Sophia Perennis
Jesus as a teacher of the path of inner transformation. What caused the disciples to say “yes” to Jesus ? They did not have the knowledge that Jesus was going to be crucified, die, and rise again (20/20 hindsight). They knew in the immediacy of their heart. It is a transmission from within. “in your light, we see light,” Psalm 36. It is the mutual recognition of hearts. In John 4:6-15, Jesus Christ in the face of the Samaritan woman becomes the mirror in which she recognizes not only the face of God, but her own True Self/Divinity.
Soteriology- Jesus as a savior.
Sophiology- Jesus as a wisdom teacher- the Life-Giver. The primary task of a Christian is not to believe theological premises but to put on the mind of Christ.
What does it mean to die before you die? How do you go about losing your little life to find the bigger one? Is it possible to live on this planet with generosity, abundance, fearlessness, and beauty that mirror God’s Being? How do we acquire Christ’s consciousness?
You don’t die into the Kingdom of Heaven; you awaken into it. It is a state of consciousness-non-dual or unitive- no separation between God and humans, or between humans and other humans. In John 10:30, he states, “the Father and I are One.” This expresses the indivisible reality of divine love. We flow into God- and God into us- because it is the nature of love to flow.
Jesus famously said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It is a complete acceptance that your neighbor is you.
How do we switch from the binary operating system of either/or to both/and? A system based on duality cannot perceive oneness. We are invited to remember the heart- our unitive system. The heart is an organ of spiritual perception that keeps in alignment the horizontal and vertical axes.
Metanoia- transformation of the heart; going beyond the mind; entering into the larger mind
The binary mind always perceives from a sense of scarcity and keeps score through comparison and contrast. We can’t put on the mind of Christ while operating from a dual mind. We have to live from the perspective of wholeness and impartiality.
The Beatitudes
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”- purification of consciousness; kenosis
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”- state of vulnerability and flow (tears, emptying out)
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”- “devouring the lion”; taming the passions of the lower nature (ego)
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.”- the thirst for/of God; being in connection with our fundamental yearning
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”- reciprocity and exchange; no separation
“Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.”- singleness; the heart is not divided but unified whole; cleansing the lens of perception
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.”- peace is our natural state
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”- release control; freedom; entrust ourselves to the Divine Mercy.
If we are stuck in ego, we can’t hear the music!
“It is not love stored up, but love utterly poured out that opened the gates to the Kingdom of Heaven.” Cling to nothing. Let it go.
The traditional teachings tell us that there is within each person a sacred energy (chi, prana, life force) which is measured out to each person in a finite amount. If we can contain this energy rather than leak it and preserve it intentionally, then we can ascend. It is one way of inner transformation. What Jesus taught was an alternate path- giving it all away, emptying it out- kenosis. It mirrors Heaven- extravagant abundance. “Do not store up treasures on earth, for it is your Father’s good pleasure, to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).The Jesus Trajectory
Love is recklessness, not reason
Reason seeks a profit.
Love comes on strong, consuming herself, unabashed.
Yet in the midst of suffering,
Love proceeds like a millstone,
hard-surfaced and straight forward.
Having died to self-interest,
she risks everything and asks for nothing.
Love gambles away every gift God bestows.
Rumi
