Thomas, Saying 17

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Gospel of Thomas, Saying 17.

Jesus said: I will give you that which eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, hands did not touch, and minds have not conceived.

Offhand, seems to me to say, direct knowledge of the non-3D aspects of the world. But this is only an offhand guess, not a considered response. Guys?

Nothing wrong with that horseback guess, only put it into context (as always) in two ways: remembering the previous sayings, and remembering that the written gospel was a precis for facilitation of oral teaching.

Yes. Well, the previous saying indicated that the presence, the reality, the fact of Jesus would stir up contention among our various component strands. The one before pointed us toward non-3D beings or, let’s say, non-3D aliveness. And the second reminder, that this would be read and discussed, reminds me that it was not intended to be kept secret from any who wanted to know and were capable of understanding.

Very well. Little here requiring explanation. Jesus promised to give them greater awareness, first-hand experience, all in pursuit, as he said, of life more abundantly, with the ultimate purpose of them seeing life and therefore living life as it is, rather than as any fog of inability to see straight would lead them.

We got stalled, mid-sentence. I’m not sure the sentence ended as it should have.

Let’s say, then, rather than seeing life only though dreams, prejudice, superstitions, distractions, inability to concentrate, emotional interference. Better?

It gives a vivid idea of the obstacle course we run.

However, bear in mind, learning to see straight, to think clearly, to feel appropriately, is only the first step. From there it becomes a question of what you see, think, feel when you do see straight. Seeing is not looking. Seeing is looking and perceiving, that is, making sense of what you see. It isn’t automatic.

We need guides, in other words.

Guidance comes “internally” and “externally,” in 3D life. It’s a matter of holding intent, and paying attention. Similar words, but not identical. Similar processes, but not identical.

So when Jesus would no longer be in 3D, the disciples would nonetheless have the Holy Spirit.

That is how it looks from a 3D point of view. Can you see – once we point it out – that internal and external, being merely 3D appearance, cannot be [separate in] reality even in matters of the spirit or of mental operations or of perception?

I can. What the Christians called the Holy Spirit was not (is not) external to them – there being no such thing as “external.” Therefore in a real sense, it, and Jesus, and everything are internal, that is, integral to the one that is everything, of which we are all part.

You’re learning. But then, you have had the advantage of a Catholic School education and the rejection of that education and then the seeing it with new eyes. Easier for you in this case than for, say, Colin Wilson, who knew not the belief structure from inside, but only from outside.

Once you readjust to realize that there is no separate “external” world, that it is a part of you as you are of it, then many things may become clear.

A lot of things that seem like superstition make sense, or at least you can feel how they make sense, even if you can’t know it.

And some thing are superstitions. There is no more certainty here than elsewhere. You always have to remind yourself that you may be mistaken.

Thank you, Mr. Cromwell. [Oliver Cromwell famously sent a message to disputing theologians: “I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, to consider that you may be mistaken.”]

Nonetheless, he was theologically on firmer ground than those he admonished (unsuccessfully). Now, this is a short session, but nothing wrong with that. More another time.

It’s true, I’m feeling lazy. Next time, then.