Changes

TOMAS: Good evening to you, also. It is [[wonderful]] to be here and how we have enjoyed your [[studies]]! How [[diligently]] you have applied yourself to the [[comprehension]] of a very vast and very [[complex]] concept. I have come this evening to, hopefully, help you understand some of what you have read regarding [[Paradise]], and it ties in very nicely with my on-going lesson from the beginning having to do with the [[mandate]] to "Be ye perfect, even as I am perfect" - that mandate which [[the Father]] has given all of his [[creation]], including myself.

TOMAS: Good evening to you, also. It is [[wonderful]] to be here and how we have enjoyed your [[studies]]! How [[diligently]] you have applied yourself to the [[comprehension]] of a very vast and very [[complex]] concept. I have come this evening to, hopefully, help you understand some of what you have read regarding [[Paradise]], and it ties in very nicely with my on-going lesson from the beginning having to do with the [[mandate]] to "Be ye perfect, even as I am perfect" - that mandate which [[the Father]] has given all of his [[creation]], including myself.

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

''Many moons ago'' I spoke with you regarding your being a [[microcosm]] of [[the universe]], and I would get more specific now regarding this universe. More to the [[point]], that you yourself, as an extension of the [[creation]] of [[the Father]], are a [[microcosm]] of [[Paradise]] [[perfection]] as well. Let us apply the [[brain]] to this concept more than the [[heart]], for your understanding, and consider yourself now:

''Many moons ago'' I spoke with you regarding your being a [[microcosm]] of [[the universe]], and I would get more specific now regarding this universe. More to the [[point]], that you yourself, as an extension of the [[creation]] of [[the Father]], are a [[microcosm]] of [[Paradise]] [[perfection]] as well. Let us apply the [[brain]] to this concept more than the [[heart]], for your understanding, and consider yourself now:

Within yourself there is [[Paradise]], where God lives -- your inner [[citadel]] of the [[spirit]]. When you [[practice]] [[stillness]], you set aside your [[physical]] interests and put at rest your mental activities and you [[focus]] on the living [[reality]] of the Father, and when you attain ideal stillness, you are experiencing your own version of Upper Paradise. This is where God lives. There is no time and no space. There is no beginning and no ending. There is the Divine Presence, there is perfection, there is total peace and there is love.

Within yourself there is [[Paradise]], where God lives -- your inner [[citadel]] of the [[spirit]]. When you [[practice]] [[stillness]], you set aside your [[physical]] interests and put at rest your mental activities and you [[focus]] on the living [[reality]] of [[the Father]], and when you attain [[ideal]] [[stillness]], you are experiencing your own version of [[Upper Paradise]]. This is where God lives. There is no time and no space. There is no beginning and no ending. There is the [[Divine]] [[Presence]], there is [[perfection]], there is total [[peace]] and there is [[love]].

This you can equate to yourself, can you not?

This you can equate to yourself, can you not?

Hester:

Hester: Yes.

Yes.

TOMAS: Now, as you extend yourself, expand yourself in your [[microcosm]] of [[Paradise]], you have [[nether paradise]], the underbelly of paradise wherein your [[nervous]] [[energies]] [[function]], your [[unconscious]] and [[material]] energies function. And in the [[peripheral paradise]] you have the [[mental]] and emotional [[functions]]. In short, in you are the [[spiritual]], the [[mental]] and the [[physical]], and much of the physical is [[automatic]], like [[breathing]] and [[pulse]] rate and your [[instinctual]] responses.

TOMAS: Now, as you extend yourself, expand yourself in your microcosm of paradise, you have nether paradise, the underbelly of paradise wherein your nervous energies function, your unconscious and material energies function. And in the peripheral paradise you have the mental and emotional functions. In short, in you are the spiritual, the mental and the physical, and much of the physical is automatic, like breathing and pulse rate and your instinctual responses.

And when, in your [[microcosm]], your will is in accordance with His will, and you are set into [[action]] (as we discussed before), in you the [[brain]] tells the [[body]] then to function, and your arms and legs and mouth move and so forth. Now, in your microcosm universe, in your own personal [[Isle of Paradise]], you have also [[pattern]], and when your [[life]] is in accordance with the [[pattern]] of Paradise [[perfection]], your [[life]] functions maximally, indeed [[supremely]]. You are not bothered by [[emotional]] stumbling blocks and your [[body]] functions appropriately.

And when, in your microcosm, your will is in accordance with His will, and you are set into action (as we discussed before), in you the brain tells the body then to function, and your arms and legs and mouth move and so forth. Now, in your microcosm universe, in your own personal Isle of Paradise, you have also pattern, and when your life is in accordance with the pattern of Paradise perfection, your life functions maximally, indeed supremely. You are not bothered by emotional stumbling blocks and your body functions appropriately.

When you encounter others who are also seeking to [[do the will of the Father]] in heaven, they too are operating as a [[microcosm]] of the perfect [[pattern]] of [[Paradise]], and the [[motives]] are [[understood]], the [[behaviors]] can be understood, and the activities can be understood and even [[coordinated]] with yourself. You find [[harmony]], relative harmony in the [[presence]] of those who also have [[the Father]] as the [[supreme]], original [[I AM]]; life is difficult when you encounter those who feel that they are the universe itself! But this is old news; I will not dwell on that.

When you encounter others who are also seeking to do the will of the Father in heaven, they too are operating as a microcosm of the perfect pattern of Paradise, and the motives are understood, the behaviors can be understood, and the activities can be understood and even coordinated with yourself. You find harmony, relative harmony in the presence of those who also have the Father as the supreme, original I AM; life is difficult when you encounter those who feel that they are the universe itself! But this is old news; I will not dwell on that.

I only wanted to personalize for you, somewhat, the [[concept]] of [[Paradise]], so that you can appreciate that in your own sphere of [[existence]] you can recognize the pattern as has been handed down through the various levels of [[creation]] to meet you, an [[animal]]-origin being, a [[finite]] creation. Now [[the Father]] can function in and through you to be [[perfect]], in and through you in your realm.

I only wanted to personalize for you, somewhat, the concept of Paradise, so that you can appreciate that in your own sphere of existence you can recognize the pattern as has been handed down through the various levels of creation to meet you, an animal-origin being, a finite creation. Now the Father can function in and through you to be perfect, in and through you in your realm.

I [[1997-07-10-Parables & Prophecy|spoke to you last week]] regarding [[parables]] and this [[discourse]] this evening is much like a parable, for there are so many variations possible -- and additions and subtractions and [[clarifications]] ad infinitum. But even so, to help you [[understand]] the [[mandate]] and to help you understand how the Father is perfect in His realm and how His realm is perfect, you can draw an [[analogy]], then, between His realm and your realm and see the [[similarities]].

I spoke to you last week regarding parables and this discourse this evening is much like a parable, for there are so many variations possible -- and additions and subtractions and clarifications ad infinitum. But even so, to help you understand the mandate and to help you understand how the Father is perfect in His realm and how His realm is perfect, you can draw an analogy, then, between His realm and your realm and see the similarities.

It is obviously then very [[necessary]] that you continue to relate to the [[reality]] of your [[divine]] understanding of [[Upper Paradise]] where your Source resides, your own [[God Fragment]], your own [[partner]] in the [[ascent]]. As you understand it better, you can [[cooperate]] more fully with it.

It is obviously then very necessary that you continue to relate to the reality of your divine understanding of Upper Paradise where your Source resides, your own God Fragment, your own partner in the ascent. As you understand it better, you can cooperate more fully with it.

This mini-lesson will be referred to again after you have had time to mull it over and [[personalize]] the importance of [[Paper 11|this Paper]] and why they would go into such great detail. The more you can begin to understand the concept of [[Paradise]], even for you here and now, in terms of spirit [[reality]], the more amenable your mind will be to further understanding of Paradise [[function]] as you go about your business, as you go about the Father's business, even in your life in the flesh.

This mini-lesson will be referred to again after you have had time to mull it over and personalize the importance of this Paper and why they would go into such great detail. The more you can begin to understand the concept of Paradise, even for you here and now, in terms of spirit reality, the more amenable your mind will be to further understanding of Paradise function as you go about your business, as you go about the Father's business, even in your life in the flesh.

Every now and again there is an [[opportunity]] for us to insert something that can provoke deep [[thought]]. I feel that this [[analogy]] is one of those. You may or may not [[agree]], but we do have a tendency to spend so much time in the [[psychological]] realms, the [[emotional]] realms, the avenues of [[correction]] and so forth, that it is a rare [[opportunity]] to [[focus]] your [[actual]] and [[potential]] reality in terms of its [[immediate]] and [[academic]] relationship with [[the Father]], and with the [[pattern]] of [[Paradise]] [[perfection]].

Every now and again there is an opportunity for us to insert something that can provoke deep thought. I feel that this analogy is one of those. You may or may not agree, but we do have a tendency to spend so much time in the psychological realms, the emotional realms, the avenues of correction and so forth, that it is a rare opportunity to focus your actual and potential reality in terms of its immediate and academic relationship with the Father, and with the pattern of Paradise perfection.

More will be revealed in [[future]] Papers. Perhaps this will help you understand some of them better.

I am finished with my [[formal]] lesson. How are you this evening?

 

I am finished with my formal lesson. How are you this evening?

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

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Group: