actions will be the same. Thus we might say that an evil heart is a sign that a person is under the influence of both the inner and outer enemies. Paul’s talk about putting off the old man can also refer to the enemy within.

KEY 8. Spiritual self-defense

PARALLELS

The energies of this world act as spiritual poisons that keep us trapped in the human consciousness. We can overcome them by applying psychic self-defense.
Because everything is made from energy, energy can affect our conscious and subconscious minds. Lower energies pull our minds towards destructive, self-defeating thoughts and emotions. Higher energies, spiritual energies, pull our minds towards constructive, self-empowering thought and feelings.
To make maximum spiritual progress, we must become aware of how our minds are affected by energy. We must learn to defend ourselves from all toxic energies.
The inner and outer enemies use the energies of this world to keep us trapped in the human consciousness. These lower energies can be described as a set of spiritual poisons, namely:
•Ignorance, especially spiritual ignorance
• Anger and hatred
• Spiritual and intellectual pride
• Greed, cravings and lust (nothing is enough)
• Envy and jealousy (nothing is good enough)
• Non-will, non-being (fear, doubt and non-belief in the true teacher)
The primary effect of these poisons is to keep us trapped in a state of mind that is focused on short-term self-interest and prevents us from feeling and expressing unselfish and unconditional love. We become selfish instead of spiritual. We become self-centered instead of God-centered.
An important key to making maximum spiritual progress is to become aware of the poisons and learn how to invoke their antidotes. Because the world is made of energy, the spiritual poisons are simply forms of energy. The key to overcoming them is to learn how to use high-frequency spiritual energy to transform the low-frequency energies of this world. We must learn psychic self-defense, or spiritual karate.

Obviously, Jesus appeared at a time when people’s understanding of energy was far less sophisticated than ours is today. However, Jesus talked about the necessity of purifying the heart from negative feelings. He spoke out against ignorance, and his entire ministry can be seen as a attempt to help people overcome their ignorance.

Jesus also told people to let their hearts be filled with love and overcome all negative feelings, such as anger, hatred, greed, lust and jealousy. He demonstrated a firm will to come up higher in consciousness and do God’s work, and if we are to attain that same consciousness, we must also manifest a will to be who we really are.

Jesus told us to overcome our selfishness and self-centeredness. He was clearly God-centered and told us to be the same. He also taught that attachment to the things of this world is what keeps us trapped in a lower state of consciousness.

For example, he spoke out against those who are attached to a certain interpretation of scripture and those who are attached to riches. He even said that we should be prepared to give up everything in this world in order to obtain the pearl of great price, which we might interpret as Christ consciousness.

Perhaps Jesus was saying that when we are willing to give up our lives, that is our mortal sense of identity based on the things of this world, we will find our spiritual identity through the Christ consciousness.

With our present understanding of energy, we might find a new understanding of Jesus' miracles and his healings. Disease might be caused by low-frequency energy that disrupts the normal functioning of the body cells.

When two energy waves meet, they create an interference pattern determined by the vibration of the waves. Thus, low-frequency energy can be transformed by the use of high-frequency energy waves. Perhaps Jesus had learned to direct spiritual energy with his mind. Perhaps we can learn to do the same by attaining the same state of consciousness as Jesus.

KEY 9. Love is the key

PARALLELS

Love is the key to spiritual growth. Growth is self-transcendence. We can let go of the limitations of the human consciousness only when we love something more than those limitations.
Love is the key to overcoming the enemy without, the enemy within and the spiritual poisons. We must love something, such as truth, freedom, other people or God more than the human consciousness, the things of this world and our short-term self-interest.
To manifest this higher love, we must overcome the human, conditional love and attain a higher, unconditional love. The essence of the spiritual path is to manifest unconditional love for the things of the spirit. To let go of conditional love, we must:
Surrender the human will that is always centered in self-interest. This requires us to let go of illusions and attachments concerning our identity, the spiritual side of life and our relationship to our source.
Sacrifice human desires and cravings for self-gratification and the things of the material world. We must adopt higher desires for the things of the spirit.
Attain selflessness so that we do not spend our lives gratifying the lower desires of the human self. These desires cannot satisfy the inner longing of our souls.
Give unselfish service to life. Working for self-gratification can never lead to ultimate fulfillment and happiness. These feelings come only from working for goals that are bigger than the human self. The key to true happiness is to give a service to life that is not centered on the human self but springs from the vision of the higher self.
We are naturally attracted to what we love. So when we develop a love for the things of the spirit, we move towards a spiritual state of consciousness and naturally leave behind the human consciousness. When we receive spiritual insights, experiences and gifts, letting go of the human consciousness and the things of this world is no longer experienced as a loss.

Jesus taught extensively on love. One might say that love was the essence of his message. One of his most pivotal statements is the following:

Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

Jesus made a clear distinction between human, or conditional love, and a higher form of love. He said that it is not enough to love those who love us. We must love our enemies, even those who despise or persecute us.

Jesus told us to love one another as he had loved us. His love was clearly a higher form of love, a divine love, based on the command to love our enemies, to forgive seventy times seven and to turn the other cheek, it seems clear that Jesus' love was/is unconditional.

Jesus had clearly surrendered his personal, or human, will to the will of God. Even in the garden at Gethsemane, in the midst of intense turmoil, he said, “Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done." Jesus had let go of all illusions and attachments concerning the things of this world. He knew his relationship to his source.
Jesus had sacrificed the human desires, including the desires of the flesh, for the higher desires of fulfilling the spiritual purpose for his life and mission.
Jesus was an example of complete selflessness. He did not spend his time an energy on lower desires. He spent it on helping others and fulfilling his spiritual mission.
Jesus obviously gave an unselfish service to life. Although he faced many challenges, he also attained a clear connection to his source and thereby an inner sense of peace that the events and forces of this world could never disturb.

Jesus clearly understood that we are attracted to what we love. He said that where our treasure is, where our attachments are, there is our love. So he told us to love God with all our hearts, souls and minds. He talked about the pearl of great price, and when we see it, we gladly sell everything else to get it. Clearly, Jesus had attained a higher state of spiritual freedom, and giving up the human consciousness was no loss for him. So why should it be a loss for us?

KEY 10. The Way

PARALLELS

The Way is an inner path to spiritual freedom. It transcends not only outer religious doctrines, but also the most subtle aspects of the human consciousness. To follow the Way, you must go beyond the analytical mind.
It is possible to follow the preceding keys and be a very religious or spiritual person, doing everything right according to the letter of the law, without discovering the Way. The Way is subtle, because it goes beyond the human consciousness.
The essence of the human consciousness is that it creates a mental image of the world, and then seeks to make the world conform to the image. The human consciousness causes people to ignore or reject any evidence that does not conform to the mental image. We see what we want to see and hear only what affirms the image.
To discover the Way, we must let go of even the most subtle aspects of the mental image and surrender ourselves unconditionally to the spiritual reality. After we set aside the human desires and replace them with love, we might still have subtle beliefs and concepts that we think are right and acceptable in the eyes of God. Yet they are out of alignment with the spiritual reality.
We must surrender and replace all beliefs that seem right to us but are not right with God. Such beliefs can be seen and surrendered only through contact with the I AM, also called the spiritual Self, the I AM THAT I AM or the I AM Presence.
There is only one Way, and that is the I AM Way. The totality of your spiritual identity is the I AM, and thus you can only BE by following the I AM Way. The Way is total surrender to the will and reality of God and total merging with the spiritual self, the I AM. Thus the I AM in action is the Way. That which you think is the Way is not. There is no “thinking” your Way into anything. There IS only the Way. The I AM Way is love in action and there is no logic, no thought, no premeditative action that makes up the Way. It just IS that which it IS.
You can discover the Way, but you cannot enter or follow the Way. You can choose to BE the Way, or you can choose not to be the Way.
To be or not to be.

Jesus often talked about the Way. He said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." He also stated that no one can enter the kingdom of Heaven without going through him. When we consider that he might have been saying that no one can enter without putting on the Christ consciousness, we see that no one can enter Heaven without following the way that Jesus followed.

Jesus also said, "There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof is the way of death." One possible interpretation is that the wrong way is the outer, dogmatic approach to religion. We might also consider that he was talking about the human consciousness, or carnal mind. Based on this lower consciousness people create an image of what they think is the key to salvation. Yet the human consciousness can never know the reality of God, and therefore it can never know the true way.

To discover the true way, we must follow Jesus' call and be willing to lose our lives for the sake of attaining the Christ consciousness. This does not necessarily mean that we have to lose our physical lives. It might be our human sense of identity that has to die so that we can put on the new man of the Christ consciousness. Paul said, "I die daily," and obviously he was not talking about physical death. Did he mean that a part of his human self dies daily because he was striving to put off the old man?

Jesus often encountered people who thought they knew the way to salvation and who were not willing to hear any evidence to the contrary. The scribes, Pharisees and lawyers all rejected Jesus and his witness to a higher truth. They wanted to hold on to their mental images and refused to see that their comfortable beliefs were out of alignment with the spiritual reality.

Jesus stated that the human self, including his own human self, was incapable of going God's will. He said, "I of my own self can do nothing. It is the Father within me who doeth the work." Is the Father within a metaphor for the spiritual self, the I AM? Jesus made a number of statements that started with the words "I AM," and this might indicate that he had identified himself fully with the I AM, with his spiritual self.

Jesus demonstrated his oneness with the I AM through the statement "I and my Father are one." He also said that "My Father works hitherto and I work," clearly indicating that he saw the I AM working through him. He said, "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father."

Perhaps part of Jesus mission was to demonstrate the Way. Perhaps he wanted to show us that when the Son of Man identifies fully with the I AM, then he becomes the Son of God?

Jesus seems to be an example of a person who did not analyze every action but acted with the higher spontaneity of the Holy Spirit. He simply was who he was regardless of who the world wanted him to be. He had chosen to BE.

KEY 11. Being who you really are

PARALLELS

In reality, human beings were created as spiritual beings. The goal of spiritual growth is to be who we are as spiritual beings while still in the material world.
The real purpose of spiritual growth is to attain a state of BEING. In this state of consciousness we are consciously connected to our spiritual source. We identify ourselves as spiritual beings and we see our unique, spiritual individuality.
Through union with our spiritual selves, we attain the happiness and peace of mind that can never be attained through the human consciousness or the transitory things of the material world. We are being who we really are instead of trying to be who the world wants us to be.The key to being who we are is do discover and accept our true identity. By developing our intuition, we merge with the higher self, and this helps us develop a conscious connection with the spiritual realm. The higher self serves as the mediator between the conscious mind and the spiritual realm, including our spiritual teachers and our spiritual selves.
Our spiritual source is often referred to as the spiritual self, the I AM or the I AM THAT I AM. The spiritual self gives you the ability to be conscious of your own existence, to have the recognition that “I am.” It is also the repository of your spiritual identity and individuality. It is what makes you a unique spiritual being.

Jesus delivered a profound example of a person who identifies himself as a spiritual being in the material world. He also said that his disciples were not of the world, and we might deduce that Jesus wanted all of his followers to live in the world with non-attachment to the things of this world.

The fact that Jesus used the saying, “Ye are God’s” seems to indicate that he considered all people to be spiritual beings who have simply forgotten their true identity. He was here to remind us of our identity and to demonstrate how to enter a state of BEING who we truly are as spiritual beings.

Jesus was willing to be who he was regardless of who the world wanted him to be. He was unconcerned with the reactions of people and his rejection by the general population. He focused all of his attention on fulfilling his spiritual mission and allowed nothing to sway from his course.

Jesus had clearly discovered his true identity and established a connection to his spiritual source. When he said “I and my Father are one,” we might interpret this to mean that Jesus had attained oneness with his spiritual self and through that oneness with God. We might also consider that when we let the same mind be in us which was in Jesus, we too can attain this state of oneness with our spiritual source.

We now see that an important part of Jesus’ mission was to demonstrate a spiritual path to a higher state of consciousness so that we can follow in his footsteps and attain the state of consciousness that is the key to entering the kingdom of Heaven. We might consider that Jesus came to be an example, and that he might not have wanted to be elevated to an idol that no one dares follow. We might consider that if no one dares embody his teachings and follow in his footsteps, then Jesus' mission has not born the intended fruit. If no one learns from his example, then Jesus has failed as a teacher. Therefore, it is up to us to make sure that Jesus did not come in vain. We can do that only by fully internalizing his teachings and attaining Christ consciousness.

KEY 12. Your Sacred labor

PARALLELS

By becoming who we are as spiritual beings, we are free to express our true individuality through our sacred labor. This is a labor of love that brings a unique gift to the world.
When we know our true identity and individuality, we can express both in the material world. We can be a spiritual being working in the material world; we can be in the world, but not of the world. We can build upon our natural individuality and thereby become more than we were created to be.
By transcending the human self, we naturally develop a desire to help our spiritual teachers fulfill the higher purpose of raising the consciousness of humankind. We transcend the need for self-gratification and express our spiritual identity by helping others. This is our Sacred Labor. When we fulfill our Sacred Labor, we are being more than we were created to be. This is the key to ultimate happiness, fulfillment and peace of mind.
Through our Sacred Labor, we can:
• Bring a unique gift or spiritual flame to the material world.
• Help inspire other people to raise their consciousness.
• Help to improve the conditions of life through many forms of service that raise society, technology, people's way of life and culture to a higher level.
• Work on renewing the field of religion, bringing forth a universal brother/sisterhood among all spiritual people.
• Work towards bringing forth more advanced spiritual teachings in the form of progressive revelation.

Jesus demonstrated this key through example. He expressed his true individuality and performed his sacred labor. He had transcended the human self and was working with spiritual teachers to help others attain that same state of spiritual freedom.

Obviously, not every person has the same type of sacred labor as Jesus did. We all have our individual missions, and we need to discover our missions on a personal level.

Jesus did bring a unique gift and spiritual flame to the world. He inspired others to raise their consciousness. He sought to empower people to improve their lives and attain a more abundant life. His example and teaching has had a propound impact on the world. He brought renewal into the field of religion and he did bring forth progressive revelation.

Jesus clearly sent his disciples to continue his work. We can do the same by letting that mind be in us which was in Jesus. When you consider the impact that Jesus has had on the world, imagine the impact of thousands of people attaining that same state of Christ consciousness and bringing their unique spiritual gifts to the world. Perhaps this is what Jesus himself envisioned. Perhaps this is part of the second coming in which many people attain Christ consciousness.

KEY 13. Spiritualizing the Earth

PARALLELS

When a critical mass of people reach a higher state of consciousness, we can raise the consciousness of humankind. We can raise the vibrations of the material realm and spiritualize the Earth.
The goal of achieving a state of BEING and performing our Sacred Labors is more than just helping other people. Part of the purpose is to help our spiritual teachers bring about the overall goal for the Earth. This goal is to raise the Earth to a higher level of vibration, or to bring Heaven to Earth.
Various religions describe this in different ways, but many talk about a better age, even a Golden Age of enlightenment, prosperity and higher spirituality. Some religions talk about bringing God’s kingdom to Earth.
By being who we are as spiritual beings, we can help spiritualize the earth and remove the problems and limitations currently found on this planet. We can move the planet into a better phase, or age. By personally being more than we were created to be, we can help the Earth transcend her current limitations and be more than she was created to be.

Jesus clearly worked to raise the consciousness of humankind. Although Jesus worked to help other people, such a s giving them understanding, comfort and healing, there was more to his mission. Jesus was working in close cooperation with spiritual beings, and it seems obvious that he saw himself as part of a larger scheme, an overall plan for the Earth.

One of his recurring messages was that the kingdom of God is at hand. We have seen earlier that the “kingdom of God” might be a metaphor for the Christ consciousness. We then need to consider what might happen when a critical mass of people attain Christ consciousness.

Is it possible that this would be the open door for bringing in a new and better age in which Christ, even the Christ consciousness, will reign on Earth and therefore bring about the abundant life that Jesus promised?

Jesus talked about his second coming in which he will establish God’s kingdom on Earth. The problems we currently see on Earth are the consequences of the lower state of consciousness, the human consciousness. Jesus taught that we human beings simply cannot solve the problems that we have created. Only God can solve those problems, but perhaps he can do so only through people who raise their state of consciousness.

Perhaps Jesus saw that the key to removing the current misery and suffering is that a critical mass of people raise their consciousness and attain Christ consciousness? Jesus said that if he be lifted up, he would draw all men unto him. Did he mean that he would draw all people into a higher state of consciousness? Is it possible that this could raise the vibration of the material universe and spiritualize the Earth?

KEY 14. Progressive Revelation

PARALLELS

The cause of religious conflict is separation from our spiritual source. The key to overcoming religious conflict is to reconnect with our spiritual teachers and allow them to give us a new and higher understanding of the spiritual side of life.
Part of the process of raising the consciousness of humankind is to bring renewal to the field of religion and spirituality. What causes conflict is the fact that spiritual truth can be affected by interpretations and doctrines that spring from the relativity of the human mind. This inevitably leads to conflicting interpretations that cause confusion and doubt. The only way to overcome such divisions and conflict is to bring a unifying influence, and this can come only from our spiritual teachers.
The key to overcoming religious conflict is progressive revelation from our spiritual teachers. This progressive revelation does not originate from, and ideally is not influenced by, the human consciousness. It originates with our spiritual teachers and is given to us in the form of the Living Word.
The Living Word is delivered through human beings who have attained a higher state of consciousness. The Living Word is always adapted to the state of consciousness of a particular group of people. Yet ideally it is not influenced by the human consciousness. The purpose is to raise the consciousness of these people to a the next level.
To move into a new and more spiritual age, it is essential to establish and maintain a direct contact with our spiritual teachers and allow them to give us the new spiritual teachings that they, in their greater vision, see that we need. It is not a matter of what we think we need. It is a matter of what our spiritual teachers know we need.

Jesus had obviously reconnected with his spiritual source and was working with God and ascended beings (spiritual teachers) to bring forth new teachings. Jesus brought renewal to the field of religion, but he also sent his disciples to do the same. Jesus came into this world to help people overcome their confusion concerning spiritual topics, and he openly denounced conflicting interpretations that spring from the human consciousness.

Jesus often denounced those who were concerned only about the letter of the law and a literal interpretation of the scriptures. His remark that "the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath" might be extended to religion and religious scriptures. They should be a tool for our spiritual growth and not a prison that keeps us trapped in a lower state of consciousness.

Jesus clearly came to establish a higher understanding of our relationship to God. He attempted to raise people out of the conflicting and confusing interpretations and doctrines that were out of alignment with the reality of God. He came to set people free by giving them the truth to replace their man-made doctrines. He clearly realized the need to reach for a higher expression of truth that comes directly from the spiritual realm.

Jesus also believed in the necessity of bringing forth higher teachings than those delivered in previous ages. His Sermon on the Mount is clearly a progressive revelation compared to the Law of Moses. He also said that he came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. Did he see himself as part of an ongoing tradition of progressive revelation, and did he attempt to extend this tradition through his disciples?

Jesus appeared to his disciples and he spoke through them for quite some time after his resurrection. Is it possible that Jesus, and others of our spiritual teachers, have attempted to maintain this tradition of progressive revelation ever since and that they are doing so even today? Is it possible that a person attaining a high degree of Christ consciousness can become an instrument for such progressive revelation by establishing inner contact with the spiritual realm and our spiritual teachers?

Jesus did not send his disciples to interpret a fixed doctrine. He sent them to preach by the Holy Spirit and thereby deliver the Living Word. He clearly adapted his message to the state of conscious people had 2,000 years ago. Is it possible that Jesus is willing to bring forth a message that is adapted to the consciousness and culture we have today?

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Christianity and the Tree of Life