Changes

R: You would be [[amazed]], each of you, to know how far your own personal [[spiritual]] work actually goes. There is so much that you [[touch]] with each passing [[moment]]. It is truly astonishing, truly a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_reaction chain reaction]. The benign contamination of [[spirit growth]] is a very fast growing thing, indeed. I shall now bid you [[farewell]], and I shall look forward to seeing you anon. (12/18/93)

R: You would be [[amazed]], each of you, to know how far your own personal [[spiritual]] work actually goes. There is so much that you [[touch]] with each passing [[moment]]. It is truly astonishing, truly a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_reaction chain reaction]. The benign contamination of [[spirit growth]] is a very fast growing thing, indeed. I shall now bid you [[farewell]], and I shall look forward to seeing you anon. (12/18/93)

===SPIRITUAL LIVING===

===='''''[[Spirituality]]'''''====

Today we will discuss one facet of the Master's teachings "to be in the world but not of it," - spiritual living. When Michael was incarnate on Urantia as Jesus He had much firsthand experience with this all encompassing concept. As a youth He experienced a conflict between two moral-ethical tenets; the first being to do the will of the Heavenly Father and to reflect the Father's truth to others, to tell the truth - spiritually - versus the injunction to honor His parents and their teaching. This became a conflict of the young Jesus because Mary and Joseph, although not classified as fundamentalist Jews, were nonetheless religious Jews in their day, of their time. Many of their beliefs contradicted the spiritual truths which Jesus became more and more sure of as His Divinity was revealed to Him in His human mind. He experienced a conflict between loyalty to truth and duty to His parents and culture. This would arise on many occasions.

Today we will discuss one [[facet]] of [[the Master]]'s teachings "to be in the world but not of it," - spiritual living. When [[Michael]] was [[incarnate]] on [[Urantia]] as [[Jesus]] He had much firsthand [[experience]] with this all [[encompassing]] concept. As a [[youth]] He [[experienced]] a [[conflict]] between two [[moral]]-[[ethical]] tenets; the first being to [[Doing the will of God|do the will of the Heavenly Father]] and to [[reflect]] [[the Father]]'s [[truth]] to others, to tell the truth - spiritually - versus the injunction to [[honor]] His [[parents]] and their teaching. This became a [[conflict]] of the young [[Jesus]] because [[Mary and Joseph]], although not [[classified]] as [[fundamentalist]] [[Jews]], were nonetheless religious Jews in their day, of their time. Many of their [[beliefs]] [[contradicted]] the spiritual [[truths]] which [[Jesus]] became more and more sure of as his [[divinity]] was [[revealed]] to him in his human mind. He [[experienced]] a [[conflict]] between [[loyalty]] to truth and [[duty]] to His [[parents]] and [[culture]]. This would arise on many occasions.

One example being, Mary and Joseph, like most others in their religious culture, believed in a wrathful, judgmental and punishing God. The young Jesus could not accept or endorse this description of His Heavenly Father and many discussions would ensue between Jesus and His parents over this. Consequently, Jesus felt much inner turmoil over which injunction to follow as He perceived them as contradictory. The resolution of this conflict came about in a very perfect way, as the Master would - over and over again in His life - find the perfect solution to what we might think of as an irreconcilable situation. He talked from His heart to His earthly Father, Joseph, and said, "Father, I cannot believe that whatever mistake I make, you would ever withdraw your love, or be angry and punishing towards me and not be able to forgive me." And He said to His earthly Father "therefore, if you yourself could have such love for your child, and such compassion and tolerance for when I make mistakes, how could you not think the Father in heaven, who created this goodness in mankind, could be any less loving, merciful and forgiving?" And Jesus was so sincere when He asked his father these questions that Joseph and Mary never berated Him again about their erroneous concept of God, but rather kept silent and allowed their son His own truth. There were many examples as Jesus grew of the application of "being in the world but not of it" on a day-to-day basis. Because Joseph and Mary were such products of their times, many times Jesus was faced with the knowledge that their practices - religious practices - were not the highest.

One example being, [[Mary and Joseph]], like most others in their [[religious]] [[culture]], believed in a [[wrathful]], judgmental and punishing [[God]]. The young [[Jesus]] could not [[accept]] or endorse this [[description]] of His [[Heavenly Father]] and many [[discussions]] would ensue between [[Jesus]] and His [[parents]] over this. Consequently, Jesus felt much inner [[turmoil]] over which injunction to follow as He [[perceived]] them as [[contradictory]]. The [[resolution]] of this [[conflict]] came about in a very perfect way, as [[the Master]] would - over and over again in His life - find the perfect solution to what we might think of as an irreconcilable situation. He talked from His [[heart]] to His earthly Father, Joseph, and said, "Father, I cannot [[believe]] that whatever mistake I make, you would ever withdraw your [[love]], or be [[angry]] and punishing towards me and not be able to [[forgive]] me." And He said to His earthly Father "therefore, if you yourself could have such [[love]] for your child, and such [[compassion]] and [[tolerance]] for when I make mistakes, how could you not think [[the Father]] in heaven, who created this [[goodness]] in [[mankind]], could be any less loving, merciful and forgiving?" And Jesus was so [[sincere]] when He asked his [[father]] these questions that [[Joseph and Mary]] never berated Him again about their erroneous [[concept]] of God, but rather kept [[silent]] and allowed their son His own [[truth]]. There were many [[examples]] as [[Jesus]] grew of the application of "being in the world but not of it" on a day-to-day basis. Because [[Joseph and Mary]] were such products of their times, many times [[Jesus]] was faced with the [[knowledge]] that their practices - religious practices - were not the highest.

For example, He often tried to teach His family to pray in their own words and from their own hearts rather than to repeat the written and prescribed Jewish prayers, but He had little success in this endeavor. But out of this did come The Lords Prayer, which we all are thankful for. So Jesus developed a technique for coping with the discrepancy between His inner truth and His outer practices, which was to never consent to things He knew not to be true - to never consent, but rather to conform to the wishes of His family and culture. Out of this resolution, Jesus developed His technique for teaching through asking questions in such a way as to not offend the person He was questioning or teaching. He was eminently fair and loving, and did not engage in questioning someone for the lowly purpose of winning an argument or advancing His own ego. Rather, Jesus saw every opportunity to reflect the wonderful truth of God as a loving Father and creator of us, to the humans He encountered. This technique served Him well, because it never made the person He was teaching feel defensive or threatened. And yet they were enlightened. Jesus had to deal with many worldly problems, as we all do.

For example, He often tried to teach His family to pray in their own [[words]] and from their own [[hearts]] rather than to repeat the [[written]] and prescribed Jewish [[prayers]], but He had little success in this endeavor. But out of this did come The [[Lords Prayer]], which we all are thankful for. So [[Jesus]] developed a [[technique]] for coping with the discrepancy between His inner [[truth]] and His outer practices, which was to never [[consent]] to things He knew not to be true - to never consent, but rather to [[conform]] to the wishes of His [[family]] and [[culture]]. Out of this [[resolution]], Jesus developed His [[technique]] for teaching through asking [[questions]] in such a way as to not [[offend]] the person He was questioning or teaching. He was eminently [[fair]] and loving, and did not [[engage]] in questioning someone for the lowly [[purpose]] of winning an [[argument]] or advancing His own [[ego]]. Rather, Jesus saw every [[opportunity]] to reflect the wonderful [[truth]] of God as a loving Father and creator of us, to the [[humans]] He encountered. This [[technique]] served Him well, because it never made the [[person]] He was teaching feel [[defensive]] or threatened. And yet they were [[enlightened]]. [[Jesus]] had to deal with many worldly [[problems]], as we all do.

Yet He managed upon much reflective meditation, prayer and communication with His Adjuster to create solutions which benefited everyone. He also used the technique of not disclosing the full truth before others were ready or prepared to hear it. As an example, he did not tell others of His divine nature for many, many years - even after he was sure that He was indeed the Son of God. So, brothers and sisters, I would like you to use these simple examples in your own lives every day, for much of the stresses that you face can be seen to be rooted in a conflict between loyalty to higher truth and duty to one's family or work situation or culture. And this is the center of how to live "in the world and not be of it." Using the tools of spirituality, there is always a solution. Step outside mindal logic and intellectual organization into the realm of higher mind and the solution will appear. There need not be anxiety over the tiny decisions which we all face in living an ascension career. On Urantia in particular there is a large discrepancy between behavior in the world and what we know to be spiritual demeanor.

Yet He managed upon much [[reflective]] [[meditation]], [[prayer]] and [[communication]] with His [[Adjuster]] to create solutions which benefited everyone. He also used the [[technique]] of not disclosing the full [[truth]] before others were ready or [[prepared]] to hear it. As an example, he did not tell others of His [[divine]] nature for many, many years - even after he was sure that He was indeed the [[Son of God]]. So, [[brothers and sisters]], I would like you to use these [[simple]] examples in your own lives every day, for much of the [[stresses]] that you face can be seen to be rooted in a [[conflict]] between [[loyalty]] to higher [[truth]] and duty to one's [[family]] or work situation or culture. And this is the center of how to live "in the world and not be of it." Using the tools of [[spirituality]], there is always a solution. Step outside mindal [[logic]] and [[intellectual]] [[organization]] into the realm of [[higher mind]] and the solution will appear. There need not be [[anxiety]] over the tiny [[decisions]] which we all face in living an [[ascension career]]. On [[Urantia]] in particular there is a large discrepancy between [[behavior]] in the world and what we know to be [[spiritual]] demeanor.

However, even 2000 years ago when the world was much more rigid, Jesus managed to marry conflicting philosophies in a way which inspired many, many others and offended very few. This is the key to spiritual living and practical survival, for one cannot ignore the needs or demands of daily life and retreat into a spiritual vacuum. Nor can one separate the spiritual from the material. Our challenge is to marry both and thus inspire others - man to find God, God to find man, or man to see God when he finds Him - as we live. This can be done, but not without a conscious effort to achieve it. Too often we forget our real purpose for existence, and we make life easier by separating spiritual life from all the rest. So we might pray in the morning or evening and then forget God the rest of the day. This is not how one should live. We must integrate what we have been given with other situations in order to grow spiritually ourselves, and also to inspire and uplift our brothers and sisters.

However, even 2000 years ago when the world was much more rigid, Jesus managed to marry conflicting philosophies in a way which inspired many, many others and offended very few. This is the key to spiritual living and practical survival, for one cannot ignore the needs or demands of daily life and retreat into a spiritual vacuum. Nor can one separate the spiritual from the material. Our challenge is to marry both and thus inspire others - man to find God, God to find man, or man to see God when he finds Him - as we live. This can be done, but not without a conscious effort to achieve it. Too often we forget our real purpose for existence, and we make life easier by separating spiritual life from all the rest. So we might pray in the morning or evening and then forget God the rest of the day. This is not how one should live. We must integrate what we have been given with other situations in order to grow spiritually ourselves, and also to inspire and uplift our brothers and sisters.