St. Teresa Of Avila - The Law - And Seeing God

St. Teresa Of Avila And Seeing God And Understanding All Truths

The "Interior Castle" is an idea conceived by Spanish mystic Teresa of Avila, in which a diamond or crystal globe is imagined to represent spiritual development and the journey towards union with God. The interior castle has seven dwelling places, each representing a different stage on the soul's journey towards God. In her book "The Interior Castle", Teresa describes them in detail.

The First Mansions: This is the starting point of the spiritual journey. The souls in the first mansions are in a state of grace but are still attached to the secular world and its sins. They pray irregularly and are often distracted by worldly concerns. However, they've begun to practice repentance and self-awareness, and these initial efforts are crucial.

The Second Mansions: The souls in the second mansions have begun to incorporate regular prayer into their lives, but they still struggle with balancing worldly interests and spiritual development. They're engaged in a spiritual warfare, resisting temptations and making efforts to move closer to God.

The Third Mansions: These souls have developed a consistent prayer life and are demonstrating a commitment to spiritual growth. However, they still lack the deep humility and detachment necessary for moving further inward. They're starting to realize the beauty of the spiritual journey, but they can still fall back if they don't persevere.

The Fourth Mansions:Here, the soul begins to experience "Supernatural Consolation" – a state of divine peace, marked by periods of spiritual ecstasy or rapture (the "Prayer of Quiet"). This is the transition point between a mostly active, struggle-based spiritual life, and a more passive one where God's grace becomes more vital.

The Fifth Mansions:The soul experiences the "Prayer of Union," a deeper union with God where the soul is completely absorbed. There's a profound transformation, and the soul starts to bear spiritual fruits like deep love for others and a sense of inner peace.

The Sixth Mansions:The soul experiences "Spiritual Betrothal," a stage marked by intense divine visions and periods of unbearable longing for God. There are deep purifications happening in this stage, preparing the soul for the final union.

The Seventh Mansions:This is the center of the castle where the soul experiences "Spiritual Marriage" – the complete, perfect union with God. The soul is fully transformed and enjoys constant communion with God. This stage is marked by peace, love, and a deep understanding of God.

It's important to note that Teresa's "Interior Castle" is a metaphorical guide, not a rigid path. Each person's spiritual journey is unique, and these mansions are ways to conceptualize and understand different stages of that journey, not be held onto rigidly or dogmatically. It should also not be used to judge oneself or others.

 

Confirmed By The Gospel Teachings

When the followers of Jesus witnessed to the Gentiles that the reality that the core Gospel teachings were in fact the spiritual meaning of the Law (see The Law Of The Gospels http://TheLawOfTheGospels.com ) -- Natural Universal Laws which the Deists who laid the foundation of our Constitutional form of government portrayed as the Laws of Nature and Nature's God -- Jesus also taught that it is impossible to enter the Kingdom and Higher Life, without fulfilling the Natural Laws. While St. Teresa made reference to man's inward journey through the Seven Mansions, the "narrow gate" of what St. Teresa portrayed as each Mansion can only be entered when a person brings the Seven Vertical Spiritual Centers of each Mansion-Level together in the Center, to achieve Wholeness in that Mansion-Level of Consciousness. What this confirms is that the Kingdom is within us -- and the Journey of Life is inward, into deeper levels of Consciousness. Which means that those who possess what is portrayed as the "eyes to see" the deeper meaning of the Gospels, understand that the twelve disciples are an allegorical representative of the twelve spheres of mind as patterned in the Tree of Life (see The Blueprint Of Your Own Mind http://TheLawOfTheGospels.com#Blueprint ). The cities through which they traveled, are the Seven Spiritual Centers/Chakras which the Energy-Consciousness or Vital Life-Force of the Mind must be balanced and made Whole, so it can be brought into the Center through the "narrow gate" -- i.e., "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matt 7:13-14). And each person's success can only be achieved when they fulfill the Law at each level of Mind and Consciousness as Jesus taught -- i.e., "For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matt 5:18-20). Yet, in rejection of the teachings of Jesus, the modern Christians promote the doctrine that Jesus was wrong, and he nailed the Law to the cross -- thereby eliminating all requirements other than belief in the man Jesus who the Church re-created as as god-incarnate (see The Corruption Of The Words Spoken By God http://BrotherOfJesus.org#CorruptionOfGodsWords ) -- i.e., therefore locking the faith-based believers out of the Kingdom as seen in the words of Jesus "...Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven". And when Jesus warned that "...Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" (Matt 7:21-23). Lawlessness is therefore defined and understood as a rejection of the mindset, thinking and lifestyle that is necessary to fulfill the Natural Law. And those who observe and put the teachings of Jesus on the Law into daily effect in their lives, of them Jesus said: "...but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven".

 

 

Gnosis As The Divine Manna: 

 

In the Greek text of the Gospels, the Divine Manna or Spiritual Knowledge that nourishes a true follower of Jesus as they travail in the Inner Journey into deeper levels of Consciousness, is called "gnosis", as confirmed at The Esoteric Gospel Teachings http://TheLawOftheGospels.com#EsotericGospelTeachings . Yet, the modern Church not only rejects this Divine Manna that can only be received directly from the Divine Mind, but also rejects the knowledge of the fulfillment of the Natural Laws that Jesus taught his original followers (see Spiritual Meaning And Fulfillment Of The Law http://TheLawOfTheGospels.com#SpiritualMeaningOfTheLaw ). Which brings into serious question as to the validity of the Christian Religion that rejects and undermines the knowledge and fulfillment of the Laws of God. Jesus taught that the Natural Law of God orchestrates every event of this world that man experiences -- i.e., “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will” (Matt 10:29). If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground apart from the Will of God, then we have no other option than to come to terms with the biblical fact that everything in this life is directly orchestrated by the Natural Laws of God? Which is why it was warned: "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Gal 6:7). Those who violate the Laws of God, remain a prisoner of their own thoughts and actions as warned: "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison" (Matt 5:25). Even if a multitude of lives are required to release you from the shackles of the Laws: "...till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing” (Mat 5:26). That the pre-Nicene Church taught the doctrine of the pre-existent soul that evolves to Wholeness and Perfection over the course of many lives, is proven at Pre-Nicene Church Taught Reincarnation http://ChristianReincarnation.org#PreNiceneChurch .

 

How is spiritual growth and development achieved? Jesus taught that the Natural Law of God monitors every word and action that a person makes -- i.e., as demonstrated in the statement of Jesus: "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment" (Matt 12:36). And the Natural Laws of God which monitors your every word you speak, will evaluate and render judgment in accord with what you say, as stated by Jesus: "for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt 12:37). Even monitoring our every thought as expressed in the command: "…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Cor 10:5) -- and is the substance of every word judged? And in accord with your level of comprehension that is judged by the Natural Laws, your ability to comprehend and the depth of higher spiritual knowledge will be evaluated -- i.e., when Jesus explained who he reveal the body of esoteric knowledge to when he explained to his disciples: “Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand” (Mark 4:11-12). Why could the disciples of Jesus understand the esoteric knowledge that could not be revealed to the multitude of people who came to hear him teach? Because his disciples had begun to fulfill the Natural Law within them as Jesus taught, which enabled them to mentally advance to the level where they possessed the ability to understand the higher more elevated teachings of the Gospel -- i.e., "And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples" (Mark 4:33-34).

 

Each person sees and understands the realities of life in accord with their level of Spiritual Attainment -- as accomplished over the course of the many lives each Soul has lived as explored in the Gospels at Spiritual DNA And The Allotment Of Talents To The Invited Guests http://OriginalGospel.Ebionite.com#SpiritualDNA . That carnal Christians who have rejected the teachings on the Law, are not capable of comprehending this important Gospel teaching, is explored at: Spiritual DNA And The Sower And The Seed http://OriginalGospel.Ebionite.com#SowerAndSeed . That even after the teachings on reincarnation were suppressed and edited out of the Gospels, they still exist as demonstrated in the warning of Jesus to the chief priests and the elders that the “…tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you” (Matt 21:31) -- which statement simply has no place within the present day understanding of Christian doctrine. Because we are without a means to explain Jesus' words, most Bible commentaries simply ignore the implications of this passage of scripture. One widely used commentary attempts to correct the text by changing the words to “instead of” -- which would then make the meaning doctrinally correct and read: “The tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God instead of you”. In this verse of scripture we are presented with one of the core reasons why the original followers of Jesus believed differently than most Christians today. The question that must be posed is: When will the chief priests and elders enter into the kingdom? Modern Christian doctrine states that because of their disbelief and rejection of Christ, they will be cut off from the face of God, and condemned to eternal judgment. And yet we cannot deny the fact that Jesus' own words convey the message that there will come a time when the chief priests and elders will also enter the Kingdom of God -- and it will be at a time after the tax collectors and harlots who believed, repented, and followed the Christ.

 

It is the destiny of every soul to spiritually evolve to Wholeness, and be restored to the Edenic Kingdom by entering into the Interior Castle one Mansion-Level at a time as set forth by St. Teresa -- monitored by the Natural Laws of Creation -- over the course of how ever many lives is required, where each of our actions towards our brothers and sisters are returned back to us -- in order to make the Journey in TheWay.

 

St Teresa placed great emphasis on prayer -- and each sincere seeker should be praying for Christians to turn back to the original teachings of Jesus, and thereby reject The Religion Of Roman Emperors http://ChristianReincarnation.org#emperors