Most of the ancient Essenes tended to live away from towns choosing instead to dwell in small communities of their own near rivers, lakes, and valleys. In these communities they lived a communal lifestyle sharing everything they had and holding all things in common. They tended to stay out of the politics of the times and they shunned publicity. And so, like the ancient Essenes, modern Essenes today tend to do the same as much as they possibly can.
The Essenes were and still are ministers of Peace, choosing to follow the Pathway of Peace while considering themselves part of the "Peaceful People". Like the ancient Essenes, modern Essenes spend much time in contemplation, meditation, prayer, and study of ancient texts and wisdoms. Their lifestyle is a personal choice for simplicity and they tend not to chase after the "things of the world" but, instead, they expend their efforts on spiritual things.
A modern Essene might be defined or identified as ANYONE who walks the Path of Light (En-LIGHTenment) who believes that God is One and that God is Love. A modern Essene is one who does whatever they can to help others grow in Light (enlightenment) and who promotes the Pathways of Peace.
Like their forerunners modern Essenes tend to be healers and spiritual teachers who teach an interfaith teaching that is not focused upon any one religion, for the Essenes believed and still believe that all religions are but the inventions of man. Modern Essenes live their lives based upon simple teachings and simple ways of life seeing and promoting the commonalities that run through all world religions instead of seeing our differences.
Esseneism is NOT so much a religion as it is a WAY OF LIFE! Esseneism is FREEDOM and NOT limitation!! It is not a dogma to be blindly "obeyed" but it is a way of living and being every day, every moment of one's life. Esseneism is a way of LIGHT and not a way of FEAR. Esseneism involves consciously choosing LOVE over FEAR and one's HIGHER SELF, or Chirsted Self, over one's Ego (lower self), or as termed in the Bible one's "sinful self".
Modern Esseneism is a way of seeing the Light while also looking at the darkness for to see only the Light and ignore or deny the darkness is a great error. Darkness, like Light, exists within each one of us and outside of us. To deny the darkness is to deny a part of oneself because all of us, no matter how "pious" or "spiritual" we might think ourselves, has a "dark side".
Esseneism involves living in the ways of Peace. Peace is and MUST first be found WITHIN yourself just as Love is to be found WITHIN self as well. Esseneism entails looking within and coming to know yourself and that which is within you which is "in the world but NOT OF the world". Esseneism involves what some call "Gnosis", "self knowing". Thus, following Esseneism is following a pathway of self discovery, self realization, and self change. Esseneism is a journey in higher consciousness.
Esseneism is not only being at Peace within and without self but it is also CREATING PEACE out of the chaos that so often if found plagueing the modern world and our modern lives. Many of the problems we face today can be traced back to our state of low consciousness (egotism), selfishness, self righteousness, irreverence for life (including our own life), and feelings of a lack of Love (including a lack of SELF LOVE). These things breed intolerance, judgement, a feeling of lack, and a whole host of other "dark" things in our lives. These things ARE "darkness" and "evil" and these things are the "children" of Fear, the opposite of Love.
Like the Essenes of old, modern Essenes seek to follow the Law of the Light of Life (God). This Law is instilled within us and not from outside of ourselves. God's Law entails not worshipping idols or anything else more than God, never cursing nor blaming God for our life problems, and having reverence for human life because murder is wrong and all life is SACRED. God's Law also demands that we do what is right, that we be forgiving and tolerant of others and of our ownselves. Not stealing, not committing adultery, being kind to people and animals are also entailed in God's Law. Being patient and self controlled are also a part of God's Law which is the Universal Law of Love.
Like the ancient Essenes, modern Essenes seek to bring the "kingdom of Heaven" to earth. This "kingdom" is NOT a nation but is a state of higher consciousness and higher ways of living and being. Those higher ways are the Ways of Light, Love, and Peace. These are the Ways of God and as you grow closer to God these Divine Spiritual Laws become more like personal commitments instead of "laws" to be "obeyed". One comes to LIVE them and to embody them in one's every act, word, and thought. We come to a place of NATURALLY adhereing to them and there becomes no need to secular legislated human laws. For, God's Law is the Law of Love and this Law supercedes ALL human-made laws.
Following and living the Law of God is what was taught by Jeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. In following God's Law you begin to grow to become CHRISTLIKE which is exactly what Jesus/Jeshua admonished all of us to do whether we call it "Christlikeness" or "Christ Consciousness" or not.
Following and LIVING God's Law, manifesting the Holy Spirit within us, following the Ways of Peace and Love, actively taking part in the healing and transformation of the world are primary tenets of ancient and modern Esseneism.
ALL PEOPLE are WELCOMED to this site and it's discussion forum. Those who follow the above mentioned ways can consider themselves modern Essenes. Those who do not yet follow these ways but who wish to will be welcomed within our inner sanctum to learn the Ways of the Essenes. We welcome you as our Brothers and Sisters ALWAYS!!
May God Spirit who is the Light of Life guide you in your quest and journey for Light.
Shalom
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