Note: The following letters are reprinted with permission.

On the Forbidden Letters by David Goldberg

Lectori salutem,

After having read the Forbidden Letters and the articles on those Letters on World Mysteries, I too, like the CE2, started roaming forums on Internet, looking for posts worth while on the alchemical theory of the Paris 4. So they could be published here, and serve the discussing international community in a far better way, than in the relative isolation of a forum-thread.

The posts below are partially edited by me and taken from several forums and a messageboard. Some are private messages, sent to me by forum-members Two posts are a translation from german, one from french.

Greetings,

David Goldberg, Berlin/Tel Aviv, June 2006.

1.

"I have scanned those letters. But, call it tunnel vision if you will, I quickly decided that it was yet again one of those little Mickey Mouse club type of "secret and special knowledge" things. You know, where only a super elect group of people have the knowledge and wisdom to really know what’s going on because, of course, whatever the "herd" believes out there is just junk they’ve been fed so that someone else can control them, and thus stay in power (and I’m more than a little sympathetic to this idea).

But in terms of Christianity, stuff (I didn’t say "junk") like this certainly helps me to get a better grasp on the true spirit of Christianity, even if it has yet to grip me.

This is very hard for me to describe (possibly because I have yet to experience a religious conversion), but I think there is a sort of superficial religious conversion of our intellect (and I’m by no means saying that the intellect is unimportant), and then there is a conversion of, well, not just our hearts but there is belief based on a deep-down conviction that the world itself is backed by God, just as the currency of the United States is backed by gold bullion in Fort Knox. If neither of the latter existed, then both of the former would be quite worthless and meaningless. So therefore, sort of "getting" God isn’t about some complicated procedure or formula. Nor is it just some love-struck feeling in the heart. It’s the, if you’ll pardon the expression, "alchemy" of the both that produces some third thing that is both the result of the intellect and heart, and yet neither. It is more than the some of its parts, but it is not just a harder or more rigid belief, no more than it is just a heart that is full of nothing but the light, flutters of an all-encompassing love.

To try to maintain either is a good way to either go crazy or to revert to a nasty form of fundamentalism. Perhaps Gnosticism (at least the stereotypical "bad" form of it) is a fundamentalism of the mind. And that’s what I sense about these so-called "Forbidden" letters. Religious belief is treated a safe that has to be cracked open with the right combination. And I’m quite dubious about the prospects of that.

It seems to me that the message of Jesus is fairly straightforward. Yes, either a church or a bunch of "forbidden letters" can complicate this process. And perhaps because many churches have there is this kind of stuff popping up that purports to give one the "real" story, the mystical story. And, heck, the whole idea of God is pretty mystical so it would make sense that a certain amount of spooky "voodoo-like" stuff would be appropriate. But I’m not so sure. That just doesn’t sound right to me. It doesn’t sound very democratic to me.

I think cults thrive because we’re all looking for certainty. We all think that we plow through all the centuries of malarkey and make things simple and clear. Or, because things aren’t simple and clear, we do our own bit of fortune telling and come up with our own answers. Actually, I don’t mind that approach at all. Just me and god, that’s what I say. That seems simple and complete to me. But good god, have you read any of those so-called "forbidden" letters? Talk about convoluted and complicated, and this is perhaps why no one wants to get into specifics about these letters. No one knows what the heck any of this stuff means!"

2.

"I have just read the "forbidden letters", I have to tell you that it was an utter waste of my time. It is utter nonsense. Mindless rants that never actualy go anywhere. To be honest the term "marketing ploy" comes to mind."

3.

"Carl Jung only went half way [in his interpretation of alchemy] . He avoided the physical immortality. Naturally. Being a psychiatrist he was a physician too. [And hence afraid of making a fool of himself, speculating on that kind of immortality.]"

4.

"The Gospel has not only hidden alchemy, but was edited on top by Christians who didn't understand what they were reading. And that explains the mess."

5.

"I firmly believe we can't overcome our carnal nature ourselves. My instinct tells me that would be like dragging yourself by your own hair out of the swamp.

But on that testicle now. It is only described in one alchemical text: the Parzival by von Eschenbach. And why has the keeper of the Grail, Anfortas, that pain?

He was wounded fighting for a dame! There you go. The carnal nature. Because I've read the original Parzival in medieval german, and the love he was fighting for was called 'hohe minne' : in english: high love.

What von Eschenbach means by that is the kind of love we have when we are still in posession of our carnal nature. The love that knows pride too. That can turn into hatred. That knows vanity aswell. He's wounded because of that.

In that way the connection testicle-carnal nature is made.

This means it is good news when you get that pain. Something is starting to work on your carnal nature to transform it.

It is said in the Bible somewhere too that you should become 'impeccable in love'."

[This has, perhaps, answered the Paris 4 question 'what is causing what here' in email number 3 of part 2 of the Letters. The testicle-pain would then be related to our carnal nature, the Lion, and not to the microcosmic male and female.]

6.

"We've been with the Forbidden Letters story from the start, because we were at the Forum of Gardiner when the first Letter was posted by him. He banned the Letters after 48 hours because he got emails with dirty language by the Paris 4 that was in reality composed by a hacker (see the PS). The Paris 4 immediately responded by opening a forum of their own on which they told their side of the story, and there they named the Letters the Forbidden Letters, because of the ban by Gardiner. A ban they didn't understand, because Gardiner hadn't emailed them about his decision."

7.

1. "My grandmother is in her 90's and at her birthday gathering last month, when I said, "Happy Birthday" and hugged her she told me, "Don't ever wish to live this long." Now, I know she has outlived her husband who she had been married to for more than three times as long as not. She's outlived her friends, her home, her work and hobbies (arthritis prevents her from knitting and even typing...she's a writer). She is attached to this illusion and does not understand me when I try to talk to her about that. I'm not sure I want...no, I take that back, I'm pretty darn sure I don't want to live this physical existence for ever."
    
2. "Perhaps we experience time in a totally different way when our carnal nature (doesn't go away by aging!) is gone through the alchemical process. [When, in other words, the lion is eaten, to quote Jesus in Thomas.]"
   

8.

"By the way, I've made another discovery yesterday. The Latin is said to be composed in 1170. The strangest thing is that that is the year in which people started to write the Grail-novels. 12 or so were composed, and the last (and only german one) seems to be the correct one (the stone that ignites the Phoenix-fire). The grail-books were composed between 1170 and 1207. That last one (german) between 1190 and 1207. After that total silence.

Now, if it is true that the Latin was composed in 1170, then the writer knew in detail about september 4th 1986. Why? Because he tells about a certain year too. And a specific city (over the Rhine [transrhenana])."

9.

"In the alchemical process one is cleaned (purificatio). Meaning: from the inside.

I can't help thinking about that scene where Jesus watches someone wash a cup. The cup is only washed on the outside. And Jesus then says: why don't you clean the cup on the inside too?

This is probably alchemical allegory, because who wouldn't clean a cup on the inside, if he were cleaning a cup in the first place?"

10.

"There has been speculations on Forums (only once or twice, but perhaps it's a good idea to discuss this anyhow) that the gay man could be the 'devil incarnate' (something like that). The 'prince of darkness' copying the ' prince of light' . Or that he is some kind of anti-Christ.

First: an anti-Christ is by biblical definition a person who denies that 'the father and the son are one' . So somebody who doesn't agree with a Christian on the core of the Christian faith. There are hence billions of anti-Christs in the world.

Second: in the Bible it is 'foretold' that somebody will try to imitate Christ in the Latter Days. In order to deceive the Christians. (This all under the omnipotence of God of course, who loves these kind of games who go absolutely nowhere.)

Now, if the man of the Letters would like to deceive the Christian crowd, he would hardly admit that he was gay. Let alone that he would say the Gospel never happened, or agree with Spinoza that there are no such things as good and bad. He would do the opposite, to say the least. Just visit Christian Forums who discuss the letters. The outrage they cause. If a topic on the Letters isn't banned on such a forum within 3 nano-seconds of course."

11.

25:1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 25:2And five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 25:3For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them: 25:4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 25:5Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 25:6But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him. 25:7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps 25:8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out. 25:9But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 25:10And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut. 25:11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 25:12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 25:13Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.

"There is some drama in these verses. Things are contradicting each other too (first no oil for the foolish, then at least a little oil, otherwise the lamps couldn't go out), and the alchemical theory is not completely correct here (you can't invite yourself to the Grail), but it is, as the Paris 4 would say, a parable, and not an analogy. The oil being the amrita, the alchemical gold. The last sentence is of course nonsense too, alchemically, because you can watch for as much as you want, you can't make yourself chosen of course"

25:14For it is as when a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 25:15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey. 25:16Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents. 25:17In like manner he also that received the two gained other two. 25:18But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 25:19Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them. 25:20And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents. 25:21His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 25:22And he also that received the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents. 25:23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 25:24And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter; 25:25and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own. 25:26But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter; 25:27thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest. 25:28Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents. 25:29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away. 25:30And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

"Here again, those who do well were destined to do well. Because if the stone (Christ) is not starting the Work of The Sun, you cannot produce talents (lightbody). The ones who are not producing talents are the one who simply 'sit' on the Bible. (Churchianity) And who think that is going to take them to paradise."

25:29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.

"The ones who have that lightbody, shall be given omnipotence (you could move a mountain), immortality (shall not taste death) and citizenship in paradise."

12.

"So paradise is about 'Me Tarzan, you Wayne?' Brokeback Paradise? Perhaps we can all become male and gay then through the omnipotence of that gay man. (Which reminds me of Thomas 114...)"

13.

"I simply cannot say whether alchemy fights entropy, or whether human omnipotence is possible in the subatomic realm. I'm a physicist, not a theologian. (lol)"

14.

"If there is one thing I have understood from those Letters, it is, that one is resurrected from a living body. The body is the grave. All of a sudden the Gospel makes much more sense. And not only the Gospel. I googled and found what the Gnostics were complaining about when they heard Christians teach on the resurrection: 'you idiots (idiotai), you turn everything upside down.'"

15.

"And how does the alchemist-writer in the Gospel point out that Israel knew nothing about the only living God, the alchemist? John 3."

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him."

Jesus answered and said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?" Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, 'You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus answered and said to him, "How can this happen?" Jesus answered and said to him, "You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this?

16.

"Ofcourse Christians will try to demonize that gay man. If you believe, or like to believe, that Churchianity is going to bring you to heaven, and all of a sudden you have reasons to assume it is not, you will try to fight those reasons. We all like to think we are good. Children of light. Or candidates for that light. (Let somebody else be a Son of Darkness.) So the Letters simply have to be wrong if you, as a Christian, weren't baptized and born again trough that fire."

17.

"Alchemy is so tremendously scattered and misunderstood, that even the 'experts' are groping in the dark. For instance, I had to point out to the world famous Bibliotheca Hermetica Philisophica in Amsterdam [Hermetica is just another word for alchemy] that they didn't have one single book on Kundalini, the fire of alchemy, that starts the whole process. I recommended the Serpent Power by Arthur Avalon to them, the Bible on the physiology of the Kingdom (of God) within. But they refused to listen, saying my 'Kundalini-theory' was 'but one of many'.

Didn't get an answer back either after I sent them the Letters by mail. The orthodoxy of those people. Really."

18.

"Latter Day Saints. That's what we are talking about here. Welcome to the End of Time!"