Deeper meaning of Christmas

Idea Five: Watchfulness

This is the Fifth idea of Christ, to be watchful. This idea is a powerful reminder to be conscious. Most of our day is spent in automatic living. We simply react from our fear based and hurt based mentalities. When we are watchful of our actions, words, thoughts, and feelings, we will be able to see others as they are, we will be able to see situations as they really are instead of assuming something that may or may not be true.

Being watchful also helps us not be intimadated into buying things we do not need, doing things that are against our conscience and generally being controlled by others. Being watcchful is the best way to take time and ask ourselves to review our conscience before taking action.

Take a minute before you speak or before you react; ask yourself what is really going on before you respond. So much of the extreme rhetoric, the abusive and ugly language and actions we see around us and especially in the media and internet is due to the lack of watchfulness and discipline.

So here is another lovely passage from The Teaching of Christ.

Exerpt from The Teachng of Christ by Torkom Saraydarian

The next thread, the fifth one, is watchfulness. Christ said to be watchful? What does this mean? Watchfulness means intense observation of your ­actions, speeches, thoughts, emotions, relationships, the actions of others, their voices, their intentions, their motives. You are awake.

What is wrong in this Teaching? Is there anything wrong in this Teaching?

Somebody came here and said, “I don’t believe in Christ.” I said, “Don’t believe. Who cares? But,” I said, “can you argue about these values?” “No,” he said. “So,” I said, “how can you tell me that there is fruit on the tree, but the tree does not exist? Are you crazy?”

Watchfulness! You are going to be watchful. What is watchfulness? It is very deep. We could examine it, level by level, if we had time. Watchfulness is the ability to see the pattern and harmonize your life with that pattern. Watchfulness is the ability not to let any thought, any word, or any action hurt people. Watchfulness means to see the effect of your actions before you perform the actions. You have already seen it. When you see it, you do not do it because it is ugly. This is watchfulness, awakeness.

Watchfulness is the ability to see where your steps are taking you. This is so beautiful! If you go and think only about this sentence, that is enough. Watchfulness is the ability to see where your steps are taking you. “Where am I going? Where really am I ­going? Where? By living my life in this way, talking this way, doing these things, what is my destination? Watchfulness is the ability to see that destination and the ability to compare that destination with that pattern Christ gave us. Do you see what I am saying? And if your piece does not fit into that pattern, you do not put that piece of the jigsaw puzzle there because it doesn’t fit there.

To build oneself means to see where you are ­going, and then see if your goal is fitting with that great pattern. Watchfulness is so beautiful.

Watchfulness also means that you must be aware that nobody is driving your car except you. You know what I mean. This body is your car. Your emotions are your car. Your mind is your car. If anybody is ­using your mind, if anybody is using your body for his own interests, do not allow it. You be the owner of your car. Let nobody control you. That is the sickness that is going on in all cities. Everybody is looking for a guru to ride upon. Isn’t that sickening? You have two feet. Walk. Why do you want somebody to lead you? Watchfulness is the ability immediately when you see that a posthypnotic suggestion is controlling you, you stop it.

Suddenly you are mad about somebody, against somebody, and a friend comes and whispers into your ear, go kill him, and you say okay. You take the gun, but then you stop. Do you see what I mean? You will act by your own decisions and choice, and you do not let other people rule you. That is watchfulness.

Watchfulness is so beautiful. Don’t create donkeys around you. Don’t create sheep around you. Let them stand and fight for their own life, and let them drive their own car. This is your car. Do not let other people drive that car. It is your car, your sacred life. You lead it according to your own visions. Improve it. Listen to advice, even. Listen to wisdom, but do not let them drive your car.

(These excerpts are taken from the unpublished first volume of the Teachings of Christ by Torkom Saraydarian. All rights reserved. The Creative Trust. Used by permission of the copyright holder. For an Ageless Wisdom approach to the life and teachings of Christ and Jesus, please see Christ The Avatar of Sacrificial Love by Torkom Saraydarian.)