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<DIV><FONT face="GoudyOlSt BT">Please replace the existing two transcripts
on TMArchives from December 16, 1997, entitled: Value Judgments Part I and
Value Judgments Part II (formerly displayed on-line as Tomas on
Sex I and II) with the one attached. -- G/</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="GoudyOlSt BT"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><B><FONT face="Times New Roman,Times New Roman">
<P>DATE:</B> December 16, 1997<BR><B>LOCATION:</B> Butler, PA,
USA<BR><B>T/R:</B> Gerdean</P><B>
<P>URANTIA BOOK STUDY:<BR></B>Paper 109: #1. Development of Adjusters;<BR>#2.
Self-Acting Adjusters<BR>#3. Relation of Adjusters to Mortal Types<BR>Paper 110:
#6. The Seven Psychic Circles</P><B>
<P>SHARING:</B> Extensive follow-up discussion on a recent question concerning
real and imagined value judgments imposed on unmarried women.</P><B>
<P>TEACHER SESSION: </P>
<P>TOPICS: Honoring Mother Spirit. Self-Acting Adjusters. The Fact of Sexuality.
Lust Redefined. The Sensual Nature. Constraints of Traditional
Morality.</P></B><B>
<P>NEBADONIA:</B> Yes, I am, Nebadonia, your mother. I am here to hold your
hands, daughters, and to offer a word to Our Father in Paradise on behalf of you
and your Adjusters who are ascending back to the Father.</P><I>
<P>"Our Father in Paradise, our Source of all being, I am your daughter
Nebadonia and I bring my daughters here to you. We bow before you, Father in
Heaven. We devote ourselves to you. We bestow our lives in preparation for you,
in praise of you, because of you. Eternal Father, Paradise Mother, we thank you
for the gift of life and your creation of us, we who are your daughters, we who
would be pleasing to your eyes. </P>
<P>"Give us all grace to manifest Your goodness, Your beauty, Your divine order.
Give us the vitality of life, of the Conjoint Actor, to bring vitality to our
arena, to our own paradise of activity. Give the divine sanction to our energies
and our lives that we may bring Your pattern of perfection, Your divine order,
Your mercy, Your love into Your universe.</P>
<P>"We thank you, Father; we praise You, Mother; we adore you, Eternal Son, for
the life of our Creator Son, our Creator, our Helper, our Beloved, Sovereign,
Michael of Nebadon, Our Lord, in whose name we pray:</P>
<P>"Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy
will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and
forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead
us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and
the power and the glory forever. Amen."</P></I>
<P>My daughters, I leave you in the companionship of your teachers and the
sanction of your Father / Brother Michael who smiles upon you. My children, I
comfort you, I nurture you, I love you. I'll see you later.</P><B>
<P>MERIUM:</B> I am Merium. How wonderful it feels to be in the presence of Our
Mother. Her love extends into this room and graces it, bringing praise and
serenity and charm. How lovely of Her to pray a prayer you know so well, to
bring to you your own comprehension of prayer, in an acceptance of your
worship.</P>
<P>It is She that I aspire to be like. She is my model. And I have visited with
Her many times. She is perhaps the role model for all feminine facets throughout
Nebadon, the feminine, the goddess, the half of the whole, the Mother, the
sister, the daughter, the gift, the identification with that which is of us.
</P>
<P>Have you stood apart and honored your direct descendency from Nebadonia? From
the Mother Spirit? I know that your culture and your religion is male dominated.
Historically and culturally you have always had to consider the male first, and
in many ways you have always had to consider your offspring first. Nebadonia
would consider <I>you</I> first, as an individual, as a believer, as her
daughter.</P>
<P>It is interesting to see yourself as a daughter in your own right, with your
own feet on the ground of your own firm foundation of faith, that your ascension
is dependent not upon your spouse, not upon your children, not upon your folks
or your career or your role, but upon your decision, your personal commitment to
ascend to the Mother, to the Father, to your own aspiration of perfection, to be
whole in and of yourself, to be perfect in and of yourself.</P>
<P>Ponder this, my daughters, my sisters. Recognize your own strength. Recognize
your own value, that which is of the Mother, without which there is no life.
</P>
<P>In deep affection for all concerned I will step aside and honor our brother
and teacher Tomas who yearns to greet you.</P><B>
<P>Group:</B> Thank you.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> Greetings, my lovely daughters. How well you comport yourself. How
wonderful it is to be in your presence, having been washed with the presence and
loving care of Our Mother, Nebadonia. </P>
<P>It has been our supreme pleasure this evening to perceive your efforts at
soul growth and comprehension of your soul reality, your relationship with your
indwelling Adjuster. Your Adjusters themselves are quite thrilled with your
progress this evening. </P>
<P>Divinington is their home. Divinington is that part of the Isle of Paradise
that is enshrouded in Seven Sacred Spheres of the Father, and so they are a
Mystery. They are a Mystery. Have you mysteries in your minds this evening,
little ones? Have you questions? Good evening, Leah.</P><B>
<P>Leah:</B> Good evening. Probably a lot, but I don't know where to begin, so
it could be edited, but when we were reading about the Thought Adjusters, we
were trying to ascertain that one sentence about [pg. 1196. 2. SELF-ACTING
ADJUSTERS, "6. Has served in a time of crisis in the experience of some human
being who was the material complement of a spirit personality entrusted with the
enactment of some cosmic achievement essential to the spiritual economy of the
planet."]. We were trying to think of an example of what that particular
sentence was about, having to do with cosmic achievement. I think the rest of
the descriptions there were something that we could comprehend at some level,
but what was that one about? I don't think any of us know what that was about.
Can you clarify any of that for us?</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> I will say that Gerdean has a good handle on it. Indeed it is
possible that you, too, can find an example in your experience, Leah, wherein
you were acting as a compliment to a spiritual reality. You have represented the
Creator on a number of occasions. You have represented the midwayers and the
angelic orders. </P>
<P>Whenever you stand for truth in a realistic way that enables your Adjuster to
firmly and clearly lead you as an operative, you have functioned as a
transmitter of truth by the Self-Acting Adjuster. Indeed, when you have heard
truth ring out with clarity and conviction, you have beheld the work of a
Self-Acting Adjuster through the mortal. The mortal, then, is the counterpart
that it references.</P><B>
<P>Leah:</B> I envision, possibly, a time that perhaps something came out of my
mouth that seemed judicious and I kind of heard my mortal ego say, "I have no
idea where that came from!" Is that the type of thing you were referring
to?</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> That is the type of thing, yes.</P><B>
<P>Leah:</B> Okay. I understand that a little better. Also, I was feeling that
the celestials listen in, so I was wondering ... I don't even know how to ask
this question ... if there's some -- the lengthiness of the discussion we had at
the beginning of this evening, starting in the bookstore, about sexuality vs
spirituality and if you would care to offer any input into the things that we
discussed. I just keep on hearing that, obviously, we are of human and divine
nature, so we're going to have to deal with both aspects of these.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> Indeed, it is not wise to ignore either. As you also read, you
need to grow in all facets. If you remain completely ignorant in such a
significant realm as your sexuality or your spirituality, you are creating a
deficit in your own reality. </P>
<P>I will say that you must remember that all things material are shadows of
that which is real and eternal, and speaking along those lines, although
sexuality is, of course, for procreation, it is also an extension of your
greater reality. Not only does sexuality include certain genetic factors but
personality factors. </P>
<P>You recall that you are bi-sexual, two sexes, male and female, and even
within the gender there are variations of strength of component parts. There are
very, shall we say, masculine females and very feminine males. This is part of
the composite human being. </P>
<P>Now, the fact of sexuality is inherent in your animal origin, yes. It is, of
course, a basic function of procreating species, but it is also a pleasurable
organism and to deny that sex is pleasurable would be foolish. It was created as
a pleasurable experience. It is the reproductive urge that assures procreation
of the race; it is pleasure that allows the procreation and the recreation to be
a pleasant facet of humanness. </P>
<P>It is a method of communicating between male and female or between males or
between females. </P>
<P>It is a method of communicating, and it does not always have to be
specifically sexually; that is, it does not have to be a form of coitus, but
there are many, many ways of manifesting your sexuality, your genderness, your
femaleness or your maleness in your social arena, in your many, many, many kinds
of intercourse -- social, spiritual and otherwise.</P>
<P>It is not wise to deny such an important aspect of the personality. It is so
fundamental as to be absurd, and yet you have, as mortals, dealt with it in such
a way as to try to rise above it and this is part of your evolution, part of
your process of erecting yourself and your society, your civilization, your
mores and so forth. In elevating yourself you have overcome your baser, more
selfish nature, in some ways, and have therefore relegated basic animalistic
behaviors to a status of undesirable, unacceptable. </P>
<P>Your evolution is by and large appropriate. It is necessary, in order to
maintain civilization, that a home come into being where children can be raised,
where culture can be passed on from one generation to the next, where art and
music and learning and science and poetry and decorum and logic and so forth can
be fostered. The disciplines, the values of civilization are necessary and
desirable. "The backbone of society" indeed! </P>
<P>But there is no shame, in and of itself, in an animal nature. Indeed, an
animal is a fine creation. Any of Michael's animals are fine creations, as are
the insects and the flowers. Miracles! Absolute miracles of creation, perfect
and flawless in their execution. It is the mind, you see, it is the mind that
enters in to determine how the animal will behave, how it will treat its fellow
animals. </P>
<P>And here it is, "the mind arena of choice," for you can decide for truth,
beauty and goodness. You can decide, even in the material realm, the animal
realm, to be truthful, beautiful, and good. It is not automatic that sexuality
is base or crude, no; it is the mind that makes it so, in observation or in
performance.</P>
<P>Remember that, in the ultimate, God is love and love is the desire to do good
to others, and if it brings pleasure to an individual to receive love, why
should you withhold love? If love comes in the form of a service that is freely
given, that is freely received, this is a fruit of the spirit. Shall we call
this fruit a flower? Shall we call it a friendship? We can call it anything we
like. If it is done in love, it is done in the Father's name, and this is a
decision, an avenue of the mind.</P>
<P>I don't know if I have helped, or even contributed to your understanding of
some of your thought processes, but I will tell you, we have done some active
listening.</P><B>
<P>Leah:</B> I feel that your answer was exceedingly beautiful. We were
wondering about the appropriateness of lust, but not flagrant lust. I mean, I
suppose it's like the appetizer or something.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> You may find this amusing, but I discussed lust many years ago and
I have not changed my opinion. Lust is one of those words that has a negative
connotation when that is not necessarily necessary. You have heard of a lust for
life. You have heard of a lust for food or drink or dancing. A lust is a deep
hunger. Can you not equate having lust to having a deep hunger and thirst for
righteousness? </P>
<P>Indeed, in removing your prejudice from the word lust, can you not conceive
that the greatest lust of all is the lust to know the Father? That it surpasses
all other desires? That it is the passion that drives you? Day by day, to know
the Father and to do His will? The most supreme of all lusts? Now, this is a
goal, not a current condition, perhaps, but even in terms of your understanding
of lust, it is possible to experience a lust for beauty, a lust for intimacy, a
lust for togetherness. Lust is not, in and of itself, a negative. </P>
<P>It has been given negative overtones, however, because it is regarded
historically as one of those seven deadly sins that at one time stood in the way
of righteousness for it has been known to rule men and women completely,
blinding them to higher values and greater callings. And so in terms of
evolution, it has been necessary to curtail rampant lust, certainly, so that one
can take a look at what it is and gain self-mastery. </P>
<P>Love is the most important emotion and feeling and expression, and when you
have given yourself to love, to the Father in love, when He has given Himself to
you, in love, and perhaps through another individual, in love, as you love, you
may love lustily. Love is the greatest. It is a matter of having your priorities
in order, perhaps.</P>
<P>I hope I have not offended any minds by my study of the human
vocabulary.</P><B>
<P>Leah:</B> I don't know whether you have or not, but your answer makes the
human condition a lot more understandable.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> It is very important that you understand the human condition --
not just your human condition, and not just your human condition today, but
[that you] have a full and thorough-going understanding of the evolution of the
human being, from its origin and through its growth into its current state and
even anticipating its destiny. It is indeed one of the wonderful facets of the
textbook, The Urantia Book, that you are given a full sweep of your evolution so
far. </P>
<P>The growth of the human being is nothing short of spectacular, from the
inception of life through the auspices of the Life Carriers in the touch of the
Mother millions of years ago, up to and including December 16, 1997, and so yes,
it is good to have the entire perspective. Not just today; not just one
lifetime; not even just one generation or one civilization, but the full
spectrum of evolution, and you understand more about how it is that you can
allow yourselves, from your advanced state, to appreciate and enjoy pleasure,
food, travel, companionship. These are the results of your long upward
struggle.</P><B>
<P>Leah:</B> I think, in a way, our discussion was: are we not spiritizing if we
lean towards or consider the sensual aspects of life, or possibly are we ungodly
if we speculate on them, or-- I don't know! It just seemed to be an awful lot of
soul-searching going on here in relation to ....</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> You are very conscientious, my daughters. Recall that not long ago
I spoke at length regarding the Everglades of the emotions, and part of this
realm is the sensual. It is part of the emotional and physical facet of being a
human being. You can wander around in the sensual realms as readily as you can
wander around in the emotional realms, and there is nothing wrong with the
senses in and of themselves, as there is nothing wrong with the emotions in and
of themselves. It is when you become stuck in them, or lost in them, when they
begin to destroy you or others that they become a detriment and a problem. </P>
<P>And so as you keep your spiritual Core intact, as you keep your alignment
appropriate, as I am inclined to want to say "your ducks in a row," you can
visit the emotional realms, you can visit the sensual realms without guilt and
without shame. Do you not enjoy in your culture occasionally a steak? Or, for
those of you who are vegetarian, a spinach salad or artichoke? Some sensual
delight? Do you not enjoy your Mozart and your Bach? Or even your Beatles? And
are they not, in their own right, a sensual delight? </P>
<P>Do you not enjoy the feeling of a fresh mountain stream trickling over your
toes on a hot summer day? Do you not enjoy, by the same token, the feeling of a
hot mineral spring bubbling up to warm your marrow in your bones on a cold
winter day? These are sensual facets that are entirely open to your indulgence,
your nurturance, your enjoyment, your total delight. </P>
<P>The warmth of the sun on your back on a day in spring when you have been
enclosed in winter doldrums is sensual. The wind in your hair, blowing it across
your neck, is sensual. These are wonderful experiences of the human animal. They
remind you of life. The smell of the rose is a sensual experience, and these are
not a shame to experience. These are wonderful experiences, senses, for your
pleasure. Part of life. So many, so many wonderful things to enjoy.</P><B>
<P>Leah:</B> So would you say that our discussion earlier this evening and our
difficulty with it has a lot to do with the cultural taboo of discussing
sex?</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> Unequivocally. There are cultures, incidentally, that have no bar
against discussing it. There are cultures, even advanced cultures that are much
more natural about it. There are other cultures even on other worlds that handle
it in an infinite variety of ways, and so the way that you have been taught is
the way that you will perceive it to be. But that is not necessarily The Way. It
is a cultural conditioning, having developed out of need and as a value, as any
evolutionary thing will.</P><B>
<P>Leah:</B> Well, I thank you for your answers. I know it talks in the Urantia
Book about sex being like adult play at times, but ... maybe it's just the shame
thing or something that ... I think that sex definitely can be a very spiritual
experience, but I think that the general population would be appalled at a
statement like that.</P><B>
<P>TOMAS:</B> I am not going to be an agitator here on purpose, but I will to
some extent allow this equation of the taboo against the sexual nature being
paralleled somewhat to the traditions of your evolved religions, i.e.,
structured. </P>
<P>I am reminded that the only place that Jesus did not go was to the public
baths where there was pronounced promiscuity. He, of course, did not discuss the
mores, for they change from generation to generation, but he did stand up to
those traditions and beliefs that were counter to the reality of the
relationship between man or woman and his or her God. And so he would renounce
tradition of the Church, of the Sanhedrin, on occasion. And whereas you also can
and will and do step out of the constraints of traditional religion into the
freedom of a personal relationship with the living God, you are also free to
step out of the constraints of traditional morality into the relationship with
the Father through his sons and daughters. </P>
<P>As I indicated earlier, the sexual realm, in an evolved and enlightened
being, is a shadow of the spiritual realm, and it is entirely possible for the
morontia bodies to play in the fields of the Lord in the physical realms as well
as the spiritual realms. I am not inviting you to digress, boys and girls. I am
inviting you to release the shackles that constrain your flight into
self-esteem, self-respect and freedom of you as an individual. </P>
<P>Throw off the guilt and shame of the past ages and walk free as an
enlightened child of God in guidance of His way for you. He provides all things.
<I>All</I> things.</P>
<P>I have a sense that the hour grows late and that perhaps we have extended far
enough into this field of strange fruit. I will allow you to savor the taste of
your senses in this context, and trust that you will not venture off into some
inappropriate lusty venture without taking wisdom with you. Are there any other
questions before we close for the evening?</P>
<P>I would like to stay and visit until the wee hours of the morning, and I know
that there is a part of you that also enjoys our trysts. However, it is
important, as Nebadonia indicated, that you take care of yourselves, and I, as
your elder brother, as your doting Uncle Tomas, will tell you, my little nieces,
my little daughters, little sisters, it is time for you to get some rest, for
tomorrow is another day, a busy day in the life, filled with opportunities and
decisions and delights of all sorts.</P>
<P>Be at peace in your minds, children. Be at peace in your hearts and in your
souls. Good night.</P><B>
<P>Group:</B> Thank you, Tomas. Good night.</P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>