Essaniael's Questions

2002-8-8 06:17:00

My Friends,

It's good to see such an active list. The only downside is that I have spent most of my free time for this evening in reading them.

Essaniael writes:
"Am I right in saying that that only Mr. Dewey decides for us what we can discuss here with regard to Truth?

That seems rather restrictive."

JJ
I think Travis answered you quite well on this.

Yes, I am the current teacher here and I set the direction of the course just as all successful teachers of all classes in the universe do. In the past when I have been very busy we have had several others handle the teaching and they have been free to handle the classroom as they saw fit.

If you feel this is too restrictive then you have the perfect freedom to roam through the thousands of free-for-all lists on the world wide web and join one of them. Then you will no longer be restricted.

I must warn you though, the free-for-all lists do not draw the quality of people that feel at home on the Keys.

Essaniael
It seems to me that spiritual progress may be best unfold when each aspirant is given the freedom to experiment with the knowledge he has been offered, to express freely and to take initiative.

JJ
In the past the only people who have made this complaint have been the few who have come here with an agenda that they have wished to force feed us because no one else would listen to them. We give reasonable freedom to express diverse views and the group as a whole seems quite happy with the latitude we have here.

Essaniael
Spiritual insight, expanding vision, intelligent and positive control of one's destiny and the development of consciousness are the results of efforts made by using one's own initiative; never have they been the outcome of blindly following the recommendations of others or their doctrines.

JJ
If you have initiative that needs fulfilled then there is plenty of opportunity on thousands of forums. Initiative here must be confined to the purpose of the class, with the exception of reasonable OT postings of general interest.

Essaniael
Now, are you saying that if I receive a revelation - as the result of reading Mr Dewey's writings or not - then I must wait to share that revelation with other seekers until such times as I am commissioned by a teacher to do so, which could mean never?

JJ
I do not commission anything. Some revelations are welcome and some are not. If you are a true disciple you will be able to tune into the group thought and obtain a feel as to what is welcome and what is not. The group always complains about those who do not obey the rules before I do, therefore you should be concerned with the group's will more than my own.

If someone were to post a nonsensical revelation from space aliens many would find this annoying.

If you were to post a revelation revealing a true principle you would probably receive a pat on the back from the group.

If your revelation or treatise were very long you would probably receive complaints even if it is good.

Essaniael
A number of people on this list have mailed me privately to express their gratitude for some of the recent discussions and so are encouraging me to continue being natural and true. They say that they have benefited from the recent posts.

How would these people have benefited if I had limited myself in my earnest expression and love for Truth?

JJ
The few who have not wanted to follow the rules and have an agenda of their own seem to always make this statement. I am not concerned about mysterious anonymous e-mailers. Let anyone who wants change have the courage to post their feelings. We don't bite.

If a fervent Mormon were to make some posts on the new Nauvoo temple, I'm sure he would receive some thankful e-mails from LDS on the list, but such off topic data would be a distraction to the list and the majority would be annoyed. It sounds like you would like to appeal to a minority who want to wander off topic to the annoyance of the majority who do not. This is destructive to group cohesion, which is the first principle of group work.

Since you are telling us how to make a group work according to the divine plan perhaps you would like to point us to a successful group that you have formed and can be contacted for positive comments about you.