Seven Levels of the Bible
Posted: Friday, August 13, 2010
by e
Dhammabucha Rocksprings Meditation
Some say that the Bible has seven levels. If the level at which one understands the bible determines one's position in the next world, one's understanding is very important. So, at what level do you understand the Bible? This understanding could be explained as the first idea that comes to mind when you read a biblical passage. Here is my take on the seven levels, beginning with an example regarding the First Commandment.
At the second level, however, things can get dicey. Now our false Gods aren't idols that we can see, but idols lying hidden in our minds. These would be anything that we deem more important than God. So, what could they be? What could be more important than God? What is more important than God is what we think about constantly. Is it our money? Our 401K? Our family? Our Career, our passion in life? How many times have we looked the other way when we heard the words, "Love you life on earth, and lose your life eternal?" Wherever our bank account lies, there lies our heart, and there lies our God.
At the third level, thought itself, or any thought that appears in the mind is a false God. Thought, any thought, takes us away from God, because God is beyond thought. This is a tough one to understand, as are all of the following levels if we don't meditate, but until they are understood, the Bible will remain little more than confusing collections of myths and a constant object of bickering as little pieces of it here and there are pounced upon and misinterpreted by level-one minds.
At the fourth level, the false entity that thought builds becomes our God, which is our ego. This is our "self", the part of us that not only becomes selfish, but the part that seems like the little man or little woman in our heads that watches everything we do. That little person is not God, but merely a projection of our own self, or ego, constructed from memory and discursive thought.
The fifth level is the spiritual ego. This now becomes our God as we believe that we have somehow transcended common mind and are now some kind of saint! This is really a false God, as we worship ourselves again but from a loftier level. Now we walk around in a cloud with a constant smile on our face as if we are above the fray, and believe that everything that falls from our lips is the truth!
The sixth level of understanding is when we actually see that we are not the saint we thought we were, separate from everyone else. Now we see that we are no different from everyone else. We see that everyone is everything and is everywhere, and that we are, on the one hand, nothing, and on the other hand, everything. We are, in a way; God! Or perhaps a better way to express this is that God is all of us. At this level, we can accept all of humanity and really express unconditional love regardless of differences of religion or values. This is the level of a sage or prophet. This is the level of direct communication with God.
The seventh level of understanding is that there can be no understanding. When all is surrendered, when all understanding and knowledge is forsaken, then we see. We see that no one is there to see, there is only the seeing, and that awareness itself is God. Not an old bearded man descending from the clouds, but pure awareness.
"My God, my God, hast thou forsaken me?" is an utterance just before man is lost.
And all is gained.
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More commentsHi e.Wow! Very well and succinctly written. I'd never thought about it much or in quite that way. Since I am reading this in the Reader's Club, I can't see what others have commented about it. I'll have to find it for "reals" and take a look. I think this is brilliant.Hugs, DianneThanks Dianne for reading and also the great rating. This kind of stuff sometimes takes one a little deeper than they are prepared to go!Best.....e
I pray everday to reach a level of spirituality that places our lives on earth as they were meant to be - whatever that is.Praying is good. Seeing what and where you are gets results. Thank you wordwanderlust!
For someone like myself, who is very Christian but also had studied Tibetan Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, and Sufism, I find this article very interesting and stimulating.Thanks troy, I try to talk about universal understanding rather than tightly held individual beliefs.
How can a buddhist monk explain the truth or the about the true & only GOD? I have question marks on the interpretation of the Word of God in this article. I am not sure though. Will definitely study and get back to you sir! No offense intended."How can a Buddhist monk explain the truth or the about the true & only god?" Easy, I just did it! Actually, I was a Christian for 35 years, and I understand the Christian culture thoroughly.)Also, my truth is as valid as yours, sir. No offense intended. Thinking that one's truth is the only truth, or that one's god is the only god, leads to division and war, sir. No offense intended :)Sir! The Truth is not depended on somebody's thinking. The Truth is always ONE & ONLY, always the same. Its Absolute.Jesus is the only Truth and all others are just deceptions and lies.These are your opinions sir, only opinions, speculations and theories. That's all. Which I respect by the way because this is the level at which you find yourself and you can't help it, which is a belief level. My opinions are quite different, which I trust you respect as well. If you don't respect my opinions, and have no interest in expanding your understanding, then it would be wise on your part to read articles that conform more to your level of understanding.
Thanks a lot, Raymond, for very good article. I already read one your articles and I think I'll keep reading...Thank you so much Vladimir. My articles are intended to inject universal understanding into a very divided religious world right now.Best.....e
"Some say . . ." is not the same as "it is absolutely true". You begin with a supposition that there are seven levels to understanding the Bible. That is not in the Bible. Then, as you proceed to explain these levels, you step-by-step steal any real meaning of any biblical content. Why be concerned about a statement regarding idols or worshipping other gods, if in the end - as you suggest - there is no real God to whom we are ultimately accountable, as the Bible most clearly conveys? Sir, your words are sweet, but if the Bible is true, your words are not true. I'm pretty sure that the origin of the "seven levels" theory is the one who said in the Garden of Eden, "Did God really say . . ." (Gen 3:1)God and the bible are your truths sir, and I would not want to disparage anyone's beliefs. But they are not mine, not by a long shot. What I wrote, which you may interpret as you choose, and I assume will respect, are my truths. If my assumption is incorrect and you choose to disrespect my truths, then I have license to disrespect yours. Fair enough?
I can't understand why the Abrahamic religions want to always kill anyone who doesn't agree with them. Now that, sir, is stupidity to me. Just look at the history of religious warfare.Sir, not only is your understanding of the Bible deficient, your understanding of "religous warfare" is woefully deficient. Check out asia where "Abrahamic religions" have been hardly known until the 20th Century. Are you unaware of wars between China and Japan and Korea, etc.? What Abrahamic religion was responsible for Pearl Harbor? Are you unaware of all the wars and genocides done by atheistic communist? Now, to be very clear with you, I don't want to kill you. I want to challenge you, and I have done so with as much respect as your positions warrant. And, please, let's stop with the idea that all truth is subjective. I can have mine and you can have yours. That is true in some places. This room is hot to me. This room is cool to you. Both of those are subjective truths and can be fully true. But there is an objective truth. The room is 72 degrees. That is not my truth or your truth. It is absolute truth. You are free to dismiss the whole Bible as existing in the category of subjective truth, but that is not what it claims to be. Jesus said that until heaven and earth disappear, not the finest detail of God's Word will be left unfinished. Mr. Brock, I wish that you were a follower of Him. He had a much higher view of truth than you demonstrate.Level one understanding sees it this way. Everyone sees things differently. You may believe as you choose. Good luck to you.Metta......eCheck it out:* Jewish monotheism was stolen from Egyptian Akhenaton* The Jewish creation was stolen from the Egyptian Creation ¹* The Jewish Yahweh's use of the word to create was stolen from the Egyptians (Jewish Yaweh replaces Ptah) ²* "Let there be Light" was stolen from the Theban Creation epic.³* The "firmament in the midst of the waters…" was stolen from the Egyptian Creation4* Adam and Eve were stolen from the Egyptian Geb and Nut 5* Eve coming from Adam's rib was stolen from the Epic of Enki andNinhursag: "My brother what hurts thee?"My rib hurts me"ANET, 41.Ninti who's name means"Lady of the Rib" cured Enki's rib6* Adam and Eve's punishment and loss of immortality were stolen from the Mesopotamian story of Adapa(Jewish Yaweh replaces Sumerian Enki)7* Jewish Cain, Abel and Seth were stolen from Osiris, Set and Horus8* The conflict between Cain and Abel was stolen from Set and Osiris and as the story goes on, it is later based upon the Sumerian Dumuzi and Enkimdu 9* Jewish Samson was stolen from Heracles,o The putting out of his eyes is based on Oedipuso The pulling down of the pillars was stolen from the Egyptian tale about Re-Herakhte10* The Jewish story of Jacob and the Ladder was stolen from the Egyptian Funerary Rituals for the deceased King"Hail to thee, O Ladder of God, Hail to thee, O Ladder of Set. Stand up O Ladder of God, Stand up O Ladder of Set, stand up O Ladder of Horus, whereon Osiris went forth into heaven.” “The Egyptian Ladder consisting of the bodies of two Egyptian deities upon which Osiris ascends into heaven, has been replaced by a ladder with several supernatural beings, angels, climbing up and down between earth and heaven."11"THERE IS NO GOD BUT MYSELF" "KNOWING THIS, WHO DARES WORSHIP THE FALSE GODS OF THE KORAN AND BIBLE?"-SATANFROM THE QU'RET AL-YEZID* Jewish Moses was stolen from several Gods and kings, depending on what stage of his life story:o Sargon (the birth and abandonment in the river, being rescued by royalty, etc)o The wanderings in the desert were based upon the Sun-God Bacchus as seen in the Hymns of Orpheus 12o The Hebrew stint of "40 years in the desert" claimed in the Jewish book of Exodus and the subsequent "40 day and 40 nights" wanderings in the desert of the Jewish Nazarene were stolen from:"The struggle of Set and Horus in the desert lasted forty days, as commemorated in the forty days of the Egyptian Lent, during which time Set, as the power of drought and sterility, made war on Horus in the water and the buried germinating grain....These forty days have been extended into forty years, and confessedly so by the Jews."13* Jewish Joshua was stolen from the Egyptian Deities Shu and Nun.14* Jewish Deborah was stolen from the Egyptian Goddess Neith 15* Jewish Noah was stolen from Sumerian ZiusudraThe fictitious Jewish God Yaweh in the Noah story replaced the Sumerian God Enlil, aka Beelzebub* Noah's son Jewish Ham was stolen from Belus 16* Jewish Nimrod was stolen from the Egyptian Pharaoh Sesostris17* Jewish Abraham was stolen from King Hariscandra of the Hindu Sankhayana-Sutras* Jewish Isaac was stolen from King Hariscandra's son RohitaThe fictitious Jewish God Yaweh in this story replaced the Hindu God Varuna18* Jewish character Daniel was stolen from Egyptian Neferti 19* Jewish Jonah and the whale; Jonah was stolen from the Hindu character "Saktideva" found in the Somadeva Bhatta.* The "Twelve Tribes of Israel" like the Twelve Disciples of Christ are based upon the twelve signs of the Zodiac.* Jewish Lot and his wife were stolen from the Greek Orpheus and EurydiceJewish Yaweh replaces the Greek God Hades* Jewish Jacob and Jewish Esau were stolen from Horus and Set20* Jewish Rebekah was stolen from The Egyptian Goddess Isis21* Jewish Joseph with the eleven brothers was stolen from Egyptian Psammetichus22* Jewish story of Joseph and Potipher's wife stolen from Egyptian Anubis and Bata23* "The Ten Plagues" against Egypt were grossly exaggerated and altered and stolen from the Ipuwer Papyrus 24* The Ten commandments was stolen from The Code of Hammurabi Jewish Yaweh replaces the Sumerian Sun God Shamash aka Azazel25* Jewish David killing Philistine Goliath were stolen from Thor throwing a hammer at Hrungnir and striking him in the forehead.26* The Jewish Job was stolen from Ugaritic Keret and Jewish Yaweh replaces the God "El."* The Jewish "Job," was stolen from a story written in the Ugaritic language (Cuneiform Script), composed circa 1400 BCE by "Ilimilku The Scribe." This epic involves "Keret" and the God "El." NOT Job and Jehova. Keret's family tragedies and illness are comparable with the story of Job. In the original tale, "Satan" never even entered into the picture.Here, Jewish Jehova replaces El27No wonder Hitler wanted to wipe out the Jews. They're nothing but a bunch of thieves and liars, huh? I bet if you look hard enough, you'll find they stole Jesus from somebody. Clearly, ER, you do not believe a word of God's Word. At least, you are honest about that. Thank you.Sorry Dane, all of your arguments are fallacious. I stated a fact that the Abrahamic religions have been responsible for millions of deaths over religious wars, this is a historical fact, but you did not acknowledge that - you tried to change the subject. You profess "God's Word" as a truth, while it is merely speculation, another fallacious circular argument. You claim that there is an objective truth, but that is speculation as well and another fallacious argument by proclaiming a theory as truth and then using that fallacy to justify your arguments. Please. This is so old hat and ridiculous. Perhaps at the level your are at, which is the blind belief level, you would be more content to read Christian articles. My articles will ruffle your feathers no end! No offense. I respect your beliefs as I would respect a child’s belief in Santa Claus. It makes them happy. Ignorance is happiness at a child’s level. When they wake up from their fairy tale, however, there can be a feeling of resentment toward those who lied to them.
Oh, by the way, the historical facts about the new testament and how it was edited and developed - from one obscure writing by a man who knew a rabbi named Jesus 60 years in the past, is interesting. The theory being that the church fathers, who were trying to build a popular religion, were looking for someone to fulfill the old testament prophecy of a savior and chose the hapless rabbi called Jesus to fill the role. All leading to speculation that both testaments were written by ambitious men with ambitious agendas. I don't believe a word of either. sorry. But I respect your decision to believe, as long as you don't try to twist my arm! Have a great day.Best.....eWow, "ALL my arguments are fallacious". And the implication, of course, it that all of yours are Rock solid. Pun intended. Hmmm! Well, if you insist. From that lofty perch of enlightenment upon which you obviously sit, I can see that I appear to be a pathetic creature. Though I ceased believing in Santa decades ago, I am not the least bit ashamed of the fact that I still believe the Bible to be God's Word and Jesus to be God's Son. Furthermore, I am most grateful to have known and followed Jesus for decades. Down here at my low level with Jesus, ER, I find great joy and contentment. You needn't pity me. I am glad to be a Christian.I DO prefer reading Christian articles. But when you choose to write degrading articles about the sacred writings I hold dear, do not think I will not challenge your fallacious assertions when I read them. So, you can be as condescending as you wish. You can invite me to "go away", but you can't make me go away. Sorry, ER, but this is an open Internet forum.Finally, I do find it interesting that you charge me with "proclaiming a theory as truth and then using that fallacy to justify [my] arguments". That is exactly what you did in this article, what led me to challenge you in the first place. The last paragraph in your previous comment is a classic example of this practice.Yes, your arguments are all fallacious. Uhh, look, let's start at the beginning and do this step by step, sentence by sentence. I have plenty of time. Then we will get a better idea of where we both stand instead of making weak arguments by trying to diminish the others integrity or credentials, such as; “Sir, not only is your understanding of the Bible deficient, your understanding of "religous warfare" is woefully deficient.” “From that lofty perch of enlightenment upon which you obviously sit,” “But when you choose to write degrading articles about the sacred writings,” “your fallacious assertions” “you can be as condescending as you wish,” “You can invite me to "go away", but you can't make me go away.” “I wish that you were a follower of Him. He had a much higher view of truth than you demonstrate.”So let’s begin at the beginning with this: You still have not addressed the millions of deaths caused by Christian religious beliefs. You prefer to change the subject, but I will not let you do that. Do you not acknowledge these atrocities? Should we discuss the underlying reasons for these wars and how these reasons of hatred still persist? By the way, how old is the earth Dane? And what if I disagree with your assessment? Will that make you angry?ER, I don't suppose you noticed that you did not respond to the millions of deaths caused by people with Buddhist and/or atheistic beliefs, as you press for me to acknowledge atrocities at the hands of Christians. I don't disagree that Christian people have done wrong things, shameful things. I just challenged your premise that the "Abrahamic religions" deserve special blame for wars and genocides. Atrocities are found among the followers of every religion. It's a freakin' human problem. Now, I will debate this with you no further. Though you and I can find fault with many Christians, I need to make this clear: I have chosen to follow Jesus Christ, not necessarily "Christians". And it is my belief that He is perfect, that He is Lord and Savior of all, not just some "hapless rabbi" as you suppose. Someday we shall both KNOW which of us is right. And on that day it will be too late for us to change our minds, should we wish to - that is, if the Bible's message turns out to be true. I will let you have the last word.. . . . . . Peace
WOW. Another great article. Your articles are always the most interesting ones in readers club, the ones that actually make me think. I would love to visit the Dhammabucha Rocksprings Meditation Retreat Sanctuary someday.Thanks so much Greg! That would be great if someday you could visit Rocksprings. Would look forward to it. Our guidelines are on our website.Best....e
Nice job. Never looked at Christianity in terms of 7 levels. Most of the Christians I know take it verbatim. That's where the problem arises.Thanks Bill. Verbatim is blind belief, and the problem with that is who you believe! Better to be master of your own fate.
Interesting, deep and quite realistically plausible--enjoyed the heck out of this hypothesis. Thanks.Thank you "Level 8" Steve!Best.....e
Very nicely done. Surrender is one of the hardest for followers of any religion to achieve, obviously (look at history), and yet you've set it up nicely. Thanks for another great read, sir.Very perceptive my wise friend! Leading one to surrender. Hmm. Thanks Mike!
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