HappyHappy mothers day wishes to our dear Ocean. Dear Samundar,
Sea, see you are everywhere. Without you there can't be a life. Some times you are salty and sometimes you are a sweetie. Being a blue you merge with the sky to format infinity. What drives you...we don't know. Some say it is full moon, others say it is a new moon, scientists say that there are currents above and below you. I don't know, but I have seen fishes are driving within you, ships and boats are driving on you and we drive planes above you. We are fine. How about you? Sad that we don't care about you. What to do...no time...and in fact...no place. Otherwise why should we dump loads of garbage in you? As a mother, who gave birth to us...bear our indiscretions. We have no where to go. Remember, we have dumped loads of treasures of golds and jewels throughout the years (albeit through sinking ships). Consider it as a bribe. I know what you are thinking....."what is the use of this useless tinsil?" After all I am the source! Thermodynamics or Outsourced. Philosophers and scientists say so much is unknown about you! Is is good or is it a wonder? Do I need to know you or is it sufficient to know that you are here to take care of our thirst. You know....you evaporate! Well only a mother can do so to save her children. "Happy mothers day mummy". I love you very much.
Love,
Siva
mothers day wishes to our dear Ocean.
Dear Samundar,
Sea, see you are everywhere. Without you there can't be a life. Some times you are salty and sometimes you are a sweetie. Being a blue you merge with the sky to format infinity. What drives you...we don't know. Some say it is full moon, others say it is a new moon, scientists say that there are currents above and below you. I don't know, but I have seen fishes are driving within you, ships and boats are driving on you and we drive planes above you. We are fine. How about you? Sad that we don't care about you. What to do...no time...and in fact...no place. Otherwise why should we dump loads of garbage in you? As a mother, who gave birth to us...bear our indiscretions. We have no where to go. Remember, we have dumped loads of treasures of golds and jewels throughout the years (albeit through sinking ships). Consider it as a bribe. I know what you are thinking....."what is the use of this useless tinsil?" After all I am the source! Thermodynamics or Outsourced. Philosophers and scientists say so much is unknown about you! Is is good or is it a wonder? Do I need to know you or is it sufficient to know that you are here to take care of our thirst. You know....you evaporate! Well only a mother can do so to save her children. "Happy mothers day mummy". I love you very much.
Love,
Siva
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Gospel of Thomas! Wisdom with in!!!
I wrote this following text to our hindu friends. I think this forum can see how an Indian who lived near St.Thomas's Tomb fells like. Further, with all the expert anaysis, it is considered the oldest. Who classified scriptures...God only knows! But after reading this work I was stunned for 2 days. The aura it emmitted will never go away and it has changed me for ever.
Here is the email I sent to my friends after my experience on reading the great "Gospel of St.Thomas"
We all Indians are aware of the greatness of St.Thomas as he is our own prophet who represented Jesus Christ (JC) in India. Many of us are aware how Jesus and India are closely related. For those who don’t know about JC’s life in India, let me share a short introduction on this topic and quickly I move to St.Thomas. Some statements are ment for my hindu friends who may not be familier with christian texts...
In the life of JC from age 12 - age 30 there are no records of his whereabouts in Middle East. This gap is referred as "lost years" of Jesus Christ. Youth of any individual is the crucial and developing years (like we are all indulging in this personality development and exactly fall under the same age grou - except me - bit laidback). Certainly it applies to JC as well. Indecently, various authentic Buddhist records indicate that he travelled to India and learned from the great masters of that land. In fact he was preaching and practicing the philosophy very much in India. Later he moved back to Jerusalem to continue his activities (Ref: Lost years of Jesus by Notovic - a compelling book to read). He had 12 disciples called apostles and one of them is St. Thomas. St. Thomas is popularly called doubting Thomas in canonical bibles - probably because of his rational and practical personality. Apparently he was also a courageous one. He is considered as a "Twin" brother to Jesus probably because of his spiritual strength or he looked like Jesus or simply he might be his twin brother! Whatever the case it may be, both were fond of each other. When JC rose from dead, Thomas was not around. When Thomas heard that JC is back! he never believed the witnesses and he told them that he should see JC personally and touch the wounds. That alone would convince him. JC came back to again to them and especially to Thomas so that he gets his answers. After that, St Thomas famously declared "my lord and my God". That is the love he had for Jesus. Later, Jesus clearly suggested this hesitant disciple to go and preach in India. Like Lord Krishna came to the house of Jeydev - incognato, Jesus sold Thomas to an Indian merchant as a slave thus forcing him to pay a trip to India as a carpenter (Since both JC and Thomas are twins and their family's profession was carpentry). He reached India through Syria to work under the emperor of a region comprising of northern India and Iran. The king gave him money to work for his palace. But St.Thomas couldn’t indulge in this flamboyant job. Hence he spent all his money for the welfare of the poor and needy - after all he has taken the vow of poverty! (these events were historically corraborated) The king understood and relieved him of his job and acknowledged him as a saint. Later he went to South India and established a church and a monastery as early as 2- 4th century as various travelers clearly records the presence of Christianity and the role of St.Thomas in India. These groups still persists as Syrian Christians of Malabar (then part of greater Tamil Nadu). When Portuguese invaded India with Catholism, these groups were severely prosecuted by them and destroyed their work without proper investigation and considered their work as heresy. Portugese forced Syrian Christians to surrender to Catholism for which they refused or possibly partially agreed. It is not the Hindus but the Christians destroyed many works of this great St.Thomas. This group still functions as "Syrian Christians". St.Thomas was either executed or mistakenly killed in Chennai where his remains were buried in San Thom beach church - Mylapore, Chennai. Portions of his remains were also taken back to Syria where he has a church as well.
Very little is known about his works as they were burned primarily because of severe prosecution from the believers of dominant form of Christianity. But his works were unearthed from an old pot excavated in Egypt (in 1940s) and are kept in Nag Hammadi library, Egypt. So for the scholars agree that this is the closes work dated or recorded of JC since the canonical bibles were written centuries after JC death (Constantinople period). It is a short Gospel and highly mystic and consists of 114 sayings. Why I was interested in this work is because of the Advaitic (nondual - only divinity exists) nature of his words. It seems Jesus exclusively told him the secret of God which no one got it. He starts his Gospel with these following words....
These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down.
And he said, "Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death." and thus he starts his first of 114 sayings. He goes on to say
(24) His disciples said to him, "Show us the place where you are, since it is necessary for us to seek it."
He said to them, "Whoever has ears, let him hear. There is light within a man of light, and he lights up the whole world. If he does not shine, he is darkness."
(91) They said to him, "Tell us who you are so that we may believe in you."
He said to them, "You read the face of the sky and of the earth, but you have not recognized the one who is before you, and you do not know how to read this moment."
(104) They said to Jesus, "Come, let us pray today and let us fast."
Jesus said, "What is the sin that I have committed, or wherein have I been defeated? But when the bridegroom leaves the bridal chamber, then let them fast and pray."
(113) His disciples said to him, "When will the kingdom come?"
"It will not come by waiting for it. It will not be a matter of saying 'here it is' or 'there it is.' Rather, the kingdom of the father is spread out upon the earth, and men do not see it."
The above quotes are randomly picked words (Ref: [url=http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gthlamb.html]Gospel of Thomas (Lambdin Translation) -- The Nag Hammadi Library. I believe that our group can see the insights of JC through St.Thomas. We can also see why later day Christians couldn’t accept him in spite of knowing clearly that this is the oldest bible ever available or ever recorded (The excavated copy was carbon dated to 2-4 AD). It challenges every current Christian ideology such as the idea of sinner, salvation is not achievable by individual effort but only by following Jesus as described in canonical biles, and so on.. Amazing work to read and they are believed to be the true words of JC.
Let us cherish these great teachers and prophets of Middle East.
Hari Bol!
Siva Muthuswamy
One of my indian friend wrote a reply who asked some clarifications
Here is his reply...
I did not know that much about St. Thomas actually. Except that one person in our study group (Joshua?) said that a 'doubting Thomas' refers to the incredulity of St. Thomas when he saw that Jesus had been resurrected. He did not want to believe that Jesus had resurrected until he actually touched Jesus and felt the markings of the nails and the wounds in the side of his body. Although this attitude of Thomas has been taken in a negative sense (Jesus Himself later says - "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.") I view Thomas' doubting nature and empirical testing to be quite healthy. That is probably all that I knew - and of course that he was one of the Apostles.
I have also seen a documentary about the lost years of Jesus. Besides, I know that there are saints in India who claim that Jesus had traveled to India at the age of 12 via the silk road, which was a common trade route back in those days. The historical records around St Thomas' Church seem to be genuine (at least to me). Are you sure however, that the Gospel of St Thomas has been dated to 2-4AD? Since, Jesus is said to have been crucified circa 26-33 AD. The Gospel of St. Thomas is excluded from the canonical bible, probably since it was discovered at a later date and also it seems to be rather short. It also includes statements verbatim from other Gospels. Notheless, another book in the bible which seems to have Vedic undertones is the book of Romans. Just one example (Ref. Romans 8:11)
"And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you."
Even today in our study group it was agreed on that the Bhagavad Gita teaching that 'one is a hypocrite who refrains from objects of sense gratification by physical renunciation but still has his mind engrossed in these sense objects' is both a Vedic and Christian teaching. (Ref. Matthew 5:28). Actually I am coming across many verses in even the canonical bible that agree with Vedic philosophy.
--------------------
Here is my reply to his mail....
Thanks XXXX for the your insights on interpreting St.Thomas words. I do believe that they need to be clarified. After I read St.Thomas's works, I did a great deal of neutral unbiased research on St.Thomas's works. Few things came stunningly. I am listing them below.
1. Early christianity was way far different than the modern christianity.... such as every apostles had their own version (just like various early Buddist sangas). During this time some factions of christianity were already established. In my opinion and in my research I can clearly see that St Thomas was a major player around the silk route till china and India. But he never had the backing of major rulers (kings) backup except in India and in Syria and that is where his church survived.
2. In my understanding, Christian scholars agrees Gospel of John ( certainly acknowledged as a gospel developed over a period of time) appears to be a retort or interplay to the statements appeared in Gospel of St.Thomas (like arguments between Advaitins and Dwaitins). This makes St.Thomas work as the closest work to the Jesus time. Further, the dating of the works of St.Thomas were done on the basis of the style of the language written. For example English or Tamil which was spoken 100 years back was very different than what I am speaking now. That is one of the technique St.Thomas works were dated to the 1st century AD. St.Thomas works were earlier discovered (in 18th century in Greece) but they were in fragments and generally called "Q documents". The one in Nag Hammadi library was the intact one. That is where they found that St.Thomas was the author of mysterious "Q Document". To aid the readers I have to say what Canonical bibles are. There are 4 authorized (canonical) bibles. They are Mark, Lucas, Matthew and John. The Mark is the oldest (still known to rely on !) and John though oldest but highly modified. Lucas and Matthew heavily relied on Mark and the mysteries Q document to write their version of bibles.
3. Scholars do agree the possibility of John's version deliberately undermine St.Thomas contribution (based on the interplay of words in Johns version). When "Constantine I", the king, decided to consolidate Christianity, he not only consolidated his versions (canonical) but what followed was "rooting out" the unwanted concepts which were against to the canonical versions. Otherwise why somebody has to hide Gospel of St.Thomas in a pot and burry under the soil? In my understanding the earliest date of this work was given around 52 AD and the latest 140 AD (with lot more scholars agreeing to 52 AD as the possible date). Hence I also believe that Gospel of St.Thomas was the earliest bible and possibly one of the first successful missionary established by any disciples of JC.
4. St.Thomas seems to be the most rational among the lot. He not only ensured the resurrection of JC was true but he also seems to understand the essential teachings of JC. When I observe the way Gospel of St.Thomas starts, it is certainly mind blowing. He offers his readers immortality in his very first lines and implore them to "understand" and not to follow like a "lemmings" in his later verses. He sticks to the point of the message rather than unnecessary details such as whether you should cut your hair or you should go to church for salvation and so on... Every word seems to be the essence of JC whom seems to be a rational man rather than a magician or a miracle monger. Check out JC's view on circumcision in St.Thomas's version.
5. We have to understand JC was born and died as a Jew. He was a reformer and re-interpreter of Judaism. He was sick and tired of then jews' flamboyant lifestyle as the one of the original text of Jews called "Kaballah" was about simplicity and higher thinking. St.Thomas never indulged in scare tactics such as "Hell""demon""devil""satan" - not even once! It is all about positive thinking! Unfortunately the modern christianity indulge in the scare tactics such as hell burning..demon..satan..witch hunting... "Sinner"...and so on to control the unassuming masses and making them as worms and not as fearless lions! According to St.Thomas version there is no sinner as long as he realizes the God! This is something to think about. Huston smith (author of World religions) observed in one interview that the way native indians of america pass the wisdom to the "generation next" was so superior than the way we teach our kids. It seems they dont write books or give class room education. Instead, they just call the "gen next " for a steam bath or to their death bed to tell their views in few frugal words of their version of wisdom and leaving out the trivial things. I believe that is what St.Thomas did! He took the essential words of JC and preached them. He made his followers thinkers! If masses thinks then there follows rebellion. That is the greatest threat to a king. Since religion is opium of masses, I am not surprised that St.Thomas' version was removed, instead the kings introduced their version of christianity which has enough dosage of fear and hate. Swami Vivekananda said "Come lions, cheer up! Shed away the delusion that you are a sheep! Araise Awake stop not till your goal (spiritual - god realization) is reached". That is how you reach the God's kingdom!
6. Why St.Thomas seems to be special to Jesus? Let us look at one of the verses from Gospel of St.Thomas!
(13) Jesus said to his disciples, "Compare me to someone and tell me whom I am like."
Simon Peter said to him, "You are like a righteous angel."
Matthew said to him, "You are like a wise philosopher."
Thomas said to him, "Master, my mouth is wholly incapable of saying whom you are like."
Jesus said, "I am not your master. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring which I have measured out."
And he took him and withdrew and told him three things. When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, "What did Jesus say to you?"
Thomas said to them, "If I tell you one of the things which he told me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me; a fire will come out of the stones and burn you up."
These mystical lines clearly indicates St.Thomas understood a far deeper personality of JC which he couldnt put in words. Can God ever be described! It seems that he also received the immortal wisdom from JC. After St.Thomas's private conversation with JC, it appears that Thomas is full of fire and vigor of spirituality. That is what he was spreading and guaranteeing through his church activities! Sri Ramakrishna did some thing similar to Swami Vivekananda in modern times. We all know what Swamiji did after words...He rocked!
7. Some evidence also suggest that Mother Mary and JC spent their last days by traveling to India...possibly in search of lost tribes of jews. JC tomb is believed to be in Kashmir while Mother Mary's tomb is supposed to be in pakistan near khyber pass. I dont know how far it is true. With respect to Mary's ascendence, it is believed that St.Thomas received the griddle from her before her ascendence. In fact, he was miraculasly transported to Mary's tomb (from India) and there he witnessed this event. Further it was claimed that St.Thomas told his fellow apostles about this event. Mary gave her griddle (hip belt - I guess) to him before her assumption. St.Thomas himself never mentions something like that in his works (whatever available). Few things are clear from this event. a) Mary had already passed away and was buried in the tomb. So it is not really a bodily assumption.
b) This stayed as a story in the churches but never solemnized till recently (1950 by Pope Pius XII) clearly indicating how much churches were hesitant!
c) If the story is not true, then to sell the story (possibly by the devotees of Mary) they needed St.Thomas name! That is how St.Thomas rationality was!!
8. Through my research on St.Thomas, I understood that he wanted to preach JC's message mainly to Malabar Jews not to Indian masses. He had a targeted mission. But later locals followed him and thus St.Thomas established his church in India. I have so much more to say, but let me stop it with my point 9.
9. God is a perennial truth. That is what great masters have told. Any time line to reach God's kingdom should be considered a deviation! At least that is what I think. If not, I dont want any part in his kingdom.
Sincerely,
Siva
(the above reply was slightly edited for this forum)
I wrote this following text to our hindu friends. I think this forum can see how an Indian who lived near St.Thomas's Tomb fells like. Further, with all the expert anaysis, it is considered the oldest. Who classified scriptures...God only knows! But after reading this work I was stunned for 2 days. The aura it emmitted will never go away and it has changed me for ever.
Here is the email I sent to my friends after my experience on reading the great "Gospel of St.Thomas"
We all Indians are aware of the greatness of St.Thomas as he is our own prophet who represented Jesus Christ (JC) in India. Many of us are aware how Jesus and India are closely related. For those who don’t know about JC’s life in India, let me share a short introduction on this topic and quickly I move to St.Thomas. Some statements are ment for my hindu friends who may not be familier with christian texts...
In the life of JC from age 12 - age 30 there are no records of his whereabouts in Middle East. This gap is referred as "lost years" of Jesus Christ. Youth of any individual is the crucial and developing years (like we are all indulging in this personality development and exactly fall under the same age grou - except me - bit laidback). Certainly it applies to JC as well. Indecently, various authentic Buddhist records indicate that he travelled to India and learned from the great masters of that land. In fact he was preaching and practicing the philosophy very much in India. Later he moved back to Jerusalem to continue his activities (Ref: Lost years of Jesus by Notovic - a compelling book to read). He had 12 disciples called apostles and one of them is St. Thomas. St. Thomas is popularly called doubting Thomas in canonical bibles - probably because of his rational and practical personality. Apparently he was also a courageous one. He is considered as a "Twin" brother to Jesus probably because of his spiritual strength or he looked like Jesus or simply he might be his twin brother! Whatever the case it may be, both were fond of each other. When JC rose from dead, Thomas was not around. When Thomas heard that JC is back! he never believed the witnesses and he told them that he should see JC personally and touch the wounds. That alone would convince him. JC came back to again to them and especially to Thomas so that he gets his answers. After that, St Thomas famously declared "my lord and my God". That is the love he had for Jesus. Later, Jesus clearly suggested this hesitant disciple to go and preach in India. Like Lord Krishna came to the house of Jeydev - incognato, Jesus sold Thomas to an Indian merchant as a slave thus forcing him to pay a trip to India as a carpenter (Since both JC and Thomas are twins and their family's profession was carpentry). He reached India through Syria to work under the emperor of a region comprising of northern India and Iran. The king gave him money to work for his palace. But St.Thomas couldn’t indulge in this flamboyant job. Hence he spent all his money for the welfare of the poor and needy - after all he has taken the vow of poverty! (these events were historically corraborated) The king understood and relieved him of his job and acknowledged him as a saint. Later he went to South India and established a church and a monastery as early as 2- 4th century as various travelers clearly records the presence of Christianity and the role of St.Thomas in India. These groups still persists as Syrian Christians of Malabar (then part of greater Tamil Nadu). When Portuguese invaded India with Catholism, these groups were severely prosecuted by them and destroyed their work without proper investigation and considered their work as heresy. Portugese forced Syrian Christians to surrender to Catholism for which they refused or possibly partially agreed. It is not the Hindus but the Christians destroyed many works of this great St.Thomas. This group still functions as "Syrian Christians". St.Thomas was either executed or mistakenly killed in Chennai where his remains were buried in San Thom beach church - Mylapore, Chennai. Portions of his remains were also taken back to Syria where he has a church as well.
Very little is known about his works as they were burned primarily because of severe prosecution from the believers of dominant form of Christianity. But his works were unearthed from an old pot excavated in Egypt (in 1940s) and are kept in Nag Hammadi library, Egypt. So for the scholars agree that this is the closes work dated or recorded of JC since the canonical bibles were written centuries after JC death (Constantinople period). It is a short Gospel and highly mystic and consists of 114 sayings. Why I was interested in this work is because of the Advaitic (nondual - only divinity exists) nature of his words. It seems Jesus exclusively told him the secret of God which no one got it. He starts his Gospel with these following words....
These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down.
And he said, "Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death." and thus he starts his first of 114 sayings. He goes on to say
(24) His disciples said to him, "Show us the place where you are, since it is necessary for us to seek it."
He said to them, "Whoever has ears, let him hear. There is light within a man of light, and he lights up the whole world. If he does not shine, he is darkness."
(91) They said to him, "Tell us who you are so that we may believe in you."
He said to them, "You read the face of the sky and of the earth, but you have not recognized the one who is before you, and you do not know how to read this moment."
(104) They said to Jesus, "Come, let us pray today and let us fast."
Jesus said, "What is the sin that I have committed, or wherein have I been defeated? But when the bridegroom leaves the bridal chamber, then let them fast and pray."
(113) His disciples said to him, "When will the kingdom come?"
"It will not come by waiting for it. It will not be a matter of saying 'here it is' or 'there it is.' Rather, the kingdom of the father is spread out upon the earth, and men do not see it."
The above quotes are randomly picked words (Ref: [url=http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gthlamb.html]Gospel of Thomas (Lambdin Translation) -- The Nag Hammadi Library. I believe that our group can see the insights of JC through St.Thomas. We can also see why later day Christians couldn’t accept him in spite of knowing clearly that this is the oldest bible ever available or ever recorded (The excavated copy was carbon dated to 2-4 AD). It challenges every current Christian ideology such as the idea of sinner, salvation is not achievable by individual effort but only by following Jesus as described in canonical biles, and so on.. Amazing work to read and they are believed to be the true words of JC.
Let us cherish these great teachers and prophets of Middle East.
Hari Bol!
Siva Muthuswamy
One of my indian friend wrote a reply who asked some clarifications
Here is his reply...
I did not know that much about St. Thomas actually. Except that one person in our study group (Joshua?) said that a 'doubting Thomas' refers to the incredulity of St. Thomas when he saw that Jesus had been resurrected. He did not want to believe that Jesus had resurrected until he actually touched Jesus and felt the markings of the nails and the wounds in the side of his body. Although this attitude of Thomas has been taken in a negative sense (Jesus Himself later says - "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.") I view Thomas' doubting nature and empirical testing to be quite healthy. That is probably all that I knew - and of course that he was one of the Apostles.
I have also seen a documentary about the lost years of Jesus. Besides, I know that there are saints in India who claim that Jesus had traveled to India at the age of 12 via the silk road, which was a common trade route back in those days. The historical records around St Thomas' Church seem to be genuine (at least to me). Are you sure however, that the Gospel of St Thomas has been dated to 2-4AD? Since, Jesus is said to have been crucified circa 26-33 AD. The Gospel of St. Thomas is excluded from the canonical bible, probably since it was discovered at a later date and also it seems to be rather short. It also includes statements verbatim from other Gospels. Notheless, another book in the bible which seems to have Vedic undertones is the book of Romans. Just one example (Ref. Romans 8:11)
"And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you."
Even today in our study group it was agreed on that the Bhagavad Gita teaching that 'one is a hypocrite who refrains from objects of sense gratification by physical renunciation but still has his mind engrossed in these sense objects' is both a Vedic and Christian teaching. (Ref. Matthew 5:28). Actually I am coming across many verses in even the canonical bible that agree with Vedic philosophy.
--------------------
Here is my reply to his mail....
Thanks XXXX for the your insights on interpreting St.Thomas words. I do believe that they need to be clarified. After I read St.Thomas's works, I did a great deal of neutral unbiased research on St.Thomas's works. Few things came stunningly. I am listing them below.
1. Early christianity was way far different than the modern christianity.... such as every apostles had their own version (just like various early Buddist sangas). During this time some factions of christianity were already established. In my opinion and in my research I can clearly see that St Thomas was a major player around the silk route till china and India. But he never had the backing of major rulers (kings) backup except in India and in Syria and that is where his church survived.
2. In my understanding, Christian scholars agrees Gospel of John ( certainly acknowledged as a gospel developed over a period of time) appears to be a retort or interplay to the statements appeared in Gospel of St.Thomas (like arguments between Advaitins and Dwaitins). This makes St.Thomas work as the closest work to the Jesus time. Further, the dating of the works of St.Thomas were done on the basis of the style of the language written. For example English or Tamil which was spoken 100 years back was very different than what I am speaking now. That is one of the technique St.Thomas works were dated to the 1st century AD. St.Thomas works were earlier discovered (in 18th century in Greece) but they were in fragments and generally called "Q documents". The one in Nag Hammadi library was the intact one. That is where they found that St.Thomas was the author of mysterious "Q Document". To aid the readers I have to say what Canonical bibles are. There are 4 authorized (canonical) bibles. They are Mark, Lucas, Matthew and John. The Mark is the oldest (still known to rely on !) and John though oldest but highly modified. Lucas and Matthew heavily relied on Mark and the mysteries Q document to write their version of bibles.
3. Scholars do agree the possibility of John's version deliberately undermine St.Thomas contribution (based on the interplay of words in Johns version). When "Constantine I", the king, decided to consolidate Christianity, he not only consolidated his versions (canonical) but what followed was "rooting out" the unwanted concepts which were against to the canonical versions. Otherwise why somebody has to hide Gospel of St.Thomas in a pot and burry under the soil? In my understanding the earliest date of this work was given around 52 AD and the latest 140 AD (with lot more scholars agreeing to 52 AD as the possible date). Hence I also believe that Gospel of St.Thomas was the earliest bible and possibly one of the first successful missionary established by any disciples of JC.
4. St.Thomas seems to be the most rational among the lot. He not only ensured the resurrection of JC was true but he also seems to understand the essential teachings of JC. When I observe the way Gospel of St.Thomas starts, it is certainly mind blowing. He offers his readers immortality in his very first lines and implore them to "understand" and not to follow like a "lemmings" in his later verses. He sticks to the point of the message rather than unnecessary details such as whether you should cut your hair or you should go to church for salvation and so on... Every word seems to be the essence of JC whom seems to be a rational man rather than a magician or a miracle monger. Check out JC's view on circumcision in St.Thomas's version.
5. We have to understand JC was born and died as a Jew. He was a reformer and re-interpreter of Judaism. He was sick and tired of then jews' flamboyant lifestyle as the one of the original text of Jews called "Kaballah" was about simplicity and higher thinking. St.Thomas never indulged in scare tactics such as "Hell""demon""devil""satan" - not even once! It is all about positive thinking! Unfortunately the modern christianity indulge in the scare tactics such as hell burning..demon..satan..witch hunting... "Sinner"...and so on to control the unassuming masses and making them as worms and not as fearless lions! According to St.Thomas version there is no sinner as long as he realizes the God! This is something to think about. Huston smith (author of World religions) observed in one interview that the way native indians of america pass the wisdom to the "generation next" was so superior than the way we teach our kids. It seems they dont write books or give class room education. Instead, they just call the "gen next " for a steam bath or to their death bed to tell their views in few frugal words of their version of wisdom and leaving out the trivial things. I believe that is what St.Thomas did! He took the essential words of JC and preached them. He made his followers thinkers! If masses thinks then there follows rebellion. That is the greatest threat to a king. Since religion is opium of masses, I am not surprised that St.Thomas' version was removed, instead the kings introduced their version of christianity which has enough dosage of fear and hate. Swami Vivekananda said "Come lions, cheer up! Shed away the delusion that you are a sheep! Araise Awake stop not till your goal (spiritual - god realization) is reached". That is how you reach the God's kingdom!
6. Why St.Thomas seems to be special to Jesus? Let us look at one of the verses from Gospel of St.Thomas!
(13) Jesus said to his disciples, "Compare me to someone and tell me whom I am like."
Simon Peter said to him, "You are like a righteous angel."
Matthew said to him, "You are like a wise philosopher."
Thomas said to him, "Master, my mouth is wholly incapable of saying whom you are like."
Jesus said, "I am not your master. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring which I have measured out."
And he took him and withdrew and told him three things. When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, "What did Jesus say to you?"
Thomas said to them, "If I tell you one of the things which he told me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me; a fire will come out of the stones and burn you up."
These mystical lines clearly indicates St.Thomas understood a far deeper personality of JC which he couldnt put in words. Can God ever be described! It seems that he also received the immortal wisdom from JC. After St.Thomas's private conversation with JC, it appears that Thomas is full of fire and vigor of spirituality. That is what he was spreading and guaranteeing through his church activities! Sri Ramakrishna did some thing similar to Swami Vivekananda in modern times. We all know what Swamiji did after words...He rocked!
7. Some evidence also suggest that Mother Mary and JC spent their last days by traveling to India...possibly in search of lost tribes of jews. JC tomb is believed to be in Kashmir while Mother Mary's tomb is supposed to be in pakistan near khyber pass. I dont know how far it is true. With respect to Mary's ascendence, it is believed that St.Thomas received the griddle from her before her ascendence. In fact, he was miraculasly transported to Mary's tomb (from India) and there he witnessed this event. Further it was claimed that St.Thomas told his fellow apostles about this event. Mary gave her griddle (hip belt - I guess) to him before her assumption. St.Thomas himself never mentions something like that in his works (whatever available). Few things are clear from this event. a) Mary had already passed away and was buried in the tomb. So it is not really a bodily assumption.
b) This stayed as a story in the churches but never solemnized till recently (1950 by Pope Pius XII) clearly indicating how much churches were hesitant!
c) If the story is not true, then to sell the story (possibly by the devotees of Mary) they needed St.Thomas name! That is how St.Thomas rationality was!!
8. Through my research on St.Thomas, I understood that he wanted to preach JC's message mainly to Malabar Jews not to Indian masses. He had a targeted mission. But later locals followed him and thus St.Thomas established his church in India. I have so much more to say, but let me stop it with my point 9.
9. God is a perennial truth. That is what great masters have told. Any time line to reach God's kingdom should be considered a deviation! At least that is what I think. If not, I dont want any part in his kingdom.
Sincerely,
Siva
(the above reply was slightly edited for this forum)
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