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The Kingdom Within: The Inner Meaning of Jesus' Sayings – A Psychotherapist's Guide to Consciousness and Wholeness
By showing how Jesus' teachings relate to our inner depths, this book guides us toward a more conscious and creative life. The Kingdom Within explores the significance of Jesus' teachings for our interior life -- that inner reality that Jesus called "the kingdom of God." It is Sanford's conviction that contemporary Christianity has overlooked this inner dimension of Jesus' teachings and so has lost touch with the human soul. Illustrated with case histories and dream material drawn from the author's work as a psychotherapist, The Kingdom Within examines such characteristics as extroversion and introversion, masculinity and femininity, thinking and feeling, and sensation and intuition to show how Jesus met the criteria of wholeness or fullness of personhood. Step by step, Sanford helps us to shed the outer mask, to eschew sin, which "means living in enslavement to what we don't know about ourselves," and to follow the road of consciousness, which leads to "a great treasure waiting only to be discovered."
208 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1970
138 people are currently reading
376 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 25, 2011
Thought provoking even for this atheist. A Jungian interpretation of Jesus. If this author had been my first exposure to the church I could see attending.
July 21, 2017
This book has been helpful in my journey of consciousness and wholeness. It is a different perspective from what I'm used to reading in Christian literature, as it delves deep into psychological aspects of the Christian life. I loved the focus on the development of the individual, but that also scared me. I come from a context where individual-focus sounds selfish and prideful. But at the risk of seeming selfish I've longed to explore and develop my inner consciousness and therefore reach more unity within myself.
Something that came to mind while reading is that, too often, we are concerned more with being good than being whole. If I develop wholeness by embracing creativity in life, then goodness will flow out of that. Trying to be good by following rules for the sake of rules will be exhausting and unproductive.
I have a lot to work on in myself, but I found this book to be very encouraging in my journey.
Something that came to mind while reading is that, too often, we are concerned more with being good than being whole. If I develop wholeness by embracing creativity in life, then goodness will flow out of that. Trying to be good by following rules for the sake of rules will be exhausting and unproductive.
I have a lot to work on in myself, but I found this book to be very encouraging in my journey.
January 20, 2019
When you are interpreting the Gospel of Jesus
you fail,
Jesus spoke in Hebrew and Aramaic and while translated to English. Much of the meaning would have lost in translation. And his teaching cannot be interpreted like in Psychoanalysis ways.it should be through spiritual way.
An attempt by the author in some places very disappointing and shallow.
Though am belong to another religion. I could feel some of the teaching of Jesus are never understood by community.
The selection of Jesus teaching was far excellent but interpretation disappoints.
I have listen and read OSHO Rajneesh. his way of experiencing Jesus was phenomenal.
Jesus whole teaching was to bring his people from unconscious to conscious. And his teaching was simple and never in one place he acted like a scholar. He gave a new meaning to life and his gospel are to be experienced than interpreted.
I strongly feel the author should walked along the gospel than try to find meaning.
The whole book was good and author innocent came out between pages.
I loved this book, I feel the Gospel of Jesus should be experienced by walking along rather otherwise
a beautiful inner journey with Jesus..
you fail,
Jesus spoke in Hebrew and Aramaic and while translated to English. Much of the meaning would have lost in translation. And his teaching cannot be interpreted like in Psychoanalysis ways.it should be through spiritual way.
An attempt by the author in some places very disappointing and shallow.
Though am belong to another religion. I could feel some of the teaching of Jesus are never understood by community.
The selection of Jesus teaching was far excellent but interpretation disappoints.
I have listen and read OSHO Rajneesh. his way of experiencing Jesus was phenomenal.
Jesus whole teaching was to bring his people from unconscious to conscious. And his teaching was simple and never in one place he acted like a scholar. He gave a new meaning to life and his gospel are to be experienced than interpreted.
I strongly feel the author should walked along the gospel than try to find meaning.
The whole book was good and author innocent came out between pages.
I loved this book, I feel the Gospel of Jesus should be experienced by walking along rather otherwise
a beautiful inner journey with Jesus..
April 19, 2024
This is not it.
October 1, 2024
…the less structure we have within ourselves, the more we will desperately seek to find it outside of ourselves.”
“The dangerous alternative to the rediscovery of a personally relevant religion that can lead to greater consciousness of Self is the erection of ever-increasing outer structures to be imposed by the State. Highly structured "isms," such as communism, fascism, or even collective religious movements, move in to fill the vacuum in the human soul.
All myths have their origin in the striving of the psyche to express in mythological form the deepest human spiritual and psychological truths and strivings. The Christian image of the God-man, of death and resurrection, of the miraculous birth of the Savior, of the divine man who has healing power and gifts, is not a thing apart from the myths that existed before the Christian era but is the outgrowth and consummation of these myths.
This can be seen, for instance, in the parallel between the story of Jesus' birth and death and the stories of those dying and rising gods of the eastern Mediterranean that existed in mythology prior to Christ. Adonis, Tammuz, Osiris, Attis, and others have many things in common with Christ. All these pagan deities are closely associated with the Mother; all are gods of healing and salvation; all die an early and untimely death and then rise again; all are worshiped by their followers on their respective "Good Fridays"; the resurrections of all are celebrated with great festivities. They also all die "on the tree"; that is, their death is closely associated with a tree, a wooden casket, or some other symbol of the Great Mother, to whom they are closely tied.
Christianity grew out of paganism; it is not a stone thrown from heaven, but the consummation of a living process going on in the human psyche.
On the other hand, if Christianity grew out of paganism it also goes beyond it: first, because Christianity is not left in the form of a myth but is enacted in history, in the life of a particular person at a particular time, second, because Christ has a vital relationship not only to the Mother but also to the heavenly Father—an element missing in the dying and rising gods before him. This gives his mission a uniquely spiritual and conscious character, so that for Christ the death on the Cross is not involuntary, as was the case with the others, but voluntarily chosen, consciously decided upon for a spiritual reason.
His resurrection is a once-and-for-all event because he partakes of the nature of the heavenly Father, whereas the resurrections of the others were cyclical, for being only nature gods they died and rose each year. The dying and rising gods of paganism were deities whose death and life followed nature's cycle. Christ also comes from nature, but he is in contact with spirit, so his resurrection is lineal and not cyclical. All this makes Christianity uniquely different from paganism, and yet it includes the feminine, natural pagan element within it.
“The dangerous alternative to the rediscovery of a personally relevant religion that can lead to greater consciousness of Self is the erection of ever-increasing outer structures to be imposed by the State. Highly structured "isms," such as communism, fascism, or even collective religious movements, move in to fill the vacuum in the human soul.
All myths have their origin in the striving of the psyche to express in mythological form the deepest human spiritual and psychological truths and strivings. The Christian image of the God-man, of death and resurrection, of the miraculous birth of the Savior, of the divine man who has healing power and gifts, is not a thing apart from the myths that existed before the Christian era but is the outgrowth and consummation of these myths.
This can be seen, for instance, in the parallel between the story of Jesus' birth and death and the stories of those dying and rising gods of the eastern Mediterranean that existed in mythology prior to Christ. Adonis, Tammuz, Osiris, Attis, and others have many things in common with Christ. All these pagan deities are closely associated with the Mother; all are gods of healing and salvation; all die an early and untimely death and then rise again; all are worshiped by their followers on their respective "Good Fridays"; the resurrections of all are celebrated with great festivities. They also all die "on the tree"; that is, their death is closely associated with a tree, a wooden casket, or some other symbol of the Great Mother, to whom they are closely tied.
Christianity grew out of paganism; it is not a stone thrown from heaven, but the consummation of a living process going on in the human psyche.
On the other hand, if Christianity grew out of paganism it also goes beyond it: first, because Christianity is not left in the form of a myth but is enacted in history, in the life of a particular person at a particular time, second, because Christ has a vital relationship not only to the Mother but also to the heavenly Father—an element missing in the dying and rising gods before him. This gives his mission a uniquely spiritual and conscious character, so that for Christ the death on the Cross is not involuntary, as was the case with the others, but voluntarily chosen, consciously decided upon for a spiritual reason.
His resurrection is a once-and-for-all event because he partakes of the nature of the heavenly Father, whereas the resurrections of the others were cyclical, for being only nature gods they died and rose each year. The dying and rising gods of paganism were deities whose death and life followed nature's cycle. Christ also comes from nature, but he is in contact with spirit, so his resurrection is lineal and not cyclical. All this makes Christianity uniquely different from paganism, and yet it includes the feminine, natural pagan element within it.
May 16, 2017
It took me a while, but i have finished this book. It really made me think about the integration of body, mind, and spirit. We must see ourselves as a whole person, with both male and female, light and dark, divine and human fully realized in the way that Christ lived His life.
May 22, 2020
Few moments in this short work spark insight and introspection, whereas much of the exegeses and mid-20th century re-contextualization push the intersection between psychology and personal relationships in religion much further than the Gospel of Thomas does itself. The numerous case studies fall flat with stereotypical analysis more commonly found laughable tableaus of '40s and '50s Noir Films. The concept of the Inner Adversity and the role of Satan as the "archetype of choice" is the most resonating of all, allowing the reader to have an internal dialogue on his or her choices, paths in life, and how they interact with one's relationship with God. However, the cursory and simplistic dismissal of Gnosticism disappointed me, especially when such ideas of personal insight into one's own relationship with God can be explored extensively through a Gnostic lens. The author's downplay of this sect of Christianity must have been a product of the times though, as this book was written in the early '60s before the Nag Hammadi codices were widely transcribed, circulated, and studied.
August 22, 2023
This book is an intersection of everything I love: Christianity, spirituality and psychology. I love the author’s approach to familiar parables, interpreting the inner meaning that makes them applicable in completely new ways that are more interior than exterior focused. I really think we haven’t been able to truly understand Jesus from a higher level of consciousness because we as a religion have been too focused on the literal, external, surface meanings for the crux of our history. Our consciousness is finally evolving to a point as a species where we can understand Jesus on a different level and that is really exciting to me!!
A note that this book was written in 1970 and there are a few areas where the terminology and perspective does not feel as inclusive or evolved as a modern reader would like. I don’t think this is a case where we should throw out the baby with the bath water. Instead it can serve as a model of how the evolution of consciousness continues to expand to be even more expansive and integral today.
A note that this book was written in 1970 and there are a few areas where the terminology and perspective does not feel as inclusive or evolved as a modern reader would like. I don’t think this is a case where we should throw out the baby with the bath water. Instead it can serve as a model of how the evolution of consciousness continues to expand to be even more expansive and integral today.
May 18, 2023
Some of the ideas and language seemed dated to me (the book was last updated in 1987), but I appreciated looking at Jesus' teachings from a seldom taken perspective. That is, I found it quite valuable to consider how Jesus might be sometimes teaching about our inner psychological life when we normally take what he was saying as more literally about the external world. Some of the things he said make a lot more sense when viewed this way. So, although I don't agree with everything in the book, it's worth reading just to see another way we might better understand Jesus, his teachings and ourselves.
October 21, 2018
oke to me and said "seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added," reading this book thirty years later I understand what I have been experiencing in my life, and feel grateful for the insight it has brought me. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking an understanding of their inner life.
Years ago when I was seeking to know myself and God' a voice spoke to me. The voice said "Seek you the kingdom of heaven, and all these things will be added. .". I am grateful this book has helped understand what that voice meant.
Years ago when I was seeking to know myself and God' a voice spoke to me. The voice said "Seek you the kingdom of heaven, and all these things will be added. .". I am grateful this book has helped understand what that voice meant.
June 3, 2019
I don't remember who gave me this book but I guess they liked it enough to give me a copy. I couldn't quite connect to it. I lack some of the experiences he describes as being normal and wasn't able to plug in. This is a Jungian read of the Gospel. Somehow I feel more like the old WYSIWYG in computing while Sanford needs people to be more complex with various selves that are trying to resolve something.
January 15, 2023
This book will definitely be an annual read. In fact, Im eager to reread it. This time I intend to take more copious notes and enlarge themes captured in the book. From the very first pages, my Christian faith was invigorated. We all possess the potential to do greater things in life. This a book of encouragement as well as a deeper, mystical understanding of human potential.
November 29, 2024
Sanford does a wonderful job of expositing Jesus' ministries and unique calling through the lens of Jung's ideologies. Christians would do well to wrestle with the depth to which they consider the life and working of Christ, as reflected in their interpersonal development and acceptance of their individual nature while working toward the revelation and coming of the Kingdom within them.
January 21, 2025
Wow, I truly cannot sing this book’s praises enough. It is both fascinating and informative. It’s beautifully written but also succinct. If you are a Christian and are interested at all in exploring your inner world, this is an excellent introduction. I will be reading more of John’s books in the near future as I was almost sad for this book to end.
March 14, 2021
Inspiring & Confusing
There is a focus on the the psychological aspects of Christianity and Jesus’s teaching. It gave me new perspectives on teachings that I have always struggled with.
There is a focus on the the psychological aspects of Christianity and Jesus’s teaching. It gave me new perspectives on teachings that I have always struggled with.
July 13, 2023
This book was a wild ride of ideas (some intriguing and some off-putting). Glad to have gleaned some knowledge from the author's take on the psychological side of Christianity and being whole/complete. May have to read again sometime because it was a lot to take in!
June 29, 2024
The creative contents of the kingdom need a new receptacle. The old container worked for a while, until it didn't. Unless a storm busts in and bursts the old, there will be no room for the new personality that can hold the new incoming.
March 8, 2019
This is a Jungian take on the gospel. It's a glimpse into the psychology of Jesus, finding Him to be the model of a perfect, whole person.
October 10, 2019
Sanford writes a spectacularly in-depth analysis into the human psyche through the eyes of Christ. I highly recommend this book to any who are looking for further introspective reading.
January 13, 2020
High degree of synthesis, simple and profound.
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July 9, 2024Thought provoking. Requires considerable deliberation and pondering to accept or reject conjectures
June 16, 2020
Excellent reflection, not only about Jesus, but about life and the teachings of C.G. Jung
February 9, 2009
This is an interesting book dealing with what Jesus call "The Kingdome of God." He has some remarkable insights on what Jesus' words mean. He showed how the two parables comparing the Kingdom to the Peril and the Treasure in the field are not the same, in fact they are actually oposites with an astonding result I had never realized. I thought the first half of this book the best I have read on this subject. But then he got into psycology and the second half of the book, although it too had some good stuff, had a lot of trash that was a little tough wading through. That is why I only gave it two stars.
March 2, 2015
This is one of the top suggested reads to go with a book study of Natural Spirituality (Rockwood Hudson). Sanford illuminates scripture we would normally associate with an outer experience and helps us to see the meaning for our more unconscious inner lives. In this way we learn the journey to God is not a place to get to, but an uncovering of the hidden Christ within -- which gets us to an inner journey to the kingdom of God. Lots of good passages marked to read again...
May 30, 2012
This book was so good I might have to go out and purchase my own copy since the copy I have was borrowed :) I really enjoyed reading my first book by this author. There was a lot of wisdom and insight into some of the scripture passages. The author shared his own insight of course but it was very thought provoking for me, and definitely worthy of a re-visit in the future.
May 25, 2025
Not an easy book to tackle, but a book worth reading. The author provides a deep dive into the psychology of a believer and what Christ offers to the person willing to open their deepest thoughts to the Holy Spirit. Again, not easy to read. A book to study; not a casual read.
Read it again in 2025 -essential reading for anyone who seeks earnest discipleship.
Read it again in 2025 -essential reading for anyone who seeks earnest discipleship.
Read
January 19, 2015Fabulous book for those seeking to engage with scripture on many levels. Sanford invites us to use our imagination and allow the depths of our souls to be transformed by taking time to inwardly digest God's word.
October 21, 2016
Very insightful, clear, progressive and gentle words in understanding the Christian faith, beliefs, and a God who truly loves all unconditionally. Definitely not a read for radical, right fundamentalist!
July 22, 2008
I am currently reading this book and taking the class with Rev. Billie. WOW! It is very in depth and fascinating. I am only through chapter 4 and I have learned so much.
July 27, 2008
I'm currently reading this for a class at church. It is deepening my understanding of the Kingdom of God.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews