P396:1, 36:0.1 Life does not originate spontaneously. Life is constructed according to plans formulated by the Architects of Being and appears on the inhabited planets either by direct importation or as a result of the operations of the Life Carriers of the local universe. These carriers of life are entrusted with designing and carrying creature life to the planetary spheres. And after planting this life on such new worlds, they remain there for long periods to foster its development.
P396:4, 36:1.3 Life Carriers are graded into three grand divisions: The first division is the senior Life Carriers, the second, assistants, and the third, custodians. The primary division is subdivided into groups of specialists in the various forms of life manifestation.
P396:5, 36:1.4 When an evolutionary planet is finally settled in light and life, the Life Carriers are organized into the higher deliberative bodies of advisory capacity to assist in the further administration and development of the world and its glorified beings. In the later and settled ages of an evolving universe these Life Carriers are entrusted with many new duties.
P397:1, 36:2.1 The worlds of the Life Carriers are designated as follows:
P397:9, 36:2.2 Each of these primary spheres is surrounded by six satellites, on which the special phases of all the Life Carrier activities in the universe are centered.
P397:10, 36:2.3 World Number One, the headquarters sphere, together with its six tributary satellites, is devoted to the study of universal life, life in all of its known phases of manifestation. Here is located the college of life planning, wherein function teachers and advisers from Uversa and Heaven, even from Paradise.
P397:11, 36:2.4 The number ten -- the decimal system -- is inherent in the physical universe but not in the spiritual. The domain of life is characterized by three, seven, and twelve or by multiples and combinations of these basic numbers. There are three primal and essentially different life plans, after the order of the three Paradise Sources and Centers; these three basic forms of life are segregated on three different types of planets. There were, originally, twelve distinct and divine concepts of transmissible life. This number twelve, with its subdivisions and multiples, runs throughout all basic life patterns of all universes. There are also seven architectural types of life design, fundamental arrangements of the reproducing configurations of living matter. The Orvonton life patterns are configured as twelve inheritance carriers. The differing orders of will creatures are configured as 12, 24, 48, 96, 192, 384, and 768. On Earth there are forty-eight units of pattern control -- trait determiners -- in the sex cells of human reproduction.
P397:12, 36:2.5 The Second World is the life-designing sphere; here all new modes of life organization are worked out. While the Creator provides the original life designs, the actual outworking of these plans is entrusted to the Life Carriers and their associates. When the general life plans for a new world have been formulated, they are transmitted to the headquarters sphere, where they are minutely scrutinized by the supreme council of the senior Life Carriers in collaboration with a corps of consultants. If the plans are a departure from previously accepted formulas, they must be passed upon, and endorsed by, the Creator.
P397:13, 36:2.6 Planetary life, therefore, while similar in some
respects, differs in many ways on each evolutionary world. Even in a uniform
life series in a single family of worlds, life is not exactly the same on any
two planets; there is always a planetary type, for the Life Carriers work
constantly in an effort to improve the vital formulas committed to their
keeping.
P398:1, 36:2.7 There are over one million fundamental or cosmic
chemical formulas which constitute the parent patterns and the numerous basic
functional variations of life manifestations. Satellite number one of the
life-planning sphere is the realm of the universe physicists and electrochemists
who serve as technical assistants to the Life Carriers in the work of capturing,
organizing, and manipulating the essential units of energy which are employed in
building up the material vehicles of life transmission, the so-called germ
plasm.
P398:2, 36:2.8 The planetary life-planning laboratories are
situated on the second satellite of this world number two. In these laboratories
the Life Carriers and all their associates collaborate in the effort to modify
and possibly improve the life designed for implantation on the decimal
planets. The life now evolving on Earth was planned and partially worked out
on this very world, for Urantia is a decimal planet, a life-experiment world. On
one world in each ten a greater variance in the standard life designs is
permitted than on the other (non-experimental) worlds.
P398:3, 36:2.9 World Number Three is devoted to the conservation of life. Here various modes of life protection and preservation are studied and developed by the assistants and custodians of the Life Carrier corps. The life plans for every new world always provide for the early establishment of the life-conservation commission, consisting of custodian specialists in the expert manipulation of the basic life patterns. On Earth there were several such custodian commissioners, two for each fundamental or parent pattern of the architectural organization of the life material. On planets such as yours a life-carrying bundle that possesses several pattern units reproduces the highest form of life. (And since the intellectual life grows out of, and upon the foundation of, the physical, there come into existence the basic orders of psychic organization.)
P398:4, 36:2.10 Sphere Number Four and its tributary satellites are devoted to the study of the evolution of creature life in general and to the evolutionary antecedents of any one life level in particular. The original life plasm of an evolutionary world must contain the full potential for all future developmental variations and for all subsequent evolutionary changes and modifications. The provision for such far-reaching projects of life metamorphosis may require the appearance of many apparently useless forms of animal and vegetable life. Such by-products of planetary evolution, foreseen or unforeseen, appear upon the stage of action only to disappear, but in and through all this long process there runs the thread of the wise and intelligent formulations of the original designers of the planetary life plan and species scheme. The manifold by-products of biologic evolution are all essential to the final and full function of the higher intelligent forms of life, notwithstanding that great outward disharmony may prevail from time to time in the long upward struggle of the higher creatures to effect the mastery of the lower forms of life, many of which are sometimes so antagonistic to the peace and comfort of the evolving will creatures.
P398:5, 36:2.11 Number Five World is concerned wholly with life associated with mind. Each of its satellites is devoted to the study of a single phase of creature mind correlated with creature life. Mind such as man comprehends is an endowment of the seven adjutant mind-spirits superimposed on the non-teachable or mechanical levels of mind by the agencies of the Infinite Spirit. The life patterns are variously responsive to these adjutants and to the different spirit ministries operating throughout the universes of time and space. The capacity of material creatures to effect spirit response is entirely dependent on the associated mind endowment, which, in turn, has directionized the course of the biologic evolution of these same mortal creatures.
P399:1, 36:2.12 World Number Six is dedicated to the correlation of mind with spirit as they are associated with living forms and organisms. This world and its six tributaries embrace the schools of creature co-ordination, wherein teachers from both the central universe and the superuniverse collaborate with the instructors in presenting the highest levels of creature attainment in time and space.
P399:2, 36:2.13 The Seventh Sphere of the Life Carriers is dedicated to the unrevealed domains of evolutionary creature life as it is related to the cosmic philosophy of the expanding factualization of the Supreme Being.
P399:3, 36:3.1 Life does not spontaneously appear in the universe; the Life Carriers must initiate it on the barren planets. They are the carriers, disseminators, and guardians of life as it appears on the evolutionary worlds of space.
P399:4, 36:3.2 The corps of Life Carriers commissioned to plant
life upon a new world usually consists of several senior carriers, assistants
and custodians. The Life Carriers often carry actual life plasm to a new world,
but not always. They sometimes organize the life patterns after arriving on the
planet of assignment in accordance with formulas previously approved for a new
adventure in life establishment. Such was the origin of the planetary life of
Earth.
P399:5, 36:3.3 When, in accordance with approved formulas, the
physical patterns have been provided, then do the Life Carriers catalyze this
lifeless material, imparting through their persons the vital spirit spark; and
forthwith do the inert patterns become living matter.
P399:6, 36:3.4 The vital spark -- the mystery of life -- is bestowed through the Life Carriers, not by them. They do indeed supervise such transactions, they formulate the life plasm itself, but it is the Spirit who supplies the essential factor of the living plasm. From the Infinite Spirit comes that energy spark which enlivens the body and presages the mind.
P399:7, 36:3.5 In the bestowal of life the Life Carriers
transmit nothing of their personal natures, not even on those spheres where new
orders of life are projected. At such times they simply initiate and transmit
the spark of life, start the required revolutions of matter in accordance with
the physical, chemical, and electrical specifications of the ordained plans and
patterns. Life Carriers are living catalytic presences that agitate, organize,
and vitalize the otherwise inert elements of the material order of existence.
P400:1, 36:3.6
The Life Carriers of a planetary corps are given a certain period in which to
establish life on a new world. At the termination of this period, indicated by
certain developmental attainments of the planetary life, they cease implantation
efforts, and they may not subsequently add anything new or supplemental to the
life of that planet.
P400:2, 36:3.7
During the ages intervening between life establishment and the emergence of
human creatures of moral status, the Life Carriers are permitted to manipulate
the life environment and otherwise favorably directionize the course of biologic
evolution. And this they do for long periods of time.
P400:3, 36:3.8
When the Life Carriers operating on a new world have once succeeded in producing
a being with will, with the power of moral decision and spiritual choice, then
and there their work terminates -- they are through; they may manipulate the
evolving life no further. From this point forward the evolution of living things
must proceed in accordance with the endowment of the inherent nature and
tendencies which have already been imparted to, and established in, the
planetary life formulas and patterns. The Life Carriers are not permitted to
experiment or to interfere with will; they are not allowed to dominate or
arbitrarily influence moral creatures.
P401:5, 36:5.1 It is the presence of the seven adjutant
mind-spirits on the primitive worlds that conditions the course of organic
evolution; that explains why evolution is purposeful and not accidental. These
adjutants represent that function of the mind ministry of the Infinite Spirit
that is extended to the lower orders of intelligent life through the operations
of a local universe Spirit. The adjutants are the children of the Spirit and
constitute her personal ministry to the material minds of the realms. Wherever
and whenever such mind is manifest, these spirits are variously functioning.
P401:6, 36:5.2 The seven adjutant mind-spirits are called by
names which are the equivalents of the following designations: intuition,
understanding, courage, knowledge, counsel, worship, and wisdom. These
mind-spirits send forth their influence into all the inhabited worlds as a
differential urge, each seeking receptivity capacity for manifestation quite
apart from the degree to which its fellows may find reception and opportunity
for function.
P401:7, 36:5.3 The central lodgments of the adjutant spirits on
the Life Carrier headquarters world indicate to the Life Carrier supervisors the
extent and quality of the mind function of the adjutants on any world and in any
given living organism of intellect status. These life-mind emplacements are
perfect indicators of living mind function for the first five adjutants. But
with regard to the sixth and seventh adjutant spirits -- worship and wisdom --
these central lodgments record only a qualitative function.
P402:1, 36:5.4 The seven adjutant mind-spirits always accompany
the Life Carriers to a new planet, but they should not be regarded as entities;
they are more like circuits. The spirits of the seven universe adjutants do not
function as personalities apart from the universe presence of the Divine
Minister; they are in fact a level of consciousness of the Divine Minister.
P402:2, 36:5.5 We are handicapped for words adequately to
designate these seven adjutant mind-spirits. They are ministers of the lower
levels of experiential mind, and they may be described, in the order of
evolutionary attainment, as follows:
P402:3, 36:5.6 1. The spirit of intuition -- quick perception, the primitive physical and inherent reflex instincts, the directional and other self-preservative endowments of all mind creations; the only one of the adjutants to function so largely in the lower orders of animal life and the only one to make extensive functional contact with the non-teachable levels of mechanical mind.
P402:4, 36:5.7 2. The spirit of understanding -- the impulse of co-ordination, the spontaneous and apparently automatic association of ideas. This is the gift of the co-ordination of acquired knowledge, the phenomenon of quick reasoning, rapid judgment, and prompt decision.
P402:5, 36:5.8 3. The spirit of courage -- the fidelity endowment -- in personal beings, the basis of character acquirement and the intellectual root of moral stamina and spiritual bravery. When enlightened by facts and inspired by truth, this becomes the secret of the urge of evolutionary ascension by the channels of intelligent and conscientious self-direction.
P402:6, 36:5.9 4. The spirit of knowledge -- the curiosity-mother of adventure and discovery, the scientific spirit; the guide and faithful associate of the spirits of courage and counsel; the urge to direct the endowments of courage into useful and progressive paths of growth.
P402:7, 36:5.10 5. The spirit of counsel -- the social urge, the endowment of species co-operation; the ability of will creatures to harmonize with their fellows; the origin of the gregarious instinct among the more lowly creatures.
P402:8, 36:5.11 6. The spirit of worship -- the religious impulse, the first differential urges separating mind creatures into the two basic classes of mortal existence. The spirit of worship forever distinguishes the animal of its association from the soulless creatures of mind endowment. Worship is the badge of spiritual-ascension candidacy.
P402:9, 36:5.12 7. The spirit of wisdom -- the inherent tendency of all moral creatures towards orderly and progressive evolutionary advancement. This is the highest of the adjutants, the spirit coordinator and articulator of the work of all the others. This spirit is the secret of that inborn urge of mind creatures which initiates and maintains the practical and effective program of the ascending scale of existence; that gift of living things which accounts for their inexplicable ability to survive and, in survival, to utilize the co-ordination of all their past experience and present opportunities for the acquisition of all of everything that all of the other six mental ministers can mobilize in the mind of the organism concerned. Wisdom is the acme of intellectual performance. Wisdom is the goal of a purely mental and moral existence.
P403:1, 36:5.13 The adjutant mind-spirits experientially grow,
but they never become personal. They evolve in function, and the function of the
first five in the animal orders is to a certain extent essential to the function
of all seven as human intellect. This animal relationship makes the adjutants
more practically effective as human mind; hence animals are to a certain extent
indispensable to man's intellectual as well as to his physical evolution.
P403:2, 36:5.14 These mind-adjutants of a local Universe Spirit
are related to creature life of intelligence status much as the power centers
and physical controllers are related to the nonliving forces of the universe.
They perform invaluable service in the mind circuits on the inhabited worlds and
are effective collaborators with the Master Physical Controllers, who also serve
as controllers and directors of the preadjutant mind levels, the levels of
non-teachable or mechanical mind.
P403:3, 36:5.15 Living mind, prior to the appearance of
capacity to learn from experience, is the ministry domain of the Master Physical
Controllers. Creature mind, before acquiring the ability to recognize divinity
Deity, is the exclusive domain of the adjutant spirits. With the appearance of
the spiritual response of the creature intellect, such created minds at once
become super-minded, being instantly encircuited in the spirit cycles of the
local universe Spirit.
P403:4, 36:5.16 The adjutant mind-spirits are in no manner
directly related to the diverse and highly spiritual function of the spirit of
the personal presence of the Divine Minister, the Holy Spirit of the inhabited
worlds; but they are functionally antecedent to, and preparatory for, the
appearance of this very spirit in evolutionary man. The adjutants afford the
Universe Spirit a varied contact with, and control over, the material living
creatures of a local universe, but they do not repercuss in the Supreme Being
when acting on prepersonality levels.
P403:5, 36:5.17 Nonspiritual mind is either a spirit-energy manifestation or a physical-energy phenomenon. Even human mind, personal mind, has no survival qualities apart from spirit identification. Mind is a divinity bestowal, but it is not immortal when it functions without spirit insight, and when it is devoid of the ability to worship and crave survival.
P403:6, 36:6.1 Life is both mechanistic and vitalistic --
material and spiritual. Ever will our physicists and chemists progress in their
understanding of the protoplasmic forms of vegetable and animal life, but never
will they be able to produce living organisms. Life is something different from
all energy manifestations; even the material life of physical creatures is not
inherent in matter.
P403:7, 36:6.2 Things material may enjoy an independent
existence, but life springs only from life. Mind can be derived only from
pre-existent mind. Spirit takes origin only from spirit ancestors. The creature
may produce the forms of life, but only a creator personality or a creative
force can supply the activating living spark.
P404:1, 36:6.3 Life Carriers can organize the material forms,
or physical patterns, of living beings, but the Spirit provides the initial
spark of life and bestows the endowment of mind. Even the living forms of
experimental life, which the Life Carriers organize on their worlds, are always
devoid of reproductive powers. When the life formulas and the vital patterns are
correctly assembled and properly organized, the presence of a Life Carrier is
sufficient to initiate life, but all such living organisms are lacking in two
essential attributes -- mind endowment and reproductive powers. Animal mind and
human mind are gifts of the local Universe Spirit, functioning through the seven
adjutant mind-spirits, while creature ability to reproduce is the specific and
personal impartation of the Universe Spirit to the ancestral life plasm
inaugurated by the Life Carriers.
P404:2, 36:6.4 When the Life Carriers have designed the
patterns of life, after they have organized the energy systems, there must occur
an additional phenomenon; the "breath of life" must be imparted to
these lifeless forms. God can construct the forms of life, but it is the Spirit
of God who really contributes the vital spark. And when the life thus imparted
is spent, then again the remaining material body becomes dead matter. When the
bestowed life is exhausted, the body returns to the bosom of the material
universe from which it was borrowed by the Life Carriers to serve as a transient
vehicle for that life endowment which they conveyed to such a visible
association of energy-matter.
P404:3, 36:6.5 The life bestowed upon plants and animals by the
Life Carriers does not return to the Life Carriers upon the death of plant or
animal. The departing life of such a living thing possesses neither identity nor
personality; it does not individually survive death. During its existence and
the time of its sojourn in the body of matter, it has undergone a change; it has
undergone energy evolution and survives only as a part of the cosmic forces of
the universe; it does not survive as individual life. The survival of mortal
creatures is wholly predicated on the evolvement of an immortal soul within the
mortal mind.
P404:4, 36:6.6 We
speak of life as "energy" and as "force," but it is really
neither. Force-energy is variously gravity responsive; life is not. Pattern is
also nonresponsive to gravity, being a configuration of energies that have
already fulfilled all gravity-responsive obligations. Life, as such, constitutes
the animation of some pattern-configured or otherwise segregated system of
energy -- material, mindal, or spiritual.