Regardless of where you are on the spiritual path and what your relationship is like with Christianity, there’s a pulsating core of mystical Divine Love at the heart of Jesus’ teachings.
And this impassioned blaze of Love has been felt by people all over the world in many spiritual and religious traditions – not just Christianity.
‘Christ Consciousness’ is a term that I’m sure you’ve heard mentioned at least once on your inner wanderings, and it’s a phrase shrouded in mystery.
What does Christ Consciousness mean? And how does it relate in a direct and intimate way to us on our spiritual awakening journeys?
Firstly, let’s explore a simple working definition, and then go a little more in-depth:
[Note: I’m aware that fundamentalist Christians and anti-religious people alike will likely take issue with this article. If you’re one of these people, you’d be best to leave (or else stay with an open heart) as this article is for the mystics-at-heart. I’m not interested in arguing or “proving who’s right” in the comments. Let’s try to spread love! Thanks and best wishes!]
Table of contents
What is Christ Consciousness?
Christ Consciousness is a mystical term that refers to a spiritually evolved state of being. When we observe the life and message of Jesus Christ, we can see the qualities of love, devotion, courage, and surrender at the center of his teachings and example. The term ‘Christ Consciousness,’ therefore, refers to the embodiment of these qualities in our lives.
Christ Consciousness – This isn’t a New Age Concept
The term ‘Christ Consciousness’ has and will continue to be used by the new age – a movement characterized by a watered-down and good-vibes-only approach to spirituality. And that’s fine, everyone has their own approach to the Divine based on where they’re at in life.
But the Christ Consciousness I’m referring to in this article isn’t a warm-and-fuzzy new age concept; it’s a deeper mystical truth that can be felt and experienced in both the light and dark times of life.
The difference here is that I’m not necessarily encouraging you to pray to Jesus and ask him to protect you or hover over you like a daddy figure – again, nothing against that if that’s what you need.
Instead, the Christ Consciousness I’m referring to is about meeting the grit and grime of life through the heart of love, devotion, courage, and mystical surrender as Jesus did.
Not only can Christ Consciousness be seen as an approach to life, but it can also be seen as a fundamental part – or even “goal” (as inaccurate and mind-centered as that is) – of the spiritual awakening process itself.
Spiritual Awakening, Christ Consciousness, and What Jesus Symbolizes
Having been raised in a fundamentalist Christian family, I’m profoundly familiar with the Christian message, at least in its stripped-of-mysticism-and-replaced-with-dogma sense.
But despite the religious trauma I’ve been subjected to, have gone on a journey to heal, and in many ways, continue to experience, there’s something in the heart of Christianity that’s still vibrantly relevant and inspiring.
Increasingly, the notion of ‘Christ Consciousness’ is coming into the mainstream, and I think that’s beautiful because it points to the hidden depths of Jesus’ message, his importance to humanity, and what he ultimately symbolizes.
So how is Christ Consciousness related to spiritual awakening? Put simply, Christ Consciousness is another word for Self-realization, Oneness, Samadhi, Nirvana, or Spiritual Enlightenment.
BUT, Christ Consciousness is unique in that it’s a very specific, very profound form or ‘flavor’ of spiritual Oneness.
In the words of mystical scholar Andrew Harvey,
[Jesus] came to exemplify the divinity of every single human being and to give to the human race the outrageous possibility of a direct divine relation with God: a direct gnostic ecstasy which would also be an ecstasy of service and justice.
The sublime paradox of Jesus I want to point out here is that he is both human and divine. As St. Paul the Apostle writes about Jesus:
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
(Philippians 2:5-11)
Here we can see the reality of Jesus as the son of man and the son of God, symbolic of both his sacred and wild nature.
Symbolism of the Cross & Jesus
Perhaps the most dominant symbol associated with Jesus is the cross on which he was crucified. This is an image with profound significance to Jesus’ message as it represents a union of opposites. Or in the words of Hermes Trismegistus – a man purported to walk the earth even before the biblical Moses:
As above, so below, as within, so without.
We can see that the vertical line of the cross represents the axiom “as above, so below” and the horizontal line meaning “as within, so without.”
In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus mirrors these words, saying,
Rather the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will realize that you are the children of the Father.
Symbolism of the Vesica Pisces & Jesus
Another image that theologian and author Meggan Watterson comments is “the shape that surrounds Christ in most images and icons of him” is the Vesica Pisces.
Again, such an iconic Christian symbol is also representative of the union of opposites, or the ‘hieros gamos’ (sacred marriage) between the heart and mind, male and female, light and dark – and essentially all duality.
These two overlapping circles, once again, express the human and divine paradoxical nature of Jesus, thereby revealing a central mystery of his message: spiritual integration.
Christ Consciousness is, therefore, another word or idea that points to the notion of spiritual integration; of learning to not only use the heart but also the mind. To embrace your flawed humanity and luminous divinity. And of course, to recognize ‘God’ as both an immanent and transcendent force.
Such a mystically unified state of being has a different quality from other spiritual experiences, and we’ll explore why next.
Christ Consciousness vs. Buddha Nature
I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “Buddha Nature” or “Buddha-Mind” spoken about before. In fact, it’s far more likely (in my experience) to hear of this Buddhist-sounding phrase than the term ‘Christ Consciousness.’
Sometimes, these two terms are used synonymously. And on an absolute level, I can see why such phrases are used interchangeably – they’re pointing to the same One truth. But is there a difference?
Yes, I do believe that there’s a subtle difference between Christ Consciousness and Buddha Nature. Furthermore, in my perspective, understanding the difference between these two ideas can help us understand what we might have glimpsed or experienced on our spiritual awakening journeys.
When we look at the two distinctly unique figures of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) and Jesus of Nazareth/Yeshua (Jesus Christ), we can immediately see a difference, which I’ll summarize in bullet points below:
Buddha:
- Peace
- Serenity
- Silence
- Stillness
- Concentration
- Meditation
- Symbol: the lotus flower, Dharma wheel, and bodhi tree
Jesus:
- Pain
- Suffering
- Torture
- Pierced heart
- Faith
- Ascension
- Symbol: the cross, lamb, sacred heart, fish
In the above very simplistic, very brief breakdown of Jesus and Buddha, we can see clearly a difference: Buddha’s a pretty chill dude. But Jesus? Well, it seems like he got the short end of the stick, doesn’t it? He’s in a whole world of pain and torment in a lot of images that we see of him.
And yet, despite this blatant contrast, both are pointing to something that lies beyond the individual ego self.
In fact, many of their sayings are similar. Take the following quotes for example:
Do to others as you would have them do to you. – Jesus (Luke 6:31)
Consider others as yourself. – Buddha (Dhammapada 10:1)
If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also. – Jesus (Luke 6:29)
If anyone should give you a blow with his hand, with a stick, or with a knife, you should abandon any desires and utter no evil words. – Buddha (Majjhima Nikaya 21:6)
Everyone who commit sin is a slave to sin. – Jesus (John 8:34)
People compelled by craving crawl like snared rabbits. – Buddha (Dhammapada 24:9)
There are a whole bunch of other parallel sayings (see ‘Jesus & Buddha: The Parallel Sayings‘ edited by Marcus Borg for more examples), but the above should suffice to show their similarities.
So then, recognizing both the similarities and differences between both Jesus and Buddha, where does Christ Consciousness differ from Buddha Nature?
In a nutshell, Christ Consciousness speaks about the awakening of the heart and the integration of opposites: the sacred union of spirit and flesh, inner and outer, light and dark – it’s very non-dualistic and unifying.
Buddha Nature, on the other hand, refers to the awakening of the mind which we can see represented in the iconography of Buddhism and in Buddhist teachings. Instead of integration, Buddha Nature is about transcending desire, ego attachment, and the rediscovery of primordial Consciousness.
As such, we can see that there are at least two types of ‘advanced’ or deeper awakening present in the spiritual journey: heart awakening (or Christ Consciousness) and mind awakening (Buddha Nature).
One form of awakening comes through love, devotion, courage, and surrender as exemplified by Jesus. The other form of awakening comes through establishing mental clarity, detachment, and mindfulness, as exemplified by Buddha.
Christ Consciousness is, therefore, the path of heartfulness – it is a yin or immanent path. Whereas Buddha Nature is the path of mindfulness – it is yang and is a transcendent path.
Both can work together or independently.
How to Cultivate Christ Consciousness (4 Mystical Practices)
Underneath the dogma, the dry subjective patchwork of historically edited biblical texts, and immense baggage of the Christian church dwells this exquisite mystic known as Jesus.
If you’re drawn to cultivating Christ Consciousness, or at least exploring it for yourself more, here are some practices I recommend:
1. Honor the power of prayer
I’ve written before that prayer is kind of a “black sheep” in the (mainstream) spiritual community due to its religious connotations. Yet don’t discount the power of prayer!
Sages, mystics, and spiritual practitioners of all shapes and sizes have used prayer through the ages to commune with the Divine. Feel free to totally reinterpret or reenvision prayer so that it meets your heart’s needs and desires – you don’t need to stick with old, dry forms of this meaningful practice.
The beauty of prayer is that it is a doorway to grace. Grace is that mysterious force that sometimes appears in our lives in moments of struggle or need.
In the words of Jesus:
Ask, and it shall be given to you, seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
(Mat 7:7)
Here, quite literally, Jesus is encouraging the practice of prayer, and he himself is recorded to have prayed quite intensely in the New Testament.
So be open to prayer. Pray to connect with Christ Consciousness. Pray for whatever deep needs you have. (And remember, be mindful of what you pray for because more often than not, it will come to you in some form or another!)
For more guidance, see my article on the Power of Prayer!
2. Cultivate heartfulness
If being mindful means approaching life from a mentally clear and present space, being heartful means approaching life from an emotionally clear and present space.
Heartfulness (or ‘Kindfulness’ in the words of my local Buddhist spiritual director Ajahm Brahm), is the practice of healing, opening, and tending to the heart.
But how do we cultivate heartfulness and therefore Christ Consciousness, which by its very nature is heart-centered?
Here are some ideas:
- Practice Metta or lovingkindness meditation each day
- Notice any areas of life that tend to fuel your mind with fear, paranoia, or hatred (thereby restricting the heart) such as social media, the news, or certain environments, and reduce or totally remove them
- Keep a gratitude journal or have a little gratitude practice each day where you contemplate all that you’re thankful for
- Be of service to others whether that is through holding space for a friend, helping out a family member, volunteering, or providing the support someone in need requires
- Choose a mantra or affirmation (such as the Heart Sutra or a statement such as “I open my heart to love) and use it during the day as an ongoing form of meditation and centering
- If you work with chakra energy centers, focus on your heart chakra
3. Incorporate inner work into your daily life
In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus is recorded to have said,
If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.
These words perfectly highlight the necessity of inner work which is the practice of shining the light of awareness onto your inner landscape for the purposes of self-exploration, self-understanding, healing, and spiritual transformation.
The three main inner work practices that I have extensively explored, practiced, and written about before are (1) self-love, (2) inner child work, and (3) shadow work.
I always recommend cultivating self-love and a compassionate relationship with yourself first as it sets the ground for the other two forms of inner work (inner child and shadow work), making them much easier.
There are many ways to incorporate inner work into your life. Some examples include journaling, dream analysis, pathworking, shamanic journeying, somatic therapies, mirror work, art therapy, and many other practices. Choose what resonates with you!
I’ve co-authored three premium journals to support this inner work which can be purchased from the lonerwolf shop, and they are the:
4. Contemplate the words of Jesus and the Christian Mystics
In his book ‘Resurrecting Jesus,’ Zen spiritual teacher Adyashanti recommends the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mark as two rich places to contemplate the words of Jesus.
The Gospel of Thomas, in particular, offers a more “koan” type of experience in which the entire book is composed of Jesus’ sayings.
There are also many Christian Mystics who can provide a unique doorway into the heart of Christ Consciousness such as St. John of the Cross, Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich, Hildegard of Bingen, St. Teresa of Ávila, and many, many others.
Take your pick!
Then, try and devote a little time each day to contemplate their words or Jesus’ words (or both).
Contemplation means to simply hold in your mind a word, sentence, or image and let it sink into you, without trying to analyze or dissect what it “might mean.” Contemplation is an action that takes you deeper into the heart than the mind.
Christ Consciousness Quotes
In honor of the previous point about contemplation, here are some illuminating quotes from both Jesus and other figures, that point toward Christ Consciousness.
You’re welcome to take these quotes as a point of meditation or contemplation or to simply enjoy them.
Dark Night of the Soul Journal:
For the lost souls who feel lonely and disconnected, this is a profound tool designed to help you overcome your existential depression, explore your Soul Loss, practice Soul Retrieval, and reconnect with your true Spiritual Nature.
The light of Jesus, the light of the world, is the light of our own awareness.
– Adyashanti
Behold thine immortal Self resurrected with Christ in the illuminating Light of Christ Consciousness, present in every soul, every flower, every atom.
– Paramahansa Yogananda
Christ wasn’t a Christian and Buddha wasn’t a Buddhist and Muhammad wasn’t Muslim. These people were having the experience of unity consciousnesses and universal consciousness and they spoke of it in words.
— Deepak Chopra
When a person experiences ego transcendence or enlightenment, we often say she has merged with the Light or with God, the Self, Buddha-nature, Christ consciousness, Emptiness, or Being — the ultimate sacred Other.
– Bill Plotkin
The kingdom of God is within you.
– Jesus (Luke 17:21)
Let us meditate until we perceive the Infinite Christ reigning in our own hearts. Let us learn to love those who love us not; and to forgive those who do ill against us. Let us break all our mental boundaries of color, creed, and nationality, and receive all – even our inanimate and animal brothers – in the endless, all embracing arms of our Christ Consciousness. This will be a true and fitting celebration of the coming of Jesus Christ to this earth.
– Paramahansa Yogananda
Christ Speaks:
In your gentle hand
hold my love in your palm
Once my hands were thorny and bloody,
yet I still beam love to humanity
through my heart,
mine eyes, mine soul,
imbued by the most gentle hands of all
Our Holy Spiritual Oneness
― Ramon Ravenswood
Remember always that the goal of awakening, of self-awareness, of living in higher consciousness is always about the very same thing that Christ brought into the world which is unconditional, agape love.
― Theodore J. Nottingham
Love thy neighbor as thyself.
– Jesus (Matthew 22:39)
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, · bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
– Jesus (Luke 6:27)
God is never out of the soul in which He dwelleth blissfully without end.
– Julian of Norwich
The eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me; my eye and God’s eye are one eye, one seeing, one knowing, one love.
– Meister Eckhart
Final Words
Christ Consciousness is a beautiful and multi-layered term that refers to Divine Love, spiritual integration, and the process of heart awakening; a form of Illumination and transformation that happens at deeper levels of spiritual awakening.
Wherever you are on this path and whatever relationship you have with more traditional forms of Christianity, there is a mystical core at the root of every tradition that points to the Oneness underlying all existence.
Christ Consciousness is that unifying force of the sacred Heart that we all have access to if only we are open – it is an expression of our True Nature.
Do you know of any quotes that you think I should add to this article about Christ Consciousness? If so, I’d love to hear them below!
Also, feel free to share this article if you feel it might help or inspire someone else!
Thank you for this thought provoking article , much appreciated and just what I needed. I have been a Christian all my life , however I encountered a personal crisis a few years for which I was totally ill equipped to handle and made some terrible decisions for which I have paid dearly ever since . I embarked on my own spiritual quest and despite my continued belief in God I have struggled within recent times about Christ . Your article has certainly helped to put some things into perspective.
I am glad to hear that Katherine ♡
My favorite scripture is John 8:32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”. For me, organized Christian fundamentalism was anything but freeing. It was full of rigid rules and dogma.
Freedom is knowing we have the power (like Jesus) within us to wake up and see the bigger picture. To see the divine message in all texts and traditions. To see the divine in all things. To see that we are the DIVINE.
Jesus also talks about becoming “as little children”. If we all opened our minds to wonder like children, we would have no need for rigid belief systems.
Thank you for this article and thanks to everyone for their comments!
Ohhh yes, so, so true! I really resonate with your approach Karla. Thank you for sharing and reading :)
A couple of authors you may want to consider on this topic are Thomas Merton and Richard Rohr, both Contemplative Christians and writers. Also, Thich Nhat Hanh’s “Living Buddha, Living Christ,” is an amazing book on this topic. I enjoyed your article, thanks for sharing!
I recently discovered Rohr last year as well as Cynthia Bourgeault, while Thomas Merton I’ve heard lots about but haven’t read much from him. LOVE Thich Nhat Hanh and I’m delighted to hear he has a book by that name. Thank you so much for these lovely recommendations Miranda!
Something else to consider. I was looking again at your comparison list between Jesus and Buddha and it got me thinking about their response to suffering, which is an undeniable aspect of Life. Thomas Merton has written some articles about how living through suffering brings us closer to God, much like Jesus experienced. Whereas, Buddha learned to unglue himself from the grips of suffering/desires. As if one went deeply through the experience of suffering while the other rose above by disengaging with suffering.
A beautifully written piece, thank you! Have been following your writings for quite a while now and your own growth and maturity in subject is evident in this piece. Blessings to you and, again, thank you for sharing.
Thank you L ♡
Thanks Aletheia, I love this article. 6 months after my partner of 23 years died I was really struggling and exhausted physically. I concluded the problem was really spiritual and started on a great search. I decided not to seek a psychiatrist or a physician’s happy pills, but instead to explore the thousands of years of human wisdom encapsulated in traditional religion, but without buying into indoctrination of any one thing. I had a basis in Christianity from boarding school, but this time I discovered Buddhist meditation and philosophy. A friend and a relative who were also grieving added a whole lot of new age and sometimes quite loony stuff to my reading list. I concluded in the end there was a simple filter: If the message was about love, compassion, or unity: all good. If it was about fear, forget it- they’re just like a TV ad getting you to subscribe to their brand. For a long time an image of Jesus (St Faustius I think) with more light than blood coming out of his side, sat on my wall alongside an image of Buddha. I thought about this a lot. The blood is the suffering and evil that is inherent in our human condition, but the light is bigger and can overcome it. It’s our job to try and find the light.
I also think about Jesus on his cross crying out, ” Oh God why have you forsaken me” and then in the next moment,” Forgive them, for they know not what they do”.
His best friends had betrayed him terribly, and he was swinging between human pain and fear and doubt, and believing in the greater divine purpose which this suffering might serve.
Jesus and Buddha are like 2 sides of a coin: archetypes of rich and poor. Jesus was born into poverty, and shows us that even the poorest most unfairly treated human is essentially divine. Buddha was born into wealth, and shows that material wealth and princely status has no ability to prevent human suffering. We live in a material human world that is fallible, not to be trusted. Our essential divinity is the only thing we can trust, and yet it is not material, and so we doubt it.
“I concluded in the end there was a simple filter: If the message was about love, compassion, or unity: all good. If it was about fear, forget it- they’re just like a TV ad getting you to subscribe to their brand.” – WOW, I love this filter because there’s such wisdom in it. I’d add that fear can come in many forms like scarcity mindset, directly/indirectly contributing to a sense of lack and unworthiness – and a whole load of other sneaky ways that the New Cage (someone pithily called it once), can entrap you. I also find it fascinating and inspiring that you see Jesus and Buddha as two sides to the same coin, that is just marvelous. Thank you Juliet!!
Thank you so much for your article. I saw Jesus once while I was meditating and I am not catholic, I always wonder why he appeared… would you have an answer for me? Many thanks
I would journal about it Elodie. :)
I am so here for this! I love this article thank you for sharing. I genuinely love find thrush from so many different places and cultures. It can only be expansive and additive.
♡ Thanks Wendy
Sorry, typo, meant to say “truth” :)
Why do I always cry while doing shadow self and inner child is it because I have flashbacks and nightmares what the heck is this work supposed to be doing helping me or tryna kill me
I think you’d be best to focus on self-love, Tinka. If you’re getting flashbacks and nightmares, please stop *immediately.* To go into heavier work like inner child and shadow work, you absolutely need a *solid* foundation of self-love first which includes the ability to self-soothe, ground yourself, and other practices which make inner child and shadow work a little smoother.
I’ve often wondered why we so seldomly see any true, genuine mystics come from Protestant/Evangelical backgrounds…think about it.
Yes, that’s an interesting observation that I’ve, weirdly enough, actually never thought much about before. Thank you for this food-for-thought Tony. I think the excessive focus on mental dogma and having the “right” interpretation surely can’t help ;)
What an important post, I really appreciate that, despite your fundamental upbringing, you are able to write about Christianity in a fair way, recognizing its values. Christ and Buddha – was Buddha just lucky to not have to deal with folks who were opposed to him like Jesus had? (the Pharisees, Jesus was a Jew and as far as I know, the Pharisees were the ones to have the accepted religious opinion – correct me if am mistaken).
Buddha was born into rich family and sought… what? Redemtion, Nirvana, bliss, holiness inside him?
Jesus was born poor and seemed to have already possessed the qualities Buddha was looking for and shared it with common people like beggars, prostitutes, ‘people of a doubtful reputation’.
They seem to have used the same means: Meditation, fasting, solitude, in deserts, to the excess, to a point where both had hallucinations (like seeing God in a burning bush).
Both came to the conclusion that God, or the divine, is inside you and must be sought for, simply, honestly, humbly. When Jesus said he was the son of God, did he mean to say we all are potentially, if we want and honestly live to it, are daughters and sons of God?
Sorry for my long post, it’ s just that I am currently rethinking Christianity for myself (great timing!) and I am wondering what’s behind the words I never undstiod and then gave up on it.
And now you gave me something new to think about – Christ consciousness… and if it can be achieved and how…. I just wonder…
My understanding is that humanity has been on an upward evolutionary path, not just intellectually and empathetically, but spiritually. When Buddha taught, he taught to a slightly less-evolved audience, most of whom were men. He was teaching them how to find enlightenment using mind-centered practices, as Alethia says, to become “arhats.” When Jesus came along, about 500 years later, he was speaking to a slightly more evolved audience of men AND women, teaching them how to find enlightenment using heart-centered practices. There is an argument to be made that his teachings even influenced Buddhism itself (there was a LOT more cross-cultural traffic than you might think, back then) because after his time, some schools of Buddhism shifted to the “Mahayana” path of heart-centered practices, with an emphasis on developing compassionate “bodhisattvas,” rather than arhats.
And yes, I believe that that was exactly what Jesus* meant when he said that he was the “son of God.” He was trying to tell us that we ALL are, that we ALL have that divinity within us.
*or Yeshua, as some of us who can’t stand the connotations of “Jeeezus,” like to think of him. It’s closer to the original pronunciation.
And another quote to add:
“Prayer is speaking to God. Meditation is listening to God.”
Growing up I was raised in a fundamentalist Christian orthodox environment. I went to a private Christian school were I was taught that if I didn’t behave and be a good Christian that God would punish me and I would go to hell. I had been living my entire life in fear and severe anxiety until I had a spiritual awakening and a dark night of the soul during which I had several revelations with the help of my church priest. One night the Holy MARY appeared while I was sleeping and She revealed to me that the PTSD I was suffering with, was a distraction that I had created and that she would heal me.It was also revealed to me that my many health issues like chronic fatigue,autoimmune diseases, asthma etc. were psychological issues that had manifested physically.I was told that no western doctor would be able to help me and that I had to put in the effort and do the work and change my mindset.During my dark night, God spoke to me and said that he wanted me and all his children to be happy, to lighten up and live it up and that Jesus came on earth to save us, not to judge us and that the two most important things that will matter in the end will be, love and our time given.
Thankyou so much – this very good and I appreciated it a lot !
It all makes so much sense and also it’s comprehensive but written simply and clearly.
I also like the links to other relevant info etc.
I am grateful!!
I can relate a lot to your reflections, Sabine, and experience. I think there’s a lot of untapped and unseen richness disguised behind a thick veil of centuries of dogma, patriarchy, and other nonsense within Christianity. I do have a feeling that the core of the message is much more profound than what we’ve been conditioned to think (it usually is). I recommend looking into a book by Richard Rohr called “The Universal Christ” which I haven’t read yet, but am considering reading and purchasing myself. I have a feeling it might help. ;)
From my experience, I live in a “Christed Universe.” Not all Universes are Christed. This means that we are experiencing a reality that is slowed-down Spirit or slowed down God which is a stepped-down version of God where we are not physical we are slowed down Spirit and have souls to prove it. When I acknowledge, accept and behave as the Christ Consciousness, I am at one with what I am: God. I see all as sacred, Divine. My being is a Christed being. To me, the reason Jesus is called Jesus Christ is because he was a self-realized Christed being and so are we all. Christed.
I’ve never really heard of this “Christed Universe” concept, but it’s an interesting one. Thank you for sharing John. :)
As a non fundamentalist methodist type of christian focused on the loving light of light, connecting and transforming, at a sane church which welcomes all (https://www. westendumc.org/new-here)
And as someone who has lost all patience with the republico-christian-supremacist takeover of this country
And as a nurse and mom who has seen repeatedly that people need faith, need connection with the divine creative energy of the love of God even if they have had a bad experience with religion or struggle with irrationality
i appreciate this article very much
when i think of the person lost in a christians-for-trump psychopathology, i think; how to talk with them, how to listen to them, how to help them reconnect with love and truth — think in particular of two extended family members who are good, decent, well intentioned white men active in their churches and who will be super excited when abortion is banned and see trump as a way for God to use a bad person for good end, and/or, as someone who is right on — glaah! these conversations challenge me!
i also want to share a few other images of Jesus, besides suffering on the cross, which i still struggle to accept as an action that makes sense
Jesus as good shepherd, going out to find and rescue that lost sheep and leaving the rest of the flock to do so
Jesus as wise teacher of truth and questioner of the powers that be who did not get him at all and viewed him as a threat to the power structure
Jesus as compassionate healer
Jesus as someone who will sit and eat with society’s outcasts and hated elite tax collectors alike and not judge, yet seek to enlighten
Jesus as anxious overwhelmed brave human choosing not my will but Thine despite having no wish to undergo a painful untimely death
Jesus who challenged the crowd to throw the first stone at the ‘bad women’ and to judge not
Jesus who invites us into connection with love
I had no early bad formative experiences with religion and can understand where those who have will have a hard time with any of this — I am less patient with the stubborn arrogance of the science based athiest because how can you not look at the sky or wander through a zoo and not be amazed at creation
also the question of why evil, and i guess because we were created with the choice to follow the light or the dark, and the choice to follow the light means nothing if it was not a true choice
one of my favorite bible messages:
the truth will set you free
and the one that most explains our current problems:
the love of money is the root of all evil
Thank you for sharing your experience and beautiful reflections Lisa. I find it inspiring seeing so many faces of Jesus. I wonder if you’ve ever looked into the Gospel of Thomas?
I would just like to add another meaning to the cross that I’ve found very powerful. For me the crucifix has become the symbol of humanity’s cruelty towards each other and reminds me of how I may act cruelly. Thank you for this article!
That’s an interesting interpretation Francis, I suppose it can be humbling in a sense. Thanks for reading
I wish people could come to my gay church. Everyone from straight to gay to free range is welcome as well as trans folk. We don’t believe in hell because it was made up through Catholicism in about 1200. Gospel means good news case in point. Nothing Jesus says is like anything these fundamental preachers do. I’m not advertising my church here but it is so refreshingly non judgemental and inclusive. Like the big man. I have forgiven the narcissists in my former life without the need of a continuing relationship. Praying in your own way as you like instead of wrote learning is really freeing too. I pray like chatting and usually start “hey big fella…”. I don’t ask for things I take the approach I have a problem I need to solve maybe and I need to do it in the most Christian way possible without hurting anyone and getting the best for them me included. I have to find my way, I guess it’s like thinking through but sometimes something happens and an answer just comes out of nowhere. It’s faith for me and people would say listening to yourself. I in the other hand think that whilst you always make your own path, sometimes I swear it’s like wow, I’d try it this way. Never failed. To those who faced religious abuse, hell is absolutely made up. The word hell is in the Catholic Bible hundreds of times. Jesus talks of Gehenna and gnashing of teeth which is a rubbish dump where the dogs fight and gnash teeth over scraps. Hades is mentioned but is from folklore. It’s all dead and yet gospel means good news. I wish we hadn’t been through the lies but as JC said, any man who turns those away from faith or denies them or excludes them, better he had a millstone round his neck at the bottom of the sea. Bless x x
I’m glad you’ve found a place of acceptance James. Thank you for reading and sharing ♡
I really appreciate this article. I come from a fundamentalist Christian background and was a pastor for many years. My journey took me into liberal Christianity, then Buddhism, and now I’ve simply been on a spiritual journey that I’ve created for myself that encompasses a wide range of paths. I have pushed away anything to do with Jesus for several years because of the wounds of fundamentalism. This article, though, has opened something in me and I want to explore more about Christ Consciousness. All that to say, thank you for this article!
I’m so glad to hear that Chris. I experienced a lot of religious trauma as well, and yet through the years, and my healing process, I feel like I can differentiate the noise of dogma from a more quiet beckoning underneath all of that. I wish you all the best on your new path ♡
Thanks.
:)
“… through the heart of love…” – sounds familiar…like the great invocation, a world prayer, Alice A. Bailey, Lucis Trust. I agree there are similarities but I will accept no imitation.
Not sure what you mean?
Great essay. Thanks!
Very early (1st century AD) Christianity was esoteric and had Essene roots. Yeshua’s original teachings then were rather simple:
Churches and temples are unnecessary. Ditto for priests.
Only the simplest ceremonies should suffice; that can be held anywhere by anyone.
Reliance on Spirit not scripture; prayer works wonders.
Observe the Golden Rule and convey love and forgiveness to all beings.
P/S: A metaphor: We are all matches. Yeshua happened to be lit!
i thought same until i finally read the bible cover to cover, twice, eyes rolling initially and periodically, and realized how much wisdom and insight into the struggling human it does contain
goldren rule of course comes from scripture…
It’s strange because I had the opposite experience, Lisa. I read the bible three times cover to cover when I was younger, and it was doing that which totally destroyed – perhaps obliterated would be a better word – my Christian faith. There is certainly some wisdom there, but a lot of horrifically bizarre things in it too (like racial cleansing, incest, murder of women and children, sexism, homophobia, and a lot more).
Nice. I’d be curious if you have any resources that point to what you’ve written? Deconstructing the mammoth institution that is Chrisianity can be tricky!
Thank you for this article! I never understood, or gave myself the chance to understand this before as a Witch and Pagan. It’s amazing how all spirituality has a core that links them all. Like a diamond shining in the darkness – each facet holds part of the divine mystery!
“Like a diamond shining in the darkness – each facet holds part of the divine mystery!” – I love that analogy. :)
Another fantastic article, as always! I love your side-by-side of the Buddha and Christ, too. I think you draw an important nuanced distinction. Thank you again!
Thank you for your affirming comment Joseph! I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment ♡
Love is the key
John 13:35
I’m glad you recognize the subtle difference between Jesus and Buddha.
You might enjoy “The mysticism of the cloud of unknowing” by William Johnston
Thanks Lou. I’ll definitely look into that book!
♡