The Festival of Easter
DEAR READER: The last column started a series on the three Full Moon Festivals of Spring. Today we will concentrate on the first, which is known as the Festival of Easter, and is the most familiar to the Western world.
Remember that every part of the Bible (for Jews and Christians) and of other Holy Books (for those of other religions) can be interpreted on several levels of significance. Thus, mankind is entering into a period during which the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, the Christ, will have ever deepening significance and meaning.
Most people in the Western world are familiar with the time of Easter, regardless of the way in which they personally ‘celebrate’ it. It commemorates that time when Christians believe Jesus rose from the tomb and thereby proved to mankind that man could be triumphant over the grave.
The journey from darkness into light, from ignorance to understanding, from the grave of form to the state of pure Being, is the Path of Resurrection, shown by Jesus, the Wayshower, unto humanity.
Resurrection teaches 'the lifting of matter into heaven'. It is not a one-time happening of the physical body arising from the grave, but it is, continually, the potential within each hour, each minute, to be born anew, to move on, to let go of the past and choose the future, to approach change with an open mind and willing heart.
So it is through death that we are born again. In giving up the old patterns of thoughts and emotions, of methods, habits, beliefs, we can meet every situation unconditioned by previous attachments. We are made new, reborn through death.
Turning again to the booklet quoted last time, "The Three Festivals of Spring", (MGNA, Box 566, Ojai, CA 93023): "There is a Power within us that will lead all the way to the Infinite, a spiritual Warrior who wins all battles, who builds the New through the agency of Light. Easter proclaims that Power, the triumphant Christ, born of the union of the Father (Spirit) and the Mother (Matter)--the Light of the World. Let each man recognize that the cosmic process is repeated within himself, and see the miracle of Light which fills his being, the I Am, the Hope of Glory, the Force of Resurrection itself."
As we come to know more of the three linked Festivals of the Full Moon, we will come to understand that the Christ will act as the Unifier of the East and West. Buddha, whose work for humanity is nearly over, will cooperate to the fullest in this unification giving power, understanding, and enlightenment (symbolized as ‘vestments’) to His spiritual Brother, the Christ, thus releasing Himself for higher work. But more of this next time.