QUESTIONS AND THOUGHTS>>>
1. Why are Essenes vegetarian?
*** Please refer to Genesis 1:29 : "29.And God said,'Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed, which is upon all of the face of the earth, and every tree with seed in it's fruit; you shall have them for food." (RVS) This was the original commandment from God concerning what Man should eat. This was also while Man was still in the Garden, before he/she ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which was forbidden by God; and thus was expelled from the Garden. The Nazarean Essenes adhered to this original commandment of God. The Nazarenes did not agree with the Sadduccee and Pharisee Jewish sects, who believed in and carried out animal sacrifices in the Temple, and ate the flesh of certain animals. These Essenes felt that to kill anything with the "breath of life" was wrong, and believed these other sects' laws and practices of animal sacrifice, along with all the laws concerning kosher animals for eatting were corruptions of the original Law of Yahweh-Elohim. The Nazarene Essenes observed only this original law, and were vegetarians. That the New Testament Gospels were altered to show that Yahshua promoted flesh-eatting is evidenced by the story of Yahshua feeding the multitude with "fish" and bread. The Essene Gospel of the Holy Twelve, which is thought to have been derived from the original Gospel of the Nazarenes, tells us that Yahshua fed the multitude with "grapes" and bread instead. After the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. the 'correctors' of the 'Church' "corrected" the gospels, and thus, they were altered & changed from their original form forever. Also, there were other gospels other than the 4 that the Church accepted, and these were banned and destroyed throughout Christendom, except for those that were hidden and discovered many centuries later, like the Gnostic texts of the Nag Hammadi library...the following link will explain vegetariansim more in depth: *"CLCK HERE"*
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2. I would like to give you a few quotes from the Edgar Cayce Readings on Essenes, to help explain who these ancients were, so that we may now understand how we should aspire to live our lives:
***From the Cayce Reading #254-109: "(Q.)What is the correct meaning of the term, "Essene"? (A.) "Expectancy". (Q.) What is the main purpose of the Essenes to raise up people who would be fit channels for the birth of the Messiah who later would be sent out into the world to represent their Brotherhood?(A.) The individual preparation was the first purpose. The being sent out into the world was secondary. Only a very few held to the realization in the orginization, other than that which would come with the Messiah's pronouncements...the Nazarites were a branch or a THOUGHT of the same, see?...though their purpose was of the first foundations of the prophets as established, or as understood from the school of prophets, by Elijah; and propagated and studied through the things begun by Samuel. The movement was NOT Egyptian one, though ADOPTED by thoses in another period-or an earlier period-and made a part of the whole movement. They took Jews and Gentiles alike as members-yes. (Q). Please describe the associate membership of the women in the Essene brotherhood, telling what priviledges and restrictions they had, how they joined and what their life and work was? (A.) This was the beginning of the period where women were considered as equals with men in their activities, in their abilities to formulate, to live, to be channels. They joined by dedication-usually by their parents. It was a free will thing all the way through, but they were restricted only in the matter of certain foods and certain associations in various periods-which referred to the sex as well as the food or drink...Hence the group we refer to here as the Essenes, which was the outgrowth of the periods of preparations from the teachings by Melchizadek, as propagated by Elizah & Ilisha & Samuel. These were set aside for preserving themselves in direct line of choice for offering of themselves as channels through which there might come the new or the divine origin,see? Their life and work during such periods of preparation were given to alms, good deeds, missionary activities-as would be termed today..."
3. What is the daily life of an Essene Nazarean like, how do they worship?
*** I can only answer this question by giving myself as an example, and by relating what I know of my Essene brothers & sisters of the Essene Nazarean Church of Mt. Carmel. Firstly, as an Essene, I follow the "commandment" of Yahshua: To Love the Lord God with all my heart, mind, and soul, and to love my fellow mankind. I study ancient texts & resources, the Essene Gospels, and Gnostic works. I pray, and meditate/contemplate daily. As I had previously commented on Dr. E.B. Szekely's book,"The Teachings of the Essenes:From Enoch to the Dead Sea Scrolls", about daily communions, the Essene Tree of Life, which I follow. CLICK HERE TO GO TO PAGE 11 To SEE HOW WE PRACTICE THESE DAILY COMMUNIONS However, this is not the only method of practicing daily communions. There are variances in COMMUNION PRACTICES which some Essene brothers and sisters may prefer to follow. Sabbath observance for me involves praying, meditating/contemplating, fasting, and studying the ancient scriptures. (Click Here for a LINK to our basic beliefs) Being an Essene, I also live my life giving of myself to charitable works for the goodness of my fellow man. I believe it is important to love and accept our neighbor, helping him in any way possible. (Click Here for a LINK to our oblate lifestyle) In all things, I pray to my Creator for His/Her loving guidance and help, as I walk my path daily. Peace be with All of You as you also travel on your path to Truth and Love!!!
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