Elyon Group 5/31/98

[Rick P. Giles]

Coeur d'Alene Teaching Mission Group
Topic: Rising to your highest and approaching spiritual topics with others
Teachers: Tarkas and Elyon

May 31, 1998
*	Tarkas (Jonathan TR):  Greetings to you all.  What a family of
faith-propelled personalities here today.  This is Tarkas.  I am here
visiting and have been asked to present you with ideas for
consideration.
	It has been greatly stressed to you all over time the necessity
of inclusion, that being helping all the people you encounter on this
world to realize they are family.  You are learning better what
family, from a spiritual perspective, implies, and you are each
learning more effectively  how to apply yourselves in creating this
sense of belonging in those around you.  Commonality, inclusiveness,
is essential for faith-ers as yourselves on this world, for the
isolation of this world has created the effect of isolation in
individuals.  Herein lies the importance of the proclamation of the
brotherhood of man, for it is important that you all gain the ability
to love one another.  Though it is natural for many of you to be
loving towards the Father and endearing among yourselves, many have
trouble with their relationship with the Father because they have
encountered so little love from others.  So, I stress again the
importance of accommodating everyone.  
	With that said, I would also encourage you to become skilled
evermore in encouraging those of your kind to rise to their highest. 
Though we teach brotherhood and your common connection, we also are
teaching you how to better ennoble yourself, to elevate your
standards of virtue, what you hold as your ideals and to incorporate
them into your actions.  Now, this encouragement we have provided you
all has been welcomed by you, and it is observed you are making great
strides this way.  I simply ask you to foster this reach toward
higher virtue and spiritual nobility in those around you.  The
caution I throw your way is that some will have difficulty in
receiving this encouragement because of the human tendency to take
sides, to be positioning oneself in the order of right and wrong,
attained and unattained.  So it falls in your lap the need to be able
to develop clever skills, to develop tricks, in a sense.  I use
"clever" and "trick" in a mild manner; the meaning I wish to convey
is that the individual receiving your encouragement has the paradigm
in which he functions.  The trick is not upon the other but in your
ability to change your position to meet their viewpoint and arouse in
them the awareness of their next level of attainment.  Here is where
you need to exercise cleverness in discernment and discovery of the
other's perspective.  So, while we are endeavoring to reach a
spiritual plateau of familial brotherhood on this world, we also
would like to draw all of you into ever-higher standards of behavior. 
Since you are volunteers in this mission, we ask you to help us
encourage others this way.
	I am finished, and I thank you for this opportunity.  It is my
first time here speaking with you, and I am encouraged to see another
group so well devoted to this outreach program on Urantia.
	Evelyn:  Can you give us an example of a trick?  If you
encourage someone to do better, they might get defensive or get into
one-upping.  Is that what you were saying?    
*	Tarkas:  In some sense I am playing with wording that has a
double reaction in the human mind.  To be tricky or clever appeals to
one's ego sensibilities as it also does stimulate an individual to
increased skill.  However, I also realize that you are oriented
toward affectionate regard of one another and respect for another,
and these words "clever" and "trick" seem to be manipulative.  So, I
do emphasize my lighthearted use of these words to stimulate in you
the responsive awareness that you are, by necessity, required to
shift from your perspective in order to allow another to shift their
perspective.  By meeting them where they are they are better able to
make their next step forward,  rather than you addressing them from
where you are.  Does this help to clarify?
	Mary:  Maybe "creative techniques" would be better than
"tricks"? 
	Evelyn:  I don't have a problem with the word "tricks".  I'm
trying to think of an example.  To encourage someone to strive for
higher goals,  you don't want to sound condescending.  Demonstrating
that you can shift to where they are suggests that they could also
shift.  
	(discussion of instances of shifting conversation style to suit
listeners) 
*	Tarkas:  You have expressed earlier today your appreciation of
the master's ability to translate spiritual meaning into the
occupations of the individual to whom he was speaking.  You have each
now expressed similar patterns of approach.  One way of going about
this would be to inquire of another how they perceive their progress
in a particular field, such as art or career, and engage them in the
flight of fantasy, that is, to help them indulge somewhat in what it
would be like to fully attain their goal, then to subtly draw them
into viewing their entire life through this same drive to attain,
thereby bringing them into the spiritual arena with the very
mechanisms of thought they have been applying in a circumscribed way. 
	Mary:  So much of our wisdom in comes from experience.  It's
hard to have a plan until we have tools attained from success in
working with someone.
*	Tarkas:  Exposing oneself to a broad array of your fellows
increases your library, your tools, the instruments in your studio. 
Again I draw you back to the master as the profound example of this
method.  
	Mary:  He made an amazingly concentrated effort through
knowledge, book learning, as well as actual experience with people. 
Learning about all different kinds of people and their religious
beliefs will help us be more inclusive and versatile in reaching out.
*	Tarkas:  Expertly expressed.  Imagine encountering another and
striking conversation about, say, their religious orientation. 
Without having any understanding of the particular religion they
adhere to, your exercise of drawing them out with questions would be
initiated with rather superficial inquiries such as, "What is your
religion?"  Whereas having studied something about the concepts, you
are better prepared to ask a deeper question, for instance, how would
they reconcile the statement that the hand of God functions in the
world when all about them they see chaos?  Now you have begun to
delve deeper rapidly.
	I hope this helps to further illustrate.  
	Mary:  During mundane interactions, if we maintain the goal of
learning about others, we'll learn how to approach them in a more
parallel, less oblique manner.  If we can keep this in mind we will
become more versatile in ministry.
*	Tarkas:  Yes.  Good.
*	Elyon (Mark):  I greet you today, this is your companion,
Elyon.  I would throw my two cents into this discussion, as well.  I
would offer to attempt to remove your from concept frame, or alter in
any favorable way, the stigma that discussion on your part of
spiritual matters is somehow inappropriate.  I point out that in your
basic, daily contact with your fellows, most of the exchanges that
occur are based on your personal experience, whether it is your
personal experience with the weather, with your neighbors, with your
friends, with what you recently viewed on television.  Nevertheless
these constitute your personal experience and your reaction to your
personal experience.  I declare to you that it is equally as valid
for you at any point in the conversation to simply state your
perspective without fear that breaching new territory of spirituality
is somehow taboo, not to be approached without your partner's full
consent.  An individual you have a conversation with may choose to
interject a variety of thought patterns which they would engage you
in.  You, from your perspective, are not insulted or put off or taken
back by the desire of another to introduce discussion.  You should
adopt a similar philosophy when it is your turn to produce topics for
discussion.  You should not enter into this with the apprehension or
preconception that perhaps this subject matter is inappropriate. 
Rather, if it is your personal experience, if it is your topic of
interest, then it is equally as valid as any other topic.  I realize
that much of your hesitancy is contained in not wanting to force any
concept on another.  Realize that you, in your daily exchanges, are
not forcing your concepts on anyone.  If another brings up the
subject of automobiles, they have not forced this on you.  If you
choose not to discuss it, you simply do not reply or do not further
the conversation.  You are not insulted or challenged by them wanting
to discuss automobiles.  You simply determine whether or not you will
engage them in this.  Likewise, should you decide to introduce
spirituality in any form, it is their option to choose to engage you
in this or to simply let the ball drop.  Either way you have done no
harm in this.  Your perspective has been made, and the door has been
opened for further discussion.  
	As was mentioned in the discussion earlier today, it simply
takes the door being opened sometimes before the whole realm of
possibilities becomes open.  This is perhaps where you have the
greatest leverage in your daily ministry, to simply crack the door. 
Do not attempt at any time to thrust the door wide open and force
discussion if unsolicited.  However, always be ready to twist the
handle and unlock the door so it may be swung gradually or abruptly
as reaction dictates.  
	Mary:  We need to avoid pigeonholing people, assuming they
wouldn't be interested in any subject.  Spirituality isn't any more
unusual to bring up than the weather.  Hopefully, they are all
interested to some degree; we may just speak a different language on
the subject.
*	Elyon:  Very well stated.  This brings me to my next comment;
you touched on it briefly just now.  It would be helpful if you
would, each one, make active and conscious attempt to alter this
conception in your mind that this subject is somehow not as freely
accessed or is uncomfortable or forbidden.  The times we live in are
changing rapidly.  You have been told that channels are opening;
communication is increasing.  These are times when dialogue of this
sort needs to be introduced.  Do not make the mistake of being so
respectful of what you perceive another's position to be that you
decline to even be engaged for the possibility that you might be out
of line.  If you are unwelcome in your solicitation, you will
immediately become aware.  When you become aware, no one in this room
is a forceful personality enough to not back off. 
	In the meantime try assuming the very opposite; just imagine
people freely and willingly desiring to engage you in conversation of
a spiritual nature.  Try this in your perspective with individuals. 
I realize that this is almost 180 degrees from where you reside in
your approach to this scenario.  Nevertheless, I encourage you to be
bold, to remove the concern that you are overpowering, because you
are not.  It is no more overpowering for you to suggest some aspect
of spirituality than is for your neighbor to suggest the weather is
pleasing.  They are merely facets of your personal experience.  You
could argue that your spiritual perspective is of far more enduring
quality than the transient nature of the climate.  Therefore, be not
afraid to drop the hint, to crack the door, to at least let the other
individual know that this is part of your experience.  (If the other
shows no interest)...you leave it be; you talk about the weather, the
automobiles, and the grass.  On the other hand, if they do choose to
engage you with it, then you have made the first step to crack the
door wherein you may both enter into that bastion of spirituality
where you can both grow from the experience.  It is far better to
take the remote chance of offending another or making another
uncomfortable than it is to decline to ever enter that domain of
spirituality with them.
	Realize that they may very well be equally as apprehensive
about discussion of their spirituality with you.  If you make the
first move, you open the arena for both of you.  You may be surprised
at those around you who are in search mode and at a stage of
consideration of these issues.  This is occurring more frequently as
a consequence of the opening of the circuits and the work done behind
the scenes by the many spiritual helpers.  Many individuals are
searching for meaning.  It would take but a word from you or any
other for the floodgates to open.  Individuals would greatly
appreciate having someone who they consider a friend, a neighbor, an
acquaintance to simply discuss these issues with.  
	Never forget that it is equally important to be as good a
listener as you are an instigator of conversation, that many
individuals simply desire to share the experiences they are trying to
assimilate into their repertoire.  So, once again the command, the
calling, to be bold and step forward.  Do not fear that you will be
shunned or regarded as fanatical for merely suggesting the spiritual
side of your nature.  It is, indeed, fully half or greater of your
entire nature, yet, it is rarely discussed except in settings like
this.  That, my friends, needs changing.  You are in a position to
change that scenario by merely dropping the hint, opening the door. 
It is a simple matter to do, but I realize it takes some courage on
your part.  I bid you the courage and the strength to do that.
	Jonathan:  All paths lead to God; it sounds like all
conversations lead to God.  We illustrate not that all we can talk
about is spirituality, but that in any conversation we can provide
patterns of thinking that can help another later in applying that
pattern in an entirely different context.  In being a good listener,
we can rise when others open the door for us.
*	Elyon:  I will also offer that you reflect in your dealings
with our brethren, when you are in discussion on any given topic, you
are basically sharing your values, whether it is the value of a good
day, of a good automobile, of the interaction you had with another. 
You, in bringing any conversation to the forefront, are offering
something of your value system to be shared with others.  They are
doing the same; they bring forth things of value to share with you
that they have in their lives.  It is incumbent upon you to point out
to them, softly, maybe, that one of the aspects that is of value to
you is your spirituality.  This can be powerfully effective,
especially to individuals who you have come to know on a different
level.  They have witnessed you as a friend, a neighbor, an
acquaintance, as someone they see in the course of business.  They
have formulated a relationship and opinion of you given this
exposure.  Now you can add one more thing to the equation; you can
add that in your life you hold of value and significance your
spiritual connection, your spiritual reaction to the world.  This may
open many eyes in that they thought they knew you, and now they learn
another side of you, that there is more to you than met the eye, so
to speak.  
	Mary:  Not all people interested in spirituality are fanatical. 
It might be enlightening to know that you can be involved in religion
without begin offensive.  
*	Elyon:  Again, very well said, an excellent perspective.  You
are dealing with a common perception of what religion is and does. 
It is your fortune and privilege to show those around you by your
actions and demeanor and receptivity that you are a breed apart from
the stereotype they may be thinking.  You are quite normal and
average in many regards, nothing to be afraid of, simply a fellow
human being.
*	Michael (Jonathan):  My children, I greet you with a few words
today, and they are that you go forth and proclaim the good news. 
Let me adjust the definition of proclamation by also repeating that
he who has seen me has seen the Father.  This is the way in which you
will reveal the good news to your fellows.  With this I leave you
now.