Changes

===Opening===

===Opening===

Good evening, this is Andrew. Our lesson tonight is on visiting the silence, on holding in our thoughts the presence of God, fastening our minds on his sharing our lives with us, his indwelling of our very minds, his seeking to lead us to him.

Good evening, this is Andrew. Our lesson tonight is on visiting the silence, on holding in our thoughts the presence of God, fastening our minds on his sharing our lives with us, his indwelling of our very minds, his seeking to lead us to him.

 

That which mortals call thought is hardly more than a stream of electro-chemical energy, ripples on the surface of a lake. And we are blown hither and thither by our thoughts and their attendant emotions, much like the wind-tossed waters of a lake. But beneath the surface, the Thought Adjuster dwells in the deep and hidden currents, ever sending forth his light and his truth, watchful for any opportunity to bring your consciousness more closely in connection with his. In fact, it is the same consciousness; mortals just tend to focus on the material, or surface, level. If you were riding in a boat and the waves were splashing about you, it would not be possible for you to see beneath the surface of the waters. If, however, you were in a boat on a calm, clear lake, you would be able to see beneath the surface. What we need for you to do, then, is to make of your mind a calm, clear surface, unruffled by the concerns of your everyday activities, relationships, and plans. That is why we ask you to enter the stillness, to calm yourselves, so that you may more clearly perceive what lies beneath the surface of your lives.

That which mortals call thought is hardly more than a stream of electro-chemical energy, ripples on the surface of a lake. And we are blown hither and thither by our thoughts and their attendant emotions, much like the wind-tossed waters of a lake. But beneath the surface, the Thought Adjuster dwells in the deep and hidden currents, ever sending forth his light and his truth, watchful for any opportunity to bring your consciousness more closely in connection with his. In fact, it is the same consciousness; mortals just tend to focus on the material, or surface, level. If you were riding in a boat and the waves were splashing about you, it would not be possible for you to see beneath the surface of the waters. If, however, you were in a boat on a calm, clear lake, you would be able to see beneath the surface. What we need for you to do, then, is to make of your mind a calm, clear surface, unruffled by the concerns of your everyday activities, relationships, and plans. That is why we ask you to enter the stillness, to calm yourselves, so that you may more clearly perceive what lies beneath the surface of your lives.

Calmness, stillness, is attained by practice. Hold an image in your mind. Perhaps the three concentric circles of Michael's banner, perhaps a flame of truth. Or hold a sound in mind. Not a sound so much, as the silence that lies beneath all sounds. You can hear the silence. Between each sound you perceive it is there, much as a blackboard is there, beneath the white letters that we mark upon it, or as a page is there, beneath the print. Perhaps you will best find the stillness through concentrating on a feeling--a feeling of warmth, centering in your heart, a feeling of love. Choose one of these modalities and focus on it. When you find that your attention has been led away from the image on which you set out to focus, simply let go of the thought or the emotion, and return once again to the image. Practice this. Try a period of ten, fifteen, or twenty minutes in the morning if you can, or in the evening. You may choose to precede this practice of stillness, of worship, with prayer, in which you bring your personal petitions to Michael. Then bring your praises, and enter from there into the worshipful stillness.

Calmness, stillness, is attained by practice. Hold an image in your mind. Perhaps the three concentric circles of Michael's banner, perhaps a flame of truth. Or hold a sound in mind. Not a sound so much, as the silence that lies beneath all sounds. You can hear the silence. Between each sound you perceive it is there, much as a blackboard is there, beneath the white letters that we mark upon it, or as a page is there, beneath the print. Perhaps you will best find the stillness through concentrating on a feeling--a feeling of warmth, centering in your heart, a feeling of love. Choose one of these modalities and focus on it. When you find that your attention has been led away from the image on which you set out to focus, simply let go of the thought or the emotion, and return once again to the image. Practice this. Try a period of ten, fifteen, or twenty minutes in the morning if you can, or in the evening. You may choose to precede this practice of stillness, of worship, with prayer, in which you bring your personal petitions to Michael. Then bring your praises, and enter from there into the worshipful stillness.

It is difficult for your Thought Adjusters to speak with you, to contact your consciousness when your mind is racing, when it is cluttered with material thoughts, when your emotions are stirred or troubled. Through-out your day, take time, a moment, to pause, breath deeply, and realize that you are in the heart of God as surely as he is in your heart and in your mind.  

It is difficult for your Thought Adjusters to speak with you, to contact your consciousness when your mind is racing, when it is cluttered with material thoughts, when your emotions are stirred or troubled. Through-out your day, take time, a moment, to pause, breath deeply, and realize that you are in the heart of God as surely as he is in your heart and in your mind.

 

===Closing===

===Closing===

This ends our lesson for this evening. Good night, and Peace to you.

This ends our lesson for this evening. Good night, and Peace to you.