POTENTIAL AND LIGHT

A V A T A R I N T e r n a t i o n a l. o r g A V A T A R I N T e r n a t i o n a l. o r g





STUDIES IN THE WAY




POTENTIAL AND LIGHT




The action of planting good seed, seed wedded to the life and light of God, eventually brings us to good harvest in the present. This planting of mental and spiritual seed describes an act of spiritual creation, spiritual becoming. It begins with planting seed, then nurtured with the creation power of light, God’s light, the light of the spirit of God within. This creative principle of planting good seed structures our experiences, and thus greatly influences how we live and learn as a soul. Since every soul plants and harvests each day, positive seed planting helps form a good foundation if done as a routine practice.
As we actually walk in The Way our soul literally begins to take on a new creation. This is motivated by the spirit of God within, and this would have to be accounted as part of the enlightenment walk. The light of God is moving and creating in us and through us. We are actually walking (spiritually) with purpose, viewing with the single eye. Your potential as a soul becomes light-filled-of-God, thus your soul within this light-filled potential becomes reestablished. Within this process of fulfilling light your spirit is leading the way, and the dialogue with spirit has begun-- quickening to cognition, the bringing forth of revealed knowledge, the development of a spiritual plan of wisdom for your life-- walking in The Way provides for spiritual progression from any circumstance or station in life, poor or rich, educated or uneducated **.

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Jesus mentions frequently that the kingdom of God is here now. The enlightenment nature of walking in The Way is aligned with the walk itself. Walking in the way teaches that the enlightenment is the walk, and from the walk you become enlightened. It also emphasizes revealed knowledge by the spirit of God within as part of this process. Walking in The Way is an active doing work, and is less meditative by that active nature. This might help clear up some confusions for those who have studied other enlightenment teachings.
To further clarify, walking in The Way as Jesus taught it does require faith, for example. Initially each person comes forward with some measure of faith. Planting seed, which is one measure of faith, is what Jesus taught us to do, and holds many spiritual qualities for those who walk in The Way: faith that planting seed will sprout; faith in the process of growth (nourishing with light); faith that active participation makes a difference, and that you do not only pray and nourish, but walk; faith that as you walk new creation will occur within the soul. Other qualities might include: familiarity with the light of God (God is at hand); familiarity with the creation process of the spirit of God (God works in you); willingness to walk, not just talk; and, there are many more aspects of soul character that anyone who walks in The Way could add as witness to their own experience.




SONS OF LIGHT

JOHN 12:36 “While ye have the light, believe in the light,
that ye may be the children of light. (5)

(NIV) “Put your trust in the light while you have it,
so you may become sons of light.” (A)


Light now becomes a much more permanent fixture in the teachings of Jesus. One reason this is so is that we, as souls, are connected to the light, and in fact are the light, created of light. We also see redeeming power in the statement “may be the children of light” and “sons of light.” The redemption comes of believing or following the light you clearly see. This is in part a reference to Jesus himself, as he seems to indicate he is the light right before you, and then to step forward by faith (“trust in the light”) comes the demonstration, and thence the realization of identity-- the knowing of self as child of light. Although deeper realization or enlightenment may come at a later time, as this is how we experience and grow in any case, he is telling us who we are, and in doing so introduces us to the mystical aspect of soul identity.
He tells us that we are not exactly who we suppose ourselves to be, as we see ourselves as individuals, or within a family, or defined by what we do, as farmer, as mother. It implies that a person is not bound to worldly ritual to prove worth, but is a free standing child of God beholden only to Him who gave us life. It establishes relationship, hierarchy, spiritual order, and presents a revelation knowledge that begins to break with all old theologies, among them that God can be evil, or that an evil god created the earth. Jesus opens the door to soul identity, and does so by giving us the light.
Jesus anointed whole crowds, as we also saw later with the early church. This was not some random blast of light from God, but with it came His identity revealed, the one true God of which Jesus spoke, his father. From this we see light as an instument to pronounce enlightenment from without. Although some would give annointing a lesser statis, we do see that anointing does change hearts and minds, and that the anointed were among those who first followed Jesus. To the people of the times anointing was an incomprehensible spiritual phenomenon, and from all we can tell arrived with great power.
Now the spirit of God begins to express identity by manifesting light. Where before you were a sinner, and who cannot be cleansed except by ritual, now understand yourself (even amidst fault) as a child of light. This is an establishment of identity. Jesus is beginning to move people away from speaking only about the sin nature and the consequences thereof. He preaches trust instead of fear, and reflects the redeeming nature and the benefits thereof, even while here on earth. This is introduction to the loving redeeming God, not a god of ritual, or pomp, nor one of worldly superstition.
We view an interesting series of events in consciousness. Jesus gives us a real introduction to God himself, the Unknowable now presented. This is in turn confirmed by the light that God himself presents. This satisfied the crowds who wanted to see miracles outward pictured. We have anointing bringing forth the identity and potential of each soul, sometimes at the hand of Jesus and then later by the disciples. Soon after we arrive at the enlightenment teaching of Jesus. Jesus offered the true enlightenment, which is God miracle from within, The Way, which is more in line with the unrevealed knowledge Jesus says he will reveal. Thus Jesus provides form within knowing as to what this anointing and enlightenment message is all about.
We also find in the last part of this scripture that Jesus is calling us forth -- “that ye may be the children of light” is to some extent an invitation to be a part of this group of souls who are beginning to understand and follow him. Some, of course, followed because of the miracles they saw, but many others were beginning to see that Jesus taught something they had not heard before. In the beginning his close group, mainly his disciples and a few others, was small. Yet, within this revolutionary teaching he makes it clear there is room for everyone by making reference to “children of light”. This, of course, could end up being a very large group. Certainly, we hope this is so.
Lastly, this scripture indirectly states that Jesus Himself is the light: “While ye have the light, believe in the light.” This is a further allusion to his identity as the High Son of God, the Anointed One, who must by definition be also the “Son of Light”, or of the same light as his father. In essence he is saying as follows, that while I am here and you have me, believe in me to guide you, so that you can be the child of light your Father in Heaven and I, Jesus, would have you be.
These first steps in recognizing and dealing with the light of God are far more important than most would think at first glance. It is one of Jesus’ core teachings, because without the light there can be no manifestation, no understanding or enlightenment, and thus no growth for the soul. For the most strict view this then is the “place of oneness” which eventually is resolved in who you are (child of light), and asserts oneness with God and Jesus who are already at one. In the broader view it also encompasses faith, which beyond its own value is an adjunct to revealed knowledge, and provides continuation and stability to each person’s walk.


WALKING IN THE WAY


Within our scripture focus we see Jesus interested in the soul-mind that has identity as a child of God, thus the spirit created mind. It is a mind, or soul, that has belonging as child of light. Jesus tells us to trust in the light as an issue of confirming identity as well as to trust in the light as principle, and refers to himself as this light manifest, “while ye have the light”.
By contrast there is no reference nor credence given in the psychologically created mind of his times. These are minds that appear far too intellectual, full of extrapolated theology, yet lacking real knowing and lacking true relationship with God. They are not enlightened minds, not light-filled, but contain endless explanations and commentaries on the way things appear to be.
Aligned with the Pharisaical mind we ourselves become the worldly commanded, the order of the day, pursuing the psychological trail that promises much, but bears paltry fruit. Contrarily, Jesus offers us the enlightened view that penetrates every shield, veil, excuse and explanation mortal man might offer. If seen in the overall one could describe Jesus’ active ministry as one long bout with round after round describing and delineating on enlightenment principles. In short, Jesus did not come to earth to psychoanalyze, but to set free by knowing God within and without, and following God’s principles (9b).
By asking, seeking, and praying, and to shake free from your own ideas or view of self, and instead allow God’s view, this becomes a true act of spiritual power. It allows each person to give up the part of self standing in the way, and at once gives room to child of God, child of light. The focus, the seed planting, the prayer, the meditation is the thought structure through which the light moves, and the power of God’s light will begin to operate within the potential of your planted seed. This will give your planted seed life.


STEPPINGSTONES

1. Name the seed you have planted, then pray the light into that seed. Five to ten minutes is plenty. You may also think of it as the light of God, which it is, or the light of Jesus.
This prayer technique does a number of things: the light of God is flowed to nourish thought-seed, just as water flows to nourish natural seed; the soul is taking active participation with the light of God, the creative element; sincerity to initiate the process and faith to step forward are established; praying or meditating the light of God raises your thought vibration, increases velocity of thought; finally, it gives testimony to not only seeking God, but to working with God (10).

2. This brings us to a second step, which is to allow the light of the spirit of God into your walk even day to day. Some speak it out like unto prayer. The creative power of the spoken word does yield results (11).

3. It is good to give time over to the thought that we are the Sons and Daughters of Light. This is a good beginning place for all of us to become grounded in who we are. Even if the details of what that means are not revealed at the moment, to come to terms with yourself as a child of light is scripturally supported throughout, and is in particular a suitable study for those who walk in The Way.

copyright Avatar International, llc, 2006



END PART TWO OF THREE