2002-06-02-Enemies & Foes

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Topic: Enemies & Foes

Group: Rio Rancho TeaM

Facilitators

Teacher: Tomas

TR: Gerdean

Session

Opening

Music: Dorenda: "C Major Prelude" by Bach

TOMAS: Good afternoon, my friends. I am Tomas. I am pleased to be your companion. I am humbled every time I gather with you to share your gracious repose. You are an oasis of delight.

I have heard visitors testify that when they enter into an environment as is generally presented on this planet, they first array themselves with armor, psychic armor, as if to allay the assaults of barbarism which runs rampant here in this semi-civilized sphere of existence, so I applaud your cultural fragrance, that disallows my having to defend my very essence, as my essence is a welcome energy here, as compared to an enemy.

Lesson

Communication

Let's look at enemies and foes this afternoon, for surely you see how the lack of trust and faith in the divine lends a sense of defensiveness that could be construed as enemy or foe, when in actuality, mis-communication or misunderstanding is what we are really dealing with. When this sense is exacerbated, when it is accentuated or left as the final straw, the bottom line, this state of affairs can develop into full-blown conscious resistance against further communications and serious results are possible. Serious danger, that is.

All of this is a result of fear, you see -- fear of God or fear of another's God. Is it any wonder our Master came to introduce a new concept: that of a loving God? And yet, how do we bring this concept of a loving God into an environment that is so fraught with a sense of calamity and distrust and be at serious odds with each other all the way back to the origins of the race? How unfortunate it is that in the study of your history, it is so common for you to repeat what you know. And this is a pattern that is engaged in by you individually as well as culturally or racially, even globally. Looking at your past is not a stimulus to repeat the past but to learn from the past, and so the idea that it's always been done this way is a shallow response to what is the potential of tomorrow. Thus, teachers of truth would do well to learn how to cut through the wall of fear and resistance that is a part of the cultural composition of every individual.

Last week Paulo spoke of rebellion in terms of that attitude being one which will provide a springboard out of a pattern of oppression or undue confinement. In other words, a revolution into liberation. And this is the standard pattern that, when you recognize limitation being expressed or superimposed as a value that includes even yourself, your sense of spiritual injustice rises up to rebel against that attitude or those who would promote sustained limitation. There are those all around you.

Resistance

When you join here in this oasis of light and life, it is in understanding [of] that spiritual liberation which gives you the freedom to be yourselves, as, you will not be resisted; your reality is not qualified; your beliefs are accepted as appropriate and good according to your intelligent perception of truth, beauty, and goodness. In the world, however, where fear reigns supreme and where the seven adjutant mind spirits have more influence than the Spirit of Truth, it is not uncommon to run into resistance. That limits Father's expression through you as well as through them. And those of us who are devoted to the light of truth, to the revelation of the Father to the world, are frustrated in our attempts to dissolve the walls of mis-communication, the barriers of ignorance and prejudice, the fear of the ages which stands in the way of righteousness and peace.

You cannot do this intellectually, although reason is invaluable in conveying your reality. It is essential that you draw upon the spirit to reveal itself as an overriding reality and not merely emotional. Out of fear for God, fear of God, many people feel His presence and resist it; therefor you have a sense they are resisting you. This is where so much of the reality that would benefit your world is thwarted and why it is so important there are others of like mind who can hear your expressions.

I appreciate and understand that some of you who have attempted to instill a spark of divine reality into your arena -- your working environments, your neighborly associations -- have all but given up in your attempts to enhance godliness because of the seemingly innate resistance that comes from humanity. I'm going to ask you to ponder this reality this week and, in your dealings with your fellow human creatures, perceive the resistance to the divine. See how cleverly the subject is changed, the shift of energy is woven away from spirit reality to material reality.

I'm reminded of the woman at the well. When Jesus approached her, she sought to change the subject. She became philosophic, or otherwise attempted to distract herself and the Master from the focus that he would bring her to -- that being her sonship, her daughtership, her very reality in truth. And he would not abide by her skirting the issue, but rather, by taking the kingdom "by spiritual assault" he directed her focus back to the reality he would have her see and when she saw, she was altered.

And even as she set out to speak praise of him who helped her realize her potential and understand her human foibles, she nonetheless was renewed as a result of an instant in which he was able to allow the Father to penetrate through those barriers of fear to tap into the font of joy and spiritual freedom which is the rightful inheritance of every faith child. So rather than denounce individuals as too stubborn or hostile, too much trouble, more trouble than they're worth, obnoxious, unhappy, unfriendly - look beyond their defenses to see how/ what/ how cleverly and to what degree they are running from the Greater Reality.

Even if you, in your own consciousness, are aware of the fact that they are side-stepping reality, and if they know that you know that they are side-stepping reality, that in itself is a communication. I think you probably all remember how your parents taught you as children. Many times they didn't have to say anything, they just gave you "that look" -- the raised eyebrow perhaps, that told you all you needed to know about how you were supposed to comport yourself. And while this example may be interpreted as a coercion or a manipulation on the part of seed-planters, if your motives are loving and if your desire is to enhance the evolving Supreme by bringing these children of God into the light of His presence, it will be fruitful. I will cease my lecture portion of our association and allow for intercourse among us. Are there questions about the lesson?

Dialogue

Dissemination

ELENA: Tomas, I am so glad you brought this subject up, following Paulo's topic last week. I think that's really helpful. The lesson last week was great, but what you're talking about brings it a little more directly and more clearly into our own environment about what we can and what we might be able to expect to do. Now, I'm still really confused about what you were talking about in this respect, that there are many times, and we've had in other lessons possibly, saying that our own light would shine and speak for us, and that we didn't have to do anything or push the Urantia Book, that our own light and our own joy of what we had found would be the main thing that we needed to do. And yet, what you are saying here this afternoon is just really intriguing because there are times when I find that I do need to say something or I need to act, and that we're talking about this is just really helpful to me. So I'm a little bit confused. I'd like to hear your feedback on the difference between just letting our own inner joy or light shine through, and then going and being a little bit more assertive, like I'm interpreting that you are saying this afternoon.

TOMAS: I cannot deny that it is imperative that you let your light shine. This is your "right to be here" and a reflection of your relationship with our Father and His many agents. It is a beacon of light which illuminates the world, yes, and this is how you can comport yourself "as you pass by." And yet, in certain situations it is the human experience to have someone try to douse your light or throttle you because they see your light and they are angry with God and so they throttle you, you see.

The situation I suggested is one example of how it is that as your light shines, you will have an impact on others and it won't always be a positive experience. That is to say, in most cases it will result in having you work for the furtherance of the gospel. How is it that you have such happiness? Such an attitude is an affront to many. Many people don't want to see other people happy because they are unhappy. They would rather you join them in unhappiness than make the effort to find out why you're happy and think they could attain such an emotional state of mind. I say "emotional" because they have not experienced the spirit sufficiently to credit the spirit with the reason for happiness.

But as people are in fear and rebellious by habit, they have peculiar reactions to those who present godlikeness as a part of their being. If you were an overt preacher of the gospel, it might be easier for them to deny your reality because their mind can say you are simply mimicking those who have gone before, and yet, as your light of truth speaks for itself, they will be attracted in their spirit even while they are still confused in their mind, and this confusion reflects in their emotional impulse.

I am trying to help you understand why people react to you the way they do and how you can rise above the emotional downpull, even as you recognize the emotional roots, so that you can appreciate the mental configuration that resists the light of truth, even while you respond spiritually to that lost sheep in such a way as to encourage divine reality rather than creating yet another barrier to their growth. Am I in the abstract so far you are unable to see what I am trying to say?

ELENA: No! I see what you're saying exactly, and I can think of more than a handful of examples. I mean, even in this last week I had an experience where I had my energy sucked out, and I thought, "Gee, I only wanted to do something nice here, and I get back a little whammy!" My feelings were hurt; my energy was drained, and I had to work a little bit at overcoming that. And what you've been talking about has been helping me tremendously. There are endless possibilities here, where people fall into the "foe" category. Previous relationships, for instance. So your words are very helpful to me personally.

TOMAS: Let's pause here. Many times you will find yourself facing a competitive response. You introduced your joy and your joy was a threat. Thus there was a competitive response that says, "My God is bigger, or better, or more tragic, etc., than your God." The fact that you took a moment to gather your strength from your own Source, and acknowledge that that their position was valid and good, was an affirmative step; it was good seed planting. It helps to break down the barrier of competition and open avenues of cooperation and communication and you can do this without apology or without feeling you have "backslid" into "people pleasing" because you are attempting to be a peacemaker.

ELENA: Thanks, Tomas.

TOMAS: You are welcome. There are so many incidents that occur in the life of a fledgling soul that are wounding, that bear reflection on old values, that have not been comprehended by the spirit, by the higher mind. I intend to encourage you where I can and commend your continuance in that direction.

ELENA: You are very encouraging.

TOMAS: I will likely also have opportunity to discourage certain thoughts or behaviors along the way as well, and so I hope my constructive criticism or commentary is received in the spirit it is intended. I want to help you mold your mind so that you can be a better teacher and promoter of a way of life that will reveal the greatness of God in your "kingdom on earth as it is in heaven." That way, in time, it will be possible to see these oasis of light and life increasingly spring up in the midst of the status quo; and as we encourage and nurture the development of these qualities of existence that reflect the nature of God, we will indeed bring Him to life on Urantia.

JANET: There's something I wanted to say. A little over twenty years ago was a very bad time in my life and I saw bitterness and so much of that sort of thing, and it was hard to get through, but I did get through it. And in the last twenty years, I would say I have met 9 people out of 10 who are just really fine Christian people trying to do the best that they can. I've made a lot of friends and they have been really fine people. And I've found something else. When I was away on this little trip of mine that took a week, I met perfect strangers who were just wonderful to me, and took me right in, and were so kind and good to me. I mentioned that at dinner one night, that I was grateful for all the people who were so good to me, because I was traveling alone and they certainly didn't have to, but they were good enough to take me right into their circle and make me welcome.

911

And one man at the table said, "You know, maybe something good came out of something bad last September 11th". He said, "I think that since then people found how their world could turn upside down and all those people lost their lives, and that since then, people have been kinder to one another. So maybe that's a good thing that came out of something horrible." What do you think about it?

TOMAS: Thank you for your expressions of appreciation. I do appreciate what you are saying about how it is that people respond in times of tragedy - more brotherly and fraternal than they do in ordinary times, but first I want to commend your perspective on seeing the good in "nine out of ten people". Usually if you look for good, if you have a positive attitude, you will find good reflected back to you, and this indeed augments human happiness all the way around. However, in the work of the realm, in those situations where you are forced to roll up your sleeves on behalf of truth, beauty, and goodness, it is good to understand why those who are unpleasant project such attitudes. For me to discuss the world situation on that note would be like pole vaulting into a whole different paradigm of values, but there are universal truths to be found therein. It is common knowledge that during times of stress, humans will bond together -- at least until such time as the threat abates. But to be superhuman, to be among those who alter the course of planetary destiny, a more substantial growth is required. Otherwise, history repeats itself in this method of creating disaster in order to create the conditions for a spurt of growth, rather than allowing and enjoying growth for growth sake.

It would appear as though your psyches are being prepared for war. This institutes circumstances which are horrendously constraining, however, it does allow people to join together in fear against a common enemy. Our work is virtually set aside while mankind is embroiled in such conflicts, for they are convoluted by history and lesser loyalties than the impelling force of divine love, mercy and ministry. It makes it far more difficult then to cut through the fetters of fear and the material reality to augment, enhance and enliven the spiritual reality and the natural process of growth rather than as "the opiate of the masses" or a sanctuary to hide in instead of a way of life for all to enjoy.

But if your populace is indeed going to be saddled with extra layers of anxiety, it is going to create chaos in the minds of humanity and you are going to have to work through those fetters to promote the enduring truths of the gospel - some of which are to turn the other cheek and the like and it will become increasingly more difficult to promote peace and love and mercy and ministry in a collective consciousness that is wearing armor and distrustful of all power, or is so concerned about the current temporal circumstances as to forestall applying themselves to developing a relationship with deity.

Fear, Prayer

ELENA: Tomas, what you were talking about earlier. Can I just see if I got this right? So basically understanding and being able to see what we're going through and what we're up against is one thing that you're talking about, of being able to recognize the fear and be aware of it, rather than reacting to it. And then, the other thing that you were talking about, of watching how people just kind of maneuver the topic away. That was a very interesting point, too. Frankly, there are sometimes I go along with that, too, thinking, "Okay, I've made a little trial here," and then coming in with either combative things or not an acceptance of the other person, so I'll go the other way, too, at times.

So number one, did I understand the first point correctly? And then, do you have a suggestion, other than probably just on a case-by-case basis about whether you would stand your ground or let the river form a tributary someplace else?

TOMAS: Your instance wherein you recognize your own occasional belligerence is a fine example of how it is that you are willing to learn from your experiences and to take counsel and consolation in stride. If you expect mercy in your growing, it behooves you to show mercy as others grow - especially as you are the one who has instigated the growth process! It is an awesome responsibility, therefor, to take it upon yourself to enlighten and illuminate humanity.

I don't mean to sound grandiose here, because this can occur in a simple dialog that you engage in at the water cooler at the office or across the picket fence in the back yard. These indeed are the crucial instances of enabling a spirit reality to come into being - in that pause, in that instant of a reflective moment in prayer with your fellows.

In fact, using the word prayer, I will footnote my lesson by suggesting that when you recognize what you are seeing is worry (which you will see a lot of), help them uplift their attitude from one of worry, as a result of fear, to one of prayer, as a result of faith. For with prayer there can be effects, but with worry, there is only a stagnant pool of swamp water rather than a stream of living water. If you only interject casually a comment uplifting worry to prayer, even by using the word prayer, you have helped plant a seed in their minds and reintroduced the idea of prayer as a practice that has a positive effect. It is something even the most fear-ridden soul can do. They can pray, rather than worry. If they will!

ELENA: That's very helpful. Thank you.

Resistance

ESMARELDA: A word in your lecture, Tomas, that I've been thinking about was "resistance" and wondering how much each one of us - or especially myself! - how much resistance I have, and how much I resist the Father. Unintentionally, but … possibly resist, maybe, knowing His will for me. But the word resistance, will give me,... I'll think about it this week.

TOMAS: I'm glad to have sparked your perception as to your common practice. "Know thyself." Even while I don't mean to encourage you to spend overmuch time thinking about you and your reactions to life, I do not apologize for encouraging you to recognize how you respond emotionally, as that is how you become aware of your thought processes, which are the processes by which you make your decisions. And so, we enter into the mind arena of choice where you can make better decisions and enhance your spirit quality.

It is compassionate of you to realize that you resist accelerated growth, and yet in your faith you are open to His guidance. Thus you have simply acknowledged a spark of humility within you that recognizes you have not grabbed the ball and run with it with the gusto that you might if you were not resistant to His prompts. This is simply appreciating your human limitations and, as they become troublesome, you know where to go to do something about it. You ask our Father to remove that shortcoming. But resistance is a facet of experience that we all intimately know and in particular those of you who have been betrayed by your trusted leaders, authority figures, and cosmic overseers. Resisting clever sophistries is a wise approach, if you ask me, for someone from this world. But again, it takes you into the mind arena of choice where you can chew on that concept in the privacy of your own stillness. You don't have to buy into anyone else's construct of reality.

If you were totally non-resistant, you would be half way and beyond to fusion. You would not let these things linger and torment you. They would fall away as illusions, and this is a goal but as they are still a part of your consciousness, love yourself anyway. Know yourself, so that when you gain faith in your reality you are able to let go of those things which you have resisted. You will derive more energy from the refusal to resist that which you know is in your best interests.

ESMARELDA: Thank you, Tomas, and I will look forward to reading this again and going over what you've said. It's very helpful.

TOMAS: I'm glad of it, and I trust we will opportunity to touch base with this subject again as time goes by, for it is a range of soul growth, of character development, of sonship realization, and this is what satisfies our longing to be a part of the advancement of the Supreme, to be in God's family, a happy and productive member of cosmic citizenship.

ELENA: There is a lady that I knew that died this week. Do you know anything about her? Can I ask about her?

TOMAS: I am not apprised of her.

ELENA: Okay.

TOMAS: Sorry.

ELENA: That's okay.

TOMAS: Why do you ask?

ELENA: Well, she was ill for a long time and she was a lady who had a shop next door. I talked to her in the last month and was rather surprised when she died, although she had been fighting an illness for quite a long time. So, in the main, I'm relieved for her, but just… I don't know. I just wanted a little pat. "Yeah, she's over on this side and everything is going well," I guess is what I was kind of hoping to hear. Which I guess I could rest assured that was the case for anybody, I guess.

TOMAS: Indeed. That is something you can assume, even if she is destined to sleep until the next roll call. It is a merciful Son who calls his children from the sleep of the ages to conjoin with him and the next level of morontial growth. These cases of terrestrial escape, that happen to your associates unbeknownst to you, are opportunities to remind you of the gift of association; that "when you pass by", if you are a buoyant and faith-filled child of God, you will have encouraged their faith path simply by being. And if you had opportunity to be involved in her circumstances or the circumstances of others, you would know your work even before you entered in to the association. "Life is but a day's work; do it well," and you need have no regrets as to how it unfolds.

ELENA: Thanks, Tomas.

TOMAS: "Be of good cheer" has great power as an admonition. In particular, those of you who deal with disease, dysfunction, decay and destruction. This gives even more importance to the practice of coming together to enjoy the light of truth that you all shine in your lives as children of God. That you come together in appreciation of the Son and his mercies, of the Mother and her ministry, as you enjoy the aspects of the human existence including the history of your world, its many impacts upon your planet, the geographic areas and myriad peoples, its music, art, and all, are opportunities to "lighten up" the job of dealing with a dearth of spirit reality in the outer realms of human association.

What flowers you are in God's garden! How marvelously you depict the type of flower bed you grow in. Your beauty is reflected by the way in which you grow and how you enhance the beauty of those who grow around you. Some of you are manicured and some of you grow wild, but all of you are so beautiful to behold. How we enjoy observing your growth, your upturned faces, even your reality when you become limp and weary from need of a draught of living water. How you feed the fine feathered friends of the celestial spheres who come to use you, to plant seeds of growth, and to draw from your courage and your font of spirit reality, for if you can do it, we can do it. You are our inspiration.

ELENA: Tomas, can you tell how much the wealth of love is just beaming up and kind of gushing out towards you?

ESMARELDA: From all of us.

TOMAS: I bask in it, as you bask in it also. And how precious is this liaison we share. How powerful is this truth we enjoy. The energy that we all derive from this gathering of spirit luminosity is sufficient to light the world, if we but knew how. Therefore, release your fears. Let go of your resistance. Trust in spirit guidance to lead you into those areas where you can radiate His love into the lives of those who yearn for His grace, and return to Father daily and to each other next week and we will continue this process of perfecting and appreciating the moments that we share in the experiential aspects of our developing existential reality.

Closing

I and those others who are in attendance this afternoon bestow upon you our affections and encouragement, our appreciation for your very being. Peace be upon you. See you next week. Farewell.

GROUP: Thank you, Tomas. Farewell.