[tmtranscripts] Ham on controlling the appetities

[David Schlundt]

03/07/2004

Ham: Greetings, children, I am Ham and I am happy that you have come 
this evening. Let us discuss the freedom of increasing self-control and 
the shackles of the appetites.

When human beings give free reign to the animal nature believing this to 
be an act of freedom, in reality those appetites are creating the 
beginnings of an ever increasing bondage. When people seek forms of 
escape, whether this is through alcohol or drugs or indulging the sexual 
appetite, this is a false freedom. The immature human feels constrained 
by social requirements that more self-controlled humans have adjusted 
to. Rather than seeking self-discipline, one sees freedom in 
self-indulgence. Soon, however, the animal appetites simply grow when 
fed and soon these indulgences become requirements and if this is not 
checked, these indulgences become addictions that undermine character 
leading to complete bondage.

Some human beings are in bondage to other types of ego requirements - 
the requirement to be in control, the requirement to be totally 
knowledgeable, the requirement to be a perfectionist. These are more 
subtle forms of bondage, but are nonetheless real. These requirements as 
well undermine character and create false illusions. It is the illusion 
then that is fed by one's actions. And the illusion of power, for 
example, has many more requirements on the ego self than the reality of 
powerlessness.

Human beings are easily seduced by slight distortions of the truth. It 
is easy for human beings to believe that slight distortion in which the 
ego is inflated where one feels more powerful or knowledgeable, richer, 
more beautiful, smarter than one really is. Embracing the truth is hard 
medicine. Embracing the reality of one's own smallness does not seem to 
be a source of comfort. Comfort comes from believing that you are more 
than you are. But once again, this is a form of bondage. When you begin 
to believe the distortion, you are willingly putting yourself in bondage 
to that lie. And so gradually the whole personality comes to be in 
service to that lie.

The only way to break free of these kinds of spiritual bondage is to 
seek after truth no matter what the consequences are to one's own ego. 
Human beings are usually looking for anything that will bolster the lie 
rather than taking the courageous step toward truth.

The fearless life that all the true followers of Christ must walk, this 
life is one of continually shedding the ego requirements. And when you 
are free of these shackles, then and only then will you find true 
strength. It is the ego that is weak, it is the ego that can be 
shattered, it is the ego expectations that can be dashed and it is the 
ego that feels the sting of disappointment.

Truth is indestructible. As you continue to embrace truth, then you find 
more and more you can withstand anything. As you follow truth and 
continually whittle away at the old ego structure, truly are you being 
prepared for greater challenges, more profound problems. And finally 
when you realize complete powerlessness, will you be your strongest. 
Then will you be ready to be led as a little child, and then you will be 
mature human beings.

Many times the Master instructed, this life is only a bridge. Human 
beings have a great temptation to want to make permanent the life of 
this world. But the life of this world, must continually move forward. 
You cannot stay where you were 20 years ago, or 10 years ago, or 
yesterday and make that your home. Every person must continually develop 
and expand otherwise your growth will be arrested and that fine house 
you have built, that structure, will begin to be beaten by the wind and 
will deteriorate while its inhabitant simply waits deliverance by death.

It takes great courage to keep moving forward. It takes leaving behind 
what was before you see what will be. It takes continually moving toward 
self-restraint and increased self-control for without this the pull of 
the human appetites, the ego appetites, pin you to the spot. In a life 
that is continually growing, there may be experienced loss many times 
because the old is continually being swept away as the new is being 
created. In this life, one's values are continually changing and 
expanding therefore one's highest goals are continually moving. In this 
life, there is no such thing as a pinnacle of achievement. Each 
achievement is a preparation for future achievement.

The dynamic life of the spirit even requires that there be many 
disappointments, many of those mini whirlwinds that clear away the old 
before the new is created. The life of the spirit is a life of which 
much is required but it is also a life to which much is given. If you 
would have true companionship with the Master, you must be willing to 
lay down your life as he did, not in a literal sense, but in the sense 
of laying down the ego and laying down the requirements of ego. This is 
a life that requires to look forward not backward. You cannot mourn the 
things left behind for everything is eventually left behind.

You are doing very well my children. Each of you is moving toward just 
what I have described. And each of you is conquering your fear of this 
leaving behind process and fear is the greatest slave master there is. 
You do not fear loss if you lay it down willingly. Be unafraid of all 
that is to be. Be unafraid to let go of old illusions and ego 
requirements. Prepare in your hearts to follow him and he will lead you 
to complete safety and make not the mistake of trying to hold on to some 
secret sin, some ego indulgence that gave you the illusion of safety or 
the illusion of freedom. What are your questions?

Q: Jim asked for a message please Ham.

Ham: My son, blessings upon you. You have been upon a journey of 
forgiveness. You are understanding that you must forgive in order to be 
forgiven and you are understanding that the acceptance of forgiveness is 
the key to your future life. Your ego mind has endeavored to avoid the 
responsibility that would seek forgiveness. But your greater mind has 
seen all along the deep guilt and inner blame of your self that has been 
the prime mover of your life. This illness has given you a second chance 
and a new life is before you now. What will you choose, reality or 
illusion, truth or lies? Seek truth will all your heart and all your 
soul and it will be given to you. Seek love with all your heart and all 
your soul and it will be given to you. Seek forgiveness and you will 
find peace. Seek not your own comfort, but to comfort others and you 
will be comforted. Seek not your own will, but the will of God and you 
will find yourself. Go in peace son, all is well.

Q: Do you have anything for me tonight Ham?

Ham: Yes my daughter, you so well. The way will open for you and you 
will come to a place of greater tranquility. Seek to meet the Master 
within your heart. Seek his guidance and his friendship. Take things 
slowly, don't be in a hurry to make decisions. You will find what you 
need in time. You do well my dear, be at peace.

Q: Do you have any thing for Rebecca?

Ham: Yes my daughter. My dear, you do well. Understand that you are 
moving forward quite rapidly in the spirit and a part of you continually 
seeks after the familiar, the comfortable, the easy place to stand. But 
following the Master requires that you do not stay in one place very 
long. It requires you to move forward continually. The sloughing off of 
old ego skins is a continuing process, don't be tempted to try to go 
backward and to take up old ego mantles from before. Let go of the past. 
Embrace what is now and seek after the Master's will for you. Rather 
than trying to simply move your house from one part of the bridge to the 
other, you must walk out of the house and leave it behind.

Q: Jarad?

Ham: Of course my son. You also have a tendency to want to stay in the 
old shell when the Master requires that you move forward. Banish fear 
and insecurity by seeking security with him and realizing there is no 
security outside of him. You must continually embrace that which is to 
come. You must embrace your new self in order to realize the potential 
of this new personality orientation and configuration. Don't look back 
my son, look forward.

Q: Do you have a personal message for Marije?

Ham: Certainly, my daughter, you are doing very well. You are adapting 
to the great changes you have undergone recently with grace and courage. 
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. You are at the beginning of a great 
adventure. There is no higher calling than that of home building. There 
is no greater joy or greater responsibility. Be at peace my dear. You do 
well.

Q: Do you have a personal message for Charlie B?

Ham: Yes my son, be at peace. You will be given all that is needful as 
you move forward in your journey. Banish worry and be of good cheer. 
Hold continually to the Master's hand and all will be well.

Q: Do you have any feedback for me tonight?

Ham: Certainly, my son. Yes, my son, you continue to do well. You are 
finding great comfort in the letting go of that which has served its 
purpose and you are finding greater and greater measures of peace every 
day. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. Recognize that you are making 
wonderful spiritual progress which will be the engine for all that you 
accomplish. Seek first the kingdom of heaven and all else will be added 
unto you.

Are there any further questions at this time? Very well, then, be at 
peace my friends. As always my love and my prayers are with you each. 
Farewell.

c


-- 
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
David G. Schlundt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Department of Psychology
Vanderbilt University
301 Wilson Hall
Nashville, TN  37203

Phone: (615)322-7800
Fax: (615) 343-8449
Email: David.Schlundt at Vanderbilt.edu
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Many of the temporal troubles of mortal man
grow out of his twofold relation to the 
cosmos. Man is part of nature -- he exists 
in nature  -- and yet he is able to transcend 
nature. Man is finite, but he is indwelt by
a spark of infinity.

The Urantia Book - page 1221

http://www.urantia.org/
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