by John Van Auken

With his outer mind set aside and his deeper mind at one with the Universal Consciousness, Edgar Cayce asked us, "What will you do with this man Jesus of Nazareth-- Jeshua of Jerusalem, Joshua in Shiloh, Joseph in the court of the Pharoah, Melchizedek as he blessed Abraham, Enoch as he warned the people, Adam as he listened to Eve?" In a reading for a person who had both Jewish and Christian training and was wrestling to decide which religion he preferred, the Source of Cayce's readings asked: "Have you not found that the essence, the truth, the real truth is ONE? Mercy and justice; peace and harmony. For without Moses and his leader Joshua, (that was bodily Jesus), there is no Christ. Christ is not a man. Jesus was the man; Christ the messenger; Christ in all ages, Jesus in one. Joshua in another, Melchizedek in another; these be those that led Judaism! These be those that came as the child of promise; and the promise is in you, that you lead as He has given you: 'Feed my sheep.' "

Obviously, when in contact with the Universal Consciousness, Cayce's perspective on Jesus Christ is much different from the church's and even his own outer self's. Cayce and his family were Bible-reading Christians. Yet, when he set aside his outer self and lifted his deeper mind into the Oneness with what the readings called the "Universal Consciousness," a new perspective on Jesus Christ came through to us, a perspective that is greater than one incarnation and beyond three dimensional limitations.

From this perspective Christ is the Word, the Logos, the universal light of God manifested through an incarnate person. Cayce's readings explain that the light of Christ first incarnated in Poseidia in Atlantis around 106,000 B. C.-- doing so to help souls who had lost their conscious connection with God and had become trapped in matter. The attuned Cayce sees us as spirits and minds; physical bodies came long after our original creation in the image and likeness of the Universal Creator. The Christ spirit realized it was going to take a series of incarnations in order to fully overcome the influences that had taken possession of our minds and hearts, and it came out of the heavens into matter to help us along the way.

The Christ spirit did not incarnate only in the Western world. Cayce explains that wherever the concept of one God and one brotherhood, sisterhood was proclaimed, the Christ spirit ws there. As the disciple John wrote in the opening lines of his gospel: "In the beginnning was the Word [the Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were created through this One; and nothing that has been made was made without this One. In this One was life and the life was the light of humanity. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The Word [the Christ] became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth." A portion of the trinity of God came among humanity to help us. Cayce says this first happened in the legendary times of Atlantis; then again in Eden, between the Tigris and the Euphrates; and again in Egypt, and again and again, continuing even today. In one of Cayce's most published readings, he stated: "For the time never was when there was not a Christ..."

Many devoted Christians wrestle with the edict that a person must "name the name" in order to achieve full resurrection, redemption and eternal life. Even the Cayce readings quote this phrase, but with a significant twist to it: "He that would name the name must have become perfect in himself!" How many of us Christians can say we have met this requirement? Another reading says: "Magnify that name, that name, that becomes on every tongue that of the crucified one in the manner that self is crucified to the fleshly desires, preferring the spirit of the Holy One before self, and considering your neighbor as yourself." Using this reading's definition of the name, couldn't a person who has heard little of Jesus be "naming the name" if he or she has crucified fleshly desires, preferring God's will over his own, and loving his fellow man as himself? Is the name a word or is it spirit? Is salvation the name, "Jesus" or loving God and others as Jesus instructed? Is Christ only Christian or universal? Is God and the manifestation of God among us limited to select souls? Does God not love and seek the companionship of all His/Her children?

"As an entity, a soul, a mind, enters [the spiritual dimensions] put about self the cloak, the garment, yea the mantle of Christ; not as a man, not as an individual but the CHRIST-- that universal consciousness of love that we see manifested in those who have forgotten self but, as Jesus, give themselves that others may know the truth." Here we see Cayce equating Christ with the "universal consciousness of love." This consciousness may be achieved by anyone of any religion or even no religion.

Consider the apparitions in Medjugorje, Bosnia, in 1981. A woman holding a baby was seen surrounded by equisite rays of light. The young people, (mostly teenagers), that saw her said she looked like the sun, had twelve stars over her head, a luminescent white veil and a pearl grey dress. She introduced herself as "the mother of all people." She encouraged one of the children to follow the example of a good Muslim woman in her community. She said that her message was for all people, and "If it is necessary, I will appear in each home." The luminescent lady warned her listeners that it is time for complete reconciliatin among people. This message was given in Bosnia, where Christians, Muslims, Croats and Serbs had much underlying hatred and prejudice toward one another.

We Christians need to allow Jesus Christ to be bigger than Christianity. As Jesus said (or the Christ spirit with whom Jesus made himself one), "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd," John 10:16. Jesus said that he taught and did what he was guided to do from God, the Father, within him. And before leaving us to become completely one with God, Jesus informed us that the "Comforter," the "Spirit of Truth," would come to us and guide us.

Of course, not only Christians have to let go of religious elitism. Jews, Muslims and others have contingents that believe their faith is the only true faith, and all must swear allegiance to their doctrines. As difficult as it may be, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and other religious groups are going to have to allow God to be the God of all people, and open their own hearts to all people. As the psalmist observed, God is everywhere and creator of everyone: "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven. thou art there. If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there thy hand leads me, and thy right hand holds me," Psalm 139:7-10. Cayce often quoted the passage: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord," Deut. 6:4 and Mark 12:29.

Having presented this universal Christ, it's important to acknowledge that in daily personal spirituality, one uses the practices concepts and ceremonies of one's own religion and culture. In homes in Cairo, Tel Aviv, New Delhi, New York families flourish best when using their own religious customs. These evoke the spirit and love of God in particular ways that are ingrained into the nature of one's being. These become sacred. Universalism is not a call to deny one's unique ways. It is a call to cleanse our hearts and minds of prejudice against others in the name of God. This evil spirit overtakes even the most well-intentioned, causing ,moral people to commit immoral acts, justified in the name of religious or ethnic purity. And this spirit does not just occur in war. It occurs in daily life, in little ways. All religious people have felt this from others. Jews, Muslims and even Christians have felt the sting of prejudice against them. Many secularists in society today have an anti-any-religion attitude, and they base their prejudice on the negative actions of religious people throughout the ages. A new spirituality needs to be born. One that is universal. One that allows God to be God of all people. One that has faith that God can and will save all the souls that can be saved, no matter what their religious or nonreligious perspective. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's are perfect times to give birth to a bigger heart and mind, and a more universal Christ.

so do you trust what these people say and hold onto it as if it were your own truth?
or do you have your own?

I most certainly have my own perspectives, opinions, and truths I've discovered on my own. But as nothing happens in a vacuum, and as I've happened to find many other people along the way who have inspired me, challenged me, stimulated me, and put into words what I've already happened to be feeling.

I AM THAT I AM. I am you, and you are me, and we are God as One.

that was really interesting =]

Thank you. At least some people appreciate what I have to share.

kabbalah man. They have a very clear idea of what the ultimate mastery of self, and union with the god-head is.the kabbalists say they have records of Jesus studing the kabbalah in his life. crazy stuff man. it's like a whole new world of spirituality. it overshadows all the yogas, and its words are clearer then all the Buddhas. very logical. Very universal. It is christ. My picture of jesus is still very fuzzy. I'll figure it out eventually.

I've been practicing Qabalah for years. It is very worthwhile, but don't get any romantic illusions about it. Its just as valid as Buddhism or Yoga, and just as problematic. Nothing's pure in this dimension... know what I mean?

romantic illusions? I don't think we're talking about the same kabbalah.

I'm curious. what is problematic about kabbalah from your perspective

I say "to-may-to", you say "to-ma-to". Tomayto. Tomato. Potayto. Potato.

Yeah, its the same. Different traditions tend to be associated with different spellings: Western Mystery "Qabalah", Jewish "Kabalah", Christian "Cabala". Just different spins on the same things. The Qabalah itself, however it you spell it, is derived from many different cultures and esoteric traditions, particularly Jewish, Greek and Chaldean.

Anyway, spelling aside, watch yourself. You appear somewhat naive and a tad zealous - watch out someone doesn't take advantage of you or whitewash the truth on such matters.

In itself, nothing. The problem isn't with Kabbalah. Its with the way its being marketed as the latest in a long-string of newly-discovered/long-forgotten/old-age/new-age/once-size-fits-all/immaculately-conceived solution to everything. History is being rewritten and embarrasments are being covered up, as usual.

There's nothing wrong with studying Kabbalah. Just don't restrict yourself to your armchair, do your homework, think critically and creatively, and don't swallow ANYTHING whole (it tends to cause indigestion).

couldnt have said it better myself

the way you articulate yourself is fascinating
it inspires me to articulate myself even more.

How am I naive? because I said kabbalah overshadows yoga? because I said kabbalah is clearer then the buddhas? I'm not saying that yoga or buddhism is false, but rather that kabbalah is a more complete idea.


I think kabbalah IS an immaculately conceived solution to our human problems. I assure you I don't swallow it whole, and I am constantly relating things in kabbalah to points in psychology, points in buddhism, and yoga. It is very difficult to find things in kabbalah that are untrue. I haven't found any. of course that could be my desperate craving for a meaning to life, but kabbalah makes so few assumptions.

LOL

I don't know if your purposefully trying to mock me or not

The program that is our ego. I want all the world to be christ like. I view kabbalah as the most direct route to fundamentally change oneself to that. True it is marketed to the ego, but is that wrong? I want this idea to explode onto humanity. I know it can change everything.

When one looks at the principles of yoga, and buddhism they see that people go into this and experience something, and try to explain it, but in order to know what this experience is you have to jump through so many hoops to get this experience. with kabbalah you get that experience just by knowing the principles. so it is a more effective meme.

When I have more time I am going to begin posting kabbalah material here. I would ask that if we do discuss this further we deal with the concepts of kabbalah rather then kabbalah as just another abstract idea.

btw; when I say kabbalah I am refering to the jewish kabbalah. that's the only one I have really been exposed to.

always trying to point the blame on something else.
when will people admit, we're giving these things, even ego, as a gift.
they all play their purposes, why dont you think people still have ego.s
i know people in full consciousness who have an apparent EGO.
ego's get strength and grow, change and grow, formulate themselves and grow with you, they dont just poof into nothingness, they would do that if god wanted you to not have one, period.
so do all the ego blaming and dissolving you want to.
nothing is wrong or right.
i will meet you between those two places of being.
with yoga, and meditation,
you're just using the energy circuits within your body to function in a certain way for a certain duration of being.
it changes you. and yes knowing the ways of things works too.
but we already know everything and know nothing.
so why not just experience whats here to experience.

What blame! Ego is important! I no longer wish to dissolve it! I intend to rebuild it! why can't you be curious! this is killing me!

My intention is not to mock, but rather to get you to realize what an oxymoron you just said. Are you listening to yourself?