By John Fabius

Resisting Evil From Within

On its face, Jesus’ teaching to “resist not evil” contained in Matthew 5:39 is a puzzling statement. It has confounded many and led to a plethora of different interpretations for the simple reason that, practiced literally, it would lead to the end of civilization. Using the criminal justice system as an obvious example, if there were no laws to prohibit criminal behavior or police to protect the public from the unscrupulous, society would be plunged into chaos.

The devastation caused by hurricane Katrina provides a disturbing illustration. By necessity, many survivors trapped in New Orleans had no choice but to “requisition” such things as food and water without paying for them in order to stay alive. But it is also true that some used Katrina and the evaporation of the New Orleans police force as an opportunity to go on an underserved shopping spree, or to commit worse crimes. It takes little creativity to imagine the widespread horrors that would be committed if law and order were wiped out on a wider scale. Pandemonium would become the order of the day.

Thus, to “resist not evil” on a certain level is unthinkable and even ridiculous. It follows that the statement must have another, deeper meaning. This tiny phrase in fact provides powerful guidance for soul development.

Soul development can be achieved through the transmutation of carnal desires into spiritual powers and virtues. The lustful appetites of the carnal body constantly demand satisfaction. Although the carnal body often makes legitimate demands which can and should be satisfied in order to maintain life, i.e. hunger, thirst, etc., it is in our carnal nature to seek ever more physical pleasure to the exclusion of spiritual pursuits. Life becomes an endless quest to gratify the senses, and the work of developing our divine spark into consciousness, the true purpose of life, is constantly postponed. This process can repeat for many lifetimes until the individual finally comes to realize that the mere satisfaction of the temporal body is a futile pursuit that diverts one from finding a more fulfilling existence.

When considering the statement attributed to Jesus from the standpoint of the person desiring to advance spiritually, there are three basic choices when confronted with the desire to engage in harmful behavior: 1) commit the evil; 2) try not to commit the evil; or 3) try to transmute the evil. Of these three options, the third is clearly the best, but the first two will not be dismissed out of hand.

With respect to the first option, it goes without saying that intentionally choosing to do something that is evil, or, in other words, that which brings harm to ourselves or others, is reprehensible. As a method for learning, however, it can be a powerful, albeit painful teacher. Unfortunately, most of us during the course of our evolution over many lives at one time or another have become so strongly enmeshed in certain negative carnal desires that we became almost powerless to resist. Addiction is an example of this type of behavior. People afflicted in this manner sometimes pursue their addictions until financial ruin, dishonor, the destruction of the family unit, incarceration, and even until life itself is snuffed out. In the end, these people have suffered tremendously, and will continue to suffer the reaction of the negative karma their misdeeds have created until all debts are paid. However, except for the very few who pursue this bitter path until the total destruction of their spiritual identities, most will eventually grow weary of the cycle of sin and suffering. They will eventually develop a deep dissatisfaction of their former empty ways, and leave behind the playthings of the carnal body in search of that which satisfies a growing spiritual thirst for something more. This is the path of learning through experience, or, in the vernacular, learning from “the school of hard knocks.” It is harsh, but its lessons are not easily forgotten, and the redemptive power of sin and suffering cannot be discounted.

The second option involves trying not to commit an evil. Ironically, this is not the best option for conquering the carnal self, and may even retard growth. Simply put, resisting evil, or the impulse to engage in that which is harmful, makes the evil stronger. Although through force of will the struggling person may for a time “keep a lid” on their baser nature, more often than not the student will eventually grow frustrated, tired, and sooner or later succumb. This is because the student’s focus is wrong. Granted, the focus is on attempting to do something that the student knows should not be done, which seems positive. Such a focus nevertheless centers the mind on the undesirable, in that the weakness itself constantly remains part and parcel of the thought process, despite all good intentions. In other words, it is better to not think about something at all than to think about not doing it. Thoughts are things, and therefore it is best to remove all that is undesirable from the consciousness.

This scenario is concisely described in the pamphlet The Art of Transmutation:

Unlike weeds in a garden, adverse thoughts are not best removed by attempting to pull them up by their roots . . . . [T]he more we allow a thought to fill our mind, the more power it generates on the force planes above. This Law functions in the same manner for every type of thought, destructive as well as constructive. Therefore, when we attempt to remove an evil thought by force or “resistance” and thereby hold it in our mind much of the time, we constantly reinforce its power. Such reinforcement can in time so entrench this thought pattern in our consciousness that even the most dedicated and heroic measures may take a long time to transmute it.

Admittedly, there may be moments of weakness in which simply trying to restrain a bad thought or behavior through force of will may be the best a student can hope for. Sometimes the student may be temporarily unable to raise his or her vibrations and center the mind on the positive with sufficient force to weather the storm. But, as discussed, this method will invariably further entrench the undesirable if long continued. In addition, it may lead to other unanticipated problems. Suppression of a desire for a long period may have a tendency to cause that desire to assert itself in new, unexpected forms. A typical example is the person who quits smoking only to face an increased desire for food that results in a weight problem. The carnal mind deprived of satisfaction in one manner will invariably demand satisfaction in another. The whole process can devolve into a carnival game where just as soon as one mole is clobbered with a rubber mallet, another mole pops up out of a nearby hole. Even worse, suppression may lead to the multiplication of evil tendencies, as the original tendency remains part of the consciousness while rebellion spreads to new corners of the mind.

Fortunately, there is a third option in which the bitter pill of experience can be avoided as well as the dangers of suppression. Through transmutation, weaknesses and undesirable habits can be corrected by replacing them, or transforming them rather, with constructive thoughts and desires. While most people have the ability to “walk and chew gum” simultaneously, in general, the mind is capable of thinking of only one thing at a time. If the mind is constantly focused on the positive, the negative will gradually fade away and atrophy from non-use. True, this can be a long process, but when the vibrations are sufficiently raised the struggle between the carnal and the spiritual ceases to be a struggle or is greatly diminished. The battle between the lower self and the higher self is forgotten and is replaced by peace and love. Eventually, the higher self reigns with no thought of the former enticements.

This state is easily recognizable even by those who have traveled but a short way on the path and can be tested thus. After spending time reading a spiritually uplifting book, listening to beautiful music, or viewing a touching movie, immediately examine the resulting feelings. When the feelings are in a highly uplifted, positive state, that which is debasing will hold no attraction and may even seem repulsive to contemplate. Only by following the path of transmutation, which will eventually place the consciousness in such an uplifted state on a permanent basis, can we obtain final victory over our lower nature.

Resisting Evil From Without

The Law of Hermes provides: as above, so below, as in the inner, so in the outer, and as in the lesser, so in the greater. As discussed, the teaching to “resist not evil” has specific application for the person attempting to overcome the carnal nature and gain spiritual advancement. The question arises as to whether this teaching has application beyond the inner struggle to reach illumination. Is it applicable to world affairs? The answer is yes.

In order to fully consider the applicability of this teaching to society at large, it is necessary to consider this teaching in its full context. The entire biblical passage in which the exhortation to resist not evil appears provides:

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on they right cheek, turn to him the other also.
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. (Matt 5:38-40)

One of the central themes of the Bible is forgiveness, even under extreme provocation. This theme is concisely stated in these few versus of Matthew. Turning one’s left cheek to be smitten after the right one has already been struck is a difficult thing. On one level, this may be a way of stating that the carnal nature is persistent, and that we must respond to its continuous assaults by the constant use of transmutation. On another more worldly level, however, it can be seen that resisting evil can, similar to the person who focuses on trying to restrain himself from committing some evil, have the opposite effect.

As noted, the person that focuses on trying to restrain bad thoughts or behavior, as opposed to the person who practices transmutation, may actually bring about their own downfall by “resisting evil.” This is precisely the path that the United States is now following in its War on Terrorism. In the end, this course of action will likely result in the third destructive phase depicted in George Washington’s Prophecy.

The United States is now caught up in a process of ever increasing recriminations that heretofore have been typical only of the Old World Nations. Accordingly, in the coming years, it can be expected that the attacks by and against the United States will increase in severity. This cycle of violence, an eye for an eye, of attacks and counterattacks, will continually escalate until such time as the Old World Nations invade America in an attempt to utterly destroy it, once and for all.

The question then arises as to what methods, in harmony with Divine Law, the United States should employ to protect itself. The biblical exhortation to “turn the other cheek” does not mean that terrorists and other criminals should be permitted to run wild. Unquestionably, every effort should be made, within the confines of Divine Law, to bring perpetrators of criminal acts against the citizens of the United States to justice. This is right and proper under the Divine Law. After all, in the words of Edmund Burke, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Moreover, it is our duty to attempt to bring such criminals to justice; to do otherwise would embolden them to commit further evils and harm more people.

What then, are the confines of Divine Law? How far is the United States permitted to go in the War on Terrorism? The answer to most of these questions can be found in the United States Constitution. This document, by and large, was written by the hand of celestial beings that brought about the creation of the United States. It was the goals of these beings to create a new nation, free of the heavy karma of the Old World, with a free people, that would eventually bring about a heaven on earth. More importantly, these same forces that created the Constitution foresaw the present danger to the United States. Therefore, it cannot be contended that the Constitution is outdated when viewed in light of current events.

In an effort to resist evil, the United States is currently acting in many instances contrary to constitutional principles. The use of heavy handed military tactics and the curtailment of civil liberties will not bring about the safety of our people. Neither will preemptive wars and attempting to spread democracy to other parts of the world by force of arms keep America safe. This last concept, espoused by so called political neo-conservatives, is directly contrary to principles taught by Manisis, and sadly, has already resulted in much pain and bloodshed. As Manisis warned:

Virtue forced upon those of my brethren whose hearts have not comprehended the Law and who seek not the path of virtue, is vice. Therefore seek not to cause my brethren to be good by the sword [military power] nor by the other compulsion [legislation], lest they turn from the one evil to a greater one and the penalty be upon your heads. (Bruington, The Manisis Chronicles p. 265.)

         Resisting evil, both that which is within and without, never succeeds. It fails because it invariably results in the abandonment of that which is good and uplifting, and therefore creates more evil. It brings everyone down to a lower level.

         Ironically, the verses of Matthew assure us that if we hold to our ideals, even if it appears to give the enemy some apparent advantage, justice will come in due time. If we do as we are told and turn the other cheek, or hand the thief our cloak in addition to our coat, etc., the wrongdoer will incur more negative karma, and, in turn, incur greater punishment. Thus, the United States Constitution need not be curtailed to protect the public, nor are extreme measures necessary to keep America safe. In the final analysis, all that we need to do is hold fast to our ideals and seek just in a manner consistent with the high ideals of our nation’s founding fathers. Then the Divine Law will function in our favor, god will be with us, and we will truly have nothing to fear.

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The author takes full responsibility for the opinions expressed in this monograph.

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