[tmtranscripts] 1-14-01 SPOKANE TEAM - 1

[ZooidODell at aol.com]

DATE: Saturday, January 13, 2001
LOCATION: Spokane Teacher Base, 
    Spokane, Washington, USA
TEACHERS: Tomas, Paulo and Aaron
TOPICS: Tomas:  On Being a Traveler
    Paulo: Creating God in Man's Image
    Aaron:   Associative Deity
Q&A: TOMAS:   Unqualified Absolute
T/R: Gerdean

TOMAS: Greetings.  Good afternoon.  I am Tomas, your teacher, your friend, 
your host, your delighted companion.  How wonderful it is to see you, Sivad.  
What a bright light you are in the universe, and what joy you bring when you 
shine your light into your neighbors' lives.   

How wonderful it is to have the opportunity to be a traveler, and to garner 
the perspective of one who has had exposure to many different vantage points. 
 One of the important eras of Michael's life was when he was able to caravan 
travel great distances to many cultures, other countries, examining other 
ways of life than what was to be found in his more narrow and provincial 
origins.  It is a practice that gives you, gives one, a great sense of 
freedom from myopic vision. 


We are mindful of those who have hardly ventured from their back yard, who 
have an arena in which they stay for "many moons," and on the other hand 
there are those who literally flit from one point of the galaxy to another.  
The range of behaviors are great, but for those who can enjoy a bit of 
travel, they truly do have the best of both worlds.  I'm amazed, for example, 
at Onagar's ability to be content to abide by the flavor of this little 
corner of the galaxy for nearly a million years your time, as compared to 
you, whose lives are so brief as to be a lightening bug in illuminating your 
area of temporary habitation.  

The advantage of traveling around and meeting other people and discovering 
how they live their lives was one of the great joys of Jesus; -- not only how 
they earned a living but how they interacted; what they were interested in; 
what they questioned, if  they questioned; if not, why not; what did they 
eat; what did they wear; how did they transport themselves and their wares; 
and what wares; and for what purpose --  all a part of the diversity of 
humanity -- and finding that many of those who have never been outside their 
back yard are as happy, if not happier than many who have nothing but variety 
at hand.  The universe is so diverse and your lives have such creative 
potential, you could find yourselves overwhelmed by possibility if you were 
given the chance.  

There is, in fact, a moment in the mortal life (which will happen more often 
than not as you advance in your experiential applications), that being:  how 
to address the many opportunities that are presented.  Those of you who are 
intimidated by opportunity or cowed by the challenge of new opportunity, are 
going to find much comfort in denouncing opportunity of the kind that will 
take you too far afield of your comfort zone.  Opportunities are a lot like a 
rebirth, a whole new platform of possibility is presented, a new palette 
presents itself upon which you may paint a picture depicting your next 
experiential period.  

This is a reality you here have in common, a perspective because of your 
ability to have known different quarters, to discover different values and 
cultures as a part of the variety of life.  I am also fairly well traveled, 
having spent much time in many places in the universe -- the local universe, 
that is.  There are many universes to come for me to investigate, and that 
opportunity is available as I have earned the capability of advancement.   

I believe you were recently remarking, Thoroah, to this effect, that you 
cannot go past where you are to be, for if you presume to push yourself 
beyond your parameters, you will be returned to the realm wherein you will 
find your work awaiting.  In all of our travels throughout our eternal 
career, it is ever true that even while we have the opportunity to find our 
point of reference as to what has gone on before and what we will expect in 
future, it is the work of today that matters - the moment in time and 
eternity.  How fortunate for you that you realize how precious and vital is 
this moment in eternity because of your perspective that has come from your 
travels.

What do you think travel has given you in terms of perhaps something you can 
provide destiny?  What lasting value have you discovered inside yourself as a 
result of your lives?  Any comment?

SIVAD: First I would say "greetings" Tomas.  I am thrilled to be here with 
you in this configuration, to rejoice and celebrate with you this new 
millennium.  (The Spokane Teacher Base apologizes for this choppy 
transmission; it is very difficult for this inadequate microphone to pick up 
Sivad's gentle voice.)  

To respond directly to your question, I would say that the offer that we make 
to destiny through our travels seems as one of our identity that is 
ever-present to and is not at liberty ... spacial always, and yet it adores 
the opportunity to wear this -- as if it were a piece of clothing, as if we 
were to experience another language, if only to accentuate the constancy, 
continuity, or the nature of identity which lies beneath the apparel of our 
personality, yet desires issue as a personal expression.  It is the link 
between the one and the First Source and Center, or so it seems to me, but I 
have limited and mortal perspective.

TOMAS: Your perspective on the contrary is not limited and mortal.  It is 
expressed through the mechanics of the mortal, with its inherent limitations 
of language, perhaps, and comprehension even; however your astute 
comprehension of the nature of the First Source and Center as a part of your 
experience over and above our personal identification is an understanding of 
the vastness of life's experience indeed, as if you were giving 
acknowledgment to that which is impersonal or pre-personal in addition to 
that which is recognizable to you as personal.  

And certainly this is a perspective that comes from having lived and having a 
perspective that is more inclusive than exclusive, that can also find value 
in that which is the most minute and the most magnanimous, for that living 
reality flows through all of life, not only that which is recognizable from 
the personal point of view.    Isn't it ironic, then, that the personal point 
of view is inherently a limited perspective on what all of life represents, 
but only a personal depiction effectively reveals that which is, even so, so 
much greater?  

Let me bring Paulo on-line.  I would like to introduce a new associate, a 
comrade if you will.  Our arena is broadened by Paulo's vantage point which 
is less theoretical and yet encompasses a range of reality which is coming 
into vogue as a result perhaps of our contributions to Urantia in light of 
the re-encircuitment.  One moment please.


* * * * *

PAULO:  Good afternoon.  Any friend of Tomas is a friend of mine.

THOROAH: Hi, Paulo.

PAULO: Hi, Thoroah.  Hi all of you who are now advised of how I might appear 
if I were to materialize in your midst.  I am not going to take exception to 
Aaron's description of me; I find it fulfills the purpose sufficiently.  The 
tendency to bring God into range where He can be understood has advantages.  
It's not a bad idea at all.  I know your forefathers have complained that you 
like to bring God down to your level so that you can mold Him to suit 
yourselves, and that has been the case, indeed, and will likely continue to 
be the case in many ways, but we've got to get past the limitation of the 
mortal conditioning.  Let's open wide the gate and bring in the tools at your 
disposal, and that includes your imagination.  Why would you be given such a 
wonderful mind if it were not to be developed and utilized in many different 
creative ways?  

Yes, of course, in the past God was reduced to a mere puppet that allowed 
mankind to manage his life or think he had more control over his life when he 
was able to pull God down out of the heavens and make of Him an icon of some 
sort.  All of you who have tasted of the spirit are in a new ball game / new 
paradigm/ have new perspective.  I will turn it around and say, "Children, 
children, how many times do I have to tell you?  You KNOW who the Father is 
On High.  How can we reveal Him HERE is the question!"  

There is nothing we can do to reveal the Infinite God for that is something 
He will do in and of Himself, with or without our help. It is "How can we 
bring the concept of divinity into our lives such that we can mold our lives 
and the lives of others to reveal Deity?  How can we create new values and 
elevate humanity from the lowly state he has been regarded as or cast down 
to, and renew his dignity and sense of worth in order to build a world 
notable for its divine qualities?"  

Are you not anticipating identifying with Deity?  Are you not making attempts 
to understand the God who lives within you?  Are you not trying to become 
more mindful of what God's will is for you and how His purpose may be 
revealed through you?  Then you must ask, "What does that mean in terms of 
the life you live?" and the fact is, you are a material creature, and if God 
is not revealed in your material life, then you might as well hang it up and 
go back to where you came from.

We're going to bring about global changes.  Global changes are going to 
require courageous feats by you individually and collectively, and while you 
may be inspired by spirit, it is your mortal courage that is at bat.  
Bringing qualities of Godlikeness into your range of operation so that you 
can feel them, experience them, discuss them, work with them, is a way of 
bringing God down to your level.  And this is good.    This is my opportunity 
to say that "Behold all things are becoming new" and so when you see these 
old mota, old adages, don't assume they are still true.  Always look at them 
afresh.