The Aramaic Beatitudes deciphered by Jesus himself (1991-1992)
The Aramaic Beatitudes originally given by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount now re-translated by Jesus himself when he appeared to Glenda Green between 1991-1992. This has been taken from Glenda’s book, Love Without End.
I asked Jesus how we could attract blessings instead of struggles – ‘How do we receive, and can there be a truly blessed life? Can you give me a formula for it?’
With a gentle smile, he replied, “I already have.”
‘Where?’ I quickly responded.
“All that I have taught you is about the good life, although you might refer in particular to ‘The Beatitudes.’” He replied.
Jesus explained the difficulty in translating Aramaic and compared the range of possible meanings in Aramaic to the unstructured nature of our own colloquial jargon. For example, in our English language we have the expression, ‘I’m cool.’
In making that statement, there are several different ways it could be interpreted. I may be referring to the temperature, or expressing indifference. I could be expressing that I was at peace with myself or that I was a very ‘hip’ person. All these possibilities exist within the same phrase. Therefore, the challenge in translating his words has been a great deal more complicated than merely finding equivalent expressions in Latin, Greek, and modern languages. Difficult as that has been in itself, the greater obstacle has been in recovering lost contexts for determining exactly what the original statements really meant…or even what the original statements really were.
‘Beatitude’ literally means blessings and great happiness, which was the central meaning of his promise. Yet the Beatitudes also made reference to limitation, sorrow, and suffering as an insurmountable part of the human experience. More than anything else, I wanted to understand why that was so. No sooner had I expressed that desire than he began to recite the blessings that I might hear them for myself and take their meanings to heart. In his resonant, baritone voice, he began:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Then he waited for my response.
I replied that, ‘I had stumbled over that one since I first heard it as a child. To me, the kingdom of heaven means infinite abundance. So how does being poor relate to having all the riches of heaven? I was also confused by the connection between poverty and heaven. What did you really mean when you said that?’
Jesus explained:
“If you had listened with your heart you would have heard the truth, despite the losses in translation. However, since you have now focused on your misunderstanding, let me help you through the difficulty. You’re stumbling over the word ‘poor.’ In Aramaic, the word ‘poor’ has a number of possible meanings, which can only be determined by the context and thoughts being conveyed. ‘Poor’ could mean impoverished, or depleted, as in washed-out soil. It could mean lacking in ability, absent of quality, low in potential, or deficient. These meanings translate easily into definitions of your language. Yet, there is one more meaning that ‘poor’ had in Aramaic which is not used in most modern languages. It meant ‘simple and uncomplicated.’ When I made that proclamation, my true reference was to simplicity! Let me recite it now correctly for you, and then you can tell me how you feel. ‘Blessed are those who live in simplicity for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’”
‘That’s perfect!’ Now I felt deeply nourished by that blessing. After a while Jesus proceeded to say more about it:
“Essentially, the great caution is to refrain from introducing complexities and hierarchies into spiritual pursuits or life in general. Structure is necessary to physical existence and even to social existence. However, if carried too far—especially in the spiritual realm—it can result in isolation, frustration, judgement, and arrogance. Don’t empower belief systems which limit and control your approach to God. Don’t submit to the tyranny of hierarchies which require that you ascend in your spiritual life according to permission or protocol established by man. That was the critical issue surrounding the Tower of Babel. The religion of ancient Babylon was controlled by echelons of priestly authority which assumed all rights to govern a person’s ascension to heaven. This has been a recurring problem within organised religion, and many spiritual empires have failed because they were based on structures of the mind and human authority. The kingdom of heaven is not attained through the structure and hierarchy of human domain. If you surround your sacred experiences with endless requirements sanctioned by man, then basically what you have done is to shut the doors of heaven. Keep it simple. There is but one spirit.
It is not required that you climb a thousand steps before you can be fully connected with your Creator in spirit. Spirit is within you, spirit is of you, spirit is around you, spirit embraces you, and is with you always. You don’t need the permission of structure to receive everything that the Spirit of God has in store for you. All the great empires of history crumbled to dust because of hierarchies which governed their spiritual lives. This is why I said, ‘Blessed are the simple in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ When you are simple in spirit, all will be given to you, merely for the asking. You don’t need to acquire a new dimensionality before passing on to an even more elite dimensionality. Love and simplicity are the only requirements of a fulfilled spiritual life.
Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to its desolation. Every city or house divided against itself will not stand. The reason is that there is but one spirit and it cannot be divided. You cannot say one thing has spirit and another does not. Do not take anything from spirit. Spirit is in all things, of all things, and with all things. Where spirit is concerned there are no prerequisites and no hierarchies. The spirit is one. If you attempt to break it, the divided house will turn against you, the disrupter. Whenever you attempt to divide the spirit, you have granted it consent to ‘collect its damages’ from you! Accepting and honouring the one spirit from the simplicity of your own place in life is the key to heaven. Accept it where you are, as you are. Be yourself. A flea at peace with itself, and in wonderment of eternity, is more likely to see the face of God than a giant whose ravenous appetite seeks to acquire everything only for himself. It is not the size or importance which matters, but rather, acceptance and simplicity. There is fulfilment in simplicity that will bring you great happiness.”
Never once did Jesus say, ‘Blessed are those who build elaborate structures of the mind or of the world to extol their own advantaged positions’…or anything similar. Instead, he emphasised that we are blessed in spirit as we affirm the love that we are and join with the love of our Creator in a realm above human posturing. Jesus explained further:
“Hierarchies are part of worldly elitism. Structure belongs to the earth. As you ascend to a higher, more loving relationship with your fellow man and your Creator, the dominance of structure will fall away. Those who claim to be ascending through layers of structural perception are only ascending in their minds. They have not seen the kingdom of heaven. As you ascend in the spirit, structured reality falls away and has no bearing and little relevance to your awareness. In love and spirit there are neither hierarchies nor structure. Love is the source of your life.
Maintain simplicity in your thoughts as well. Thoughts generate performance. Therefore, it is very important to guard your thoughts and direct them properly. You could compare love to a commander-in-chief and your thoughts to a colonel giving orders to troops in the field. It is important that orders be relayed to the troops, and that is the role of thought. So guard your thoughts and instruct them well. If you misconceive them to be the source of your life, however, you will forget your real power.”
When Jesus said that, it reminded me of a personal experience I had in the study and practice of positive thinking. I enrolled in several seminars. Each of these courses involved positive thought procedures, and at first each one seemed to work and make a difference. After I used each method for a while, though, its effectiveness declined sharply. That was why I had taken several courses instead of just one. I was looking for a procedure that would continue working. As I remembered that experience, I realised that Jesus had touched upon an answer. So I asked to know more. Jesus elaborated:
“Those procedures worked well for you in the beginning because of your stored-up love that needed directing and focusing. Once you applied and ventilated that reserve of love there was nothing more to accomplish. You must put love behind your thoughts to make them work. There are many good courses of thought development and management which would work better and have more lasting results if the power behind thought were more fully understood. Compare your love and your thoughts to an archer. If your love is the archer, then your mind is the bow, and your thoughts are the arrows. Without careful direction of thoughts, you will not hit the target. Without love to pull the bow string, your motivation will be weak or misdirected. These things are all part of your totality, yet love is the simplicity of your power. It is important to guard and direct your thoughts. Even so, do not assign them a separate power from your love, and do not think the keys to heaven can be grasped by your mind. Your mind cannot open that door. Mental activity invariably results in complexities which must then be implemented by structure. Within hierarchies of mental structure, ideas ascend in levels of sophistication. Such complicated standards will always establish some persons or situations as superior to others. Love, on the other hand, is simple, as so is the spirit. Stay with simplicity and avoid the pitfalls of complicated living.”
A particular curiosity began to develop as I contemplated Jesus’ comments about thought and the mind. Though he was composed and peaceful, his welcoming look suggested that my question would be welcome. Throughout the ages, there have been many notions and beliefs about sacred structure, sacred architecture, and sacred geometry. I pondered these concepts as I thought about the true essence of simplicity. First, I thought about structural order and how best it can only mimic simplicity, because the very purpose of structure is to define, contain and separate. If unity is our basic simplicity, it would be futile to seek perfection through structure. We can indeed create structural order and symmetry, but the dynamics of life inevitably erode its pseudo-simplicity. This does not mean that I do not admire the moments and instances where great harmony and simplicity emerge within structure. Certainly, as an artist, some of my most thrilling moments have been when complexity surrendered to simplicity and there, upon the surface of mere paint and canvas, a composition glowed with excellence. Most especially, I am deeply moved by great music when I hear simple rhythms recurring within glorious complex arrangements of melody and counter melody. My thoughts gradually turned towards an intense feeling of appreciation and gratitude to the awesome simplicity of love, and I was compelled to ask, ‘Are any of the beautiful symmetries, patterns and harmonies in existence sacred?’
Jesus Replied:
“Only the Creator is Holy, although the beauties and simplicities that you may discover within nature, thought, and artistic expression may certainly convey His sacred presence. It is fine to be moved, inspired, and even healed by such perceived perfections. If, however, such patterns and harmonies are codified into fixed ideas which purportedly have innate perfection or power of their own, any potential value which may have been present would be cancelled. Moments and manifestations of perfection emerge from the normal harmonies of existence. Except, there are no structures that cannot be superseded and rearranged by love. Otherwise, how could there be miracles? How could there be freedom for the soul?
Until you understand that any structure can be rearranged by love, you can never understand how I multiplied the fishes or healed the sick. If you would multiply anything, all you need do is take one part or sample, and then love it enough.
If structure were the lord of existence, whatever number of fish there were, would remain that way, except by breeding and multiplication genetically. The reason that structural forms perpetuate themselves through respecting the boundaries and patterns which typecast each separate entity. Structure defines boundaries, and therefore separation! By extension, that would make structure the lord of patterns and limits! In scientific terms this is the law of conservation. If one considers all the adamantine particles, all the spirit, and all the love within one fish, the infinite potential is unfathomable. It cannot be contained, and needs only a propelling force to become the many. When you seek healing, place no thought on the illness (for you would not wish to multiply that), but love that which is well until it multiplies and overtakes that which was lacking in health. This is the miracle of gratitude: it multiplies whatever you appreciate. This is why it is so important when giving, that you give with love. In that way, you multiply the gift. You can multiply and expand anything. With enough love, one thing becomes the many.”
As Jesus said that, I realised how fragile and defensive structure is, but how resilient life is to expand and shape itself for purposes of surviving and thriving. There are numerous stories about angels who have interceded for people in dangerous situations. Incredible rescues have been reported which seem to confirm the suspendable nature of structured reality for the greater purposes of life. Perhaps such deeds serve to remind us that while we do need order on earth, it would be a mistake to consider any structural framework as sacred. The simplicity of love, spirit, and adamantine particles supersedes all structure. Those elements are common to all form and possess infinite transformative potential. I contemplated the enduring nature of simplicity, and felt as though I were rolling on waves of the ocean. Then he began to recite the second Beatitude. It was almost like a new melody following upon the first. Indeed, there is a natural progression from the first to the second blessing. In understanding that there is but one spirit, one existence, and one eternity, it becomes easier to accept that nothing real is ever lost or missing.
“Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Reciting those words, his voice was very beautiful. My face must have revealed some discomfort, because in a caring tone he asked about my concern. I was remembering my own sorrows, and frankly they did not feel like blessings. Jesus continued:
“Again, there is an issue with words and meanings which has suffered in translation. In Aramaic, ‘mourning’ could mean sorrow, grief, pain, or regret. Most of these meanings have negative connotations and suggest clinging to loss. However, there is an even more important meaning that could be expressed only in a context which focused upon the value of mourning. I was referring to the cat of purging and releasing. This is quite different from the internalisations of sorrows and loss. When a person first recognises and experiences grief, it comes as an affliction. First there is shock, then depression, and so one turns within to suffer the emotional and spiritual wounds. This is grief. As the process completes itself in the latter stages of surrender, there is mourning. Mourning is the free flowing of tears as acceptance and releasing are experienced. In that state, the heart can perceive a continuity of life even though certain attachments have been lost. In letting go of that which cannot be retained, one heals. It is through releasing that one is blessed. Grieving is clinging to that which has been lost—mourning is the act of letting go. No one feels blessed at the onset of grief. Never would I suggest such a thing. Yet, in the releasing of grief through purging, relinquishing, and the flowing of tears, healing can occur at last. This process is relevant to the loss of anything, not just the loss of a loved one. The loss could have been a dream or a hope. Even sensing childhood slip away could bring on a time of mourning to honour the love that is being released. Such purging opens a space in which to celebrate a newly emerging stage of life. There are also times to acknowledge the end of a career or role in life. In releasing and honouring what has been, there may be tears, but there will also be doors opening to future possibilities. Accepting this process is great therapy and can result in many blessings. This is because there are two parts to love—attaching and letting go. Only through living and understanding both phases of love is a being complete. The reaching, connecting, and embracing aspects of love are easy and joyful. Letting go and saying good-bye is a great deal more difficult. There is a time to release everything, and in releasing, you let go of the clinging, and you are made whole again. Thus you are blessed.”
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
I was almost embarrassed to admit that I had some difficulty I accepting this blessing because of the submissive connotations of meekness. While humility is a great human virtue, the concept of ‘meekness’ offers other meanings than just that, especially with regard to relative human worth. Meekness was not easy concept for me to reconcile with inheriting the earth!
‘Does this mean that I am supposed to go through life in a subservient capacity? Or are we gain dealing with a translation difficulty?’ Jesus smiled and said,
“Yes, greater clarity of translation would help. The word for meek had several meanings in Aramaic. It could mean humble, poor, subservient or self-effacing. Yet none of those is what I meant. The closest word in the English language for what I intended is moderation. This is the way it should read:
‘Blessed are those who live in moderation, for they shall inherit the earth.’
Moderation is the economy of God, and the economy of blessing!
Are you not in balance when you live in moderation? When you live in balance, are you not whole? When you are whole, do you not inherit the earth?
Moderation is a relative concept which derives its power from equilibrium and balance. It cannot be enforced with identical value or limitation on all people. This must be learned through discernment. Moderation for a person with great responsibilities would require greater supply than moderation for a person with meagre responsibilities. Moderation is not an invocation of limits or conformity, but rather an invocation of the rationality that a person is more complete when in balance. What a person requires is governed by what he or she can love! Through moderation, under the command of love, everything is provided.”
In saying this, he also cautioned me not to turn the practice of moderation into a new standard of judgement. He explained:
“The level of moderation for one may be excess for another or insufficiency for someone else. There is also the aspect of dynamic change within moderation. Moderation is equilibrium, but it is not static inert balance which has no inner life or variance. There is a certain progressive attainment that maintains itself by growth, fluctuation, conservation and sharing. ‘Well being’ is the true feeling of moderation. Pursue moderation in all things. I recommend moderation not only I material accumulation or in your physical comforts, but also in the food you eat, and in mental pursuits, habits and work. As heaven comes to earth, the standard of economy will be that of moderation. It will no longer be the norm for some to hoard while others starve. Sharing will become a joy as you learn that everything you share will be multiplied and then become the basis of your own receiving.”
There is beautiful logic to these lessons. Each one flows as a natural consequence from the one before. When one knows how the needs of life are provided, there is a natural willingness to release that which cannot be retained. When a person is willing to release, hoarding ceases to be a preoccupation. When hoarding ceases, there is that much less effort to life and the good of one is extended to the good of all.
Eager to apply what he said, I took a look through my closet the next day and found some very nice clothes hanging there, unused because they were unsuitable to my needs or appearance. As I started thinking about friends who might like them, I noticed a new depth of responsibility in ownership. I was actually concerned about finding the person to whom the clothing truly belonged. When I telephoned my friends, the giving was very comfortable and without attitudes of charity or condescension. I simply said, ‘There’s a dress hanging in my closet which I believe really belongs to you. I must have been thinking about you when I purchased it.’
Then I did the same things with books and decorative items. As I surveyed my shelves and closets, I increased my sensitivity for sharing through respecting the principle of rightness of ownership. Then the most amazing thing began to happen. Friends reciprocated with sharing and gifts, and the items they offered seemed truly to belong to me. He further explained,
“Money can obtain your possessions, although it cannot establish your true ownership. Whatever truly belongs to you is determined by what your heart attracts and your love commands. Only the properties of your heart can bring fulfilment and nourishment to your life. In practicing moderation, you will know this. You will be able to shop for groceries and know what foods you need. You will not have to eat excessively to compensate for subconscious cravings. Mankind has destroyed much of its sensitivity about true need and rightful ownership through practicing excess. Such abuse is not limited to excess of things and physical pleasures. There is also excess of work, excess of denial, excess of suffering, excess of punishment, excess of grief, and excess of control. There are those whose lives are consumed by failure and poverty without ever realising that their form of excess is personal denial. Anything can be carried to extreme. There is a point in every pursuit and every cycle when returning to a balanced life is necessary. In balance there is wholeness, fulfilment and blessing.
‘Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.’
“This blessing is directly linked to the Sacred Heart, for when a person hungers and thirsts for righteousness, the basic purity and innocence of his heart is awakened.”
Jesus reminded me many times that the heart sustains the inner core of our innocence and our goodness. Through the heart’s power we are able to be the love that we are. This was manifest by perfect example in his presence. My cup overflowed daily. One word from him was enough. I was filled when I was with him because I was in the presence of his righteousness and rightness. Righteousness is difficult to comprehend, because we see so little in the world which is pure and so much which is employed to support false contentions of rightness. Before I could understand the fullness of that blessing, I needed to have more clarity on the subject of righteousness. Jesus explained:
“Righteousness is you being the love that you are. It means that you are right with yourself, right with your fellow man, right with God, and right with the one spirit. Simply be the love that you are. That is discovered and developed through a right relationship with the heart. The heart is a powerful magnetic centre that generates life energy for the body and the soul and draws to you all the needs and requirements of your life. Within the Sacred Chamber of the heart you will feel the presence of your Creator and be anointed with His righteousness. From these holy communions, higher principles of intelligence will be revealed to you, and through them rightness will come to your life.”
The higher principles of intelligence were presented in depth in chapter 6 (The Seven Dimensions of Intelligence). However, it is relevant to reconsider them here from the perspective of being right with life. They are: Unity, Love, Life, Respect, Honesty, Justice and Kindness. Unity is the foundation of all rightness through which all love unfolds. When we are prompted by love, we are given command. Through love, we are filled with the higher knowledge of life. Life is the third provider of intelligence. Life begets life and attracts life. As we confront life, we see its indwelling truth. Only with respect can we learn. Through respect, we honour the rightness and the beauties of life, as well as the rightness, goodness and love of others. Innocent perception is looking at the world as it is and seeing that it is enough. All the answers are in front of us. In knowing that, the principle of honesty is empowered. Then follows justice in which we see the balance of all things and the need for all actions to be balanced. At last there is kindness, which is the will of God. There can be no greater rightness than that. Jesus continued,
‘Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.’
Those who extend mercy, receive mercy. In forgiving, we are forgiven. Jesus gave me one more reason beyond that—only the heart can understand forgiveness. Therefore, in practicing forgiveness every day, the heart will be given pre-eminence in your life. He explained:
“Practice forgiveness everyday. It liberates the soul from bondage, and beyond that, forgiveness is an action which your mind can never understand. Your mind’s sole intent is to balance the books. In issues of morality it only wants to get even. Therefore, practice forgiveness everyday if only in trivial matters. This is an excellent way of tempering the mind and empowering the heart. Mercy is not just a way of balancing cause & effect, although that is certainly a valid reason to practice it. The greater reason for practicing forgiveness is that whenever you are merciful, you grow. As you grow you become more blessed, and the very things that might harm you or cause you resistance will be given no power. Mercy is the flower of growth. Those who are restrained in mercy will have limited influence in life.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.’
“In the eyes of God, who knows nothing of sin, you are nothing less than perfect. Which is why the very act of sin separates you from your Source. In the purity of your heart you are one with your Creator.”
‘Then why do we not enter our heart more easily?’ I enquired.
“Because you do not see yourself as pure, perfect and innocent. Until you see yourself in that way, you will not enter the Sacred Chamber of the heart. As long as you try to carry all of your unworthiness and mistakes in with you, you will stay on the threshold of your heart and not enter. My apostles were constantly asking me how to pray, seeking for words and formulas. My reply was always that being in the heart is prayer. Finally I gave them a prayer which would unlock the heart’s door. Praying my prayer, anyone can be restored to his purity and innocence. It is an invocation to the heart. Therefore, when you say the words be sure and linger for a while in silence, peace and innocence. In the sacred chamber you are one with the Father, and in that oneness your Source knows everything you need, and beholds no imperfection. When you enter the sacred heart, you are restored in your life and you are made whole again. How can this happen to you and the face of God not be revealed?
Through innocent perception you may also perceive the presence of God in all of existence. This is purity of perception. Through practicing this, you can be at peace with your life and see the beauty of what is before you. Everything was created in innocence. Behold this, if you would see the face of God. It is not the mind’s province to create reality, but rather to observe, integrate, understand and implement reality. It is the province of the heart to accept reality. The pure heart will accept unconditionally. Although the mind strives to understand, it will invent what it cannot understand—or worse still, it will judge. This is a dangerous phenomenon, for the mind will invent realities that lead you away from who you are and the true purposes of your life. When you surrender to the fact that existence does not require invention—that it simply is—you will be on the threshold of actually looking into the face of God.
Judgement will separate you from this sacred space. Judgement is actually the only sin of which a pure and perfect child of God is capable. Judgement was the original sin, and continual pursuit of it will keep you from the presence of your Creator.”
I noted the seriousness of his attitude about judgement and felt compelled to ask, ‘If judgement is a violation of innocence, and if God is the Source of all innocence, then why are there so many references to God’s judgement in the Bible? He answered,
“The Hebrew word for judgement, which is ‘mishpat,’ actually refers to redemption and vindication—not to accusation and condemnation. Man, in his true potential, is innocent and good. No one knows and upholds that more surely than God. It is for this reason that I often use the endearing term of Father when referring to God. The love of a father is the best image I can give you for the nurturing defense you are always provided by your Creator. If you would judge any person, you are opposed to the Protector and vindicator of that person. The Father sees and defends His children, despite any transgressions they may have engaged in through a false self or in a world of inequity. Your Father knows the difference and redeems your basic rightness against all accusations that have been devised by the world of illusion.
The ancient Hebrew meaning of judgement (which is protection of personal rights in the face of accusation) is the pillar of your American judicial system, which holds a person to be innocent until proven guilty. It is the judge who protects the defendant’s right to be viewed as innocent until all of the accusations are heard and considered. This is the Father’s stance, except with even more clarity, purity and forgiveness than a human court could ever have. It is the world of illusion and mis-direction which supports guilt and unworthiness and uses the power of condemnation and punishment to support its destructive agendas. If only the sons of god would learn the futility of accusation, then brotherhood would flower with perceptions of innocence.
In saying this, I do not mean to imply that acts of destruction should not be intercepted and offenders should not be restrained or punished, for correction is essential to development of responsibility in the human family. The point is, all acts of correction should be applied with the intent of restoring brotherhood and not dividing or diminishing it.
Frequently I used the metaphor of sheep or fish when speaking with my disciples. This was to describe the nature of collective acceptance without judgement. Fish live in schools, as sheep live in flocks. With both, the acceptance of additional members into the flock or school is without qualification or reservation. There is a simple innocence of the one spirit in the midst of these creatures. I have seen a flock of six sheep grow to ten thousand by adding new flocks driven to grass or market. Never was a sheep rejected. Inclusion was unconditional.”
I was so glad that he had clarified the reason behind the metaphors of fish and sheep, because I had been less than enthusiastic about the connotations of conformity, mediocrity, and dependency which I associated with these flocks.
As he noticed my relief, he added the following statement,
“I meant that man should live together in mutual support and harmony, although certainly not at the expense of individuality and surely not in a state of clannish conformity.”
He demonstrated daily how innocent perception deflects any possible inclination to reform life according to judgement. When I was in his presence, life was acceptable as it was. This does not mean that I did not express my difficulties or objections when I felt them. For such freedom of expression is also an aspect of innocent perception. Nevertheless, I saw how we deplete our life force through endless attempts to make it conform to mental preconceptions and judgements. Jesus said,
“Most conflict is self-generated by rejections of life and denial of existence as it really is.”
With seamless grace, that statement led to the next Beatitude.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.’
“There are many ways to make peace in life. A person does not have to be a diplomat, negotiator, counsellor or minister. Nor is that blessing confined to the settling of arguments and disputes. Its power comes from the grace of ending duality. You will be blessed with wholeness as you end duality. You are a peacemaker when you rise above the concept that life must be viewed as a conflict between polar opposites. The critical recognition, which humankind most needs to make at this time, is that a dualistic approach to living is no longer useful. Our oneness of spirit needs to be recognised and implemented through acceptance.”
Jesus’ concept of peace was far grander, with more pervasive impact, than simply resolving conflicts at the office or discord in the home. Although we focus upon annoying issues and often lose sleep over them, they are for the most part isolated instances of conflict. Jesus continued,
“The core of man’s duality is that he sets up problems for himself and then uses those same problems to declare, ‘How brilliant, we figured it out.’ When man creates a problem in the first place, he should be able to figure it out! What would be better to ask is, ‘did we really need the problem?’”
As he spoke, I considered the many ways in which we are conditioned by the presence of apparent opposites—up/down, in/out, forward/backward, happy/sad—to name only a few. ‘Our clocks and calendars are marked by the rhythms of day and night. Doesn’t this affect our thinking?’ Jesus pleasantly responded,
“Yes, it can. Except, you have the choice to focus on that limited observation or to look beyond to a more complete understanding. Let me show you how such an expanded perception can work. Just imagine that you took a ride on one of the satellites in your stratosphere. Now look back at the earth and tell me what you see.”
‘well, from this viewpoint, I see the sun shining all over the earth and there is a little bit of shadow on the far side, although the light and dark are not equal. There is a little bit of light almost everywhere.’
“That is the point. Dark and light are not opposites at all. They represent variable conditions of exposure to light sources. That is not duality. The conceptual model of duality is a simplistic frame of reference created by the mind to satisfy its dependency upon structure and symmetry. The mind seeks to explain rather than understand.
Day and night will not cease. Yet, you need not continue viewing them as opposites. There is no longer a need to think that night has the same power as day. There is just the power of light, with variations of intensity and interruption. Once the full scope of understanding is attained, duality fades away. Higher intelligence is manifested through integrated perceptions of wholeness which restore your recognition of the one spirit. The sons of God are those who do not explain life or manage it with dualistic concepts. The sons of God are those who seek to perceive wholeness in all things.”
I wondered, ‘How did we become entrenched in such myopic thinking?’
Reading my thoughts, Jesus replied,
“Man has been growing and living in a world which was also growing and organising itself. A limited approach to life begets a limited understanding of it. However, the most critical conditioning has come from the way mankind has perceived, generated and controlled energy. Energy is a crucial survival commodity, and therefore its management has a profound impact upon consciousness. From the moment it was discovered that fire could be deliberately created by rubbing two sticks together, mankind has been building cultures upon friction-generated energy. Nuclear power plants are no exception to this. The ‘sticks’ are more sophisticated, although the energy generated is still the result of polar, resistive, friction-generated processes.”
‘Is this ever going to change?’
“Yes. Humanity is on the threshold of moving into a new era of scientific understanding that will reveal energy to be generated by patterns of attraction rather than patterns of resistance. What is currently known about electro-magnetism has its roots in electrical resistance. However, there is a primary attractor field generated by scalar properties in continuous attraction. Therefore, magnetism may be viewed as either derivative (as in electro-magnetism) or primary (as in attractor fields), depending on one’s level of understanding. In its primary condition there are no polarities or resistances. Now contemplate a civilisation in which energy is not a commodity over which to fight or hoard. Can you see how that would change everything?”
Peacefulness prevailed as I contemplated his teaching. Then the silence was broken as he spoke the final blessing.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’
“There is a great lesson involved in this blessing, not just for heaven but also for earth. It is the most difficult lesson anyone will ever master, yet in learning it a person rises above the tyranny of hardship and experiences true liberation. This is why it is the last blessing.”
I was glad to receive his words of assurance because, frankly, this beatitude had always frightened me a little. I felt comforted and humbled by his great strength, and could only respond by exposing my insecurity and admitting my lack of confidence in being able to understand. Nevertheless, I wanted to hear whatever he was willing to share. He continued,
“The power of this blessing resides in the fact that the Creator of all things is present with all things and in all things. There is no place where God is not. There is no experience in which God is not. There is no dimension of understanding or awareness where God is not. One who has known God only in a state of well-being has just known the smallest portion of the Creator. One who must place conditions on how to receive God cannot receive God. One who can only know God in blissful and abundant experiences has no power in the rest of life. What is the Kingdom of Heaven except the wholeness of everything? How can a person have everything when he or she is only willing to know part of God? This was the lesson presented in the Book of Job, although not many people comprehend its true meaning.”
‘Well, I am one of them. I not only do not understand it, I never liked it!’ I hadn’t read the Book of Job since I was in college, and honestly, I thought it was a pretty grim nightmare of one poor soul’s terrible hardship on the earth. To me, it did not represent the God of love about which Jesus had spoken in the New Testament, and so I was unable to reconcile Job’s painful experience with my preferred beliefs.
In a comforting tone Jesus asked,
“Would you like to read it again with me?”
I readily accepted. Then he sat beside me, and we read it together. As his words poured over the lines, I was amazed with the beauty I had missed before. Contained within that book of the Old Testament are some of the most exquisite passages ever written about the wonderment of the cosmos, the majesty of God, the vastness of infinity, and the omnipotent power of All That Is. To summarize the story briefly, Job was a very wealthy man who was blessed with health, family, land and position in the community. He respected the Sabbath and worshipped God. Then for reasons known only to the Creator, Job’s loyalty to God was tested. Job had been grateful for the material abundance with which he had been blessed, but the question was, ‘Would he be faithful to his Creator under conditions of extreme hardship?’ That was what caused my original reaction. I wanted to know what kind of insecure and cruel God would give a man everything and then take it away.
Actually, I wasn’t ready to comprehend the fullness of that powerful message. The story is much deeper than its superficial drama might suggest. What I did not understand is that God was removing Job’s limited attachments and dependencies on creature comforts in order to prepare him for having everything. In wealth and comfort, Job had only part of God. Job was content with his ‘bubble’ and was not looking for an expanded relationship with all of creation. Therefore, he was not expecting this twist of destiny, nor was he prepared to accept it gracefully. In the beginning, he tried prayers for redemption and confessions of sin in hopes that God would forgive whatever trespasses he might have committed. Nevertheless, the problems only became worse. Then he pursued understanding in hopes that there possibly could be a lesson in all the hardships. Still the problems became worse. He counselled his friends, yet nothing changed. Finally, in utter dejection, Job surrendered to the omnipotence, beauty, and vastness of the universe. He began to behold in awe and wonder the majesty of everything that is. Through those sublime realisations, he came to accept the love of God in all things. As he stopped his judgements, the dreadful conditions ended. Then, miraculously, the moment he accepted everything, everything was given to him! Jesus spoke,
“In the English language, persecution implies an intentional harassment or punishment. In Aramaic, it typically meant ‘suffering.’ Our Creator never afflicts or badgers His children, although it is His greatest yearning to be known by them in the fullness of existence. It is through challenge and the survival of suffering that a person grows beyond his protective bubble to experience the love of God in a greater way. In any relationship, the one who establishes conditions is the dominant party. Therefore, as long as a person refuses to accept in good faith God’s power to change or expand the conditions of life, there cannot be a truly sacred relationship.
There is a second meaning to this beatitude which relates to the vanishing of illusion. To attain this additional blessing, you must realise that ‘for righteousness sake’ means ‘for loves sake.’ Whenever you stand firmly in the midst of a hardship, holding and expressing the love that you are, you are empowered to transcend your sufferings.”
Jesus said to me more than once, “Love your enemies if you would convince yourself that love is a power that comes from within.”
Perhaps there are no enduring enemies, but there are adversarial situations. Life has its trials, and when we are passing through these difficulties it is imperative to be the love that we are. In that special state of being, we gain the assurance that we are not externally controlled or dominated by the world. Jesus spoke,
“Only in the presence of your enemy can you really discover that truth. Only when you love beyond all of the external conditions which logically tell you not to do so, can you discover the deeper wellspring of love that you are. In the twenty-third chapter of the Book of Psalms, King David welcomes the Lord to set a table before him in the presence of his enemies, knowing that his cup will be filled to overflowing. His cup was filled with love. David knew that only through the power of love could victory be attained. Through love you have the power over any situation. Only, you will never truly know this until you have surmounted adversity. The last of the beatitudes is the greatest of all blessings. For in that learning, you are free forever from the illusions that would attempt to conquer you and misdirect your life.”
Taken from the book - Love Without End by Glenda Green to whom Jesus appeared between 1991-1992, resulting in this book, a beautiful painting called The Lamb and The Lion, and another book - The Keys of Jeshua
I asked Jesus how we could attract blessings instead of struggles – ‘How do we receive, and can there be a truly blessed life? Can you give me a formula for it?’
With a gentle smile, he replied, “I already have.”
‘Where?’ I quickly responded.
“All that I have taught you is about the good life, although you might refer in particular to ‘The Beatitudes.’” He replied.
Jesus explained the difficulty in translating Aramaic and compared the range of possible meanings in Aramaic to the unstructured nature of our own colloquial jargon. For example, in our English language we have the expression, ‘I’m cool.’
In making that statement, there are several different ways it could be interpreted. I may be referring to the temperature, or expressing indifference. I could be expressing that I was at peace with myself or that I was a very ‘hip’ person. All these possibilities exist within the same phrase. Therefore, the challenge in translating his words has been a great deal more complicated than merely finding equivalent expressions in Latin, Greek, and modern languages. Difficult as that has been in itself, the greater obstacle has been in recovering lost contexts for determining exactly what the original statements really meant…or even what the original statements really were.
‘Beatitude’ literally means blessings and great happiness, which was the central meaning of his promise. Yet the Beatitudes also made reference to limitation, sorrow, and suffering as an insurmountable part of the human experience. More than anything else, I wanted to understand why that was so. No sooner had I expressed that desire than he began to recite the blessings that I might hear them for myself and take their meanings to heart. In his resonant, baritone voice, he began:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Then he waited for my response.
I replied that, ‘I had stumbled over that one since I first heard it as a child. To me, the kingdom of heaven means infinite abundance. So how does being poor relate to having all the riches of heaven? I was also confused by the connection between poverty and heaven. What did you really mean when you said that?’
Jesus explained:
“If you had listened with your heart you would have heard the truth, despite the losses in translation. However, since you have now focused on your misunderstanding, let me help you through the difficulty. You’re stumbling over the word ‘poor.’ In Aramaic, the word ‘poor’ has a number of possible meanings, which can only be determined by the context and thoughts being conveyed. ‘Poor’ could mean impoverished, or depleted, as in washed-out soil. It could mean lacking in ability, absent of quality, low in potential, or deficient. These meanings translate easily into definitions of your language. Yet, there is one more meaning that ‘poor’ had in Aramaic which is not used in most modern languages. It meant ‘simple and uncomplicated.’ When I made that proclamation, my true reference was to simplicity! Let me recite it now correctly for you, and then you can tell me how you feel. ‘Blessed are those who live in simplicity for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’”
‘That’s perfect!’ Now I felt deeply nourished by that blessing. After a while Jesus proceeded to say more about it:
“Essentially, the great caution is to refrain from introducing complexities and hierarchies into spiritual pursuits or life in general. Structure is necessary to physical existence and even to social existence. However, if carried too far—especially in the spiritual realm—it can result in isolation, frustration, judgement, and arrogance. Don’t empower belief systems which limit and control your approach to God. Don’t submit to the tyranny of hierarchies which require that you ascend in your spiritual life according to permission or protocol established by man. That was the critical issue surrounding the Tower of Babel. The religion of ancient Babylon was controlled by echelons of priestly authority which assumed all rights to govern a person’s ascension to heaven. This has been a recurring problem within organised religion, and many spiritual empires have failed because they were based on structures of the mind and human authority. The kingdom of heaven is not attained through the structure and hierarchy of human domain. If you surround your sacred experiences with endless requirements sanctioned by man, then basically what you have done is to shut the doors of heaven. Keep it simple. There is but one spirit.
It is not required that you climb a thousand steps before you can be fully connected with your Creator in spirit. Spirit is within you, spirit is of you, spirit is around you, spirit embraces you, and is with you always. You don’t need the permission of structure to receive everything that the Spirit of God has in store for you. All the great empires of history crumbled to dust because of hierarchies which governed their spiritual lives. This is why I said, ‘Blessed are the simple in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ When you are simple in spirit, all will be given to you, merely for the asking. You don’t need to acquire a new dimensionality before passing on to an even more elite dimensionality. Love and simplicity are the only requirements of a fulfilled spiritual life.
Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to its desolation. Every city or house divided against itself will not stand. The reason is that there is but one spirit and it cannot be divided. You cannot say one thing has spirit and another does not. Do not take anything from spirit. Spirit is in all things, of all things, and with all things. Where spirit is concerned there are no prerequisites and no hierarchies. The spirit is one. If you attempt to break it, the divided house will turn against you, the disrupter. Whenever you attempt to divide the spirit, you have granted it consent to ‘collect its damages’ from you! Accepting and honouring the one spirit from the simplicity of your own place in life is the key to heaven. Accept it where you are, as you are. Be yourself. A flea at peace with itself, and in wonderment of eternity, is more likely to see the face of God than a giant whose ravenous appetite seeks to acquire everything only for himself. It is not the size or importance which matters, but rather, acceptance and simplicity. There is fulfilment in simplicity that will bring you great happiness.”
Never once did Jesus say, ‘Blessed are those who build elaborate structures of the mind or of the world to extol their own advantaged positions’…or anything similar. Instead, he emphasised that we are blessed in spirit as we affirm the love that we are and join with the love of our Creator in a realm above human posturing. Jesus explained further:
“Hierarchies are part of worldly elitism. Structure belongs to the earth. As you ascend to a higher, more loving relationship with your fellow man and your Creator, the dominance of structure will fall away. Those who claim to be ascending through layers of structural perception are only ascending in their minds. They have not seen the kingdom of heaven. As you ascend in the spirit, structured reality falls away and has no bearing and little relevance to your awareness. In love and spirit there are neither hierarchies nor structure. Love is the source of your life.
Maintain simplicity in your thoughts as well. Thoughts generate performance. Therefore, it is very important to guard your thoughts and direct them properly. You could compare love to a commander-in-chief and your thoughts to a colonel giving orders to troops in the field. It is important that orders be relayed to the troops, and that is the role of thought. So guard your thoughts and instruct them well. If you misconceive them to be the source of your life, however, you will forget your real power.”
When Jesus said that, it reminded me of a personal experience I had in the study and practice of positive thinking. I enrolled in several seminars. Each of these courses involved positive thought procedures, and at first each one seemed to work and make a difference. After I used each method for a while, though, its effectiveness declined sharply. That was why I had taken several courses instead of just one. I was looking for a procedure that would continue working. As I remembered that experience, I realised that Jesus had touched upon an answer. So I asked to know more. Jesus elaborated:
“Those procedures worked well for you in the beginning because of your stored-up love that needed directing and focusing. Once you applied and ventilated that reserve of love there was nothing more to accomplish. You must put love behind your thoughts to make them work. There are many good courses of thought development and management which would work better and have more lasting results if the power behind thought were more fully understood. Compare your love and your thoughts to an archer. If your love is the archer, then your mind is the bow, and your thoughts are the arrows. Without careful direction of thoughts, you will not hit the target. Without love to pull the bow string, your motivation will be weak or misdirected. These things are all part of your totality, yet love is the simplicity of your power. It is important to guard and direct your thoughts. Even so, do not assign them a separate power from your love, and do not think the keys to heaven can be grasped by your mind. Your mind cannot open that door. Mental activity invariably results in complexities which must then be implemented by structure. Within hierarchies of mental structure, ideas ascend in levels of sophistication. Such complicated standards will always establish some persons or situations as superior to others. Love, on the other hand, is simple, as so is the spirit. Stay with simplicity and avoid the pitfalls of complicated living.”
A particular curiosity began to develop as I contemplated Jesus’ comments about thought and the mind. Though he was composed and peaceful, his welcoming look suggested that my question would be welcome. Throughout the ages, there have been many notions and beliefs about sacred structure, sacred architecture, and sacred geometry. I pondered these concepts as I thought about the true essence of simplicity. First, I thought about structural order and how best it can only mimic simplicity, because the very purpose of structure is to define, contain and separate. If unity is our basic simplicity, it would be futile to seek perfection through structure. We can indeed create structural order and symmetry, but the dynamics of life inevitably erode its pseudo-simplicity. This does not mean that I do not admire the moments and instances where great harmony and simplicity emerge within structure. Certainly, as an artist, some of my most thrilling moments have been when complexity surrendered to simplicity and there, upon the surface of mere paint and canvas, a composition glowed with excellence. Most especially, I am deeply moved by great music when I hear simple rhythms recurring within glorious complex arrangements of melody and counter melody. My thoughts gradually turned towards an intense feeling of appreciation and gratitude to the awesome simplicity of love, and I was compelled to ask, ‘Are any of the beautiful symmetries, patterns and harmonies in existence sacred?’
Jesus Replied:
“Only the Creator is Holy, although the beauties and simplicities that you may discover within nature, thought, and artistic expression may certainly convey His sacred presence. It is fine to be moved, inspired, and even healed by such perceived perfections. If, however, such patterns and harmonies are codified into fixed ideas which purportedly have innate perfection or power of their own, any potential value which may have been present would be cancelled. Moments and manifestations of perfection emerge from the normal harmonies of existence. Except, there are no structures that cannot be superseded and rearranged by love. Otherwise, how could there be miracles? How could there be freedom for the soul?
Until you understand that any structure can be rearranged by love, you can never understand how I multiplied the fishes or healed the sick. If you would multiply anything, all you need do is take one part or sample, and then love it enough.
If structure were the lord of existence, whatever number of fish there were, would remain that way, except by breeding and multiplication genetically. The reason that structural forms perpetuate themselves through respecting the boundaries and patterns which typecast each separate entity. Structure defines boundaries, and therefore separation! By extension, that would make structure the lord of patterns and limits! In scientific terms this is the law of conservation. If one considers all the adamantine particles, all the spirit, and all the love within one fish, the infinite potential is unfathomable. It cannot be contained, and needs only a propelling force to become the many. When you seek healing, place no thought on the illness (for you would not wish to multiply that), but love that which is well until it multiplies and overtakes that which was lacking in health. This is the miracle of gratitude: it multiplies whatever you appreciate. This is why it is so important when giving, that you give with love. In that way, you multiply the gift. You can multiply and expand anything. With enough love, one thing becomes the many.”
As Jesus said that, I realised how fragile and defensive structure is, but how resilient life is to expand and shape itself for purposes of surviving and thriving. There are numerous stories about angels who have interceded for people in dangerous situations. Incredible rescues have been reported which seem to confirm the suspendable nature of structured reality for the greater purposes of life. Perhaps such deeds serve to remind us that while we do need order on earth, it would be a mistake to consider any structural framework as sacred. The simplicity of love, spirit, and adamantine particles supersedes all structure. Those elements are common to all form and possess infinite transformative potential. I contemplated the enduring nature of simplicity, and felt as though I were rolling on waves of the ocean. Then he began to recite the second Beatitude. It was almost like a new melody following upon the first. Indeed, there is a natural progression from the first to the second blessing. In understanding that there is but one spirit, one existence, and one eternity, it becomes easier to accept that nothing real is ever lost or missing.
“Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Reciting those words, his voice was very beautiful. My face must have revealed some discomfort, because in a caring tone he asked about my concern. I was remembering my own sorrows, and frankly they did not feel like blessings. Jesus continued:
“Again, there is an issue with words and meanings which has suffered in translation. In Aramaic, ‘mourning’ could mean sorrow, grief, pain, or regret. Most of these meanings have negative connotations and suggest clinging to loss. However, there is an even more important meaning that could be expressed only in a context which focused upon the value of mourning. I was referring to the cat of purging and releasing. This is quite different from the internalisations of sorrows and loss. When a person first recognises and experiences grief, it comes as an affliction. First there is shock, then depression, and so one turns within to suffer the emotional and spiritual wounds. This is grief. As the process completes itself in the latter stages of surrender, there is mourning. Mourning is the free flowing of tears as acceptance and releasing are experienced. In that state, the heart can perceive a continuity of life even though certain attachments have been lost. In letting go of that which cannot be retained, one heals. It is through releasing that one is blessed. Grieving is clinging to that which has been lost—mourning is the act of letting go. No one feels blessed at the onset of grief. Never would I suggest such a thing. Yet, in the releasing of grief through purging, relinquishing, and the flowing of tears, healing can occur at last. This process is relevant to the loss of anything, not just the loss of a loved one. The loss could have been a dream or a hope. Even sensing childhood slip away could bring on a time of mourning to honour the love that is being released. Such purging opens a space in which to celebrate a newly emerging stage of life. There are also times to acknowledge the end of a career or role in life. In releasing and honouring what has been, there may be tears, but there will also be doors opening to future possibilities. Accepting this process is great therapy and can result in many blessings. This is because there are two parts to love—attaching and letting go. Only through living and understanding both phases of love is a being complete. The reaching, connecting, and embracing aspects of love are easy and joyful. Letting go and saying good-bye is a great deal more difficult. There is a time to release everything, and in releasing, you let go of the clinging, and you are made whole again. Thus you are blessed.”
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
I was almost embarrassed to admit that I had some difficulty I accepting this blessing because of the submissive connotations of meekness. While humility is a great human virtue, the concept of ‘meekness’ offers other meanings than just that, especially with regard to relative human worth. Meekness was not easy concept for me to reconcile with inheriting the earth!
‘Does this mean that I am supposed to go through life in a subservient capacity? Or are we gain dealing with a translation difficulty?’ Jesus smiled and said,
“Yes, greater clarity of translation would help. The word for meek had several meanings in Aramaic. It could mean humble, poor, subservient or self-effacing. Yet none of those is what I meant. The closest word in the English language for what I intended is moderation. This is the way it should read:
‘Blessed are those who live in moderation, for they shall inherit the earth.’
Moderation is the economy of God, and the economy of blessing!
Are you not in balance when you live in moderation? When you live in balance, are you not whole? When you are whole, do you not inherit the earth?
Moderation is a relative concept which derives its power from equilibrium and balance. It cannot be enforced with identical value or limitation on all people. This must be learned through discernment. Moderation for a person with great responsibilities would require greater supply than moderation for a person with meagre responsibilities. Moderation is not an invocation of limits or conformity, but rather an invocation of the rationality that a person is more complete when in balance. What a person requires is governed by what he or she can love! Through moderation, under the command of love, everything is provided.”
In saying this, he also cautioned me not to turn the practice of moderation into a new standard of judgement. He explained:
“The level of moderation for one may be excess for another or insufficiency for someone else. There is also the aspect of dynamic change within moderation. Moderation is equilibrium, but it is not static inert balance which has no inner life or variance. There is a certain progressive attainment that maintains itself by growth, fluctuation, conservation and sharing. ‘Well being’ is the true feeling of moderation. Pursue moderation in all things. I recommend moderation not only I material accumulation or in your physical comforts, but also in the food you eat, and in mental pursuits, habits and work. As heaven comes to earth, the standard of economy will be that of moderation. It will no longer be the norm for some to hoard while others starve. Sharing will become a joy as you learn that everything you share will be multiplied and then become the basis of your own receiving.”
There is beautiful logic to these lessons. Each one flows as a natural consequence from the one before. When one knows how the needs of life are provided, there is a natural willingness to release that which cannot be retained. When a person is willing to release, hoarding ceases to be a preoccupation. When hoarding ceases, there is that much less effort to life and the good of one is extended to the good of all.
Eager to apply what he said, I took a look through my closet the next day and found some very nice clothes hanging there, unused because they were unsuitable to my needs or appearance. As I started thinking about friends who might like them, I noticed a new depth of responsibility in ownership. I was actually concerned about finding the person to whom the clothing truly belonged. When I telephoned my friends, the giving was very comfortable and without attitudes of charity or condescension. I simply said, ‘There’s a dress hanging in my closet which I believe really belongs to you. I must have been thinking about you when I purchased it.’
Then I did the same things with books and decorative items. As I surveyed my shelves and closets, I increased my sensitivity for sharing through respecting the principle of rightness of ownership. Then the most amazing thing began to happen. Friends reciprocated with sharing and gifts, and the items they offered seemed truly to belong to me. He further explained,
“Money can obtain your possessions, although it cannot establish your true ownership. Whatever truly belongs to you is determined by what your heart attracts and your love commands. Only the properties of your heart can bring fulfilment and nourishment to your life. In practicing moderation, you will know this. You will be able to shop for groceries and know what foods you need. You will not have to eat excessively to compensate for subconscious cravings. Mankind has destroyed much of its sensitivity about true need and rightful ownership through practicing excess. Such abuse is not limited to excess of things and physical pleasures. There is also excess of work, excess of denial, excess of suffering, excess of punishment, excess of grief, and excess of control. There are those whose lives are consumed by failure and poverty without ever realising that their form of excess is personal denial. Anything can be carried to extreme. There is a point in every pursuit and every cycle when returning to a balanced life is necessary. In balance there is wholeness, fulfilment and blessing.
‘Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.’
“This blessing is directly linked to the Sacred Heart, for when a person hungers and thirsts for righteousness, the basic purity and innocence of his heart is awakened.”
Jesus reminded me many times that the heart sustains the inner core of our innocence and our goodness. Through the heart’s power we are able to be the love that we are. This was manifest by perfect example in his presence. My cup overflowed daily. One word from him was enough. I was filled when I was with him because I was in the presence of his righteousness and rightness. Righteousness is difficult to comprehend, because we see so little in the world which is pure and so much which is employed to support false contentions of rightness. Before I could understand the fullness of that blessing, I needed to have more clarity on the subject of righteousness. Jesus explained:
“Righteousness is you being the love that you are. It means that you are right with yourself, right with your fellow man, right with God, and right with the one spirit. Simply be the love that you are. That is discovered and developed through a right relationship with the heart. The heart is a powerful magnetic centre that generates life energy for the body and the soul and draws to you all the needs and requirements of your life. Within the Sacred Chamber of the heart you will feel the presence of your Creator and be anointed with His righteousness. From these holy communions, higher principles of intelligence will be revealed to you, and through them rightness will come to your life.”
The higher principles of intelligence were presented in depth in chapter 6 (The Seven Dimensions of Intelligence). However, it is relevant to reconsider them here from the perspective of being right with life. They are: Unity, Love, Life, Respect, Honesty, Justice and Kindness. Unity is the foundation of all rightness through which all love unfolds. When we are prompted by love, we are given command. Through love, we are filled with the higher knowledge of life. Life is the third provider of intelligence. Life begets life and attracts life. As we confront life, we see its indwelling truth. Only with respect can we learn. Through respect, we honour the rightness and the beauties of life, as well as the rightness, goodness and love of others. Innocent perception is looking at the world as it is and seeing that it is enough. All the answers are in front of us. In knowing that, the principle of honesty is empowered. Then follows justice in which we see the balance of all things and the need for all actions to be balanced. At last there is kindness, which is the will of God. There can be no greater rightness than that. Jesus continued,
‘Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.’
Those who extend mercy, receive mercy. In forgiving, we are forgiven. Jesus gave me one more reason beyond that—only the heart can understand forgiveness. Therefore, in practicing forgiveness every day, the heart will be given pre-eminence in your life. He explained:
“Practice forgiveness everyday. It liberates the soul from bondage, and beyond that, forgiveness is an action which your mind can never understand. Your mind’s sole intent is to balance the books. In issues of morality it only wants to get even. Therefore, practice forgiveness everyday if only in trivial matters. This is an excellent way of tempering the mind and empowering the heart. Mercy is not just a way of balancing cause & effect, although that is certainly a valid reason to practice it. The greater reason for practicing forgiveness is that whenever you are merciful, you grow. As you grow you become more blessed, and the very things that might harm you or cause you resistance will be given no power. Mercy is the flower of growth. Those who are restrained in mercy will have limited influence in life.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.’
“In the eyes of God, who knows nothing of sin, you are nothing less than perfect. Which is why the very act of sin separates you from your Source. In the purity of your heart you are one with your Creator.”
‘Then why do we not enter our heart more easily?’ I enquired.
“Because you do not see yourself as pure, perfect and innocent. Until you see yourself in that way, you will not enter the Sacred Chamber of the heart. As long as you try to carry all of your unworthiness and mistakes in with you, you will stay on the threshold of your heart and not enter. My apostles were constantly asking me how to pray, seeking for words and formulas. My reply was always that being in the heart is prayer. Finally I gave them a prayer which would unlock the heart’s door. Praying my prayer, anyone can be restored to his purity and innocence. It is an invocation to the heart. Therefore, when you say the words be sure and linger for a while in silence, peace and innocence. In the sacred chamber you are one with the Father, and in that oneness your Source knows everything you need, and beholds no imperfection. When you enter the sacred heart, you are restored in your life and you are made whole again. How can this happen to you and the face of God not be revealed?
Through innocent perception you may also perceive the presence of God in all of existence. This is purity of perception. Through practicing this, you can be at peace with your life and see the beauty of what is before you. Everything was created in innocence. Behold this, if you would see the face of God. It is not the mind’s province to create reality, but rather to observe, integrate, understand and implement reality. It is the province of the heart to accept reality. The pure heart will accept unconditionally. Although the mind strives to understand, it will invent what it cannot understand—or worse still, it will judge. This is a dangerous phenomenon, for the mind will invent realities that lead you away from who you are and the true purposes of your life. When you surrender to the fact that existence does not require invention—that it simply is—you will be on the threshold of actually looking into the face of God.
Judgement will separate you from this sacred space. Judgement is actually the only sin of which a pure and perfect child of God is capable. Judgement was the original sin, and continual pursuit of it will keep you from the presence of your Creator.”
I noted the seriousness of his attitude about judgement and felt compelled to ask, ‘If judgement is a violation of innocence, and if God is the Source of all innocence, then why are there so many references to God’s judgement in the Bible? He answered,
“The Hebrew word for judgement, which is ‘mishpat,’ actually refers to redemption and vindication—not to accusation and condemnation. Man, in his true potential, is innocent and good. No one knows and upholds that more surely than God. It is for this reason that I often use the endearing term of Father when referring to God. The love of a father is the best image I can give you for the nurturing defense you are always provided by your Creator. If you would judge any person, you are opposed to the Protector and vindicator of that person. The Father sees and defends His children, despite any transgressions they may have engaged in through a false self or in a world of inequity. Your Father knows the difference and redeems your basic rightness against all accusations that have been devised by the world of illusion.
The ancient Hebrew meaning of judgement (which is protection of personal rights in the face of accusation) is the pillar of your American judicial system, which holds a person to be innocent until proven guilty. It is the judge who protects the defendant’s right to be viewed as innocent until all of the accusations are heard and considered. This is the Father’s stance, except with even more clarity, purity and forgiveness than a human court could ever have. It is the world of illusion and mis-direction which supports guilt and unworthiness and uses the power of condemnation and punishment to support its destructive agendas. If only the sons of god would learn the futility of accusation, then brotherhood would flower with perceptions of innocence.
In saying this, I do not mean to imply that acts of destruction should not be intercepted and offenders should not be restrained or punished, for correction is essential to development of responsibility in the human family. The point is, all acts of correction should be applied with the intent of restoring brotherhood and not dividing or diminishing it.
Frequently I used the metaphor of sheep or fish when speaking with my disciples. This was to describe the nature of collective acceptance without judgement. Fish live in schools, as sheep live in flocks. With both, the acceptance of additional members into the flock or school is without qualification or reservation. There is a simple innocence of the one spirit in the midst of these creatures. I have seen a flock of six sheep grow to ten thousand by adding new flocks driven to grass or market. Never was a sheep rejected. Inclusion was unconditional.”
I was so glad that he had clarified the reason behind the metaphors of fish and sheep, because I had been less than enthusiastic about the connotations of conformity, mediocrity, and dependency which I associated with these flocks.
As he noticed my relief, he added the following statement,
“I meant that man should live together in mutual support and harmony, although certainly not at the expense of individuality and surely not in a state of clannish conformity.”
He demonstrated daily how innocent perception deflects any possible inclination to reform life according to judgement. When I was in his presence, life was acceptable as it was. This does not mean that I did not express my difficulties or objections when I felt them. For such freedom of expression is also an aspect of innocent perception. Nevertheless, I saw how we deplete our life force through endless attempts to make it conform to mental preconceptions and judgements. Jesus said,
“Most conflict is self-generated by rejections of life and denial of existence as it really is.”
With seamless grace, that statement led to the next Beatitude.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.’
“There are many ways to make peace in life. A person does not have to be a diplomat, negotiator, counsellor or minister. Nor is that blessing confined to the settling of arguments and disputes. Its power comes from the grace of ending duality. You will be blessed with wholeness as you end duality. You are a peacemaker when you rise above the concept that life must be viewed as a conflict between polar opposites. The critical recognition, which humankind most needs to make at this time, is that a dualistic approach to living is no longer useful. Our oneness of spirit needs to be recognised and implemented through acceptance.”
Jesus’ concept of peace was far grander, with more pervasive impact, than simply resolving conflicts at the office or discord in the home. Although we focus upon annoying issues and often lose sleep over them, they are for the most part isolated instances of conflict. Jesus continued,
“The core of man’s duality is that he sets up problems for himself and then uses those same problems to declare, ‘How brilliant, we figured it out.’ When man creates a problem in the first place, he should be able to figure it out! What would be better to ask is, ‘did we really need the problem?’”
As he spoke, I considered the many ways in which we are conditioned by the presence of apparent opposites—up/down, in/out, forward/backward, happy/sad—to name only a few. ‘Our clocks and calendars are marked by the rhythms of day and night. Doesn’t this affect our thinking?’ Jesus pleasantly responded,
“Yes, it can. Except, you have the choice to focus on that limited observation or to look beyond to a more complete understanding. Let me show you how such an expanded perception can work. Just imagine that you took a ride on one of the satellites in your stratosphere. Now look back at the earth and tell me what you see.”
‘well, from this viewpoint, I see the sun shining all over the earth and there is a little bit of shadow on the far side, although the light and dark are not equal. There is a little bit of light almost everywhere.’
“That is the point. Dark and light are not opposites at all. They represent variable conditions of exposure to light sources. That is not duality. The conceptual model of duality is a simplistic frame of reference created by the mind to satisfy its dependency upon structure and symmetry. The mind seeks to explain rather than understand.
Day and night will not cease. Yet, you need not continue viewing them as opposites. There is no longer a need to think that night has the same power as day. There is just the power of light, with variations of intensity and interruption. Once the full scope of understanding is attained, duality fades away. Higher intelligence is manifested through integrated perceptions of wholeness which restore your recognition of the one spirit. The sons of God are those who do not explain life or manage it with dualistic concepts. The sons of God are those who seek to perceive wholeness in all things.”
I wondered, ‘How did we become entrenched in such myopic thinking?’
Reading my thoughts, Jesus replied,
“Man has been growing and living in a world which was also growing and organising itself. A limited approach to life begets a limited understanding of it. However, the most critical conditioning has come from the way mankind has perceived, generated and controlled energy. Energy is a crucial survival commodity, and therefore its management has a profound impact upon consciousness. From the moment it was discovered that fire could be deliberately created by rubbing two sticks together, mankind has been building cultures upon friction-generated energy. Nuclear power plants are no exception to this. The ‘sticks’ are more sophisticated, although the energy generated is still the result of polar, resistive, friction-generated processes.”
‘Is this ever going to change?’
“Yes. Humanity is on the threshold of moving into a new era of scientific understanding that will reveal energy to be generated by patterns of attraction rather than patterns of resistance. What is currently known about electro-magnetism has its roots in electrical resistance. However, there is a primary attractor field generated by scalar properties in continuous attraction. Therefore, magnetism may be viewed as either derivative (as in electro-magnetism) or primary (as in attractor fields), depending on one’s level of understanding. In its primary condition there are no polarities or resistances. Now contemplate a civilisation in which energy is not a commodity over which to fight or hoard. Can you see how that would change everything?”
Peacefulness prevailed as I contemplated his teaching. Then the silence was broken as he spoke the final blessing.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’
“There is a great lesson involved in this blessing, not just for heaven but also for earth. It is the most difficult lesson anyone will ever master, yet in learning it a person rises above the tyranny of hardship and experiences true liberation. This is why it is the last blessing.”
I was glad to receive his words of assurance because, frankly, this beatitude had always frightened me a little. I felt comforted and humbled by his great strength, and could only respond by exposing my insecurity and admitting my lack of confidence in being able to understand. Nevertheless, I wanted to hear whatever he was willing to share. He continued,
“The power of this blessing resides in the fact that the Creator of all things is present with all things and in all things. There is no place where God is not. There is no experience in which God is not. There is no dimension of understanding or awareness where God is not. One who has known God only in a state of well-being has just known the smallest portion of the Creator. One who must place conditions on how to receive God cannot receive God. One who can only know God in blissful and abundant experiences has no power in the rest of life. What is the Kingdom of Heaven except the wholeness of everything? How can a person have everything when he or she is only willing to know part of God? This was the lesson presented in the Book of Job, although not many people comprehend its true meaning.”
‘Well, I am one of them. I not only do not understand it, I never liked it!’ I hadn’t read the Book of Job since I was in college, and honestly, I thought it was a pretty grim nightmare of one poor soul’s terrible hardship on the earth. To me, it did not represent the God of love about which Jesus had spoken in the New Testament, and so I was unable to reconcile Job’s painful experience with my preferred beliefs.
In a comforting tone Jesus asked,
“Would you like to read it again with me?”
I readily accepted. Then he sat beside me, and we read it together. As his words poured over the lines, I was amazed with the beauty I had missed before. Contained within that book of the Old Testament are some of the most exquisite passages ever written about the wonderment of the cosmos, the majesty of God, the vastness of infinity, and the omnipotent power of All That Is. To summarize the story briefly, Job was a very wealthy man who was blessed with health, family, land and position in the community. He respected the Sabbath and worshipped God. Then for reasons known only to the Creator, Job’s loyalty to God was tested. Job had been grateful for the material abundance with which he had been blessed, but the question was, ‘Would he be faithful to his Creator under conditions of extreme hardship?’ That was what caused my original reaction. I wanted to know what kind of insecure and cruel God would give a man everything and then take it away.
Actually, I wasn’t ready to comprehend the fullness of that powerful message. The story is much deeper than its superficial drama might suggest. What I did not understand is that God was removing Job’s limited attachments and dependencies on creature comforts in order to prepare him for having everything. In wealth and comfort, Job had only part of God. Job was content with his ‘bubble’ and was not looking for an expanded relationship with all of creation. Therefore, he was not expecting this twist of destiny, nor was he prepared to accept it gracefully. In the beginning, he tried prayers for redemption and confessions of sin in hopes that God would forgive whatever trespasses he might have committed. Nevertheless, the problems only became worse. Then he pursued understanding in hopes that there possibly could be a lesson in all the hardships. Still the problems became worse. He counselled his friends, yet nothing changed. Finally, in utter dejection, Job surrendered to the omnipotence, beauty, and vastness of the universe. He began to behold in awe and wonder the majesty of everything that is. Through those sublime realisations, he came to accept the love of God in all things. As he stopped his judgements, the dreadful conditions ended. Then, miraculously, the moment he accepted everything, everything was given to him! Jesus spoke,
“In the English language, persecution implies an intentional harassment or punishment. In Aramaic, it typically meant ‘suffering.’ Our Creator never afflicts or badgers His children, although it is His greatest yearning to be known by them in the fullness of existence. It is through challenge and the survival of suffering that a person grows beyond his protective bubble to experience the love of God in a greater way. In any relationship, the one who establishes conditions is the dominant party. Therefore, as long as a person refuses to accept in good faith God’s power to change or expand the conditions of life, there cannot be a truly sacred relationship.
There is a second meaning to this beatitude which relates to the vanishing of illusion. To attain this additional blessing, you must realise that ‘for righteousness sake’ means ‘for loves sake.’ Whenever you stand firmly in the midst of a hardship, holding and expressing the love that you are, you are empowered to transcend your sufferings.”
Jesus said to me more than once, “Love your enemies if you would convince yourself that love is a power that comes from within.”
Perhaps there are no enduring enemies, but there are adversarial situations. Life has its trials, and when we are passing through these difficulties it is imperative to be the love that we are. In that special state of being, we gain the assurance that we are not externally controlled or dominated by the world. Jesus spoke,
“Only in the presence of your enemy can you really discover that truth. Only when you love beyond all of the external conditions which logically tell you not to do so, can you discover the deeper wellspring of love that you are. In the twenty-third chapter of the Book of Psalms, King David welcomes the Lord to set a table before him in the presence of his enemies, knowing that his cup will be filled to overflowing. His cup was filled with love. David knew that only through the power of love could victory be attained. Through love you have the power over any situation. Only, you will never truly know this until you have surmounted adversity. The last of the beatitudes is the greatest of all blessings. For in that learning, you are free forever from the illusions that would attempt to conquer you and misdirect your life.”
Taken from the book - Love Without End by Glenda Green to whom Jesus appeared between 1991-1992, resulting in this book, a beautiful painting called The Lamb and The Lion, and another book - The Keys of Jeshua
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