The mortal race (those who worship the false Gods of the lower world and are destined to be destroyed at the end of the age) and the immortal race (those who recognize their own spiritual nature and turn to the true God above).

[Guest guest]

(P.109) [he] laughed.

 

The discipl[e]s said to him, " Teacher, why do you laugh at [our]

offering thanks? Or what did we do? [This] is what is right. "

 

He replied, telling them, " It is not you I am laughing at - you are

not even doing this by [yo]ur own will - but (I'm laughing because)

in this (offering of thanks), your 'God' will receive praise. "

 

" Teacher, 'you' are [.....] the Son of our God, " they said.

 

Comments:

 

(P.128) Whenever Jesus laughs in the 'Gospel of Judas', he is about

to correct errors in someone's thinking. In this instance, Jesus's

laughter is a kind of ridicule or mockery intended to shock the

disciples out of their complacency and false pride. Their deepest

problem is that they don't know they have a problem; they wrongly

think they are already righteous, with their prayers and practices

of piety. Jesus tries to teach them that they are not worshipping the

true God. At first they are astonished, not understanding, and they

insist (wrongly) that Jesus is the Son of " our " God. The very fact

that they are celebrating the eucharist shows that they are wrong in

their understanding that God demands Jesus's death as a sacrifice.

The author of the 'Gospel of Judas' is reading the situation of his

own day back into the gospel story, since Christians did not

celebrate the eucharist as a sacrificial meal until after Jesus's

death. But the author's point here is that Jesus himself opposed this

(later) practice, because it misconstrued the true meaning of his

death, as the author sees it.

 

(P.110) " Truly I say to you, no race from the people among you will

ever know me. "

 

Comments:

 

(P.128) When Jesus declares that none of his disciples ( " no race from

the people among you " ) will ever know him, he is saying that people

who consider themselves to be " children " of the false " God " will

never be able to perceive who Jesus is - that he is the Son of the

true God above.

 

(P.129) The term the author uses here is 'genos', which could be

translated " kind, " " people, " or " race. " Contrary to the notion that

Christians broke down barriers of race, class, and gender (as

in 'Galatians' 3:28, " There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no

longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of

you are one in Christ Jesus " ), they continued to use the language of

ethnic and racial identity to understand Christians as a people,

often calling themselves " a third race. " This language of " race "

appears frequently in the 'Gospel of Judas'. Although the author

often uses the plural " human races, " in essence only two races exist:

the mortal race (those who worship the false Gods of the lower world

and are destined to be destroyed at the end of the age) and the

immortal race (those who recognize their own spiritual nature and

turn to the true God above).

 

A similar idea is stated clearly in another book from Nag Hammadi,

the 'Sophia of Jesus Christ', in which Jesus teaches that " (e)

verything that came from the perishable will perish, since it came

from the perishable. But whatever came from the imperishable does not

perish but becomes imperishable. So, many people went astray because

they had not known this difference and they died " (III.98:1-9).

Death, it would seem, is not inevitable, but a result of not

learning how to distinguish between the mortal world where people

live now and the eternal world above. Since humanity is created in

the image of the divine Adamas above - in that sense, people come

from the imperishable - they are capable of becoming imperishable.

 

(P.110) " Judas said to him, " I know who you are and which place you

came from - you came from the realm of the immortal Barbelo - [24]

but I am not worthy to proclaim the name of the one who sent you. "

 

Comments:

 

(P.132) Here we get the first indication of why Jesus promotes Judas

over the others. He alone recognizes who Jesus really is: " I know who

you are and which place you came from. " In the New Testament gospels

as well, the disciples struggle and often fail to understand Jesus's

true identity. For example, in the 'Gospel of Mark',[4] only Peter

understands that Jesus is the Christ; but even he rejects Jesus's

crucifixion, and Jesus turns on him, calling him Satan and

charging, " You are setting your mind not on divine things but on

human things " ('Mark' 8:27-33). [5] (P.133) Jesus's disciples in

the 'Gospel of John' also fail to recognize Jesus; even though they

claim they have understood, at the end, they all desert him - and

Peter actually denies him three times ('John' 14:1-11; 16:28-32;

18:15-27). [6] Like the disciples in the 'Gospel of John', who flee

at Jesus's arrest, the disciples in the 'Gospel of Judas' are afraid:

proof that they do not really believe, because they do not really

understand who Jesus is and where he comes from.

 

The term translated " realm " here is 'aeon', which means " a period of

time " , " an age " , " a lifetime " . In adverbial form, 'aionios', it

means " eternity " . The term appears frequently in the 'Gospel of

Judas' to refer both to the immortal, eternal realm above and to the

mortal, limited realm below. It thus has a very strong spatial as

well as temporal connotation. In other Christian texts, the term is

also sometimes personified, so that it refers to a kind of eternal

being - like angels or archangels - but here the main sense is a

realm that exists with regard to a period of time (whether limited or

eternal).

 

The name Barbelo will be unfamiliar to most readers, and indeed she

appears only once in the 'Gospel of Judas', but this figure is

familiar from other ancient texts discovered in Egypt over the last

century. Many of these belong to a type of Christianity scholars call

Sethianism (or Sethian Gnosticism), because these works claim that

the spiritual race of humanity is descended from Adam's third son,

Seth (or Eve's daughter, Norea). In these works, Barbelo appears as

the divine Mother, the second figure of the Divine triad: Father (the

Invisible Spirit), Mother (Barbelo), Son (Autogenes, the Self-

generated One, Christ). In many such works, the " realm of Barbelo "

encompasses the whole divine sphere above, so it is a kind of

shorthand reference to the divine realm.

 

Reading Judas - The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity,

'Comments on the Translation', Pg. 127-132

Elaine Pagels and Karen L. King

Penguin Group - London, England

ISBN 978-0-713-99984-6

 

 

 

" The Self is the Spirit. This Spirit resides in the heart of every

human being and is in a witness-like state. The Spirit is the

projection of God Almighty, while the Kundalini is the projection of

the power of God, of His desire which is the Primordial Mother, or

you can call it Adi Shakti, Holy Ghost or Athena. So the Kundalini is

the projection of the Holy Ghost, while the Spirit is the projection

of God Almighty. The All-pervading Power of love is the power of the

Primordial Mother, which creates and evolves, and does all the living

work. " - Shri Mataji Nirmal Devi

 

 

Question: How does one discard all the organization and useless

activities (of Sahaja Yoga) and seek her (Holy Spirit/Adi Shakti)

only in the Sahastrara (Kingdom of God)?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I am still unable to rid myself of catches and other chakra

problems despite years of daily (Sahaja Yoga) footsoaking and

treatments. What do I do now?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I am far from a Sahaja Yoga collective. How do I continue

practicing Sahaja Yoga?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: My collective leader has told me to leave Sahaja Yoga due

to some personal problems. What do I do now?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: Despite being years in Sahaja Yoga I do not agree with what

our leaders are doing. I am thinking of leaving my collective. Can

you suggest something that will help me continue on my own?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I am a Muslim who absolutely am against worshipping of any

idol or image. How then is Sahaja Yoga and Shri Mataji compatible

with Islam?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: We are devout Christians who are very uncomfortable with

Hindu rituals, and see the same in Sahaja Yoga. Is there any way we

can do without such rituals?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: You loudly claim on your website that all religions and

holy scriptures preach the same message. I don't see such evidence.

What have you got to say?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I do not want to meditate on anything non-Christian but

agree that the Holy Spirit is feminine. How do I only worship the

Holy Spirit but not the Adi Shakti?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: My parents and husband are against worshipping Shri Mataji.

How can I solve this serious family problem but still continue to

practice Sahaja Yoga without their knowledge?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I completely agree with your belief that if you have to

take a single step in any direction to seek the Divine you are going

the wrong way. How and why did you reach this incredible conclusion

only now despite spending so many years meditating, checking the

scriptures and listening to Shri Mataji's speeches?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: How can we spread Shri Mataji's message successfully? So

many have failed all these years and Sahaja Yoga is very slow. Most

of the seekers have never heard of Shri Mataji. Other than Her Divine

Message what can we teach new seekers that will attract them?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I do not want to follow any religious organization or yoga

teacher but still am interested in spirituality. You think that is

possible?

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: My mother-in-law is totally against Shri Mataji and regards

Her as just another false guru. But I know Shri Mataji is the Adi

Shakti and want to continue. However, i do not want to antagonize my

mother-in-law. Any suggestions?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I am a Sikh. I am completely against any Hindu ritual or

worshipping of their idols and gods. Sikhism is completely against

such practices. But Sahaja Yoga is also so full of such rituals and

gods. What have you got to say, being a Sikh yourself?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I am getting somewhat ridiculed for my own spiritual

experiences regarding the crown chakra and the divine feminine.

People think I'm weird by emphasizing that the Devi is the true

nature of brahman and it is creating doubt about my path (despite my

own experiences). Should I continue with my meditations and ignore

them or try to explain to them? What do you suggest?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: There is so much information about yoga and meditation. I

am so confused and do not know which path to take. What then is the

truth? How do I attain it?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I have been in Sahaja Yoga for years but still do not know

what is Self-realization. Can you tell me in detail what you

understand by it?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I have been a SY for many years and some of us find shoe-

beating and some rituals quite absurd. You also are against them. How

then can we solve our subtle system problems without such treatments?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I am a Muslim living in Pakistan who want to practice

Sahaja Yoga. But there are no centers here. How can I continue?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: What will happen after Shri Mataji passes away? Will She

still be in the photograph? Where will the vibrations come from then?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I have just started meditating on Shri Mataji in the

Sahasrara but find it very difficult. Is there a better way?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I do not want to join Sahaja Yoga but believe in a number

of Shri Mataji's teachings. Can you help me?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I am an established SYogini who am concerned at the way the

organization is heading. However, I still want to spread Shri

Mataji's teachings. What do you suggest I tell others?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: I want to practice meditation but find it impossible to

stop the thoughts. I value you opinion. If you don't mind my asking,

but how do you do it?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: What is the shortest and surest route to realize God?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: Some religions claim that humans are divine in nature and

that liberation is from within. Can you tell me how all this is

realized in such a hectic and materialistic world?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: As a SY I am concerned that after Shri Mataji takes

Mahasamadhi there will great grief and sense of loss. How can I cope

with this eventuality and continue my faith and devotion? Do I

continue to meditate on Her photo even though She is not physically

present anymore?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: Jagbir, you are already telling us to discard Shri Mataji's

photo and meditate on Her is the Sahasrara. A number of SYs have been

offended by this and have left the forum. What makes you so sure you

are right?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: What is the most profound and deepest enlightenment you

have discovered after all these years, based on the teachings of Shri

Mataji? She also claims that all religions teach the same truth about

the spirit. How is that so given all the religious differences and

centuries-old rivalry?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: Hi, man-made religions, sects and denominations are wide

spread. So much misdeeds and divisions are committed and blood is

shed in the name of God and religion. Is there a way to make humans

realize that they are all worshipping the One and same Creator, no

matter how different religious organizations have made God to be?

 

Answer: Silence on Self

 

 

Question: It seems that religions are all preaching about a God that

is to be found only in their organizations. Why then is it that the

Divine can only be realized through one's own experience? What and

where is God then?

 

Answer: Silence on Self