BOOK OF GLEANINGS.
CHAPTER THREE: THE FLOOD OF ATUMA.
(1) Behold, was this not written in the days of our fathers' fathers and of their fathers before them, and given unto us that we should pass it on to you, the children of days yet unborn? That if the ability of the scribe remains with
you it could be read in your generation.
(2) Read, O children of the unborn years, and absorb the wisdom of the past which is your heritage. The enlightening words from a past which is to you, in days so far away and yet in Truth so near. We are taught that we live forever, and this is true, but it is equally true that no moment of life must be wasted; for each hour and day on earth is a shaping for the future. We are the inheritors of a portion of time, we can dissipate it on futile things or utilise it to our everlasting benefit. In the days of our fathers, before barren teachings clogged the thoughts of men, and vain, formal ritual built a wall which obscured understanding, men
walked in the light of Truth. Then they knew there was One Yah alone, but because they allowed their higher abilities to fall to disuse, they saw less clearly. Because He appeared in different aspects, they thought He was many.
(3) Now, in our days, Yah has many varied forms in the eyes of men and each declares he alone knows the True Name and likeness of Yah. Here all men fall into error, though all have spoken truly according to their understanding. But Truth can never bow to the limited understanding of man, the comprehension of man must expand to grasp it.
(4) In olden times there were spawned great monsters and beasts in fearful form, with frightful gnashing teeth and long ripping claws; an elephant was but a cat in comparison with them. Then, because of heavenly rebellion and turmoil, and the terror overwhelming the hearts of men. The Great One hardened the face of the land, which had become unstable, and the beasts were changed to stone. This was before times, when the Destroyer still slumbered in the upper vaults of Heaven.
(5) Thus, it is written in the record of Beltshera; In those days the people were wicked and though the wise men among them gave many warnings of the wrath to come, they would not listen, such is the way of the wicked. So it came about that the Chastening Spirit became stirred up against them because of the odour of wickedness arising from the earth, for her nostrils abhor the smell of evil. This is a smell no man can know, for as the hounds know the smell of fear, which no man can detect, so can other beings know the smell of wickedness. The great floodgates which are above Earth were all opened. Thus, the flood waters rose up to cover the land and great rainstorms lashed down. The winds could no longer discover their destinations.
(6) The people left the plain of Shinara and fled up into a great mountain rising above the flatlands below, and here, near the summit, they camped. Feeling themselves secured, the wicked mocked, saying, "No water can ever reach up here, for there is not enough of it in Heaven or Earth." Still the waters rose ever higher and the mouths of the wicked were silenced. The priests of the people danced and chanted in vain, and many rituals were performed to appease the wrath above.
(7) There came a period of quietness, then the people built a gateway to Heaven wherein the Chief of Interpreters might commune with the Other Realm. He entered into the silence and cast his spirit, and when he had done so it contacted the Chastening Spirit which men call by other names. Her voice was heard within his heart and it said, "I Am that which has been called forth by the odour of wickedness arising from the bodies of men, which no incense can disguise. For as the smell of putrefaction assails the nostrils of men, so does wickedness give forth something which assails us in this realm. Wickedness is, therefore, an offence against us. If a man threw filth over the wall into your courtyard, would you not consider this an act of hostility? Could any among you live in harmony with those who were insensitive to your own sensitivity? Thus, I am awakened to happenings in the world of men and am now clothed in a performing substance."
(8) The Spirit Being said, "I have no desire to unduly punish men. Go out to the people and tell them that if they will but mend their ways and walk no more in the path of wickedness, I shall depart." But when the Chief of Interpreters returned to the people he found them fearful and distraught, clay in the hands of false priests, devotees of the baleful gods. The false priests were crying out for a sacrifice to their gods and had seized Anis, a young man more handsome than any other, a messenger and runner between cities. Then, though they whispered
fearfully among themselves concerning the deed, the people had seized Nanua, handmaiden of Eloma, the Enlightened One, whose life was dedicated to Illana, for she had cried out curses upon their heads when the young man was taken.
(9) Nanua and Anis were held by the false priests and about them surged the great mass of the people, and though the Chief of Interpreters raised his voice it went unheeded. Then the mass of the people moved down to the water's edge and there they stopped while the priests shouted prayers to the gods raging above. All the Heavens were darkened with great rolling clouds and there were high winds and lightning about the mountain top. The people rent their garments, the women wailed and men struck their forearms. Anis was beaten with a club and delivered to the waters.
(10) Then, as he who wielded the club turned towards Nanua, she said to those about her, "Let be, I will deliver myself to the waters, for if I must be sacrificed I would be a better sacrifice so given.” Then she went down to the waters, but as her feet entered she drew back from the cold dark watery depths before her. But as the one who wielded the club moved forward, a young man, Sheluat the Scribe, a man of quiet ways, neither handsome nor strong in body, pushed forward and, taking her by the hand, went down into the waters with her.
The waters had risen high and men shared the place where they stood with wild beasts and with sheep and cattle but now the tumult quietened and the waters drew back. Seeing this, the people shouted praises to the baleful gods and cried out, "Great are the mighty gods, and great their holy priests!"
(11) The Chief of Interpreters went sorrowfully apart, hiding himself, for now he was fearful for his life. When the waters had subsided, he cast his spirit and entered into communion with the Chastening Spirit, and he said. "Shall I also enter the falling waters as a sacrifice? For life is now futile, as I am without Yah or honour." The Great One answered, "Men see in events the things they wish to see, they can interpret only according to their understanding. The waters rose to their limitations and did not fall because of the needless sacrifices. The Powers above may ordain events to chasten men, but more often such events are challenges and tests. However, divine intervention is rare indeed."
(12) "These priests follow another, a longer path, but they too condemn wickedness and they too point the way to Truth, though that way may be indirect and beset with hazards. So whether they or you reached the ears of the people the odour of wickedness will be diminished. Divine ends are achieved by diverse means, and the eyes of few men are opened to see either the means or the end."
(13) "Life is never futile, but your sacrifice would be. No man can lose Yah, for He is always there; but the prestige of a man because of that god such prestige is a worldly thing of little real value. How do you know whether you have lost or gained? Events of the moment cannot be weighed in the moment, but can be assessed only by the judgement of the years. Only eternity knows whether this or that was good or bad, a gain or loss." Then the Great One opened the eyes of the Chief of Interpreters, so he saw beyond the earthly border into the realm beyond. Behold, he saw Anis who had been strong and handsome on Earth, and now he was something not pleasant to gaze upon. He saw also the true beauty of Nanua who was now a being of dazzling loveliness, and beside her was Sheluat who had always loved her secretly, and he was now glowing with youth and handsome as Helith. The Chief of the Interpreters then understood that evil could be transmuted into good, and that men had little knowledge of the true nature of things.
(14) Upon the mountain there is now a grove of trees and a temple built in the form of a circle of white stones, where the people remember the day of their deliverance. But what they recall and what happened are not the same, nor
is the cause in their minds the true cause. They say, "We are the children of Atuma who saved us." Many who have gone often to the Temple of Deliverance say they have seen two shades, one radiantly beautiful and one gloriously handsome, wandering hand in hand through the trees or sitting in the sunlit glades. All about is now a place of peace.
(15) Men walk under the shadow of dread and fear of unknown powers fills their hearts. They have fashioned images in the likeness of the things which frighten them in the gloom of their ignorance, and they spurn the real for the unreal. Did they see more clearly they would know that the things they fear are but gentle and sturdy hands which can lead them to fields of contentment.
Commentary.
We’re learning a new Truth in this chapter like all of them. More shocking Truth of the corruption of the Bible will be seen in it. Yes, there was a flood and there was a person called Noah but they were different events! In this chapter, however, time and application of it are the things we are learning about. From the very beginning weren’t these things written to pass onto you the children of days yet unborn? If the scribe’s ability remains it will be passed on.
Take in the wisdom written down in the past for you now. This time in the far past in Truth is yet near. We live forever yet no moment of Life should be wasted. Each hour and day is a shaping of the future. We are allotted a portion of time. Will we lose it on a futile path or use for everlasting benefit? Before bad and barren teaching clogged our path and obscured the Way we walked in the light of Truth. Back then they knew the One Yah. Now because our high path has been clouded with error we see less clearly. He appeared in many aspects so they thought He was many.
Many now say they know Yah, His Name and Likeness. We all fall into error here though all speak according to their understanding. Truth can never bow to limited understanding. Our comprehension must expand to grasp it.
In olden times there were fearful monsters. Were these the dinosaurs? Made an elephant look like a cat. Terror overwhelmed the heart of man as Heavenly rebellion and turmoil took place. The Great One hardened the land which had become unstable and they turned to stone. Can we say that fallen angels mated with animals to form these monsters? Then also, at another time, they did it again with humans to make giants like Goliath. Now in our times, through cloning, these spirit beings are making the new men of renown to change the established order again. At this time, the Destroyer still slept in Heaven. His first time is to come in the next chapter. Remember throughout this that we are looking at a timeline and an application of things learnt in this chapter. Those to the sword to the sword. Those to famine to famine. Those to survive to survive. The human race is strong and resilient continuing after what has happened forging a new identity after each event.
As we can see from chapter 2 those banished to the wilderness came back and took over. Now, the stench of wickedness has taken over and prompted the Chastening Spirit to action. This can’t be seen by mankind but like a dog can smell fear so other spirit beings notice this. So the floodgates above Earth were opened with rainstorms lashing down and the flood waters rising to cover the land. The winds couldn’t discover their usual routes.
The people left Shinara and climbed into a high mountain with their flocks. The wicked mocked saying the waters can’t reach up here. Still it climbed putting them silent. The priests danced and chanted all to no avail.
After a period of quietness, a gateway was made to Heaven. This sounds suspiciously similar to Nimrod whose purpose was to break through and make war with Yah! Let’s consider, though, this to be more just to talk. So the Chief of interpreters cast his spirit into the Other Realm. She who had come forth spoke into his heart. “If filth was cast over the wall into your property wouldn’t you take this as an offence? Likewise, wickedness assails us in this realm and is an offence. Would you commune with those insensitive to your sensitivities? This is why I have come forward to act.”
“My purpose isn’t to unduly punish. Mend your paths, walk rightly and I will depart.” So he returned to find the people in the grip of their false priests being devoted to the baleful gods. Anis, a young man and handsome was chosen by the priests as a sacrifice as was Nanua for calling down curses on them for taking him - though their muttering to each other betrayed they knew it wasn’t right. She is mentioned with Eloma in chapter 2 para 7. Maid of the Morning seems to be a reference to being with Eloma and a dawn of something new.
The Chief of interpreters spoke up but went unheeded. The mass of people went down to the water’s edge. The priests shouted prayers. Anis was beaten with a club and given to the waters.
The man wielding the club turned towards Nanua. She spoke out saying, “Let be, I will sacrifice myself.” Although, she hesitated but Sheluat the Scribe pushed through and they entered the waters together. The waters had risen high. As the tumult above quietened they started to draw back. People gave their praise to “the gods” and priests. Was this nearer the time we call Creation or just before Noah’s time? In Genesis 1:1-2 it states: “In the beginning Yah created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.” Form is from an unused root to lie waste; void can mean (superficially) an undistinguishable ruin and darkness figuratively misery, destruction or death. So there are similarities.
The Chief of interpreters went about sorrowful and fearful. Casting his spirit into communion with the Chastening Spirit he declared all is now futile. The Great One replied: “People will see as they wish. Interpretation is according to understanding. Needless sacrifices didn’t bring about a change. Some events are to chasten men. More often, though, as a challenge or test. And, divine intervention rare indeed.”
“A different slower path to remove wickedness is followed by the priests but a way to Truth is still pointed at albeit it beset by hazards. So whoever reached their ears it diminished. Divine ends are achieved by diverse means. Eyes (yours) are opened to the means or the end.”
“Futility is never Life’s sum but your sacrifice would be. I can’t be lost because I Am always there. The prestige of a man is worldly, of little value. Have you lost or gained? Only by many years can an event be judged or assessed. By eternity only was it good or bad, a gain or loss.” Then, the Great One opened his eyes to the Other Realm. Anis, Nanua & Sheluat were there. Anis now wasn’t so pleasant to gaze upon; Nanua was dazzling loveliness and Sheluat, by her side, glowing with youth and handsome. So the Chief understood evil can be changed to good and the true nature of things few understand.
On the mountain was planted a grove of trees next to a circle of stones as a temple. What they recall and happened, though, are different. The thought in their minds not the true cause. “Atuma saved us.” Those, however, who go often see two shades, one radiantly beautiful, one gloriously handsome wandering hand in hand. All is now peaceful. If this was true of that place in that time isn’t it true for our places now? An interesting thought to chew over. I’ve been to places too which have had tension and peacefulness about them.
Shadows of dread and fear fill their hearts. Images fashioned in the gloom of their ignorance. Spurning the real for the unreal. What they fear is gentle and sturdy hands which would lead to fields of contentment.
So did we learn about time during this chapter? Just like Yah never can be lost because He’s always here so time is an ever present companion along the way and application or choice within it. When we read the Bible or the Kolbrin or indeed any written article did the event (or events) take place in the way or for the purpose imagined? Its all food for thought. It encourages us to take a more detailed look at what we understand and not be so high and mighty. An understanding of the world is needed and an ongoing relationship with Yah a part of it and Atuma means you have been given a very imaginative, creative mind..