Taste and See: Sensing the Spirit

The Desensitization Agenda Part II (Audio)

What is Messianic consciousness and how do we come to experience it? This question, which when answered, presents a most profound revelation and provides the mind that solves this formula with the accomplishment of experiencing an immaculate conception. This immaculate conception is nothing short of the rebirth of our soul into the family of Elohim. When reborn, we are given the ability to enter deeper and higher realms of Messiah consciousness which then allows for us to access to  principles of the crown, wisdom, understanding, mercy, strength, beauty, victory, splendor, foundation and kingdom; in other words, the fruits of the Tree of Life. When the embodiment of these emanating forces of life are accessed, harnessed and activated, the bearer of these life generating energies is said to have not only entered, but has become an epitome of YaH consciousness itself, and has been granted access to the chariot, or Merkaba, of YHWH. We see this experience in Scripture with Hanoch, Eliyahu and Messiah Yahoshua ben Yosef.

The Torah provides its readers with what examples and anecdotes of how the embodiment of Messiah consciousness is to experienced. Perhaps one of the most insightful revelations shown is in the scroll of Job. In one verse, Job captures the entirety of the journey coming to YaH consciousness. After his horrendous trial and tribulation, Job comes to his senses, repents of his self-righteousness and goes on to state after truly perceiving reality beyond his personal lens,

I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.
                                                                                                                                             Job 42.5

Job’s expression unveils a most significant element present in the reality of experiencing Messiah consciousness, which is established with the cleansing and proper use of the five senses of our body; the very receptors that make us aware of our surroundings and life itself. When the rhetorical question by the Psalmist was asked of how can a young man cleanse his path? The answer is provided with the response of by guarding it according to Your Word. When guarding our path, or the gates of the senses, according to the Word of YaH, we find throughout Scripture that not only was Job able to perceive spiritual matters with his senses, but, in fact, all of the matriarchs and patriarchs who were in covenant with El Elyon were able to experience YaH sensorially.

What ultimately establishes our experience of the unseen, spiritual world, is a faith defined as the evidence of the unseen and the substance of expectancy. It is this perception of consciousness that sharpens our senses which are further enhanced when we attune ourselves to the inner world of Spirit. As we will uncover more of the affect of faith on our senses with this writing, let me now state that it is the intent of this article to present the purpose of the five senses and how they relate to our spiritual consciousness and becoming a reflection of the image and likeness of our Creator: YHWH.

Before delving into the purpose of the senses, however, let me quickly state that we as human beings are composed of spirit, soul and body. Many of us, unfortunately, are more aware of our physical make up much more than we are our spiritual one. Nonetheless, when we comprehend our spiritual make up through the reference of our physical being, then we will have a more clear perception of reality.  It is this correspondence between our physical and spiritual bodies that gives us a more in-depth appreciation and innerstanding of how we are made in the image and likeness of YaH.

Given that our body is made up of several vital systems, therefore, I find it necessary at this time and space to present the significance of the central nervous system as relates to our senses. According to an article from the website Visible Body, science tells us that

[t]he nervous system must receive and process information about the world outside in order to react, communicate, and keep the body healthy and safe. Much of this information comes through the sensory organs: the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin. Specialized cells and tissues within these organs receive raw stimuli and translate them into signals the nervous system can use. Nerves relay the signals to the brain, which interprets them as sight (vision), sound (hearing), smell (olfaction), taste (gustation), and touch (tactile perception).

As such, the nervous systems serves as the receptors of consciousness to our body, of which the senses are the transmitters of life and experiences which either connects, or disconnects, us from reality. Given its clear purpose of connecting our bodies to consciousness, it can be said that the nervous system can be comprehended as the gateways of knowledge. This principle, too, was known in the realm of sacred science, as in the ancient text Sefer Yetzirah, or the Book of Formation, attributed to the patriarch Abraham, we are told of 32 mystical paths of wisdom by which the Ayin Soph, or the Infinite Being, created the Universe. Of these 32 paths, translator Aryeh Kaplan  likened them to the nervous system. In fact, he informs us that

The Kabbalists note that the 32 paths of Wisdom have their parallel in the human nervous system. Thirty-one of these paths then parallel the 31 nerves that emanate from the spinal cord. The thirty-second and highest path corresponds to the entire cranial nerves, which are 12 in number. The nervious system serves a double purpose. First it transmits messages from the brain to all parts of the body, allowing the mind to control the limbs and organs. Secondly, the nervous system transmits information from the various senses to the brain. Four of the senses, sight, hearing, taste and smell, come directly through the cranial nerves, which are entirely in the brain. The impulses that come from the lower 31 nerves deal primarily with the sense of touch and feeling. Like the nerves, each of the 32 paths is a two way street. First it is the channel through which the Mind exerts control over creation. Secondly, however, it is also the path through which man can reach the mind. If an individual wishes to attain a mystical experience and approach the Mind, he must travel along the 32 paths. 

Taking this information into consideration, let us know proceed to uncover how the senses are to be used in order to experience the deeper and higher reality of Messianic consciousness. 

TASTE

One of two olfactory system functions, the sense of taste pertains to food. Being that our tongue is full of sensory perceptors called taste buds, the sense of taste is what allows us to distiguish between life and death. It is interesting to note that in the narrative of  Adam and Chawwah’s exile from the Garden, food is the reason why the man and woman were cast out of paradise. Hence we are told by the Torah that “man does not live from bread alone, but every word that comes from the mouth of יהוה.“ Therefore, we are able to conclude from these principles that taste has a spiritual purpose of symbolically receiving and extending either life or death. We find this point Scripturally proven with the words of Solomon, who in his wisdom shared with us that “life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it eat the fruit thereof.” When food is eaten, we usually either like the taste of it or not. The Psalmist captures this principle and challenges us to seek to experience יהוה when he tells us to taste and see that יהוה is good; Blessed is the man that takes refuge in Him!

SMELL

The second sensation of the olfactory system, the sense of smell is related to the awareness of fragrances and aromas. In Scripture, we find a few passages related to the recognition of fragrances and aromas. In the Song of Solomon, we read the following,

How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils better than all spices! Your lips, my bride, drip honey from the honeycomb. Honey and milk are under your tongue. The scent of your garments is like the aroma of Lebanon.

Utilizing the imagery and sensory provocations of oil, spices and nature, we are immediately struck with the recollection of smells to which are pleasant to our experience. What this sense does for us is allow us to distinguish between what is agreeable or disagreeable. This relates to the gift of discernment. Being that discernment is the ability to distinguish between two diametric principles, we find that this sense ultimately relates to priestly role of distinguishing between the unclean and clean, the set-apart and the profane. This is captured in a passage of writing from Rav Sha’ul of Tarsus when he states

But thanks be to Elohim who always leads us on, to overcome in Messiah, and manifests through us the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. Because we are to Elohim the fragrance of Messiah among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death to death, and to the other the fragrance of life to life. And who is competent for these?

TOUCH

Perhaps the most prominent of the five physical senses, the sense of touch is one of the two most enticing sensations that we possess. In fact, the perception of touch, according to John the Revelator, is one of the three reasons why we sin. In his epistles, he writes

Do not love the world nor that which is in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Because all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.

Being that the skin is the largest organ of the body and contains the most sensory receptors on our body, the sense of touch has one of the most prominent purposes in our spiritual development. Not only are there sensory receptors that we feel when our skin comes into contact with various surfaces. We are able to also sense things that are come into our space. The sense of touch relates to both being able to feel someone’s energy on or near you, as well as the ability to exchange energy with someone. This we find from one of the Witnesses when we are told that 

...a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years and had suffered much from many physicians, and spent all that she had and was no better, but rather became worse. Having heard about יהושע, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment, for she said, “If I only touch His garments, I shall be made well.” And immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And immediately יהושע, knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?”

Through the power of touch, we are able to not only receive, but also extend power and energy. In fact, one of the most common practices in Israelite culture is called s’mikah and it refers to the transference of energy by the laying on of hands. We see this principle further carried out when the prophet Yeshayahu (Isaiah) gets purged of his sin by the laying on of hands, as it is written

And I said, “Woe to me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips – for my eyes have seen the Sovereign, יהוה of hosts. And one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your crookedness is taken away, and your sin is covered.”

SIGHT

As the other sense that most misleads us as humanity from away from our Father and King, the gift of sight contains important insights into the inner world of spirit. According to the old adage, we are told that seeing is believing; sight, for the person of faith, is about perceiving into the depths of reality.  With the sense of sight, one is made aware of truth which lies beyond the perception of the naked eye. Suggesting the ability to comprehend matters that are not common or mundane, to see in Scripture is something that requires one to have a sharpened and keen sense, as we are told by Mashiyach Yahoshua ben Yoseph that “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he is unable to see the reign of Elohim.”  Knowing that man’s nature had become dull and unrefined, Mashiyach Yahoshua goes on to elaborate on the sense of sight, along with that of hearing and teaches his taught ones the significance of inner vision and comprehension. He goes on to state in the witness of Matthew that 

Because of this I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Yeshayahu is completely filled, which says, ‘Hearing you shall hear and by no means understand, and seeing you shall see and by no means perceive, for the heart of this people has become thickened, and their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their heart, and turn back, and I heal them.’ And blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear, for truly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous ones longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

HEARING

The ability to hear is, perhaps, the most important of all the senses mentioned in the Scripture. The penultimate prayer of Israelite culture starts out with the word, HEAR. In the scroll of Deuteronomy, we are told to Hear O Yisrael, יהוה is our Elohim, יהוה is One. This is because the idiom related to the word hear in Hebrew is known to imply hearing intelligently, paying attention, being obedient and even to understand. This principle is further drawn out again by the prophet Yeshayahu when he prophesied about Yisrael’s return to their estate, as he reveals to those soon to go into exile that

Though יהוה gave you bread of adversity and water of affliction, your Teacher shall no longer be hidden. But your eyes shall see your Teacher, and your ears hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the Way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right, or whenever you turn to the left.

Through the sense of hearing, we are able to truly grasp the meaning of the Word of יהוה. Through the gift of hearing, we are able to receive the commands and will of the Most High as well as discover our purpose and mission in life. The prophet Eliyahu’s experience at Mt. Horeb captures the essence of this principle when he is summoned there in order to go about finishing his mission against the corrupt king Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel. According to the account from 1 Kings, we are told the following,

And [יהוה] said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before יהוה.” And see, יהוה passed by, and a great and strong wind tearing the mountains and breaking the rocks in pieces before יהוה – יהוה was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake – יהוה was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire – יהוה was not in the fire, and after the fire a still small voice. And it came to be, when Ěliyahu heard it, that he wrapped his face in his robe and went out and stood at the cave opening. And see, a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Ěliyahu?”

With the sense of hearing comes the ability to perceive and comprehend truth. Once we are able to perceive and understand truth, then we will be able to pierce the veil of illusion in which the world is currently covered. With truth, we are able to overcome all adversarial forces that come against us, as we will have tapped into the core of our consciousness and utilize our senses to put on Messiah consciousness. 

CONCLUSION

As we discussed from an earlier article dealing with self-mastery, as the most important goal that we can achieve to attain the state of Messiah consciousness, it is through the cleansing and proper use of the senses that we are able to tap into our purpose and true nature. And as the introductory passage from the book of Hebrews tells us, it is through the training of our senses that we are able to discern reality from illusion, truth from falsehood, good from evil. This training that we are to undergo, is nothing less that the discipline found in the Torah. When governed by the Torah, we are able to transcend our worldly, carnal nature and put on the spiritual nature, which is our true self, so as spoken of in the 1st letter to Corinth. This equates to becoming as our Messiah, led by the Torah of יהוה which gives us the authority to manifest the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. The senses, when refined, therefore, affords us, as our ancestors were able to experience, the ability to have regular, conscious, and intimate encounters with the Spirit of YaH, individually and collectively. For when this becomes our national reality, which is something that was experienced on a few occasions in Scripture, of which one of the most profound encounters mentioned is in Exodus, where we are told how

Mosheh went up, also Aharon, Naḏaḇ, and Aḇihu, and seventy of the elders of Yisra’ĕl, and they saw the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, and under His feet like a paved work of sapphire stone, and like the heavens for brightness. Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the chiefs of the children of Yisra’ĕl! And they saw Elohim, and they ate and drank.

So let us cleanse our gates of knowledge and embark on our journey within where we will be able to unlock the greatest of mysteries known to humanity and summon the most powerful force in existence. As the world awaits for the revelation of the sons and daughters of Elohim, we must prepare ourselves and learn to temper our bodies and its senses. This is why the Master exhorted his three closest taught ones to watch and pray to not enter temptation, for the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. And it is with Messianic consciousness that our senses are able to fulfill their purpose while we are in our mortal bodies. Sharpening our senses will yield great and lasting treasures for us, and because of our purity, based in our love for YaH, we will be able to experience things that our eyes have never seen, our ears have never heard, nor entered into our hearts; as Rav Sha’ul tells his disciple Timothy,

If you present these matters to the brothers, you shall be a good servant of יהושע Messiah, being nourished in the words of belief and of the good teaching which you have followed closely. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself rather to reverence. For bodily exercise is profitable for a little, but reverence is profitable for all, having promise of the present life, and of that which is to come.

Selah

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References:

The Five Senses
The Five Senses: The Gateways of Knowledge
The Visible Body: Five Senses
Guarding the Gates! Guarding the Brit
Three Ways to Desensitize Society
Desensitization: A Numbed Pleasure Response