Page 342 - Mystic Pathways through the Bible

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336 Mystic pathways through the bible
The Sages or three wise men from the East are led by a Celestial Star that proclaims the birth of the Child and the place in which He was born. This is the star of insight, born of faith, which discerns the spiritual birth in human personality, even in the depths of the dark unconscious.
Having discovered the Baby, the Sages bestow lavish gifts. The three wise men are symbolic of the three modes of Nature or gunas of Prakriti: sattwa (purity), rajas (activity) and tamas (inertia). Their gifts represent the sublime functions of these three modes of Nature. When desires and the subconscious complexes imprison the spirit in man, Nature cannot offer its most bounteous wealth. Instead, Nature robs people of their vitality, intelligence and power. But in the case of Christ, Nature is well pleased and offers its nest and choicest gifts to help the soul discover its essential glory.
The gift of gold is symbolic of sattwa or spiri- tual purity. Frankincense is symbolic of rajas, and symbolizes Divine expansion and expressions of virtue wafting a heavenly aroma. Myrrh represents a gum-like substance, which is symbolic of tamas or inertia because of its crudeness. Although tamas functions in its negative mode in most people, it be- comes fragrant when melted by the re of wisdom. In the case of the illumined personality of Christ, myrrh represents the unceasing ow of Divine Love and profound mental peace.