Disciples and the Disciplined Mind
Disciples and the Disciplined Mind are the themes of the 21st verse of The Gospel of Thomas. The verse states, Many said to Jesus, ‘Who are your disciples like?’ He said, ‘They are like children who have settled in a field which is not theirs. When the owners of the field come, they will say, ‘Let us have back our field.’ They will undress owners in their presence in order to let them have back their field and give it back to them.
Therefore, I say, if the owner of a house knows that the thief is coming, he will begin his vigil before he comes and will not let him dig through into his house of his domain to carry away his goods. You, then, be on your guard against the world. Arm yourselves with great strength. Lest the robbers find a way to come to you, for the difficulty which you expect will (surely) materialize. Let there be among you a man of understanding. When the grain ripened, he came quickly with his sickle in his hand and reaped it. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The twelve disciples represent the twelve aspects of the mind. The unawakened mind of man can be likened to the field which is not theirs. The owners of the field are the states of consciousness that we embody at any given time. When one becomes aware of God’s power and wisdom (Jesus Christ), one can begin to discipline the twelve aspects of the mind. In doing so, when unwanted states are embodied (sickness, poverty, loneliness, frustration, sadness, etc.), the disciplined mind begins to move out of these unwanted states of consciousness.
Therefore, discipline your mind. Emulate the characteristics of the disciples so that you can quickly move out if you find yourself entering an unwanted state. Keep vigil over what you give attention to and focus only on the lovely things. Know that when you have a desire, you can go within and know it is already yours. You don’t need to tell anyone what you have done in your imagination. Keep vigil until it manifests. We reap what we sow, so ensure you only plant good seeds.