Self and No Self

The examination of the concepts of self and no-self are interesting ones, especially in the context of eastern religions like Buddhism. I have been asked more then once how I can ascribe to a religious path that affirms the existence of a personal soul, while also ascribing to one that doesn't.

The truth about this is that Buddhism does not teach no soul. If it did, there would not be so much ancestor and Bodhisattva veneration in east Asia. The truth of the matter is, Buddhism has never taught no soul, rather it is a western pop version of Buddhism that is starting to espouse this idea.

The Buddha did teach "anatta", which means "no-self", but it's not possible to know if he was making a statement about the soul or not, since he usually refused to speak about the soul at all, even when asked. I am of the opinion that he was either speaking of the nature of reality, or the nature of the Atman, which in Hinduism is the highest type of soul and has no self.

The fact is Buddhism says nothing about the existence of any soul or not, it leaves it open like it does many things. Traditional Buddhist thought, however, has tended toward the existence of a soul. Buddhism does teach about the self certainly. It teaches just like Hinduism does, that the self/ego is illusionary. Remember, illusionary doesn't mean not real, it means less real.

The mindset that generates the self is a mindset of selfishness. It makes self the focus, as though life exists especially for oneself, and revolves around oneself. This says nothing about the existence of a soul or not.

What Kemeticism teaches about the self and the soul is that one's personality is tied to a fleeting soul called the ka, which by the way is not an immortal soul. The ka can die, it can be destroyed at judgment. I am not sure how literally I take this, but there it is.

I do not see the self as an unreal thing, since one will always have some notion of a self in this existence of things. I see it as illusionary and temporary, especially if it is tied to a soul that can die. Striving for the self is ultimately pointless, though it may be pleasurable. It is pointless, because if the self does not survive death then your striving has been in vain.

Striving for others is the highest expression of acting, because it is in this that the true reality is expressed. Love is most real emotion there is, because it is most in sync with what is true.

Nationalism: The Downfall of Nations

America, said to be the land of the free, and the home of the brave. A land where we claim to be the beacon of liberty, yet corporations constantly impede the small business at every turn. We claim to be the land of the free, yet gay people have their freedoms trampled at every opportunity.

No doubt America is not perfect, and it falls far short of the ideals it so loudly proclaims. Yet I did not write this to talk about that. There is a trend developing in this nation, and quite a disturbing one at that. Nationalism, the downfall of nations, is promoted and pushed under the label of being a "Patriot". I call Nationalism the downfall of nations, for that is exactly what it is, if one looks back into the history books.

Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, Imperial Rome, all of them with one thing in common- Nationalism.

Now America has it's own brand of this dangerous political dogma. To be a Patriot, they say, one must be a Republican. To be a Patriot one must pledge loyalty to the flag, to the government, to the President, to the Congress men and women, to all it seems except those an American should pledge loyalty to- the American people.

You see, that is what Nationalism is truly about, control of the people. You pledge allegiance to the government, because that is what Nationalism is designed for, to make the people into obedient followers. That is what it has always been for.

Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini preached a form of Nationalism that became a political doctrine we today know as Fascism. Oh yes, Mussolini was popular with the people, funding an entire campaign of terror on the money of his loyal nationalists, for you see, the people were willing to give him anything, so long as he preached a message of Italian Nationalism.

He started a program in which any Italian willing to donate a large amount of gold watches, jewelry, etc. to the government received a bracelet to show they were "good Patriots". The people jumped at the chance to feel this special feeling of being a good Patriot, loyal to country and government, not realizing what their leader was using the funds for. Mussolini used the money he got from this loyalty campaign to build concentration camps in North Africa.

His people did virtually nothing to oppose him. Why? Because they were indoctrinated with his Nationalism. The Italians stood by and watched while Mussolini sided with one of the greatest madmen in history, Adolf Hitler, and this because he kept them loyal with the feel good message of "Patriotism".

In Germany Hitler's rise to power was much the same. He preached a message of German Nationalism and greatness. He envisioned a world in which Germany took it's rightful place as ruler of Europe. How wonderful is the message of Nationalism to the ears that it causes the people to stand by whilst their government commits any atrocity!

We have a horrible example of Nationalism in our own history as Kemetics, and it is a history many are familiar with. Octavian, who later became known as Caesar Augustus, preached a message of Nationalism to unite the Romans in taking down Egypt. The horrid Octavian then captured his own brother Caesarion, rightful heir of Julius Caesar, and murdered him in cold blood. All this enabled by the people who believed his doctrine of Nationalism.

Today in America the effects of Nationalism are no different. Our government preaches us a message of Patriotism, of how great America is, of how America's way is the best way, of how they wish to protect our greatness, while they use our military to play the very kind of dictators our country's founders fought against. They preach us a feel good message of Patriotism and we believe them, all the while they glory in war and destruction and take our country down the path of ruin.

That is what history bears out the horrid doctrine of Nationalism is, the path of ruin, the downfall of nations. Americans it is time we wake up from the notions our government brainwashes us with, that we're somehow better then our fellow human beings, and that anything our government does under the banner of defending us is fine and dandy. This is not acceptable. This kind of thinking can justify any evil, as it always has.

History teaches us to be wary of any political entity preaching Nationalism and love of country as it's party line. You don't have to take my word for it. Just look back at the history of nations like Germany, Rome, Japan and others and tell me, is it worth it? Is Nationalism worth the price we have to pay? Not only is it destructive to our nation's future, but to our freedoms and liberties.

Benjamin Franklin one of our founders has said that the man who trades his liberty for security deserves neither and will lose both. Is this not what is happening now? Have the majority of Americans not bought into the destructive doctrine of Nationalism? Has our government not given us promises of a safer America at the cost of many of our most dear freedoms? America, it is time to wake up!

The Power of Thought

I have somewhat been influenced to write this from something I was discussing on Religious Forums, and I feel it's important to write it now whilst it's in my mind. I begin with this quote from the Buddha to start this discussion on the power of thought.

"We are as we have thought. All that we are stems from our thoughts. Think happy thoughts and happiness will follow you, like a cart follows a horse. Think sorrowful thoughts and sorrow will follow you, like a cart that follows a horse. 'He struck me, he cheated me, he robbed me.' Those who harbor such thoughts never find peace. 'He struck me, he cheated me, he robbed me.' Those who give up such thoughts find peace."- Buddha

We see then that we are driven by our thoughts. Often the only thing we need to do to be happy is to think happy and not allow negative thoughts to overcome our mind. One asks how the Mystic can say all is well, when the world is in dire straights. This is how the Mystic remains happy, by maintaining a positive state of mind.

The Buddha taught that if one wants to maintain positive mind one must be in the world like a rock in the ocean, so that just as the waves storm against the rock, but cannot bring it down, so the things of the world cannot bring us down. Again, we should be as water, for people throw all kinds of disgusting things into water, and the water is not repulsed. Hence the key to be happy is to just allow yourself to be.

When negative thoughts come and the world gets you down, don't allow these thoughts to reign in your mind. Drive these thoughts out with happy and good thoughts. Then you will know peace. All one has to do to know peace, is to be peace.

Then one asks me how to be "aware". There is no such thing as "becoming aware". You are already aware, you just have to realize it. You have to give up conditioned thought forms and ways of thinking that bog down the mind and be what you already are.

Happiness, joy, awareness, if you think on these things, so you are. You ask how to be happy and think all is well in this troubled world today. Do not think on the troubles, maintain happiness, and you will be happy.

Spiritual Resurrection in the Bible?

Yep, you better believe it! The concept of spiritual resurrection is all over the New Testament. I as a Gnostic have often encountered Christians claiming that the idea of spiritual resurrection is false, heretical, and never appears in the New Testament at all. People who take this view usually use the following verse as proof:

1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

While that is all well and good, it doesn't tell us much on it's own, except that Christ has been raised. It doesn't go into details about what Christ being raised is, and people usually assume it must mean bodily resurrection, because that's what they are taught to believe. However, that verse can tell us nothing more then that Christ has been raised.

However, I can prove that spiritual resurrection is all over the Bible. Let's examine some verses shall we?

Colossians 2:12  For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.

John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

We see through these few verses that the concept of spiritual resurrection is certainly supported in the Bible. Colossians says you are buried with Christ when you are baptized, and raised to new life. The one from Romans says something similar, and Jesus says in John that anyone who hears his words 'has already' passed from death unto life. 

Now I have effectively demonstrated that spiritual resurrection, what many call un-biblical and a Gnostic heresy, is indeed not so. This idea is found in the scriptures, and it was believed by the earliest church, including St. Paul, the champion of Gnosticism as Marcion of Sinope the Gnostic father so spoke. 

Spiritual resurrection is in the New Testament, and it is the true resurrection, so if anyone believes they haven't yet attained the resurrection then they've missed out on what the scriptures say.

Personal Understanding of Maya

"Maya", a term those of us in dharmic religions know well. This is the term we use to describe this world, the world of material things and sensations, the realm of this life. Often the word Maya is used to somehow infer that this world is not real, when in fact, all it means is illusionary.

We've all seen those Hollywood movies where the hero becomes trapped in some sort of illusion cast over him by the villain, in which though the illusion isn't real, what he experiences in it is. He still feels pain, pleasure, thrill, sadness, and the like inside the illusion. In some way, the illusion cast by the villain, though not real, is based on what is real.

I would put forth that this world is just like that. When I say "Maya", I don't mean to infer that this world is entirely unreal, or that nothing experienced in it is real. On the contrary, we experience real things inside this realm, because this realm to some degree shares elements of the true reality.


However, just like the villain casting the illusion over the hero in a Hollywood film, so that he still experiences sensations, but doesn't see the truth behind them, so is this world. We experience sensations, but we don't see the truth behind the sensation.

One of the more unreal, or shall I say not lasting things about life in this realm is materialism. People see material goods, but they don't see the true reality behind the material. They spend a lifetime wanting and going after things because they only see the outward. If they knew the true reality that all is connected they would see that they are in fact grasping at "nothing".

Going after material goods is like going after nothing, quite literally. There is something within all things that connects all things, and if you see that what is within you, is also within the material object, and that just as the material object can perish, so you too will one day perish, then you will stop wanting to grasp constantly for material goods. What is within you and within the material object, the unchanging, unconditioned, all-prevading, is the true reality.

What you experience when you feel pleasure from obtaining material goods is only a temporary pleasure. Yet, if you understood the true reality, you could be content. Hence, contentment is the real emotion, grounded in the true reality, and pleasure is only a carnal sense emotion, grounded in Maya. Carnal sense emotion is not unreal, rather it is a cheapened version of what is real, contentment.

What one sees in the true reality is always more real and lasting just as when the hero in a movie sees the illusion the villain has tricked him with overcomes it. Maya is not what is not real, for it has it's grounding in what is real. Denying Maya is a sure way for one to never move beyond it, for one must acknowledge there is a higher state then sense emotions before they can attain to that higher thing.

Namaste friends