Changes

[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]]

Marin TM Group—Mill Valley, California—U.S.A.

 

Dear Mother Spirit and Michael, We thank you again for these lessons of encouragement, giving us insights and sharing with us your wisdom from your larger point of view. But even more we treasure your presence and all that we can feel--your love, your tenderness and kindness, your deep caring for us. We hope these qualities we feel so directly can come through the words to all the future readers in the coming weeks, or months, or even years. We bid them welcome too, to your presence, and we feel a kind of happiness-in-advance for them. So thank you again. Amen.

Dear Mother Spirit and Michael, We thank you again for these lessons of encouragement, giving us insights and sharing with us your wisdom from your larger point of view. But even more we treasure your presence and all that we can feel--your love, your tenderness and kindness, your deep caring for us. We hope these qualities we feel so directly can come through the words to all the future readers in the coming weeks, or months, or even years. We bid them welcome too, to your presence, and we feel a kind of happiness-in-advance for them. So thank you again. Amen.

Then you have your Urantia book, your planet’s Fifth Revelation from extra-terrestrial sources, informing you of the millions upon millions of inhabited planets out there among the stars. All this serves a wonderful purpose of expanding your concepts of God, and gives you a small inkling perhaps of what is meant by infinity and absoluteness.

Then you have your Urantia book, your planet’s Fifth Revelation from extra-terrestrial sources, informing you of the millions upon millions of inhabited planets out there among the stars. All this serves a wonderful purpose of expanding your concepts of God, and gives you a small inkling perhaps of what is meant by infinity and absoluteness.

(The mystery of free will)

 

*The mystery of free will

In the last few weeks we’ve touched upon the mystery of how such an absolute and infinite being can create that which is sub-absolute and finite, give them personality and life--a little nudge, if you will--and then let them go to enjoy an individuality--always within him, within his creation, but able to realize what we call free will--the ability to depart from his single great will that sustains us all. So the nature of free will will always be bound about and conditioned by many factors, some of them physical. In your human lives you are endlessly evolving your scientific understanding of God’s laws in the physical realm, both through your Hubble telescope seeing out into the infinite reaches of outer space, and then with your micro-biology and your electron microscopes peering down into the infinitesimal, and not yet finding any bottom. So we could tease you about being a kind of midrange creature, suspended between the infinite and the infinitesimal, and bequeathed/created with this mystery of a free will.

In the last few weeks we’ve touched upon the mystery of how such an absolute and infinite being can create that which is sub-absolute and finite, give them personality and life--a little nudge, if you will--and then let them go to enjoy an individuality--always within him, within his creation, but able to realize what we call free will--the ability to depart from his single great will that sustains us all. So the nature of free will will always be bound about and conditioned by many factors, some of them physical. In your human lives you are endlessly evolving your scientific understanding of God’s laws in the physical realm, both through your Hubble telescope seeing out into the infinite reaches of outer space, and then with your micro-biology and your electron microscopes peering down into the infinitesimal, and not yet finding any bottom. So we could tease you about being a kind of midrange creature, suspended between the infinite and the infinitesimal, and bequeathed/created with this mystery of a free will.

Do you remember our lessons on your trying to be as clear as you can be within yourself about what is involved in a decision--all the factors; then what your decision is; then what the outcome seems to be; and even how the outcome itself can change over time as your understanding grows? Indeed all this complexity can be quite overwhelming, and is for many people, giving them pause to question the very existence any free will at all. And that can be a true assessment of their particular situation at that moment.

Do you remember our lessons on your trying to be as clear as you can be within yourself about what is involved in a decision--all the factors; then what your decision is; then what the outcome seems to be; and even how the outcome itself can change over time as your understanding grows? Indeed all this complexity can be quite overwhelming, and is for many people, giving them pause to question the very existence any free will at all. And that can be a true assessment of their particular situation at that moment.

(Your creativity)

*Your creativity

When we say that your spiritual nature is intrinsic within your personality, we are mainly referring to your creativity, for in this you are most like the Father. When you consider God himself, this is his single greatest attribute. His most profound and far reaching power is his creativity. So what determines the degree to which you can share this quality with him? Creativity is the one thing that supercedes causality for you. It’s some effect, if you will, with no exact antecedent cause. Obviously when you create something new it has many elements deriving from your own personal past experiences, but it is something more than just a mental extrapolation of these elements, more than just a logical re-combination, more than a intellectual association.

When we say that your spiritual nature is intrinsic within your personality, we are mainly referring to your creativity, for in this you are most like the Father. When you consider God himself, this is his single greatest attribute. His most profound and far reaching power is his creativity. So what determines the degree to which you can share this quality with him? Creativity is the one thing that supercedes causality for you. It’s some effect, if you will, with no exact antecedent cause. Obviously when you create something new it has many elements deriving from your own personal past experiences, but it is something more than just a mental extrapolation of these elements, more than just a logical re-combination, more than a intellectual association.

We’ve been talking about how you develop your own world as you grow up, and how this individual world of yours is comprised of much of your own, somewhat unique creations of perception, interpretation, enhancement. All of you, usually around early adolescence, have had the experience of futility, in some cases loneliness and isolation, when you realized there was so much you could never find expression for. There was so much inside you, and in your world, you could never hope to share, just because you are unique.

We’ve been talking about how you develop your own world as you grow up, and how this individual world of yours is comprised of much of your own, somewhat unique creations of perception, interpretation, enhancement. All of you, usually around early adolescence, have had the experience of futility, in some cases loneliness and isolation, when you realized there was so much you could never find expression for. There was so much inside you, and in your world, you could never hope to share, just because you are unique.

(The experience of your own uniqueness)

*The experience of your own uniqueness

How different people handle this experience is a determining factor in their developing character. Some despair and turn to cynicism, or anger, that they were created this way. Their feeling of individual uniqueness seems to point to a dog-eat-dog kind of struggle for power, no holds bared, if things cannot ultimately be shared and understood: each is alone. Some others have an exactly opposite reaction and willfully struggle to express outwardly themselves and their unique view through all the various creative arts and sciences and crafts. Many reach a final compensating and ironic paradox by realizing this uniqueness is what everyone has in common, and actually constitutes the family of humankind. How liberating, how freeing this realization is. It forms the basis for a kind of release of the need to judge others by seeing each other--as we’ve suggested--as little walking infinities, so ultimately or finally unknowable to each other, you can with good grace just let each other be and enjoy what can be known. Maybe this has something to do with love, and honoring, and respect; might I even suggest delight? For our common, unfathomable uniqueness points to our universal Father.

How different people handle this experience is a determining factor in their developing character. Some despair and turn to cynicism, or anger, that they were created this way. Their feeling of individual uniqueness seems to point to a dog-eat-dog kind of struggle for power, no holds bared, if things cannot ultimately be shared and understood: each is alone. Some others have an exactly opposite reaction and willfully struggle to express outwardly themselves and their unique view through all the various creative arts and sciences and crafts. Many reach a final compensating and ironic paradox by realizing this uniqueness is what everyone has in common, and actually constitutes the family of humankind. How liberating, how freeing this realization is. It forms the basis for a kind of release of the need to judge others by seeing each other--as we’ve suggested--as little walking infinities, so ultimately or finally unknowable to each other, you can with good grace just let each other be and enjoy what can be known. Maybe this has something to do with love, and honoring, and respect; might I even suggest delight? For our common, unfathomable uniqueness points to our universal Father.

If you have any questions or comments this evening, feel free to bring them to me.

If you have any questions or comments this evening, feel free to bring them to me.

 

Student: Mother, you mentioned that my Father Fragment and I someday will be one. It never occurred to me that this Father Fragment and I share my soul that we’re building now. That was a comment: the question is, is there any real need to know which choices we make are caused by antecedents--such as: I like chocolate, so I choose a chocolate candy bar instead of something else? I’m not quite sure of the question. (groups chuckles)

Student: Mother, you mentioned that my Father Fragment and I someday will be one. It never occurred to me that this Father Fragment and I share my soul that we’re building now. That was a comment: the question is, is there any real need to know which choices we make are caused by antecedents--such as: I like chocolate, so I choose a chocolate candy bar instead of something else? I’m not quite sure of the question. (groups chuckles)

(Choices and habits)

*Choices and habits

NEBADONIA: Well, my son, let me refer you then to all of our discussions on the nature of habits and habituation. Many of the things you take on as a child are only copying those about you, while for others you make a decision once or twice and then continue likewise. This is essentially what habits are--continuing behaviors based unthinkingly upon previous actions, and they can indeed take over most of your waking life, if you let them, if you want them to.

NEBADONIA: Well, my son, let me refer you then to all of our discussions on the nature of habits and habituation. Many of the things you take on as a child are only copying those about you, while for others you make a decision once or twice and then continue likewise. This is essentially what habits are--continuing behaviors based unthinkingly upon previous actions, and they can indeed take over most of your waking life, if you let them, if you want them to.

Student: Thank you, Mother, once again you’ve given me hope, that I’m not all as stuck as I think I am.

Student: Thank you, Mother, once again you’ve given me hope, that I’m not all as stuck as I think I am.

(Time, and the inside and outside of experience)

*Time, and the inside and outside of experience

NEBADONIA: There is a very natural human fear of precipitating yourself into unknown territory. So I replace my daily TV dosage with something new: then what? (laughter) Then I do this next thing: but then what? Where does it end? But this is what you cannot anticipate. This is what will be different when you ‘re doing it. This is that "inside" and "outside" of experience. You cannot know your own future from the outside, but only the inside as you do it. There is no way around it, my son: you have to step off and exercise your own spontaneity to have it come alive, and learn to trust in it. (Yes…) So think about this other "you," and give him life, for he will be you when you get there. (chuckle…)

NEBADONIA: There is a very natural human fear of precipitating yourself into unknown territory. So I replace my daily TV dosage with something new: then what? (laughter) Then I do this next thing: but then what? Where does it end? But this is what you cannot anticipate. This is what will be different when you ‘re doing it. This is that "inside" and "outside" of experience. You cannot know your own future from the outside, but only the inside as you do it. There is no way around it, my son: you have to step off and exercise your own spontaneity to have it come alive, and learn to trust in it. (Yes…) So think about this other "you," and give him life, for he will be you when you get there. (chuckle…)

Student: I have a comment. I thank you for your topic on seeing the value in suspending judgement. I’ve been continually, daily seeing and understanding the value of that, and how much joy it truly brings, and a sense of equality it gives me. I stepped off! Thank you very much.

Student: I have a comment. I thank you for your topic on seeing the value in suspending judgement. I’ve been continually, daily seeing and understanding the value of that, and how much joy it truly brings, and a sense of equality it gives me. I stepped off! Thank you very much.

(Assessment and judgement)

*Assessment and judgement

NEBADONIA: Yes, my daughter, I think you will enjoy reading a lesson we gave a few weeks ago on the difference between judgement and assessment being largely one of quantity, meaning you can make small assessments about a person that are necessary as you interrelate with folks, but as you acknowledge the unique infinity of another, you can feel a profound sense of relief that you can’t judge them the way only God can. And even he, who can see the entirety of a person’s personality and soul, even he prizes mercy over judgement; so can we do anything less? I commend you on your realization, my daughter, and wish you all the blessings it will bring you. (Thank you) Be in my love.

NEBADONIA: Yes, my daughter, I think you will enjoy reading a lesson we gave a few weeks ago on the difference between judgement and assessment being largely one of quantity, meaning you can make small assessments about a person that are necessary as you interrelate with folks, but as you acknowledge the unique infinity of another, you can feel a profound sense of relief that you can’t judge them the way only God can. And even he, who can see the entirety of a person’s personality and soul, even he prizes mercy over judgement; so can we do anything less? I commend you on your realization, my daughter, and wish you all the blessings it will bring you. (Thank you) Be in my love.

Student: Yes, mother, What is the propelling me to want to be in a relationship with another woman? Because at times it feels unhealthy, or feels not true to what my heart truly desires. I’m looking at all the subtle points of view that limit my free will. When you mentioned how sometimes—I can’t remember how you phrased it—but it feels like there’s no free will. I feel like my desire to be in a relationship takes over my sensibilities. And I don’t desire that any more---my pet adjustment. I want to come from a place of authenticity. And that’s reverence, not some compunction or compulsive-ness out of loneliness, or neediness. It should be love, or to love. I feel like I’m quite immature in this, quite naive or adolescent. I’m lacking free will.

Student: Yes, mother, What is the propelling me to want to be in a relationship with another woman? Because at times it feels unhealthy, or feels not true to what my heart truly desires. I’m looking at all the subtle points of view that limit my free will. When you mentioned how sometimes—I can’t remember how you phrased it—but it feels like there’s no free will. I feel like my desire to be in a relationship takes over my sensibilities. And I don’t desire that any more---my pet adjustment. I want to come from a place of authenticity. And that’s reverence, not some compunction or compulsive-ness out of loneliness, or neediness. It should be love, or to love. I feel like I’m quite immature in this, quite naive or adolescent. I’m lacking free will.

(Seeking an ideal relationship)

*Seeking an ideal relationship

NEBADONIA: My son, let me ask you to consider that there is something deep in your spirit and your soul that suggests the possibility—a purely positive possibility—of a relationship with a lady that will, as you put it, blow your socks off, will totally take you beyond you have yet known, because it will contain so many positive aspects along with a wonderful lack of all the negative qualities of neediness or greediness you’ve mentioned. This can be the almost terrible drawing power of a spiritual ideal. So get the feeling of that, and then ask yourself, is this ideal really so foreign? Have you been brainwashed into not even considering such a thing? Or is it part of your own deepest nature to want such a thing, to struggle to find it, not only for yourself, but for her as well?

NEBADONIA: My son, let me ask you to consider that there is something deep in your spirit and your soul that suggests the possibility—a purely positive possibility—of a relationship with a lady that will, as you put it, blow your socks off, will totally take you beyond you have yet known, because it will contain so many positive aspects along with a wonderful lack of all the negative qualities of neediness or greediness you’ve mentioned. This can be the almost terrible drawing power of a spiritual ideal. So get the feeling of that, and then ask yourself, is this ideal really so foreign? Have you been brainwashed into not even considering such a thing? Or is it part of your own deepest nature to want such a thing, to struggle to find it, not only for yourself, but for her as well?

Student: Exactly—like I alluded to this before in another conversation, about being afraid of my own power. It all runs along that line. I’m afraid of experiencing all the positive abundance, all that—then I’m in fear of forgetting. Maybe I’m selling myself short, because I have come a long way, in the past five or six years.

Student: Exactly—like I alluded to this before in another conversation, about being afraid of my own power. It all runs along that line. I’m afraid of experiencing all the positive abundance, all that—then I’m in fear of forgetting. Maybe I’m selling myself short, because I have come a long way, in the past five or six years.

(Material gains VS soul possessions)

*Material gains VS soul possessions

NEBADONIA: I believe it was expressed beautifully one time as, what good does it do a man to gain the world and loose his soul. This is a very righteous kind of fear…

NEBADONIA: I believe it was expressed beautifully one time as, what good does it do a man to gain the world and loose his soul. This is a very righteous kind of fear…

Student: How does that look--to think ahead and allow the ideal to come forth in that way, or to open and grow into this ideal?

Student: How does that look--to think ahead and allow the ideal to come forth in that way, or to open and grow into this ideal?

(Using foresight)

*Using foresight

NEBADONIA: It depends--especially in terms of finding this lady you wish to spend your life with. That’s why we kidded back and forth about dating or whatever that might take. Be specific, concrete, right down to earth about what you want and how you’re going to get it. That’s foresight, and it’s based on all your wisdom: what’s been possible so far, and yet extrapolating how you’ve been growing, how you‘ve been reaping the rewards of being open and surpassing yourself into new territory.

NEBADONIA: It depends--especially in terms of finding this lady you wish to spend your life with. That’s why we kidded back and forth about dating or whatever that might take. Be specific, concrete, right down to earth about what you want and how you’re going to get it. That’s foresight, and it’s based on all your wisdom: what’s been possible so far, and yet extrapolating how you’ve been growing, how you‘ve been reaping the rewards of being open and surpassing yourself into new territory.

NEBADONIA: There you anticipated me most correctly: I’ll be there with you; and with her. You are getting an ability to detect soul-realities. This is the greatest growing-tool you have. Michael recently answered a question about: do Thought Adjusters get together and arrange these matches? He answered that Adjuster-to-Adjuster communication is what you consciously register as another person’s soul. Your trying to understand all the different kinds of love, and relationships, is that quest for the reality of soul.

NEBADONIA: There you anticipated me most correctly: I’ll be there with you; and with her. You are getting an ability to detect soul-realities. This is the greatest growing-tool you have. Michael recently answered a question about: do Thought Adjusters get together and arrange these matches? He answered that Adjuster-to-Adjuster communication is what you consciously register as another person’s soul. Your trying to understand all the different kinds of love, and relationships, is that quest for the reality of soul.