“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

You are either conscious of self or you are not. On your plane self-consciousness exists as a rule. A tree is conscious of itself as a tree. It does not think of itself as a rock. A dog knows it is not a cat. What I am trying to point out to you here is this supreme egotistical presumption that self-consciousness must of necessity involve humanity per se. It does not.

If I am answering your friend’s question in a roundabout manner it is only because, my dear Joseph—and I still call you my dear Joseph, although you scarcely deserve it—then it is only because there are things that I feel it is necessary that I clear up before the question can be answered with even a hint of correctness.

So-called human consciousness did not suddenly appear. Our poor maligned friend, the ape, did not suddenly beat his hairy chest in exaltation and cry “I am a man.” There was no such point and this, if you will forgive my pun, is my point.

I would now suggest a brief break, and do not again crack up into many pieces. I give you this very slight evidence of my humor merely to show that I am not after all one to carry grudges.

I wanted to make one point, but first, there is nothing like a witness to convince my darling nervous Ruburt that I am I, and not her, meaning Jane; like a good evidence of telepathy, as in John’s case this evening.

Such inner data makes its impression upon the physical brain and changes the personality as does any experience. In many cases such inner experience is retained in your memory cells. If you would simply for once, and for once Joseph I am not referring to you particularly, if you would for once demonstrate an openness and a willingness to accept such data on its own basis, without insisting upon evidence from the regular senses, then and only then will you have evidence that the outer senses can recognize.

I am not saying that you should not believe the evidence of your senses; I am waiting for you to say that. We know that our so-called tables are not solid. Even your science knows this now, and yet your eyes see the table as solid. Face up to it, my dear lovelies: Your senses lie. The table is a conglomeration of quickly-moving atoms and molecules but you see it as a table, and you see it as solid. Your senses, and again this is to bring John-Philip up to date, your senses are perceptors of a camouflage physical world which is created by the inner self through the use of mental enzymes in a pattern set by the mental genes.

Had you been more helpful in the circumstances of last evening, you would not have had to turn your emotions inward in a self-destructive manner. I am so fond of you, my pigheaded Joseph, that it pains me severely to see you so misuse yourself. And as for towering-strength Ruburt, don’t depend upon this too far, for a weaker tower of strength I have never seen.

(John Bradley finished his statement as a witness, signed it and left for Corning, N.Y., where he had a motel room. He requested a copy of the session, with the thought of possibly trying to verify the data given by Seth concerning his past lives. It was by then close to 1:00 AM.

(I am afraid I did some half-humorous complaining about Seth’s reactions to my attempting to put off the session tonight; that is, I did not think I had been that impolite about it. I agreed with Seth’s interpretation of my seizure of cramps, though, and remarked that I would probably get the devil from him on Wednesday night also.

(Walking into the living room before preparing for bed, I was surprised to find Jane standing silently at her desk. Staring at me, she then pointed to a pen and paper she had evidently placed there on the desk. As I sat down to write she began to dictate. Resume at 1:35 AM.)

My dear Joseph, one word only: I would not leave you with the impression that I am truly displeased, or that I judge you unjustly. I do not want to hurt Ruburt’s feelings, and I have avoided making this statement thus far; however, for purely personal reasons I have been emotionally more involved with you in past instances. And I know your capabilities so well that when I seem severe it is only because I wish so for your happiness and success.

(End at 1:43 AM.