I seldom read books more than once. The Jesus Sutras: Rediscovering the Lost Scrolls of Taoist Christianity by Martin Palmer is an exception. I have read it three times in the past several months. http://www.brogilbert.org/christ-culture/5christ_tao.HTM The beauty of the progression of the Christian experience in the earliest centuries, moving from it’s roots in Palestine to the hills of China, challenges and enriches my own experience. An example of two liturgies (i.e.prayers said in group worship) from this ancient and oriental understanding of the Trinity follows.
Da Qin/Syrian Christian Liturgy
Priest: All reverence to the Great Holy Compassionate Father of all things . Allaha!
Oh radiant Jade-faced One
Exalted as the sun and the moon
Your virtues are greater than those
Of all the Holy Ones and Dharma Lords *Congregation: The laws of Compassion save us all!
Echoing through the world like a tolling golden bell.Priest: Great Holy Law Giver.
You bring us back to our original nature.
And the souls that are saved are countless:
Divine compassion lifts them up from the dust
Redeeming them from the saddened realm of ghosts.Congregation: The hundred Ways bring us clarity and kind-hearted mercy.
Priest: Now I draw close to our Holy Compassionate Father
The One who creates salvation —-
See the angelic spirits crossing the Ocean of Dharma
We know to practice peace in our hearts through You
This whole gathering unites in singing to You Honored One:All: The Great Law is now the Heavenly Wheel of returning . to You.
Worship the Dharma Kings. Begin with the Sutra** of Dharma King John. Then continue the Sutra of the Psalms and the Path of Grace Sutra.
On the second day of the fifth month of Hai Yun {720} Su Yun of the Da Qin Religion of Light in the Great Holy Oneness of the Dharma, a monk of the Da Qin monastery at Shachou wrote this faithfully for the faithful.
* i.e. .saints. Dharma means .teaching.
** Sutra is the written teachings, here referring to the Gospel of John
Christian Liturgy in Praise of the Three Sacred Powers
The highest skies are in love with You.
The great Earth opens its palms in peace.
Our truest being is anchored in Your Purity
You are Allaha: Compassionate Father of the ThreeEverything praises you, sounding its true note.
All the Enlightened chant praises —
Every being takes its refuge in You
And the light of Your Holy Compassion frees us all.Beyond knowing, beyond words
You are the truth, steadfast for all time.
Compassionate Father, Radiant Son.
Pure Wind King . three in one.In the midst of kings and emperors, You are supreme
Among the World Famous, You are Lord of Everything.You live perpetually in light
The light which enters every sphere.
Yet You have never been seen
No eye can see Your Form
Or you Unclouded Nature.Among all spirits You alone are unchanging
Making all that is good, beyond reckoning
The root and essence . the thing itself!Today I reflect on Your Compassion and Grace.
I delight in Your Delight which covers our land
Messiah, Great Holy Son of the Honored One
As countless of the Suffering are saved .Supreme King, Will of Ages,
Compassionate Joyous Lamb
Loving all who suffer
Fearless as You strive for us
Free us of the karma of our lives,
Bring us back to our original nature
Delivered from all dangerDivine Son invited to stand on the right of the Father
This Alter exceeds all others
Great Messiah: hear our prayers
Send your raft of salvation
To save us from the burning streams!Great Teacher, I stand in awe of the Father
Great Teacher, I am awed by the Holy Lord
Great Teacher, I am speechless before the King of Dharma
Great Teacher, I am dazzled by the Enlightened Mind —
Great Teacher, You who do everything to save us.Everything looks to You, without thinking.
Shower us with Your Healing Rain!
Help us to overcome, give life to what has withered.
And water the roots of kindness in us.
Great Holy World Honored One,
Messiah, as we love our Father.
Boundless Sea of Compassion
And the Clean Pure Wind
Whose clarity cleanses through the Law
Reaching beyond all grace
(from the Tang Dynasty era as translated by Martin Palmer in The Jesus Sutras Ballantine/Wellspring Press)
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