In the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas, Thomas's Jesus declares that "the Kingdom is inside you, and outside you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will see that it is you who are the children of the living Father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty, and it is you who are that poverty." (Thomas 62)
What does this mean to you?
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Comments: 50
We are complex beings and our thoughts and emotions are complex. If we do not lead an introspective life, and examined life, then we will not ever really know ourselves.
I also believe that God dwells within us and well as without. Many people say they believe they can receive messages from God by being silent and listening. I believe that this voice comes from within us, is truly the voice of God, and speaks to us in many ways at many different times.
Fulfillment comes from spiritual maturity, and the path to that goal does include learning all about oneself along the way.
And poverty as Mary has already said, is the poverty of the spirit.
God does speak, as Rory said above, and His Voice is audible.
______________________
To "Know Thyself" is to KNOW that God is within you.
To "Know Thyself" is to UNDERSTAND that the Kingdom of Heaven is within you. And, once you realize this, you UNDERSTAND that the Kingdom of Heaven has come upon you.
To "Know Thyself" is to be transformed by the KNOWLEDGE that you possess that is none of your own, but it is through God's Spirit that ALL Life is animated and has its BEING. And, in being transformed by this KNOWLEDGE, you understand that God speaks through all that is.
To "Know Thyself" is to realize fully the WISDOM within you ~ that is available to you ~ that works through you ~ in order to align you with God's plans and purposes.
To "Know Thyself" is to be TRANSFORMED into that which is already within you.
To "Know Thyself" is to realize the illumination that affords you the ability to SEE as God SEES. To KNOW as God KNOWS, and to ACT as God ACTS.
To "Know Thyself" is to no longer see through the glass darkly.
Blessings ~
René
The Gnostic word, I learned in class this week, for Know is Gnow. Seriously. I like the arciac version better.
Rene, I also liked your comment, and you also should post this as an article to the Group The Short Term memory Loss Experience
Short Term Memory Loss is owned by Ace who is doing a series of Missions. This week it is Gnow Your Power ~ Check it out.
For the first time, I was PART of the air, water, earth and the fires of the sun. I was PART of a terribly huge cosmic oneness, wherein all the parts, no matter how small, comprise a living breathing whole. I can see what Rory is saying, but take it a step beyond. Walk in a huge, endless fiels of dreams and fantasy, nd become part of those dreams and fantasies. That is the wholeness.
I see the saying of "know thyself" ... as being a message to the ego self, the personal physical concept that most hold of their physicality, personally separated from all other both physically, and spiritually prior to actually knowing thyself ... which such knowing will come to be seen as the relationship between the ego, lower self (lower case s) ... AND the higher Self (upper case S) which is the personal INternal Soul, our direct line INtuitive relationship with the Spirit of God.
From the ego perspective we are the one OR the other of two possibilities, depending upon how we look at things, either the positive or the negative in DUALISTIC relationships symbolized as (+/-) ... where the VOID and GAP is symbolised as (/) amounting to the "grey area" in-between polar extremes, an area that amounts to a DICHOTOMY for so many, because the ego insists upon knowing what it prefers to believe, a right VS a wrong, light VS darkness ... one or the other ... NO PARADOX ALLOWED ! Selfishness is most often an ego priority.
So when the Spirit of God (=) is INtroduced INto Duality, the former Void/Gap (/) of Duality (+/-), IS REPLACED with Spirit, (=), making a TRINITY, (+=-), ... which IS a PARADOX ... and of course that is why ego so rejects the idea or concept in the first place.
But once the lower self (ego) actually meets the higher Self (Soul/Spirit) withIN ... that ego then knows the "combination of the REAL SELF as TRUTH and related to UNconditional Love ... that of God ... The Truth That Sets One Free !!!
(+/-)<(+=-) ... (+=-)>(+/-) ... IMnsHO.
This means that there is another gospel!
I no longer have to trust on what Jesus did for me and as me (a sinner) on that rugged Roman cross at Calvary. All I need to do is actualize myself while humming "Getting to Know You" from 'Anna and the King of Siam'. I can basically pull myself up by my spiritual bootstraps or click my ruby slippers together while chanting "There's no place like home, there's no place like home. . ." This is wonderful!
Gotta run - Mr. Trolley's pulling out, leaving for The Kingdom of Make Believe. I wanna be on that train!
-Mark
I'm so confused! My inner child is experiencing angst. . .
-Mark
So "Know ThySelf" = observe GodSelf's developing gifts & how its HeartMind opens to Highest Good. Courageous Compassion.
Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophecy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
They say unto them that despise me, "The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace"; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, "No evil shall come upon you".
For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?
Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.
The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and until he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.
I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. ~ Jeremiah
Humans can imagine anything at all, test this and you will see. Therefor, it is foolishness to believe there is any significance to what we imagine. By observing one's self, one comes to know this.
But our true self is actually whatever we choose to be. Those who have chosen not to believe what Jesus taught become gradually the children of darkness. Knowing themselves will not make them the children of God. It will only make them more aware of the darkness within them. Which will only make them more rebellious against God.
The children of God, however, who choose to do what God says, should know the power within them. Christ in you is the hope of glory. We shall "be like him" when we "see him as he is".
" In the Bible , humanity in this state is called "dust"; "
Can you please point out where it speaks so?
45 Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
Those that will insist that God is "separate" from themselves will never know the Self (Soul) withIN, they will never trust their INtuition, only calling it an unreliable (false) imagination ... they will thus put themselves "down" as an untrustworthy being, probably a "sinner" even, one that NEEDS an OUTside higher POWER to direct and inform them, like a religious doctrine or a "book" containing words that supposedly represent that OUTside Power who has "left those" words to be used as "rules" ... and thus they feel compelled to WORSHIP from that distance, the "image" their "book" gives them ...
Except for the relative few, those who can "see" spiritually, past the OUTside, and know their INtuitve Power of their Spiritual INner Nature, (self/Self/God) or (-=+) .... IMnsHO.
Bethany, could you be mixing your metaphors ?
John, could you be denying your own prophets who informed your book and it's readers ? It seems that you state that prophets are not to be believed (trusted) ? Is Jeremiah to be trusted over Christ, and him over even God ? Have you "picked and chosen" quotes that conflict with each other ?
Then man "fell" from God's presence (in Eden) and "lost" (the knowing of) his Spiritual (=) connection, becoming then "separated" (/) (spiritually "dead") from God (+/-) and a dualist until this very day ...
Man (-) will NOT restore that connection (=) until he realizes it INternally as THE (=) needed, THE "bridge" (=), that replaces the Gap/void (/) of duality, then resulting in Trinity (+=-) "completion" ... and ONLY THEN will man be able to, at his physical death, RISE as did the man (-) Jesus, IN CHRIST SPIRIT (=) BACK to the Father God (+), with his physical body (-) being RETURNED BACK to the dust (-) from which it originated ... such a Spiritually Transcended Man then "United with God" as is Christ ... IMnsHO.
"We are, for all "practical" purposes, just what we "think" we are"
Not on my planet.
"It seems that you state that prophets are not to be believed (trusted) ?"
The ones that say what that quote said;
"The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace"; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, "No evil shall come upon you".
. . . are not to be trusted. Jesus never contradicted that in any way, but rather, confirmed it in many ways;
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.
~
He that is not with me is against me;
and he that gathereth not with me sacattereth
~
Think not that I come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
~
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
~
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father, which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father, which is in heaven.
Think not that I am come to send peace to the earth: I come not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set man at variance against his father, and the daughter against the mother, and the . . .
So; No, just any old thing one happens to think sounds good, ain't.
Thanks. Perhaps I worded my question wrong, as the point I really wished to hear some confirmation of is the notion that it is being "asleep to the self" which is indicated as the cause of our fallen state. The verses you cite do speak of a difference between "dust" man, and heavenly forms, but do not seem to imply there is much we can do about that in this life.
Now, that does not mean I don't think being aware of one's "self" is at all unimportant. but I don't think it can change our "earthen". or "animal" nature, so much as allow us to live in good relationship with ourselves, and others. Without self-awareness, we tend to allow urges and instincts to impose on reason in ways that are detrimental to both.
I have often attempted to point that out to you ... would you like me to try again ? I can, but you seem to always resist considering.
I find your explanations little more than word association streams. To me, you are a compulsive dualist that feels a great need to resolve "opposites" which beleaguer your thinking.
I long ago came to understand that the mind automatically generates thoughts contrary to whatever it thinks, regardless of whether that has anything to do with reality. It's a "fail-safe" mechanism, so we won't act without hesitation on whatever we happen to hear or think. It keeps us somewhat skeptical, which keeps us alive. One can test this out anytime, and see it happen. Such things don't need reconciliation, just acknowledgement, so the reactive mind can be quite. Once this reaction occurs, it will not rest until the "opposite" has been looked at by us. In a sense, I think you have mistaken that resolution, for "God" acting, since one cannot just ignore the fail-safe mechanism, which would of course render it ineffective. God made that system, but He made all sorts of systems and that one is just a part of what we are, and what God has provided for our well being.
The MIDRASH TANHUMA says:
"The Torah is full of holy fire; it was written with a black fire upon a white fire.
The Torah has meekness as its footgear, and the fear of God as its crown. Hence Moses was the proper person through whose hands it should be delivered; he was meek, and with the fear of the Lord he was crowned.
The Bible, or written law, contains unexplained passages and hidden sentences, which can not be fully understood without the help of the oral law. Further, the written law contains generalities, whilst the oral law goes in for explanations in detail, and is consequently much larger in volume. Indeed, as a figure of speech we could apply to it the words in Job (iv. 9), 'The measure thereof is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.' The knowledge of this oral law can not be expected to be found amongst those who are bent on enjoying earthly life and worldly pleasures; its acquisition requires the relinquishment of all worldliness, riches and pleasures, and requires intellect aided by constant study."
For Paul , Christ fulfilled the Law and established a new one. The repeated theme of "sleep" in the NT characterizes the old fallen state . This inspired the teaching in Gospel of Thomas.
Thanks.
"For Paul , Christ fulfilled the Law and established a new one."
Hmmmm . . .
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery. Though shalt not kill. Though shalt not steal. Though shalt not bear false witness. Thou shalt not covet: and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Paul (from Romans 13)
So, the distinction you make is not so simple. Paul did not say the law was fulfilled, and a new one established; He said the law can be fulfilled by loving one another. This was always true, and was always the intent of the law, naturally. Again, Jesus spoke directly to this matter, on several occasions;
Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?
Jesus said unto him. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson
But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced, we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
Paul's sense of the Law was what Moses brought. But the priests had corrupted the Law. For Paul, Christ purged the corruption, destroyed the false Temple and fulfilled the Law. He established it again in a new form.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977364139&nav=Namespace a rather long read, but worth it IMnsHO.