2004-03-14. Learning To Go Within
Rio Rancho #87
Topic: Learning To Go Within
Group: Rio Rancho TeaM
Teacher: Anatolia, Tomas, Michael
TR: Matthew, Gerdean
Opening
MUSIC: Elena on Piano: “Ah, Holy Jesus!”
PRAYER: Matthew: Let us place ourselves in the presence of Jesus, the Christ. Master Teacher, when the student is ready, the teacher arrives. We, as students, await your tutelage and seek your comfort and your personal presence in our lives, as you guide us in the everyday as well as the mysterious and the eternal. We place ourselves within you and before Our Father as we continue on our way, which helps unravel daily mysteries in the Eternal Presence. For which is everything from simplicity to sublimity. And we are with you as we pray you are with us, which is understood.
We thank you for this Teaching Mission and for the opportunity to make contact with teachers that prove to us that we are part of the eternal oneness, and that lessons can be taught endlessly and with merit and reason behind each and every syllable, let alone the unity of the message itself. We appreciate that and each other and look forward to the teachings that are made known to us today. With all of the other intentions of our heart and minds that lie before you, we are forever grateful. Amen.
Group: Amen.
TOMAS: Good afternoon, I am Tomas, your host. I will not be a presenter of a lesson today, but will instead engage you in meditation exercises later in the meeting, so as to allow you time and opportunity to begin the practice of meditation such that you will be able to T/R in the near future.
Any art or craft or skill requires some preparation, and so today we shall begin with the preparatory steps toward our goal, then — as was prayed, “when the student is ready the teacher will appear” — you, my beloved students, will be ready, and you will appear to teach those who appear before you in search of food from the divine Source of our sustenance.
Without hesitation now, I relinquish the floor to the Teacher for the day. I ask Matthew to avail himself to the prevailing energies so as to serve you in today’s formal study. Matthew?
Matthew: Thank you.
ANATOLIA: This is a fine day in which to meet and greet one another on our new venue for learning and appreciation. I, Anatolia, am happy to be with you today for these and all reasons, large and small.
Lesson
Much as with the concerns of our hearts and minds for things of smallness and largeness, because all is life, from the smallest element to the largest being, how much spirit does it take to enliven a being? How much being does it take to present a spirit? These are part of the mysteries in which your opening prayer offer, for I wish for you to consider the concepts of truth, beauty and goodness, relative to the presence of spirit, and how that affects your life.
This may seem to be a huge question, but one is which I wish to take you into a deeper understanding of your life within. So if you will bear with me long enough, I wish you to consider a journey that I will take you on, into the inner world. And as you may have heard it said, the path to the life in the outer reaches, is through the inner world. So one must go within in order to go without; to be centered within, in order to know what is truth without or beyond the limitations of your physical presence.
Close your eyes, if you will, and relax your body from the top of your head to the bottoms of your feet ~ by simply feeling all of the tension, stress, concern, difficulties, roll from your being ~ from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet ~ as a rippling brook travels along the rocks — it smoothes, it caresses, it surrounds every inch of that object.
Let your troubles float away as you feel your body relaxing from the top ~ each inch at a time ~ rolling down your neck … and your shoulders … your arms, your torso … your hips, your legs … and down through your calves, through your feet and out your toes, as if your toes were each a spigot of relaxing energy.
And allow yourself to feel content and at one with the security that you know is within you, that will allow you to breathe freely, without restriction and without restraint. Feel a pattern develop within your breathing that lets you know you are one with all that is, and the breath that enters your body and leaves your body is the divine cycle. The breathing cycle that you experience is that which is part of the universal cycle of life.
When you do this you will know that you are part of a larger mystery of life that enables you to recognize that which you are experiencing consciously at this moment, for what you are experiencing is part of that sublime settled state of being that seldom comes to your mind unless you give it consciousness – somewhat along the line of “I think, therefore I am” which is to recognize the reality of being.
Allow yourself to do this as often as you can, but without restraint or imposing another discipline. Allow yourself to do this at least once per day, when you establish the time for doing so, or when you have finally reached the time of being able to stop and let go. For it is in letting go that you let your being be its best, for you are operating the machine, otherwise, this allows you to recognize the machine and give it an internal tune-up.
It is necessary and essential for your well being and for reaching higher levels of consciousness, for to reach higher levels of consciousness, one must find it within. There is no pill, no drug, and no offer to buy, which gives you the opportunity to gain this insight, without stopping to smell the roses. The scent is there to be appreciated, but one must stop to smell the essence to appreciate its beauty.
This hence is the symbol for the lotus blossom, that symbol of going within and unfolding — to be at one with yourself and with All-That-Is. Therefore, you will find many answers to the mysteries that plague you, or to the mysteries that challenge your understanding of why or how something is.
Let us now relax, as we have prepared, and focus on the notion that “My Father and I are one.” And for the next five minutes, at least, not prolong or beginning purposes, but at least that long allow yourself to experience what focusing on that thought, feeling or concept brings you. “The Father and I are one.”
ANATOLIA: Is everyone able to come back from where you were, or are? If it’s all right with you, then, we can begin to talk about any experience you felt and what you believe this exercise was about. So, for discussion purposes, if anyone would like to volunteer an experience you had, we can talk about it with others. Anyone wish to share?
Dialogue
Elena: This time – more easily than when I tried on my own – it was easier to clear my mind of everything. I have a difficult time clearing my mind of other things, and this time it was easy to do that. I don’t know why but it was great.
Esmeralda: In breathing and thinking, “Father and I are One” – the strange part about that for me was, usually when I do this sort of thing I usually see all kinds of things immediately. Light bursts and then all kinds of things. This time, I didn’t until at least half way through. But then I do that all the time when I try to practice stillness.
ANATOLIA: It is desirable to set the stage, for that is what work on the altar is all about. With any of your experiences with altar work, it is literal and figurative, but to alter your state of mind and to present an altar for the acceptance of your place within God’s life, one could say then, “Are you the altar, or are you preparing the way for an altar to be built?” Any way you fashion it, you need to begin to set the altar for the concentration of recognizing who you are in the life of being and your role in it. No one can take your place in your birth, as no one can take your place in your death, for it is truly your life. Not in separation or isolation, but in oneness with all that is, so one must set the altar and your preparations will follow.
Anyone else?
Gerdean: I enjoyed this group stillness a great deal. Probably much like Elena, we are scheduled here today, to be here, so there is nothing else – my computer is not there, I don’t have to worry about ironing or anything, and – with the energy that everyone else brings to it, it was really nice to find myself launched into the dimension where I like to be, readily. It was like being lifted up out of the intellect or the mental arena, beyond metaphysical, even, right into the spirit, which is a release, it’s a break-through, and it feels great. But after a while, being in there, enjoying the “Father and I are One” which is generally manifested (in me) as energy, not so much personality today but just energy – I started to get restless because I wanted to do something with the energy, (yet it was typical that Father would send me out to do something), so, it was good. I enjoy your leading us in this.
ANATOLIA: It is an opportunity for each of us to experience another part of ourselves, one of which is somewhat intimate, but yet in a group setting, which is a new opportunity for each and every one of us. A thought, as you were speaking, Gerdean, is – in the opportunities that you have to focus on whatever concept, it is much like a focal point in concentration, that rather than to void your mind, which is one legitimate concept of meditation, for the novice it is difficult to conceive of the nothingness of everything, therefore the essence of everything. Very difficult concepts to visualize, let alone experience. But focus on something that brings you together, internally, with recognition of that, that you may yet have to seek in terms of the truth for yourself, that the Father and I are one allows you to reach out beyond your own thought processes or patterns, to a focal point that gives you a place to reach to, to not have to let your own mind filter itself, but to shoot an arrow at a target, and what better one than to contemplate the essence of you, which is part of the All-that-is.
In your doing such exercises, I suggest that you allow this to happen for as long as you are comfortable in your beginning stages, and as you progress, if you feel that you are losing consciousness or awareness of your surroundings and may end up falling asleep or not regaining consciousness, call upon your seraphim to awaken you before you would lose concept of the cake in the oven or whatever it will be that will require your eventual attention, so is there anything else before we conclude?
Maria: What’s a seraphim?
ANATOLIA: [In this context] a guardian angel.
Elena: When you’re losing concentration, what would you suggest? I mean, would just continuing to focus back on the thought process that you’re doing – like a number of things could be used, but to try it for a while or just kind of hang in there and try to concentrate until you get your concentration back?
ANATOLIA: The best way is to refocus your mind. If losing concentration, it is nothing more than an indication that you need to get realigned, so to speak, a technique would be to form another concept and see where that takes you, or, if you feel obliged to pursue the concept you chose initially, or is given as an assignment like “the Father and I are One” to refocus, reconnect with your breathing. Reinitiate awareness of your breathing pattern and get back in with the cycle that allows you to be who you are and to once again connect with the Source of All-that-is.
Does this help any?
Elena: Yes, thank you.
Thoroah: I see the mantra of “the Father and I are One” as that focal point that helps us from wandering mentally. And the breathing, I find if I can at some time take the time to just deep breath and concentrate on my breath, that that in itself does the relaxing trick. So I’m assuming that the mantra is just that focal point, that target that you mentioned, and probably breathing is the essential part.
ANATOLIA: Correct. It is the rhythm that enables you to be unmindful of yourself, in other words, that enables you to lose your self-consciousness and allows you to get, or acquire, a rhythm that is part of the cycle of life, that enables you to reach in closer or deeper to your Essence. This is, after all, where you are going.
You can look at it as above or below, but it is going to a crystal clear (color it blue, if you will) deep well, that is your essential Being, that is as warm as a bath, as a young child with the security of your parent giving you the Saturday night bath, or whatever picture you can imagine, that is the warm secure waters of your inner being, that is your soul, that you are making contact with, that resurrects your eternal life consciousness.
This is what is being called forth when you meditate. It is that oneness that you seek with All-that-is. And after all, what are you, in essence, other than an expression of the eternal Source of All-that-is, each in its own unique ability to be who you are made to be. This is what you make contact with. So if you are able to massage a muscle to relax it, you are certainly able to massage your inner being, to be at one with it, as this is the open door to All-that-is.
This is where you will find eternity, both here and forevermore, for in the time of physical passing, what your eyes are seeing now is what you will see through soul or spirit. Your essence will be that which you cannot touch or feel but what is. I invite you to cherish this opportunity to explore the unlimited within for the sake of your mental and spiritual health, as this too is as important as any nutrient. And I venture to say more so, however you need to function where you are and this enables you to be aware of the house in which you live. Anything else?
Paula: I’ve always had a heck of a time in the silence. I don’t like it. It scares me. And the only time I like it is when I have a headache, or when I’m getting ready to say my prayers at night.
ANATOLIA: Why is that?
Paula: Darned if I know.
ANATOLIA: What do you find with the headache? Does it help it go away?
Paula: Oh, yeah. Because I don’t want any noise around me when I’ve got a headache, so I appreciate it being quiet. Otherwise, it’s kind of spooky and I don’t like it. I always wonder, if it’s real quiet in the house, if Carl’s mad at me. But usually he isn’t, so then it all clears up. It isn’t silent any more. We’re laughing. And that’s a lot better than silence.
ANATOLIA: It is simply being comfortable with yourself that is important, and whether you need a reminder, in silence, of what true security is, this is what you are being invited to explore, of true security, for being alone can be extremely frightening, and a feeling of being abandoned, however being totally conscious, or as conscious as you can be of who you are in truth is what real security is all about; however, like the psalm of old, you can go into battle with arrows and slings being slung around you but have no fear for you are protected and guided in all ways and nothing is able to disturb your inner calm. This may be something you seek or seek not, but you are invited to consider the possibilities of what security is.
Anyone else?
Know that what we have begun today is a step toward sharing of ourselves in the security with others, to know that nothing will harm you, and that only the Father arnd we are one. This is my sharing for today, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share this learning with you. May we continue on the way toward inner enlightenment. Peace be with you.
Group: Thank you, Anatolia. Thank you very much.
TOMAS: Your host returns to praise the concept of teamwork and my teammate, Anatolia, who mastered the technique of teaching that brought you to this point — the vital point of connection between your soul self and the Source of your soul self, the eternal God, the Universal Father.
There are some comments I have, in the context of your investigations thus far, one of which is: the stillness to worship the divine and to find this connection is a precursor to T/Ring. You cannot transmit what you do not have, if you cannot access what is in there, and therefore you must learn to open yourself up to the Spirit. When you do this, indeed you will open yourself to the floodgates, to all manner of apparitions and energies of long ago, lodged in your various conscious states, that may seek to emerge, that may need to be released in order for you to find that sanctity.
However, the opposite is true is well, that if you, in your longing to return to the Father, seek Him out and find succor within, He will protect you from those slings and arrows, at least until such time as you have been sufficiently strengthened in your own constitution to deal with those false perceptions that would give rise to those fearsome feelings such as Paula mentioned when what is truly “in there” is the still pool of living waters which will provide you satisfaction and peace such as you have never known.
But, again, it is a process. There are millions of people, many people, too many people, who in fear of quietude and indeed in fear of God Himself, are in a process of filling their hearts and minds with the stimuli of sounds, so as not to have to endure the panic of potentially being face-to-face with yourself – or, being face-to- face with God – which, in a theosophic way, can be regarded as the same thing.
There are lessons, however, to be learned in this process, (after the recognition that avoiding the process is not going to provide the solution your soul seeks), and we will deal with those, hopefully, as time goes by. It is not necessary to set aside every contortion of conditioning in order to access the true, the beautiful and the good within you. Therefore, I am not suggesting you wait until you are perfect, no, for in that case we would never have a mouthpiece for the Master. But that you come to know yourself, including the mind, and the various layers of consciousness that you possess, and so put to rest those apparitions of unreality and illusions which bring you fear, in order for you to grasp the concept of the indwelling God.
For once you have gained awareness of your conscious connection to divinity, it is possible then to discern what He is not, or how He varies from individual to individual in His personality manifestation. In this way you open up your universe greatly, not only to the personalities throughout the cosmos who would welcome you to your cosmic neighborhood and to the Family of God in infinity, but you will find God in the faces, in the eyes, and in the actions of those you encounter, much more vividly, extensively and compassionately than you would by a mere intellectual acceptance of their being children of God. This is a personal experience.
And it will be for you to practice this experience, conscientiously, throughout the weeks ahead. In a month, when we meet back here, we will have an occasion to discuss the difference between your relationship with your inner divine font and the personalities of others, in becoming aware of others, in energy and in consciousness. Rather than be frightened of their presence, be enthralled by the fact that you are learning to see with eyes to see the fine points of universe existence. Those other energies are enabling you to perceive outside yourself. Only one who is secure in himself can see from beyond himself, from the detached perspective that will be required for you to be able to set aside your own interpretation of what it is to the interpretation of the visitor, the teacher, the otherness of life in the universe.
Do you have any questions as to this technique of establishing stillness? I sense you do, but you are not asking, so let us apply ourselves then experientially. It is in the experiential application of what you have yet to learn that the questions are formulated.
Would you like, as an experiment, to experience another moment of quietude in order for you who are aware of God in your super-conscious reality to try to attempt to become aware of the “otherness” of others in the universe who may be embracing you, surrounding you, tapping you on the shoulder, or otherwise prompting you to acknowledge their existence? Perhaps your guardian seraphim. Perhaps myself or Anatolia or Jesus. Let’s take that moment and see if you can feel the presence of others. Fear not. You are in good company.
Closing
MICHAEL: Gentle souls, this is your elder brother, Michael. I come to you today in your quietude to bring you my loving presence while you are open and vulnerable. Let me come in with my love for you and impress upon you my eternal devotion to your growth and happiness in the Father’s kingdom. Your needs are met, your desires are fulfilled, your wants are arranged, by me and the Divine Minister, the Mother Spirit, who protects you through your seraphim and other ministering spirits. Have no fear.
Carry me with you in your soul, in your conscious space of connection with divinity. You have knocked and I have opened and we are one. In this understanding, there is nothing which can beset you that I do not share in completely. With this understanding there is nothing you cannot tell me and come to me about which I will not hear and resolve on your behalf. Through your cooperation and reciprocating love for me, I and you together will bring peace to Urantia.
I know it is said that I bring not peace but a sword, but this sword is not for destroying the good; it is for cutting off the useless parts of life that have hung around, clung to you, because of the nature of life itself. As the snake molts its skin and the leaves fall from the trees in season, so will we enable your world and mine to let go of that which no longer serves, in order to embrace the resurrection of life which lies ahead, inherent in your very limbs, flowing through your spirit veins, to bring nourishment, spiritual food to those who know me not and who languish in their isolation of alienation due to their belief that the Father is far away and lo! He lives with you, as we see and feel this moment, beautiful brothers and sisters, and humble children of God our Father. What a delight to spend some time with you today. I am a reflection of the joy that resides within you. Come to me and I will give you rest.
I return you to your teachers and to yourselves for your celebration of life, in and through each other. Dear children, farewell.
Group: Thank you.
TOMAS: And I, Tomas, have no further words to say, so let us be on our way.
Group: Thank you, Tomas.
