57 You will be perfect!

 

Spirit Progression

Just like people on earth, spirits also go to spirit school to study. Earth is just one classroom in the university that is the Cosmos. One lifetime is just as one day in class. We are all of us at different grades and levels. Those still here on earth are, in fact, at the elementary stages of learning. 

The “Wisdom Teachings” of Theosophy propose that All Creation co-exist in the same space vibrating at different ranges of vibration. They divide into ascending planes and dimensions of being. These are the “many mansions” in the kingdom of God. Globes, Rounds and Root-Races correspond to the varying levels of educational attainment – from grade school on to preparatory, collegiate, masteral and doctoral. As we hurdle each level, we entitle ourselves entry into the higher planes of being – heavens and nirvanas.

In the Earth Chain, development is ongoing in the 4th Globe, 4th Round and 5th Root-Race. The Atlantean Civilization was the immediate past root-race. The Astral Plane is the next higher dimension. We are currently in the overlapping transition period where the 5th root-race will begin to die out and the 6th will begin to replace it. Hence, the confusion over the proliferation of psychic phenomena and the introduction of deeper explanations relating to the sixth sense, in addition to the previous five.

To afford everyone a truer perspective, one root-race is said to endure in our world for 8 to 11 million years. We have only just began in our spiritual development. Those among you who are interested in learning God’s Divine Plan of Evolution should take up the study of Theosophy under the guidance of the Masters belonging to the Great White Brotherhood, our elder brothers, the senior students in our school system.

But Jesus affirms, "We must be perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect." And so we shall, all of us. Eventually in time, everyone will graduate from the lessons of earth.

 

56 How did the Age of Enlightenment influence ancient philosophical thought?

 

Think of the Cosmos as a university where we spirit beings go to study, develop our character, obtain every knowledge and acquire desired skills toward the attainment of our goal of spiritual perfection and union with the One God. 

Ignorant and innocent at our creation, gradually, one step at a time, we grow and evolve. After one prerequisite lesson is learned, the next forward studies are administered. Necessarily periodically, there is an upgrading in our divine instruction.

The upgradings are called by many names and come at different periods in our history. Today, some refer to the Age of Enlightenment, the Age of Aquarius, the Second Coming of Jesus or the emergence of the Holy Spirits.

Everyone needs to Study and Prepare > http://goo.gl/Ekozda 

MODERN CIVILIZATION has taken giant leaps forward in just the last few hundred years. Everywhere, there have been very great changes. It is now becoming increasingly more difficult for man to remember that only a few thousand years before, things were not as they are now.

02 Then, electricity had not yet been discovered: there were no telephones, no radios and no television sets; and at night, just to keep warm, people had to keep an open fire. There were no automobiles. Most people walked while the more affluent rode on the backs of animals. There were no trains or buses, airplanes or spaceships. Water couldn’t be had by turning a faucet.

03 There was a very high illiteracy rate. Reading, writing and the beginnings of a formal education were accessible only to members of the nobility and the monastic scholars. Books were a rarity and there were no newspapers. People believed that the world was flat, that the sun was God and that the earth was the center of the Universe. There clearly was a need to raise the level of consciousness of the people. One of the more effective ways was through the teaching of religion.

04 To bring the people forward, the wise men of old had formulated only the simplest possible explanations and teachings. They were all that the people could understand, then. During those early times, people were told to accept God’s divine instruction given through prophets and priests without question. Moreover, they were compelled to blindly follow the teachings of the church under the threat of excommunication or the pains of hell. There were good and valid reasons behind this injunction.

05 Certainly, little children should not be allowed to play with matches because they might burn the house down. For much the same reason, the higher knowledge was not revealed to the common people.

06 They being morally deficient, any such advantage over others would have been misused and utilized mainly for selfish interests, resulting in harm to others as well as to themselves. Further, being intellectually inferior, they would find extreme difficulty in trying to understand advanced concepts. Such elevated ideas would serve only to confuse them all the more. First, they must be thoroughly grounded in the basics in much the same way that we must be fully conversant with simple arithmetic before we can begin to study higher mathematics. Based on these considerations, it was deemed to the people’s best advantage that, in the meanwhile, they should rather concentrate their time and efforts on matters which were better suited to their particular stage of development.

07 For their own good, therefore, the higher teachings were withheld from those who were not ready for them. However, to a very few deserving students, the higher truths were taught in secret. In the East, the Masters taught their disciples and initiates in the temples of higher learning. Christ, himself, taught most of the people in parables but spoke plainly to those few who were ready for more advanced instruction (1, 2).

08 Today, however, the times have greatly changed. Now, modern man is considered sufficiently evolved to begin to understand. In fact, thinking men and women everywhere find the old teachings to be sorely inadequate, even unreasonable and illogical, running counter to the dictates of their ordinary common sense. To them, the old explanations can no longer suffice. And their dissatisfaction gives rise to a compelling desire to search for deeper meaning and explanations to the mysteries of life.

09 Clearly, today, the reasons for withholding the teachings no longer apply. And, in preparation for the coming Age of Enlightenment, the knowledge is to be disseminated to all the people. Still, as always, understanding can come only as a result of continuous strivings.

10 In preparation for our life on earth, we choose to undergo many years of rigorous studies in order to attain to some degree of worldly success. We spend long, hard years of sweat and tears, passing through every phase, from grade school and, hopefully, on to the more advanced degree courses just so that we may have a better life with better opportunities that are not available to the less educated among us. And yet, when it relates to spiritual matters, far too many leave everything to chance, and they insist falsely that these matters cannot be learned.

11 To all the questions of life, the answers can be found. 

51 Lesson 6 - Christ on practical living

 

LOOKING OVER THE CONDITIONS obtaining all over the world, we see, unless we are blind, that the wicked prevail over the just. Injustice is the rule rather than the exception. The crooked get the money, the girls and everything besides. Everywhere, there is hunger and want, pain and misery. In addition, we see the travails of the righteous, how they suffer. Honesty pays no dividends and the principled end up penniless and friendless in the end. It is no wonder then that many people find it ridiculous and clearly against their own self-interest to live according to God’s teachings of selfless love and righteousness. 

02 Worldly men who assess life based exclusively on Earthly considerations cannot but inevitably arrive at these sad conclusions. However, if we can only be more open to spiritual realities, we would be able to judge more accurately concerning life.

03 The man of the world considers only the things of this world, those that he can see and touch. He believes that he is his physical body; and, therefore, he thinks that whatever happens to it, happens to him. He believes only in this life. He lives this life to the fullest, thinking that with death, everything ends. He is so entranced with the things in the world, too preoccupied even to consider that there could be something more to life. Not being able to see beyond the world around him, he pursues only his own physical needs and desires.

04 However, the truly spiritual person is deeply aware of spiritual realities. He understands his real nature. He looks forward to the life that is to come. He knows he will live on even though his body may die. He has obtained to some understanding of the conditions of life in the hereafter and is fully cognizant of the meaning and purpose of life on Earth.

05 Consequently, he gives emphasis where emphasis is due. He focuses on his true spiritual objectives. Similarly, we, too, should prefer the things of the spirit. We should strive for righteousness first in order to gain everything else (1, 2, 3).

06 Experience is the best teacher. And in order to progress, we need to undergo all the necessary experiences. Consequently, in this world, we shall, all of us, experience trials and tribulations. However, we should look at life in a more positive light. We should see these trials and tribulations, not as the world sees them, but as they really are. In fact, these experiences are the special opportunities given to each of us in order that we may advance in our development.

07 Even so, life can be really hard. Therefore, we should strive to learn the ways whereby we could wade through life’s many difficulties wisely and effectively. Those who have attained to some enlightenment have evolved a better approach to life. Based on their own analysis of actual conditions, they have found that the spiritual way is the more practical way of life.

08 God loves all of His children. He knows everything about them and He is aware of their every need. And to Him, nothing is impossible. Therefore, we need not worry about anything at all. We need only to put our faith and trust in Him. He will never allow us to come to any harm (4, 5).

09 God created the world and everything in it. Because He loves us, He desires only what is best for us. Consider the whole of the Universe. In it, there is order; there is total harmony. God is fully in control of every situation. All things are proceeding according to His Divine Plan.

10 Everything comes from God. However, because of sin and ignorance, man is unable to comprehend God’s divine plan. First, man must strive to free himself from sin and advance towards righteousness before he can begin to understand God’s divine ways. But there is always a valid reason behind everything that happens. There is no accident in the Universe. It is for each of us to fathom the reasons, why (6).

11 Being young and ignorant, we don’t know what we really need, but God knows. He sends us only the trials He knows we can handle. He sends us no problems that we do not have the capacity to solve. No one is given more than he can cope with. No one is tested beyond his own limits. All these tribulations are sent our way in order that they may be overcome (7, 8).

12 Such is the true nature of this world. While the people of the world continue in pursuit of elusive and temporary Earthly pleasures, the spiritually wise realize that, quite the contrary, it is the pain and misery that afford us so much spiritual benefit. The enlightened ones have learned the hard way, from their own personal experiences. They know now that many things should not be changed. This knowledge enables them to accept life’s harsh realities.

13 And because they understand better than others, they are able to simply let things be as they are. Where nothing more can be done, they are able to let go by surrendering everything to God. And, calmly and patiently, they are able to endure every hardship, confident in the knowledge that even these must all pass away (9, 10, 11).

14 They fully realize that God is a good Father to His children. Being all knowing, all just and all-powerful, He sends us only the very best, every time. He provides for everything that is needed. He gives to all who ask and even to those who don’t ask. All these He does, because He loves us and He loves us all equally (12).

15 In the course of our development, we must pass through every stage of learning. We cannot turn spiritual without fully comprehending the principles governing material existence. First, we must learn all the lessons of this world. And only then can we move on to the more advanced and spiritual lessons. We should, therefore, not be too concerned with haste; instead, we should be more thorough and strive to be fully knowledgeable concerning each phase of life before leaving it and moving on to the next.

16 The move to the spiritual should never be as an escape from one’s difficulties. Rather, it should be because one has actually outgrown one’s desire for material or physical things. It should come about as a natural progression, physical existence having ceased to provide any further and meaningful challenges, it having been thoroughly learned and mastered.

17 Nevertheless, while we are yet in the world, we should strive for practicality in all things. We should lean towards the spiritual but we should not neglect our other needs. Still, we should not be so attached to physical things; instead, we should strive to be desireless where they are concerned (13, 14).

18 We should be reasonable and understanding concerning our efforts. While we are imprisoned in the flesh body, we are helplessly vulnerable in so many ways. The poor steal just to eat. Prostitutes sell themselves to survive. Businessmen corrupt to remain in business. The needy and the desperate lie and cheat to keep their jobs and submit to every evil whim of their superiors. The weak are compelled to disavow their principles. And protagonists kill so as not to die.

19 These are just some of the many things we do that we would not even think of doing, were we not, otherwise, so constrained. The flesh is weak. We must, therefore, learn to be more gentle and lenient with ourselves. Provided we sincerely desire to do what is right, the way back to God will be revealed to us (15, 16, 17).

20 The levels of righteousness to which we must attain before we can enter heaven have already been laid down. However, we don’t and we can’t attain to these high standards, immediately. “Rome was not built in a day.” And to spirit beings, time is eternal. “A thousand years is as one day to the Lord,” according to Peter. We can, therefore, make haste, slowly and easily, in patience, but with determination. It is enough, for now, that we point ourselves in the direction of divine righteousness and everything else will follow in good time.

21 Many people are out to reform the world. In the first place, as has already been pointed out, many things should not be changed. Instead, we need only to understand, to learn. Moreover, in reality, no one can change anyone else. Rather, we should reform ourselves so that by our example, we may encourage others to reform themselves. In effecting changes, therefore, we should begin with self.

22 Regarding some things, there is so much that we can do; but concerning many others, we can do nothing. We should learn the difference between the two. Rather than spend our time and efforts fruitlessly on matters which do not really concern us and which we cannot help resolve in the very least, we should concentrate our energies on those matters wherein we can be of some help. In so doing, we will have minimized our exertions and we shall be able to conserve our strength for use where it can do the most good.

23 They also serve who only stand and wait. Much of life is study and preparation. Before anyone can serve effectively, one must first learn the ways. To prepare for future and greater service is a very worthwhile and ceaseless endeavor. And when one is ready to serve, he will always be given the opportunity to do so.

24 Everyday affords a new beginning. However grave our past failings, it is counter-productive for us to feel guilty when all we need to do is to fare better each time around. Certainly, we should be guided by our past mistakes, but we should not allow ourselves to be held down by them. Instead, we should be more aware of the many opportunities provided us daily. We should not dwell on our past failures, or even on our past successes. Neither should we worry needlessly about the future. Instead, we should focus on what we can and should do today, now (18).

25 Every day brings its special opportunities to everyone. There is always something to learn. There is always some quality to further develop. Were it not so, we would not be here. On the road to perfection, much remains to be done. Therefore, no one should ever be content.

26 Everyday provides new insights into life. Provided we are open, our faults and weaknesses will be revealed to us. If we are sincere in our desire to pursue the path of righteousness, then we should be able to realize our shortcomings.

27 Daily, the opportunities are there for us to learn and practice selflessness, acceptance, forgiveness, understanding and love. We are given the opportunities to repent of our sins and mend our ways. We are provided the means whereby we can fare better than before. If we are alert, we should be able to recognize the possibilities for rendering service to others. And in the process, we should continue to learn and develop necessary skills and talents.

28 We should not so much mind the hardships and troubles because they will always be with us. Instead, we should keep to the positive. We should ever be alert to our daily lessons and opportunities. And let us avail of them as much as we can. These are the good things our Father continually provides for us. And in time, provided we persist, we shall be able to attain to the perfection, which is the destiny of all men.

49 What is the definition of karma? Does it mean that you must meet the person who has done something bad to you in a future life? If so, how can you break the cycle of karma?

 

The applicable divine principle in this example is the one on Oneness. 

No one and no thing exists outside of God. We are part and parcel of the One God. What we do to one, we do to all. What is felt by one is felt by all. We are One.

Jesus affirms, “What you have done to or for the least of your brothers, you have done for me.”

Therefore, you can offset whatever harm you may have inflicted on another by repaying your debt or compensating that someone else for the harm. And conversely, you will at times be rewarded or punished not by your actual victim but by perfect strangers, in their place.

Karma is usually understood as a reward or punishment for someone’s action. What you sow, you will reap. But karma is more than just this.

Karma was never intended by God to reward or punish, but to teach. We learn more about a thing when we experience them first hand. We prefer to emulate and desire what is good and pleasurable. And from the pain or suffering we endure, we learn not to cause it or do the same to someone else.

Hence, whatever conditions, circumstances or situations can best teach ua will always be made a part of our life, even though this may involve some pain and suffering in the process. We always receive as much as we give in the same full measure. 

There is no escaping the consequences of your karma. All debts must be paid. You must realize your mistake and compensate in full. And finally, you must learn your required lessons.

However once learned, then the unwanted experience won’t need to be repeated ever, again. It is your learning that breaks the cycle. 

50 How do you produce good karma and get rid of bad karma?

 

Daily, fill your heart with love and dwell only on the positive. 

Learn from your mistakes and resolve not to commit them, again, or commit less and less of them, over time. Turn from your sins, repent and effect restitution for the harm you have caused others.

Watch for the opportunities God sends you to serve others, and strive to avail of them, everyone. In all matters, and at all times, do what your conscience tells you to do. Do the right thing, whenever possible, or simply choose the best alternative. Just be practical and act wisely.

What you call bad karma are just the difficult lessons and trials that you need to overcome. Know them for what they really are.

The sooner you resolve them, the sooner you will be rid of them.

 

48 How do I differentiate good from bad karma?

 

There is no bad karma. All karmic consequences are opportunities for you to realize that what you thought of doing or what you actually did is something that you shouldn’t think or do. 

Being childlike, mindless sheep or lambs as Jesus liked to refer to men, generally, we don’t know that what we do is not right in the eyes of God, evil or devilish even. It’s natural, it’s human. Hence, Jesus, prayed to the Father to forgive us.

We are work-in-progress. The Law of Karma is intended to help us become better and more deserving children of God.

We need to learn those things we don’t yet know, become strong where we are weak and because we will fail many times, we are given second and third hard lessons, more chances to succeed.

When we experience the harm we inflicted on someone, we quickly learn that it is something we don’t want done to us, consequently, unless we are too dense, we won’t repeat the offense.

We should all be grateful for the opportunity that God provides us, daily.