Changes

==91:7. MYSTICISM, ECSTASY, AND INSPIRATION==

==91:7. MYSTICISM, ECSTASY, AND INSPIRATION==

91:7.1 Mysticism, as the technique of the cultivation of the consciousness of the presence of God, is altogether praiseworthy, but when such practices lead to social isolation and culminate in religious fanaticism, they are all but reprehensible. Altogether too frequently that which the overwrought mystic evaluates as divine inspiration is the uprisings of his own deep mind. The contact of the mortal mind with its indwelling Adjuster, while often favored by devoted meditation, is more frequently facilitated by wholehearted and loving service in unselfish ministry to one's fellow creatures.

91:7.1 [[Mysticism]], as the [[technique]] of the cultivation of the [[consciousness]] of the [[presence]] of [[God]], is altogether praiseworthy, but when such [[practices]] lead to [[social]] [[isolation]] and culminate in religious [[fanaticism]], they are all but reprehensible. Altogether too frequently that which the overwrought [[mystic]] evaluates as [[divine]] [[inspiration]] is the uprisings of his own deep [[mind]]. The [[contact]] of the [[mortal]] mind with its indwelling [[Adjuster]], while often [[favored]] by [[devoted]] [[meditation]], is more frequently [[facilitated]] by wholehearted and loving [[service]] in [[unselfish]] [[ministry]] to one's fellow [[creatures]].

91:7.2 The great religious teachers and the prophets of past ages were not extreme mystics. They were God-knowing men and women who best served their God by unselfish ministry to their fellow mortals. Jesus often took his apostles away by themselves for short periods to engage in meditation and prayer, but for the most part he kept them in service-contact with the multitudes. The soul of man requires spiritual exercise as well as spiritual nourishment.

91:7.2 The great [[religious]] [[teachers]] and the [[prophets]] of [[past]] ages were not extreme [[mystics]]. They were [[God]]-knowing men and women who best served their [[God]] by unselfish [[ministry]] to their fellow [[mortals]]. [[Jesus]] often took his [[apostles]] away by themselves for short periods to [[engage]] in [[meditation]] and [[prayer]], but for the most part he kept them in [[service]]-[[contact]] with the multitudes. The [[soul]] of man requires [[spiritual]] [[exercise]] as well as spiritual nourishment.

91:7.3 Religious ecstasy is permissible when resulting from sane antecedents, but such experiences are more often the outgrowth of purely emotional influences than a manifestation of deep spiritual character. Religious persons must not regard every vivid psychologic presentiment and every intense emotional experience as a divine revelation or a spiritual communication. Genuine spiritual ecstasy is usually associated with great outward calmness and almost perfect emotional control. But true prophetic vision is a superpsychologic presentiment. Such visitations are not pseudo hallucinations, neither are they trancelike ecstasies.

91:7.3 [[Religious]] [[ecstasy]] is permissible when resulting from [[sane]] antecedents, but such [[experiences]] are more often the outgrowth of [[purely]] [[emotional]] [[influences]] than a [[manifestation]] of deep [[spiritual]] [[character]]. Religious [[persons]] must not regard every vivid [[psychologic]] presentiment and every [[intense]] [[emotional]] [[experience]] as a [[divine]] [[revelation]] or a [[spiritual]] [[communication]]. Genuine [[spiritual]] [[ecstasy]] is usually [[associated]] with great outward [[calmness]] and almost [[perfect]] [[emotional]] [[control]]. But true [[prophetic]] [[vision]] is a superpsychologic presentiment. Such [[visitations]] are not pseudo [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucination hallucinations], neither are they [[Trance|trancelike]] ecstasies.

91:7.4 The human mind may perform in response to so-called inspiration when it is sensitive either to the uprisings of the subconscious or to the stimulus of the superconscious. In either case it appears to the individual that such augmentations of the content of consciousness are more or less foreign. Unrestrained mystical enthusiasm and rampant religious ecstasy are not the credentials of inspiration, supposedly divine credentials.

91:7.4 The [[human]] [[mind]] may [[perform]] in [[response]] to so-called [[inspiration]] when it is [[sensitive]] either to the uprisings of the [[subconscious]] or to the [[stimulus]] of the [[superconscious]]. In either case it [[appears]] to the [[individual]] that such augmentations of the [[content]] of [[consciousness]] are more or less foreign. Unrestrained mystical [[enthusiasm]] and rampant religious [[ecstasy]] are not the credentials of [[inspiration]], supposedly [[divine]] credentials.

91:7.5 The practical test of all these strange religious experiences of mysticism, ecstasy, and inspiration is to observe whether these phenomena cause an individual:

91:7.5 The [[practical]] test of all these strange religious [[experiences]] of [[mysticism]], [[ecstasy]], and [[inspiration]] is to observe whether these [[phenomena]] [[cause]] an [[individual]]:

*1. To enjoy better and more complete physical health.

*1. To enjoy better and more complete [[physical]] [[health]].

*2. To function more efficiently and practically in his mental life.

*2. To [[function]] more efficiently and [[practically]] in his [[mental]] life.

*3. More fully and joyfully to socialize his religious experience.

*3. More fully and [[joyfully]] to socialize his religious [[experience]].

*4. More completely to spiritualize his day-by-day living while faithfully discharging the commonplace duties of routine mortal existence.

*4. More completely to spiritualize his day-by-day living while faithfully discharging the commonplace [[duties]] of routine [[mortal]] [[existence]].

*5. To enhance his love for, and appreciation of, truth, beauty, and goodness.

*5. To enhance his [[love]] for, and [[appreciation]] of, [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_56#56:10._TRUTH.2C_BEAUTY.2C_AND_GOODNESS truth, beauty, and goodness].

*6. To conserve currently recognized social, moral, ethical, and spiritual values.

*6. To [[conserve]] currently recognized [[social]], [[moral]], [[ethical]], and [[spiritual]] [[values]].

*7. To increase his spiritual insight—God-consciousness.

*7. To increase his [[spiritual]] [[insight]]—[[God-consciousness]].

91:7.6 But prayer has no real association with these exceptional religious experiences. When prayer becomes overmuch aesthetic, when it consists almost exclusively in beautiful and blissful contemplation of paradisiacal divinity, it loses much of its socializing influence and tends toward mysticism and the isolation of its devotees. There is a certain danger associated with overmuch private praying which is corrected and prevented by group praying, community devotions.

91:7.6 But [[prayer]] has no real [[association]] with these exceptional religious [[experiences]]. When [[prayer]] becomes overmuch [[aesthetic]], when it consists almost exclusively in [[beautiful]] and [[blissful]] [[contemplation]] of paradisiacal [[divinity]], it loses much of its [[socializing]] [[influence]] and tends toward [[mysticism]] and the [[isolation]] of its devotees. There is a certain [[danger]] associated with overmuch [[private]] praying which is corrected and prevented by [[group]] praying, [[community]] [[devotions]].

==91:8. PRAYING AS A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE==

==91:8. PRAYING AS A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE==

91:8.1 There is a truly spontaneous aspect to prayer, for primitive man found himself praying long before he had any clear concept of a God. Early man was wont to pray in two diverse situations: When in dire need, he experienced the impulse to reach out for help; and when jubilant, he indulged the impulsive expression of joy.

91:8.1 There is a truly [[spontaneous]] aspect to [[prayer]], for [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN primitive man] found himself praying long before he had any clear [[concept]] of a [[God]]. Early man was wont to [[pray]] in two [[diverse]] situations: When in dire need, he experienced the impulse to reach out for [[help]]; and when jubilant, he indulged the impulsive [[expression]] of [[joy]].

91:8.2 Prayer is not an evolution of magic; they each arose independently. Magic was an attempt to adjust Deity to conditions; prayer is the effort to adjust the personality to the will of Deity. True prayer is both moral and religious; magic is neither.

91:8.2 [[Prayer]] is not an [[evolution]] of [[magic]]; they each arose [[independently]]. [[Magic]] was an attempt to [[adjust]] [[Deity]] to conditions; [[prayer]] is the [[effort]] to adjust the [[personality]] to the will of [[Deity]]. True [[prayer]] is both [[moral]] and [[religious]]; [[magic]] is neither.

91:8.3 Prayer may become an established custom; many pray because others do. Still others pray because they fear something direful may happen if they do not offer their regular supplications.

91:8.3 [[Prayer]] may become an [[established]] [[custom]]; many pray because others do. Still others pray because they [[fear]] something direful may happen if they do not offer their regular supplications.

91:8.4 To some individuals prayer is the calm expression of gratitude; to others, a group expression of praise, social devotions; sometimes it is the imitation of another's religion, while in true praying it is the sincere and trusting communication of the spiritual nature of the creature with the anywhere presence of the spirit of the Creator.

91:8.4 To some [[individuals]] [[prayer]] is the calm [[expression]] of [[gratitude]]; to others, a [[group]] [[expression]] of [[praise]], [[social]] devotions; sometimes it is the imitation of another's [[religion]], while in true praying it is the [[sincere]] and trusting [[communication]] of the [[spiritual]] [[nature]] of the [[creature]] with the anywhere [[presence]] of [[Thought Adjuster|the spirit of the Creator]].

91:8.5 Prayer may be a spontaneous expression of God-consciousness or a meaningless recitation of theologic formulas. It may be the ecstatic praise of a God-knowing soul or the slavish obeisance of a fear-ridden mortal. It is sometimes the pathetic expression of spiritual craving and sometimes the blatant shouting of pious phrases. Prayer may be joyous praise or a humble plea for forgiveness.

91:8.5 [[Prayer]] may be a [[spontaneous]] [[expression]] of [[God-consciousness]] or a meaningless [[recitation]] of [[theologic]] [[formulas]]. It may be the [[ecstatic]] [[praise]] of a God-knowing [[soul]] or the slavish obeisance of a [[fear]]-ridden [[mortal]]. It is sometimes the pathetic [[expression]] of spiritual craving and sometimes the blatant shouting of pious [[phrases]]. [[Prayer]] may be [[joyous]] [[praise]] or a [[humble]] plea for [[forgiveness]].

91:8.6 Prayer may be the childlike plea for the impossible or the mature entreaty for moral growth and spiritual power. A petition may be for daily bread or may embody a wholehearted yearning to find God and to do his will. It may be a wholly selfish request or a true and magnificent gesture toward the realization of unselfish brotherhood.

91:8.6 [[Prayer]] may be the childlike plea for the impossible or the [[mature]] entreaty for [[moral]] [[growth]] and [[spiritual]] [[power]]. A [[petition]] may be for daily bread or may embody a wholehearted yearning to find [[God]] and to [[do his will]]. It may be a wholly [[selfish]] request or a true and [[magnificent]] [[gesture]] toward the [[realization]] of [[unselfish]] brotherhood.

91:8.7 Prayer may be an angry cry for vengeance or a merciful intercession for one's enemies. It may be the expression of a hope of changing God or the powerful technique of changing one's self. It may be the cringing plea of a lost sinner before a supposedly stern Judge or the joyful expression of a liberated son of the living and merciful heavenly Father.

91:8.7 [[Prayer]] may be an [[angry]] cry for [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vengeance?show=0&t=1284134077 vengeance] or a [[merciful]] [[intercession]] for one's enemies. It may be the [[expression]] of a [[hope]] of changing [[God]] or the powerful [[technique]] of changing one's [[self]]. It may be the cringing [[plea]] of a lost sinner before a supposedly stern [[Judge]] or the [[joyful]] [[expression]] of a [[liberated]] son of the living and [[merciful]] heavenly [[Father]].

91:8.8 Modern man is perplexed by the thought of talking things over with God in a purely personal way. Many have abandoned regular praying; they only pray when under unusual pressure—in emergencies. Man should be unafraid to talk to God, but only a spiritual child would undertake to persuade, or presume to change, God.

91:8.8 [[Modern]] man is [[perplexed]] by the [[thought]] of talking [[things]] over with [[God]] in a [[purely]] [[personal]] way. Many have abandoned regular praying; they only pray when under unusual [[pressure]]—in [[emergencies]]. Man should be unafraid to talk to [[God]], but only a spiritual child would undertake to [[persuade]], or presume to [[change]], [[God]].

91:8.9 But real praying does attain reality. Even when the air currents are ascending, no bird can soar except by outstretched wings. Prayer elevates man because it is a technique of progressing by the utilization of the ascending spiritual currents of the universe.

91:8.9 But real praying does [[attain]] [[reality]]. Even when the [[air]] currents are ascending, no bird can soar except by outstretched wings. [[Prayer]] elevates man because it is a [[technique]] of progressing by the utilization of the [[ascending]] [[spiritual]] [[Circuits|currents]] of the [[universe]].

91:8.10 Genuine prayer adds to spiritual growth, modifies attitudes, and yields that satisfaction which comes from communion with divinity. It is a spontaneous outburst of God-consciousness.

91:8.10 Genuine [[prayer]] adds to [[spiritual]] [[growth]], modifies [[attitudes]], and yields that [[satisfaction]] which comes from [[communion]] with [[divinity]]. It is a [[spontaneous]] outburst of [[God-consciousness]].

91:8.11 God answers man's prayer by giving him an increased revelation of truth, an enhanced appreciation of beauty, and an augmented concept of goodness. Prayer is a subjective gesture, but it contacts with mighty objective realities on the spiritual levels of human experience; it is a meaningful reach by the human for superhuman values. It is the most potent spiritual-growth stimulus.

91:8.11 [[God]] answers man's [[prayer]] by giving him an increased [[revelation]] of [[truth]], an enhanced [[appreciation]] of [[beauty]], and an augmented [[concept]] of [[goodness]]. [[Prayer]] is a [[subjective]] [[gesture]], but it [[contacts]] with mighty [[objective]] [[realities]] on the [[spiritual]] levels of human [[experience]]; it is a meaningful reach by the [[human]] for [[superhuman]] [[values]]. It is the most [[potent]] [[spiritual]]-[[growth]] [[stimulus]].

91:8.12 Words are irrelevant to prayer; they are merely the intellectual channel in which the river of spiritual supplication may chance to flow. The word value of a prayer is purely autosuggestive in private devotions and sociosuggestive in group devotions. God answers the soul's attitude, not the words.

91:8.12 [[Words]] are irrelevant to [[prayer]]; they are merely the [[intellectual]] [[channel]] in which the [[river]] of [[spiritual]] supplication may [[chance]] to [[flow]]. The word [[value]] of a [[prayer]] is purely autosuggestive in [[private]] [[devotions]] and sociosuggestive in group [[devotions]]. [[God]] answers the [[soul]]'s [[attitude]], not the [[words]].

91:8.13 Prayer is not a technique of escape from conflict but rather a stimulus to growth in the very face of conflict. Pray only for values, not things; for growth, not for gratification.

91:8.13 [[Prayer]] is not a [[technique]] of [[escape]] from [[conflict]] but rather a [[stimulus]] to [[growth]] in the very [[face]] of conflict. Pray only for [[values]], not [[things]]; for [[growth]], not for [[gratification]].

==91:9. CONDITIONS OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER==

==91:9. CONDITIONS OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER==

91:9.1 If you would engage in effective praying, you should bear in mind the laws of prevailing petitions:

91:9.1 If you would [[engage]] in [[effective]] praying, you should bear in [[mind]] the [[laws]] of prevailing [[petitions]]:

*1. 91:9.2 You must qualify as a potent prayer by sincerely and courageously facing the problems of universe reality. You must possess cosmic stamina.

*1. 91:9.2 You must qualify as a [[potent]] prayer by [[sincerely]] and [[courageously]] facing the [[problems]] of [[universe]] [[reality]]. You must possess [[cosmic]] [[stamina]].

*2. 91:9.3 You must have honestly exhausted the human capacity for human adjustment. You must have been industrious.

*2. 91:9.3 You must have [[honestly]] exhausted the human [[capacity]] for human [[adjustment]]. You must have been industrious.

*3. 91:9.4 You must surrender every wish of mind and every craving of soul to the transforming embrace of spiritual growth. You must have experienced an enhancement of meanings and an elevation of values.

*3. 91:9.4 You must [[surrender]] every [[wish]] of [[mind]] and every craving of [[soul]] to the transforming [[embrace]] of [[spiritual]] [[growth]]. You must have [[experienced]] an enhancement of [[meanings]] and an elevation of [[values]].

*4. 91:9.5 You must make a wholehearted choice of the divine will. You must obliterate the dead center of indecision.

*4. 91:9.5 You must make a wholehearted [[choice]] of the [[divine]] [[Free will|will]]. You must obliterate the dead [[center]] of indecision.

*5. 91:9.6 You not only recognize the Father's will and choose to do it, but you have effected an unqualified consecration, and a dynamic dedication, to the actual doing of the Father's will.

*5. 91:9.6 You not only [[recognize]] [[the Father]]'s will and [[choose]] to do it, but you have [[effected]] an unqualified [[consecration]], and a [[dynamic]] [[dedication]], to the [[actual]] [[doing of the Father's will]].

*6. 91:9.7 Your prayer will be directed exclusively for divine wisdom to solve the specific human problems encountered in the Paradise ascension—the attainment of divine perfection.

*6. 91:9.7 Your [[prayer]] will be directed exclusively for [[divine]] [[wisdom]] to solve the specific human [[problems]] encountered in the [[Paradise ascension]]—the [[attainment]] of divine [[perfection]].

*7. 91:9.8 And you must have faith—living faith.

*7. 91:9.8 And you must have faith—living [[faith]].

91:9.9 Presented by the Chief of the Urantia [[Midwayers]].

91:9.9 [Presented by the Chief of the [[Urantia]] [[Midwayers]]].

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

[[Category: PART III: The History of Urantia]]

[[Category: PART III: The History of Urantia]]