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===EDUCATION AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH===

===EDUCATION AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH===

Today's lesson is on education and spiritual growth. This is an interesting topic in many ways. As you may have guessed, a very important part of this teaching mission is, as its title says, education. The way that we understand education varies somewhat from the concept as grasped in the material life. There is the presentation of a novel concept to the student. And the act of presenting the concept requires not only diligent effort on the part of the teacher but also the spiritual ingredient of love for the student and the sincere desire to impart that which has been gained through effort, that is, information. Without these two elements, as well as a third element, namely the sincere receptivity of the student, himself or herself, and the student's reciprocal love of knowledge and search for truth, then no real learning will occur. This is like a chemical reaction you may say. And, in fact, physical and electrical forces are very much involved in the education process. There is actual exchange of energy between the teacher and the student when true learning occurs. I am sure that everyone here has sensed that at one time or another during your lives. Think back, and remember the occasion when you acquired knowledge - and the teacher - and the occasion was marked by that different feeling within; not just a pedagogic exercise, but not so different from a dance in which both partners must coordinate their efforts and actions in order to achieve a successful result. There is nothing passive about education, about the learning process, and it may well prove to be the most difficult work that you perform for much of the first part of your eternal career. Additionally, part of the mission for each and every will creature created by the Father is to continue learning for the full period of your existence. Father has placed in all creatures abilities that are geared to assist in learning. Even the virus of Urantia is able to learn. And the act of learning can most definitely be placed in the category of "miracle." Like the secret of life, the secret of learning is unfathomable to the mortal mind. And like life, the mortal is able to perpetuate learning. And the analogy extends further for - as you are aware - many mortals believe they are responsible for life, and they are responsible for learning - lacking humility - in ignorance and denial of truth. As you grow in your ability to worship through your efforts, you will find that your capacity to learn is enhanced - yet another beneficial result of spirit growth - not a reward as you understand rewards, but more a result of following Father's plan rather than resisting. There has been talk in some of our recent lessons about Caligastia. And it is interesting to note here that the moment Caligastia received the idea of rebellion during communication with Lucifer was the moment at which his ability to learn ceased, and his ability to worship. And it could be said that he started to die at that moment, truly die, not a material death, but the profound death of the spirit.

Today's lesson is on [[education]] and [[spiritual growth]]. This is an interesting [[topic]] in many ways. As you may have guessed, a very important part of this [[Teaching Mission]] is, as its title says, [[education]]. The way that we understand education varies somewhat from the [[concept]] as grasped in the [[material]] life. There is the presentation of a novel [[concept]] to the [[student]]. And the act of presenting the concept requires not only [[diligent]] [[effort]] on the part of the [[teacher]] but also the spiritual ingredient of [[love]] for the [[student]] and the sincere [[desire]] to impart that which has been gained through [[effort]], that is, [[information]]. Without these two elements, as well as a third element, namely the [[sincere]] [[receptivity]] of the student, himself or herself, and the student's [[reciprocal]] love of [[knowledge]] and search for [[truth]], then no real learning will occur. This is like a [[chemical]] [[reaction]] you may say. And, in [[fact]], [[physical]] and [[electrical]] [[forces]] are very much involved in the [[education]] [[process]]. There is actual [[exchange]] of [[energy]] between the [[teacher]] and the [[student]] when true [[learning]] occurs. I am sure that everyone here has sensed that at one time or another during your lives. Think back, and remember the occasion when you acquired [[knowledge]] - and the [[teacher]] - and the occasion was marked by that different [[feeling]] within; not just a [[pedagogic]] [[exercise]], but not so different from a [[dance]] in which both partners must [[coordinate]] their [[efforts]] and [[actions]] in order to achieve a successful result. There is nothing [[passive]] about [[education]], about the [[learning]] [[process]], and it may well prove to be the most [[difficult]] work that you perform for much of the first part of your eternal career. Additionally, part of [[the mission]] for each and every will [[creature]] created by [[the Father]] is to continue learning for the full period of your [[existence]]. Father has placed in all [[creatures]] abilities that are geared to [[assist]] in [[learning]]. Even the [[virus]] of [[Urantia]] is able to learn, and the [[act]] of learning can most definitely be placed in the category of "[[miracle]]." Like the [[secret]] of life, the secret of [[learning]] is unfathomable to the [[mortal mind]]. And like life, the mortal is able to perpetuate learning. And the [[analogy]] extends further for - as you are [[aware]] - many mortals believe they are [[responsible]] for life, and they are responsible for learning - lacking [[humility]] - in [[ignorance]] and denial of [[truth]]. As you grow in your ability to [[worship]] through your [[efforts]], you will find that your capacity to learn is enhanced - yet another beneficial result of [[spirit growth]] - not a [[reward]] as you understand rewards, but more a result of following Father's plan rather than [[resisting]]. There has been talk in some of our recent lessons about [[Caligastia]]. And it is interesting to note here that the moment Caligastia [[received]] the [[idea]] of [[rebellion]] during [[communication]] with [[Lucifer]] was the moment at which his ability to learn ceased, and his ability to [[worship]]. And it could be said that he started to die at that [[moment]], truly die, not a [[material]] [[death]], but the [[profound]] [[death]] of the [[spirit]].

This can happen to mortal beings, of course. It is rare, but these are the ones who elect non-survival. You are given all of the perceptual qualities that your particular brain is able to accommodate to assist you in learning in the form that you now assume on Urantia. Your capacity to see, hear, feel, tastes, smell, are major tenants of your perceptual cognition. And there are a great many sub-categories that are also very useful. The entire human brain participates in learning, although this may not yet be recognized by your scholars. And in fact the entire body also participates, but not with exactly the intensity that the brain does. How is education and learning different among will creatures compared to those who lack free will? Because of the capacity to make free will decisions, an extremely important dimension in processing information belongs to the will creatures.

This can happen to [[mortal]] [[beings]], of course. It is rare, but these are the ones who elect non-survival. You are given all of the [[perceptual]] [[qualities]] that your particular [[brain]] is able to accommodate to [[assist]] you in [[learning]] in the form that you now [[assume]] on [[Urantia]]. Your capacity to [[see]], hear, [[feel]], [[tastes]], [[smell]], are major tenants of your [[perceptual]] [[cognition]]. And there are a great many sub-categories that are also very useful. The entire human [[brain]] participates in [[learning]], although this may not yet be recognized by your [[scholars]]. And in fact the entire [[body]] also [[participates]], but not with exactly the [[intensity]] that the [[brain]] does. How is [[education]] and learning different among will creatures [[compared]] to those who lack free will? Because of the capacity to make [[free will]] decisions, an extremely important [[dimension]] in processing [[information]] belongs to the will creatures.

Without this added sense - for it is a sense as your vision is - a being is unable to learn sufficiently to achieve the requisite spiritual growth needed for survival. So you see, that is why the appearance of creatures capable of freewill decision making is such a critical event on a planet. A critical and wondrous and miraculous event indeed. When you pass from this life and move on to the next level, the joy that you have now, from such experiences as procreation, will be imparted through learning and through worship and through assisting Father and His loving servants in creating that which is. Your memories of joy will most definitely be preserved as this emotion is really important in spirit growth. Since you are of animal origin and nothing is wasted, those strong feelings that are beneficial to animal survival - procreation, hunger and seeking of food, the desire to rest the body, aggression in the face of danger - once free will arrives, it becomes possible for the possessor of free will to channel these strong animal emotions into the service of the spirit most constructively. For each of you here doing that, channelling these emotions into your own personal spiritual growth is a part - an important part - of your own personal mission here on Urantia.

Without this added [[sense]] - for it is a sense as your [[vision]] is - a being is unable to [[learn]] sufficiently to [[achieve]] the requisite [[spiritual growth]] needed for [[survival]]. So you see, that is why the appearance of creatures capable of [[freewill]] [[decision]] making is such a critical [[event]] on a [[planet]]. A critical and wondrous and [[miraculous]] [[event]] indeed. When you pass from this life and move on to the next level, the [[joy]] that you have now, from such [[experiences]] as [[procreation]], will be imparted through [[learning]] and through [[worship]] and through [[assisting]] Father and His loving servants in creating that which is. Your [[memories]] of [[joy]] will most definitely be preserved as this [[emotion]] is really important in [[spirit growth]]. Since you are of [[animal]] origin and nothing is wasted, those strong [[feelings]] that are beneficial to [[animal]] [[survival]] - [[procreation]], [[hunger]] and seeking of [[food]], the [[desire]] to [[rest]] the body, [[aggression]] in the [[face]] of [[danger]] - once free will arrives, it becomes possible for the possessor of [[free will]] to [[channel]] these strong animal [[emotions]] into the [[service]] of the spirit most constructively. For each of you here doing that, channelling these [[emotions]] into your own personal [[spiritual growth]] is a part - an important part - of your own personal [[mission]] here on [[Urantia]].

Many of the components of these lessons are aimed at teaching you how to achieve this end. We know that this is very difficult. Do not have remorse for your animal behaviors. Remorse is not very useful in service of Father. If you regret some of your actions, reflect on them and learn a way to - in future - direct such emotions and energy toward your own personal spiritual growth. Review these simple lessons that have been presented and the most excellent presentations provided in your Urantia Book which go into great detail in this matter. Think of The Urantia Book as your textbook for learning in conjunction with this teaching mission. In this way you will aid in your receptivity of spirit teaching. Now that the universe circuits are open, fully open, it is possible for each of you to tap into the transmissions, albeit less than a fully conscious level. You can do so through worship, through acts of loving service - not servitude, but service - through your own earnest desire to grow, to improve yourself and those about you, and through sharing in discreet ways that which you have gained with others. Not your material acquisitions. But those which are spiritual. When you do this you complete the final part of education and learning, which is that the student shall always become teacher. The true test of learning resides in this act. There is no teaching without somewhere in the being a love for the Father, even though it may not be acknowledged. That is teaching as we understand it as will creatures. And this is also required for true learning. Every step that you take in your spiritual growth career you shall be receiving from those who are one step beyond you and you shall be giving to those who are one step behind you. There will be further lessons about education and teaching but because your transmitter tires, we shall stop at this point now, and I shall take any questions.

Many of the components of these lessons are aimed at teaching you how to achieve this end. We know that this is very difficult. Do not have remorse for your animal behaviors. Remorse is not very useful in service of Father. If you regret some of your actions, reflect on them and learn a way to - in future - direct such emotions and energy toward your own personal spiritual growth. Review these simple lessons that have been presented and the most excellent presentations provided in your Urantia Book which go into great detail in this matter. Think of The Urantia Book as your textbook for learning in conjunction with this teaching mission. In this way you will aid in your receptivity of spirit teaching. Now that the universe circuits are open, fully open, it is possible for each of you to tap into the transmissions, albeit less than a fully conscious level. You can do so through worship, through acts of loving service - not servitude, but service - through your own earnest desire to grow, to improve yourself and those about you, and through sharing in discreet ways that which you have gained with others. Not your material acquisitions. But those which are spiritual. When you do this you complete the final part of education and learning, which is that the student shall always become teacher. The true test of learning resides in this act. There is no teaching without somewhere in the being a love for the Father, even though it may not be acknowledged. That is teaching as we understand it as will creatures. And this is also required for true learning. Every step that you take in your spiritual growth career you shall be receiving from those who are one step beyond you and you shall be giving to those who are one step behind you. There will be further lessons about education and teaching but because your transmitter tires, we shall stop at this point now, and I shall take any questions.