Tuesday, July 21, 2009

On Symbolism and Works of Wisdom

Many esoteric teachings are couched in symbolism and allegories that only make sense to the initiated or to the disciples of a spiritual teacher (when the teacher deems the disciple ready to learn the deeper teachings of a story). This is easily illustrated in the Bible when Jesus would speak in parables to the crowd but would later explain the meaning of a parable to his disciples.

Based on the writings of Master Choa Kok Sui, he explained that many spiritual teachings were kept hidden from the masses because people of long ago could not easily understand these inner teachings. Before the modern era, most people were concerned with day-to-day survival and the proportion of educated people was much smaller, so there was a point to hiding the different teachings in the guise of parables, stories and fairy tales that use everyday elements that ordinary people can easily grasp. 

An example of this is the story of Sleeping Beauty. Prince Charming kisses Sleeping Beauty to wake her up, which refers to the divine energy "kissing" the sleeping kundalini energy at the base of the spine to awaken it. Kundalini is attributed with the female aspect, while divine energy is attributed with the male aspect, hence Prince Charles (the male) waking up Sleeping Beauty (the female). The mom of one of my friends is an astrologer and she told me that if one thoroughly studied the mythologies, many nuggets of knowledge and wisdom can be pried from them if you know how to unlock the symbolism.

The inner teachings are kept hidden not only due to difficulty of understanding, but also to protect the teachings from those who would abuse them. In a way we are blessed because many of these inner teachings are increasingly made available to the public as the educational formation of the masses has increased. Of course, not everyone believes in anything beyond the physical, and among those who do believe in something more, some are shackled by the religious dogma imprinted on them since childhood.  This inevitably serves as a barrier to those who are not yet ready for these inner teachings.

However, intellectual capacity is not the only reason for the spread of these teachings. Based on the various material I've read, the world is being prepared for a convergence of forces that requires the knowledge of these teachings. In one sense it's discomfitting, but on the other hand, any change is bound to be painful at first, but thanked for later on. If you are indeed the recepient of even a small part of these teachings, then reflect on Matthew 13:10-17, which goes:

"Then the disciples went up to him and asked, 'Why do you talk to them in parables?' In answer, he said, 'Because to you is granted to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not granted.  Anyone who has will be given more and will have more than enough; but anyone who has not will be deprived even of what he has.  The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. 
So in their case what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah is being fulfilled: Listen and listen, but never understand! Look and look, but never perceive!  This people's heart has grown coarse, their ears dulled, they have shut their eyes tight to avoid using their eyes to see, their ears to hear, their heart to understand, changing their ways and being healed by me. 'But blessed are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! In truth I tell you, many prophets and upright people longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it." (emphasis mine)

This is only the start of the journey however, as knowing is not the same as understanding. Again going back to the Bible example, Jesus kept alluding to his death and resurrection all throughout the Gospels but the disciples never really made sense of it until after it all happened. Always pray for divine help, guidance and protection and be humble, so that you may always stay on the correct path.

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