YOUR GLORIOUS DESTINY

The Biblical story of Jacob and Esau---like so many other Bible stories---contains some wonderful 'advice' on how we can overcome problems and difficulties and realise our true potential. What a shame that so many Christians fail to understand that these stories were never meant to be taken literally---or only literally. Most of the stories in the Bible have an 'inner', metaphysical meaning.

The Bible says that the struggle between Jacob and Esau began right from their conception and birth:

Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. But the children struggled together within her; and she said, ‘If all is well, why am I like this?’ So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her: ‘Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.’ So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. (Gen 25:21-26 [NKJV])

Although fraternal twins, Jacob (the younger brother) and Esau were very different in appearance and personality. Esau (meaning ‘red’, ‘hairy’, ‘rough’, ‘shaggy’) was a ‘hairy man’ while Jacob was a ‘smooth-skinned man’ (Gen 27:11 [NKJV]). Jacob (meaning ‘one who takes by the heel’, ‘one who leaves behind’, ‘supplanter’), who God later renamed as Israel (meaning ‘one who struggles with God’), was the second-born of the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah (see Gen 25:24-26), and the grandson of Abraham and Sarah. Jacob, who was a quiet and peaceful man, a ‘thinker,’ a shepherd, in stark contrast to his slightly older brother Esau, was born quickly after Esau, who was often irresponsible and foolhardy. We are told that his hand clutched his brother’s foot, meaning that the mind is meant to control the body, to exercise dominion over the physical (Esau).

Allegorically, and metaphysically, Jacob and Esau are the ‘twins’---or opposing ‘forces,’ ‘elements’ or ‘tendencies’---struggling within each one of us. Jacob [Hebrew ‘Yakub,’ name derived from the root ‘Yak’ or ‘One’, cf the monotheistic idea of the oneness of God or Life] represents our higher nature, our intellect, as well as book knowledge (as opposed to true ‘wisdom’), whereas Esau represents our physical nature, material power, materialistic thinking, that is, worldly things.

When 'Esau' is dominant in our life, the body, and the things of the body, prevail over the mind. However, when 'Jacob' is dominant in our life, the mind is dominant over the body, but there is still a long way to go as respects our inner development.  The mental or intellectual (‘Jacob’) must still become the spiritual (‘Israel’). That is why Jacob must depart on his (inner, spiritual) journey for Haran (which represents an exalted state of consciousness).

Esau foolishly sold his birthright to Jacob for a pottage of lentils (see Gen 25:29-34). The Esau part of us is only concerned with physical things---the body, lust, material possessions, and so forth. The physical side of us is depicted as a glutton, interested primarily in filling one’s stomach. Esau didn’t care about his birthright; he said it made no difference anyway, as he was about to die of hunger anyway. The symbolism is pretty clear. In addition, by means of a deceptive scheme set up by Rebekah, Jacob next managed to get Esau's blessing from the nearly-blind Isaac, then completing the transfer of the rights of the firstborn from Esau to Jacob (Gen 27:1-40). 

Esau's response was a plan to kill Jacob. That is the world’s typical response to any opposition or difficulty. That is the way of the gangster---and the ‘bankster.’ It is the way of the so-called ‘big end of town.’ Don’t mess with us, or we will fix you up ‘nice and proper.’ (I hear those words said---in various ways---quite often. I hear those words, or similar words, spoken by the 'biggies' in law firms, insurance companies, banks, and so forth. Yes, I really do.) The 'Esau consciousness'---so prevalent in our materialistic, consumeristic world today---knows only how to destroy that which threatens it.  That’s why we have endless wars and violence as well as many other social and economic problems (such as the 'Global Financial Crisis')---and also problems in our own personal lives. Yes, we---including me---act from an Esau consciousness more often than we care to think. Let’s not be self-righteous about all of this.

The Esau consciousness or mindset must be supplanted by the Jacob consciousness (that is, mental or intellectual dominion). However, the 'Jacob consciousness' is not the end-of-it. It will not bring us any lasting peace of mind. No, not at all. The Bible---indeed, all sacred scripture---depicts another, more exalted state of consciousness---namely, the 'Israel consciousness.' This state of mind or mindset is one of spiritual consciousness and spiritual dominion. What do I mean by that? By ‘spiritual’, I mean non-material, non-physical. I am speaking of wisdom as opposed to book knowledge---the wisdom that ‘knows’ that you are one with all other life, that you are life, and that you can never be less than life, the wisdom that ‘knows’ that you can overcome any problems and difficulties life presents provided you are prepared to be relieved of the bondage of self.

One of the most well-known stories of the Bible is Jacob's ‘stairway to heaven’ dream (also known as ‘Jacob's ladder’).  It occurred while Jacob was fleeing the wrath of Esau, his brother.  He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.  There above the ladder stood the Lord, who said, ‘I Am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.’

Jacob’s ladder symbolises the Jacob mentality ascending step by step to an exalted spiritual consciousness, in which there is a conscious awareness of the Omnipresence and Allness of God---that is, that there is only life, and all life is one, divine, sacred and holy. You can call 'It' the 'Eternal Now,' if you like.

The Jacob mentality is still to become ‘Israel’ but it is well on its way. The great hymn, ‘Nearer, My God, to Thee’, by Sarah Flower Adams---a Unitarian---was inspired by the story of Jacob’s ladder. Whether we know it or not, we are all seeking some kind of ladder to lead us to ‘God,’ whatever we understand ‘God’ to be. (May I suggest that you simply see ‘It’ as the ‘Other,’ as the ‘Power-not-oneself.’) Yes, no matter what our circumstances may be, no matter how many mistakes we’ve made in our lives, we can still ‘ascend’ Jacob’s ladder, with us at one end and God, as we understand God, at the 'top'---although I am not referering to higher and lower levels of reality. What is that ladder?  It is the thing we call meditation or prayer.

Perhaps the most mysterious incident in the Bible’s account of Jacob's life is the nightlong battle described in the closing verses of the 32nd chapter of Genesis.  Jacob is preparing for his encounter with Esau the next day.  We are told that ‘a man wrestled with him until dawn.’ Jacob is injured in the struggle, but is undefeated. At daybreak, Jacob's combatant pleads with him to let him go. Jacob says: ‘I will not let you until you bless me.’ The man accedes and confers upon him the name Israel, ‘because you have struggled with the divine and with men, and you have prevailed.’ (Israel---yisrael in the Hebrew---means ‘the one who prevails over the divine’).

Ultimately, when Jacob fully lets go and surrenders to the will of God---that is, accepts life on life’s own terms with the calm acceptance and knowledge that whatever is, is best---God (or the ‘Power-not-oneself’) takes over and Israel makes peace between Esau and Jacob.

Jacob becomes lame after his spiritual overcoming. He could never walk in earthly things with the same step again. So it is with each of us when we grow spiritually and move away from the earthly and material things of life. Yes, we will walk with a 'limp' of sorts---the proof that we have fought and overcome a mighty battle against the 'self' and all that would hold us in bondage and captivity. Yes, there is a 'price' to be paid for true freedom from the bondage of self and the silly but dangerous things of the world.

It was---and will be for each of us as well---a long and difficult struggle till dawn, but in the end we can indeed triumph over our lower selves, indeed over the very notion of ‘self’ itself.  The result---if we really want it, more than anything else? Well, for one thing, fear---even if it be present---will lose its grip and power over us, and we will come to know peace and serenity, and we will be able to accept life on its terms … and be happy! And, in the words of an old hymn, 'the things of earth will grow strangely dim.' Amen.

THE NATURE AND POWER OF MINDFUL PRAYER

There are many forms of prayer. In the words of an old hymn, ‘Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed.’ Thus, if you really want good health for yourself or some other person, that is your prayer. Simple as that.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (pictured left), the great Unitarian and Transcendentalist, wrote, ‘All honest work is prayer.’ (I think the great Saint Benedict said something very similar.) So, all who do their work well, and honestly, are praying. I like that.

Mindfulness, being an awakened state of mind, is a form of prayer as well. Living mindfully from one moment to the next, that is, living fully in the action of the present moment, with calm acceptance of whatever arises, is about as 'spiritual' a practice as you can get. In the Christian tradition it is referred to as the 'practice of the presence of God' ... and it is prayer in action.

Now, I tend to eschew all forms of petitionary prayer, yet when I find myself in a seemingly hopeless situation I am often amazed to see myself ‘lapsing’ back to my old way of praying … to a personal Mother-Father God. However, most of the time I am more than content to sit in the Silence and feel a sense of at-one-ment with the One Presence and Power that is Life itself – all things, as well as being the very life, indeed livingness, of all things.

Here's another form of prayer – clear thinking. One of my favourite novels and movies - it has also been the subject of at least two TV serials - is How Green Was My Valley. Richard Llewellyn (pictured below) wrote the book, which concerns a Welsh coal-mining family and life as seen in the village through the eyes of the youngest son Huw Morgan. (Many of my ancestors on my father’s side of the family were Welsh, and my name is very Welsh.)

In the following excerpt from the book Mr Gruffydd, the new parson, visits the young lad Huw who has been badly crippled in a mishap while trying to rescue his mother in an ice choked mountain creek. Huw, surrounded by good books, has nevertheless been treated, albeit lovingly, as an invalid by his beloved family. The parson encourages the boy to imagine - indeed know - that he will walk again. Let’s pick up on the conversation at this point:

‘Men who are born to dig coal,’ Mr Gruffydd said to me, ‘need strength and courage. But they have no need of spirit, any more than the mole or the blind worm. Keep up your spirit, Huw, for that is the heritage of a thousand generations of the great ones of the Earth. As your father cleans his lamps to have good light, so keep clean your spirit.’

‘And how shall it be kept clean, Mr Gruffydd?’ I asked him.

‘By prayer, my son,’ he said, ‘not mumbling, or shouting, or wallowing like a hog in religious sentiments. Prayer is only another name for good, clean, direct thinking. When you pray, think well what you are saying, and make your thoughts into things that are solid. In that manner, your prayer will have strength, and that strength shall become part of you, mind, body and spirit. Do you still want to see the first daffodil out up on the mountain, my son?’

‘Indeed, I do, Mr Gruffydd,’ I said.      
   
‘Pray, my son,’ he said, and left.

Here - courtesy of YouTube - is part of the 1941 film version containing this famous exchange between the worldly-wise but flawed Mr Gruffydd (played by Walter Pidgeon) and the young Huw Morgan (played by Roddy McDowall) [please go to 07:07-07:41 for the scene]:

 

So, prayer is ‘good, clean, direct thinking.’ You make your thoughts ‘into things that are solid.’ That way, your prayer will be strong, and you will become strong. Well, by that definition even the most militant atheist who engages in ‘good, clean, direct thinking’ is praying. They may not think they’re praying, and they would almost certainly resent the imputation or suggestion that they are actually engaged in praying, but (be that as it may) I think Llewellyn is onto something quite simple yet also very profound.

You see, there is only one ‘way of being’ – one order or level of reality. As I see it, all things exist on the same plane. There is nothing beyond us that is not otherwise in us … as us. When you have a problem, use ‘good, clean, direct thinking.’ Think honestly, work honestly, act honestly. Whatever is your strongest, most sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed, will tend to actualize. Yes, we invariably do whatever is our strongest desire. For example, if 'part' of you wants to smoke, and 'part' of you doesn't, it is a psychological and metaphysical fact that the 'part' [that is, desire] which is strongest will always win out! (That reminds me of the Cherokee ‘object lesson’ story of the fight between two wolves – the two wolves inside each one of us. One wolf is evil, unhappy and ugly – representing anger, greed and delusion. The other wolf is beautiful and good. The two wolves are in more-or-less constant battle with each other. Which wolf wins? Whichever one we feed.)

It is written, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’ (Jn 3:16) [NKJV]. Is Jesus God’s ‘only begotten son’ in a unique and exclusive sense? Well, if you think that, I fear that you have literalized and carnalized a ‘myth’ (the latter being not something which is untrue but rather something which is supremely and universally true beyond all notions of literalness). Yes, the really ‘good news,’ as I see it, is that we are all ‘begotten’ of the Only One. There is Only One, and everyone and everything is the ‘only begotten son.’ We are all ‘sparks of the Divine.’ We are all part of Life’s Self-Expression. Never forget that. And here's another important truth from the Bible. Spiritually, the 'son' is your mind – the place where you pronounce judgment on yourself by the thoughts you entertain. That is the real meaning of the verse, 'For the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son' (Jn 5:22). So, watch your thoughts, for they become words, and 'by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned' (Mt 12:37).

Well, what does mindfulness have to do with this? Is not mindfulness about not thinking? No. Not at all. Mindfulness is not about not thinking. It is about allowing thoughts to be present but not letting them run, control or overpower you. By all means think. Indeed, thinking can be a very good thing ... at times ... within reason! (I'm being frivolous now.) However, when you do think, do so mindfully ... and not mindlessly.

The abovementioned verse from John’s Gospel (viz Jn 3:16) encapsulates an important metaphysical truth, namely, that one’s ‘only begotten son,’ creatively expressed, refers to a creative and saving thought, idea or desire, the ‘father’ being thinker or mind . If, for example, you are sick, your desire for health is the ‘son.’ Your mind – or you, the person who desires and thinks – is the ‘father.’ When your desire (prayer) is realized, you are saved.

So, we have mind ['Father'] - thought, idea or desire ['Son'] - and expression ['Holy Spirit'] – the metaphysical 'Holy Trinity'! That's the nature and mechanics of all 'inner' spiritual working. By the way, the English word 'salvation’ comes from the same Latin root as the word salve, and refers to a healthy kind of wholeness. Health, holiness and wholeness – three words, and they are all interrelated.

In short, think well, and make your thoughts into things that are solid … for such is the nature of reality. ‘Pray, my son.’

How Green Was My Valley, by Richard Llewellyn, ©1939, 1940 by Richard Vivian Llewellyn 
Lloyd; copyright renewed 1967 by Richard Llewellyn.

Images and film footage courtesy of 20th Century Fox International.
All Rights Reserved.

RELATED POST

MINDFULNESS IN THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION