{"id":1428,"date":"2020-06-26T09:10:31","date_gmt":"2020-06-26T09:10:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/?p=1428"},"modified":"2020-06-26T09:10:31","modified_gmt":"2020-06-26T09:10:31","slug":"lectionary-readings-for-friday-june-26th-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/2020\/06\/26\/lectionary-readings-for-friday-june-26th-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Lectionary Readings for Friday, June 26th, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Book of the Arc of Bon Chapter 25, Chapter 26<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 25<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Chine said: One man waiteth till he is rich, before helping the poor; another man
\nwaiteth for the angels to inspire him, and give him wonders, before he teacheth the
\nunlearned; another waiteth for the multitude to join in first; and yet another waiteth for
\nsomething else. Beware of such men; or put them in scales where straw is weighed.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

2. The sons and daughters of Jehovih go right on. They say: It is the highest, best! I will
\ngo in! Though I do not accomplish it, yet I will not fail (my part).
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Consider ye the foundation of things at all times. Jehovih saith: I created all the living
\nto bring forth their own kind. Be ye perceiving as to whom ye marry, considering as to the
\nAll Highest inspiration common to your choice.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Neither judge ye the All Highest inspiration of any man or woman by their words, but
\nby their works. For the raising up of the world shall be mostly accomplished by the fruit
\nof judicious marriage.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Chine said: I declare a bondage unto men that they know not of, for it belongeth in the
\nnext world; which is the begetting of selfish offspring in this world. For whilst their heirs
\nare in darkness they themselves cannot rise in heaven.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

6. And like unto this, I also declare a glory in heaven to them that wed in self-abnegation,
\nwho do good unto others constantly and with delight; for they bring forth heirs to glorify
\nJehovih in good works also.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

7. To this end was the mark of the circumcision given unto your forefathers, lest the
\nFaithist women be led astray by idolaters. And yet, with all precautions, many fell, being
\ntempted of the flesh. And their heirs descended lower and lower in darkness, until they
\nlost sight of the All Person, and believed not in Him.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

8. The hand hard with toil will insure a better heir than the dimpled hand of a proud
\nwoman. The latter hath a soul of passions and her offspring will have souls like a mixture
\nof gall and sugar; though they be sweet, they will prove to be bitter in time to come.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Consider thy heir; show him a house with a head, orderly. That he may grow up
\nunderstanding the discipline of earth and heaven.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

10. The father shall be master in all things; and the mother shall be vice-master in all
\nthings, to rule in his absence.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

11. For each family shall be a kingdom of itself; but no one shall be a tyrant, though he
\nhave precedence in all things.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

12. Sit not down by the table to eat until all stand about; and when they are seated, thou
\nshalt say: In Thy praise, O Jehovih, receive we this, Thy gift; be Thou with us unto Thine
\nown glory, forever, amen!
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

13. For the chief virtue of the words lieth in the discipline of the young mind; holding
\nhim steadfast after the orderly manner of the angels in heaven. And because he repeateth
\nit with thee, he learneth to honor thee with good rejoicing.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

14. And when the sons and daughters are yet small, thou shalt teach them to work;
\ninspiring them above all things not to fall into idleness, which lieth at the borders of hell.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

15. But over-task them not, nor give them pain; remembering they are to be thy glory,
\nwhich Jehovih bestowed unto thee to be in thy keeping, not for thy self-aggrandizement,
\nbut for their own delights and holy pleasures.<\/span>
\n
\n<\/span>16. For they shall sing and play, and clap their hands and rejoice and dance, for these are
\ntheir thanks unto the Creator; and the earth shall be glad because they came into the
\nworld.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

17. Remember thou that labor shall be delight, and toil a great delight; to have it
\notherwise to thy children and to thyself is to prostitute man to be as a beast of the field.
\nBut thou shalt bring them into groups, and their labor shall be a frolic and full of
\ninstruction.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

18. And even thy little ones shall learn that thou art but a brother, an elder brother, and
\none of the same Creator’s children; teaching them that one who hordeth and keepeth
\nthings in his own possessions is as a cannibal that eateth his kindred, flesh and blood.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

19. Above all things thou shalt teach them to keep holy and pure the body created
\nwithal; for herein lieth health and strength. To be foul is to be sick, to be sick is to
\nbe foul. Behold the heathen and idolater, the feeders on flesh and blood; in the time
\nthey boast of health they stink as a carcass; their flesh is congested and puffed up,
\ntheir breath like a kennel of dogs. How can their souls be pure or their understanding
\nclear? They have made themselves a festering stink-house for the spirit to dwell in.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

20. And they say: Bah! I see no Jehovih! I know no All Person! I deny the soul of things!
\nWhere is the spirit? I can not see it. Or the sound of its voice? I can not hear it. And
\nthere be a Great Spirit, let Him come before me! I would see Him. Yea, in their filthy
\nbodies they say this. Let them be pure and they will understand the vanity of such words.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 26<\/span>
\n<\/span>1. Jehovih said unto Chine: Now will I stir up the nations. Through thee will I show them
\nthe glory and dominion of My kingdoms.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

2. For thou shalt walk without feet; write without hands; hear without ears; see without
\neyes; and thou shalt rise in the air as a bird; by thine own will go withersoever thou wilt.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

3. And thou shalt bring down the thunder cloud, and at the sound of thy voice the rains
\nshall fall.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

4. And thou shalt say: Go away, ye clouds; and the sun will shine in the place thereof.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

5. And thou shalt come to some that are hungered, and thy voice shall rise up to Me, and I
\nwill send down from heaven the food of heaven; and thy people shall eat thereof and be
\nappeased.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

6. And thou shalt stretch up thy hand over the dead that are ready for the furnace, and they
\nshall come to life again and be made whole.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

7. For these are the testimonies that thou art My servant, and hast kept my
\ncommandments:
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

8. In which thou shalt say to them: Behold me; I am but a man! Why fall ye down
\nbefore the Gods and worship them. For I charge you, O all you people, ye shall
\nnot worship me nor call me but a man striving to do the will of my Father, the Creator.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

9. For whosoever becometh one with Him; to such a man are many miracles possible;
\nhowbeit, I declare unto you they are not miracles in fact; but possibilities granted by
\nJehovih unto the upright who serve Him in act and truth.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

10. Jehovih said to Chine: And when thou hast shown these things unto many, know thou
\nthy time on the earth is finished. For I will cast thee in a trance, and the people shall<\/span>
\nbewail, saying: Alas, he is dead! And they shall cover thee and cast thy body into the
\nfurnace in the way of the dead; and the fire shall blaze and consume thy body before
\nthem. But thou shalt have previously bid them watch by the furnace, for thou shalt gather
\ntogether the elements of thy burnt body and restore them, and again inhabit it and go
\nabout, preaching before men.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

11. Therefore get thee ready; declaring these prophecies beforehand, that they may
\nbe testified to by men, and so be recorded in the libraries of the kings and queens.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

12. Chine related unto the congregations of Faithists, the true Zarathustrians, what
\nOrmazd (Jehovih) had said, and many of them wept bitterly.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

13. In years prior to this, when Chine had traveled and preached by the voice of Jehovih,
\nhe visited the kings and princes and rich men in many regions; and whilst he was thus
\nspeaking, rebuking them for their governments and for their possessions, they took no
\npart against him. But afterward, when he was gone, the kings and queens and nobles said:
\nChine hath preached a dangerous doctrine; for he said: Thou shalt have no king but the
\nCreator, Who is King over all. Will not this set our slaves against us? And if the people
\ngo into communities of their own, ignoring the king, where will the king find his
\nrevenue?
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

14. And there were priests of Dyaus and of other Gods, and speakers in temples (oracles)
\nwhere the Gods wrote on sand tables. Besides these there were seers and prophets without
\nnumber. And the kings, being on the alert, went into the matter, inquiring of the spirits, as
\nto whether the doctrines of Chine were true.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

15. And some of the spirits said: There is no All Person. Behold, we have visited the stars
\nand the sun, and looked far and near, and we saw not any Creator, or All Person. There is
\nno Great Spirit, save Te-in, who was a one-time mortal, but hath risen to all power in
\nheaven and earth.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

16. And other spirits said: There is nothing in heaven that we have not on earth. How
\nshall we find Ormazd? Waste not your time with Chine and his doctrines; he will
\noverthrow your kingdoms. Eat, drink and satiate your desires; for these are the sum and
\nsubstance of all things in heaven and earth.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

17. Tee-zee, king of A’shong, the capital city of the Province of Aen-Na-Po’e, who was
\nwithal a great philosopher, had previously heard Chine preach, and was greatly interested.
\nSome time after this a magician, Loo Sin, visited Te-zee, who told the magician about the
\nwonders of Chine. The magician listened to the king’s story, and the king asked the
\nmagician whether he could himself, in addition to his sleight-of-hand, manifest wisdom
\nin words, like Chine, and if so, how could it be attained?
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

18. Loo Sin, the magician, answered: Te-zee, O king, thou knowest not how thou hast
\nembarrassed me, thy servant. For when we are young, and finding we have the natural
\npowers for a magician, we go before an adept to be taught all the mysteries of the order;
\nand here we take a most binding oath never to reveal by hint, or word, or mark, or written
\ncharacter, anything that will reveal any of our signs and mysteries, binding ourselves
\nunder great penalties, which I can not name to thee.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

19. Know then, O king, I can answer all thy questions, and am desirous to serve thee, but
\nwhat shall I do?
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

20. The king said: I, being king, absolve thee from thy oath. The magician said:
\nCompared to my power, though I only beg from door to door, thy power, O king, is but as<\/span>
\nchaff before the wind. In my subtle realms are the keys of all dominions. Not only do I
\nand my craft rule over mortals, but over the spirits of the dead. My oath, then, is too great
\nfor thee to absolve, for I can not even absolve it myself!
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

21. Te-zee, the king, said: Since, then, thou canst not do all things, and especially,
\nabsolve an oath, thou art not sufficient for me to deal with. Loo Sin, being desirous of
\nearning something, said: As for that, O king, I tell thee I can not reveal all, for the virtue
\nof my art dependeth much on its secrets and mystery. Nevertheless, as I am very poor, I
\nmight reveal an index to thee, to which, if thou wouldst apply thyself diligently, thou
\nmightest attain the remainder.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

22. The king thereupon commanded him to perform before him, agreeing to award
\nhim according to the decree of the fates (spirits). And Loo Sin at once fell to work,
\nperforming wonderful feats, such as causing the tables, and seats, and desks, to
\nmove about and to roll over; and to cause voices to speak in unseen places. He also
\nchanged rods into serpents, and caused birds to sit on the king’s shoulder; and he changed
\nwater into wine, and also brought fish and laid them on the floor at the king’s feet.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

23. The king said unto him: All these things I have witnessed from my youth up. Show
\nme now, whilst thou remainest here, how thou canst see into my neighbor’s house?
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

24. The magician said: Yea, O king; but for that feat it is necessary to enter the state of
\nthe holy ghost (trance), and the price is expensive!
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

25. The king said: I will pay thee; therefore enter into the state of the holy ghost.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

26. Loo Sin turned up his eyes and gave a shudder, as one dying, and having stretched
\nhimself on the floor, bade the king question him.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

27. The king said: Here is chalk; mark thou on the floor the character which is on the top
\nof my tablet, on the left of the throne! Thereupon the magician marked correctly. And
\nnow again the king tried him as to his power to see without his eyes, and in far-off places;
\nand, having proved him in many ways, the king said: Canst thou also show the spirits of
\nthe dead?
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

28. Loo Sin said: Of a truth I can, O king. But that requires me to enter the sublime state
\nof creation, and is even yet more expensive!
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

29. The king said: Have I not said I will pay thee? Go to, then, enter thou the sublime
\nstate of creation at once!
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

30. Loo Sin then went into a dark corner and laid himself down on the floor, and then
\nswallowed his tongue, and was motionless and still, like one that is quite dead. Presently
\na light like a thin smoke rose up from the body and stood a little aside, and a voice spake
\nout the the light, saying:
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

31. Who art thou that callest up the spirits of the dead? Beware! He whose body lieth stiff
\nand cold beside me, is one of the heirs of the immortal Gods! What wouldst thou, man of
\nearth?
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

32. The king said: Who art thou? The voice answered: I am Joss, Te-in! Ruler of heaven
\nand earth! The Great Spirit personified! Creator of all things!
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

33. The king in satire said: Thou art welcome, O Te-in! I am one of the most blest of
\nmortals, because thou hast made my place a holy place.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

34. The spirit then assumed mortal shape and stood before the king, even whilst the
\nmagician’s body lay on the floor in sight also. The spirit said: What question is it
\ntroubleth thee, O king? Speak thou, and I will answer thee, for I am All Wisdom and<\/span>
\nTruth personified.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

35. The king said: Why hast thou not appeared to me before this? Why have I been left in
\nthe dark as to thy real existence? Answer thou me this, for it is the foundation on which I
\ndesire to rest many questions.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

36. The spirit said: My son, Te-zee, I have been with thee from thy youth up, watching
\nover thee, for thou shalt become the greatest king in all the world. Yea, there are great
\nworks for thee to do. And if thou desire to extend thy kingdom, or to gain great battles, I
\nwill show thee the way. Or if thou desire another woman to wife I will find her for thee.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

37. The king said: Though art a great heavenly ruler, I fully believe, but thou
\nanswered not my question. Moreover, thou questioned me about my kingdom and
\nabout another woman to wife, and these things are not what I desire of thee. And for
\nthe matter of women I have not yet one wife; consequently I desire not another.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

38. The spirit said: Who sayest thou I am? The king replied: I am at a loss to know if thou
\nart a fool or a devil; and I say that I have either seen one like thee, or else thee, through
\nmany a magician. But, alas, there all knowledge endeth.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

39. The spirit said: Thou saidst thou would pay what the fates decreed. Hear me then, O
\nking; thou shalt give to Loo Sin four pieces of gold. And after that I will explain all things
\nto thee.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

40. The king then cast the four pieces of gold to Loo Sin, and demanded the knowledge as
\npromised. The spirit then said: And on thine oath, thou wilt not reveal?
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

41. The king said: I solemnly swear to reveal naught of what thou teachest me. The
\nspirit said: Know then, O king, I am Loo Sin, the magician! By long training, the
\nmagician attaineth to go out of his own body in spirit, and to appear in any form or
\nshape desired. Wilt thou try me? The king said: Show me the spirit of Ha Gow-tsee.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

42. The spirit walked back to the body of Loo Sin, and presently returned before the king,
\nlooking like the spirit of Ha Gow-tsee. The king said: It is like the king! The spirit
\nanswered: Here then, O man, is the end of philosophy. Behold, I am Loo Sin, also. Some
\nmen are one spirit, some two, some three, and some four, to one corporeal body. And yet
\nthere is but one person in fact.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

43. The king asked: What becometh of the spirit when the corporeal part is dead? The
\nspirit answered: One of two things is possible to every man: his spirit will either dissolve
\ninto non-existence, and be scattered and void like the air of heaven, like the heat of a fire
\nthat is burnt out; or else it will reincarnate itself in the body of a child before it is born,
\nand, so, live over again.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

44. Thus came all people into the world. A child that is still-born is one in whose body
\nno spirit re-incarnated itself. There are no new creations. The same people live now
\non earth that always lived on it; nor will there be any others. They go out of one body
\nwhen it is old and worn out; and then enter a young one and live over again and
\nagain, forever. Nor is there more nor less unto any man, woman or child in all the world.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

45. The king asked: What, then, is the highest, best thing for a mortal man to do during
\nlife.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

46. The spirit said: To eat and drink, and sleep and rest, and enjoy begetting numerous
\noffspring.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

47. The king said: How long would a spirit live if it did not reincarnate itself? The spirit
\nsaid: If the mortal body is burnt to ashes, then that is the time; if the body be buried, and<\/span>
\nrot, and return to earth, then that is the time; if the body be embalmed, and keepeth well,
\nthe spirit goeth back in the embalmed body and remaineth till that body is moldered into
\ndust, or burnt to ashes, then is the spirit set free, and ready to either re-incarnate itself or
\nto dissolve and disappear forever.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

48. The king asked: As it is with thee, is it the same with all magicians? The spirit said:
\nThou hast only given four pieces of gold; if thou wouldst have more, the price is
\nexpensive. The king said: I have told thee I would pay whatever the fates decreed;
\ntherefore, proceed. The spirit said: It is even so with all magicians. The king asked: Show
\nme now that thou canst preach like Chine.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

49. The spirit said: Thou shalt ask me questions, and I will preach on them.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

50. The king asked many questions, and the spirit spake thereon. Finally the king said:
\nThat is sufficient; I will pay thee; go thou thy way. As for thy preaching and thy doctrines,
\nthey are nothing. Now will I send and find another magician; for out of a counsel with
\nmany I shall arrive at the truth.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Book of the Arc of Bon Chapter 25, Chapter 26 Chapter 25 1. Chine said: One man waiteth till he is rich, before helping the poor; another man waiteth for the angels to inspire him, and give him wonders, before he teacheth the unlearned; another waiteth for the multitude to join in first; and yet … [Read more…]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[46,40,39,34,36,35,38,33,41,31,32,47,50,48,44,45,43,42],"class_list":{"0":"entry","1":"post","2":"publish","3":"author-lightofgod","4":"post-1428","6":"format-standard","7":"category-lectionary-readings","8":"post_tag-calendar","9":"post_tag-daily-readings","10":"post_tag-eloih","11":"post_tag-faithism","12":"post_tag-faithist-church","13":"post_tag-faithists","14":"post_tag-jehovih","15":"post_tag-kosmon-era","16":"post_tag-lectionary-readings","17":"post_tag-oahspe","18":"post_tag-oahspe-bible","19":"post_tag-observances","20":"post_tag-religion-of-light","21":"post_tag-sabbath","22":"post_tag-united-covenant","23":"post_tag-united-covenant-of-light","24":"post_tag-yeshua","25":"post_tag-yoshu"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1428","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1428"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1428\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1430,"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1428\/revisions\/1430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}