Changes

And now I will leave you with the following [[thought]]. Be [[steadfast]] in your [[adherence]] to [[truth]], that where and whenever you find truth, pluck it for yourself as a flower, and keep it as an everlasting [[gift]] from [[our Father]], no matter where or when you find it. [[Truth]] is living, truth is [[growing]], truth is ever-present, and you are all fully able to [[perceive]] it. Love God; fully [[accept]] and love yourselves; fully accept and love those you love. Open the doors of [[spiritual]] [[gifts]]. Open the doors of your [[treasure]] within, and give freely to those you love. [[Develop]] close [[friendships]], love one another, and show forth the light of [[truth]], the love of God, and the [[wisdom]] of yourself in your lives. We are with you through the week. My [[love]] goes to you all. I [[treasure]] the [[fact]] that you come for my [[guidance]] and that you [[receive]] and [[act]] on my [[words]]. My love to you all. [[Farewell]].

And now I will leave you with the following [[thought]]. Be [[steadfast]] in your [[adherence]] to [[truth]], that where and whenever you find truth, pluck it for yourself as a flower, and keep it as an everlasting [[gift]] from [[our Father]], no matter where or when you find it. [[Truth]] is living, truth is [[growing]], truth is ever-present, and you are all fully able to [[perceive]] it. Love God; fully [[accept]] and love yourselves; fully accept and love those you love. Open the doors of [[spiritual]] [[gifts]]. Open the doors of your [[treasure]] within, and give freely to those you love. [[Develop]] close [[friendships]], love one another, and show forth the light of [[truth]], the love of God, and the [[wisdom]] of yourself in your lives. We are with you through the week. My [[love]] goes to you all. I [[treasure]] the [[fact]] that you come for my [[guidance]] and that you [[receive]] and [[act]] on my [[words]]. My love to you all. [[Farewell]].

==THE ASCENSION OF MAN==

==Session 27==

This evening I wish to discuss the following topic: the ascension of man. All of you are equally on a path of increasing spiritual enlightenment and the unfolding of increased levels of liberty and service. With increasing levels of spiritual understanding, there is corresponding increase in relative prosperity, happiness, equanimity, awareness of justice, tolerance, understanding, foresight, spiritual insight and love. With this increased spiritual awareness, there is a corresponding level of spiritual liberty granted to you. This joyous liberation from the chains of intolerance, injustice, ignorance, slothfulness, etc. is found in these increasing levels of awareness so that you become more unselfish and less intolerant of the faults of others. You are then allowed an increased circle or realm of action which is based on service.

Loving [[service]] is the basis of the [[social]] fruits of all true religious [[experience]]. The more you serve your fellows, the more increased level of [[awareness]] of them and understanding of them, comes increasing [[love]] and devotion to [[God]]. The more you understand your fellows, the more you [[love]] them. The more you serve your fellows, the more you love them. These three aspects of life: [[understanding]], spiritual [[awareness]], and [[service]] are love based and [[love]] [[dominated]].

Loving service is the basis of the social fruits of all true religious experience. The more you serve your fellows, the more increased level of awareness of them and understanding of them, comes increasing love and devotion to God. The more you understand your fellows, the more you love them. The more you serve your fellows, the more you love them. These three aspects of life: understanding, spiritual awareness, and service are love based and love dominated.

As I said to [[Rebecca]] earlier, you must all learn increasingly to [[love]] yourselves. This will enable you to [[understand]] and [[forgive]] yourself as you can [[understand]] and forgive another. This is the basis of true [[self]]-[[respect]].

As I said to Rebecca earlier, you must all learn increasingly to love yourselves. This will enable you to understand and forgive yourself as you can understand and forgive another. This is the basis of true self-respect.

As I was saying, with increasing levels of spiritual awareness, spiritual [[liberty]] and social [[service]] is bestowed upon the [[individual]], an increased awareness of [[duty]] and [[love]] of that duty, the duty of love. As you grow in your [[wise]] love of your fellows, grow ever increasingly toward the expanded love of y[[our Father]]. Learn to bask in the light of His [[love]] for your lives will be [[transformed]] by it. We first [[accept]] the love of [[God]] as a child, and then we learn to walk in the light of His love as [[adults]].

As I was saying, with increasing levels of spiritual awareness, spiritual liberty and social service is bestowed upon the individual, an increased awareness of duty and love of that duty, the duty of love. As you grow in your wise love of your fellows, grow ever increasingly toward the expanded love of your Father. Learn to bask in the light of His love for your lives will be transformed by it. We first accept the love of God as a child, and then we learn to walk in the light of His love as adults.

There is a [[profound]] self-[[respect]], self-[[knowledge]], self-[[control]], and self-[[understanding]] all involved in spiritual growth. Self-control is a very important aspect of spiritual growth and comes with the bestowal of increased liberty. No longer are we shackled by the "thou shalt not" [[doctrines]] of [[traditional]] religion. No, instead you are a liberated son or daughter of the living [[God]]. The self-restraint and [[self]]-[[control]] exhibited by mature and growing [[personalities]] is [[evidence]] of the working of the [[mature]] mind in conjunction with the spiritualizing [[effect]] of increased spiritual contact and awareness. No longer do you walk like [[children]], but now you stride the path of spiritual [[freedom]] with increased self-restraint as full fledged men and women, [[citizens]] of the eternal [[Kingdom of Heaven]]. [[Maturity]] is ever a measure of self-restraint.

There is a profound self-respect, self-knowledge, self-control, and self-understanding all involved in spiritual growth. Self-control is a very important aspect of spiritual growth and comes with the bestowal of increased liberty. No longer are we shackled by the "thou shalt not" doctrines of traditional religion. No, instead you are a liberated son or daughter of the living God. The self-restraint and self-control exhibited by mature and growing personalities is evidence of the working of the mature mind in conjunction with the spiritualizing effect of increased spiritual contact and awareness. No longer do you walk like children, but now you stride the path of spiritual freedom with increased self-restraint as full fledged men and women, citizens of the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. Maturity is ever a measure of self-restraint.

Often we have [[discussed]] [[adversity]] and its [[effect]]. The most pronounced effect is in this [[learning]] of self-restraint. The immature [[individual]] often invites [[calamity]] himself by unwise choosing and little self-restraint. The [[repeated]] [[experience]] of the adverse consequences to unbridled [[behavior]] begin the growth of [[maturity]]. The maturing mind increasingly welcomes self-restraint by the repeated noticing of the beneficial [[effects]] of such [[action]], or wisely restrained action or inaction, depending upon the circumstance.

Often we have discussed adversity and its effect. The most pronounced effect is in this learning of self-restraint. The immature individual often invites calamity himself by unwise choosing and little self-restraint. The repeated experience of the adverse consequences to unbridled behavior begin the growth of maturity. The maturing mind increasingly welcomes self-restraint by the repeated noticing of the beneficial effects of such action, or wisely restrained action or inaction, depending upon the circumstance.

The will of [[the Father]] is for [[wise]], seasoned, spiritually leavened, self-restrained [[growth]] of each [[individual]]. He or she must learn their own way in this. It is not for me to give specific examples, for all differ. Many times as a child, I was wisely restrained from [[dangerous]] [[action]] by my [[parents]]. They increasingly taught me to restrain my actions on my own, and so does Father also work in our lives by creating [[opportunity]] and restricting opportunity which would, perhaps, lead to unwise [[decisions]] and calamitous fortune. By the increased awareness of His [[action]] in our lives, we can increasingly follow a narrow [[path]] of action and limit [[possibility]] of misfortune. For you see, my children, this [[guidance]] is not only with the [[listening]] to prompting or spiritual [[thought]] [[messages]], but also it is involved with the outer world as well.

Yes, of course, there are many lessons in life to be [[learned]], and you will learn all that is [[necessary]] for your spiritual [[development]].

 

Yes, of course, there are many lessons in life to be learned, and you will learn all that is necessary for your spiritual development.

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

Q: I have a question on God the Supreme. In our general development and growth, we do lots of things which you will sometimes say becomes scaffolding, that once it serves its purpose and it is no longer needed, it is gone. Do these things become part of the Supreme? Does the Supreme keep such things and we do not?

Q: I have a [[question]] on [[God the Supreme]]. In our general [[development]] and [[growth]], we do lots of things which you will sometimes say becomes [[scaffolding]], that once it serves its [[purpose]] and it is no longer needed, it is gone. Do these things become part of the [[Supreme]]? Does the Supreme keep such things and we do not?

A: Yes, if I am understanding the question correctly, yes.

A: Yes, if I am [[understanding]] the question correctly, yes.

Q: Nothing is lost and the Supreme will pick up everything?

Q: Nothing is lost and the Supreme will pick up [[everything]]?

A: Yes.

A: Yes.

 

Q: You said that as we increase spiritually, we have more spiritual freedom, and you say as other people aren't as spiritually advanced, they bring on themselves their own problems. We that are more spiritually advanced, are we less effected, or immune to some extent, from their own problems?

Q: You said that as we increase [[spiritually]], we have more spiritual [[freedom]], and you say as other people aren't as spiritually advanced, they bring on themselves their own [[problems]]. We that are more spiritually advanced, are we less [[effected]], or [[immune]] to some extent, from their own [[problems]]?

A: Yes.

A: Yes.

Q: Is it that we just don't respond or is there a protection?

Q: Is it that we just don't [[respond]] or is there a [[protection]]?

A: An awareness which allows avoidance of problems.

A: An [[awareness]] which allows avoidance of [[problems]].

Q: Do I understand correctly then that as we have more spiritual liberty, this does not imply a relaxation of our moral rectitude, so to speak, but rather what is happening is our motivation to act in a morally high way is changing from one of a sense of obligation, perhaps, to a sense of desire to be that way?

Q: Do I [[understand]] correctly then that as we have more spiritual [[liberty]], this does not imply a [[relaxation]] of our moral [[rectitude]], so to speak, but rather what is happening is our [[motivation]] to act in a morally high way is changing from one of a sense of [[obligation]], perhaps, to a sense of [[desire]] to be that way?

A: Yes.

A: Yes.

Q: When you spoke about the Father restricting our opportunities, and then later, when we are more spiritually aware, relaxing that restriction, how does He implement those restrictions? Is it through Midwayers and angels sort of manipulating outside circumstances, or did you mean mostly by the mores of society and other psychological inhibitions that we have when we are younger?

Q: When you [[spoke]] about [[the Father]] restricting our opportunities, and then later, when we are more spiritually [[aware]], relaxing that restriction, how does He implement those restrictions? Is it through [[Midwayers]] and [[angels]] sort of [[manipulating]] outside circumstances, or did you mean mostly by the [[mores]] of society and other [[psychological]] inhibitions that we have when we are younger?

 

Q: Can you expand on what you mean by spiritual awareness?

A: I was speaking of the [[actions]] of [[angels]], etc.; however, you bring up a very good [[point]]. There are both, of course, operating.

A: Yes. Spiritual awareness is the complement of spiritual insight. Both operate to enhance the level of appreciation for reality in the individual. By awareness of spiritual reality, we become understanding and appreciative of the true nature of all being realities. That is to say, we see the essence rather than the outward appearance. Think on this.

Q: Can you expand on what you mean by spiritual [[awareness]]?

As you go through the week, be aware of that spiritual leavening which you need to grow evenly and purely. You will understand these words in the future. Think on them this week. For now, farewell.

As you go through the week, be [[aware]] of that [[spiritual]] [[leavening]] which you need to grow evenly and [[purely]]. You will [[understand]] these [[words]] in the [[future]]. Think on them this week. For now, [[farewell]].

==AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?==

==AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?==