Not what you are used to

In the Aramaic bible the Lord's Prayer reads differently that what churches have been preaching for so long. There is, for instance, no mention of debts, trespasses or the need for forgiveness. Instead, it says: "leave us serene, just as we allow others serenity."

Old Aramaic was the language spoken by the historical Jesus and is the closest thing to a final word on the subject. The interesting thing about the word serenity is that, first of all, it is generally the highest state available to the average human being, or what is traditionally called the householder. The whole structure of society is designed to create householders who can fulfill their desires and live in a state of relative serenity. Or is it?

The opposite of serenity is fear. Unfortunately, although at the social level it seems to be all about serenity, at the psychological level it is all about fear much of the time. We have a society where people live in fear much of the time - fear of loneliness, madness, poverty, crime, natural disasters, disease, whatever. It seems like everyone really does have to do a lot more praying because there really is so much to fear!

As I will discuss later, fear as we've known it is trying to leave this planet which of course is jacking up the intensity of it. What we all can do to help that process is to understand what the spirit of fear is really about, and do everything we can to own our own fear, own our own serenity, and let the two slowly dissolve into the state described by whom the petition is being directed toward when the biblical passage states: "our heavenly father, hallowed is your name." The atonement is really the at - one - ment and is greatly aided by the aforementioned alchemical action.

Of course the passage also urges us to allow others serenity. This is important not only at the social level but also at the psychological level. In other words, it is not enough to not participate in making other people afraid. At the deeper level what is disowned or shoved into the shadow, as some people put it, is projected outwardly and proceeds to haunt us. That process is largely unconscious. It happens because people and groups respond in kind, without realizing it, to the perceptions we have of them. At this deeper level of the psyche they are prompted to behave in a way that frightens us because that is what we, or rather the fear in us, has suggested they do.

For example, in California law enforcement officials like to say that at any one time 10 per cent of the people are prepared to commit a crime and will do so given the opportunity. These folks are living out our expectations, without either of us realizing it.

Is it any wonder that the bible passage urges us to seek serenity at THE SAME TIME as we learn to grant others the same. That is the secret embedded in the prayer. By working out our own atonement others receive it also.