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===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

Virginia: Well, Daniel, I'm sure you have been at the house and sort of know what I have been doing, writing all my memories that come to mind of my childhood. As I read through it and add things, I certainly love getting to understand where a lot of feelings of guilt have come from.

Virginia: Well, Daniel, I'm sure you have been at the house and sort of know what I have been doing, writing all my memories that come to mind of my childhood. As I read through it and add things, I certainly love getting to understand where a lot of [[feelings]] of [[guilt]] have come from.

Daniel: Yes, my dear, I am aware.

Daniel: Yes, my dear, I am aware.

Virginia: And certainly understanding that it was not an adequate or fair interpretation of reality; and certainly the need to realize my present reaction to those situations so that what you have told us to do, I certainly have begun. I am not there. I have thanked God many times that I have the time to, maybe, self actualize and understand.

Virginia: And certainly understanding that it was not an adequate or fair [[interpretation]] of [[reality]]; and certainly the need to realize my present reaction to those situations so that what you have told us to do, I certainly have begun. I am not there. I have thanked God many times that I have the time to, maybe, self actualize and understand.

Daniel: Yes, my dear.

Daniel: Yes, my dear.

Virginia: I would like to say one more thing and I won't talk any more. I do believe that forgiveness of self and forgiveness of others is an ongoing process. You think it's complete and then the horns stick up again.

Virginia: I would like to say one more thing and I won't talk any more. I do believe that forgiveness of self and forgiveness of others is an ongoing [[process]]. You think it's complete and then the horns stick up again.

Daniel: Yes, those feelings, as you have indicated, come out of your past as well as out of your genetic animal heritage. Without you understanding an interpretation, to simply remember them only freshens the pain. Of course repression, holding them under unconsciously, is not healthy either. But what you are doing in remembering those things is giving insight into why you feel the way you do now. The next step is to decide that, number one, the injustice of the event which caused the guilt needs to be rectified...

Daniel: Yes, those feelings, as you have indicated, come out of your past as well as out of your genetic animal heritage. Without you understanding an interpretation, to simply remember them only freshens the pain. Of course repression, holding them under unconsciously, is not healthy either. But what you are doing in [[memory|remembering]] those things is giving [[insight]] into why you feel the way you do now. The next step is to decide that, number one, the injustice of the event which caused the guilt needs to be rectified...

Virginia: Reinterpreted?

Virginia: Reinterpreted?

Daniel: . ..reinterpreted so that you know that laughter was never an action you should be ashamed of. Unfortunately or fortunately, however you wish to see it, the brain is a programed organic computer. It can be re-programed. If you simply push the play button on the tape recorder, after rewinding, you hear what happened the first time around. However, if you press on the play and record button at the same time, and put a new entry into the tape recorder, going over the past event with a new interpretation, then when you replay it, you will hear the newer version. It takes a lot of replaying until eventually the brain changes. It accepts the newer and more expanded understanding. Virginia: Daniel, I certainly believe that a new interpretation will do it. But there are circumstances where you can't change the play which has been done and there is no way to reclaim those moments that I think I am working on understanding. Maybe even understanding why those things happened, but certainly deeply understanding where ridiculous feelings of guilt have come from. So, thank you. Now I will shut up.

Daniel: . ..reinterpreted so that you know that [[laughter]] was never an action you should be ashamed of. Unfortunately or fortunately, however you wish to see it, the brain is a programed organic computer. It can be re-programed. If you simply push the play button on the tape recorder, after rewinding, you hear what happened the first time around. However, if you press on the play and record button at the same time, and put a new entry into the tape recorder, going over the past event with a new interpretation, then when you replay it, you will hear the newer version. It takes a lot of replaying until eventually the brain changes. It accepts the newer and more expanded understanding.  

 

Virginia: Daniel, I certainly believe that a new interpretation will do it. But there are circumstances where you can't change the play which has been done and there is no way to reclaim those [[moments]] that I think I am working on understanding. Maybe even understanding why those things happened, but certainly deeply understanding where ridiculous feelings of [[guilt]] have come from. So, thank you. Now I will shut up.

Daniel: I may be taking issue with your last statement, my dear. All events can be reinterpreted.

Daniel: I may be taking issue with your last statement, my dear. All events can be reinterpreted.

Virginia: Reinterpreted. Yes. Daniel.....I am not saying....

Virginia: Reinterpreted. Yes. Daniel.....I am not saying....

Daniel: But, they can't be changed. [Editor's note: The past can't be changed, only its meaning] Virginia: No. You can't replay it.

Daniel: But, they can't be changed. [Editor's note: The past can't be changed, only its meaning]  

 

Virginia: No. You can't replay it.

Daniel: Reinterpretation is what I referred to as "changing the tape", yes. I will give you a general example here.

Daniel: Reinterpretation is what I referred to as "changing the tape", yes. I will give you a general example here.

People are close to each other in family or friendship relationships. One person does something involving another. The other person interprets that behavior as an attack upon themselves. (S)he becomes hurt and bitter. Their friendship ends. Years later these two come together again and the event is discussed that led to the separation. The person who "caused" the hurt in the other one explains what happened internally and how what he or she did had no intentional connection with the other party, even though the other party was hurt as a consequence. The other party took it personally when, in fact, it was not personal. I am not suggesting that this is always the case. I am simply saying that at this point in the story the second party can now accept that the event was not intended to be personally hurtful to them. Now they understand that this person acted out of their internal pain which had nothing to do with them, even though they took it personally. A new interpretation now makes possible the renewing of that friendship. That is just a general hypothetical explanation.

People are close to each other in family or friendship relationships. One person does something involving another. The other person interprets that [[behavior]] as an attack upon themselves. (S)he becomes hurt and bitter. Their friendship ends. Years later these two come together again and the event is discussed that led to the separation. The person who "caused" the hurt in the other one explains what happened internally and how what he or she did had no intentional connection with the other party, even though the other party was hurt as a consequence. The other party took it personally when, in fact, it was not personal. I am not suggesting that this is always the case. I am simply saying that at this point in the story the second party can now accept that the event was not intended to be personally hurtful to them. Now they understand that this person acted out of their internal pain which had nothing to do with them, even though they took it personally. A new interpretation now makes possible the renewing of that friendship. That is just a general hypothetical explanation.

However there are times when people do injure others intentionally and it can't be denied. Then, reinterpretation will not be able to give the injured party a plausible or alternate explanation that will take the sting out of it. Then reinterpretation has to be: What can I learn from this painful thing in my life that will make me advance spiritually? What did Jesus learn from the experience of crucifixion, you see? Well, we can't really know unless the Master himself were to tell us. But he gave us a tremendous example of how to handle the most vicious and awful experience that one can imagine. He handled it with the grace and beauty of a Son of God and implored his Father to forgive them for they didn't know what they were doing. Does this help you, my dear.

However there are times when people do injure others intentionally and it can't be denied. Then, reinterpretation will not be able to give the injured party a plausible or alternate explanation that will take the sting out of it. Then reinterpretation has to be: What can I learn from this painful thing in my life that will make me advance [[spiritually]]? What did [[Jesus]] learn from the [[experience]] of [[crucifixion]], you see? Well, we can't really know unless the Master himself were to tell us. But he gave us a tremendous example of how to handle the most vicious and awful [[experience]] that one can imagine. He handled it with the [[grace]] and [[beauty]] of a Son of God and implored his Father to forgive them for they didn't know what they were doing. Does this help you, my dear.

Virginia: I think that all has helped me. Certainly I do believe that understanding self is the basis for preparing yourself to forgive in relationships that will one day have to be met, either there or here in this place.

Virginia: I think that all has helped me. Certainly I do believe that understanding self is the basis for preparing yourself to forgive in relationships that will one day have to be met, either there or here in this place.

Daniel: My words are not intended for you alone, of course, they are intended for all of you. A teacher teaches best that which he also needs to learn.

Daniel: My words are not intended for you alone, of course, they are intended for all of you. <u>A teacher teaches best that which he also needs to learn</u>.

This is a postscript to my lesson We are working on this stuff now because you are going to work on it . ..

This is a postscript to my lesson We are working on this stuff now because you are going to work on it . ..

Virginia: Forever and ever.

Virginia: Forever and ever.

===Closing===

===Closing===

Daniel: . ..either now or later. The sooner you work on these things and get past them, the farther along we are and the more we can do in other ways. Yes. Other comments or questions? Very well. Once again if you will stand and help this TR to his feet we will conclude with the Serenity Prayer. Let us pray together.

Daniel: . ..either now or later. The sooner you work on these things and get past them, the farther along we are and the more we can do in other ways. Yes. Other comments or questions? Very well. Once again if you will stand and help this [[TR]] to his feet we will conclude with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_prayer Serenity Prayer]. Let us pray together.

Unison: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Amen.

Unison: [[God]], grant me the serenity to [[acceptance|accept]] the [[things]] I cannot change; courage to [[change]] the things I can; and [[wisdom]] to know the [[difference]]. [[Amen]].

[[Category: The Teaching Mission: Dialogues]]

[[Category: The Teaching Mission: Dialogues]]