Is it a hard saying?
Is it a hard saying?Subscribe |
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Fri, 10/06/2006 - 13:38
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Vadim
Join Date: 2004-11-30 Forum Posts: 2930 |
I found it in "The Immitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis"Many think this is a hard saying: Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus, but it will be much harder to hear those final words: Depart from me, you cursed one, into everlasting fire. Those who now gladly listen to the word of the cross and follow it will not be in terror when they later hear that sentence of eternal damnation."For me the interpratation is:"Deny yourself" -destroy "Is", egos which compose yourself"Take up your cross" -start practicing Alchemy, which is symbolized by Cross"And follow Jesus"-and sacrifice yourself into helping others just like He did.I am really interested what you guys think about it, my questions are1)What do you think about it? 2)What do you feel about it?3) Is it a hard saying? 4)How you interpretate it?Thank you,Vadim |
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Join Date: 2006-05-12
Forum Posts: 59
For many years I didn?t have a clue what this statement meant?.and it felt ?difficult to grasp?.so impossible to follow?.
Starting to experiencing, the existence of egos, the need for their elimination and the realization that the ?I? need to be destroyed, I feel thankful that I was driven in order to understand this statement and I feel joy that for the first time I have some light in my darkness, on what I should be doing in order to achieve the goal.
I agree with you that denying self is the elimination of the egos- the ?I? and I agree with you that following Jesus is helping others like he did.
I guess each one of us understand this statement according to our level of consciousness. At the level I am, I can kind of understand the 1st statement and the last, even though I think that following Jesus, probably means dedication, love, strong faith, pray, practicing, helping, forgiveness, sacrifice, perfection?and so many more virtues, as well.
About the 2nd statement?I am not sure if I can grasp it yet, but when I read it, I immediatetly feel it means something else other than Alchemy. Or maybe I am totally wrong, but I felt like sharing this with you:). Where I come from, when a person suffers from something (i.e. illness, poverty, divorce, death etc) we say? ?oh well, every one needs to carry their own unique cross on their backs?. When we say this, we mean something, like each need to pay their debts/ karma in life. I am not sure if the ?take up your cross? means Alchemy. It may mean, dissolve your egos and the I, pay all your debts and do everything Jesus was doing (maybe including Alchemy, help etc).
Strength and courage!!!
Join Date: 2004-11-30
Forum Posts: 2930
From the place where I come, we were used to say too: "carry your own cross" -in the sense "take your own responsibility and carry it",
even it is hard -keep doing it, never surrender, follow your path, do your job.
I definetely agree with you that we all understand symbols according to our levels, and symbols have many meanings,
that's why they are symbols.
According to my knowledge, Cross, as well as other symbols uniting 2 opposites , has Alchemical symbolism too as the great part of its esoteric meanng,
meaning that on all levels 2 forces need to be united with the 3rd one to produce the result.
On our human level, that's Alchemy, sacral unit between man and woman in order to transmute energy.
Thank you so much for sharing.
I wish you courage, luck, strength...all the best in your practices!
Join Date: 2003-09-07
Forum Posts: 16
1) Deny yourself: "Dissolve the ego"
2) Take up your cross: "Practice Sexual Magic"
3) And follow Jesus: "Sacrifice themselves for humanity"
In this way, Jesus mentions all the three keys to awakening.
Join Date: 2004-11-30
Forum Posts: 2930
All the best in your practices!
Vadim