Both Rabbi Jesus and Buddha Sakyamuni taught that, although they would die, their teaching would remain alive in the hearts of humanity. Rav Yeshua (Jesus) taught that his words would remain until a time he called, “the renewal of all things”; and Sakyamuni (Buddha) promised his dharma would remain “until the time when this world contracts”.
Unfortunately, some of the most important aspects of the message given by these teachers of compassion, forgiveness and healing were lost, as future generations of followers misinterpreted the message, incorporated all sorts of primitive and superstitious dogma and exclusivity into it, and turned the simple and powerful Way into religions, instead of what the Masters intended for their teachings to become.
Literalists and fundamentalists often misinterpret the promise of Rav Yeshua, who told his disciples, “In a little while, the world will no longer be able to see me, but you will see me; because I live, you will also live.” (John 14:19)
They believe this passage talks about a literal resurrection, and began to incorporate all of the ancient legends and myths of the god-men of other cultures – from Persia to Egypt, Greece to Asia. Suddenly the true message of peace and hope was obscured, as the Great Teacher, who taught a dharma of compassion that was strikingly similar to the dharma taught 500 years earlier by Buddha, was tragically morphed into Sol Invictus – the Conquering Sun God.
But if we look at the parallel teaching of the Buddha, whose dharma seems to have been the basis of much of Rabbi Jesus’ own teaching, we can see what Jesus meant in the passage from John’s gospel:
And the Buddha said, “It may be that you will think ‘The Teacher’s instruction has ceased, now we will have no teacher!’ Yet it should not be seen like this, for what I have taught you will, at my passing, become your teacher.” (Digha Nikaya 16.6.1)
So both Rav Yeshua and Buddha wanted their students to know that they were not the issue… that they came to illuminate the Way, but that the Way itself was the ultimate teacher.
Now some of the early mystics in the Christian tradition understood this. They knew that the Way was Love Itself – the Eternal Principle (as Buddha taught). St. Athanasius beautifully explained the reason for the mythos of the so-called “Christmas narrative” (which never occurred, but was a repackaging of an ancient legend, told in almost every culture, much like the tale of the Flood). “The meaning of the Incarnation of the Christ,” Athanasius explained, “is that through the Incarnation, God became one of us, so that we could become gods.” Since we know that “God is Love”, what Athanasius was saying is that the reason for the story about Jesus being the “Truly Human One” (often misinterpreted as “Son of Man”) is that he represented the “incarnation of divine love”, so that we could learn our own true natures, and like him, “return to love”.
I am reminded at this point, of the famous quote from A.J. Muste, who noted, “There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.” Likewise, there is no way to love… Love is the Way.
In both the legend of the Buddha and the legend of the Christ, we find the Teachers preparing their disciples for the inevitable “winter”, when each of them would die, and the Teacher would no longer physically be among them. This demonstration of their “eternal principle” – the idea that they and the message they shared were One – is illustrated in a metaphoric “transfiguration” story in the lives of each Teacher. In the Eastern tradition, we call both Jesus and Buddha “avatars” – fully human and fully divine. From a humanist perspective, this divinity is not about mystical superheroes, but about the Sacred Principle or Eternal Law – Love; or from a more dry, scientific perspective… Energy.
And so it is with all our spiritual teachers… the effective Guru or Teacher, like Rabbi Jesus or the Buddha, ought not be a “religion teacher”, but rather a “spiritual friend” or “spiritual director”. Compassion and reasoning are the flames of a torch which dispels the darkness of suffering and ignorance. Our teachers allow us to light our own torches from theirs, but the responsibility of maintaining the Light is our own.
This is the purpose of the spiritual journey… At the end of the day, we must become good at one of two things: planting in the spring or begging in the fall. The soil doesn’t respond to our “need”… it responds to the planting and nurturing of our “seed”.
If a spiritual teacher spends all their time talking about imaginary gods, goddesses, heavens and hells, they’ve taken the easy way out. Such discussions have little to do with alleviating suffering.
Living in a monastery, convent, ashram or community will not awaken you any faster. Celibacy will not make your spiritual journey any faster, better, or purer. Wearing a certain kind of clothing, or avoiding a certain kind of food is not a path to holiness or non-attachment.
If you want to become free of suffering, start serving others. Don’t worry about whether you believe in a certain god or someone else believes in something else. Your gods and goddesses (or lack thereof) does not matter at all. The delusion of “difference” is a path of deception. Every person is essentially the same.
I choose to see the “god-concept” as Love or Energy, and believe that all persons are Love/Energy expressing Itself. Taking my queue from my satguru, Santa Maharaj Neem Karoli Baba, I try to remind myself daily that “the best form to worship god is in every form…”
When we focus on serving others… doing what we can to alleviate suffering anywhere we encounter it… then the context of spirituality changes. We see the wisdom in the teaching, “For the hungry person, God appears as bread.” We learn to recognise what is important and what is simply tradition, cultural context and mythos.
We can let go of our need for external saviours, because we become the hands and feet of the Living Christ… the Living Buddha.
And so summer has ended. Labour Day traditionally marks the beginning of closing down our summer traditions and events, and beginning to prepare for the harvest. Luckily, unlike the agricultural world from which I drew this metaphor, it’s not too late for you to plant new seeds of contemplation and compassion.
Consider what you can do to help support someone who is in need today. Reach out. Serve. And you will find peace.
Namasté!
-- dharmacharya gurudas sunyatananda
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