The Tao of Christ

Nonduality is about pointing. We cannot describe Ultimate Reality, but we can point to it. This idea is repeated often. You have undoubtedly heard many times the Zen proverb about not mistaking the finger pointing to the moon for the moon itself. And this is helpful. It helps us look beyond ideas, words, doctrines, and beliefs to know Reality directly. What is not often mentioned is that pointing can itself be a barrier to spiritual awakening. Pointing is misleading. It assumes that Reality is over there somewhere, where we are pointing. Pointing is therefore mis-pointing. 

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Today I am recording on another topic, one that has been coming up recently in correspondence and conversations. I think it may be helpful if it were addressed. The topic is Spiritual FOMO. FOMO is, of course, the acronym meaning Fear Of Missing Out. I notice Spiritual FOMO both in Christian circles and among people interested in nondual spirituality. 

In nonduality it comes in the form of Enlightenment FOMO. Quite a few people who reach out to me are afraid that they are going to miss out on enlightenment. They are afraid they will continue to miss out. They do not get it, and they are afraid that they will never get it. They have been trying spiritual practices for years, and they feel like they will never spiritually awaken. They are afraid that they will never be enlightened, at least not in this lifetime, if they believe in multiple lifetimes. They feel like giving up. 

There is a parallel in Christianity. Many Christians feel like they are missing out on something important in the spiritual life that their form of Christianity is not providing them. That there has to be something more than what they are experiencing in their church or tradition or religion or personal spiritual practices. That they are missing out on the fullness of God, on the genuine spirituality. Sometimes among Christians this fear goes all the way to feeling like they are going to miss out on heaven. 

View Marshall's books here:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

In this episode I am exploring sayings 38 and 39 in the Gospel of Thomas. Both have parallels in the canonical gospels, but not exactly. Once again context – or more exactly lack of context – is an important factor in the interpretation of these sayings of Jesus. I will read the sayings in Thomas for you.

Jesus said, "Often you have desired to hear these sayings that I am speaking to you, and you have no one else from whom to hear them. There will be days when you will seek me and you will not find me."

Jesus said, "The Pharisees and the scholars have taken the keys of knowledge and have hidden them. They have not entered nor have they allowed those who want to enter to do so. As for you, be as sly as snakes and as simple as doves."

View Marshall's books here:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

In this episode I am looking at two sayings in the Gospel of Thomas, sayings 36 and 37. Both have to do with clothing. Here they are: 

Jesus said, "Do not be concerned from morning until evening and from evening until morning about what you will wear." His disciples said, "When will you become revealed to us and when shall we see you?" Jesus said, "When you disrobe without being ashamed and take up your garments and place them under your feet like little children and tread on them, then will you see the Son of the Living One, and you will not be afraid."

View Marshall's books here:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

Today I am covering two sayings in the Gospel of Thomas. Sayings 34 and 35. I am doing this because they are short, and they are making the same point. They are also very similar to sayings that we find in the New Testament gospels. For that reason, the difference in interpretation of these sayings really is a matter of context. 

Here are the two sayings as found in the Gospel of Thomas: Jesus said, "If a blind person leads a blind person, both of them will fall into a hole." Jesus said, "One can't enter a strong person's house and take it by force without tying his hands. Then one can loot his house.”

View Marshall's books here:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

Today I am going to cover two sayings in the Gospel of Thomas, sayings 32 and 33. There are actually three sayings in these two verses. One about being built on a mountaintop, one about shouting from a housetop, and one about shining from a tabletop. I am grouping them together because they have the same theme and in the canonical gospels they are found together. And they are all about how the nondual Reality of the Kingdom of God shines forth for all to see. Here are the sayings: 

Jesus said, "A city being built on a high mountain and fortified cannot fall, nor can it be hidden." Jesus said, "Preach from your housetops that which you will hear in your ear. For no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel, nor does he put it in a hidden place, but rather he sets it on a lampstand so that everyone who enters and leaves will see its light."

View Marshall's books here:

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Today we look at the 31st saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas. Jesus said, “No prophet is accepted in his own village. No physician heals those who know him.” There are slightly different translations. "No prophet is welcome on his home turf; doctors don't cure those who know them." “A prophet is not accepted in the hometown. A doctor does not heal those who know the doctor.” “No prophet is accepted in his own village. No physician heals the people who know him well.”

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https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

In the 30th saying in the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus deals with the topic of the Trinity. At least it seems like he is referring to the Trinity. He may be talking about tritheism or even polytheism. He is certainly talking about duality and nonduality. 

See also the episode entitled “Trinity and Nonduality.” at this link: 

https://youtu.be/PvRbrosAhtU

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https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

This episode explores the 29th saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas.  Jesus said, "If the body came into being because of spirit, that is a marvel, but if spirit came into being because of the body, that is a marvel of marvels. Yet I marvel at how this great wealth has come to dwell in this poverty." 

In this saying Jesus is leading people beyond metaphysical and philosophical questions in order to point them to Reality that is beyond ideas. It is common in religious and spiritual circles for people to be dogmatic about their views. That is as true in nonduality as it is in Christianity.

View Marshall's books here:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

This episode explores the twenty-eighth saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas. Jesus said, "I took my stand in the midst of the world, and in flesh I appeared to them. I found them all drunk, and I did not find any of them thirsty. My soul ached for the children of humanity, because they are blind in their hearts and do not see, for they came into the world empty, and they also seek to depart from the world empty. But meanwhile they are drunk. When they shake off their wine, then they will change their ways."

View Marshall's books here:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU