I didn't pretend to give him any insight, Tomas. I thought I'd let you handle it.

TOMAS:        I perceive our friend John is reaching out to you to me to the Father and His agents in a need to know how he might be experiencing spirit reality unawares. I will get back to that.

First, I would like to greet John, since he has been introduced, and say, indeed, we have met through the Spirit. A part of my allowable purview involves a lot of people who you know because they have a profound effect on you, one way or another, and this gives me an appreciation of what influences you are subject to. And, what influence you have to bring to bear on others. And so there is a large periphery or outer lying realm where I am able to have some degree of awareness, but only as I am in touch with you personally and/or brought into an awareness of your desire to be connected to a greater reality, am I able to effect much influence. That, of course, is the same for you.

You are a brother in the spirit, John, and these are your brothers and sisters and your consciousness of your spirit kin will increase as your desire to know the Father increases, and you will then have opportunity to practice your Fatherly skills and divine affection in the arena of your mortal life, and that will include these fellows who regard you already as one with them.

I have been to what you would call Los Alamos, but my sense of geographic boundaries are not the same [as yours]. I have been to all your homes, so to speak, because I am working with your presences. I don't pay much attention to your physical dwelling places. I am interested in the light that you are. But there are others who are interested in your environment, and often attend to you in your home environments. The various orders of angels having a great influence over the midwayers -- those beings who are midway between men and angels -- who are your closest spirit cousins, who interact with you in your lives, even now, and of which you are largely unaware.

But this is what I wanted to come back to. The fact that the universe is astir with life, and as you allow yourself to begin to perceive through spirit eyes, as Jesus admonished his followers to see with eyes to see and to hear with ears to hear, you become aware of another dimension of living reality, and this dimension is filled with celestial guides and ministering spirits and messenger hosts, many of whom are exclusively devoted to your upbringing as extensions of the Father, as we hope to instill in you a similar sense of your Selves that will radiate out into your environment and reinforce the reality of God in the material world as well.

Having a knowledge of the spirit influences as extensions of divinity, as appropriate and divinely decreed orders of beings who administrate and minister to the worlds of time and space, as seraphim and other entities do and have done since the beginning of the universe, often you forget yourself. Although most of you live quiet lives, unaware of how much the Father does indeed penetrate into the lives of the material beings, how much His influence prevails in the material world, you are occasionally made aware of another level of reality. A door of perception will open affording you a peek of a

Many minds have that moment and abruptly close the door and never seek to open it, and there are those who are positively haunted by the memory and restlessly seek to regain entrance to that door of perception that will give them a greater glimpse into the wonders of the greater universe. There are indeed those who have sought and found these new dimensions and have made themselves quite at home therein, and they have, in many ways, found the greater reality to be the true reality and the material reality now is a mere shadow of that wherein they dwell.

There is no judgment as to who chooses how much to absorb in this existence. There will be other and future opportunities to determine your course. There are some who feel that this life is more than enough to handle, and those of you who have young children, homes, careers, loving families, are happy enough to let the love of the moment be the eternal reflection of God in His greatness. And this is appropriate. For there you are able to reveal the divine nature to those who have not got the happy perspective of the relationship between the Father and the Son that you do.

Those of you who are in full bloom of youth and happiness, of health and potential, have an opportunity to radiate the love of the Father to all those you touch. [Those of you] knowing that we are here in support of your godlike qualities, are emboldened and strengthened to be even more effective. Yes, I know you well, young man, and your family. I know you are a son of the Father and that He is in your life and in the lives of those you love. And thus I will not count noses. Those of you who come to sit and listen to these words, these mota, these messages -- those of you who pause to embrace the love of infinity for you each, and to share this unspeakable joy with your fellows, enjoy a family awareness that transcends an earth family but is not a substitute therefore.

And those of you who are blessed to enjoy both a sublime human and joyous spiritual family, are truly fortunate! And, in-as-much as I am assigned to you, to this group, I will underscore my words with the admonition that you well know, those of you to whom much is given, much will be expected. And so when you grow weary of the work, come and sit with us, and we will reinforce your energy and bind up the wounds of your disappointments, in able to return again to the field in the good fight of faith and for the victory of vanquishing the darkness.

Thoroah:         Thank you, Tomas.

TOMAS:        You are welcome. How is everyone doing? This is a long period of sustained quietude and attention for some of you. Are you getting uncomfortable? Are you ready for a stretch? Or are we able to endure another moment for another morsel of edification, enlightenment or entertainment?

There was a question, yes, about my home. Often, after the meeting, my students will wonder about me. Where do I come from and the like. I have managed to side-step your questions for nine of your years. But I am not adverse to telling you something about myself. I am not from this planet, no, nor am I from this system in which your planet revolves. I am from another system.

Our language was different, obviously, by far, on my world. We had evolved different sounds and the name of the world itself would be foreign to your ears, perhaps, but I can tell you that my home world was under the guidance of our original Material Son and Daughter, our planetary Adam and Eve. And I lived at a time when they had managed to civilize a great percentage of the globe. Outside the land masses were other lesser evolved tribes, lacking in civility and grace. By comparison our country (you would say) was highly evolved.

I had a wife. Her name was Janus. We had four sons. I was a Cultural Anthropologist. I studied the peoples on the outside and brought back information that was used to lend a hand in attempts to civilize and uplift those more primitive and rather barbaric peoples, but I found them also to be fascinating and oddly endearing. My planet might be compared to a word you would understand as Almaria. The name of my home world was Almaria, as your home world is Urantia.

Our planet had not yet had a visit from an Avonal Son. It would obviously not be the Creator Son. The Creator Son had chosen to come to Urantia for his final bestowal, but those other worlds in a universe that do not get to host the Creator Son, have the opportunity to experience an Avonal Son, and he had not yet arrived by the time I made my way out of the flesh and began my ascent through the mansion worlds. So in effect, my world was much younger than your world, but it was in a way more advanced because it had not suffered from the Lucifer Rebellion, it was not isolated, and our Adam and Eve had not defaulted. That perhaps gives you some background on my human experience.

My classified area of study and, if not expertise at least interest, is in the realm of character. I am most intrigued by the nature of character -- human character and divine character -- and how to effectively up-step human character to reveal divine character. It's rather how I amuse myself with you in this assignment. I hope you will take advantage of all I have to offer. And that you will also learn how to take appropriate advantage of each other. And I say "appropriate" because in this world, it is an unfortunate common fact that usury is a way of life and not always for altruistic purposes. I am eager to help inject a degree of character into the environment in which you live, beginning in your mind, in your behavior, and in your society, for in this way we will advance the nature of your world and our goals will one day be met.

I apologize for talking so much today. Are there any questions? Are there any comments?

Myra:             I have a question, Tomas. Since you like to study character, are the qualities of character that we find important on Urantia, are those same qualities of character important in the whole universe? Or do we have some that are particularly important the space that we live in.

TOMAS:        These qualities that have value are value throughout all the universes, but how you interpret value differs. For example, there are those who value human associations more than material possessions. There are those who feel a career is more important than parenting. These values therefore are of interest to everyone in degrees. Character is that which is of God. True character is the divine nature. And animals have their own character; it is not necessarily divine. And making the adjustment from a lesser character to a higher character is sometimes accomplished in a lifetime and sometimes not.

Spiritual rebirth activates godlike qualities. Fear of God, in the more primitive worlds, attempts to modify behavior, but it does not necessarily enhance character, for that which is done out of fear is transient. Only that which is created out of love is permanent, eternal.

This makes for an interesting study, your question. It gives meaning to the yearning to understand the nature of God, the Universal Father, His qualities that influence your way of perceiving life, meaning, values, and those which surround you, those values which are of the evolving civilizations, for it renders it necessary for you to have perspective, so that you can understand the different natures and what motivates those natures, whether those motivations are productive or destructive of the next increment of values, of value potential.

It might cause a thinking human being to ponder his own character or the character of those he associates with so as to see how character interacts and how it abuts. It is an essential meeting of the minds, in terms of communication, and so all the qualities of divinity are true character, are what comprises character. And all the underlying/scaffolding attempts to develop character are a reflection of how far humankind has come in its ascent.

Even here you can be fatherly and look at those who are lacking character and see them as immature, as babies who need more experience in order to develop real character, enduring character.

Elena:             Tomas, earlier in your lesson, when you were talking about Father and were saying that of those can feel the lavish love, then it was easier to spread that love to the others, and I don't remember the exact words but you were saying that sometimes that seems impossible. And I can think of a couple of examples that would make it more difficult for me, but your comments on, I guess, to the degree that you are open to the love that is lavished upon us, then as we increase to do that or are more fully exposed to the character and the divinity within our Father, then our character is developed and our love is possible to extend to our fellows. Is that right?

TOMAS:        Absolutely. And you've learned to love the Father more by spending time with Him. If you bring your ill will and bad faith and problems and disappointments to Him in trust of his guidance, if you reveal yourself openly to Him, He will counsel you in love in such a way as to enable you to handle your circumstances wisely and lovingly, and the success that transpires in your life, by following His guidance, is so inspiring and personal, you begin to prove to yourself the love of God by your very life.

This begins, perhaps, in fear. But in faith, if you persevere, you will begin to work for and with the Father, and He will work for and with you to enhance Reality by releasing love into those situations which were fraught with confusion, frustration, anger, alienation and all those anxieties which flesh is heir to. It is the peace which passes all understanding that Jesus spoke of -- that still, quiet place within -- the Kingdom that is within you -- that gives you the realization of the presence of God in you in such a way as you are filled with affection for the divine and that will thus in turn inspire you to reveal it to those who have not yet known this incredible, wondrous Fatherlike nature that is the greatest Reality in the Universe.

Even though it may be understood by you each from the relationship you had with your earthly father in the beginning, it will in time accrue to the understanding that the Universal Father, the First Source and Center, the Original I AM, is Life and Love is truth, beauty and goodness.

Elena:             Thank you.

Alice: Tomas, this is Alice. I just wanted to say as a comment: thank you so much for explaining the nature of God the Father in the first part of your lesson. I really appreciated that so much. And I feel that essence of the presence in me Very Big and Colorful right now. And I also have to say this human body wants to get up and use the bathroom, so I think I need to take you up on that invitation to stretch and move.

TOMAS:        Yes, Alice, I have been expecting this. [Group giggles] However, I am so glad for you, daughter, to have come forth and acknowledged your divine Source and to reveal Him to us in this we may honor the Father in you and it then may acknowledge the Father-like presence of God in each here. Let's party. [Group laughter] I reveal my love to you as you reveal your love to each other. Go in peace. See you next time. Farewell.

Group:            Farewell. Thank you, Tomas.

*****

DATE:                        June 30, 2002

LOCATION: Rio Rancho, NM, USA

T/R:                            Gerdean

TEACHER:                TOMAS

TOPIC:

Connecting and Correcting Time

Q & A:                        The Pearl of Great Price

                                    Ego and Will

                                    Becoming Self-Acting

TOMAS:        Good afternoon, Coconuts. (The group had been playing around with the song lyric, "a lovely bunch of coconuts").

I am Tomas, your teacher, your affectionate, amused companion and occasional counselor. I am delighted to be in this configuration of believers. I am impressed with the circuitry which we enjoy -- the energy that connects us, and the living connection that buoys us up into a realm of camaraderie, communication and communion -- in which we can communicate on a compatible level, which includes the interests of the human and the divine.

How marvelous to have a forum in which your divine natures are able to unfold and bask in the presence of itself -- its Source and Center -- and to do this bathing in the living waters in the company of others, thus socializing and reinforcing your faith in a divine reality which is even now revealing itself in your lives and in our community life we share together.

I thought today I might speak a bit about this 'connecting and correcting time.' The circuits, you see, that we enjoy here are opening -- and they are opening in each of you as you allow yourself to open to the greater reality.

The universe is encouraging acceptance of your place in the universe -- as a neighbor in the larger neighborhood, a citizen of the cosmos, an important part of the existence of all life -- as it is -- in its time and place in its universe. And in this way you no longer languish in isolation.

The Source of this connecting energy is in the realm universe pattern. That is to say, you were created to know your place in the universe and how you relate to it as an entity, as a personality -- not merely a mortal to live and die on this orb, but to be appropriately affiliated with life eternal. You thus are connected to the Source of Life and inhabitants of infinity.

The circumstances -- historic circumstance of your specific world, is such that you have been alienated from the realization that you are part of the greater community, a living reality in the Family of the Eternal Parents, offspring of the Divine. You have, as a planet, been isolated until fairly recently, as a result of the ignoble act of the great deceiver, that chapter in your history which refers to war in heaven between Gabriel and Lucifer.

But we have been summoned to re-claim your world and your consciousness from the separation that planetarily influenced you for centuries. This is an undertaking that will take generations, but we are confident of our success, as we have seen the success of those who have responded at once to the spirit prompts which have been generated from On High to make you aware, consciously aware, of the greater reality -- and your emotional response to the Love which is pouring forth into your vessels. As if you were dry sponge seeking moisture, you have soaked up our presence and found pertinent sustenance therein. In the desert now bloom flowers such as yourselves, who are being testimonies of the Light and the Love of Deity?

This pattern, that we are encouraging and inviting and instilling in you, is contagious; and, as you absorb the sweetness of this benign virus you take it into your arena and spread it out as sunshine into the darkness that perceives that we are isolated, alone, alienated and separate, one from another.

We will -- in time, and in good faith, -- eradicate that sense of isolation; and it will be done through the 'connecting' that we know here this moment, in this room, as we bond together in faith of our hope in a divine providence that will reveal Itself as the Reality that we had hoped, and in our hearts we knew was true.

This connecting time thus is a reinforcing exercise that aids you in grasping and having faith in your own Reality, and the correcting time is the period of time that will be required for each individual to align him or herself with those integral values which are of divinity as compared to those which you have inherited from your lesser gods and influences.

In due course, those of you who are in the Light -- who are enlightened as to these truths -- will foster your fellowship such that it will outweigh the old ways and you will embark our world on a new path, a path that will lead to an advanced era of Light and Truth -- one in which you will all acknowledge your divine aspects and your dependence on the Greater Reality … including the Greater Reality resident within each other.

It -- this circumstance; this time in your planetary history -- makes your lives most interesting; your options and opportunities most thrilling. You have the opportunity to personally grow and actually see the effects of your growth reflected in the world around you. In the study of these times and these characteristics of the Truth, Beauty and Goodness, you can change the world by your faith. This empowers each of you - as individuals -- and as you accept and acknowledge each other in this context, your civilization is altered and upstepped.

As you see the evidence of the Light of Truth revealed in your associations, so shall you see it spread abroad in the patient and diligent effort of those On High who seek your Greater Reality for the glory of those creators who seek to provide a realm of opportunity and advancement for All; and the marvelous thing, to me, about this "job opportunity" is the plethora of personalities which are welcomed as essential elements of reality, reflecting yet more of the magnitude of All That Is.

We enjoy diverting ourselves through speculation and true philosophic pondering, but the real work is "an inside job," and in that work we are ever-mindful of the human condition and the problems inherent in change and growth. Thus, we enjoy such fellowship as this, for it enables us to be reminded of our purpose and of our yearnings and our rejoicings.

Thank you for your focus.

Are there questions this afternoon or matters you'd like to share in company with the celestial hosts who attend our meetings and with the human companions you have selected to share your life with today?

Carol:              My name is Carol and I haven't had a question bubble up just yet, but I wanted to share the effect of your teaching today. It felt like being this dry sponge that got softened with the moisture of the love in this room. And I felt my Soul opening up -- like stretching/expanding its arms to the cosmos. And it was a lovely repetition of that theme throughout the speaking, so that I found myself relaxing more and more deeply, and being able to experience the Love of God. Yes. Thank you for that.

TOMAS:        And I thank you expressing your sensations; your impressions. This is an example of the value that we enjoy and observe in this "movement." The idea of having a sense of safety for your soul. A place where your soul is welcomed is something for which your world has great need. The Soul is like the 'pearl of great price' that is born of a grain of sand deep within you, that is built up over time by the friction that it knows, but all the while it is protected inside the shell. Here we hope to urge your shell to open naturally, in order that your hard won Pearl of Great Price may be revealed, to show the beauty that it is.

This process of allowing your Soul to be revealed, is indeed a process, for the world at large is, at first, unwilling to see your soul -- and is often destructive -- or would be destructive -- of your soul, for it is a threat to the existing paradigm … that belief in a menial and material mentality which denies and precludes the Substance of Value that is your greatest possession, that is created to be a reflection of the beauty that you are and are becoming.

Welcome to this pool, this tide pool, wherein you may not only soak up the Living Water and soften, but may actually enjoy the sensation of spreading your Soul open to the etheric realm, in trust of these fellows who also cry to be revealed as children of God -- as priceless and valuable jewels in the sunken treasure chest of heaven.

Ms. J.:            I was just thinking -- wouldn't it be a much better world if we all tried being kind to each other instead of nit-picking and finding all the differences and things to quarrel about? If we'd just try understanding each other and getting along, then there wouldn't be wars and terrorists and all those things that are going on.

TOMAS:        Yes child, it would, indeed. Kindness, however, is a quality that is overlooked, even while it is greatly needed. Kindness requires that you slow down, and be aware of how your words or actions are influencing others. There are few who are willing to slow down enough to see how a simple act of kindness is a reality which has even greater influence than things. And yet kindness is one of those qualities, which, like the Divine Virus, is contagious, and when you begin the chain of event by an act of kindness, it is like the ripple effect when a stone is dropped into the center of a pool of water. The ripples go out toward the shore and eventually subside but you have a least stirred the waters. And there are those too, who will pick up the ball and run with it and pass on Kindness until the body of humanity is like a pool in the rain with ripples connecting out from each raindrop dancing on the surface and refreshing and enlivening the entire body.

The fact is, the 'random acts of kindness' movement, which was recently popular, was an effort of the correcting time and it, like the Angel rage, has had permanent effects. Indeed, we are entering into the New Dawn. Even while there are still travesties and great trauma-dramas to come, the essential reality of Human Kindness is intact and alive as a result of those efforts that have already been perpetrated by conscious and conscientious souls such as yourselves.

This is the importance of encouragement, for it is so easy for humans to become Discouraged in their ways and means of revealing the Greater Reality. This however is not a mere 'social' movement; it is a galactic development. It is enhanced not only by human will but by Divine Will. It will not fail.

Ms. J.:            And that's just what I meant… It's just as easy to be kind to somebody and give them a little boost instead of seeing all the things that are wrong and criticizing and trying to make them over… 'cause you can't do that anyhow. So why not just be simple and make everybody feel better by just being nice to them. It doesn't hurt a bit.

TOMAS:        You are an example of child-like faith. Indeed. Why not? But you have perhaps mellowed with age. The young are much impressed with themselves and their manner of believing. The ego is hard at work reinforcing the lesser reality. -- I say 'the lesser reality' not to destroy the ego but to reformulate the ego's purpose.

Carol:              I experience that conflict inside of me. And that 'correction time' is a good name for what I experience. I want to open up and want to be courageous and to be speaking from spirit, and I feel like a little kid who dashes out into the middle of the room and tells her piece and then wants to run and hide, ya know, and here's the voice of the ego saying "Who do you think you are?" and "You're getting kind of pushy!" and just lots of criticism, like the 'shaming' words. So I've got that conditioned mind in me -- the world that's ruled by the ego -- while I attempt to listen to the voice of Spirit and try to follow those leadings, and it feels like I've got the war in the Middle East happening inside me! -- And it's … it's hard.

TOMAS:        It is the 'good fight of faith' ~ the fight of giving up that which is lesser for that which is greater. And that takes place in the mind, and so this grappling will continue. But it will not be overbearing always.

It is necessary for you to make these choices, but part of your choice-making involves what voice you choose to listen to, and you have the authority of your own mind and you can determine -- identify and determine -- which voice is working in your best interests. There are times when the lesser reality appears to be your 'best interest' and certainly you do not want to throw caution to the wind and forget to count the cost of your choices.

I'm shown a picture here of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the circumstances of the moment when the Apostles, having finally understood that the Master would be hauled away -- armed themselves with swords, in order to 'protect' him from those who would come to arrest him. In their loyalty to the Master they reverted to their understanding of what was the 'smart' thing to do. However, he knew this about his associates and assured them that it was more important for them to not get themselves arrested and killed, for he knew what could happen to them if they were found to be armed against the authorities. And he needed them to spread the Gospel after he had gone. In their minds they were doing the right thing, and yet he cautioned them about their actions. And this will take place in your mind, your consciousness, as well. You arm yourself against the assaults of injustice, and yet occasionally it is the better part of valor to stay alive and function -- even in the face of the travesty of human existence -- in faith that the over-control of divinity will prevail in the ultimate sense.

And so it wise to count the cost, and yet it is for your peace of mind that you understand the factors involved in your choice -- that you not succumb to the sense that you were not able to live up to your sense of rightness, or that you were a coward, no, but that -- given the circumstances -- you made the choice that was wise for you. But many of the choices that humans make are made without due consideration, are made perfunctorily, or as a reaction to someone else's actions, and this will indeed give you a sense of 'less than,' of being a 'leaf in the wind' with no will of your own.

Having free will is having the greatest gift in the universe. Using your will intelligently is the most divine thrill. And accepting responsibility for your free will choices involves you in the exhilarating reality of Life itself, and there is no greater joy. Even defeat can be glorious if it is a battle that has been fought in faith for that which is essentially unassailable. Has it not been said, "What does it matter if all things earthly crumble to those who love the Lord?" And many times this is the resolution. What does it matter in the face of the Greater Reality?

The ego would insist on winning at any cost, but Spirit might prevail and leave you feeling as if God had a bizarre sense of humor, that your will was not consulted. In the balance, is the choice you make in your path of ascension. In that, is where you find wisdom; in that, is where you reflect on your choices. And given new opportunities, your choices will reflect that which you have learned from having made the previous decisions.

This is how you help yourself to grow, how you create your own divine nature. This is the friction that occurs within your shell that delivers up your own pearl of great price.

The initial stages of personal correcting often involve a cleaning house. The mind is filled with clutter and voices of others -- your parents, your peers, authority figures, belief systems -- all that has gone before you to help you function and be functional, but they may not be in your best interest as a Soul-in-becoming. It is a process, then, to identify those voices in the mind … and clean house. Recognize your mother's admonitions and replace those with the Divine Minister.

Recognize the authority of your earth father and wean yourself from that counsel; replace it with the counsel of Christ Michael. Exchange His mind for his or hers, and let them help you discern what you want to keep in your mind and what you want to get rid of.

It's a process. But eventually you will find your mind standing on its own two feet, and making choices according to the Higher Power that You Are because you have corrected yourself and aligned yourself with that which you were meant-to-be and which you Will Be throughout eternity, that is so much greater than that small grain of sand that sifts about being blown hither and yon by the winds of time and whispers of humanity.

We are growing into superhuman personalities. That is not intended to distort your impression of yourself, because at the heart of superhuman effort is a sense of humility. For though you may not be able to do these things, there is One in you who can … and will … if you give that Energy authority to act on your behalf. And when you do speak on behalf of that Authority, comfort yourself in knowing you have a right to be there. You have a divine right to speak the words that are put into your mouth, to generate feelings and thoughts that will lead humanity Godward. That authority is vested in you, and when you attain will-choice sufficient to utilize that authority and wield that authority, it will be done through wisdom and it will be done with Love for that is the Source and Center of true authority as well as true character.

Be patient with yourself in growing and in the growth of others, even while your remain mindful in what all is involved in this correcting time.

And I've got to add, as a piece of humor, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Of course, whether or not something is broken, is a matter of perspective, isn't it? Here is a good time to sit back and practice kindness. For who gave anyone authority to author others?

Ms. D.:           Well, Tomas, as I listened to you, it has become very complex … because I -- as an individual looking for 'connectedness' and correctness --(rather) 'correctedness' - and yet I am part of the society! -- And sometimes I get caught up in whether society changes the way I think or I change the way society thinks. I know society is a collection of individuals and you have already addressed that we are all at different levels, but what I find challenging in the connecting method is that, when I work on my own self as an individual, I always do have to look at how that impacts society as a whole …because you could get lost! You think that you're doing really well, but … maybe that is ego and not good (for all). If you could speak to that and make it more clear … I don't even know if it's a question, but it's a 'complexity' of thought that I'm having right now.

TOMAS:        I am glad. As a philosopher, I am eager to provoke your mind to thought. Even if it is unclear, it is at least stirring up the status quo of your mentality, and in this, change is encouraged.

Your various societies and cultures are realities which have been established over time to effect certain causes. These are systems. Systems are for a purpose. Within the system are individuals and lesser systems. In a large corporation, for example, you are a part of the system and you work as a part of the system. And yet in your particular office, over your conclave of co-workers, you have a different paradigm which is more personal to that which you have some authority over. Your ego will be naturally more inclined to assert itself, (as it is, in some ways, your job, your area of assignment) while there may be social situations between you and your coworkers which are totally cooperative and based outside the system wherein you may have fellowship and even share the Spirit.

Thus it is indeed complex, for each configuration has its own energy, and each addition or subtraction effects the configuration, and you must adapt (in any case) to the pattern that is presented. Sometimes you effect the pattern and sometimes you respond to the pattern. Sometimes you feel good about what you have done and your ego is appropriately stroked. Sometimes your ego is outraged, overlooked, and you have to deal with that as well. The ego is not the enemy in these generalized situations. Your ego is your identity, after all, in the reality in which you live. It is here to help you function and survive and provide well for your life. It is when it has gone beyond its purview, beyond its bounds of appropriate influence, that it becomes problematic, when it insists on running the whole show and all the shows.

In your spirit life you also enjoy acknowledgment and recognition. And this is your ego also, but it is healthy. It is your choice, sometimes, to set aside your ego to enjoy the gifts of others; as in the performing arts -- you are not activated except to enjoy the ego of others which delights in its performance -- which is it's service. No, ego is not the automatic enemy. It is when the ego interferes with the drive to be Godlike and grow in God's likeness, that the ego can be obstructionistic to growth, and it can help you turn a blind eye to that which is in your true best interest.

But again, this can be found through reflection, through meditation, through taking these matters into stillness and working your way through the maze of thought processes to find out the wisdom of the moment. If you don't have time to act wisely, if you have to shoot from the hip in a moment, you may err; you may make the right choice. You have to let the chips fall where they may. But in the end it will need to become a choice on your part and you may need to make that choice habitually, many times, in order for it to become well ingrained in your personality pattern, in order for you to have mastered that aspect of your character which was not serving you well.

The goal of personal correcting is Self Mastery: That you might enjoy your life more because you are master of it, instead of it mastering you. And as you are a self-acting individual acting in accordance with your self-acting Adjuster, your conscious God contact, you are a formidable force, a superhuman personality able to impact upon many, even upon destiny.

Life can be complicated, and thinking can be complex, but try to not spend over-much time in your Mind. Spend time in your Soul with your Spirit, through the Heart. Allow the Love of God to dominate as much as possible, for the Love of God will soften the hard edges; will soak into your dry pores; will sing sweet melodies in the face of harsh and garish noises. The language of Love is the balm which binds us together, which connects us in this configuration of sons and daughters of divinity, engaged upon the greatest adventure of all time: The process of finding God and becoming like him.

I sense a point of saturation coming upon us. I sense that you have, as succulents, become engorged with Spirit Reality, and lest we become victims of spiritual indigestion, I will withdraw -- in order for you to exude your essences into the ethers of your environment and spread the benign virus of living love into your realm, thus, giving yet another dose of divine guidance to humanity as you pass by.

Blessed be art thou, one and all. Peace be upon you. Amen and farewell.

*****

DATE:                        July 7, 2002

LOCATION: Rio Rancho NM USA

T/R:                            Gerdean and Matthew

TEACHERS:              TOMAS, MACHIVENTA and ANATOLIA

TOPIC:

Potential

Q&A:                          Never-Ending Happiness

                                    Walking in the Shadow of Danger

                                    A Class on How to Find God

Music:                        Elena, playing:  "I Behold the Christ in You" and "Quiet                                                                                     Waters"

Opening Prayer:         Matthew: Let's place ourselves in the presence of Jesus, the Christ.

"Master Teacher we ask for your wonderful and divine presence here with us today as we work in unison with you and unison with our heavenly Father to do the Father's will as you taught us how to do that, as you taught us that relationship is first, foremost and primary to everything that we are about.

"We ask that whatever teachers you wish for us to hear from today that they be made known to us purely, simply, and in the love and intention, as this teaching mission is, within your will and the will of our heavenly Father.

"And for this and for all the greater concerns and intentions that You know of our hearts, we place them before You, too, our Father, and thank You for everything that is a blessing to us, as well as a challenge is a blessing in disguise. For this and all we pray. We are eternally grateful. Amen"

TOMAS (T/R Gerdean):          Good afternoon, my friends, I am Tomas, your Teacher and the host of this sublime gathering of family members in the spirit, both human and divine.

What an abundant offering is presented within our midst today, with the potential that we have here. I will speak of 'potential' because it seems appropriate, with this room bursting with potential in so many ways. There are others, visitors in our presence, who will speak as well. Prince Machiventa has deigned to arrive and give some sanction to our gathering, similar to the sanction sought by our brother in prayer to our Master, Michael.

And we are also thrilled to recognize the association of Anatolia, a co-worker in this corps of freedom fighters.

Potential is akin to anticipation; it is filled with hope; even, expectation. Potential is one of the most exciting feelings, for there is no defeat, no disappointment; there is only potential. And, of course, only positive potential, for when you aspire to look up and ahead, it is only fear that would presume to dampen your perception of potential and cloud the waters. We, rather, reach for the All Good of potential, as if we were starting out on a new adventure and there was nothing yet written, scripted or ordained in your mind. There is nothing but opportunity to make decisions. And each decision is, at this juncture, a joyous anticipation of further good. Here the imagination may soar and create spaces/realms of reality which are not yet realized but are only actualized as a result of the experience of living the potential you see in your mind's eye and feel in your heart -- sense in our spirit reality as an unfolding of the divine will.

The platform of potential -- the stage upon which potential is perceived -- is a drama that appeals to children of all ages. The idea of creation is a stimuli to all conscious creatures who seek to recreate their ideals in their lives and thus portray a perception of perfection in them as our Eternal Parents reveal perfectly in Paradise. We salute your potential and the hope that this embodies.

While it is certainly commonly understood that you seek to do God's will in your life and in all you do by your presentation of God's nature in your own character, as human beings you each have particular gifts and propensities, talents and inclinations, leanings and lures which call to you, and they too are your potential -- your potential contribution to the Supreme and to the world over which you have influence.

Let us enjoy the unfolding of these potentials and, when necessary, look at the supposed failures or shortcomings as possible guideposts to avoid in future efforts at realizing the potential that lies within you. The process of actualizing your potential is the act of co-creation, of attaining that which you hope to attain … and even beyond! … But you must be willing to let go of the things that bar the way to your success -- your ultimate success -- which is 'potential' until such time as it becomes 'actual.'

And so, here we are swimming in this sea of what-might-be if we apply ourselves, if we seek guidance and courage to act on that guidance.

There is a certain amount of adaptation, as I also am poised on the brink of potential, in that, it delights me to enjoy the experiences of co-teaching and working with others in formidable relationship. The experience is a pleasure as well as purposive. As I adjust to the new energies of this circuitry, and this beloved configuration of students and teachers alike, I pause now to experience the presence of others who are with us and would delight to get to know you better in the context I have known you for some time.

I will return.

MACHIVENTA (T/R Gerdean):         I am Machiventa. I will speak.

I feel honored to be in the midst of a group of potential finaliters. These classrooms in which you have enrolled to become more than you were, are early experiential rooms of which this is one, and which encourages the growth of the soul which Over-soul will then have a permanent effect on your world. This, while joyous for you, is also necessary in order for the light of truth to begin to arrange the psychic climate of your world, to give forth the seed of a new dispensation, a new era in which you are assuming a vital part. You might not think so from a review of your humble lives. You may say, "I am nothing." "I do nothing." "I am insignificant." But I tell you, by your faith, by your delight in knowing God and His reality, you foster that which is essential, not only to you, but to your fellows and to your Globe and ultimately to the Greater Universe.

As seedlings, your growth will make a major difference as you become trees and give off the vapors of life that feed your atmosphere. You need not consciously attempt to build a new civilization. You need only to hold your heart in that place which assures its furtherance.

I will not stay and speak but will commend you to these teachers, in this Corps of Teachers, for they work with me and with the Master Teacher, to bring about those effects which will bring you the greatest happiness.

Shalom.

Group:            Shalom

ANATOLIA (T/R Matthew):  Good afternoon, my children. I am Anatolia. I am a friend of your speaker as well as each and every one of you, for I am a Teacher in the Teaching Mission and have been around for a while -- as each and every one of you has been around for a while, as well, for the spirit that is the life and breadth of us all, cannot be more a part of me than it is of you as well, for spirit is spirit. It designates its life forms as it chooses, as Spirit so directs. As in the creation as it was, each of us is a consciousness, a result of that divine fiat, that divine creation.

So it is such that we are all old friends. I am here with you at the invitation of Tomas and Machiventa, our Corps instructor and master Teacher, as well as -- certainly -- through the advice, directions and intention of Christ Michael, our Overseer, Master Teacher and beloved Creator Son for whom we all give our due respect, worship and love … as he is the personification of each and all of those qualities which we aspire to.

It is in this Teaching Mission that we wish to bestow upon you the opportunity, as you have already learned, to become full and equal partners in the mastery of spirit in its expressions within the various life forms. You have inhabited this particular form -- of which you now share -- at your own choosing -- and at your own time sequence -- in order to be part of the larger picture.

But let us say, for example, that you had not chosen this time or this place but rather another, later, or another … at some other time of your choosing, some other place of your choosing. The real message is that it matters not when you have chosen but that you have chosen to do so: to be a part of life; to entertain this particular challenge in your particular life form. To know that you are of spirit material and you are 'light beings' sharing matter.

Now, I'm not trying to underestimate or to reduce to a matter of immaterial. That is, that it doesn't matter what you have chosen to be who you are at this point in time. Of course that matters. My real point is that you have chosen this time, this place to be a matter of expression; a matter of expression of divine will. And through your particular expression as a human being at this time, in this place and on this planet, you have chosen a wonderful and vast opportunity to do the Father's will and to learn what that is for you as individuals -- as well as to choose to express that collectively, as you are doing now.

It is in matters of 'church' such as this that I speak -- "church" in the 'universal' sense -- being of like mind and like purpose / being of intent to be of worshipful vintage / to be the grapes from which wine can be made. It is in this sense that I am saying that our expressions of beings of light and beings of matter, matter not, because we are all of the same essence; and, that your having chosen here and now as an expression, marks your courageous venture into the eternity of now. And I commend you for your choices and commend you for your decision to join in the collective of knowing your own heart and mind as it relates to that which your creator has determined for you to be: an expression of light and love -- and simply learning to live without pressure, without tension and with pure intention of your being.

It is in this respect that I bring you this message, in unison with that which the other Teachers and Master Machiventa has presented, that I wish to reinforce your potential. Your potential to be a being of eternal vintage because you are of eternal origin and you are of eternal decent. And there you will find your being and you will find your return.

So in that potential to become the fully aware human being that entertains spirit embodiment, I welcome you to our group as I welcome our group to share in my teaching opportunities. It is in this respect that I welcome each of you to that which I can bring to you as well as that which you bring to us. It is in this respect, I show my humble appreciation for that which you have allowed me to partake in.

And I, your teacher of adjunct function, Anatolia, share in this enthusiasm that has been blessed and bestowed upon us today. And thank you for the opportunity to speak with you and I look forward to many happy returns upon this and other occasions.

So be of good cheer and know that your efforts as Christ-centered beings are never wasted. In your most desperate, or most depressed, or most discouraged state, know that that is simply temporary, as a cloud passes over the mountain; it leaves a dark shadow but as soon as it passes, the sun is a bright and as clear and as direct as it has ever been because it is there the whole time. It is only the cloud that has disguised it.

Be of peaceful vintage in the making of fine wine. Bless you, and peace be with you, and we return to our other teachers. Thank you.

TOMAS:        Welcome, indeed, Anatolia and Matthew.

We would engage in questions, if there are questions or commentary. It is your turn.

Elena:             I am thrilled to have a larger group on all levels here to day and I just wanted to express my joy and my total appreciation for the wealth of knowledge and experience and the willingness to share. I am just overjoyed and almost speechless.

TOMAS:        It would seem you have attained a new plateau! [a few giggles] … on the same journey. It is our hope that the divine love of our Father and Mother is reflected in our affections for you and in the messages which we have to share, for it is the living love that God is that you will take with you as food for your soul, that you will ponder and savor and reflect upon in your own Core Reality, thus enlarging your higher self and affecting those you touch. This could not take place without your willingness. That you choose to open your heart to love is the key to your own potential.

There are questions?

Let me state that there will be a time when each of the transmitters may un-plug themselves in order to participate as spectators as well as facilitators. So any time that happens, just take it in stride. But we do enjoy engaging with you on a level that you would regard as "real life" for this is where you live and work, and this where we also would serve you in your understanding of your arena and your ministry.

Elena:             I have a question. This week, being Matthew's and my new beginning of everything -- we've been so happy! … Well, I'll speak for myself -- but I've had the feeling -- and I was so glad you talked about 'potential' because that kind of gave me at least some more to think about. But having something make you so happy that it's the kind of thing where you wonder if you should pinch yourself to see if it's all real or not … I felt myself almost disbelieving all of this! And you mentioned a couple of key words in our reality -- you mentioned about reality and potential and opening your heart to love All of these are blending and, I think, reinforcing, and giving me the guidance that I need, but if you have anything else to say about that, I'd certainly be interested.

TOMAS:        You are experiencing grace. There's no reason to disbelieve what happiness you are experiencing. This is the time to celebrate life and love and foster this deliciousness, as it is a constant! It is only that you have now realized that potential. The sun is shining, and while there may be clouds that enter into your joyous life, there is no reason to presume that a 'cloudy day' is the norm and that your 'sunny day' is the exception. No. Your Parents wish for you this happiness. This is your divine inheritance -- to know love and to share it with others.

The Council from On High is invested in helping you understand relationship and, in some cases, improved parenting skills as well. We are embarked upon a new day and you are participants in this new day. Enjoy that which is yours, and fear not that it need ever end.

Elena:             Thank you.

TOMAS:        Love and Life are eternal -- and while they may adapt, metamorphose, alter or change throughout eternity, they are always in the best interests of the greater good for all. And always will your experiences bring forth new learning, garner new wisdom, offer new opportunities to serve in light of that which you have learned as a result of knowing love.

While love is varied and may need redefining according to the circumstance, it is nonetheless real and lasting. My love for you grows daily. And while our association is deepening and we are gaining in trust, recognizing each other's limitations and provoking each other's growth, it is nonetheless true that our love is sustaining and a part of the love of our divine Parents.

As you grasp love, take it into yourself, own it and embellish it according to your personality expression, you give manifestation to divinity even here in the material realm. You bring the love of God into your environment through your laughter and your tears, through you sharing yourself, understanding that you are in the family of God and you are cared for beyond your comprehension.

And this is true for each of you. If you could but understand the extent of the depth of the love that is a part of this creation, you would, as you have, open your heart willing to know and experience all that you can in all that you do. And in this, your potential is expanded and your actualization is even greater.

Matthew:        Thank you. That's very helpful for me, too. I concur with what Elena had observed. It is wonderful. And my thought was, too, -- and you said it, Tomas, that goes for each and everyone of us. We don't have to have a 'relationship' necessarily with someone, it just augments what we're able to bring to the table, and one another, and reinforces that in our ourselves.

TOMAS:        Yes. Let it not be said that you have reason to be lonely. There are open arms of love to enfold you each, if you are open to perceiving them, if you recognize that love is here to be shared, to be poured out freely. There is nothing niggardly about our Father. He is generous and liberal. And our Mother is tender and caring in her nature. Invite them into your heart and invite yourself into the hearts of your peers. Dare allowing the emotional vulnerability that provides you the assurance of your own good.

E. S.:               Tomas I'd like to ask a follow-up question, if this is a good time to do that.

TOMAS:        This is a good time.

E. S.:               I'd like to ask a follow-up question, if its alright with you, about the individual session that we had recently …

TOMAS:        Yes.

E. S.:               … for a little clarification about something I've kinda been puzzling over. There is one thing you said, and I'm not sure if it was a warning to me or if it was a general comment about how things work, but you said something to the effect -- we were talking about our animal nature, and you said that I would be more vulnerable … I'm trying to recall how you put it -- that if others perceived Light in me, I would be more vulnerable to attack, as a result of that animal nature in others. Can you say a little bit more about that, or clarify if that was a warning to me, or was it a general comment about how things work?

TOMAS:        Thank you, daughter, for your inquiry into the nature of the life you live. The admonition toward caution was given in consideration of the nature of the circumstances portrayed, but even so there are general truths that we can address that will give insight into the nature of dealing with the human animal as compared with dealing with the human being.

There are those who are not open, who are not willing to be exposed to the light of truth, who fear God and who fear his agents. There are many who are rulers in Hades as compared to those who choose to serve in Heaven. And those are sometimes brought together in conflict. I discouraged such conflict for you, as I discourage any of my beloved children from going into areas in which they may be endangered, at least until such time as they have competence to carry themselves into the fray with the necessary armor to protect them from the assaults of the unbeliever.

The situation you portrayed an individual who is untrustworthy and potentially harmful to you. In my care for you, I would of course encourage you to steer clear of such ire, and it may not even be meant for you … but for whatever reason his poisons are injected into his arena, it is not an arena I would encourage you to, at this point in your development, to attend. This is therefore particular to you and those who are unschooled -- unfamiliar with the vagaries of those who would do you harm. Some act in mere ignorance and some act pathologically.

If it were mere ignorance, I would urge you to put your faith in God and your own noble self and go forth to do battle in the good fight of faith. But the situation as you depicted is not encouraging.

Has this helped clarify my remarks?

E. S.:               Yes, thank you very much. I've been doing my best to heed your advice, and I'm finding it not as difficult as I thought it would be. I appreciated your reference to keeping my side of the street clean and not picking at the scab, and I've been endeavoring to do both.

TOMAS:        You have great fortitude. You are a strong soul. And a good woman. But you have been doing battle so often it has become a pattern for you. Put your mind to the task of the good fight of faith. That is a days work. Indeed. These other, lesser battles are mere exercises in the triumph of the Light over darkness. Let the Sun [sic] shine on your side of the street. Go in peace.

E. S.:               Thank you, Tomas.

Matthew:        May I ask a question?

TOMAS:        Certainly.

Matthew:        You had mentioned that the presenters may act out of character at times or something to that extent. Were you basically saying that other people in the group will be taught how to transmit? Is that what you were saying?

TOMAS:        No. But it is a separate message that bears drawing upon.

The group is young, and as indicated, it is filled with potential. But we have much to realize in the course of time. There is no hurry. There are so many elemental lessons to learn … such as Stillness practice. This has not been fully digested by this group.

The Stillness practice will be like the yeast to the ingredients that you have seen here, and the Life Force will begin to grow, and as our bread rises -- and as it has an opportunity to get punched down a couple times and rise again -- it will hear the Spirit of Truth speak in each individual loaf here -- and there will be a plethora of little buns speaking their truth and feeding the people. This part of the potential. But so far, Matthew, I am the big loaf, and now I am sharing with my companion Anatolia and, in time, there will be many voices and we will ring out.

But lest we suffer from over rapid growth or unleavened bread, we will proceed at a pace that seems to conform with the needs of the community. The community as been assimilating itself rapidly in terms of its ingredients! The practice of Stillness would be a good topic for us to embark upon as a way of focusing our potential on something meaningful. For without the personal contact with that living Yeast within, we are not going to be all that we can be.

I don't like to tell them in advance, however, what we'll talk about next week, for humans are such that they will say "Oh, I already know all about that. I can skip one meeting." I have been teaching for a long time and I know how humans are. They love to be surprised.

Does that answer your question?

Matthew:        Yes. And I have another one. I think you just answered it. It's along that line that I had a feeling of a personal call to teach people how to reach their god-self, the god within them, and -- (If it were available in a pill form -- I wish it were that easy, but I'm afraid that it's not quite that easy.) -- is there any direct way to do that other than through Stillness? (I'm answering my own question I think) Because -- I'm just concerned about people losing patience and not keeping with it. Is there any other way, other than the patient methodical approach of the Stillness, to hear the still small voice within?

TOMAS:        That in your question which concerns me is that "they will lose interest". This may well be true. This may be what I meant by having to be punched down and begin to rise again. This is a part of the process of growth. It well may be that they will lose interest, but assuredly their Spirit within them is eager to continue and, in time, will prevail … and will prevail when the mortal is inclined to go along, nay, when the human needs the Spirit.

It can be amusing this religious work. But only as it is essential, is it lasting. There are many who will fall by the wayside until such time that they realize they cannot live without God and be happy. But when that point is reached, there is no turning back. There is no doubt. There is no hesitation. There is, rather, commitment and consecration, and so sometimes the longer way around is the more effective.

But I urge you to engage upon the field of teaching and instituting a class that specifies exactly that, "How to get in touch with God." Meditation is a new age phrase. Many church going individuals are not going to want to learn to meditate.

Many people who don't enjoy sitting still will look for other ways to find God such as in talking long walks or in washing dishes or other reflective activities, activities that allow for reflection.

But there is nothing, nothing, nothing that replaces the ideal of the child reaching for the Father's embrace and feeling it, knowing it is a part of the great Power and Force that is the Helm of all creation.

No matter what that God may be called by individual religions, it is the Force that transcends all differences and envelops you in the Oneness of infinity.

You launched me on my class in spite of my own hesitation, and so you see how it is that I benefit from your efforts as you benefit from mine.

Elena:             But Tomas, previews are used a lot in this world, like for movies and stuff, so it was a preview.

TOMAS:        Perhaps I whet your appetite.

Group:            [agrees]

TOMAS:        Then let us be about our business until we learn better how to be about the Father's business. In peace, I leave you. And in gratitude for the expansion of the classroom in all contexts.

Amen and farewell.

*****

DATE:                        July 14, 2002

LOCATION:               Rio Rancho, NM, USA

T/R's:                           Gerdean and Matthew

TEACHER:                 TOMAS and ANATOLIA

TOPICS:

Language and Stillness

Matthew:        Let's place ourselves in the presence of Jesus the Christ.

                   “Master Teacher, we come to you with happy hearts, placed in loving care and appreciation for that which you present to us as custodians of Love and Light in this world. If it were up to us, we'd have nothing but Light, but we're born in conditions that has darkness creep in, and where we are enlightened we can help maintain the Light factor and increase it. It's that, that we attach ourselves to you, as a Teacher of the Way to the Father. And then, that we ask whatever teachers you make known to us today as a way to enlighten and enliven our hearts to be even more a part of your life, that it is not just a promise but a reality that we can experience here as well as hereafter and with knowledge to be alive and well and yet with need in our heart. We are forever grateful. Amen.”

TOMAS:        Good afternoon, my loyal friends. I am Tomas your teacher, guide and companion. I have enjoyed your laughter, your childlike play, your community of spirit. And, as often is the case as we await your focused attention in earnest, we enjoy your depictions of reality and often find those portraitures worthy of edification, in terms of our curriculum.

It is with interest that we observe your appreciation of language and I will focus somewhat on 'language' as a phrase (term) loosely used to portray a vast realm of communication efforts which result in greater understanding, greater effectiveness, and eventually greater perfection. And so to whatever extent it is that you enjoy and appreciate language, you are embarked on the journey of comprehension.

The method involved in these processes of communicating between the mortal mind and the local universe consciousness, entails an interpretation of language, for we teachers have realized a new level of communication while your level of comprehension is one that we must make the effort to bridge in order to make our messages meaningful to you. In much the same way you will learn, as you learn how to be teachers yourself, to put your comprehension into words -- put your concepts into symbols that will convey the idea and be receptive to the hearer.

Having a hearer is the initial point of departure from isolation. Having a hearer implies two, and therefore conversation. Thus the need for some form of language. The idea of language is exciting, not only in terms of your planetary understanding/ historic appreciation of Latin, English, German, French and so forth, but also the language of the Emotions, the language of Gesture, the language of Implication and Innuendo, and the language of Love, and that language leads/ becomes high art, even abutting worship.

Let's get down to the nitty-gritty of language and introduce the a priori of your communication with your reality, that being the indwelling aspect of divinity that is your attendant and constant companion, in your mind, in your being, in which you come to recognize your own potential immorality. What, Tomas, are you saying? What is all that? Speak simply to me.

The Still Small Voice Inside is a piece of perfection, a piece of potential perfection and the partner of your will en route to your eternal life. You, as mortal creatures, and your families and your institutions, will one day end. And yet you as a personality are able to enjoy eternal life in the development of the soul that is built by your decisions which are in collaboration with the Divine Guide who resides deep within you. This is reference to a practice we call 'stillness' -- you have come to call it 'stillness' -- and indeed it is a way of stilling yourself such that your external reality -- and that which you have known all along, from being a material creature -- is set aside in order for you to find, recognize and commune with that Still Small Voice which resides within you, which is a fragment of divinity. God himself is magnanimous enough to share himself with all his creation and thus he shares himself with you and affords you the opportunity to become one with him; a worker in his conscription to extend life into the far reaches of infinity.

Anatolia has brought it to the fore that it would behoove each of you to begin to value this personal practice of reaching for contact with divinity, and I return to the discussion of language, for the language that you rely upon for your communication with divinity will stretch your customary understanding of communication. It will involve learning to reach up as deity reaches down so that you may meet on common ground.

There are reams of material that have already been presented about the practice of quiet time. Many meditation techniques are in vogue and are beginning to impact the energy fields of your world. You, in your own development, are invited to participate in the advancement of your world by the subtle interjection of the Greater Reality that is to be had in the knowledge of the divine, as well as the personal communication that exists between you and your Creator God. And for many other reasons this practice is encouraged.

I realize the 'telling' of the practice is far removed from the experience. There are, again, many techniques taught and each technique will lead to an expanded awareness of your reality and it will depend entirely upon your ability to be a 'hearer'. As you hear God speak to you in the quiet of your mind, you will know that there is an unbreakable connection between you and the God of All-That-Is. In this way your understanding of yourself will be enhanced and your greater reality will be realized. While it is understood that this process is a process as any relationship development is a process, it is essential to your happiness and ultimately to your growth, not excluding the growth of the world you effect.

I'd like to set myself aside in order for Anatolia to also approach you about this subject for two heads are better than one in these contexts, and indeed, as the concept is made clear to you, you will appreciate that we return again and again to the practice which has come to be called 'stillness,' and you will recognize it as a divine place that you are able to attend and inhabit at will.

I will return.

ANATOLIA:              Good afternoon, my children. I am Anatolia, and I am happy to be with you this afternoon, as I always am.

On this day of the continued meeting/session that we have inaugurated, I'm happy to be among you for the second time -- not that I haven't been prior. Let it be known that given the opportunity for a new oracle, if you will, that is, a mouthpiece that I'm able to speak through, I'm able to be here more visually and audibly than in times past.

But let's not confuse the difference between 'being here' in presence -- that is, through someone speaking with me and for me -- and 'being here' when you would otherwise not be aware. For example, there are many who are with us as we speak right now that are not audible nor visual to you yet truly are present. It could be seen as in the movie that you're probably aware of, "Field of Dreams" toward the very end. Through the entire production it was said, "if you build it they will come." Then at the very end, with all the cars that were lined up for miles and all you saw were those headlights. It's much the same as we speak right now. If you could only imagine, if you could only see, all of those who are here to witness and to behold and to participate in this intermingling of heaven and earth.

Now, it is not to say that this voice from afar, so to speak, is from the 'heavenly gates', but there are many mansions in our Father's house, as you well know. This is one of them. This is one of the places from which I am speaking to you. And the places from which you speak to your Heavenly Presence is what we're speaking of today. So, as there are many mansions in our Father's house, you too currently preside within, as well as house, your Heavenly Presence.

There many ways to look at this, many ways to think of it, many ways to experience it. And one of the points is that regardless of one's outward expression and outward experience of the myriad and almost countless ways in which to experience a religious belief and religious practice, there are many ways in which this is demonstrated, as you well know. Christianity itself houses many -- and almost countless expressions of organized religion -- that expresses itself in commonly held belief patterns that are what one would call a religious belief system.

This is just a formalized way of expressing that which is ineffable, that which is unspeakable, that which is beyond all group practice and beyond all group relationship. What we are speaking is your inherent, your birthright, your God-given presence within and for your ability, and again birthright, that that Presence is with you at all times.

What I wish to try to speak today as, Tomas has indicated, is that this is not just a 'promise' that has been held like a carrot before a horse that you are to strive endlessly in a beast-of-burden type manner to try to reach that which is unattainable. It is to tell you that you are already at the Wedding Feast. The Feast is already being held, and you are being celebrated at the feast. It has always been such, as it always will. The greatest part of this is that in your development you will become aware of your presence at the feast, but do not hesitate for a moment to realize that the feast is already being held.

As you become more aware of the relationship that the Living Force of all Beingness has within your presence -- that you become aware of that presence as yourself -- you're aware that you have no being without this presence within. As you pull back the layers of an onion, so to speak, that cover your conscious awareness of who you really are, as you peel back those layers that keep you disguised to yourself as well as to all else, you'll become aware that that Light, that Energy, that Pulsing Beam that is beyond human description, that has no place in or origin in matter as you know it to be; it is a light that was burning and flickering long before you were aware that there was even light made known in just this sphere alone. But the primordial, preexistent, all existent Light that precedes all matter, is alive and well within. This may yet be theoretical to you. It may not be practical. However, I wish to ask now for any question along this line. Is what I'm speaking of unattainable to you? Is it purely theoretical or etheric in nature for you to have a practical handle what it is of what I'm speaking of? I'm opening to any question at this moment.

Gerdean:        I have a picture in my mind Anatolia, and I'll present it to you. It's rather a comparison or symbol of how it was when it was said that people would go to church on Sunday and behave on Sunday in a certain way and the rest of the week they engaged in human behaviors. I think that my concern about stillness is that it's easy to be God-like when you're in stillness and when you're in the company of those who encourage those values, but it's difficult to carry on that reality when you return to the field where people are not particularly focused on being God-like or God-conscious.

There's the business of life to get down to and take care of. It invokes energy that you have to "get the job done," and it may be difficult and it may be painful but just "get over it" and "we don't have time for all of the 'sweet stuff' -- that God-stuff". And this is pretty much how life appears here. I don't think that was a question Anatolia, but it was what was happening in my mind about the subject: I guess, the difficulty of carrying through with it, into all our affairs, into everything. I mean not just in that 'private spot.' Does that make sense? Can you respond to that?

ANATOLIA:              You know, I'm very willing and able to speak to that, although I believe it's been mentioned that I am not of your world, per se. I've not had the pleasure, nor the difficulty, of your world. Although a physical world is not beyond my experience, it has not been this world in particular that I have had the aforementioned pleasure and difficulty of living in. Because you find yourself in an essentially dualistic nature and everything else is consequently a world of dualism.

It's a world of contraction and a world of contradiction. So what you're basically called to -- and not just in the Christian tradition, but in the tradition we know of -- is to bring to your awareness as a physical and spiritual expression, that of primarily Judo-Christianity, primarily because of that being the tradition your Master chose to carry forth his mission to your world in terms of the relationship you have with your Father and your Father with you. So that one of the first, foremost and primary principles is, that you and your Father are one, as the Master had so well taught.

If, in your prayerfulness, in your state of mind/ of being that you can consider or call stillness (and parenthetically, stillness is a just a discipline to bring you into a new form of thinking, feeling, and a new reality of experiencing that which in your dualism, or dualistic world, which continually contradicts and counteracts.) -- so that what I'm saying is that I have no difficulty understanding what you're saying. In fact, I can appreciate that. However the secret, if it is a secret -- the nature of what it is we are speaking of, is that all you truly need to do -- there is no magic, there is no formula, there is no particular level of success that can be prescribed for you here, although there are many schools in which valid presentation of mediation in its various functional forms can be undertaken and followed successfully.

What we are saying is not meant to be a laborious, tedious and unrewarding task. It's simply to bring you into the light of your own beingness; the beingness that is there with you as your Tabernacle of Presence.

In the Catholic tradition it is taught that the tabernacle houses the body of Christ. Your 'tabernacle,' houses the body of Christ, if you will, but the eternal Father which is present with you, not just as a light presence, although your 'lightness' of being has its origin in the Father, but the presence that is with you as a personality, a representative presence of the divine presence within you, that you can commune with and share with and be at one with at all times. So consequently you do not have to live and be in a dualistic nature any longer. It is truly the principle and the practice of what Jesus came to indoctrinate. He intended to indoctrinate the universality, the brotherhood, the All-encompassing Oneness or All-ness of God and Man made present. This in reality is what he did and what he accomplished. It is now up to humanity to recognize that -- the blessing, the sacrifice, the sacrament, per se, that was accomplished and is made known and present, is alive and well and among you. However, humanity must begin to realize this by going within to worship and recognize that which IS.

It is very difficult in a sense to speak to this topic but it is very simple also as a presentation of reality. I find it difficult to express, and one need only to go within to begin to hear only that which is alive and well within you. Many can experience in their silence or stillness either a state of mind or being -- it is not a thought process; it is not taking a thought to its Nth degree. It's basically voiding yourself of thought and simply being.

In that, I wish you and invite you to speak to your … however you would consider it: your higher self, your higher being, your God presence, your Oneness in presence with the Divine Allness of being, and speak as one in the presence, as a child to a Father, in relationship of created to Creator. And in that presence, that place, that state of mind/ being -- because truly it is a state of being as secondarily as a state of mind -- that you can adore and share your living and loving presence with, he (that is not masculine but "he" in the general sense) of creator presence, shares with you as a loving and living space. It is this awareness and this presence that can be made known and part of you at all times. So it need not be dualistic. Does this adequately address your question?

Gerdean:        Yes. The dualistic part enhances my thinking. I'm getting more information here as we speak.

ANATOLIA:              Let it be known that any enhancement along this line -- whether it be baby steps or walking at a fast pace -- each and every individual is walking their path at their own pace and will be held accountable in terms of the parable of the talents in that respect. It is as if you were a canyon in a landscape and upon your full awareness of acceptability and acceptance of who you are as a divine presence -- in that moment when you can fully be accountable and accept what role you had to play in this life, and you are then accounting for what you had accomplished; it will be as if you are of the presence of mind; it's as if you were a mountain canyon, and the question will be how did you reflect and to what degree did you reflect that which was made known to you? What shades of darkness kept the light from coming to completion? At what times in the day, at what times during the year, at what portion of your presence to accept and to receive the light, were there shades and protections that did not let the light in?

So you are simply being invited to reflect all the light that is made known to you. Because it is not that upon your completion of this course of existence that you will only be light. You will be more aware of your light. But friends, be fully aware that that lightness is within you right now. And before you have to be made aware of what you were accountable for, that you may not be aware of accountability right now, it is not a heavy burden, but simply an invitation for you to be a vastly, wonderful receptacle and reflector of light.

This is what I invite you to consider and this is what I invite you to warmly welcome within your divine presence, because among the many and varied ways you can make this communal commitment with your divine presence, if nothing else, you can go within and picture yourself as a light flicker; a flickering candle before a vast and star sparkled cosmos and say, "Father I'm here. Where are you?" and wait and watch and receive the warm welcome that you'll receive. It's as if that flicker will light the path to total brilliance and total knowledge of who you are. It's this knowing and this lightness of being that we invite you to experience and to know as a reality as surely as you know yourselves to be physical beings here and now. Your physicality is a secondary condition to your actual state of being. It is this that we invite you to know and experience here, now and always.

And with that if there are no other questions I wish to leave you with those pearls that will be wonders to behold, much as the grain of sand was prior to the pearl's countenance. Are there any questions at this point?

Hearing none, I wish you well and lightness and brightness within your beings and know that it is with this that we are forever grateful and forever with you. It is going through your tunnel of earthly existence that we will always be near and will always be care-full to be with you all steps along the way. You will never fail and never falter; that spiritual guidance and spiritual support will always be with you, internally and externally as well.

So peace be with you, and may you always be in the light of the knowledge of who you are. Peace be with you.

Ms. J.:            Well, I can't put it as eloquently as you do, but what I try to do in my volunteer work at the hospital is to lighten the burden for all those who are waiting for someone to take them to surgery, and they're all shook up and excited and unhappy, and so we try to keep it lighter, and we talk and we laugh and we do other things to off the strain they're under, and it seems to help. At least it has so far in my experience. They seem to appreciate it.

TOMAS:        This that you describe Ms. J., is the natural response to knowing God. It is a desire to serve in his vineyards. It is the desire to do something that helps create the Supreme God and so you contribute to destiny. That which you suggest -- service -- is indeed the natural result of knowing God. And when you enjoy quiet contemplation, such as we've discussed this afternoon, this practice of listening to divinity and knowing your connection to it, you are enjoined to give freely of that which you have received. Here is the natural process of service done in Love and not out a sense of obligation.

Whenever you falter in your path, whenever grow weary, and before you reach that point, spend time alone with God in order to revivify your flagging spirit, in order to inject your soul with that life-giving Force which will enable you to walk the second mile and be about the Father's business as you pass by.

Ms. J.:            Well my contributions are just a little pebble in a great big sea but it does help to watch people relax and have other interests so they aren't sitting there all tense and nervous.

TOMAS:        Yes, this is natural ministry.

We have brought our formal lesson to you and yet there are, indeed, challenges and opportunities in your individual lives and your life as a group that we are interested in and wish to share with you. This, too, is part of relationship, that you exchange values and interests in order to become better acquainted. In this way you help others to let down their barriers and expose their pearl within and reveal their light, thus fostering light and life for this world which has such need for such divine reality as is reflected in ministry such as you all do in your daily lives.

I will testify to the ambiance and commend your taste in furniture. [group laughter and a question from one "Who is he talking to?" Tomas was talking to and about Esmarelda's newly refurbished from stem to stern living and dining area where we are gathered]

Esmarelda:     It's wonderful that you know what's going on. And next week I'll be a little more alert. Today I'm exhausted, and if I sit still, I'll go to sleep. But I won't be this sleepy all the time.

TOMAS:        Thank you for being aware. It is comforting indeed. It would be frustrating to attempt to reach those had no ears to hear.

Esmarelda:     I wanted to let you know that we have a new person with us today, Bonita, whom we're very excited to have, and I know that you're aware of her.

TOMAS:        Yes, I have been aware of her and am most pleased to make your acquaintance, Bonita. With my interpreter here, who speaks human language, I am given to understand the name means "pretty" and how we love pretty children. They are easy to behold, easy to sit with. No doubt you are a pretty-spirited child who enjoys the comfort our Father's lap and the ministry of our universe Mother. Welcome, child. Return as you like. The doors of these classrooms are ever open and ever present. We encourage your attendance and involvement to the extent that your soul is fed and becomes fattened upon the fruit of the spirit of the love that saturates these souls as they sit in desire of filling themselves with the Living Water of love that is our Source and our Destiny.

Elena:             I have something to add about Bonita, too, that is compared to the lesson. You were talking about language and you were also talking about displaying light -- or Anatolia was -- and Bonita shows a lot of light just walking around the golf course. As an example, Matthew and I were walking around the golf course this last week and somebody came up and said, "Well, welcome to the golf course. You're lucky there weren't any golfers there or they'd be hitting you," assuming (evidently) that we did not belong to the Country Club or that we didn't belong there (the golf course has been closed all year), and that kind insinuation. Little light that we saw, actually (from that stranger). But Bonita, on the other hand, I can see her from clear across the way. She's a light giver! At least I've seen a lot of light from her. And I'm grateful that she's here and thankful that she's 'here.'

Bonita:            Thank you. Thank you, Elena, and thank you, Tomas. Thank you for the attitude, thank you for the welcome, thank you for the invitation and the kind words.

TOMAS:        Neighbors are life, indeed. The idea of the Cosmic Neighborhood is enhanced when you begin to find the light that shines in your own community, giving off that illumination that is the product of the divine. The poor soul who was more critical of your presence is perhaps one of those who retains a fear of God as compared to those who appreciate a love of God. And the light that dwells within him is, even so, no doubt, cheered by your presence as you pass by. Keep your chin up.

We are fortunate to have teachers in the community here. I feel the teachers who attend my classes are mindful of more than those who are merely students, for those who teach are often inclined to discern teaching techniques and incorporate those techniques into their own pattern of teaching. In this way they are students as well as teachers. And this is the ideal. I enjoy learning from you. And you teach me as I offer you my concepts and language.

It is to the Source of light and love that we look for direction and counsel in our studies. All of us are learning the lessons of life in the universe that are appropriate for us at the time. In this way, the gears of the super-universes continue to mesh and we continue to be mobile en route to our goals.

I feel a sense of pending in this room. Is there something scheduled that I'm unmindful of? Perhaps it is the wedding. (Group response and acknowledgment in recognition of the upcoming wedding of Ms. J. and Mr. S. and conversation between the group and the 'love-birds')

TOMAS:        This is an interesting assemblage indeed. It might as well be called the Love Boat. What a joy for me to be assigned here and to enjoy also the association of Anatolia. You may appreciate the heart-throb that passes between she and I as we enjoy getting to know each other in this new configuration and giving to you, our children, the culture that we have to pass on to you as you pass on your values to those you impress.

In joy of knowing you and in appreciation of your efforts to attend to your own spiritual awakening and development, I promise to stay in touch with you throughout the week and visit with you as you aspire to embrace the Father and enjoy his embrace of you, my dear friends.

Is there anything else before we go?

Myra:             Well, Tomas, I'm writing a language paper tomorrow so I'm inviting both you and Anatolia to be in that chair with me. Please.

TOMAS:        I will pull strings to get you some assistance. The midwayers are often ascribed the task of interpreting the local universe language into the human language form, but the artisans are perhaps as qualified to assist for they can help provide visions, pictures that present concepts. Be thus mindful of concepts and have faith the midwayers will help put those concepts into words that will convey the message that will benefit those who hear with ears to hear what your words have to say. Let us know how the paper turns out.

All efforts at joyous language exchange enter into the field of communication and ultimately the purpose of communication is communion, and thus I leave you in faith of your communion with All That Is.

Peace be upon you. Farewell.

Group:            Thank you

*****

DATE:                        July 21, 2002

LOCATION: Rio Rancho, New Mexico, USA

T/R’s:                                     Gerdean, for Tomas and Merium Matthew, for Anatolia

TEACHERS:              TOMAS, ANATOLIA AND MERIUM

TOPICS:

The Garden

Stillness

The Value of Experience

MUSIC:                      "In the Garden" played by Elena on the piano

PRAYER:       Matthew

(Tomas introduced himself and welcomed everyone then, after a few brief comments, introduced Merium who wanted to tell a story.)

MERIUM:     I am going to take you on a rendezvous with one of your favorite characters in literature, Alice in Wonderland. I lapse thus, as it is too good a comparison to overlook. Do you recall, those of you who have seen this story depicted in film, the charming scene in the garden where the various flowers were conversing and remarking about what they saw in their midst? I have a picture here in my expanded consciousness to offer you, to see how it is that you are all "something" growing in the garden.

You've seen this before. We have spoken to you about it before, but these are lessons that are being learned again and again as you upstep your ability to comprehend the value therein. Do you remember, for instance, a patch of flowers that were quite grand, Iris perhaps, and they were talking about the superfluous posies and the seedy wildflowers. But look closely at those haughty Iris, and watch the Master enter the garden. Watch him pass by these flower beds and see what happens to those haughty Iris. They are humbled in his presence and they bow their heads in gratitude of being one of the many flowers honored to grow in his garden. I bring this analogy to you today because there is a stir about the various flowers growing in the Father's garden, not only your little culture, but in the global climate as well. The extent to which you are able to learn to accept and appreciate differences in your various natures, is the reality which you will introduce into the ethers of your world that will enable your combatant countries, as a result of their many different religious foundations, to begin to respect the insignificant posies and the seedy wildflowers as well as the stately Iris.

In-as-much as I have relegated you to vegetables, I will leave, and let the host and hostess of this pretty garden elevate your mind's consciousness to a concept that is more in keeping with the sons and daughters of divinity that you are. What a delight you appear to be to me! So fragrant and delightful, each of you. And how symmetrical in your variations.

TOMAS:        This is Tomas again. I am back. I trust that you have no objection to Merium's nature.

Esmarelda:     Her visit was delightful.

TOMAS:        The energy here is quite piqued this afternoon. It is a different configuration. I note we are missing Mr. S. and Ms. J., and we are joined by Walter and Joy, and this simple adjustment of the circuitry is enough to require an adjustment in the equipment (the T/R and I) because the frequency is different. The idea of differing frequencies is how I will take off from Merium's parable.

There are certain frequencies that are harmonic and some which are static. Certain radio stations are younger and more driving than others that are sedate or classic in nature. And they each reach a constituency; a demographic, and each have value; however, they have value for you only in-so-far as you are able to adjust your frequency to accommodate the prevailing energy. The discussion about the specific interests of specific individuals is what prompts this attempt at understanding how each of you are programmed to heed a certain frequency. The sound of the Master's voice, however, is all pervasive, in that, no matter what your natural resonance is, it will be affected by the resonance he projects as you open to his reality.

In time your world will be settled in Light and Life, and you might think of it as a garden that is completely manicured or you might think of it as a garden that is completely natural, but you'll certainly see it as a whole, without obstruction, without static, without interference. We are embarking on the creation of the garden that incorporates humanity.

You are followers of the Wayshower. The energy that you recognize as his, and that you can reveal in your lives, establishes a circuitry of harmony, having a cadence which everyone can understand. However this is a process. It is only in completion, in maturity, that this perfection prevails constantly. Growth is often a turbulent and upsetting experience. It sometimes seems that the weeds are taking over the new shoots of growth intended to be flowers.

However, in faith, the scripture indicates the tares and the wheat will grow together and the wheat, like the flowers, having their own purpose, will eventuate in fruition as was intended. All it takes is a little maintenance.

The maintenance that we bring to your attention at this point in your development, is that of the grooming of the patch you grow in. For surely those of you who are about the Father's business recognize that the work that is set before you is sufficient for you for the day.

It is necessary for you to continually realize that you are only seeing a small part of the whole picture. However, as you know, it is possible to see with a greater perspective when and as you provide yourself with that divine perspective that comes through stillness, that comes from understanding your brother and sister, and see, as do the Ancients of Days, how they have come to grow to be who they are and how they grow.

The riotous garden that you all are in is a seedbed of potential and we are beginning to see the effects of divinity making inroads into not only your culture and that which you immediately enjoy, but the global culture, that you are a microcosm of, and that you will energize, influence and direct as you allow the Greater Reality to become consciously realized in your own reality. Have patience. Have faith.

Anatolia is here with me and assured of her desire to speak with and be a part of our conclave this afternoon. Thus I will close my remarks and afford her the opportunity to speak before we open the floor to you for questions.

ANATOLIA:              Good afternoon, my children. I'm happy to be here and happy to share this wonderful afternoon with you. The temperatures are ideal, as far as I am concerned. If you could, see, feel, and hear the difference within our domain you would truly appreciate what climate control is all about, but given that you are in a temperate world, so to speak, that is one that has ups and downs, constancy of inconstancy, you are truly in a place admirable and praiseworthy. So this is not to say that anyone who is of other environs is of lesser status, or any lesser importance, it's just that this is a remarkable place to be and we're happy to be in association with you.

Whether we're here or anywhere else where each and all of you may have originated in the beginning, it makes no difference. It is the Now that we are concerned with. It is mainly a conversational item in terms in letting you know of all of our presence and the status of you, today, in your place of being -- not just your physical place, that is your geographic location -- but for where you find yourselves, where we find yourselves today it is pleasing and pleasant, worth celebration and worth everything, to have left everything behind to find that which is valuable, that which is beyond all measure and beyond all form of recognition of lasting value.

You are to be commended for your valiant works in terms of finding that which is lasting and that which is true. For what is alive and well and bright and brilliant within your hearts and minds is what's lasting and true, because one could put hot fiery coals to any part of your body but as long as you had that vision of what is valuable and true, you could withstand all types of pain and punishment were it necessary to put you to such a test, to know that you would prevail throughout any type of physical, mental or other torture, meaning that where your focus is, and where you have found peace and placid placement, is where you will be able to maintain, because this is your place of consciousness and it is your place of being that will far outlast even the physical status in which you currently occupy.

So I wish to commend you for your places within your hearts and your minds because this is the Place from which you springboard forward in terms of your next level. Conscious … onward … migration or progress. It is much in the image, or the demonstration of being pilgrims -- pilgrims along the way of truth and rightness. I could say 'righteousness' which is a simile to rightness; I say rightness because it is more a matter of having your mind and your heart being right with all that is around you and within you. Being right in terms of acceptance. Being in adjustment and being fine-tuned with almost anything that could happen. For in a split second or a moment's notice all of your world could change. I say this not in terms of any kind of catastrophic type of forewarning, I'm just saying, as you know, that your world could change in a moment. So where you are in your hearts and your minds -- placid places within your consciousness --it is advisable to recognize the reality of this; that it is not just a momentary passing of emotional satisfaction, but rather is the actual state of your soul and your consciousness when you find yourself in a place such as this.

It is the heart and the soul and the body, if you will, of the 'stillness' practice that we'd spoken of earlier. This I wish to describe to you in a number of ways but the primary way I wish to illustrate it today is through just this: That I believe most of you, if not all of you here today, would be able to vouch for the placid place within your heart and your mind that you find yourself currently. For any who may not be in this place that I speak of, momentarily, or currently as we speak, I know that you know this place and that it is not difficult to arrive at but rather just a matter relaxing, a letting go of your active mind and the ego part of yourself, to relax and take a back-seat, say, as you would a restless child, a 5-year old … in or outside of their car-seat, but let's play it safe and have that 5-year old in a car-seat -- because it is the law after all - but, telling that 5-year old to relax and to hush-up, if you will, that we're going on a journey and the only way to enjoy the journey is to be quiet and watch what scenery we find. If it's nothing more than being able to entertain the 5-year old with promises of moo-cows and other scenery, do what you need to, to put the 5 year old to rest so that your mind can relax and find that placid place within that you know to be that vibratory location where you and your Maker and your Creator can placidly find yourselves as one.

This is the place that you will be when you are at peace with yourself. This is a place that is a springboard within your stillness practice, that is a place that you can practice in your conscious everyday moments of being. You can carry on the greatest debate and the most convincing of arguments or the most saleable of sales presentations in this state of being because it is in this state of being that is your true consciousness and your true presence of being. It is your spirit being that is unguarded and beyond the limits of what your ego mind would prevent from its placement within your consciousness.

So I more than urge. I invite you. I tease you into tasting this place with your Creator and with your Maker, to know that it is a place of holiness and it is a place of wonder and delight, much as the garden that was spoken of earlier. So I wish to allow you to cherish all of the scents and all of the smells and all of the peace that prevails in such a placid place within.

It will be a part of my continued discussion with you, in terms of how and where to find this particular location, but again, I believe, for most of you it is not a difficult journey whatsoever. It begins again by telling the 5-year old to relax and to sit back and enjoy the ride.

If there are any questions about this I would be happy to entertain those questions as we proceed. In the meantime I return the floor to Tomas. I appreciate your attention and hopefully the little bit of a ride that we did take and any of the scenery you enjoyed along the way was well worth the trip. So peace be with you and until we meet again, I am always your friend and always within your reach. Peace be with you.

TOMAS:        Thank you Anatolia. And now we are eager to engage with you in relationship development. How does your garden grow?

Esmarelda:     I hope mine is growing very well this year, Tomas. I was thinking from last Sunday about how, in communion with the Father, one tends to talk to him as we talked to our own fathers when we were small children. And I was thinking back about that and my earthly father and I did not talk very much at all. In fact, I used to try to begin a conversation with Daddy and he was always in a hurry and told me he didn't have time to answer but he'd explain it and I wouldn't know any more when he got through explaining it than I did before he took the time. And there just wasn't much conversation. Maybe sometimes that's why I find it difficult to communicate. But my literal garden, Tomas, is faring pretty well this year.

TOMAS:        Indeed, it is, but my focus will be on this figurative garden we introduced: the communication between you and your Father as compared to the communication between you and your Dad. The example you site is an brilliant example of how times have changed in a very short time frame. When you were a toddler, perhaps 6 or 7 decades ago, the stratagem was such that men were not participants in child-rearing -- certainly not with the little ones.

Esmarelda:     Tomas, with the discipline they were.

TOMAS:        Yes, father is quite naturally regarded as a disciplinarian and one to be feared, but the times are, in part, changing, and today men have an active role in fathering. They are encouraged to be a participant in parenting, even to relating to the child when it is still in the womb. Many husbands are taking maternity leave and experiencing morning sickness along with their spouses. This is a natural result of the women's liberation movement. That also provided new liberation for men, and will immeasurably impact on the development of the new generation.

You speak of indigo children. These children are being parented by two loving parties in a community of devotion to each other, and that will naturally advance the precociousness of any individual. However, given the constraints of those by-gone eras, it is a marvelous testimony to the workings of the indwelling Adjuster that it has prevailed in you to the extent that you have come to know and realize the Fatherhood of God and a Loving reality and not so much the fearful depiction as is our legacy.

Those of you who have been brought up to regard life's vicissitudes in one way are often reluctant to let go of the mental constriction in order for the easier, softer way to come into being. You will realize this by recognizing the sagas told to you about how it was when your parents were young. Such as, "when I was young I had to walk a mile in the snow to catch the bus," and now kids have their own car to drive to class.

It's difficult for hardy old flowers like yourself to regard these up-start dandelions with much appreciation. However, they are beneficiaries of a new potential as well as a new luxury. Fact is, they will have their own row to hoe, as it were, and one of the rows they will learn to hoe is that the flowers who have grown in their garden for a long time, and who provide stability and beauty year after year, are the voice of experience, -- which, in time, will be like the chord that holds down the tune while the other youthful hand plays trippingly on the keys to create the melody. Again this is a request … and invitation for those of you who have perspective, who have vision, and who have experience … to understand how the young will, in time, reach that point of awareness and maturity that allows the farther view. The way that parents lovingly look upon their immature children and allow them to make their experiential mistakes as they learn how to become older and wiser.

You didn't expect a full-fledged lecture on such a small remark, Esmarelda, But I and other teachers lay in wait for a flicker.

Esmarelda:     Thank you, Tomas. And I've been most fortunate with my two, who never were really dandelions, but have flowered for many a year and matured in their lives. Thank you Tomas.

Elena:             Yeah, but you mentioned a 'chord' there, Tomas, and it was well appreciated - that underlying harmony and substantial chord is well appreciated and recognized and loved.

Joy:                That was great encouragement to me. I can't put it into words, just …. That I could be a 'chord', -- that I'm adequate,… That's -- I'm so happy I can't even explain. It makes the whole trip worth it because when you have children and grandchildren, sometimes you're unaware ... And I just took that off into my spirit. Thank you Tomas. That was so powerful.

TOMAS:        You are a rose indeed, shorn of thorns. What a precious gift you are to our group! Both of you! It is like coming home, is it not, when you find yourself in a place such as Anatolia referenced where your faith is safe? We recognize how fragile your young souls are, and how terribly difficult it has been for you to protect your tender growth from the assault of inclement weather. And yet we desire to encourage you to see how hardy is that will to live and that devotion to discernment and divine light that gives you your fiber, that provides you the substance that is the gift of experience. Our Father has seen to it that He experiences life with you, and so you have much to bring to life and offer, as your life itself is a sanctuary to life as you found it and lived it, and can now express it as a viable reality, as a vibrant bloom, worth of statement. You mustn't think you've gone from us when you continue your sojourn. You are one with us. And we are one with you. And our combined energy, our fidelity and harmonics combine to create the music of the spheres.

And how we have enjoyed the orchestration of the afternoon. What a privilege it is to be a part of this cultivating garden. What therapy it is for those of us who work with you to be one with you in your effort to realize yourselves in your own statesmanship. Are there questions or commentary, otherwise?

Elena:             I wanted to comment on one thing that Anatolia said earlier. I guess I had done my stillness time feeling fortunate if I could kinda maintain that stillness and looking at the 'moo-cows' for 5 minutes at a time. And then she was saying that it was possible to make a salesmanship presentation or basically do anything -- perform normal functions of our daily lives -- and remain in the stillness state. Well, I've got a little ways to go there but I'm at least expanding my vision of what that might be. It helps a little bit because of the potential, I guess. I was not looking at -- I think in my idea of what I thought stillness was, was a very compact period of time set aside for me personally without any outside influences. So that kinda changed my view point about that, so I'll kinda try to expand that. That helped.

TOMAS:                    Anatolia would you like to respond?

ANATOLIA:              I'm glad that it was helpful to you. The main aim to what I wish to present to you in this topic area, is that it is on-going and progressive. It's immediately a two-fold answer. One is that I wish to remove the mystique or the foreboding obstacle that stillness, as it is perceived, has presented to you. To a large extent I believe that it is … in many points of view … a supreme discipline to suggest that one enter stillness. It is as if one is saying, "Okay, it is time for you to go stand in the closet and remain in the dark." I wish to remove the taboo, or the impression that somehow this is an austere, disciplinary practice that we are inviting you to undertake. Contraire! As I've tried to illustrate, that it is not just a momentary state of being or an escape from the normal wave length interpretation of reality, but rather it is a place of your heart and mind that is placid and real and can be experienced on an everyday basis. It is that state of mind that is essentially the developed consciousness that becomes more aligned with your spirit essence and your spirit vibration that is what you're aligning yourself to. Does this help any?

Elena:             Yes.

ANATOLIA: Is there anything else along this line while we're on the topic?

Know then that, in my comments as we proceed, I wish to remove the taboo, if you will, and simply invite you to grow in your own conscious awareness of who you are and, after all, this is what we're all about. Each of us, in our own states of being, in a progressive state of natural progression until we are at one with the Father in all glory. We are all in a progressive state of conscious awareness. So with that I leave you in good tidings and return to Tomas' chairing of the committee.

TOMAS:        The picture of the Father's lap is in my mind and Esmarelda as a 3-year old sitting on Father's lap. The practice now is to allow yourself to be that little child. Accept your tender souls, your fledgling reality and place it in the trust of Father that you would idealize your father to be; the one who did not merely discipline you but who did have time -- not to explain things perhaps, but to listen to you explain things to him.

Can you conceive of yourself spending time with Father to tell him about the bug you discovered in the yard and how it went across the sidewalk? Or the problem you had getting your shoe tied? If you can give yourself to Father and open yourself to him and appreciate the sanctity of the association, there will develop the kinship of spirit that gives you sense of security and being able to appear to him as you are. And he accepts you as you are and loves you as you are because you are his child and you are precious to him.

In due course, of course, it is natural for you to grow, and your problems become more complex, but always -- as the child -- they are the problems you bring to him to hear his feedback, if any. Sometimes there won't be feedback, only a sense of love. And in that case you have a new perspective on your problem, but many times you will be given counsel, your mind will reflect divine wisdom. Don't be impatient with yourself as you learn how to develop this relationship with Father. Create in your mind's eye the divine father that you would want God to be for you. And invite yourself to partake of His Greatness, His Kindness, His Humor, His Affection and His Strength.

Whatever it is you need from God, He has it in abundance. And since He is your creator, He will reflect Himself in you and you will become more like your Father because you have spent time understanding how He loves you. And eventually he will send you forth into the world to take with you that revelation of sonship such that the security you enjoy is reflected to those as you pass-by. As it is said, 'it is a process,' an enjoyable process, and not an instance of fear of punishment or an angry god or a jealous god, but the loving god that Jesus taught when he was here.

With such a handle on our Universal Father or our Creator Father/brother, we develop into sons of God, daughters of God. And that makes you superhuman not merely humans you have recognized and worked with all these many years awaiting the reconnection of your circuitry with the divine universe.

Well, children, flowers that you are, we reluctantly relinquish our hold on you in order for you to now go and practice and enjoy those realizations that have been given to you in this garden of companionship wherein the rain and sun of heaven has shined upon us and washed away our tears. Be of good cheer. Until we speak again, farewell.

Group:            Thank you. Farewell.

*****

DATE:                        July 28, 2002

LOCATION: Albuquerque, NM USA

T/R:                            Gerdean

TEACHER:                TOMAS

TOPIC:

Buried in the Mines of Mortal Life

Q & A:                        The Resurrection Hall of Mansonia

                                    "The After-life" Experience

TOMAS:        Good afternoon friends and neighbors. I am Tomas your teacher and a true companion in our quest for paradise perfection and service fields beyond. How marvelous it is to once again be a party to your inner lives. How grateful we are to you who keep coming back to hear about the faith-path upon which we are embarked. It is the foundation of your lives - the relationship you enjoy with spirit - for it truly will endure even beyond your mortal life.

This extension of your reality into the next life and beyond, is also an important advantage to have in this life as it, faith, enables you to see with Divine perspective. At least It allows you the exercise of stretching your mortal perspective into a perspective that comes from the many elements of spirit. So once you have accepted the recognition of spirit as a vital and necessary part of your life, you are able then to find it anywhere and every where. There is no place now, that God is not.

I'm given the instance of the Pennsylvania miners as an example of how faith works. There were many who saw the dire circumstances of the mine and the challenge the saviors had with the difficulties of the material earth and equipment, and they accepted the loss, even before the final verdict was in, before the actual facts were known.

So many of you are ready to throw in the towel. It seems so many of you are accustomed to the disaster or the state of mind that allows for the worst. It is easier to accept the worst than to continue to hold out for the best, for the miracle that is life to occur.

The miners themselves, of course, grappled with their fragile mortality and yet when they were uncovered they were heard to say, "What took you so long?" -- which was, in fact, a commendation to their rescuers, a statement of faith that in time they knew they would found, they would be discovered, they would be brought out the earth and into the Light.

This same value lesson is inherent in the many who are buried in the 'mines of mortality;' routine habits, customs, patterns and the like which essentially is a burial shroud in which they spend their lives, while inside their faithful adjusters wait and watch for every opportunity to instill in them a sense of hope and recognition of a greater life to come. So many simply make themselves adjust to the current circumstances, burrowing into the pattern and awaiting the fact of death to deliver them out of the cave-in, the dark mine of mortal life - whereupon perhaps their Adjuster may have the opportunity to say, "What took you so long?"

But those of you that are aware of the light of the sun and who breathe deeply of the spirit are able to see it in all things, in the Spirit of Truth as well in the seven adjutant mind spirits -- the spirits of intuition, and understanding, courage, knowledge, counsel, worship and wisdom. You are eagerly available to see God in every opportunity and in every difficulty.

There are those who find the faither's propensity to acknowledge even in the mundane things of life, as a source of obsequiousness, a bit of 'brown-nosing,' as if talking about God all the time would earn them points in his ledger. And yet you know our Father is a loving God not a judging God and this depiction is hardly gracious, after having been in the mines human experience yourself; rather, it gives sanction to those who honor God even in their habitual practices. Any reach toward God is better than no reach. Any practice toward allowing God to be a part of the material life is a practice to be acknowledged.

Those of you who have visited foreign countries and who heard only that language which was unfamiliar to your ear, might have felt a surge of recognition upon hearing a phrase such as "French fries." And this is how God surely feels when he hears those who habitually speak of him and even so, on occasion, are able to render a genuine flicker of spiritual reality by way of their awakening faith and so having heard the equivalent of 'French fries,' God smiles and adds to their humble perception of divinity some new element of a developing religious experience.

Enjoying how other people worship is a practice much like enjoying how other cultures dine. How boring it would be for you to only have one meal, or one menu from which to draw. How much more interesting it is for your palate to have the opportunity to enjoy Chinese food or Thai food and the many, many varieties. As many varieties of food there are, there are as many varieties of religious experience.

Whenever possible, enjoy the spirit practices of others, for in this way you are able to share spirits with others and this bonds you to those who have heretofore been different and are now kin, spirit kin, because of the exchange of reality which is inherent in group worship. Even though in your assessment it may be based on erroneous thinking, if it is of the spirit it will transcend your thinking processes and delve deeper into the morontia state, which is a reality which is en route to full-blown spirit reality.

Since we will be enjoying the adventure of morontial life for many eons to come, it is well that you begin now to acknowledge and appreciate any and all spirit reality that you encounter, and in this way you are giving God acknowledgment in the lives of other believers. It is God who will be the victor, for as he is allowed to become greater, all error will naturally pass away. For you, the work is not to point out the error, but to point out the Way, wherein these children, like yourselves, are able to advance into greater God-consciousness and self-realization.

This allows you to enter into the light of day to stretch forth your arms and greet the sun, to feel the winds of change -- as if it were a breeze -- rustle through your hair and cool your skin. God lives. God is. And your acknowledgment of your understanding of God is a contribution to the evolving God of human will in its aspiration to be aligned in whatever way perceivable with that super-consciousness that we recognize as deity.

Let's get God, then, down into your circles. Bring him alive in ways that you are able to understand and appreciate. Kindness is certainly one way and good cheer is another. What, however, of those who are not so cheerful, not so assured? Keep your own candle lit. Keep your batteries charged, so that when you, in your helmets, go down into the mines of humanity in search of those who are temporarily buried, it will give off that illumination that will give off hope and deliver the lost into the found light of truth. It is only after you have been in the dark that you really appreciate a light at the end of the tunnel. Allow your light thus to shine in whatever way, whatever fashion is appropriate for you.

How are you, beloved friends? Engage with me, if you will, in conversation as we have the chance.

Anatolia is camping. I know it is possible to access her if need be, but I like to let people enjoy themselves when they have a chance. As the Master admonished, it is invaluable for you to get away and set aside your mortal troubles and concerns for a while and then when you return to your normal lives you find yourself refreshed and these troubles are not as overwhelming as they would seem when you are buried beneath them.

Also, our contemporaries are in various states of activity leaving this quiet campfire to us to keep burning in their absence. I speak figuratively, of course. It's far too warm to build a fire.

Are there questions?

Mr. S.:            I have no questions, Tomas. But I'm glad and thankful for you for being here.

TOMAS:        Yes. I am also glad to be here. And it's a wonderful opportunity to the Teacher Corps of workers to have the unique experience of being able to make these initial contacts with the mortal races. These may seem unusual practices for some, but on other worlds it is most common for mortals and spirits to interact as a way of life. This is a part of the recognition of being at one with your spirit helpers who are eager to aid you in your steps toward greater understanding and greater joy in service.

Ms. S.:            I have a question. What is it like where you are?

TOMAS:        Well, where I am now, daughter, is really not far removed from where you are, for I am in an architectural sphere created specifically for these purposes. I am housed here temporarily, so you might say that I am in a temporary housing authority; a compound, which I share with my fellow teachers. It is unlike your environment, but in many ways, since we involved with you, we are able to enjoy your realm of reality. I can see your world through the eyes of those who allow for me to see. And in truth, the environment I am in, even though it is temporary, is similar. It is not material in the way that you recognize material, for I am not material. I rest, and have a chamber in which I may rest. I partake of energy, and yet I do not eat food. I walk the grounds, the gardens given us and maintained for us, as you enjoy your outdoor gardens, patios, and social life.

There is no need for us to have much in the way of amenities. I have not, thus, need to provide for a spouse and children. It is much more as if I live in a dormitory, on a campus, and all the grounds that I enjoy are also enjoyed by my companions, other teachers.

Ms. S.:            Is this what heaven is like after we die?

TOMAS:        Not necessarily. It is however, a place of relative perfection for those of us who are here on this architectural sphere in this service ministry to your world. You will be provided worlds appropriate for your development when you leave earth. You will begin on the realm of Mansonia known as The Resurrection Hall. You will be awakened and immediately greeted by those who have most closely attended to you in your life in the flesh. The guardian seraphim, who have guarded you throughout your mortal sojourn, will help you adjust. You will see your God-fragment, as it were, face-to-face. There will be many entities enabling you to adapt to your new morontia body and help you to learn your way around the morontia spheres. There will be more color than you are accustomed to and this will be, at once, dazzling and overwhelming at first. It will make you giddy, perhaps.

Indeed the experience of resurrection is a sacred and celebratorious event. Imagine the sense of saving grace that will be experienced by those of you who are agondonters -- that is to say, you who believe without seeing, who have faith without knowing, who awaken to discover that your faith was not in vain and that your hope of an after-life was not for naught. There is much worship in this awakening. Much spiritual weeping for joy. The universe administrators have arranged for you to have a small holiday at the outset of your next phase of living, this phase of morontia life that will go on for many eons as you become less animal and more spiritual, as you learn, in attending the many mansions that are a part of the natural ascension of life.

You will have an opportunity to meet and greet those of family members and friends who have preceded you. Thus you are allowed an opportunity to rest from the experience of the transition, and within a short time you will be ready to begin your ascent in service to those who have served you thus far.

The music of the spheres is one of the more enjoyable aspects of awakening in Mansonia. The phrase "music of the spheres' is just a phrase until you really hear it. The echoes of these notes are far-reaching and the clarity of the experience is truly sublime. You will enjoy heightened senses and increased awareness and you will be glad.

And this is the beginning of the butterfly phase of your existence, you who have only been a moth, thus far. I myself have not yet been all the way to Paradise. I myself am en route and thus I, like you, am looking forward to those priceless moments when I stand perfect before our Father. And yet I am being made ready, and I am enjoying the process of being made ready. I'm not impatient with what is required of me to learn that I might let go of all my animal vestiges and attain total spirit reality. This will come to pass. But since I am enjoying my life so much, I am not impatient. I would give the same advice to children: to enjoy your childhood and not be impatient to become a teenager or an adult. I would offer the same advice to adults: do not be impatient to transcend to the mansion worlds, but rather enjoy the material life as you have it, for never again will you know the splendors of material existence quite to the extent that you have them now.

The majesty of your mountains, the dynamics of your electrical storms, the power of your raging rivers -- these are going to be mere memories for you in your next existence. The intimacy that you share as husbands and wives in your sexual nature, will also not be possible in the morontia life. The smell of homemade bread and freshly brewed coffee will not be available to you there. Those things that you enjoy here, enjoy them as gifts, such that you will treasure your appreciation of them forever. For although there will be the equivalent of great and "natural things" to enjoy, values to be shared, experiences to be known, this is heaven for you right now. Here is where God is, in you and in your fellows. And he can be realized as fully and completely for you now as he will be when you awake in the 'Resurrection Hall' if you have in you the faith-filled wonder of the child who seeks to grow into Father's shoes.

Does this give you and idea of what's to come?

Ms. S.:                        It does me. I always figured that when you die -- you go 'whoosh' like that and you're in heaven. But evidently we've got all this other stuff first.

TOMAS:        Heaven is a real place, certainly, but remember, too, that the Kingdom of Heaven is within you! And so while we in fact aspire to attain Paradise and the presence of God himself, it is possible, too, to let heaven on Earth be revealed in and through our appreciation of love -- divine love -- and it is possible to be revealed in the material existence.

This, again, is an opportunity to speak to you of the practice of Stillness, for as you begin to sit and listen, seek and find the presence of the God-fragment that indwells you, as you begin to identify with that power, that spirit, you begin to step out of the limitations of the present environment and feel the divine embrace. The strength and enthusiasm that is garnered from such an association with your own indwelling divinity is enough to allow you to see your world as relatively perfect, given the nature of all things. And you can go about doing good in your natural state as God goes about doing good in his.

Ms. S.:            I feel a whole lot better about a lot of things now.

TOMAS:        I'm glad to have helped you feel better about your perception of the afterlife. The concept of leaving here and finding perfection is illusory, for it is necessary that you grow into the ability to withstand the power of perfection. And yet, in the far-flung universes, that you are, as well as millions of others, engaged in climbing the ladder of perfection in company with those like yourself, enjoying the rigors of the day and attaining the satisfaction of soul-growth along the way, enjoying the continually developing aura of perfection that embraces you, the pageantry that will be available for you to observe, the association of the angelic hosts and other celestial over-seers, the opportunities to work with artisans and find out more about creation, gives you a tremendous opportunity to live more. Indeed, you may live for eternity, but you will grow into it as a result of your conscious effort to become one with God and his purposes.

You begin to take an active part in your own soul-growth. So when you do attain those levels of spirit-accomplishment, it is because of your will which has testified to its need and desire to do his will, as that is what will give you greatest happiness and greatest fulfillment. And that in the true sense, is surely heaven. If the kingdom of heaven is within you, you cannot be separated from it. It can only be made greater and the spirit light, spirit illumination, brighter, as you traverse the spheres en route to the Central Isle of Paradise, the eternal dwelling place of the infinite God of all creation.

Intelligent men and women enjoy having something to do. Haven't we got a wonderful Eternal Parent who sees to it that we are always progressing, always involved, always amused. It would be dreadful to be bored for all eternity, wouldn't it?

Ms. S.:            It sounds like it's going to be a great adventure.

TOMAS:        Indeed it is. The eternal career. The greatest adventure of all.

Ms. S.:            So you don't have to be afraid of dying…

TOMAS:        Not at all…

Ms. S.:            …there's always more ahead.

TOMAS:        Absolutely. Of a certainty. You have no idea how much wonder is in store for you beyond the veil, as it were. You're hovering on the topic that is most challenging for me, that of exchanging a fear of dying to a challenge of transition. An idea of letting go of this life and embracing the next, consciously, is an experience I wish for all of you. And it is the fear of death, because of a lack of understanding of what awaits you on the other side that has held your planet back in so many ways. The idea of a fiery hell has been a thorn in the side of those who have yearned to augment the work of Christ Michael as Jesus, who resurrected and appeared visibly to hundreds of followers, never once, never once, threatening them with any such fearful retribution as is wrapped up in the concept of a fiery hell. This is absurd. And yet humans, being so fear-ridden, are reluctant to accept that they will die at all much less approach it joyously, as an opportunity to step out of this earthly original existence into the realm of morontia reality which is an extension of life, a fuller and richer realization of sonship. For you will have within your grasp, in your sight and sound and other senses, the full realization of the infinitude of divinity. Everywhere you look you will see the radiance of God, without the body to curtail your joy.

Let me clarify -- you will have a body. You will have a morontia body. But it will not be subject to the same aches and pains that you have known in the physical body. In fact, you will be rendered youthful, and beautiful, as if you had remained forever in your prime.

But let's not get in any hurry to leave before your time. Enjoy your life here as was said. For this is the opportunity for you to get a handle on your potential self and nurture it consciously, even now. For in knowing yourself, in and of and as spirit, it will strengthen you for the transition to come and it will also help you appreciate the life you've lived, how you've come to be who you are. And in the joy of understanding yourself as a conscious child of God, you will in truth radiate as divine parental affection on those who surround you; those other children of God who are not yet aware of sonship; not yet grappling with the realities of mortality and immortality, such as you have embarked upon in your experiential journey.

One of the joys of having a smaller group is the opportunity to have these intimate times together that will help to bond us as forever friends and spirit family members.

Ms. S.:            Well, Tomas, you were once a mortal man but now your are an angel, is that right?

TOMAS:        I am not an angel, no. I am an ascending son, as you will be. The angels are an order of existence apart from ascending sons like myself. They are created to do what they do. They do not begin as mortals such as you and I.

The spheres are filled with many orders of being. Angels are of the order of 'seraphim.' They are throughout the realms, even in Paradise. They assist in the process of morontia-izing the children of time. There many hundreds of different orders of angels. I am an ascending son. I am very much like you, having had the material existence and having made the transition from my material life to morontia life and having also many ages of experience in the mansion worlds, which the Father has provided. I am anticipating, after my work here with you in this assignment, an opportunity next to work in the Constellation level of development, there to study and experience the administration of the Most Highs under Gabriel. I have not attained that level yet. It gives me something to look forward to and to work towards.

You are creatures of time and space with a specific reality within which you live and have your being, much as I and we do in our existence here in the advanced spheres, while I enjoy very much the opportunity to visit you in your realm and become more mindful of your unique challenges and opportunities. I, again, grow as a result of being with you in these sessions. I am encouraged and inspired as I see you grappling with your own faith and soul-making decisions. The result of your decision to wed and conjoin for the duration of your mortal existence is a cherished vision for me. In it I see how courageous you are in you willingness to devote yourself to the comfort and companionability of each other as you share these -- what you call 'twilight years.' While you are able to enjoy the kingdom of heaven that you have created here in your own home, you will be able to encourage each other in the future, to see with those divine eyes that will encourage you each into the greater reality that will envelop you each, in time, as you are called home, as you are invited onward and upward in the ascension of all planetary life toward greater fulfillment and greater perfection.

Rejoice and be glad. Challenges are mere growth experiences. Grow well in your garden. Be at peace and love one another. We will be back in force next week. Wait upon the Lord. Amen and Farewell.

Group:            Thank you, Tomas.

*****

DATE:                        August 4, 2002

LOCATION: Rio Rancho, New Mexico

T/R’s:                         Gerdean for Tomas and Matthew for Anatolia

TEACHERS: ANATOLIA and TOMAS

TOPIC:

Universal Heartbeat

The Presence Within

Foresight and Prophecy

Q & A:                        Is it Possible to Foresee the Future?

Matthew:        Let's place ourselves in presence of Jesus, the Christ.

"Master Teacher we come to you with light and open hearts, to be taught and to be opened to become supple to the ways of the Father and all of spirit hierarchy that places us within the realm of being at one with All That Is. And for us to understand that we're not kids looking in the candy store with our noses pressed up against the window, but rather there are no doors, there are no windows but the only limitation is that we place our selves before that which we understand is all good and all knowing as we've come to know the way of the Father.

"Teach us today that which we are meant to understand and to hear for our ongoing growth and understanding. And for all of those who are no longer with us, they are also at one with you and with the Father and as we all reunite in eternity and that eternal moment here and now, that we know our true place, with that and all else that we may not verbalize but you know in our hearts to be true. We are forever grateful for the opportunity of oneness with you and with Father. Now and always. Amen."

TOMAS:        Good afternoon, faithful class. I am Tomas. Anatolia and others -- entities, student visitors, morontia companions, angels and midwayers among them -- are heartened to be with you again this afternoon in our customary configuration of this foundation of faith that grows in this teacher-base community, this cluster of agondonters that are proving with their joint faith that the realities they aspire to are in fact, eternal realities which will contribute to the ultimate destiny of our grand universe.

How is it possible for me to have such conviction as to state such a claim? My authority is not in the curriculum of the Melchizedek University, no, but in the authority of my own experience and the revelation of divinity through my consciousizing. And that which has proven to be true cannot be taken from me for it is of me and it is of the Universal Father, and his ascension plan for his many creations. This reality of which I speak is the heartbeat that pulsates, that driving urge to live into every conscious corner of the universe.

The saying that "God is Love" in this context is altogether true and understandable, for all of you have a sense of 'love of life' and appreciation for the tenacity of life that even supersedes the EVEREADY battery in terms of keeping on keeping on in its intent to reach its goal. And so when it is said that 'His efforts will not fail,' His efforts in evolving these worlds and souls to perfection will not be stopped, will not be curtailed, indeed cannot be derailed from its intent and purpose.

And the way that you children of time are able to contribute to the pulse of life that enables the growth of the Supreme to be realized, is for you to associate and append yourselves to those eternal pulsations that will lead you into eternal life. Every impulse increases the strength of the First Cause. Each of your thoughts, each of your individual expressions, contribute to the overall flow of love in this cosmic sense.

The wonder of God is seen in you and you reveal this same incessant striving toward ultimacy. In blind faith of a sort, beyond yourself, you follow the call, you chart your course. You step out in faith of this invisible and unspeakable part of God and evolve your belief systems to support your interpretation of your reality. And you are living it in your life today. Your will is the key to the direction in which the winds of change will blow. You are torch-bearers. You are the ones who will provide the leadership that can change the course of destiny. You are changing it even as you express your faith through your love and your beliefs, through your connection to universal mind. You socialize here now in your community as the reflection of the Sons of God. Truly, you are agondonters, noble offspring of the unseen God of all, who makes his way into your creature consciousness and reveals himself to you in such a way as to help you become more than you were, and in so doing you will lead others to notice him and his love for his creation.

In summary, I have drawn these values from your discourse this afternoon. As you review these words in reflection, realize that you are a part of the heartbeat of the universe. Rejoice in the vigor that surrounds you and supports you. Have courage in your steadfast march into the unknown tomorrow. Bestow the vitality of the universal pulse which beeps within your very soul. You are the workers in the field. The vines in his vineyard. We are so gladdened to have your accompaniment on this road to happy destiny.

I pause for my co-worker and will return.

ANATOLIA:              There, my children, be at peace and be at one with the wonderfulness that exists within your hearts and your minds because those times that are truly wonderful feelings are not imaginary, they are real and experiential, those times of peace that are not infrequent but -- depending upon where you find yourself at a given point in life along the life-process-chain if you will -- you'll find that there are various levels of participation in the peace-making processes; of internalizing that peace.

This is something that I wish to speak about today as something more than a goal, and to reinforce within you that which you already know to be true but frequently discover, that you might not be mindful of that which I'm speaking. What I am speaking of is something that can be portrayed in any number of ways. In the discussions that we've had about 'quiet time,' or 'the stillness,' or any other description you can put on it, I'm wishing to share another perspective that I'm wanting you to realize: that this process that we refer to as stillness, or quiet time, can be referred to by many titles or descriptions, but that it can also be consciously made aware within your working and other parts of your life. This I already mentioned to you, that I wish to reinforce, that it's something that I wish for you to recognize more and more.

A part of what I'm speaking of is part of the feeling of loving warmth and acceptance that you can feel inside by being triggered in any number of ways. This feeling of loving warmth and acceptance is primarily you receiving and accepting the warmth that is within you, and accepting that. That warmth, the living glow, the fire of life, the breath of life, if you will, that is alive and well within you, that gives you reason for being, as well as animation and life to your being, is that which is presented to you from On High, from the living standard of life itself.

It is this life within that I wish for you to treasure perhaps even more than you already do. Only in respect of that light within, that you, at a moment's notice, can recognize and can give homage to, as you, being a receptacle, a place where Christ and the Eternal Father live and dwell within. So when you think of it that way, it is a hallowed place, is it not? The Holy of Holies, the Arc of the Covenant. Many other sacred vessels and locations on your earth and beyond, were totally awe-striking vestiges of the living presence. Your presence is nonetheless striking and awe-inspiring as well for your vestige of the eternal God that lives and breathes within your being has no less a wondrous and mysterious place or object than were hallowed in your working world.

This I wish you to recognize as a truth beyond all truths: that, that which is, is the consciousness that is alive and well within you. This consciousness which is given breath and life and dimension within your being is that which originated within your heavenly Father's creative presence and that which is given light within you.

This too, I wish to reinforce, is that with all of the personality that is uniquely yours and made known to you as the 'operational vehicle,' -- that is your power-plant within -- is that life-force that the Father shares with you. So it is not as if you were simply an automaton, or some kind of a machine that is made ready and willing and able to accept a life-force, that is put in it simply for the mere operation or functionality of that which can contain a life-force, but rather it is a life-force that is uniquely you, made known to you and your heavenly Father as the unique expression that you are, sharing time and space with your Creator Presence at the same time that you yourself occupy that space with your Creator.

I wish for you to have some improved appreciation for that life-force that is within you and perhaps give it more respect and recognition for what it truly is. A gift of all time and within all creation made itself known as you and your unique expression, here and now, at this time and in this world, when it could have -- that is, the creative fiat -- could have chosen to have made your conscious that of anything else but instead made itself known within you as an ascending being to rejoin in consciousness that from which you originated. This, my friend, is the greatest of all gifts. It is the gift. There is no gift greater than that which we speak.

And it is the unification of this within your heart and mind, to know that centrality of your being, and for you to likewise know the interrelationship of all else that exists, as a result of creative fiat, that is simultaneously existing at the same time that each and everyone of you are. This, in fact, could be enough to make one awestruck, to make one stand like a pillar of salt in absolute amazement at that which the Father has made. Start within yourselves as the tiny speck of light. Just one speck of life-force within you is enough to fuel the eternal life cell for all time hence. This one life-force speck is enough to last for an eternity.

So be ever mindful of the uniqueness and the glorious presence that you share here in this space, in this time, in this presence with your life-force within and the heavenly presence that shares this space with you. This is, in part, what the stillness practice is meant to reinforce, and to give recognition to and to give homage to: that which is alive and well within your living presence.

This, I hope, gives you some extra glimpse of what it is we're speaking of. I'll be happy to answer any questions as the time proceeds, but in the meantime return to Tomas' presentation. And I appreciate your listening. Peace be with you.

TOMAS:        Thank you, teacher.

The curriculum today has seen the coin from both sides. The coin now is spinning but where it stops nobody knows. What now friends? Are there Questions, topics for discussion or contributions from the student body this afternoon?

Matthew:        Just to say 'thank you' Tomas for that teaching of last week and for Ms. S.'s role in asking so many pointed questions. It turned out to be preparation for my family and myself and those who are offering loving support in terms in my brother having passed over. So I appreciate that terrific forewarning and preparation that is appreciated.

TOMAS:        My friend, I have not authority to know in advance how my lessons will be used. It is a mark of my confidence in my supervisors, Machiventa and Michael, who configure the universe in such a way that we reveal the curriculum that is revealed to us. Thus, yes, you see how this example proves the point of today's lesson, that Ms. S., the most tiny tulip among you, has stimulated the questions which are able to feed and heal those who reach for greater knowledge of the universe, its ways, and their places within it. There is pattern in deity and I am as amazed as anyone at the unfolding of the pattern that I partake in as you are often astounded at the pattern you enjoy in partaking.

But modesty aside, Thank you. It is my pleasure to be your teacher.

Foresight is, however, a skill worth cultivating. Anticipation is a method of extending the momentum of perfection attainment, in action, in e-motion, in movement. There is purposive direction, and cause and effect is a law of the universe. Thus, if certain causes, like the First Cause, are set into motion, they will eventuate in an effect at some point, as surely as the night follows the day. And those who would be willing students of divine leadership would find fascinating study in how to perceive in advance what the Father already knows. Is this not also a dimension of developing your catalyst self -- so as to co-create destiny? That was rhetorical. It won't require your response, but if there are responses we are eager to hear them.

Elena:             That's a really interesting topic. Is it possible to perceive ahead of time what will happen that was the Father's will -- or what he already knows? That pretty well blows me away, I'd be interested in that. That would be totally wonderful that we could perceive things ahead of time. Is that through the stillness, is that what you're trying to say?

TOMAS:        Anatolia, would you like to have fun?

Group:            [laughter and comments]

ANATOLIA:              You know, what is being discussed, is an opportunity to center yourselves, and basically, be at home within yourselves. A lot of what we're talking about in all of this, in terms of stillness practice -- and what I'm speaking of in terms of what I have been addressing -- is to try to add other dimensions of stillness to you that removes it from just a discipline that many people would shy away from, because from some experience, stillness often results in stilted experience, and therefore turns one away from pursuing any further that which seems to take forever to be able to experience anything of experiential growth.

So what I'm speaking of, and I intend to answer your question, is that this stillness practice is mainly an opportunity for you to realize by taking steps into the spirit well within yourself…to realize that all of creation and all of the universe is within you. So that this is experiential both in your heightened states of awareness and also in your conscious states of awareness, so that when you are truly connected to your inner-being which is your life created force within you, and at those moments, just as last week's reading has presented, of those moments of self-recognition when you would recognize what would otherwise be gibberish, of foreign, that 'French fries' is mentioned and all of a sudden that rings true. It's at those moments of self awareness -- during the 'French fry moment' that you and your God-force within are at one and are at peace and are aware of one another and are truly at one. So it's in those moments that you can gain recognition and self reinforcement of higher truths which otherwise seem inescapable and beyond reach and certainly beyond this realm of everyday ordinary thought and belief and practice.

And too, the other discussion in terms of knowing the forethought of God… this is something that you can, not just entertain, but that you can imbibe in, be a part of, be at one with. When you know God's will for you, you know that that is only growth opportunity and at oneness. When you know that for yourself, you can in effect know that for others. And in those moments of annointenment and wisdom for yourself and with others, you are able to foretell, forestall, and other wise foreknow that which is the will of God for others, that you may be at one with as well.

Does this help?

Elena:                         Yes.

ANATOLIA:              Know too that it is with this in mind that we're not inviting each and all to open a peanut stand '5-cents a psychic readings' but that this is meant to be in the truly spiritual sense knowing that you have within you of what is good for you and what sense you may gain for others as well. But in that spiritual wisdom that you would know that which is advisable to pass on and that which may not.

Does this help any?

Elena:             Yes. Thank you.

Thoroah:         If I do open one of those psychic stands, I'm going to call it the 'French Fry Moment." [Polite group laughter]

Matthew:        The image I got [explaining what he envisioned during the t/ring process] ... remember the Peanuts character [Lucy] that set up the little road-side stand. [Group reflects on Lucy and Charlie Brown]

TOMAS:        This contrasts with the efforts of Anatolia's words but this is the realm of understanding most of you are familiar with. As a result of your experience you can anticipate cause and effect. If you stay up late at night you'll have a harder time waking up in the morning. This is cause and effect. Thus over time you train yourself 'early to bed early to rise,' or whatever behavior it is that you have found to work for you. This however is not necessarily the level of reality we are stressing here, for what works for you as an individual in your human existence, your personal life preferences, tendencies, and so forth, may not be the same standards that are appropriate for others. For as has been mentioned there are many levels of awareness and development. Each individual is given an opportunity to develop his or her own religious experience and much of the kind of scaffolding of the experiential life provides clues to the reality years before the reality itself is able to stand on its own. But that does not eliminate the value of the scaffolding that brings us to the French Fry Moment.

Thus we have here two sets of examples of this theory. The genuineness of this discussion revolves around to the graciousness of relative reality and the truth of ultimate reality for as the divine will is woven into the fiber of the human will the constitution is deitized sufficiently that it begins to operate more and more on a level that is a step beyond the scaffolding and into the reality.

It is easy therefore for those who see with eyes to see to cloud their perspective by their personal experience even while personal experience is necessary to attain that existential stance that is the eye of God, that sees the end from the beginning that has prophecy within it.

You are potential prophets, each of you. And as you spend time in that state of being that allows for the reflectivity of the divine to become one with you and you with it, your vision is extended beyond this realm and beyond the material cause and effects of time and space to the realm of morontia reality which then becomes the scaffolding for your spirit life as you continue to advance in your eternal career.

The topic may seem somewhat heady for you for a summer afternoon, however it was at your bidding. You wanted to have something substantial to ponder. You have sought, thus you are given.

However I feel it is time to release you for your community rapport. The camping trip last week and the wedding next week are good topics of diversion and reversion.

Enjoy your camaraderie fellow agondonters and take comfort in your association, for nowhere in my frame of reference are you going to be as fully satisfied in your soul as you will be in these relationships that develop as a result of your soul hunger to know more about our eternal parents, our family indeed in the cosmos.

Run along now and enjoy yourselves. And look to the center within for stimulation and sanctuary.

Amen and Farewell.

Group:            Thank you Tomas.

*****

DATE:                        August 11, 2002

LOCATION:              Rio Rancho, New Mexico

T/R:                            Gerdean for Tomas and Athena; Matthew, for Anatolia

TEACHERS: TOMAS, ATHENA, ANATOLIA

TOPICS:

Tomas on Romance

Athena on "Herbie" the Beta Fish

Anatolia on Expression

Q&A:                          Celestial name derivations

MUSIC:          Pianist Elena, Selection: Chopin's Nocturne

PRAYER: (Matthew) Let us place ourselves in the presence of Jesus the Christ.

"Master Teacher we come to you today with happy hearts. There have been experiences of sublime happiness and bliss, and sorrow and disappointment, but in all of that, they are just opposite emotions of the same eternal truth: that we are one with you and our Heavenly Parents, forever, and that the experiences that we experience along the way are like hills and valleys, mountains and streams, and all of the points of foliage in between that are growth patterns and opportunities for growth and fulfillment.

"We ask for whatever teacher you present us with today, as a point of illustration of our higher and more noble selves -- that need to be enlightened and informed as to the way of truth in your and that in the life of our heavenly Father and the Infinite Spirit. We place ourselves in your care and your trust and ask for the angels and all of the saints to be with us always as we are one with you and All That Is One to be fulfilled. Amen."

TOMAS:        Good afternoon, my friends. I am Tomas, your host, companion, most agreeable friend. We welcome you this afternoon to yet another convergence of diversity and unity of appreciation of Truth, Beauty and Goodness. This afternoon my words wind themselves along the path of romance. We have heard the lovely 'Nocturne,' and fully appreciate the refinement that romance renders.

There is more to romance than ruffles. Romance represents civility, grace, graciousness, an allowance of all things. In appreciation of the value of these experiential hills and valleys, rivers and streams, you have a fair share of rigorous life experience, which exhibits character-forging feelings, but as these feelings are forged, they are able to withstand higher temperatures and greater abuses without succumbing to the undiscipline of what it has learned in its Core, by way of acknowledging the union ceremony of Mr. S. and Ms. S., willing participating in the joys and commitments they've shared, we also acknowledge on this date, the anniversary of friends, Thoroah and Gerdean, and we rejoice in the weaving together of the temples of Elena and Matthew, and as we approach Jesus' birthday we begin to take on another appreciation of the romantic aspect of living the life of the Son or Daughter of Divinity.

Thus while these truths are begotten and the beauty is challenged, the goodness is ever ascending and revealing itself as a romance - wherein all that is of value is increasingly made more perfect. Your countenances are made more perfect each day you resist not the gift of life, the opportunity to choose to mold and form your destiny, and then to socialize your bequeathal with each other. I thus encourage you to refine your feelings, your emotions, your reactions and your responses with life's vicissitudes and travails, to also elevate blissful rejoicing to the tenor of romance. In this way you will continually reside in love, you are able to enjoy being in love with life, your own love-saturated soul is on display in order to radiate the perfection of our Father, our Creator, our Source.

These are my words to you for today. In addition to Anatolia, a Celestial Artisan is in the wings interested in making contact. One moment, please.

ATHENA:      I am Athena, a celestial artisan. I am here because of Herbie -- your fish.

(There was an exclamation of surprise from Elena who is caretaker and friend of Herbie, a Beta Fish.)   Herbie is a priceless example of what you can recognize as a reflection of the adjutant mind spirit of courage in allowing itself to be itself, and the spirit of knowledge, by knowing who he is. He is on display for all to see and he responds to your acknowledgment. He is, as all God's creatures are, a part of a network, and not only a singular cellular structure.

The beauty of Herbie demands to be seen, in that he is beautiful, but his acknowledgment of being seen is in his circuitry -- which responds to your admiration and attention. He thus becomes "all that he can be" because he has been seen and acknowledged by you. This is a reflection of the original I Am; it seeks to know itself and to see and be seen -- in the most sublime sense, and not all in a negative egoistic sense; thus, Herbie is made even more beautiful by his self-forgetfulness.

It is a joy for me to take moments such as this to perceive the Father in all things, in all creation, as to the extent that it [the understanding] is an expression of artistry. It behooves those of you who have a Creator at your Core to reflect the Creator in all you do and in all you are. Each of you are as shining jewels putting forth your truth, beauty and goodness through your love, through your loyalty, through your arts and through your romance with each other and with life itself. Blessed be art thou, lovely children. Farewell.

[Thank you's were given, especially by Elena, for the recognition of Herbie.]

ANATOLIA:              This is a fine afternoon to greet you and to let you know that I am Anatolia, and with you again, as always. Whether seen or heard, you can count on my attention in this sphere as well as others that you might not be mindful of, that (you) can rest assured that you are equally a part of those realms or dimensions, as much as I am or we are.

I don't intend to begin a lesson to tell you what I'm not going to talk about. But I will just mention briefly that the dimensions that I briefly spoke of, refer to the dimensions of being that are beyond your recognition, and not that it's beyond your care, but it's much like an echo, given the right circumstances, and it's all a matter of frequency. It is in your being a matter of what you are resounds and speaks to the ethers and all that have the ability to hear and receive, that your voice, your prayers, your thoughts and your origin, in fact, are placed within these multi-dimensional realms that surely make you a multi-dimensional being.

So I wish for you not to ever consider yourself limited or without dimensional capability. Because as surely as I am speaking to you and you have ears to hear, even if you did not have the capability of hearing, that you would know that the ethers resound with your presence. How can something that is of divine origin not have presence within the divine structure?

Even though your earth has been essentially isolated for millennia in terms of direct involvement and active knowing participation within your solar system and beyond, it does not mean that you have been limited or isolated or deprived of inter-dimensional citizenship. It is in this 'right' that you have, as ethereal beings, to be one with All That Is, and one in the presence of All That Is.

And so, as Athena has mentioned to you, I wish for you not to debate or to diminish your self concept, but like the illustration of Herbie, as well, "what you see is what you get". However, you do not see it; that is, you do not see yourself. Let Herbie be an illustration of that which Athena so aptly presented, that he simply is. And his beauty resounds with a dimensional illustration of that which is his and your origin, as well. Where you cannot see yourself, you know, nevertheless, when you are in tune, when you are at one, and when your beauty truly flows. Your beauty is what matters in the artistic sense; in the sense of true appreciation of what is refined and what is true art. Because for the number of definitions that exist, a simple one is that true art is what is expressed, in one dimension or another that can convey the feeling and the thought of what that depiction is intended to represent. When that depiction is truly felt and appreciated, this is what we know as art. Hence, what you appreciate in Herbie is what you could, and should, appreciate within yourselves.

So it is in those moments, when you truly are connected and feel most yourself, in what you sense and express for what you are feeling, you are expressing your true beauty and it is felt -- if not by the receiver, it is felt by yourself. And oftentimes this is enough because it is in the giving that the gift is presented. It is in that giving and the gift and the release of what would otherwise be confinement of that which you are giving, which is the ultimate of generation of gift presentation. How it is received by the receiver is of less importance than how it is given.

So know that in those moments that you know that you are connected and you express that which you are, that you express that much like the visualization of a frequency wave, bouncing and going in an unlimited pattern into the ethers to express that which is. Be of one heart and one mind, in your presence within the universe as a true light within that which is all light. For one light within all light is not lost, it is simply at one.

So be at one with yourselves and with All That Is, especially at moments like this when you can be yourself without care or concern of anyone else in the room because each and all are of like mind and like body and like presence in mutual and gifted worship, of the moment and knowing who you are, where you are, and from where you derive your ability to worship. Be at one with yourselves and All That Is, and all else will follow. Be fruitful and multiply. Your thought patterns abound within this region and within this realm that you know and love. Be peaceful and be mindful of your origins because you express them everyday, as does Herbie express his. Peace be with you and be at one with yourselves, now and always. Adieu.

TOMAS:        Thank you Anatolia, my favored companion. Conversation anyone?

Elena:             Tomas, you haven't said anything about Herbie yet.

TOMAS: I, like him, have been depicted as electric blue. [Oh really?] I have been perceived as the same shade as Herbie, so I feel rather an affinity for the old boy. [Group chuckles].

Elena:             I have to say that Herbie, for me, is kind of a new thing. I didn't think I'd become attached to a little fish. This has been a real surprise for me. I got him for a totally different reason … and I just think he is wonderful. He is okay, isn't he? Nobody said anything about him not being anything but okay. (There had been earlier discussion that Herbie might not be feeling well.)

TOMAS:        I have faith. It seems he has an artistic temperament.

Elena:             So every once in a while he has mood swings?

TOMAS:        It's likely.

Elena:             I can look into Herbie's face and -- He has a very handsome face! -- And maybe other people might not think that, but he really does … and I just think he's wonderful. I just never thought I'd become affectionately attached to a fish, but he's absolutely family now.

TOMAS:        But, you see, what you have done is develop a relationship with the fish. Therefore you have invested in him, and your energy has affected him, as his has affected you. And so, as we have discussed above, reality expands. It's a part of opportunity, you see, to opt to act upon life's potentials. We often speak to you of co-creation, and while it sounds mighty and noble, it is often perceived as something beyond the individual's ability to do… for they think that 'mighty and noble' relate only to a perception that no longer serves. We've also often said that as you go about your life and emit energy, that also impacts on your environment; therefore, if you are angry or diseased, you will reflect those attitudes into your environment. Is it any wonder it is our supreme pleasure to provide for you the opportunity to render yourselves as being of worth, of value, of light and of joy?

Being superhuman is sometimes simply being able to stop and smell the roses or chat with the fish. The tranquility and simplicity that is found in the lives of the creatures of the realm are such testimonies of the encyclopedic information in creation observable by you who will. Like the birds you enjoy watching bathe in the bird bath or in the dirt. The birds naturally do what they do by singing, but while they are going about being birds they also help pollinate the fields and carry on migrationary techniques centuries old, which patterns are part of our Mother's hand in our material creations, so even the simplest is part of greatness. And recognizing that it's not necessary to be complicated or sophisticated, intellectual or complex, in order to be seed pods for Fruit of the Spirit, you may relax and simply be. But as I mentioned earlier, simply being requires a discipline.

Not as in 'disciplinary,' but as in 'pattern' and 'perfection attainment'. The quickest way for a tadpole to become a frog, is to live each day loyally as a tadpole. I haven't developed a relationship with a tadpole; however, I'm sure if I were to do so I would find them, also, cute. As I find you. [Group giggles]

Elena:             We are temperamental occasionally, too, aren't we?

TOMAS:        Indeed. The artistic temperament bespeaks itself. But that's balance for other temperaments which reveal themselves often, also. I will not stay here and babble. Are there questions?

Matthew:        I have one. I appreciate hearing from Athena. She's spoken in transcripts before as I remember, and I'm not sure that it was associated with Gerdean or not, but a thought I had is that Athena -- who's been around for a while as an artisan -- who had communication early on and was considered to be a goddess as a result …or … where does 'Athena' get her name, if she's not of this world. Et cetera. Just asking in context of the Athena we know from Grecian history.

TOMAS: The Grecian frame of reference is the source from which Celestial Artisan Athena derives her nomenclature.

The celestial artisans are assigned identities of their own, of course. However, they are not always translatable into the human tongue. The practice of assuming names that mortals are familiar with is a time-honored tradition. For truly in the heavenly spheres the personality presence of the reality of the entity is far greater than any literal interpretation … as a name. When celestials address one another, they address their presence and have no need for verbal symbolism as you do.

In essence, we have all been "made up" and yet the reality upon which our presentation of personality is established, is more real than material will provide.

Matthew:        Thank you. It occurs to me also, from something I was reading in that same time period basically, in Greek history … even before. Probably around the time of Alexander the Great and his father's conquering Greece, there was a country called Anatolia. Is that where Anatolia gets her name as well, in that context?

TOMAS:                    I have to ask her. One moment.

ANATOLIA:              You've found me out, you clever fellow!

I have it on good authority that Gerdean's personal teacher, Trieste, has also taken her name from a port on the coast of Italy. And these identities are above and beyond any understanding of the transmitters themselves. These are choices made by us supernals as we have volunteered to participate in the reclamation of Urantia from the Lucifer regime. We have quite a studio within which to work. Many options and materials and supplies are on hand for our use, as you also have access to untold resources when and as you set out to be all that you can be in terms of the realization of Sonship and Daughtership.

Esmarelda:     Tomas, since we're discussing the origin of names, I have been trying to remember what my name means. I was told once before, but we did not have any recording apparatus at that time. It was several years ago, and I have been trying to remember and I simply can't. Can you tell me what the name Esmarelda means?

TOMAS:        Only from my perspective … as it is, again, an interpretation of a reality put into letter-form for your language-art.

The reality of you, Esmarelda, reveals itself as a gem -- an emerald gem, if you will. But deep green as Herbie is deep blue. The deep green is for the vibrancy of life that you are. You are an acute character. Your clarity is impressive. You are strong as granite and will not likely erode or fall apart at the seams. You are enduring. And though I don't know if that answers your question, that's how I perceive you.

Esmarelda:     Thank you very much. Tomas, it's maybe a bit overrated, but I thank you.

TOMAS:        I am speaking to your potential, you realize. However, don't let me take from you your acquired reality thus far, which in fact, reflects those values such that I am able to see your potential effect.

Elena:             Tomas, there is one thing you mentioned about all the resources at hand. I just wanted to say a 'thank you,' especially because I know that my sister is going through a physical challenge right now and I just want, if you would, to relay to all of those who are assisting her in this, and mother does too, I'm sure ….

Esmarelda:     Yes.

Elena:            ... and I just can't say a big enough word to thank you for all the help that goes to Miriam, because we're just really grateful for that. And she is, I know, too. But I'd just like to relay a big thanks and blessing that goes to Miriam.

TOMAS:        You are welcome, I am certain, on behalf of those who are truly responsible for her capacity. I am only a mouth-piece here, but it would be apparent to all of us, any of us, as we are a part of the divine reality, we are essential in taking care of -- and cared for -- in order that we may best serve, in order that we may fulfill our consciousness potential.

Again, it's about self-mastery and what we have learned we teach. Therefore, we tenderly take care of those we teach, for they will teach others, and this is the nature of the Teaching Mission. Love is the answer to all the questions. It would seem an easy course to take in the Melchizedek University, but it has so many facets and directions, it's an eternal career to have a full understanding of what our lives are all about.

We're looking forward to co-mingling with the neighboring tribe [Santa Fe UB picnic next week] …the picnic in honor of our Master Son's 7th bestowal, final incarnation. Selamat Ja!

Elena:             What did he say?

Thoroah:         Selamat Ja!

Elena:             What does it mean?

TOMAS:        It's a greeting and an admonition: Be in joy. Anything else before we go?

Group:            Thank you, all of you.

TOMAS:        Farewell.

*****

DATE:                        August 18, 2002

LOCATION: Rio Rancho, New Mexico, USA

T/R’S:                         Gerdean for Tomas and Dani; Matthew for Anatolia

TEACHERS AND TOPICS:

TOMAS:                    You Will Become the Revelation

ANATOLIA:              Interdependence of All Life

DANI:                         An Unemployed Secondary Midwayer What He Loved

                                    about the Man Jesus

Opening Prayer: (Matthew)          Let us put ourselves in the presence of Christ Michael.

"Master Teacher we come to you with light and happy hearts ~ as a place for the indwelling of your spirit and that of our Creator who lives and dwells within us and among us. We ask that whatever teacher you provide for us today that we are further encouraged to stay on the road that we are on, to not venture out into frivolous and unnecessary behavior … but not to even judge that, that any learning and any concentration where life and breadth, width and depth is concerned, is worth while and is part of the natural path of development and perfection manifestation. Not meaning to get laden with heavy words but to simply say that we wish to be reinforced that our light within us shines brightly and that we cannot diminish it, that the light that is in us is eternal and it is you and the Father within, and the Mother Spirit abiding about us, that makes us who we are and what we are. In appreciation for all that you provide, now and always, we are eternally grateful."

TOMAS:        Good afternoon, faithful flock. I am Tomas, your elder brother and Dutch uncle, in company with a plethora of other personalities who have come by to enjoy your companionship. We have the pleasure of the company of two "clowns" -- they are Reversion Directors -- that is to say, "funny fellows" whose energies seem to be contagious. We have also with us, a secondary midwayer, known as Dani to some of you. He may have a chance to visit if we don't go on too long.

The "room" is filled to capacity with standing-room-only celestial hosts who hover around your light, your combined light, as you seek to discern spirit reality in yourselves, in each other and in the realm in which you reside. We truly do seek to encourage you to wear, as attire, a mantel of joy and grace as you pass by your fellows in the arena of life. You are the spirit anchor, you who have discerned who you are as sons and daughters of the living God, you who are a testimony to the Light and Life of Living Love.

Your reality, reflecting the reality of divinity, is that spark which will encourage the spark of life which indwells all mortals of normal mental capacity. You are surrounded by brothers and sisters who languish in isolation, who divert themselves by staying busy or by filling their needs with other, lesser realities than the one their spirit yearns to know and become, seeks indeed to realize as a mounting actualization of the knowledge of Sonship, and fellowship, in the combined ministries of nature and grace.

We respect your conversations of today and your intent to incorporate revelation into your learning experiences. This is admirable on your part, for you seek to support your spirit reality with a knowledge of what and who you are, and what your experience is, in terms of the revelation which was provided and which was for many, the literal light switch that illuminated their minds and hearts to the reality of the Greater Reality. There are also revelations of a nature that are risen from your own indwelling Adjuster in conjoint harmony with the mota which rise up in your mind, giving birth to self-revelation which increases your appreciation of, again, a Greater Reality.

The Greater Reality looks so much greater against a background of those who remain asleep, or unaware of who they are, what their potential is.

While the religious life is exciting and dynamic to those who have chosen it, those who have not chosen it far prefer the illusion of their own mind for within their illusion they have a sense of security and safety. These are the timid souls who comprise most of your collective consciousness. They cannot be faulted for they are in the framework of their own capacities, in that they have not provide for themselves the conditions that would lead to spiritual growth. The commitment to take on the Greater Reality can be frightening and overpowering. Intimidating, indeed, Jesus' instructions to teachers and believers was that unbelievers ought to be warned about the inevitable disruption that would come to their lives were they to make these soul expanding choices. Decisions, decisions and more decisions are required.

If you don't decide, you stay at status quo. Herein you are in charge of your own destiny. And yet as you listen to the Voice within -- the presence of the Father and the Son, embraced by Mother Spirit -- you become so enamored of the life that you are coming to know, that you are beginning to realize, that you are beginning to share, that you are beginning to see the result there from in your own life … and in the effect you have on your community … you begin to recognize how God's Power is available for you to use and how directly the Father works with you in you finite existence in order to bring the reality of the Greater Reality into being.

It is as if you were to become completely dependent upon this power and strength of divine love and direction. This is the benefit of revelation: the comprehension that the reality you experience as the Greater Reality is indeed, The Greater Reality. There is none less. Those of you who grow and develop your souls in your choosings, in your decisions (and more decisions and more decisions … to be come more God-like), in the sense of reality more so than in the sense of philosophy or theology, the more profound are your self-revelations, and the more profound is your appreciation for that which contributes to the revelation of the Greater Reality -- in whatever form that may take -- for now you know how it is that the Universal Father is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient, how it is that you are embraced by Universal Mind/ Universal Mother Spirit, how it is that you are empowered in your demonstration of personality expression by the example and inspiration of the Son of God to the sons of God. This is the dynamic life. The revealed life. Thus you have become the revelation of the Father. Your city is set upon a hilltop for strangers to see from far and wide so that they may come to know the Father through the light you bestow.

There are no more shadows here in this world as a result of your alienation from the heavenly community. Isolation is ended. Re-encircuitment has begun. You have been provided the Program and the story line, and now you are able to joy the grand opera of your life. Sing loud and long, one and all.

Thus concludes my sermonette for the afternoon. I will subside and allow for my co-host, Anatolia, should she elect to discourse. One moment.

ANATOLIA:              This is a happy day my friends, to meet and great you on a wonderfully warm Sunday afternoon in August. We don't keep track of time, as you know, but visiting your world gives us an opportunity to see as you do, and experience as you do, that which you consider your normal daily activity and normal daily events, for life in your planet in a real, physical and spiritual sense, is all geared to the same essential ingredient. This is my lesson for today. To give you a brief overview and hopefully direct concentration of what our intervention in your world is to us, but more importantly what it is to you.

It's much like observing an ant farm, in a sense, not to be insulting, but in terms of giving you the sense of visualization, of how we're not directly in your world but not directly apart either. It's like cable or satellite TV, in terms of being able to access those channels that you have available to you. It is not dissimilar for us in terms in being able to access your world as one of many viewing and learning opportunities. One of my points in all of this, is in light of the daily routine and daily activity, and your lives being solely dependent upon the physical world in which you live.

The life in which you live, which is another topic for another time, is universal and boundless in terms of needing any physical environment in which to function. However, that life-giving light that is embodied within your physical being is that which makes you capable of experiencing, in a real physical sense, that which you experience here and now. My point is that, from our observational viewpoint (this is my real point), is that your dependence upon the sun, its placement, its daily rising and falling, the number of hours of daylight available to you, is something that is dependent upon each and every life form on the planet -- each and every one -- which you may consider yourself separate and apart from, is as dependent as you are on your daily and seasonal necessities of life.

Hence, the point being, that whether you are aware of it or not, the spider that may inhabit a cavern of its living or dwelling needs out in the desert is no different than you in terms of its need on a daily basis what it finds to be normal and functioning. That requires daylight and oxygen and water and sleep time, etc. Hence, the universality or interdependence of all life forms upon the One life form that inhabits each and every creature as well as That which dwells in you and around you. My point and lesson for the day is that as we observe, as you can observe, an ant farm for example, we do not separate ourselves out and find ourselves unique and apart but rather each and all of us in our various layers and levels of consciousness can be aware of that type of life form that we can observe.

Hence the funnel effect or downward spiral interlocking parts that are all part of the oneness of all of our reality. This I wish to reinforce with you as a new statement of purpose and level of awareness that you may be more mindfully aware of the oneness of all that is. Hence, just in discussion of the Urantia Book for example, the concentric circles help illustrate this as well. They are highly demonstrative of the fact of the trinity, but also highly demonstrative of the fact of the interdependence and interconnectedness of all life; that, as long as one can perceive and look into those circles, they would continually find a resurgence and recurring theme always going into the circle that is yet contained within all the others.

This is my message for you today: to bring new light and new awareness and reinforcement of who and what you are. Be of good cheer and in mindfulness of that which is universal and true both here now and always in all forms of existence of life. Whether you are aware of it or not, your interdependence upon each other is key and foremost here while you are here and in the aftermath as well. All is one. Peace be with you, and be of good cheer, for there is never any reason to expect less. Peace be with you.

TOMAS:        This is Tomas. We are in open communion with you now. We have a great connection. Are there questions or subjects for discussion among you for your teachers or visitors?

Elena:             As usual I have one. We were talking earlier about the test that 8th graders took in 1814 and how it was as difficult or more so than the college tests are today. I wanted to get your perspective on the 'progression' because so many times it is difficult to know if we are moving forward and making progress. From that example (the test) it would seem that we're getting softer and we're not accomplishing as much, not setting as high a standards and not putting ourselves forth to the different challenges. So I wanted your opinion of where we are today. Is that phrased clear enough?

TOMAS:        We will see. What I hear you asking for is perspective and reassurance. The packaging you expect is a history lesson that will depict your evolution in, say the past 100 years. This is certainly a perspective that is in the awareness of those of us who work here in this assignment since we are required to have an understanding of how it is that you have become conditioned to be who you represent yourself as, so that we can have an understanding of how to grasp your interests, your mind, your attention and educate it or lead it forward.

The last 100 years in some ways are most spectacular for this planet. But since this is a time of such turbulence and such speed it creates a chaos unknown to your world before. So whereas you had indeed mastered certain skills and abilities in certain fields and are forging ahead in those fields with great intention, there are other areas that will not grow or develop and thus like a summer rainstorm you have the two fields coming in contact and there is a response.

The pleasure syndrome that is so pervasive in your society is released in your society as an expression of your society. The commercial aspects of your society are advertised abroad as a preferred behavior, and this indeed runs counter to those countries which are hundreds of years old and are great because of their ability to discipline themselves against such free-for-all behaviors as your country is known for, in particular its youth. But the youth of America itself is a bit of a global astonishment.

Yes, you have become very lax in many ways, speaking historically. However, in these past decades you make reference to, there have been so many serious advancements in the human condition and in spiritual awareness the climate of the culture has culturally turned itself inside out. Thus many of the values of 80 years ago, 60 years ago, even 40 years ago, are now passé and the disciplines of yesteryear are becoming a thing of the past -- and this is in some ways tragic because those people knew how to endure and have standards in their hardiness against hardship. They were forged on the anvil of experience of their day and age whereas your experience in this day and age has a lot more to do with electronics and emotional disturbance as a result of the cultural changes so suddenly thrust upon you: women's liberation, the devastation of the nuclear family structure, the spiritual hunger, and the exposure of those sins of your forefathers which were long hidden, having to deal now with the recovery of your world and its values, and the scent of blood still ringing strong in the nostrils of the many, make for tumultuous times, indeed. It is in this perspective perhaps that you can discern the urgency of our mission and the intensity of Machiventa's focus on this, his world of assignment, on us, his teacher corps and on you, our forerunners of the New Way; the way of the Wayshower. Does that help?

Elena:             Yes it does. Thank you.

TOMAS:        Those of you who aspire to perfection attainment will naturally reflect your intentions in your material life. That is to say, as your soul aspires toward perfection, so will your attitudes and actions. Thus your focus on playing the piano will be such that you will devote yourself religiously to your practice of personality expression through a musical instrument. The art or science or passion that you regard as your gift or your calling, as it becomes revealed to you in your life, will become the focus of much of your devotion; for while the intention is to contribute to the greater reality -- with your willingness -- you bring about greater perfection in the physical realm, the reflection of divinity in the finite.

This is how Light and Life is attained. This is a practice that comes from the incessant lure of the indwelling Adjuster and the ability of you to make it your own reality. As is said 'It will make you more than you are' … even as you are self-satisfied, it will relentlessly stir you to betterment. This is the eternal career, the perpetual adventure that is the greatest happiness that satisfies our innermost longings. Have you respected your innermost longings and how they seek to reveal themselves in your world? Have you given appreciation to the Father's need for personality expression through you, the personality incarnate?

To be all that you are intended to be is the most thrilling experience! Those who seem to choose to sleep through the human experience are allowed to do that, but if and as they see you revealing the love of the Father, the more they will be led to taste the fruit of the vine which they know … from deep within themselves, in their own core reality … that they too would seek to know Him and know the life that is possible for those who reveal themselves to God that God may reveal himself to you.

Are you waiting to hear from the midwayer?

Group:            Sure! And the Reversion Directors!

DANI:             This is Dani. Well, we clowns are scrambling for the microphone. All of us are not as mature as Tomas. He has a dour comportment in our opinion. He's "no fun". However we are, and our Mother has given us free reign to play in her fields. She has promised no harm will come to us as we are henceforth devoted to her bridegroom, and in Mother's mind, there is no thing we can do that is not pleasing to him and so please him we shall.

That interprets in us secondary midwayers as action. We've been accused of being a backseat driver in your life, and perhaps that's true, but as for me I am inclined to think you are in the backseat and I would drive if you would just let me have the key. You are so uptight, you think you have to be responsible for everything. You'll learn that the universe is a friendly place and that we, your cousins, are not the brats you think we are but really caring and fun-loving elders who would enjoy seeking out your fields of dreams and compare them to how it is that we are allowed to assist you, and maybe having some influence in having your dreams come true. If they are in alignment with certain simple ground rules, why not?

We could talk lofty like the teachers and say something about [long pause -- some group comments about it being 'too lofty' or that perhaps Dani 'doesn't do lofty'…] Yeah, alright then, let's not get lofty. This is a silly Sunday as you say, but silliness is simply kids enjoying themselves and laughing a lot without the sense of the adult overseeing it all the time. I want you to think about the sound of happy children's laughter and how contagious it can be. A delighted giggle is quite a heart-stirring experience to hear. Of course, if it goes on incessantly it will get on any entity's nerves, but a bit of childlike laughter is good for us all. God knows we are hard workers most of the time, as I know you think you are also.

I've been hobnobbing with Gerdean and Thoroah since they got to town. They were forewarned of my personality presence here in this area and sure enough I've inveigled my way into their existence and presented certain challenges and opportunities that they said they wanted, and I said "Well, maybe we can help,' and so we found something that might work, but it's still pretty terrifying for them to make a faith step, so I'll let them make that decision before I start looking for something else to do or proceeding with that project.

We are always looking for work in the fields and if you express a field of interest, it's our pleasure to work within that field. Just like George's Progress Platoon worked with him for many years in the realm of suicide prevention and psychic surgery, to return to sanity to those who were teetering on the brink of a bad decision or a bad act. I like a little crisis intervention; it keeps life interesting and critical. However, I find if I do too much of it, I begin to take myself too seriously and life becomes a burden of existence, so I like to spread my talents around and assume certain assignments for limited periods of time.

I'm not a specialist, as it were. I certainly am enjoying making the contacts with the Lamplighters in this community, and now I am thrilled to become a part of your consciousness. Maybe you'll find the influence of the United Midwayers operating in your lives to augment your ministries in your field of dreams.

Elena:             Dani, do you know Cicoli? Do you work with him?

DANI:             Cicoli sounds familiar. How do you know Cicoli?

Elena:             Cicoli is a mentor that works with Matthew and me.

DANI:             I think I see the personality. However, I wouldn't have known to pronounce his name that way.

Elena:             How would you pronounce it?

DANI:             I don't know if I should say. You'll …

Elena:             ... laugh?

DANI:             Yes.

Elena:             Go ahead. Chickoree or what?

DANI:             I think of Chicklets.

Elena:             Chiclets?

DANI:             Cheek-lets! [Laughter and childlike giggling] However, I see your friend grinning and happy and so, yes, I have to admit I know him.

Esmarelda:     Do you also know Lester?

DANI:             Who doesn't know Lester? [Group laughter.] Of course! I knew Lester by reputation even before he translated to the mansion worlds. That fellow's hedonism was legend. He has a lot of understudies and stand-ins here. The pleasure-seeking element of Urantia mortals is astonishing -- it's a reflection on the rebellion, not being able to find the spiritual satisfaction that you were patterned to participate in. But, now that we're getting things back on track, you'll be able to begin to enjoy your spiritual nature and your inner-connectedness … and affection! … As a reality you well deserve to enjoy. And with that sense of divine entitlement -- if you don't develop a spiritual ego or fall in love with yourself -- you will be able to translate that attitude into a dynamic personality of good cheer and effective good work. What more could anyone ask for than to love what you do and do what you love? This is really all we're trying to implement.

But again it's on a level that would be pleasing to our creative Dad so that our creative Mom would give us the big cookies.

Elena:             Well, I think I should have an alternate set of keys made then so you can drive the car.

DANI:             Yes, certainly, because Chicolet will lose them for you.

Matthew:        A little absent minded, is he?

DANI:             He's ornery and will do things to stir up your pattern. He will make you think for yourself on a new level of consciousness. It's part of our reputation as mischief-makers, unfortunately. We have not quite been completely rehabilitated yet and we will get your attention one way or another, sooner or later. It's what we were meant to do, to help bridge the gap between the material world and the invisible realm. We're material too; we're just invisible. You don't have to be particularly spiritual to be invisible.

Esmarelda:     Are you just invisible to us?

DANI:             Yes, and…

Esmarelda:     Are you invisible in the mansion worlds?

DANI:             I'm not in the mansion worlds, but if and when mansion world creatures come by I can see them pretty good. They can certainly see me.

Matthew:        Can you take on any form or do you have bodies that resemble ours?

DANI:             No, we don't look a thing like you and we don't materialize. It's not our jobs to look material. As I've heard said, 'No self-respecting midwayer would be caught dead in those clothes.' [Much laughter] But we do manipulate the material environment. In fact, if we stay invisible we can do that even better.

Thoroah:         So you become visible when people are able to see you?

DANI:             Your optics aren't ready for us yet. You haven't developed your optic abilities. You're beginning to stretch your capacities by using what they call the 3rd eye. You're beginning to recognize the equipment that will be used to see "with eyes to see" when you have evolved a little bit more. But you aren't seeing yet. You can sometimes see our effects if you're paying attention, and they are what you might call "head-crawlers." At least until such time as you begin to put two and two together and perceive our presence in your life, helping you and helping the bigger picture at the same time.

Matthew:        Is your realm limited to earth or are you able to go into various realms?

DANI:             No. We can't. We have an atmosphere that we have to stay within. However, it's like we have cell phones and we are able to take advantage of certain broadcast systems. And that broadcast system has been greatly enhanced in the last few decades because of the re-encircuitment and the connecting that's going on all over this System, since the isolated worlds are being reintroduced to the universe-at-large. It's not an instant thing. It's a gradual thing. That's the way it is, it grows. It just doesn't instantly happen. Even fusion is a process.

I can go out pretty far. I can visit architectural spheres of life forms that have come here or settled here. I've been to the Teacher's "campus." I've been to classes in their architectural spheres. But I only visit there. I leave when class is over. Yes, we too are studying under the Teachers.

Thoroah:         More apples to polish.

DANI:             Well, we have a reputation you know, and we've been known to take advantage of the dysfunction of this planet to justify our mischief. Very much like, probably, you have been known to do. As any kid will do. They will too, Esmarelda! They will try to get away with anything and everything they can until such time as they are brought into an awareness of their folly. And you can box their ears if you want to, but that won't necessarily teach them anything. They have to learn for themselves and make those decisions. And we learned by studying the Master when he was here, and that turned us around -- just as he is turning your life around, each of you, in your personal relationship with him.

Matthew:        Probably too broad of a question but what did you find most enlightening about his life when he was here … that turned you around?

DANI:             Oh … you are asking me a personal question? (Yes) I appreciate it. We have, of course, spent many joyous hours recalling our experiences as citizens of Urantia and being able to watch him in his life here, and believe me, we were attentive. And many of us having had a better view of some of his experiences than others have different qualities of him that they admire. And I think any of them are excellent qualities and he seemed to raise each quality up to such a fine art as to be nothing short of exquisite. Even his suffering was sublime.

But how I did enjoy how the Master carried himself, as if he had the energy of a youth but the age old wisdom that only comes from time. He was … how can I describe how I found him? He was … so old. He was so wise. There was no reaching the depths of his ancient wisdom. That ancient wisdom had so many answers to so many life circumstances, circumstances that I and we had not even thought to think of, and yet it felt as if he had a personal understanding of each of the failings and frailties of each of his many encounters. And somewhere in the depths of each of these encounters he knew exactly how to be and what to say … and that wisdom, that countenance that he carried, had so much depth, it was impossible to discern the bottom of him.

But that is a sketch of how I found him, and chances are if you asked any of my fellows what they admired about him they would tell the same story with a different color of paint. He was certainly a phenomenon for this world and he certainly had our undivided attention. We have never been the same, since.

Matthew:        It's exciting to hear from somebody who had first hand experience, really exciting. Thanks.

DANI:             Well, you're sure welcome. But I never got to talk to him personally. So I feel a little like you must feel. You know him, too, don't you?

Matthew:        I believe so.

DANI:             And hasn't he talked to you and you to him in the Spirit?

Matthew:        Yes. Certainly.

DANI:             Well, there ya go, see? I'm no further ahead than you are. Not really. But I appreciate your appreciation of my proximity to his mortal life.

Matthew:        Well, the Urantia Book describes it that for the entire universe to have been looking on with his each and every motion, basically, I kind of got the image of people watching television … I don't know what the viewing capability was … but that's what it seemed to be -- for the entire universe to be looking on. That's pretty awe-inspiring.

DANI:             Well, yes, it was quite an exciting time and it's a little bit like it seems now in some respects, because once again there's so much focus on what's going on here.

We're going to have a party for him, are you?

Matthew:        Yes.

Thoroah:         And you can come to ours too.

Elena:             You're invited.

DANI:             Okay. Hey.

Thoroah:         And we'll try to get to yours.

DANI:             Well, it'll be on the 21st at noon. I think somebody told you already about how we celebrate.

Elena:             Well, I don't know.

DANI:             Well, we get together and talk about him and admire him and make merry. We have a little worship and a little rejoicing, just like you do. Not that much different. But we wouldn't miss it.

Matthew:        We get an opportunity to do that the evening of the 21st so we're looking forward to that.

DANI:             Yes, we will join with you and inject some of our energy into your communion. We'll all rejoice in Sonship together.

Myra:                         Would you like to be driving that night?

DANI:             Would you like to be my passenger?

Myra:                         Well, maybe, yes….

DANI:             I'll let you sit up front.

Myra:                         I won't tell you what to do.

DANI:             Well, maybe if we work together we can figure out the best approach. I'll give the microphone back to Tomas. We certainly had fun today with you. I'm glad to have made your acquaintance and hope I get to chat again soon. [Group thank you's]

TOMAS:        Dour Tomas at your service.

Elena:             We think you're really cute too, and you do have a sense of humor, Tomas, we've all chuckled -- the whole group en masse has really enjoyed your sense of humor, too.

TOMAS:        Thank you. I have made an effort to develop human humor. It's difficult sometimes. I don't mean to be disrespectful and just giggle at you, as life can become very serious. Our job is important. It just seems to fall within the nature of our character. That does not mean I don't enjoy you immensely and feel great lightness of being in your presence. And like was said before, how marvelous it is to hear the innocence of children reflected in their laughter.

Be of good cheer this week, children, as you go about your affairs remembering the Master in his life. While human, enjoy your humanness and your divinity in good health, in good cheer, in good faith. Farewell.

*****

Special Session for Jesus Birthday; no TeaM meeting held.

*****

DATE:                        September 1, 2002

LOCATION: Rio Rancho, New Mexico

T/R’s:                                     Gerdean for Tomas and Matthew for Anatolia

TEACHERS & TOPICS:

TOMAS                      on "Secret Sanctuary of Serenity"

ANATOLIA               on "The Value of Striving Forward"

Q & A:                        Human relationship 'Contracts'

                                    When to walk away, when to stay

                                    Responsibility in philanthropy

MUSIC:                      "When the Saints Go Marching In"        Pianist: Elena

PRAYER: (Matthew): Let's place ourselves in the presence of Christ Michael. (pause)

"Master Teacher, we come to you today with light and happy hearts to place ourselves within the consciousness of your presence -- that is virtually everything that is -- and we don't pretend to be able to put ourselves truly within your presence because it would be totally overwhelming, but insofar as we can, we do; and we continually place ourselves in your presence and your care. Without your presence and protection we simply would not be. Your role as our intercessory, our presence before the Father, is more than appreciated, it is the divine plan; and for that we are forever grateful.

"We ask for whatever teaching you wish to present through your agenda and through your teacher, or teachers, that we may benefit by being ever wiser and ever more prudent in our dealings with ourselves and with others. And for this and everything else that is spoken or unspoken that you and our heavenly Father know within our beings, we are forever grateful. Amen"

TOMAS:        Good afternoon, faithful flock, I am Tomas. Welcome, once again, to our secret sanctuary of serenity in one another's company. This plateau of trust that we have built as a basis of our association is inherent in our faith and trust in our Father/Creator.

Anyone here have a problem with gender depictions of the masculine as Deity?

Group:            No

TOMAS:        I hope you understand that when I reference deity thus, it is all --encompassing. It is unspecified as to male or female, passive or aggressive, and the other elements of the dual nature of humans. This dual nature that you have, as well as the duality of your gender, is often misleading and inadvertently establishes a paradigm of opposition.

Under no circumstances am I willing to allow a concept to be glossed-over, and/or lost, as a result of a mind blanking out my efforts on account of my vocabulary. If and when I have chosen to use a term which is contrary to your comprehension, or if the way in which I use words has caused you to feel unsettled, be overt about objecting to my phraseology which, you will understand, is automatically convoluted as a result of the fact that it is interpreted from my native language in order for you to understand it.

And so you can be assured there will be a down-stepping from my concept, if only because of our language difficulties. And so I urge you to help me in my teaching techniques and patterns, by admonishing me if I have not made myself clear or if the concept has not been understood.

There are so many difficulties in communication and yet the world and everything in it is engaged in an incessant expression of some perception of reality which hopes to fall upon fertile soil. We all want to be heard, we all want to be recognized, and we all want to be appreciated without regard to gender or profession or belief system. This is the nature of friendship: that you enjoy each other for who you are, as you are.

While I was planning to discuss 'work' today in acknowledgment of Labor Day, I would like, rather, to take a holiday from labor myself and address instead an element of relationship which begins the process of engaging in successful conversations and communications with everyone you meet. That, of course, is the primary connection, the source of I Am, the First Source and Center that has willed Himself to share your experience and distributed Himself throughout the Universes of time and space as the indwelling spark of reality which you will come to know and appreciate over the course of your eternal career.

The presence of the divine in your experience, as an entity, ennobles your existence. It lifts you from the realm of temporary into the potential of eternal. It adds illumination to shadows enabling you to rise above your fears. In knowing this entity, which is Love, its immediate effect is to teach you about Love within your own nature, which is now becoming the nature of God because of your acknowledgment of the connection itself.

In the acceptance of yourself as an expression of divine love, and understanding your birthright as a child of God to have this limitless font of affection directed toward your development, you are rewarded with self respect because you are the temple of the divine, you are the tabernacle of eternity, and you hold immortality in your free will choices. Respecting yourself is now so vital an element of your reality you would not deign to refuse that same respect to those you encounter who are also indwelt.

The modern phrase is namaste, - "the spirit in me greets the spirit in you". When the presence of mind is sufficiently compatible, there is effective relationship. Here now is the challenge and the perplexity, for each individual is so unique and so individually conditioned and programmed, each soul is so young, in terms of its future, and each configuration of human being comes equipped with its own definitions.

It's like recognizing each other in like-mindedness -- you just feel as if you've known that person forever, and that no matter what differences there may be, they cannot rise to the level of interfering with the essential camaraderie that arose when your Consciousness greeted. Other relationships require effort. And some relationships are doomed even before they begin because they have no lasting frame of reference for intercourse.

The labor of love revolves around reconstructing those realities that exist within you that enable you to rise above, or work through, the many separations that occur in communications and that sometimes break down so far as to bring about war.

We are devoted to the introduction of the God Fragment within, for this is a power that is able to provide the inner reflectivity that enables individuals to untangle their communication knots and flow readily and easily once more -- as any relationship will do, if and as it is able to find that common Source of life, which is always found to be sacred, regardless of dogma or conditioning or gender or other temporal concerns.

This is why we stress Stillness, as Stillness is respite from the labors of life. I cannot resist referring to my notes on labor for the spirit is untiring. It never rests. It is always on duty. It has no 'Labor Day' in which to relinquish its innate draw to return to its own source for rest, resuscitation, relaxation, reverence and reward.

I will check with my co-worker to see if she is celebrating today or if she is inclined to labor on behalf of the kingdom. Anatolia?

ANATOLIA:              I am right here. I have no difficulty communicating or being in like-mind with you and so I am ready when you are.

TOMAS:        Proceed. Let us hear your words.

ANATOLIA:              There is only one primary message that I wish to bring to your attention today, not for any reason other than to pay some attention to Labor Day and to let it be appreciated for, not just a day off, but to give it the just due that it deserves -- and that is not with lengthy speeches or beseechings of labor class versus management and all of those dualistic, strident, age-old, and historic difficulties that have and continue to exist, but rather to give you a perspective which may lighten your load, and wherever possible, lighten the load of those who may be engaged in work related strife.

And that is to not be burdened with that which you find to be difficult, or that which you find to be truly laborious in one way or another -- because there are many types of work and many types of work which do require, as well as do not require, pay -- for work is work, no matter whether one does it for pay or not. There is pay which requires certain amount of homage or respect to the payer and in that respect one needs to follow certain protocol. In another respect, I wish for you to, now, level the playing field and remove any strife conditions that may exist and simply present to you what true labor is about and how it will relate to you now and in the long run.

This is not a long discourse on the value and benefits of labor. Rather it's simply a discourse on the value of striving forward. Whenever one does anything that is considered work, whether it's at the most elementary level, or at the most sophisticated levels you can imagine, whether it be a child coloring in a coloring book or whether it might involve surgical treatment or surgical procedures that a physician would engage in order to right or reconstruct the physical vehicle, each and every one of these happens to be a labor.

Without further example and without prolongation of that which we speak, I wish to simply say that as spirit beings, one of first and foremost considerations for our conversations with you, (is) to continually reinforce our relatedness as spirit beings, in the encasement and outside of the encasement of the physical vehicle. We are all one in that spiritual relationship, and it is as such that I wish for you to know, in this respect, is of spiritual vintage and that all effort and all moving forward is of a spiritual nature, and that while your physical being may be called upon to exert and to put forth effort that moves an item from one place to another and then on a more complex scale builds buildings or conducts such miraculous deeds that are evidenced in the physical, it all begins in the spiritual.

So I simply wish for you to know that whenever you have the urge to even lift a finger, brush your hair, recondition the couch, fluff a pillow, or anything of exertion orientation, know that it is your will-being that brings about the initiation and the completion of each and every deed. It is this initiation of your will and its decision to move forward that creates a new condition as a result of that which has its being within your being.

Know that the physical exertion that it takes to walk from here to a mile down the road is that which begins with the idea and then the initial step. Each and every step along the way is indeed spiritual. I wish for you to be ever mindful of this and to actually appreciate this for what it is. For your presence here in the physical is an energy manifestation of a higher idea and ideal. You, in fact, manifest the highest ideal by your presence here. This is why and where there are many shameful acts of neglect, and oftentimes benign neglect, for what power truly exists within each and every individual's life -- that power to decide for the better of what conditions may be improved by your exertion upon it.

How can you improve the conditions in your own life, let alone the lives of those that you share company and or space with? How can you internalize that which is a temple to the Lord and externalize it in terms of manifestation and creating new space, new energy and new awareness of conditions that are better as a result of your being versus what the world would be like without your presence and without your influence? This I wish for you to consider and to be more mindfully aware of -- what a difference your labors make.

So with this in mind I leave you and hopefully give you a new level of respect for yourself and for others in terms of what influence you truly have. May it always be utterly well-intended and well-executed in terms of your desire for improved conditions, enlightened minds and unified purpose in being.

Peace be with you, and have wonderfully non-laborious Labor Day.

TOMAS:        Thank you, Anatolia. Amen.

Our platform is now open for your engagement. Haven't you been busy? You have quite the social season working your way down the dance card. What a marvelous season it is, the peak of summer and the celebration of Jesus' life among you -- a pinnacle, of a certainty.

The respite that you enjoy this weekend is ideally designed to afford you an opportunity to reflect upon your approaches to the next season of undertaking, the new semester, the new season, the new pattern of operation.

Are there questions? Or dialogs?

Elena:             I just wanted to say that I thought it was so endearing that the labor it takes to translate your language into ours and how beautifully you use our language even to the extent of translating the definition of "R's" into a new form. I like your definition much better … reward, resuscitation, rest, recreation … that's what I remember,… but it was much better than Reading, 'Riting and 'Rithmatic.

But I wanted to comment about what you said about relationships … about how a person's essence greets the other person's essence. A few weeks ago you recognized another entity's 'being,' that of our fish, Herbie, and then you said, Tomas, that you were blue. I am wondering … understand that I love you Tomas, but how long would it take to adjust to 'seeing you'? Or how long would it take to get used to seeing you? And what you look like?

TOMAS:        It has taken some time for you to get accustomed to what I look like, and we are still getting to know each other.

I point out the nature of relationship herein, and that includes relationship with the Father. Any relationship worth developing requires attention and conscientious time involved in ascertaining the nature of the relationship.

Every relationship contains the essential contract… although it is very common for individuals to engage in extraneous contracts, even prior to creating the initial and essential relationship contract.

Souls are able to greet one another and recognize each other by their personality presence, and in your case, it is often seen through eye-to-eye contact wherein you feel you recognize the soul within the other and they recognize your value as well. (This is possible, even though strangers.) And yet immediately upon opening a discourse it can be very apparent that your individual agendas are able to eradicate the impact of the initial contact as the sense of agenda is so intense, and may arouse antagonism or a sense of competition … and the conditioning. And thus your relationship is thwarted, aborted at once because of your immediate cultural limitations.

You have two choices. You recognize the agenda as an extension of the God-consciousness of the other individual and engage in communication based on that contract which you have allowed, or you can opt to remain mortal strangers but spirit associates. This will be determined by your inclination to engage in the labor of relationship development. Some people, you may feel are not worth getting to know; it is not worth the effort required to explain your personal politics. This, unfortunately, is how our destiny is detained. How? By having made the lesser choice, the choice that seeks to (allow you to be) swallowed up in standardization, in standard operating procedure of the human condition.

The challenge is to rise above the difference and the diversionary tactic and continue to appeal to the spirit in others as the primary reality and your choice of sustained relationship. In this way, you challenge them to operate on a higher level, a level which will transcend the differences. And this is a universal law that also is effective in gender relationships, in male-female communication difficulties, for there will always be communication problems between the male and female, in as much they are designed to think differently. Thus it's necessary to recognize each other's value from the Source and sustain that primary and initial relationship -- from which point all other matters, motives and modus operandi are able to find their pattern, their place, effectively.

Once more we return to trust and faith in the original Source, as that power and strength will enable you to see your way clear to stand firm in your reality as a child of God in the flesh, engaging in all other relationships. If to thine own self thee be true, then being alone is not a lonely place.

Is this addressing your concerns?

Elena:             Well, I don't think that's really what I asked, … but I loved the answers! So thanks a lot. I got more than I asked for.

Myra:             You did answer my question Tomas, [Group laughter because she hadn't even asked the question yet] so thank you!

I do need a clarification on that relationship that we sometimes just have to walk away from because there is nothing there. I'm not quite sure how to tell the difference from a relationship that I should walk away from -- or whether it is my attitude and stubbornness and that I want them to come my way. I'm not sure I could tell the difference between when to keep walking and when to try harder.

TOMAS:        Educate yourself, then, as to your own motives, and if you have an agenda to which you pay loyalty, you well may be responding from your loyalty to that which you hold dear … and this is a gridlock, a standoff, a stalemate, unless you choose to wrangle, in which case it will likely simply deteriorate. It is possible to gain insight, even if you're right, by reflecting on the composition of the exchanges that are at issue.

If you are able to perceive through the eye of perception, with the spirit of worship taking that which is holy with you, you will be able to recognize the merit of your fellow and understand his or her actions as a reflection of how they perceive the situation. Thus, you will be able to better handle yourself in the relationship … and by understanding how others think and feel, you are automatically able to be more tolerant or merciful, even while understanding that perhaps, to your point of view, their perspective is ludicrous or even dangerous. In which case it is best not to fan the flames, but to turn the other cheek and be about your business in those realms over which you have authority. And I'm not speaking of political authority, I am speaking of personal authority.

I understand you are dealing with agendas, personal politics, but it cannot be escaped ~ except as you greet each other with a 'holy kiss' and engage each other on that basis, as brethren, and not as adversaries or strangers.

Is this helpful?

Myra:                         Very helpful. Thank you.

Esmarelda:     Tomas, I had some questions that you have already completely answered, and I really appreciate the things you've said today. You've been very helpful.

TOMAS:        I will make an attempt to stop being so empathic with you, my students. It deprives you of the opportunity of expressing your concerns -- as expressing yourselves and admitting your thoughts. And the directions in which your mind is inclined to wander in search of truth, beauty and goodness is a part of your consciousizing, a part of your will consciously seeking His will and attempting to do His will.

Esmarelda:     Well, that kinda gives me something else to think back to. This situation that has been bothering me -- and has for several years -- is a relationship that ceased to be a relationship.

In trying to help a person sometimes you finally realize what you're doing in attempting to help them, isn't really helping. As you help them, they need more and more and more and finally you realize that you're being used and that whatever you could do, really, materially -- to help them out materially -- isn't really going to solve their problem.

But this situation has bothered me for several years because sometimes I wonder if maybe I should have done something more.

But I just don't think it would have helped the situation and that she needed to work it out for herself.

TOMAS:        Anytime a human being is recipient of alms, it is a matter of "am I my brother's keeper" to make certain that the charity is not pernicious and insidiously disempowering your fellow to greater need. The Master, when he consoled many in distress, encouraged them in such a way as to draw forth from them that font of will within them which would be able then to rise above the temporary circumstances toward greater health -- mental, physical, financial, emotional and spiritual health.

There are many who love to give because they feel the need to be of service but service, like love, needs to be redefined on each new level of growth. If an individual is not growing because of your service, then by all means withdraw the crutch and have them walk, and rather than letting them lean on you, stand with them side by side and encourage them to be all that they can be. And as you know, if they think they cannot, remind them there is One Within them who can; if they seek that font of strength and power, that relationship will surely come to pass. As you can testify to in your going about the Father's business as you pass by.

There is a tremendous responsibility in philanthropy and there needs to be some accounting for the faith that has been invested in you. Even baby steps are an indication of growth and willingness.

Why are you continuing to hold on to that after all this time?

Esmarelda:     I suppose maybe I wonder if maybe I should have done more or that I felt that what I was doing was actually adding to the problem. But I think I did the correct thing … and all that I really, responsibly could do, but I think it kind of hangs on because that person is still in my area and I have been concerned for her.

TOMAS:        I want you to remember, recognize, that those who have not come into a consciousness of their sonship are needy and some are more needy than others, and while it is the nature of mercy to want to fill the void, we're not always able to fill that void which cannot be filled. We must trust the Father in these cases, and stimulate the spirit, and speak truthfully to your fellows as to their responsibility in their own soul birth. If it should come to you to have that chance to influence such a soul-making decision, it is not impossible by any means. Any ambassador of experience is familiar with the moment, "the French Fry Moment” that has presented itself. And whether they will take the bait and bite or defer their survival choices, is a personal and individual decision.

Esmarelda:     It's something they must decide … and recognize their need of the Father.

TOMAS:        Utterly. You are able to serve up to a point, but if their decision is not made, then eventually you need to be about the Father's business for there are other things to which you may attend.

Esmarelda:     Well that, then I have done, but for some reason this person's situation has not improved, it has gone much further down.

TOMAS:        You must not hold yourself responsible.

Esmarelda: So ... thank you, Tomas. I will feel better about it now.

TOMAS:        This is a very tender and very sad recognition of loss, of potential not actualized. However, if you have done what you can and if you are aware of our Father's ability to tirelessly attend the mortal and act as It can, it is no longer in your hands.

Esmarelda:     I remember Ham -- and I've read Abraham's suggestion, too -- to kind of put this sort of thing in a paper bag and hand it to Father because He can handle it and we can't. He has the power to do it and we don't.

TOMAS:        Any symbolism impressive to you is appropriate.

Esmarelda:     Thanks for your help today, Tomas,

TOMAS:        It is good to hear from you, Esmarelda. I have missed you for a while. But now I see you are in class as usual and it feels good to have this classroom in session. I will not stay longer, as it is a holiday and it is the one that celebrates the fruits of your labors and inspires you for the work ahead. Thus, thinking forward, let us conjoin in social conviviality and rejoice in the Family of God in which we reside.

Thank you one and all. Amen and farewell.

*****

DATE                         September 8, 2002

LOCATION: Rio Rancho, NM

T/R's:                          Gerdean for Tomas and Matthew for Machiventa

TEACHERS: TOMAS and MACHIVENTA MELCHIZEDEK

TOPIC:

The Soul

Prayer: (Matthew) Let us place ourselves in the presence of Jesus, the Christ:

"Master Teacher, whenever we call your name, we sense and confidently know your presence. We trust that because you said you would always be with us. Calling upon you is to call upon the greater powers that are next to the Father, Him and Herself. To be in your presence is to be in the presence of the Father. And to be complete is to be in your presence. We sanctify ourselves in your presence, to place ourselves before you as custodians, servants and trusted lords over your terrain and over your land as you have presented to us. We commit ourselves to the fulfillment of our places here on terra firma - Urantia, Gaia, the number of names that it is called. Regardless of culture, regardless of temperament, we place ourselves in your care and we care for that which you place us within. We ask for the teachers that you make ready for us and the information and instruction and loving care that they make known to us as well. And for all of this, and for the gift of life and ongoing eternal life, we are forever grateful. Amen.

TOMAS:        My cheerful friends, I am Tomas. How wonderful to be in your company, in your embrace and in the embrace of the Master Teacher who oversees us all. Once more we gather together to become more because of our association with the divine.

This afternoon I'd like to talk to you, specifically, about that which you are becoming -- that which is eternal and that which is brought about as a result of your human will marrying itself to the divine will, thus bringing about the product, the offspring of that liaison: the immortal soul. The concept of the soul is one which has provoked thought and contemplation in the minds of men for many millennia on this world and on other worlds as well. For on all the worlds of time and space, there is a point of departure from the animal into potential of spirit, that point of soul-birth which becomes sufficient in its existence to carry you into the destiny assigned to you by your Creator.

The soul is the seed of your reality. It is brought about by the birth of your reality in the arrival of your indwelling Adjuster. This Spark of Divinity remains with you throughout your life and into eternity, in particular if you have and as you have, allowed your soul to develop and become an element of reality which is able to stand alone, that is to say, be able to reveal the qualities of divinity through the personality, which is you.

There are many who rejoice in sonship and who know not the definition of sonship. There are many of childlike faith who, while respecting a concept of a power greater than themselves have no theological comprehension of how it is that the universe has established itself and its many worlds and creature creations. There are many also who testify to having great understanding of these matters yet are only empty voices having no real appreciation of the spirit within. The soul is that which you are in potential, and while the Creator has provided the avenue through which you may grow and become, it is also true that you are responsible in your own way to foster the growth of the soul.

The growth of the soul may be thwarted or retarded. Just like the growth of a plant may be thwarted or retarded by planting it in unfavorable soil, or in conditions unfavorable to growth, a soul's development may be detained as a result of erroneous decision, bad associations, immature choices, but there is always provided an opportunity to make a conscious will choice to survive, and this is enough to provide an opportunity for the potential to become actual.

I am here to encourage you to provide the conditions that are favorable to growth. The nature of the soul is such that I would like to derive from each of you, if you will indulge me and each other, an explanation or definition of a soul, as it is understood by you. In this way, I will know and you each will know, how it is that we can proceed to develop this soul such that it becomes a greater part of who you are than that which you were born.

The lessons you learn, the teachings you derive from this Teacher Corps, are of little use to you or anyone, unless, and until, it is made real to you, by and through the birth and growth of your own soul. And that is the reality which will survive death and reawaken as embraceable by the Adjuster who has worked with you and lived with you willingly and tirelessly, within the framework of your existence, so that you may know eternal life, and not merely this one. I am instructed to cater to the growth of the soul. In that case I ask you to convey to us what your understanding of the soul is.

Elena:             I think the soul is the spiritualness that we have. I think the personality is separate and the soul is that spiritual part of our material existence. It's more maybe in your land than in the material world, and I think we need to call it in more to nurture it. I'm interested in what you're saying about nurturing and supplying it more fertile ground, because I think of the spirit poisons, etc. So your further conversation will be of great interest to me, but that's about as close as I could get in defining what a soul is.

Mr. S.:            Tomas, I read back to you the notion that I've gained from reading the Bible. It says in the book of Genesis that Adam was a soul, not that he had a soul -- that he was a soul. And further along, speaking of King David's enemies, that they were after his soul …. and I gather from that, that the soul is all of us -- our whole being.

Myra:                         I understand it to be the core of my being… My soul is my core. I would compare it to a placenta … the part that stays tied to my God to keep me in touch with my spiritual life.

Esmarelda.     I feel like it's part -- an inner, deeper part of me that I do not nurture as much as I should, but probably I associate that with the indwelling Father fragment, and I know that the soul is supposed to grow, and I hope that mine is … but it's an inner thing, even more important than our outer being. A very inadequate definition, I'm afraid.

Ms. S.:            It's pretty hard to define. It's something that we each feel within us but it isn't a part of our anatomy -- it's just a feeling inside you that guides and it's very, very important, but it doesn't have a place within your body.

Thoroah:         You said earlier, Tomas, that it is our 'real self.' And reality is what our soul amounts to. The relationship between our indwelling Presence and our will -- our decisions, our actions, etc., whatever we create that is real, makes up our soul, and that's what we take with us wherever we go.

Gerdean:        Well my definition of soul is what I got from the book I wrote. Having to do with that in us that is most poignant. And so for my definition I would call it Love. Sometimes I find my soul weeping. I feel like my soul is weeping sometimes when I see love rejected -- I don't mean emotional love, I mean spiritual love -- or when it's ignored or overlooked. And I know when my soul is rejoicing because there's a happiness in me that is not based on payday or a date or those things that might make a mortal happy. And so I regard the soul as a font of feeling. That's my definition, my interpretation of what the soul is. As I see it.

Matthew:        I'm glad for the opportunity to address this because I had the thought, I think this morning, or recently, and I'm glad it came up - but I wanted to ask Tomas whether or not it was true that we had a pre-knowledge or pre-existence prior to physical life. And to me then, soul is that connection with the eternal that we're given, a spark of that 'let's inhabit this life to experience what life in this form is'. So it's our bridge from before to now to return to the ultimate and eternal. So to me it's the bridge of the eternal spark. But that bridge then has troops and animals and everything trudging across it and what experience it grasps from that is what we carry on with us.

[Group comments about the various things going across the 'bridge' and a comment was made about the idea of the circus going across the bridge].

TOMAS:        There are times when I think of you as a circus going across a bridge, yes. [Group laughter] The bridge being the transition from the material life to the morontial life -- for clarification (over-simplified perhaps) -- to say "from the material to the spiritual".

Perhaps my depiction will give you a demonstration. I will suggest that you are each created an electrical appliance. We have a toaster and a radio, an electric lawnmower, a hairdryer -- any of these appliances. And the Father is the electric circuit. The radio cannot give forth music or news broadcasts without it being plugged into the electric circuit of Paradise. The hairdryer is inert and cannot fluff-up any hair-do or dry your nails, without first having been plugged into the Paradise circuit.

Thus, to say that you are a toaster is certainly true, but that is not the soul. The soul is the toaster that is plugged into the electric current; the toaster that is toasting is the soul. The hairdryer that is blowing is the soul. The electric mower that is cutting grass is the soul. The material appliance by itself is merely a material appliance. Adam was, in those terms, a mere "lump of clay" until such time as the spark of the divine activated him, in a spiritual sense.

The definitions are not as essential as the recognition of the significance of that dimension within you and your life that levitates from a temporary reality to a permanent reality, from a short-term existence to an eternal life. The experience of the material existence will certainly give you an appreciation of the fact that material reality will not last forever. 'From dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return,' is in reference to the material tabernacle in which the divine spark lives.

Civilizations are born and grow and crumble. Families are born and reared and die out. And yet the electrical charge of divinity is permanent and eternal. In order for you to be eternal, it behooves you to get yourself plugged in and operative. If you would become actualized, you would be more than inert.

It is the marriage of the human will and the divine will which creates the soul. It is the human will making determined decisions to live on a higher plane than an inert material existence, that gives you meaning and value, that gives you soul birth, and that develops your personality into a personality which is revealed as the "love-saturated soul", that which is so connected to the energy of Paradise. The reality of the soul's existence continues even long after the appliance of the material life is returned to dust.

In this way you are given an opportunity to develop your own soul, to nurture its growth and foster its furtherance. Conditions for the growth of the soul are relative to those behaviors which will supplant lower and lesser habits, which are devoted to the human and temporal self, with those higher and exalted realities that will foster and further higher and greater reality ... even the greater reality within your fellows. Thus, you are able to augment others by your contribution to their favorable conditions for spiritual development and soul growth. By the same token, you are able to dissuade and discourage the spirit in others as well. And those of you who would foster the growth of your own soul will see to it that your field is kept free of toxins and weeds which interfere with the abundance of your own productivity.

We will spend more time and energy on the development of the soul, on the nurturance of your soul and that of others' as time goes by. Suffice for my lesson this afternoon to introduce the concept of the soul into your minds that you may ponder this concept and chew on it for future sustenance.

Matthew, I am going to ask you to share the platform as a mouthpiece for Anatolia or any of our associates in attendance who have an in with your circuitry in order for you to share the spirit realm with your peers, if you are willing.

Matthew:                    Certainly. Thank you. Machiventa Melchizedek is here.

Machiventa:               I'm happy to be with you this afternoon, here within your realm, where I find myself more than an occasional visitor. As you know, regardless of one's teaching or what one has been brought up with, I am the who one preceded all that you know to be the case -- with the exception of Adam. I am most pleased to be among you, not for any other reason than for the reason that you meet every Sunday. It is with this purpose that I am willing and able to share with you one of the insights as to the reason for your meeting here upon each Sunday occasion.

And it is with that occasion that I take this opportunity to tell you that you are a living, breathing organism of the unity of purpose for which this "soon-to-be institution of instruction from the spirit realm" makes itself with regularity and with dispatch. And more importantly that you, as a group of learners and listeners and lovers of the truth, are willingly able to devote yourselves to these lessons. And with this purpose in mind you will find great reward and benefit to your personal lives and the lives of those that you touch.

It is much in the realm of Martha and Mary-ism that I bring you this word of instruction. That is, this co-mingling of spirit and body, that which you know to be the case of Martha and Mary, with that subtle conflict and contrast that existed. The sisters, as they were, knew one another quite well. They knew one another's habits, likes, dislikes, needs, dependencies and other similar insights into the personality of each. However, when the occasion arose, when it was necessary for each individual or each personality to rise to the occasion of meeting the needs of the group at hand. Primarily because that of the commanding presence of the Master, whom you know him to be, was there among them, those personalities rose to the occasion to meet the need as they saw fit.

So as the story goes, you are well familiar, it was the conflict of Martha perceiving that Mary took the upper road -- took the road of lesser responsibility and the lighter road in terms of rejecting that which Martha was left to carry the additional burden of. Martha, having the disposition that she did toward service and reliability, took on that as her comfortable, more traveled road and was able to accept that as her place. And as a result she saw her sister's departure from that typical role as a departure or abandonment of responsibility and what Martha perceived as Mary taking the lighter of the options.

This I present to you as merely a representation of what your lesson is today. That lighter road taken, the acceptance of true spiritual light and life presented, rises to the occasion, leaps in acceptance of recognition of that which is true and eternal, much as Mary rose to the occasion to sit at the Master's feet, to bask in his glory, and to become one with him as spirit ignites to spirit.

Martha on the other hand needed to see that there was a way toward that which is the lighter road, the road toward truth, the road that ignites with excitement and unites with the oneness of that which is true and eternal. It was in this way that both learned of their mutual need for one another. In this life, as you know it, there is the need for the true, the tested, the reliable because it is in this that survival is met and survival is portended upon, that which is present for a vehicle for life's expression here in this form of existence. But without this form of existence, spirit still would exist. Spirit does abound and spirit resides within that which is true and eternal.

So it is within this that is eternal and true, which elects to express itself in the physical vehicle which Martha represents, and it is in this case that the two shall become one, in the sense that the two are mutually beneficial and allow for the unique expression or experience of life as you know it to be expressed and to be lived.

This I merely present to you as another form of representation. It is existent in many other forms as well, much as your Master Teacher presented, in terms of the wine derived from the grapes and that the grapes are that which is presented in the physical form and that each of you are branches, but that in the grape and in the subsequent wine is that mystery portrayed as well.

Many and all examples can be found. You can find it within any living being. To imagine or to contemplate that which is within a living presence and that which enables it to be is truly an expression of the mystery of life.

And so I share this opportunity with you to invite you to continue to grow within our being, to know the light form that you are, and to begin to understand that the mutual expression of your life spirit within you, expressing within your physical being, is what this world is graced with here and now by your presence. You could have, after all, been anything. You could have chosen to have been a tree had your spirit decided that you wished to express as a tree. But you chose to express that which is the closest representation to the god-force Him and Herself, to express as you are right now.

So in many ways of knowing and thinking, the world is a better place by your having been here and by your being here. So grace yourselves with this knowledge and be-throne yourselves in the presence of the god-force within you, to give rightful honor and homage to that which is made known and possible through the spirit which lives within you. Grace that spirit which is you and which houses the greatest spirit of them all, masked and marked by your presence inward and without-ward.

I could go on with illustrations and actualizations but I think you get the point. The point is to continue to grow in the awareness of whom you are and that awareness will continue forever. Be at one with yourself and be all that you can be, much as the Herbie legend lives on. This is what you're called to and this is what you are asked to be, each and every Sunday and each hour that follows in the aftermath. Be well aware of who you are, and all else will become a new reality. I encourage you to grow in happiness and acceptance, primarily of yourselves, and all else will follow. Be good to yourselves and all of those who share your presence. Peace be with you.

TOMAS:        Thank you, Machiventa, and thank you for presenting your curriculum with those of us who are eager learners as well as teachers.

The floor is yours now.

Elena:             I'm confused about sequence about personality and soul. You were saying that will, divine will and divinity, combine to produce a soul and then I was a little bit … producing … or clarifying personality. So I think I remember reading in the Urantia Book that personality came first, or we have personality first. So, could you shed light on that?

TOMAS:        Personality is a gift acknowledged at birth. At the point of your arrival on the stage of human drama, you are registered as a living personality and immediately it is observable. It can be ascertained, even in an infant, if it will be a progressive or a receding personality. And as a child grows and begins to discover itself, its personality is made even more apparent by the way in which it relates with others. There are those who affirm that even animals enjoy a personality and that their pet is rife with personality traits. And thus the personality is in existence even before being indwelt by spirit, and thus personality exists before the inception of the seed of the soul which then begins to germinate in the personality of the individual as it is indwelt and influenced by the spirit.

There are, by way of further discussion, many individuals whose personality is so uniquely human and originally their own they are unaware of any potential to the soul. There are personalities malformed by dysfunction and moral error which, none-the-less, perform gallantly in society and find similar fellows with which to develop cultural trends. Yet they lack spirit quality. The gift of personality that is a reflection of the divine is that personality which is made more than it was as a result of the combined will of the human and the divine. The personality also is able to operate effectively by those individuals who are unconsciously following the will of God, even though they may not consciously and directly allow spirit a prominent place in their consciousness.

It is those of you who are conscious of consciousness, those of you who are aware of the power of divinity, those of you who choose to plug in your appliance to feel the current of divine electricity in you, that enables you to function as more than you were. Thus the clever human can get by on being a character and the soul rather chooses to 'have' character. The individual who is conscious of his soul has a comprehension of feeling that goes beyond the temporary and the material. It goes to the heart of a perception of reality which does have such quality of existence as guarantees its usefulness and its survival value.

The reference here is scriptural, that there might come a time in the life of a human who has professed loudly his belief in God, but when called upon to present his reality, there is nothing to show for it. And so the Lord would say 'I know you not.' There are many who make professions of belief and theology but they are empty words. It is in the soul that the real essence and substance is housed, and it will continue to support you in your advance into eternity. As you grow, your personality is made more God-like and will reflect more and more the glory and grandeur of life.

Myra:                         Tomas is there a group soul? As an example, does this group here have a collective soul that strengthens the individuals' souls? Or does the individuals coming together as a group make that soul stronger? I guess I am asking you to speak to the importance of group in soul's construction.

TOMAS:        Alright then let me give you an illustration of a candle. If you are one candle in the dark, if each of you are one candle in the darkness you can, in fact, make it possible for others to see. However, as you join together your light is made brighter and its range of influence extends farther so that, like the illustration, you do not hide your light under a basket but put it on a hillside for all to see. And when you gather together in a group to enhance each other's light, your lights individually are brighter, and the group light, also, is made greater.

In fact, one of the conditions favorable to soul growth is association with other personalities who are inclined to honor and sustain the spirit and foster the growth of the soul. As to the concept of group soul -- the short answer is yes. The group soul is dependent on its constituents. You are all a part of the whole. And the whole, the oversoul, is that which we create by assisting the evolution of the supreme. The God in creation is a part of the wonderful opportunity we have to expand and enlarge upon infinite deity.

It is a part of our privilege and responsibility, in fact, to contribute to that oversoul, as it in turn augments and supports our individual growth, as we are then a recognized part of the greater reality -- not only in our own mind and in our own group, but in the whole of the universe. What you do here has eternal repercussions. You are not just an inert toaster, you see. By tapping into the "cosmic electricity," you are making toast to feed the universes of time and space, for your efforts are part of the overall efforts of God to recreate himself through his creatures. This is your gift to God.

It is a gift for me to be given the opportunity to grow with you in your community; to be a part of this teacher base is a gift I, and we, truly cherish. We have a perception of the potential that can come from the development of the individual in this gathering and in the energy and power that you, yourselves, are going to be able to give off, in order to empower and activate a plethora of otherwise dormant souls awaiting an opportunity to reactivate themselves and align themselves with that which truly matters, that which is All-there-is.

It is wonderful to see your enjoyment of each other and to participate in the development of these associations of affection and loyalty. If you only knew how much greater your involvement is than what it may seem to be to you, you would be astounded. However, delightful children, return next week for a few more moments on-line with our creative Source and you will again feel that power which infuses each and all of our evolving souls with the evolving soul of creation, thus adding to the destiny of all of life. And what a marvelous opportunity to live and experience even a small part of such a tremendous potential. No wonder the Master said, 'Be of good cheer.'

In the spirit of prayer, let us rejoice in the coming together as sons and daughters of the living god, in obedience to his will for us, and in rejoicing for his desire for our souls to emerge into the abundance and radiance which is our inheritance, our destiny, our birthright as a part of the wonders of God. Amen and farewell.

*****

DATE:                                    September 15, 2002

LOCATION:              The Stafford's home, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

T/R's:                                      Gerdean (Tomas) Matthew (Anatolia)

TEACHERS:                          TOMAS and ANATOLIA

TOPIC:

Building your Soul

Music:                                    Elena on Piano: 1st selection, "Marching to Zion"

                                                2nd selection, "Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated"

Prayer: (Matthew)       Let us place ourselves in the presence of Jesus the Christ.

“Master Teacher, presenter of all that is true, sublime and holy, we place ourselves within your presence to ask for your being to be among us as you have always promised 'where two or more are gathered.' This occasion is as auspicious and as simple as any can be because we are here as true believers, true worshippers, and true pilgrims along the path of that which you present to us as a way to perfection and a way to eternal life.

"We ask for whatever teachings you make manifest through your teachers today, we ask for the fulfillment of health and well-being of all here and all who are known, affiliated and loved by those who are present here, for all of us are family. All of us are one with you and our eternal Father. For all that you know to be true within our hearts and our minds, we ask for its fulfillment and bless you, honor you and worship that which you represent because you represent that which the Father is, now and always, forever we are grateful. Amen.”

TOMAS:        Hello and greetings to you all, I am Tomas, as spokesman for the celestial sphere in attendance with you this afternoon in your own abundant gathering of souls united to develop further in the greater reality. What wonderful Lights you are this afternoon. I welcome you, one and all.

This afternoon we'd like to continue, for a while, with our discussion of the soul, that which you are becoming, that which you are, yes, and that which you are nurturing and developing -- to the extent that it begins to grow in its own right and 'carry' you, as it were, in your ascent. We are essentially discussing your efforts in soul-building, in eternalizing your reality.

Loneliness is a word that is a part of the frame of reference of the mortal, this stemming from its innate sense of gregariousness. Loneliness is a sense of 'aloneness,' a lamenting aloneness, as compared to the understanding that even though you may be alone, existentially speaking, it is not a lonely place, for you are aware of your connectedness. Those who are not aware of their connectedness, and those who are unaware of the relationship of the cosmos, or those of you who temporarily forget your cosmic connection, are no strangers to that attitude and atmosphere of aloneness that is felt as loneliness.

There are a million and one reasons, then, for those who feel lonely to reach out and to grasp something that will relieve their isolation. This provides a million and one opportunities for personality to represent itself, even while it seeks and while it temporarily finds, something that will absolve them of that sense of inherent loneliness as a result of cosmic or spiritual deprivation or disassociation. This is a terrible heritage you have globally been born into, with the sense of isolation extending abnormally into the very pores of your world.

On normal worlds there are relationships based on the supreme values brought to "earth" because of the natural revelatory scheme of things. Adam and Eve would prevail. The Planetary Prince would reign, and in his reign would bring civilization which the children, then, of Adam and Eve would inhabit. And poor Urantia. How it has been beset by long extended isolation in the universe. It is well-known that many of you have lamented the "gods" for allowing you to languish in isolation for so long, but this is because of your short-sightedness, your short-term thinking as time-space creatures. You must recognize the mercy-delay involved in your planetary circumstances and recognize, too, that you are now being feted and encouraged as a long-lost family member who has come home.

Hopefully we will help you develop your table manners and introduce you to our customs and culture, but in the meantime it is our pleasure to rejoice in your presence, to bask in your young Lights, which are turned on and glowing, allowing your light to be seen by others -- and attractive. Like moths are attracted to flame, you have seen one another's Light and you have yearned long and hard for this Light that now reveals itself to you in each other's company. The reaching out that you have practiced for millennia … and you personally have practiced in your lifetimes … are found in each other's presence, for within the presence of each one here is the presence of the Universal Father. The Father Himself has elected to indwell you and be one with you, to be in you, and He rejoices to reveal Himself through you.

How different this is from the individual who comes from a point of loneliness and reaches, blindly, for something to ease the pain, from the one who reaches consciously for that which has given him/her, life itself, in thanksgiving and acknowledgment of its being. The soul, hence, is gratified to experience the Father, its goal, in those of you who long to know Him and become more like Him. Thus you, yourselves, are becoming more God-like. And, as you study the qualities of God-likeness, it adds to the depth and breadth of your very soul, for you are becoming even more, as is the Divine.

Does this mean you rebuke that which you have been, the one who has known loneliness? No. It rather, reveals to you the opportunity within to recognize your frailties as an animal and your strengths as a survivor, to place value on that which you have been, and which has served your evolution, forgive it its trespasses and its debts, in order to show mercy, then, to those who, like you, have been imperfect, even while each of you have grasped the Source of all that is and seek to climb up to greater understanding, greater greatness, greater love.

I rejoice in your presence. I celebrate the Light that shines within you and that you yourselves are choosing to foster. We can literally see you grow.

Let me subside my space at the podium and allow for others. There are many here and we'd like to also have questions. Proceed.

Ms. S.:            This sure applies to Mr. S. and me because each of us wondered if there would ever be somebody to share our lives with, and by some miracle we found each other. For this I'm very grateful. I'm very happy. (pause) How about you Mr. S.?

Mr. S.:            Yes. I know something about loneliness. I think it's gone away.

ANATOLIA:              This is a wonderful day that we are able to join with you in celebration of your renewal of spirit -- and your renewal of mind, body and spirit -- for in a sense, perhaps without your even knowing it, you are celebrating a new beginning, as of today, because of the renewal that all of you are secretly or inwardly developing as a result of the change in season and the change in attitude, and the openness and realignment, if not reviving, your soul's purposes and your being.

There are many reasons for this, not the least of which -- on the conscious level to some extent, but primarily subconscious level -- is that which you and your environs currently are renewed in spirit … due primarily to the renewal of energy brought about by some renewed precipitation. This brings a new attitude, a new approach, and hope restored that you needn't watch vegetation wither, lakes, streams and rivers dry up, and all that you hold dear and precious … not in a materialistic sense, but in a light vibrancy sense … watch be devoured before your very eyes. This renewal is brought about in large part to your faith, to your commitment, and to your evidence witnessing to the power of hope eternal.

I say this not just in purpose of those who are in attendance but because you are witnesses to that which I speak. You are able to verify within your own hearts and minds, that to which I speak. You among many others in this valley are witnesses to that which you have believed all along is possible and can be accomplished, yet within this season before you, I speak of this not so much in a physical, evidentiary way of speaking, but rather more in an illusory, imagery type of speaking. Boiled down, those of you who live here, who have been witnessing this set of circumstances, can join in with others that you know (or many not known, but en masse), have brought about a renewal of spirit, a renewal of purpose and a renewal of your minds at the same time, that you've allowed the earth to go through some rejuvenation as a result of your faith, as a result of what you have not lost hope in, and have seen the benefits of

I send this to you only with the encouragement that you continue to think and to be positively oriented, because your beliefs, your patterns of believing and portraying life as you know it to be, has positive results. This is something that you can do at the micro level as well as the macro level. I encourage each and every one of you to 'wish' your futures into being. Putting it more deliberately, I wish you to practice that which you know to be the case: that you can materialize the changes needed within your lives, much as the renewal of rain has brought about to the physical world and environment in which you inhabit.

I encourage you to do this at all levels, starting with your own inward life, your own inward renewal and to see the fruits and the renewal of growth, as a result of your decision to move in this direction, because nothing is accomplished without the generation of the idea and it taking root and becoming a part of you through your own initiation and ultimate self-mastery. This I leave with you as an evidence of that which is possible as a result of that which you have already witnessed, yet, this past week.

I encourage you along the way and know that you have many who have preceded you in this life, in this world, as you know it, but in many paths, many worlds, many planets, far beyond your vision and your imagination. The millions, if not trillions, of those who have preceded you as spirit and faith-walkers, join you in your aspirations to know what the full imagery of faith made perfect is all about.

I leave you in good stead and in good company, among yourselves but, more importantly among the teachers who are here, individually and collectively. Peace be with you this forth-coming week and know that you always have the full support of an entire working and humming universe, made for the glory and honor of the Father who has made all manifest. Peace be with you and let love guide your way. Amen.

TOMAS:        Thank you sister and co-worker.

Thank you, too, Paula (Ms. S.), for your testimonial to matrimonial bliss. This is certainly a well-contemplated ideal, that which you supply to the group and to your community by your affections, one for the other. The loneliness you realized, Wayawahili, is a prayer. And behold how bountiful is the heavens to grant your wish for soul companionship. The pairing relationship certainly depicts the universal balance, but the nature of the growth of the Supreme requires yet more than the male and female configuration to deliver the full range of value to its existence.

The entire community is at issue here, and the planetary government is also an integral part of the birth of the soul, the growth of the soul and the combined forces of souls united in intent and purpose to do the divine will.

There are those among us, here, even now, who look upon your group as you might consider in your world … Dani (reference to the attending midwayer) What phrase is it? [Dani: A ward?] Yes. A 'ward.' A political ward. Thank you. A conclave, a voter block, as it were. And so when Anatolia discusses 'wishing' your way into fulfillment, wish your way fully and not only in so far as your immediate soul needs, but beyond … into the community soul needs, for this is the development of the Light and Life that you seek to enjoy and we seek to promote.

Are there questions or commentary? I am, and we are, eager to hear from you. This is your opportunity to steer the boat.

Esmarelda:     I thought it was interesting that Anatolia mentioned our rain that we received this week. It was so welcomed, and we are so grateful that we did receive it. It is a cleansing type thing. My trees enjoyed it! They were covered with the accumulated dust of the summer and looking droopy and they even look happier.

TOMAS:        Such is the torrent of Living Water your soul enjoys. There are, indeed, elements that are in response to an electrical storm which activate your atoms and brings about a renewal in truth. While you are encouraged to keep your soul alive, alert, awake, acknowledge, activated, it is also true that your very being is largely physical in nature, very material, and all the elements are conspiring to add to your material experience -- the senses, the elements, the density itself are in your best interests as a material creature. Enjoying your material self as well as your emotional self, immeasurably adds to the enjoyment of your soul self, each augmenting the other and allowing its appropriate alignment.

In this balance you are enabled to experience the great cosmic connection even when alone. Indeed on your walks away from the finite life, when you get away to enjoy the autumn leaves or the cloud formations, the sunsets or sunrises, then is a good time to appreciate the full perspective of your reality, the full nature of the human and the divine in one. And then you experience the true riches of your being. Your spiritual growth is tied up with your own mortal happiness, your mortal happiness is tied up with your own spiritual growth. Behold, your cup runneth over.

Elena:             Tomas, you were talking about the blending of souls together, and it conjured up a picture in my mind of, certainly our own soul, but I think last week you were talking, too, about something that you liked -- seeing another's Light or something like that, I don't remember exactly what it was, but appreciating one another. But this thing you were talking about of the souls blending with one another conjured up a question with me about after you get past this world. Because you also talked about trillions, or Anatolia did, about trillions and billions …. Are… Was she speaking of souls then? Is that the blending of souls at that point? Or the gathering of souls?

TOMAS:                    Anatolia?

ANATOLIA:              I was speaking of that vast array of helpful mates that you have, and I use that in the euphemistic way. Consider it the Australian meaning, or help, or assistance. Those with whom you are akin in this world and in the world's beyond your vision, or even imagination. This was my meaning of what was intended. The blending of souls would be Tomas's presentation. Was there more on what I was speaking of?

Elena:             No. Actually I think it was probably more … about blending of souls. I was kind of curious about if we go past into … after we pass from this world, if we … If it goes into soul groupings …or how …?

TOMAS:        This is, indeed, celestial sociology. The Bible will tell you, even, that 'angels do not marry or are given in marriage'. The matrimonial state that you know is strictly a device of the material world for procreation and association, which association is allowable and natural in all the worlds subject to the material. Therefore your groupings, your gatherings will have purpose, will be based on purpose, and that will change depending upon the service that you are undertaking or the interest that you are pursuing.

This is well exemplified in your cousins the midwayers who operate in varying configurations depending upon how they are ministering. And even in accepting group ministry, there is also always the opportunity for personal ministry. And so there is variety in your work; in fact, more variety for you in your work when you leave here than you have known in your mortal life.

The thing about soul is, you have your own. It is who you are becoming, it is your personality, and even when you have become full-fledged spirit you will remain your own identity, even as it is assimilated into the oceanic pattern of existence. You will lose your personality essence, your soul, for that precious moment when you stand and are one with the Father, but when you have been with Him, you will return to your own identity, your own soul that you are now developing, that will be you, continually, henceforth and forevermore. That integral element of you is that which gives you your uniqueness and which, with its uniqueness, is an essential part of that which it is part of.

When you have a team at work, on the job, to produce a product or bring about a system, you have varying parts that must be played, different roles that must be fulfilled, and this team can accomplish the job. What you understand in the material is a shadow of the reality in the spiritual … which is in the same nature, in that, differing values are needed for certain configurations and, in this, your soul will be a part of the project, the undertaking, the service, the creation, you see? Even while it remains indissolubly, uniquely, its own self. The evolution of the soul involves letting go of those animal vestiges which keep you tethered to your material origin as you reach for your spiritual origins and destiny.

Ms. S.:            You know, Tomas, I'm not afraid of dying. I don't think that's going to be anything very bad. And everyone talks about a white light? Or those that have had a near death experience. I'll probably be scared blue if I see it but I'll probably get through it, too, because I manage, usually, to overcome those things. And then when I get up there I hope to ….

Some of the angels will be my father and mother. They forgave me every time I messed things up and probably they'll take me by the hand and say, "Well, look, you can't just go trotting right up to God because He's busy. But there will be things that you're gonna have to answer for that you did that were wrong in this life" -- and I'm sure I've done plenty of them, but I've tried to do some good things, too, and maybe when I get up there to the throne of God and He's had a chance to talk to me, He'll probably look at me and shake his head just like my dad did, and say well "You managed to mess some things up pretty well here and there, but you tried to do some good things, too,...

And we did give you Mr. S. and Mr. S. took you by your hand and managed to love you and promise to be a good husband, so I guess that's what you needed. So now that you're up here, you can meet the angels who helped you in life and if something doesn't feel good maybe I can send you to help them out a bit and then you can make yourself useful up here," because that's what I'd like to do and that's why I'm not afraid to die. It's going to be a whole new experience up there.

TOMAS:        I have picture of you, my child, as a coy and precocious, curly-haired, jabberwocky on my knee looking up, telling me, your uncle Tomas how you see Daddy God -- and He's not a bad chap in your eyes, I am delighted to see. You have a delightfully childlike perception of where you are in the universe, one which I will not take issue with, but rather will bounce you on my knee and enjoy with you the vision you provide, for you are not at all wrong, for the most part.

I would spend just a moment indulging these visions for the truth therein, as you will, in fact, have your angels as they have helped you and will continue to help you through the ages, and that you will, in fact, see those who have preceded you, they will come to greet you. But perhaps, more immediately, I would share with you that when I went through the death experience and saw the light, it was not a frightening thing at all. It was as if my soul had been fine-tuning itself all my mortal life in anticipation of the opening of that doorway which allowed the light of the new world to enter in.

For indeed, it was a new world for me as it will be for you, blessed, indeed, as we have discussed before. And beyond which I will only suggest that while it is customary for little children to anticipate the authority of those who are older and wiser, it will be you yourself who makes those determinations in your heart and in your soul as to how you will become a better daughter in your attitudes and in our acts as a result of your own live reflection and not because God has wagged his finger at you. It isn't in Him to shame you, little girl. You are too much of a treasure for him to scold. You who are meek and humble are already on the job of chiding yourself as to how you can live up to your own best image of yourself, which is, indeed, the image of God.

Thus, I remind you again of yourself and of each other, that, in truth, you are made in God's image. You need merely only to reside therein and worship that which you long to become, for in that reaching and yearning, your soul will surge on into the divine and it, and you, will become one, this oneness which we now anticipate and enjoy in each other as potential. Encourage the potential in each other, as you even now enjoy that actual self which you are, material sons of God, material sons and daughters of the living God.

Run along, then, and play with each other and enjoy the season. Anticipate the exhilaration of the season and that which we are all becoming because of him who has sent us and who has engaged us in the eternal adventure. Farewell.

*****

[End of Vol. IV, 2000 Part 2 of 3]