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<P>DATE:</B> July 31, 1996<BR><B>LOCATION:</B> Pittsburgh, PA,
USA<BR><B>T/R:</B> Gerdean</P><B>
<P>TEXTUAL STUDY:<BR></B>Urantia Paper 34<BR>The Local Universe Mother
Spirit.</P><B>
<P>TEACHER SESSION<BR></B>"Analogy of the Farmhouse"<BR>Core Ingredient of
Character is Self-Respect<BR>Further defining self-love, self-respect and
self-esteem<BR>Reference to other-terrestrials not being humanoid<BR>Is it
important to understand universe hierarchy?<BR>Whetting the appetite for
perfection hunger.<BR>More emphasis on reaction versus response</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> Good evening, my faithful friends.</P><B>
<P>Group:</B> (Many chewing pretzels) Good evening, Tomas.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> I am Tomas, your guide, your teacher, your companion and your
friend, and it pleases me greatly to be with you again. I have been making
myself available to many resources of late. Active is this Mission. Your own
heightened activity this evening, in terms of your sharing, has brought great
delight to many of us, and before I begin my lesson this evening, which is a
continuation of our ongoing theme of character, I would like to relate a
story.</P>
<P>This story is not a primary tale, however the mastication of the members here
presented a picturization in the mind of Gerdean, which I will run with. It is a
short introduction to farm life, from my vantage point through her ears, for as
these creatures chew their cud (the pretzels), I am reminded of a farm, and that
leads me into a story having to do with a certain farm house.</P>
<P>I would ask you to envision a farmhouse that is leased to a married couple by
a property manager; this property is owned by a landowner who is traveling in
another country. Let us say, for the sake of understanding my analogy that the
farmhouse is located in Butler County, Pennsylvania, set within the many
counties in and around Western Pennsylvania. Now let me analogize that Western
Pennsylvania will be the superuniverse of Orvonton and Butler county is the
local universe of Nebadon, and that the farm house is indwelt by Caligastia and
his wife Dalagastia, and that the property manager is Lucifer and his secretary
is Satan.</P>
<P>This story, this analogy, is presented in response to a question which has
been asked by a student (by several students in truth), having to do with the
philosophy, the theory, that there is nothing wrong in God's world, that the
ills of existence are as they are supposed to be. This philosophy is a great
distortion on spiritual truth for, to the landowner, who is in another country
and who has entrusted the property manager with his property, his property has
been grossly mismanaged in his absence.</P>
<P>Indeed, let us carry this picture further and say that on this farm, on this
ranch, there are many animals and many helpers, many farm hands in various
cottages and residences, in order to support the land in its natural function of
growing things and putting up stock and so forth, and that while these
individuals are under the direction of Caligastia and Daligastia, they have been
forced to behave in certain ways and subscribe to certain behaviors that are not
necessarily in accordance with the values of the landowner. </P>
<P>Might I introduce one example of a girl who is instructed to gather the eggs
but she is forbidden to pass by the well on the way to gather her eggs, and so
for many years she has crossed the lawn in avoidance of the well.</P>
<P>The landowner returns from a distant country and discovers that the property
manager has leased this property and allowed it, even encouraged it to be
mismanaged. In the flagrant mismanagement, the herds are being neglected, the
buildings are in disarray, the abuses of nature are apparent. The landlord is
displeased with the property manager's management, or <I>mis</I>management, and
he banishes the property manager from the job to which he was assigned, and he
also dismisses the dwellers of the home, who are wielding authority over the
hapless helpers on the property.</P>
<P>This story is told and made personal for you when you refer again to this
girl who has for years been taught that she must not go near the well in order
to gather her eggs, when in fact, this is not true! And yet for years after the
dismissal of the mismanagement, the girl continues to follow the practice that
she was taught, through fear of punishment, in her collecting of the eggs.</P>
<P>One might say, then, that all is right in God's universe <I>when God is
overseeing</I>. The analogy of this ranch to Urantia should be apparent, and
what we are dealing with is the correction of this farm, to instill in it the
harmony of function that would be, in the eyes of its owner, most pleasing and
delightful for all involved, from the human helpers to the animal herds and to
the land and buildings itself.</P>
<P>When you hear, then, about the philosophy that all is right in God's world,
bear in mind that when God is the supreme ruler, all things are indeed right,
but when you suffer from the misguided impression that you must avoid the well
in order to gather the eggs, that is not a case of all being right with the
world, for why should any girl be restricted or redirected in her path for fear
of punishment?</P>
<P>And now, my friends, that they all live "happily ever after," I will return
my focus of attention to our discussion of character. You read this evening in
your study that the animal is not innately born with high character. Indeed, the
animal balks at developing that character which would be beneficial to the
Kingdom, but as you are born of the spirit, that spirit has its own divine
capacities and its own recognition of those qualities -- joy, goodness,
fortitude and so forth -- which are the basis for developing firm human
character.</P>
<P>This evening I would like to bring to your attention the core ingredient in
working with and developing character in yourself and in your relations with
other beings, and that is a quality of self-respect. You well know from your
studies, and some of you knew from your own experience, that when Christ Michael
begins to activate your life, and when spirit begins to dominate your thinking
and acting, you are at once rewarded with a sense of self-respect, the likes of
which had not theretofore been as ingrained or as meaningful.</P>
<P>That in you which is respectable is that you are indwelt by divinity, and
that is your new core base of reality. How can you not respect your own
indwelling fragment of God, installed there by the Creator? How can you not
respect that which has divinely smiled upon you to the extent of giving you
eternal life? How can you not respect that quality of divinity, which has
attached itself to you, bestowed itself on you and in you, in order that you may
attain eternal life and ultimate perfection?</P>
<P>That element within you is respectable regardless of your background. Recall
Apostle Matthew to your mind, for he was an indulger of life's pleasures. He is
the example to many of how even the grossest of pleasure-seekers can be lifted
up into the dignity of faith son status and given self-respect by the ministry
of the spirit. With self-respect as your core understanding of
yourself-in-becoming, you have the foundation then to bear fruit, to see with
eyes to see spirit, and ears with which to hear spirit promptings and spirit
guidance.</P>
<P>Henceforth, your growth will be sustained and nurtured because of that
element of respectability that resides within you. Identify yourself with that
Father Fragment, that it may continually remind you of your divinity connection,
that as you then begin to observe and hear your behavior and your interaction
with your fellow human creatures, you will be able to see and hear the areas of
character wherein you have strength (in order to develop them), and where you
have weakness, (in order to correct them).</P>
<P>Self-respect is not the same as self-love or self-esteem. Self-respect is a
tool, which the spirit has provided you … to enable you, as a child of God, to
walk wholly, humbly and nobly through your spiritual progression. Even as you
become aware of your finite imperfections, you are bolstered by the knowledge
that you are respectable, for you are indwelt by a piece of perfection
itself,</P>
<P>Also, as you gaze upon the reality of your fellows, if you could but bear in
mind the fact that they, too, are indwelt with a respectable aspect of divinity,
your approach to them will broaden and you will cease to see them as finite
beings, as imperfect beings. You will not so readily handicap them with
infirmities of familiarity but will honor and respect that divinity aspect
within them that will help to uphold them in their reality awareness and
ascension also.</P>
<P>And so, my friends, in respect for you, my peers, my fledgling fellows, I
open the floor for your involvement. Have you questions or commentary this
evening?</P><B>
<P>Hunnah:</B> You've got a lot to offer! I enjoyed your lesson this evening. At
least toward the end I did. I don't know that I actually have a question.
</P><B>
<P>Leah: </B>I was wondering if you could say something about self-love and
self-esteem. You said they are not the same thing. Could you talk a little bit
more about the differences?</P><B>
<P>TOMAS</B> : Very briefly. I will state that self-esteem is a. result of
self-respect. Let us take the young girl in the farmyard. As her self-respect,
is restored, she carries herself with more dignity; she combs her hair, she adds
a ribbon to her braid. She may iron her apron. Those elements of self-esteem
manifest to others that she understands and respects herself. Self-esteem is in
part, the manifestation of self-respect.</P>
<P>As you hold a position in your society and you respect your accomplishments,
you carry yourself in such a way that others recognize you as an esteemed
person, thereby contributing to your sense of self-esteem, but it is different
from self-respect, which is not dependent on other's view of you but on how you
view yourself.</P>
<P>Self-love is a phrase which I have heard misused and it is misunderstood by
many, for the sad truth is few people know what Love is in the sense of a
God-knowing, spirit-led individual, and as I said last week, in these lessons we
are focusing on the character of an individual who has been born of the spirit.
And so, self-love is a phrase that can be used in terms of taking care of
yourself and appreciating your self's needs because you love the self, which is
an extension of the Father/Mother.</P>
<P>To love your tabernacle is to feed it well, to provide it with fresh air and
water and rest; to Love your mind is to provide it with harmony and stimuli and
good conversation and companionship; to love your spirit is to worship the
Father, to honor your place, your status in the universe, to love your brothers
and sisters. This is the flavor of self-love and it, too, is after self-respect,
for when your-self-respect is lacking, you do nor respect yourself enough to
take proper care of yourself and love yourself as you deserve to be loved as a
child of God. Have those declarations helped to clarify my meaning?</P><B>
<P>Leah:</B> Yes, very much so.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> I will digress a moment in order to respond to a question which
has been submitted by our sister and co-worker Iyana on behalf of her neighbor
who asks about the extra-terrestrial entities who have been making the news
lately in your realm. This neighbor would like to know if these entities are
humanoid beings.</P>
<P>These other-terrestrials are living beings but not of the humanoid series of
life form. They are intelligent creations of the universes, but not humanoid.
That is all I will say in response to the question.</P><B>
<P>Hunnah:</B> That will leave a lingering question.</P><B>
<P>Evangel:</B> I didn't know that was the question she was asking.</P><B>
<P>Hunnah:</B> No. That wasn't. That was a question Iyana gave to Gerdean when
she spoke to her on the phone. The question our friend asked earlier was: Is at
really important to know all this hierarchy? I guess it sounds like the part in
the Bible where you have "the begets" and . . . which is human history. And she
wanted to know if when we are on the other side if it was really necessary that
we know all this information that we have been studying previous to these last
few pages.<BR><BR><B>TOMAS:</B> To the contrary, my friend, it is far from "the
begets.' </P><B>
<P>Hunnah:</B> All right. That was a bad example.<BR></P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> It is … I will not use the word "necessary." I will use the word
"desirable" for you to assimilate as much information as you can about your
creators and your universe. To me it is evident why you would want to know
everything you could get your hands on regarding such exciting and edifying
information, such comforting information! </P>
<P>In terms of my lesson of this evening, it could be construed as an act of
self-love to absorb as much of this information as you can, for it feeds your
mind, it feeds your spirit and it feeds your soul to absorb truths about your
very existence, about the beings who are administrating you and ministering to
your cosmic neighborhood, who are operating the laboratory in which you are a
mere amoebae. </P>
<P>Part of the merit of attempting to assimilate the huge amounts of informal
ion available is that your mind is challenged. There are concepts which are not
possible for you to grasp upon your- first, reading. There are some concepts
that you may never grasp while still in the flesh. There are some whose minds
are so receptive and eager that they are already complaining that enough was not
covered in the discussions that were provided.</P>
<P>As you, for example, learn of the reality of the evolving Supreme you will
better understand your contribution to this Godhead-in-creation. As you are
motivated by the love and life of this vast organism, you will be inspired to
help bring about the culmination of perfection in order to, perhaps, help your
higher-ups to celebrate their efforts of millions of years. As you learn to
appreciate the work that has been done in order that you can experience this
experience, even this evening, in your heart of hearts you will not be able to
constrain your appreciation for all that has gone into your very existence.</P>
<P>Many of these concepts, I will grant you, are not immediately available, are
not immediately appreciated, but as you persevere, as you garner certain truths
about the universe, your soul has been satisfied on a certain level, your
adventurous spirit has been stimulated on another level, your mind has been
expanded on many levels, and so your capacities are increased, your borders are
stretched, your imagination is stimulated. Is it necessary? That, my child, is a
determination that only you can make. But for me, I find it valuable. Has that
answered?</P><B>
<P>Hunnah:</B> She'll be very pleased with that. She seems to have a natural
appetite for the Book, or what appears to be natural, or developed. How's that?
Why is it that some seem to have a natural appetite while others do not?</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> Perhaps the being who does not have a big appetite, has not had
his appetite whet sufficiently.</P><B>
<P>Hunnah:</B> How do you go about it?</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> As a hostess, how do you serve a dinner to guests? You provide a
gracious atmosphere. You prepare delicious tidbits. You engage them in
intriguing, stimulating conversations. You assure them that the banquet has been
prepared for them, that your entire purpose at that time is to provide your
guests with pleasure and satisfaction. It is the same in the spirit realms. This
feast has been provided for you, and as you allow yourself to accept an hors
d'oeuvre of truth, as you allow yourself to realize that this feast is yours for
the taking, you will develop an appetite. Smell the scent of spirit. Does it not
beckon? Taste the tart taste of truth. Does it not make you salivate? </P>
<P>In truth, you are at the helm. Your spirit pilot is ever ready to embark with
you upon the adventure of the ages, and you may be satisfied with short hops,
but do not rule out the pleasure of the adventure of long-distance flights into
the unknown.<BR></P><B>
<P>Hunnah:</B> You are in rare form tonight, Tomas.<BR></P><B>
<P>TOMAS: </B>I have been well fed, you see.</P><B>
<P>Hunnah:</B> Yes, you have.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> I have been dancing with my co-teacher Andrea, and being a
romantic fellow on a remote outpost far from the Center of things. I have found
her companionship delightful and stimulating, and this is also true of you who
sustain one another and feed each other by your association. How clever we are,
are we not?</P><B>
<P>Hunnah:</B> I'm glad you've got some good company. We are indeed in
Siberia.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> I will not respond. I will, however, prepare to take my leave for
indeed, our evening has been profuse, but let me give you an assignment. Let me
ask you first: do you pay any attention at all to my assignments?</P><B>
<P>Hunnah:</B> Just before yon said that I was trying to remember what our
assignment was. (Group laughter)</P><B>
<P>Loreenia:</B> I didn't hear it until today but I'm very reactionary when cats
get into trouble, or when people upset the apple cart with me.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> Indeed, daughter, the assignment from last week was to notice in
your life during a day's adventure, when and how it was that you <U>reacted</U>
and when and how it was that you <U>responded</U>.</P><B>
<P>Loreenia:</B> Well, I was at work and walked into a strange situation where
the manager -- his reactions literally (indistinguishable) ... raised his
eyebrows. I went about my work and he came around apologizing and I feel like
I've got a new friend in the process.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> I would like to make a bit of a pronouncement, for I have been
also with (Machiventa) Melchizedek of late and we have been discussing the
teacher base here in this area and the lesson plan and the subsequent lessons
and the group growth resultant, and Machiventa called to my attention that in
last week's lesson, in the discussion of responding and reacting, I ought to
expand somewhat on this business of reacting, which I. presented as,
by-and-large, a rather negative experience. And Machiventa suggested that I
merely add that reactive responses often indicate a need for growth, not
necessarily correction. And so I will and have presented that to you.<BR></P>
<P>And as you begin again to ponder and perhaps even discuss among yourselves
your understandings and experiences of the assignment relating to reacting and
responding, I will give you the assignment for this week, and that is to
privately, in your own private time, give some thought as to your understanding
of self-esteem, self-love and self-respect. Seek out that within you which you
respect, that aspect of divinity, which is flawless. Respect that. That is a
good place to begin our further study of character.<BR><BR>My stalwart
companions, I am your loyal friend, Tomas. Farewell and Godspeed. Good night.
.</P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>