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 4: Being Non-Resistant – In Tune: being receptive to our good.
Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
SM 29, “It is a combination of open-mindedness, faith in God, and the realization that the Will of God for us is always something joyous and interesting and vital, and much better that anything we could think of for ourselves.”
DPWY 63, “I am in tune with God – that which is God-inspired and God-directed shall prevail.”
PC 53, “Integrated, resisting corruption are those who have dissolved heavy morality within they shall be open to receive the splendor of earth’s fruits.”
Matthew 6:19-34, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also… The eye is the lamp of the body… No one can serve two masters… do not be anxious about you life… But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well… Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.”
SM 100, “… those who are upon the new basis are to be free from all sorts of petty anxieties and worrying details which continue to afflict those who are not.”
8-limbs Asana (posture),
HTKG 160, “All that really matters is to take up a position in which one can sit absolutely still and erect, holding the chest, neck and head in a straight line; but without strain, so that one can forget the body altogether.”
8-fold path: Right speech
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.”
SUGGESTED READING:
SM 25-30, 97-107. DPWY 61-63, 121-133. PC 53-55. HTKG 159-162. 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