Messages 2001

Forgiveness and Forgetfulness.

November 6th, 2001

Received by H.

Cuenca, Ecuador

Forgiveness is forgetfulness. This is a great Truth. You have read it time and time again in the Padgett messages and in later communications by Celestial spirits. But what does this mean?

We speak of forgetfulness, and then along come some spirits, such as Herod, Caligula, and myself, and tell of their evil deeds with a living memory, remembering everything. And in addition, they are Celestial spirits, who supposedly already have forgotten their sins they committed on earth. But obviously this is not the case. They remember everything, they say that they have been forgiven, implying that they have forgotten all those things, and yet they remember everything, even better than mortals do.

I know that you have drawn your own conclusions, nevertheless I would like to deliver this message, because lately you have thought a lot about this subject, and besides it is worthwhile explaining it thoroughly, as the subject of expiation and pardon is a central theme in the Master’s teachings.

When people die, they lose their physical body, but their mind stays intact. You know this already. Even more so, the spirit’s mind is keener, totally awake, and there is no forgetfulness as on earth. It is good to remember what Luke wrote:

“Men may create, but they cannot destroy — I refer now to their actions and their thoughts. While on earth they may forget and ease their consciences by forgetting, yet, when they come to the spirit world, and are called to render an account, the inexorable laws that are really their judges and executioners show them that there is no such thing as forgetting — and has been said, they have forgotten to forget.”

Very well, now we know that what is repressed comes to light.

It has also been said that these recollections are the cause of the spirit’s suffering. This is true. But this is not necessarily so right from the beginning. As we have said, physical death doesn’t automatically mean a change in the mental state of the spirit. For example, murderers who don’t feel any regret on earth, or are even convinced they had acted correctly, will not show any regret immediately after their entrance into the spirit world. They will continue with the same attitudes and with identical values as on earth.

They will perceive their unpleasant experience in hell as an injustice, and they will suffer, but not because of their recollections, but because they are still convinced of having done what was right, or they simply don’t care.

But suffering and the long period of reflection leads them to eventually understand, and it is then that the change in their values associate negative emotions to their recollections, and only then does it happen that their recollections hurt, adding even more pain to their sad situation. And this is also the moment when, in fact, atonement starts. Have you not considered that pain and distress are what we feel when our awareness is keenest? Pleasure and delight are what we feel as we approach unconsciousness! This is something to think about, my little analyst.

Man creates, and thoughts are creations. They never get lost. I could tell you that all humanity’s thoughts are accessible to everybody. There is a pool of thoughts. You can also imagine that spirits have access to the thoughts - and memories - of other spirits. This is why you cannot disguise anything here. And the thoughts and memories of each spirit carry the emotional content of the respective spirit. I like to call this phase, when the negative emotional content appears to the spirit, or to the mortal, the phase of conscientiousness. In the great majority of cases this phase starts on earth. And in the great majority of cases, on earth they suffer as a result of their bad conscience, and that means that these people are in full atonement process, which may be accomplished on earth, totally or in part.

People who commit evil deeds with a smile on their face obviously don’t suffer from their conscience. They don’t have any. Their underdeveloped soul condition doesn’t allow it. But they will wake up in the spirit world. And it will be an awful awakening. Well, nobody escapes.

During the atonement process there comes a time when the negative emotions become detached from the memories. These recollections, our recollections, will be like the recollections of anybody else we may read about, mere data, dates, files without emotional value. This is called forgetfulness. The recollection remains, but the style of the recollection changes.

You have also read in the Padgett messages:

“Of course, the time will come when we may have no recollection or memory of each other and our love become a misty dream, but as long as he continues on earth he will remain the child of my care and love.”

This phrase has always intrigued you. Yes, that moment will come, and for many it has already come, for example for the Celestial spirits. But it is much the same principle. Of course, spirits will always remember their parents, their children, their beloved ones in general. But the character of the recollection changes. If they love their dear ones, but don’t feel much for others, they will love all the others just as they love their dear ones. All mankind, in the spirit or in the flesh, will be their dear ones. The emotional value of love towards their beloved ones will not diminish, but the emotional value towards others increases. The recollection of love for their children will be misty, because now they will love the whole world; they love their children and all others with a love even greater than before. I think you understand. What gets lost is the exclusivity of that relationship, giving way to a universal relationship of love.

Very well. Now you wonder: What good is praying for forgiveness to the Father, if everything is subject to the enforcement of laws, the operation of which the Father does not interfere with? You know that Divine Love is another form of achieving redemption, but prayer for forgiveness and prayer for Divine Love are two different things. One may pray for one thing without asking for the other one. This is true.

Yesterday you meditated on this problem. And you came to the following conclusion: This prayer for forgiveness does not bring forgiveness, but manifests an appropriate developmental condition in the spirit or in the mortal. Firstly, he is in the phase of conscientiousness, secondly, he recognizes his dependency on God, and thirdly, by exhibiting his vulnerability he passes through the most difficult phase, that of asking for help. And this is a most important attitude, as it reflects a certain maturity in the spirit or mortal. When one comes to pray for forgiveness, praying seriously and with honest repentance, one is already one step from forgiveness.

Well said. I could add that it is always good to pray, for the reasons you already know. But I want to tell you that things go a little deeper. Imagine someone driving drunk. He causes an accident, killing some people, or injuring them severely. Perhaps they lose their legs, perhaps they will be paraplegic. If the intoxicated driver has just a spark of soul development he will feel really very bad. His repentance will make hell of his life. And when the victims, should they survive, or their relatives, tell him “we forgive you”, do you believe that the matter is settled? No, Sir! It is not so easy. It is necessary to forgive oneself, and this is the most difficult part. Oh my God! This is really difficult. I know this, and you know this. And it is then when prayer for forgiveness comes into it. God, with His loving influence, is always prepared to help us. And He does so. He achieves what we try so often in vain to achieve: the peace in our souls.

I think that with this it is now quite clear what “forgetfulness” means. But I want to add one more thing.

Helen Padgett once wrote to her husband:

“So, my dear Ned, do not let the idea that you must render to every man that which you think he may be entitled, to keep you from believing in the mercy and Love of the Father.”

Yes, my brother. God and his Laws determine forgiveness, not men. And I tell you all the same: Never allow your errors of the past to be like a ballast in your progression towards God.

Each mistake, each sin, bears consequences, bringing suffering and pain. But you must learn, after all, to forgive yourselves. Logically, it is not only about forgiving yourselves. It is necessary to change your attitude, and you must rectify this. But considering that this has already been done, at least there are the good intentions. Although there will be many setbacks, because man is not perfect, the past should not be an impediment. You must live in the present, learning from the past.

The wise Viktor Frankl said: “Live as if you were living a second time, and as though you had acted wrongly the first time.”

So then, consider the change in your attitude as your second time. Your quest for God’s Love is your second life. Learn from your errors in the past without staying entangled in the net of self-pity or feelings of guilt.

The past is what the word says: It has already happened. The Law of Compensation acts upon your present condition, upon how you are now, and not upon how you were five years ago. Your condition certainly has changed. So recognize it.

And with this I will say good-bye. It has been a long message again. But it has been an urgent one, because I see that many of you drag a heavy weight from their past. Let it go, and have a little bit more self-love.

I am your brother in the spirit and your servant,

Judas of Kerioth.