Gospel of Thomas 3
The Gospel of Thomas, 3
Nag Hammadi Codex II.
Discovered near Nag Hammadi, Egypt, in December 1945.
No. 1—Vol. I. Between AD, 60 and AD 140
Jesus said: If those who lead you say unto you: Behold, the Kingdom is in heaven, then the birds of the heavens will be before you. If they say unto you: It is in the sea, then the fish will be before you. But the Kingdom is within you, and it is outside of you. When you know yourselves, then shall you be known, and you shall know that you are the sons of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you are in poverty, and you are poverty.
Elucidation:
Do not believe the words of your spiritual leaders. They tell you heaven is the reward and hell is the punishment after death. The true hell is the world of the dead, the unconscious, the sleeping here on earth. Heaven is the state of the awakened. When you know yourself, you feel a part of the entire creation and all people. When Jesus talks of the Kingdom and the Father, he tries to catch the unspeakable in a metaphor. About that which you cannot speak, you must pass over in silence. It is useless to talk of the unspeakable goal; it is enough to show the way. If you do not know yourself, you lead a miserable life; perhaps rich to the world, but poor for your Self.