Was Christ The Son Of David?

By PARAMHANSA YOGANANDA

Steps Toward the Attaining of the Consciousness

Which was in Christ Jesus

And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my -right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool, David therefore himself calleth him Lord,- and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.-Mark 12:35-37.

David himself--after feeling the Cosmic Vibration of the Holy Ghost -wrote in the Book of Psalms that the Lord God (the Father existing beyond all vibratory creation) expressed His desire to the Christ Consciousness present in all vibratory creation (the Lord of Creation). If the Father's vibratory message could be put into words it might be interpreted: "Sit thou (or be existing) in My righteousness and My consciousness of truth as My true reflection in creation; and thus be working in all creation until, through My almighty power of love, I make your satanic enemies of delusion-who constantly obstruct your perfect work of creation -your footstool and slaves."

In describing this experience, David himself-in his own words --called Christ, "My Lord." David would not have used this title in speaking of a son. Besides, how could the Christ Intelligence present in all creation be limited to the physical body of a son of David?

Rather, it should be said that the Christ Intelligence, or the only reflection of God the Father in all vibratory creation, is sometimes referred to as "the only begotten son."

Jesus was clearly aware of the true definition of Christ Consciousness. He knew that the "Christ" was the Universal Consciousness present in all vibratory creation, but that the Christ Consciousness was also manifest to David through a vision, as mentioned above, and was fully reflected in his own body, known as Jesus.

In other words, the Cosmic Consciousness (beyond creation) and the Christ Consciousness (in vibratory creation), and the interchange of their vibratory thoughts, manifested temporarily in the consciousness of David by means of a vision. But the same Christ Consciousness was steadily and fully reflected in the life and consciousness of Jesus. Since this Consciousness was fully manifest in him, Jesus let himself be called "Christ," but explained that the Christ Consciousness in him could not accurately be called the son of David,

And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widow's houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. -Mark 12:38-40.

Jesus warned his listeners against being hypocritical like the scribes who, out of love for human praise, make a show of piety by going about wearing long flowing holy robes, eagerly gathering the salu-, tations of spiritually blind devotees in public. Such pretenders love the important front seats in any house of worship, and the most conspicuous seats at every feast. Jesus urged his followers to be wary of men who are displeasing Godwho sees the hearts of all-by being insincere. He further described these hypocrites as men who use their garb of holiness to obtain the money and property of widows, and other unprotected people. They pretend to be pious by making long prayers-which attract the attention of men and not of God. According to the law of karma which governs all human actions, such hypocritical, speciously pious scribes can have only one fatedamnation. That is, they will be steeped in much greater misery and delusion, by being far away from God due to their hypocrisy.

Unfortunately, it is the common practice of hypocritical priests, preachers and teachers of all ages to preach with an exaggerated show of fervor, or to pray long, and of course in public, in order to convince others that they are holy and thus receive the people's attention, their property and money. Such insincere preachers and priests who use religion for business, and holiness for material benefit and to exploit God for material gain-create great evil karma. By words and acts they blaspheme against God and His laws, and thus attract unto themselves added delusion and misery. It stands to reason that it is all right to use business methods in religion, but it is very bad to use religion to promote business.