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byJohnR.Francis

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MysteriesoftheBridechamber

RecommendedReading

Untoyouitisgiventoknowthemystery
OfthekingdomofGod:butuntothemthat
arewithout,allthingsaredoneinparables.

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JesusalonewithHisclosedisciples.(Mark4:11,Luke8:11)*

Biography

Articles
AYogaofLove:
WesternTantra
Reviewed

Itishopedthatthistreatisewillreachthosewhohavesufficientinnerawarenessandcontemplativeexperiencetorecognizetheinner
dimensionofChriststeachingsthatliesbeneaththeliterallanguageofmetaphor.Suchindividualshaveeyestoseeandearstohear.
Furthermore,itishopedthatthereaderwillappreciatetheimplicationsofthisdiscoveryforthedeepeningofChristianreligiouslifeandfor
makingChristianityatrulypowerfulforceforworldpeaceandunderstandingbetweenEastandWest.

IpraythattheHolySpiritwillinspirethereaderwiththecouragetosharetheseinsightswithotherswhoarereceptiveputtingasideall
AnArcticOriginOfCivilizationPart considerationsforcareeradvancementorecclesiasticjobsecurity.RememberthewordsofJesus:IfyouareashamedofmeIwillbeashame
ofyou.(Luke9:26,Mark8:38).
1

AnArcticOriginofCivilizationPart2 Finally,awordofcautionisadvisablehere.ThepurposeofthispaperisNOTtoteachmeditation.Forthatoneneedsthedirect,personal
instructionandsupervisionofacompetentteacher.Rather,thegoalofthispaperistoprovidesomeguidelinesfordiscerningameditation
SpiritualPsychology:AnEvolving practicethatisconsistentwithwhatJesusprivatelytaughttoHisclosestdisciples.
Paradigm
Theintentofaparticularmeditationpracticeisveryimportant.Differentintentscanleadtodifferentconsequences.Also,onemightexpectt
Shambhala:TheSpiritualAxisofthe apracticethatisbasedonthepresenceofalovingGodwillhaveverydifferentconsequencesfromonethatisatheisticoragnosticregarding
World
theexistenceofGod.Anotherimportantconsideration:isthegoalofthemeditationtomerelyescapelifeortotransformanddivinizeit?
Enneagram,JesusandtheWay
byJ.C.Fontes

IntroductionDidJesusTeachYogicMeditation?

TheJavaneseMysticalTradition
"KeysToTheParables"
ByJohnR.Francis

ChristiantheologiansunanimouslyagreethattheparablesareattheheartoftheauthenticteachingsofJesus.Hence,themoredeeplywe
knowtheparablesthegreaterwillbeourunderstandingofJesusandthecloserwewillbetoputtingonthemindofChrist.

WereadthatJesusfrequentlyspokeinparablesyetveryfewofthegeneralpublicunderstoodtheirmeaning(Matthew13:34,Mark4:34).
G.I.GurdjieffTheHiddenHistoryof
Actually,itwasonlyinprivatethatJesusrevealedtheirmeaningsandthenonlytoHisclosedisciples(Mark4:11,Luke8:10).Hence,they
theSufi
remainedamysterytothoseoutsidetheinnercircleandtheBiblecontainsverylittleifanythingoftheseprivateexplanations.
Nostradamus:
ProphetofHope
TheRoerichExpeditions:Magical
Gifts
SufisandTheNineUnknowns
ProphecyintheThirdMillenium
LessonsofOldAge
IsDemocracyUnderThreat?
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Thus,forcenturiespuzzledtheologianshavebeenofferingawidevarietyofinterpretationsforthesesayings.Furthermore,itisnoteworthyt
theChristianchurchesthemselveshavenotissuedanydefinitiveinterpretationsoftheparables.Eventhedogmaticchurcheshavenoofficial
parableinterpretationswhichbelieversmustaccept.Actually,therearemanyparablesthatrarelygetdiscussedatallinsermonsorduringthe
religiousindoctrinationofmembers.ThisisallverysurprisinggiventhecentralimportancethatJesusapparentlygavetotheparablesinHis
teachingministry.

Whentheologianshaveofferedparableinterpretationstheyseethesesayingsasrelatingtoeithermoralteachings,prophecyorchurch
sacraments.However,theseapproachesareinconsistentwiththesecrecyinwhichJesuswrappedthesesayings.JesusHimselfsaidthat
regardingattemptstounderstandHisparablesbyoutsiderstheymaylookbutnotsee,andhearbutnotunderstand(Mark4:11,Luke8:11)
IsJesusreferringtoattemptsatliteralinterpretationthatmayappearreasonableandrationalbutactuallymissadeepermeaning?Furthermor
arethesecommoninterpretationsactuallyhinderingadeeper,mysticalunderstandingoftheparables(Luke11:52)?
Thesecrecysurroundingtheparablesalsoarguesagainstthetypicaltheologicalexplanations.Arenotmorality,prophecyandsacramental
instructionsuitablefortheentirecongregationofbelievers?Recognizingthisincongruityandlookingforsomethingdeeper,afewmodern
commentatorsinterprettheparablesaspsychologicalwisdombeingsuitableperhapsonlyforthespirituallymature.

However,thispapercontendsthatJesuswasnotjustamoralist,prophet,priestorpsychologist.Hewasalsoamysticonewhohaddirectan
intimateexperienceofDivineReality.Granted,theparablescanbeusedtojustifyorillustratemoral,propheticorpsychologicalteachingsin
SundaysermonsbutthisisnotwhatweproposeJesususedthemforinHisprivate,discipleinstruction.

Rather,JesususedmanyoftheparablesaskeysbywhichHisspirituallymaturedisciplescouldopentheinnerdoorstodirectcommunionw
God.Itiswiththisassumptionthatweapproachtheparables.Thesecrecywasandisnecessarytopreventpowerfulmeditationmethodsfrom
abusebythoseunworthyoneswhowouldmisusetheenergiesaccessed.

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Furthermore,wewillusethesemysterioussayingsinawaysimilartohowwesuggestJesusmayhavedonesoHimself.Insteadofverbose
commentary,JesusmayhavegivenHisclosediscipleshintsorkeyswhichwouldguidethemtoaninner,personalrealizationofDivineReal
duringsilentmeditation.

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Thus,wefinditmorehelpfultoconsiderthemeditationparablestobeameanstodirect,innerexperienceoftheKingdomofGodratherthan
anattempttodescribethathiddenrealmwithwords.

Afewgeneralkeyscanbegivennow.SaintAugustinewrote:WhenoneencountersnumbersinScriptureonewouldbewelladvisedto
consideramysticalinterpretation.Unfortunately,manyofthecommentatorsontheGospelsfromtheOrientalEasthavefailedtoappreciate
themysticalsignificanceofnumbersthatappearintheBible.
Origen,theearlyChristiantheologian,alsotaughtthattherearelevelsofmeaningtoScripturebeneaththeapparent,literalinterpretations.

Actually,thewordparableitselfmeansasayingornarrativethatrepresentsorrunsparalleltosomethingotherthanthatwhichisapparentin
surfaceorliteralreading.

Howweapproachaparablewilldetermineitseffectonus.Tobeginwith,onehastobedeeplymotivatedtouncoveritsinnermeaning.A
casualinterestwillyieldonlysuperficialresults.Also,wecontendthatsincetheycamefromtheheartofJesustheycanonlybeunderstood
withtheheartandnotmerelywiththebrain.Hence,thedeepestintentionsoftheparableshaveeludedthetheologianswhodontthemselves
practicesilent,heartcenteredmeditation.

ThustheHesychasts,mysticsoftheEasternChristianChurch,tellusthatonlybystillingthemindarethedeepermeaningsoftheBible
revealedtotheseeker.Furthermore,theystatethatatruetheologianisonewhospeaksfrominnerrevelationratherthanfromlogical,scholas
reasoning.

Finally,allolddogmaticpreconceptionsmust,aleasttemporarily,besuspendedifdeeperinsightsaretobefound.Otherwise,theparablesw
merelybemirrorsthatreflectourindoctrinatedassumptionsratherthanwindowsthroughwhichtheKingdomofGodcanbeperceivedand
entered.

OneofthoseassumptionsconcernswhatJesusmeantbytheKingdom(Reign)ofGodaphraseinmanyofHisparables.IfweassumeJe
isreferringtoanexternal,sociopoliticalrealmmirrorednowintheearthlyChurchhierarchyandfullyrealizableonlyattheendofthewor
thenwewillarriveatthesameparableinterpretationsthatrational,scholarlytheologianshavebeenadvocatingfornearlytwothousandyears
However,ifoneisopentothepossibilitythatJesususedthemetaphoriclanguageofparablestoguideHisdisciplesintodeep,mysticalhere
andnowexperiencesofGodthenradically,newinsightsmayemerge.
Theparableinterpretationssuggestedbelowwillprobablybeverydifferentfromanythingthereaderhaseverencounteredorconsidered
before.ThisisbecauseunderlyingthefollowinginterpretivekeysistheradicalpropositionthatJesustaughtmeditation.

Theseinsightswereborninthisauthorsheartduringdeepsilentmeditationandsupportedbyathirtyyearcomparativestudyofthemystica
writingsofacrosssectionoftheworldsgreatspiritualtraditions.Furthermore,thisauthorhasrecentlydiscoveredthatanumberoftheEast
ChristianmysticsofthePhilokaliatraditionhavealsogivenaninteriorinterpretationtosomeofthekeymetaphorsofChristsparables.

Thus,thereaderwhocontinueswillbeconfrontedwithachoice:dismissoutrighttheinterpretationsofferedherebecausetheycontradictwe
establishedauthoritariandogmaorlistenwithdiscernmenttothestill,smallvoicewithin.Whatwillitbe?

Onefinalrecommendation:Eachparablemaybeconsideredtobeapieceofalargerpuzzle.Itisonlywhenthelargerpicturebeginstoemer
thatwecanclearlyrecognizetheindividualpieces.Sothereadermayfindthataparticularparableinterpretationbecomesmoreplausiblean
meaningfulasthevariouspiecesoftheparablepuzzleareputtogether.

Finally,awordofcautioniscalledforhere.TheintentofthispaperisNOTtoteachmeditation.Suchinstructionshouldcomepersonallyand
directlyfromacompetentteacher.Rather,thegoalofthispaperistoprovidesomeguidelinesfordiscerningameditationpracticethatis
consistentwithwhatJesusprivatelytaughttoHisclosestdisciples.

TheMeditationParables
1TheFiveWiseandtheFiveFoolishBridesmaids(Matthew25:112)
Andfiveofthemwerewise,andfivewerefoolish.
Theythatwerefoolishtooktheirlamps,andtooknooilwiththem:
Butthewisetookoilintheirvesselswiththeirlamps.
Whilethebridegroomtarried,theyallslumberedandslept.
Matthew25:25
Whatisthefunctionofabridesmaidinrelationtothebride?Sheisanattendanttothebride.Femalesarealsoreceptivebynature.
Whatisthefunctionofaphysicalsenseinrelationtothemind(soul)?Canthefivesensesofsight,hearing,taste,touchandsmell
beconsideredtheattendantsofthesoul?Inphysiology,thesensesaresaidtobereceptorsforthemind.
Ifwetakethisparablepersonallyandapplyittoourbodyandsoulwhatmightthenumberfiverepresent?Howmanyphysical
sensesdowehave?
Thereisaspirituallywiseuseofthesenseswhichconserveslifeenergy(prana,chi)andaspirituallyfoolishuseofthemthat
dissipateslifeenergy.Whenthesensestemptawisepersontowarddissipationshe/hesaysnotothetemptation.
Therearetwowaystostillthesenses.Onewayisthroughexhaustionandtheotheristhroughdisciplinedconservation.
Didyouevertrytomeditatewhenphysicallyexhausted?Wereyouabletoenterintothecaveoftheheartorwereyoushutout?
ThewordmeditationcomesfromtheLatinmeditaribeingreturnedtothecenter.
MysticsdescribethesoulasfeminineandwhenmarriedtotheSpirititisreferredtoasabride.Yogisrefertothewithdrawalof
attentionfromthesensesintothecaveoftheheartaspratyahara.
ItisinthecaveoftheheartthattheysaythemysticalmarriagetoGodoccurs.
Watchfulness,bothouterandinner,isakeytothecontemplativemeditationoftheHesychasts.
DivinethingsaremoreclearlymanifestedtohimwhowithdrawsintotherecessesoftheheartSaintAugustine.
2GirdingYourLoins,KeepingLampsBurning(Luke12:3536)
Letyourloinsbegirdedandyourlampsburningandyeyourselvesbelikemenwhowaitfortheirlordtoreturn
fromaweddingsothatwhenhecomesandknockstheymayopenforhimimmediately."
To"girdonesloinsliterallymeanstopullupthelowerportionofonesrobeandfastenittothewaist.Thispracticeprevented
therobefromscrapingagainstthegroundorbecominganobstacleduringcertainkindsofphysicalworkoractivity.More

generally,itmeanstobereadyforaction.Ifonelooksinadictionaryonewillalsofindthatthewordloinsisusedasaliterary
euphemismtheareaofthegenitalsregardedastheseatofstrengthandgenerativepower.
Meditatingyogispracticeraisingtheprocreativeenergyuptothesolarplexusandheartcenterstoconserveandstoretheprecious
lifeforcetreasure.Inadvancedyogisthisresultsinthewitheringofthefigtree.(Matthew21:19).
Keepingthesensorylampsburningallowsonetoturninwardincontemplationthroughtheopeningofaninnerdoor.Some
yogisreportthattherisingofenergymakesaknockingsoundagainsttheinnerdoortotheheart(SriYukteswar,TheHoly
Science).
Behold,Istandatthedoorandknock...(Revelation3:20).
MysticalunionisoftendescribedasamarriageorweddingofthesoultoGod.

3TheThreeInvestments(Matthew25:1430)
Amastergavethreeofhisservantsdifferingamountsofmoneytoinvestbeforegoingonajourney.Uponhisreturn
the master discovered that two of them increased their money and the third did nothing with his money and hence
showednoincrease.
ThisparableappearsinMatthewsGospelimmediatelyafterthetenbridesmaidsparablediscussedabove.
Aretheyrelated?Couldtheybothbeconcernedwithlifeenergy(prana,chi).
Aspiritualmastermayinfuseadisciplewithlifeenergyinordertofacilitatespiritualunfoldment.Thedisciplereceivesthe
quantityofenergythatsheorheiscapableofabsorbingandusing.Themoreenergyadisciplealreadyhasthemoreadditional
energyheorsheiscapableofreceivingandutilizing.Ithastodowiththedevelopedcapacityofthesubtlenervoussystem.
"Tohewhohas,moreshallbegiven",Matthew25:29.
Therearevariousmeanstoimpartthislifeenergy.Itcanbetransmitteddirectly.
hebreathedonthemandsaiduntothemReceiveyetheHolySpirit(John20:22).
Also,sometimesmaterialsubstancessuchasbread,wine,orwaterareusedasintermediaries.Thedisciplecanthenreceivethe
gracebyingestingorsimplytouchingsubstancesthathavebeenblessed(infused)withthelifeenergy.Thisisknowntoyogis.
Thistransmissionofenergyissometimesdonetoinitiatethediscipleintoahigherlevelofspiritualgrowth.Hence,itiscalleda
spiritualinitiation.Thediscipleisgiventheenergywiththeexpectationbythemasterthatitwillbeusedinmeditationbythe
discipletocultivateevenmoreenergy.Asufficientlevelofspiritualenergyisnecessaryforachievingspiritualbreakthroughs.
However,thedisciplewhoiscarelessornegligentcanfailtoaccumulatemoreenergyandmayevenlosethroughdissipationthe
spiritualgracethatwasgiven.
"Fromhimwhohasnot,itshallbetakenaway",Matthew25:29.
Aspiritualmastermaygoawaytoministertoothersonlytoreturnlatertoseewhatspiritualprogresswasmadewiththespiritual
investmenthemadeinthedisciplesheblessed.Hemaysubsequentlytransmitevenmorelifeenergytothosediscipleswho
madegooduseofthefirstgiftgiven.Otherdisciples,notsoconscientious,maybereprimanded.
4LeaveninThreeMeasures(Matthew13:33,Luke13:21)
Thekingdomofheavenislikeuntoleaven,whichawomantook,andhid(mixed)inthreemeasuresofmeal,tillthe
wholewasleavened.
SomemysticsconsidertheHolySpirittobeboththebreathofGodandtheDivineMotherimmanentincreation.
Whatmightthenumberthreerepresent?
Yogissaythatwehavethreebodiesphysical,emotionalmental,andblisswhichsurroundthespiritualSelf.Furthermore,yoga
teachesthattheemotionalmentalbodyconsistsofthreelayersintellect,mind,andlifeenergy(seeParable18Laborersinthe
Field).
Thefirstthreechakrascorrespondtothesebodies.Byconsciousbreathing,thesethreebodiescanbeinfusedwithlifeenergy
(prana,chi).
Wheninfused,theybecomelessdenseandhencetransparenttotheinnerradianceofthespiritualcenter.
Theseencapsulatingbodiescanalsobemademoretransparentduringmeditationbyalternatingtensionandrelaxationatdeeper
andmoresubtlelevelswhileconsciouslybreathinginlifeenergy.
ThisinnerprocessiscontinueduntilthewholebeingmanifeststheradianceofspiritualLight.
Note:Inthekneadingofactualdough,airaswellasleavenismixedwiththedoughduringthephysicalsqueezingandreleasing
actionwhichoccursduringkneading.
5TheUnfruitfulFigTree(Luke13:79)
Thenhesaiduntothedresserofhisvineyard,BeholdthesethreeyearsIcomeseekingfruitonthisfigtree,andfind
none:cutitdownwhycumberethittheground?
Andheansweringsaiduntohim,Lord,letitalonethisyearalso,tillIshalldigaboutit,anddungit:
Andifitbearfruit,well:andifnot,thenafterthatthoushaltcutitdown.

Atreeisanaptmetaphorforthenervoussystemofthephysicalandsubtlebodiesofthesoul.Anunfruitfultreeisonewhohasnot
achievedenlightenmentbeforephysicaldeath.
Byfertilizingthethreebodieswithprana(lifeforce,chi)inmeditationonecanextendthephysicalbodyslifespanperhaps
enoughtoachieveenlightenmentbeforephysicaldeath.

6TheCandleUnderaBasket(Matthew5:1415,Mark4:21,Luke11:33)
Yearethelightoftheworld.Acitythatissetonahillcannotbehid.Neitherdomenlightacandle,
andputitunderabushel,butonacandlestickanditgivethlightuntoallthatareinthehouse.
Isthebodythehouseoftheindwellingspirit?Ifconcealedbytheshellsofthethreematerialbodies,theinnerlightishiddenand
thebodyisdark.Whenthespirituallightisfullyrevealedallsevenenergycenters(chakras)alongthespineareenlightenedand
thebodybecomesfulloflight.
SaintPaulspokeofcircumcisionoftheheart(Romans2:29).
Ifconcealedbytheshellsofthethreematerialbodies,theinnerlightishiddenandthebodyisdark.Whenthespirituallightis
fullyrevealedallsevenenergycenters(chakras)alongthespineareenlightenedandthebodybecomesfulloflight.
Ihavelookedandbeholdacandlestickallofgold,withabowluponthetopofit,andhissevenlampsthereon,and
sevenpipestothesevenlamps,whichareuponthetopthereof:
Andtwoolivetrees(theidaandpingalaofyoga?)byit,oneupontherightsideofthebowl,andtheotheruponthe
leftsidethereof.Zechariah4:23.
DoestheJewishmenorah,withitssevencandlesticks,symbolicallyrepresentthesevenchakrasubtlebodyenergysystem?
Howdoesthespiritualradiancethatgoesforthintotheworldfromanenlightenedindividualaffectothers?

7SittingattheBanquetTable(Luke14:712)
TheabovebanquetteachingisintroducedintheGospelofLukebysaying:
HethentoldHisdisciplesthisparable:whenyousitatabanquettabledonttakethehighestseat...butthelowest
Inanotherversionbanquetroomsreplaceseatbuttheintentionisthesame.
SincetheeditorofLuketellsusitsaparableweshouldnotassumetheobvious,literalinterpretation.
Luke14:15hasoneoftheguestssaying:BlessedistheonewhowilleatbreadinthekingdomofGod.
EatingbreadinthekingdomofGodisagoodmetaphorformeditation.
Thewordtablecanbeametaphorforthehumanbody.Werefertothelegsofatableandtheheadofatable.Theseatsofatable
couldthenbeareferencetothechakrasofthebody.Note:thethirdeyechakraisoftenreferredtoastheseatofthesoul.
Roomcouldbeseenasametaphorforoneofthebodiessurroundingtheindwellingspirit.RememberhowSaintTeresaofAvila
usedtheseveninteriorcastlesassimilarmetaphors.Yogateachesthatwehavemorebodiesthanjusttheoutermostphysical.
Thelowestmajorchakraislocatedatthebaseofthespine.Itisparticularlyassociatedwiththephysicalbody.Hence,theabove
parablemaybeadvisingthemeditatortobeginwithawarenessandattentiononthephysicalbodybeforebeingdrawnup(in)to
moresubtlerealms.
However,oneshouldnotnecessarilyassumethatmeditationshouldbeginatthelowestchakrainouragewhichishighlypolluted
physicallyandpsychically.Theheartcentermaybemoreappropriateforthecontemporaryaspirant.Regardless,meditation
shouldbelearneddirectlyfromacompetentteacherandnotfromacrypticparablehandeddowntousthroughatwothousandyear
chainofintermediaries.
Iftheentirebodyisconsideredthenoneshouldnotethatthereisachakrainthesoleofthefoot.JesussaidtoPeter:
UnlessIwashyourfeetyouwillhavenopartwithme(John13:8).
JesussaidHewouldnotdrinkthefruitofthevineuntilHeenteredtheKingdom.
AliteralistthinksJesusisreferringtodrinkinganalcoholicbeverageinheaven.Ayogiseesthevineasagoodmetaphorforthe
nervoussystemofthesubtleanatomy.Jesusisreferringtodrinkingthedivinenectar,amrita,whichflowsdownintothebodyfrom
thepinealgland(sixthchakra)duringdeepstatesofmeditation.

8ExcusesfornotMeditating(Luke14:1621)Note:ThisparablefollowstheoneaboveinLuke.Aretheyrelated?

Acertainmanheldagreatfeastandinvitedmany.However,hewasgivenexcusesfornotattending.
Thefirstsaiduntohim,Ihaveboughtapieceofground,andImustneedsgoandseeit:Ipraytheehavemeexcused.
Andanothersaid,Ihaveboughtfiveoxen,andIgotoprovethem:Ipraytheehavemeexcused.Andanothersaid,I
havemarriedawife,andthereforeIcannotcome.Verses1820.

The call to come into the banquet feast is the constant pull toward the Center of our being that we resist when we reject the
attractiveforceofDivineLove.Examiningthefieldiswhatwearedoingwhenourattentionisdrawnoutwardtothesurfaceof
life.Havingpurchasedthefield,weareattachedtoit.
Thedesiretoevaluatefiveoxenisthesecondexcuse.Whatisthesignificanceofthenumberfive?Wehavefivesenses.Theyare
likeoxenwhichpullusinthefieldoflife.Theypullourattentionoutward.Wehavepurchasedthem.Hence,weareattachedto
them.Wearealsoconstantlyevaluatingoursensoryimpressionswithjudgments.
Theoutwardpullofthesensestowardthesurfaceofliferesultsinthethirdexcusehumanattachments.

9TheLightoftheBody(Luke11:3436,Matthew6:2223)
Thelightofthebodyistheeye,thereforewhenthineeyeissingle,thywholebodyisfulloflightbutwhenthineeye
isevil,thybodyalsoisfullofdarkness.
Takeheedthereforethatthelightwhichisintheebenotdarkness.
Ifthywholebodythereforebefulloflight,havingnopartdark,thewholeshallbefulloflight,aswhenthebright
shiningofacandledothgivetheelight.
InLukesGospelthisparablefollowsimmediatelytheparableconcerninglightunderabushelbasket.Doesthissuggesta
relationshipbetweenthetwo?
Mysticsofallspiritualtraditionsspeakoffocusingattentiononasingle,interiorpointduringmeditation.Whenweperceivewith
thetwoeyesofthebrainanditsnervoussystemweexperiencethedualityofgoodandevil.Isthiseatingfromtheforbiddentree
ofknowledgeofgoodandevil?
Whenweperceivewiththesingle,interioreyeofthespiritualheartweexperienceDivineLove,unityandnonduality.Isthis
eatingfromthetreeoflife?
theeyewithwhichIseeGodistheeyewithwhichGodseesmeMeisterEckhartdescribingoneofhisinterior,meditation
experiences.
Andwiththeeyeofmysoulsawabovethesameeyeofmysoul,abovemymind,theUnchangeableLight...Hewhoknowsthe
truthknowsthatlight:andhethatknowsitknowetheternity.SaintAugustine.

10TheMustardSeed(Matthew13:3132Mark4:3132Luke13:1819)
"Thekingdomofheavenisliketoagrainofmustardseed,whichamantook,andsowedinhisfield:
Whichindeedistheleastofallseeds:butwhenitisgrown,itisthegreatestamongherbs,andbecomethatree,so
thatthebirdsoftheaircomeandlodgeinthebranchesthereof."
IntheChandogyaUpanishad3:14.3agrainofmustardisusedasametaphorfortheAtma(DivineSpirit)locatedinthespiritual,
humanheart.Itisdescribedasbeingsimultaneouslyextremelysmallandextremelylarge.
Inmetaphysicsairistheelementassociatedwiththemind.Abirdistotheairasathoughtistothemind.
Duringmeditationwhenattentionisfocusedsteadilyontheinterior,centralpointofthespiritualhearttheDivineSpiritmanifests
inthetreelikesubtleanatomyofthesoul.Thinkingisstilledandthoughtscometorest.
Godisacirclewithacentereverywhereandacircumferencenowhere.
"IamthebrightandmorningstarJesus,Revelation22:16
Maythedaystarariseinyourhearts.IIPeter1:19
ThethreewisemenfollowedthestartotheplaceofChristsbirth.Matthew2.

11StagesofUnfoldment(Mark4:2629)
Immediately before the mustard seed parable above, Marks Gospel records another parable which is certainly related. The
kingdomofGodiscomparedtoaseedthatgrowsfromthegroundwithouthumanknowledgeofhowitgrows.Itismysterious.
Fortheearthbringethforthfruitofherself,firsttheblade,thentheear,afterthatthefullcornintheear.
IfweassumethatJesusisnotgivingHisagrarianaudiencealessoninAgriculture101thentheabovedescriptionofgrowthcould
beanaccurate,metaphoricdepictionofhowKundalinimovesupwardthroughthespinalcolumn,intothebrainandthenflowering
inthecrownchakra.

12TheLostSheep(Luke15:4,Matt18:12,Thomas,logion107)
Whatmanamongyou,havingahundredsheep,ifheloseoneofthemdothnotleavetheninetyandnineinthe
wilderness,andgoafterthatwhichislost,untilhefindit.
thelostsheepisthelargestGospelofThomas,logion107

Thenumber100symbolizescompletenesssohaving99isbeingincomplete.TheUpanishadstatesthatthereare100subtlenerves
ornadisthatradiantoutofthesubtleheart.
ThemysticalGospelofThomasaddsthatthelostsheepwasthegreatestofthemall.Couldthisgreatestonebeametaphorical
referencetothesushumna,thecentralnadiwhichisthegreatestofthemall.
Inmeditationoneleaves,withdrawsoneattentionfromalltheothernadisinsearchofthisgreatonethestraightandnarrowway.
Becausestraitisthegate,andnarrowistheway,whichleadethuntolife,andfewtherebethatfindit.Matthew7:14.
13TheLostCoin(Luke15:8)
Whatwomanhavingtenpiecesofsilver,ifsheloseonepiece,doesshenotlightacandle,andsweepthehouse,and
seekdiligentlytillshefindsit?
Itwasacustomforawomantowearaheadbandwithtenpiecesofsilver.Ifsheshouldloseoneofthemitwasthoughttobring
misfortune.
ThehousehasbeenusedasametaphorforthehumanbodybyJesusinotherparables.ThereisasayinginEasternmeditationthat
breathsweepsthemind.
Yogateachesthatthereareninegatesinthebodythroughwhichlifeenergycanbelost:twoeyes,twonostrils,twoears,the
mouth,theanusandsexualorgan.Thetenthgateisthecrownchakrawhichleadstoliberation.

14TheHiddenTreasureinaField(Matthew13:44)
"Thekingdomofheavenisliketreasurehidinafieldthatwhenamanfoundit,hehidforjoythereofgoesandsells
allthathehas,andbuysthatfield.
Doweknowwhatspiritualtreasurelieshiddenbeneaththefieldofourordinaryawareness?
Howcanonediscoverandretrievethetreasurehiddenbeneathsurfaceawareness?Whydothosewhodiscovertheinnertreasure
oftenfinditnecessarytoinitiallyhidetheirdiscoveryfromthosearoundthem?Whatwouldhappenifthediscoverywas
prematurelysharedespeciallytothosenotready?Dontcastyourpearlstoswine,Jesus.
Inwhatsensedowenotownoursurfaceawarenessandthetreasurethatliesbeneathit?
Whatmustwegetridoftobecometheownerofthattreasure?Whatdoesitmeantoownit?

15ThreeTypesofGround(Matthew13:49,Mark4:39,Luke8:58)
Seedsaresowninfourlocations:offtothesideofaroad,wheretheywereeatenbybirdsonhard,stonygroundwherethey
witheredonthornygroundwheretheychokedandongoodsoilwheretheyflourished.
Theparableendswiththephrase:Hewhohasearstohearlethimhear.
Thisindicatesthatthereisahiddenmeaninginthisparableforthespirituallymature.Itmightalsobeareferencetohearingthe
cosmicOMfromthecenterpointofthesoul.
Livingoffcenter,awayfromthestraightandnarrowroad(thesushumna)wefailtogrowfromourcenterpoint.Thoughts(birds)
consumeourattentionandvitalenergy.
Yogateachestherearethreestatesofnaturecalledgunas.Tamasgunaishardandinert.Rajasgunaisagitatedandrestless.Sattva
gunaissereneandmostconducivetothegrowthandunfoldmentofthecentralseedpoint(nadabindu)ofthesoul.

16WeedsAmongtheWheat(Matthew13:24)
"Whenafarmerwhohadsownseedsofwheatinhisfieldwasasleep,hisenemycameandsowedweedseedsamong
thewheat.Theservantsofthefarmerdiscoveredthedeedandaskedthefarmeriftheyshouldpulluptheweeds.The
farmersaidNo,lestwhileyougatherupthetares(weeds)yourootupalsothewheatwiththem.Letbothgrow
togetheruntiltheharvest:andinthetimeofharvestIwillsaytothereapers,Gathertogetherfirstthetares,andbind
theminbundlestoburnthem:butgatherthewheatintomybarn.
ThereisasimilarBuddhistparableinwhichcreepersaresubstitutedforweedsinthestory.
Regardingmeditation,oneisoftenadvisedtofocusonthepositivetocultivatetheinnatedivinityfromthecenterpoint.Putting
attentiononnegativessownbytheegoinordertotrytorootthemoutthroughrationalmeansmaycauseonetolosecontactwith
theInnerLight.WhentheinnerDivineLightmanifeststosufficientintensityitwillautomaticallyburnawaythenegatives
allowingourtrueDivineSelftoshineunobscured.
17ThePearlofGreatPrice(Matthew13:45)
Thekingdomofheavenislikeamerchantman,seekinggoodlypearls:Whowhenhefoundonepearlofgreatprice,

wentandsoldallthathehad,andboughtit.
ThisparableoccursinMatthewsGospelimmediatelyaftertheHiddenTreasureparableabove.
Dotheyshareanycommonthemes?
Howwasthediscoveryoftheonepearlmade?Bydivingdeeplytothecenteroftheheartinmeditation?
Divedeepforthepearlwithin.Ammachi
Couldtheonepearlofgreatpriceandthemustardseedbothbemetaphorspointinginthesamedirection?

18LaborersintheField(Matthew20:116)
Jesusbeginsthisparablebysayingthatthekingdomofheavenislike.Hethengoesontodescribealandownerwhohiresfive
groupsoflaborerstoworkinhisvineyard.Thehiringissequentialandspacedthroughouttheday.Thefirstgroupishirednear
dawnandthefifthandlastgroupishiredlateintheday.Allthegroupsworkfromthetimetheyarehireduntiltheendoftheday.
Curiously,whenitistimetopaythem,thegroupsarepaidinthereverseorderinwhichtheywerehired.Thebigsurprisethoughis
thatallthegroupsreceivedthesamepayregardlessofhowlongtheyworked.
Yogateachesthatwehavenotjustaphysicalbodybutalsoothernormallyinvisibleandsubtlebodies.Thefivebodies(sheaths,
koshas)arecalledtheAnnamaya(physical),Vijnanamaya(intellect),Manomaya(mind),Pranamaya(lifeenergy)andthe
Anandamaya(bliss).Thesefivesheathscoverthehidden,radiant,trueselftheAtman.Donthideyourlightunderabasket
Jesus.
Asonegoesinwardduringmeditationoneengages(hires)thefivesheathssequentiallystartingwiththephysical(mostouter)
andendingwiththemostsubtle(mostinner)AnandamayaKoshauntilonereachestheradianceoftheinner,trueSelf.Thelight
fromthatradiantSelfthenmanifestsoutwardlypenetratingthekoshasinthereverseorderthattheywereoriginallyencountered
duringthemeditativejourneyinwardtheinnermost(lasthired)beingclosesttotheradiantcenterreceivetheLightfirst.
However,itisthesameDivineLightthatisgracingeachofthekoshasregardlessofhowlongtheywereengagedinmeditation.

19TheLightBody
Whentheprodigalsonreturnsfromhisjourneytothefarcountryintheparablehereceivesthefathersfinestrobe.
...thefathersaidtohisservants,bringforththebestrobe,andputitonhim...Luke15:1132
Intheparableoftheweddingfeast,aguestiscastoutbecausehedoesnothavetheproperweddinggarment.
Andhesaithuntohim,Friend,howcamestthouinhithernothavingaweddinggarment?...
Thensaidtheking...casthimintoouterdarkness,Matthew22:1213.
JesusdemonstrateshisLightBodyonthemountainandafterHisresurrection.
IntheBookofRevelation(7:13)robesaremadewhitebytheblood(fire)ofthesavior.

ANotetotheReader
Thisisaworkinprogressandthusissubjecttochange.Yourcommentsorquestionsareencouraged.
Keystoadditionalparablesarealsoavailablefreeofcharge.
JohnFrancisistheauthorofTheMysticWayofRadiantLove:AlchemyforaNewCreation.
Theauthorcanbecontactedatjohnf153@yahoo.comor
P.O.Box334
LosAltos,CA940230334
U.S.A.
*QuotesfromtheparablesaretakenfromtheKingJamesVersion.