Jesus' Experiential Knowledge Methods & Teachings?

Our Father which art in heaven . . . lead us not into temptation;

 but deliver us from evil," (Luke 11:2-4)

This post continues the theme of: The Historical Purpose of Jesus' Story? And my late-life efforts to understand the purpose and philosophy of mind, behind the story that was taught to me as literal history when I was a child. Because the older I get (74) the more I feel the generational nature of humanity's self-inflicted problems, and the "riddle-me-this" nature of ancient wisdom sayings and stories. 

And I still remember my father's phrase about the self-inflicted nature of problems in this life: "you're your own worst enemy, you are!" With the exclamation mark (!) meant to signify the anger toned nature of his voice, and the implicit―suggested but not communicated directly―meaning of "lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil?"

Because for decades now, I have felt that Jesus' words; "Our Father which art in heaven" and "I and the Father are one," simply signify the reality of the Sun. And that Jesus was not actually a supernatural being, but arguably the most brilliant philosopher of mind, in human history. And a philosopher of mind who was likely aware of the via-negative form of cognitive behavioral therapy, known as the Socratic method? 

And I feel he was most a likely graduate of an ancient mystery school system of teaching and practicing the embodied wisdom of experiential knowledge? And sworn to secrecy about the actual methods used within many ancient mystery schools. Please consider this intro to footnote 1:

Ancient mystery schools were private religious and philosophical institutions in the ancient Mediterranean and Near East where initiates underwent secret rituals to learn esoteric cosmic truths, experience spiritual rebirth, and secure personal salvation. The most prominent examples include the Eleusinian Mysteries of Greece, the Egyptian temple priesthoods, and the Mithraic Mysteries of the Roman world. A Google AI Overview

While in the context of the historical purpose of Jesus' story, please consider this historical philosophy of mind comment: "There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance," ― Socrates. Compared to Jesus' words about our Father and evil, in his world famous Sermon on the Mount? And please consider the explanation below, in the context of ancient experiential knowledge practices:

(The Sermon on the Mount is a famous teaching of Jesus found in the Bible in chapters 5, 6, and 7 of the Gospel of Matthew. It shares core moral ideas like the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer, and the Golden Rule. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]  

The Beatitudes

Blessings for the poor in spirit
Praise for the meek and peacemakers
Promise of comfort for those who mourn [1, 2]

       Key Teachings

Loving your enemies and praying for them
Turning the other cheek when hurt
Giving to the needy and praying in secret
Treating others the way you want to be treated (the Golden Rule)

       Main Message

Explains how to live in God's kingdom
Focuses on a pure heart rather than just strict rules
Calls people to choose a wise and steady path in life.) A Google AI Overview

What are you feeling & thinking? About Socrates definition of good & evil? And the possibility that Jesus was a natural philosopher who taught people the experiential knowledge practices of an ancient wisdom tradition? A tradition that was already millennia old by the time of his birth? 

And what do you think of the idea, that the sworn to secrecy command of ancient mystery schools, explains the cryptic nature of biblical sayings and storytelling? While in the context of the previous post about the historical purpose of Jesus' story? 

Is it possible that the whole story is meant to be read and practiced, to gain experiential knowledge? Not just believed within the mind, but felt within the whole body? By physically experiencing the cryptically disguised method, within the storytelling tropes of transfiguration, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension? And please consider with your mind's intellect this intro to footnote 2:

Storytelling tropes are recognizable plot devices, character types, or thematic patterns used across various media to set audience expectations. Popular examples include the Chosen One, Enemies-to-Lovers, and the Reluctant Hero. A Google AI Overview.

Of course this idea that all four storytelling tropes disguise a method for gaining the the kind of experiential knowledge. All human beings can practice and confirm or deny through their own experience. Will take some explaining in future blog posts, but for now I simply wish to introduce this idea of Jesus' experiential knowledge methods and teachings. 

Which reminds me of three years spent in Thailand, learning to improve my self-regulation, of states of consciousness experience beyond the norm, so to speak. And the words of a very old Thai monk who told me that he'd heard, that someone else had heard, that the Buddha had said: "Words are not reality & only experience reveals the nature of Being!"

With the exclamation mark (!) meant to signify the emphasis his tone of voice placed on the word Being. While on another occasion, months after I'd caught his attention by saying "I'm trying to learn to talk with my eyes." We talked about how painful traditional meditation was for Western encultured individuals like myself. And his curious response had been "wherever you are on the great journey within, you will be aware of what you need to be!"

And I'll let you decide whether there is any experiential knowledge within that comment, and what you think the  exclamation mark (!) signifies? And why he followed this advice with the words: "not rocket science, you know?" 

While I would be very curious to know what you think of the notion that Jesus was a brilliant natural philosopher, trained in ancient mystery school's art of experiential knowledge? And suggested possibility that you too, could replicate those ancient experiences?

And as I finish this post, continuing this series theme of good news that can be preached to the whole world. About the cryptically wise meaning of the words "and then the end will come?" Through a conscious realization about our personal experience of perceptual confusion? Enabling an increasingly urgent need to balance humanity's biologically receptive & psychologically projective, experience of consciousness. So that the prophecies of the end of our species perceptual-confusion, may come to world-wide fruition.

I can only hope that I've provided some useful food for thought and body-wise contemplation about the historical purpose of the Jesus' story. The possibility of experiencing a second coming of your mind, by learning to embody the simple ruth of Jesus' resurrection philosophy? Please let me know what you feel and think about this blog post, in the historical context of truth, goodness, & beauty.

Best wishes,

David Bates.

Footnotes:

1. (Ancient mystery schools were private religious and philosophical institutions in the ancient Mediterranean and Near East where initiates underwent secret rituals to learn esoteric cosmic truths, experience spiritual rebirth, and secure personal salvation. The most prominent examples include the Eleusinian Mysteries of Greece, the Egyptian temple priesthoods, and the Mithraic Mysteries of the Roman world.

Key Characteristics and Practices

Strict Secrecy: Particulars of initiations and rituals were hidden from outsiders under oath.

Symbolic Death and Rebirth: Ceremonies often mirrored the agricultural or mythological cycles of dying and rising gods (such as Persephone, Osiris, or Dionysus).

Experiential Knowledge: Focus centered on direct personal spiritual experience and inner transformation rather than public civic dogma.

Major Historical Traditions

Eleusinian Mysteries: Annual secret rites near Athens celebrating Demeter and Persephone, promising initiates a blessed afterlife.

Egyptian Temple Schools: Priesthood centers (like Heliopolis and Memphis) teaching mathematics, astronomy, and spiritual alchemy to nobility and scholars.

Pythagorean Brotherhood: A philosophical-mathematical society in southern Italy blending geometry, music theory, and metempsychosis (reincarnation). A Google AI Overview

2. (Storytelling tropes are recognizable plot devices, character types, or thematic patterns used across various media to set audience expectations. Popular examples include the Chosen One, Enemies-to-Lovers, and the Reluctant Hero. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Common Character Tropes

The Chosen One: An ordinary person destined for greatness.
The Mentor: A wise figure who guides the protagonist before dying or leaving. [1, 2, 3]
The Anti-Hero: A main character lacking conventional heroic qualities. [1, 2, 3]

Common Plot Tropes

Enemies-to-Lovers: Rivals who develop a romantic relationship. [1]
The Hero’s Journey: A cyclical adventure of leaving home, facing trials, and returning transformed.
Fish Out of Water: A character placed in an unfamiliar environment.) A Google AI Overview