NEW YEAR,
PASSOVER, AND OTHER SYMBOLS
<1>The new year begins in the springtime.
<2>As the earth starts a new life cycle, so also the human
can begin a new start. That is why this time of year has different
periods to observe, each having a definite relationship with the
regular life of every human.
<3>As the human is in the childhood state for
the first seven years of his life, so the first seven days of the
first month of spring (Eve) should be as the childish period. <4>The
first day of spring can be designated as Parents Day for
appreciation of parents. <5>In this period also study of
books from the Far East, such as the
Upanishads,
Vedantas,
Bhagavad-Gita, Puranas, etc., or any other mystical book, is
recommended.
<6>The next seven days should be used in
preparation for the Passover observation. As a child becomes
prepared to enter adulthood at the age of fifteen, so the second
seven days in the beginning of the year is a time of preparation for
the Passover and period of unleavened bread. <7>In this
period a more intensive spiritual observation should be practiced.
Study of the Old Testament and understanding the second seal
of
The Greatest
Sign in this period is recommended.
<8>On the evening of the fourteenth day of the
first lunar month (Eve),
Passover starts. This night is for putting away the
sins and coming out of the lower nature (Egypt), which is
symbolized by putting the yeast out of the house and eating
unleavened bread. <9>It should be clearly understood that the
rituals in religions are not important, but the meaning behind them
is the important part. For example, people argue about the time of
observation of a ritual or the way it should be done. This causes
them to become so involved in the unimportant part that they forget
about the true meaning behind the ritual. <10>During this
third seven-day period, the study of the teaching of
Esa the
Christ and understanding
his
sacrifice as a symbol
of the destruction of the
false ego and overcoming the lower nature (going out of Egypt,
or "to be
born again")
should be observed.
<11>The Passover and the seven-day period of
eating unleavened bread corresponds with the third seven-day period
of the life of the human, from age fifteen to twenty-one. <12>During
this stage of overcoming a person should grow in such a way that by
the age of twenty-one he is able to decide if he is more suited for
family life or becoming a renunciate. This decision, however, can be
made between the ages of eighteen until twenty-five.
<13>Those who choose the family life should seek
a profession according to their natures. By the age of twenty-eight
they should be completely settled and should utilize all their
energies and efforts toward an ideal family environment in
God's way. By the age of thirty-five they should have finished
the number of children they would like to have. By the age of
forty-two there should be no children with them in the childhood
years (less than seven) but all on their way to adulthood. <14>At
age forty-nine (7 x 7) a human reaches his/her highest maturity.
Either in this age or sometime later, he should go back more toward
the spiritual world and give less emphasis to the family and
external world. By this time or a little later, all the children
should be mature enough to be independent or even be helpful to the
parents. This period can be the second period of the growth of the
couple, either together or separately.
<15>Those who decide to become renunciates
should go through intensive study, discipline, and spiritual
practices until the age of twenty-eight. From the age of
twenty-eight to thirty-five, they should develop their own ideal for
their teachings. After that they can start their careers as
spiritual teachers.
By the age of forty-two they should be completely developed in the
spiritual path. <16>At the age of forty-nine (7 x 7) they
should be matured completely in understanding and teaching the
realities behind this universe by their example.
<17>But, as we know, there are always exceptions
in this universe, and also everything, including these teachings
depend on
time, place,
and person.
<18>According to
time, place, and person, the decision can be from
ignorance, passion, or knowledge.
<19>The fourth seven-day period of this month (Eve)
corresponds with the period of human life from the age of twenty-one
to twenty-eight. In this period a person completes his decision for
what he wants to become, and also completes his spiritual
understandings. <20>So this period relates to the fourth seal
in
The Greatest
Sign. Therefore, study and understanding materials related
to the fourth seal in the fourth seven-day period of the first month
is recommended.
<21>The fifth seven-day period (which will start
in the first month and continue in the second), is related to the
fifth seal or the age period from twenty-eight to thirty-five, when
man destroys all
narrowness
of the mind and becomes a universalist. <22>So in this
period the material about the fifth seal will be helpful to complete
the studies of the previous periods.
<23>The sixth seven-day period, as a symbol for
the ages thirty-five to forty-two, is related to the sixth seal.
This is when a person, with the knowledge of all the previous seals,
should become a dynamic spiritual force in establishing the Kingdom
Of Heaven within and without. <24>So in this period of the
year, a study of the materials related to this seal is recommended.
<25>A sum of all the previous studies, and
understanding their inter-relationships with each other, the Master
Plan of
God, and the ultimate goal
of life, should be understood by the study and contemplation of the
materials of the seventh seal.
<26>The observation of these periods are only
recommended and are not mandatory, but if an individual would
observe them, it will be a great help to him in understanding the
overall goal of The Plan of creation and
God. This will help in the
acceleration of the spiritual journey.
<27>Also, as usual, in all these studies, we
should keep
The Greatest
Sign in our minds and always remember the place of each
teaching in
The Greatest
Sign.
<28>After study of the Scriptures and observation of these
periods, then the person should contemplate the overall meaning of
all of them and try to reach
Pure
Consciousness (bliss) and
<29>help the whole universe to reach there also.
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