I heard it many times from many different people that the teaching of Jesus is simple. In a sense, it is true. Yet why in the New Testament accounts we often read that people, including wise scholars and closest disciples, were puzzled by what he said? Should we assume that we are much smarter than they were?

I read the gospels for the first time when I was 21, and I need to admit that I hardly understood anything. What did I do? I started to look for interpretations of the gospel message, which was readily given to me by religious people. This is not to say that all the interpretations are bad or misleading. We just need to be aware that our understanding largely depends on our cultural background.

Most of those who insist that the gospel is simple have grown in Christian culture and became acquainted with many of Christian doctrines since childhood. Even if they and their parents weren't devoted believers, they knew what others believe.

Having a set of preconceived ideas about spiritual reality, it is often difficult to understand what Jesus really meant. For example, what do most of people think about heaven? For them, it is a place where all good people (or "forgiven sinners") go after they die to receive their reward. It is opposite to earth where we have to suffer and to wage war against trials and temptations. I used to think that, too. Only later I began to see inconsistencies of this theory.

If heaven s a place, why parables of Jesus so often compare "the kingdom of heaven" with the process of growth and development? How it can be likened to a mustard seed? How it can be likened to leaven? And if righteous ones will be rewarded only in heaven, as theologians insist, why did Jesus talk about inheriting the earth?

Blessed are the meek! For they shall inherit the earth.

The logical conclusion is that for him heaven and earth were not places, but realms of ever-expanding divine ideas and their manifestations. There is no dualism between heaven and earth. "As above, so below". All our inner states of consciousness will eventually become outward demonstrations.

What is meekness? So often it was identified with weakness and resignation, powerless submission to powers outside of ourselves. But again, Jesus did not offer reward in the afterlife in exchange for sufferings here in this life. He spoke about inheriting this earth. So, his words about meekness cannot possibly justify our victim mentality.

Meekness is well defined as our ability to control ourselves - and to trust in God's order of things. Yes, we can change our life conditions and "inherit the earth" in our experience. We are not doomed to suffer. But the only way to control our environment is to control our consciousness.

A meek person is strong in mind and spirit, but not boastful or arrogant. That one recognises God as the only source of his/her power, and uses this power in wise and constructive ways. A meek person knows that all visible events are grounded in invisible spiritual reality, and deals with them from inner perspective. He/she doesn't strive or fight, but develops positive consciousness which attracts positive experiences.

(to be continued)