Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Prayer of Dedication

May the light of Christ shining in my heart stand guard over my
thoughts and guide my speech and actions into ways of service.
	May the light of Christ shine from my heart
	    To heal the sick in mind and body;
		To comfort the bereaved;
		  To sustain the weary;
	May the light of Christ illumine my understanding
and the understanding of all people, bringing true vision and
		awareness of the eternal life,
		and of the Christ within all.
			Amen
    

re Note 16.0 by ATSE::FLAHERTY:

> 5.  That life is governed by five cosmic laws:  Reincarnation,
>     Cause and Effect, Opportunity, Correspondences (as above, so
>     below), and Compensation (equilibrium and balance).

        I would appreciate a brief description of these five laws.
        (Actually I can guess what the first two, "Reincarnation" and
        "Cause and Effect", mean;  but perhaps even they have a
        particular interpretation.)

        What do you see as the relationship between these ideas and
        (for lack of a better term) "Christianity Classic"?  There
        would seem to be some similarity to the points mentioned in
        your note, but also some differences.  Is the similarity
        merely coincidental, or was there some historic tie or
        influence from Christian teaching?

        I assume that a person who adhered to these teachings would
        not primarily identify themselves as a "Christian" -- or
        would they?

        Bob

    Hi Bob,
    
    Be happy to answer your questions:
    
        I would appreciate a brief description of these five laws.
        (Actually I can guess what the first two, "Reincarnation" and
        "Cause and Effect", mean;  but perhaps even they have a
        particular interpretation.)
    
    I would like to use White Eagle's words to answer this one properly.
    I will look up the information and type it in over the weekend.

    
        What do you see as the relationship between these ideas and
        (for lack of a better term) "Christianity Classic"?  There
        would seem to be some similarity to the points mentioned in
        your note, but also some differences.  Is the similarity
        merely coincidental, or was there some historic tie or
        influence from Christian teaching?

        I assume that a person who adhered to these teachings would
        not primarily identify themselves as a "Christian" -- or
        would they?

    The Church of the White Eagle Lodge is recognized as a Christian
    Church in England.  White Eagle refers to Jesus often in his books, 
    but three of them specifically address the Gospel and Life of Jesus.
    They are:
    
    The Living Word of St. John
    
    White Eagle's interpretation of the gospel, based on the truth that
    Christ is in each one of us and contains the foundations of the Lodge
    teachings.  A book with profound insights into the eternal mysteries.
    
    Jesus, Teacher & Healer (one of my favorites)
    
    A book about Jesus concerned not with intellectual argument but with
    making real the gentle person of Jesus to the heart of the reader: 
    Jesus, who revealed the glorious Christ Light which dwells in
    everyone's soul.  Chapters explain the sayings of Jesus, the miracles
    of healing, and his teaching (and that of other world religions).
    
    The Path of the Soul
    
    This book, subtitled "The great initiations of every man', is a
    beautiful exposition of the trials and tests undergone by every soul
    on its journey towards the 'man made perfect'.  It uses the great
    example of the life-story of Jesus Christ who, through undergoing each
    initiation, revealed that path of the soul which every man must tread.
    
    
    Hope I've answered your questions so far, if not please continue to ask.
    
    Ro
    

    Bob,
    
    Didn't realize I had the literature with the descriptions you asked for
with me.  Here is a brief description of the 5 cosmic laws:

1.  Reincarnation

	The earth life is like a school to which the soul returns
	many times until it has mastered all the lessons it can learn.

2.  Cause and Effect

	As you sow, so you will reap, either quickly in this present
	life or when deeper lessons have to be learned, in following
	earth lives.  This is also known as the Law of Karma.

3.  Opportunity

	Divine law places man in exactly the right conditions he needs
	in order to learn lessons and give service.  Every experience
	which comes into his life brings its own opportunity for him
	to become more God-like.  A path of eternal progress exists 
	for every soul.

4.  Correspondences

	As above so below, as in heaven so on earth.  Just as the 
	human body is made up of minute cells, we are minute cells in
	the body of the Cosmos; the microcosm is the Macrocosm in
	miniature, and the same laws apply throughout.

5.  Equilibrium and Balance

	It is a fundamental law of life closely connected with
	karma, ensuring that extremism can only be carried so far
	before reaction pulls the soul back to normal.  Joy and 
	sorrow in human experience tend to follow this law which
	may also be described as the Law of Compensation.

***Please note that when the term 'man' is used, it includes all 
humanity, every man and woman.
    
    
    Ro

re Note 16.4 by ATSE::FLAHERTY:

> 1.  Reincarnation
> 
> 	The earth life is like a school to which the soul returns
> 	many times until it has mastered all the lessons it can learn.

        It would seem that White Eagle had some other sources of
        inspiration besides "Christianity Classic", since a teaching
        like "reincarnation" would seem to have no foundation in it. 
        What are those other sources?

        Bob

How does this teaching differ from certain sects of Hinduism, for example?

(I have heard what I believe to be all of the teachings you mention as
Hindu teachings.)

Collis

    Pointer to a book you might find interesting Bob (.5):
    
    _Reincarnation in Christianity_ by Geddes MacGregor
    
    From the preface:
    
    	It [reincarnation] is widely assumed to be foreign to the Christian
    heritage and especially alien to the Hebrew roots of biblical thought. 
    That assumption is questionable.
    
    	This book is an inquiry, certainly not a polemic for or against
    reincarnationalism.  Evidence does exist to suggest that the notion is
    imcompatible with both Judaism and Christianity.  Other evidence,
    however may be adduced to support the view a form of it might even be a
    doctrine within the apostolic traditin, the recovery of which could be
    essential to the plenitude of the Christian faith.
    
    	
    Dr. MacGregor goes on to state that "metensomatosis", a form of
    reincarnationism was taught by the "early Fathers".  Anyway, I have
    only skimmed through this book, but from what I've read, it appears to 
    be well-researched, and did receive accolades from some of the more
    mainline clergy types.
    
    Fwiw,
    
    Karen

    Bob,
    
    The following may help to answer your question on the background of the
    source of this information:
    
Who is White Eagle?

White Eagle is the name given to a personality, a very wise and loving 
teacher in the world of spirit.  White Eagle has never been know to 
speak harshly or unkindly; never to judge or condemn other people; 
never to speak fearfully or pessimistically, but always hopefully, 
gently, and lovingly.  The name White Eagle is chosen because it 
signifies one with spiritual vision, a spiritual teacher.  Moreover, 
it was a familiar name among the early tribes of American Indians.

Although White Eagle's message carries with it a special American 
Indian 'flavor' that encourages his followers to live simply and 
close to the rhythms of the natural world, it is not part of his work 
to reject the deep philosophy of any of the great world religions.  His 
teaching complements (and in no way supplants) the message brought by 
Jesus, and indeed all the great philosophies of both East and West.

White Eagle would say that the greatest teachers of all is that the 
teacher within the heart of every man and woman, to which he would 
normally give the name, 'the Christ': the son of God in our own 
hearts.

He would add that he is merely the spokesman for a group or 
brotherhood of wise souls in the world of spirit, beyond all 
denomination, who have humanity in their care.  His name, White 
Eagle, is the symbol of St. John the evangelist.

The White Eagle Lodge was founded in London in 1936 by Grace and Ivan 
Cooke, under the direct guidance of White Eagle.  Grace Cooke was at 
the time a practicing Spiritualist medium and had already worked with 
White Eagle, her spirit guide, for much of the 1920s and 1930s.

Ro

    

    So these are then channelled teachings?
    
    Gil

    Gil,
    
    In that the words were spoken through the instrumentality of Grace
    Cooke, using her brain and vocal organs to give the messages from
    Spirit then you are correct in using the term 'channelled'.  The love
    inherent in the teachings is in itself an indication of the source of
    his message.
    
    At the heart of the White Eagle work there is a vision: a vision of
    brotherhood which extends to all mankind, to the animal kingdom and the
    world of nature, even to the very earth itself.  It is a brotherhood of
    all life, which includes life 'beyond the veil', those who have served
    on earth and now extend their service and their love to us.  Because
    they love (and because we love them) they are close to us.  'In perfect
    love there can be no separation'.  And so the brotherhood live and work
    on both sides of life to bring this quality of true brotherhood,
    through love, to all mankind.
    
    The name 'White Eagle' is not attached only to an individual, but
    stands for a true vision through the mists of earth into a larger and
    more perfect life.  You will also know that the white eagle is a symbol
    of St. John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, who was caught up in the
    power of the spirit and saw a new heaven and a new earth revealed.  He
    saw the constitution of man.  He saw that God had bestowed on man great
    gifts, not the least of which is the gift of vision.
    
    May all receive inspiration,
    
    Ro