Bible Discourse 52 I am the Door…I am the good Shepherd…I and my Father are one.

Discourse 52

I am the Door…I am the good Shepherd…I and my Father are one.

And Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.  And his disciples asked him, saying, “Master who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind.”

Jesus answered, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,” (which is by interpretation, Sent).  He went his way therefore, and they washed, and came seeing.

The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, “Is not this he that sat and begged?” Some said, “This is he”: others said, “He is like him”: but he said, “I am he.” Therefore said they unto him, “How were thine eyes opened?”  He answered and said, “A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, ‘Go to the pool Siloam, and wash’: and I went and washed, and I received the sight.”

Then said they unto him, “Where is he?” He said, “I know not.”  They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight.  He said unto them, “He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.”

Therefore said some of the Pharisees, “This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day.”  Others said, “How can a man that is a sinner do much miracles?”  And there was a division among them.

They say unto the blind man again, “What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes?”  He said, “He is a prophet.”  But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.  And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? How then doth he now see?”  His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:  But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.”

These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: because the Jews had agreed already, that if man did confess that he was a Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, “He is of age; ask him.”  Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, “Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.”  He answered and said, “Whether he is a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”  Then said they to him again, “What did he to thee? How opened he thine eyes?”  

He answered them, “I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be his disciples?” Then they reviled him, and said, “Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.  We know that God spake into Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.”

The man answered and said unto them, “Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth.  Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.  If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.”  They answered and said unto him, “Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us”  And they cast him out.

Jesus heard that they cast him out; and when he had found him, “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?”

He answered and said, “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

And Jesus said unto him, “Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.”

And he said, “Lord. I believe.”  And he worshipped him.

And Jesus said, “For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.”

And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?”

Jesus said unto them, “If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, ‘We see’; therefore your sin remaineth.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you,, he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and robber.  But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will free from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”

This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

Then said Jesus unto them again, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the seep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.  The hireling, fleeth; because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

 

 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This commandment have I received of my Father.”

There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.  And many of them said, “He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?”  Others said, “These are not the words of him that hath a devil.  Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?”

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.  And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, “How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.  I and my Father are one.”

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.  Jesus answered them, “Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?”

The Jews answered him, saying, “For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”

Jesus answered them, “It is not written in your law, ‘I said, “Ye are gods’? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, ‘Thou blasphemest’; because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in Him.”

Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, and went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.

And many resorted unto him, and said, “John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.”  And many believed on him there.

                                                                  John 9:1—10:42

And Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.  And his disciples asked him, saying, “Master who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind.”

Jesus answered, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”                                   John 9:1—5

Jesus said:  Individual karma and mass karma, both are the causes of man’s suffering.  He makes someone to suffer for a long time so that a divine man comes and cure him. Here the born blind man’s case is akin to this. The divine master Jesus came and cured him. This is an eye opener to the people who are not following the divine procedures. Being good in his present life, and also of good karma in his past life, he could come in front of a divine master, Jesus, and got cured.

There was a miracle survival of one or few individuals in a mass tragedy like air crash, train accident, and natural calamities like earth quakes, and typhoons etc. 

Jesus said:  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”   Jesus speaking here of his oneness with Christ Consciousness.  while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.   Here ‘day’ implies creative activity, ‘night’ implies cosmic dissolution during which no creative activity occurs. In Gita Sri Krishna said:

Sri Bhagavan uvaacha;

Aksharam Parabrahma paramam  Swabhaavodhyaatma uchyate

Bhoota bhaavodbhaavakaro visargah karma samgnitah                Gita 8—3

Sri Bhagavan said:

He Arjun,

The Supreme Spirit which is indestructible is called Brahman. The individual Soul and Kootastha Chaitanya which exists due to Spirit is called Adhyaatma. The Aum, Cosmic Vibration or Visarga, that causes births, deaths and dissolution of beings and their various natures is called Karma. 

1) Brahmam: Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient. This is called Sat. This is beyond Naada (Om Sound), Bindu (Energy), and Kala (Effulgence).  IT will manifest Itself as Kootastha Chaitanya.

This expresses Itself as unreal and physical Cosmos through OM and three Gunas, Satwa (positive), Rajas (Zero), and Tamas (negative), which is visible to the naked eyes. This OM is also called Visarga.

2) AAdhyaatmam:  This Kootastha Chaitanya is called Adhi Atma. This is also called TAT.

3) Karmamu: The result of wisdom that emanates from OM is called Karma. It is having cause and also effect. The whole world is bound by cause and effect.  Living beings and Cosmos shall give the bad and good results as per their respective duties.

Karmas are two types, worldly and Godly, Laukika and alaukika.

Ablutions, occupation, eating food are worldly Karmas.

Sandhyavandanam (chanting Gayatri Mantra), worshipping God, Fire ceremonies, and Kriya yoga sadhana are Godly Karmas.

These worldly and Godly actions (Karmas) are again divided into three types, Sanchita (Past), Prarabdha (Present), and Aagaami (Future). 

If Godly actions are done with expectations (kartritwa bhavana) then it is bondage, without expectations (Nivritti) it is called salvation.

We cannot spend the money earned by us in one day or one month. Likewise the results of Karma in this birth cannot be experienced in the same birth. They will go on accumulating.  These accumulated karmas are called Sanchita Karmas.

Prabdhakarma is akin to the money we bring in from the bank to spend for that day or that month.

Aagaami depends upon the spending of the money we bring in. If we spend it for good cause then good Aagami Karma is added, if it is for bad purpose then bad Aagami karma is added.

Sanchita is past, Prarabdha is present, and Aagaami is future Karma.

Praarabdham bhogate bhunjaat  tatwagnaanena sanchitam

aagaami dwvidham proktam  tadveshti priyavaadinau

The Prarabdha karma, present karma, has to be experienced.  If one has the feeling with complete knowledge ‘’I am the God’’, then the Sanchita Karma, will be mitigated. The attachment or hatred towards anybody will attract AAgaami karma.

Sahasrayugaparyanta maharyad brahmano Viduh

Raatriyuga Sahasraantaam Tehoraatra Vidojanaah               Gita 8—17

The sadhak who understands that the day of Brahma is of 1000 eons (Yugas) span, and night of Brahma is of 1000 eons span, he only understands the nature of Day and night. 

Avyaktaadvyaktayah sarvaah Prabhavatyaharaagame

Raatryaagame praleeyante tatraivaavyakta samgnake                  Gita 8—18

When the day of Brahma starts then the whole Creation is manifested from Him, and dissolve back in Him at the start of His night.

Prakritim swaama vashtabhya visrijaami punah punah

Bhoota graama mimam kritsna mavasam prakriter vasaat   Gita 9—8

The living beings are not independent. They are subjugated to my Cosmic Nature and their Karma. I am manifesting them again and again with my Maya Prakriti (Cosmic Nature).

  

Nachamaam taani karmaani nibadhnanti dhananjaya

Udaaseena vadaaseena mastakam teshu karmasu             Gita 9—9

He Arjun, I am only the witness to this Creation and do not entangle with Karma. I am not bound by all these Karmas.

Mayyaadhyakshena prakritih sooyate sa charaacharam

Hetunaanena kaunteya jagadwipari vartate                      Gita 9—10

He Arjun, I am the witnessee and organizer of this Creation. My impregnating presence causes Mother Nature to give birth to the animate and the inanimate things. With this reason the worlds are behaving.

God exists as the Father (Sat) (Cosmic Consciousness), the Son of Father (Tat) (Christ Consciousness), God in Creation, and Holy Ghost, OM (Intelligent vibration).

There two states of Samadhi. 1) Sensory-motor Samadhi with heart beat, and 2) Sensory-motor relaxation Samadhi without heart beat.

Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto Him that sent me.  Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and when I am, thither ye cannot come.  John 7:33—34

When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,” (which is by interpretation, Sent).  He went his way therefore, and they washed, and came seeing.                              John 9:6—7

Jesus directed the blind the man to clean the charged the spittled clay with water in the pool of Siloam.

The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, “Is not this he that sat and begged?” Some said, “This is he”: others said, “He is like him”: but he said, “I am he.” Therefore said they unto him, “How were thine eyes opened?”  He answered and said, “A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, ‘Go to the pool Siloam, and wash’: and I went and washed, and I received the sight.”

Then said they unto him, “Where is he?” He said, “I know not.”  They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight.  He said unto them, “He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.”

Therefore said some of the Pharisees, “This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day.”  Others said, “How can a man that is a sinner do much miracles?”  And there was a division among them.

They say unto the blind man again, “What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes?”  He said, “He is a prophet.”  But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.  And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? How then doth he now see?”  His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:  But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.”

These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: because the Jews had agreed already, that if man did confess that he was a Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, “He is of age; ask him.”  Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, “Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.”  He answered and said, “Whether he is a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”  Then said they to him again, “What did he to thee? How opened he thine eyes?”  

He answered them, “I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be his disciples?” Then they reviled him, and said, “Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.  We know that God spake into Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.”

The man answered and said unto them, “Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth.  Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.  If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.”  They answered and said unto him, “Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us”  And they cast him out.

Jesus heard that they cast him out; and when he had found him, “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?”                                            John 9:8—35

Jesus said: Do they not believe in the Christ Consciousness, which is the only begotten reflection or Son.

He answered and said, “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

And Jesus said unto him, “Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.”

And he said, “Lord. I believe.”  And he worshipped him.      John 9:36—38

Jesus said:

Thou hast seen the body in which the Christ Consciousness is encased. This is the Son of God. This the cause. Jesus has said without any trace of ego.

And Jesus said, “For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.”        John 9:39

Jesus said: I am the Omnipresent Christ Consciousness, I came to give the judgment of Cosmic law and guide it intelligently.  By my wisdom, the spiritually blind will see the truth.

And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?”

Jesus said unto them, “If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, ‘We see’; therefore your sin remaineth.                                       John 9:40—41

Jesus said: If you acknowledge that you are spiritually blind, then you will be helped by me. But ‘We see’ of yours shows your arrogance.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you,, he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and robber.  But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will free from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”

This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.                                                            John 10:1—6

Jesus said: The false prophets and charlatans boasts about enlightenment and liberation.  I can distinguish ‘the true shepherd’ or Sadguru, and  ‘the inner door’ of realization.

To the true guru-shepherd, the Heavenly Porter opens the door to all divine secrecies, through which the guru leads his obedient, truth-seeking, meek, lamb-like followers. True devotes will not follow a stranger, self-elected spiritual guides.

Jesua says that the true spiritual teacher and true devotee are brought together by God.

“No man come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” John 6:44

 God establishes the true Guru-disciple divine relationship. He leads them in his care out of the common sheepfold of delusion to freedom.

 

Then said Jesus unto them again, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.                                                           John 10:7—10

Jesus said: In truth, I declare unto you that the Christ Consciousness in me, and in all other liberated souls, is the only door through which devotees can enter into Cosmic Consciousness.

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

                                                                                                      John 14:6.

Jesus said: “I am the door.”   That means Christ Consciousness is the only portal to liberation. ‘who ever came before me’ means the egoistic people will not have any realization of Christ Consciousness.  Christ Consciousness is the door. Jesus said, “All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.”  Jesus means that the masters other than Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and John the Baptist, are the robbers and thieves.  

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the seep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.  The hireling, fleeth; because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.                                    John 10:11—15

A true guru tuned to the Christ Consciousness the God Shepherd which Jesus is. But ‘he that is an hireling’, the religionist who teaches only to make a living, cannot connect you to God. The Christ Consciousness in me recognizes the true spiritual seekers.

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And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This commandment have I received of my Father.”                               John 10:16—18

Jesus clearly differentiated him from others. He was able to take care of the real spiritual seeks for incarnations till they are liberated. That is why Heavenly Father loves me and empowered me to surrender the life in the body of Jesus and to resurrect after death. I receive this Commandment from Father.

There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.  And many of them said, “He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?”  Others said, “These are not the words of him that hath a devil.  Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?”

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.  And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, “How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.  I and my Father are one.”                                          John 10:19—30

Jesus said: I told you but you did not believe me. The miracles I did in the name of my Father as per his divine order bear testimony. I and my Father are one.  My devotes who is fully contact with Christ Consciousness in me will be immortalized.

My Father, Cosmic Consciousness, Christ Consciousness in me—felt by my devotees— is greater than sum of everything.  

Bhagavan Sri Krishna said the same in Bhagavadgita.

Brahmanohi pratishtaaha mamrutasyaa vyayasyacha

Saaswatasyacha dharmasya sukhasyai kaantikasyacha        Gita 14—27

I am the imperishable, Formless, the indestructible, eternal embodiment of righteous -ness, and unalloyed Bliss.

Jesus said:  ‘ye are not my sheep.’ He means those who are opposed him cannot find God.

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.  Jesus answered them, “Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?”

The Jews answered him, saying, “For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”

Jesus answered them, “It is not written in your law, ‘I said, “Ye are gods’? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, ‘Thou blasphemest’; because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in Him.” 

                                                                                          John 10:31—38

Jesus said: Is it not written in your holy books exactly what I said—that not only I but all of you are gods.

“I have said, ‘Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most high’” Psalms 82:6

Because of my truthful statement that Christ Consciousness in me is Son, the only reflection, of God the Father, you grievously err in concluding that I indulge in blasphemy. If I don’t show miracles, then you do not believe me.  ‘ye are gods’ means all souls are made in the pure image of Gods. Souls with open eyes of wisdom behold themselves as emanations of God.  If the eyes of wisdom are closed, even though  they too are the ‘children of most High’.  Jesus never said ‘I am God.’   

Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, and went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.

And many resorted unto him, and said, “John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.”  And many believed on him there.

                                                                  John 9:1—10:42