Changes

===Group: [[Butler TeaM]]===

===Group: [[Butler TeaM]]===

==Facilitators==

==Facilitators==

===Teacher: [[Tomas]], [[Jasmine]], [[Philomena]]===

===Teacher: [[Tomas]], [[Jasmine]], [[Unknown|Philomena]]===

===TR: [[Gerdean]]===

===TR: [[Gerdean]]===

==Session==

==Session==

===Opening===

===Opening===

PHILOMENA: Feel My Embrace

PHILOMENA: Feel My Embrace

TOMAS: Good evening, my children. I am Tomas, your teacher and your friend. Your sharing this evening has been meaningful, and we are appreciative of the confiding trust that you manifest when you express your deep concerns so tenderly with each other. These concerns are indeed integral to your soul development and your mental poise. It is this type of communication that we refer to when we urge you to learn to communicate, for as you yourselves observed, having experienced a quality moment of stillness, all the trivialities of your material life fall away as insignificant, and you are then free to explore the depths of your soul and your true human concerns as to your meaning in life.

I will, of course, respond to you, and also Merium is eager to greet you and [[share]] with you, but before I launch, I would like for you to -- one more time -- look around in your [[native]] sphere this evening while the [[light]] hangs damp and serene upon [[Urantia]], and remember the adage from [[your text]] that refers to your life en route to [[becoming]] a frog, and that is that you should [[learn]] to live each day loyally as a tadpole.

Therein is your [[strength]] and your [[happiness]], for in [[observing]] your [[surroundings]] and the simple [[peace]] of your realm, you can appreciate your [[innocence]], your child-like-ness, your [[naivete]], and the many, many miles to go before you [[sleep]] in vast [[knowledge]] and [[wisdom]]. Be at peace, my precious tadpoles. Do not force yourself to leap about before you are ready.

 

Therein is your strength and your happiness, for in observing your surroundings and the simple peace of your realm, you can appreciate your innocence, your child-like-ness, your naivete, and the many, many miles to go before you sleep in vast knowledge and wisdom. Be at peace, my precious tadpoles. Do not force yourself to leap about before you are ready.

 

Many things you have brought to the feast this evening. My first response is to the matter of "original sin."

Many things you have brought to the feast this evening. My first response is to the matter of "original sin."

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

Original sin is a concept that has been adopted by Christianity and is one of the more serious handicaps to the flight of the spirit, for it inures its adherents to believe that they have begun in a state of shame. You are therefore a "shame-based society" and such a concept is deplorable to a loving universe, for you are not victims of your life here, you are the recipients of a wonderful gift, the gift of life! You are deity-in-the-making; you are en route to Paradise perfection. You are, even today, capable of manifesting relative perfection in your desire to serve and in your steadfast worship of those who have created you, those Trinity parents.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_sin Original sin] is a concept that has been adopted by [[Christianity]] and is one of the more serious [[handicaps]] to the flight of the [[spirit]], for it inures its adherents to believe that they have begun in a state of [[shame]]. You are therefore a "shame-based society" and such a concept is deplorable to a loving [[universe]], for you are not [[victims]] of your [[life]] here, you are the recipients of a [[wonderful]] gift, the gift of life! You are [[deity]]-in-the-making; you are en route to [[Paradise]] [[perfection]]. You are, even today, capable of [[manifesting]] relative [[perfection]] in your [[desire]] to serve and in your [[steadfast]] [[worship]] of those who have created you, those [[Trinity]] parents.

No, it does not reflect upon the shame of sex, but upon the concept of the knowledge of good and evil, for those who would question the word of God are, to some, a threat, particularly when they have established what will be and what will not be "the Word."

No, it does not [[reflect]] upon the [[shame]] of [[sex]], but upon the concept of the [[knowledge]] of [[good]] and [[evil]], for those who would question the [[word of God]] are, to some, a threat, particularly when they have established what will be and what will not be "[[the Word]]."

Those of you who understand the Word to be the Second Source and Center, who has indeed instilled in you a desire to rise to meet Him in this spirit-gravity circuit, would recognize that it is your destiny to stand tall. It is one thing to have humility and quite another to have shame. Shame is a way of keeping you in place, in line. It is an artificial obedience imposed by those who fear the truth.

Those of you who [[understand]] [[the Word]] to be the [[Second Source and Center]], who has indeed instilled in you a [[desire]] to rise to meet Him in this [[spirit-gravity circuit]], would recognize that it is your [[destiny]] to stand tall. It is one thing to have [[humility]] and quite another to have [[shame]]. Shame is a way of keeping you in place, in line. It is an [[artificial]] [[obedience]] imposed by those who fear the [[truth]].

We have spent much time developing concepts that would enable you to rise above a belief in original sin. The Caligastian episode, the Lucifer Rebellion, was not your doing; the Adamic Default was not your doing; nor was the crucifixion of Christ your doing. For you to assume any sense of responsibility for those historic events is absurd. You are a new soul. You are a budding new reality, having fallen from nothing, but rather being risen in awareness and enlightenment toward your rightful destiny as a spirit being in and through the Universal Father Himself.

We have spent much time developing [[concepts]] that would enable you to rise above a [[belief]] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_sin original sin]. The [[67:1|Caligastian episode]], the [[Lucifer Rebellion]], was not your doing; the [[Adamic Default]] was not your doing; nor was [[the crucifixion]] of [[Christ]] your doing. For you to assume any sense of [[responsibility]] for those historic [[events]] is [[absurd]]. You are a new [[soul]]. You are a budding new [[reality]], having fallen from nothing, but rather being risen in awareness and [[enlightenment]] toward your rightful [[destiny]] as a spirit being in and through the [[Universal Father]] Himself.

It goes back to self-respect. It goes back to your relationship with your Indwelling Spirit. It is necessary that you develop your own spirituality through your relationship with that God which resides within you, and not from theologies of ages past and olden prophets; and yet that concept, original sin, holds millions in bondage even today, for they fear to question, they live in fear. This is not the Father's will that His children should live in fear and feel justified in comforting themselves and surrounding themselves with yet more fear.

It goes back to [[self]]-[[respect]]. It goes back to your [[relationship]] with your[[ Indwelling Spirit]]. It is [[necessary]] that you develop your own [[spirituality]] through your [[relationship]] with that God which resides within you, and not from [[theologies]] of ages [[past]] and olden [[prophets]]; and yet that concept, original sin, holds millions in [[bondage]] even today, for they fear to question, they live in [[fear]]. This is not [[the Father]]'s will that His children should live in [[fear]] and [[feel]] justified in [[comforting]] themselves and [[surrounding]] themselves with yet more [[fear]].

It is our duty and our privilege to have come from darkness into the light, to show the light to those who still languish in darkness, that the knowledge of the Lord is not an intellectual knowledge, but a living and vibrant reality, a birth-right. It is enough to keep your hands full for a long time to come. Radiate your light, children, and let it be known that the knowledge of the Lord is good and brings joy, real joy. Does that help clarify, Hunnah?

It is our [[duty]] and our [[privilege]] to have come from [[darkness]] into the [[light]], to show the light to those who still languish in [[darkness]], that the [[knowledge]] of the Lord is not an [[intellectual]] [[knowledge]], but a living and vibrant [[reality]], a birth-[[right]]. It is enough to keep your hands full for a long time to come. [[Radiate]] your [[light]], children, and let it be known that the knowledge of the Lord is good and brings [[joy]], real joy. Does that help [[clarify]], Hunnah?

Hunnah: You always do.

Hunnah: You always do.

It is indeed your [[desire]] to have [[contact]] with [[spirit]] [[reality]] that has fashioned the [[Teaching Mission]], but you [[err]] if you believe that you have managed to create us all on your own. We also would err if we were to say that we are handling it without you, for indeed this is a [[TeaM]] effort. We are [[co-creating]]. There is no question about it. Whether or not you regard it as a viable [[reality]] is a matter of personal [[free will]] choice. As it is or is not real, then you select accordingly, and that is the way it is with [[truth]].

 

 

It is indeed your desire to have contact with spirit reality that has fashioned the Teaching Mission, but you err if you believe that you have managed to create us all on your own. We also would err if we were to say that we are handling it without you, for indeed this is a TeaM effort. We are co-creating. There is no question about it. Whether or not you regard it as a viable reality is a matter of personal free will choice. As it is or is not real, then you select accordingly, and that is the way it is with truth.

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

Hunnah: Then that really is the approach that we need to make. Anytime you start wrestling with questions, we must realize what level we are at, at the time, and it is almost an indication to rise, so to speak, to pull in, and that we are, if we're quarreling with a situation that we are off-track. It's a clue that we should pull in, and not wander.

Hunnah: Then that really is the approach that we need to make. Anytime you start wrestling with [[questions]], we must [[realize]] what level we are at, at the time, and it is almost an indication to rise, so to speak, to pull in, and that we are, if we're [[quarreling]] with a situation that we are off-track. It's a clue that we should pull in, and not [[wander]].

TOMAS: I will say this about that. There is no growth without conflict, and because you are experiencing a conflict does not mean for you to throw the problem away as if it didn't exist or to shut the door on a situation that has given you cause to grapple. It is, always has been and always will be your inherent right to question every step of the way on your journey. We do not expect you to passively lie down before anything. You are dignified, free will creatures of intelligence. It is your decision-making that expands you and ennobles you and enlightens you, and so it is desirable that you indeed ponder these things as they come to you, that you may make decisions about them -- heartfelt decisions and soul-searched decisions.

TOMAS: I will say this about that. There is no [[growth]] without [[conflict]], and because you are experiencing a [[conflict]] does not mean for you to throw the [[problem]] away as if it didn't exist or to shut the door on a situation that has given you cause to grapple. It is, always has been and always will be your [[inherent]] right to question every step of the way on your [[journey]]. We do not [[expect]] you to passively lie down before anything. You are [[dignified]], [[free will]] creatures of [[intelligence]]. It is your [[decision]]-making that expands you and ennobles you and [[enlightens]] you, and so it is desirable that you indeed [[ponder]] these things as they come to you, that you may make decisions about them -- heartfelt decisions and [[soul]]-searched decisions.

Will you please recall that I prefaced my words this evening with an allusion to the tadpole, and when in your idealism you hope for the best and find you have fallen short of your ideals, rather than beat the critter to death, recognize the stature of the tadpole that has a ways to go before it becomes a frog. Your ideals are great, and you are aspiring toward your ideals, but remember, even in this process of communicating with that which is your highest aspiration, always will the ideal be slightly beyond your capability of sustained attainment, for that is the lure of perfection.

Will you please recall that I prefaced my [[words]] this evening with an allusion to the tadpole, and when in your [[idealism]] you [[hope]] for the best and find you have fallen short of your ideals, rather than beat the critter to [[death]], recognize the [[stature]] of the tadpole that has a ways to go before it [[becomes]] a frog. Your [[ideals]] are great, and you are [[aspiring]] toward your ideals, but [[remember]], even in this [[process]] of [[communicating]] with that which is your highest aspiration, always will the ideal be slightly beyond your [[capability]] of sustained [[attainment]], for that is the [[lure]] of [[perfection]].

Even as you attain the height, you discover yet another hill, and lest you become tired of climbing the hills, turn your back and look at the view. Appreciate the perfect vista that has laid itself out in front of you; and after you have rested and reflected on how far you have come, on what you have mastered, what you have experienced and what you have given, then turn around with renewed strength for the next leg of the journey, the next section of ascent.

Even as you [[attain]] the height, you discover yet another hill, and lest you [[become]] tired of climbing the hills, turn your back and look at the view. [[Appreciate]] the [[perfect]] vista that has laid itself out in front of you; and after you have [[rested]] and [[reflected]] on how far you have come, on what you have mastered, what you have [[experienced]] and what you have given, then turn around with renewed [[strength]] for the next leg of the [[journey]], the next section of ascent.

And so when you feel conflicted, yes, take it easy; do not try to force growth. Do not try to demand a resolution, but allow the growth its natural unfolding. Spirit reality is real; the spirit reality will endure, will prevail, and will persevere. That is all. We will be in recess.

And so when you feel [[conflicted]], yes, take it easy; do not try to force [[growth]]. Do not try to demand a [[resolution]], but allow the [[growth]] its natural [[unfolding]]. [[Spirit]] [[reality]] is real; the spirit reality will [[endure]], will prevail, and will [[persevere]]. That is all. We will be in recess.

*[Intermission]

*[Intermission]