Q: What is your perspective on the Virgin Mary? Should she be worshipped? And what about honoring images of the Virgin?
One of the most wonderful truths about spiritual life is its completely individual nature. The more evolved a species is, the more distinctive each one is. Those lower in evolution all look alike. It is the same with religion: those of lower evolution and spiritual insight try to make everyone the same. Religion of higher development encourages and enables each person to become more and more unique, and encourages them to follow their inner nature as much as possible. (In India this is known as Swadharma, the mode of life that best evolves the person.) So although I will tell you how I see things, it is your personal perspective that is really important and that you should value and follow. Also, be prepared for your ideas and insights to change as you change inwardly–as you evolve. To live is to change, and it is good.
All that exists is a reflection of the Divine Source; and the fundamental trait of existence is Duality, which also exists within the Divine Unity. All awakened (evolved) religion is aware of this, and acknowledges that the Absolute contains within Itself both positive and negative, masculine and feminine. Those religions that do not hold this insight are the coercive, hateful, “everyone but us is wrong” types that claim God harbors displeasure, anger, hatred, and vengefulness. Their God-concept is that of the quintessential Abusive, Bi-polar Parent. They all originated in the Middle East.
When Divinity manifests on earth, it is usually in a dual form to convey the Divine Fatherhood and Motherhood of God. This is well understood in Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, and authentic Christianity. Jesus embodies the Fatherhood and the Virgin Mary the Motherhood of God. Jesus said: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). And those that saw Mary had seen the Mother.
This is proved by her appearances at Lourdes, Fatima, Mexico (Guadalupe) and other places throughout the world, as well as her miracle-working icons and statues. Her great healing and awakening power has been evident throughout the history of the Christian Church. As Jesus said to his beloved disciple: “Behold thy Mother!” (John 19:27).
Through Jesus we approach the Divine Father and through Mary the Divine Mother. We need both, for we are all included in the biblical statement: “God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27).
When the Wise Men “were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother” (Matthew 2:11). Where there is Jesus there is Mary; where there is Mary there is Jesus. They cannot be separated.
It is God Who is worshipped through both Jesus and Mary–as well as through many other forms. To honor a holy image is to honor the holy one it represents, and through them to honor God.
Those who do not grasp this are simply not evolved enough. Let them do what they want about it, and we should do the same. The ignorant should be ignored. As Jesus said to those like them: “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). Never let yourself be bullied by such persons. They are anti-Christs (I John 2:18)–which is why their kind is so obsessed with the subject of Anti-Christ. Look away from them to Jesus and His Mother–and therefore to God.
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