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Blavatsky H.P. - The Esoteric Character of the Gospels: Difference between revisions
Blavatsky H.P. - The Esoteric Character of the Gospels (view source)
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| volume = 8 | | volume = 8 | ||
| pages = 172-217 | | pages = 172-217 | ||
| publications = Lucifer, Vol. I, No. 3, November, 1887, pp. 173-180 | | publications = Lucifer, Vol. I, No. 3, November, 1887, pp. 173-180 | ||
| scrapbook = | | scrapbook = | ||
| previous = Blavatsky H.P. - “Let Every Man Prove His Own Work” | | previous = Blavatsky H.P. - “Let Every Man Prove His Own Work” | ||
| next = Zirkoff B. - Compiler’s Notes (4) | | next = Zirkoff B. - Compiler’s Notes (4) | ||
| alternatives = | | alternatives = [https://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/hpb-sio/sio-eso1.htm TT], [https://www.blavatsky.net/index.php/esoteric-character-of-the-gospels B] | ||
| translations = [https://ru.teopedia.org/lib/Блаватская_Е.П._-_Эзотерический_характер_Евангелий Russian] | | translations = [https://ru.teopedia.org/lib/Блаватская_Е.П._-_Эзотерический_характер_Евангелий Russian] | ||
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{{HPB-CW-comment|view=center|[''Lucifer'', Vol. I, No. 3, November, 1887, pp. 173-180]}} | |||
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“. . . . . Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy presence, and of the consummation of the age?” <ref>St. Matthew, xxiv, 3, et seq. The sentences italicised are those which stand corrected in the New Testament after the recent revision in 1881 of the version of 1611; which version is full of errors, voluntary and involuntary. The word “presence,” for “coming,” and “the consummation of the age,” now standing for “the end of the world,” have altered, of late, the whole meaning, even for the most sincere Christians, if we exempt the Adventists.</ref> asked the Disciples of the | “. . . . . Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign ''of thy presence'', and ''of the consummation of the age''?”<ref>''St. Matthew'', xxiv, 3, ''et seq''. The sentences italicised are those which stand corrected in the ''New Testament'' after the recent revision in 1881 of the version of 1611; which version is full of errors, voluntary and involuntary. The word “presence,” for “coming,” and “the consummation of the age,” now standing for “the end of the world,” have altered, of late, the whole meaning, even for the most sincere Christians, if we exempt the Adventists.</ref> asked the Disciples of the {{Style S-Small capitals|Master}}, on the Mount of Olives. | ||
The reply given by the “Man of Sorrow,” the Chrêstos, on his trial, but also on his way to triumph, as Christos, or Christ,<ref>He who will not ponder over and master the great difference between the meaning of the two Greek words—-''χρηστός'' and ''χριστός'' must remain blind for ever to the true esoteric meaning of the Gospels; that is to say, to the living Spirit entombed in the sterile dead-letter of the texts, the very Dead Sea fruit of lip-Christianity.</ref> is prophetic, and very suggestive. It is a warning indeed. The answer must be quoted in full. Jesus . . . said unto them:— | The reply given by the “Man of Sorrow,” the ''Chrêstos'', on his trial, but also on his way to triumph, as ''Christos'', or Christ,<ref>He who will not ponder over and master the great difference between the meaning of the two Greek words—-''χρηστός'' and ''χριστός'' must remain blind for ever to the true esoteric meaning of the Gospels; that is to say, to the living Spirit entombed in the sterile dead-letter of the texts, the very Dead Sea fruit of ''lip''-Christianity.</ref> is prophetic, and very suggestive. It is a warning indeed. The answer must be quoted in full. Jesus . . . said unto them:— | ||
{{Style P-Quote|Take heed that no man lead you astray. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray. And ye shall hear of wars . . . . but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places. But all these things are the beginning of travail . . . . . And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray . . . then shall the end come . . . . when therefore ye see the abomination of desolation which was spoken through Daniel . . . Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ, or there; believe him not . . . . If therefore they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the wilderness, go not forth: Behold, he is in the {{Page aside|173}}inner chambers; believe them not. For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west: so shall be the presence of the Son of man, etc., etc.}} | {{Style P-Quote|Take heed that ''no man'' lead you astray. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray. And ye shall hear of wars . . . . but the end is not yet. ''For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places''. But all these things are the beginning of travail . . . . . And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray . . . then shall the end come . . . . when therefore ye see the abomination of desolation which was spoken through Daniel . . . Then if any man shall say unto you, ''Lo, here is the Christ'', or there; believe him not . . . . If therefore they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the wilderness, go not forth: Behold, he is in the {{Page aside|173}}inner chambers; believe them not. For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west: so shall be the ''presence'' of the Son of man, etc., etc.}} | ||
Two things become evident to all in the above passages, now that their false rendering is corrected in the revision text: (a) “the coming of Christ,” means the presence of | Two things become evident ''to all'' in the above passages, now that their false rendering is corrected in the revision text: (''a'') “the coming of Christ,” means ''the presence of'' {{Style S-Small capitals|Christos}} in a regenerated world, and not at all the actual coming in body of “Christ” Jesus; (''b'') this Christ is to be sought neither in the wilderness nor “in the inner chambers,” nor in the sanctuary of any temple or church built by man; for Christ—the true esoteric {{Style S-Small capitals|Saviour}}—''is no man'', but the {{Style S-Small capitals|Divine Principle}} in every human being. He who strives to resurrect the Spirit ''crucifed in him by his own terrestrial passions'', and buried deep in the “sepulchre” of his sinful flesh; he who has the strength to roll back ''the stone of matter'' from the door of his own inner sanctuary, he ''has the risen Christ in him''.<ref>“For ye are the temple [“sanctuary” in the ''revised'' N.T.] of the living God.” (II ''Cor''., vi, 16.)</ref> The “Son of Man” is no child of the bond-woman—''flesh'', but verily of the free-woman—''Spirit'',<ref>Spirit, or the Holy Ghost, was feminine with the Jews, as with most ancient peoples, and it was so with the early Christians. ''Sophia'' of the Gnostics, and the third Sephiroth ''Binah'' (the ''female'' Jehovah of the Kabalists), are feminine principles—“Divine Spirit,” or ''Ruach''. “''Achat Ruach Elohim Chayyim''.” “One is ''She'', the Spirit of the Elohim of Life,” is said in ''Sepher Yetzirah''. [chap. i, sect. 9.]</ref> the child of man’s own deeds, and the fruit of his own spiritual labour. | ||
On the other hand, at no time since the Christian era, have the precursor signs described in Matthew applied so graphically and forcibly to any epoch as they do to our own times. When has nation arisen against nation more than at this time? When have “famines”—another name for destitute pauperism, and the famished multitudes of the proletariat—been more cruel, earthquakes more frequent, or covered such an area simultaneously, as for the last few years? Millenarians and Adventists of {{Page aside|174}}robust faith, may go on saying that “the coming of (the carnalised) Christ” is near at hand, and prepare themselves for “the end of the world.” Theosophists—at any rate, some of them—who understand the hidden meaning of the universally-expected Avatars, Messiahs, Sosioshes and Christs—know that it is no “end of the world,” but “the consummation of the age,” i.e., the close of a cycle, which is now fast approaching.<ref>There are several remarkable cycles that come to a close at the end of this century. First, the 5,000 years of the Kaliyuga cycle; again the Messianic cycle of the Samaritan (also Kabalistic) Jews of the man connected with Pisces (Ichthys or “Fish-man” Dag). It is a cycle, historic and not very long, but very occult, lasting about 2,155 solar years, but having a true significance only when computed by lunar months. It occurred 2410 and 255 B.C., or when the equinox entered into the sign of the Ram, and again into that of Pisces. When it enters, in a few years, the sign of Aquarius, psychologists will have some extra work to do, and the psychic idiosyncrasies of humanity will enter on a great change.</ref> If our readers have forgotten the concluding passages of the article, The Signs of the Times,” in Lucifer for October last, let them read them over, and they will plainly see the meaning of this particular cycle.<sup>1</sup> | On the other hand, at no time since the Christian era, have the precursor signs described in ''Matthew'' applied so graphically and forcibly to any epoch as they do to our own times. When has nation arisen against nation more than at this time? When have “famines”—another name for destitute pauperism, and the famished multitudes of the proletariat—been more cruel, earthquakes more frequent, or covered such an area simultaneously, as for the last few years? Millenarians and Adventists of {{Page aside|174}}robust faith, may go on saying that “the coming of (the carnalised) Christ” is near at hand, and prepare themselves for “the end of the world.” Theosophists—at any rate, some of them—who understand the hidden meaning of the universally-expected Avatars, Messiahs, Sosioshes and Christs—know that it is no “end of the world,” but “the consummation of the age,” i.e., the close of a cycle, which is now fast approaching.<ref>There are several remarkable cycles that come to a close at the end of this century. First, the 5,000 years of the Kaliyuga cycle; again the Messianic cycle of the Samaritan (also Kabalistic) Jews of the man connected with Pisces (Ichthys or “Fish-man” Dag). It is a cycle, historic and not very long, but very occult, lasting about 2,155 solar years, but having a true significance only when computed by lunar months. It occurred 2410 and 255 B.C., or when the equinox entered into the sign of the Ram, and again into that of Pisces. When it enters, in a few years, the sign of Aquarius, psychologists will have some extra work to do, and the psychic idiosyncrasies of humanity will enter on a great change.</ref> If our readers have forgotten the concluding passages of the article, The Signs of the Times,” in Lucifer for October last, let them read them over, and they will plainly see the meaning of this particular cycle.<sup>1</sup> | ||
Many and many a time the warning about the “false Christs” and prophets who shall lead people astray has been interpreted by charitable Christians, the worshippers of the dead-letter of their scripture, as applying to mystics generally, and Theosophists most especially. The recent work by Mr. Pember, Earth’s Earliest Ages, is a proof of it. Nevertheless, it seems very evident that the words in Matthew’s Gospel and others can hardly apply to Theosophists. For these were never found saying that Christ is “Here” or “There,” in wilderness or city, and least of all in the “inner chamber” behind the altar of any modern church. Whether Heathen or Christian by birth, they refuse to materialise and thus degrade that which is the purest and grandest ideal—the symbol of symbols—namely, the immortal Divine Spirit in man, whether it be called Horus, Krishna, Buddha, or Christ. None of them has ever yet said: “I am the Christ”; {{Page aside|175}}for those born in the West feel themselves, so far, only Chrêstians,<ref>The earliest Christian author, Justin Martyr, calls, in his First Apology, his co-religionists Chrêstians, ''χρηστιανοί''—not Christians.</ref> however much they may strive to become Christians in Spirit. It is to those, who in their great conceit and pride refuse to win the right of such appellation by first leading the life of Chrêstos; <ref>“Clemens Alexandrinus, in the second century, founds a serious argument on this paronomasia that (lib. III, cap. xvii, p. 53, et circa—Psal. 55, D), all who believed in Chrêst (i.e., in a good man) both are, and are called, Chrêstians, that is, good men” (Stromata, lib. II, ch. iv, quoted in Higgins’ Anacalypsis, I, 568).2 And Lactantius (Divine Institutes, lib. IV, cap. vii) says that it is only through ignorance that people call themselves Christians, instead of Chrêstians: “Sed exponenda huius nominis ratio est propter ignorantium errorem qui eum immutata littera Chrestum solent dicere.”</ref> to those who haughtily proclaim themselves Christians (the glorified, the anointed) by sole virtue of baptism when but a few days old—that the above-quoted words of Jesus apply most forcibly. Can the prophetic insight of him who uttered this remarkable warning be doubted by any one who sees the numerous “false prophets” and pseudo-apostles (of Christ), now roaming over the world? These have split the one divine Truth into fragments, and broken, in the camp of the Protestants alone, the rock of the Eternal Verity into three hundred and fifty odd pieces, which now represent the bulk of their Dissenting sects. Accepting the number in round figures as 350, and admitting, for argument’s sake, that, at least, one of these may have the approximate truth, still 349 must be necessarily false.<ref>In England alone, there are over 239 various sects. (See Whitaker’s Almanac.) In 1883, there were 186 denominations only, and now they steadily increase with every year, an additional 53 sects having sprung up in only four years!</ref> Each of these claims to have Christ exclusively in its “inner chamber,” and denies him to all others, while, in truth, the great majority of their respective followers daily put Christ to death on the cruciform tree of matter—the “tree of infamy” of the old Romans—indeed! | Many and many a time the warning about the “false Christs” and prophets who shall lead people astray has been interpreted by charitable Christians, the worshippers of the dead-letter of their scripture, as applying to mystics generally, and Theosophists most especially. The recent work by Mr. Pember, Earth’s Earliest Ages, is a proof of it. Nevertheless, it seems very evident that the words in Matthew’s Gospel and others can hardly apply to Theosophists. For these were never found saying that Christ is “Here” or “There,” in wilderness or city, and least of all in the “inner chamber” behind the altar of any modern church. Whether Heathen or Christian by birth, they refuse to materialise and thus degrade that which is the purest and grandest ideal—the symbol of symbols—namely, the immortal Divine Spirit in man, whether it be called Horus, Krishna, Buddha, or Christ. None of them has ever yet said: “I am the Christ”; {{Page aside|175}}for those born in the West feel themselves, so far, only Chrêstians,<ref>The earliest Christian author, Justin Martyr, calls, in his First Apology, his co-religionists Chrêstians, ''χρηστιανοί''—not Christians.</ref> however much they may strive to become Christians in Spirit. It is to those, who in their great conceit and pride refuse to win the right of such appellation by first leading the life of Chrêstos; <ref>“Clemens Alexandrinus, in the second century, founds a serious argument on this paronomasia that (lib. III, cap. xvii, p. 53, et circa—Psal. 55, D), all who believed in Chrêst (i.e., in a good man) both are, and are called, Chrêstians, that is, good men” (Stromata, lib. II, ch. iv, quoted in Higgins’ Anacalypsis, I, 568).2 And Lactantius (Divine Institutes, lib. IV, cap. vii) says that it is only through ignorance that people call themselves Christians, instead of Chrêstians: “Sed exponenda huius nominis ratio est propter ignorantium errorem qui eum immutata littera Chrestum solent dicere.”</ref> to those who haughtily proclaim themselves Christians (the glorified, the anointed) by sole virtue of baptism when but a few days old—that the above-quoted words of Jesus apply most forcibly. Can the prophetic insight of him who uttered this remarkable warning be doubted by any one who sees the numerous “false prophets” and pseudo-apostles (of Christ), now roaming over the world? These have split the one divine Truth into fragments, and broken, in the camp of the Protestants alone, the rock of the Eternal Verity into three hundred and fifty odd pieces, which now represent the bulk of their Dissenting sects. Accepting the number in round figures as 350, and admitting, for argument’s sake, that, at least, one of these may have the approximate truth, still 349 must be necessarily false.<ref>In England alone, there are over 239 various sects. (See Whitaker’s Almanac.) In 1883, there were 186 denominations only, and now they steadily increase with every year, an additional 53 sects having sprung up in only four years!</ref> Each of these claims to have Christ exclusively in its “inner chamber,” and denies him to all others, while, in truth, the great majority of their respective followers daily put Christ to death on the cruciform tree of matter—the “tree of infamy” of the old Romans—indeed! | ||