Enlightenment Christian Style

In these episodes I am interpreting the Gospel of John as a gospel of nonduality. In this episode we look at John 1:9-14 :

The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own, and his own received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt in us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. 

The first thing this passage John 1:9-14 says is that this Word, the Primordial and Eternal Christ, enlightens every human being. It says, “The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.” Another translation says, “The true light was that which enlightens everyone who comes into the world.” In other words it is saying everyone is enlightened! What am extraordinary thing for this apostle to say! The Word has been enlightening people long before the Word became flesh in Jesus. 

This statement of John’s Gospel is extraordinary in its universalism and inclusivism. It is also extraordinary in saying that the goal of spiritual enlightenment, which is sought after by so many spiritual pilgrims and seekers, is already reality for every person in the world. We are already enlightened or saved or liberated or awake or whatever term you want to use. Yet this passage says that people did not recognize this. 

John uses three different words for recognizing the True Light: knowing, receiving and believing. Life and Light – Enlightenment and Awakening – was present, but people did not know it. They did not receive it. They did not believe it. They were living in spiritual darkness and ignorance. It is the same today. 

In this episode we explore the meaning of these concepts and discover what it really means to be born again and to receive Jesus. It is speaking of union with the Divine.