Bound in Return

If our work is successful, it is not another world to which we will return but into this world, consciously taking rebirth as the same point in history again and again, using our immortality — Life Everlasting through Eternal Recurrence — to perfect this life.

Now comes forth our strategies for accepting obligation. The obligation that is presented is the obligation to perfect our lives. How do we do this? There are many self-help courses “out there” designed to help us achieve a better life. There are many techniques within the spiritual pantheon to meditate and quiet the mind. This is not the form of perfection to which I refer.

From time to time we can glimpse the vastness of the cosmos. We stand in awe. Once in a while, very rarely, we understand something called the Suffering of the Absolute. When we see that we are compelled to help alleviate that Suffering. What does that mean? We studied that concept a bit in Chapter 3.

But, we are coming back, we do return. We have the choice of non-action and we return unconsciously. Or, we can return with a sense of consciousness. But, that effort requires an energy and power that we do not normally possess. Thus, when we accept the obligation before us we find the power within us to act. We then return, but, with a clearer and clearer sense of our job.

When one voyager has been freed, many thousands can see the door of light open.

The voyager on the Path is drawn to a Teacher and that Teacher draws to himself or herself, students. The teacher is looking for a depository to place a teaching. That fire is carefully placed within the crucible of the living Students. Those Students can then form a Group. In that Group setting the individuals can perform work on Self. But, it is necessary for the Group to exist for that work to maintain.

Here is the summary of Chapter 4

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Chap 4 – Bound in Return

The Eternal Return

We are trapped in our involuntary immortality, whether we wish it or not; we die and are pushed back again to the same moment in time; and regardless of the entertaining ride in the amusement park of organic life, the unconscious involuntary amusement soon becomes unbearable for those who can “see”. Like a living example of “Groundhog day”.

The question of why man exists and why the Creator made the possibility of immortality for human beings is tied to the sole purpose of alleviating the Suffering of the Endless Creator. The Work is a return to this world because we have compassion towards the Absolute. Because of this compassion we are willing to take the“Obligation”, to perfect ourselves and endure Eternal Return, voluntary and conscious.

We are told that the Prayer for alleviation is done only by evolved beings; what does that leave for us?

Perhaps we do appreciate the power of that prayer but we don’t have enough power of Presence and attention; Perhaps as a work-circle we are just being introduced to the important aspects of the Prayer, and the “how to do”…We have been presented with the concept; we can invoke presence and begin the Work as potential candidates.

But we have to consider what we can do now, in our present situation. The suffering of a human being is no different of that of the Absolute, and because we do know what that Suffering is in our flesh, compassion dawns on us, and our sense of duty arises. To know suffering and compassion qualifies us to be able to alleviate the suffering of the Absolute.

If we accept the challenge we begin to change our lives and perfect our Being.

The Teacher, the Group and the Work

Being a member of a Group carrying out the Work led by a Teacher is presented to us as the means by which we are to awaken and perfect our Being. This not for our personal benefit but to alleviate the suffering of the Absolute by performing Prayer-Absolute. The key to initiation into this Work is the acceptance of eternal return to this world, this life and endless perfection of our lives.

Before we can step on this path we have to prepare ourselves by developing our abilities to invoke our presence and direct our attention. Our ability to direct our attention, and to invoke our presence; along with developing the will to awaken the machine are required to produce real change in our Being. To be possible candidates for the Work we must be naturally motivated by an awakening Love for the Absolute. Thus, arises the practice of Adoration.

The Teacher and the group have their own separate Work to do. We are reminded that the Group’s preparatory work is not for our benefit or amusement, but for the benefit of the Work of the Teacher and ultimately to make Prayer-Absolute.

Where Are We Now?

We are certainly developing our preparatory skills by exercising our attention and presence in our study group work. The author provides a yardstick and an opportunity for us to evaluate where we are right now as individuals and as a group. Some possible questions to ponder are:

• Based on the author’s descriptions of group work, what type of group are we?
• At what stage are we in relation to being in the Work?
• Do we want to be candidates for the Work?
• Can life itself become our Teacher?
• What does it really mean to us to accept the Obligation to return for the Absolute?

Summary by SimonTemplar and Jim_H

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More soon about the formation of Group.

Audio File Chapter 04_Part One 10_31_12

The log from Chapter 4, Part One is here.

See below for the Audio file and log from Part Two.

Part Two of the Class:

We speak now about work within the Group. Each individual is assumed to take on the work of personal perfection. How do we perfect our individuals lives?

But, in Group Work, we are meant to work as a Group. Thus, we must learn a certain form of Professionalism. What does that mean for you? This part is not about an individual you and your ego. But, rather the you functioning as part of a larger entity. For now, that Entity is known as a Group.

Here is a summary for Part Two:

Chapter 4 Part Two –           Group Work

A Group of people is necessary to perform Prayer Absolute, not only frequently but to increase the chance of it being successful; with a Group we are able to spread the burden. An individual acting alone can only perform Prayer Absolute infrequently because of the impact it has on arousing the machines feelings, emotions and defenses. Each group member must work as a functioning member of a team and do this Work. Small successes inform the Group of right direction. Each team member must come to the gathering with professionalism.

In our own on-line group situation we share and create a space, a Sanctuary, which is both individual in our own personal habitat and at the same time virtual. What are the attitudes and conditions that we bring into this Sanctuary? Are we able to leave behind all the daily concerns and as we quiet our interior chatter and remain attentive? We are awake in Presence and we are aware of where we are. We bring an attitude of surrender to the space; it is a moment of inspiration of truth, not of personal entertainment. Once we understand the true function of our machine and daily life we have a chance to be able to carry the mood of our Sanctuary with us, into our daily life. The Sanctuary becomes the teaching itself.

The roles of men and women in the preparation and performance of Prayer Absolute are of opposite yet equal importance to its achievement. They bring to mind the Chinese concept of Yin and Yang. Yin is the female, passive principle while Yang the male, active principle. They are opposites which achieve harmony when they are balanced.

Women use their denying force, the desires and sufferings of the machine, to activate the sacred space of the Sanctuary for Prayer Absolute. They cleanse the chamber, purify it with incense and sound then activate it using a charging meditation. After it has been used they clean and purify it.

Men use their negative force to perform the prayer and send it upwards to invoke the Absolute into them. Voluntarily pinned to the cross by an act of will, they experience the electrical force as they become a conduit for the Absolute to descend to Earth. They must have sufficient will to endure its intensity all the while knowing they could easily end it at any time.

These roles of men and women are not universal. In the past, men have created the sacred space for priestesses performing oracular work. In the higher planes, no distinction is made between the work done by male and female angelic beings.

Prepared by Jim_H and SimonTemplar

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Audio Recording Chapter 04_Part 02 11_07_12

You can find the log from Part Two of Chapter 4 here.