Teaching and Practice from The Gospel of Mary of Magdala, Chapter 4: The Body and the World
Dissolving Illusion, Remembering Origin (from Karen King’s The Gospel of Mary of Magdala)
This study guide is based on Chapter 4 of Karen King’s book The Gospel of Mary of Magdala, titled “The Body and the World.” In this chapter, King explores how the Gospel challenges early Christian assumptions about sin, embodiment, and religious authority. Rather than rejecting the body or the world, the Gospel of Mary reframes both through a radical spiritual lens.
According to King, the text shifts the focus of salvation away from law and obedience toward inner peace and knowledge of one’s origin. The Savior’s farewell address (in Chapter 4 of the source text) becomes a vehicle for this message. He encourages the disciples to “Acquire my peace within yourselves,” urging them not to rely on imposed rules but to listen inwardly.
King emphasizes that this Gospel does not condemn the body. Unlike Platonic or Stoic thought that viewed the body as a problem to overcome, Mary’s Gospel affirms that the body and world are not evil—they are simply impermanent. The real trap is identifying with desire, fear, and external authority. These illusions cloud our inner vision and disconnect us from the divine root.
She contrasts this with early Christian teachings that equated sin with breaking moral law. In Mary’s Gospel, sin is not a transgression of external rules, but an act of spiritual forgetting—a turning away from one’s divine nature.
"It is not 'sin' as you think it is."
— Gospel of Mary, as cited by King (p. 38)“The law was not given by God, but by the powers.”
— King’s commentary on the Savior's teaching (p. 40)
The chapter also positions Mary as a spiritual leader who understands this teaching, standing in sharp contrast to Peter, who clings to institutional authority. King argues this is not only a spiritual vision, but also a critique of power and patriarchy.
"Mary does not simply transmit the vision—she interprets it."
— King, p. 45
Ultimately, this chapter in King’s book sets up the Gospel of Mary as a profound response to early Christian struggles over body, spirit, gender, and institutional legitimacy. It calls readers not to escape the world, but to see through its illusions and remember their true origin.
Practice
Peace Within: Listening Instead of Obeying
This reflection invites you to turn from external authority to inner knowing.
Sit Quietly: Choose a place where you won’t be disturbed. Sit comfortably and breathe naturally.
Ask the Question: Whisper inwardly: “What do I obey that does not belong to me?” Wait. Let the question sink. Don’t force an answer.
Feel the Peace: Hear the echo of the Savior’s words: “Acquire my peace within yourselves.” Let that phrase settle into your breath.
Reclaim the Body: As you inhale, notice your body—not as flawed or fallen, but as sacred space. No shame. No exile. Just being.
Root in the Real: End with: “I do not belong to the world’s rules. I belong to the Root.”
Return to this practice anytime you feel disoriented by expectations, shame, or doubt.
Reflection Questions
What forms of authority (religious, social, internalized) shape my sense of right and wrong?
How do I experience my body: as a burden, a battlefield, or a vessel?
Where in my life am I still waiting for permission—from law, institution, or tradition—to be at peace?
What illusions do I confuse with my true self?
How would my life look if I trusted the peace within more than the voices outside?
Dedication
May all who feel exiled from their own bodies find peace within.
May the memory of the Root dissolve every imposed rule.
May Mary’s witness embolden us to challenge all voices that drown out the divine within.
— Virgin Monk Boy
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Before you vanish back into the illusion—smash that LIKE or SHARE button like you're breaking open an alabaster jar. One small click, one bold act of remembrance. That’s how we spread the Gospel they tried to erase and resurrect the voice of the First Apostle.
And if this stirred something in your chest cavity (or your third eye), consider a paid subscription. It keeps the scrolls unrolling, the incense smoldering, and the Magdalene movement caffeinated. ☕️🔥
(Yes, you can literally buy me a coffee. Mary saw the risen Christ—I just need a latte to write about it.)
References:
[1] Bruce Chilton, Mary Magdalene: A Biography
[2] The Gospel of Mary, translated by Karen King
Love The Practices, love Reflection, love Dedication, love Remembering Origin - not so fond of Illusion….damn this bullshit has been going on ever since Eve ate the apple! (It probably had peanut butter on it so she was tricked)