Parting of the Ways
Good and Bad, Past and Future
Personality
Personality Reactions
Phenomena
Phenomenal Expositions
Philosophy
Physical Proximity in Group Work
Poles of Creation
Popular Spiritual Movements
Prayer
Praying for Others
Protection from Evil
Protection from the Opposing
Forcess
Public Appearances of Advanced Servers
Punishment vs. Cause and Effect
Purification
Q. The Gnostic revelation has allowed me to understand why in my life I am often faced with so much 'aggression' from egos. It is very hard, especially when it comes from those closest to you.
A. It appears as though you are also receiving something of the treatment that every true servant of the Divine Plan on a dark planet must necessarily experience at some stage, and often repeatedly.
It is a good sign! When expressing among the general public, if you are not making at least 3 enemies every day, then you are probably compromising on the Truth and, therefore, your own spirit!
Student: "I wish to become a teacher of the Truth."
Master: "Are you prepared to be ridiculed, ignored and starving till you are forty‑five?"
Student: "I am. But tell me: What will happen after I am forty‑five?"
Master:
"You will have grown accustomed to it."
~ Anthony De Mello
On Earth, if something is agreed upon by consensus, then it cannot possibly be True; if it is popular with humanity, then it cannot be Divine.
Remember
- when a man becomes spiritual, the world of egos will reject him, as
he must reject (but not object to!) everything of the fallen
world.
Q. I realize that the idea of "time" is an illusion, the ideas of "past" and "future" as well... I know that even though we are sitting right now in the illusion of separate lives, we are all One. But even as I know this, I am curious about the past lives that have brought me to where I sit now. I am curious about my lives in Pleiades, my lives in Sirius, my lives on Earth, and others.. and I like to use what I've learned in these lives to help me now in this one.
In your previous messages it sounded almost as though you think it's "bad" or "wrong" to think of yourself in these ways; I don't think it's bad, so long as you do understand that (in the big picture) we are all One, and don't forget that these are illusions.
A . Well, if they are illusions and if we love the Truth, the One, then why would we wish to give our energy to that which is not True, to that which is not One, to that which incites in us a separative or egotistic way of thinking and seeing? There is confusion in your reasoning here, which demonstrates that you do not Know, i.e., Experience that we are One at all, you merely believe it, just as the fundamental Christians believe that Jesus will save them. Additionally, since time does not exist (i.e., since it is also a part of the mind-born illusion), neither does the past.
Since Liberation (the goal of all unenlightened life) must happen in the present moment - where there is no time or, indeed, 'me' - to look to "my own past" surely means: i) to look to my illusory self (egotism), and ii) to look into an illusion (the past). Either way, in order to get where we wish to go, back to the Divine, we will need to be looking in that direction, past the self and past all conceptions of time and space.
The Goal of Liberation from matter cannot be realized as long as one is looking and thinking about illusions because the universal laws dictate that what we focus on grows.
To focus upon an illusion (even if we do not actually believe it) feeds it with more energy, creating karma and thus augmenting/perpetuating the illusion. This leads to further suffering, as all enlightened teachers have pointed out.
The above points are a part of the fundamental teachings of all true religions.
With regard to the other point made about 'good' and 'bad': Shakespeare once wrote, "There is no right or wrong, thinking makes it so."
In a free-will universe 'good' and 'bad' are but choices, or rather judgements that are made upon free-will choices.
Q. I have much respect for you and would like to get to know you a bit better, aside from the Teaching and Work. I wonder if you are comfortable with this?
A. There is nothing whatsoever worth knowing about the world of the personality other than that it is an illusion that begets pain and suffering. If we look to the personality, we can never know an individual's heart, and such a horizontal focus will contribute toward the delay of the manifestation of Light in you. We should ever be vigilant with regard to 'you' and 'me' (ego) attitudes. If we are truly aware of the need of the hour and what is at stake, we will not wish to waste time and create glamour by complimenting or even regarding one another as personalities, for there is no spiritual value in it (since there is no Truth in it); but there is a very real occult danger. Rather we shall wish to forge ahead free from the multifarious distractions and delusions created by personality identification, in intelligent collaboration for universal Good.
As long as we think in terms of 'you' and 'I' (even in the so-called 'master and disciple' attitude), unity-consciousness will evade us. To think of ourselves as separate lives perpetuates the fallen condition and feeds ignorance as well as the world evil. Our thoughts affect our consciousness. We may only invoke the Christ-Consciousness when we begin to think in terms of 'we', that is, impersonally and inclusively, and thus think as God thinks. This is how we may transmute our vehicles to vibrate in resonance with the light-ethers of the cosmic sphere of Christ-Love. Such a vertical focus leads to transfiguration. It is wise to begin to nurture this good habit immediately. Very few are able to fulfil the requirements of the Path, for it terrifies the ego, which the mass of men choose to identify with as themselves, and this is why so few can be a part of any real and liberating spiritual work. It is also how so many will see themselves in the mirror of Truth should they approach a genuine divine Work. Most flee from their own true reflection, or attack the mirror! Sincere aspirants and servants of Christ should live and work together for as long as is necessary in order to realize a divine solidarity. Once a true group consciousness has been established, then - and only then - it shall be possible for members of the group to be on opposite sides of the universe, even walking in opposite directions, yet remain side by side for the One Universal Cause.
Q. What role does the ego-personality play in the One Goal of human incarnation? Is there such a thing as an enlightened personality?
A. The general level of true spiritual attainment (enlightenment) of any person can be gauged by how much or how little he or she refers to him or herself (their 'I'). Since the personality is merely a temporary vehicle for the expression, work and development of the soul, the illumined individual does not care to engage in conversation about it, for he understands well that what we focus upon grows. Can you imagine Jesus or Buddha describing their personal history (or, indeed, anything personal) to their disciples before opening up the Book of Life to them?
Q. There seems to be a good energy exchange happening here; just be conscious of not getting too preachified.
A. I can only be who and where I am. Please forgive me for being imperfect, and please forgive me also for saying that in a free-will system, it is not for you or anyone else to tell me (or anyone) how to be or not to be. Personality reactions have ever prevented illumination/liberation.
If we love the Truth with all our heart (which is the only way we shall ever find it), then we shall willingly look past the personality illusion and necessarily defective ways of presentation (words and concepts), and see (or rather feel) what is behind the words. I suppose that sounds a bit preachified, too, yes? But would you wish me to walk on eggshells with you, or simply be natural?
The Buddha said:
Rely on the message of the teacher, not on his personality;
Rely on the meaning, not just on the words;
Rely on the real meaning, not on the provisional one;
Rely on your wisdom mind, not on your ordinary, judgemental mind.
With regard to the 'good energy' that we are sharing, we may go as high as you are willing, but let us endeavor to focus only on the Truth itself, otherwise the multifarious illusions of the unreal will certainly hold us back.