The rite of Baptism occurs in several religions, not just in Christianity. Always, it means the same thing.

What does it mean? It means rebirth, being born again, taking birth another time, in another context.

Baptism occurs with water. The significance is that life comes from the sea, from the element Water. Liquid is the womb of existence.

Baptism means that life is starting again but in a new context. Natural birth is not enough: spiritual birth is necessary in order for life to reach its Goal.

Like natural birth, spiritual birth occurs in the medium of water, the sea. But unlike natural birth, spiritual birth is mediated by a preceptor, a living master of spiritual discipline. Spiritual birth is more auspicious than natural birth, which is itself auspicious.

Often, persons say that baptism is a washing clean from sin and that the pouring of water symbolizes this cleansing. This is not true.

The candidate for baptism is cleansed from sin by the Preceptor as a condition of baptism, not as an effect of it. Baptism cannot occur until the candidate's sins are purged.

God is Purity that impurity cannot approach.

The purging is accomplished as a coup d'oeil by the Preceptor's Grace. Immediately the candidate enters the Preceptor's Presence, their sins are forgiven, those of the past, the present and the future. This is an effect of the Preceptor's nature upon all beings who venture into his or her Presence. It is the condition of baptism, not an effect of it.

Baptism is rebirth in sinlessness via liquid, the ocean, the primal matrix of life.

Jesus underwent baptism as initiation in spiritual pilgrimage. It occurred early in His Career, not late. He did not undergo it in order to purge sins.

John the Baptist was a familiar figure of Semitic monasticism. He appears in the lineage of Elijah, Amos and Jeremiah. This is the same lineage which produced Moses, Paul and Jerome.

Adwaitha Hermitage
April 1992