Hello,
I have a question regarding this verse in the Bible:
I have read in a previous discussion on this website that Thomas is representative of the middle way of the Buddha, which is the suggested path according to Gnosticism as it relates with direct experience. Why then, does Jesus say, “blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”? Is that not blind belief?
The Bible mentions belief many times. Is belief in the Bible referring to faith, meaning experience? Was Thomas instead an intellectual that wanted physical proof and was not walking the middle path? Does Jesus refer to those walking the path of the Buddha in the second sentence? Those that do not see with the Sensual mind but instead have true comprehension of His purpose?
If belief in the Bible does not refer to experience, is it then okay to have belief as long as we also have some faith (experience)? I understand belief can be dangerous. But then why are those with belief blessed over the one who experiences?
My understanding is you need both. In order to not become a skeptic (experience only) with no direction. But not just belief so as not to become stagnant. My confusion is mostly on why Jesus must say that to the one who is supposedly walking the correct path.
Thank you for your efforts as we strive to awaken.
I have a question regarding this verse in the Bible:
“Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
(John 20:29 KJV)
I have read in a previous discussion on this website that Thomas is representative of the middle way of the Buddha, which is the suggested path according to Gnosticism as it relates with direct experience. Why then, does Jesus say, “blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”? Is that not blind belief?
The Bible mentions belief many times. Is belief in the Bible referring to faith, meaning experience? Was Thomas instead an intellectual that wanted physical proof and was not walking the middle path? Does Jesus refer to those walking the path of the Buddha in the second sentence? Those that do not see with the Sensual mind but instead have true comprehension of His purpose?
If belief in the Bible does not refer to experience, is it then okay to have belief as long as we also have some faith (experience)? I understand belief can be dangerous. But then why are those with belief blessed over the one who experiences?
My understanding is you need both. In order to not become a skeptic (experience only) with no direction. But not just belief so as not to become stagnant. My confusion is mostly on why Jesus must say that to the one who is supposedly walking the correct path.
Thank you for your efforts as we strive to awaken.
Disciple: Master, how should we understand the work of Thomas in us?
Samael Aun Weor: We well know that Thomas implies a bit of skepticism, of doubt, all of that.
But taken in depth, that mystical Thomas that we carry within us is obviously related to discernment. It is necessary to learn to discern. It is urgent, let us say, to discover self-criticism, in order to ascertain the values of that which we carry within. Discerning the value of any thing, is how you have to understand Thomas, the interior Thomas.
It is always helpful to get into the habit of thinking about the personages in the Bible, or any sacred scripture, as archetypes, aspects of our Being, that each and every one of us has.
In this regard, Thomas represents that part of our Being that is related with direct, conscious, experiential knowledge; in other words, Thomas is related with that part of ourselves that receives Gnosis. It is that part of us that has the capacity to evaluate a thing, in order to see its true worth; the reality behind it. Thomas is concerned with knowing the essence of a thing, and if we want to progress on the path, we must learn to work with our own Thomas.
Thomas relates with true faith, which is the reliance on the impulses, the guidance, the will of our Innermost Being:
Thomas, what does Thomas teach us? He teaches us how to handle the minds, and especially the intellectual mind. Thomas teaches us that we must not depend on outside concepts, that we must only rely strictly on our own profound inner Self, and nothing else.
So, Thomas is a profoundly important archetype that each of us carry within.
As for your other question: well, how many of us, before finding these teachings had a direct, conscious experience of our Being? How many of us experienced a samadhi? How many of us spoke with the gods and masters of the White Lodge? And yet, when we found these teachings, something inside of us instinctively recognized the burning fire of wisdom in the words of the Master Samael Aun Weor… blessed indeed we were to recognize the beauty of his teachings, without yet comprehending them in their depth. Now, what we must do, is take that blessing and make good on it, and for that, we need to work with our inner Thomas.
- Page :
- 1
There are no replies made for this post yet.