Light: The Holy Grail

By Roditch

Light is an entity that pretty much rules our lives. Spiritually, physically and emotionally. We all need light in our lives, and we need to understand how pervasive it is in all religious texts and practices. The Sun of God is clearly a truth all throughout the Bible, and it is time all Christians spent as much time in the sun as they do singing silly hymns in a musty building.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roditch
• Release date: Mar 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215069219

Roditch

I am a retired Photography Teacher, Refugee Settlement Manager, and Builder. For the past 10 years, I have been teaching part-time, writing books, taking photos and doing lots of research.All the books I write come from experience and research. Yes, in my life so far I have worked with refugees, taught art, built houses, studied herbs, and health. I have also studied astrology spirituality including meditation, animal welfare, and poetry.I sincerely hope that you can gain valuable information from my books (usually short and sweet introductions) to different facets of life I have visited.

Book preview

Light

The Holy Grail

Roditch

Published by Roditch

at Smashwords

Dedicated

To God and the Light

Copyright

Copyright © Roditch

All rights reserved

Smashwords Edition

Contents

Introduction

The Sun Gods and Goddesses

The Light in Religion and cultures

The Sun in Astrology and Numerology

Protons and Time

Enlightenment

Meditation

Art Inspired by Light

Light in Nature

Near Death Experiences

Light in Fairy Tales

Mythological Light

Poems Inspired by Light

The Esoteric Meaning of Light

After Enlightenment

—CHAPTER ONE—

Introduction

What is true has always been true. We need air to breathe, food to eat, shelter, and the ability to learn. It is the same with religion and spirituality. To grow as a human, there are many teachings—Greek and Roman mythology, Christianity, Buddhism, the Egyptians, and Hinduism—that help us. They have all been taught similar things for millennia. Jesus of Nazareth was not a revolutionary figure. He taught the same values and ideals as all that came before him. Since Jesus, psychologists have joined the fray by examining the human psyche and soul. So, it is wrong to attach yourself completely to one religion and think that it is the only one, the right one because if you do, you don’t understand the true meaning of them. All religions and spiritual teachings are much the same if you look deeply enough. Because what is true has always been true—light is universal consciousness and awareness.

The most common thread between religions is light. Many civilizations worshipped the sun, the source of light. They include the Egyptians, who worshipped the god Ra, who represented life, warmth, and growth. Light is used to symbolize God, faith, and holiness throughout Scripture. Christians are called to not only walk in the light but to be the light for others.

There were, and still are, many sun gods that are loved and worshipped around the world. The Persian (and later Roman) god Mithra was called the Mediator. Mithra was also the god of the sun, of the shining light that beholds everything, and, hence, was invoked in oaths. The Greeks and Romans considered Mithra a sun god. He was probably also the god of kings. Apollo was worshipped by Italians and Greeks. The Incas worshipped Inti, the all-powerful god of their culture, and built temples and monuments to him everywhere. In Hindu traditions, the sun god Surya travels across the sky in a chariot pulled by either seven horses or a single seven-headed horse. The chariot driver is Aruna, the personification of dawn. In Hindu mythology, they fight the demons of darkness.

The direct link between the sun and light is a strong foundation for most religions, including Christianity, which was created by the Roman emperor Constantine, who worshipped Mithra. What I find fascinating is the term enlightenment, which embodies many religious and spiritual teachings as the pinnacle of spiritual attainment, and this is why I am writing this book. I have also had direct experience with enlightenment, which will be infused with the pages of history—being able to corroborate what others have written.

My experience with enlightenment is like a key that unlocks the true meanings of all the references to light in the Bible and other spiritual teachings.

A good starting point is the Old Testament, in Genesis. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.

God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. And God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons, days, and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth. And so it was. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, govern the day and the night, and separate light from the darkness.

And in the New Testament John 1:1-18

In the beginning, there was the Word. The word was with God, and the word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made by him, and nothing was made without him. In him there was life, and that life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it. There was a man named John who was sent by God. He came to tell people the truth about the light so that, through him, all people could hear about it and believe. John was not the light, but he came to tell people the truth about the light. The true light that gives light to all was coming into the world! The Word was in the world, and the world was made by him, but the world did not know him.

Light can calm the mind allowing universal consciousness to be present.

—CHAPTER TWO—

The Sun Gods and Goddesses

Amaterasu

Amaterasu, Shines from Heaven, is the great and glorious goddess of the sun. An embodiment of the rising sun and Japan itself, she is the queen of the kami and ruler of the universe. The Japanese Imperial Family claims to have descended from her, and this is what gives them the divine right to rule Japan.

Kami are the deities, divinities, spirits, phenomena, or holy powers that are venerated in the Shinto religion. They can be elements of the landscape, forces of nature, or beings and the qualities that these beings express; they can also be the spirits of venerated dead people. Many kami are considered the ancient ancestors of entire clans (some ancestors became kami upon their deaths if they were able to embody the values and virtues of kami in life). Traditionally, great leaders like the emperor could be or become kami.

According to Shinto, kami are not independent of nature; rather, they are a part of it and have both good and bad, or good and evil, traits. They are seen as examples of what humanity should aspire to and are representations of musubi, the linking energy of the universe. Kami are thought to live in a supplementary existence known as shinkai that mirrors our own but is hidden from our world. Being aware of Kannagara no Michi, also known as the way of the kami, is what it means to be in harmony with nature's majestic features. She is the center of Shinto and Japanese spiritual life.

Amaterasu is the kami, the creator herself, and the Queen of Heaven. Though she did not create the universe, she is the goddess of creation, a role she inherited from her father, Izanagi, who now defends the world from the land of the dead.

The sun goddess is mostly what Amaterasu represents. In her capacity, she not only acts as the literal rising sun that illuminates everything but also gives all living things their sustenance and signals the orderly transition from day to night.

The sun represents order and purity, two of Shinto’s most important concepts. All things in creation are ordered, from Amaterasu down to the denizens of Jigoku and other hells. This order is reflected in Japanese society as well.

The Japanese Imperial Family, which claims descent from Amaterasu, sits at the head of Japanese society, and a natural hierarchy exists within the Imperial Family. In premodern Japan, this was one of the many justifications for the society’s caste system.

Through Amaterasu’s illumination, she represents not just order but the justice that maintains it as well. The Imperial family has long served as the legitimizing power of any Japanese political entity, and they have always used this position to ensure that Amaterasu’s place as Queen of Heaven and her control of its courts are reflected in their rule. Thus, the earthly court systems and the justice they represent are reflections of Amaterasu’s divine justice, though she is not the goddess of justice but merely its final arbiter. She maintains harmony and balance in both the natural world and human society.

In the most well-known legend surrounding her, she secludes herself in a cave, wreaking havoc on both earth and heaven. According to the mythical Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters), the god Izanagi and goddess Izanami are credited with creating the Japanese islands. Izanami continues to give birth to several gods that are associated with various natural phenomena, including the sea, mountains, grass, wind, ships, and food. But while giving birth to the fire deity Kagutsuchi, she burns her genitalia and passes away from the wounds. Izanagi searches for her in Yomi, the world of the dead, while grieving and alone. Izanami orders him not to look at her, but when he disobeys her, he finds that she has devolved into a decaying corpse covered in maggots.

Terrified, Izanagi flees from Yomi, shaking off several pursuers. When he returns to our world (Ashihara no Nakatsukuni), he ritually purifies himself at the river mouth of Tachibana in Himuka. As he washes his face, three deities appear the sun goddess Amaterasu when he pours water on his left eye, the moon god Tsukuyomi when he does so on his right eye, and Susanoo when he does so on his nose. These three are considered the most important of Izanagi’s offspring.

As the kanji of Amaterasu’s name indicates, she was a sun goddess, shining from heaven. The story of when she shuts herself away in a cave demonstrates the extent of her power in this role. When her younger brother Susanoo wreaks havoc on the heavenly plain, the frightened Amaterasu hides in a cavern, plunging both the heavens and the world into darkness, which causes all kinds of disasters. The myriad gods gather and discuss what to do, deciding to perform a ritual—one involving a ribald dance and uproarious laughter—and calling on her to emerge. Amaterasu is enticed from the cave and shines on the earth and heaven once more.

Her light is essential in both realms. This is why Kojiki says that her descendants came down to the world to rule Japan as emperors. Legitimizing the early Japanese state of Yamato might be called the main theme of the Kojiki legends. It is also the reason why Amaterasu is revered as the highest deity in Japanese mythology.

Surya

Surya serves as both the sun and the sun god in Hinduism. Even though several other deities also had solar traits throughout the Vedic period, most of them were combined into one god in later Hinduism. Surya has numerous temples throughout India, and he previously shared the same status as Ganesha, Vishnu, Shiva, and Shakti. A group of Brahmans (priests), the Smartas, worship those five deities, but only a small group, the Saura sect, regards Surya as the highest deity. However, most Hindus do invoke him, and the Gayatri mantra, which is chanted by many Hindus every day at dawn, is directed at the sun.

The Puranas state that Surya's full emission was too brilliant to bear, so portions were taken from him and used to manufacture the gods' weapons. His power was imagined as having the ability to eliminate darkness, heal illness, provide heating, and illuminate the entire globe.

In sculptures, Surya is often shown wearing northern or Scythian clothes, like a tight coat and tall boots, which may have been influenced by Iranian sun worship. He is often shown holding full-grown lotuses, riding a chariot pulled by seven horses or a single horse with seven heads, and having a nimbus or rays around his head. The Surya Deula, also called the Black Pagoda, is one of the most beautiful temples to Surya. It is in Konark, Odisha, and its name means Sun Temple. There, the whole building is thought of as the Sun god's chariot, which is pulled through the heavens by galloping horses.

The Vedas, the ancient sacred Hindu scriptures that were written between 1500 and 500 B.C.E. and comprise hymns, philosophical studies, and poetry, contain various devotional writings that revere Surya, the sun deity. The Rigveda, the first recorded Vedic literature, is where Lord Surya is first mentioned. The splendid sun deity is worshipped exclusively according to the Rigveda (1:50). The Mahabharata is a famous Hindu epic poem that was written between 400 and 200 B.C.E. and features a community of people who worship the sun. Additionally, the tilak, a red circlet worn by many Saura Hindus that appears to be the sun on a person's body, is depicted. The Upanishads, the final works of the Vedas, also refer to Surya.

The god Surya is the subject of various creation stories in Hindu mythology. In one, he is the offspring of Kasyapa, a sage in Vedic mythology, and Aditi, the goddess of the eternal heavens. The sky god Dyaus and the supreme creator of the cosmos, Brahma, are both thought to be the parents of Surya. The twins Yama and Yami are among the many children that Surya, also known as Surya deva, had with the goddess of consciousness, Samjna. While Yami is the goddess of the river Yamuna, Yama is the Hindu god of death. One of the first men, called Manu, was born to Surya and Samjna, and his name was Vaivasvata. In Hindu mythology, Samjna transformed herself into a horse in order to live peacefully in the forest after becoming overwhelmed by the brightness of Surya's rays. As a result, Surya transformed into a stallion and remarried Samjna, producing more progeny. Additionally, Surya had offspring with his two other wives, Ragyi and Prabha. Additionally, King Sugriva and the Suryavanshi dynasty of kings are thought to have been fathered by Surya.

Because he was regarded as one of the few Hindu deities who could be seen with the naked eye, the sun god Surya was held in high regard. The sun god is still highly regarded in yoga, even though there is less worship of him today. The sun salutation, or Surya Namaskar, is one of the most significant asanas. According to Vedic astrology, Lord Surya's might can incite bravery, dominance, willpower, and energy. He is frequently portrayed as having three eyes, four arms, and being pulled by a chariot of horses. A mace (an antiquated weapon), a lotus flower, a conch shell, and a disc that symbolizes the chakras are all items that the Lord of the Sun is occasionally depicted wielding.

Lord Surya is worshipped in India through many pilgrimages, festivals, and mantras. A mantra is a holy phrase that is sung to conjure supernatural abilities and spiritual strength in Hinduism. A mantra is a holy phrase that is sung to conjure supernatural abilities and spiritual strength in Hinduism. The Gayatri Mantra, devoted to Lord Surya, is regarded as one of Hinduism's most potent mantras. Composed during the Vedic period, the mantra is chanted every morning at dawn to welcome the sun. The Gayatri Mantra (translated by Vyaas Houston) reads: Earth, atmosphere, heavens. We meditate on the sacred light of the effulgent source. Let that inspire our thoughts. In Sanskrit, the mantra reads: Om bhuh, bhuvah, swaha—Tat savitur varenyam—Bhargo devasya dhimahi—Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat.

Mithra

His birthday is celebrated on December 25, and the Roman emperor, who followed Mithra, incorporated Mithra into his newfound religion, called Christianity. Most of the structural and historical basis for the Christian religion is found in Mithra. If you add the teachings of Jesus and Mithra, you have Christianity.

He was referred to as a light god and invoked alongside Varuna in the Indian Vedas. But the Iranians gave the title of Archangel to Mithra. Even though Ahura Mazda was the supreme god, he elevated Mithra to the position of leader among the Yazatas and made him equal to himself.

In mythology, Mithra is portrayed as the creator of celestial light. At dawn, he appears from the rocky tops of eastern mountains, rides across heaven on a team of four white horses, and illuminates the earth's surface while remaining ever walking, ever alert. He is not the sun, the moon, or any other star; rather, he is a spirit of light that is constantly awake and has a hundred eyes. No one can fool him because he hears and sees everything.

Mithra was a gift-giver and a god of open meadows. He was deserving of devotion and sacrifice, and he yearned for the reverence and prayers of the devoted, whom he showered with abundant gifts. The powers of evil were his opponents, and he joined forces with Sraosha (obedience) and Rashnu (justice) to fight them. On the other hand, he was a harsh and bitter warrior.

As the Persian kingdom expanded, so did Mithra's fame; he was particularly well-liked in Asia Minor. Many Persian kings developed strong feelings for Mithra and encouraged the worship of him. Around this time, Mithraic worship began to evolve into its own religion. It's noteworthy to note that Mithraism frequently appropriated concepts from various cultures as it moved throughout the Persian Empire. When it encountered Semitic star worship, it adopted much of it as well as some of the old Babylonian stories and made them its own. The cult also adopted numerous regional customs and notions from Asia Minor. Finally, it was somewhat affected by Hellenistic culture. Mithraism was almost at its peak after it had solidified its doctrine and attracted numerous followers in Asia Minor and Persia. However, it was the most recent of its kind to gain popularity in the Roman Empire.

The best way to disseminate Mithraism was through the military. Soldiers from conquered areas were sent to serve in other parts of the empire under the conscription policy of the Romans. Soldiers from regions where Mithraism was particularly prevalent, such as Cappadocia, Commagene, Pontus, and Armenia, were included in the armies that were gathered in that way. These guys did not disregard their religious practices when they were dispatched to serve in Roman army outposts abroad. Within the troops, converts were soon gained. In practically every place where Roman troops were stationed, including Scotland, Africa, Spain, and Germany, there is proof that Mithraism was spread by the army.

Mithra was first worshiped in the western part of the empire not long before Christ was born. But it wasn't until the end of the first century that it started to spread. Mithraism quickly gained popularity and expanded throughout the world. Of course, this was also the time when Christianity started to grow and spread to other areas. Why the two religions did not clash is a question that begs to be asked. The answer is that they merged.

Another major viewpoint in Mithraism was the notion of the soul's immortality. According to Mithraism, the soul is eternal, and its brief stay in a body is a time of testing. The worshipper's deed decided the destiny of his soul after death. Of course, Mithra stood at his side as a divine helper; he was not endeavoring to accomplish purity and truth alone.

There was a soul judgment after death. The judgment court was presided over by Mithra, the guardian of the truth. If the soul had led an immoral life, it was taken down to the pit of hell and subjected to a thousand torments. If, on the other hand, its positive traits outweigh its negative ones, it rises through the gate of Capricorn and moves across the planetary sphere in reverse order. The impurities that the soul acquired throughout its downward movement eventually disappeared at each stage. This immense ascension culminated in absolute joy and eternal satisfaction.

The Mithraic circle shared the fundamental tenet of the resurrection of the flesh. It was thought that the protracted conflict between the forces of good and evil would eventually come