Discussion Topic #17: The Gospel of Thomas--"What you do not bring forth will destroy you."

What you fear you will face!
To me, it means we need to embrace our 'shadows' the sides of ourselves that we fear, rather than embrace.
I have been working on bringing forth 'abundance', I have been fearful and undeserving of it all of my life (beliefs ingrained)... now is the time!

Thank you Carla ;)

This recalls Rabbi Hillel's teaching that we are to care first of all for our own good, and then bequeath that accumulated good to our fellow creatures. If we are unwise enough to keep all our riches to ourselves, they are likely to turn cancerous.

I could write a encyclodpedia series on my thoughts on this. I won't don't worry. If I keep the mask on...ie" If I do not come clean with everything I've done or thought about me or others, i will be consumed by it. example...a young mother was told never to be angry, so she never showed it. Eventually she loses connection to her anger and really doesn't feel it. One day she kills her children. This is a classic and all too true of a happening. Also if I do not embrace my dark side, my 'good' side will wither. I also found something else about all of this. I have always apologized for doing well. So I would do poorly just to feel safe in my family. For me to stand up and say, "Yeah, I am good at that." has been the biggest test of all, but just as crucial. When I remain an open book, which I try to do, do to the fact that I nearly died from alcoholism many years ago, so was told to let it all hang out and get even sized with other people, the hardest part has been doing well. That is why I wrote for the contest. I am dying, literally from not using my talents. One day, it was clear, after sixteen years of not writing because I didn't believe the professers that I was talented...I lay here and knew that I would choose suicide if I spent one more winter like this. That voice we all know said basically. "I give you talents. What do you think they are there for. You don't hide a light under a basket. Use them!" and that was the day I started my Coyotes Remember. Out of sheer desparation. And a kick in the but by Grandfather. MyGod.

A great question ... the Gospel of Thomas is one thing that I have not yet read. But I see that to mean, in a sense, No More Secrets.

As has been said, Let It All Hangout, confront and make friends with EVERYTHING withIN that you may have been hiding there out of fear or shame ... the fully balanced person has as much potential for Evil as that for Good but Good as does Light, displaces it's opposite (IN THIS REALM) and is it's opposite in effect also, CREATION rather than DESTRUCTION ... because unconditional love is INherent withIN each of us, our GIFT of God to use and rejoice ... to shine that light on the darkness within displaces it and replaces it by CONVERTING it.

NEVER WAR with and/or FIGHT anything ... and you and it will win ... (in the bigger picture ? I am still not 100% sure about that).

I believe Jesus was talking about the "LOVE" that is in all of us. If we give it freely we will have more to give; but if we with hold it out od fear of being hurt hate will take over and manifest itself and destroy us.

Blessings

I couldn't have said it better than Donna. I was going to quote the canonical scripture 'the kingdom of heaven is within you'. To me, this quote from the gospel of Thomas means Truth lies within, and is not to be found without....so working from the inside out, rather than the outside in, is the proper way spiritually. Love the quote, as always Carla!

If we withhold what is good, it shrivels. If we keep what is foul, it spoils the lot.

I love it that several have brought forth the inner Heavenly Kingdom/Queendom. Kingship and Queenship are, of course, about SOVREIGNTY. When one is working out one's sovreignty, it's essential to be SURRENDERED. Part of the surrender process is accessing one's own SHADOW stuff, and learning to face it instead of projecting out onto "enemies." That's what Jesus meant when he spoke of loving the enemy [inner me, or shadow].

I work a lot in "groupmind", so of course I'm interested in the spiritual growth of whole communities and of all humanity-as-one, as well. In terms of "bringing forth what is within you," I'm currently at work in my village of Yellow Springs Ohio developing a folkschool, as a way of growing a local culture.......Of course we have "culture" here - we're a college town with many, many fine artists - painters, writers, dancers, musicians, actors - the works! Very impressive for a village of 3400 or so. But in the still-new USA, we don't have the kind of hundreds-of-years-old, or even thousands-of-years-old culture bases that are found in other parts of the world. This intrigues me, and the idea of a culture-of-peace intrigues me....

So I'm hoping to assist in the birthing of a movement of peace culture developments in many parts of the U.S.A. Bringing forth the Heavenly King/Queendoms within many groupminds, eh?

My interpretation of the quote is to be true to yourself. Do not pretend to be something you are not; the truth will always come out and not always in a convenient way!

Carolion is a fine example of what this verse means. We've all been gifted, and that is what the Kingdom is all about - creating. Made in the image of Creator, we are creators, and that's what needs to be brought into forward motion for the good of all creation.

neoCONs create ... good for them bad for everyone else ...

If you study the Nag Hammadi Library and the Lost (banned) Books of the Bible you will find many references to our forgetfulness, forgetfulness of the soul. We have forgotten where we come from and I believe our spirit has a desire to remember.

Our saviour may have been telling us to awaken our desire to remember our father.

There is much wisdom in The Nag Hammadi Library.
http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/nhlalpha.html

It takes courage to go against established religion and read text that is excluded from the KJV of the bible. I admire your desire for truth, Carla!

Jerry, what does the term "neocon" actually mean in this context?

Kay, neoCON really has no real meaning in the context here ... other than their being seemingly less "spiritual" than those of us that do not enjoy "their" inhumanity to "others" ... ( neo [wanna be or pretender] con [conservative political leanings] CON [CON as in those who cheat people and should be in prison as a CONvicted criminal])

Blessings to all! I think what is wonderful about this passage is that Jesus doesn't tell you what it is that is within you, but rather allows you to discover for yourself. As we have seen so far, there have been different perspectives and all had meaning for me in my own life.

Ten unsolicited points from the world's worst connection, Merry whatever you celebrate.

There are many diffferent ways this can be interpreted, some mentioned above. For me it is the knowledge of my sins and shortcomings, to admit them, to know them, and to ask forgiveness so as not to let the guilt color my every thought and deed, and ultimately destroy me.