The Second Coming of Christ by Paramahansa Yogananda

First, read this: https://earthchanges.ning.com/forum/topics/the-mechanics-of-meditati..., about my breakthrough, located in the Meditation module.

I've completed volume one, 804 pages. There is so much information that it's something you should read for yourself. As I said in the link above, read The Yoga of Jesus first, for a quicker overview.

My understanding of Yogananda's explanation of how things work is this: God (Source, Prime Creator, the Unmanifested One, etc.) exists outside of vibratory creation. (As you know, everything within creation vibrates.) For sake of editing out gender, I'll refer to him as PC, prime meaning first, since we humans are all creators in our own rights, since we are made in PC's image.

The Holy Spirit is very under-reported in the Bible. It is the vehicle which transmits the Christ Consciousness.

The Christ Consciousness is the only reflection of God within creation. Jesus was not the literal "son of God." That title was added centuries later as the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) formed and its theology developed. Jesus was a human who was in his last lifetime before ascending. He set the example of what to do to ascend, though much of his message has been lost, suppressed, or edited. (I'd love to see what's sitting in the Vatican Archives.)

To support this idea, Jesus said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John 14:12)

The phrase "believeth on me" strikes me as later theology, so I went back to the original Greek to see how it was literally written. Using the Concordant Literal New Testament, published by Concordant Publishing Concern, Santa Clarita, CA, the literal translation is "Be-believing to-me amen amen i-am-saying-to-you the one-believing into me the acts which I am-doing and-that-one will-be-doing and greater of-these he-will-be-doing that." So on is actually into in the original Greek.

And, note, i-am-saying-to-you the one-believing into me the acts which I am-doing... Get that? "Believing the acts which I am doing." Was he dying on the cross when he said that? No, he said this at the last supper. The arrest and crucifixion had not happened yet. The Concordant Commentary agrees the "acts" which he was doing in continuous present tense were the miracles, not some foreshadowing of the crucifixion and resurrection.

See http://www.dictionary.com/browse/into?s=t for the different definitions of into. And, "believing to-me" translates better as sending your belief towards him, as in just believing what he's saying. See http://www.dictionary.com/browse/to?s=t. ;

The difference between "believing in" and "believing on":

"To believe in": (a) To believe that the subject of the thought (if a person or thing) exists, or (if an event) that it has occurred, or will occur; -- as, to believe in the resurrection of the dead. "She does not believe in Jupiter." --J. H. Newman. (b) To believe that the character, abilities, and purposes of a person are worthy of entire confidence; -- especially that his promises are wholly trustworthy. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." --John xiv. 1. (c) To believe that the qualities or effects of an action or state are beneficial: as, to believe in sea bathing, or in abstinence from alcoholic beverages.

"To believe on": to accept implicitly as an object of religious trust or obedience; to have faith in.

So, did Jesus say to believe in him to obtain salvation? No, but according to John 5:24, he said, "24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24." Jesus said anyone he hears (understands) what he says, and believes in God, will have everlasting life. So, St. Paul kinda contradicts what Jesus said. The eternal, unchangeable, omniscient God changed his mind? Not likely.

Given the literal Greek words, Jesus' own words, and modern biblical scholarship showing that as the theology developed, the Bible was amended, the flavor of what Jesus said is not, "believe in me for salvation" but "believe in my words, what I'm telling you." It can be extrapolated that what he was instructing them into how to achieve their own salvation.

Further, Jesus points to his works and says if you can't believe "he is in the father..., then believe in the works. "11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake."

The Concordant Commentary harmonizes my take, stating, "... Mary alone had learned to believe His words. She looked forward to His death and the tomb. Is it any wonder that she is first at the tomb on the resurrection morning ..."

Another point to consider is that Jesus' disciples were doing the same works as Jesus, but were not called "Sons of God." (In early biblical literature "son of God" was the phrase for a holy man, not a literal son of a literal god.) So, how could they work miracles if they weren't "Sons of God"? It's because they weren't. They were average humans, just like you and me, who had learned how to connect with the Christ Consciousness.

Believing Jesus' words is very different than believing in Him as the source of spiritual salvation. It just doesn't say to believe in Him for salvation. It means "believe what I'm telling you, do it and you can do the works I am doing, even greater works when the Holy Spirit comes." Can you see how Christianity was derailed? And, Paul didn't help. I still wonder if he was a deep mole for the Pharisees. Remember, a well-established principle is that facts are established by two or three witnesses. (Deut. 17:6, 1 Tim 5:19, 2 Cor 13:1) There are several accounts, but have discrepancies:

Acts 9:7, written in third person (presumably by Luke, Paul's traveling companion), states: "7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man."

Acts 22:9, written in first person (presumably Paul's direct testimony), states: "9And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

So, two accounts. One says the voice was heard. The other denies it. Which is the truth?

The Concordant Commentary tries to harmonize the discrepancies that the voice/message was intended for Paul only. But I think that argument fails based on the two-three witness requirement. Why would the rules be changed just for Paul? The original apostles were suspicious of him, but allegedly said suspicion was smoothed over. Another text I need to check for later additions.

Why were people that knew Jesus amazed when he began his public ministry? Because he was a normal human being until he achieved Christ Consciousness (symbolized by the dove coming down at his baptism), which was the game changer.

As a point of interest, Jesus and John the Baptist had prior incarnations as Elijah and Elisha. Read the works of Elisha (in the Old Testament) and you'll see they are very similar to the works of Jesus and his disciples.

Another point of interest is the mention, in The Past Lives of Paramahansa Yogananda, that King David was also a past life of Jesus. This is a hearsay statement, but thought I'd pass it along so if anyone is studying this (or wants to), you could check it out. King David was a flawed character, but could show a soul progression towards ascension, so read about him with that in mind.

Replies

Cheryl Nelson March 29, 2017 at 5:12pm

Now that I've read the Talmud of Jmmanuel and Deardorff's analyses, and been studying Kriya yoga for the past year, I want to revisit Book 1, to view it from an enhanced perspective. In one respect, so much of the New Testament was redacted (in other words, it wasn't all of what Jesus said, or what, in some cases, Jesus said at all), how could it be interpreted correctly? On the other hand, I think Yogananda was a true holy man and despite the errors, he could have been guided for the people of his time (he lived late 1800's to 1952).
Cheryl Nelson March 19, 2016 at 8:09pm

First, read this: https://earthchanges.ning.com/forum/topics/the-mechanics-of-meditati..., about my breakthrough, located in the Meditation module.

I've completed volume one, 804 pages. There is so much information that it's something you should read for yourself. As I said in the link above, read The Yoga of Jesus first, for a quicker overview.

My understanding of Yogananda's explanation of how things work is this: God (Source, Prime Creator, the Unmanifested One, etc.) exists outside of vibratory creation. (As you know, everything within creation vibrates.) For sake of editing out gender, I'll refer to him as PC, prime meaning first, since we humans are all creators in our own rights, since we are made in PC's image.

The Holy Spirit is very under-reported in the Bible. It is the vehicle which transmits the Christ Consciousness.

The Christ Consciousness is the only reflection of God within creation. Jesus was not the literal "son of God." That title was added centuries later as the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) formed and its theology developed. Jesus was a human who was in his last lifetime before ascending. He set the example of what to do to ascend, though much of his message has been lost, suppressed, or edited. (I'd love to see what's sitting in the Vatican Archives.)

To support this idea, Jesus said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John 14:12)

The phrase "believeth on me" strikes me as later theology, so I went back to the original Greek to see how it was literally written. Using the Concordant Literal New Testament, published by Concordant Publishing Concern, Santa Clarita, CA, the literal translation is "Be-believing to-me amen amen i-am-saying-to-you the one-believing into me the acts which I am-doing and-that-one will-be-doing and greater of-these he-will-be-doing that." So on is actually into in the original Greek.

And, note, i-am-saying-to-you the one-believing into me the acts which I am-doing... Get that? "Believing the acts which I am doing." Was he dying on the cross when he said that? No, he said this at the last supper. The arrest and crucifixion had not happened yet. The Concordant Commentary agrees the "acts" which he was doing in continuous present tense were the miracles, not some foreshadowing of the crucifixion and resurrection.

See http://www.dictionary.com/browse/into?s=t for the different definitions of into. And, "believing to-me" translates better as sending your belief towards him, as in just believing what he's saying. See http://www.dictionary.com/browse/to?s=t. ;

The difference between "believing in" and "believing on":

"To believe in": (a) To believe that the subject of the thought (if a person or thing) exists, or (if an event) that it has occurred, or will occur; -- as, to believe in the resurrection of the dead. "She does not believe in Jupiter." --J. H. Newman. (b) To believe that the character, abilities, and purposes of a person are worthy of entire confidence; -- especially that his promises are wholly trustworthy. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." --John xiv. 1. (c) To believe that the qualities or effects of an action or state are beneficial: as, to believe in sea bathing, or in abstinence from alcoholic beverages.

"To believe on": to accept implicitly as an object of religious trust or obedience; to have faith in.

So, did Jesus say to believe in him to obtain salvation? No, but according to John 5:24, he said, "24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24." Jesus said anyone he hears (understands) what he says, and believes in God, will have everlasting life. So, St. Paul kinda contradicts what Jesus said. The eternal, unchangeable, omniscient God changed his mind? Not likely.

Given the literal Greek words, Jesus' own words, and modern biblical scholarship showing that as the theology developed, the Bible was amended, the flavor of what Jesus said is not, "believe in me for salvation" but "believe in my words, what I'm telling you." It can be extrapolated that what he was instructing them into how to achieve their own salvation.

Further, Jesus points to his works and says if you can't believe "he is in the father..., then believe in the works. "11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake."

The Concordant Commentary harmonizes my take, stating, "... Mary alone had learned to believe His words. She looked forward to His death and the tomb. Is it any wonder that she is first at the tomb on the resurrection morning ..."

Another point to consider is that Jesus' disciples were doing the same works as Jesus, but were not called "Sons of God." (In early biblical literature "son of God" was the phrase for a holy man, not a literal son of a literal god.) So, how could they work miracles if they weren't "Sons of God"? It's because they weren't. They were average humans, just like you and me, who had learned how to connect with the Christ Consciousness.

Believing Jesus' words is very different than believing in Him as the source of spiritual salvation. It just doesn't say to believe in Him for salvation. It means "believe what I'm telling you, do it and you can do the works I am doing, even greater works when the Holy Spirit comes." Can you see how Christianity was derailed? And, Paul didn't help. I still wonder if he was a deep mole for the Pharisees. Remember, a well-established principle is that facts are established by two or three witnesses. (Deut. 17:6, 1 Tim 5:19, 2 Cor 13:1) There are several accounts, but have discrepancies:

Acts 9:7, written in third person (presumably by Luke, Paul's traveling companion), states: "7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man."

Acts 22:9, written in first person (presumably Paul's direct testimony), states: "9And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

So, two accounts. One says the voice was heard. The other denies it. Which is the truth?

The Concordant Commentary tries to harmonize the discrepancies that the voice/message was intended for Paul only. But I think that argument fails based on the two-three witness requirement. Why would the rules be changed just for Paul? The original apostles were suspicious of him, but allegedly said suspicion was smoothed over. Another text I need to check for later additions.

Why were people that knew Jesus amazed when he began his public ministry? Because he was a normal human being until he achieved Christ Consciousness (symbolized by the dove coming down at his baptism), which was the game changer.

As a point of interest, Jesus and John the Baptist had prior incarnations as Elijah and Elisha. Read the works of Elisha (in the Old Testament) and you'll see they are very similar to the works of Jesus and his disciples.

Another point of interest is the mention, in The Past Lives of Paramahansa Yogananda, that King David was also a past life of Jesus. This is a hearsay statement, but thought I'd pass it along so if anyone is studying this (or wants to), you could check it out. King David was a flawed character, but could show a soul progression towards ascension, so read about him with that in mind.
Cheryl Nelson October 8, 2015 at 4:54pm

I'm approaching the first three-hundred-page mark and this work is quite illuminating. One of the truest things I've ever heard was a remark by Jesus that the biggest enemy to finding spiritual freedom is "daily cares." Yogananda, in a related thought, says something to the effect that people who are immersed in bodily senses think any talk of spiritual things is craziness.
Kim B September 13, 2015 at 4:55pm

Will be looking forward to the notes :)

This reply was deleted.