BEING ALL I AM CREATED TO BE:

ATTITUDES OF BEING

Based Upon

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

a thematic approach

Background:

            Found in the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 5, 6 & 7, the Sermon covers the essentials of Jesus’ teachings.  Luke has similar teachings in his “Sermon on the Plain”, see Lk. 6:12-49 for a comparison.  Mark and John make only a brief mention of the Sermon, see Mk. 3:13-19, the “Sermon on the Boat” Mk 4:1-9, and Jn. 6:3.

            The Beatitudes, verses 3-10 of chapter 5, are not only the introduction but the framework or essence around which the Sermon is developed.  The remaining verses discuss Jesus’ understanding of the “Blessed” state of the Beatitude, “Attitudes of Being”, but the order is reversed.  Just as Moses’ teaching of the Ten Commandments is the framework for understanding the Old Testament, The Sermon on the Mount is the framework for understanding the New Testament and the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth.

Outline: In the following the “attitude”, its reference, the related teaching and a brief metaphysical understanding, and the suggested reading are indicated.

Session 1: On Being – Introduction and Overview. Mt. 5:1-2, 7:24-29.
            SM 1-16. DPWY 57-58. PC 1-8. HTKG 140-141. BP 115-117.

Session 2: Being Open – “poor in spirit” – Mt. 5:3, 7:15-20, 21-23

Unity: a consciousness of oneness.
SM 17-23, 131-142.  DPWY 58-60, 145-146. PC 47-49.  HTKG 141-143.  BP 117-118.

Session 3: Being Free – “mourn” – Mt. 5:4, 7:1-12, 13-14

            Release: clarity of consciousness.

SM 23-25, 108-131.  DPWY 60-61, 134-145.  PC 50-52.  HTKG 143-159.  BP 118-119.

Session 4: Being Non-Resistant – “meek” – Mt. 5:5, 6:19-34

            Non-resistance: being receptive to our good.

            SM 25-30, 97-107.  DPWY 61-63, 121-133.  PC 53-55.  HTKG 159-162.  BP 119-120.

Session 5: Being Positive – “hunger & thirst for righteousness” – Mt. 5:6, 6:1-18

            Affirmation: building a positive, growth consciousness.

            SM 30-35, 85-97.  DPWY 64-65, 105-114.  PC 56-58.  HTKG 162-170.  BP 119-120.

Session 6: Life of Prayer – Part 1, understanding the “Lord’s Prayer” Mt. 6: 9-13.

            SM 147–161. DPWY 114-117. PC 10-25.

Session 7: The Kingdom & The Power – Part 2, understanding the “Lord’s Prayer” Mt. 6: 9-13.

            SM 162-183. DPWY 117-120. PC 26-41.

Session 8: Being Conscious – “merciful” – Mt. 5:7, 38-48

            Mind-Action: the Law of consciousness.

            SM 35-36, 73-84.  DPWY 65-66, 96-104.  PC 59-61.  HTKG 171-172.  BP 119-120.

Session 9: Being Faith Filled – “pure in heart” – Mt. 5:8, 27-37

            Faith: consciousness of God alone.

            SM 36-40, 63-73.  DPWY 67-68, 88-96.  PC 62-64.  HTKG 171-173.  BP 120.

Rev. Matthew E. Long – Peace Unity Network, Box 837, Clarkston, MI 48347 – (248) 891-4365

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BEING ALL I AM CREATED TO BE                                                                                   Page 2

Session 10: Being Peace – “peacemakers” – Mt. 5:9, 17-20, 21-26

            Realization: fulfillment of the Law.

SM 40-43, 49-63.  DPWY 69-70, 78-87.  PC 65-67.  HTKG 173-175.  BP 120-121.

Session 11: Being Regenerated – “persecuted” – Mt. 5:10, 11-16

            Regeneration: lifted to a consciousness of Light.

            SM 43-49.  DPWY 70-78.  PC 68-74.  HTKG 175-201.  BP 121-122.

Session 12: The Essence of Being –

Summary review and extended meditation on the Attitudes of Being

UNIVERSAL TRUTH:

            In the Beatitudes, Jesus parallels a universal theme found in all of the world’s religions.  Direct correlation is found in the Budha’s 8-fold path and the 8-limbs of Raja Yoga from the Hindu tradition.  Below is included a listing of the interpretation of the Beatitudes from the Gospel of Matthew, the 8-fold path and the 8-limbs.

Beatitude                                8-fold path                                          8-limbs

Unity                                       Right understanding                           Yama (self-restraint)

Release                                   Right thinking                                    Niyama (observances)

Non-resistance                                    Right speech                                       Asana (posture)

Affirmation                            Right action                                        Pranayama (breath)

Mind-Action                           Right livelihood                                 Pratyahara (beyond sense)

Faith                                        Right effort                                         Dharna (concentration)

Realization                             Right mindfulness                              Dhyana (meditation)

Regeneration                          Right concentration                            Samadhi (absorption)

SUGGESTED READING:

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, Emmet Fox. (SM)

DISCOVER THE POWER WITHIN YOU, Eric Butterworth (DPWY)

PRAYERS OF THE COSMOS, Neil Douglas-Klotz (PC)

HOW TO KNOW GOD: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali,   Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood (HTKG)

THE BUDDHA’S PATH, Nina van Gorkom (BP)

Rev. Matthew E. Long – Peace Unity Network, Box 837, Clarkston, MI 48347 – (248) 891-4365

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