Changes

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?==

==Session 28==

*Am I My Brother's Keeper

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

Tonight I wish to speak on the welfare of your brethren and your understanding responsibility for it. Many times in our lives we come in situations which evoke a sympathetic response for a fellow human being. Every day is filled with these actions and responses to them. That is, we each respond to the presence of another human in our own unique manner of sympathizing.

Tonight I wish to [[speak]] on the welfare of your brethren and your [[understanding]] [[responsibility]] for it. Many times in our lives we come in situations which evoke a [[sympathetic]] [[response]] for a fellow [[human being]]. Every day is filled with these [[actions]] and [[responses]] to them. That is, we each respond to the [[presence]] of another human in our own [[unique]] [[manner]] of sympathizing.

The old adage "Am I my brother's keeper," yes and no. Each person has a certain radius of responsibility for those immediately within that circle of influence. Each person, of course, cannot be responsible for an entire community or state or indeed the world. As I have said, true love is born in an attitude of thoroughgoing sympathetic understanding of one's fellows. This understanding must, perforce, be limited to only a relative few. The book states that one cannot by mere force of will love the world. Love exists only between personalities, not between an abstraction and a personality.

The old adage "Am I my brother's keeper,"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Genesis#Chapter_.4] yes and no. Each [[person]] has a certain [[radius]] of [[responsibility]] for those immediately within that [[circle]] of [[influence]]. Each person, of course, cannot be responsible for an entire [[community]] or state or indeed the world. As I have said, true [[love]] is born in an attitude of thoroughgoing [[sympathetic]] understanding of one's fellows. This understanding must, perforce, be [[limited]] to only a [[relative]] few. [[Urantia text|The book]] states that one cannot by mere [[force]] of will love the world. Love exists only between [[personalities]], not between an [[abstraction]] and a [[personality]].

As I said, to see a person through the eyes of your greater self, to allow your Inner Spirit to communicate His vision of another, is your greatest opportunity for increased understanding of that person. You see, our Father sees us all as little children, and each little child is behaving towards the other children in certain ways. If you may see that in circumstances where your brother or sister is troublesome to you, you may distance yourself from that situation which allows you to be able to have a more insightful view of this person and a more forgiving nature towards him or her. And I say this as a profound reality reaction feeling. This is not, again, a thought abstraction which you may do as an intellectual exercise. This is a true thought reality perception feeling.

As I said, to see a person through the eyes of your greater self, to allow your [[Thought Adjuster|Inner Spirit]] to communicate His [[vision]] of another, is your greatest [[opportunity]] for increased understanding of that person. You see, [[our Father]] sees us all as little [[children]], and each little child is behaving towards the other children in certain ways. If you may see that in circumstances where your brother or sister is troublesome to you, you may distance yourself from that situation which allows you to be able to have a more [[insightful]] view of this person and a more [[forgiving]] [[nature]] towards him or her. And I say this as a [[profound]] reality reaction [[feeling]]. This is not, again, a thought [[abstraction]] which you may do as an [[intellectual]] exercise. This is a true thought reality [[perception]] [[feeling]].

When the apostles came to Christ and one said "How often may my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times, Master?" Do you see that Christ, at that time, saw the apostle as the child, and in need of guidance toward this greater understanding of the Father? Again, this is the same with forgiveness. You cannot blankly forgive the world of all its sins. This is nothing more than a futile intellectual exercise. Each person is accepting of Divine forgiveness and human forgiveness according with their level of spiritual insight and perception of reality. Human forgiveness is, like human love, on a person to person situation. As we ascend on this road toward our Father and become more like our Father, we perceive His forgiveness to be individual.

When [[the apostles]] came to [[Christ]] and one said "How often may my brother sin against me and I [[forgive]] him? Until seven times, Master?" Do you see that [[Christ]], at that time, saw the [[apostle]] as the child, and in need of [[guidance]] toward this greater [[understanding]] of [[the Father]]? Again, this is the same with [[forgiveness]]. You cannot blankly forgive the world of all its [[sins]]. This is nothing more than a futile [[intellectual]] exercise. Each person is [[accepting]] of Divine forgiveness and human forgiveness according with their level of [[spiritual]] [[insight]] and [[perception]] of [[reality]]. Human [[forgiveness]] is, like human [[love]], on a [[person]] to person situation. As we [[ascend]] on this road toward [[our Father]] and become more like our Father, we [[perceive]] His [[forgiveness]] to be [[individual]].

And now I wish to [[change]] the subject and [[proceed]] on a [[different]] lesson. My next lesson will be on the subject of [[gratitude]]. [[Our Father]] has provided and given us many of the good things of [[the Kingdom]]. We have been shown the road toward Him is one of ease, a light burden, a [[happy]] [[countenance]] and a sure step. For this we should indeed be truly thankful. He has guided us through many a [[maze]] in [[darkness]]. He has surely shown us a better way to live. He has given us the bounty of His [[earth]]: His land, His timber, His flowers, His abundant [[food]] nourishment materials from the earth. He has given us a blue [[sky]] above. He has sent His rain to give us life. He has shown us His friendly [[sun]] and His endearing [[moon]] through many days and many nights. He has [[sheltered]] us. He has given us [[clothing]]. He has kept us [[warm]] in the cold and given us relief in the shade from the [[heat]]. He has given us the ability to know Him, which is His greatest [[gift]] of all. I will [[repeat]]: He has given us the ability to [[know]] Him.

Each of you has your life [[purpose]] before you. You are [[growing]] indeed in [[His kingdom]], in His [[love]] and [[wisdom]] and [[mercy]]. In this [[understanding]] of these, you are [[growing]]. I pray to [[our Father]], may your [[roots]] be deep in loving [[kindness]], may your trunks be great and strong to withstand the [[winds]] and the rains of [[adversity]], may your [[tender]] leaves grow towards the loving sunshine of [[God]] that He may nourish and strengthen you and help in this [[growth]]. For I say to you this day, there will be many who scoff at our teachings, who will tear at your branches and beat about your trunks that you may be, in their eyes, put down. Have [[strength]] in your [[faith]]. Be glad for your [[trials]] that you may be stronger for the next, and know your rewards in this Kingdom are forthcoming, for [[our Father]] withholds no good thing from His deserving [[children]]. As a knife must be sharpened against a whetstone to improve its usefulness, so must you all [[endure]] trials which, in the end, are benefits. A sharpening of your [[faith]] is all.

 

Each of you has your life purpose before you. You are growing indeed in His kingdom, in His love and wisdom and mercy. In this understanding of these, you are growing. I pray to our Father, may your roots be deep in loving kindness, may your trunks be great and strong to withstand the winds and the rains of adversity, may your tender leaves grow towards the loving sunshine of God that He may nourish and strengthen you and help in this growth. For I say to you this day, there will be many who scoff at our teachings, who will tear at your branches and beat about your trunks that you may be, in their eyes, put down. Have strength in your faith. Be glad for your trials that you may be stronger for the next, and know your rewards in this Kingdom are forthcoming, for our Father withholds no good thing from His deserving children. As a knife must be sharpened against a whetstone to improve its usefulness, so must you all endure trials which, in the end, are benefits. A sharpening of your faith is all.

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

Q: I would like to ask if God the Ultimate, if His relationship to the transcendentals and the superfinite, if that is equivalent to the Supreme Being or God the Supreme's relationship to the finite?

Q: I would like to ask if [[God the Ultimate]], if His [[relationship]] to the [[transcendentals]] and the [[superfinite]], if that is [[equivalent]] to the [[Supreme Being]] or [[God the Supreme]]'s [[relationship]] to the finite?

 

Q: I have a general question on self-defense and violence. We know that Jesus, when He was young, was passive, but He tolerated another boy, Jacob, to look out after Him. Later, on the way to Rome, He confronted a drunk with a slave girl. Can you give us some guidelines on self-defense for an individual or for a group, and when we are asked the question, how do we respond?

Q: I have a general question on self-[[defense]] and [[violence]]. We know that [[Jesus]], when He was [[young]], was passive, but He [[tolerated]] another boy, [[124:2 The Tenth Year (A.D. 4)|Jacob, to look out after Him]]. Later, [[130:5 On the Island of Crete|on the way to Rome, He confronted a drunk]] with a slave girl. Can you give us some [[guidelines]] on self-[[defense]] for an [[individual]] or for a group, and when we are asked the question, how do we [[respond]]?

A: Yes. The answer lies in determining God's will. For example, if you were beset upon by someone with no Godly understanding or perception, he would be not in any way carrying out Father's will. It would be incumbent upon you to restrain such a person. Jesus perceived Father's will for Him to be subject to the wills of men. His was a unique and Father-portraying life which would stand for all worlds for all time. As it was His will to do the Father's will, the Father's will was, for Him, to subject Himself to the lower wills of men and their ambitions and petty powers. With that incident of which you speak with the slave girl, Jesus protected her, sheltered her from harm, but did not mete out justice, so to speak, to the wrongdoer. He did not perceive it His place to do so, He being the creator of this world. Therefore, to learn from Him, it is not our place to judge and sentence anyone for any crime as an individual person. His discourse on society and the role of justice is one thing, but another, entirely, from individual to individual. Self-defense is entirely appropriate and natural in most circumstances, but the turning around and giving back revenge for an injustice is not acceptable.

A: Yes. The answer lies in determining God's will. For example, if you were beset upon by someone with no Godly [[understanding]] or [[perception]], he would be not in any way carrying out Father's will. It would be incumbent upon you to restrain such a [[person]]. [[Jesus]] perceived Father's will for Him to be subject to the wills of men. His was a [[unique]] and Father-portraying life which would stand for [[all worlds]] for all time. As it was His will to [[do the Father's will]], the Father's will was, for Him, to subject Himself to the lower wills of men and their [[ambitions]] and petty [[powers]]. With that incident of which you speak with the slave girl, [[Jesus]] protected her, [[sheltered]] her from harm, but did not mete out [[justice]], so to speak, to the wrongdoer. He did not [[perceive]] it His place to do so, He being the [[Creator Son|creator]] of this world. Therefore, to learn from Him, it is not our place to [[judge]] and sentence anyone for any [[crime]] as an [[individual]] person. His [[discourse]] on [[society]] and the role of [[justice]] is one thing, but another, entirely, from [[individual]] to individual. [[Self]]-[[defense]] is entirely appropriate and [[natural]] in most circumstances, but the turning around and giving back [[revenge]] for an injustice is not [[acceptable]].

Q: Do they use earthly metaphors for teachings on the mansion worlds?

Q: Do they use earthly [[metaphors]] for teachings on the [[mansion worlds]]?

A: Yes. I can recall a lesson. This lesson is: "If you cut your finger, it bleeds." This is a lesson on the mansion worlds. You perhaps will not understand this for many years.

A: Yes. I can recall a lesson. This lesson is: "If you cut your finger, it bleeds." This is a lesson on the [[mansion worlds]]. You perhaps will not [[understand]] this for many years.

Q: With respect to love and tolerance and forgiveness associated with small groups, who is included in such groups? How large are they?

Q: With respect to [[love]] and [[tolerance]] and [[forgiveness]] associated with small [[groups]], who is included in such groups? How large are they?

A: Yes. This close group needs expanding. That is, the people that you understand and therefore love needs to be expanded as much as you can. If you can know another and understand and love that person, you are one step closer to doing the will of God.

A: Yes. This close group needs expanding. That is, the people that you [[understand]] and therefore love needs to be expanded as much as you can. If you can know another and [[understand]] and [[love]] that person, you are one step closer to [[doing the will of God]].

==THE TRINITY==

==THE TRINITY==