THE MESSAGE OF JESUS
On December 25th, when Jesus was born, three kings
came to His birthplace. These three gave expression to three different
views about the newborn babe. One of them, looking at the infant,
said: "This child looks like one who will be a lover of God."
A second king said: "God will love this child." The third
king declared: "Verily, this child is God Himself." The
first one viewed the child from the physical point of view. The
second saw the child from the mental viewpoint. The third saw from
the Atmic (spiritual) point of view.
These three declarations indicate how one can progress from the
human to the divine level. What is needed is the destruction of
the animal and demonic qualities in man. Today man worships inanimate
idols and images, but makes no attempt to love his fellow human
beings in flesh and blood. This was the first message of Jesus.
Though one sees his neighbours day after day, he does not choose
to love them. How can one believe that such a person can love an
invisible God? If a man cannot love a fellow human being who is
visible before his eyes, how can he love what is invisible to him?
This is not possible. Only a man who loves living beings around
him can love the invisible Divine. Love must start with love for
beings that have form. It must be extended to all beings. This is
the primary stage in spirituality.
Spirituality
does not mean preoccupation with meditation, worship, etc. It involves
total extinction of the animal and demonic qualities in man and
the manifestation of his inherent divinity. When the attachments
and hatreds in which man is enveloped are removed, the inherent
divinity in man, the Sat-Chit-Ananda
in him, will manifest itself.
There is no need to search for the omnipresent Divine in any specific
place. When you are yourself Divine, why search for the Divine elsewhere?
It is a mark of ignorance.
Jesus performed many miraculous deeds, relieved the sufferings
of many in distress, preached sublime truths to the people, and
ultimately sacrificed His life. For over a hundred years after His
martyrdom, Christ's message did not have any impact. Four centuries
later, Christianity was accepted by Roman emperors. Even after many
centuries humanity is yet to realise its inherent Divinity.
-Baba |