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.
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.
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.
Session 8: Being Conscious – “merciful” – Mind-Action: the Law of consciousness.
Matthew 5:7 – “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
SM 35, “This is a brief summary of the Law of Life… the vital bearing of the principle covered in this Beatitude lies in its application to the realm of thought… the true thought about fellowman blesses him spiritually, mentally, and materially; and blesses you too.”
DPWY 65, “This attitude reveals the law of consciousness. If you want to be loved you must love; if you want friends you must be friendly; if you want just treatment, be just. Life is lived from within out.”
PC 59, “Healthy are those who extend grace; they shall find their own prayers answered.”
Matthew 5:38-48, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil… Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
SM 75, “Antagonize any situation, and you give it power against yourself; offer mental nonresistance, and it crumbles in front of you.”
8-limbs: Pratyahara (beyond sense)
HTKG 171, “When the mind is withdrawn from sense-objects, the sense-organs also withdraw themselves from their respective objects and thus are said to imitate the mind. This is known as pratyahara.”
8-fold path: Right livelihood
BP 119, “There are three Path factors which are the factors of good moral conduct: right speech, right action and right livelihood. They have the function of abstaining from wrong speech, wrong action and wrong livelihood. Wrong livelihood is wrong speech and wrong action committed for the sake of one’s livelihood.”
SUGGESTED READING:
SM 35-36, 73-84. DPWY 65-66, 96-104. PC 59-61. HTKG 171-172. BP 119-120.
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
peaceunity.net peace.unity@sbcglobal.net