Changes

*OLFANA - Half Moon Bay, California

*OLFANA - Half Moon Bay, California

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

Here's the question Olfana answered with a lesson on "The Rock in the Water":

Here's the question Olfana answered with a lesson on "The Rock in the Water":

QUESTION: I'm having trouble understanding what I perceive to be contradictory emphasis in books like "Keys to the Scripture" and "A Course in Miracles" with books like the Urantia Book. On the one hand, Christian Science and ACIM seem to emphasize to me a very high level of understanding of a spiritual world, and seem to denounce the reality of a materialistic world. Yet books like Kryon's book and the UB seem to indulge in endless speculation about energy forces and material forces. The involvement that (name) has with the healing energies, including her involvement with the flower essences and the gemelixers, imply these are crucial to your background in spiritual evolution and her understanding of healing. Can you clarify some of this for me?

QUESTION: I'm having trouble [[understanding]] what I perceive to be contradictory emphasis in books like "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_Health_with_Key_to_the_Scriptures Keys to the Scripture]" and "[[A Course in Miracles]]" with books like the [[Urantia Book]]. On the one hand, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_Health_with_Key_to_the_Scriptures Christian Science] and [[ACIM]] seem to emphasize to me a very high level of [[understanding]] of a spiritual world, and seem to denounce the [[reality]] of a materialistic world. Yet [[books]] like [[Kryon]]'s book and the [[UB]] seem to indulge in endless [[speculation]] about [[energy]] forces and [[material]] forces. The involvement that (name) has with the [[healing]] energies, including her involvement with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower_essences flower essences] and the [http://www.crucible.org/gem_elixir1.htm gemelixers], imply these are crucial to your [[background]] in [[spiritual evolution]] and her [[understanding]] of [[healing]]. Can you [[clarify]] some of this for me?

OLFANA (after gaining approval to use symbolism in her explanation): "If you place a rock in water, is it not true that your perception of the rock can change when you view it looking downward into the water? And then shift, and perceive the rock from, let us say, the side of a container that holds this rock and water. Also, if you placed your face in the water, would you again see the rock from a slightly changed perspective?

OLFANA (after gaining approval to use [[symbolism]] in her explanation): "If you place a rock in water, is it not true that your [[perception]] of the rock can [[change]] when you view it looking downward into the water? And then shift, and [[perceive]] the rock from, let us say, the side of a container that holds this rock and water. Also, if you placed your [[face]] in the water, would you again see the rock from a slightly changed [[perspective]]?

(Answer is affirmative) Then please hold this image in your mind as we proceed to discuss concepts of the body. The physical, bio-chemical mechanism, or instrument, you are housed in is now, indeed, like the rock of material substance. Yet your perception of this body you inhabit can change depending on your perspective. Sometimes you feel you are the rock in the water. Yet this is only one perspective. When you look from outside the cylinder through the water, does not the rock appear magnified, greater than its original image?

(Answer is affirmative) Then please hold this [[image]] in your mind as we proceed to discuss concepts of the [[body]]. The [[physical]], bio-chemical [[mechanism]], or instrument, you are housed in is now, indeed, like the rock of [[material]] substance. Yet your [[perception]] of this body you inhabit can change depending on your [[perspective]]. Sometimes you feel you are the rock in the water. Yet this is only one [[perspective]]. When you look from outside the cylinder through the water, does not the rock appear [[magnified]], greater than its original image?

Your consciousness is not only connected to this physical being. Much of your perceptions of your consciousness as limited to this body is illusory, just as the rock appearing magnified is an illusion of light waves affected by the water. Lessons learned from the perspective of being in the body are a necessary part of your experience in this lifetime. However, you are, indeed, so much more than what the body appears to limit you to, that teachings such as the Course or the doctrines of Christian Science, encourage you to expand your perceptions past these body limitations.

Your [[consciousness]] is not only [[connected]] to this [[physical]] [[being]]. Much of your perceptions of your consciousness as limited to this body is [[illusory]], just as the rock appearing [[magnified]] is an illusion of [[light]] [[waves]] affected by the water. Lessons learned from the [[perspective]] of being in the body are a [[necessary]] part of your experience in this lifetime. However, you are, indeed, so much more than what the body appears to limit you to, that teachings such as [[ACIM|the Course]] or the doctrines of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_Health_with_Key_to_the_Scriptures Christian Science], [[encourage]] you to expand your perceptions past these body limitations.

The true essence of the rock is not modified by these perceptual changes caused by different viewpoints of it. Just so, your body is not limited by body perceptions. Higher truths surrounding the complete make-up of your being are not fully understood or widely taught on your planet. I might say, you have seen the rock from many different angles in this cylinder of water. But, thus far, you have not reached in and pulled out the rock in order to gaze upon it alone.

The true [[essence]] of the rock is not [[modified]] by these perceptual [[changes]] caused by different [[viewpoints]] of it. Just so, your body is not limited by body [[perceptions]]. Higher [[truths]] [[surrounding]] the complete make-up of your [[being]] are not fully understood or widely taught on [[your planet]]. I might say, you have seen the rock from many different angles in this cylinder of water. But, thus far, you have not reached in and pulled out the rock in order to gaze upon it [[alone]].

The water surrounding this rock is representative of the many illusions or beliefs that exist in your philosophical doctrines. ACIM encourages you, as does the work of Mary Baker Eddy, to see that these illusions can be penetrated and, through inspiration, a clearer perspective-perception of the true entity that you are, can be discovered.

The water [[surrounding]] this rock is [[representative]] of the many [[illusions]] or [[beliefs]] that exist in your philosophical [[doctrines]]. [[ACIM]] encourages you, as does the work of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Baker_Eddy Mary Baker Eddy], to see that these illusions can be penetrated and, through [[inspiration]], a clearer [[perspective]]-perception of the true entity that you are, can be [[discovered]].

However, doctrinaire interpretations that the body has no existence on the physical plane are also incorrectly stated-perceived. You cannot deny that one is seeing an aspect of the rock, even when viewed through water. Just so, seeing the body as a physical entity has some accuracy. Adjustments to the vibrational manifestation of your entity can indeed take place. And physical imbalances do occur. These teachings of such matters as flower essences, energy transmissions and adjustments are appropriate to one level of perception of your being. You are not removed from the water yet!

However, doctrinaire [[interpretations]] that the body has no [[existence]] on the physical plane are also incorrectly stated-[[perceived]]. You cannot deny that one is seeing an aspect of the rock, even when viewed through water. Just so, seeing the body as a [[physical]] [[entity]] has some accuracy. [[Adjustments]] to the vibrational [[manifestation]] of your entity can indeed take place. And physical imbalances do occur. These teachings of such matters as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower_essences flower essences], [[energy]] transmissions and [[adjustments]] are appropriate to one level of perception of your being. You are not removed from the water yet!

Therefore, within the boundaries of this perception, the body needs to be dealt with. Indeed, the time comes when you are truly released from any limiting perceptions of your being as connected to a physical manifestation. But, it is the ideal which is striven for in ACIM or the Christian Science teachings. Those who can release themselves from illusions of body boundaries can indeed create new perceptions of themselves -- healed perceptions of themselves. But most mortals need to begin their comprehension of themselves at a level much more connected to the physical world. In the Course, Jesus says: "If taking a pill allows you to feel less anxious then, by all means, take the pill." There is much truth in this teaching.

Therefore, within the boundaries of this [[perception]], the body needs to be dealt with. Indeed, the time comes when you are truly released from any limiting [[perceptions]] of your being as connected to a [[physical]] manifestation. But, it is the [[ideal]] which is striven for in [[ACIM]] or the Christian Science teachings. Those who can release themselves from [[illusions]] of [[body]] boundaries can indeed create new perceptions of themselves -- healed perceptions of themselves. But most [[mortals]] need to begin their comprehension of themselves at a level much more connected to the [[physical]] world. In the Course, Jesus says: "If taking a pill allows you to feel less [[anxious]] then, by all means, take the pill." There is much [[truth]] in this teaching.

It encourages you to see that leaving behind your illusions of the body is a process that builds toward a final moment of clarity. Just as one realizes that by shifting positions and observing the rock, that these changing perceptions of the rock in the water are more a result of the water than the rock.

It [[encourages]] you to see that leaving behind your [[illusions]] of the [[body]] is a [[process]] that builds toward a final moment of [[clarity]]. Just as one realizes that by shifting positions and observing the rock, that these [[changing]] [[perceptions]] of the rock in the water are more a result of the water than the rock.

That moment of clarity liberates you to reach in and remove the rock from the water, to see it free of the substance which clouded your true perception of it. Just so, your release from illusions surrounding the body will come at the point you choose to remove your perceptions of your being from the body which seems to contain it.

That [[moment]] of [[clarity]] [[liberates]] you to reach in and remove the rock from the water, to see it free of the substance which [[clouded]] your true [[perception]] of it. Just so, your release from illusions surrounding the body will come at the point you choose to remove your perceptions of your being from the body which seems to contain it.

 

==Session 17==

==Session 17==

*OPPORTUNITIES FROM ADVERSITIES

*OPPORTUNITIES FROM ADVERSITIES