Seven Principles of Cosmic Spirituality, and what they mean to me....

I've been reading a very intriguing book as of late by Tom Harpur called "The Pagan Christ". It puts forth the not so new proposition that the New Testament and the whole story of Jesus was completely lifted from ancient Egyptian Mythology. Jesus himself never existed beyond a character in a story meant as allegory to find the "Christ " within. It further states that the Church early on turned the allegory into literal truth and the character of Jesus became a real "superman" we need to follow, rather than emulate. One can guess the trouble that resulted!

Those who dared to say "Ummm, What about...?" were branded (sometimes literally) Heretics. And Heretics became a reason to let the evil impulse of murder reign supreme with full approval from the "One True Church". But I digress...

This, however, should not take away from the Christian Faith. It should transform it. As an ex-Christian, I find the revelations within this book rather inspirational. As a Freemason, who works within the Allegorical Temple of Solomon, "...Pagan Christ" has actually sparked my interest in studying the New Testament with an allegorical approach rather than the "It is the literal truth and all who question shall burn in Wal-Mart, (OOPS!I meant ~*HELL*~!)".

Tom Harpur has a website:
http://www.tomharpur.com/


Within this website is a list of Principles. I really like these principles.
I would, however like to go over each one from my own perspective. That is why I am typing in blue-ish.

Seven Principles of Cosmic Spirituality


1. The entire cosmos is the manifestation of Divine Mind-every molecule, every cell, every creature, every rock, tree, mountain, planet, blazing star, whirling galaxy and universe of galaxies. In short, everything is connected.


2. We are all an integral, interconnected part of the whole cosmos and our own inner world is a holograph of the cosmos within us. Our bodies, our molecules, our very atoms conform to the laws of the Cosmos. The electrons orbit our nuclei. Quantum Science reveals a vast Universe within our bodies. We are self-aware. Does our Galaxy reside within a being equally self-aware? I have no doubt.




3. One basic datum underlies every religion under the sun, the principle of Incarnation. The Word or Logos, God's self-expression made manifest, has given the light of its divine spark to every mind/soul coming into the world. Christians call this the Christ or "Christ in us." Other faiths have different names or modes of expression for this same inner reality. Everything lives,everything has an energy field. We think, therefore, we are!



4. Every religion whose ethical core is summed up by the word "compassion" or "loving-kindness" to all other creatures without exception has a vision of the truth and is a valid "way" to Transcendence. It doesn't matter what faith one subscribes to so long as Love guides the way.In regard to loving all creatures, we still need to eat, and plants have feelings too. We need only accept our role on the Circle of Life and exercise as much respect towards that which we WILL eat, be it animal or vegetable.




5. No one faith or religion-whatever its claims may be, alone has The Truth. I attribute such behaviour to Spiritual Insecurity, either learned or acquired. Nothing extinguishes The Light faster than trying to decide where it should radiate and to whom.



6. True cosmic spirituality is steeped in, flows from, and derives its most powerful analogies and metaphors from the natural world -- from the tiniest bit of dust to the spiraling stars above. To Yoda listen! Feel The Force Around You! Yes, there is a great Spiritual message to be gleaned from the Star Wars Franchise (in between Epic Battles and Merchandising Campaigns). There is still a story: The choice between Good and Evil and the consequences of those choices. As well as learning to suppress fear. Be Not Afraid! Love Knows. Live Love. To Fear is to succumb to hate and then to suffering. Try Not! Do! Or do not...there is no "try"!


7. The core aim of cosmic spirituality is radical transformation, both personal and societal. Turn off your mind relax and float downstreammmmmm. As of this very moment, we as a society have lived within and continue to nurture the Myth that is Western Civilization.It is an Illusion most Foul. We work ourselves to death to save up for a Peace that will not come. Unless we practice Peace now we will never realize it. We terrorize ourselves with consumerism,class ism,racism, ism-schism.


We still are taught to value one another by:

What we get paid,
What we own,
What we drive,
What we wear,
What we eat,
Where we live,
What school we attend,
Who we choose for friends,
Who we choose to fall in love with…

And the advertising/entertainment industry drives home the notion to every one of us everyday that we suck unless we fit in, and those who don’t fit in are a threat to our very own ability at fitting in, or a threat to our safety.

And that lesson is shown in every home that has a television.

Not everybody learns the lesson…those who will not learn that lesson are “against” those who do.

This Lesson knows no Color Barriers, but promotes them…

This Lesson knows no Gender Barriers, but exploits them…

This Lesson knows no Cultural Barriers, but encourages them…

This Lesson knows no Economic Barriers, but maintains them…

This Lesson knows no Political Barriers, but shapes them…

This Lesson knows no Legal Barriers, but enforces them…

Some of us have learned The Lesson well..some of us reading this blog, and we don’t even realize it.