Robert G Parent

Why We Are Here TEACHER: Where we came from, why we are here and where we are going are three questions that have been asked since humanity appeared on the earth. We will delve into these as clearly as possible using the scriptures and common sense as guidelines. Most religious teachers seem to think that we began at birth and before that time we were in total oblivion. Few realize that this idea is contrary to the Bible. In this lesson we are going to show you that: [1] Man is an eternal being who existed before birth. [2] Why we are here. [3] Where we go after we die [4] That humans are reborn, or reincarnated until they reache perfection. The Bible clearly tells us that there is a spirit in man but a scripture that illustrates this quite well was given by Paul. “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, [Whether in the body, I cannot tell, or whether OUT OF THE BODY, I cannot tell: God knoweth;] such an one caught up to the third heaven.” II Cor 12:2 Paul here speaks of being caught up to the third heaven and he tells us that he could not tell if he was in the body or out of the body. Why do you suppose he could not tell if he was out of his body or not? STUDENT: Because being out of the body was similar to being in the body. TEACHER: Have you heard of out-of-body experiences that people have had in recent times? STUDENT: Yes. TEACHER: As you probably know there are many books written on the subject relating near-death experiences where people have left their bodies and were hardly aware of it. In fact, their astral, or spirit, body seemed so much like their regular body that they often thought they were still in the physical. Often when these people are brought back to life, they will relate conversations they heard or events they have seen that happened some distance from their physical body, but were verified to be true. Does it sound here like Paul may have had an out-of-body experience? STUDENT: It seems so. He even uses the phrase “out of the body.” TEACHER: First we’ll read one of the more metaphysical scriptures in the Bible. “Or ever THE SILVER CORD BE LOOSED, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel be broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the SPIRIT SHALL RETURN unto God who gave it.” Eccl 12:6-7 Those who have had out-of body experiences have seen that the spirit or astral body is connected to the physical by a silver cord. Many spiritual people throughout the world believe that this silver cord is a life cord that sustains us and that at death it is severed. In this scripture the writer is talking about what happens at death. What does he say happens to the silver cord? STUDENT: It is loosed. TEACHER: He also tells us that at death the golden bowl is broken. Do you have any idea what this is? STUDENT: I’m not sure. TEACHER: This is the etheric body which is an energy body of light and us somewhat golden in color. The great thing about this is that you can actually see it. Would you like to see my golden bowl, or etheric body? STUDENT: Why not? TEACHER: Stand several feet away against a light wall, preferably white. Now look at me right in the center of my forehead for a minute or so and don’t take your eyes off for a second. [Have the student stare at you for about two minutes.] Now keep staring at this same location without moving your eyes while I move away. What do you see? STUDENT: Wow! I see a glowing yellow or golden image. TEACHER: This is the golden bowl which is broken at death. It is not the spirit which continues to survive. The pitcher broken at the fountain, and the wheel be broken at the cistern refers to the destruction of the physical body. What does it say happens to the spirit of man at death? STUDENT: It says it returns to God. TEACHER: Can you return to a place if you have not been there before? STUDENT: Not really TEACHER: If we return to God, does that mean that we came from there? STUDENT: It would seem so. TEACHER: Now most people believe that we as individuals had no existence before birth. How does this scripture indicate to us that this is not the case, that we did exist before birth? STUDENT: If we return to God at death we must have been there sometime before birth. TEACHER: Now there are a lot of religions who believe that all there is to this spirit is the breath and that we have no consciousness or form away from the body. Let’s read a scripture from Paul that clarifies this: “The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle [the physical body] were dissolved, we have a building of God, [The Spirit of man] an house not made with hands, ETERNAL in the heavens.” II Cor. 4:18;5:1 Now the “earthly house” would be our physical body. What happens when this dies or dissolves? STUDENT: We still have a house made without hands, eternal in the heavens. TEACHER: Now reread the first scripture. How does that tell us we still have consciousness out of the body? STUDENT: If Paul could not tell if he was out of the body or in the body then we must still have our natural consciousness out of the body. TEACHER: There are a number of scriptures that clearly teach that we lived before birth. Please read this from Titus 1:2: “In hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie PROMISED BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN.” When did God promise eternal life to us? STUDENT: Before the world began? TEACHER: How could he promise it to us if we were not there? STUDENT: He couldn’t. TEACHER: Now we will read a fascinating scripture that reveals where we were before the world began. Here the “I” referred to represents the wisdom of God. This could have been Jesus Christ or the Christ in us. “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: When he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: When he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; rejoicing in the habitable part of HIS EARTH; and my delights were WITH THE SONS OF MEN.” Prov 8:1,22-31 How do we know that wisdom, or Christ was speaking of a time before the creation of the world? STUDENT: It says clearly that the earth was not made yet. TEACHER: And who did Wisdom share his delights with [verse 31]? STUDENT: The sons of men. TEACHER: Are you and I part of the sons of men? STUDENT: Sure. TEACHER: Where were we at when we rejoiced with God and wisdom? STUDENT: In the habitable part of his earth? TEACHER: Do you think this may mean that we lived on other planets and spheres before we lived on this earth? STUDENT: It seems to indicate that. TEACHER: God verified to Jeremiah that he knew him somewhere before he was born on this earth. “Then came the word of the Lord unto me saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I KNEW THEE; and BEFORE thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5 Why did God know that Jeremiah would make a good prophet? STUDENT: He knew him before he was born. TEACHER: This also makes sense. Most of the religious world tells us that man will live forever but began at birth. Modern mathematics teaches that this is impossible, that there is no such thing as a beginning to something that lasts for infinity. Therefore, if man lives forever after death, he also had to exist forever before birth. That sounds logical doesn’t it? STUDENT: Seems to. TEACHER: One of the great mysteries sages have pondered on throughout time is the question of why we are here. Have you ever wondered this? STUDENT: Yes. TEACHER: Now the Bible does not come out and say point blank what the purpose of humanity is, but the answer can be discovered by searching the scriptures. A clue to our destiny is given in the name of God. When Moses had his great revelation and spoke to God face to face the first question he ask of Him was his name. The reason he asked his name was simple. In those days a person’s name represented something very important about the person. For instance, Moses meant “drawn from the water,” Joseph meant “he will increase” and David meant “Beloved of God.” Moses thought that God’s name would tell him once and for all who or what he was. We can read God’s answer in Exodus. “And God said to Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Exodus 3:14 I AM THAT I AM seems like a strange name doesn’t it? STUDENT: Yes. TEACHER: One of the reasons that people have had difficulty in making sense of it is because this is not an accurate translation. It is more correctly rendered: I AM BECOMING WHAT I AM BECOMING. In other words, God was telling Moses that he could not give him a name like the Hebrews used that would reveal who he was because he was becoming whatever it was he wanted to become. Moses learned that God was an evolving God and that His goals, pupose and plan would be different tomorrow than it is today. Therefore a meaningful name given in one age may lose its meaning in the next. After examining this name do you think that God himself still sets goals for himself? STUDENT: I would think so if he is in a state of becoming. TEACHER: “Becoming” is very close in meaning to “evolving.” What God chooses to be, or evolve toward is certainly a goal isn’t it? STUDENT: Yes. TEACHER: Imagine what your life would be like if you had reached some ultimate perfection and could have no new goals. That sounds pretty boring, doesn’t it? STUDENT: Yes. TEACHER: Yet the sects of the world seem to wish this nightmare existence on God. Actually, they have it backwards. God is the God of life and life is newness and change. A static condition is death and this is the true hell. Now we’ll read an interesting scripture in Isaiah “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” Isaiah 43:7 Does it say here that we can be called by God’s name? STUDENT: Yes TEACHER: When the I AM presence in us decides to be or do a certain thing and we allow ourselves the freedom to do it then we bear the name of God. Now why does it say that God created us? STUDENT: For his glory. TEACHER: We bring glory to god by glorifying his name and we do this by becoming free to accomplish any good goal that we set for ourselves to all eternity. Just like we are proud of our children, and happy they bear our names when they learn to set worthwhile goals and reach them, even so is God glorified when we realize we must actively pursue a joyous life. That sounds a lot better than just playing a harp for eternity doesn’t it? STUDENT: Yes. TEACHER: Now let us find out what happens when we die. Jesus gives us a clue in his words to the repentant thief that was crucified with him: “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43 Where did Jesus say that he and the thief would be after death? STUDENT: In Paradise. TEACHER: Peter tells us of another place Jesus visited: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.” I Peter 3:18-19 Where did Jesus go to preach here? STUDENT: To the spirits in prison. TEACHER: From these two scriptures we have read we know that Jesus visited two places in the spirit world. One was a place called paradise where he promised to meet the repentant thief. The other place is called the spirit prison where live the “unjust.” In the next chapter Peter tells us why Jesus visited this spirit prison. “For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” I Peter 4:6 Who did Jesus teach the gospel to here while his body was in the tomb? STUDENT: The dead. TEACHER: Why is that? STUDENT: So they can be judged on the same basis as the living. TEACHER: Its only logical that the dead need to be taught the truth just as much as do we the living. Now we basically know where we go right after we die the question is: What happens to us next? The next scripture gives us a clue. “The hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28-29 How many does it say here will hear the voice of God and be resurrected? STUDENT: All that are in the graves. TEACHER: The scripture talks about two resurrections. What are they? STUDENT: The resurrection of life and the resurrection of damnation. TEACHER: The word “resurrection” means “to come to life again.” The scriptures make it clear that the resurrection of life was the kind that Jesus had. That is, even though his body was destroyed, he came back from the spirit world and brought it back to life and then ascended to his Father. Do you have any idea what the resurrection of damnation is? STUDENT: I’m not sure. Hell perhaps. TEACHER: People misunderstand what the resurrection of damnation is because the word is a mistranslation. “Damnation” comes from the Greek word KRISIS and in the King James Bible has been translated as “accusation, condemnation, damnation and judgement.” Translators are reluctant to render it correctly because it does not support orthodox Christian thought. The modern English word “crisis” comes from it and the Greek implies “a decision that brings correction.” The word “damnation is not even a close word to this. Therefore, if we translate the phrase “resurrection of damnation” literally from the Greek it would read: “Coming to life again to face decisions that bring correction.” The modern English word that is closest to this meaning is “reincarnation.” Have you ever considered that we may live more than one life on the earth? STUDENT: I’ve thought about it. TEACHER: It is interesting that the only useful scripture in the Bible for refuting reincarnation has the word KRISIS in it. “And as it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgement.” Hebrews 9:27 On the surface here it sounds like we will only die once and therefore only live once, doesn’t it? STUDENT: Seems to. TEACHER: When we read it in the Greek, however, we get a different view. “But” comes from ALLA which literally means “contrariwise.” This tells us that “after this the judgement” contradicts the “once to die.” The word “judgement” here is the key to the scripture. Again, it is a mistranslation for it also comes from the word KRISIS. No doubt Paul is telling us that we will only have to die once if we are entering the resurrection of life, but the exception will be those who enter the resurrection of KRISIS. This is supported by another scripture. “They [the dead] were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast [to suffer a second death] into the lake of fire.” Revelations 20:12-15 How do we know that we can die more than once? STUDENT: Because the scripture clearly mentions a second death. TEACHER: Those who do not suffer the second death are written in the book of life. Which resurrection do you suppose these people will have. STUDENT: The resurrection of life. TEACHER: Which resurrection will those not written in the book of life have who also suffer a second death? STUDENT: Probably the resurrection of KRISIS [mistranslated damnation]. TEACHER: The Bible tells us how long we must suffer the resurrection of KRISIS: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy: for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” I Corinthians 3:16-17 The scriptures tell us that the temple of God is the body. What happens if we defile it? STUDENT: We will be destroyed. TEACHER: Our bodies return to dust and are destroyed until we quit defiling ourselves. We live many lifetimes and are reborn again and again until we do not defile ourselves. When perfection is reached we are then written in the Book of Life and are brought back to life again in a perfect undefiled body that does not have to ever die again. A few verses later Paul gives some interesting information to those who are following the Spirit. “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” I Corinthians 3:21-23 How many things are promised to those who follow the Spirit? STUDENT: It says “all things are yours.” TEACHER: In other words, those who do not defile themselves can have their choice of anything they want. It even says they can choose life or death. How do you suppose we choose life? STUDENT: That would probably be the everlasting life that is talked about. TEACHER: It says that we can also choose death. It is not speaking of death here as a punishment, but as something we are free to choose. Do you have any idea as to how this could happen? STUDENT: I’m not sure. TEACHER: The average person is forced to be reborn whether he wants to or not in circumstances not to his choosing, but he who follows the spirit may choose to be reborn and live a mortal life in circumstances of his choosing to accomplish some good purpose. Being able to choose death in this way is a nice option to have, isn’t it? STUDENT: It seems to be. TEACHER: Paul also says “things present, or things to come” are ours. If we have the freedom to be reborn whenever we want in circumstances we choose then that gives us the power to enjoy the challenges and experiences of any future age we wish. Have you ever thought that you would like to live in an era when there was perfect peace and harmony on the earth? STUDENT: Yes. TEACHER: If we follow the spirit then we can make that choice. Jesus elaborates on this further. “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you. That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” Matthew 19:28-29 The word “regeneration” is an interesting one. It comes from the Greek PALLGGENESIA. It basically means “to be reborn again and again.” Therefore, the scripture is telling us that the Son of man will sit on the throne of power on the earth not once, but numerous times and that his followers will judge [or set right] Israel numerous times. Next he tells us that those who forsake ‘houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands” for his sake shall receive a reward. What is that? STUDENT: A hundredfold and life everlasting. TEACHER: What will the person receive a hundredfold of? STUDENT: I’m not sure. TEACHER: The Gospel of Mark carifies this somewhat: “But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time [era], houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” Mark 10:30 We are plainly told here that if we make a sacrifice for Christ and have to forsake a mother or father, for instance, that in this era we can have a hundred of them back. Is there any way you can literally have a hundred mothers and fathers without being reborn? STUDENT: No. TEACHER: Now we can see how this whole scripture makes sense when we translate “regeneration” as “to be reborn again and again.” The Bible indicates that reincarnation was a popular doctrine among the people. When Jesus was with his disciples he asked them who the people were saying he was. We can read their response in Matthew 16:14: “And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elijah; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Why would the common people think that Jesus could be Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets returning?” Matthew 16:14: STUDENT: They must have believed in rebirth. TEACHER: One of the reasons that they thought Jesus may have been Elijah is that the Bible prophesied that he would appear before the coming of Christ. We can read this in Malachi 4:5-6: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6: Who would God send before the coming of the Lord? STUDENT: Elijah. TEACHER: Now let us read the Angel Gabriel’s words concerning John the Baptist: “And he [John] shall go before him [Jesus] in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:17 Does this sound as if John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy of the coming of Elijah? STUDENT: It seems to. TEACHER: Jesus tells us clearly that John the Baptist was Elijah in answer to his disciple’s question on the subject.. “Why then do our teachers say that Elijah must come first? He replied, Yes Elijah will come and set everything right. But I tell you, that Elijah has already come, and they failed to recognize him, and worked their will upon him; and in the same way the Son of Man is to suffer at their hands. Then the disciples understood that he meant John the Baptist.” Matthew 17:10-13 New English Bible Who did Jesus here say fulfilled the prophecy of the coming of Elijah? STUDENT: John the Baptist. TEACHER: Jesus not only said that Elijah had already come, but notice that he said that he also “will come and set everything right.” How do you think this prophecy will be fulfilled? STUDENT: Perhaps John will be reborn before the next coming of Christ. TEACHER: Jesus repeats this affirmation in Matthew. We will read from the Concordant Version which is more accurate than the King James: “And if you are willing to receive him [John the Baptist], he is Elijah…” Matthew 11:14 That’s about as clear as word can be, isn’t it? STUDENT: Yes. TEACHER: Elijah is not the only prophet who is to be reborn and do an additional work. A similar promise was made to John the Revelator: “And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” Revelation 10:10-11 John was an old man when he received this vision so how could he fulfill the prophecy to teach many people in different lands? STUDENT: He’d probably have to be reborn. To read the full text go to #1780 in the Archive Index below) freeread.com/index-for-updat…

Are Teachers Needed? A reader wants to know whether a person with solid soul contact even needs a teacher. When a person achieves soul contact, he does not instantly know all things, but progresses precept by precept and line by line, as the scripture says, until he achieves full enlightenment. That which is seen through the eyes of the soul (not the emotions) is accurate but that does not mean the person sees all things. Why? The answer was given in the Sherlock Holmes Movie starring Robert Downey Jr. Here is the dialog that teaches the lesson: Lord Blackwood: Sherlock Holmes. And his loyal dog. Tell me, Doctor... as a medical man, have you enjoyed my work? Watson: Let me show you just how much I've enjoyed it. [starts towards Blackwood] Holmes: Watson, don't! [Holmes stops Watson a few feet from Lord Blackwood, then looks at Blackwood's hands] Observe... [Watson looks down to see there is an almost imperceptible thin glass needle with a sharp point less than a foot from where they stand] Watson: How did you see that? Holmes: Because I was looking for it. [breaks the needle] Now Watson had every bit the ability to see everything that Holmes could see, but did not see it. Why? Because he was not looking for it. Holmes did see the deadly needle. Why? Because he was looking. Even so, you may have two people with a similar ability to contact the soul but one may be looking and the other one is not. The one who is looking will see much more than the one who is not. The key to successful looking is to question and have an open mind. All of us from the highest to the lowest have things to learn that are hidden from us and we need teachers to stimulate us to look in the right direction. Holmes did not teach Watson how to look, for Watson already knew how to do it. Even so, Holmes was his teacher because he pointed him in the right direction so he could see for himself. All those upon the path recognize the need for teachers. DK recognizes Koot Hoomi as his teacher and Christ above that. He even says that Sanat Kumara, the Ancient of Days, is a disciple of the Solar Logos. If the Planetary Logos needs a teacher then it would be silly of us to think we are so advanced that we can learn all truth and lessons completely on our own just by going within. We all need to be stimulated by being exposed to those who have looked in directions that have not occurred to us and expanded their ring-pass-not beyond our own. These individuals have seen many things that we have not and have much to teach us. To refuse to be a student is to eventually come to a standstill in progression, just as is the truth of the opposite extreme of total dependence. Note: It is interesting that Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes was a Theosophist. There has been a huge controversy over whether or not vaccination shots have caused autism in children. This presents a good opportunity to use our powers of discernment and judgment to discover the truth. A Look at Autism (I recommended the group watch a video on whether autism is linked to vaccinations - that has been subsequently removed.) Both sides of the argument were presented. Which side made the best case and why? Where do you think the truth lies? *** Thanks for your comments about vaccinations and autism. Since one of the prime directives of this group is to find and recognize truth - this controversy provides an ideal situation to exercise this ability. Both sides make good arguments, but the question is which side is correct? The establishment makes the Global Warming defense that the science is settled - there is no further discussion or investigation necessary. They merely pronounce their version of the truth as fact. The trouble is that that no good studies are available to prove which side is correct. All we have so far is anecdotal evidence which is just not accepted by the Powers-That-Be as acceptable. Perhaps the best study was from the parent in the video where he said he had talked to about 1000 parents with autistic kids who witnessed a correlation between vaccinations and autism in their children. He then tells us that kids receive an average of 36 vaccinations by the age of five. I think back to my youth and I had only two vaccinations before high school and that was for polio and smallpox. He points out that one single vaccine may not be the problem so much as the quantity. After all, the autism rate has increased from one in 10,000 to one in 110 in the past few decades. (Note: as of 2022 it was one in 37) Something has to have caused this and nothing else has been identified, even in an anecdotal way. The parent in the video calls for studies of the effect of numerous vaccines given at once. Typically a kid may receive 6 vaccines during one single appointment. (Note: in 2025 they receive up to nine) It is my gut feeling that he is on to something here. I would think that a small child receiving six vaccines at one time could be in danger of a number of things. Such a barrage of poisons could indeed induce a number of ills. I think the parents of autistic children should do all in their power to encourage some legitimate studies to determine once and for all if there is a connection of some kind. The trouble is that the medical establishment and the drug companies do not want such sweeping studies for if it turns out the parents are correct then medical practitioners will be embarrassed and drug companies will lose money. Even when all the experts agree, they may well be mistaken. - Bertrand Russell Jan 10, 2011 To search the website, containing millions of words, replace the word "search" with the word or phrase you want to find and place the entire line in the Google search box. "Search" site:freeread.com (This article is #1722 in the Archive Index below) freeread.com/index-for-updat…