The weary monk sat on a low couch in the receiving room of the Lojong Ladrang. His body worn from the taxing rigours of a weakened immune system, neurological problems and persistent pain. Despite all of this... despite having the looming threat of having the electricity turned off again, and possibly being forced to move, due to eviction... there was a warm smile on his face, as he welcomed the small group of students and disciples to his home.
These students came to hear about the meaning of the Christmas story, from a Buddhist perspective.
"Why is it," one student asked, "that the ancient mythos of the so-called god-men was co-opted from the Persians, the Syrians, the Egyptians and the Aryans by the first and second century authors of the institutional church's canonical texts and doctrinal teachings?"
The teacher explained that the Roman Church, especially once Constantine became emperor, sought to create a state religion, as had been the tradition for generations in that region. Such fanciful stories were not held by the earliest communities of Jerusalem, and by the Copts, for whom the message of the Great Teacher was considered more important than the legends of his life, or even whether or not he was an historic figure.
Nowhere was this more evident, than in the ancient mystery school, known as the Gnostics. Although these adherents are often mistakenly classified as "Christians", in truth, they were nothing of the sort; although it is probably true that they were the ones who followed the most authentic path, and could have much more accurately appropriated the name "Christian" for themselves.
Gnostics, whose philosophy was based in no small part on an amalgam of the Socratic schools, the Essene and Egyptian Therapeutae, and according to many scholars, the Tibetan monks, who traveled to Alexandria, understood the mythos of the Christmas story as a lesson in holistic spirituality.
"This was one of the great challenges that I struggled with my entire vocation as a priest and bishop," the teacher told them. "From the time I was a child, this notion of an imaginary deity was something I understood as a metaphor for a deeper mystery... a mystery into which I was initiated by my refuge guru, Advaita monk, Swami Abishektananda, OSB.
"My worldview, therefore, was a non-dualistic worldview. And my devotion to the spiritual figures of the Immaculata and Quan Yin, were seen as symbolic personifications or emanations of particular qualities of my own indwelling divine nature.
"Of course, I was instructed to be careful not to speak about these things too openly; although, like many youngsters, I occasionally misjudged who I could speak to about these things, frequently getting into trouble with the nuns and priests at school.
"And I readily understood that the ancient story of the virgin birth... the journey to Bethlehem, the Star in the East (Sirius) and the Magi or Three Kings... were all astrotheological tales, surrounding the astronomical and astrological events of the Winter Solstice skies. Myths of twelve disciples, miracles, and of crucifixion and resurrection were likewise all part of the events that occurred between the 22nd of December and 25th of December.
"But there was an opportunity to look more deeply, and aside from what I believe are the authentic teachings or dharma of the Anointed One, Rav Yeshua... whom I believe was born to a normal Essene family, and who likely died in Kashmir, where he and his family lived and taught. And I don't believe he was executed, particularly crucified, let alone resurrected...
"In the Christmas narrative, we find the story of Mary or Miriam, the young Mother. She metaphorically represents our nurturing nature, or the feminine aspect of our nature (anima). Joseph, the "adoptive" father of Yeshua, represents the rational or thinking aspect, or masculine essence of our nature (animus). Rationality and thinking are "adoptive" parts of our nature, since we know our perception is skewed by the cloud of causes and conditions, or phenomenal world.
"Then there is the divine essence... the noumenal nature or true self... It is that part of our true nature, which breathes life into the "womb" of this samsaric existence. When this occurs, Consciousness (Christ) is born within the manger of our hearts... in obscurity.
"We are the Anointed One. We are the Enlightened One. 'Let us not talk of karma, or of religion,' my spiritual father tells us, 'but simply of our responsibility to become compassion for the whole world.'"
The monk took a few sips of his tea, sat quietly for a while, and then continued:
"The stories of Yeshua and of Buddha, like the stories of all the great teachers, are stories of barrier-breakers... non-dualists, who saw themselves in all creation and all of creation in themselves. So too ought we embrace this empowered awareness of the One That We Are."
The students left with much to think about, and a new way of looking at Christmas, even those who were non-theistic.
As Neale Donald Walsch observes, "No religion that claims to be the One True Religion, and no path that is proclaimed the Only Path, can lead the whole of humanity to an experience of itself AS a whole. And unless we can experience ourselves as One, we will have missed the point of all religions."
This holiday season, let us let go of our foolish and obscene clinging to our mythos, our dogma, our traditions and our insecurities that cause us to perceive such illusions as an "us" versus a "them".
Capture that wonderful feeling of congeniality, love and prayers for "peace on earth", which we often find ourselves wishing would "never end", realising that there is no reason for it to end!
At the risk of sounding like Auntie Mame, perhaps it's time for us to affirm that we really do "need a little Christmas"... not the mythological and dogmatic Christmas of the religious narratives... but the Spirit of Love, becoming Incarnate in each and every one of us, so that we can experience our innate divinity with greater awareness.
Holiday blessings, love and peace!
Namasté!
gurudas sunyatananda, o.c.
Internationally respected, life coach and teacher, Lama Gurudas Sunyatananda (Dr. F. Gianmichael Salvato, O.C., M.Sc.) is a Buddhist and Franciscan contemplative, and author of the popular book, "The Dharma of Compassion - One Monk's Reflections on the Teachings of the Enlightened and Anointed Ones". He is best known for his on-going contributions to helping people unlock the power of their own minds -- teaching them how to apply that power to create strong, loving relationships, improve their financial situations, and live healthier, more meaningful, prosperous, health and satisfying lives.
Copyright ©2008, Dr. F. Gianmichael Salvato, All rights reserved. This article may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire blog, including by-lines, contact information and this copyright remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.
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