Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Apocryphote of the Day: 3-26-08

"In my weakness, do not forsake me,
and do not be afraid of my power.
For why do you hate my fear
and curse my pride?
But I am she who exists in all fears
and strength in trembling.
I am she who is weak,
and I am well in a pleasant place.
I am senseless and wise.
For I am knowledge and ignorance.
I am shame and boldness.
I am shameless and ashamed.
I am strength and I am fear."

Thunder: Perfect Mind (15.20-30, 14.26-31)

7 comments:

Richard Edmondson said...

I read an essay once entitled "The Riddle of the Thunder" by Bentley Layton, but I never could figure out what the riddle was (even after reading the essay). It still stumps me. My idea of a riddle is something that goes something like, 'knock knock' 'who's there?'...but apparently that's not exactly the sort of riddle he means.

R.Eagle said...

It seems the "perfect mind" must balance between such extremes mentioned her...perhaps that's the riddle??

lightseeker said...

jms providence, I think you're onto it! Enlightened masters teach their pupils to "seek the middle road." Truth (unity) lies in the middle between opposite extremes (duality).

Just as God created everything in the Universe, including both the light and the dark, we all contain both light and dark aspects; we often shun our "shadow" side out of fear or shame. But God loves us as we are, even our "unlovable" dark aspects. It is only by having the courage to examine introspectively our dark aspects that we can truly forgive, accept and love ourselves completely, and integrate all our aspects into a whole, "perfect mind."

We need the dark aspects in order to return to and appreciate the Light. It is by working our way through the darkness and shadows (e.g., experiencing mental /emotional anguish a la "the dark night of the soul") that we actually emerge into, and walk and grow in the Light of God.

I’m really enjoying these “Apocryphotes!” If I haven't read them before, I go read the whole text. In this case, is this Wisdom/Sophia personified who is speaking?

John Noyce said...

yes lightseeker, this is indeed Wisdom/Sophia speaking.
This is one of several texts from the Nag Hammadi Library where the imagery of Wisdom/Sophia is interwoven with that of the Shekhinah.
Here's some more descriptions of the Primordial Mother:
http://sahaj-az.blogspot.com/search/label/Primordial%20Mother

Jared Calaway said...

I too am enjoying these Apocryphotes. It gives me an idea to post and/or test out some of my own translations on my blog to promote discussion of difficult translation issues of specific passages--not the least of which include my translations of "Thunder."

Richard Edmondson said...

I just reread the essay by Bentley Layton. He asks the question, "Who is the Thunder?" and he poses the possibility that the answer is "Eve." So maybe that is the
"riddle" (Who is the Thunder?). And Eve is the solution, I guess. He also suggests the Gospel of Eve that is mentioned by Epiphanius may have been the source document for Thunder, Perfect Mind. Genesis 3:20 describes Eve as "the mother of all life." Interestingly Layton points out similarities in certain Aramaic words:

Eve--Hawa
snake--hewya
instructor--hawe

Quite interesting that those three particular Aramaic words would sound so similar coming off the tongue. Then there's life--hayyayya; and midwife--hayyta

scott adam ALF said...

Why raise hell
when you can lower heaven
and stay
in the same place
finding answers that show
real IT y
Thank you
persevere.
I met a man
Lakota Indian called 'Calling 7 thunders"
He was teaching about a "Sonic Bloom"