Five Precepts of Kindness: Train Up a Child

By Priest Spence

The title of this article comes from the mainstream Bible, Proverbs 22:6 and in the complete verse it says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it”. It is a familiar verse and an encouragement to parents and teachers to give some instruction and guidance to children.

In the Nasarean Path of the Essene Way, we use a different set of scriptures than the Holy Bible. Our scripture is called The Holy Megillah: Nasarean Bible of the Essene Way.  It has many of the same characters as the Holy Bible does. This article will have some beautiful information about the childhood schooling of Yahshua (Jesus) and Miriam (Mary Magdalene). Both Yahshua and Miriam’s families lived in communities with enough Nasareans that they could provide schooling for the children. They called this schooling Butterfly School. Children started attending Butterfly School when they turned five years old.

The very first principle the children were taught in Butterfly School, was Kindness. Yahshua and Miriam attended Butterfly Schools in two different regions, Yahshua in Egypt and Miriam in Ethiopia. Both schools believed in starting children’s schooling with a strong foundation in kindness. In The Holy Godspell (HGSp) section of the Holy Megillah chapter 8 verse 179, we read from Miriam’s schooling, “For, lo: what good is any knowledge if one has not a foundation in kindness?”. And in Yahshua’s school, in HGSp 16:43:

“For, lo: what good is knowledge if one has not a foundation in Kindness?”.

Those verses emphasize strongly the importance of the principle of kindness as a foundation. Now, let’s examine how kindness was taught in Butterfly School. In chapter 8 of the HGSp section of the Holy Megillah is an account of Miriam’s fifth birthday and first day in Butterfly School. In Chapter 16 of the same section, is a description of Yahshua’s fifth birthday and first day at Butterfly School. Yahshua’s account has more details than Miriam’s account so we will examine it but know that Miriam was taught the same and we will read some of Child Miriam’s “First Fruits” from Butterfly School later.

HGSp 16:48-84….

48. On the first day that Yahshua sat with Yakiyn in Butterfly School, Yakiyn taught him The Way of Kindness.
49. Yakiyn pointed to a drawing of an upright star of five points and said: “Behold the Star of Compassion.
50.Each of the five points of this star has a precept associated with it.

51. These five precepts are called The Precepts of Kindness for People of the Upright Star, which is the Star of Compassion.
52. And this upright star is like unto the figure of a human, with two legs, two arms, and a head.
53. Wherefore the First Precept is called The Right Leg, the Second Precept The Left Leg, the Third Precept The Right Arm, the Fourth Precept the Left Arm, and the Fifth Precept is The Head.
54. Know that at the center of the star is a heart, wherefore this is the Star of Compassion.
55. And within that heart is written a word.
56. And that word is love.
57. For, lo: compassion is a fruit of love.
58. Behold: This star shines brightly over the kind-ones of humankind.
59. And this star is the symbol of the human being perfected in love.”
60. Then, as a gift to Yahshua in celebration of His fifth birthday and first day of Butterfly School, Yakiyn placed a pentagram pendant around His neck.

The Five Precepts of Kindness for People of the Upright Star

61. Yakiyn told Yahshua, “Behold, these are The Five Precepts of Kindness for People of the Upright Star.

Precept One: Guiding Principle

62. Be kind to all creatures, as you wish kindness done to you.
63. For, so will it be done; if not in this life, then in the life to come.

Precept Two: Forgive Yourself but Grow Kinder

64. Forgive yourself the trespass that is bound with being human.
65. Even the vegetarian is not without violence.
66. Yea, even the holy farmer disturbs the ant nest.
67. And the gentle gardener occasionally kills the worm, for this comes with breaking the ground.
68. Forgive yourself the trespass bound with being human, but lovingly walk the path of kindness with all your heart and strength, taking what steps you can toward ever increasing kindness toward all living Beings.

Precept Three: A Key to Kindness

69. Truly hope for the best for all Beings, human and non-human.
70. But know that what is truly best for a Being, and what a Being may believe is best, may not be one and the same.
71. Lo: Truly hope for what is truly best for each Being, leaving it to Jah-Jah to determine what is best.
72. For, behold: a hunter might believe it best that he slay many creatures, but Jah-Jah may believe it best that he cease killing.

Precept Four: Another Key to Kindness

73. Wed your kind hopes with daily deeds of kindness.

Precept Five: The Most Needful Thing

74. To grow steadily in kindness, one thing is most needed: You must truly desire with all your heart to be kind”

75. Behold, After Yakiyn spoke The Five Precepts of Kindness for People of the Upright Star, he said to Yahshua: “Your first lesson is to learn the first sentence of The First Precept of Kindness.
76. That precept is The Guiding Principle of the House of Kindness, which is Butterfly School.
77. Yea, your first lesson is to remember and repeat aloud the first sentence of the First Precept.
78. Lo: I will help you.
79. We will read it aloud many times, and there is no hurry.
80. Even if it takes until you are as old as me and, like me, you have grown a long white beard, that is okay!
81. I would still love you very much!
82. But you are a smart boy and will likely learn the words of the first sentence fast.
83. And then we will learn the rest of the words of The First Precept.
84. And on other days we will learn the other precepts: for, behold: together they form one Star of Compassion.”

Now, it is interesting to contemplate that both Child Yahshua and Miriam, the human incarnations of God and Goddess Immanent, were thought to need instruction and training in kindness! It wasn’t assumed that ‘They’ll turn out fine, being The incarnations of Yahshua and Miriam’.  They were taught kindness like any other children. If They were taught kindness, how much more do we need to be taught kindness?!

I’ll always be thankful for my mother teaching me not to tease or be mean. My mother didn’t assume her children were perfect and wouldn’t need any teaching on how to interact with different children. I don’t know how she knew but somehow, she learned there would be a little girl riding the school bus with us and attending school. The little girl had a condition called Hutchinson-Gilford Fragaria syndrome. The syndrome made her skin thin, tight and with venation very visible, a frail body, and obviously bald, donning a very phony wig to cover her baldness.

My mother’s instructions were “There’s a little girl that will be riding the bus to school. She will look different from normal children. Don’t ever be mean to her or make fun of her! She is a very special little girl. Ok?”

The next day the little girl was on the bus and sat by herself but smiled at those that walked past staring at her, including myself. When we got to the school and unloaded, the children became like vultures descending on a kill! They tried to pull her wig off and shove her around– demonic behavior! The little girl ran for the school doors, which seemed to be made for giants. She was too frail to open the giant doors. I was dismayed or confused by the whole situation, but it seemed like an angel animated my 6-year-old body into action and I quickly climbed the steps and forced my way through the attacking vultures. I mustered enough strength to open the door wide enough for the little girl to slip into the school and find refuge away from the vultures.

I am so thankful that my mother took the time to teach me not to be mean or make fun of others; otherwise, I might have joined in and behaved just as badly as the vulture-children.  

Let’s now read how child Miriam’s teacher, Bar-Hesed, dealt with a child conducting an ant massacre. HGSp 8:622-641.

622. Miriam and another child, new to Butterfly School sat in the garden of Bar-Hesed the Yidde’oniy.
623. The other child, a boy age five, found an ant mound and began to smash the ants with a rock.
624. The boy made war on the ants for play, but to the ants the war was not play.
625. For the ants, it was devastation.626. The boy killed the ants for pleasure, killing adults and children alike, smashing their tunnels and showing no mercy.
627. The boy, who knew how to count up to ten, divided the dead bodies into piles, each pile with ten dead ants.
628. Bar-Hesed, the Master Teacher of Butterfly School, seeing the deeds of the boy, approached and said: “It is good that you are learning to count!
629. Lo: you are the best counter of numbers of any five-year-old boy I have known!
630. I honor your skill at numbers!
631. You are a very smart boy!
632. However, we will find something else for you to count; for, behold: the ants are my friends!
633. Because they are my friends, I protect them.
634. You are a good boy and my friend, and I will always protect you, just like I am now protecting the ants.
635. Yea, the ants are my friends and they would like to be your friends.
636. Be kind to them as you would wish them to be kind to you.
637. Do not be like the bad boys who harm insects and animals for fun; lo: bad boys often grow into bad men!
638. And that is not your path, not if this teacher has his way.
640. Yet, behold: your spiritual teachers who, in truth, are also your best friends, will do our best to influence you toward goodness.
641. Yea, and kindness is the foundation stone of goodness.

A few things to point out about those verses: The boy was new to Butterfly School; Bar Hesed didn’t BEAT kindness into the child but skillfully brought the massacre to an end and talked some compassion into the boy.

Now let’s read another account of Miriam and Bar Hesed in action.  HGSp 8:532-577.

532. It was on a hot summer day that little Miriam came upon a boy who was catching lizards.
533. Miriam said, “Why do you catch lizards?”
534. The boy replied, “It is fun!”
535. Miriam asked, “What do you do with the lizards after catching them?”
536.  The boy, who was not a Nasarean, answered, “I put them in a wooden box until they die.
537. When they die, their bodies get stiff, and I think that is funny!”
538. Though the boy was bigger than Her, Miriam was not afraid of him.
539. She said, “What you do is very cruel!
540. Behold: what if a giant enjoyed catching little boys?
541. What if that giant took you away from your mother and father, and took you to his house and put you in a wooden box?
542. And, lo: what if that giant left you in the box until you died and became stiff?
543. What if the giant did all of this cruelty just because he thought it funny?
544. How would you like that?”

545. The boy did not answer.
546. Instead, he tried to push little Miriam down to the ground.
547. But, behold: Miriam moved according to Zahyen, and the bully boy fell to the ground.
548. Miriam took the wooden box in which the boy had placed several captured lizards and freed the captives.
549. Yea, the lizards ran free into the tall grass, escaping the mean boy.
550. The boy got up and ran towards Miriama, intending to tackle her.
551. Again, Miriam moved according to Zahyen, for Bar-Hesed had begun teaching Her the first movements.
552. Once again, the boy failed in his attempt to het Her, falling flat on his face.
553. Lo: Miriam never hit the boy; rather, She simply moved out of the way of his attacks and let his own motion carry him to its natural conclusion: the ground!

554. The boy shouted, “I will quickly recapture these lizards and put them back in my box.”
555. Miriam said, “I can’t stop you from getting another box.
556. But these lizards will be long gone before you return with another box.
557. For, behold: this box you now have will never again hold a lizard captive.”
558. Miriam took the box and broke it into pieces!

559. Later that afternoon, Miriam was in the garden of Bar Hesed, Her teacher, when the father of the boy came to request that She be punished.
560. The father of the boy said, “This girl broke a wooden box that I made for my boy.
561. She has freed lizards that belonged to my son and has also committed property damage by destroying the box.
562. She must be punished.”

563. Bar Hesed, who had already heard the details from Miriam, replied: “Behold: a kidnapper once came to a village and snatched several children.
564. He took them and put them in a wooden box he had built to be their prison.
565. Later that day, a man from the children’s village came to rescue them.
566. After rescuing the children, he destroyed the prison box so that other kidnapped children could not be placed in it.
567. The next day, the kidnapper went to the police and told them the whole story.
568. Then the kidnapper said to the police, ‘Now, go arrest the man that took my captives from me and broke my prison box.’
569. I ask you, who do you think the police arrested?
570. Did the police arrest the hero who saved the children and broke the prison box of the kidnapper?
571. Or did the police arrest the kidnapper?’
572. The father of the boy who captured the lizards did not answer.
573. He simply turned and walked away, with a look of understanding in his eyes.

574. The next day the man brought his boy to Bar Hesed and asked, “Though we are not Nasarean, will you teach my son about kindness to animals?”
575. Bar Hesed happily agreed to do so.
576. After the lesson, the boy played with Miriam.
577. She taught him how to save drowning bugs from the pond.

Now let’s read verse 577 again, “She (Miriam) taught him how to save drowning bugs from the pond.”  Miriam engaged the boy in acts of kindness. Being engaged in kind acts really reinforces the teachings of kindness. Let’s read again the Fourth Precept of Kindness in HGSp 16:73; “Wed your kind hopes with daily deeds of kindness.”

I also wanted to comment that some of us probably are not as skilled at teaching kindness as Bar Hesed, but we can certainly ask for angelic help. The messenger Angels of The Tree of Life and their helpers are in place to lift and assist humanity.  In particular, The Messenger Angels for The Tree of Life Branch Forces of Love and Wisdom would be who I would recommend asking for assistance in kindness and in teaching it.  Their angelic/cherubim names are Rachamah’el (Love) and Auriel (Wisdom). What could be better than angelic help?! Don’t be afraid, or too proud to ask for their help. The Angels of The Tree of life don’t have a checklist to see if we’re worthy to help; we set up our own roadblocks.

There’s a beautiful story about Rachamah’el as a 10-year-old child, before she ascended to become The Chief Messenger Angel for The Branch Force of Love of The Tree of Life.  Although the story is based shortly after Adam and Eve’s time, it is found in the later portion of the Holy Megillah chapter 87. It is a rather long story so I’m going to summarize it until we get to the verses I wish to focus on.

A lady, Mechezah, that was previously a Cherubah Prayer Angel, is telling a story about a previous lifetime where she had many interactions with Rachamah, who became The Messenger Angel of Love.

Mechezah, in that incarnation, had a very rough childhood. Her mother died when she was five, her biological father died even before her mother, and her stepfather did not love or want to care for her, so he sold her as a young slave girl.  When Mechezah was six years old she escaped from the farm and lived in a city slum, begging to survive for a year. She was then recaptured by her previous “owner” and he intended to burn the little girl alive to discourage any of his other slaves from escaping.

Ten-year-old Rachamah was evaluating the situation as the farmer was preparing to burn to death the little escaped, slave girl. The farm animals, who loved the little slave girl, created a big distraction and broke out of the barn and ran off. The farmer left the little girl tied to the burning post and sent all but one of the slaves to round up the escaped farm animals.

Rachamah sprang into action to free the little girl while the farmer and other slaves were distracted trying to round up the escaped animals. Rachamah enlisted the reluctant help of the remaining slave (named Tree) to free Mechezah. Then Rachamah, Mechezah, and Tree fled to the Nasarean community.

Now we’ll read a few verses where we left the story. HGSp 87:120-125:

120. Mechezah paused, then said: “That was the first time Rachamah saved my life.
121. That time it was my physical life.
122. But even though my body had been saved from burning, my life up until then had been so harsh, lo: I was emotionally and spiritually unwell.
123. She brought both Tree and I to the Nasarean village where she lived.
124. As we approached the edge of the encampment, Tree and I felt that the atmosphere was too ethereal for us to enter.
125. Rachamah led us in a circle around the encampment, having us aid her in doing deeds of kindness, mostly to animals, but also the occasional human refugee.

The story continues and I would encourage all to read the whole chapter but verse 125 was what I wanted to focus on: “Rachamah led us in a circle around the encampment, having us aid her in doing deeds of kindness, mostly to animals, but also the occasional refugee.”

Ten-year-old Rachamah knew that doing acts of kindness would elevate their consciousness. And she engaged them in doing kind deeds. Teaching The Precepts of Kindness is important but actually doing acts of kindness engages the heart and body and brings joy to the mind and soul!

Now let’s go to a story from Yahshua’s childhood that shows a slightly different form of kindness.  It involves gifting but also involves lifting an individual’s self-worth. This story is found in HGSp 101:211-214 and was told by Father Joseph.

211. Once, when age seven, Yahshua brought a homeless man to our garden and let him pick figs to eat in exchange for pulling some weeds.
212. Afterwards, though I suspected I knew the answer, I asked Yahshua “Son, why didn’t You just give the man some figs from our storage room?”
213. For, as Yahshua knew, we had just picked a large number of figs earlier that morning, far more than we could eat.
214. Yahshua replied, “Father, when I met this man, I felt that he needed the work even more than he needed the figs.”

We also might think of the signs in some parks warning “Don’t Feed the Bears”.  Why?  Because they become dependent on handouts and forget how to forage for themselves. 

Now I want to share a parable that Yahshua, as an adult living in India, gave to some teenagers while all were observing different parenting skills or lack thereof.  It is found in HGSp 28:558-610.

Different Upbringings

558. Yahshua sat beneath a tree near a marketplace.
559. A group of teens sat around Him as He played lively music on a wooden flute.
560. After the song, a crowd of market-goers walked past the tree where Yahshua and the teens sat.
561. One of the market-goers screamed obscenities at her small child while walking past Yahshua and the teens.
562. Then came a woman who, while walking past Yahshua and the teens, joyfully taught her small child about the beauties of nature.
563. After the crowd passed, Yahshua told the following story to the teens beneath the tree.

564. He said: “Behold: In a sacred forest a beautiful parrot was the proud mother of two younglings.
565. But lo: while still tiny, the two younglings were stolen from the nest by a hunter.
566. The mother parrot had left her nest unattended to go in search of food; it was then that the hunter snatched the baby parrots.

567. “After some days, one of the baby parrots escaped from the hunter.
568. Even so, he was too far from home to find his mother.
569. As it happened, he was found by a holy woman.
570. Lo: she raised that baby parrot as she would her own child.
571. Yea, the parrot lived his life with her, hearing lovely words, seeing beautiful deeds.

572. “Remember that I said there were two baby parrots snatched from their nest by the hunter.
573. You have now heard what happened to the fortunate one that escaped.
574. As to the other parrot that did not escape, lo, he lived his life in a cage at the house of the hunter.
575. In that house, he grew up hearing ugly words, seeing violent deeds.

576. “When each of the stolen parrots was seven years of age, the following event occurred.
577. Behold: the king of this land, traveling in the forest, was separated from his horse.
578. For, lo: the horse spooked, having been scared by a snake; the king was thrown to the ground.
579. Though unharmed by the fall, the king could not retrieve his horse.
580. Wherefore the king walked to the nearest house, which happened to be the home of the hunter.
581. As the king approached the home, he was greeted by the words of the parrot that had been raised by the hunter.
582. That parrot, the one that had not escaped the hunter, still lived in the cage.
583. The parrot, seeing the king approach, parroted the sort of words that he had been raised on.
584. He squawked: ‘Beat and rob him!
585. Bind and cage him!’
586. The king, hearing those words coming from the home of the hunter, turned and ran the other direction, fleeing from the home of the hunter.

587. “After a few miles, the king came to another home in the forest, a cabin surrounded by flowers and a vegetable garden.
588. This was the home of the holy woman who had found the parrot that had escaped the hunter.
589. The parrot had happily lived with her for seven years, ever since she befriended him upon his escape.
590. Behold: though he was not caged and could leave if he wished, he willingly stayed.

591. From his perch on the garden fence, the parrot saw the king approach.
592. The parrot did what parrots do: he parroted the sort of words that he had been raised on.
593. He sang: ‘An honored guest!
594. Welcome to our table!
595. Have a warm bath and a glass of our best wine!’
596. The king, hearing the warm words of welcome, knocked upon the door of the holy woman.
597. Lo: she greeted him and treated him like a king, though she knew not that he was the king of the land.

598. “After his warm bath and delicious meal of roasted vegetables with a mug of mead, the king revealed his identity to the woman.
599. Then he described his experience with the first parrot and its foul words, and compared that to his warm welcome by her sweet parrot.
600. The king said, ‘Thus the old adage is proved true: The upbringing of a beast or man is at least as important as the bloodline.’

601. “The holy woman lent the king her horse so that he could return to his palace.
602. A week later, a messenger arrived at the home of the holy woman.
603. He gave the woman a string of seven horses, one being the horse she had lent to the king.
604. Each horse carried a pouch filled with gold.
605. The messenger said, ‘The horses and gold are a gift from the king, a token of his appreciation.
606. He also sends the following message: A parrot singing compassionate words is an ambassador of the one parroted!’”

607. Yahshua ended his story to the teens beneath the tree by saying: As with parrots, so with children.
608. Wherefore, we pray that children with unpleasant parents will do what is possible but not easy, which is to cleanse their minds with spiritual water that they may be purified from the parroting of their unpleasant parents.
609. Behold: It is much easier for a child of pleasant parents to walk the path of pleasantness when an adult.
610. Wherefore I say to parents: Lead your children onto the path of pleasantness by walking that path.”

Now we will end this article by returning to Miriams fifth birthday and how, instead of only receiving gifts, She is “gifting”.  HGSp 8:212-227.

212. That night, Miriam gifted Her mother and father with acts of kindness, cleaning the house and drawing them a picture of the Tree of Life.
213. Then, with Her mother’s permission, Miriam took a gift of fruit to an elderly widow who lived nearby.
214. The joy of the elderly widow was such that Miriam felt even happier than when She had received Her own birthday gifts!
215. Such is the secret that is no secret to eyes that see.
216. Such is the Way of Heaven.

217. You have been handed the Golden Key, but did you notice?
218. The Golden Key unlocks the Door of Heaven only when used.
219. These verses are for you when you recognize that they are for you.
220. Only then can you use the key that is offered.
221. Until then, you are in spiritual poverty.
222. Until then, you remain in pain.
223. After then, heaven is within you wherever you roam.
224. And only then may you enter the heavenly worlds peopled by heavenly Beings.
225. Take refuge in such worlds on occasion.
226. on other occasions travel to contested worlds and teach the Way.
227. Jah-Jah and Elohim want both for you.

“Teaching children, step-by-step, The Precepts of Kindness and leading by example and engaging the children in acts of kindness can produce some bright candles in this world. We need to help them ‘sprout butterfly wings’ and fly high!”