© 2008 Santiago Rodríguez
© 2008 Urantia Association of Spain
| Prayer for every night | Luz y Vida — No. 14 — September 2008 — Index | More about how many survive (last part) |
In order not to extend myself too much, I will limit my reflection to giving an answer based on the reading of the UB to two questions:
This is a thorny issue, in the sense that apparently contradictory feelings and desires are intermingled, which on the other hand we are not clear if they come from purely human emotions, such as the idea that “he who is not good” purges in some way way for what he has done, that he “personally suffers” some kind of consequence for those acts that we consider heinous or violations of the morality or ethics of the moment in which they are committed.
It is true that we have managed to understand that both morality and ethics depend on the historical moment and the place where they are questioned, but it is also true that it seems “just” to us that the moral position that is in use at a given moment is respected. , and consequently there should be some way to reward or punish the attacks against that ethics or morality (or at least some kind of personal consequence)
On the other hand, we have an idea/ideal of Divine Mercy for which the idea that the Father’s mercy would make every man survive physical death and have one more possibility of surviving not only natural death, but to become Adjuster-fused to achieve immortality.
We would gladly renounce our particular and private idea about Justice, and we could understand that even the most perverse human beings can have an opportunity to recognize their errors and even their sins, if not in this life in the next, in the light of the new realities that present themselves to them.
Somehow we intuit that the fact of surviving physical death, given the level of ignorance and the dark times that particularly on this planet we have had to live, is not dependent (at least not only) on the behavior of people, from what we usually say about them being good or bad, and especially considering that both “good” and “bad” are completely relative.
We also have the clear and forceful message of the UB that presents us with the idea that the continuity of existence depends on the conscious and unequivocal decision of the creature, whether or not to want to continue it, as is clearly reflected in the following paragraph:
. . .But it does signify that all will creatures are to experience one true opportunity to make one undoubted, self-conscious, and final choice. . . . (UB 112:5.9)
And reaffirmed with the following expression:
. . .Only conscious resistance to the Adjuster’s leading can prevent the survival of the evolving immortal soul. (UB 110:3.5)
The conclusion that could be drawn is that, given that on the one hand in this world we do not manage to be aware of the Adjuster in a clear way, together with the lack of resources that we do not possess due to causes and circumstances beyond our control; and on the other hand, the prevailing confusion and lack of knowledge, we could conclude that we cannot issue the final decision in life in the flesh. Therefore, we should all survive death and thus be able to make the choice in an unquestionable way, with greater knowledge of the facts, on the mansion worlds.
Let us inquire a little into what the UB presents to us about mortal survival, and we may be surprised by some of the answers to the two questions that we have asked ourselves. There are very important nuances to take into account, so I think that things are not automatic. In other words, the mere fact of being born on this planet does not guarantee our survival after physical death.
If that were so, it would invite laziness at the very least. Once again, we will discover that our free will is really sacred and our will will decide, however immature it may be. What is asked of us is nothing more than a response of our will to an intuition that appears in our minds in a very simple way and that is posed to everyone, and the “correct answer” is within the reach of EVERYONE.
Does survival after natural death really depend on us, or would it be a natural and independent step for us? In order to set the stage for reasoning, let us ask ourselves:
Why is survival necessary/desirable?
What is the first cause that makes us start a long and arduous pilgrimage? Let’s take a quote from the UB:
“. . .From the Universal Father who inhabits eternity there has gone forth the supreme mandate, “Be you perfect, even as I am perfect.”” (UB 1:0.3)
There is an exhortation/mandate from the Universal Father, which is what sets in motion a huge number of creatures and forces/energies aimed at carrying out this simple order.
Notice that the exhortation is not to “be good” as I am good, nor to be merciful, or compassionate, OR careful, or loving, or whatever ideas/ideals we can conceive of Deity. It goes beyond each of the things that can occur to us separately.
So suddenly we could think that what he asks of us is impossible, because He is Perfect, and we cannot reach that degree even by far, and even less now in our mortal life; It would seem that he is asking for “pears from the elm.” Is it that the Father has gone crazy?
Obviously he hasn’t gone crazy, because he doesn’t ask us to be just as perfect as him; it is not about reaching His level of perfection.
What he is really asking of us is that we be perfect in our sphere or level of reality, but since our level of reality is evolutionary, what he expects of us is that we begin first with the search for that perfection, that we set out for to progress Because obviously we all understand that perfection (for us) is a goal that in itself is not fully achievable, it is a horizon.
The Universal Father is so understanding, so careful with his creatures, so loving that we will see that he does not ask us to reach a certain level, but only to put us on the path…
This is His Will, and our will is only aligned with His if we seek this perfection, in our sphere, in our realm, to become perfect as He Is in the Absolute.
And this includes that our inexcusable task in this sphere is that search for knowledge and experiences that bring us closer to Him. That allow us to achieve ever greater degrees of perfection.
And I say inexcusable because we are not completely helpless nor are we unaware of everything. Quite the contrary, because we have a more than considerable series of tools that will allow us to start and progress in the search for perfection, to follow His Will; even if we lack knowledge, we have these basic intuitions included in our “programming as individuals with personality”, to be able to PROGRESS IF WE WANT. But be careful, nothing will go against our will if we want to or if we choose not to. Survival of physical death depends on us inexcusably.
There is something that really catches my attention in this regard:
The different revelations of the time have invariably been directed not to insist that we have to be good, or holy, or that we have to learn a lot of science, or that we have to be brotherly with all men. Notice the fact that the invariable Message has been: THERE IS A GOD, he is our Father, therefore we are all brothers. YOU HAVE TO GO IN YOUR SEARCH.
Why this message? Why is it important to keep it in mind in our life in the flesh? If in our mortal life we do without HIM, or do not even consider his existence, we will find him later on in the first mansion world. We have all eternity. With this attitude, what we do is resist the influences of the Helping Mind Spirit that is in charge of inducing us to worship.
The UB shows us a series of “serial mechanisms” available to human beings. Once analyzed, we will see that it does not make sense to maintain a position that “I am not reactive to the Spirit of Adoration.” We could justify ignorance, but how will we excuse the unwillingness to start a search, in the three realms of reality that are presented to us? How can we have the courage to recognize that we are reactive to two of them but not to the third intuition?
Let’s observe our reality, and see our gifts (I repeat innate, since we are all born with them):
In addition, we have something bigger: does anyone doubt that he has a will? Even if we don’t know that we have a “personality”, does anyone doubt that each of us is different from the others? The fact of having a will differentiates us, separates us from the animal kingdom. And together with the Will, a group of tools automatically appears that we cannot ignore, because they are inherent to our essence as human beings with survival potential, and although we are not aware of their existence, they work for us autonomously: The UB tells us that the fact of possessing will, automatically incorporates the power to choose to adore and ascend.
. . .And now, will, the power of choosing to worship and to ascend, having appeared in the evolutionary creatures of the planet,. . . (UB 62:7.6)
My conclusion from this paragraph is that the fact of possessing will is equivalent to possessing the ability of Adoration and the ability to ascend. That is, to overcome material death and be able to continue in the mansion worlds. But the sentence in bold seems to say that both the action of worship and the intention of ascension (of continued existence) is a choice of the creature, not an achievement acquired by the fact of possessing will.
We have a mind that since the appearance of the will (Andón and Fonta), is reactive to the 7 Helping Mind Spirits and is special, which differentiates us from the rest of the animals because we are reactive to the 6th and 7th spirits, of adoration and wisdom. And this mind is innately receptive to the spiritual currents that these 6th and 7th Adjutant Mind Spirits elicit.
In addition, this mind that we possess, due to the fact that it is a differentiation of the cosmic mind, is reactive, it is receptive in an INNATE way (it becomes capable of automatically revealing itself without the participation of the creature’s will) to discernments or intuitions on three levels. of universal reality:
The cosmic mind unfailingly responds (recognizes response) on three levels of universe reality. . . . (UB 16:6.5)
In the local universe mind bestowals, these three insights of the cosmic mind constitute the a priori assumptions which make it possible for man to function as a rational and self-conscious personality in the realms of science, philosophy, and religion. Stated otherwise, the recognition of the reality of these three manifestations of the Infinite is by a cosmic technique of self-revelation. (UB 16:6.10)
We can find more references to the fact that there are these automatic and self-revealing mechanisms that are precisely aimed at allowing all creatures to choose without prior knowledge, and regardless of any other sociocultural circumstance.
The possession of the Personality that the Father grants to each individual in our mortal realm is characterized by two phenomena that manifest automatically:
- Moral decision, highest wisdom.
- Spiritual choice, truth discernment.
- Unselfish love, brotherhood service.
- Purposeful co-operation, group loyalty.
- Cosmic insight, the grasp of universe meanings.
- Personality dedication, wholehearted devotion to doing the Father’s will.
- Worship, the sincere pursuit of divine values and the wholehearted love of the divine Value-Giver. (UB 16:8.8-14)
Insisting on what has been previously commented, the endowment of mind and personality that characterizes us makes us AUTOMATICALLY receptive in the three levels of reality that we can aspire to understand and progress:
1. The mathematical or logical recognition of the uniformity of physical causation.
2. The reasoned recognition of the obligation of moral conduct.
3. The faith-grasp of the fellowship worship of Deity, associated with the loving service of humanity. (UB 16:8.16-18)
Later he insists on the same fact:
The cosmic-mind-endowed, Adjuster-indwelt, personal creature possesses innate recognition-realization of energy reality, mind reality, and spirit reality. The will creature is thus equipped to discern the fact, the law, and the love of God. (UB 16:9.1)
… In human self-consciousness four universe-reality realizations are latent and inherent:
- The quest for knowledge, the logic of science.
- The quest for moral values, the sense of duty.
- _The quest for spiritual values, the religious experience.
- The quest for personality values, the ability to recognize the reality of God as a personality and the concurrent realization of our fraternal relationship with fellow personalities. UB 16:9.9-13
It seems clear to me that we cannot excuse the fact that someone does not start their search for God in some way because they do not know that God exists, or what is the same, because the gods they have been told about do not convince them.
It is clear that there is a mechanism that drives you to it, the inclination to search is inherent in the creature with a will. But it is precisely the will of the creature that decides to take the step of starting the search or not, the one that decides to live behind it, or to try to make a minimal gesture aimed at progressing in each of these three facets of reality. using as a starting point these three intuitions that we have within ourselves.
In the following quote it is clearly described that we have a uniform spiritual endowment capable in any circumstance and environment of presenting to the creature the self-revelations necessary for progress in the three aspects of reality that surrounds us, but again I insist that the creature has the last word.
. . .but the possibilities for spiritual progress in the ascension career are equal to all; increasing levels of spiritual insight and cosmic meanings are attained quite independently of all such sociomoral differentials of the diversified material environments on the evolutionary worlds. (UB 5:1.4)
. . .while they may all equally choose to accept the uniform spiritual leading of these Mystery Monitors. (UB 5:1.5)
Man is spiritually indwelt by a surviving Thought Adjuster. If such a human mind is sincerely and spiritually motivated, if such a human soul desires to know God and become like him,. . . (UB 5:1.7)
I understand that the first decision has to be made on Urantia (here and now), and this is independent of all other situations of time, or of social, economic, religious status, etc. Later we will find more quotes that support the proposal that this response/attitude towards Deity is taken on Urantia.
We can claim ignorance regarding concepts, ideas/ideals of God or duty, or morality, good and evil. We can excuse erroneous ideas about those concepts due to the lack of knowledge and experience in our walk; but even if we do not know the laws of nature, the laws that govern causal events, we should not live as if they did not exist, even if we are not capable due to ignorance of correctly resolving some Good/Evil duality, we should not ignore that this duality exists Although we are not capable of correctly conceptualizing God and his relationship with us, due to lack of knowledge or experience, we must not eradicate it from our minds, and we must not silence that force that drives us (which from what it says here is not a gift of a few, but is universal) to seek a God.
What happens if we silence, if we ignore or try to silence these three intuitions? My personal opinion is that:
My conclusion after analyzing these arguments is that not all mortals automatically survive. Obviously, saving the possibility that there are other mechanisms that provide the other possibility, but for me they are not conclusions from what I read in the mentioned paragraphs.
There are several parts of the UB that point to that possibility, since they account for what happens if you don’t survive. Given that it is a revelation, I tend to consider what it reveals to us to be of paramount importance to us and our survival. I wouldn’t find it reasonable that they entertain themselves by commenting on theoretical possibilities. What sense would that make?
In many places we find allusions to what happens in the event that the human individual does not survive. If it appears so much, I understand that it is because that possibility exists and occurs (even if it is in a minimum number of individuals).
What is clear is that I am trying to elucidate a qualitative question. That is to say, I do not claim to know how many survive or who they are; only the qualitative question of whether all mortals on Urantia do it automatically or, if not, because conditions have to be given that depend entirely on the will of the creature (evidently, in the period of time that he lives on Urantia as a mortal).
If mortal man fails to survive natural death, . . . (UB 16:9.3)
Here he tells us what happens in the event that a mortal individual with an Adjuster, even with a soul, does not survive natural death. On the other hand, in paper 30, where he speaks to us about “The Personalities of the Great Universe”, he defines the Ascending Pilgrims as the surviving mortals of time and space who have been accredited for the progressive ascent to Paradise. It describes us 1) The Planetary Mortals, and 2) The Asleep Survivors (the mortals of survival state) It does not say that they are all mortals, but only those that present survival potential. In fact, it relates that the list is passed at age and the kingdom is awarded to the arrival of a Son of God. If all mortals survived, it would not be necessary to pass such a list:
- ASCENDENT MORTALS
While the mortal survivors of time and space are denominated ascending pilgrims . . .
1. Planetary Mortals.
2. Sleeping Survivors.(UB 30:4.1)
2. Sleeping Survivors. All mortals of survival status, . . . the coming of a Son of God to call the rolls of the age and adjudicate the realm, and this is the general practice throughout all Nebadon. It was said of Christ Michael that, when he ascended on high at the conclusion of his work on earth, “He led a great multitude of captives.” And these captives were the sleeping survivors from the days of Adam to the day of the Master’s resurrection on Urantia. (UB 30:4.11)
Christ Michael led a large number of captives, the sleeping survivors, he does not say that they were all those who had died and had not repersonalized in the third period. There were many, but not all. In addition, it seems symptomatic to me that he calls some Planetary Mortals (and not precisely “Planetary survivors”), and the others curiously “Survivors”, that is, those who have survived, I understand that it is a fraction of the total Planetary Mortals. We have more quotes that lead me to a similar conclusion:
. . .Even human mind, personal mind, has no survival qualities apart from spirit identification. Mind is a divinity bestowal, but it is not immortal when it functions without spirit insight, and when it is devoid of the ability to worship and crave survival. (UB 36:5.17)
. . .All souls of every possible phase of mortal existence will survive provided they . . .” (UB 40:5.19)
This last paragraph is definitive: continuity is not a gift, it is an achievement with certain conditions. The existence of a soul within us does not guarantee survival just like that. There is a condition to be met that depends solely and exclusively on the will of the creature: it is essential that they present the impulse (even if it is rudimentary) to find God and achieve divine perfection. It is also explicitly indicated in the following paragraph that there are beings that do not survive:
. . .But with regard to the nonsalvable personalities of a realm, . . . (UB 49:6.7)
In UB 47:2.2 (The Trial Period Nursery):
"… In the event of the survival of one or both parents of the child,…”
And furthermore, this choice of continuity beyond physical death seems to have to occur during the mortal’s adulthood on the planet of birth, as can be seen from the explanation of the following situations. Later, in UB 47:2.4, we find one more note. From what is seen, the decision is expected to be made in youth/infancy in life in the flesh, since he is talking about children (up to 16 years old) who reach death before making up their minds:
“All children on the evolving worlds who have Thought Adjusters, but who before death had not made a choice concerning the Paradise career, are also repersonalized on the finaliter world of the system, where they likewise . . .” (UB 47:2.4)
3. . . .But temporal life on the evolutionary worlds is uncertain, and many die in youth before choosing the Paradise career. Such Adjuster-indwelt children and youths follow the parent of most advanced spiritual status, . . . (UB 49:6.11)
Children who die when too young to have Thought Adjusters . . . (UB 49:6.12)
As related to fusion candidates, if a Mystery Monitor is deserted by the mortal associate, if the human partner declines to pursue the ascending career, when released by natural death (or prior thereto), . . . that nonsurviving creature. . . . (UB 109:6.2)
Without entering into considerations of the Adjuster’s actions in the personality, nor the possibilities of personal spiritual growth, nor the considerations for the creation and subsequent evolution of the soul, and arranging everything for Adjuster fusion. In my view, immediately and as a prerequisite for all future survival, we have the following situation:
Mortal mind is a temporary intellect system loaned to human beings for use during a material lifetime, and as they use this mind, they are either accepting or rejecting the potential of eternal existence. . . (UB 111:1.5)
. . .but mortal mind can actually be twisted, distorted, and rendered evil and ugly by the sinful machinations of a perverse and self-seeking human will… . . (UB 111:1.6)
It is true that they do not expect us to understand in order to be on the path, they do not even ask us to be good. What they ask is that our will yearn for God, desire it. That is to say, that he wishes to begin the supreme mandate of the Universal Father for human beings: to be Perfect as HE is.
Believe that it is wonderful. It does not ask you to be good, being good makes things easier, what they ask is that you yearn to know God:
The inevitable result of such a contactual spiritualization of the human mind is the gradual birth of a soul, the joint offspring of an adjutant mind dominated by a human will that craves to know God, (UB 111:2.10)
For me this is the key: if you are good (ethically and morally) but your will refuses to recognize (in any of its possible manifestation) God, you are renouncing the beginning of the formation of your morontia soul, and therefore you are renouncing to the possibility of survival.
Remembering that the mind is a gift of the Mother Spirit of our Universe, it is doubtless that it will take advantage of many occasions to introduce us to the Father in one of its multiple concepts. But if the human being does not voluntarily decide to start yearning to reach Him, there will be nothing to do.
What are we to make of individuals who systematically reject the possibility of the existence of a higher being, who are made “self-sufficient” by pride, and who think it is weak-minded to have to resort to “a higher being”?
Of all the dangers which beset man’s mortal nature and jeopardize his spiritual integrity, pride is the greatest. (UB 111:6.9)
Pride is deceitful, intoxicating, and sin-breeding whether found in an individual, a group, a race, or a nation. It is literally true, “Pride goes before a fall.” (UB 111:6.10)
. . .But selfhood of survival value, selfhood that can transcend the experience of death, is only evolved by establishing a potential transfer . . . is effected by the sincerity, persistence, and steadfastness of the God-seeking decisions of the human creature (UB 112:2.20)
What happens if the creature persists in its refusal to seek God?
. . .but concerning personality survival there are really three kinds: (UB 112:3.1)
1. Spiritual (soul) death. If and when mortal man has finally rejected survival, . . . (UB 112:3.2)
. . .Man’s personality is eternal but with regard to identity a conditioned eternal reality. . . . but man must choose whether or not he will be present at the attainment of such destiny. In default of such choice, . . . (UB 112:5.2)
There will be many opportunities during material life for us to decide to take that step, but if we are lazy, proud, etc., what will we find? We are given too much information in the UB about the failure of the personality to survive in the human stage, for it to be only a remote or hypothetical possibility:
I have observed a Thought Adjuster indwelling a mind on Urantia who has, according to the records on Uversa, indwelt fifteen minds previously in Orvonton. . . . What others have lost, in that they refused to survive, this human being (and your whole world) now gains. From him who has not survival qualities, shall be taken away even that experienced Adjuster which he now has, while to him who has survival prospects, shall be given even the pre-experienced Adjuster of a slothful deserter. (UB 109:4.5)
The great problem of life is the adjustment of the ancestral tendencies of living to the demands of the spiritual urges initiated by the divine presence of the Mystery Monitor. . . . and this is why so many falter and fail, grow weary and succumb to the stress of the evolutionary struggle. (UB 109:5.4)
Then the development of your soul depends on your cooperation with the Adjuster, which translated is nothing more than that your decisions align with the will of the Father, manifested by the guidance of the Adjuster. As I indicated before, the process goes through the following stages:
When we speak of the “supreme decision” we are in a later phase, in which we have opted for God, with which the birth of our soul has begun, and now we have to make it grow and mature so that it is capable of identifying with God. The supreme decision of abandonment will surely take place in the mansion worlds, but for this it is a necessary condition to have engendered the soul, and this does depend on the will of the material creature.
Although I get the impression that there is most likely no specific decision moment, neither in the case of the “ultimate decision” nor in the case of opting for Deity quest, but rather that the survival value goes away. acquiring with successive and reiterated decisions directed towards that search (a similar response on many occasions to repetitive situations of life or experience of the creature) And, trying to align our will with that of the Father, there will come a time when they are one, and it is at this moment that the “creature door is opened” to definitively merge with the Adjuster.
From the following paragraph I deduce that we have to try (I’m not saying achieve, but I think what they do ask us is that we try) to advance in circles (and this also has to start in the flesh):
Though the cosmic circles of personality growth must eventually be attained, if, through no fault of your own, the accidents of time and the handicaps of material existence prevent your mastering these levels on your native planet, if your intentions and desires are of survival value, there are issued the decrees of probation extension. You will be afforded additional time in which to prove yourself. (UB 112:5.6)
. . .In gaining an entrance into the kingdom of heaven, it is the motive that counts. . . . (UB 140:3.19)
Conclusion:
As a personal “discovery” for me, it is that as an alternative to what I thought before, there is the fact/concept that it is not a matter of being good or bad in itself that will lead us to continuity in the mansion worlds. There is a requirement, which is the voluntary acceptance of the existence of a God, and the fact of trying to start his search, which will undoubtedly lead you to be “good”. Our achievements in the carnal life on Urantia will allow us to achieve more or less rapid spiritual development, they will “shape” our next exterior “containers”.
| Prayer for every night | Luz y Vida — No. 14 — September 2008 — Index | More about how many survive (last part) |