(Posted on September14, 2013 by David McMillin)
[NOTE: While serving as mentor for an online version of "A Search For God" study group and working on the Destiny of the Soul lesson, a class member shared some supplemental resources including information on heaven. Here is my reply. – David McMillin]
Thanks for the supplemental information and especially for bringing up the concept on "heaven." Since heaven and hell are so oft associated with the Destiny of the Soul, it got me thinking and doing a little searching in the readings. Here are some excerpts that I find particularly evocative:
For, each activity is a manifestation of the forces that emanate from the universal, or the consciousness of the living God! Individuals' activity upon that, by their construction of same, makes it hell or heaven! Then, each soul should see more and more constructively in regard to the most destructive influences in an activity! (270-31)
What, then, is karma?And what is destiny? What has the soul done, in the spiritual, the material, the cosmic world or consciousness, respecting the knowledge or awareness of the laws being effective in his experience - whether in the earth, in the air, in heaven or in hell? These are ever one; for well has it been said, "Though I take the wings of the morning and fly unto the utmost parts of the heavens, Thou art there!Though I make my bed in hell, Thou art there! Though I go to the utmost parts of the earth, Thou art there!Truth, Life, God! Then, that which is cosmic - or destiny, or karma - depends upon what the soul has done about that it has become aware of. (276-7)
(Q) Will we be punished by fire and brimstone?
(A) That as builded by self; as those emblematical influences are shown through the experiences of the beloved in that builded, that created.For, each soul is a portion of creation - and builds that in a portion of its experience that it, through its physical-mental or spiritual-mental, has builded for itself. And each entity'sheaven or hell must, through SOME experience, be that which it has builded for itself. Is thy hell one that is filled with fire or brimstone? But know, each and every soul is tried so as by fire; purified, purged; for He, though He were the Son, learned obedience through the things which He suffered. Ye also are known even as ye do, and have done. (281-16)
For be persuaded, there is nothing in heaven or hell that may prevent thee from knowing thy relationship to thy Creator BUT thyself. (1771-2)
(Q) How may I best adjust myself, so that I may feel more in step with pattern of life?
(A) By the study or the analyzing of self as related to what is chosen as thy ideal. Remember, all ye may know of heaven or hellis within your own self. All ye may know of God is within your own self.Cast not, draw not judgments of others; but from that within. (4035-1)
And here's my personal favorite:
For, the heaven and hell is built by the soul! The companionship in God is being one with Him; and the gift of God is being conscious of being one with Him, yet apart from Him - or one with, yet apart from, the Whole. (5753-1)
I think this last excerpt especially expresses the essence of the parable of the prodigal son – the separation – being "apart" somehow made the eventual reunion and companionship even more sacred and precious. I think that is the basis for healthy relationship at all levels, so often cited in the readings as the purpose of life and cause of being:
That it, the entity, may KNOW itself to BE itself and part of the Whole; not the Whole but one WITH the whole; and thus retaining its individuality, knowing itself to be itself yet one with the purposes of the First Cause that called it, the entity, into BEING, into the awareness, into the consciousness of itself. That is the purpose, that is the cause of BEING. (826-11)
Eternity is Now – we are in the midst of it. We create heaven or hell in our own experience each day with our thoughts, choices, and actions. We are learning to be co-creators and companions with God. It is a developmental process. And just like the prodigal son, we sometimes make choices that create a bit of hell in our own experience. But that is not the end of it – that is not the Destiny of the Soul. God is never far away and reunion with the Source (the Whole), is a matter of choice. Beautiful, isn't it! Thanks again for sharing. Blessings, Dave