Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus : The Hidden Teachings on Life and Death

“Neil Douglas-Klotz has distilled his decades of rigorous scholarship, deep practice, and revolutionary insight into a potent elixir for our times.” —Mirabai Starr, translator o f Julian of Norwich: The Showings and author of Wild Mercy This book is an approach to Jesus’s recorded words and teachings through his native language, Aramaic, answering many questions clearly and consistently, even if unexpectedly, no matter which Gospel you have in your hands. From the Introduction: “Jesus’s teachings have been used historically to fuel what became modern Western culture, with all its pluses and minuses. At the same time, viewed through his native language, the same teachings provide a solution to our culture’s greatest challenges, pointing the way toward a proper use of our human individuality and will.” Through expansions of Aramaic’s multiple meanings as well as guided contemplations, Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus provides a guide to transformation through the way of the prophet of Nazareth. It shows how Jesus’s deepest teachings address contemporary challenges, such as our relationships with nature and each other, as well as the purpose of life itself. Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus is a guide to living an authentic interior life without dogma and a spiritual path that makes you more comfortable in your own, providing a sense of meaning and purpose. Title Page 3 Copyright 4 Dedication 5 CONTENTS 6 FOREWORD 8 INTRODUCTION 10 Background 12 Past Work 13 Texts and Contemplations 14 Organization of This Book 16 PART ONE: Heart Talks 18 Prologue 19 CHAPTER ONE: Frequently Asked Questions 21 Why Aramaic? I thought Jesus spoke Hebrew or Greek. 22 Why consider Jesus's sayings in this language, much less use them in prayer or meditation? 23 But weren't all the original Gospels written in Greek? Are you translating backwards from Greek to Aramaic? If not, what manuscript are you using? 25 How can one Aramaic word have so many different meanings? Isn't there a simple, “literal” translation you can give? 26 You mentioned the name Alaha. What did Jesus mean when he talked about “God”? Was it a personal God or an impersonal one? 28 If all was connected, how and why did Jesus pray? 30 Are the contemplations you include in the book modern innovations? 32 Did Yeshua really exist? What about the “historical Jesus” research? 33 CHAPTER TWO: The Core of Yeshua's Way: The Aramaic “Lord's Prayer” 35 Birthing Cosmos and Self 36 Navigating Our Lives in Community 45 CHAPTER THREE: Ripening Inner Presence: The Beatitudes in Matthew 53 A Deep Dive 55 Finding Balance, Honesty, and Justice 62 Resurfacing into the Waves of Life 66 Meeting Resistance, Traveling On 71 CHAPTER FOUR: Warnings about Willful Unripeness: The Beatitudes in Luke 77 Finding Ripeness in Hard Times 79 The Enemy Within 84 Effective Antidotes, Inner and Outer 87 CHAPTER FIVE: Telling the Untellable: Parables, Stories, and “Difficult” Sayings 90 The Empowering Vision of Unity Is Like . . . 92 The Naphsha's Journey 96 Letting Light Be Light 99 A Few “Hard” Sayings 104 “Sins against the Holy Ghost” 105 “Eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven” 106 Words from the Cross 107 PART II: Heart Transmission 111 CHAPTER SIX: Healing Those Divided and Ruined in Breath 112 CHAPTER SEVEN: Holy Wisdom in Action: The Aramaic Jesus in Thomas and John 119 CHAPTER EIGHT: Reborn from the Beginning with Breath 125 CHAPTER NINE: A Serpent in the Wilderness and Living Waters 131 CHAPTER TEN: The Bread of Life 136 CHAPTER ELEVEN: Light Revealing All Worlds 140 CONTEMPLATION 144 CHAPTER TWELVE: All About Sheep, Shepherds, and Gates 145 CHAPTER THIRTEEN: “One Together” and a Story of Resurrection 150 CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Straightening Out the Self with Love 155 CHAPTER FIFTEEN: “Many Mansions” and How to Get There 159 CHAPTER SIXTEEN: “Greater Works” and the Breath of Guidance 164 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Releasing Peace, Vines and Branches 170 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Last Dedication, Final Releasing 176 CHAPTER NINETEEN: What Happened Next 183 EPILOGUE 189 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 192 APPENDIX A 193 Movements and Attunement: 194 APPENDIX B 197 NOTES 200 Introduction 201 Chapter One 202 Chapter Two 203 Chapter Three 205 Chapter Four 206 Chapter Five 207 Chapter Six 208 Chapter Seven 209 Chapter Eight 210 Chapter Ten 211 Chapter Eleven 212 Chapter Twelve 213 Chapter Thirteen 214 Chapter Fourteen 215 Chapter Fifteen 216 Chapter Sixteen 217 Chapter Seventeen 218 Chapter Eighteen 219 Chapter Nineteen 220 Epilogue 221 BIBLIOGRAPHY 222 Primary Texts and Lexicons 222 Other Biblical, Religious, Cultural, and Psychological Studies 224 SCRIPTURE INDEX 228 SUBJECT INDEX 231 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 246

"Neil Douglas-Klotz has distilled his decades of rigorous scholarship, deep practice, and revolutionary insight into a potent elixir for our times." —Mirabai Starr, translator o f Julian of Norwich: The Showings and author of Wild Mercy This book is an approach to Jesus's recorded words and teachings through his native language, Aramaic, answering many questions clearly and consistently, even if unexpectedly, no matter which Gospel you have in your hands. From the Introduction: "Jesus's teachings have been used historically to fuel what became modern Western culture, with all its pluses and minuses. At the same time, viewed through his native language, the same teachings provide a solution to our culture's greatest challenges, pointing the way toward a proper use of our human individuality and will." Through expansions of Aramaic's multiple meanings as well as guided contemplations, Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus provides a guide to transformation through the way of the prophet of Nazareth. It shows how Jesus's deepest teachings address contemporary challenges, such as our relationships with nature and each other, as well as the purpose of life itself. Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus is a guide to living an authentic interior life without dogma and a spiritual path that makes you more comfortable in your own, providing a sense of meaning and purpose.

"Through expansions of Aramaic's multiple meanings, as well as guided contemplations, this book provides a guide to transformation through the way of the prophet of Nazareth. It shows how Jesus's deepest teachings address contemporary challenges, such as our relationships with nature and each other, as well as the purpose of life itself"-- Provided by publisher