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The Hidden Gospel: Decoding the Spiritual Message of the Aramaic Jesus

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Scholar and spiritual teacher Neil Douglas-Klotz does a superb job of opening the readers' eyes to see The Hidden Gospel in plain view. Jesus, a Jewish mystic and prophet, has been misunderstood over the centuries by the imposition of layers of Christian dogma and doctrine over his essential message/Truth. Discover that "pray in my name" literally means "pray in/with the same atmosphere and vibration" that you experience with me...NOT that Jesus intended that his literal name would ever be the focus for prayer, not that Jesus intended institutionalization of a new church focusing upon himself. Jesus offered a living path of direct experience of Divine Mystery. Regardless of spiritual background, this book offers a drink from a deep well to those who are thirsty for a enlivened faith in today's world.

This is a fascinating and liberating way of looking into the message of Jesus. Using the middle eastern mindset and historical(Aramaic)perspective, Neil Douglas-Klotz puts forth fresh concepts concerning spirituality. Readers who approach this book as a 'New Age' threat to tradtional Christianity will only shortchange themselves. Anyone truly hungry for spiritual insights will find this book rewarding.

After reading this book once, I find myself going back to it almost daily just to feed my soul with the richness of the translation of someone (Jesus) speaking the Truth about what is available for every human being...the Kingdom of God...that is inherant in our being if we only seek it out! You cannot go wrong with this book as it will open the door even wider for you to experience the "Sacred Unity" that the author describes.

Neal has done it again. As he did in Prayers of the Cosmos, he has redefined studies of what the man we know today as Jesus, actually said as translated from the origianl Aramaic language in which it was spoken. Your hard core Christian friends might get their feathers ruffled in here, the King James translation ends up being only a passable interpretation of his words. Imagine having to re-view everything you thought Jesus said against a better translation of his words based on a Mid Eastern perspective. Some suprises and uncoverings. I dare you.

I am really grateful to Neil Douglas Klotz to have written this book because his translation based on his heart felt mystical point of view allowed me to reconcile myself to Jesus and his teaching. (I was an altar boy who left the catholic church as a teenager). His interpretation shows to the mystic that Jesus teaching is similar in content to all the great teachings of all the great spiritual traditions. The emphasis is on experiencing and manifesting the qualities of being in the spirit of love, harmony and beauty.

This book certainly raises some rather interesting points--not to mention eyebrows--a must read for theologians and laymen alike...

Neil Douglas-Klotz's The Hidden Gospel: Decoding The Spiritual Messages Of The Aramaic Jesus is a direct presentation of Jesus Christ's own words, as newly translated from Aramaic, the Middle Eastern language that Jesus spoke. Each chapter of The Hidden Gospel also contains exercises in meditation and body prayers, the better to understand the practices of Jesus' tradition. The Hidden Gospel is not to be missed by students and scholars of Christianity's origins, because the words of Jesus Christ influence billions of people today - directly for those who are Christian, and indirectly for those who are not Christian but do come into contact with Christians. Everyone with any interest in the words of Jesus Christ is strongly urged to read this book to learn more about them, as well as the inherent difficulties of translating Christ's teachings across so many different languages. Highly recommended.

Neil Douglas-Klotz returns to the original language that Christ spoke to recover the message that has been lost over time. Douglas-Klotz utilizes a rigorous method of interpretation which returns to the essential message of Christ. His interpretation is in opposition to the politically motivated interpretation which has masqueraded as the 'correct'one since the 6th century. Those of us who have been alienated by the hegemonic, phallocentric, politically instigated 'correct' interpretation of Christ's message have been invited to revisit and be inspired by a return to our spiritual roots. No longer will we be put off by the hypocrisy of an image of a compassionate Christ juxtaposed by a disempowering, life denying 'christian' discourse!

I like to think that most of Christianity was based on a huge game of "telephone tag".

People really didn't write things about Jesus until about 100 years after his death. Think about that for a moment or two. Of course, things were bound to be misinterpreted, things were going to be embellished, things were going to even be omitted to fit their personal preferences. We may never know what Jesus' actually said, but I have a feeling that Jesus said things not to just placate people, but to wake them up from their stupor. Jesus' wanted people to have an experience of God. Not just to believe in God, but to feel God, to sense God, to know that God is an active power in their very lives.

To me, that's the whole point of religion or am I somehow missing the point?

I have had people who say they believe in God (we can call them "Christians") accuse me of wanting a God that is just about happiness. Mmmmm...I thought the Gospels were about bringing the "good news"? I'm sorry if this review is sounding "New Agey" and "touchy-feely", but whenever I talk about God and experiencing God, I cannot help but feel a warmth stirring in my heart - a warmth - not a burning - that would be caused by indigestion which is what I receive when I hear people talk about God as a punishing, vindictive Being who wants to throw His creation into an eternal furnace.

But then I pick up a book like this.

A beautiful, thoughtful, generous book that paints Jesus as a powerful teacher who had an urgent message to all; that God is present now, that God is available now, that God is the Source of Allness and there is nothing outside of this Allness.

Neil Douglas-Klotz takes scripture out of the King James translation and throws it back into the original Aramaic that Jesus spoke. Aramaic was a very simple language. There weren't a lot of words that made up the language so depending on how the word was used or said, it could have a multitude of meanings. Having been raised on the King James version of the Bible, it was actually refreshing - and a relief - to hear a "new" version of an old saying...

KJV of Mark 11:22; "Have faith in God..."

From the Aramaic version, "Remain within yourselves- live in a place of rooted confidence in Sacred Unity..."

What I get from just this one passage, is that I just need to stay with my Self...with my real Self...with that which is my True Reality and when I come from this place/this space of awareness, I realize with "real eyes" see is that God is here and there is no need to be afraid...there is no need to plead with the Divine for help because God is always present...God is always more powerful than any circumstance. Confidence comes from knowing and feeling that we can always turn to God without fear...without worry...without any kind of dread because God doesn't punish us for our sins as much as He is willing to correct our course of action. To me, God is always saying, "My child...choose again...and choose from Love, from Peace, from My Understanding and not your own..." To me, this is what roots me in confidence.

Mmmmm...I guess that's what Omnipresent and Omnipotent mean? Do we really think that sin can thwart the Divine? Do we really feel that God can be offended over a mistake? God is all powerful and because God is all powerful, He transcends sin and calls forth original innocence...

Here's another one I love...

From the KJV of John 4:24, "God is Spirit..."

The Aramaic, "God is breath. All that breathes resides in the Only Being. From my breath to the air we share to the wind that blows around the planet: Sacred Unity inspires all...."

If your heart isn't stirring after reading that; it's simply because your heart is encrusted with "dogma crap"...that's not a judgment as much as it is an observation. I have noticed that many people who profess to believe in God, would like nothing better than to have God be apart from their experience. What many people don't understand is where their heart is, so will be their treasure. In other words, where you put your focus, there will be your experience. If one is focused on hell, damnation, sin, guilt, and the devil; that will be their experience and it will be their experience now. It doesn't mean that it's ultimately real, it just means it feels real because they are giving their attention to it.

If you give your attention to this beautiful book and not only read its pages, but meditate upon them, pray on them, and be willing to have an experience of a "Bigger God", you will, for only a "little willingness" is ever necessary with God. There are no hoops to jump through, no mazes that lead to dead-ends, no sleight of hand tricks, God just wants us to come back to an idea that is still in our minds, even though it may be covered up with a lot of "dogma crap", that we belong to God and God belongs to us.

Always and in all ways.

Have an experience of the Living Christ.
Have an experience of the Living God.
Have an experience of the Living YOU that is you and do it through the help of this beautiful book.

Peace and Blessings to you, my friend!

John, "the Light Coach"

if you want to begin in Gnosis, this is a great place to start. I think this is way better than Foxes books on Creation Spirituality, because Klotz doesn't seem to tire in laboring over the nuggets that can be seen of the Gem in Christ. and make sure you get the Lords prayerin aramaic by that gal from Dead can't dance.. btw, the index of aramaic words is priceless.. get it, eat it, drink it.. does a subtle body good