Introduction to the Ancient Essenes and the Modern Essene Church of Christ
by Brother Day, D.D.
This article is intended as a basic overview of the ancient Essenes, and an invitation to participate in the modern Essene Church of Christ. Rather than examine one aspect of the Essene teachings in great detail, we will touch briefly on many aspects in order to provide a general introduction to the Essenes. We will begin with a look at ancient Essene origins and history, then consider Essene cosmology and theology. Having established what the ancient Essenes believed about life, we will then consider how they actually lived: We will examine their lifestyle. We will conclude with an invitation to participate in the modern Essene Church of Christ.
Origin and History of the Ancient Essenes
We will consider the opinions of various scholars -- both ancient and modern -- on Essene origins. Most important, we will consider the opinion of the Essenes themselves in regard to their origin. We will begin with two ancient scholars, both of whom were contemporaries of the first century Essenes: Josephus Flavius and Philo of Alexandria. Josephus, born at Jerusalem in 37 A.D., was the greatest historian of the Jews in that period. Philo was the greatest Jewish philosopher of that period. Both men had personal knowledge of the ancient Essenes; thus, what they tell us has a high degree of credibility. In regard to the origin of the Essenes, neither Josephus nor Philo can give a specific date, but both make clear that the Essenian roots are incredibly ancient. Josephus declares that the Essenes have existed "from time immemorial" and "countless generations". Philo agrees, calling the Essenes "the most ancient of all the initiates" with a "teaching perpetuated through an immense space of ages". Josephus and Philo -- as well as several other ancient writers including Pliny the Elder -- are in consensus on two points in regard to the origin of the Essenes:
The fact that Enoch was considered the "founder" or "initiator" of the Essenes can even be seen in his name; the word "Enoch" means in Hebrew: "founder", "initiator", "centralizer". A modern scholar, Edmond Bordeaux Szekely, in his excellent book From Enoch to the Dead Sea Scrolls, writes:
"The origin of the [Essene] brotherhood is said to be unknown.... Some believe it comes from Enoch, and claim him to be their founder."
After the original founding of the Essenes by Enoch, many centuries passed in which the Essenes existed as a Mystery School, out of the eyes of the public. Finally, it was time for a major remanifestation of the Essenes, for their numbers had dwindled to the point of near extinction. Moses was the man chosen by God to guide the remanifestation of the Essenes. Both the ancient scholar Philo, and a modern scholar, Rabbi Harvey Falk (in his Another Look at the Jewishness of Jesus), informs us that Moses trained thousands of disciples as Essenes. The Essenes themselves describe that event in one of their most important texts: The Essene Book of Moses. In that text, God, at Mount Sinai, gave Moses the Essene Communions on a stone tablet. It was hoped that all the Jewish people would follow the way of life described on that tablet. But when Moses descended Mount Sinai and met with the people, it was clear that the majority were not ready to follow the esoteric Essene teachings engraved on that tablet. Heavy of heart, Moses again climbed Mount Sinai and asked God for an exoteric, easier set of teachings for the masses who were not ready to receive the esoteric Essene teachings. ("esoteric" means "inner circle"; "exoteric" means "outer circle".) God responded by giving the famous Ten Commandments on a second stone tablet; those commandments would be for the masses. Moses was to keep the esoteric Essene Communions for "the Children of Light," for only they could understand them. We read:
"And the Lord called unto Moses out of the mountain, saying, 'Come unto me, for I would give thee the Law for thy people, which shall be a covenant for the Children of Light'.... And God spake all these words, saying, 'I am the Law, thy God, which hath brought thee out from the depths of the bondage of darkness.... I am the invisible law, without beginning and without end.... If thou forsake me, thou shalt be visited by disasters for generation upon generation. If thou keepest my commandments, thou shalt enter the Infinite Garden where stands the Tree of Life in the midst of the Eternal Sea.'"
At that point, God then gave Moses the Essene Communions on the first tablet. Besides the Communions, that tablet included a synopsis of the main Essene teachings, including vegetarianism: "Thou shalt not take the life of any living thing." Our text then continues:
"And the people knew not what became of Moses, and they gathered themselves... and made a molten calf. And they worshipped unto the idol, and offered to it burnt offerings. And they ate and drank and danced before the golden calf... and they abandoned themselves to corruption and evil before the Lord."
The reference above to "burnt offerings" is a reference to "animal sacrifice". When Moses returned he found the people offering bloody animal sacrifices to their golden idol. Although he knew that these people had not "the ears to hear" the esoteric Essene tablet, -- they were given the exoteric Ten Commandments instead -- Moses preserved the Essene teachings for the Children of Light (the Essenes became known as the "Children of Light"); we read:
"And Moses hid the invisible Law within his breast, and kept it for a sign for the Children of Light."
It was at this time, according to both the ancient scholar Philo and the modern scholar Falk, that Moses trained 2,000 of the spiritual "elect" -- those Jews who had remained vegetarian and refused to participate in animal sacrifice and idol worship -- to be Essenes. AND FROM THIS TIME ON THE ESSENES EXISTED AS AN ESOTERIC MINORITY SECT. (Note: When modern scholars assert that the Essenes of Qumran were founded about 200 years before the time of Jesus, they are correct in regard to that one Essene group at Qumran; but the overall Essene movement is far more ancient.)
Although the Essenes began as an esoteric minority sect within Judaism, they went on to become the very first "Christians," called "Essene-Nazarenes" or "Ebionites". That happened as follows. Several hundred years before the birth of Jesus, the head priest of the Essenes, known as the "Teacher of Righteousness", had a vision: An Angel told him that a great Avatar, the Mashiakh (Christ Messiah), would come to Earth through the Essenes. But for this to occur, according to the Angel, the Essenes must follow certain disciplines in order to create a physical body capable of withstanding the powerful vibrations of the Christ Spirit, as well as a group energy powerful enough to open an "energy vortex" or "doorway" into this space-time dimension through which the Christ would enter. The prescribed disciplines were called the "Essene Halakoth". The group energy for the creation of an "energy vortex" was generated by forming Essene communal villages dedicated to practicing the "Halakoth" in a group context. In the Winter issue of "The Essene Path", Rev. Michael Robinson provided related information:
"Essene prophets who were attuned to the will of the Almighty, by virtue of their Holy meditations and their lifestyle of Righteousness, prepared for generations for the arrival of the Messiah of Peace. Genealogies were consulted and candidates were chosen and raised to a holy life. Pure diet, free of the taint of death and blood, as well as training in the Essene mysteries, brought forth children of a Holy nature, from which new candidates were chosen."
In the book, Edgar Cayce's Story of Jesus, edited by Jeffrey Furst, we read:
"... the Essenes... dedicated their lives, their minds, their bodies to a purpose, to a seeking for that which had been to them a promise of old.... Hence, there was the continued preparation and dedication of those who might be the channels through which this chosen vessel might enter -- through choice -- into this material realm. Thus in Carmel -- where there were the chief priests and leaders of this faith -- there were the maidens chosen who were dedicated to this purpose.... Among them was Mary, the beloved, the chosen one."
Again from Cayce:
"The Essenes were dedicated to their purpose and made holy Mount Carmel their headquarters. This was the original place where the school of prophets was established during Elijah's time....
"Here, the Essenes prepared themselves for several generations to open as it were a door into this realm for the Messiah.... And he became known as Jesus the Nazarene, for he was of the Essenian sect of Nazarenes in the region of Carmel."
In regard to the above references to the Essene headquarters at Mount Carmel and Jesus being affiliated with the Essenian sect of Nazarenes in the region of Carmel, there is much supporting evidence. Indeed, it is quite clear that the headquarters of the entire Essene movement was Mount Carmel in Northern Israel, not Qumran in Southern Israel, and that Jesus was primarily associated with Carmel. Equally clear is the fact that the Northern Essenes in the region of Mount Carmel were called "Nazarenes". The fact that nearly every major event associated with the life of Jesus occurred in Northern Israel, is strong evidence that Jesus lived most of his life in Northern Israel. Only four events of Jesus' life occurred in Southern Israel (his birth in Bethlehem; his visit to the temple when he was 12; his baptism by John; and his final journey to Jerusalem) and each of those events is clearly described as occurring after making a long journey from his home in Northern Israel. Mount Carmel, the Essene-Nazarene headquarters, was in Northern Israel; Qumran, the Essene Monastery where John the Baptist lived (and where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered), was in Southern Israel. THERE IS SOLID CONSENSUS AMONGST SCHOLARS THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS FROM QUMRAN: the location on the Jordan river where tradition tells us John performed his baptisms is exactly where the Jordan river connects with the Dead Sea near Qumran, and everything we know about John matches up perfectly with what is known about the Qumran Essenes. When Jesus came to be baptized by his cousin John, The New Testament and other manuscripts tell us that John did not recognize Jesus; obviously, if Jesus and John lived together at Qumran, they would have recognized each other. This is strong evidence that Jesus was a Northern Essene associated with Mount Carmel, not a Southern Essene from Qumran. In Mystic Christianity, by Yogi Ramacharaka, we read:
"Jesus came unannounced to, and unrecognized by John.... Although the two were cousins, they had not met since childhood, and John did not at first recognize Jesus. The traditions of the Mystic Orders further state that Jesus then gave to John the various signs of the Mystery Schools to which they both belonged, working from the common signs up until Jesus passed on to degrees to which John had not attained, although he was an eminent high-degree Essene. Whereupon John saw that the man before him was no common applicant for Baptism, but was, instead, a highest-degree Mystic Adept, his superior in rank and unfoldment."
While the New Testament does not include all of the esoteric information above, it does declare that John -- the Qumran Baptist -- DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIS COUSIN JESUS.
The fact that Jesus was not from Qumran DOES NOT MEAN HE WAS NOT AN ESSENE. Often, when orthodox Christian scholars are attempting to prove that Jesus was not an Essene, they point out certain differences between the teachings of Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls. (They often point out that Jesus' doctrine is less strict in some matters than the 'Community Rule' of the Qumran Dead Sea Scrolls; by doing so, they think they are proving that Jesus was not an Essene.) But they are missing the point: QUMRAN WAS ONLY ONE OF MANY DIVERSE ESSENE COMMUNITIES. Whereas Qumran was a strict monastic commune for celibate men, some other Essene communities -- such as Mount Carmel and the related Nazarene stronghold of Nazareth -- were for entire families and naturally had more relaxed rules. The teachings of Jesus were more a product of the Northern Essene environment of Mount Carmel than Qumran. I quote from Peter Lemesurier's The Armageddon Script:
"Admittedly, Jesus was often considerably more forthcoming (less secretive) than the typical Qumran Essene, but then it should be remembered that he was not a Qumran Essene. Not only was he a 'Carmelite' or 'Nazarene', a product of the Essene movement's necessarily 'ecumenical' headquarters-group, but he was the intended messianic Priest-King, the ultimate 'Interpreter of the Law'.... As such, his rank was superior by far to the rest of the Essene leadership, even to the original Teacher of Righteousness. Consequently, he was free to interpret the Law and the Prophets in his own way and to whom he pleased, as the spirit guided him."
Thus, the differences between the teachings of Jesus and the Qumran Essenes are due to:
"... historical evidence that it (Nazareth) existed at the time is entirely lacking. The tradition almost certainly goes back to the fact that the family were members of the Nazarene sect of the Essenes. This group seems to have become the dominant one on Carmel, to the point where the word 'Nazarene' came to be applied to the Northern Essenes in general. It is possible, of course, that the Essenes had a camp in the vicinity of the modern Nazareth."
Thus, the term "Jesus of Nazareth" was originally "Jesus the Nazarene", and a "Nazarene" is a "Northern Essene" associated with Mount Carmel. Which is why in the New Testament Book of Acts, the early Christians' are referred to as "the sect of the Nazarenes."
Having accepted Jesus as the Messiah they had been waiting for, the Essene-Nazarenes became the first Christians. These first followers of Jesus were still called "Essene Nazarenes" or simply "Nazarenes". They were not called "Christians" (which means "Messianists" or "followers of the Messiah") until many years later.
We have now concluded our overview of ancient Essene origins and history. As promised in the introductory paragraph, we will next consider Essene cosmology and theology. Since the Essene cosmology and theology reached its pinnacle in the teachings of Jesus -- he being the Messiah they had prepared for -- our focus will be the Essene cosmology and theology articulated by Jesus.
Summary of the Living Essene WayThese four principles are the articulation of the Living Essene Way as revealed to Rav Gabriel Cousens and confirmed by the Essene community.
The Essene Communions
Essene Invocation
To awaken your eyes to the Divine Radiance When humanity's eyes are on the material world Is not easy.
But the most difficult ofan
Is to be the thoughts ofthe Adonai, To Speak the words ofthe Adonai And to do the will ofAdonai.
As the children inherit the land oftheir parents So have we inherited a Holy Land.from our parents.
This land is not a.field to be ploughed, But a place within us
Where we may build our Holy Temple. And even as a temple must be raised Stone by stone
So will I give to you those stones For the building ofthe Holy Temple.
The Holy Temple can be built With the ancient Communions: Those which are spoken, Those which are thought,
And those which are lived.
For �fthey are spoken only with the mouth, They are as a dead hive
Which the bees have.forsaken, That gives no more honey
The Communions are a bridge Between humanity and God.
And like a bridge
Can be built only with patience. The living of 14 Communions
Is the sacred Tree of Life which stands in the Sea of Eternity.
Hear me, Children of Light, for I impart to you the gift of tongues that by communing with the Creation of Elohim in the morning,
And with the Inner Radiance in the Evening,
You may go closer and closer to uniting the inner and outer lights. And reclaim that Oneness for which the Sons and Daughters of Humanity are destined from the beginning of times.
FRIDAY COMMUNIONS
Morning Communion with the ANGEL OF AIR:
My heart is filled with gratitude to you, Yah, for providing me With the Angel of Air.
May I be blessed that the Angel of Air enter with my breath And give the Air of Life to my body.
I commune with the Holy Breath Which is placed higher
Than all other things created. For, lo, the eternal sovereign Luminous space,
Where rule the unnumbered stars, Is the air we breathe Out.
And in the moment betwixt the breathing in And the breathing out
Is hidden all the mysteries Of the infi nite garden.
Evening Communion with GOD:
Adonai, I, are One. And as I close my eyes, As a Child of the Light ,
in sleep, 1 enter into the unknown realms of Adonai .
1 bathe in the light of the stars,
And I am held by the hand of Adonai Elohim. A spring of knowledge wells up within me,
A fountain o_f power, Pouring forth !i- ing waters.
A flood of love,
And all-embracing wisdom--
..
Like the splendor of Light.
And one day the eyes of my spirit shall open And I shall know all things.
Before the beginning of time,
The Holy Tree of Life sprang from the All Radiant One Which endures forever in the midst of the Eternal Sea.
High in its branches sings a bird. And those who have journeyed there
And have heard the mysterious song of the bird
Are those who shall know The Radiance of the Universe.
They shall ask for a name of the Radiant Light And the answer shall be "I Am That I Am, " Being the same as the Eternal I AM
SATURDAY COMMUNIONS
Morning Communion with THE LIVING PLANET:
My heart is grateful for the emanation of the Earth from the Divine Radiance.
The Earth and I are one.
The Earth 's breath is my breath. The Earth 's blood is my blood.
The Earth's bon_e, flesh, bowels, eyes and ears Are my bone, my_flesh, my bowels and my ears.
Never will ! forsake the natural rhythms and nurturance o_f your planetary love - offering.
And always will the Earth nourish and sustain my body. And I will feel the power of Elohim, Creator o_f Earth Flowing through my body.
Like a river when it is swollen with rains And courses mightily with a great noise.
For none can live long , or be happy Unless one honors God's Creation And abides in the Living Law.
Honor God's g(ft o_f this Earth That thy days be long upon the land.
Evening Communion with the ANGEL OF ETERNAL LIFE:
My heart is grateful.for the emanation of the Angel o_f Eternal L{fe.from the Divine Radiance.
Adonai Elohim, may you bless me and give eternal life to my spirit.
I close my eyes as a Child of Light,
And in sleep contemplate the Oneness o_f all life everywhere.
For I tell you Jruly,
In the daylight hours are my feet on the ground, And I have no wings with which to fly.
But my spirit is not tied to the earth
And with the coming of night
I overcome my attachment to the Earth And join with that which is Eternal.
For the Children of Humanity are not always as they seem.
And only with the eyes of the spirit Can I see those golden threads Which link me with life everywhere.
The Angel of Eternal Life
Brings the message of Eternity to us all.
For one who walks with the Angels of Adonai Elohim Shall soon learn to soar
Above the clouds.
And their home shall be The Eternal Sea Where stands the sacred Tree of Life.
SUNDAY COMMUNIONS
Morning Communion with the ANGEL OF TOPSOIL:
My heart is grateful for the emanation of the gift of your topsoil and power of Regeneration.
May I be blessed that all my seeds are fruitful, And with your grace give life to my body.
Even as your love creates new life,
So courses throughout the earth the Holy Seed In the grass, in the soil,
In all living things that grow.from the soil.
May I know as a Child of Light
That the same blessing of Elohim that makes my seed into Children A!so makes the tiny acorn into this might oak
And makes the seed-bearing wheat to grow.for bread.
Adonai Elohim sent the Angel of Regeneration As Holy messenger of the Radiance of the Universe,
To make the plants grow,
And to make fertile the womb of woman That the Earth may never be without The laughter of children.
Let us rejoice in the play of the Divine Radiance .
Evening Communion with the ANGEL OF CREATIVE WORK:
My heart is grateful to Elohim for gracing me through my work.
One who follows the Law fulfills their tasks Without attachment to the result;
And whose work is always an act of honoring God's will Does not need .furi'her blessings.
As I work in this way,
r
I always feel abundant,
So will the Angel of Creative Work nurture And ripen the seed of my spirit
That I may see the radiance of the Divine.
MONDAY COMMUNIONS
Morning Communion with the ANGEL OF LIFE: My heart is grateful to you, Elohim for filling me With the Life-Force of the Cosmos.
May you bless me so I am made vital with the Holy Life Force.
For lo, if the wax is not pure,
How then can the candle give a steady.flame?
Angel of L fe, enter, with strength, the limbs of my body And with these words embrace the Tree of Life
Even as I embrace this brother oak.
And I will.feel Adonai, through the Angel of L fe, Flow into my arms and to my legs
And to all parts of my body.
Evening Communion with the ANGEL OF PEACE:
My heart is grateful to Adonaiforfilling me with the Holy Light of your Peace.
Peace, Peace, Peace Be always everywhere.
l seek the Eternal Peace of God in all that lives.
In all I do,
In every word I speak.
For peace is the key to all knowledge To all mystery,
To all l( fe.
Where there is no peace, there does Darkness reign.
- And the children of Darkness covet, most of all, to steal.from the Children of Light, their peace.
I go therefore, on this night to the golden stream o_/L i ght.
And bring back to the morning the Peace o_f God that surpasses understanding
That I may comfort the hearts o_f the Children o_/Light.
But to the soul that bath not Peace, There is no place to build within The Holy Temple .
For how can the carpenter build In the midst of a whirlwind?
The seed ofviolerrce can reap Only a harvest o_f desolation. And from the parched clay
Can grow no living thing.
Peace dwells in the heart of silence. Be still and know that I am God
TUESDAY COMMUNIONS
Morning Communion with the ANGEL OF JOY:
My heart is grateful to you
I am, Adonai Elohim, for filling me with your Holy Joy. grateful.for the joy of the Eternal Radiance
Which gives beauty to all humanity.
For Adonai Elohim is not worshipped with sadness, Nor with cries of despair.
I leave my moans and lamentations And sing to the lord a new song.
I sing unto the Lord of the Earth: Let the heavens rejoice!
And let the Earth be glad! Let the.fields be joyfulI
Let the floods clap their handsI Let the hills be joyful together Before Elohim.
For I shall go out with joy And be lead forth with Peace. The mountains and the hills
Shall break.forth before you into singing.
Angel of Joy,
Holy Messenger ofAdonai Elohim , I will sing unto the Lord
As long as I live.
I will sing praise to my God
While I have a single spark of joy within.
Evening Communionwith the ANGEL OF POWER:
My heart is grateful to you, Adonai, who.fills me with your Holy Power .
Angel of Power, .fill all my deeds with Hol y Power .
May I be blessed that as a Child of Light I will not only think And will not only.feel,
But I will also do.
And my acts will.fu(fill my thoughts and feelings As the golden fruit of summer gives meaning
To the green leaves of spring. May the golden river of power Always flow from Thee to me.
And may my body always turn unto Thee
.-
As the flower turns unto the sun. For there is no power save that
Of the Divine Radiance of Adonai. All else is but a dream of dust.
WEDNESDAY COMMUNIONS
Morning Communionswith the ANGEL OF THE SUN:
My heart is grateful to you, Elohim, creator of the Angel of the Sun, which reflects your Fountain of Light.
Thou dost pierce the darkness.
I am grateful for the rays of the Sun Which fill my days with life and warmth.
Angel of the Sun!
Dart forth thy rays upon me!
I give myself to Thee and thy embrace.
Blessed with the fire of life! A molten _fiood of holy joy
Flows toward mefrom Thee!" I feel the rays of the rising sun
Enter into the center point of my body.
There, in the center, where the Angels of day and night mingle The power of the sun shall be mine to direct to any part of my body.
Evening Communionwith the ANGEL OF LOVE:
My heart is grateful to you, Adonai, source of radiant love in the Universe.
May I be blessed that I am filled with your Angel of Love.
Please fill with love all my.feelings
For it is by love that I resonate with Blessed Adonai as Love. And in love may the outer and inner male and.female be united.
Love is eternal.
Love is stronger than death . And every night I shall bathe
In the holy water of the Angel of Love,
That with the morning I may baptize all Children of God With kind deeds and gentle words.
For when the hearts of the Children of Light Are bathed in Love,
Only kind and gentle words speak.forth. By this we know the Children of Light Those who walk with the.Angel of Love For they Love Adonai
And they love their brethren And they keep the Holy Law. Love thy neighbor as thy Se(f
THURSDAY COMMUNIONS
Morning Communionwith the ANGEL OF WATER:
My heart is grateful to you Elohim for creating the Water of Life. May I be blessed that I know the Water of Life.
In my blood flow
A thousand pure springs And vapors, and clouds And all the waters
That spread over all the seven Kingdoms.
All the waters
The Creator hath made are Holy.
May I be blessed that the Angel of Water Enter my blood
And give the water of Life to my body And I feel the rushing current of the river,
As the power of the Angel o_f Water enters my blood.
And like rivulets of a stream Send the power of Elohim
Through my blood to all the parts of my body.
And it shall be for healing
For the power of the Angel of Water is very great.
Evening Communion with the ANGEL OF WISDOM:
My heart is grateful to you Adonai for creating the Angel o_f Wisdom.
May I be blessed that your Holy Wisdom descend on me.
And. fill with wisdom all my thoughts.
May I know as a Child of Light
That thoughts are as powerful as the bolt of lightening that stabs Through a storm
And splits asunder the mighty tree.
That which is done without wisdom is as a riderless horse,.
Mouth foaming and eyes wild, Running crazed into a yawning chasm.
But when God's Wisdom governs my deeds, Then is the path to the unknown realism established
And order and harmony governs my l( fe.
Adonai, grant me the wisdom to know the difference between That which is Eternal and that which dwells in illusion.
Holy Wisdom, the understanding that unfolds continuously As a scroll, yet does not come through learning.
All wisdom cometh from Adonai the Blessed Who can tell the beginning of wisdom?
Wisdom hath been created
.-
Before all things
The crown of wisdom Makes peace and perfect health to flourish .
NOON COMMUNIONS OF THE SEVENFOLD PEACE
SATURDAY: Peace with Radiance of the the Universe
If I say that Adonai Dwelleth within me, Then are the heavens ashamed;
If I say that Adonai Dwelleth outside of me It is a falsehood.
The eye which scanneth the far horizon And the eye which seeth my heart
Is one eye.
Adonai is not man(fest Adonai is not hidden Adonai is neither revealed Nor unrevealed.
There are no words
To tell that which Adonai, the blessed is The One hath found peace
With the Radiant One Hath entered the Sanctuary
Of the Holy Law
For in the beginning was the Law And the Law was with God
And the Law was God
May the Sevenfold Peace of Adonai Elohim Be with me always.
SUNDAY: Peace with the Living Earth
Blessed is the Child a/Light Who knoweth the Creation of Adonai
For Adonai is the giver of l(fe. The light of Adonai is in me
And thou art a Divine spark resonating in the Radianc e of the Universe.
None can live long, neither be happy
But one who is grateful for the blessed Earthly creation of Adonai
MONDAY: Peace with Culture
Blessed am I, a Child of Light
Who doth study the Book of the Law For I shall be as a candle
In the darkness of night And an island of truth In a sea of falsehood..
The written Law
Is the instrument by which The unwritten Law is understood.
TUESDAY:Peace with Humanity
There shall be no peace among peoples Till there be one garden of humanity over the Earth.
WEDNESDAY:Peace with the Family
Let my love be as a sun
Which shines on all the creatures of the earth And does not favor one blade ofgrass for another.
And this love shallffow as a fountain From one heart to another .
For the one who hath found peace with the human family Hath entered into the kingdom of Love.
THURSDAY:Peace with the Mind
The crown of wisdom makes peace and per.fee{ health to flourish .
Bless me Adonai, that my power o_f thought is guided by Holy Wisdom And may my thoughts alwa ys come.from Love
And build a paradis e on Earth
May I be blessed that my thoughts upl(fi the soul o_f humanit y And are a healing blessing to the planet .
FRIDAY:Peace with the Body
May I be blessed as a Child ofLight To be strong in body
That I shall have oneness with the Earth For the one who hath.found peace with the body
Hath built a holy temple Wherein may dwell.forever The Spirit o_f God.
Before all things
The crown of wisdom Makes peace and perfect health to fl.ourish.
NOON COMMUNIONS OF THE SEVENFOLD PEACE
SATURDAY: Peace with Radiance of the the Universe
If I say that Adonai Dwelleth within me, Then are the heavens ashamed;
If I say that Adonai Dwelleth outside of me It is a falsehood.
The eye which scanneth the far horizon And the eye which seeth my heart
Is one eye.
Adonai is not manifest Adonai is not hidden Adonai is neither revealed Nor unrevealed.
There are no words
To tell that which Adonai, the blessed is The One hath found peace
With the Radiant One Hath entered the Sanctuary
Of the Holy Law
For in the beginning was the Law And the Law was with God
And the Law was God
May the Sevenfold Peace of Adonai Elohim Be with me always.
SU DAY: Peace with the Living Earth
Blessed is the Child o_/Light Who knoweth the Creation o.l Adonai
For Adonai is the giver o.ll( fe. The light o.lAdonai is in me
And thou art a Divine spark resonating in the Radiance o_/the Universe.
None can live long, neither be happy
But one who is grateful/or the blessed Earthly creation o_f Adonai
MONDAY: Peace with Culture
Blessed am I, a Child o_f Light
The Six Foundations for Spiritual Life
Gabriel Cousens M.D.,M.D.{H}
From "Spiritual Nutrition, Six Foundations for Spiritual Life and the Awakening of Kundalini"
SEVENFOLD PEACE
PEACE WITH THE BODY
This includes choosing to take responsibility for your own personal health and to improve the ecology of your personal body just as you would care for the planet. Dr. Cousens recommends exercising aerobically at least three times per week for one-half hour, practicing deep breathing at least once a day (with ten cycles of seven count in and seven-count out deep breaths), getting sufficient sleep and relaxation, and drinking sufficient pure water.
PEACE WITH THE MIND
Enhance your own inner peace by learning to meditate or pray, and do it on a daily basis. Enhance peace with the planetary mind by thinking positive thoughts and becoming a living-feeling prayer of peace, love, and compassion. Enhance peace with the cosmic mind by trying to begin each thought, word, and action with love, compass io n, and peace.
PEACE WITH THE FAMILY
Forgive everybody. Forgiveness ends the negative memory and dispels the energy of conflict. Forgiveness is the blessing of living peace. The power of becoming a feeling prayer of peace is that it allows us to activate the hologram of peace that exists somewhere in every person and in every family, tribe, and culture.
PEACE WITH THE COMMUNITY
Make a point to volunteer or contribute to humanitarian causes and organizations. Check with any local peace center for a list of causes and ways to contribute. Develop your livelihood so that it supports or expresses your personal and planetary peace values. Start this one step at a time. It may take several years, so be patient and persistent.
PEACE WITH ALL CULTURES
Participate in art, music, drama, or other cultural events that inspire and connect you with the eternal values of love, peace, beauty, truth, and the Divine in all. Make peace with your own cultural roots. Ask your parents or grandparents for stories about your cultural origins. Try to find and appreciate the flourishing of peace and joy in all cultures.
PEACE WITH THE ECOLOGY
Become conscious of the ways in which you participate in a global system that draws from natural resources, and recognize how Ego-driven desires for accumulation of material goods, power, wealth, and status have led to an imbalanced distribution of these resources among the beings on this planet. Commit yourself to reflection on your present relationship to ecology, and then strive to ensure your personal material consumption habits, as well' as those of your community , your nat io n, and all of humanity reflect the highest intention to promote a more just relationship with the natural ecology and all beings on the Earth.
PEACE WITH THE DIVINE
Find your own personal way to connect with the Divine every day. Allow yourself to express in the world as the living will and flow of the Divine.
Essene Core Statements of Life & Liberation
• Be still and know that I Am That - Hanoch
This one statement sums up the Essene Way as a complete path of Liberation.
Adam comes from Adamah and thus humans contain the resonance of the earth. Through history from the time of Cain and the introduction of technology by the fallen angels, we have rebelled agai nst the natural resonant harmony with the earth.
ou hall kno that you have returned to yourself, for in hiding from nature, you hid om ·ourself. d ou will recognize on that day: nothing had been according to your
measure. ;ou must renew everything: your food and your drink, your dress and your home. ;our character of your work, and the way that you learn-e verything ..."
1
Haggadah: Variations of the Theme of the Future by A.D. Gordon transfated by Jeremy Schwartz
2
• "The living waters shall spring fourth out of Jerusalem and split into rivers that will flow everywhere to heal all creatures inflicted with disease." - Ezekiel 47:9
Their young ones shall lie down together, And the lion shall eat straw like the ox...
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain."
-Isaiah 11:69
epan. and the hill be remov ed ; but My kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall
3
My covenant of peace be removed, says HaShem that has compassion on you." -Isaiah 54: 4-10
"That (the world of atzilut) can not be known by consciousness." -Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
"Eyn zo le to"-There is only God.
"May you live to see your world fulfilled, your planet healed.
May you be our link to future worlds, and may your hope encompass all the generations of life and to be.
May your heart conceive with understanding, may your mouth speak with wisdom, and your tongue be stirred with songs of joy.
May your gaze be straight and sure, your eyes be lit with Torah's lamp, your face aglow with heaven's radiance, your lips speak words of knowledge.
May your inners rejoice in foods whose seeds are righteousness.
And may you always rush with eagerness to hear the Truth of the unity who is more ancient than all time and every present in all beings."
- Talmud Vavli V'Rachot 17A
"All the ills which men [and women] suffer are caused by those things without us; for what is within us can never make us suffer. Nothing real can ever be lost or taken away."
-Essene Gospel of Peace, Book 2
"For to weigh thy happiness according to that which may befall thee, is to live as a slave. And to live according to the Angels which speak within thee, is to be free." -Essene Gospel of Peace, Book 2
4
_.,.
5
planet. On that day says the Lord ofhosts, every neighbor will be invited to come under His divine tree and his fig tree." -Zachariah 3:8-10
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rejoice in his work; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?" -Qohelet 3:13-14, 22
7
by Brother Day, D.D.
This article is intended as a basic overview of the ancient Essenes, and an invitation to participate in the modern Essene Church of Christ. Rather than examine one aspect of the Essene teachings in great detail, we will touch briefly on many aspects in order to provide a general introduction to the Essenes. We will begin with a look at ancient Essene origins and history, then consider Essene cosmology and theology. Having established what the ancient Essenes believed about life, we will then consider how they actually lived: We will examine their lifestyle. We will conclude with an invitation to participate in the modern Essene Church of Christ.
Origin and History of the Ancient Essenes
We will consider the opinions of various scholars -- both ancient and modern -- on Essene origins. Most important, we will consider the opinion of the Essenes themselves in regard to their origin. We will begin with two ancient scholars, both of whom were contemporaries of the first century Essenes: Josephus Flavius and Philo of Alexandria. Josephus, born at Jerusalem in 37 A.D., was the greatest historian of the Jews in that period. Philo was the greatest Jewish philosopher of that period. Both men had personal knowledge of the ancient Essenes; thus, what they tell us has a high degree of credibility. In regard to the origin of the Essenes, neither Josephus nor Philo can give a specific date, but both make clear that the Essenian roots are incredibly ancient. Josephus declares that the Essenes have existed "from time immemorial" and "countless generations". Philo agrees, calling the Essenes "the most ancient of all the initiates" with a "teaching perpetuated through an immense space of ages". Josephus and Philo -- as well as several other ancient writers including Pliny the Elder -- are in consensus on two points in regard to the origin of the Essenes:
- Their origin is lost in pre-history with certain ancient legends linking them with Enoch;
- There was a major remanifestation of the Essenes by Moses at Mount Sinai.
The fact that Enoch was considered the "founder" or "initiator" of the Essenes can even be seen in his name; the word "Enoch" means in Hebrew: "founder", "initiator", "centralizer". A modern scholar, Edmond Bordeaux Szekely, in his excellent book From Enoch to the Dead Sea Scrolls, writes:
"The origin of the [Essene] brotherhood is said to be unknown.... Some believe it comes from Enoch, and claim him to be their founder."
After the original founding of the Essenes by Enoch, many centuries passed in which the Essenes existed as a Mystery School, out of the eyes of the public. Finally, it was time for a major remanifestation of the Essenes, for their numbers had dwindled to the point of near extinction. Moses was the man chosen by God to guide the remanifestation of the Essenes. Both the ancient scholar Philo, and a modern scholar, Rabbi Harvey Falk (in his Another Look at the Jewishness of Jesus), informs us that Moses trained thousands of disciples as Essenes. The Essenes themselves describe that event in one of their most important texts: The Essene Book of Moses. In that text, God, at Mount Sinai, gave Moses the Essene Communions on a stone tablet. It was hoped that all the Jewish people would follow the way of life described on that tablet. But when Moses descended Mount Sinai and met with the people, it was clear that the majority were not ready to follow the esoteric Essene teachings engraved on that tablet. Heavy of heart, Moses again climbed Mount Sinai and asked God for an exoteric, easier set of teachings for the masses who were not ready to receive the esoteric Essene teachings. ("esoteric" means "inner circle"; "exoteric" means "outer circle".) God responded by giving the famous Ten Commandments on a second stone tablet; those commandments would be for the masses. Moses was to keep the esoteric Essene Communions for "the Children of Light," for only they could understand them. We read:
"And the Lord called unto Moses out of the mountain, saying, 'Come unto me, for I would give thee the Law for thy people, which shall be a covenant for the Children of Light'.... And God spake all these words, saying, 'I am the Law, thy God, which hath brought thee out from the depths of the bondage of darkness.... I am the invisible law, without beginning and without end.... If thou forsake me, thou shalt be visited by disasters for generation upon generation. If thou keepest my commandments, thou shalt enter the Infinite Garden where stands the Tree of Life in the midst of the Eternal Sea.'"
At that point, God then gave Moses the Essene Communions on the first tablet. Besides the Communions, that tablet included a synopsis of the main Essene teachings, including vegetarianism: "Thou shalt not take the life of any living thing." Our text then continues:
"And the people knew not what became of Moses, and they gathered themselves... and made a molten calf. And they worshipped unto the idol, and offered to it burnt offerings. And they ate and drank and danced before the golden calf... and they abandoned themselves to corruption and evil before the Lord."
The reference above to "burnt offerings" is a reference to "animal sacrifice". When Moses returned he found the people offering bloody animal sacrifices to their golden idol. Although he knew that these people had not "the ears to hear" the esoteric Essene tablet, -- they were given the exoteric Ten Commandments instead -- Moses preserved the Essene teachings for the Children of Light (the Essenes became known as the "Children of Light"); we read:
"And Moses hid the invisible Law within his breast, and kept it for a sign for the Children of Light."
It was at this time, according to both the ancient scholar Philo and the modern scholar Falk, that Moses trained 2,000 of the spiritual "elect" -- those Jews who had remained vegetarian and refused to participate in animal sacrifice and idol worship -- to be Essenes. AND FROM THIS TIME ON THE ESSENES EXISTED AS AN ESOTERIC MINORITY SECT. (Note: When modern scholars assert that the Essenes of Qumran were founded about 200 years before the time of Jesus, they are correct in regard to that one Essene group at Qumran; but the overall Essene movement is far more ancient.)
Although the Essenes began as an esoteric minority sect within Judaism, they went on to become the very first "Christians," called "Essene-Nazarenes" or "Ebionites". That happened as follows. Several hundred years before the birth of Jesus, the head priest of the Essenes, known as the "Teacher of Righteousness", had a vision: An Angel told him that a great Avatar, the Mashiakh (Christ Messiah), would come to Earth through the Essenes. But for this to occur, according to the Angel, the Essenes must follow certain disciplines in order to create a physical body capable of withstanding the powerful vibrations of the Christ Spirit, as well as a group energy powerful enough to open an "energy vortex" or "doorway" into this space-time dimension through which the Christ would enter. The prescribed disciplines were called the "Essene Halakoth". The group energy for the creation of an "energy vortex" was generated by forming Essene communal villages dedicated to practicing the "Halakoth" in a group context. In the Winter issue of "The Essene Path", Rev. Michael Robinson provided related information:
"Essene prophets who were attuned to the will of the Almighty, by virtue of their Holy meditations and their lifestyle of Righteousness, prepared for generations for the arrival of the Messiah of Peace. Genealogies were consulted and candidates were chosen and raised to a holy life. Pure diet, free of the taint of death and blood, as well as training in the Essene mysteries, brought forth children of a Holy nature, from which new candidates were chosen."
In the book, Edgar Cayce's Story of Jesus, edited by Jeffrey Furst, we read:
"... the Essenes... dedicated their lives, their minds, their bodies to a purpose, to a seeking for that which had been to them a promise of old.... Hence, there was the continued preparation and dedication of those who might be the channels through which this chosen vessel might enter -- through choice -- into this material realm. Thus in Carmel -- where there were the chief priests and leaders of this faith -- there were the maidens chosen who were dedicated to this purpose.... Among them was Mary, the beloved, the chosen one."
Again from Cayce:
"The Essenes were dedicated to their purpose and made holy Mount Carmel their headquarters. This was the original place where the school of prophets was established during Elijah's time....
"Here, the Essenes prepared themselves for several generations to open as it were a door into this realm for the Messiah.... And he became known as Jesus the Nazarene, for he was of the Essenian sect of Nazarenes in the region of Carmel."
In regard to the above references to the Essene headquarters at Mount Carmel and Jesus being affiliated with the Essenian sect of Nazarenes in the region of Carmel, there is much supporting evidence. Indeed, it is quite clear that the headquarters of the entire Essene movement was Mount Carmel in Northern Israel, not Qumran in Southern Israel, and that Jesus was primarily associated with Carmel. Equally clear is the fact that the Northern Essenes in the region of Mount Carmel were called "Nazarenes". The fact that nearly every major event associated with the life of Jesus occurred in Northern Israel, is strong evidence that Jesus lived most of his life in Northern Israel. Only four events of Jesus' life occurred in Southern Israel (his birth in Bethlehem; his visit to the temple when he was 12; his baptism by John; and his final journey to Jerusalem) and each of those events is clearly described as occurring after making a long journey from his home in Northern Israel. Mount Carmel, the Essene-Nazarene headquarters, was in Northern Israel; Qumran, the Essene Monastery where John the Baptist lived (and where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered), was in Southern Israel. THERE IS SOLID CONSENSUS AMONGST SCHOLARS THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS FROM QUMRAN: the location on the Jordan river where tradition tells us John performed his baptisms is exactly where the Jordan river connects with the Dead Sea near Qumran, and everything we know about John matches up perfectly with what is known about the Qumran Essenes. When Jesus came to be baptized by his cousin John, The New Testament and other manuscripts tell us that John did not recognize Jesus; obviously, if Jesus and John lived together at Qumran, they would have recognized each other. This is strong evidence that Jesus was a Northern Essene associated with Mount Carmel, not a Southern Essene from Qumran. In Mystic Christianity, by Yogi Ramacharaka, we read:
"Jesus came unannounced to, and unrecognized by John.... Although the two were cousins, they had not met since childhood, and John did not at first recognize Jesus. The traditions of the Mystic Orders further state that Jesus then gave to John the various signs of the Mystery Schools to which they both belonged, working from the common signs up until Jesus passed on to degrees to which John had not attained, although he was an eminent high-degree Essene. Whereupon John saw that the man before him was no common applicant for Baptism, but was, instead, a highest-degree Mystic Adept, his superior in rank and unfoldment."
While the New Testament does not include all of the esoteric information above, it does declare that John -- the Qumran Baptist -- DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIS COUSIN JESUS.
The fact that Jesus was not from Qumran DOES NOT MEAN HE WAS NOT AN ESSENE. Often, when orthodox Christian scholars are attempting to prove that Jesus was not an Essene, they point out certain differences between the teachings of Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls. (They often point out that Jesus' doctrine is less strict in some matters than the 'Community Rule' of the Qumran Dead Sea Scrolls; by doing so, they think they are proving that Jesus was not an Essene.) But they are missing the point: QUMRAN WAS ONLY ONE OF MANY DIVERSE ESSENE COMMUNITIES. Whereas Qumran was a strict monastic commune for celibate men, some other Essene communities -- such as Mount Carmel and the related Nazarene stronghold of Nazareth -- were for entire families and naturally had more relaxed rules. The teachings of Jesus were more a product of the Northern Essene environment of Mount Carmel than Qumran. I quote from Peter Lemesurier's The Armageddon Script:
"Admittedly, Jesus was often considerably more forthcoming (less secretive) than the typical Qumran Essene, but then it should be remembered that he was not a Qumran Essene. Not only was he a 'Carmelite' or 'Nazarene', a product of the Essene movement's necessarily 'ecumenical' headquarters-group, but he was the intended messianic Priest-King, the ultimate 'Interpreter of the Law'.... As such, his rank was superior by far to the rest of the Essene leadership, even to the original Teacher of Righteousness. Consequently, he was free to interpret the Law and the Prophets in his own way and to whom he pleased, as the spirit guided him."
Thus, the differences between the teachings of Jesus and the Qumran Essenes are due to:
- Jesus was raised at the more ecumenical, family-oriented Essene community at Mount Carmel; and,
- The Dead Sea Scrolls, wonderful as they are, were written by Essenes who were prayerfully preparing for the coming of the Universal Messiah, the Prince of Peace. Obviously, once the Messiah of the Universe came to earth, the words that came out of his mouth were far transcendant of even the best of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
"... historical evidence that it (Nazareth) existed at the time is entirely lacking. The tradition almost certainly goes back to the fact that the family were members of the Nazarene sect of the Essenes. This group seems to have become the dominant one on Carmel, to the point where the word 'Nazarene' came to be applied to the Northern Essenes in general. It is possible, of course, that the Essenes had a camp in the vicinity of the modern Nazareth."
Thus, the term "Jesus of Nazareth" was originally "Jesus the Nazarene", and a "Nazarene" is a "Northern Essene" associated with Mount Carmel. Which is why in the New Testament Book of Acts, the early Christians' are referred to as "the sect of the Nazarenes."
Having accepted Jesus as the Messiah they had been waiting for, the Essene-Nazarenes became the first Christians. These first followers of Jesus were still called "Essene Nazarenes" or simply "Nazarenes". They were not called "Christians" (which means "Messianists" or "followers of the Messiah") until many years later.
We have now concluded our overview of ancient Essene origins and history. As promised in the introductory paragraph, we will next consider Essene cosmology and theology. Since the Essene cosmology and theology reached its pinnacle in the teachings of Jesus -- he being the Messiah they had prepared for -- our focus will be the Essene cosmology and theology articulated by Jesus.
Summary of the Living Essene WayThese four principles are the articulation of the Living Essene Way as revealed to Rav Gabriel Cousens and confirmed by the Essene community.
- SH'MA ISRAEL ADONAI ELOHENU ADONAI EHAD... GOD IS ONE AND THE MANY.
- TESHUVA...TO RETURN TO GOD AND TO KNOW THE SELF.
- TIKKUN OLAM...TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HEALING AND SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE WORLD
- SHALOM...PEACE ON ALL SEVEN LEVELS Amen.
The Essene Communions
Essene Invocation
To awaken your eyes to the Divine Radiance When humanity's eyes are on the material world Is not easy.
But the most difficult ofan
Is to be the thoughts ofthe Adonai, To Speak the words ofthe Adonai And to do the will ofAdonai.
As the children inherit the land oftheir parents So have we inherited a Holy Land.from our parents.
This land is not a.field to be ploughed, But a place within us
Where we may build our Holy Temple. And even as a temple must be raised Stone by stone
So will I give to you those stones For the building ofthe Holy Temple.
The Holy Temple can be built With the ancient Communions: Those which are spoken, Those which are thought,
And those which are lived.
For �fthey are spoken only with the mouth, They are as a dead hive
Which the bees have.forsaken, That gives no more honey
The Communions are a bridge Between humanity and God.
And like a bridge
Can be built only with patience. The living of 14 Communions
Is the sacred Tree of Life which stands in the Sea of Eternity.
Hear me, Children of Light, for I impart to you the gift of tongues that by communing with the Creation of Elohim in the morning,
And with the Inner Radiance in the Evening,
You may go closer and closer to uniting the inner and outer lights. And reclaim that Oneness for which the Sons and Daughters of Humanity are destined from the beginning of times.
FRIDAY COMMUNIONS
Morning Communion with the ANGEL OF AIR:
My heart is filled with gratitude to you, Yah, for providing me With the Angel of Air.
May I be blessed that the Angel of Air enter with my breath And give the Air of Life to my body.
I commune with the Holy Breath Which is placed higher
Than all other things created. For, lo, the eternal sovereign Luminous space,
Where rule the unnumbered stars, Is the air we breathe Out.
And in the moment betwixt the breathing in And the breathing out
Is hidden all the mysteries Of the infi nite garden.
Evening Communion with GOD:
Adonai, I, are One. And as I close my eyes, As a Child of the Light ,
in sleep, 1 enter into the unknown realms of Adonai .
1 bathe in the light of the stars,
And I am held by the hand of Adonai Elohim. A spring of knowledge wells up within me,
A fountain o_f power, Pouring forth !i- ing waters.
A flood of love,
And all-embracing wisdom--
..
Like the splendor of Light.
And one day the eyes of my spirit shall open And I shall know all things.
Before the beginning of time,
The Holy Tree of Life sprang from the All Radiant One Which endures forever in the midst of the Eternal Sea.
High in its branches sings a bird. And those who have journeyed there
And have heard the mysterious song of the bird
Are those who shall know The Radiance of the Universe.
They shall ask for a name of the Radiant Light And the answer shall be "I Am That I Am, " Being the same as the Eternal I AM
SATURDAY COMMUNIONS
Morning Communion with THE LIVING PLANET:
My heart is grateful for the emanation of the Earth from the Divine Radiance.
The Earth and I are one.
The Earth 's breath is my breath. The Earth 's blood is my blood.
The Earth's bon_e, flesh, bowels, eyes and ears Are my bone, my_flesh, my bowels and my ears.
Never will ! forsake the natural rhythms and nurturance o_f your planetary love - offering.
And always will the Earth nourish and sustain my body. And I will feel the power of Elohim, Creator o_f Earth Flowing through my body.
Like a river when it is swollen with rains And courses mightily with a great noise.
For none can live long , or be happy Unless one honors God's Creation And abides in the Living Law.
Honor God's g(ft o_f this Earth That thy days be long upon the land.
Evening Communion with the ANGEL OF ETERNAL LIFE:
My heart is grateful.for the emanation of the Angel o_f Eternal L{fe.from the Divine Radiance.
Adonai Elohim, may you bless me and give eternal life to my spirit.
I close my eyes as a Child of Light,
And in sleep contemplate the Oneness o_f all life everywhere.
For I tell you Jruly,
In the daylight hours are my feet on the ground, And I have no wings with which to fly.
But my spirit is not tied to the earth
And with the coming of night
I overcome my attachment to the Earth And join with that which is Eternal.
For the Children of Humanity are not always as they seem.
And only with the eyes of the spirit Can I see those golden threads Which link me with life everywhere.
The Angel of Eternal Life
Brings the message of Eternity to us all.
For one who walks with the Angels of Adonai Elohim Shall soon learn to soar
Above the clouds.
And their home shall be The Eternal Sea Where stands the sacred Tree of Life.
SUNDAY COMMUNIONS
Morning Communion with the ANGEL OF TOPSOIL:
My heart is grateful for the emanation of the gift of your topsoil and power of Regeneration.
May I be blessed that all my seeds are fruitful, And with your grace give life to my body.
Even as your love creates new life,
So courses throughout the earth the Holy Seed In the grass, in the soil,
In all living things that grow.from the soil.
May I know as a Child of Light
That the same blessing of Elohim that makes my seed into Children A!so makes the tiny acorn into this might oak
And makes the seed-bearing wheat to grow.for bread.
Adonai Elohim sent the Angel of Regeneration As Holy messenger of the Radiance of the Universe,
To make the plants grow,
And to make fertile the womb of woman That the Earth may never be without The laughter of children.
Let us rejoice in the play of the Divine Radiance .
Evening Communion with the ANGEL OF CREATIVE WORK:
My heart is grateful to Elohim for gracing me through my work.
One who follows the Law fulfills their tasks Without attachment to the result;
And whose work is always an act of honoring God's will Does not need .furi'her blessings.
As I work in this way,
r
I always feel abundant,
So will the Angel of Creative Work nurture And ripen the seed of my spirit
That I may see the radiance of the Divine.
MONDAY COMMUNIONS
Morning Communion with the ANGEL OF LIFE: My heart is grateful to you, Elohim for filling me With the Life-Force of the Cosmos.
May you bless me so I am made vital with the Holy Life Force.
For lo, if the wax is not pure,
How then can the candle give a steady.flame?
Angel of L fe, enter, with strength, the limbs of my body And with these words embrace the Tree of Life
Even as I embrace this brother oak.
And I will.feel Adonai, through the Angel of L fe, Flow into my arms and to my legs
And to all parts of my body.
Evening Communion with the ANGEL OF PEACE:
My heart is grateful to Adonaiforfilling me with the Holy Light of your Peace.
Peace, Peace, Peace Be always everywhere.
l seek the Eternal Peace of God in all that lives.
In all I do,
In every word I speak.
For peace is the key to all knowledge To all mystery,
To all l( fe.
Where there is no peace, there does Darkness reign.
- And the children of Darkness covet, most of all, to steal.from the Children of Light, their peace.
I go therefore, on this night to the golden stream o_/L i ght.
And bring back to the morning the Peace o_f God that surpasses understanding
That I may comfort the hearts o_f the Children o_/Light.
But to the soul that bath not Peace, There is no place to build within The Holy Temple .
For how can the carpenter build In the midst of a whirlwind?
The seed ofviolerrce can reap Only a harvest o_f desolation. And from the parched clay
Can grow no living thing.
Peace dwells in the heart of silence. Be still and know that I am God
TUESDAY COMMUNIONS
Morning Communion with the ANGEL OF JOY:
My heart is grateful to you
I am, Adonai Elohim, for filling me with your Holy Joy. grateful.for the joy of the Eternal Radiance
Which gives beauty to all humanity.
For Adonai Elohim is not worshipped with sadness, Nor with cries of despair.
I leave my moans and lamentations And sing to the lord a new song.
I sing unto the Lord of the Earth: Let the heavens rejoice!
And let the Earth be glad! Let the.fields be joyfulI
Let the floods clap their handsI Let the hills be joyful together Before Elohim.
For I shall go out with joy And be lead forth with Peace. The mountains and the hills
Shall break.forth before you into singing.
Angel of Joy,
Holy Messenger ofAdonai Elohim , I will sing unto the Lord
As long as I live.
I will sing praise to my God
While I have a single spark of joy within.
Evening Communionwith the ANGEL OF POWER:
My heart is grateful to you, Adonai, who.fills me with your Holy Power .
Angel of Power, .fill all my deeds with Hol y Power .
May I be blessed that as a Child of Light I will not only think And will not only.feel,
But I will also do.
And my acts will.fu(fill my thoughts and feelings As the golden fruit of summer gives meaning
To the green leaves of spring. May the golden river of power Always flow from Thee to me.
And may my body always turn unto Thee
.-
As the flower turns unto the sun. For there is no power save that
Of the Divine Radiance of Adonai. All else is but a dream of dust.
WEDNESDAY COMMUNIONS
Morning Communionswith the ANGEL OF THE SUN:
My heart is grateful to you, Elohim, creator of the Angel of the Sun, which reflects your Fountain of Light.
Thou dost pierce the darkness.
I am grateful for the rays of the Sun Which fill my days with life and warmth.
Angel of the Sun!
Dart forth thy rays upon me!
I give myself to Thee and thy embrace.
Blessed with the fire of life! A molten _fiood of holy joy
Flows toward mefrom Thee!" I feel the rays of the rising sun
Enter into the center point of my body.
There, in the center, where the Angels of day and night mingle The power of the sun shall be mine to direct to any part of my body.
Evening Communionwith the ANGEL OF LOVE:
My heart is grateful to you, Adonai, source of radiant love in the Universe.
May I be blessed that I am filled with your Angel of Love.
Please fill with love all my.feelings
For it is by love that I resonate with Blessed Adonai as Love. And in love may the outer and inner male and.female be united.
Love is eternal.
Love is stronger than death . And every night I shall bathe
In the holy water of the Angel of Love,
That with the morning I may baptize all Children of God With kind deeds and gentle words.
For when the hearts of the Children of Light Are bathed in Love,
Only kind and gentle words speak.forth. By this we know the Children of Light Those who walk with the.Angel of Love For they Love Adonai
And they love their brethren And they keep the Holy Law. Love thy neighbor as thy Se(f
THURSDAY COMMUNIONS
Morning Communionwith the ANGEL OF WATER:
My heart is grateful to you Elohim for creating the Water of Life. May I be blessed that I know the Water of Life.
In my blood flow
A thousand pure springs And vapors, and clouds And all the waters
That spread over all the seven Kingdoms.
All the waters
The Creator hath made are Holy.
May I be blessed that the Angel of Water Enter my blood
And give the water of Life to my body And I feel the rushing current of the river,
As the power of the Angel o_f Water enters my blood.
And like rivulets of a stream Send the power of Elohim
Through my blood to all the parts of my body.
And it shall be for healing
For the power of the Angel of Water is very great.
Evening Communion with the ANGEL OF WISDOM:
My heart is grateful to you Adonai for creating the Angel o_f Wisdom.
May I be blessed that your Holy Wisdom descend on me.
And. fill with wisdom all my thoughts.
May I know as a Child of Light
That thoughts are as powerful as the bolt of lightening that stabs Through a storm
And splits asunder the mighty tree.
That which is done without wisdom is as a riderless horse,.
Mouth foaming and eyes wild, Running crazed into a yawning chasm.
But when God's Wisdom governs my deeds, Then is the path to the unknown realism established
And order and harmony governs my l( fe.
Adonai, grant me the wisdom to know the difference between That which is Eternal and that which dwells in illusion.
Holy Wisdom, the understanding that unfolds continuously As a scroll, yet does not come through learning.
All wisdom cometh from Adonai the Blessed Who can tell the beginning of wisdom?
Wisdom hath been created
.-
Before all things
The crown of wisdom Makes peace and perfect health to flourish .
NOON COMMUNIONS OF THE SEVENFOLD PEACE
SATURDAY: Peace with Radiance of the the Universe
If I say that Adonai Dwelleth within me, Then are the heavens ashamed;
If I say that Adonai Dwelleth outside of me It is a falsehood.
The eye which scanneth the far horizon And the eye which seeth my heart
Is one eye.
Adonai is not man(fest Adonai is not hidden Adonai is neither revealed Nor unrevealed.
There are no words
To tell that which Adonai, the blessed is The One hath found peace
With the Radiant One Hath entered the Sanctuary
Of the Holy Law
For in the beginning was the Law And the Law was with God
And the Law was God
May the Sevenfold Peace of Adonai Elohim Be with me always.
SUNDAY: Peace with the Living Earth
Blessed is the Child a/Light Who knoweth the Creation of Adonai
For Adonai is the giver of l(fe. The light of Adonai is in me
And thou art a Divine spark resonating in the Radianc e of the Universe.
None can live long, neither be happy
But one who is grateful for the blessed Earthly creation of Adonai
MONDAY: Peace with Culture
Blessed am I, a Child of Light
Who doth study the Book of the Law For I shall be as a candle
In the darkness of night And an island of truth In a sea of falsehood..
The written Law
Is the instrument by which The unwritten Law is understood.
TUESDAY:Peace with Humanity
There shall be no peace among peoples Till there be one garden of humanity over the Earth.
WEDNESDAY:Peace with the Family
Let my love be as a sun
Which shines on all the creatures of the earth And does not favor one blade ofgrass for another.
And this love shallffow as a fountain From one heart to another .
For the one who hath found peace with the human family Hath entered into the kingdom of Love.
THURSDAY:Peace with the Mind
The crown of wisdom makes peace and per.fee{ health to flourish .
Bless me Adonai, that my power o_f thought is guided by Holy Wisdom And may my thoughts alwa ys come.from Love
And build a paradis e on Earth
May I be blessed that my thoughts upl(fi the soul o_f humanit y And are a healing blessing to the planet .
FRIDAY:Peace with the Body
May I be blessed as a Child ofLight To be strong in body
That I shall have oneness with the Earth For the one who hath.found peace with the body
Hath built a holy temple Wherein may dwell.forever The Spirit o_f God.
Before all things
The crown of wisdom Makes peace and perfect health to fl.ourish.
NOON COMMUNIONS OF THE SEVENFOLD PEACE
SATURDAY: Peace with Radiance of the the Universe
If I say that Adonai Dwelleth within me, Then are the heavens ashamed;
If I say that Adonai Dwelleth outside of me It is a falsehood.
The eye which scanneth the far horizon And the eye which seeth my heart
Is one eye.
Adonai is not manifest Adonai is not hidden Adonai is neither revealed Nor unrevealed.
There are no words
To tell that which Adonai, the blessed is The One hath found peace
With the Radiant One Hath entered the Sanctuary
Of the Holy Law
For in the beginning was the Law And the Law was with God
And the Law was God
May the Sevenfold Peace of Adonai Elohim Be with me always.
SU DAY: Peace with the Living Earth
Blessed is the Child o_/Light Who knoweth the Creation o.l Adonai
For Adonai is the giver o.ll( fe. The light o.lAdonai is in me
And thou art a Divine spark resonating in the Radiance o_/the Universe.
None can live long, neither be happy
But one who is grateful/or the blessed Earthly creation o_f Adonai
MONDAY: Peace with Culture
Blessed am I, a Child o_f Light
The Six Foundations for Spiritual Life
- Nutrition: a Vegan-Organic-Live-Food, High Mineralized, Low Sugar, High Hydration Diet and Spiritual Fasting.
- Building Life Force (Prana Chi): Yoga Asanas, Pranayama (Breathing Practices), Ophanim (Energetics of the Hebrew Letters), T'ai Chi, Reiki, Tachyon Energy and other energy practices such as Sacred Dance all enhance and expand the Consciousness of the body-mind complex, filHng it with Life Force Energy.
- Service {Sheirut) and Charity (Tzedaka}: In the process of service and charity, we are able to face our attachments to things (Seva), as well as to feel our connection to all the family of humanity which expands Consciousness through Direct Experience.
- Spiritual Guidance and Inspiration (Satsang): Satsang means being in the Energy of Absolute Truth. It can also mean being in the Presence of a Liberated Being who has realized this Truth such as an Awakened Spiritual Teacher. Satsang gives meaning, value, heart, and energy to spiritual wisdom teachings and spiritual life energet ics. In the Kabbalah, Satsang is termed Yechidut. Sangha or Kehila (Chavurah) means spending time with spiritually-focused people or community. Expanding and refining the mind with spiritual wisdom teachings, the great scriptures such as Zahar, the Torah, the Tao Te Ching, the Vedas, the Holy Bible, and profound Mystical Poetry such as that of Hafiz, Rumi and Blake . Wisdom literature helps us formulate and focus our consciousness while expanding it . Zero Point, Sacred Music and spending Time in Nature are also part of this Foundation.
- Silence: Meditation, Prayer, Repetition of Mantra (Hagia) and Devotional Chanting in the God-Focused Traditions are all methods to unveil Spiritual Silence
- Kundalini Awakening: Shaktipat Initiation (S'micha Le'shefa - Haniha) is the Awakening of the Divine Force that is resting in potential within us. This is known as the Descent of Grace and usually occurs through a Living Enlightened Spiritual Leader, but also may occur spontaneously. Once the spiritual energy is activated, it begins to spontaneously move through our body from the root of the spinal cord upwards, spir it u aliz ing every cell, every fiber of the DNA, every Chakra, every channel of the subtle nervous system (Nadis) , every organ, gland and tissue, so that all Consciousness becomes activated into the next evolutionary stage of gro wth.
Gabriel Cousens M.D.,M.D.{H}
From "Spiritual Nutrition, Six Foundations for Spiritual Life and the Awakening of Kundalini"
SEVENFOLD PEACE
PEACE WITH THE BODY
This includes choosing to take responsibility for your own personal health and to improve the ecology of your personal body just as you would care for the planet. Dr. Cousens recommends exercising aerobically at least three times per week for one-half hour, practicing deep breathing at least once a day (with ten cycles of seven count in and seven-count out deep breaths), getting sufficient sleep and relaxation, and drinking sufficient pure water.
PEACE WITH THE MIND
Enhance your own inner peace by learning to meditate or pray, and do it on a daily basis. Enhance peace with the planetary mind by thinking positive thoughts and becoming a living-feeling prayer of peace, love, and compassion. Enhance peace with the cosmic mind by trying to begin each thought, word, and action with love, compass io n, and peace.
PEACE WITH THE FAMILY
Forgive everybody. Forgiveness ends the negative memory and dispels the energy of conflict. Forgiveness is the blessing of living peace. The power of becoming a feeling prayer of peace is that it allows us to activate the hologram of peace that exists somewhere in every person and in every family, tribe, and culture.
PEACE WITH THE COMMUNITY
Make a point to volunteer or contribute to humanitarian causes and organizations. Check with any local peace center for a list of causes and ways to contribute. Develop your livelihood so that it supports or expresses your personal and planetary peace values. Start this one step at a time. It may take several years, so be patient and persistent.
PEACE WITH ALL CULTURES
Participate in art, music, drama, or other cultural events that inspire and connect you with the eternal values of love, peace, beauty, truth, and the Divine in all. Make peace with your own cultural roots. Ask your parents or grandparents for stories about your cultural origins. Try to find and appreciate the flourishing of peace and joy in all cultures.
PEACE WITH THE ECOLOGY
Become conscious of the ways in which you participate in a global system that draws from natural resources, and recognize how Ego-driven desires for accumulation of material goods, power, wealth, and status have led to an imbalanced distribution of these resources among the beings on this planet. Commit yourself to reflection on your present relationship to ecology, and then strive to ensure your personal material consumption habits, as well' as those of your community , your nat io n, and all of humanity reflect the highest intention to promote a more just relationship with the natural ecology and all beings on the Earth.
PEACE WITH THE DIVINE
Find your own personal way to connect with the Divine every day. Allow yourself to express in the world as the living will and flow of the Divine.
Essene Core Statements of Life & Liberation
• Be still and know that I Am That - Hanoch
- Hanoch walked with God and was whole
- Noah walked with God and was whole
- Abraham walked before God and was whole
- Lech l' cha: Go to The Self, give up your country, your brethren, your father's home, all your concepts, and all your ideas of who you think you are. The Personality is a Case of Mistaken Identity.
- Then you have Amos, trying to figure out what the 613 mitzvot (ways of life) are, and basically comes down to one mitzvah: "Walk with God and be whole."
- You had the prophets speaking:
- Jeremiah: "I placed My love in their inner parts, in their heart, that they shall know me, from the least to the greatest." This is a very clear statement.
- Yoel: "The spirit of God will be upon everyone, and their sons and daughters will prophesize."
- Zechariah: "In the end, God and God' s name will be one."
- Moses: "The Law is without beginning and end."
This one statement sums up the Essene Way as a complete path of Liberation.
- The Teacher of Righteousness: "Do not forsake the eternal for that which dieth in an hour."
Adam comes from Adamah and thus humans contain the resonance of the earth. Through history from the time of Cain and the introduction of technology by the fallen angels, we have rebelled agai nst the natural resonant harmony with the earth.
- 'And it shall come to pass, Oh child of Adam when you return to nature and that day you shall open your eyes and you shall peer directly into nature' s eyes.
ou hall kno that you have returned to yourself, for in hiding from nature, you hid om ·ourself. d ou will recognize on that day: nothing had been according to your
measure. ;ou must renew everything: your food and your drink, your dress and your home. ;our character of your work, and the way that you learn-e verything ..."
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Haggadah: Variations of the Theme of the Future by A.D. Gordon transfated by Jeremy Schwartz
- "I will throw unto you pure waters and I will purify you from all tumah." -Ezekiel 36:25
- "You will cling to God and are alive today." -Devariam 4:4
- "Today, I've set before you life and death and a blessing and a curse. You must choose life in order that you and your children shall live." - Devariam 30: 19
- "I will remove tumah from the world." -Zechariya 13:2
- "When tumah is removed from the world death will be eliminated entirely and God will wipe tears off all faces." -Y eshiyahu (Isaiah 25:8)
- "I will remove your stone heart and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my spirit amongst you and you will be my people and I will.be your God." -Ezekiel 36:28
- "The Zohar makes the point that every part of the physical world is to assist us in the evolution of humanity and in helping the healing of the planet. Everything we do is either creating tumah-the death of the universe, or taharah-the bringing of life to the universe: the bringing of Harmony, the bringing of Peace, and the bringing of Love." Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
- "The only safe heaven is with the Divine presence and the real challenge is to live in a heart-centered holy way, and from this love comes the great knowledge of what to do."
- "They shall not die as a result of their impurity." -Vayikra 15:31
- "You have sown much and you bring little. You eat without being full, you drink without it being enough, you dress and it has no warmth." -Haggai 1:6
- "Senseless words gain their strength from a weak and ineffectual spirit. When one speaks them they give rise to an ugly force, which defiles the soul, and the air of the world is clouded." -Rav Kook Hakodesh volume 3
- "All speculated times from the great redemption have already passed. There's nothing left to do but to engage in bettering ourselves in deeds ofloving-kindness." - The Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 97B
- "God will transform all mourning into dancing." -Jeremiah 31:12
- " In that day the sun shall radiate healing." -Malachi 3:20
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• "The living waters shall spring fourth out of Jerusalem and split into rivers that will flow everywhere to heal all creatures inflicted with disease." - Ezekiel 47:9
- "In order that the children of Israel no longer tum away from me, they will not be defiled, tumah, through their sins, they will be my people and I will be their God." -Ezekiel 14:11
- "And the trees shall be blessed with direct powers in their fruit and leaves ." -Ezekiel 47:12
- "And all cities that have been destroyed should be rebuilt and their former inhabitants restored." -Ezekiel 16:55
- " The earth will be full of the knowledge of God." -Isaiah 11:9
- " Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls." -Jeremiah 6:16
- " And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, And the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
Their young ones shall lie down together, And the lion shall eat straw like the ox...
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain."
-Isaiah 11:69
- " And God said, Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, on which is the fruit yielding seed; to you it shall be for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for food: and it was so." -Genesis 1:29-30
- " Ye shall eat no flesh nor take strong drink, for the child shall be consecrated unto God from his mother' s womb, and neither flesh nor strong drink shall he take." - The Gospel of the Holy Twelve (Gospel of the Hebrews)
- "For a small moment I have forsaken you; but with great compassion will I gather you. In a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I
epan. and the hill be remov ed ; but My kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall
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My covenant of peace be removed, says HaShem that has compassion on you." -Isaiah 54: 4-10
- "Birth sets us in the world of"I AMness" as the Tree of Knowledge; as the awareness of the individual body and the world as the conspiracy of the matrix. Open up to the Tree of Life, the world of atzilut-which is free of birth, death, and the whole world of the matrix." -Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
- "A liberated person is free of time, space, and I AMness and therefore has no death." Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
- "Consciousness is the thief and the beggar. True freedom from the conspiracy of the matrix is to be prior to consciousness in the world of atzilut."-Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
"That (the world of atzilut) can not be known by consciousness." -Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
"Eyn zo le to"-There is only God.
"May you live to see your world fulfilled, your planet healed.
May you be our link to future worlds, and may your hope encompass all the generations of life and to be.
May your heart conceive with understanding, may your mouth speak with wisdom, and your tongue be stirred with songs of joy.
May your gaze be straight and sure, your eyes be lit with Torah's lamp, your face aglow with heaven's radiance, your lips speak words of knowledge.
May your inners rejoice in foods whose seeds are righteousness.
And may you always rush with eagerness to hear the Truth of the unity who is more ancient than all time and every present in all beings."
- Talmud Vavli V'Rachot 17A
"All the ills which men [and women] suffer are caused by those things without us; for what is within us can never make us suffer. Nothing real can ever be lost or taken away."
-Essene Gospel of Peace, Book 2
"For to weigh thy happiness according to that which may befall thee, is to live as a slave. And to live according to the Angels which speak within thee, is to be free." -Essene Gospel of Peace, Book 2
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- " In this doth happiness lie: to know what is thine, and what is not thine." -Essene Gospel of Peace, Book 2
- "If thou wouldst have eternal live, hold fast to the eternity within thee, and grasp not at the shadows of the world of men (and women], which hold the seeds of death (a pre dated allusion to the Culture of Life and the culture of death consciousness]. " -Essene Gospel of Peace, Book 2
- "Do ye not, then, barter that which is eternal, for that which dieth in an hour." -Essene Gospel of Peace, Book 2
- "First shall the Son of Man seek peace with his own body; for his body is as a mountain pond that reflects the sun when it is still and clear. When it is full of mud and stones it reflects nothing. Then shall the Son of Man seek peace with his own thoughts ... There is no greater power in heaven and earth than the thought of the Son of Man." -Essene Gospel of Peace, Book 4
- " Without consciousness being rooted in God's time imprinted in the seven eyes of the temple cornerstone, we become disconnected from nature outside of us and our inner nature as the spark of the Divine. The result is that we go out ofresonance with nature."
- " When people , cultures , and the world are out of sync with Divine time, we become sunk and do not dance in time as an expression of Divine Consciousness ; we no longer control our minds and cannot transcend the 5-sense bio-computer mind. As part of our spiritual evolution, we must break out of the Gregorian matrix of time, so we are no longer enslaved by Gregorian time, which controls our mind. " - Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
- " Not by might, not by power, but by my spirit , says the Lord of hosts."- Zachariah 4: 6-7
- "Thus says the Lord of hosts; Turn to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you says the Lord of hosts." -Zachariah 1:3
- 'Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently , lest thou forget the things which th e es have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life."
- ··For hold the stone that I have laid before you; upon one stone are seven facets; behold I ill engrave its inscription says the Lord of hosts; and I will remove the iniquity of the
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planet. On that day says the Lord ofhosts, every neighbor will be invited to come under His divine tree and his fig tree." -Zachariah 3:8-10
- "Thus says the Lord ofhosts; behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country; and I will bring them in and they will dwell in the midst of Yerushalayim : and they will be my people and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness." -Zachariah 8:7-9
- "The spark of God within us is the source ofall peace. Just let oneself resonate with it."
- "Vanity ofvanities, says Qohelet, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What prpfit has a man of all his labour wherein he labours under the sun? One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth abides forever." -Qohelet 1:2-4
- "All things are full of weariness...That which has been, it is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done : and there is nothing new under the sun..
- "The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walks in darkness...For of the wise man as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance...And how does the wise man die? Just like the fool." -Qohlet 2:14-17
- "As he came fourth from his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and he shall take nothing for his labour, which he may carry away in his hand." -Qohelet 4:14
- "It is good and comely for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him : for it is his portion. Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God." -Qohelet 5:18-19
- "I know there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in his life That
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rejoice in his work; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?" -Qohelet 3:13-14, 22
- "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Qohelet 3:1
- "T he truly wealthy person is one who is satisfied with what they have." - Proverbs
- "A fool is one who thinks he does not have to work for spiritual health and well-being ."
- "The end of the matter, when all is said and done: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for that is the whole duty of man." -Qohelet 12:13
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