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<DIV><B>
<P>DATE:</B> December 16, 1995<BR><B>LOCATION:</B> Pittsburgh,
PA<BR><STRONG>T/R:</STRONG> Gerdean</P>
<P><STRONG>TEACHER TOMAS<BR></STRONG><B>Lesson on Trust<BR></B>Value of Santa
Clause<BR>More about Trust<BR>Questions about Diet</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> Greetings, loyal friends and students. This is your teacher Tomas
greeting you today on behalf of many who attend with me in your company, in your
gathering here to honor your teacher and your teacher's teachers, for one always
passes on what one knows to those who are ascending.</P>
<P>My friends, we are glad that this configuration of believers is beginning to
gel, is assuming the maturity of devotion, is willing to garner truths, which
can be applied in the material realm to better conditions for Urantia. The
truths which we impart have been designed to be put into action. The truths
which you absorb into your soul, into your reality, into your consciousness and
superconsciousness, have residual effects, and our work is not to simply bring
you to a point of feeling good and at one with the generic energies circulating
in the unseen realms, no, but to effectively take what you have made your own
and portray your understanding of reality, that you may begin to see who you are
as you present yourself, as others also present themselves, with an
understanding that this presentation of the self is but a reflection of the
perception of the individual. In due course the refinements which will come
about as your life's drama is unfolded, the energies and understandings of your
most innermost soul will be given reign; and your path will emote harmonious
feelings of acceptance and, indeed, divinity which will present you and your
beliefs and your commitments as worthy of our Creator, our Teacher, Michael of
Nebadon.</P>
<P>Michael has graced us today with his presence, as He often will, and does.
Today I am humbled and excited to step aside in my words that He might address
you as He has asked to greet you on this occasion. One moment.</P><B>
<P>MICHAEL:</B> Daughters and sons, welcome to My heart, My throne, My life, My
realm of service and praise, worship and love. My blessings upon you today.</P>
<P>As you spoke and sang the words "Be Still," I felt as though you were rocking
in My arms, for I felt your acquiescence to My nature, I felt your submission to
the Strength which oversees you, the Light which guides you. I am touched by
your guileless faith, by your acceptance of one another, for, My children, you
all are precious in My sight.</P>
<P>I would ask that as you learn and listen from My servant Tomas that you learn
more and more to become giving and forgiving in your nature. Many steps we will
take together in this ensuing sojourn. Many miles will we walk hand in hand.
Many members of humanity will we meet together. Work with Me, children, in the
active aspects of your life here.</P>
<P>Learn indeed from your teacher Tomas and all your other Teachers -- all the
chords which strike harmony in your soul -- and manifest yourself, as has been
said, and trust that I work with you in your outpouring, in your life, in your
manifestation, and that as you grow, as you learn, as you forgive and are
forgiven, as you serve in My vineyard, I work shoulder to shoulder with you. I
will comfort you when you feel downtrodden and will sustain you when you feel
weak. I will embrace you in your victories and be with you in your
camaraderie.</P>
<P>My beloved flock, how delighted I am to honor you this day as you honor Me,
and I salute our communal efforts, for together we are all sons and daughters of
our Eternal Parent, the Great Source of us all, and we ascend to glorify our
Supreme Creator, and the evolution of this Deity also. </P>
<P>I return you to your teacher Tomas.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> Yes, I, too, always am inclined to take a moment when I have spent
an intimate instance with Michael, for I am reminded of the purity of heart
which is my inspiration.</P>
<P>You might think in terms of Him being my boss, and in some ways He is, but if
you could conceive of the relationship between the "higher-ups" in the hierarchy
of this creation as compared to your understanding of power structures, you
would no longer regard your arena as you have heretofore in your training. Even
so, I am quite impressed and am quite honored to work for our Creator Son in His
efforts to uplift this planet, having suffered so many setbacks in its
evolution.</P>
<P>I have a brief lesson for you today, dear class. I would spend a moment today
discussing trust.</P>
<P>Trust is one of my more favorite topics and one which is, in my opinion, an
essential early lesson, for no growth can take place in your soul unless and
until you understand trust, and [distrust] is a major block to growth on Urantia
and in your realms, since betrayal is the cloud which has darkened your world
and you have all been reared as mortals who have experienced, understood, and
reacted to the betrayal which brings about distrust. </P>
<P>To then allow your developing morontial souls to lean to trust is
frightening, is even so threatening as to bar you from the experience of opening
your heart, your soul, that the purity of divinity might shine forth and lighten
your way.</P>
<P>"Be still, my child." Indeed, "child" is, again, a key word here, as is the
word "simple," for in allowing yourself to be a simple child in your attitude,
in your soul, in your private place in your heart, you can peek through the veil
of distrust to allow yourself to feel the lure of Spirit leading. As you trust
this glimmer of Spirit leading and find the delights begin to unfurl before you,
you will begin to trust Spirit.</P>
<P>Humankind is not spirit. You are not spirit. You and all evolving life here
today is in a relative state, ad only rarely are those instances of spirit felt,
and pure Spirit is far afield from our working arena today. Therefore, when I
suggest to you the study, the application, the reflection of trust, I ask you to
go beyond trusting your own perceptions. I ask you to go beyond all barriers
which you have established in your forerunning days of seeking, and allow this
Spirit its own way in approaching you and leading you into an understanding of
your true core of your reality. In time, then, in time -- as you recognize the
reflection of Spirit from Spirit, from your Indwelling Spirit, you will
recognize it also in your fellows. You will recognize it and that is something
you can trust. The Spirit is trustworthy. The mortal may falter and fumble, but
the Spirit is trustworthy.</P>
<P>As you begin to trust Infinite Spirit, Infinite Spirit then begins to entrust
you with insight and responsibility and experience, which will enlarge and
expand your understanding of your identity. This new understanding of your
identity, which then is based on Spirit, is the foundation of our spiritual
community.</P>
<P>Now, having said this, I hope not to confuse you by stressing that this
condition of spiritual community is not only possible, it is imminent -- even in
this group of mortal beings here, these humans who assemble and associate in an
attempt to see the Spirit reality of life as it is lived individually in oneself
and in others. The potential of this group is very real and very powerful, and
the potential impact that your growth can have on the ascending sons and
daughters of our Teacher Michael are adequate to turn the tide of evolution on
Urantia.</P>
<P>Our work is important, my loyal students. Yes, it is greatly titillating and
sociable, but it is infinitely more. In our attempts to bring about the initial
steps of light and life on Urantia, it is encouraged that we work together to
ground ourselves as a core group of respecting and committed devotees of eternal
values.</P>
<P>Than you for this forum, for being here, that I am given a teacher base from
where to operate. I have, as some of you know, been privileged to co-teach with
Daniel in the Pocatello, Idaho, group and that has been a sublime experience for
me and for many others, but now that I have, as my T/R says, "interned" with
what she regards as one of the best, I am confident, as is she, that this
teacher base will flourish and flower with our joint efforts and our ever ready
love for one another. </P>
<P>In view of this festive occasion, I will cease my remarks, which were far
more extensive today than anticipated, but sometimes, that is the case. You
realize that my time constraints are not quite what yours are and I forget
myself. So now that I am completed with your lesson and you are all still here
(a snore is heard in the background), more or less, (group laughter) may I open
the floor for questions.</P><B>
<P>Mr. L:</B> Tomas, I have one that I've carried over from last week and I
really don't know how to put this question, but it concerns Santa Clause. I'm a
grandfather with six grandchildren and, except for perhaps one of them, they all
still have what I would call a belief in Santa Clause, and what I would like for
you to do is clarify how it would be best to handle this concept and the
principles that Santa Clause stands for with little kids, because at this time
of the year, Santa Clause kind of reigns supreme in our material culture, and
yet there has to be something good in Santa Clause, or at least it seems that
way. Can you comment on this? Or would you care to do that? If you don't care to
do so, that's okay, but I thought that perhaps from above you could give me some
insights on how to handle that. </P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> Thank you for your question, my curious co-worker. I recall our
discourse last week regarding your Christmas holiday and recall that I indicated
I would observe this pageantry as [if it were] an MGM production of the birth of
the Christ-child, as portrayed on Urantia in, certainly, your Christian
community, and I can respond to your question regarding St. Nicholas perhaps
from a reviewer's standpoint only, for as a Teacher, I would not quite know what
to do with Santa Clause (or the Easter Bunny for that matter) except to run any
obvious parallels. </P>
<P>The tragedy of these phantasmagoric creatures in your children's early
impressions are the beginning of a distortion which colors much of their life
and the merit to an entity like Santa Clause is only valuable, to my mind's eye,
when and as he can be compared to God or the Great Giver of Life.</P>
<P>Consider that all boys and girls receive Christmas presents whether they have
been naughty or nice, and Our Father is equally merciful in His realm. The gifts
which are presented on Christmas holiday as coming from Santa Clause can be
paralleled by outlining the many gifts which come from Our Father, and indeed
Our Mother, in terms of light and life, in friends, food, family, fun, food and
frolic.</P>
<P>That Santa is large is also an aspect of Godlikeness, for Our Father is large
and abundant and has jolly aspects. He is not a stern and severe God such as
some perceive, but has twinkling eyes, if you will, and a joyous laugh -- not at
the expense of children, but in delight of their upturned cherubic faces in
anticipation of sugar plums and other delights, much as faith children look to
the Father with trust for those delights of life which will give them joy in
their heart and soul.</P>
<P>There are actually many parallels that could be given to children if one were
willing to find the ways in which to present that message, but at best it is a
distortion of eternal value to persist in the illusion that these realities are
material in nature only. </P>
<P>I do not know if my comments regarding your question have been helpful, or
even worthy, but I am most eager to develop a good working dialog between thee
and me, and so I am intrigued by whatever it is that you present so that I can
help you work in your arena amidst the realities you have to deal with, much as
I do.</P><B>
<P>Ms. J:</B> Tomas, I am very moved by your subject today of trust. And the
reason -- I almost felt you were having this lesson especially for me -- because
it seems like lately I feel like I have been surrounded by this betrayal. I've
been-- (not just for myself, but my family!) … and I've never experienced so
much of this and it's just very overwhelming at times. It happens so much! These
are very important things in our life … physical, emotional, although-- (this is
just a release of emotions) -- but it feels like a mental thing being created,
either by attitudes about things you're going through …. It feels like a test. I
just wondered ….</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> I embrace you, my daughter, and commend your courage in exposing
your heart in a trusting way to me and to these your peers here. I am most
pleased at y our expression of frustration at the recognition of betrayal at
every turn. I also use your commentary as a furtherance of my lesson and
appreciate the truth that the sensitivity, which is coming into being as these
spiritual circuits awaken, as the soul hungers for truth, beauty and goodness,
as this sensitivity is made more aware and effective, it is also more obvious
how far there is to go before the work of Correcting Time is accomplished. </P>
<P>Do not despair of the magnitude of work that is required, for in spite of
appearances to the contrary, the progress of Urantia is assured. Particularly as
your reality is cultivated and grows firm and strong. My students, the
assignment which I have you last week, the challenge to look to see if we really
needed to do any work here, has been clearly answered in this heartfelt appeal
for trust amongst one another. This, too, is why I ask you to take up the
subject of trust early on, for it brings to bear on your own strength and
vulnerability.</P>
<P>I am going to say again and further now about the word "test". There are no
tests in this class. There are no tests assigned. You may find occasional
quizzes, but there are no tests, and Our Father, Our Mother, our creative
universe does not put things before you to trick you or to have you stumble upon
for its entertainment. The universe is a friendly place and the teachers and
celestial hosts are here to serve you in your growth, in your coming home to our
Divine Parent, in coming home, indeed, to your true Self.</P>
<P>You will begin to grow strong as you recognize your own trust in your own
reality, and although you may find yourself being buffeted from time to time --
for your perception of reality is far removed from that which seemingly
surrounds you -- you are in the loyal, steadfast company and support of heavenly
hosts who indeed conspire to lift you up and to help you be aware of your true
radiant reality and your true connection with this spiritual family which
embraces you and rejoices in your life and in your victory over fear. (pause) My
daughter, are you now stronger in your heart, in your mind?</P><B>
<P>Ms. J:</B> Yes.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> Never fear being sensitive or vulnerable. In time you will know
that your gem of truth is safe in the citadel of the spirit, in your indwelling
God Fragment, where you may go and find solace and sanctity, and that as you
find yourself more and more dependant upon the Light of the I AM, the original I
AM, to your own God Fragment, you will rejoice and seek those who also
understand their sonship/daughtership with the living God. This is
community.</P><B>
<P>Mr. L:</B> Thank you for your comments about Santa Clause. I thought that was
a masterpiece.</P><B>
<P>Mrs. H:</B> Mr. L. wants you to go to church with him and talk from the
pulpit.</P>
<P>I have a question non the mesmerizing effect of your delivery. Has it always
been this way? Because it has a tremendous, a powerful impact of stilling
everyone. We really, really-- Members of the group unwind as-- Is this part of
the power of the process?</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> Greetings, daughter.</P><B>
<P>Mrs. H</B>: Hello.</P>
<P></P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> I respond to say that this is a developed technique, if you will.
It is not immediately possible for you (nor this transmitter/receiver) to sit
for a long period of time without being entertained and, therefore, the actual
process itself, of sitting in a focused state, is a developmental process. I
hasten to say I am not merely entertaining, although certainly that is one of
our … one of the things we learn in our training -- to not be so academic and
dry as to bore you to tears.</P>
<P>There are realities that develop in the process of communication which are
seldom realized between mortals because of their inability to maintain a
sustained, focused discourse in a soul-satisfying manner. This practice is
developed as we sit and commune, one with another, and focus on matters which
evolve/revolve around our growth as individuals and as a community, and
eventually and ultimately as a system.</P>
<P>You may interrupt at any time! I am not intending to mesmerize you into not
thinking! Indeed, it is important that you not allow an intonation to transfix
you into not knowing academically what is transpiring. I am not in a séance. My
transmitter/receiver is not in a trance. But there are certain melodic aspects
of truth. I believe you read recently about the orators, and I have a long way
to go, but there is an art in communication and expression, which we would all
do well to practice.</P>
<P>And many other things I could say in response to your observation, but I will
not dwell on that now.</P><B>
<P>Mrs. McD:</B> Tomas, I have a question as regards diet, and what you think
the importance of diet on a physical, mental, spiritual, entity might be. I
recently became a vegetarian, very recently, so I'm pretty interested in this.
Do you think that changing the diet in any way helps the evolution of a soul in
its path or not?</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> I must say that if you feel that it helps you, then indeed it
helps a soul on its path. It would be error for me to suggest a dietary standard
for Urantia at large or for my pupils in particular. It is beyond my purview and
indeed beyond my expertise to develop your dietary consideration. It is certain
that purity of your nourishment is important, although mankind has survived for
centuries on less than ideal substances, and the corrosion of water and
pollution of food today make it very hard for one to truly bless their body by
proper intake. Perhaps in light of the difficulties of pure food and drink
ingestion, such a decision as to become vegetarian is beneficial and will
augment the body's ability to process these corrosions and pollutants without
the bulk of meat, but on the other hand, if meat is all there is to eat, then
meat should be consumed, even though leafy green vegetables are a vital part of
one's diet.</P>
<P>The important thing is that you honor you body and tender it with care and
consideration, for your physical condition will significantly augment your
emotional and mental state of well-being and thus will enrich your spiritual
persona. It is also possible to maintain a beautiful spiritual life while in the
throes of some physical vagaries and diseases that would render other people
spiritual cripples. There are no many variations of the theme at this point, I
urge you to attain and sustain such a level of purity of foods and physical
habits as you are capable of at this time and you will, of course, feel the
benefits therein and you will know for yourself that this is the correct and
honorable thing to do for your vessel. </P>
<P>It is not required nor am I going to prescribe.</P><B>
<P>Mr. C:</B> Some years ago, I was down in Texas and I met a very wonderful
person down there who was sort of a holy man and he made the comment that eating
meat was not as bad as many people say, for the simple reason that he said that
if we bless the meal that we eat, we raise the consciousness of the atoms in
that meat so that they in turn will be able to perhaps become part of our body
and everything, that we actually can raise the consciousness of the meat that we
eat. Could you comment on that?</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> I could. I will, but only briefly. Any ingestion, as I indicated
in my previous response, can be absorbed and utilized by the body in a well way
if the circumstances warrant. Indeed, in like manner, it has been noted and
appreciated that smoking tobacco, when it is done as an offering to the gods, as
a person-to-person communication in a spiritual vein, is a non-harmful and
non-habit forming practice, and, indeed, augments the camaraderie of the
individuals or the worship of the individual in his or her gift of giving the
smoke. And this is the truth that I suppose atoms augment, but the attitudes
with which one approaches one's habits and patterns are most certainly the key
to either well or ill behavior and attitude manifestations in the arena wherein
one works and plays.</P>
<P>For you recall that although the taking care of the physical temple is
important, and that it is unkind to deliberately pollute the body, it is also if
not a greater disservice to pollute and corrode the system of the mind and
therefore the society with such emotional poisons as jealousy or hatred or
revenge. Again, I would say that wisdom in the consumption and temperance,
certainly, are to be noted, but the attitude with which all life is taken and
given are the true earmark of a civilized human being. </P><B>
<P>Mrs. Mi:</B> Tomas, I want to thank you for talking about trust. I always
thought I knew what it was, but now I realize that I haven't begun to realize
what spiritual trust is. And that's what I want to learn.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> My daughter, you will make an excellent student!</P>
<P>I feel a lull, and although I know the fruits of this lull could be another
hour's extension of our classroom environment today, I will relinquish my role
with you today that you might experience among yourselves that sociability which
will augment your hunger for trust in one another and in our supernal guides and
teachers who bring reality to us in such does and avenues as are palatable and
compatible with our receptivity at that time. </P>
<P>My dear children, friends, and faithful students, as you indeed go about your
work this week, ponder in your hearts the lesson of today, the concept of trust,
and do homage to that One deep, pure Reality within yourself which is eternal
and perfect, that which you may rely upon; although you may not understand that
element of God which dwells within you, that is your Father Fragment, your
eternal companion, your destiny and your evolving soul, have trust in the
recognition of your own soul. </P>
<P>Until we meet again, my children, I embrace you and bestow upon you the well
wishes and joy of all these many celestial hosts who come today to bear witness
to the Eternal. </P>
<P>And so, farewell. </P></DIV></BODY></HTML>