2009.03.14 The interaction of Free Will and Karma

[abstrktion]

Ok Plenum, so do you have some super-link-up on the other side where, like some old fashioned switchboard, someone tells you EXACTLY what some of us need to hear on this forum?

I had another interaction with a co-worker who was quite rude in response to my attempt to value his opinion by asking for feedback on a proposed use of faculty time. He is younger, still on probationary status; I'm the head of his dept. and I've been at the school nearly since it opened in 1999--I'm also on the School Board and was working on the school's accreditation when he curtly replied to my invitation to participate in the discussion between me and the principal. Yep, I'm sure my ego is involved here!

I had been praying for guidance regarding how I should comport myself today towards this other self I'm becoming less and less fond of and POOF! Plenum answers my exact question....kind of eerie if you ask me!

THANK YOU PLENUM!

this is a long extract from a Q'uo Session here http://www.llresearch.org/transcripts/is..._0314.aspx

It is especially difficult to remember to be gentle with your words when others are ungentle with you. It is understandable and human to wish to defend yourself, and we encourage those words of defense that express your belief in yourself and in your worth.

Be aware, however, of the temptation to give hurt for hurt, slight for slight, insult for insult. That entity which has insulted you, slighted you, or offended you in some way has given you a gift. You are blessed. There is always a blessing and a gift that accompanies being misunderstood, resented or otherwise hurt. That gift is the gift of self-knowledge.

Self-knowledge then leads you to a greater awareness of yourself. All things that are challenging to you are those things which promote spiritual maturity in those who are willing to work with the catalyst that has been given. It is against the ways of your culture to give thanks for the challenges of insult and injury through words. It is the way of your culture to respond in words of anger.

And my friends, we are aware of the rightness of the emotions that flood through you at those times. We do not discourage you from experiencing those emotions. We only encourage you to be aware of the power of your own words.

Do the work that anger offers you, that resentment offers you, that suffering offers you, within yourself. Give yourself time to work through difficult emotions. But insofar as you are able, refrain from sharing those difficulties with those about you. Realize that it is a delicate thing to determine what is a just communication and what is a bullying or a manipulative conversation.

We realize that you must play with these judgments endlessly as you strive for the most open and clear communication that you can find. We do not discourage the speaking of truth. We only note that there are many ways to approach truth. Further, there are the accompanying unspoken languages of tone, posture, facial expression and other points of body language which go into the communication that you are attempting to share with another.

The attention and the honest attempt to avoid hurtful and abusive language with another carries with it a high probability that no matter how imperfect your actual actions, you shall not retain karma.

By far, the most adhering of karma is that which is self-judged. Do not fall into the trap of forgiving another but failing to forgive the self. For in a karmic transaction there are two. And the entire transaction must be forgiven before the wheel of karma can stop turning.

How can you forgive yourself? It is indeed a quandary! For you, in your creation, are the judge. That which you forgive is forgiven. That which you do not forgive is unforgiven.

Shall you be harsh or shall you be merciful? Have you the courage to forgive completely and start over? Can you die to old memory and awaken anew, an unblemished person? We ask that you give yourself permission to do so. In that way your life shall be sweet and there shall be no karma but only newness and the opportunity to bloom.

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