Jesus Christ – 3 – Crucifixion ◎Jade Tablet – 06 – 15

◎The Vertical Path in Adolescence – 15

◎Jesus' Last Words (Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani)

It is known that Jesus' last words were, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" but if that were literally all, it would be a pathetic story.

However, in the Psalms, there is the phrase, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Because of this, there is a view that Jesus first recited "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" on the cross, and normally, according to the Jewish custom of the time, the people around him would have followed by chanting the subsequent words of the psalm. But this did not happen, and instead, Jesus recited the rest of the psalm silently in his heart, and afterwards said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit," and "It is finished."

In the vein of psychologist C.G. Jung, in reality, everyone harbors within themselves light and darkness, heaven and hell, brightness and shadow, good and evil – such opposing forces – but by willingly taking upon himself the cross, Jesus clearly showed this so that everyone could understand it as clearly pertaining to themselves.

You may often hear in churches the expression that by carrying a part of Jesus' heavy yoke, you too can support Jesus even if just a little. However, everyone knows best that this expression is nothing more than a comforting thought. Isn't it true that the weight of the yoke that you yourself bear is no different from the weight of the yoke that Jesus bore?

Now, it is likely that Jesus recited a psalm praying for divine assistance, but something is believed to have happened after "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." This is because he does not speak in the first person throughout his time on the cross. He does not speak from the standpoint of being one with the Father. However, there is no part that speaks of him leaving his body and achieving union with God.

Alternatively, it is also conceivable that he reaffirmed that even though there was physical suffering, there was ultimately no problem with it.

 

『

” 45 Now from the sixth hour† there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.‡ 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima§ sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”✡”

Quoted from World English Bible Matthew27

 

“29 Now a vessel full of vinegar was set there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop, and held it at his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

Quoted from above book　John19

 

“46 Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.

47 When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” 48 All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their chests. 49 All his acquaintances and the women who followed with him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things.” Quoted from above book　Luke23

 

“For the Chief Musician; set to “The Doe of the Morning.” A Psalm by David.

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

2 My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer;

in the night season, and am not silent.

3 But you are holy,

you who inhabit the praises of Israel.

4 Our fathers trusted in you.

They trusted, and you delivered them.

5 They cried to you, and were delivered.

They trusted in you, and were not disappointed.

6 But I am a worm, and no man;

a reproach of men, and despised by the people.

7 All those who see me mock me.

They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying,

8 “He trusts in the LORD.

Let him deliver him.

Let him rescue him, since he delights in him.”

9 But you brought me out of the womb.

You made me trust while at my mother’s breasts.

10 I was thrown on you from my mother’s womb.

You are my God since my mother bore me.

11 Don’t be far from me, for trouble is near.

For there is no one to help.” Quoted from above book Psalms　22』

Jesus Christ – 2 – The Devil

◎Jade Tablet – 06 – 14
◎The Vertical Path in Adolescence – 14
◎Tempted by the Devil in the Wilderness

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he encountered the devil during his fasting. Regarding this, Dantes Daiji said, "The devil will always appear to those who are striving to move towards a heavenly direction."

The way of life of sincere meditation practitioners who have experienced vision of the divine, vision of the Buddha, and realization of their true nature, or of virtuous men and women, is always to do good and not do evil, and this is a way of life directed towards heaven.

Why must such pure people encounter the devil?

This was a long-standing mystery to me, but I believe it means that while living only for heaven is something to aim for, "when it reaches its peak, there is also something hellish; one must face the reality that some things are."

In fact, the way of life of those who have already attained enlightenment is always to abstain from all evil and perform all good deeds. For example, if one continues a heavenly life in a monastery for several months, one will soon be able to see God, but that alone will not be enough when thrown into the chaotic and defiled world; one will only be bewildered. Even if one clears the height, depth is a different matter. I think that is the reason for the appearance of the devil.

Forty days in the wilderness.
"4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 4:2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
4:3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
4:5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
4:6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
4:7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
4:9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
4:10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”"
(Quoted from the Colloquial Japanese New Testament (1954 Edition) [Gospel of Mark])   

Jesus' response to the devil and,

"11:14 Now Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.
11:15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.”
11:16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. 11:17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.

11:18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? Because you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul.
11:19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
11:20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you."
(Quoted from the Colloquial Japanese New Testament (1954 Edition) [Gospel of Luke])   

Furthermore,

"10:17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
10:18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 10:20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”"
(Quoted from the Colloquial Japanese New Testament (1954 Edition) [Gospel of Luke])   

At this point, Jesus had already encountered the devil. Exorcism and healing the sick were at the forefront of his response to the devil. The focus was not on believers becoming skilled in dealing with the devil, but primarily on knowing God, with the manifestation of spiritual abilities being something that accompanied knowing God. This atmosphere can be discerned.

[Reference]
From the early sermons of Dantes Daiji:
"Satan only appears to those who are trying to carefully protect heaven. For example, when Jesus Christ was really trying to elevate himself in the wilderness, when there is a direction of elevation, Satan appears. And when Buddha was trying to attain enlightenment, attaining enlightenment is an effort to move towards a heavenly direction. And that is absolutely necessary for human beings, to move towards something more wonderful.

And when you are moving in that direction, suddenly Satan appears. And the Satan of Buddha really well represents Buddha himself, and it well expresses the richness of his self-consciousness. Christ's Satan is still more naive. 'I will make you an emperor,' or 'Turn stones into bread,' or 'Fall off a cliff and jump down.' In return, 'I will give you all the power of this world,' he says, doesn't he?

But what appeared in Buddha's case was nothing special; his old wife appeared (laughs). Yasodhara was his wife, and his child was Rahula. His wife appeared holding Rahula."
(From a sermon by Dantes Daiji in Koresawa, Tokyo, in 1978)

Jesus Christ – 1 – The Vertical Path

◎Jade Tablet – 06 – 13

◎The Vertical Path in Adolescence – 13

When speaking of historically famous figures who extensively used psychic and spiritual abilities, and moreover, did not use them selfishly for their own gain, Jesus Christ is the prime example. He can be said to be the representative figure of the vertical path, but unfortunately, his great enlightenment occurred on the final cross of his life, so he did not return from his union with God to convey that rare experience to the world. However, his performances, such as multiplying bread, increasing wine, walking on water, and exorcising demons, were typical performances of a broad Kundalini Yoga practitioner, so much so that onlookers were concerned about his excessive use of psychic abilities.

Such a Superman, despite being a mere poor carpenter, was prone to incur the antipathy of the authorities and the populace, and unfortunately, he was crucified and died in indignation.

Regarding disembodiment, no one with spiritual vision has confirmed whether he achieved union with God from a state of disembodiment. However, there is a history that in later ecumenical councils, Jesus was recognized as the Son of God, an important piece of the doctrine of the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

In essence, Jesus was active as a practitioner of the vertical path, but after his crucifixion, Jesus' followers, while retaining the aspect of the vertical path that acknowledged miracles and psychic abilities, constructed a religion centered on the practices of the horizontal path, such as mantras and visualization.

In the era when Jesus was active, the vertical path remained in Gnosticism, the Essenes, and Judaism, but as Jesus' followers became Catholic and primarily focused on the horizontal path, these vertical paths went underground.

Here, as an example of the vertical path remaining in Catholicism, we can cite the example of the seven chakras.

"Then I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands," (Revelation 1:12)   

"and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest." (Revelation 1:13)   

"In his right hand he held seven stars..." (Revelation 1:16)   

"The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches." (Revelation 1:20)   

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands." (Revelation 2:1)   

(Quoted from The Holy Science by Swami Sri Yukteswar, Morikita Publishing, p. 84)

Swami Sri Yukteswar states regarding this that "the seven stars in the right hand" are the light of the Holy Spirit on the correct path to God, which I believe refers to the mental body chakras possessing ultimate attributes.

Also, the seven golden lampstands are the seven chakras in the physical body corresponding to the locations from the Muladhara chakra at the coccyx to the Sahasrara chakra at the crown of the head, and he explains that the ego consciousness (son of man) ascends towards God through these seven centers.

Similar examples of persecuted saints include Osho Bhagwan being detained by American authorities and ostracized worldwide, and Onisaburo Deguchi, a pre-war Shintoist (who also extensively used psychic abilities), being imprisoned twice for a total of about eight years. The more genuine a saint is, the more likely they are to face such treatment.

Osho Bhagwan did not display spiritual powers or psychic abilities like Sai Baba, such as multiplying or producing objects, but he routinely used them to gather information about the people he encountered. Moreover, most of his discourses were those of an analytical Kundalini Yoga practitioner.

Furthermore, because the details of Jesus' meditative practices during his youth are not conveyed, there is even a theory that he trained in India. However, if the Essenes, from whom he is said to have originated, had a proper master, there would have been no need for him to go all the way to India. Or perhaps, the long period he spent humbly working as a carpenter in his village and supporting his family (4 brothers and 2 sisters?) was not considered suitable for the biography of a saint and was therefore omitted.