JosephR
New member
Yes, we agree a 'fasting' from the world, is abstaining from and/or transcending the material world and the activities related to its maintenance, to set our attention to things of the Spirit.
Regarding the 'sabbath', we take both the exoteric and esoteric aspects of it, and find that more liberal interpreters hold a more 'esoteric' translation of what the Sabbath is for, whether it is held exclusively for a 7th day observation (formally) or is more loosely applied to any day of the week, as living a life ever genuflecting the divine. This is where different nuances of 'controversy' appear regarding 'sabbath' observance. Just how far is one to take its specificity or literal observance to 'days' or 'time-intervals', and how much liberty are we to subscribe to or reject such? Granted that some gnostic groups did not look too favorably upon Yhwh (the more extreme end of the spectrum)...they probably 'interpreted' such more esoterically if anything, while some groups saw his laws as being basically good-willed and intentioned, which could be used in worship of the Living Father, the only real and Most High God.
Two wonderful key concepts here are in 'finding' and 'seeing' the kingdom. To 'find' is to 'see',....to 'see'...is to 'find'. In the purest gnostic sense,....'seeing' is everything. To see or behold is to possess, to 'know' (in the deepest level of being, interiorly where the spirit of Deity dwells, and is its own 'light'). We could say more, but only 'realization' itself...can attest to its authenticity, for each must come to 'find', to 'see', to 'realize' the kingdom for himself.
pj
Yes I agree PJ, the point of the Sabbath is not the day, but what you did in that day.. You used that day to seek inwardly to God and to worship "prayer" so that you can grow, the physical day itself was just to make sure you took time to do that. To take away from your carnal needs,, cooking,gathering,work ect ect to devote to your spiritual growth.
IN old days it would take a whole family or community 7 days a week of farming,hunting ect ect to make sure they had enough to eat and survive, so to keep this spiritual growth is a great testament to the Kingdom of God indeed and very noteworthy and commendable.