opening to the Sea

Jesus, through his own personal resolve, will, and steadfastness, became the Christ. A Light shone in the world. A similar path of personal effort occurred with Gautama becoming Buddha and Muhammad becoming the Prophet. Rather than dropping anchor in neighborhood ports of conventionality, they opened widely and completely to the Sea. So it is and can be with each of us. This is little known and even less understood. We would rather trail around forever as followers staying in our small containers.

how odd!

How odd! I love the story of God becoming Man and walking among us, but I do not ever wish to be a Christian.

the forming of Jesus

Just as water assumes the form of its container, so does the comprehension of Jesus assume the form of the comprehender. Thus you have the phenomenon of a Jesus who carries a gun and votes Republican.

sin and salvation

Regardless of one's religion or philosophy of life, the universe is one dynamic interflow. Inwardly, we are in relationship with and as that interflow. Outwardly, we express the nature and depth of this relationship.

When we lapse into contracted constipation, this is what is traditionally known as "sin." We become knot heads. No interflow for us. We clench our teeth and tighten our jaws and, by damn!, make our way. All is difficult and an obstacle.

When we move with the interflow both inwardly and outwardly, this is what is traditionally known as being "saved." Our open heartmind pulsates in rhythm and synchrony with the open heartmind of the universe. All becomes simple and easy.

Why didn't the evangelist in the lime green pants and lemon yellow coat explain it this way to me as a child? He did do one thing though. He got the interflow moving in that little Baptist church.

And where is Jesus in all this? Laughing and saying things like "Right on!"

what about this rapture thing?

Rapture. The very word immediately prompts images. Rapture. Along with the images come feelings. Tears of joy, scoffing, indifference. Those indifferent are caught up in images of greater import (to them). Those who scoff are touched by rapture images but due to wounds of the heart protect themselves through disdain. Those with tears of joy are perhaps looking for the event known as rapture to take place out there in the sky and descend to the earth.

All three overlook the understanding that the rapture occurs within. When one withdraws from the hurtling burbling of the world into quietness, one can and does become enrapt. What is rapture but full delight, ecstasy, radiant awareness?

The site of rapture is the location just above one's crown chakra (the top of one's head). One's awareness is focused there. (Focusing awareness in one's butt or feet or stomach will not do it.)

Paintings of holy (enraptured) people often show a radiant light around their heads. One climbs the chakra ladder and takes the leap. One is still in the body while out of the body. Just as in the story of Jacob's ladder, angels (light energy) descend and ascend upon the ladder that you are. This is rapture.

For followers of Jesus (those who follow the path he took), this is a meeting place with the radiance and loving powers of Jesus. One is raptured -- taken out of the body. The heavens split open and the Son of Man descends. One rises to meet him and a merge occurs. This is rapture.

I write of delicate and sensitive things here. Those who scoff can stomp them with their boots. But those who hear can hear.