2000-8-8 10:48:00
I am pleased with the quality of some of the posts from our new people. Keep up the good work.
And John K., your posts have always been good, but I think your mind has sharpened since you have been gone. You seem to be more grounded also. Perhaps there is a story to tell that you might relate some time.
And Paul, the handwriting offer is still open. In fact it may be interesting to do an analysis on a member now and then to keep things interesting. One thing I can say about you Paul is that you must have an iron clad will to hang in here and post against the stream in opposition to the wills of so many. I don't think I would do it unless someone paid me for it, or if I thought some higher will desired it from me.
You may not believe this but I actually enjoy having you here. If you post something that I do not wish to respond to I am free to ignore you, which I do sometimes. Other times you do bring up some questions that cause me to give a more thorough explanation. I do believe, however, that you should consider looking for truth within my teachings as well as error. Because of this eye on error I have not seen any evidence that you have learned anything since you have been here. I hope I am wrong.
I also feel that John K actually touched a vibration within your emotional body and this could be a good thing. I think the group would appreciate you more if they could sense some emotion, love or feeling from you. I also think that much of this is suppressed in you because you feel it must be denied to place your consciousness in the NO-THING. In my opinion this is an illusionary approach.
Now to the Stigmata.
Again some great responses were posted and a lot of what you said was new to me. Mark and Brian, for instance, gave some fascinating details. John K talks about miracles being the result of natural law, Kay, ( a welcome new poster) runs the idea by her soul, Susan sees it as a sign people need at a certain stage of progression etc.
I'm going to pick on Lars for a quote, however, for he gave a great explanation:
"Stigmata" and this kind of "wonders" are only to be found among very religious people and those who are impressed are likewise the religious ones. The ones with stigmata are without exception individuals that have very deeply been influenced by the crucifixion event and have created in themselves a strong personal belief and strong emotions to this specific occurrence. This in turn means that they are mentally and emotionally forming a very, very strong field of energy, which in suitable circumstances sooner or later will manifest in our physical world. Their visualizations and prayers are evidently lasting for a long time, which efficiently build up this energy. Thus, what I am saying is that this is a normal creating process, where the people themselves build up an energetic force field which is then manifested in the physical. They have in a way decided to become that way, and this is consequently also no true sign from God."
Then our good friend John W gives a similar answer with concise brevity: "An Image which is held with powerful concentration in the Mind gathers energy to itself and seeks to manifest as reality."
This is essentially a statement concerning the natural law that John K mentioned.
All of our physical forms including our whole world was created first upon higher planes. The first world of form where creation takes place is the mental, the second the astral/emotional, the third the etheric and finally the dense physical. In order to manifest miraculous creation as Jesus did with the loaves and fishes the master magician must create sequentially from the higher level on down.
Suppose you wanted to manifest an apple. First you get the idea of an apple and then you visualize it on the plane of the mind. Once you see this in your mind's eye this fruit then takes on a real existence in the mental plane. The next step is to clothe the mental apple by the power of desire with emotional substance. When you do this, the power of your desire for the apple manifests the fruit in two worlds - the mental and astral.
What usually happens at this point?
At this point you want an apple so much you will walk over to the refrigerator and take one out and eat it.
Ahh, but that's the easy way out. In truth if you could continue to visualize the apple while saturating it with desire energy you could actually manifest it on the physical plane.
Those who thus experience the Stigmata and other similar miracles are really unconscious magicians who are applying these principles. Their one pointed visualization of the suffering of Christ accompanied by a desire for approval from God can indeed manifest some interesting phenomenon.
It is not a sign from a God who is out there on a throne, but a sign that we are reflection, or in the image of God, and all the miraculous creative abilities of God are within us.
Now let us move to the current question:
(20) Plant a seed thought in your mind and heart, and feed this thought with contemplation and meditation. Observe the fruit that comes forth, and accept that which is sweet and registers with your soul.
What is a seed thought and why is this a viable tool in the discovery of truth?
A seed thought is basically any thought, sentence, phrase, or idea that you choose to focus on with contemplation over a period of time. Because all words are symbols of some truth all seed thoughts have the capacity to generate higher realization.
Benjamin, a highly intelligent new member, has this to say: "If a "seed thought" is one that has this effect, or capability, it is useful in the "discovery of truth" because it can take one to the Source of all truth. If this is a highly analytical process, as it may be for some people, there may be many "truths" garnered in the course of tracing a thought to its origin. For others, it may be a fairly short journey from the thought to the Source, when the ability to place one's awareness on That has been cultivated, by-passing the hard work of analytical reduction. In either case, the value of the process lies in knowing (by which I mean "experiencing") the Source. Anything less seems more like acquisition of "data" or "information" than "truth."
Some teachers have emphasized having a monthly seed thought and this is not a bad idea, but I recommend having at least three working out within you at all times.
(1) A seed thought around a great mystery that may take you a lifetime to solve.
(2) A seed thought around an idea that will probably bear fruit within 30 days.
(3) A seed thought around a concept that you will reveal light in the present time.
Now let us demonstrate the use of seed thoughts in the search for truth. I will give you a thought and you contemplate it, think about it and use it in your meditation and see what realizations of truth comes to mind.
The Thought:
As I focus my attention on the light of the soul I see a greater light still.
Contemplate this sentence my friends and share with us what comes to you.
"I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Copyright 2000 by J.J. Dewey, All Rights Reserved