The Urantia Book

[cloud potato]

Just sharing a book in order to provide some contribution to the forum activity. I'm not sure I agree with everything in this book, but it is one that has been a topic of much study and interest by those in my circles.

>>>

The Urantia Book portrays our relationship with God the Father. All human beings are the sons and daughters of a loving God and therefore brothers and sisters in the family of God. The book provides new spiritual truth for modern men and women and a pathway to a personal relationship with God.

Building on the world's religious heritage, The Urantia Book describes an endless destiny for humankind, teaching that living faith is the key to personal spiritual progress and eternal survival. It also describes God’s plan for the progressive evolution of individuals, human society, and the universe as a whole.

“There is in the mind of God a plan which embraces every creature of all his vast domains, and this plan is an eternal purpose of boundless opportunity, unlimited progress, and endless life. . . . The goal of eternity is ahead! . . . Certain victory will crown the efforts of every human being who will run the race of faith and trust.”​

32:5.7-8 (365.3)

 

[Totoro]

I haven't heard of it before! What in the book resonates with you or what particular truths from it speak to you?

 

[cloud potato]

There are a few things that interest me. The Urantia Book makes some predictions that I find interesting- you can see a summary of them here:

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/what-predictions-are-found-in-wzKhM1sPQXKTIL8FKaHzxw#0

The life and teachings of Jesus are also very interesting. I like how the book tries to move away from a religion about jesus and instead focuses on a religion of jesus. That religion is the personal relationship an individual has with deity/God, as a living intelligence. The book insist that jesus tried to avoid the crystallization of belief and exemplify the beauty in the living and personal experience.

And one of my favorite quotes...

"Mankind is slow to perceive that, in all that is personal, matter is the skeleton of morontia, and that both are the reflected shadow of enduring spirit reality. How long before you will regard time as the moving image of eternity and space as the fleeting shadow of Paradise realities?"
— The Urantia Book, (189:1.3)

I have never read this entire book, but for a few months tried joining a study group and someone introduced me to the work of Gary Tonge which I also found entertaining.

I eventually pulled out from committing to this book for the very reason I wish to explore my own path with the living now. Call it ignorant, call it a very human quality. But I believe we are here for experiential wisdom... and even knowing better, we still commit to error until we experience the reality of something for ourselves.

watching the video above.. I really enjoyed this quote too... So this book has something for everyone, even if its just a little snippet of celestial wisdom.

54:1.6 (614.1)True liberty is the associate of genuine self-respect; false liberty is the consort of self-admiration. True liberty is the fruit of self-control; false liberty, the assumption of self-assertion. Self-control leads to altruistic service; self-admiration tends towards the exploitation of others for the selfish aggrandizement of such a mistaken individual as is willing to sacrifice righteous attainment for the sake of possessing unjust power over his fellow beings.

54:1.7 (614.2)Even wisdom is divine and safe only when it is cosmic in scope and spiritual in motivation.


--- where i divorce from the book is the idea that there is no reincarnation. i think this is a semantics issue or it is possible we do not understand the nature of shared reality and identity. (understanding our true identity vs assumed identity) i have had past life ideas regarding fallen angels, separation from home(a different planet) and being impaled. i don't feel it necessary to explore further at this time, but there is a deep and tangible trauma from a life i do not really know with parental figures that have worked diligently from unseen realms to get my attention. i keep myself open to the wonder and hope only to align my self with love and to live more true to self and less fragmented.

 

[baro-san]

I looked it up a little. AIs weren't helpful as they summarize consensus narratives, and such a material addresses the intuitive understanding and interpretation, which are highly subjective, and inarguable.

It is over 2,000 page long, and its language is difficult to follow.

Browsing for some targeted quotes, I found passages that I think to describe concepts about reality that resonate with mine in some degree

Still, 2,000+ pages difficult to read are too much for me. Besides, I don't subscribe to any dogma, and I believe that I shouldn't. I think the better way is to directly intuitively tap my inner source of knowledge and guidance.

I looked up the book for reincarnation references. It says that a personality once dead doesn't come back on Earth, excepting very special and rare cases. The way this seems to generally be interpreted is that it denies reincarnation. But, it actually denies the widely accepted beliefs on reincarnation, which I think too that they are distortions.

It isn't this physical personality that reincarnates; this personality was spawned by a nonphysical entity into an educational framework, and a reincarnation is actually another personality spawn by the same entity. This personality doesn't reincarnate; it isn't destroyed, but after physical death it is shelved and not further pursued.

There are rare personalities that are so highly developed (not in the terms we human believe to be important or good) that have the choice to take the path to become entities themselves. In such cases, as entities, they follow their own curricula that may include spawning Earthly personalities.

This educational process is guided by specialized guiding entities, not by the pupil entities themselves. Generally, the level of evolvement of an entity is not significantly higher than that of the personalities it spawns.

It seems that the Urantia Book contains several such views that are different from other spiritual consensus narratives. It may not be a difference in views per se, as there are difference in the ways the same basic views and perceptions are distorted.

 

[Totoro]

The life and teachings of Jesus are also very interesting. I like how the book tries to move away from a religion about jesus and instead focuses on a religion of jesus. That religion is the personal relationship an individual has with deity/God, as a living intelligence. The book insist that jesus tried to avoid the crystallization of belief and exemplify the beauty in the living and personal experience.

That's why I've always been a big fan of Jesus. One of his core teachings actually was that in knowing one's self, one can know God / the source.

Specifically what he said is

When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will know that you are children of the living Father.

The full quote is

If your leaders say to you, ‘Look, the Kingdom is in heaven,’ then the birds of heaven will precede you. If they say to you, ‘It is in the sea,’ then the fish will precede you. Rather, the Kingdom is inside of you and outside of you.

When you come to know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will realize that it is you who are the children of the living Father.
But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty, and it is you who are that poverty.

Jesus' actual teachings show a great disdain for organized religion and hierarchies that seek to remove mastery of one's own self and instead, place it in the hands of an authority outside one's self.

Obviously, these teachings were re-written or left out entirely from any "official" book or canon. Jesus did not seek to create a religion, but to remind people of our oneness with the source and to regain connection with not only ourselves, but our higher selves as well, which is where the knowledge of our true nature sits.

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.

I edited this quote from Matthew 23:8–10, but the teacher he refers to I'm quite certain is, as you were saying @cloud potato , experience and also the wisdom gained from listening to your inner and higher self.

 

[cloud potato]

Thanks guys. =)

Totoro, I agree whole heartedly with you.

And baro-san, yes the language from the book can be overly-complicated. A friend taught me to feel as I read, and sometimes things become easier to understand. Sometimes certain truths from the book, highlight the current residence I find my self- where contemplation and learning meet.

Presently, I find myself intrigued by Paper 54... It talks about something I haven't any knowledge of, a lucifer rebellion... But I find the wisdom from: "True Liberty vs False Liberty" very illuminating to my current plight with life outside the internet.

For simplicities sake I default to the wisdom offered by my Sufi friend...
"There is only one virtue and one sin for a soul on the path. Virtue, when he is conscious of God. Sin, when he is not."

Simple... And yet, so complicated. Self interest vs Loving Service....
As simple as it is... One must make the endeavor to know God and know Self to understand the above quote...
One must also move from inspiration towards transformation... Taking that which has inspired and sharing it, living it.

This chapter seems to go into it...

Paper 54 - Problems of the Lucifer Rebellion | Urantia Book | Urantia Foundation

The Urantia BookPaper 54

www.urantia.org

 

[SeaAndSky]

That's why I've always been a big fan of Jesus. One of his core teachings actually was that in knowing one's self, one can know God / the source.

Specifically what he said is



The full quote is



Jesus' actual teachings show a great disdain for organized religion and hierarchies that seek to remove mastery of one's own self and instead, place it in the hands of an authority outside one's self.

Obviously, these teachings were re-written or left out entirely from any "official" book or canon. Jesus did not seek to create a religion, but to remind people of our oneness with the source and to regain connection with not only ourselves, but our higher selves as well, which is where the knowledge of our true nature sits.



I edited this quote from Matthew 23:8–10, but the teacher he refers to I'm quite certain is, as you were saying @cloud potato , experience and also the wisdom gained from listening to your inner and higher self.

Hi Totoro,

I am familiar with the Gospel of Thomas, and especially like one saying (that I believe speaks to reincarnation). However, I don't think it can be exalted over the rest of scripture. The tone is different, but I generally see it as being something that can be harmonized with the rest of the NT and the overall message of the NT.

Cordially,
S&S

 

[baro-san]

A friend taught me to feel as I read, and sometimes things become easier to understand.

That's kind of what I do, with everything that attracts my attention. One difference is that I "intuitively interpret" it.

In my nomenclature, "feeling" means emotions that you consciously interpret, while "intuition" means knowing beyond using your intellect, beyond wishing and feeling, leaving aside all your beliefs and expectations ("beliefs" include everything you know, it seems true beyond doubt, faith).

 

[baro-san]

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven".

I edited this quote from Matthew 23:8–10, but the teacher he refers to I'm quite certain is, as you were saying @cloud potato , experience and also the wisdom gained from listening to your inner and higher self.

That's a nice quote. To me, the first sentence says to not listen to external teachers, but only to your inner guide. The second sentence says that the physical world (that you perceive), including yourself, is the creation of your subconscious, it is a subjective perception.

 

[baro-san]

Gospel of Thomas

I read it. It reflects Jesus' views filtered through the understanding of a different author. It is impossible to say if the differences are caused more by the author's subjective understanding, or by being less distorted by the later narratives. To me, it was worth reading.

 

[baro-san]

Presently, I find myself intrigued by Paper 54...

One remarkable view is that whatever seems bad or evil has positive consequences, side effects that eventually surpass the negative many times over.

 

[cloud potato]

Hi Baro-san, not sure if you read the paper but that is basically what the "messenger" the entity presenting the specific subject says as well.

Some of my favorite excerpts include:

"How dare the self-willed creature encroach upon the rights of his fellows in the name of personal liberty when the Supreme Rulers of the universe stand back in merciful respect for these prerogatives of will and potentials of personality! No being, in the exercise of his supposed personal liberty, has a right to deprive any other being of those privileges of existence conferred by the Creators and duly respected by all their loyal associates, subordinates, and subjects."

"This liberty to choose for oneself is an endowment of the Supreme Rulers, and they will not permit any being or group of beings to deprive a single personality in the wide universe of this divinely bestowed liberty—not even to satisfy such misguided and ignorant beings in the enjoyment of this misnamed personal liberty."

And this one is just fun to ponder...

"12. Time, even in a universe of time, is relative: If a Urantia mortal of average length of life should commit a crime which precipitated world-wide pandemonium, and if he were apprehended, tried, and executed within two or three days of the commission of the crime, would it seem a long time to you? And yet that would be nearer a comparison with the length of Lucifer’s life even if his adjudication, now begun, should not be completed for a hundred thousand Urantia years. The relative lapse of time from the viewpoint of Uversa, where the litigation is pending, could be indicated by saying that the crime of Lucifer was being brought to trial within two and a half seconds of its commission. From the Paradise viewpoint the adjudication is simultaneous with the enactment."

 

[Totoro]

both passages speak to different things. *insert chin beard stroking emoji*

What's your take on them or what speaks to you? The language is definitely verbose and would take a keen eye or good grounding to be able to sort of parse through it all.

On the second one though, are you interested in time? I think you posted in the time is slowing down thread. Just curious about what your thoughts are.

 

[baro-san]

One remarkable view is that whatever seems bad or evil has positive consequences, side effects that eventually surpass the negative many times over.

I was referring the last chapter of Paper #54: "6. The Triumph of Love".

At first the Lucifer upheaval appeared to be an unmitigated calamity to the system and to the universe. Gradually benefits began to accrue. With the passing of twenty-five thousand years of system time (twenty thousand years of Urantia time), the Melchizedeks began to teach that the good resulting from Lucifer’s folly had come to equal the evil incurred. The sum of evil had by that time become almost stationary, continuing to increase only on certain isolated worlds, while the beneficial repercussions continued to multiply and extend out through the universe and superuniverse, even to Havona. The Melchizedeks now teach that the good resulting from the Satania rebellion is more than a thousand times the sum of all the evil.

 

[Totoro]

It talks about something I haven't any knowledge of, a lucifer rebellion...

Unless you had very fundamentalist or old school catholic back ground or up bringing, I'm not surprised. The bible touches on it briefly, but anything that tended to shun God or Jesus was heavily leaned on as a symbol of evil and wickedness through which they used to use as contrast to glorify them and having a kind of boogey man around that will get you if you're not good, never hurt either. These days, even the Catholic church doesn't really preach about hell or satan.

 

[baro-san]

For reference a quote from Seth:

Good and evil then simply represented the birth of choices, initially in terms of survival, where earlier instinct alone had provided all that was needed. In deeper terms, there is still another meaning that mirrors all of those apparent divisions that occur as All That Is seemingly separates portions of itself from itself, scattering its omnipotence into new patterns of being that, in your terms, remember their source and look back to it longingly, while still glorying in the unique individuality that is their own.

(10:06. Jane was very intent in her delivery.) The story of the fall, the rebellious angels, and the leader Satan who becomes the devil — all of this refers to the same phenomena on a different level. Satan represents — in the terms of the story — the part of All That Is, or God, who stepped outside of Himself, so to speak, and became earthbound with His creatures, offering them the free will and choice that “previously” had not been available.

(Pause.) Hence you have the majestic elements given to Satan, and the power. The earthly characteristics often appear as he is depicted in animal form, for he was also of course connected with the intuitive terrestrial attributes from which the new human consciousness would spring.

[... ]

Dictation: Now: You may be quite able to see through the distortions of conventional Christianity. You may have changed your ideas to such an extent that you can see little similarity between your current ones and those of the past. Now you may believe in the theories of Buddhism, for example, or of another Eastern philosophy.

The differences between any of those systems of thought and Christianity may be so apparent that the similarities escape you. You may follow one of the schools of Buddhism in which great stress is laid upon the denial of the body, discipline of the flesh, and the avoidance of desire. These elements are quite characteristic of Christianity also, of course, but they may appear more palatable, exotic, or reasonable coming from a source foreign to your childhood education. So you may leap from one to the other, shouting emancipation and feeling yourself quite free of old limiting ideas.

Philosophies that teach denial of the flesh must ultimately end up preaching a denial of the self and building a contempt for it, because even though the soul is couched in muscle and bone it is meant to experience that reality, not to refute it.

All such dogmas use artificial guilt, and natural guilt is distorted to serve those ends. In whatever terms, the devotee is told that there is something wrong with earthly experience. You are, therefore, considered evil as a self in flesh by virtue of your very existence.

—The Nature of Personal Reality; Part Two: Chapter 12: Session 647, March 12, 1973 © 2011 Laurel Davies-Butts

 

[cloud potato]

What speaks to me is the patience and Love God has for his creation. That free will is a respected gift, and that we might not understand justice completely when we contemplate realities where beings live longer than we humans of earth- or where time is not experienced the same.

Interesting to me that a 100,000 years to us could be 2 and a half seconds elsewhere in time and space.
There are realities beyond our comprehension, and I'm ok with this. I have Faith that expansive realities do present themselves to the inquirer, and that expansion may continue after our experience as a human of earth is up.

If we can be reincarnated on Earth, why not on other systems?
---
as for the seth quote, I have experienced real guilt by appeasing selfish desires. Not because someone, or some text told me I would- but because I have sought to fulfill what paper 54 calls, "false liberty" and have crashed and burned.

However, I do not view the experience as negative- the guilt is that I could not act in accordance with a higher love, that i could not see the reality of a situation because i was blindsided by personal goals at the cost of another's peace.

There is peace and comfort knowing I have an opportunity to learn from the experience, and seek true liberation.
I am grateful that there are text, guides and friends who- like a loving parent, choose to share their knowledge that we might learn. No one has forced me to submit and I am often like the rebellious child.

I do believe we are all here for experiential wisdom, which goes back to Gods patience. And so, it is a sad reality when we(humanity) fail to recognize the personal relationship(experiential by default) with God as unique.

I think I chose to be here, even choosing my own gender- for the sake of continued growth. I do not consider being human evil. When I choose to live from love, to explore the depths of love from the human lens... It is quite beautiful, as painful as it can be.

 

[Totoro]

Hi Totoro,

I am familiar with the Gospel of Thomas, and especially like one saying (that I believe speaks to reincarnation). However, I don't think it can be exalted over the rest of scripture. The tone is different, but I generally see it as being something that can be harmonized with the rest of the NT and the overall message of the NT.

Cordially,
S&S

I just like the, as it is, simplicity of the older gospels. However yes, there is a certain beauty to the NT. Honestly though, I haven't spent much time with it. Not for any particular reason, just that I grew up with it and the older books have always held an interest for me.

 

[SeaAndSky]

Hi Totoro,

I first heard of the Gospel of Thomas in a book on Zen. I think it was back in the late 60s or early 70s. I can't remember the name of the book, but it quoted sayings from the Gospel of Thomas along with (and often with parallel meanings to) those being quoted from Zen masters. I was definitely astonished and confused, as I had never heard anything like the sayings being quoted and attributed to Jesus in this book. (I had also never heard of the Gospel of Thomas). So, it was a real "eye opener"! If anyone knows the name of the book I am remembering, please let me know.

Cordially,
S&S

 

[baro-san]

If anyone knows the name of the book I am remembering, please let me know.

Most likely the book is The Gospel According to Zen: Beyond the Death of God (1970), edited by Robert Sohl & Audrey Carr. It’s an anthology that explicitly juxtaposes Zen materials with non-Zen texts—notably selections from the Gospel of Thomas—to highlight their parallels, which matches the description from the late ’60s/early ’70s. (Amazon, Internet Archive, SAGE Journals)

If that’s not the one, a secondary candidate (less exact to that memory) is Thomas Merton’s Zen and the Birds of Appetite (1968), which compares Christian mysticism and Zen but doesn’t center on side-by-side Gospel of Thomas quotes. (ndbooks.com, Amazon)

 

[SeaAndSky]

Hi Baro-san,

Thanks!! I believe it was the first book you cited above. I think I will try to find it again. I won't be surprised if it can be accessed online (so many books from my youth seem to be readily available now on the Internet Archive or elsewhere).

Cordially,
S&S

 

[cloud potato]

One of my favorite quotes...

"The revelation I have made to you is a living revelation, and I desire that it shall bear appropriate fruits in each individual and in each generation in accordance with the laws of spiritual growth, increase, and adaptative development. From generation to generation this gospel must show increasing vitality and exhibit greater depth of spiritual power."

"Truth is living; the Spirit of Truth is ever leading the children of light into new realms of spiritual reality and divine service. You are not given truth to crystallize into settled, safe, and honored forms. Your revelation of truth must be so enhanced by passing through your personal experience that new beauty and actual spiritual gains will be disclosed to all who behold your spiritual fruits and in consequence thereof are led to glorify the Father who is in heaven."

~Jesus

 

[cloud potato]

I recently had an experience with a "Midwayer" being that I'd like to chronicle here. The question one might ask is, "how do you know it was a midwayer?"
I can not say definitively, but I will share the experience either way. I accept that something real is happening and beyond my conscious control.

Not sure if I should keep bumping this thread or move this to the "Religion" section...

Because the book is so long, AI has been helpful quickly retrieving concepts and definitions presented therein.

Asking AI - "what is a midwayer according to the Urantia Book?"

According to The Urantia Book, midwayers are unique spiritual beings who function as intermediaries between humanity and higher celestial entities, acting as permanent planetary citizens with specialized roles.

Midwayers are regarded as essential to planetary affairs, supporting planetary progress, safeguarding spiritual and material interests, and maintaining a link between mortals and higher spiritual beings. Their unique ability to interact with both realms enables them to facilitate communication, supervision, and cooperation that are foundational to the Urantia Book's portrayal of planetary administration.

I will share the log later tonight or tomorrow-

 

[Totoro]

That just sounds like what we would call spirit guides. Other people may call them divine messengers, angels, guardian or otherwise.

 

[cloud potato]

Yes, and it may not be necessary to look further. The book has so many classifications of beings, it can be overwhelming. In fact, prior to coming to the conclusion "this could be Midwayer22" my journal entry simply called this entity, "Catch-22 Earth Angel" (I will try to explain).

There are also so many different species here on this little planet of ours, subspecies and the like that it isn't so far fetched to think there are 'hierarchies' as well with entities we might consider less material than ourselves.

I have learned the 'being' responsible for kicking off what I would call my 'spiritual journey' does not care for the name it is given- its only cares that I am seeking and shaping. It has taken so many 'names' and 'forms' through out various cultures... Al Khadir of the Sufi's, and the Peacock Angel of the Yazidis(to name a couple).

I will copy and paste bits and pieces from the journal- I am having some lag issues and I may reach post limit so this will likely be a multi-post.

September 16th 2025-

Today, while exercising, a very confident earth-bound male energy came into my awareness. He was playful but militant. His voice even sounded different than my own.

Separate or not separate- what I observe is a thing of interest, and lately I see energy as entity. Whether it's in the form of color, or thoughts. Or some other modality-

This particular entity came in very quickly...
He had this to say, in a very confident and playful kind of way:

"Let me tell you something. It's a catch-22, free-will above self-interest. If you think you can understand that then at least you're on the right path."
There was a distinct feeling/knowing this entity is "Earth-Bound." He felt wiser than my self.

On my walk home, I wondered what he meant... And "thoughts" entering my awareness had me questioning whether or not I understood the words free-will or the concept of freedom as it was presented. ...

I later thought that "catch22" wasn't for its intended meaning, but a key to personal liberation. I decided to meditate on the experience. Shortly before the actual meditation practice two white feathers found their way to my feet. It was so peculiar I picked them up and took them home with me.

Feeling very, touched by something... I wanted to take a picture to chronicle my experience. The time was 4:22PM when at the same time the phrase, "catch22" repeated in my mind.

It was as if the energies were assisting/directing my focus, the experience influencing my thoughts:

Who/what *are we, really? And what is our "reality" to *them- to align our material and immaterial experience so precisely?

This 'world' of ours(as we perceive it/think it to be) might be a thing of amusement for more advanced beings.

 

[cloud potato]

Journal entry continued...
I went to see my Mom and our dalmatians. While visiting her we were graced by two separate hummingbird visits. One was made wet from a sudden rainstorm that appeared out of nowhere. It was blue. And the other was dry, it was brown/red and smaller in stature.

The hummingbird is significant for me for many reasons. It's also my Mothers favorite bird. But what is really interesting is this... On my drive to my Moms I was having thoughts of the Now as a personality likened to the Father or the Kingdom as taught by Jesus.

I came to feel this because my meditation today reminded me that when I meditate I am able to loosen the grip of my attachments and feel in communion with this Living Now. The sensations that are almost always apparent to me are Intelligent Joy, Peace, Love and Serenity.

I have come to understand the hummingbird as representing joy in the moment- I am at a stage where I do not believe in coincidence. That all of these instances are happening simultaneously... Where the outside world is acknowledging my "internal reality" - it does not escape me.

On my drive home from my Mothers I saw a UAP.

The rain had stopped, the sky was orange. Suddenly there was a white twinkling among the orange clouds in front of the sun. I thought it a plane catching the light. But it disappeared, and then it reappeared larger in size in the very same spot before receding back into the cloud. It felt like there wasn't really any distance between my thoughts and the object in the sky- as if it were responding to them. I had to turn the corner so the sighting was brief- and without thinking... I had picked up my phone. I don't remember picking it up, but it ended up in my hand and the time showed 7:22PM.

"Catch-22"
"Be aware of my presence."

Those were the thoughts that entered my mind.

I am flabbergasted by todays events. And it doesn't stop there.

I decided to make some hot tea. I was feeling compelled to go outside- usually that means going to my patio and having a seat. Instead, I was urged to go out the front towards the parking lot and rest there. I even had the thought, "Maybe I will see my neighbor."

Sure enough, while enjoying the cool breeze, my neighbor pulled up in her car returning from a dinner event.

As if someone was there with me, an invisible personality instructing me. "Wait just a moment before you approach her. Relax your stride." The idea was not to scare her, since I had somehow anticipated her arrival... Or more specifically, was open to the suggestion as it was presented(hmm). And perhaps I looked a bit excited by everything that has been going on...

She welcomed me. She was happy to see me because she had a gift for me. And I couldn't believe what it was...

She gifted me a coffee that was given to her earlier in the day. That it had a hummingbird on it was a shock- especially considering todays events.

The time I took this picture? 8:22PM...

A few days ago the color pink made itself known to me. I recognized it as "tangible presence." What is miraculous, aside from absolutely everything being chronicled here tonight- was that she was wearing a pink shirt... And this hummingbird is drinking from a pink flower.

I had to translate the meaning of "Vista Hermosa" which I think means "Beautiful Views"

Amazing... Because everything tonight has been an adjustment in perspective and embracing "beautiful views."

She also told me she has joined a bible study and that she is currently learning Matthew. She told me she had a wonderful night with her family, and that she is feeling really blessed.

I told her the same thing was happening to me. There were some personal details she shared with me that really astounded me, perhaps for another time.

Before going to bed, these were the final thoughts I had engaged with...

What is the difference between free will and self interest? ... How do you put one above the other? I think this has more to do with recognizing God as Love and choosing to let go of ones attachments. Free will is making the choice to release the grip of the things we think identify us and learning the freedom found in Gods Will. What is Gods Will? Only the Now as a Living/Loving personality can show you. But you can be shown...

 

[cloud potato]

One of the first forums I joined was the 1111 message board. That was in 2008. I didn't bother picking up the Urantia Book until many, many years later. And I'm not really reading it now. But I had become very fond of the woman who became like a motherly and sisterly presence for me- the wife of George Barnard - George has chronicled his experience with midwayers. He and a friend created the forum and folks have been sharing their experiences there. More important than the book are the friendships made with this community. Here was her insight on what I might have experienced...

"Midwayer 22 is known as Midwayer Chief Bzutu.

He is one of our best friends and a good Earth celestial to have in your corner.
Midwayers are of Earth as we are, but also celestial, and well over 30,000 years old. Your 'spidey' senses have been well developed, and I am not surprised he felt earthy to you. Chief Bzutu is an amazing Midwayer. I love him dearly."

Some things feel fated, and it seems this book is finding ways to stay relevant in my life. More importantly... I find my self becoming more intrigued by the Master known as Jesus and understanding God as Love.

 

[Totoro]

I admit I'm not that familiar with the Urantia book, but it has been very interesting learning about it with you and reading your personal journey with it and I think you for sharing it with us.

it isn't so far fetched to think there are 'hierarchies' as well with entities we might consider less material than ourselves.

This is me throwing this out there, but I would avoid looking at things in terms of hierachy. I'm sure you just meant it casually, but not looking at things in terms of hierachy, keeps the center of focus on you, the learner, the seeker. I mean that in the sense that it's ultimately up to you to decide if something is right for you.. do this bring you closer to your true path or not? Does this bring you closer to God or not? And that goes back to the free will you were just talking about.

We all have free will and in that free will, we are free to make decisions, both good and bad. That's also all that "learning" we talk about doing. I always found this bit a bit taoist in nature... but by figuring out what we are not, can we trully figure out what we are. To bring that full circle, ultimately, your path is yours and the free will to pursue that, is an expression of God's love for you. My two cents on the whole thing, FWIW.

I am at a stage where I do not believe in coincidence. That all of these instances are happening simultaneously... Where the outside world is acknowledging my "internal reality" - it does not escape me.

Those are all synchronicities. They tend to happen when you're on the right path and it's like you said, now that you're on it, the "path" is in turn, starting to acknoweldge you. So definetly enjoy and it sounds like you've had a wonderful series of them so far!

I saw a UFO twice actually and my son just saw one too.. he was pretty freaked out, but I think overall, it was supposed to serve as a catalyst for his own awakening. We'll see how that goes into the future.

And once again, thank you for posting your journey! I look forward to reading more about it.

 

[cloud potato]

Thank you Totoro, for sharing you and your sons UFO experience. And for your care. I am happy I can share just some of the things that move and excite me. If anything, I hope it helps others see the Now as Alive, Loving or even Guiding.

Synchronicity invites me to consider what is "inside," what is "outside" and whether or not we are more than our human body.

There have been many profound experiences that I recognize as beyond my conscious control. A personal favorite, as it pertains to the UB, is this. I moved into my current apartment complex a little over a year ago. The actual unit was decided on a whim. Originally, I was looking at two different units than the one I landed on. But when I got here, it felt right. One day, I parked on the other side of the parking lot- I have a corner unit. There next to my apartment engraved in the cement were my initials. I was floored. What were the chances? Who lived here before me with the same initials? I think the chances are slim, but clearly not impossible. I went out and gazed at it, allowing the moment to speak to me- and strange enough I began to notice a symbol behind my initial. It was the UB logo. I found the timing incredible, considering this would also be the year I actually dive into a UB study group.

As shared in the previous entry- my neighbor has recently professed an interest in Christ as a Mentor. I also feel an increasing interest in Christ. I wonder if her sudden interest and mine(despite us having never talked about this kind of stuff to each other before) are somehow related to a self larger than my immediate 'identifiable' body. And, a new neighbor moved in downstairs(this corner apartment means I have 3 neighbors). From what I am told, he is a very nice Japanese man here temporarily. Really interesting to me is that he drives a blue Subaru and I drive a blue Subaru. He could of drove any brand, or picked any color. It just happened to be a blue Subaru. I don't think these are coincidences, instead I question and explore how what I am experiencing pertains to self, the nature of existence and the reality that is God. These experiences are similar to the UAP sighting mentioned above- specifically, the feeling being there is no distance(despite apparent distance) from the UAP and the awareness/thoughts I think of as, 'contained within.'

 

[baro-san]

"Let me tell you something. It's a catch-22, free-will above self-interest. If you think you can understand that then at least you're on the right path."

My interpretation: the free-will belongs to the personality, the pupil, the kid in the school; the self-interest belongs to the character you identify with, in the lesson that the personality is studying and it is immersed in, the character most of us believe to be.

The pupil can exercise his free-will and learn more or less well the lesson he studies, take from it whatever he wants, and support the consequences: pass it or fail it.

If the pupil believes he is the character he identifies with, and focuses on that character's self-interest, and not on how the lesson is written, he will miss the point of the lesson, and will fail to pass it.

What your character chooses doesn't matter. It matters only how you intuitively interpret what attracts your attention. When you study "Hamlet" you aren't Hamlet. Your interest is what you draw from studying that play, not the interest of the character Hamlet.

Your focus of attention shouldn't be on what's happening to you or to others, but on intuitively interpreting what attracts your attention from what is happening and extracting a guidance, a lesson, from it.