Many evangelists and priests claim that to gain eternal life you must believe on Jesus, have faith in the Bible, and/or go to Church. To me, these seem like distorted claims and illogical conclusions. Incomplete because they are not based upon what Jesus really taught and how he lived.
So, when St Paul said, “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20) this made more sense to me. This English word, “dead” was translated from the Greek, νεκρός, nekros – meaning, inactive, inoperative. The message of Jesus is not inactive.
In 1816, Thomas Jefferson said, “It is in our lives and not our words that our religion must be read.” Jesus said, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
Faith without discipline is lame; discipline without faith is blind.
This is the major reason why current religions are powerless to help transform the individual and society. Most of religion is based upon claims. These become irrelevant in everyday life and its struggles, but it does provide some temporary relief and comfort to the innocent and naïve followers in all religions.
Therefore some religious leaders turn to politics to seize power to force their beliefs on society. This creates more problems.
If you really want to love Jesus, and want to follow him, then you must know what he taught and how he lived his life. He did not teach one way and live another way. He was never a hypocrite.
Jesus taught the universal basic paradigm of true Religions. Jesus explained this message as Love God, Love Neighbor, Love Self (LG, LN, LS). This essential paradigm is found in eight religions, but is written and expressed differently due to language and tradition. I have written about this good news, the “Golden Thread” connecting these religions in my book. In these monthly blogs I am explaining and expanding upon this.
Jesus lived this universal basic paradigm of (LG, LN, LS) to show all individuals how to gain eternal life, ever-new joy. Jesus lived a life of wisdom, love and healing to facilitate a kingdom of heaven on earth, a righteous society. Jesus walked the talk. He practiced what he preached. He was a perfect role model.
Fundamentalist say they are committed to preaching of the good news. But they do not know the good news, the “Golden Thread” of Jesus. And they certainly do not live it like Jesus.
They insist that the Cosmic Creator condemns and send to eternal torment those people who do not believe in his son. This description of the Heavenly Father, borders on cult-like fanaticism. Jesus talked about God as “my Father” – see my February blog: “Some things don’t make sense.”
Still a percentage of Christians believe the Lord is like this.
No wonder the world is partially crazy with these psychotic “religious” interpretations.
I accept that part of religion, its spiritual teachings that empower everyone to: have respect for others (LN), reason for yourself (LS), and reverence for the Divine (LG). The true mission of Jesus has been difficult for me to clarify and articulate, but now it becomes relevant.
I want to introduce people to the true spiritual teachings/disciplines of the Master Jesus. He has given two basic types. One is available for everyone (average spiritual yoga), and the other for sincere seekers, (advanced spiritual yoga). Each of these two types has its own relevant message/method. I will explain them in further blogs. I offer this now after much research, reason, and reflection.
It gives me great joy to realize that Jesus is a great Master, not at all like he has been portrayed in religion. His message and method help us to achieve ever-new joy (LG), social justice and compassion (LN), and peace of mind (LS).
These spiritual teachings/traditions of Jesus, the Masters, and Gurus are effective. To me, true religion (another word for spirituality) consists of what is useful for the individual’s internal well-being together with the international’s evolution towards a peaceful and just world.
I want humanity to move from the exclusiveness of religious unverifiable claims towards the inclusiveness of spiritual provable experiences. To do this, I recommend spiritual yoga, or advanced spiritual yoga which Jesus and the Masters teach.
The current religious claim-system, and traditions have become well established, or more like petrified. So, it is a misstatement to say these belief-systems are reasonable or relevant for everyone. They are established but not complete like the two types of universal spiritual teaching/technology.
I found that for my own spiritual growth and satisfaction, I needed more than claims or after-death promises. I have tested the two types of yoga of Jesus and the Masters. I have also traced its practice in the spiritual part of all eight religions and in the lives of saints, sages, and mystics.
This is the foretold age when people will come again to the complete teachings of Jesus and the Kriya Yoga Masters. Jesus trained his disciples in a type of Kriya Yoga. Jesus said, “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” (Matthew 6:22) This refers to technology of spiritual yoga where in meditation one sees the star gate to the Infinite realms and the entire body becomes full of this light. This single eye is referred to in the advanced spiritual yoga tradition as the “third eye.”
The spiritual teaching/discipline systems of Jesus became lost to orthodox Christianity. The Christian Gnostic Gospels contain some of original Christianity. The complete systems are available from contemporary Kriya Yoga Masters. I will do my best to introduce you to them.
Remember, all pathways of the two systems to the Compassionate Spirit are valid as long as they do not try to extinguish the light of others. But you must choose one.
Choose a Master or Guru such as: Jesus (royal yoga), Paramhansa Yogananda, Sai Baba, Yogi Satyam, Sadhguru, Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath, Prajnanananda, Buddha, Moses (desert perceptions/practices), Krishna, Lao Tzu, Choa Kuk Sui, etc.
As Yogiraj said, “You have to stop planning your life and live it.”
Sadhguru, said, “Using yoga just as a therapy is like using an airplane as a bus.