The Authenticity of the Aquarian Gospel....

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

Here is some information regarding the authenticity of the Aquarian Gospel:

 

(http://home.netcom.com/~mokeeffe/AGauthenticity.htm#question)

 

Violet

[Guest guest]

Dear Violet,

Thank you for the links.

I have also found a nice link, examining the circumstances of the

writing of the Aquarian Gospel, with some comments.

It is very clear to me from reading the commentaries below, that no

amount of focusing on external things, or listening to or following

external people and belonging to churches and organisations can

reveal God to an individual; God is an inner experience.

The teachings of Jesus are at odds with all religious institutions.

Love, Semira

 

 

http://www.atmajyoti.org/ch_aquarian_commentary_01.asp

 

Commentary on the Aquarian Gospel–1–by Swami Nirmalananda Giri

 

Introducing the Aquarian Gospel

In 1908 a book appeared on the shelves of American bookstores that

was destined to garner interest throughout the world, so much so

that today it has gone through more than seventy editions in America

alone. This book was The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ by Levi

H. Dowling. Destined to be continually derided by those who " give

liking unto nothing, but what is framed by themselves, and hammered

on their anvil " 1–in other words the Bible-believing of varying

stripes–it yet evoked a response in those who intuited and sought

for a deeper meaning of the person and teachings of Jesus of

Nazareth. Many at that time, as well as today, could not honestly

accept the limited interpretation of Jesus and His words that was

offered by " Churchianity " –an acceptance that would have obligated

them to reject Him as but one of many misperceiving religionists of

the past. For them the Aquarian Gospel was truly Light in Darkness,

a fount of life-giving knowledge.

 

What were (and are) the advantages of the Aquarian Gospel for

seekers of deeper truth?

 

Firstly, it made no claim to be " the word of God " or even perfect–

much less infallible–in its expression. Nor was it some kind of " new

revelation for a new age. " It was a transcription of the psychic

investigations made by Dowling into what is popularly known as " the

akashic records. " It was entirely subjective and made no demands to

be accepted in whole or even in part. Dowling saw and spoke; the

rest was up to the reader. No promised blessings or curses were set

forth to those who accepted or rejected it. That was left up to

the " true believers " of the " mainstream churches. "

 

Secondly, it was not a translation of Jesus' original Aramaic

speech, but Dowling's relaying of the concepts that underlay the

outer words of Jesus, for that was what was conveyed in his

investigations. For this reason we find anachronistic words

like " harpsichord " and " photograph " used in the text to convey the

idea, but not the literal wording. Whether he caught the inner

meanings correctly was a matter for the reader to decide. Nor could

it be used as an authoritarian club to beat unbelievers or doubters

into submission, or a razor to dissect Jesus' words into hair-

splitting dogmatics. Although its being put down in English was

advantageous to those who knew that language, recourse to

dictionaries could not be a basis for proving " the truth " about any

passage.

 

Thirdly, the message conveyed in its pages was not the inbred

deformity of " orthodox " Christianity, but the universal message

found at the heart of all valid religions–religions whose study was

recommended to better understand the person and teachings of Jesus.

(Some years back a priest of the Saint Thomas Christian [Malankara

Orthodox] Church of India said to me: " You cannot understand the

teachings of Jesus if you do not know the scriptures of Hindu

religion. " 2) Thus students of the Aquarian Gospel are urged to study

Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, and Judaism on an equal

footing. How greatly–and blessedly–this contrasts with the bitter

and hostile exclusivity of " orthodox " Christianity which cannot

survive outside the confines of pious arrogance, narrowness, and

ignorance.

 

Who was Levi H. Dowling? Not a great deal is known, because he did

not want to be heralded as a messenger from God or a prophet of a

new age with the accompanying personality cult that inevitably

arises. Like Saint John the Baptist, his motto was: " He must

increase, but I must decrease. " 3 But we do know the following from

the printings of the Gospel.

 

Levi H. Dowling was born on May 18, 1844, at Belleville, Ohio. His

father was a Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) minister. Levi

was always a student of the deeper things of life, and a devoted

student of the religions of the world from childhood. At the age of

thirteen, in his first public debate, he took the negative side

against a Presbyterian Elder on " The Everlasting Punishment of the

Wicked. " He began preaching at the age of sixteen; and at the age of

eighteen was pastor of a small church. He entered the United States

Army at the age of twenty as Chaplain, and served in this capacity

to the end of the Civil War. Afterwards he became a publisher of

Sunday School Literature, issuing Sunday School Lesson Papers, Song

Books, and a Children's Sunday School Paper. Much of his time was

devoted to the cause of Prohibition. He was a graduate of two

medical colleges and practised medicine for a number of years. He

finally retired from the medical profession in the early 1900's to

resume his literary work–particularly the Aquarian Gospel.

 

When but a boy he was impressed with the sensitiveness of the finer

ethers and believed that in some manner they were sensitized plates

on which sounds, even thoughts, were recorded. With avidity he

entered into the deeper studies of etheric vibration, determined to

solve the great mysteries of the heavens for himself. Forty years he

spent in study and silent meditation, and then he found himself in

that stage of spiritual consciousness that permitted him to enter

the domain of these superfine ethers and become familiar with their

mysteries. He then learned that the imaginings of his boyhood days

were founded upon veritable facts, and that every thought of every

living thing is there recorded.

 

Early in life, when but a mere lad, he had a vision in which he was

told that he was to " build a white city. " This vision was repeated

three times with years intervening. The building of the " white city "

was The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, which was transcribed

between the early morning hours of two and six--the

absolutely " quiet hours. "

 

Levi passed from earth-life on August 13, 1911.

 

Jesus foretold Dowling's work, saying: " This age will comprehend but

little of the works of Purity and Love; but not a word is lost, for

in the Book of God's Remembrance a registry is made of every thought

and word and deed; And when the world is ready to receive, lo, God

will send a messenger to open up the book and copy from its sacred

pages all the messages of Purity and Love. Then every man of earth

will read the words of life in the language of his native land, and

men will see the light. And man again will be at one with God. " 4

 

The idea of psychically-received knowledge of the lives and

teachings of the Masters of Wisdom was not new when Levi did his

work.5 Both Hindu and Buddhist scriptures have been relayed in the

same manner as Dowling revealed the Aquarian Gospel. It is rarely

mentioned, but the Bhagavad Gita is exactly such a book, and says so

at the end (18:74,75). The Mahabharata, the Ramayana (both Valmiki

and Tulsidas versions), and the Puranas were also transcribed in the

same way, as were a great number of the Mahayana Buddhist Sutras.

 

Throughout the centuries various Christian saints and visionaries

such as Saint Bridget of Sweden, Mary of Agreda, Catherine Emmerich,

and Teresa Neuman have psychically perceived events from the life of

Jesus and conveyed their impressions to others. The perceptions of

Mary of Agreda and Catherine Emmerich fill several volumes each.

None of these were considered " holy scripture, " but neither does the

Aquarian Gospel make such a claim. We can say with Eva Dowling:

 

" Further references to the personality of Levi are, seemingly,

unnecessary. It matters but little who he is; his work in the

transcription of the Aquarian Gospel of Jesus, the Christ, stands

unimpeachable. The lessons of this book all bear the stamp of the

Nazarene, for no man except the world's greatest master could have

touched the high chords of divine Love and Wisdom which characterise

the pages of this marvellous book. "

 

As the angel said to Saint Augustine: " Take and read. "

 

 

http://www.atmajyoti.org/ch_aquarian_commentary_27.asp

Commentary on the Aquarian Gospel–27–by Swami Nirmalananda Giri

The Voice in the Heart

" All the people said, Teach us to know the Holy One who speaks

within the heart, God of the still small voice. " 1

 

They may have been asking to know about God, but see how much the

inquirers know already! This is a hint: those who consciously

inquire about the Way already know a goodly bit about it, even if

only subliminally, otherwise they would not inquire.

 

What do they know? That God speaks within the heart as a still small

voice.

 

Speaking within the heart

 

Although we can cite a number of evils that seem inherent in

externalized religion, its basic defect is just that: it is

externalized. And spirit is internal.

 

" And when he [Jesus] was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom

of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God

cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo

there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. " 2 Those words

were spoken two thousand years ago, and were but an echo of the same

spoken many more thousands of years before in India–but who is

listening? Still we insist that the divine kingdom must be outside.

We drag around to " holy " spots, run in and out of temples, keep

material objects as though they were divine epiphanies, enslaving

ourselves to innumerable outside things that will supposedly put us

in contact with Spirit. If we get really crazy we decide to create

an external kingdom of God on earth–either through a political or

religious hierarchy–and attempt to herd others into it " for the

greater glory of God. " It will not work. History proves it.

 

A man once came to Sri Ramana Maharshi3 bubbling over with

enthusiasm and joy: Sri Rama4 had come to him and even spoken with

him! " Did he leave? " was the laconic inquiry made by Ramana. " Why,

yes, " replied the puzzled man. Some time later he expressed to

Bhagavan5 the desire to see Lord Krishna. In response Bhagavan gave

him a meditation practice that would enable him to see Krishna.

After some time it was so–Krishna came and, like Rama, spoke with

him! Rushing to Arunachala, he exuberantly told him: " Krishna came

to me! " Again the question: " Did he leave? " Again the reply: " Yes. "

Ramana then asked him very forcefully: " When are you going to leave

aside these `gods' that come and go and seek for the Ever-present

One that can neither come nor go? " 6 Jolted awake, the man saw the

truth of this and did begin earnestly to seek that One. And he

sought Him within only. And found Him there.

 

God is everywhere, but He speaks from within the heart–and not from

someone else's heart to us, but from within our own heart.

 

The still small voice

 

The speaking of God in our heart is very subtle. To hear it the mind

must be refined and honed by purification and meditation.7 Some

systems of meditation can produce a great deal of noise–psychic

thunder and lightning. But the voice of God will not heard in that

din.

 

" And he [Elijah] came thither unto a cave, and lodged there…And,

behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the

mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the

Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the

Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but

the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small

voice. " 8 Wind, quake, and fire; yet in all that noise there was

nothing. But in the silence God spoke. " While all things were in

quiet silence,…Thine Almighty word leaped down from heaven out of

thy royal throne. " 9

 

Those who look within and enter their heart will in the Silence find

The Word That Is God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

, " Violet " <vtubb@b...>

wrote:

>

> Dear All,

>

> Here is some information regarding the authenticity of the

Aquarian Gospel:

>

> (http://home.netcom.com/~mokeeffe/AGauthenticity.htm#question)

>

> Violet

>