[tmtranscripts] N. Idaho TeaM 3/20/05

[rickgiles]

North Idaho Teaching Mission Group
Topics: The Perfection of Unification, Jesus and Stillness, 
Addressing Depression.
Teachers: Lantarnek

March 20, 2005
phone conference

*	Lantarnek (Jonathan TR):  Greetings, this is Lantarnek.  I 
am continually thrilled by your progress.  You are all so 
naturally inclined to seek spiritual attainment.  It is 
encouraging to witness your steadfast orientation.  Naturally 
arising in your effort is the ongoing pursuit of higher 
attainments, be it spirit fruit, be it broader comprehension, 
the understanding of truth; be it the peaceful coordination of 
activities with others.
	You have found over your years of spiritual discipline 
great rewards in acquiring the life style of high spirit living.  
The phrase “to hunger for perfection” describes this tendency to 
seek more deeply, to reach more heavenward.  But there is a 
second phase, perhaps more accurately, a concomitant phase, 
which is the perfection of unification.
	When Michael dwelt upon our world he engaged ordinary folk 
to be his apostles.  He did not seek out the theologians of his 
time nor professors.  While those very people did comprehend 
many truths that Jesus taught, his purpose was to encourage all 
people, no matter their talent.  To grow spiritually one does 
acquire through insight and through experience, but one also 
integrates, learns to apply, to adjust, to coordinate 
attainments into a harmonious system within one’s being.
	You are endowed with many gifts from God.  You have the 
fundamentals already as a given, as the components of your 
being.  It is the purposeful arrangement of your skills and 
talents that expresses the beauty of these divine gifts that you 
are.  All stations along the ascension path will have certain 
acquirements and certainly much to be acquired.  Even at the 
doorstep of Paradise you will note that which you have yet to 
attain.  Therefore any position along the way your best 
application is to coordinate and integrate your current 
abilities to unify them that they work in harmony together.  
Each one of Jesus’ apostles undertook their mission with him 
doing just this very thing, working with what they have already.
	Such artistry in the arrangement of yourself reveals to 
others the beauty of spiritual attainment.  The race to acquire 
becomes free of the guilt of lack, of the shortcomings, and 
instead is transformed into the composition of your present 
unity.
	Michael said when on your world that no one is benefited by 
placing a lamp under a bushel, but rather to place it where it 
may shed light that it may provide the means that others can 
see.  This light emanates from a lamp which is the unification 
of many parts.  To merely place in proximity the components that 
make up a lamp does not create luminosity.  To add to that 
collection more parts again does not generate light.  It is in 
the arrangement, it is in the constructive orientation, that a 
lamp emerges from which light emits.  No matter your level of 
growth, you can always arrange yourself to shine the light.  It 
is as much of an opportunity while you await the arrival of 
higher levels of spirit being.
	Thank you for receiving my words.  I remain in attendance.

	Tom:  When Michael was on this world he taught the gospel, 
but did he teach the stillness to the masses?

*	Lantarnek:  In the times and the culture in which Jesus 
dwelt there was great emphasis placed upon method, upon proper 
procedure, ritual, and requirements.  He observed that, while 
many souls sincerely sought God, far too often they were 
distracted by the mechanism of the religion.  So, he endeavored 
to spark the courage of personal relationship.  This is why he 
resisted teaching a formulaic prayer to his apostles when they 
requested it.  Likewise he sought stillness, private time with 
Father and taught it by example.  When he went to be alone 
others were made aware that that was his undertaking; it was not 
secret.  By so doing he was endeavoring to encourage others to 
seek their own privacy and solitude with Father.  Should he have 
taught procedure, it would have been swallowed right up into the 
approach common at the time and become standardized and 
regulated.
	I hope this addresses your question.
 
	Tom:  Yes, thank you.

	Evelyn:  In this and recent lessons I notice that in 
perfecting ourselves we’re letting our light shine for others.  
Our growth is for our benefit and for the benefit of others as 
well.  Which makes sense.

*	Lantarnek:  Indeed the two go hand in hand for while I have 
emphasized today developing unity within oneself, the universe 
goal is unity among the body of all beings throughout the 
universe.  Just as the mind assists the body and the body 
assists the mind, so does every creature assist each other, that 
they go hand in hand, the growth of self and the service of 
fellows.

	Ginny:  Do you have any advice on how to speak to people 
who are deeply depressed and on the brink of harming themselves?

*	Lantarnek:  When you encounter such a condition in one of 
your fellows you may take the example Jesus used when two 
brothers are in conflict.  He said go to the other in private to 
remedy the conflict.  If this fails, bring an associate, even 
the congregation.  This was for the resolution of a problem 
between two.  You speak of a conflict within an individual.  
When you encounter such a situation you have already undertaken 
the step of brother to brother.  This individual needs the 
congregation.  Your best assistance is to provide an avenue 
wherein other fellow human beings who are trained to minister to 
one such a crisis may do so.
	As my lesson entailed, each individual only has so much 
skill in their possession.  With your current skill you have the 
means whereby you can orchestrate assisting another who is 
highly accomplished to aid your friend in need.
	The state of despair you speak of has many causes that 
contribute to the condition.  You can be cheerful to encourage a 
cheerful spirit, but if the body is out of sorts it will squelch 
such an uplifting energy.  One who has an off day is more easily 
uplifted  than one who needs the assistance of a trained 
professional.  Discern the best you can the critical aspect of 
that individual’s condition and, if it is on the brink of 
dangerous, offer to make the connection with those who can help 
greatly and quickly.  Be the connecting link.
	I hope this addresses your dilemma.

	Ginny:  Yes, thank you.
	I understand that  problems need to be solved in the same 
level as they are happening.  In other words, if someone is 
depressed because of lack of finances or a breakup or whatever, 
that need is what is causing the condition.  It’s not always 
helpful to give them spiritual advice at that time.
	When Jesus addressed the lad in the hills he encouraged him 
to use his natural talents to get himself into a better place.  

*	Lantarnek: Your insight is good for addressing that the 
root need advances to the solution; while, as you have 
illustrated, a breakup or finances can trouble the soul, 
offering helpful advice in an unrelated category brings no 
assistance.  I had said that the body may cause depression 
requiring medication to assist recovery, but within the cause 
there can be underlying factors, perhaps the inability of an 
individual to accept themselves standing alone as themselves 
without defining their value due to another’s approval and 
acceptance.  There you may offer some guidance.  In the case of 
finances, there may be the mistaken notion that well-being, that 
good standing, is had through wealth, or that being one without 
a good flow of income means the individual is an unworthy 
individual.  One can assist in the reorientation of self esteem.  
But the condition, the entire condition not the contributing 
factors, will be solved by addressing all the elements, 
especially in the case of one who has, as you would say, reached 
the end of their rope.  The time is shorter within which to 
assist than with another who is more mildly affected.
	  I have enjoyed our engagement today, and I will depart at 
this time. Thank you all.  Be the love and the light that you 
are for all to see.