Changes

==Session==

==Session==

===Opening===

===Opening===

Ham: Greetings, children, I am Ham and I am happy that you have come this evening. We are going to discuss symbols and their power. The human intellect is engineered to respond to symbolic thought. Mathematics is the most coherent example of this symbolic reasoning. In a sense, all reason is symbolic. Thinking, thought, involves the use of word symbols and picture or spatial relationships. So in this sense, mind, as you experience it, exists on a level of symbols, a level removed from material reality.

Ham: Greetings, children, I am Ham and I am happy that you have come this evening.  

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

Humanity has evolved through the progressive use of symbolic understanding. The first language derives from symbolic relationships which create meaning. Human experience is made up of man's experience of the material world and his symbolic reasoning concerning that world. But, in addition, human experience of spiritual reality and symbols of that realty are somewhat enmeshed in the symbols of material reality.

We are going to discuss [[symbols]] and their [[power]]. The human [[intellect]] is engineered to respond to symbolic [[thought]]. [[Mathematics]] is the most coherent example of this symbolic [[reason]]ing. In a sense, all reason is symbolic. Thinking, thought, involves the use of word symbols and picture or spatial relationships. So in this sense, mind, as you experience it, exists on a level of symbols, a level removed from material reality.

Human beings experience God and love in the material reality of living. Man reasons with the symbols of that material reality and yet those symbols can be brought to a higher value level in describing something spiritual. The man Jesus, as he lived his human life, used material symbols to illustrate the spiritual world. He spoke of the spirit being like the breeze which touches everything in its path and yet one knows not where it comes from or where it goes. He spoke of humanity is symbols of the earth, of gardens, even of sheep and their shepherd in the spiritual realm. He taught of God as being a Father, someone who is loving, concerned, forgiving, and all bountiful.

Humanity has evolved through the progressive use of symbolic understanding. The first language derives from symbolic relationships which create [[meaning]]. Human [[experience]] is made up of man's experience of the [[material]] world and his symbolic reasoning concerning that world. But, in addition, human experience of spiritual reality and symbols of that realty are somewhat enmeshed in the symbols of material reality.

The Human symbols are not the reality, the reality lies beyond the symbol. But, human beings can only understand concepts by using symbols. When you experience the love of God, the overwhelming attentive tenderness of his spirit, it is very difficult to put this feeling and this knowledge into word symbols. It is experience and at the same time transcends all earthly experience.

Human beings experience [[God]] and [[love]] in the material reality of living. Man reasons with the symbols of that material reality and yet those symbols can be brought to a higher value level in describing something spiritual. The man Jesus, as he lived his human life, used material symbols to illustrate the spiritual world. He spoke of the spirit being like the breeze which touches everything in its path and yet one knows not where it comes from or where it goes. He spoke of humanity as symbols of the earth, of gardens, even of sheep and their shepherd in the spiritual realm. He taught of God as being a Father, someone who is loving, concerned, forgiving, and all bountiful.

How then does man dhow that he knows God? Books upon books have been written. God has been explained down through the ages in word symbols and always do these explanations fall short. You must know in your experience with human things and natural things the love of the Father.

The [[human]] symbols are not the [[reality]], the reality lies beyond the symbol. But, human beings can only understand concepts by using symbols. When you experience the love of God, the overwhelming attentive tenderness of his spirit, it is very difficult to put this feeling and this knowledge into word symbols. It is experience and at the same time transcends all earthly experience.

The Master never spoke of God except in terms of movement, of life, of transformation. Ultimately, he had to say very simply, "he who knows the Father knows the Son and hears the Father's voice through the Son".The mind, though very clever and adept at reasoning, cannot come to the conclusion, as in a mathematical theorem, that God exists. The mind is a small part of reality, but it is not the entirety. The mind can prove to itself that it exists, but it can't prove what is beyond the mind. The Father's spirit, which pervades all that is, has created all that is, is the only thing that can prove to himself his existence. Humanity must therefore grasp faith through the experience of the spirit. The mind knows that it knows, but it cannot prove to itself how it knows.

How then does man show that he knows God? Books upon books have been written. God has been explained down through the ages in word symbols and always do these explanations fall short. You must know in your experience with human things and natural things the love of the Father.

Theology is forever doomed to go in circles. God is that he is. Mind experiences the spirit, but the mind is less than the spirit and therefore cannot prove the spirit's existence with its meager symbology.

 

[[Theology]] is forever doomed to go in circles. God is that he is. Mind experiences the spirit, but the mind is less than the spirit and therefore cannot prove the spirit's existence with its meager symbology.

The symbols that represent God are very powerful. The awe of entering a grand Cathedral, the humility of bowing before a simple cross, all these things are welcome to the spirit and ease a craving of the mind. The mind, having been born of spirit, craves to know spirit. Human beings will endlessly use symbols to help satisfy that craving.

The symbols that represent God are very powerful. The awe of entering a grand Cathedral, the humility of bowing before a simple cross, all these things are welcome to the spirit and ease a craving of the mind. The mind, having been born of spirit, craves to know spirit. Human beings will endlessly use symbols to help satisfy that craving.

In order for humanity to know God, man must return the Father's love. When that circuit of God's love for man and man's love for God is complete, that is when the mind is given the gift of knowing. Individual believer's know that God is good. They know that God is true,even Truth itself. They know that God is beautiful and none of these things can be proved. Humanity has lived on this faith, this inner knowing of the faithful, throughout your long and tortured history.

In order for humanity to know God, man must return the Father's love. When that circuit of God's love for man and man's love for God is complete, that is when the mind is given the gift of knowing. Individual believer's know that God is [[good]]. They know that God is true,even [[Truth]] itself. They know that God is [[beautiful]] and none of these things can be proved. [[Humanity]] has lived on this faith, this inner knowing of the faithful, throughout your long and tortured [[history]].

Once again, the symbols of faith are all around. They are present in the courage and trust of a child's first steps. They are present in the aged eyes of wisdom. Seek you symbols of faith in mankind. Do not fear that such and such a symbol must be protected or might be denigrated. These things have no meaning in themselves. Their value and their meaning is beyond.

Once again, the symbols of faith are all around. They are present in the [[courage]] and [[trust]] of a child's first steps. They are present in the aged eyes of wisdom. Seek you symbols of faith in mankind. Do not fear that such and such a symbol must be protected or might be denigrated. These things have no meaning in themselves. Their value and their meaning is beyond.

The master spoke of everyday things, of life as it was lived in his day, and found ample symbols of spiritual experience. I say to you, be not slaves to symbols. Even great passages which have wonderful meaning are still only a shadow of the value and truth it is trying to represent. Many wars have been fought over symbols. But, humanity must go beyond this and learn to appreciate symbols, but not to make them sacred, even flags, the symbols of country and home. We must express to you that the symbol itself means nothing. The value it represents is important, but it is beyond the symbol. Sacred texts hold much value, the Bible, the Koran, the Torah, the writings of Confucius and so on all hold value, but when human beings cling to symbols and make them more than they are, it is the cause of much human friction that is unnecessary.

The master spoke of everyday things, of life as it was lived in his day, and found ample symbols of spiritual experience. I say to you, be not [[slave]]s to symbols. Even great passages which have [[wonderful]] [[meaning]] are still only a [[shadow]] of the [[value]] and [[truth]] it is trying to represent. Many wars have been fought over symbols. But, humanity must go beyond this and learn to appreciate symbols, but not to make them sacred, even flags, the symbols of country and home. We must express to you that the symbol itself means nothing. The value it represents is important, but it is beyond the symbol. Sacred texts hold much value, the Bible, the Koran, the Torah, the writings of Confucius and so on all hold value, but when human beings cling to symbols and make them more than they are, it is the cause of much human friction that is unnecessary.

When human beings grow to the point of placing the upmost value on spirit itself rather than the symbols of spirit, there will be peace upon this world.

When human beings grow to the point of placing the upmost value on spirit itself rather than the symbols of spirit, there will be peace upon this world.