Essenes: Through Purity May We Reach God

The Essenes were peaceful people. All members regarded and assisted one another as equals. They lived communally, sharing all things. In this way, all their needs were easily met. The Essenes ascribed all things to God. Their deep understanding that they were eternal souls and were only on Earth for a short time. This understanding made them very cautious about doing anything. Their physical purity, attained primarily from the simplicity of their vegetarian diet, allowed many of them to live over a hundred years. Death, however, was something they never feared, since, having pursued the spiritual path with great determination, they could expect to enjoy in the endless bliss of Heavenly realms.