Over 10,000 years ago Hopi Indian elders of North America received visions of the future. Amazingly, these ancient visions accurately predicted the arrival of the white men who would take away their land, the movement of wagon trains across the plains by the pioneers, domestic long-horn cattle, and clearly described the railroad tracks, roads, and telephone lines that would cover the earth like a giant spider web. Their ancient glimpse into the future revealed what the Hopi call the great earth shakings of the first and second world wars, giant oil spills that would kill many living things in the sea, as well as the hippie movement of the 1960’s. The visions warned that if rocks were brought back to earth from the moon it would precipitate the severe weather and earthquakes that are now being reported almost daily in the news. It is truly amazing that they had this vision thousands of years before space flight was even possible, but it is even more amazing that the Apollo 11 mission actually did bring rocks back from the moon in 1969! As astonishing, as these ancient visions of the Hopi are it is important to realize that they are not merely a message about what was going to happen in the future. These ancient visions represents a great warning about something even more chilling – what the Hopi Indians call “the Great Purification” – which predicts that the countries that first received the light (India, China, Africa, and Palestine) will begin world war three. Ultimately, this war will rain “gourds of ash” (nuclear bombs) upon the United States, boiling the rivers, and making the land barren. The Hopi believe that this time of Purification is the advent of the return of the “true white brother” who will usher in a new world of everlasting life and transform the world into its former pristine state of abundance and beauty. The Hopi elders see these prophesized events as signs that the great destruction is coming very soon.
Jesus says, “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” And he told them a parable, “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees; as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.” (Luke 21:25-31) The Hopi Prophecy echoes the same message of Jesus in eerie detail, even predicting that at the time of the Great Purification the “true” white brother would appear! But it is not just the ancient Hopi Prophecy, or the warnings of Jesus that reveal that the world seems to be swiftly approaching what is called the end times or Armageddon. CNN just ran a series of documentaries called God’s Warriors that begin to unveil the truth of what is plunging the world into civil unrest and global terrorism. What the CNN documentary exposes is that it is not just nations, politics, or religion that is leading us on a path of destruction, but the combination of all three. Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, all believe in the “end times” or final judgment and are quite sure that they are the people chosen by God to enter the Kingdom of Heaven also known as paradise. It is the clash of these three religions, as well as the geo-political organizations, extreme fundamentalism, and terrorists organizations that have emerged from them that is the source of the ongoing bloodshed in the Middle East and the world. When you look at each religion and the associated geo-political agenda of each religious orientation, you can visibly see the passion, faith, history, and complexity of each religious belief system. People of every religion are so passionate in their faith that they are willing to die for their beliefs, but there is one very simple reason why this clash was inevitable and it is almost never discussed. What is this simple reason and how can it help us understand the teaching of Jesus on an even deeper level?
Long before Jesus was born, the Hopi elders carved a drawing into the face of a rock. For centuries, its hidden meaning has been passed down from generation to generation. The ancient drawing depicts two paths on which people can walk through life; the true path of balance and the false path of destruction. It is known as Prophecy Rock, simply because it represents a time-line that eventually leads to time of the Great Purification. The people on the path of destruction are what the Hopi call two-hearted people. A two-hearted person is one who thinks with his head rather than his heart. According to the Hopi, two-hearted people think material gain is more important than spiritual wisdom or living in balance with nature. As Jesus illuminates, “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
The Hopi elders saw the two-hearted people living in the land of stone(cities) that separated them from nature. They describe them as people who have forgotten their spiritual roots, have no relationship with God, and are out of balance because they only think with their mind, which ultimately leads to self-destruction. The drawing has a vertical line that connects the two paths just before the Great Purification is prophesized to occur, this vertical line depicts a junction where the two-hearted people have a choice to leave the path of destruction by thinking with their hearts or continue on the path of destruction. Once they begin to think with their hearts, they will gradually return to the true path of balance – the path of salvation. According to the prophecy, many two-hearts will choose to leave materialism behind and lead a life in balance with nature.
Jesus explains, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth, and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matthew 6:19-23) Jesus knew that the things of this world do not offer you any lasting happiness and is pointing to the source of eternal peace and joy. As you turn your attention to the source of your heart you will see the great light that you are – a joy without end! It is living from heart, as heart, that you naturally live the life of grace that Jesus envisioned for everyone! Your heart is the gateway of everlasting life!
The most striking thing about the CNN documentary God’s Warriors is that whether people identify themselves as Jewish, Christian, or Muslim, they all demonstrate an incredible passion and willingness to die for their faith. The focus of this series of documentaries is on extremism and highlights how fundamentalist beliefs can turn even the most sublime spiritual teaching into justification for violence and death. Of course, each religion believes that they are the “chosen” ones of God and the only way to achieve salvation. It is a natural tendency to believe that your way is the right way, and another person’s way is the wrong way. How many times have you argued with someone just to prove that you are right?! But it is this fundamental idea that you are right and someone else is wrong that has the power to reveal what is deeper than the polarizing ideas of “you” versus “me” or “my way” versus “your way.”
Jesus says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23) What does Jesus mean by sound? If the eye is the lamp of the body where does the light come from? What is this light? Who is looking through the lamp of the body before name and form? Jesus is revealing the secret….the same secret that the ancient Hopi Indian elders knew….where your treasure is there will your heart be also! When you focus your attention on your heart you realize that you are the eternal light shining through lamp of the body! And how great is the light! This is thinking from the heart as heart! Wow!!!!!!
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam represent a clash of ideologies, politics, and government, that is the source of all of the conflict we are witnessing daily in the news. Jews believe that Jesus is not the Messiah for the simple reason that peace did not reign on earth after his crucifixion. They believe that when the true Messiah comes peace will reign over the entire earth. They also believe that all of the Palestinian land is the land promised to them by Moses and they are willing to die to have the privilege of living on what they believe is sacred. Palestinians believe that Islam is the only true faith and Jews, who are infidels (non-believers in Islam), are stealing land that is sacred to them and they are willing to fight to the death to keep them off “their” land. In addition, Muslim extremists believe that anyone who is not Muslim is the infidel and must be either converted or killed. They believe that Islam must be the religion of the entire world and are willing to kill themselves to kill the infidel and is the primary reason for their terrorist attacks on the United States and Europe.
The CNN documentary also reveals that Shiite Muslims still beat their chests and weep over the death of their beloved saint Imam Husayn, the grandson of Muhammad, who was killed by Sunni Muslims over 1400 years ago. He is considered by the Shiites to be one of the great martyrs of their faith who symbolizes their continuing belief that it is a very great honor it to give your life for Islam and is the source of inspiration for many courageous acts in battle (the warrior hoping to achieve martyrdom). Still other Muslims believe that there is a “hidden” Imam who will return to restore peace to the entire world and that Jesus will come back to help everyone recognize Islam as the true faith. Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah and he will return. The fundamental tenant of Christianity is that everlasting life and salvation are only possible through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as lord and savior – which, of course is not possible for a devout Jew or Muslim. Can you begin to see how the clash of these religions, geo-political governments, and terrorist organizations will never end?
Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you.” “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:38-44)
Jesus was born to show everyone a different way – the way of love, freedom, and peace. Violence, regardless of religious belief, is not the way of God. Anyone who is willing to use violence in the name of God is someone the Hopi call “two-hearted” people who are thinking and acting with their mind alone. It is this “us” versus “them” mentality that is the source of all conflict. Violence is simply not condoned by the scriptural teaching of these three great religions, but the unfortunate truth is, if someone is passionate enough about their faith that they are willing to die for what they believe is true, no one can stop them, not an army, bomb, government, political movement, or even religion. The reason is simply that most people in the world lack a very basic and simple understanding of themselves.
Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24) Mammon is means money or more accurately the love of money. Materialism, power, greed, hatred, death, all arise from a single source - ego. Fundamentally, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, all fail to understand the innate ability of ego to twist anything, even the most sublime truth, into polarizing ideas, beliefs, dogma, and ideologies that can ultimately lead to violence and death. Of course, all of these religions are aware of the psychology and meaning of ego, but this is an intellectual understanding only.
What does Jesus mean when he says, “No one can serve two masters?” Is he referring just to money or something else? Money is an idea and only has the value you give to it, so money has no power in of itself to be a master over you, but there is something else; an invisible force within you that does have that power. In fact, there is hidden battle raging within you as well as everyone else. It is a battle that very few notice, which is comprised of thoughts and desires that are constantly running through your mind and body. This is the second master that Jesus is pointing out! God is one master. The other is your own ego. Ego is the source of all of your thoughts, desires, and identities, and originates from the thought “I” or more simply “I am me” which is ultimately is the source of your mind.
Ego is desire. All of your desires, good and bad, arise from ego. Ego is the source of all conflict or the idea “us” and “them.” As Jesus points out you cannot serve God and ego, or you will end up loving one and hating the other or devoted to one and despising the other simply because this is the nature of your ego – the nature of mind – to look outside itself for fulfillment, which only creates more desire and conflict. The only way to end the conflicts that arise from desire is to find its source, but very few people ever stop to see the source of their own ego. Even fewer stop and ask themselves; Where did this “I” thought arise from? If you keep your attention on the source of this primordial thought “I” a peace that surpasses all understanding will arise of its own accord!
Jesus says, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-6) It is the natural tendency of your ego to judge others or try fix or change them. Again, Jesus reveals that you must look deeply at yourself first and take the “log” that is blinding you about the truth of who you are and who your brother is! When you look deeply within yourself there is no movement and you become the peace that uplifts your brother, sister, mother, father, or friend!
Jesus says, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:14) The reason so few find this narrow gate is that it is in the very last place you would think to look! The thought “I” is the narrow gate and it originates in your heart! To enter the narrow gate you have to stop everything for a single moment and look deep within the sacred realm or your heart to see what exists before this “I” thought, before your breath. Take a moment and look to see the source of yourself. When you recognize this source, this light that is shining through your eyes, a peace that transcends all understanding arises of its own accord. It is in the awareness of this eternal source that you will fall through the narrow gate! Once you fall through this gate you will realize that this gate never really existed, simply because you are that eternal light that your ego was looking for!
Jesus is always pointing to the narrow gate of your own heart, but it is so very very very difficult to perceive that almost no one ever discovers this narrow gate of endless grace. This is the fundamental reason why Armageddon is inevitable. Almost no one is willing to really stop and discover the peace that is within them simply because they are unaware or the simply do not believe that eternal peace is alive with in them at the core of their being. Of course, this cannot remain as concept, for it to have any value, you have to stop and see for yourself!
The ancient Hopi elders knew the importance of thinking from your heart simply because your heart is the source of the eternal light of God – the eternal compassion, and peace that no word or words can ever fully describe. As Jesus explains, “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)
Why not stop for a moment and be one of those special few that really looks where Jesus is pointing and actually enter the narrow gate of eternal life?! Stop for a moment and discover for yourself that you are the peace that you are seeking!
Peace begins with you! Focus on your heart and know that you are the peace of God!
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