Questions & Answers- 26th June 1991

UPON returning home, during length and breadth of vast journeying back to the Father, one shall find the long lost brother. There are many prizes in development, but what greater prize than the insight into the heart of the world-family and the realization of the inextricable bonds conjoining one to one, all to all.

Such reality is never in truth denied. However, the inner quest belongs in the outer realms, as too the outer quest must be perceived with eyes visioning inwards.

The key to all quests must firstly and steadfastly be conducted through morality. Morality of itself unveils the spirit of the Father and therefore the spirit of Man. Never underestimate the moral path. The devilish concepts would deny the forthrightness of conscience and cringe from the attitude which savours work and eagerly answers all commissions. Such denials do inhibit that man who would otherwise come to know for himself his place in the world.

Deceptions of self demand that a man be so preoccupied that no time is spent for self reflection. However, those who would be liars or cheats do but waste themselves chasing false goals, which if ever realized, whip from the tail and turn upon their keeper without mercy, provoking much sorrow and hardship.

All men must continually ask of themselves: "For what purpose do I live?" Morality practiced, is a self-evident Truth. Do men really wish to excel their effectiveness? If so, there is only one road to travel. Do men continually hinge hopes on some future acquisition, material or in soul? And if so, to what purpose?

We must learn anew to pick up from childhood the talent of inquiry and right questioning. To question is to quest. As a would-be marksman with golden arrow springing from bow, pick up the arrows and keep trying. We must first pluck the arrows from our own heart and then send them forth.

"But how may one question if there is indeed no interest?" one may ask. And further on, "Why is there no interest?" As children we hold profound interest in the world, so much so that ten questions may blurt out in the space of a single minute. The questions well up and the child demands to be answered. Although sometimes they have great difficulty putting into actual words those questions that have much attention and urgency of moment. If an answer is offered by a grown-up child (an adult), it is rarely comprehended by the struggling and enthusiastic consciousness of the child. 

The answer may cease the question, but it does not lead to more questioning. Sometimes the adult may even encourage this and turn the child away, not understanding the importance of such questioning.

The child questions everything. Vocal or not, the child tests everything put before them in every way. This too the adult may feel bound to prohibit at the necessary times. There are years of inquiries being quashed. There are years later of explanations given that do not explain - and the result is that the spirit of a natural love of inquiry is almost extinguished within the consciousness of the growing individual. Doors seem continually to close as quickly as one approaches them. Slam, slam, slam!

There is no demerit in an adult further questioning and participating with the inquiry of a child. The child needs the freedom to form questions, which largely he can answer for himself - discovery in both the outer and inner worlds. Firm answers are too tightly structured for the growing consciousness: "It could be this", "It may be this" or "Perhaps", is a far gentler approach. For in reality the questions of children are so complex and far reaching that a single statement of answer, would never suffice to encompass the truth or reality of that which really is.

However, when the satisfaction in the constructing of a really good question has been denied by ridiculous answers day after day, year after year, it is small wonder that small children grow into uninspired large adults.

Adding to this sadly enough, is often the hollow replacement of what should have been moral guidance, achieved through implicit example on behalf of the adults. Stern to say, but does one ever consider the morality of competitive sports, and the attitude of competitiveness which follows through to every aspect in our criticisms and judgments of society's less fortunates? Education is based on a grading system, dividing one from another, rather than acknowledging knowledge and the merits thereby.

Disappointed and disorientated children grow with expectations of the same throughout adult life. And expectations usually are realized - self-prophecy of constant glibness.

So as adults there is much to re-learn, remembering that we, as our parents, do not hold complete answers in any field of thought. Answers are illusive. Firstly, we must regain our talents of inquiry. Ask and keep asking regardless of answer, as true answers lead on to more questions and never satisfy of themselves.

True study requires observation and the accumulation of concepts which build and fill the puzzles of complex realities. The hard and fast answer does not lend to consideration or study, rather it gags the mouth of the inquirer and ties the thought into knots of meaningless threads. Unravel the knots and begin again.