Bible Discourse 57 Will Few or the many find Salvation Jesus affirms the role of the Guru in the disciple’s liberation

Discourse 57

Will Few or the many find Salvation

Jesus affirms the role of the Guru in the disciple’s liberation

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

And Jesus answering said unto them, “Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all Galileans, because they offered such things? I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

He spake also this parable; “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.  Then said unto the dresser of his vineyard, ‘Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?’

“And he answering said unto him, ‘Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it is hear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.’”

And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, “Lord, are there few that be saved?”

And he said unto them, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord. Lord, open unto us’: and he shall answer and say unto you, ‘I know you not whence ye are’:

“Then shall ye begin to say, ‘We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.’

“But he shall say, ‘I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of inequity.’

“There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.

And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the North, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.  And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.”

The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, “Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.”

And he said unto them, “Go ye, and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’  Neverthless I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following: for it canno0t be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stones them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, ‘Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.’”

                                                                Luke 13:1—9, 22—35

 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

And Jesus answering said unto them, “Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all Galileans, because they offered such things? I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

                                                                                Luke 13:1—5

Jesus said: The justice awaiting those who were speaking against the persons who had died at the hands of Pilate or because of the falling of the tower as they are more sinners as per karmic law. Jesus cautions, “Do not presume that the slain individuals were greater sinners than yourselves. Mend your ways and forsake your evil actions. Your iniquities will be the death of your spiritual life.”

   

He spake also this parable; “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.  Then said unto the dresser of his vineyard, ‘Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?’

“And he answering said unto him, ‘Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it is hear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.’”                                       Luke 13:6—9

Jesus said: A sinner gets a guru-preceptor through his repentance and prayer to God. The God-sent Guru implants divine grace in the disciple. In this parable ‘vineyard’ means good disciple. ‘dresser’ means Guru. ‘fig tree’ symbolizes lagging disciple. The intercession of the God-tuned Guru can mitigate ‘past karma’ of a true disciple. Lahiri Mahasaya, the great kriya yoga Guru, used to tell the disciples to meditate deeply till he/they overcome karma. Lahiri Mahasya used to intercede the Brahma for his ardent devotee. The scriptures say, “The flower falls when the fruit appears.’  So when your meditation flower gives fruit, then the God-realization fruit comes.

Draupadi, the consort of Pandavas, is a great devotee of Bhagavan Krishna in Mahabharata.  Sri Krishna asked her as to why she is not meditating.  She told Sri Krishna that her mind is fully engrossed on Sri Krishna day and night. As such she is unable to concentrate on any thing except Him.

Prayatnaadyata maanastu yogee samsuddha kilbishah

Anekajanma samsiddha stato yaati paraamgatim             Gita 6—45

 

The yogi who does Kriya yoga sadhana with determination becomes sinless. He is getting Supreme Beatitude because of the power of Kriya yoga sadhana he has been doing for the past several births.

By birth itself some are extraordinarily intelligent. This is due to the homework done by them in their past births. 

From the time of birth itself some will be suffering from one disease or the other. This is due to the bad habits like taking narcotics etc.,  in their past births. 

As you sow, so you reap. So do good in the present without bothering for the results.

Health, Education, Courage, Timidity, and diseases in this birth are the results of the good or bad work done by the individual.

Tapaswibhyodhiko yogee gnaanibhyopiMatodhikah

Karmibhyaschaadhiko yogee tasmaadyogee Bhavaarjuna  Gita 6—46

He Arjun, the Yogi is deemed greater than body-disciplining ascetics who do Krichrachandraayaana penances etc., greater than the people who are having more scriptural theoretical knowledge, greater than the people who do fire rites.

One must have devotion and surrender to God in addition to deep, and sustained meditation.

And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, “Lord, are there few that be saved?”

And he said unto them, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord. Lord, open unto us’: and he shall answer and say unto you, ‘I know you not whence ye are’:

“Then shall ye begin to say, ‘We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.’

“But he shall say, ‘I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of inequity.’                             Luke 13:22—27

Jesus said: The disciple cannot enter God’s kingdom without the grace of Guru. Guru is “master of the Guru.”  Universal Christ Consciousness is the inner door to transcendence and salvation is the strait gate. That is the meaning of ‘enter in at the strait gate’

I am the door of the sheep…by me if any man enter in , he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.                                John 10:7, 9.

  Jesus had said in the Sermon on the Mount. “Strait is the gate, narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”     Matthew 7:14

The Hindu scriptures say, “the path to liberation is narrow as razor’s edge.”  Satan works constantly to divert the devotee from the do’s and don’ts of the Godward path.

“Lord, are there few that be saved?”  All who strive to enter into the kingdom of Cosmic Consciousness with the Guru’s help and Guru’s meditation techniques will find the strait gate and narrow way of self realization into the infinite. This is what Jesus’ reply signifies. Those who will not heed Guru’s advice shall not succeed.

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

“Because you rejected me and would not enter the door of salvation I opened for you, I know you not as sincere and faithful devotees. 

Jesus repeatedly voiced such warnings to those who rejected him as one sent by God: “Not everyone that saith unto me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord…’  And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work inequity’”                            Matthew 7:21—23

“Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, ‘Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.’”                                                             Luke 13:35

        

“There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.                                                           Luke 13:28

Jesus said: The devotee can meet his God-ordained Guru with his good karma. He may behold Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets. They will be lodged in Cosmic Consciousness.

And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.     Matthew 8:11—12

This rendering is for devotees of advanced stage. They will come back to earth due to unfinished karma. Such devotees they do not like worldly pleasures—a spiritual longing or sweet sorrow—and they turn towards deeper spiritual effort. 

And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the North, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.  And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.”     Luke 13:29—30

Jesus said: Anybody can enter into kingdom of God, irrespective of caste, creed, and race.  The devotees can be from North, East, South and or from west.  If the devotion is lessened then the first can be last, Those who persevere in meditation, the last can be first. More the devotion, more the devoted people can enter the kingdom of heaven. 

The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, “Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.”

And he said unto them, “Go ye, and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’  Neverthless I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following: for it canno0t be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stones them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, ‘Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.’”

                                                                      Luke 13:31—35

Certain Pharisees told Jesus to get out lest Herod will kill him.  Jesus said: Go and tell that cunning Herod that I have come to cast out ignorance and devils during a certain period of time as ordained by Heavenly Father. Then I will be crucified. Then I will be perfected through the help of the Father. I will walk free in spite of wicked Herod and all his power, until the divinely foretold karma-ordained moment has to arrive.

The liberated masters had to accrue karma for the work they do on earth. Karma does not bind the liberated souls. Jerusalem is city hallowed or made sacred by prophets of God but people of Jerusalem did not care to listen to wisdom. “O people of Jerusalem, you are remarkable with a history of killing and stoning the prophets. I would have taken you under my protection but you are unwilling due to your ignorance.”