Changes

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

First, I wish you to make a distinction between self-forgetfulness and self-denial—they are quite different. Self-denial has been used by penitents of the church to seek a holy state of existence, while in earthly form — the denial of desires, even physical needs of survival, in order to become stripped of all physical natures as a means to seek that holy position of oneness in spirit with Jesus, Christ Michael, with God. Today’s lesson is quite different from that and we will not be entering into the aspect of self-denial, but self-forgetfulness.

First, I wish you to make a distinction between self-forgetfulness and self-denial—they are quite different. Self-denial has been used by penitents of the church to seek a holy state of existence, while in earthly form — the denial of desires, even physical needs of survival, in order to become stripped of all physical natures as a means to seek that holy position of oneness in spirit with Jesus, Christ Michael, with God. Today’s lesson is quite different from that and we will not be entering into the aspect of self-denial, but self-forgetfulness.

===='''''[[Self-Forgetfulness]]'''''====

===='''''[[Self-mastery|Self-Forgetfulness]]'''''====

There are two sides, to begin with, to explain self-forgetfulness—at least two. One of which is that you know individuals who are arrogant, conceited, self-centered who exercise a form of self-forgetfulness—they forget who they are—they forget that they are one among many equal to others in importance. At the other extreme, there are those who are self-forgetful, who have forgotten that they exist, forgotten that they have needs, forgotten that they have a life and a purpose. They have forgotten who they are. They have forgotten that they are sons and daughters of God in physical form here on this planet to learn, to grow, to love, to develop, to become the greatest that they can become during this very brief lifetime. Self-forgetfulness, as we use it, is for the individual who is conscious of him or her self, a person who has self-awareness, the person who is self-aware of highest consciousness.

There are two sides, to begin with, to explain self-forgetfulness—at least two. One of which is that you know individuals who are arrogant, conceited, self-centered who exercise a form of self-forgetfulness—they forget who they are—they forget that they are one among many equal to others in importance. At the other extreme, there are those who are self-forgetful, who have forgotten that they exist, forgotten that they have needs, forgotten that they have a life and a purpose. They have forgotten who they are. They have forgotten that they are sons and daughters of God in physical form here on this planet to learn, to grow, to love, to develop, to become the greatest that they can become during this very brief lifetime. Self-forgetfulness, as we use it, is for the individual who is conscious of him or her self, a person who has self-awareness, the person who is self-aware of highest consciousness.

This first part of the lesson is necessary for the fulfillment of the second part, that of self-forgiveness. In the first part, you learned to maintain a consciousness of stillness in your daily life. Forgetting your social, cultural, ethnic, political identifiers, and on the other hand, recognizing, appreciating, and respecting that you are a child of God, that you are unique. In these regards, only then can self-forgiveness be fulfilled.

This first part of the lesson is necessary for the fulfillment of the second part, that of self-forgiveness. In the first part, you learned to maintain a consciousness of stillness in your daily life. Forgetting your social, cultural, ethnic, political identifiers, and on the other hand, recognizing, appreciating, and respecting that you are a child of God, that you are unique. In these regards, only then can self-forgiveness be fulfilled.

===='''''[[Forgiveness]]'''''====

===='''''[[Forgiveness]]'''''====

Self-forgiveness is the act of forgiving yourself as a child of God, respecting your self with the capacity to live life in the future, making better decisions. Self-forgiveness is an empowering capacity that empowers you to move ahead without the weight of past actions, which were detrimental to your life. You have read, have you not, in the Urantia Book that when you forgive yourself, you also must forget what you forgave! Were you to remember those issues again and feel guilt or shame, then you must forgive yourself again. Forgive yourself many times over, as many times as Jesus stated you must forgive the individual who sinned against you, whether it is seven times seventy, or seventy times seven thousand—whenever the feelings of regret, anguish, guilt, or shame arise in you, it is time to forgive again.

Self-forgiveness is the act of forgiving yourself as a child of God, respecting your self with the capacity to live life in the future, making better decisions. Self-forgiveness is an empowering capacity that empowers you to move ahead without the weight of past actions, which were detrimental to your life. You have read, have you not, in the Urantia Book that when you forgive yourself, you also must forget what you forgave! Were you to remember those issues again and feel guilt or shame, then you must forgive yourself again. Forgive yourself many times over, as many times as Jesus stated you must forgive the individual who sinned against you, whether it is seven times seventy, or seventy times seven thousand—whenever the feelings of regret, anguish, guilt, or shame arise in you, it is time to forgive again.