Changes

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

Student:  Thank you, Mother, for the wonderful lesson tonight.  The question I have is, when I pray for someone else, and also myself, what do I pray for?  What do I ask for?  I can think of a lot of things--health, prosperity, well-being--but then if the Father already knows everything, how can I go about praying for someone else?

Student:  Thank you, Mother, for the [[wonderful]] lesson tonight.  The question I have is, when I pray for someone else, and also myself, what do I pray for?  What do I ask for?  I can think of a lot of [[things]]--[[health]], prosperity, well-being--but then if [[the Father]] already knows [[everything]], how can I go about praying for someone else?

   

   

* Prayer (How to pray]

* [[Prayer]] (How to pray]

   

   

NEBADONIA:  Yes, my son: well, that’s not a bad start--health, well-being, prosperity, maybe that they grow in spirit--that they too have some feeling of their soul growing within them.  This is not only their experiences as they remember them, but also a greater totality as a presence of God registers these experiences.

NEBADONIA:  Yes, my son: well, that’s not a bad start--[[health]], well-being, prosperity, maybe that they [[grow]] in [[spirit]]--that they too have some feeling of their [[soul]] growing within them.  This is not only their experiences as they remember them, but also a greater totality as a presence of God registers these experiences.

   

   

Your prayers, my son, can be very much like what Welmek once invited you to do, and that is: with every person you come across, just beam love at them.  Right in your own heart and soul, just wish them the best.  This can also be a very profound prayer.  It’s a generosity of spirit to give them your time and consideration and send them part of your life-essence.  You’re putting that energy out there for them to tap into.  Being pure spirit, it cannot be intrusive; it is always up to each personality to decide what to do with spirit input.  We can only assure you to have faith that this transference of vital energy is real.  You are literally giving them something of your own life force, your own strength.

Your prayers, my son, can be very much like what [[Welmek]] once invited you to do, and that is: with every person you come across, just beam [[love]] at them.  Right in your own [[heart]] and [[soul]], just wish them the best.  This can also be a very [[profound]] [[prayer]].  It’s a generosity of spirit to give them your [[time]] and consideration and send them part of your life-[[essence]].  You’re putting that [[energy]] out there for them to tap into.  Being pure spirit, it cannot be intrusive; it is always up to each [[personality]] to decide what to do with spirit input.  We can only assure you to have [[faith]] that this transference of [[vital]] energy is real.  You are [[literally]] giving them something of your own life [[force]], your own strength.

   

   

This is a wonderful example of when one and one make three, where this third part--the energy you are sending, reflects power back to you as well as toward them.  It’s like having a nice warm fire and wanting to share it with someone else, and in doing so, feeling and appreciating it more yourself.  Letting God’s divine love and well-wishes flow through you to another, it strengthens you as well.  This is the reward of the faith that it takes to do this.  Don’t forget, my son, that faith is extending yourself out into the unknown, and so it has its own special rewards.  That good feeling you get is real.  So the form of the prayer doesn’t matter so much as the heart-felt intention.  

This is a wonderful example of when one and one make three, where this third part--the energy you are sending, [[reflects]] power back to you as well as toward them.  It’s like having a nice warm fire and wanting to [[share]] it with someone else, and in doing so, [[feeling]] and appreciating it more yourself.  Letting God’s [[divine]] love and well-wishes [[flow]] through you to another, it strengthens you as well.  This is the reward of the [[faith]] that it takes to do this.  Don’t forget, my son, that faith is extending yourself out into the [[unknown]], and so it has its own special rewards.  That [[good]] [[feeling]] you get is real.  So the form of the prayer doesn’t matter so much as the [[heart]]-fel[[[[Link title]]]]t [[intention]].  

   

   

Student:  Should I visualize the person I’m beaming love at?  

Student:  Should I [[visualize]] the [[person]] I’m beaming [[love]] at?  

   

   

NEBADONIA:  Yes, the more you can visualize them and focus the desire in your heart, the more you can feel their unique personality within you, the greater will be the spiritual connection between you two.  The effort it takes to do this attests to the genuine desire of your feelings.  So by all means, yes.

NEBADONIA:  Yes, the more you can visualize them and [[focus]] the [[desire]] in your heart, the more you can feel their [[unique]] personality within you, the greater will be the spiritual connection between you two.  The effort it takes to do this attests to the genuine desire of your feelings.  So by all means, yes.

   

   

Student:  The other thing I thought of is how afraid I am in myself of the unknown, and how often it’s stopped me so much in my life.  

Student:  The other [[thing]] I [[thought]] of is how afraid I am in myself of the [[unknown]], and how often it’s stopped me so much in my life.  

   

   

NEBADONIA:  Yes, that’s a very primal fear and it’s not altogether baseless.  All through human history people have witnessed what terrible things that the unknown and the unanticipated have done to them and their friends.  For so much of their history people have been at the mercy of the elements and wild animals; and then of course, above all, each other--through hundreds of thousands of years of nearly incessant warfare and crime.  So this fear of the unknown does have valid historical roots deep in the collective unconsciousness of the human races.  

NEBADONIA:  Yes, that’s a very primal [[fear]] and it’s not altogether baseless.  All through human [[history]] people have [[witnessed]] what terrible things that the unknown and the unanticipated have done to them and their [[friends]].  For so much of their history people have been at the [[mercy]] of the elements and wild [[animals]]; and then of course, above all, each other--through hundreds of thousands of years of nearly incessant [[warfare]] and crime.  So this fear of the unknown does have valid historical roots deep in the [[collective]] [[unconsciousness]] of the [[human]] [[races]].  

   

   

But this is where, my son, your wisdom can inform you that the best way to handle the unknown is by relaxing, by being highly consciously ready.  Yet how do you do this seemingly paradoxical thing?--relaxed and ready?  It seems contradictory, like the attempt to be still by effort, by vigorously holding your mind a blank.  It can’t be sustained for long.  Rather, you have to experience in your stillness how, by consistently relaxing whatever physical tension or mental worry or fear that arises--as they will occur to you--actually leads to a heightened unity of body and mind and spirit.  These fears of yours serve to separate you from yourself inside, and yet as you face them and relax into them, you gain a greater unity of self and purpose.  

But this is where, my son, your [[wisdom]] can inform you that the best way to handle the unknown is by relaxing, by being highly consciously [[preparation|ready]].  Yet how do you do this seemingly [[paradoxical]] thing?--relaxed and ready?  It seems contradictory, like the attempt to be still by effort, by vigorously holding your [[mind]] a blank.  It can’t be sustained for long.  Rather, you have to experience in your [[stillness]] how, by consistently relaxing whatever [[physical]] tension or mental worry or fear that arises--as they will occur to you--actually leads to a heightened unity of [[body]] and [[mind]] and [[spirit]].  These fears of yours serve to separate you from yourself inside, and yet as you face them and relax into them, you gain a greater [[unity]] of self and [[purpose]].  

   

   

For the faith and the trust in yourself and your spiritual helpers that it takes to try this, leads to those unique rewards that nothing else can give you.  This is the reward that awaits every sincere effort.  There are no shortcuts in spiritual development.  You proceed by decisions.  You have to decide to give these exercises in prayer, stillness and relaxation, a try.

For the [[faith]] and the [[trust]] in yourself and your spiritual helpers that it takes to try this, leads to those unique rewards that nothing else can give you.  This is the reward that awaits every [[sincere]] effort.  There are no shortcuts in spiritual development.  You [[proceed]] by [[decisions]].  You have to decide to give these exercises in [[prayer]], [[stillness]] and [[relaxation]], a try.

   

   

Student:  I will do that.  Thank you, Mother, for your undying love and for giving us the truth of things.

Student:  I will do that.  Thank you, Mother, for your undying love and for giving us the [[truth]] of [[things]].

   

   

NEBADONIA:  You are very welcome, my son.  Thank you for recognizing it; and be in my love.

NEBADONIA:  You are very [[welcome]], my son.  Thank you for recognizing it; and be in my [[love]].

   

   

Student:  Yes, Mother.  It says in the Urantia book about prayer, that the ultimate prayer is to pray for the extension of the kingdom of heaven.  I found that very profound.  That kind-of takes care of everything.  (he laughs)

Student:  Yes, Mother.  It says in the [[Urantia book]] about prayer, that the [[ultimate]] prayer is to pray for the extension of the kingdom of heaven.  I found that very [[profound]].  That kind-of takes care of [[everything]].  (he laughs)

   

   

NEBADONIA, laughing along:  Yes.  It’s--how--do you do it!

NEBADONIA, laughing along:  Yes.  It’s--how--do you do it!

   

   

Student:  Yeah…  That’s part of the unknown as well.  It’s also faith, and imagining how God sees us.  He sees our lives in love, and perfection, and joy--in our humanness.  He can see the potential we have to become as He sees us, to become that extension of His kingdom.

Student:  Yeah…  That’s part of the [[unknown]] as well.  It’s also faith, and [[imagining]] how [[God]] sees us.  He sees our lives in love, and [[perfection]], and [[joy]]--in our humanness.  He can see the [[potential]] we have to become as He sees us, to become that extension of His kingdom.

   

   

* Presence (The kingdom)

* [[Presence]] (The kingdom)

   

   

NEBADONIA:  If you’ve read the Urantia book’s version of Jesus’ life, you know what a stumbling block this was for his apostles.  Even at the time of the last supper they were still arguing about who was to be in what position in the kingdom, in spite of the fact he had told them over and over again that the kingdom was within.  Tonight I hoped to give you at least one or two of the many keys to this kingdom, this total personhood that you are, sharing your life with us.  

NEBADONIA:  If you’ve read the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents#Part_IV._The_Life_and_Teachings_of_Jesus Urantia book’s version of Jesus’ life], you know what a stumbling block this was for his [[apostles]].  Even at the time of the [Paper 179 - The Last Supper last supper] they were still arguing about who was to be in what position in the kingdom, in spite of the fact he had told them over and over again that the kingdom was [[Inner Life|within]].  Tonight I hoped to give you at least one or two of the many keys to this kingdom, this total personhood that you are, [[sharing]] your life with us.  

   

   

You need not always be self-aware to be in this kingdom.  This is the wonder and the reward of self-forgetfulness, that you can go for a long time being highly conscious and experiencing other things, other people, without being in the picture--so to speak.  The kingdom within continues to grow, sometimes, as Michael noted, even more fully for your not standing in your own light.  You’ve suspended your self-centered evaluation of how things are affecting only you to really touch and mingle with your fellows; and now you have a fuller reality of them in your soul.

You need not always be self-aware to be in this kingdom.  This is the [[wonder]] and the reward of self-forgetfulness, that you can go for a long time being highly conscious and experiencing other things, other people, without being in the picture--so to speak.  The kingdom within continues to [[grow]], sometimes, as Michael noted, even more fully for your not standing in your own [[light]].  You’ve suspended your self-centered [[evaluation]] of how things are affecting only you to really [[touch]] and mingle with your fellows; and now you have a fuller [[reality]] of them in your [[soul]].

   

   

Student:  Thinking about what C brought up about fear, it seems our cultures have so much fear embedded in how we interact with each other--like you said, for good reason sometimes.  Is this something as a result of the Lucifer Rebellion, or has humankind always had this?  You can read every day about someone being murdered, or abducted, or just random violence.  It’s hard then to be an extension of the kingdom when this fear permeates our culture.  There’s a lack of trust when people can’t look each other in the eye because if they do the response might be pretty bad.  Or like today in the paper there was a mother and her small child killed for no reason.  That’s so hard to overcome when you can see it every day.  Fortunately I do have faith in the reality of God, and wisdom, and truth, and love.  

Student:  Thinking about what C brought up about [[fear]], it seems our [[cultures]] have so much fear embedded in how we interact with each other--like you said, for good [[reason]] sometimes.  Is this something as a result of the [[Lucifer Rebellion]], or has [[humankind]] always had this?  You can read every day about someone being murdered, or abducted, or just [[random]] [[violence]].  It’s hard then to be an extension of the kingdom when this fear permeates our culture.  There’s a lack of [[trust]] when people can’t look each other in the eye because if they do the response might be pretty bad.  Or like today in the paper there was a mother and her small child killed for no reason.  That’s so hard to overcome when you can see it every day.  Fortunately I do have faith in the [[reality]] of [[God]], and [[wisdom]], and [[truth]], and [[love]].  

   

   

NEBADONIA:  Yes, my son, this is why we mention from time to time that humanity is not only plagued with large scale warfare but with crime, the plain and simple act of one person preying on another.  And this predation is not only through physical violence but along the lines of social and financial harm as well, human parasites feeding on their fellow citizens very knowingly, very cynically.  

NEBADONIA:  Yes, my son, this is why we mention from time to time that [[humanity]] is not only plagued with large scale warfare but with crime, the plain and simple [[act]] of one person preying on another.  And this predation is not only through [[physical]] violence but along the lines of social and [[financial]] harm as well, human parasites feeding on their fellow [[citizens]] very knowingly, very cynically.  

   

   

This has been going on so long that it’s only by the way of your stillness practice of relaxing and tuning in again to the miracle of your heart beating, or just watching something, without affecting it, you yourself can control; it’s only by getting these inner awareness’s and abilities that you can grow and sustain your faith and confidence in the face of outward threats.

This has been going on so long that it’s only by the way of your [[stillness]] [[practice]] of relaxing and tuning in again to the [[miracle]] of your heart beating, or just watching something, without affecting it, you yourself can control; it’s only by getting these inner awareness’s and abilities that you can grow and sustain your faith and [[confidence]] in the face of outward threats.

   

   

* Fear (Examine fears for their message)  

* [[Fear]] (Examine fears for their message)  

   

   

If it helps--and it usually does--examine each fear as it comes up in the light of a possible caution from your higher consciousness of the whole surrounding situation; say, imagining some possible accident while driving.  Your whole feeling/intuitive self may be sensing a real danger before your cognitive mind can imagine it concretely in thought.  Here, rather than disregarding the fear out of habit, it pays to entertain the fear for what information it may contain.  Being open to emotion, while at the same time not letting it control you, can give you a subtle read on a situation, a feeling-evaluation because feeling/sensing is the fundamental reality of your total self, your higher consciousness more in touch with reality than you are at times.  So also consider fear as caution and see what message it might contain.  

If it helps--and it usually does--[[examine]] each fear as it comes up in the [[light]] of a possible caution from your [[higher consciousness]] of the whole surrounding situation; say, [[imagining]] some possible [[accident]] while driving.  Your whole [[feeling]]/[[intuitive]] self may be sensing a real danger before your [[cognitive]] mind can [[imagine]] it concretely in [[thought]].  Here, rather than disregarding the fear out of [[habit]], it pays to entertain the fear for what [[information]] it may contain.  Being open to [[emotion]], while at the same time not letting it control you, can give you a subtle read on a situation, a feeling-evaluation because feeling/sensing is the fundamental [[reality]] of your total self, your higher consciousness more in [[touch]] with reality than you are at times.  So also consider fear as caution and see what message it might contain.  

   

   

These fears are something you will feel as you try to relax, for they are what is keeping you from being relaxed.  They are prompts--if you will--seeking to call your attention to something new, or some neglected past business.  It might seem strange to consider it so, but the fear wasting your life in boredom can drive you to all sorts of time- and energy-wasting mere busyness, or needing to be entertained, that rob you of your inner sense of completeness.  It’s the fear that most will face immediately upon trying to practice being still with only themselves for company.  This is especially relevant now you can go through your entire day with some electronic gadget playing in your ear when you are apart from the TV and computer.  You may never have been forced to examine your feelings and consider your own thoughts, so when you try, they seem too superficial and boring at first.     

These fears are something you will feel as you try to relax, for they are what is keeping you from being relaxed.  They are prompts--if you will--seeking to call your [[attention]] to something new, or some neglected past [[business]].  It might seem strange to consider it so, but the fear wasting your life in boredom can drive you to all sorts of [[time]]- and energy-wasting mere [[busyness]], or needing to be [[entertained]], that rob you of your inner sense of completeness.  It’s the fear that most will face immediately upon trying to practice being still with only themselves for company.  This is especially relevant now you can go through your entire day with some electronic gadget playing in your ear when you are apart from the TV and computer.  You may never have been [[forced]] to examine your feelings and consider your own thoughts, so when you try, they seem too superficial and boring at first.     

   

   

Student:  I worry our youth, with so many of these things like i-pods and stuff, are losing, or never developing, the capacity to think for themselves.  What’s happening to their abilities of discernment, or their ability to feel what they are doing to someone else?--the pain they’re causing?  They know it’s wrong, but they still do it.  Where is the spiritual understanding?  That’s my feeling of fear: I fear for my own children, even though I understand so much of what God is, and the kingdom is.  It seems so incongruent to our true nature--who I am: but I feel the fear.  I’m not shying away from it, but it seems so unnecessary.  It’s like I’m feeling all this fear because of other people’s incongruence with their true natures.

Student:  I worry our [[youth]], with so many of these things like i-pods and stuff, are losing, or never developing, the capacity to [[think]] for themselves.  What’s happening to their abilities of [[discernment]], or their ability to feel what they are doing to someone else?--the [[pain]] they’re causing?  They know it’s wrong, but they still do it.  Where is the [[spiritual]] [[understanding]]?  That’s my feeling of fear: I fear for my own [[children]], even though I [[understand]] so much of what God is, and the kingdom is.  It seems so incongruent to our true nature--who I am: but I feel the fear.  I’m not shying away from it, but it seems so unnecessary.  It’s like I’m feeling all this fear because of other people’s incongruence with their true natures.

   

   

* Humanity (People’s true nature)

* [[Humanity]] (People’s true nature)

   

   

NEBADONIA:  Yes, my son, but I would caution you about too easily assuming what is a person’s, or people’s so-called true nature.  Your Urantia book puts this very succinctly: the endowing of immature and imperfect beings with a relative degree of free will leads inevitably to tragedy.  The cosmic possibility for wrong-doing is the price we all pay for each person’s ability to co-create their own life and destiny, all the while, perfection of moral understanding and behavior is an experiential acquirement, not an existential actuality.  Again, it does no good to think of someone’s true nature as intrinsically perfect when the individual is incapable of realizing it yet through simple immaturity, lack of experience.  Prior to acquiring this experience, and reflecting upon it, a person is more or less subject to their heredity and environment, their unconscious conditioning.  This was the meaning when Michael, as Jesus, asked of our Father to forgive his children; they knew not what they were doing.  

NEBADONIA:  Yes, my son, but I would caution you about too easily assuming what is a [[person]]’s, or people’s so-called true [[nature]].  Your [[Urantia book]] puts this very succinctly: the endowing of immature and imperfect beings with a [[relative]] degree of [[free will]] leads inevitably to [[tragedy]].  The [[cosmic]] [[possibility]] for wrong-doing is the price we all pay for each person’s ability to co-create their own life and [[destiny]], all the while, [[perfection]] of [[moral]] understanding and [[behavior]] is an experiential acquirement, not an [[existential]] actuality.  Again, it does no good to think of someone’s true nature as intrinsically perfect when the individual is incapable of [[realizing]] it yet through simple immaturity, lack of experience.  Prior to acquiring this experience, and [[reflecting]] upon it, a person is more or less subject to their [[heredity]] and [[environment]], their unconscious conditioning.  This was the [[meaning]] when Michael, as [[Jesus]], asked of [[our Father]] to [[forgive]] his children; they knew not what they were doing.  

   

   

In time, everyone--almost without exception--will come to know the fullness of what they do or fail to do.  That is the promise of life beyond this first one you experience.  That is the promise of reawakening on the Mansion worlds and looking about with such an awareness of having survived, with such wonder of enhanced perception and feeling, that even the most hardened evil-doers are given another chance to let go their selves and not be so cynically self-centered they would--as you said--kill a child and all its potential for life, just in order to feel a little more powerful for a short while--a truly obscene act.  Yet that is what you have to contend with occasionally as a part of your human reality.  

In [[time]], everyone--almost without exception--will come to know the fullness of what they do or fail to do.  That is the [[promise]] of life beyond this first one you experience.  That is the promise of reawakening on the [[Mansion worlds]] and looking about with such an awareness of having survived, with such [[wonder]] of enhanced [[perception]] and [[feeling]], that even the most hardened evil-doers are given another [[chance]] to let go their selves and not be so cynically self-centered they would--as you said--kill a child and all its [[potential]] for life, just in order to feel a little more [[powerful]] for a short while--a truly obscene act.  Yet that is what you have to contend with occasionally as a part of your human reality.  

   

   

To set up a universe without this possibility of individual free will would be a kind of cosmic tyranny by comparison.  It’s the very nature of Deity, of God’s will, to share not only personality but even creativity and freedom with all His children, the good and the evil alike.  That is their choice to make.

To set up a [[universe]] without this possibility of [[individual]] [[free will]] would be a kind of cosmic [[tyranny]] by comparison.  It’s the very nature of [[Deity]], of God’s will, to [[share]] not only [[personality]] but even [[creativity]] and [[freedom]] with all His children, the [[good]] and the [[evil]] alike.  That is their [[choice]] to make.

   

   

Student:  How free is that will then if it’s consumed or colored by emotion and instability, prejudice or deliberate training in evil?  I don’t consider that free will.  That’s someone enslaved by their own perceptions of what humanity is all about.  Is true freedom of speech what incites riots, or prejudice, and hate, and ignorance?  It doesn’t benefit a single human being.  

Student:  How free is that will then if it’s consumed or colored by [[emotion]] and instability, [[prejudice]] or deliberate [[training]] in [[evil]]?  I don’t consider that free will.  That’s someone [[enslaved]] by their own [[perceptions]] of what [[humanity]] is all about.  Is true freedom of [[speech]] what incites riots, or prejudice, and hate, and ignorance?  It doesn’t benefit a single human being.  

   

   

NEBADONIA:  Actually, my son, such criminal or warlike behavior does immediately benefit the perpetrator, if not in the long run of inevitable justice.  It  might be of help to see it more as self-centeredness.  The freedom is there to do what they will, only most criminal activity is where a person holds their own immediate needs above anything and anyone else; it’s that me!--me!--me!--with which they choose, very knowingly at times, to hurt another.  However pathetic a life they’re living, they are highly dangerous not only because they hold their own needs above anyone else, but because the obscene act doesn’t really satisfy for long, and usually only leads to another.  

NEBADONIA:  Actually, my son, such criminal or [[violent|warlike]] [[behavior]] does immediately benefit the perpetrator, if not in the long run of inevitable [[justice]].  It  might be of help to see it more as self-centeredness.  The freedom is there to do what they will, only most criminal activity is where a person holds their own immediate needs above anything and anyone else; it’s that me!--me!--me!--with which they choose, very knowingly at times, to hurt another.  However pathetic a life they’re living, they are highly dangerous not only because they hold their own needs above anyone else, but because the [[obscene]] [[act]] doesn’t really satisfy for long, and usually only leads to another.  

   

   

But you are correct in that their personality is still so totally conditioned by past events they can never achieve the real freedom of true, present-moment creativity.  They are still only reactive.  They’ve never experienced that glorious moment of seeing they are no more important than the next person, and that the needs they feel as a human being, of recognition and response, are universal and have to be acknowledged and balanced with everyone else’s.  They want to play God and control life and death, or even pain--through torture, with another person.  They not only fail to realize they have the presence of God already within them, but that it is also present in everyone else.  They are really and truly pathetic beings, but they are also quite dangerous.  That full reality of their humanity--their human possibilities--is something you have to deal with.

But you are correct in that their personality is still so totally conditioned by past events they can never achieve the real freedom of true, present-[[moment]] [[creativity]].  They are still only reactive.  They’ve never experienced that [[glorious]] moment of seeing they are no more important than the next person, and that the needs they feel as a human being, of recognition and response, are [[universal]] and have to be acknowledged and [[balanced]] with everyone else’s.  They want to play God and control life and [[death]], or even [[pain]]--through [[torture]], with another person.  They not only fail to realize they have the [[Thought Adjuster|presence of God]] already within them, but that it is also present in everyone else.  They are really and truly pathetic beings, but they are also quite dangerous.  That full reality of their humanity--their human possibilities--is something you have to deal with.

   

   

* The Unknown (Welcoming the unknown)  

* [[Unknown]] (Welcoming the unknown)  

 

===Closing===

===Closing===

Good night, my children.  Be in my love.

Good night, my children.  Be in my love.