Holy Week, pt 4: EASTER SUNDAY, March 31, 2013... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:

40:3 NOW ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, MIRYAM THE MIGDALAH WENT EARLY, WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK, TO THE TOMB AND SAW THE STONE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE ENTRANCE.

40:4 STOOPING AND LOOKING IN, SHE SAW THAT THE TOMB WAS EMPTY AND THE LINEN CLOTHS SCATTERED WHERE THE BODY HAD BEEN LAID. YET SHE DID NOT ENTER IN, BUT REMAINED STANDING OUTSIDE AT THE TOMB, WEEPING.  AND HEARING A NOISE, SHE TURNED AROUND AND SAW A FIGURE STANDING CLOSE BY. BECAUSE OF HER WEEPING, SHE DID NOT KNOW THAT IT WAS YESHUA.

40:5 THEN YESHUA SAID TO HER, “WOMAN, WHY ARE YOU WEEPING? WHO ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?”  SHE, SUPPOSING HIM TO BE THE GARDENER, SAID TO HIM, “SIR, IF YOU OR ANOTHER HAVE CARRIED HIM AWAY, TELL ME WHERE HE IS LAID, AND I WILL GO AND TAKE HIM AWAY.”  YESHUA SAID TO HER, “MIRYAM.”  SHE TURNED AND, OVERCOME WITH JOY, SAID TO HIM, “RABBOUNI!”

40:6 YESHUA SAID TO HER, “MIRYAM, DO NOT HOLD TO ME, FOR I AM NOT OF THE FLESH, YET NEITHER AM I ONE WITH THE SPIRIT; BUT RATHER GO TO MY DISCIPLES AND TELL THEM YOU HAVE SEEN ME, SO THAT ALL MAY KNOW THAT MY WORDS ARE TRUE, AND THAT ANY WHO SHOULD CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THEM AND KEEP TO MY COMMANDMENTS WILL FOLLOW ME ON THEIR LAST DAY.”

++++ HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE ++++

Holy Week, pt 3: Solemn Saturday, March 30, 2013... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION: [and the story continues]

42:14 THIS IS WHAT MY MASTER HAS TOLD AND SHOWN ME.  AND ONLY FROM THE TRUTH I TELL YOU, THAT ALL THAT I HAVE REVEALED TO YOU IS TRUE.

42:15 WHEN THE MIGDALAH HAD TOLD OF ALL THAT YESHUA HAD SAID AND DONE, SHE FELL SILENT, SINCE IT WAS IN THAT SILENCE THAT YESHUA HAD SPOKEN WITH HER, AND REVEALED THESE TRUTHS. 

43:1 MANY OF THE DISCIPLES DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE HAD SAID, AND GRUMBLED AGAINST HER AMONGST THEMSELVES. 

43:2 ANDREAS THEREFORE ANSWERED AND SAID TO THE BRETHEREN, “SAY WHAT YOU WISH TO SAY ABOUT WHAT SHE HAS SAID. I AT LEAST DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE RABBI SAID THIS, FOR THESE TEACHINGS ARE CERTAINLY STRANGE AND COMPLICATED IDEAS.”

43:3 SHIMON KEFA ANSWERED AND SPOKE CONCERNING THESE SAME THINGS. HE QUESTIONED THEM ABOUT YESHUA AND SAID, “DID HE REALLY SPEAK PRIVATELY WITH THIS WOMAN AND NOT OPENLY TO US? ARE WE TO TURN ABOUT AND ALL LISTEN TO HER?  DID HE PREFER HER TO US?”

43:4 THEN THE MIGDALAH WEPT AND SAID TO SHIMON KEFA, “MY BROTHER SHIMON KEFA, WHAT DO YOU THINK?  DO YOU THINK THAT I HAVE THOUGHT THIS UP MYSELF IN MY HEART, OR THAT I AM LYING ABOUT YESHUA?  ONLY FROM THE TRUTH AGAIN I TELL YOU THAT WHAT I HAVE SAID IS THE TRUTH.”

43:5 AND LEVI ANSWERED AND SAID TO SHIMON KEFA, “SHIMON KEFA, YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HOT-TEMPERED. NOW I SEE YOU CONTENDING AGAINST THIS WOMAN LIKE THE ADVERSARIES. BUT IF THE RABBI MADE HER WORTHY, WHO ARE YOU INDEED TO REJECT HER?  SURELY AS HIS COMPANION, YESHUA KNEW HER BETTER THAN ALL OTHERS.  THAT IS WHY HE LOVED HER MORE THAN US. 

43:6 RATHER, LET US BE ASHAMED AND DO AS SHE SAYS. LET US PUT ON PERFECT HUMANITY AND ACQUIRE IT AS SHE HAS DONE, AND SEPARATE AS HE COMMANDED US AND PREACH THE TESTIMONY OF THE SON OF HUMANITY, NOT LAYING DOWN ANY OTHER RULE OR OTHER LAW BEYOND THAT WHICH HE GAVE US.”   

43:7 AND WHEN THEY HEARD THIS, THEY WERE DIVIDED, AND ARGUED AMONGST THEMSELVES. AND THEREFORE THEY BEGAN TO LEAVE SEPARATELY AND GO FORTH TO PROCLAIM AND TEACH AND PREACH WHAT THEY UNDERSTOOD OF THE WORDS OF THE RABBI.  

Holy Week, pt 2: Good Friday, March 29, 2013... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:

…MY MASTER SHOWED ME THE EIGHTH AND FINAL BOUGH, UPON WHICH BURNED THE FRUIT OF THE GRACE AND BEAUTY OF THE SPIRIT.

42.13 AND I FELT MY SOUL AND ALL THAT I COULD SEE DISSOLVE AND VANISH IN A BRILLIANT LIGHT, IN A LIKENESS UNTO THE SUN. AND IN THE LIGHT, I BEHELD A WOMAN OF EXTRAORDINARY BEAUTY, CLOTHED IN GARMENTS OF BRILLIANT WHITE, THE FIGURE EXTENED ITS ARMS, AND I FELT MY SOUL DRAWN INTO ITS EMBRACE.  AND IN THAT MOMENT I WAS FREED FROM THE WORLD, AND I REALIZED THAT THE FETTER OF FORGETFULNESS WAS TEMPORARY.  FROM NOW ON I SHALL REST THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE TIME OF THE AGE IN SILENCE.  AND THEN, AS IF FROM A GREAT DISTANCE, I HEARD THE VOICE OF MY MASTER TELL ME, “MIRYAM, WHOM I HAVE CALLED THE MIGDALAH, NOW YOU HAVE SEEN THE ALL, AND HAVE KNOWN THE TRUTH OF YOUR SELF; THE TRUTH THAT IS I AM.  NOW YOU HAVE BECOME THE COMPLETION OF COMPLETIONS.”  AND THUS, THE VISION ENDED.   

         

          -Why is the fruit on the eighth bough burning? [EX 3:1-6]         
          - Define Grace.  [ACIM T7, XI]
          - What is divine Beauty?  [ACIM T17, II, 1-3]
          - What happens in the process of dissolving? 
          - Why does everything, including Soul, dissolve in Light?
          - Who is the beautiful woman?  [ACIM MAN/CL6]
          - Explain “freed from the world.”  
          - Why is the realization of the “fetter of forgetfulness” significant? 
          - Explain “time of the age.”  [ECC 1-8]
          - What does it mean to “rest…in silence?”  
          - Why is there a sense of great distance from the “voice of the master?” 
          - What is the significance of Yeshua calling Miryam the Migdalah? 
          - What is the “Truth of your Self?”  [JN 8:48-58 & EX 3:13-14]
            - Explain “becoming the completion of completions.”   [ACIM MAN/CL, EP]

Holy Week, pt 1: Maundy Thursday, March 28, 2013... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:

42.12 AND I SAW MY SOUL, NOW FREE OF ALL DARKNESS ASCEND AGAIN TO BE FILLED WITH THE LIGHT AND GOODNESS THAT IS THE SPIRIT. AND I WAS FILLED WITH A FIERCE JOY AS MY SOUL TURNED TO FIRE AND FLEW UPWARDS IN THE FLAMES FROM WHENCE MY MASTER SHOWED ME THE EIGHTH AND FINAL BOUGH, UPON WHICH BURNED THE FRUIT OF THE GRACE AND BEAUTY OF THE SPIRIT.

- Who/what is the “I/she” who saw her “Soul?”  

- Define darkness?

- What is “darkness” of the Soul?   (MT 6:22)

- What has “LIGHT/GOODNESS = SPIRIT” to do with me/you?

- Explain fierce joy.

- What is the significance of her feeling this joy?

- Explain “my Soul turned to fire.”    (ACIM WB 93)

- Why is the fruit on the highest bough ablaze?

 

wk 6, 3/20... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:

 42.11 THEN IN THE LIGHT ABOVE, I SAW THE SIXTH BOUGH, THE ONE THAT BORE THE FRUIT OF POWER AND HEALING.  MY MASTER TOLD ME THAT WHEN YOU TRULY HAVE EATEN OF THE FRUIT OF THE CLARITY AND TRUTH OF YOURSELF, THEN COULD YOU PARTAKE OF THE FRUIT OF POWER AND HEALING, THE POWER TO HEAL YOUR OWN SOUL, AND THEREBY MAKE IT READY TO ASCEND TO THE SEVENTH BOUGH, WHERE IT WILL BE FILLED BY THE FRUITS OF LIGHT AND GOODNESS.

- Define spiritual power.

- Explain the difference between spiritual power and spiritual strength from vs 42.9.

- What is the difference between physical healing and spiritual healing?

- What is the purpose of sickness? 

- Explain “truly eaten.”

- What is the “clarity and truth of yourself?”

- Why does the soul need healing?

- How is the soul healed? [ACIM T31, V]

- What is the Light? [MT 5.14  &  JN 8.12  &  JN 9.5]

- What is the Good?  [PS 16.2  &   MK 10.18]

- What does the hybridized fruit of Light and Goodness represent?

wk 5, 3/13... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:

 42.10 ONLY THEN MY MASTER TOLD ME, WHEN YOU HAVE REJECTED THE DECEIVER, CAN YOU PASS THROUGH THE HARDEST GATE OF ALL TO ATTAIN THE FIFTH BOUGH AND THE FRUIT OF CLARIY AND TRUTH. ONLY THEN WILL YOU KNOW THE CLARITY AND TRUTH OF YOUR SOUL AND, KNOWING YOURSELF FOR THE FIRST TIME, UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE LIVING SPIRIT.  AND AS MY SOUL MOVED UPWARD, I REALIZED THAT I COULD NO LONGER HEAR THE VOICE OF THE WORLD, AS ALL HAD BECOME AS SILENCE.

- What will be the “reject the deceiver” experience?  

- What lie is especially difficult to reject?   [JN17.16]

- Define spiritual clarity.

- Define Truth.

- Define Soul.  [JN 3.6}

- What is the significance of realizing you are a “Child of the Living Spirit?” [ACIM WB 182]

- “Knowing yourself for the first time” and “born again” both express what?

- Is there a difference between understanding and believing?

- What is the sentiment expressed by the “Voice of the World?”

- Why is there only silence?

wk 4, 2/28... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:

42:9  AND THEN THERE CAME THE FOURTH BOUGH, BLOSSOMING WITH THE FRUIT OF STRENGTH AND COURAGE.  AND I HEARD HIM TELL ME THAT TO EAT OF THIS FRUIT, YOU MUST HAVE FREED YOURSELF FROM THE WEAKNESS OF THE FLESH AND CONFRONTED AND CONQUERED THE ILLUSION OF YOUR FEARS.  AND THE MASTER OF THE WORLD STOOD BEFORE ME AND CLAIMED ME AS HIS OWN, BUT I DENIED HIM AND HE HAD NO PART OF ME.

-          Define strength.

-          How do human and spiritual strength differ?  [IS 30.15]

-          Define courage.

-          What does spiritual courage resemble?

-          What is the relationship between courage & belief?

-          Explain “weakness of the flesh?”

-          How is freedom from “weakness of the flesh” possible?      

-          What is the purpose of an illusion?

-          How is the illusion of fear conquered?  [MK 2.5]  

-          What is the job of the “master of the world?”  [ACIM T12, VI, 1.1]

3/6/2013 Personal Update re: Lenten Study

I awoke in the wee hours this morning with a migraine...  got out of bed with terrible head pain, diarrhea, nausea, the whole ball of wax.   Perched on the throne, it came to me about pain having a purpose, and to ask my body or whatever level would communicate with me about the pain, "What are you trying to tell me?"  So I asked, "What are you trying to tell me?"

A memory came instantly of the time I was in a beauty pageant (19 years old) and had gone to the store which had been assigned to sponsor me, just to say "Thank you." [Pageant sponsors picked up the cost of photo sessions and newspaper bios.] When I arrived the store manager knew nothing about the sponsorship, but assumed it was a higher-up decision, and was over the moon excited: "Let's start with finding you some clothes for modeling."  About 10 minutes into this glorious reception, I realized I had gone to the wrong store!  With GREAT embarrassment, I admitted my mistake and made a hasty exit.  [My actual sponsor was a hardware store whose reaction to my thank you was a dismissive "Yah, sure."]  

Anyway, the point of the pop-up memory was... in recalling that event, I still felt that shame! But the message was an even bigger realization... I never REALLY forgive myself for making a mistake.  So immediately, right there seated on the throne, I began doing The Work internally.  During the process, another toxic belief came up so I moved on and worked with that one, too.  And out of that process came another... it went on and on and on.  I have no idea how many beliefs I confronted on the toilet this morning... many.  And it ended with this one... "I'm afraid to die because I’m unworthy to be accepted by God."  WOW!  After completing The Work on all of these, the headache was diminished to a tolerable level, and I took a short nap propped up on the couch.  I awoke still headachy, took an IBP with my small breakfast, then went back to bed and slept.  Two hours later I awoke without a headache.  Yaa!

I'm thinking the events of this morning are significant, not the least of which is confronting the worthiness issue, as in the third bough of this Lenten study.  Not only am I grateful for the opportunity for inner clearing, but I’m grateful that I accepted the challenge to machete through the mental jungle to a clear space.  Actually it feels like I’m retracing the path back to God, a prodigal son sort of journey.  Now I look forward to noticing new levels of tolerance and compassion, not only for myself but for others as well.    

 

Thanks, everyone, for sharing my journey, because it's ‘our’ journey, and it is one.   I LOVE YOU!

wk 3, 2/28... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:

42:8 THEN MY MASTER SHOWED ME THE THIRD GREAT BOUGH, WHICH BEARS THE FRUIT OF HONOR AND HUMILITY.  ONLY WHEN FREE OF ALL DUPLICITY AND ARROGANCE MAY YOU PARTAKE OF ITS NOURISHMENT.  AND ARROGANCE CALLED TO ME, SAYING, “YOU ARE NOT WORTHY, GO BACK.” BUT MY SOUL WAS DEAF TO HIM, AND SO MOVED ONWARD AND UPWARD INTO INCREASING LIGHT.

            Define honor.

            Define humility.

Define both from a spiritual context as they relate to your Beingness.                                        (A Course In Miracles: T10, sec 3, par 10      &                                                                                  T4, sec 1, par 12 & 13, may be helpful)

            This hybridized fruit is symbolic of what relationship?

            Duplicity is the native tongue of whom?

            How are duplicity and arrogance most commonly united? 

            What is true arrogance?  (ACIM T9, sec 8, par 10.7)

            Explain the strategy of “You are not worthy. Go back.”         

           What is the “increasing light” that was witnessed?  (ACIM WB61, par 1-5)                                    

Lenten Study, wk 2

It will be tempting to answer all the questions as if they were a quiz to be completed.  Another           option is to let them stir things up inside, for Lent is about expansion and transformation.

wk 2, 2/21... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:

42.7 SO I SAW MY SOUL ASCEND AGAIN AND HE SHOWED ME THE SECOND GREAT BOUGH, WEIGHED DOWN WITH THE FRUIT OF WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING.  AND I SAW THAT BEFORE YOU CAN TASTE OF ITS BOUNTY, YOU MUST BE FREE OF ALL IGNORANCE AND INTOLERANCE.  ONLY THEN CAN YOU EAT OF THE FRUIT AND SO PASS UPWARD UNHINDERED THROUGH THE SECOND OF THE SEVEN GATES.  AND I HEARD THE VOICE OF IGNORANCE CALL TO ME, BUT I KNEW HIM NOT, AND SO MY SOUL DID THUS UNCHALLENGED.

     How did Mary see her soul ascend and also be in communication with Jesus? 

     The fruit of the inner tree could be considered hybridized. Of what benefit is that? 

     Define wisdom in its generic & spiritual contexts. 

     Define understanding in its generic & spiritual contexts.

     Who has true wisdom?   [Matt 18:3] 

     What is true ignorance?

     Define intolerance.

 

     How might intolerance and judgment and values be interwtwined?

     What are some of my/your acceptable intolerances?  (Make a list.)  

     What would it take to reconsider each of those intolerances?   

     What inner feelings are indicative of  intolerance?    

     Why is intolerance to intolerance serious business?

     What does it mean to NOT know ignorance?  What is that experience? 

     "... AND SO MY SOUL DID THUS UNCHALLENGED" means what?

wk 1, 2/14... from Jehanne de Quillan's THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION:

42:2 MY MASTER SPOKE THUS TO ME. HE SAID, "MIRYAM, BLESSED ARE YOU WHO CAME INTO BEING BEFORE COMING INTO BEING, AND WHOSE EYES ARE SET UPON THE KINGDOM, WHO FROM THE BEGINNING HAS UNDERSTOOD AND FOLLOWED MY TEACHINGS.  ONLY FROM THE TRUTH I TELL YOU, THERE IS A GREAT TREE WITHIN YOU THAT DOES NOT CHANGE, SUMMER OR WINTER, AND ITS LEAVES DO NOT FALL.  WHOSOEVER LISTENS TO MY WORDS AND ASCENDS TO ITS CROWN WILL NOT TASTE DEATH, BUT KNOW THE TRUTH OF ETERNAL LIFE."  

      Why did Jesus begin the teaching by saying, "You came into being before coming into being?"
      What is the 'great tree within?'  

42:3 THEN HE SHOWED ME A VISION IN WHICH I SAW A GREAT TREE THAT SEEMED TO REACH UNTO THE HEAVENS; AND AS I SAW THESE THINGS HE SAID, "THE ROOTS OF THIS TREE ARE IN THE EARTH WHICH IS YOUR BODY.  THE TRUNK EXTENDS UPWARD THROUGH THE FIVE REGIONS OF HUMANITY TO THE CROWN, WHICH IS THE KINGDOM OF THE SPIRIT.

     If the earth represents the body, what are the roots of the tree?
     Why is it important to know that there are five regions of humanity?         

42:4 THERE ARE EIGHT GREAT BOUGHS UPON THIS TREE AND EACH BOUGH BEARS ITS OWN FRUIT, WHICH YOU MUST EAT IN ALL ITS FULLNESS.  AS THE FRUIT OF THE TREE IN THE GARDEN CAUSED ADAM AND CHAV'VAH TO FALL INTO DARKNESS, SO THIS FRUIT WILL GRANT TO YOU THE LIGHT OF THE SPIRIT THAT IS ETERNAL LIFE.  BETWEEN EACH BOUGH IS A GATE AND A GUARDIAN WHO CHALLENGES THE UNWORTHY WHO TRY TO PASS. 

     What is the significance of  'eat the fruit in all its fullness?'
     What is the purpose of a 'guardian?'  

42:5 THE LEAVES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TREE ARE THICK AND PLENTIFUL, SO NO LIGHT PENETRATES TO ILLUMINATE THE WAY.  BUT FEAR NOT, FOR I AM THE WAY AND THE LIGHT, AND I TELL YOU THAT AS ONE ASCENDS THE TREE, THE LEAVES THAT BLOCK ONE FROM THE LIGHT ARE FEWER, SO IT IS POSSIBLE TO SEE ALL MORE CLEARLY.  THOSE WHO SEEK TO ASCEND MUST FREE THEMSELVES OF THE WORLD.  IF YOU DO NOT FREE YOURSELF FROM THE WORLD, YOU WILL DIE IN THE DARKNESS THAT IS THE ROOT OF THE TREE.  BUT IF YOU FREE YOURSELF, YOU WILL RISE AND REACH THE LIGHT THAT IS THE ETERNAL LIFE OF THE SPIRIT."

     What do the leaves on the great inner tree represent?
     Explain the meaning of 'free yourself from the world.'

42:6 AND AS HE SAID THESE THINGS, I FELT MY SOUL ASCEND AND SAW THE FIRST GREAT BOUGH THAT BEARS THE FRUIT OF LOVE AND COMPASSION, THE FOUNDATION OF ALL THINGS.  AND I KNEW THAT BEFORE YOU CAN EAT OF THIS FRUIT AND GAIN ITS NOURISHMENT, YOU MUST BE FREE OF ALL JUDGMENT AND WRATH.  WHEN YOU HAVE FREED YOURSELF OF THESE BURDENS, YOU MAY EAT OF THE FRUIT AND SO GAIN THE LOVE AND COMPASSION THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO PASS THE FIRST OF SEVEN GUARDIANS. AND I HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD OF WRATH CALLING TO ME, BUT I DENIED HIM AND HE HAD NO PART IN ME.

     What is the signifcance of knowing what the 'foundation of all things' is?
     Define judgment?
     When did judgement become a problem for me/you? 
     Anger is a symptom of what?   [Matt 5:22] 

     It will be tempting to answer all the questions as if they were a quiz to be completed.  Another option is to let them stir things up inside, for Lent is about expansion and transformation.
   

A friend gave me a copy of Jehanne de Quillan's book, THE GOSPEL OF THE BELOVED COMPANION: THE COMPLETE GOSPEL OF MARY MAGDALENE, and I am resonating with this version of the story of Yeshua -- his travels, his actions, and his teachings.  In fact, I have chosen to use a segment of the book as the focus for a Lenten study with my friend, Mary. 

Beginning with chapter 41:5, Simon Peter is speaking to Mary Magdalene after she reveals to the disciples that she has seen and spoken to the resurrected Yeshua. 

41:5 SHIMON KEFA SAID TO THE MIGDALAH, "SISTER, WE KNOW THAT HE LOVED YOU MORE THAN ANY OTHER AMONG WOMEN; TELL US THE WORDS OF THE RABBI, WHICH YOU REMEMBER, WHICH YOU KNOW AND UNDERSTAND, BUT WE DO NOT, NOR HAVE WE HEARD THEM."

42:1 THE MIGDALAH ANSWERED AND SAID, "WHAT IS HIDDEN FROM YOU, I WILL PROCLAIM TO YOU."  AND SHE BEGAN TO SPEAK TO THEM THE WORDS THAT YESHUA HAD GIVEN HER.   

This "secret teaching" that Yeshua gave his Beloved will be our introspective Lenten study.  Feb. 13, tomorrow, is Ash Wednesday, and will begin our study.  Join me here each week on Wednesday, or Thursday when I have time to post it, and share Mary's remembrance of Yeshua's private teaching.  Let the ideas ferment in your mind and heart, be the sustenance for a deep, personal inner journey.   

Peace - aud