Jesus said some pretty tough words at times. He pulled no punches as a spiritual teacher, as a representative of the Cosmos, as a son of the Most High. Check this out (Luke 14: 25-33).
And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
A disciple is a student, a studier and close observer of the ways of the teacher, the master of the discipline. Jesus is the Master of being a human representative of the Source sourcing. If you wanted to be a citizen of the Cosmos, you came and studied with him. This is still the case.
About this hating stuff, we know that Jesus did not teach hate. What does this mean? There is an old Southern saying: Whole hog or none at all. The Marines say: Gung Ho! Over the top. Total commitment. Nothing held back. The old Zen dudes say: A hair's breadth of difference and you are totally lost. Others have echoed the sentiment: A miss is as good as a mile. One must turn totally away from preoccupation with self and others. We are talking loving detachment here.
This is what Jesus says next: And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Mr. Buddha said life is suffering. We all know how right that is. That is the cross Jesus is talking about. Bear your suffering and come on, hit the road. What road? The road of awareness. The same awareness Jesus had.
Jesus then gives some examples that made sense to the folk of the day. Of course he did not talk in King James English.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
He says that if you are going to do something, like building a building or making a war (two ongoing preoccupations of humans, it seems), you better have the full capability of carrying it out.
In this case (becoming a Cosmic citizen), full capability is full capacity. Capaciousness. Room. Your teacup won't hold any Cosmic tea if it is already full of junque.
Then he returns to his theme, his opening remarks, and delivers the punch line: So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
To be a citizen of the Cosmos, a springing of the Wellspring, a child of the Great Mystery we call by many names, and to be a student as to how to do this, one has to give up everything. This doesn't mean you have to go to a hermitage. It means no attachment, no clinging. Fully in the world, but not of the world.
Not of the world, but of the Cosmos. Not of human society, but of the Wellspring.
This is a continuous practice. Whether one calls it detachment, hating, or no clinging, it is the same. These days I call it forgiving. Forsaking all the resentment I have gathered. Forgiving the world. Forgiving others. Forgiving myself. Releasing. Letting go.
Now I am ready to learn something.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
My daughter was Confirmed yesterday. I spent great care in crafting the words on her card, trying to not let the words get in the way of the message. It made me appreciate your writing even more!
ReplyDeleteAt the reception following the ceremony. sitting around our dining room table, I told our family and friends the story of "If your teacup is already full...". It made me smile to read it in your blog this morning.
Non-attachment is a challenge for me, but a challenge I continue to embrace. I recognize it as essential. I see a beautiful day unfolding and realize it is time for me to lovingly detach from this submission.
I hope this day brings you laughter and joy!
Thank you, George, for this very excellent post. It is deep and to the point. A wonderfully wrought sermon for this Sunday morning.
ReplyDeleteI thank you too! I understand what you are saying. Forgive. no-clinging. let go. Love.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Forgiveness
ReplyDeleteThe crux of love. LG
Patrick, Gregory, Kathy, LG -- four loving and understanding hearts.
ReplyDeletePatrick, thank you! The day DID bring me laughter and joy. Sounds like your day was filled with love and happiness.
Gregory, I appreciate your appreciation. We are certainly kindred spirits and perhaps share a similar background and journey.
Kathy, yes, you do understand. It is good to know you across all these blogging years.
LG, succinctly and wisely said. I like that word crux -- haven't heard it for quite a while.
Letting go is a good description. One is letting go of what is false, to see that which is real. Letting go of judgments, and distinctions and all that other internal and external mental baggage that keeps us from growing and becoming our full potential as human beings.
ReplyDelete