by Krishna Rose
Now, with the false shelter they had sought in material gain gone from them—vulnerable, they realized how their hunt for security had been misplaced.
“Every deed and word creates good will or injury,” the judge said, peering down his nose at the frightened prisoners. “We are all beholden to God and His laws which protect us. We do not live alone—and if mankind will not learn the lessons of respect and goodliness during their lifetime, then a time will come when they are taught with flames, blood, and anguish.
“You are all overshadowed with shame. It clings to you. You cannot deny the truth of how you have chosen to live. Therefore it is time to come to terms with the things you have done, for time and truth hang heavy in the air,” he said incontestably.
“Gluttony is like a monster that you fed which is never satisfied. Believing yourselves to be gods on earth, you have taken the gifts of nature and out of prideful arrogance, exploited them in the vileness of your wrongdoing.
“You believed only in yourselves, thinking you were above the laws of God. However, now that you stand here in judgement before the scales of death by which you will be weighed—you repent. Therefore, tarry not a moment longer. Be gone with you and sin no more,” he broadcast assertively, commanding the angels to dispense with them.
The angels in turn, grasped each prisoner in the fold of their wing, morphing into a pivot of smoke that sailed upon the winds of change. Their preordained future, then assumed itself in the clouds—to be rained down upon the earth.
The sting of my tears caught me off guard. These were not tears of misery, but of astonishment, for this was the refined and blameless delivery of law.
“Mary, teach the people of gluttony, which is an extravagance of the human flesh. While the needy are left without basic food and shelter, luxury costs more than the money that has been spent in its purchase. The angels consider this sin to be spiritually perilous to humanity, so consider these things which I shall now reveal to you,” the High-Priest stated, snapping his finger.
Inside a palace, an aristocratic family played host to their wealthy and influential circle of friends. Guests ate and drank salaciously, whilst stout-hearted slaves fought against one another in large cages like animals—the rich wagering with their gold and silver who the winner might be. The fighters killed for the amusement of their masters, battling for coin and position. Slaves were numerous, as every rich man owned them.
The women too held tight the chains of their serfs who worked hard for them, yet themselves lived in poverty. Noses held high, the ladies sported rare necklaces, rings, and belts of gold and jewels—all of which were family heirlooms to be shown off without hesitation. Their dresses and shoes were fashioned of the finest silk and velvet, upon which embroidered crests symbolized their family wealth and lineage.
The servants carried tray after tray of delicacies for their masters to eat, which were passed around pompously. At first glimpse I was lured by what I saw, for the women were beautiful and adored by the men of the court, who strutted and cocked around the grand floor laughing and speaking loudly—proud with gaiety. Upon their heads, the men wore strange wigs, and upon their legs, tight pants clung to their manhood which in glorious splendor was there for all to see. The women gazed unashamedly at them, giggling and pointing behind delighted smiles.
At some point in the evenings entertainment, the music all at once changed to a cheerless chorus. Servants were ushered out of the rooms, doors bolted closed behind them. Lights dimmed and torches were lit. Moaning in pleasure, these same haughty people, now grunted in pleasure, as ritual entertainment began.
Unrestrained, the women lifted up their skirts while the men thrusted and groped at them unhesitatingly. Hands grabbed at my clothing and hair. I growled contemptuously in mournful regret as vanity made a futile attempt to defile my goodness. I felt deprived of the profit which I had believed was mine. My belly hurt, my arms ached. Sounds of enjoyment soon turned into groans—the groan of gluttony.
“Here the will grapples with want. In vain attempts to be like others, who have great wealth and luxury at their whim, the soul is steeped in dishonesty and hypocrisy. A need for hedonistic gratification drives them to do all manner of abominable things—for the sake of what they believe to be elegance. Yet it has made fools of them, for there is no satiety. No matter how much is enjoyed, the yearning still gnaws at their soul.
“When the Lord blesses you with more than you need, relinquish the purse and provide gladly for others. Thus you shall be freed from gluttony which burns like a fire always hungering for more. Take no more than you need and lose forever this girlish pang which yet binds your soul to the flesh,” he said, avoiding eye contact.
“I have always lived without excesses—never donning the fine gowns and jewels which I was born to!” I said defensively. “For the sake of Jesu and the others, I shared all of my wealth which was distributed to the poor. How can you say that I have girlish pangs in me, when I have sacrificed so much for the sake of others—even without consideration of my own self?”
“What has been revealed here, are the core threads which still hold you imprisoned. A trickle of yearnings have hidden themselves dormant behind your acts of goodness. Therefore, take pleasure in casting off this world unreservedly. Move beyond the limits of all bewilderment, for then, fixed in perfect consciousness, you will attain profound satisfaction found within the self alone.”
I understood this to be true.
“The people look for light, yet the leaders of men offer only darkness and vain dispositions. Evil relishes in separating people against one another, for if we were united—evil would stand no chance. But then the world is only as good as its leaders, therefore, it is urgent that you guide the world out of their self-imposed darkness.
“Conspiring for their own profit, scheming gluttons will always spin their wheels of control upon those who blindly believe in them. However, know this—perpetual night does not exist, for the Lord’s light reaches even the darkest of places. And when the light of His mercy is freely given, sins, like moths, are drawn to the flame upon which they are burned forever.
“You shall in time hold the keys to the Kingdom, for you and your spouse are both vessels of these truths. Together you have appeared on earth for a little while, yet you know nothing of what was before and what is yet to come. Therefore, surrender all thoughts of limitation and be reminded of the limitless power of the Almighty which hastens through you. Your message of hope and opportunity shall span the generations, dissolving the wintery gates of man’s deception. So have faith, Mary.
“Of all losses—time is hopelessly irretrievable, for once lost, it is lost forever, nor can it be recovered,” he said watching, with a look of disgust, as the aristocrats fed on flesh and blood, delighting in carnal pleasures in all manner of ways which were abhorrent. Sickened by their disgrace, I turned my back on them.
“When one is free from the desire to taste the illusions of the world—anger, fear, and greed depart, and one rejoices in the profound knowledge of self. Disengaging from the senses, teach people to be restrained and at all times be vigilant. Tell them not to partake of things which carry them away from reason. I will explain how these things operate.
“When the focus is upon attachments—selfish desire awakens, uprooting discernment. From desire comes anger, and then from anger comes bewilderment, by which one can no longer perceive whether or not to act. Each soul is at that point, lost in baits of temptation and repulsion. Unless and until these raging fires are calmed, happiness will forever outwit them.”
“Why does the Lord allow His children to live in such difficulty? Is He not kind? Does He not forgive and love even those who sin?” I questioned.
“Mary, the path is twofold. It is our own actions that cause the drive of our
fate. The divine Lord is all-loving. Never doubt this truth. It is we who choose materialism, even knowing that selfish motives bring only ruin. These truths will, by the sword of knowledge, offer liberation. Such understanding of matter and spirit have the power to cut every chain.
“Rejoice not in things that come easily, bereft of effort. Without longing, be like a still candle flame in a windy place. Become strong, for a boundless happiness waits for you beyond these senses you now inhabit. Teach absorption in God, for by this, the constant wandering of the soul ends.”
“What is the greatest cause of suffering?” I asked.
“Gluttony harms only the self. But of all suffering, most assuredly it is the recurrence of death which causes the greatest misery for us all,” he replied compassionately. “I agree,” I nodded.
“How should I teach worship of God to one and all, when there is so much diversity in faith?”
“He is in the ritual. He is in the sacrifice. He is the healing within the healing herb, and the sound vibration within all sacred prayer. He is the spark in fire, the drop within water, and the sustainer of all things. Indeed it is He who is the witness and the shelter found within the innermost heart of the self. He is warmth on a cold day and He is to be found in the leaf, the flower and all of creation. He is the personification of love and it was He who raised your husband from the burial chamber.
“Having come to this world of impermanence, teach people to offer their love unto Him, to be mindful of Him, to sacrifice for Him and to glorify Him. Set the example for others to follow, making your life an unceasing flow of offerings. Depend your life breath upon Him and be satiated by His divine presence in every moment. Go and dispel ignorance out of great compassion, radiating the lamp of knowledge unto all who suffer for His sake, whilst taking no pride in the work that He illuminates through you.
“He is the sun and the moon. He is consciousness. He is the ocean and also the lofty mountains. He is the purifying wind, and He is the world Creator with faces in every direction. He is death, which takes away everything. He is poetry, and He is found within the changing of seasons. He is courage within the courageous, and is the silence found within secrets. Nothing can exist without Him, and whatever exists that is beautiful, understand that it is but a part of His splendor that you see.
“Close your eyes to this world and open your divine eyes by which you may behold His vision,” he said wiping my closed eyes with this palms. “Praise Him with your palms prayerfully joined and raise up your voice in fearless joy. Thus, He will free your soul from the manifest creation and deliver you to the unmanifest Kingdom, where forever you will live free from all anxiety.
“Replete with offerings of love, cry out to the one who gave us life. Petition Him in great lamentation, ‘O Lord of my life, materialism has possessed me and trapped me. I see that You are my only means of deliverance, therefore please release me from my prison and soothe me with the moon of Your mercy.’”
The High-Priest reached into his pocket and laid a golden egg in the palm of my hand as a souvenir. “The egg has forever been seen as a symbol of fertility, yet it is also symbolic of thoughts and wishes that fester in the mind, only to be hatched at great cost.”
CHAPTER 37
HELL—VEIL SEVEN
There was once a saintly woman who owned nothing but one piece of cloth by which to cover herself. Spending day and night upon the bank of the ocean, she called out to God for mercy. One day, she found a bird who had made a nest by the shore. The bird was weeping, for the ocean had stolen her eggs. The sea had taken them deep inside its surface, while the bird had cried out, “Oh great ocean, please return my children to me!” But the ocean did not listen.
The bird asked the Saint, “The sea has taken my children! Can you please help me?” The holy woman went to the water’s edge to petition the deep blue sea, “Oh Sister ocean, you should return the bird’s eggs to her—for you have caused a mother great distress.”
Still the ocean did not listen. So the saintly woman took a palmful of the ocean’s water in her hands and at once began invocating the Lord.
The waters of the sea immediately disappeared, leaving it completely dry. The little bird ran onto the beach to collect her eggs, praying that they were unharmed—and they were. Thanking the saintly woman over and over with her tears, the little bird built a new nest high above the waters, understanding the ocean’s danger. Such is the sovereignty of the Lord and His names which are holy—and such is the power of those who recite them.
The seventh gate was unnerving, for here I would be forced to abandon the spirits of so many shadow beings who had once been filled with the light of possibility. Their nightmare, being remote and far from view, was outside the reach of grace or human kindness. Therefore, I was heavyhearted and filled with tears at the thought of leaving them.
“Mary, it is essential you understand, that by passing through this seventh portal, you will forever shed a shadow of your former self. It is the last of many deliberate strings to be unbound. You, most fortunate of women, have now seen how souls have denied themselves refuge and freedom from want. You have witnessed first-hand, how entire lineages have destroyed themselves upon the dark rocks of deception. You have also seen how the flesh has fooled the spirit within—for the soul’s hands and legs have been bound and led astray, forever commanded to take birth and die according to kismet’s will.
“This world is filled with thorns. Those who are bewildered, deny that misery and immorality are not natural characteristics of the soul. Therefore Mary, persuade the people to beseech the Lord as if they have fallen into a deep dark well. Dying there alone, among many vicious snakes, surely they would scream out for someone to save them. However, no one will hear their cries, but God, and no one but He can save them. Without His mercy, we are treading water—eventually we all tire and drown.
“By our departure from this world, we must leave our loved ones behind—while the Lord never dies. Nor does the soul ever die. The truth is, people are so accustomed to slavery and captivity that they hold loyally to their shackles. So deeply have they become part of them, that they have become relics of their hardship—they are even reassured by their security!”
So profound were his words, for indeed—they illuminated the depth of every soul’s dilemma.
“When pride infiltrates it makes no distinction. None are free from its bitter fantasy. Yet it is this false sense of self-importance which stunts any spiritual progress, for humility is the gateway by which all people attain freedom. Hence, unawares, the soul is dragged here and there in vulgar attempts to deceive—leaving the soul wry with nothing but the flush of pretense and false modesty. And Mary . . . a blind allegiance to a deceptive identity!” I shook inside, as his words, recognized by my soul, hit hard in the dark mirror of self-reflection.
‘I hope that the Lord is pleased by my offerings.’ Clutching my wishing stone in my left hand, I wished that all hearts may give up their unnatural misleading.
“I have come like a rose in the desert, to fill the ache in all souls. To renew their hope and restore their faith in the open doors of eternal joy. For all those who have yearned, hope against hope—for change, I have reignited the promises of Paradise.
“If we wish to cast-off our never-ending dissatisfactions, which tease and plague us, it is imperative to first obtain the protection of one who is unaffected by the mundane aspirations of this world. Without being favored by someone who is free, we cannot ourselves become free of our fastenings.
“Only fools believe death will not catch them, heedlessly gathering possessions and riches unto themselves, believing they can buy time and happiness—but time and happiness cannot be purchased in a marketplace. With a deep aspiration to fulfill the prophecy, I beseech the Lord to appear in the hearts of all
who seek for Him. For it is by Him, that ignorance is driven away and it is by His mercy, that we become fearless in our struggle for eternal relief.
“A continuous flow of grace now reaches beyond all human weakness, that the peace of eternity may be with one and all. Oh ye who are sickened by the injustices and saddened by the overbearing trials and corruptions—I pray thee to grow in holiness, nourished by faith, hope, and goodness. For prayer, which is decorated by tears of devotion, throws open the doors to the effusions of grace, vivifying the voyage—our passage of holy pilgrimage from this world to the undying one.
“May there be good fortune for all the people on earth, and may the envious be pacified. I pray that we all attain the peace born of devotion and accept lives of piety and virtue, dedicated to serving the welfare of those who suffer.”
—Mariam, AD 60
The rulers of Hell enjoy extreme wealth and influence over the seven islands—and also on earth. Settled comfortably on the other side of vast walls, sheltered from the glaring weight of suffering, they inhabit opulent palaces with their wives and children—entirely engaged in illusion. Though the dynastic rulers live in grand luxury, they are nevertheless, residents of Hell. Their luxury is not a reward of God’s grace, for the allure of it, had wiped all memory of Him from their minds.
Because no sunlight or moonshine exists there—time is not splintered between day and night. Therefore, they endure perpetual darkness. Having no fear of time’s passing, they live very long lives by way of ingesting blood and elixirs made of life-giving herbs by which their bodies are perpetually youthful and free from disease.