1991-07-22-Stillness

Session 1

JULY 22, 1991

Lesson

Stillness

Ham: My lesson is concerning that ‘point of enlightenment’ referred to in ancient teachings. There is much truth to be gained in studying some parts of these ancient religious systems, especially concerning the practice of meditation. Abraham has requested that you retire alone and seek the stillness. This refers to first, stillness in body. It is very difficult without much practice to attain heightened spiritual awareness during physical activity.

The second is stillness of mind. This step is considerably more difficult because the mind ever tends toward activity. Yes, these teachings are found from many sources generally. I wish this evening to clarify this practice. The goal of stillness seeking is different. I request not the seeking of blissful ease experience, but rather, the supreme exercise of true faith - the true faith of the child reaching out with courage toward the Father and the reciprocal downward reaching of the Father towards His child. This is the sublime experience in life, and much guidance, inspiration, foresight, and spiritual insight may thus be obtained as the reward of the sincere faith-seeking child.

I do not enjoin you to covet this practice for long periods of time. However, frequent repetition of this stillness, prayerful attitude is very helpful and enlightening. I would suggest that we should attempt to seek the stillness everyday for a few minutes. It is, or can be, the most fruitful experience of your 24-hour day. It is often the practice of men to be so busy with their day to day thinking activity so as to simply forget the higher realms of thinking, reacting, feeling, experiencing, which are possible by the simple practice of: One, aloneness; Two, stillness of the body; Three, stillness of the mind.

I wish to elaborate on three--stillness of the mind. This is the most difficult aspect of this practice and sometimes requires considerable amount of practice in order to have the ability to sustain mental stillness for any time length. This should, however, be practiced with diligence and reward will follow. I say to you with surety, that this simple practice will surely help to increase the mental peace and well-being; the emotional happiness and feeling of well-being; and also the physical health and well-being. For this process of allowing of the contact of the Thought Adjuster through the superconsciousness is, in itself, a very healing process.

The great spiritual power inherent in the presence of the Thought Adjuster is never ever realized in mortal consciousness. You can expand this consciousness of God awareness by diligent practice, conscious thought, consciously centering the thought process on Him, and also on Christ Michael, but the full consciousness on such extremely powerful spiritual beings cannot be realized during the physical life. So powerful is He that even a momentary full consciousness, that is-His being filling your consciousness completely, which is not to say complete consciousness of Him, but complete consciousness possible of Him-would result in translation - fusion. That is also the ‘Deity embrace.’

His supreme desire, of course, is to reach you more fully day by day, to impart His guidance - some of His awareness and His teaching directly to your mind. What a change of life results from the sincere effort to listen and to receive Him, His guidance, His instruction, and His presence. What a supreme experience! What a supreme delight! What a supreme advancement in your own personal spiritual development this is!

Soul

Conscious awareness of God directly results in the immediate transcription of this consciousness to the soul. This soul consciousness is immediately upstepped and made more perfect and divine, and thus more like Him. These soul transcriptions are a permanent part of the ascendant self which is never lost, is a permanent reality, and this permanent reality is made by your conscious decision to make it.

Thus, a supreme responsibility thus lies with each person to, in partnership with God, become conscious increasingly of His awareness, being, presence. And this, in turn, creates a new awareness, being, presence in the morontial soul, which is your true self. This truth - ever present from then on, is at that beginning moment a never-ending true being.

I have spoken in the past about the unconscious growth of the soul, and so, tonight, I take you one step further into the conscious growth of the same soul by your own effort. Although these efforts and the fruits thereof may be very satisfying, and even thrilling, do not be disheartened or discouraged if you are not comfortable with this. All true desire of the son is rewarded by the Father when that desire is to be like Him, to be more of Him, and to express His reality within your uniqueness. This expression of God is most often not a conscious effort, but the simple revelation of grace that the ever growing and expanding soul reveals to the world even without the full consciousness of such growing grace by the person.

Closing

You are all growing in grace, in truth, in light, in beauty, in goodness, usually very slowly, sometimes faster. Do not become discouraged for this growth proceeds - unabated by your awareness or not. Spiritual growth is transforming and this transformation is never sudden. The seed does not become the tree overnight. All growth, physical, morontial, and spiritual growth, takes time for completion. Yet, as this growth is accomplished and certain levels are attained, consciousness - even sudden consciousness of this growth - may happen. And this increased awareness thus augments this growth, and thus, allows further growth and development to occur unconsciously.

Session 2

OCTOBER 14, 1991

Lesson

Stillness

Ham: My lesson is concerning the stillness. It is easy to achieve if you are diligent and steadfast in your application of the following ideas:

1. The stillness requires just that--stillness. It is most important to still the body in order to gain a quietness for the mind to be allowed to begin its quieting process. Any position is acceptable of course, it matters not. stillness and relaxation of the limbs, eyes, face, hands, and feet, this will help facilitate stillness in the brain. That is, the electrical impulses coming from the extremities are lessened, and therefore, the electrical activity within the brain itself becomes less.

2. Then the surroundings should be quiet. Stimulation from the auditory sense is most distracting and should be eliminated if possible.

3. Mental stillness, this particular aspect of this practice is the most difficult to achieve. Many of you are, however, making great progress and strides in this section. Mental stillness is essential for Thought Adjuster communications to be received.

There is a metaphor in these teachings, of still water reflecting the sun. When the water (the mind) is turbulent, this reflection is splintered, broken into myriad refractions. In the ideal stillness, for clarity's sake, the mind must, absolutely must, be still. Deep relaxation, mental stillness, will, without fail, result in increased Thought Adjuster communication if you are patient and willing to commit this time.

Session 3

Nov. 4, 1991

Lesson

Stillness

Ham: Once again, I wish to instruct you a little in your personal devotions. The stillness is not meant to be an end in itself, it is the beginning of personal communion with God. You will receive in the stillness, a consciousness of a feeling of higher self-awareness. It is in this higher mind state where communication between your Indwelling Spirit and your consciousness can take place.

Often, the older seers were content with only the God-consciousness sensation awareness. I am asking you to go further than this, to do as Jesus - Michael did and reach communion, two-way communication, between your conscious mind and your Thought Adjuster.

Praying is most efficacious in this awareness feeling of God, that is, if you speak to Him in prayerful attitude of childlike humility. Often there will be a response, whether it is an inner change of attitude, peace awareness of His overcare; or the more directness of consciousness of intent - direction, or awareness of another - another's intent or direction. Or still further, there may be direct word-message flashed within into your consciousness even as word-message is received through Rebecca to you from myself, Ham. Also, this can be effected from your own Indwelling Spirit into your own mind-consciousness level.

Many of you have received already this type of communication and are aware of my words. Then again, many of you are in the earlier stages of change of attitude - awareness of others and their attitude, and this, in itself, is life changing. God has his manner of communicating in allowing us a broader sensitivity awareness to other people and ourselves. This inner awareness is now developing within all of you and you are becoming more and more of who you are meant to be.

Self-realization is a word often used in connection with meditation. It is these early stages of meditation that is referred to. At even later stages of self-awareness realization - God consciousness (communication between the Thought Adjuster and the consciousness), there is a oneness.

Fusion

Future time, there will be no communication between two minds; they will be one mind. In doing the decisions of your greater self, your own Indwelling Spirit, who comes from the Father, you are increasingly becoming like Him; you are doing His will for Him and for yourself; you are more closely attuning your will to His, your mind to His, your awareness to His; and, in future times, as I said, there will be only One.

And on that day, when there is only One, you are immortal, and you will come to understand the saying that “there will be no more weeping, no more tears of sorrow, for He will wipe away those tears.”[1] There are no more sins, “for all your sins, though they be as scarlet, are white as snow.” For you have become true and noble and eternal citizens of the Father's Kingdom where there is still adventure, still uncertainty, still reward for effort, still effort to reach the Eternal Father, but your success is assured, the way is truly open, and the faltering is truly no more. This time of oneness is sought by all will creatures, on all worlds, in all the universes, in one way or another. This attuning of the creature will to the Divine will is the Father's command “be ye perfect as I am perfect.” This is the Father's one and only command of you.

Session 4

Nov. 13, 1995

Lesson

Confusion

Abraham: With the up-stepping of God-consciousness comes many branches of new learning. At times these branches can cross and cause confusion. One of these branches we may refer to is extreme sensitivity. With the isolation on this planet at an end and the re-encircuitment completed, Urantian's find themselves extremely sensitive in many areas, mind, body, spirit. These sensitivities can cause you much concern and confusion, possibly fear. What you are experiencing is completely common to a world receiving full spiritual benefits and this is why we ask you to practice the stillness.

Practicing the stillness is a wonderful way to uncross your wires. To disconnect yourself from the world and reconnect with Father is a time for further instruction and understanding from Him. This sensitivity can be physical in the ways of electrochemical within the brain. This is perfectly common for this world that is now out of isolation and for the first time discovering what it is like to have full spiritual benefits. You see, the circuits and the electrochemical transmitters in the human brain all tie together. This is Father's original plan. This is how it was supposed to be all along.

So many often feel physical changes and extreme sensitivity to pain and changes in the material body with regards to the mind. The mortal mind also has become extremely sensitive to the ways of their world, the moral issues, the complicated, seemingly answerless solutions to worldly injustices. For those who are prone to this sensitivity are almost overly emotional when they uncover injustices. It is as if they take this injustice as their own. To be witness to injustices against their fellow brothers and sisters becomes painful and almost unbearable. This is where there is some confusion.

Those who witness such unfairness in your world ask, "where is the God that is supposed to love and watch over us?" These moral virtues and societal injustices become a tangled web within the mortal mind. Those that are feeling this extreme sensitivity are often angry and defensive and wish to find immediate solutions. These mortals often are somewhat overly emotional. This is part of what I term crossing of the wires.

Renaissance

With regards to spirit there is a spiritual rediscovery that this world has not experienced in many years. There is a spiritual awakening that is new, something which has not occurred on this planet before the times of Adam and Eve. This world is experiencing a spiritual renaissance that has opened so many new possibilities to the curious Urantian mind. Mortals now experience spiritual feelings that have not been felt since the time of Pentecost when those that were gathered felt the Spirit of Christ poured out upon them. This is somewhat like that experience, in which you will know, you will experience many new feelings. You will experience morontial mota firsthand. With this new discovery of sensitivity to the cosmic mind many again shall unintentionally cross their wires and perhaps go to unbalanced extremes.

Many who are feeling and experiencing this God-consciousness for the first time may become overfilled with ideas and energy that could indeed lead them to possible dangers. This is why we, the teaching staff, have requested you to practice the stillness, not long, 5 to 10 minutes a day, to open a line of communication directly to your Father to uncross your wires to remain balanced. This world has now experienced extreme sensitivities unlike ever before. It is important that you hang on to your life raft that is this group and stay in touch with your Father and His vast legions of helpers. As time passes confusion about this new sensitivity will become so beneficial in your lives. After this confusion passes so many different areas will be affected by this new understanding of spiritual and mindal sensitivity. Understand that this is quite ordinary for a planet that is passing from isolation. This is nothing to be feared. This is something to be aware of and consciously take time to understand. It is my goal and assignment to assist you in discovering your full spirit potential.

Session 5

• Abraham, JANUARY 22, 1996

Opening

I am Abraham. I am honored to speak with you this evening. I find it hard to express to you the joy I receive from teaching this group. I have longed for a position of this type for a long time, but there were several things I had to experience first. Much training have I completed to be here with you for these teachings. I say, the effort I have made was absolutely worth the joy I experience now. //snip//

Lesson

Trust

The teachers have instructed you to take a moment of stillness each day to renew your connection with your origin, to reconnect with the source of all living things. The moment of stillness need not be long. The effort to perform the stillness is quite simple, and yet it helps you to locate the source of all inner peace. For to walk in this life day by day, takes a toll on the body and mind. Life can become too much trouble, and some mortals may wish to withdraw for periods of time. They are too affected by ordinary adversity conditions. Without the exercise of reconnecting with the source of all peace, many find it difficult to handle even the simplest tasks.

You are learning to trust Father. You are beginning to know Father is unfailing. You are beginning to see new horizons that you did not know existed. With your trust you have turned to Father for guidance on a moments notice. With your trust you have learned to trust your own judgment. Do you see, when you are trusting the Father to guide you unerringly to do His bidding, this is where your heart lies? In trusting your God this definitely brings self-trust. Do you see your intentions? Do you see the circle of faith created by your trust in Father, His trust in you and completing our circle in your own self-trust?

Stillness

Tonight my lesson is short. I am asking you to reconnect with the source of peace through stillness practice. If you can locate this peace you become re-energized and feel more competent to handle what life may have in store for you. A few minutes, not long. Do not make this difficult. Stillness is like a man in a hot desert searching for the well wherewith to quench his thirst. Your stillness is drinking from this well. You are quenched with the peace and clarity of mind needed to send you on your way to further spiritual learning and growth. This week, focus on listening during the stillness. Expect to hear with your heart and not with your ears. My friends, we indeed have eternity. Let not the burden of time be upon you. Let your time spent at the well be a gift that you share with the one closest to you, just you and your Father. Any questions?

Dialogue

CALVIN: Abraham, your lesson is very timely because I have been reading transcripts from the Arkansas gathering. It is quite the theme in there of the importance of the stillness. For years now, I have heard you and Ham speak of the importance of connecting with our Indwelling Spirit for just a few minutes a day. I know most of my problem is not regularly taking those few minutes, but can there be physical reasons why there is a frustrated connection sometimes, or just a 'calm down' reason maybe?

ABRAHAM: I am certain that many make this practice to be a big event. They are making the stillness practice to be a chore and not a drink from the well of light. Many times each day does the stillness practice come to you no matter your location, your attitude, or even the noise that may surround you. Stillness is within and not so much without. Many times do you find yourself in the midst of calm. It is an appropriate time to say, " I am here Father. I give thanks for this drink at the well, which is your love and peace."

It is not easy to find a quiet moment in this fast paced world, but I say, your mind is more than you know. You all are endowed with mind that possibly escapes your understanding. You see, a mind trained in the ways of self-mastery can perform stillness in the midst of chaos. This is why there is need for practice. Stillness practice is to be recognized as it comes to you. No, this is not hard. This is a gift in which the child looks to see if His hand still holds his Father's. You will see, much of learning the stillness is an attitude. It is not necessary to make this a mystical practice. To recognize stillness as it comes upon you is to be enabled to serve your fellows as the need arises. You see, stillness is not just sitting in solitude. Advanced *stillness* is opening the channel between your God and your fellows. Does this help?

CALVIN: Very, very much. I thought I had to go sit in a certain way and hold my hands in a certain way to really connect. I can see I can do what you are saying just in driving down the road or reflecting - looking out the window at work. (Abraham: Yes, correct.)

ROLAND: Abraham, I appreciate your lesson tonight. I feel benefited by that. The East Indian tradition of meditation is of course, as you know long, and asks that in the meditation the goal be in connection with God consciousness. They speak of an energy, which is kundalini energy, that rests at the bottom of the spine. Many of the masters are able to raise this energy from the base of the spine through the crown chakras of the head with practice, and have become illuminated in the process, in a mindal way that their prose and their poetry are of a very high state. Does this have any bearing on what they are doing or a bearing of what you speak of in the silence, or is this a different practice entirely?

ABRAHAM: As with stillness practice, you are opening your human will to be led by Father. You are putting aside your desires, for Father to be of service. It is Father who manipulates the energies that you speak of. Man can only be open to this manipulation. It must be man's will to align with Father's in order to understand the benefits of this energy. God is energy. He is the source of all energy. To integrate with Father is to begin to understand this energy and how to put it to use. Is this at all answering?

ROLAND: It does answer. I guess the distinction I can see at this point is that for the world in general to understand that reaching the stillness is a simple process of quieting yourself each day, and there is a tremendous amount of power and direction in that. Is it then that practicality which we achieve by a few minutes of this practice, is enhanced or perhaps even refined through the Eastern tradition of longer periods of time and particular methods of meditation? Is it beneficial to pursue those traditional forms of Eastern Indian practice to achieve higher enlightenment?

ABRAHAM: Long stillness practice is to misuse your energy. Too long at stillness practice is to drain you of that energy that might be put to use through service. This meeting for example, during the first part of my lesson the words are fairly strong. Towards the end of our meeting the words are fewer and less understood by the transmitter/receiver. We recommend short stillness practice, because when you begin to always allow God to live your life with you, you will find you are always in somewhat of a stillness practice. Stillness, is a reconnecting and allowing Father to reach you. Advanced stillness is to use this practice in everyday living. Does this help?

ROLAND: It does and I appreciate what you are saying, that eventually the silence practice will appear in everything that you do, whether it be a material pursuit or serving another person in a spiritual way, and I don't even know if you can separate those. (Yes, correct.) I see that in my stillness practice, and having others be involved in *stillness* practice, such as occurred on Dec. 25, Christmas morning, where two people were brought together in time and space exactly at the right time for a message to be exchanged. That it was in stillness that we had both released ourselves to the will of God, and it was in that releasing ourselves that we were brought together, and that is so precise it might take years to do exactly the same if we did it under our own power. So I see in the *stillness* how we coordinated to assist each other. That seems to be manifested in the lives of those people who spend years doing it. They are also well coordinated in their pursuit of being of service or in pursuing the will of the Father. So my notion is, if it is easy and if there were an easy way to do it, certainly that would be my way. I'm not sure if I get it completely but I'll continue to work on it. I thank you very much for your response.

ABRAHAM: I think you understand very well, Roland. You are welcome. Anything else I can assist in this evening, please feel free to ask me anything. Another question?

CALVIN: Abraham, you said you were with us during the week. I know I am not a very good listener, but do you have any more insights on how we can be better prepared or connected with the teachers? I can see from the lessons, again reading the Arkansas transcripts, that many - many teachers are with us to be an everyday part of our lives for help and assistance. In addition, it is part of the Father's work and our intended connection to be more on a reality level with you teachers, our guides and helpers. Anything new after observing us this week that we could be more aware of?

ABRAHAM: My observance this week has led me to put emphasis on this practice being as normal as possible. Before this world was thrown into rebellion and setbacks, many were evolving towards this practice. To transmit a teachers message would have been like taking a bath. This practice would be thought of as natural as breathing. I wish to dispel any mystical ideas my students may hold as far as the stillness goes. I am extremely pleased at your willingness to learn and this helps me teach by your questions. It is the format for your lessons. I am fading in my clarity to you. I leave you my love and gratitude. Until next week, shalom.

Session 6

• Abraham, June 29, 1997

Lesson

It is understood that you each have experienced in excess the difficulties of maintaining a human and divine balance within the brotherhood. To relate with one another is where you will probably learn the most. It is well that you are understanding of your shortcomings to be humble enough to empty that spiritual cup and be teachable. Our rest period has proven to create a new thirst for truth. Our stumbling has helped us to be still and listen.

In the world there is confusion over being still and being idle. To some stillness or rest means to be unproductive. In our rest we have found our reason why we continue to strive Paradiseward. I would say that a period of rest or recreation can prove to be quite rejuvenating of mind and spirit. To step out of the ordinary is to create a ripple in the waters of truth that are in danger of becoming stagnant. Yes, we will continue on this path of rejuvenation through rest, recreation, and humor.

In the ordinary day to day living there is a myriad of mindal fears that can cloud the contents of your spiritual cup. A regular regime of rest and recreation can aid you in emptying the clouded cup to make room for fresh living spiritual realities. My question is, during your times of rest is there some guilt about your duties or obligations? Is there ever a genuine clearing of the mind? Is there ever a moment of just being within the presence of Father?

In teaching self mastery our first lesson is to emphasize the importance of the stillness. It need not be an elaborate meditation, no. A quiet moment with the presence of your Father is significant enough to create change where you would desire. It is sometimes necessary for some to have several moments with Father throughout the day, a continual reconnecting, if you will. If your desire is self control and genuine spiritual freedom, then our first lesson is always to maintain an open connection with Father.

Session 7

• Abraham, July 16, 2001

Lesson

Correcting Time

I am Abraham. Greetings. I am glad for the early start to tonight's meeting for we have much to cover. Beginning the second phase of the Correcting Time, it is wise for us to cover some of those tried and true techniques that have carried us this far.

Urantia Book

We have discussed The Urantia Book as a measuring tool for all our incoming spiritual information. We have discussed the importance of the relationship to our Indwelling Adjusters. We touched on the importance of awareness on who we serve, and the realities of our Paradise Father. I will say a few words on the technique that brought you this Correcting Time Teaching Mission, yes.

Stillness

The stillness practice is a time of quiet openness that is specifically for you. It is for you and Father to keep your relationship fresh and growing. The stillness practice is an antidote for stress and mental and emotional confusion. The *stillness* is not about uprooting mystical happenings that proves God is real, no. It is not about showing yourself to be a dedicated child of God. It is not about paying your dues to show you are worthy of "child of God" status.

The stillness practice is balance for your mind and a cleansing of spiritual poisons. The *stillness* is reconnecting to Father, that all-knowing Parent, who sees you for who you really are and loves and encourages you without end. The *stillness* or meditation is an equalizer between the divine and the human--a balancer of the ego, a line drawn between self-loathing and self-love.

Stillness was not designed to add to your guilt because you do not practice it, no, but it is a safeguard for you to become balanced in Spirit, mind and body. A sound connection with Father leads to clean and clear thinking, which receives incoming divine information that produces overall benefits for the mind and body. The human body cannot repel ailments if the mind is in turmoil. It all begins with stillness, my friends.

And this following from recent lesson, shows a distinction between stillness and prayer:

Session 8

• Abraham, October 13, 2002

Lesson

Stillness, Nutrition

What would cause the soul to grow? What would assist the mind in attaining self-mastery? What could be added to feel personal connection and comfort to our divine family? What is considered to be a healthy balance to fill the vessel that produces spiritual fruits and shows it in all our daily actions?

You each know what is at the top of my list, yes, stillness. Time spent with the divine Parent everyday is to invite Him to add what He will to your soul, mind and body. The feeling of belonging to the Father of all fathers is a supreme comfort and a knowing that we are never left alone. Along with stillness I believe the Master would certainly have us interact with Him several times a day, perhaps through a small prayer or a moment of sharing with Him, allowing Him to know He is indeed a tremendous part of your life here and definitely beyond. I believe the Master would encourage us to take care of the mortal vessel, which houses the spiritual, with good diet and exercise.

Session 9

• Abraham, Feb. 20, 1995

Lesson

Stillness

Something to think about: Are you one who wades in a river of imagined problems? Are you one that stirs the mud under the water on purpose? Sometimes in the stillness when you let the mud/dirt settle you may find your souls true desire. You may find what it is your soul cries out for. Take these words with you into your week and I’ll be here again to hear of your dealing with your fellows. Shalom.

Session 10

• Abraham, June 5, 1995

Lesson

Action

Action is different from resistance. To act within the Father’s will is for some not very discernible. They have to go on instinct, on gut feeling, if you will. Yes, the Master always first sought the Father through the stillness, through His meditation, therefore, acquiring a better idea of Father’s divine plan and then Jesus put that plan into action. No, He did not believe Father to do His work for Him. (TR: I said that wrong. You know what I mean. Note: He did not leave His work for Father to do.) Many people who are passive may be confused with the gentle nature of the Master and fear to stand up for their passions. But I tell you, Jesus was a superb example of strength and intelligence. He could always find a way to put these attributes into a plan of action.

Session 11

• Abraham June 26, 1995

Lesson

ROLAND: Thank you, Abraham. (INAUDIBLE)..I find that telling of experiences seem to be of interest because (inaudible) the story behind it. The thing that has changed in my experience, that has transformed me is (INAUDIBLE--I think Roland is asking about transcendental--Eastern practices of meditation) meditation, to allow the Indwelling Spirit to communicate at some level in the conscious mind a direction of the spiritual path. That is a concept that is foreign to the western mind. Do you have some suggestions as to how we can approach that?

ABRAHAM: Yes, the word, the stillness, may perhaps be too foreign, whereas meditation is more recognized. Just as with prayer, the simple talk with the Father and a moment of receiving is really all one needs to start with. Yes, you are correct, the stillness is very important to contact the Indwelling Father Fragment, but I would suggest that with this *stillness* exercise inform the newcomer, beginners, that this exercise is not supernatural, is not mysterious, is not going to be miraculous.