6:0. The Infinite Spirit
P90:1, 8:0.1 Back in eternity, when the Universal Father's
"first" infinite and absolute thought finds a perfect and adequate
word for its divine expression, there ensues the supreme desire of both the
Thought-God and the Word-God for a universal and infinite agent of mutual
expression and combined action.
P90:2, 8:0.2 In the dawn of eternity both the Father and the
Infinite Spirit become infinitely cognizant of their mutual interdependence,
their eternal and absolute oneness; and therefore do they enter into an infinite
and everlasting covenant of divine partnership. This never-ending compact is
made for the execution of their united concepts throughout the entire circle of
eternity; and ever since this eternity event the Father and the Infinite Spirit
continue in this divine union.
P90:3, 8:0.3 We are now face to face with the eternity origin
of the Infinite Spirit, the second part of Deity. The very instant that God the
Father conceives an infinite action -- the execution of an absolute thought-plan
-- that very moment, the Infinite Spirit springs full-fledged into existence.
P90:4, 8:0.4 In thus reciting the order of the origin of the Deities, we wish to enable you to think of their relationship. In reality they are both existent from eternity; they are existential. They are without beginning or ending of days; they are co-ordinate, supreme, ultimate, absolute, and infinite. They are and always have been and ever shall be.
P90:5, 8:1.1 In the eternity of the past, upon the
personalization of the Infinite Spirit the divine personality cycle becomes
perfect and complete. The God of Action is existent, and the vast stage of space
is set for the stupendous drama of creation -- the universal adventure -- the
divine panorama of the eternal ages.
P90:6, 8:1.2 The first act of the Infinite Spirit is the
inspection and recognition of his divine Father. He, the Spirit, unqualifiedly
identifies both of them. He is fully cognizant of their separate personalities
and infinite attributes as well as of their combined nature and united function.
Next, voluntarily, with transcendent willingness and inspiring spontaneity,
pledges eternal loyalty to God the Father and acknowledges everlasting
dependence upon God.
P90:7, 8:1.3 Inherent in the nature of this transaction and in
mutual recognition of the personality independence of each and the executive
unions, the cycle of eternity is established. The Paradise Unity is existent.
The stage of universal space is set for the manifold and never-ending panorama
of the creative unfolding of the purpose of the Universal Father by the
execution of the God of Action, the executive agency for the reality
performances of the Father-Unity creator partnership.
P91:1, 8:1.4 The God of Action functions and the dead vaults
of space are astir. One billion perfect spheres flash into existence. Prior to
this hypothetical eternity moment the space-energies inherent in Paradise are
existent and potentially operative, but they have no actuality of being; neither
can physical gravity be measured except by the reaction of material realities to
its incessant pull. There is no material universe at this (assumed) eternally
distant moment, but the very instant that one billion worlds materialize, there
is in evidence gravity sufficient and adequate to hold them in the everlasting
grasp of Paradise.
P91:2, 8:1.5 There now flashes through the creation of God the
second form of energy. Thus the twofold gravity-embraced universe is touched
with the energy of infinity and immersed in the spirit of divinity. In this way
is the soil of life prepared for the consciousness of mind made manifest in the
associated intelligence circuits of the Infinite Spirit.
P91:3, 8:1.6 Upon these seeds of potential existence, diffused
throughout the central creation of God, the Father acts, and creature
personality appears. Then does the presence of the Paradise Deities fill all
organized space and begin effectively to draw all spirituality and spiritual
beings toward Paradise.
P91:4, 8:1.7 The Infinite Spirit eternalizes concurrently with the birth of the Heaven worlds, this central universe being created by him and with him and in him in obedience to the combined concepts and united wills of the Father and the Spirit. The Infinite Spirit deitizes by this very act of conjoint creation, and he thus forever becomes the Conjoint Creator.
P91:5, 8:1.8 These are the grand and awful times of the
creative expansion of the Father and the Spirit by, and in, the action of their
conjoint associate and exclusive executive, the Second Source and Center. There
exists no record of these stirring times. We have only the meager disclosures of
the Infinite Spirit to substantiate these mighty transactions, and he merely
verifies the fact that the central universe and all that pertains thereto
eternalized simultaneously with his attainment of personality and conscious
existence.
P91:6, 8:1.9 In brief, the Infinite Spirit testifies that,
since he is eternal, so also is the central universe eternal. And this is the
traditional starting point of the history of the universe of universes.
Absolutely nothing is known, and no records are in existence, regarding any
event or transaction prior to this stupendous eruption of creative energy and
administrative wisdom that crystallized the vast universe which exists, and so
exquisitely functions, at the center of all things. Beyond this event lie the
unsearchable transactions of eternity and the depths of infinity -- absolute
mystery.
P91:7, 8:1.10 And we thus portray the sequential origin of the
Second Source and Center as an interpretative condescension to the time-bound
and space-conditioned mind of mortal creatures. The mind of man must have a
starting point for the visualization of universe history, and we have been
directed to provide this technique of approach to the historic concept of
eternity. In the material mind, consistency demands a First Cause; therefore do
we postulate the Universal Father as the First Source and the Absolute Center of
all creation, at the same time instructing all creature minds that the Spirit is
coeternal with the Father in all phases of universe history and in all realms of
creative activity. And we do this without in any sense being disregardful of the
reality and eternity of the Isle of Paradise and of the Unqualified, Universal,
and Deity Absolutes.
P92:1, 8:1.11 It is enough of a reach of the material mind of
the children of time to conceive of the Father in eternity. We know that any
child can best relate himself to reality by first mastering the relationships of
the child-parent situation and then by enlarging this concept to embrace the
family as a whole. Subsequently the growing mind of the child will be able to
adjust to the concept of family relations, to relationships of the community,
the race, and the world, and then to those of the universe.
P92:2, 8:2.1 The Conjoint Creator is from eternity and is wholly and without qualification one with the Universal Father. The Infinite Spirit reflects in perfection the nature of the Paradise Father.
P92:3, 8:2.2 The Third Source and Center is known by numerous
titles: the Universal Spirit, the Supreme Guide, the Conjoint Creator, the
Divine Executive, the Infinite Mind, the Spirit of Spirits, the Paradise Mother
Spirit, the Conjoint Actor, the Final Coordinator, the Omnipresent Spirit, the
Absolute Intelligence, the Divine Action; and on Earth he is sometimes confused
with the cosmic mind.
P92:4, 8:2.3 God is spirit, but material creatures who tend
towards the error of viewing matter as basic reality and mind, together with
spirit, as postulates rooted in matter, would better comprehend the Third Source
and Center if he were called the Infinite Reality, the Universal Organizer, or
the Personality Coordinator.
P92:5, 8:2.4 The Infinite Spirit, as a universe revelation of divinity, is unsearchable and utterly beyond human comprehension. To sense the absoluteness of the Spirit, you need only contemplate the infinity of the Universal Father.
P92:6, 8:2.5 There is mystery indeed in the person of the
Infinite Spirit. Of all aspects of the Father's nature, the Conjoint Creator
most strikingly discloses his infinity. Even if the master universe eventually
expands to infinity, the spirit presence, energy control, and mind potential of
the Conjoint Actor will be found adequate to meet the demands of such a
limitless creation.
P92:7, 8:2.6 Though in every way sharing the perfection, the
righteousness, and the love of the Universal Father, the Infinite Spirit
inclines towards mercy, thus becoming the mercy minister of the Paradise Deities
to the grand universe. Ever and always -- universally and eternally -- the
Spirit is a mercy minister, for the divine Spirit depicts the mercy of God.
P93:1, 8:2.7 It is not possible that the Spirit could have
more of goodness than the Father since all goodness takes origin in the Father,
but in the acts of the Spirit we can the better comprehend such goodness. The
Father's faithfulness is made very real to the spirit beings and the material
creatures of the spheres by the loving ministry and ceaseless service of the
personalities of the Infinite Spirit.
P93:2, 8:2.8 The Conjoint Creator inherits all the Father's
beauty of thought and character of truth. And these sublime traits of divinity
are co-ordinated in the near-supreme levels of the cosmic mind in subordination
to the infinite and eternal wisdom of the unconditioned and limitless mind of
the Second Source and Center.
P94:4, 8:4.1 Paralleling the physical universe Paradise
gravity holds all things together in the spiritual universe. In and through all
this material and spiritual creation there is a vast stage whereon the Infinite
Spirit and his spirit offspring show forth the combined mercy, patience, and
everlasting affection of the divine Father towards the intelligent children of
their co-operative devising and making. Everlasting ministry to mind is the
essence of the Spirit's divine character. And all the spirit offspring of the
Conjoint Actor partake of this desire to minister, this divine urge to service.
P94:5, 8:4.2 God is love and mercy, the Spirit is ministry --
the ministry of divine love and endless mercy to all intelligent creation. The
Spirit is the personification of the Father's love and mercy; in him are they
eternally united for universal service. The Spirit is love applied to the
creature creation, the love of the Father.
P94:6, 8:4.3 On Earth the Infinite Spirit is known as an
omnipresent influence, a universal presence, but in Heaven you shall know him as
a personal presence of actual ministry. Here the ministry of the Paradise Spirit
is the exemplary and inspiring pattern for each of his co-ordinate Spirits and
subordinate personalities ministering to the created beings on the worlds of
time and space. In this divine universe he becomes the sympathetic and
understanding spirit minister to every pilgrim of time traversing these perfect
circles on high.
P94:7, 8:4.4 The Infinite Spirit pledges itself as the
tireless devoted task of fostering the ascension of the material creatures to
higher and higher levels of spiritual attainment. And all this work of creature
ministry is done in perfect harmony with the purposes, and in close association
with God.
P94:8, 8:4.5 The Infinite Spirit is dedicated to the unending
ministry of revealing the love of the Father to the individual minds of all the
children of each universe. In these local creations the Spirit does not come
down to the material races in the likeness of mortal flesh, but the Infinite
Spirit and his co-ordinate Spirits do down step themselves, do joyfully undergo
an amazing series of divinity attenuations, until they appear as angels to stand
by your side and guide you through the lowly paths of earthly existence.
P95:1, 8:4.6 By this very diminishing series the Infinite
Spirit does actually, and as a person, draw very near to every being of the
animal-origin spheres.
P95:2, 8:4.7 The Conjoint Creator is truly and forever the
great ministering personality, the universal mercy minister. To comprehend the
ministry of the Spirit, ponder the truth that he is the combined portrayal of
the Father's unending love and eternal mercy. The Spirit's ministry is not,
however, restricted solely to the representation of the Universal Father. The
Infinite Spirit also possesses the power to minister to the creatures of the
realm in his own name and right; he is of divine dignity and also bestows the
universal ministry of mercy in his own behalf.
P95:3, 8:4.8 As man learns more of the loving and tireless
ministry of the lower orders of the creature family of this Infinite Spirit, he
will all the more admire and adore the transcendent nature and matchless
character of this combined Action. Indeed is this Spirit "the eyes of the
Lord which are ever over the righteous" and "the divine ears which are
ever open to their prayers."
P95:4, 8:5.1 The outstanding attribute of the Infinite Spirit is omnipresence. Throughout the entire universe there is everywhere present this all-pervading spirit, which is so akin to the presence of a universal and divine mind.
P95:5, 8:5.2 The Father is infinite and is therefore limited only by volition. In the bestowal of Adjusters and in the encircuitment of personality, the Father acts alone, but in the contact of spirit forces with intelligent beings, he utilizes the spirits and personalities of the Infinite Spirit. He is at will spiritually present equally with the Conjoint Actor; he is present in the Spirit. The Father is most certainly everywhere present, and we discern his presence by and through any and all of these diverse but associated forces, influences, and presences.
P95:6, 8:5.3 In the sacred writings the term Spirit of God seems to be used interchangeably to designate both the Infinite Spirit on Paradise and the Creative Spirit of your local universe.
P95:7, 8:5.4 There are many spiritual influences, and they are
all as one. Even the work of the Thought Adjusters, though independent of
all other influences, unvaryingly coincides with the spirit ministry of the
combined influences of the Infinite Spirit and a local universe Spirit. As these
spiritual presences operate in the lives of Earth, they cannot be segregated. In
your minds and upon your souls they function as one spirit, notwithstanding
their diverse origins. And as this united spiritual ministration is experienced,
it becomes to you the influence of the Supreme, "who is ever able to keep
you from failing and to present you blameless before your Father on high."
P96:1, 8:5.5 Ever remember that the Infinite Spirit is the Conjoint
Actor; the Father functions in and through him; he is present not only as
himself but also as the Father. In recognition of this and for many additional
reasons the spirit presence of the Infinite Spirit is often referred to as
"the spirit of God."
P96:2, 8:5.6 It would also be consistent to refer to the
liaison of all spiritual ministry as the spirit of God, for such a liaison is
truly the union of the spirit of God the Father.
P96:4, 8:6.2 The Infinite Spirit is a complete and perfect
personality, the divine equal and co-ordinate of the Universal Father. The
Conjoint Creator is just as real and visible to the higher intelligences of the
universes as is the Father; indeed more so, for it is the Spirit whom all
ascenders must attain before they may approach the Father.
P96:5, 8:6.3 The Infinite Spirit, is possessed of all the
attributes which you associate with personality. The Spirit is endowed with
absolute mind: "The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of
God." The Spirit is endowed not only with mind but also with will. In the
bestowal of his gifts it is recorded: "But all these works that one and the
selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally and as he wills."
P96:6, 8:6.4 "The love of the Spirit" is real, as
also are his sorrows; therefore "Grieve not the Spirit of God."
Whether we observe the Infinite Spirit as Paradise Deity or as a local universe
Creative Spirit, we find that the Conjoint Creator is not only the Second Source
and Center but also a divine person. This divine personality also reacts to the
universe as a person. The Spirit speaks to you, "He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says." "The Spirit himself makes intercession for
you." The Spirit exerts a direct and personal influence upon created
beings, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God."
P96:7, 8:6.5 Even though we behold the phenomenon of the
ministry of the Infinite Spirit to the remote worlds of the universe of
universes, even though we envisage this same coordinating Deity acting in and
through the untold legions of the manifold beings who take origin in the Source
and Center, even though we recognize the omnipresence of the Spirit,
nonetheless, we still affirm that this same Second Source and Center is a
person, the Conjoint Creator of all things and all beings and all universes.
P96:8, 8:6.6 In the administration of universes the Father and
Spirit are perfectly and eternally interassociated. Though each is engaged in a
personal ministry to all creation, both are divinely and absolutely interlocked
in a service of creation and control that forever makes them one.
P97:1, 8:6.7 In the person of the Infinite Spirit the Father
is mutually present, always and in unqualified perfection, for the Spirit is
like the Father as they two are forever one.