Changes

== Session==

== Session==

===Opening===

===Opening===

TOMAS: Good evening, my friends.

TOMAS: Good evening, my [[friends]].

Group (Leah, Gerdean, Ann and Hunnah): Good evening.

Group (Leah, Gerdean, Ann and Hunnah): Good evening.

TOMAS: I am stalling in anticipation of Hunnah joining us, but I cannot stall for long, for you are (already) late getting started. Yes, it is as always exciting to be with you in your most delightful configuration. There are times, flock, when you are quite amusing and we delight to see you in your light-heartedness; it is part of the family of man, you see, that you can be children together and laugh and giggle.

TOMAS: I am stalling in [[anticipation]] of Hunnah joining us, but I cannot stall for long, for you are (already) late getting started. Yes, it is as always [[exciting]] to be with you in your most delightful [[configuration]]. There are times, flock, when you are quite amusing and we delight to see you in your light-heartedness; it is part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_of_Man family of man], you see, that you can be children [[together]] and [[laugh]] and giggle.

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

I would like to point out to you, indeed and in fact, that part of the dark cloud that shrouds Urantia is based on the dark gray hues of seriousness, of pain, of responsibility, of crucifixion, of blame, and any number of burdens. When you have begun to feel the lightness of being that comes from knowing the love of the Father, you can relax your armor in joy of kinship, in delight of childlike laughter.

I would like to point out to you, indeed and in [[fact]], that part of the [[dark]] cloud that shrouds Urantia is based on the dark gray hues of seriousness, of [[pain]], of [[responsibility]], of [[crucifixion]], of blame, and any number of [[burdens]]. When you have begun to feel the lightness of [[being]] that comes from knowing the [[love]] of the Father, you can relax your [[armor]] in [[joy]] of kinship, in delight of childlike [[laughter]].

Now, bear in mind your peers, and not only your immediate peers but your peers planet wide -- whether they are young or old, dark or light, short or tall, whether they are Christian or Jewish, Buddhist or Islamic, whether they are Australian pygmies or Native American tribal elders -- no matter what background, gender, educational status or whatever -- these are your brothers and sisters, sharing a natal sphere with you.

Now, bear in [[mind]] your [[peers]], and not only your [[immediate]] peers but your peers [[planet]] wide -- whether they are young or old, dark or light, short or tall, whether they are [[Christian]] or [[Jewish]], [[Buddhist]] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam Islamic], whether they are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_peoples#Australia Australian pygmies] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_elder Native American tribal elders] -- no matter what [[background]], [[gender]], educational [[status]] or whatever -- these are your brothers and sisters, [[sharing]] a natal sphere with you.

In the course of time you and millions of others, as well as Michael, will be able to look back and call Urantia your home planet, but looking at your peers across the world and their many, many diverse understandings of what must be truth, beauty and goodness to them, will surely set up in your mind an understanding of the very, very diverse aspects of humanity, and all of these aspects of humanity have had certain evolutionary burdens to bear. And the yoke of their burdens and the burdens of their ancestors is often carried on their own shoulders for they fear letting go of their legacy lest somehow it be lost or disrespected in the process.

In the [[course]] of time you and millions of others, as well as [[Michael]], will be able to look back and call [[Urantia]] your [[home]] planet, but looking at your [[peers]] across the world and their many, many [[diverse]] [[understandings]] of what must be [[truth, beauty, and goodness]] to them, will surely set up in your mind an [[understanding]] of the very, very diverse aspects of [[humanity]], and all of these aspects of humanity have had certain [[evolutionary]] [[burdens]] to bear. And the [[yoke]] of their [[burdens]] and the burdens of their [[ancestors]] is often carried on their own shoulders for they fear letting go of their [[legacy]] lest somehow it be lost or disrespected in the [[process]].

It is possible, as a child of God, to know mirth and joy, even childlike silliness. That does not remove from your awareness, when appropriate, the different struggles of your racial composition, your cultural structure, your national contributions and so on, but people take life very seriously. All across the globe people regard life as very serious business. It is part of their heritage to be deeply respectful and concerned in some way about life, even when their behaviors often do not support that attitude.

It is possible, as a [[child of God]], to know mirth and [[joy]], even childlike silliness. That does not remove from your [[awareness]], when appropriate, the different [[struggles]] of your [[racial]] [[composition]], your [[cultural]] structure, your national contributions and so on, but people take life very seriously. All across the globe people regard [[life]] as very serious business. It is part of their heritage to be deeply [[respectful]] and concerned in some way about life, even when their [[behaviors]] often do not [[support]] that [[attitude]].

It is a gift to you to be able to laugh and partake of sonship/ daughtership and invite your spirit friends in, in your merriment and glee, and understand their affectionate regard for you in your youth, in your growing process. It is a gift. Those who have not discovered the gift of childlikeness still regard life as serious and burdensome, troublesome and dangerous. Yes, Merium.

It is a gift to you to be able to laugh and partake of sonship/ daughtership and invite your spirit [[friends]] in, in your merriment and glee, and [[understand]] their affectionate regard for you in your [[youth]], in your [[growing]] [[process]]. It is a gift. Those who have not discovered the gift of childlikeness still regard life as serious and burdensome, troublesome and [[dangerous]]. Yes, Merium.

MERIUM: It didn't sound as if you were really finished.

MERIUM: It didn't sound as if you were really finished.

TOMAS: I have a feeling you want to share in the point. I am not able to presume upon you, however.

TOMAS: I have a [[feeling]] you want to [[share]] in the point. I am not able to presume upon you, however.

MERIUM: What you have been saying as you've talked is reminding the human experience as being one of intense conditioning, and in that conditioning there is conditioning within the conditioning; there is inherited conditioning, the new conditioning, and it just goes on and on into the most complex maze, and yet it is so difficult to accept an invitation to just simply step out of it; it just seems too preposterous for words, and yet this is truly possible because the reality of you is responsive to the area where the freedom lies. It is simply logistics, in a sense, that the serendipitous experience is available to the most entrenched individual.

MERIUM: What you have been saying as you've talked is reminding the [[human]] [[experience]] as being one of [[intense]] conditioning, and in that conditioning there is conditioning within the conditioning; there is inherited conditioning, the new conditioning, and it just goes on and on into the most [[complex]] [[maze]], and yet it is so difficult to [[accept]] an invitation to just simply step out of it; it just seems too preposterous for [[words]], and yet this is truly possible because the [[reality]] of you is responsive to the area where the freedom lies. It is simply [[logistics]], in a sense, that the [[serendipitous]] experience is available to the most entrenched individual.

Just this evening Hunnah was having a conversation with a peer and they were talking about the currency of frequency of light and life that exists once one decides to accept the message of the Christ into their life and allow it to come alive and live in this incredible manner, and she was talking about waiting for something to come along in her life and said that it is indeed like track being laid in front of you.

Just this evening Hunnah was having a [[conversation]] with a peer and they were talking about the [[currency]] of [[frequency]] of light and life that exists once one decides to accept the message of the [[Christ]] into their life and allow it to come alive and live in this incredible [[manner]], and she was talking about waiting for something to come along in her life and said that it is indeed like track being laid in front of you.

As you go along and people come in at different points of intersections where you meet, you make contacts with others who are also on this light trail. But you cannot project or inject this new way of living into the old pattern because it operates on a different frequency, or you might say, has a different gauge track, and therefore you would not expect to set something down on the inappropriate rail if it were to be operating on one.

As you go along and people come in at different points of intersections where you meet, you make contacts with others who are also on this [[light]] trail. But you cannot [[project]] or inject this new way of living into the old [[pattern]] because it operates on a different [[frequency]], or you might say, has a different gauge track, and therefore you would not [[expect]] to set something down on the inappropriate rail if it were to be operating on one.

It is also possible to turn away from the old patterns and emotions, just the way you would dial a radio and get another signal. You would hear another (station); your attention would be diverted and you would find yourself appropriately functioning and responding to that different frequency. You are interacting with people all day who know nothing about this, or who perhaps read a little about it, accepted it lightly, mentally, and have gone on their way of their daily habitual pattern.

It is also possible to turn away from the old patterns and [[emotions]], just the way you would dial a [[radio]] and get another [[signal]]. You would hear another (station); your [[attention]] would be diverted and you would find yourself appropriately [[functioning]] and responding to that different [[frequency]]. You are interacting with people all day who know nothing about this, or who perhaps read a little about it, accepted it lightly, mentally, and have gone on their way of their daily [[habitual]] pattern.

This is, as you say, "where they are at," but as you continue to emit and express and practice the principles that have been laid forth in this teaching, and as they resonate in you, they will become stronger and stronger and it will be almost like a positive infectious experience that suddenly the light will go on. They will become more alert in areas of their private life, in their private thoughts, and once again a new performance will start to take place. You have had a social situation in your worldly experience take place that has caused a great commotion.

This is, as you say, "where they are at," but as you continue to emit and [[express]] and [[practice]] the [[principles]] that have been laid forth in this teaching, and as they [[resonate]] in you, they will become stronger and stronger and it will be almost like a positive [[infectious]] [[experience]] that suddenly the light will go on. They will become more alert in areas of their [[private]] life, in their private [[thoughts]], and once again a new performance will start to take place. You have had a social situation in your worldly experience take place that has caused a great commotion.

The only way you can ever correct a problem is to begin with yourself. If in some lazy way in your experience you have supported negative situations that harm other people, your attention will be brought to it and you will erase it from your pattern. It will be repugnant to you. You will not buy things that support injurious activities; you will not speak words that will harm; you will not entertain yourselves with programs or books that will hold you down and pull you back into the old patterns; and if you want to change the entire situation, you have to begin with yourself.

The only way you can ever correct a [[problem]] is to begin with yourself. If in some [[lazy]] way in your experience you have supported negative situations that harm other people, your attention will be brought to it and you will erase it from your [[pattern]]. It will be repugnant to you. You will not buy things that [[support]] injurious activities; you will not speak words that will harm; you will not entertain yourselves with programs or [[books]] that will hold you down and pull you back into the old patterns; and if you want to change the entire situation, you have to begin with yourself.

So I wish you well in the practice of new self-discipline in areas of your own experience that you have been too busy to notice, or perhaps you could say, as you stretch you will bump into the new areas that are not going to go with you; you are not going to allow them to remain with you. It is not a clean-up program; it is not a roto-rooting program; it is just that you will attend to the situation as it comes to you so that you may continue to travel in this new way of living. Tomas? You know I had a wonderful time.

So I wish you well in the [[practice]] of new [[self]]-[[discipline]] in areas of your own [[experience]] that you have been too [[busy]] to notice, or perhaps you could say, as you stretch you will bump into the new areas that are not going to go with you; you are not going to allow them to remain with you. It is not a clean-up program; it is not a [http://www.rotorooter.com/ roto-rooting] program; it is just that you will attend to the situation as it comes to you so that you may continue to [[travel]] in this new way of living. Tomas? You know I had a [[wonderful]] time.

TOMAS: You do well, Merium. Are there questions?

TOMAS: You do well, Merium. Are there questions?

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

Gerdean: I have a question, Tomas, or Merium, and it has to do with what you were talking about. It reminds me of the other day I got a bunch of books in for my shop. They're not all Catholic literature, but quite a bit of them are; some of them are quite orthodox, some are far more liberal, even including what I'd call transmissions or channeling, so it's a full range of literature, religious literature. A couple of them have to do with stigmata.

Gerdean: I have a question, Tomas, or Merium, and it has to do with what you were talking about. It reminds me of the other day I got a bunch of [[books]] in for my shop. They're not all [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholicism Catholic] literature, but quite a bit of them are; some of them are quite [[orthodox]], some are far more [[liberal]], even including what I'd call transmissions or [[channeling]], so it's a full range of literature, religious literature. A couple of them have to do with [[stigmata]].

My mother -- I don't know what the incident was that stigmata came up with her, but she -- in her inimitable style (which is probably the way of most people) said, "Oh, I don't believe in that!" and that finished it; the subject was over because, "I don't believe in that. Period." I said, "Well, mother, I don't either, however I like to know about what other people believe so that when I talk to them I can converse intelligently." Well, she could understand the wisdom of that, and this is kind of what my question relates to:

My mother -- I don't know what the incident was that [[stigmata]] came up with her, but she -- in her inimitable style (which is probably the way of most people) said, "Oh, I don't believe in that!" and that finished it; the subject was over because, "I don't believe in that. Period." I said, "Well, mother, I don't either, however I like to know about what other people [[believe]] so that when I talk to them I can [[converse]] [[intelligently]]." Well, she could understand the [[wisdom]] of that, and this is kind of what my question relates to:

Today there was a woman in the shop. She'd been in before. She was interested in one of these Catholic books in the front window. She found a book where a lady was pictured bleeding, another case of stigmata, and she, who is Catholic, said, -- "Oh, I don't believe in this! Do you?" Now....

Today there was a woman in the shop. She'd been in before. She was interested in one of these Catholic [[books]] in the front window. She found a book where a lady was pictured bleeding, another case of [[stigmata]], and she, who is Catholic, said, -- "Oh, I don't believe in this! Do you?" Now....

MERIUM: Did she mean "you, the shopkeeper"?

MERIUM: Did she mean "you, the shopkeeper"?

Gerdean: Yeah. Inviting conversation. I said, "No, I don't particularly, but obviously somebody does," and she proceeded to lambaste them, saying they were jerks and she (the stigmata lady) didn't know what she was talking about and so on and so forth, which was assailing these people's beliefs, and . .. I think that might have been a little bit about what you were talking about, Merium, is -- we're just not in any position to be assailing anybody's belief system.

Gerdean: Yeah. Inviting [[conversation]]. I said, "No, I don't particularly, but obviously somebody does," and she proceeded to lambaste them, saying they were jerks and she (the stigmata lady) didn't know what she was talking about and so on and so forth, which was assailing these people's [[beliefs]], and . .. I think that might have been a little bit about what you were talking about, Merium, is -- we're just not in any position to be assailing anybody's [[belief]] system.

But we're really good at it, you know? I mean, not only socially do we pass judgment on each other, and culturally, but religiously! I'm beginning to see how we pass judgment on each other's beliefs. And I'm guilty of it! Somebody wants to talk about reincarnation, I say, "Oh, I don't believe in that!" and that shuts the door, you know? It's like, "Too bad, if you believe in that. I don't!" and that does not bring an opportunity for communication and sharing and ultimately communion into the picture.

But we're really [[good]] at it, you know? I mean, not only [[socially]] do we pass [[judgment]] on each other, and culturally, but religiously! I'm beginning to see how we pass judgment on each other's [[beliefs]]. And I'm [[guilty]] of it! Somebody wants to talk about [[reincarnation]], I say, "Oh, I don't believe in that!" and that shuts the door, you know? It's like, "Too bad, if you believe in that. I don't!" and that does not bring an [[opportunity]] for [[communication]] and [[sharing]] and ultimately [[communion]] into the picture.

I was wondering, when you were talking, Tomas, about people all over the world -- if people all over the world have different backgrounds and perceptions, different belief systems that are personal to them...! I don't know what kind of question that is or what kind of response it might elicit or....

I was [[wondering]], when you were talking, Tomas, about people all over the world -- if people all over the world have different [[backgrounds]] and [[perceptions]], different [[belief]] systems that are personal to them...! I don't know what kind of question that is or what kind of [[response]] it might elicit or....

MERIUM: There is an attitude that you may adapt that is an attitude that will let you travel anywhere and talk to anyone about anything, and that is almost a manner of being an ambassador. If you were a guest in another country, it would never occur to you, perhaps, to speak negatively of the customs of that area you are visiting. It has a lot to do with good manners, and as you mature in your growth and you have a wider scope and your peripheral vision is extended, and you simply see the earth as being seeded with so many different cultures, and within the cultures a form of evolution taking place within each culture (some of them are in movement and some of them satisfied with the way it's been for 3,000 years) that after awhile you see enough of these communities that you will feel very comfortable with the fact that that's just the way it is in this particular situation.

MERIUM: There is an attitude that you may adapt that is an attitude that will let you travel anywhere and talk to anyone about anything, and that is almost a manner of being an ambassador. If you were a guest in another country, it would never occur to you, perhaps, to speak negatively of the customs of that area you are visiting. It has a lot to do with good manners, and as you mature in your growth and you have a wider scope and your peripheral vision is extended, and you simply see the earth as being seeded with so many different cultures, and within the cultures a form of evolution taking place within each culture (some of them are in movement and some of them satisfied with the way it's been for 3,000 years) that after awhile you see enough of these communities that you will feel very comfortable with the fact that that's just the way it is in this particular situation.