ESOTERIC - Also see MYSTERY, MYSTIC, PARADOX, SECRET, GNOSTIC
Definitions:
Esoteric: 1. Understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest
2. blonging to the select few
3. private; secret; confidential
4. Intended to be revealed only to initiates of a group
5. Mysticism; Hidden (Dictionary)
Esoterism: 1. Knowledge that is specialized or advanced in nature, available only to a narrow circle of enightened, initiated, or highly educated people (Wikipedia)
2. Greek from "within" or "inner"
Gnosticism: 1. hope to acquire knowledge through divine revelation (Wikipedia)
Once enough progress can be made on the esoteric path so that all physical, psychic, and intellectual motors within turn off and we are there in a purely receptive mode, then every indivdual thing can become a gateway to the whole. It is a holistic knowing. Everything is open to transcendence. Everything can trigger and express Ultimate Reality. Everything is holy. There is nothing that might not be a "sacrament," the symbolic outside of that Reality. (Meaning, p18)
Some of my thoughts and research about the Esoteric Teaching of Jesus (1/18/07):
Why Hidden?
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs (Matt 7:6)
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8)
God does not wish the secrets of His creation revealed in promiscuously (Yogi p118)
Realization:
Have ears, but don't hear and eyes, but don't see
Jesus spoke in parables
God become man so that man may become gods (St. Theresa, Little Flower)
If you bring forth that what is within you; what you have have will save you (Thomas 70)
Whoever drinks from my mouth will become as I am; I myself shall become that person and the hidden things will be evealed to him (Thomas 108)
I am the light that shines over all things. I am everywhere. Split a piece of wood and I am there (Thomas 77)
God reveals Himself through nature; to study nature is to study God (Aguinas)
Non-Dualism; Union, Enligtenment; Beatific vision
Jesus offers everyone the opprtunity to become reborn as the annoited one as he is (Gospel of Thomas)
When a saint is clear to you, you will be one (Yogi p123)
Christ Consciousness
Mysticism and Gnosticism:
The kingdom of God is within (Luke 17:21?)
The kingdom of God is inside you and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known and you will realize that it's you who are sons of the living Father (Thomas 3)
Service:
A worthy leader has the desire to serve, not to dominate (Yogi p126)
Rules / Commandments:
The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath
Learning / Knowledge / Wisdom:
All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training (2 Tim 3:16)
He is a fool that can not conceal his wisdom (Yogi p 118)
Is Wormwood and Babylon which poisoned mankind the false teachings of the Catholic Church (Rev __:__)
Knowledge through Love:
Can only know God through love because God is love (Cloud of Unknowing, ch 6)
The Cloud: Meditation as concentrated love
See Ch 13 knowledge through love by Paul Tillich - Love never fails... then shall I know even as also I am known.(1 Cor 13:8-12)
Faith and reason (Aquinas)
The Holy Spirit shall teach you all things (John 14:26)
Lo, I am with you always (Matt 28:20)
Love / Union:
Mystical Union in the Cloud of Unknowing
Armageddon is the last struggle between the flesh and the spirit when, the illumined soul raises to union with its spiritual Self (Rev 16:16)
Marriage of the Lamb: bride is the soul of neophyte which attains conscious immortality by uniting itself to its spiritual source (Rev 19+20)
I am the way, the truth, and the life
When you make the two one, you will become the sons of man (Thomas 106)
God's law of love
Christian love
Fight evil, not with evil, but with love
Love conquers death
See web for Estoric teachings of Jesus
See web for Wikipedia's definition of Estoric Christianity
See web for The Narazene Essenes Way
See web for Paramahansa Yogananda's Commentary on the Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of Christ Within You
See my book "The Yoga of Jesus: Understanding the Hidden Teachings of the Gospels" and the above