In my 
morning devotions I came across this gem in one of my favorite little books (with a big title!), Christian Zen, the Essential Teachings of Jesus Christ: The Secret Sayings of Jesus as Related in the Gospel of Thomas:
Jesus said, “I will disclose my mysteries to those who are worthy of my mysteries.” – Gospel of Thomas verse 62
________
To understand and live in advaita [absolute Oneness] requires a certain ripeness or maturity. Again, Jesus exhorts his followers to keep the teaching esoteric, and to share it only with those who are ready and eager for it.
* * * * *
The commentary is by the compiler of the book, Robert Powell, a cool Sophianic author whose work I enjoy.
Since we run an online Mystery School and Interfaith Seminary that teaches esoteric mysteries, the above quote really speaks to our mission.  An ‘eagerness’ for the mysteries and for Oneness should be observed before the mysteries are imparted.  Staff members take note, please! <laugh>Â
Headed out the door here soon for our weekly Eckhart Tolle teachings gathering. Â Tolle imparts a Zen quality to Christianity too… Â Put Jesus, Zen, Gnosticism and Tolle’s teachings all together with Magdalene and the sacred union (Oneness), and wow, what more is there? <grin>
If you click on the little book Christian Zen you can read several pages inside. Each page is a different saying from Gospel of Thomas with the Zen interpretation under it — a complete nugget all on its own. Â See which page in the Look Inside feature comes up for you.
–Katia
Thank you for mentioning this book. I find this a very interesting topic.
Just reading the parables alone will you find Zen. I like the idea that this book takes the Thomas Gospel and highlights the mindset, the openess of Zen.
May you all have a satori moment when reading this!
The Gospel of Thomas also mentions that only those with beards go to heaven.
It is best to stick to the Bible and drop the Gospel of Thomas.
Actually that’s the Old Testament. Beard-shaving was forbidden, especially by priests. Arabs and Jews both followed this rule, many still do to this day. The beard is a symbol of holiness and it was believed a form of blasphemy to remove it.
Can you please elucidate what you and the aforementioned author are referring to when you state that a desire for “Oneness” is required? What do you mean by Oneness? It seems to me that one of the central failings of all monotheistic religions exoteric OR esoteric, is the constant striving for “oneness”. Clearly the whole of the universe (multiverse!) displays plurality!
As Mr. Spock (star trek) would say, “Infinite diversity, in Infinite Combinations..” IDIC
Christianity, in particular, would really have an amazing amount going for it as a religion/spirituality/religious philosophy if it would embrace henotheism and drop omniscience and omnipresence as central tenants.
Isn’t that “oneness” the collective conscienceness of all spiritiual beings in human form? Humanity may see God in many forms, but it really is just the same source. Diversity allows for better understanding, creative worship and individual connections to the “oneness” that connects all humanity.
Hippolytus of Rome, in his report on the Naassenes (Philos. v. 7, 200-235 CE), mentions the ‘Gospel of Thomas’ and quotes from it. Thereafter, Thomas in in and out of the cannon until it is finally out in the 4th cent.
When anyone states “stick to the bible” it presses two questions:
1) Which (of several) bibles [and]
2) During which period of time time?
Flux, everything in flux.