1 result for (book:ecs1 AND heading:"esp class session februari 20 1968" AND stemmed:one)
[... 8 paragraphs ...]
You and you alone are responsible for your own development. No one can develop your own abilities but you. I am here and I have been here often in your classes.
It is because you have yourselves reached a certain point in your own development that I speak to you tonight, and when I do so I am between systems. I am neither here nor there, you see. I am using Ruburt’s nervous system, for example, but I am not Ruburt. I come to you from a long way and yet the distance is not in terms of space. I am separated from you in a way that has nothing to do with space. May I say that I do indeed enjoy this situation, now being indeed the only gentleman present. I am endeavoring, you see, to let more of my personality show itself this evening [so] that you can know me by my characteristics as well as my words. If you do not like the one you may prefer the other.
But when I speak to you of death, know that I myself have died and been reborn many times before. Yet I speak to you and I speak in a lively manner, for one dead. Therefore, when you are tempted to think of it as an end of all, then remember that you know a rather lively spirit and when you hear my voice speaking through Ruburt this evening then remember how hoarse it was before I began to speak, and know indeed that were I not such a gentleman, I could add considerably to its volume. The hour is late however and Ruburt would not thank me for my troubles. He would worry about the neighbors.
[... 1 paragraph ...]
This does not mean that the demonstration serves no purpose, for all of my demonstrations serve a purpose and this one is to show that there is indeed a vitality that lives beyond the grave and that there is joy, and the personality continues to exist for this most willing and friendly associative man can permit me to speak in the most fearless and carefree tones. For this is hardly the end and I am here to tell you it is quite possible for me to continue on such a demonstration until your very eardrums will plead to me for mercy. However, I shall not do so.
[... 2 paragraphs ...]
(In a whisper.) Now [we] shall annoy no one. Shall I simply sit here and radiate or shall I speak? I do not like to offend Ruburt and such indeed is not my intention. I am here this evening to show you that death does not automatically change you into a somber long-faced ghost. I am here to show you that I am myself, and you shall be yourselves.
One small note here (to Rachel). You have nothing to worry about along the terms of which you spoke earlier this evening. It was your inner fear that caused the dream. You were however in contact with your grandmother. I wanted to speak to you in less remote terms than usual. I wanted to convey to you the fact that the personality is composed of indestructible elements and that these elements are never destroyed. I wanted you to feel the impact of my personality as you would feel the impact of any living personality. I wanted, in other words, to speak to you as a person. I am going to leave you now.