Gralsvsktarnas budskap - 1973 No 3

Magazine Overview

This issue of GRALSVÄKTARNAS BUDSKAP (The Grals Watchers' Message), Volume 4, Number 3, dated April 1973, is a Swedish-language publication from the GRALSVÄKTARNAS SAMFUND. The cover headline, "VI GÅR MOT FÖRVANDLINGEN" (We are moving towards transformation), sets the tone for the issue, which explores themes of spiritual evolution, the reinterpretation of religious and historical narratives, and the nature of human consciousness.

Key Articles and Content

"VI GÅR MOT FÖRVANDLINGEN"

The lead article posits that a rapid transformation of the world is imminent as a new era dawns. It suggests that while efforts to improve the environment are underway, they are too slow. The turning point will arrive when technology reaches its peak, leading to profound positive changes. This transformation will involve the spiritualization of the human mind, where reason triumphs over greed, and collective welfare supersedes personal gain. The article notes a growing trend among youth striving for righteous action and a desire for renewal, indicating that a just society is on the horizon. It emphasizes the importance of using financial resources wisely for the common good and achieving optimal results. The piece concludes by stating that a healthy life, clear vision of spiritual values, recognition of the spiritual world, and equitable distribution of life's gifts will usher in this new reality, which is eagerly awaited and will arrive soon.

"Ur Våra Mästares Liv och Lära" (From the Lives and Teachings of Our Masters) by Baird T. Spalding, retold by Gulli Bergvall

This section continues the narrative of Americans visiting ancient temples. In one instance, they discover numerous heavy tablets in a temple room, believed to have been transported there before the mountains rose. They learn of a great flood that devastated the land and its population, with survivors forming nomadic groups. The text mentions the ancient Uigur Empire, a highly civilized society that once spanned the Himalayas and the Gobi Desert, with its cities now buried under sand. The Americans, aided by translations of the tablets, locate three of these ancient cities. They also encounter an individual who appears to be an descendant of a cosmic visitor, who looks remarkably old. The narrative then delves into the concept of wishes being fulfilled, explaining that they must be scientific and in accordance with a specific law: "Know that you receive what you ask for, and you shall have it." The importance of positive affirmations and focusing on manifesting health and harmony, rather than seeking to be healed from illness, is stressed. The advice is to cast off negative thoughts as one would an old garment and to fill the void with the thought of God's infinite goodness, allowing God to guide the process.

"Lidandets Mening" (The Meaning of Suffering)

This article explores the meaning of suffering from a spiritual perspective. It argues that judging suffering solely from a material viewpoint is a limited approach. True understanding comes from recognizing that suffering can lead to a higher state of consciousness and a positive outcome, often referred to as "resurrection" or enlightenment. The text describes how deep sorrow can create a void within a person, leading to a longing for comfort and connection with higher beings. It suggests that a new sense of value arises, where individuals perceive vibrations from realms beyond the earthly, and are met by strong forces from the spiritual side. This process, though potentially difficult, offers a path beyond pain, filling the void and leading to satisfaction and joy. Suffering, when properly understood, is seen as a purification process that reveals the path to the spiritual world and offers explanations for life's mysteries. The article concludes that suffering has a single meaning: to show the way to the spiritual world and teach how to walk that path. It quotes Emerson: "Only the finite struggles and suffers, the infinite lies spread out in a smiling peace." and Deunov: "To understand suffering will lift you to the height from which you can move forward on the spiritual path."

"Vi Söker Fullkomningen" (We Seek Perfection)

This section addresses the growing number of people seeking a higher quality of life beyond the material world. It explains that those trapped in materialism experience a darkness that they perceive as natural, unaware of the higher realms of peace and happiness. When the light of higher consciousness dawns, individuals realize the deficiency of their current state and develop a longing for these higher planes. This awakening is often facilitated by "great sweeps" of spiritual energy that touch humanity. The article emphasizes that this quest for higher consciousness requires moral discipline and pure intentions, balancing wisdom and love. It highlights the concept of "eradicating karma" by consciously resolving past entanglements. The text also introduces the idea of "all-time" as a state where past and future cease to hinder thought, and "the perpetual now" as a plane where Masters work to shape creation according to divine directives. The "Eightfold Path" taught by Buddha is mentioned as a guide for right living and utilizing one's potential to help others. The ultimate goal described is reaching the "monadic plane," the realm of divine all-life and the highest form of Love-Wisdom, leading to a state of perfection where all returns to its origin.

"Judafolkets Historia i Ny Belysning" (The History of the Jewish People in a New Light)

This series continues by examining the story of Abraham and his relationship with Jahve. It addresses the issue of Abraham's aging and his lack of an heir, and how Jahve, seeking to establish his power, influenced Abraham to take Hagar as a concubine, leading to the birth of Ishmael. The narrative questions the divine nature of Jahve, portraying him as a being who manipulates events to increase his own power and influence. It describes Abraham's internal conflict and eventual acceptance of Jahve's will, including the covenant of circumcision as a means to bind Abraham's lineage to Jahve. The article also touches upon the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as an event orchestrated by Jahve to divert attention from other matters and solidify his control over Abraham's descendants. The text contrasts the ritualistic circumcision of the Israelites with its hygienic origins in other cultures, suggesting a deeper, manipulative religious motive behind the Israelite practice.

Other Content

The issue also includes a poem titled "ÖNSKAN" (Wish) by Gulli Bergvall, expressing a desire to be like a tall, straight pine tree reaching for the light. Additionally, there are brief mentions of Emerson's "Spiritual Laws" and Deunov's "Master's Greeting to the Disciple" in relation to the meaning of suffering.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a spiritual worldview, emphasizing personal transformation, the pursuit of higher consciousness, and the reinterpretation of traditional religious and historical narratives. There is a clear stance that the material world is temporary and that true fulfillment lies in spiritual development and connection with higher realms. The publication appears to advocate for a form of esoteric or spiritual philosophy, drawing parallels between ancient wisdom, biblical accounts, and contemporary spiritual seeking. The editorial stance is one of guiding readers towards a deeper understanding of life, suffering, and the universe through a spiritual lens, often challenging conventional interpretations of religious texts and historical events.

This issue of "nr 3 årg.4" delves into biblical genealogies and theological symbolism. The content is primarily text-based, with a focus on religious and historical interpretations.

Biblical Lineages and Destiny

The first section of the magazine explores the origins of Abraham's lineage, emphasizing the foundational roles of his sons, Isaac and Ishmael. The authors note that the biblical accounts provide details about Abraham's children to address potential reader questions about their origins. The text posits that Isaac and Ishmael became the starting points for two distinct peoples whose destinies would significantly shape the Western world over millennia. Abraham is presented as a revered patriarch and a model for future generations.

The narrative then focuses on Isaac's sons, Esau and Jacob. It describes how Isaac, in his old age, intended to bestow his fatherly blessing, which included the role of spiritual leader and religious practitioner, upon his eldest son, Esau. This birthright was a significant inheritance, carrying the responsibility of maintaining the family's religious traditions and leadership.

However, the text reveals that "Jahve" favored Jacob. Rebekah, Isaac's wife, was tempted to engage in deceitful practices. Through a ruse orchestrated by Rebekah and executed by Jacob, the younger brother usurped the birthright and the blessing intended for Esau. This act of betrayal occurred without the blind father's knowledge. The deception angered Esau and caused fear in Jacob due to the falsity of his actions.

Despite the deceit, "Jahve" supported his protégé, bestowing upon Jacob the name Israel, a name that would endure through all subsequent generations. The text states that Jacob fathered a large family, with twelve sons, who became the progenitors of Israel's twelve tribes. The history of the Israelite people is described as beginning with constant conflict with surrounding enemies, a difficult and prolonged struggle. The article suggests that while this was "Jahve's" will, the tribes did not always adhere to it, often engaging in internal conflict over power.

The issue draws a parallel between this initial deception and subsequent generations, noting a recurring pattern of disregarding the rules of honesty. It suggests that the Jewish people have experienced a wave of fated misfortunes stemming from these foundational actions, from Abraham through Jacob and into later generations, framing this as a law of cause and effect.

The Symbolism of the Grail vs. the Cross

The second major section of the magazine shifts focus to theological symbolism, specifically comparing the cross with the Grail. The author begins by stating that it takes time for new ways of thinking to take root in the human mind. The symbol of the cross has become deeply ingrained in the religious consciousness, and attempting to dismantle the perceived Christian connection to the spiritual world through Christ's earthly presence is seen by many as interfering with sacred matters.

Upon reflection, the article argues that what needs to be eliminated from Christian thought is not an essential component of spirituality, but rather a bond to an outdated notion of the sacred. The goal is to liberate oneself from the "lowest plane," where Lucifer is said to have reigned. To achieve this, details in the concept of God that arose through Lucifer's mediation must be discarded.

The crucifix is identified as a harmful object, questioning who commanded humanity to see death as a source of blessing. The emphasis, the article contends, should be on life and the inner experience of Christ's immediate presence, rather than being constantly confronted by the symbol of death.

The text advocates for releasing oneself from the cross as an instrument of death. However, it suggests that a representation of the past should accompany the new era, in accordance with the principle that all things are found in all things and on all planes. These past representations can serve as connecting images. The article proposes replacing the cross of suffering with an equilateral cross, which would serve as a memorial image, uniting people with the past while freeing them from its burden.

The question is then posed: where can a replacement be found for what is being left behind, something that leads into the new era and becomes the new symbol? The answer offered is the Grail. The Grail is presented as connecting to the "nattyardskalken" (likely a reference to the Last Supper chalice), a symbol of highest value in Christianity. It binds humanity to something precious: the covenant between the spiritual world and mankind, instituted by Christ during his last supper.

When Christ raised the chalice, he intended to call his followers to carry forth the new message of his teachings, purified by his love. The article laments that this did not happen, citing the 2000 years of church dominance over Christendom. It claims that the church's teachings have never been imbued with Christ's message of a Father who offers knowledge of the law of all existence, a knowledge that would lead to the inexhaustible source of wisdom.

However, the article states that love is never weary, and Christ is willing to return and raise the chalice again, renewing his covenant with a humanity purified through suffering. The sign of this fulfillment is placed in humanity's hands, symbolizing Christ's promise to complete his work. By raising the chalice in the form of the Grail, humanity can receive confirmation of the covenant's validity. The Grail, it is stated, provides knowledge of the truth hidden within this covenant. The revelation occurs when the chalice is raised with divine consciousness and faith in the power that emanates from it, perceived in its radiance.

The humanity that is ready to receive this new symbol will gather in large numbers, listen to the call, and recognize that it has been found, bestowing upon them a secure certainty that the covenant is still in effect.

In conclusion, the article expresses confidence that the Grail will be received as the new symbol in a renewed era. Crowds will gather around the "Grail's table," where the descending divine power will be perceived by all.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the interpretation of biblical narratives, particularly concerning lineage and divine will, and a critique of traditional Christian symbolism, advocating for the adoption of the Grail as a more profound and life-affirming symbol. The editorial stance appears to be one of re-evaluation of established religious doctrines and symbols, seeking a deeper spiritual truth and connection. There is a clear emphasis on the concept of cause and effect in human actions and their historical consequences, as well as a belief in a renewed spiritual covenant facilitated by the Grail.