On first reading these biblical words, they can come across as negative and condescending.
But, a closer visual study of “the crucifixion” — as depicted by those spiritually qualified artists such as, Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci — reveal a series of coded messages, other than the obvious statement.
The portraits show Jesus with head bowed, [surrendered within] eyes glancing upwards, [symbolic of activation of the pineal gland in the brain], an empty stomach cavity [depicting emptiness of thought – without ego], the Cross, [symbolizing the dual nature of Man], and, finally, a crown of thorns.
The crown of thorns — comprising of inward pointing barbs — symbolizes victory over the carnal mind. It denotes, dominion over oneself – mind and senses — as separate from, dominion over the world, which crown may present as a glittering golden crown.
The crown barbs also denote the emotional suffering attaching to the process of integration, of witnessing our past as it surfaces in to conscious awareness, as we awaken spiritually.
As wonderful as scripture is, not all its writings are meant to be taken literally.
For instance, in Hebrew — like so many pivotal biblical words — the word “hidden” translates as “perfect” or “higher”, therefore, what we read literally, is not always the author’s original intention.
Similarly, the hidden or higher meaning behind the biblical word “Jew” is not in any way referring to the Jewish people, their religion, nation or traditions, but, to one seeking higher spiritual realization, by inward means. The word “Jew”, in this context thus is referring to a meditator, or, a yogi – one who engages silence AS prayer, for, at transcendental consciousness level, silence-prayer are both one and the same vibration.
The importance, therefore, of “hail, king of the Jews” is to highlight, that, when ego is crucified – by inward endeavour: i.e. meditational silence – the practitioner, whatever our religious status, biblically, is termed [a] “Jew”.
“King” is referring to one who has transcended ego, gained mastery over the subconscious aspect of mind. Similarly, in Hindu, Govinda is termed: master of the senses.
What is prayer-silence?
With biblical crucifixion-narrative essentially about crucifying ego — thereby awakening higher Self or Christ consciousness — the subliminal message is, that, this crucifixion, through our own mental faculties, takes place within our own minds.
To this end, periods of prayer-silence or, no mental activity leading to soul quietude, are required, thus leading to crucifixion of our deep-rooted, lower-self nature.
Jesus, as we know, was crucified on Mount Calvary. The Latin for Calvary is Calvaria, in Hebrew, it translates, “Golgotha”, meaning, place of the skull John: 19-17.
Thus, with Mount referring to highest point of inner awareness, crucifixion, therefore, takes place within the mind.
When, through meditation, this highest point of inner awareness is reached, Golgotha is reached — when ego, by way of meditational transcendence, is deemed “crucified”.
What is the purpose of crucifying ego?
Because ego primarily comprises a collection of thoughts, and, thinking that these thoughts are us, we become emotionally attached to them, and even governed by them, when, in reality, we are not our thoughts, for, they have no permanency, whereas, You-Spirit, are eternal.
To achieve dominion over illusory ego, scripture puts it: God said: “Let there be Light” Genesis: 1-3.
In scripture, “Light” means consciousness, therefore, the purpose of crucifixion is to ignite our spiritual or soul Light, therefore, by way of inner silence, let there be raised consciousness, let there be Light awareness within.
“Inner”, in this context, means within the Gap created when ego becomes stilled — crucified by means of reaching Golgotha — place of awakening — or, inner Mount Calvary.
Many repeat endless words as a method of prayer, and, to an extent, this is good, for it represents, God-seeking. But, usually, that which is doing the “praying” is the very thing which needs silencing — thus biblical Pharisees and Scribes are representative of the voice of ego.
To this end, a good prayer is that instrument which enables the mind experience raised consciousness – come into the Light. In this case, the instrument is wordless prayer, such as mantra meditation — a mantra is for the sole purpose of stilling the conscious mind, the chattering ego, thereby, our hidden or higher nature — the Light of Christ — is revealed unto consciousness, as Love, hence, biblical “Revelation”, within.
The mantra vibration is a means of creating a point or Gap in ego’s incessant thought production flow — the fixed tramlines which our habitual thoughts seem to be running on. Consequent of this silence Gap in meditation, bliss becomes infused into the conscious mind, thereby, raised consciousness or Light, becomes experiential at the practical transcendental level.
Each meditation resumes from the purified level gained in our previous session. Beginners, therefore, can rest assured that previous meditational progress, is not lost — even, if restarting the practice after an extended lapse of time.
Having found the bliss-natured Gap, the question arises, through what medium do we experience bliss — how does it reach the mind?
We may say, through the heart (meaning consciousness), yes, but, more precisely, we experience initially through the nervous system and senses, which serve the mind, thus, is how bliss becomes established within consciousness. In this context, putting our “heart” into prayer takes on a newer dimension — our life becoming a divine prayer by way of living Christ consciousness.
Many ignore this crucial aspect of God-experiencing. We may say: my belief or faith is strong, yes, but, such can sometimes be an intellectual accommodation, and not the direct experiencing that scripture is calling for.
In essence, “faith” has a nature – unconditional love – and, when such nature is realized within consciousness, then, the object of faith, is outgrown – we have become as One with [thy] God.
Palm 46:10 puts it: “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exaulted among the heathen, I will be exaulted in the earth”.
This single scripture, I feel, qualifies the entire Bible.
Here, “heathen” is referring to our negative subconscious thought patterns of fear, anger, resentment, worry – or, conditioned ego. “Earth” is referring to man’s ordinary human consciousness, into which, divine nature becomes as “Presence” — lower-self, or “earth”, becoming transformed into divine standard — as in: “Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven” — the Lord’s Prayer.
Here, biblical stillness represents not only mental stillness, but stillness of the nervous system. In other words, for bliss to vibrate optimally, the nervous system should become inactive, but not passive. Rather, a state of restful alertness, which is the perfect equilibrium dynamic through which eternal Being reflects.
Biblically Enlightened
Becoming the biblically enlightened soul — which scripture is highlighting — is simply to become fully conscious. To this end, becoming fully conscious is to have no subconscious mind content. For, it is this suppressed content which deprives our soul knowing its true nature. Such content needs integration, made conscious through awareness, hence mindfulness of our immediate inner and outer environment or, being in the present moment.
Thus, in meditation, lower-self egoic nature gradually becomes integrated, crucified, thereby, Enlightenment.
The silence meditational process stills and purifies the nervous system. In this way our medium of experience is made pure to reflect God-nature – thereby meriting the title “king of the [inward seeking] Jews”.
We read: “Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor, condemned Christ to death, at the desire of the Jews”.
“Roman Governor” here symbolizes the subconscious mind — the compulsive thought patterns which govern and dominate our thought processes, thereby feeding and maintaining the ego. The Roman soldiers are the individual negative thoughts.
While, at first, this may seem contradictory to the earlier definition of “Jews” as God-seeking souls, it is not.
“Jews”, here, still mean a moral, upright soul desiring his/her daily life to be lived through one’s own awakened inner Christ, as separate from imposed, conditioned mind-sets or indoctrinations.
Similar to Herod, Pilate saw nothing wrong [with ego] for both generally represent the same dynamic — lower-self nature spiritually blind to its higher dimension.
“The crowds — “the Jews” — shouted: crucify him, crucify him” Matthew 27:23, meaning, the incessant demand of the soul for spiritual evolution – for realization in Christ consciousness — becomes unstoppable. For, we are each of Christ Potential, or, Son of Man in waiting to becoming, Son of God. Therefore, such a soul sees the crucifixion as resurrection of life in Christ nature, and, not physical death; she sees crucifixion as necessary, and inevitable to bringing about death of the illusory individual ego, thereby know eternal status within our own consciousness.
Thus, the inward crucifixion represents Glory of our soul – hence, “at the desire of the [God-seeking] Jews” – the soul comes into eternal Divine Love.
If we had never heard a word of scripture, we would still find a means of ego crucifixion. We would still achieve Enlightenment through our soul mate, Nature. For, by being totally in her presence, would bring about the Gap whereby kundalini — divine life force — would rise from the spinal column. The soul would naturally be drawn to union with Nature’s pulse of 7.83htz per second, the transcendental vibration — achieved in meditation — our soul yearns.