Contents
The Gospel of Thomas
Annotated & Explained
Translation & Annotation by Stevan Davies
While the Gospel of Thomas itself is a great source of quotations to ponder and meditate on, this book offers some insights and direction to understanding what was intended.
The annotations help provide some context of the historical period that the Gospels were written, along with corresponding sayings incorporated into the New Testament Gospels.
The foreword by Andrew Harvey provides an inspiring viewpoint that sets the scene for reading the sayings attributed to Jesus. For example:
"Unlike the Buddha, or Krishna, or any of the Eastern sages whose wisdom of transcendent knowledge left fundamentally intact the status quo of a world often characterized as illusory, the Jesus we see in the Gospel of Thomas saw and knew this world as the constant epiphany of the divine Kingdom ... What Jesus woke up to and proceeded to enact with the fiercest and most gloriously imaginable intensity was this new life of 'Kingdom-consciousness," not as savior and not as a guru claiming unique status and truth ... but as a sign of what is possible for all human beings who dare to awaken to the splendor of their inner truth..."
The foreword also outlines the importance of saying 22, illustrating how it reveals the order "of the transformations that have to be undergone by every seeker if the 'Kingdom-consciousness' is to be realized."
The annotations offer evidence of the implied meanings to the sayings. The 'Kingdom-consciousness' is often related back to the creation stories of Genesis 1 & 2, with the creation of Adam and Eve, and the Garden of Eden. Not mentioned in the book, but perhaps apt, is Qabalistic Tree of Life, with Malkuth representing Kingdom. As with the sayings in the Gospel of Thomas that the Kingdom is within, and outside of you, there is a comparison within the Qabala that Kether is in Malkuth, and Malkuth is within Kether. To me, this suggests that by "entering" the Kingdom (or attaining "Kingdom-consciousness") one may reconnect with with the Divine.
Perhaps a matter of synchronicity, yesterday I received some of Stan Tenen's research Broadsheets from the Meru Foundation and read through a few small articles, which lead me to reading some posting of Stan's online. These were with regards to the "Pardes Meditation". This meditation is believed to allow one entry into Pardes (Paradise, the Garden of Eden), and allow one to essentially connect with a Christ-type energy, which Stan suggests become mythologised into the Christ-hero of the bible. I mention this, as this line of thinking fits in with the concept of the perfect Creation, the Garden of Eden and Kingdom of Heaven being in existence alongside (in parallel) to the World as we commonly see it.
In one of Stevan Davies' annotations (annotation 61, relating to saying 49) he relates that "strikingly absent, however, are any clear directions on how to accomplish such a regression in time [to the Beginning of the world]; the secret to that is evidently hidden within the person and within the world, hidden along with the Kingdom of Heaven. Perhaps there was an oral teaching of meditations which did not accompany the Gospel of Thomas. Personally I believe that meditation, of the guided imagery type, is likely the way a person can gain knowledge of the "Kingdom of Heaven within". It is possible that a Pardes-like meditation would facilitate some of what is required to become "like Jesus". Perhaps the Gospel of Thomas could be viewed as an example of early Christian Qabalistic teachings.
Although the title suggests that in part this is the Gospel of Thomas "explained", it certainly isn't a spoiler of the mystery of each of the sayings. While some of the annotations certainly suggest the likely meaning of the saying it is still made clear that the sayings are ambiguous, and open to interpretation by the reader.
All of this presents a new and revolutionary view of a Christianity wildly different than any of the mainstream and orthodox Christianities that exist today. One in which Jesus is a fiery-spirited 'teacher' who leads by example, and imparts a wisdom of Self-growth (via Self Knowledge) that will allow anyone to know that the Kingdom of God is here now, and accessible (if only you have eyes to see and ears to hear). The sayings certainly fit with Hermetic teachings, and the elements of synthesis within them point to a spiritual alchemy - all of this free from the common Christian themes of sin, guilt, and shame.
Steven Davies (along with Andrew Harvey in the foreword) has done an excellent job of opening up the Gospels of Thomas to assist readers in quickly becoming acquainted with the themes and symbolism with this unique Gospel.
"Jesus said: I have thrown fire on the world. Look! I watch it until it blazes."
Related Pages:
- Esoteric & Occult Secrets - Exploring various ideas about secrets, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and the higher self.
Related Links:
- The Gospel of Thomas Homepage
- Early Christian Writings - The Gospel of Thomas
- The Gospel of Thomas Collection
Review Date: 20th February 2007
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