Bible Discourse 63 Exchanging Temporal Wealth for the Riches of God’s kingdom The blessings inherent in God’s Commandments

Discourse 63

Exchanging Temporal Wealth for the Riches of God’s kingdom

The blessings inherent in God’s Commandments

And, behold, one came and said unto him, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”

And he said unto him, “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, Good: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.”

He saith unto him, “Which?”

Jesus said, “’Thou shalt do no murder,’ ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery,’ ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor thy father and thy mother’: and, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’”

The young man saith unto him, “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?”

Jesus said unto him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, “Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

 Then answered Peter and said unto him, “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?”

And Jesus said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

 

“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.  And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

“And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market place. And he said unto them; ‘Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you.’  And they went their way.  And he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

“And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others were standing idle, and saith unto them, ‘Why stand ye here all the day idle?’ They say unto him, ‘Because no man hath hired us.’ He saith unto them, ‘Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.’

“So when even was come, the load of the vineyard saith unto his steward, ‘Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.’  And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.  But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

“And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house saying, ‘These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.’

“But he answered one of the, and said, ‘Friend I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?’

“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”

And Jesus going upto Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.”

                                                                      Matthew 19:16—20:19

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among publicans, and he was rich.  And he sought to Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.  And he ran before, and climbed up ito a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.”

And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured , saying, that he was gone to be guest with a man that is sinner.

And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”

And Jesus said unto him, “This day is salvation come to this house, for so much as he also a son of Abraham.  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

He said therefore, “A certain noble man went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.  And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, ‘Occupy till I come.’  But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us. ‘

“And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called ounto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how muchevery man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, ‘Lord, thy pound has gained ten pounds.’  And he said unto him, ‘Well, thy good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.’  And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.’  And he said likewise to him, ‘Be thou also over five cities.’

“And another man came, saying, ‘Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.’  And he saith unto him, ‘Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee. Thou wicked servant.  Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?’

“And he said unto them that stood by, ‘Take him from the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.’ (And they said unto him, ‘Lord, thou hath ten pounds.’) ‘For I say unto you, that every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be takenaway from him.  But those nine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me,’”

And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending upto Jerusalem.

                                                                       Luke 19:1—28

And, behold, one came and said unto him, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”

And he said unto him, “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, Good: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.”

He saith unto him, “Which?”

Jesus said, “’Thou shalt do no murder,’ ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery,’ ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor thy father and thy mother’: and, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’”

The young man saith unto him, “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?”

Jesus said unto him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, “Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”                                             Matthew 19:16—26

Parallel reference:

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, “Good Master, what shall I do that  I may inherit eternal life?”

And Jesus said unto him, “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.  Thou knowest the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not kill,’  ‘Do not steal,’  ‘Do not bear false witness,’  ‘Defraud not,’  ‘Honour thy father and mother,’”

And he answered and said unto him, “Master all these have  I observed from my youth.”

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, andsaid unto him, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”

And he was sad at the saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!”

And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus, answered again, and saith unto them, “Children, how hard it is for them the trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”

And Jesus looking upon them saith, “With men it is impossible, but not with God all things are possible.”                                         Mark 10:17—27

Jesus said:

I do not want to take credit for anything as everything is done by God only.  You must follow the commandments if your life is to be reunited with Everlasting Life.  The purpose of moral commandments can be fulfilled if you free the consciousness from materiality.

Commit not murder, commit not adultery, steal not, bear not false witness, Defraud or deceive no one, honour your father and mother, and Love your neighbour as your own self.  Follow these moral commandments of righteous behaviour.

“Though you have obeyed these dictums as told by you, you are lacking something. You dispose of your everything and distribute the proceeds to poor and join me. “Take up the cross, and follow me.”

As long as man is interested in his riches, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

It is easier for a camel to pass through eye of a needle whereas it is impossible for man with his attachments to pass through the meditation that reach him to Cosmic Consciousness.  

Ten commandments conveyed by Moses, or Ashtanga yoga or eight steps of Yoga of Indian sage Patanjali will enable man to reach Cosmic Consciousness.

“Thou shalt do no murder” is nothing but Patanjali’s Ahimsa or non-injury to others. Ahimsa is defined as “virtue entire’ is nothing but ‘sakalo dhrmaha’.  “Thou shalt not commit adultery” is elevated to ‘Brahmacharya’ by Patanjali. “Thou shalt not commit steal”, and “Thou shalt not covet...anything that is thy neighbour’s’ is Patanjali’s “asteya”.  “Aparigraha” is Patanjali’s ‘non-covetousness’.  “Thou shalt not bear false witness”, and “defraud not” (added in the account of Mark)  are tantamount to Patanjali’s “Satya”, “truthfulness”, “avoidance of falsehood in all aspects”.

“Honour thy father and thy mother” and “Love thy neighbour as thyself” recognizes the One who has become many. The best yogi is he who feels for others as feels for himself.  Bhavadgita says:

Aatmaupamyena sarvatra samam pasyati yorjuna

Sukhamvaa yadivaa dukkham sayogee paramomatah        Gita 6—32

He Arjun, the yogi who compares the misery or happiness in all other beings with himself, and feels that they are also like me, part of the same spirit,  treats them with equanimity, such a yogi said to be the supreme. 

Caste is formed as per the degree of advancement in sadhana, and not by biological birth. The one who does not do Kriya yoga Sadhana at all is Sudra.

The sadhana in Mooladhara chakra provides and improves divine wisdom, clairvoyance, and smelling power of nose.  The one who does not do Sadhana in this Chakra will get his happiness destroyed gradually. 

The Sadhana in Swadhisthana chakra provides and improves self control, wisdom growth, and tasting power of tongue. The one who does not do Sadhana in this Chakra will get his wisdom destroyed gradually.

The Sadhana in Manipura chakra provides and improves immunization power, seeing power of eye, and protects from evil forces. The one who does not do Sadhana in this Chakra will be subjected to diseases, and spell of evil forces gradually.

The Sadhana in Anahata chakra provides and improves love, touching power of skin. The one who does not do Sadhana in this Chakra will be subjected to skin diseases, and feeling of hatred gradually.

The Sadhana in Visuddha chakra provides and improves peace and tranquility, hearing power of ear. The one who does not do Sadhana in this Chakra will be subjected to restlessness gradually.

Kundalini force is called Vasuki, and MeruParvat is Spinal cord.

To utilize Swasa (breath) as Astra (weapon) is called Swastra. Gradually Swastra has become Sastra in usage. Churning of Meruparvat means sending the Kundalini force i.e., Vasuki through Sushumna subtle nadi.

The outgoing life force i.e., Kundalini while going through Sushumna, it will pass through Mooladhara, swadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Visuddha, Agna, and then to  Sahasrara. This is done through Kriya yoga sadhana.

While passing through Mooladhara, Swadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata, and Visuddha, the Kundalini life force will inherit the qualities of those respective Chakras.  The kundalini snake now will have five hoods viz., sabda (sound), sparsa (touch), roopa (seeing), Rasa (taste), and Gandha (smell). This snake is called five hooded Kaleeyasarpa (Snake). When this five hooded snake reaches Agna Chakra in Kootastha, then the poison viz., Kama (desire), krodha (anger), lobha (greediness), moha (delusion or illusion), mada (proud), and maatsarya (jealousy, one-up-man-ship), in that is removed.  This is called Kaaleeyamardanam or removing the poison from this snake by SriKrishna. Agna chakra is called Srikrishna chakra. 

In Agna chakra in kootastha the sadhak will experience  doubtless (asampragnata savikalpa Samadhi or srashta Samadhi).  Here the Cosmic consciousness is appeared as Great (Maha) effulgence (Bharata). Here the Sadhak and Parabrahman juxtaposed to each other.

This Mahabharata is called Vaitarinee. The sadhak will be endowed with Clairvoyance.

Crossing this effulgent Vaitarinee and making the kundalinee life force to reach Sahasrara Chakra will provide the Sadhak with Nirvikalpa Samadhi, the greatest ecstatic union with God, the Parabrahman. The Sadhak will be only witnessee, the Saksheebhoota. He will be completely liberated from the circuit of mundane existence.

Yoga, is the complete science of purifying the inner consciousness for God-awareness. For that asana (Bodily discipline), pranayama (control of life energy), and pratyahara (interiorization) for achieving actual contact of God in the meditative states of dharana, dhyana, and Samadhi.

“If thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off….And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee.”                                Matthew 18:8—9

Full awakening of man’s divine consciousness requires a deeper discipline for refining and spiritualizing the soul’s body-mind vehicle with its karmic accumulation of habits and desires.

Yogee Yunjeeta Satatamaatmaanam Rahasisthitah

ekaakee yatachittaatmaa niraaseera parigrah                      Gita 6—10

Living in solitude, with controlled senses, without any desire, not accepting anything from others, having a fixity of mind always on Soul, the Kriya yogi conducts himself.

The sadhak who does intensive Meditation should do his Sadhana concentrating on his Sadguru, or with his Sadguru.

The advanced Sadhak should fix the form of his Sadguru and meditate in his Kootastha with or without the physical presence of Sadguru. The sadhak should intensely think about his Sadguru in the initial stages of Sadhana. This way the Cosmic vibrations will be silently reaching the Sadhak through his Sadguru.   

   

Suchau dese pratishtaapya Sthira maana samaatmanah

Naatyuchritam naatineecham chelaajina Kusottaram        Gita 6—11

Tataikaagram manah Kritwaa yata chittendriya kriyah

Upaviswaasane yunjyaad yogamaatma Visuddhaye         Gita 6—12

The sitting place for Sadhana should be a clean one, neither too high nor too low,  covered with kusha grass on which there should be a deer or tiger skin, with a firm seat and not wobbling. The sadhak should sit firmly on that seat with a sitting posture, concentrates his mind in kootastha, controlling his senses, should meditate for purification of his consciousness.

Darbhasan: This Kusha grass is available in almost all places of the world. This will insulate body to the earth, and will not allow the moisture to make contact with the skin. It gives a cushioning effect. In this present day world cushion pillow can be used.

Deer or Tiger skin:  This will create the heat by which the Kundalini awakening will be quickened. One should not kill the tiger or deer for this. The skins of the dead animals should be utilized.  A woolen rug covered with a silken cloth can be used in the present day world.

Jesus explained to his disciples: “Those who are satisfied with temporal pleasures feel no inclination to seek the subtle everlasting happiness of God-consciousness.”

‘But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.”   Luke 6:24

Jesus says that for material minded people, riches will obstruct the cultivation of spiritual habits.

“Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  Matthew 6:24,  Luke 16:13

The more one is God-conscious, the less materialistic he becomes and vice versa. 

Then answered Peter and said unto him, “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?”

And Jesus said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.                          Matthew 19:27—30

Parallel reference:

“Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on the thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

                                                                              Luke 22:28—30

Then Peter began to say unto him, “Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.”

And Jesus answered and said, “Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and  mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.”                                                  Mark 10:28—31

Jesus said: With firm conviction, I tell you, you can also attain the Christ Consciousness, and get transcended or resuurected from the Son of  man. You will be liberated at twelve different times as required for transformation from Son of man into Cosmic Consciousness after working out all your past karma. Judas will be liberated after many incarnations. 

After getting fully liberated you will be able to see the destiny of not only twelve tribes of Israel but also others.

“Like me, you, my disciples, shall as the apostle of Christ Consciousness, will witness the ingress and egress of souls.”

“And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain (transcendent state of consciousness), and shewed me that the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal (the universal creative light descending into astral manifestation from the infinity of God’s unmanifested Bliss); and had a wall grear and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of the Israel (the vibratory ‘wall’ or rampart circumventing and separating the astral heaven of manifestation from the unmanifested Absolute, with portals, ‘gates,’ through which God sends souls into creation and ultimately draws them back into His Being).....And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (As the consciousness of Jesus was absorbed into Christ Consciousness, so his twelve disciples, when completely liberated, would also be one with Christ Consciousness enthroned on these foundations i.e. ensconced in the wondrous realization of the awesome informing of the Formless Absolute.)”

Those who are successful in renouncing everything—possessions, sense pleasures, human attachment—to attain God-consciousness will regain realization of the eternal life hidden in their souls. Those whose spirituality and God’s love lasts till death, will be among ‘the first’ to enter liberation in God’s kingdom.

“the lasts shall be first.”     Luke 13:30

Those who forsake mundane life to spiritual life will get everything.  

“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.  And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

“And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market place. And he said unto them; ‘Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you.’  And they went their way.  And he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

“And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others were standing idle, and saith unto them, ‘Why stand ye here all the day idle?’ They say unto him, ‘Because no man hath hired us.’ He saith unto them, ‘Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.’

“So when even was come, the load of the vineyard saith unto his steward, ‘Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.’  And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.  But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

“And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house saying, ‘These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.’

“But he answered one of the, and said, ‘Friend I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?’

“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”

                                                                 Matthew 20:1—16

The master is aware of God’s kingdom on earth. The master told the truth seekers to work in his vineyard of self-discipline. He will give wisdom as a remuneration for their labor. In the third hour he saw more truth seekers and would be renunciants. Likewise the master found  sixth, ninth, and eleventh time also more truth seekers wanting for his divine guidance in the vineyard.  Due to spiritual intensity, the last received the same divine illumination as those who first joined the master.  They asked the master to give more as they were with him from the beginning. Master said: Due to their respective spiritual intuitive wisdom they got emancipation.

Jesus wanted to all the truth seekers they will get their share as per their efforts in spiritual path. Who has come first and who has come last is immaterial.

And Jesus going upto Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.”                                         Matthew 20:17—19

Parallel reference:

Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, “Behold, we go up to  Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.”

And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.        Luke 18:31—34