Bible Discourse 6 The Baptism of Jesus

Discourse 6

The Baptism of Jesus

‘The ultimate baptism, acclaimed by John the Baptist and by all Self-realized masters, is to be baptized ‘with fire”—thatis, to become permeated with God’s presence in the holy Creative Vibration.’

Paramahansa Sri Yogananda

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, “O, generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:  And not to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham to our father’: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

“I indeed baptize you with water into repentance: but he that cometh after he is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you the Holy Ghost, and with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

--Mathew 3:1—12

John the Baptist is the fore runner of the Christ. He has to prepare the ground for Jesus to carry the mantle.  He is waiting for Jesus to begin his ministry. John made himself known in the environs of Judea. Crowds followed him as a saint and prophet.  In the past John was Elijah and Elisha was Jesus in the past birth. They both were spiritually related. God cleanse the past memories and memoirs. A progressive order is maintained afresh in this birth spiritually.  That is how the cosmic drama is run normally.

The Sanatana Dharma calls it lila, a cosmic phantasmagoria.  God realized souls can remember their previous enactments if they want. They are ready to act in the new drama.    

Then cometh Jesusfrom Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.  But John forbad him, saying, “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?”

And Jesus answering said unto him, “Suffer to be so now: for thus it be cometh us to fulfill all righteousness.”   Then he suffered him.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him :  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

--Mathew 3:1—17

There was a man sent from God, whom name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe.  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world…

And this the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who art thou?”

And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

And they asked him, “What then? Art thou Elijah?”

And he saith, “I am not.”

“Art thou prophet?”

And he answered, “No.”

Then they say unto him, “Who art thou?  that we may give an answer to them that sent us.  What sayest thou of thyself?”

He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet of Isaiah.”

And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

And they asked him, and said unto him, “Why baptizes thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elijah, neither that prophet?

John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; he it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy unloose.”

---John 1:19—27 

The Priests and Levites were having ordinary understanding.   They cannot discern the qualities of a Christ.  Wise men will not question a spiritually elevated person but at once recognize his spiritual aura.  John denied that he was Elijah.  He spoke the truth relative to his present life. He has to maintain a low profile in his present incarnation. Wilderness  means consciousness. Elijah does not want to remember his previous exalted incarnation as that of a prophet. That is why he is giving the physical baptism with water. The one who is to attain that state of Christ shall baptize with Spirit. This was the role of Jesus. That is how he turned the minds of multitude towards Jesus as the Christ saviour.    

These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The next day John seeth Joseph coming unto him, and saith, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.  This is he of whom I said, ‘After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.’  And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifesto Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.”

And John bare record, saying, “I saw the spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.  And I knew him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, ‘Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.’  And I saw, bare record that this the Son of God.’

--John  1:6—9, 19—34

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.  He was not that Light, but was sent bear witness of that Light.  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world (John 1:6—9)

The Cosmic Light manifests itself in the Chara (moving) and achara (not moving) world. John experienced and bore witness to that Liight.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.  But John forbad him, saying, “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?”

And Jesus answering said unto him, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.”  Then he suffered him.

--Mathew 3:13--15

John maintained his low profile while baptizing Jesus.  Jesus certainly was in the knowledge of the high stature of John. By this Jesus honoured the pre-Christian Sanatana Dharma custom of baptism in holy waters.  This baptism in water denotes the Guru-sishya (disciple) relationship is for several incarnations. till he merges with Parabrahman or God the Father.    John and Jesus were eternally bound together by the law of unconditional togetherness. Upanishad says, “Om sahanavatu, Sahanau bhunaktu, Sahaveeryam Kruruvaavahai, Tejaswinaamadheetamastu, maa vidwishaavahai, Ohm Shaanti, Ohm Shaanti, Ohm Shaanti.

Jesus said, “Suffer it to be now, for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.”  John and Jesus both knew each other.  John’s declaration to the priests and Levites, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me….shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”  It was the true baptism of Spirit that was bestowed on Jesus when after immersion in the Jordan (purification by water), “the heavens were opened unto him.”  John has witnessed it. Hence he said, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode on him.” John 1:32

The heavenly consciousness that comes through the third eye is symbolized by the dove. The Kriya Yoga sadhak or meditating man ascends from body, to Holy Ghost, Krishna/Christ Consciousness “only begotten Son,” and Cosmic Consciousness, or God the Father.        

The ritual of baptism by immersion in water was originated in India. Initially body purification is to be done by bathing. Then next comes mind purification. That is why in Sanatana Vaideeka Bharateeya Sampradaya,  the meditating man or sadhak has to undergo one has to take bath first and then with purity of mind has to undergo Mantra deeksha.  “Cleanliness is next to godliness” is a worth while first lesson for initiation to spirituality.  Immersion in water opens the pores of the skin, letting out body poisons.  It soothes the circulatory system. 

Life came initially from Energy, then from nebulae, then from water. All seeds of life connected with water. Physical life cannot exist without life. Water will temporarily cools the mind.  It is the mental purity that receives the ceremonial baptism. It may be by immersion or by symbolic sprinkling of water on head. The man should baptize himself regularly with meditation.        

If one comes into the vicinity of Spiritual person, he will come into the contact of spiritual magnetism.  As you bow so you reap.  If you associate yourself with a successful business man, you will be baptized with creative business sense.  Similarly with a great creative poet, one will be baptized with imagination. Association with high morality person and self control will be baptized with morality and self control.

Baptism by Holy Ghost, and with fire is the baptism in reality. This was appreciated by John the Baptist and self realized masters. Holy Ghost is the holy creative vibration. Man is the microcosm of the universe. It is the combination of body, life force, and consciousness. This Consciousness is the reflection of Christ Consciousness.

As told in the Gospel:

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lightning upon him: And lo avoice from heaven, saying, “This My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”                                Mathew 3:16—17

Spirit is beyond Creation. When Spirit descends, it becomes three which is known as Trinity.  They are three. They are: God the Father, Son of the Father, and the Holy Ghost. The whole Universe is mass of radiant light. It is like dense water vapour, a mist of aurora.  God the Father is beyond Creation. He is ever-existing, ever-Conscious, and ever-new bliss. That triune manifestation is the cosmic Spirit descending in three forms: Cosmic Vibration (Aum- the Holy Ghost), Krishna/Christ Consciousness or God in Creation, and God the Father or God beyond the Creation.  This Trinity or Triputi is manifested as triune light of the spiritual eye in microcosmic Man.

There are Seven chakras or spiritual cerebrospinal centres of divine consciousness through which Spirit descends in the human body.  Yogis know this so also Saint John.  They are the seven seals, and as seven stars as seven churches, with their seven angels and seven golden sticks.  When you are baptized by immersion in the light of Spirit, then the microcosmic third eye can be seen in the kootastha, the place between the two eye brows. This is what John says, ‘Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and lighting upon him.”  In this third eye, the dove symbolises Spiritual eye.  The intelligent Cosmic vibration i.e., the outermost Golden circle is Holy Ghost or Aum or Amen vibration, the opal blue colour circle in side that is known as Son of the Father or Tat or God in Creation, and five pointed silver star in side that is called God the Father or Sat.   The mouth of the symbolic dove is this five pointed silver star, the secret passage to Cosmic consciousness. The vibratory lifetrons are thr light of the Spiritual eye.

Jesus could perceive His consciousness is merging with Cosmic consciousness. The wondrous sound of Aum, the word, Amen is the witness of the Holy presence.  This Aum is the intelligent, and all creative heavenly sound.  In Jesus echoed this vibrating intelligent voice: “Thou art My Son, having lifted thy consciousness from the limitations of the body and all matter to realise thyself as one with my perfect reflection, My only begotten image, immanent in all manifestation.  I am Bliss, and My joy I express in thy rejoicing in attunement with my Omnipresence,”

The next day John seeth Jesus coming untohim, and saith, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.  This is he of whom I said, ‘After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.’  And he knew him not, but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.”

And John bare record, saying, “I saw Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.  And I knew him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, ‘Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.’  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God”    John 1:29--34

There might be several masters present during a certain period of time but God chooses one prophet amongst them to carry the mantle. That is how Swami Vivekananda was chosen in preference to Ramakrishna Paramahansa to spread the message of God world across. Likewise Jesus was chosen in preference to John to spread his message of Universal love.

I knew him not  and he was before me denotes the humility and acknowledgement of God’s divine drama. That is why John Jesus as the saviour with the epithet  “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”   Here Lamb  is the kind hearted Jesus. Jesus sacrificed himself to spread the message of Love.   He could have very well utilized his omnipotence to punish the enemy. The real enemy was not the mortal body but the ahamkar or ego. Jesus exemplified God’s love by expressing spiritual magnanimity. The karmic  consequence can only be removed with the cooperation of the sinner.    Jesus expressed his compassion like an innocent Lamb. 

Initiation or Diksha in Sanskrit  of Bharat is akin to baptism in the west.   Guru in Bharat gives Diksha to the disciple for purification or Consecration of his soul.  The real baptism is by Spirit that comes in association with the sacred persons in sacred places.  . The real baptism cleanses the consciousness with the Holy Light of Third or Spiritual eye and with the sound of Aum.  The Third eye changes the brain cells and hence the mind.

The spiritual baptism is threefold:  1) the teacher sees the Light himself and bestows initiation. 2) the teacher sends the Light into the initiate. The disciple may or may not see the Light. 3) the devotee has to make conscientious effort and meditation or sadhana given by the master to keep the Light permanently.

The best way is to follow the path of spiritually realized master.  To get liberation, the disciple has to make 25% spiritual effort, 25% of Guru’s blessings, and 50% of the grace of God. This is what Sanskrit scriptures say.

Ministers in churches and priests in temples are normally chosen according to the knowledge of scriptures.  In addition to that they should have daily kriya yoga meditation practice in their back ground. Then only they can have self control, character, and the wisdom of soul intuition.  This produces Self-realization and actual experience of God.

One should not be in the physical presence of his Guru but should emulate Guru. That is why Jesus said, “why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”    One should follow and practice the teachings of their Guru, the Good Shepherd,  in stock barrel and gun.

“I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah.”     John 1:23

The thoughtless state is the real wilderness. With the divine power of the Voice or the word of the cosmic vibration John came to declare the consciousness that is in Jesus.   Yoga sutras treatises explain the awakening of Chakras or plexus, the spinal centres. Yoga is the universal science of divine union of the soul with Spirit, of man with maker.      

Spirit descends from Cosmic consciousness into and matter. This is called Creation. Conversely matter ascends into Cosmic Consciousness.  Yoga describes this certain way. Straight highway of the spine through which Soul descends from Spirit into the body and matter.  In fact Man’s true nature is soul which is the ray of Spirit. The bodily covering is three way.  1)Physical body. This is called Durga. It is like fort.  It is the outer covering. This is called Ichcha shakti or will power.  This receives its energy from the Astral body. 2) Astral body.  It is nothing but mind. It is Kriya shakti. It is action power. It is Lakshmi.   This receives its energy from the Causal body. 3) Causal body. It is Gnaana shakti or power of wisdom. It is pure consciousness.  This will direct Astral body which in turn will direct Physical body.

The three bodies work in unity.  Life force and consciousness work together in seven spiritual cerebrospinal centres.  The soul is limited by the confinement in its triune body and becomes pseudo soul or ego.  The Cosmic consciousness descends into Causal centres of Causal spine of magnetized consciousness. Then descends into Astral spinal centres of light and power of the astral body.  Then the cosmic consciousness descends into the physical body through the brain and spine.  And from there into the nervous system, organs, and senses.  This make the man to cognize the world and inter act with his material environment.

Man who indulges in the senses of touch, smell, taste, sound, and sight will have its consciousness concentrated on matter. When the Cosmic consciousness descends it will enter from non-duality or advaita into duality or dvaita.  Here switch is one but the light will be in two.

The yogis from Bharat keep their spine straight during meditation by concentrating on Kootastha, the place between the eye brows.

The populace in Israel was looking for Christ in a physical body. John the Baptist assured the presence of Christ in a physical body.  John the Baptist forbade the physical body worshipping. The Christ Consciousness could be realized by awakening the cerebrospinal centres.  One must know how to meditate.  One must know how to switch off the senses, how to concentrate on the altar of spiritual eye.  Scientific and systematic meditation lifts the practice of religion beyond intellectual theory.

One should not be a passive member of the church. One should not be satisfied listening to sermons.  The worshippers should engage in stillness bodily and mentally. “Be still, and know that I am God.”  Spiritual truth and wisdom are found not in any words of a priest or preacher but in the ‘wilderness’ of inner silence.  Meditation on Aum or Cosmic vibratory intelligence brings baptism in the Holy Ghost and Christ Consciousness or God in Creation.

Baptism in the Holy Ghost removes bad habits and unwanted or unjustified desires. One need not negate the justified desires to know God.  The severe Meditation itself controls all unjustified and unwanted desires.    In kriya yoga the sadhak experiences Aum vibration. Through Aum, he will get into vibration less state, the God in Creation state, or Christ Consciouness state, or Son of the Father state, and from there to God the Father state.