The School of Life

The School of Life

Question: Do you think it is a disadvantage to be born with no awareness of where you came from, what you are supposed to do and how you are supposed to do it?

The general idea some expressed here is that it is a blessing that we are born here with a blank slate for if we could remember our past lives a large distraction would be produced.

For instance, if you were a king or queen in a past life it and could remember this it would be difficult to handle being one of the masses.

If you were a bad guy in a past life and could remember, this would make it more difficult to concentrate on being a good guy in this life.

There is a certain amount of truth to this idea and I believe I have written about it in the past, but there are misunderstandings also.

Life is a school and the circumstances for maximum learning in the early years must be different than those for the later period.

In this human cycle of progression we go through three cycles of learning.

(1) The Cycle of Experience. Here we learn through experience, or trial and error. This is the longest schooling period and learning is at glacier speed for numerous lifetimes. There is very little progression in this period without going through painful lessons which we desire not to repeat. It is essential in this cycle that the pilgrim not recall his past lives for it would only serve to distract him.

(2) The Cycle of Seeking. After learning all that can be had through circumstances acting upon him leading him to circumstances not of his choosing, the entity begins to ask questions and seeks for answers. He wants to know where he came from, why he is here and where he is going. He wants to know the purpose of things, he wants to understand and commune with whatever God is and he wants to know what he is supposed to do next.

The seeker here may get glimpses of his past and mission, but there are many pieces to the puzzle and he obtains them one by one through great effort. Still he knows within that much is withheld from him.

(3) The Cycle of Service. When the disciple begins this period he still does not have all the answers, but has some answers. His learning through seeking has taught him one important lesson and that is that his brothers and sisters in the world are crying out for many needs and something within him presses him onward to serve. He thus begins the path of service, often even forgetting his quest to seek and find.

To his delight he discovers that when he forgets the needs of his self, even the need of his own enlightenment, that he receives more learning and at an accelerated rate than he received during the seeking period. He finds that when he applies himself to selfless service that learning comes to him from “on high” that gives him everything he needs to know to do his job which is in alignment with higher purpose.

The principle is this:

“Serve and you will be given power to serve.”

When picking a field of selfless service you will be given what you need to know to do your job. If you need to clearly understand the current mission it will be given. If the memory of a past life will be helpful it will be given. If you need a piece of knowledge that has never been revealed then it will also be given.

If you rise above the ego you will be given all you seek to successfully complete your field of service.

As the disciple continues to serve more is given until he either intuitively or consciously understands the answer to every question that he has.

The answers he now receives would not have been helpful to a person in the experience cycle, but they are indeed helpful and empowering to him.

April 22, 2001

Copyright by J J Dewey

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A Fullness of Manifesting

A Fullness of Manifesting

What is one of the primary goals of human existence through BECOMING?

Answer: It is to obtain power and removal of limitations in all worlds of endeavor where our desire takes us.

How many worlds or spheres are there?

In this period of evolution there are seven. Three worlds of form (physical, astral, and mental) and four which are called formless.

About 90% of humanity have their consciousness limited to the physical and astral, or emotional, and have a long way to go to function consciously on the higher five.

During life then the average person functions consciously in two worlds (physical and astral) at the same time. This means that after death his functioning power is reduced 50% for he only functions consciously in one world. Therefore, to the average man death is a great limitation for it deprives him of half of his conscious functioning.

Then a period after death he units again with his Higher Self and his lower personality which has not united with his soul sleeps.

The above average person functions consciously in three worlds, the physical, astral, and mental. He is able to function after death in two worlds and maintains a continuity of consciousness for a longer period of time until he approaches the time or rebirth.

Only when a person attains consciousness in the worlds og higher mind and above can he maintain “continuity of consciousness” and maintain conscious thought throughout life and afterlife and into the next life.

Now some say that it is desirable to drop all connection with the physical body which in turn drops any direct connection with the physical world.

For those who think this way shall we extend this idea and drop the astral body also thus ending emotional feeling?

Then extending this further should we drop the mental body also thus ending our power to think?

I think that when we consider this idea that it becomes obvious that we suffer from limitation at losing use of any of our bodies.

A fullness of power and fullness of joy only comes when we attain power to manifest and have consciousness on any or all of the seven planes at will.

The only way to attain this power is through the overcoming of physical death just as did Jesus through the resurrection of the body.

When death is overcome the entity obtains the power to manifest in any of the worlds of form.

Imagine that you reached the fullness of your evolution and were unable to manifest on the physical or astral plane? Wouldn’t you feel short-changed. Wouldn’t you feel that you were missing out on a fullness of power that you worked so many lifetimes to attain?

It is true that we do have cycles where we leave the lower bodies behind for various purposes. Buddha taught about this in the attainment of Nirvana, which is consciousness in the fifth sphere of the seven, and some distance from the highest in this cycle. But more important than this attainment is the mastery of all the worlds. Only when the lowest (the physical) is fully mastered can the highest spiritual world and consciousness be attained.

The point to remember is that when this high mastery is attained this does not mean we will always be in a physical body. What it does mean is that we will have power to manifest in the physical (or our other bodies) at will until such manifestation serves no purpose and we return to a great cycle of rest called Pralaya in the East.

Does it seem desirable to manifest in any plane of choice according to our will?

Jesus said: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Matt 28:18

Could a master have power on earth without a physical body giving him the power to manifest on earth?

The Second Death

I was asked the meaning behind the “second death” as mentioned in the scriptures.

A point to keep in mind is to remember that the Jews who wrote the scriptures believed there were three interpretations to each inspired work. They called these the body, soul and spirit of the scriptures. Then there were a few who saw up to seven interpretations.

Even so, there are several interpretations of the “second death” which correspond and are correct and then there are a number which are wrong.

The Mormons have an interesting interpretation that fits within the Law of Correspondences. They believe that “man was in the beginning with God” and that the first death was his separation from God by entering into mortality. They then believe that all will be redeemed from this first death, at least to a degree, except for the “sons of perdition” who have committed the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost. These will suffer a second and more disastrous separation from God which they believe to be the second death.

In harmony with the ancient wisdom the early Mormon leaders taught that those who took this extreme path of selfishness and denial would be ground up and “returned to their native element” and have to start their progression all over again which would involve a process of “myriads of years.”

Now there is a second interpretation which goes beyond normal religious thought.

The scripture reads:

“He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” Rev 2:11

In this light the first death within a smaller cycle is the death of the physical body. But then after we spend a period of time in the astral world most will suffer a “second death,” which is the dissolution of the astral body.

Question: So how can one be “hurt” by this second death?

Answer: For some who are of low vibration this second death is met with great resistance for they know not what lies on the other side of it. It thus becomes a terrifying experience for some – like a lake of fire as they go through the process of disintegration.

For those who are the fairly decent people of earth this experience is met with a yielding to the will of God and the fire is embraced rather than resisted.

Those who attached to the lower self resist a reunion with their higher self and dying to the lower self. This resistance produces the pain of the second death.

He who “overcomes” will not suffer from either of these two “hurts” of the second death. When the pilgrim rises his consciousness above the astral to the mind and then above the mind to the spiritual planes he will either bypass the astral realm completely or have a very short stay and maintain consciousness as he passes beyond the astral and mental bodies. Because the adept can maintain consciousness in the higher spiritual worlds he is then not “hurt” by a second death because his consciousness does not die. In other words, his consciousness is never “separated” from his individuality as it is for a cycle in most humans after union with the Higher Self which is like an awakening from a dream.

The principle is this.

In the next world the residual personality can only rise in consciousness to the realm that one has attained to in this life. It therefore behooves us to place our attention and focus on the highest thoughts and vibrations of which we are capable.

If we continue to do this we will “overcome” and live beyond the hurt of the second death and keep our consciousness high enough so no time or consciousness will be lost between lives.

April 19, 2001

Copyright by J J Dewey

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The Neglected Boat

The Neglected Boat – A Parable

A reader questions my teaching that all will eventually see the vision of higher knowledge, but at different times

Perhaps a short parable will illustrate.

THE NEGLECTED BOAT

Bill, Jack, Don and Bob decided to go fishing and checked into renting a boat. There was only one boat left and they looked it over and all were excited about taking it except for Bill who had an expert knowledge of boats.

Said Bill: “This boat has been patched several times and does not look safe to me. I think we should wait a while for the next available boat and suggest to the owner that he retire this one and refurbish it.”

“We didn’t come here to wait around all day. We came here to fish and enjoy ourselves,” said Jack. This boat looks like it has served others well for years. I’m sure it can last one more day.”

Don and Bob agreed and the three were determined to rent the boat so they could proceed without delay.

Bill shook his head and said: “You’ll have to go without me. I’m going to wait for a better boat.”

But the three were impatient and rented the boat and proceeded with their fishing. After they were boating and fishing for about an hour Bob reflected on Bill’s warning and started examining the weak points of the boat that he pointed out. He noticed near his feet an area where the wood was deteriorated and damp. He spoke to the others.

“I think Bill may have had a point. The wood right here looks rotted and could spring a leak at any time. Let’s go see if Bill rented another boat.”

“Quiet,” said Jack. “You’ll scare the fish with your yapping. We came here to boat and fish and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Bob took another look at the weak area and it seemed to be getting wetter. “I think you need to take me back to the shore he said. “I want to see if Bill found another boat.”

“I can see that we are not going to be able fish in peace until we get rid of you,” said Jack as they rowed back to shore.

Bob tried to warn them about the weak spot but Jack and Don were in no mood to listen.

Bob got off the boat and found Bill who was in the process of renting a boat in good condition which a customer just returned. Jack and Don meanwhile rowed back out in the middle of the lake and resumed fishing.

After a short time Don moved over to Bob’s old seat and examined the weak spot. He took out his pocket knife and picked at it and was disturbed to find out the wood was indeed weak and soft and the area seemed wetter than it did earlier.

“Maybe Bill had a point,” he said. “This wood looks pretty bad.”

“Not you too,” said Jack. “Do you think it’s possible for you guys to just leave me alone and let me fish.”

“If it comes to fishing or risking my life, well I’ll skip fishing,” said Don.

The two sat in awkward silence for a time. Then Don noticed Bill and Bob in the new boat in the distance. “Look,” he said. “There’s Bill and Bob. Let’s row over to them and join them and tie this boat behind us and fish together in safety.”

This statement just aggravated Jack who said: “We’ll row over there all right. I’m going to put you in their boat and go off by myself and fish the rest of the day in peace.”

At that they rowed over to Bill and Bob and Don joined them. Jack started rowing off and shouted back: “Good riddance you wimps!”

But as he was rowing off his foot kicked the weak spot and a small leak started, but grew in strength. Rather than call out for help his wounded pride forced him to use everything at his disposal to plug the leak but to no avail. Finally when he saw there was no hope in salvaging the boat he shouted to the three in the other boat for help.

The three made a point to not stay too far from Jack just in case he did need their help and as soon as Bill, Bob and Don saw that he was in trouble they rowed over with full speed and saved him.

Analysis:

As the four were examining the boat to rent there was a point of truth of which only Bill was aware. The reason he was aware was because he possessed higher knowledge of boats than the other three. Because of his understanding he left the boat. Then as this same understanding became clear to the others they also left the boat.

Question: Does this analogy apply to our own progression? Some think that God will be angry at the three because of their lack of vision and just let them sink, but this idea runs contrary to the loving Father taught by Jesus.

If we are in a sinking ship do we all discover this “truth” at the same time?

When such a truth dawns upon us with surety then will not all eventually act upon this knowledge?

Even so, will all of us in the end discover higher truth and act upon it?

Evolution of Consciousness

Question: “I am curious to know what your thoughts are on DNA and the role it played when Jesus went through the process of death.”

There are a lot of teachings in circulation centering on activating various strands of DNA that are currently dormant as if this will take us to a new dimension, immortality, ecstasy etc.

None of these teachings I have read register as truth with my soul. We have two strands of DNA and I agree with scientists that the inactive DNA, sometimes called junk DNA, are remnants from our evolution. It is possible that ancient memories are stored there. It’s a little like our tail bone is evidence that our bodies evolved from the animal kingdom with tails.

Most of us are familiar with the idea that the program for our body is stored in the DNA and the ancient wisdom teaches of the existence of a permanent atom which is basically reprogrammed each time we take a new body in a new life.

All this is well and good, but a knowledge of all this may be intellectually stimulating, but unnecessary. Understanding your DNA, yet taking advantage of its workings is no more necessary than understanding how your computer works in relation to benefiting from its use. Few of us know how a chip or processor works, but this does not stop us from excelling at web page design or word processing.

Even so with spiritual things. We do not have to know all about how a miracle is produced to manifest it. Just as certain actions between male and female create the miracle of birth even though the couple do not have a clue about what makes the life come to be.

Our attention in this cycle of evolution needs to be on consciousness and not the process on a physical level. Why?

Because all the intelligence necessary for physical perfection has already been worked out and resides within our various vehicles there is nothing we need to do on a physical level to perfect our DNA, our cells or our bodies. Instead our job is to advance in consciousness and as we do this we will find that bodies will already be prepared for the higher vibration.

Even so with Jesus. His body had the same intelligence built into it as yours and mine. What made his resurrection possible, however was the state of consciousness he achieved. When we achieve this consciousness our bodies will likewise cooperate and rebuild themselves to perfection.

April 17, 2001

Copyright by J J Dewey

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The Initiation of Love

The Initiation of Love

To really appreciate the manifestation of Love which was initiated by the Christ, one has to realize how different the viewpoints, attitudes and group thinking was toward love 2000 years ago. Before Jesus came on the scene the world had no great example of love as a ideal from which to pattern their lives.

There were prophets and teachers past who urged people to live good lives, to respect their fellow humans and some even encouraged harmlessness toward all life, but none presented the spiritual ideal as did Christ. None kindled the burning fire of spiritual love in its fullness as did Jesus.

There are many teachers in the religious world who are preaching the idea that we live in the most wicked era in the history of the world, but such is not the case. The goodness of the people in this age and their civility toward others is much higher now than it was 2000 years ago, and this is due in large measure to the few words spoken by Jesus which have partially permeated human consciousness.

Let us compare the actions of humanity today and the days of Jesus.

(1) Slavery.

2000 years ago a large portion of the population were slaves. Few at that time could even envision a time when all people would be free.

Today: Slavery is virtually unheard of in the civilized world.

(2) War

While we have not completely eliminated war, it is to be noted that the approach to war and victory is much different today than it was in ancient times.

Then: When a battle or war was won the victor did not keep prisoners and later release them to the defeated enemy. The captives were usually put to death and often in an horrific manner. They were often tortured for amusement and after this had their head put on a stick and displayed.

Not only were conquered soldiers put to death, but men, women and children were often totally annihilated. The Greek city of Carthage is a good example. Shortly before the days of Jesus 550,000 men women and children were completely destroyed on a whim by Rome merely because they posed a potential threat to Rome. And this was not because of a decree of a mad emperor, but by a vote put through the Roman Senate.

In those days if a child or female of an enemy was allowed to live it was either as a slave or for sexual gratification.

Now: War is still hell, but when a war is won in this age the civilized nations are often quite gracious to the defeated ones. A great example is that the United States virtually supplied the money and power to rebuild Japan after World War II and all the defeated nations were allowed by the United States and Western Europe to rebuild and maintain their own government.

Such graciousness was unheard of in ancient times.

Then too the torturing of the enemy and mass slaying of women and children is unheard of by the more civilized nations today

.(3) Human Relations.

We think people are selfish today, but 2000 years ago selfishness was much more rampant. People often had children, not out of nurturing love, but because of their usefulness as child laborers. Men often got married for the same reason – not out of love but because the guy needed an unpaid laborer in the family business. When the family income was too low a kid was often sold into slavery to pay the bills.

If a child was born retarded or handicapped he was often discretely disposed of and no one asked any questions about the missing kid.

We are probably most familiar with the entertainment of the past because of movies such as Gladiator, Ben Hur, Spartacus and so on. It was common sport for the people to watch gladiators kill each other.

We could go on but it is very obvious that humanity has made much progress in these three areas and indeed the world of Jesus’ day was much more ruthless than we are today.

In the midst of this cruel atmosphere appeared the Christ with a message of love and hope with words such as:

“A new commandment I give unto you – that you love one another.”

To love one another may seem like old words today, but at that time they were new and fresh.

The love he taught included more than family and friends for he said to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Then he went on to explain that even those considered the enemy are our neighbors.

Then he explained that if we love only those who love us we are no better than publicans and sinners. Instead we must love all people.

He not only taught about love, but demonstrated it. He worked tirelessly in healing the sick, the lame, the blind and outcasts of society. He gave his life in service and apparently received no money for it. “Freely I give,” he said.

Near the end he said: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

His sacrifice on the cross was far from his only display of love, but that, along with his suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane were certainly two examples that permeated the consciousness of mankind and has stayed there.

Many there are who minimize the effect of the life of Christ by complaining of the wars fought in his name, but one must look at the overall picture rather than isolated anecdotal evidence.

The world is a much better place today, however imperfect it is, because of the simple teachings and example of this Son of God.

May we all seek to do even “greater things” while always realizing the powerful initiation into love which he brought to the world.

There are al least two degrees of what the world calls love today.

The first is a lower love with selfishness attached and the second is the love brought by Christ – a spiritual unselfish love.

Contemplate on these two forms of love and the difference between them for future discussion.

April 15, 2001

Copyright by J J Dewey

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Path to Oneness

Path to Oneness

The Question: Name the three main obstacles that keep us from becoming one with God?

Let us look at three categories which the average seeker can work on in practical terms in the state of present progress.

(1) Oneness with fellow humans.

The scripture wisely says:

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” I John 4:20

We could slightly alter the words here and yet retain a principle just as true:

“He who is not one with his brother who he has seen cannot claim to be one with God who he has not seen.”

If God is indeed in man (meaning, of course, both men and women) then it is the height of hypocrisy to remove yourself from human contact in order to become one with God as some supposed sages have done. That is like saying “I am going away from God to find God.”

Many there are who teach oneness with God yet fail to have a relationship with one other human with even a semblance of oneness, out of billions available.

Let me clue in those caught in this illusion to an important truth. To those centered in the personality, the yielding of the little will of the individual to the Will of God is much more difficult than it is to yield to a belligerent spouse, am unjust boss or a confrontational political leader.

To become one with our brothers and sisters does not mean, however, to support their error at the expense of our own truth, but to look upon their souls and from that point of oneness maintain an attitude of unity to the personality level wherever the opportunity presents itself.

To create oneness with fellow humans the trinity of maya, glamour and illusion must be surmounted. In a word these are the obstacles.

Maya – false oneness through the pull of the environment and matter must be bypassed.

Glamour – Feelings of negativity and hate must be neutralized

Illusion – The vision of separateness must be dispelled.

(2) We must develop a believing spirit.

Paul urged us to: “believe all things.” I Cor 13:7

Without belief a first step toward oneness will never be taken.

If one has a believing spirit this does not mean the person is gullible, but when a teaching is presented, no matter how outrageous, he will approach it with a believing attitude first and then filter it, with an open mind, through his perceptions and inner knowing.

If one automatically writes off, because of preconceived notions, a teaching or statement as being untrue, then he will miss many truths that will lead to the soul and oneness with God and man.

(3) Act on your beliefs with no hypocrisy.

If you seem to love your fellow man and have a believing spirit, but fail to act then progression comes to a standstill. Then too if you act, but because of the praise of the world you act contrary to what you know then retrogression sets in.

Seek to be one in the soul with your brothers and sisters, be believing and act on what you truly think and believe, and a major step toward oneness with God is at hand.

The Only Begotten

I thought I would bring some clarification on the term “Only Begotten.” The way this is translated in Bibles does make it sound as if Jesus has a lock on the term. A reader pointed out that perhaps Jesus was merely the first and the title was only temporary in reference to him.

But to understand what is meant by the term we must examine the Greek word from which it originated. It comes from MONOGENES. While it is true that this word can literally be translated as “only begotten” it is also an interesting fact that in the days of Jesus and some time before his birth this word was used by the Greeks to imply a meaning beyond the physical sense. It was often used to imply a unique or special position that one may have.

Therefore, if someone is close to your heart (as a firstborn usually is) then he is referred to as MONOGENES.

For instance, Joseph was Jacob’s 11th son, but because he was the closest to his father’s heart he would have been referred to as his “only begotten” or MONOGENES. A master could have referred to his favorite slave as his MONOGENES slave. An employer could have referred to his favorite employee by this same word.

Therefore, if we were to use the common usage of the word in that era what does the following scripture say?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

We have a clue from the actual voice of God:

“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matt 3:17

“Beloved” would be a good translation here which harmonizes with the Greek word MONOGENES and fits in with God’s actual description of Christ as well as John’s.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his beloved Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Because the bias and attachment to belief systems is so strong a true searcher will discover that every version of the Bible is translated in favor of the scholars’ own “beloved” beliefs.

April 11, 2001

Copyright by J J Dewey

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