My study of Jesus of Nazareth in his own Aramaic language and culture has
confirmed a number of previous theological conclusions that I have made earlier
in my life. Exploring this beginning understanding of Jesus’ life has given me
evidence that Christianity originated as a spiritual and mystical tradition, just like
the Sankhya Yoga tradition of India, or the shamanic traditions of aboriginal
cultures, or the Taoist cultures of China.
Each of those cultures and their languages were closely connected with nature.
Most of these cultures were pre-agricultural, and most of the poor Middle Eastern
were nomadic and were always aware of the constant change in their lives.
Because of this environment in which they lived they had no idea of a permanent
status in life, or even a permanent identity. They had names, but their names
were usually given to them referring to the weather or the sparkle in their eyes at
the time they were born. Or the names were expressions of the hope of their
parents at that particular time, like “Yahweh saves” (Yeshua) or “God
remembers” (Zachariah).
They had no specific words for things having any permanence. They had no verb
for “to be.” There was not a word for is, are, was, were, have been, has been. No
word for a permanent status or declaration of permanence like we have in the
English language.
Therefore, Jesus never made any “I am” statements as mentioned in John’s
Gospel. The Aramaic language says something totally different from our English
translations. In his own Aramaic language, Jesus never said, “I am the bread of
Life.” Or “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” Or “I am the Resurrection and
the Life.” The Aramaic word (Ina’na) that is translated into English as “I am” is
really translated as “I-I,” which is a word that connects our Higher Self or soul
(called “ruha”) and our lower self or body/mind (called “naphsha”).
That means, for example, when in English, Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth
and the Life,” he really meant, “The way to truth and life is connecting your lower
self (your mind and body) with your Higher self (your soul) which is the Ever-
living breath of Life.” A simpler way of saying this would be “My way of
connecting my higher/divine self with my lower human self is the way, truth and
life.” In his other sayings, this connection is made through one’s breathing the
Source of Life into the heart in contemplative/meditative practices.
This statement (“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” KJV) is interpreted
theologically today as proof that Jesus was God and that he is the only way to
salvation. However, through my doctoral studies I had learned that all mystical
traditions—especially the Jewish Kabbalists, the Islamic Sufis, the Christian
Desert Fathers and Mothers, the Taoist monks, the Buddhist monks and nuns, the
Native American medicine people, and the Vedic/Tantric Yogis—had meditative
practices that connected them to their Divine Source of Life.
Jesus’ special way of meditation, which was only taught in Christianity in the
monasteries and convents, was the Way of Salvation.
Thanks to my new understanding of Aramaic and Jesus’ way of life I feel more
confident with the intuitively developed theologically understanding of Jesus and
my journey to the Source of my Life.
Alleluia!
I bow to the divinity within you!
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