The Center Within:
Lessons from the Heart of the Urantia Revelation
Compiled and edited by Fred Harris and Byron Belitsos

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Origin Press 290 pages Trade paper 6" x 9" US$14.95 ISBN 1-57983-003-X BUY IT NOW Finally, the spiritual essence of an extraordinary revelation -- made easily accessible. The Center Within presents teachings heretofore known to few on this planet -- lessons that are based on the legendary twentieth-century revelatory document known as The Urantia Book.

These exercises bring the Urantia revelation to life, unveiling for the first time the spiritual essence of this underground masterpiece in a series of practical lessons that simplify and amplify its majestic teachings. This unusual book of celestial wisdom shows that the spiritual path must eventually lead to the divine center within, the indwelling light that corresponds with the transcendent light of God. The Center Within provides 130 lessons that restate the original teachings of Jesus -- as presented in The Urantia Book-- within a startling new cosmological framework.

The Center Within is also the first of a series of books based on the Teaching Mission, a unique movement initiated by an organized corps of celestial teachers linked to the Urantia revelation. Their lessons are designed to be a helpful and practical companion to the complex Urantia text, as each instruction is matched with a pertinent quote from The Urantia Book itself. In this first volume, readers will discover a new cosmic spirituality that locates the love of our Father-Mother-Creator at the center of a vast universe of inhabited planets -- and at the heart-center of each one of us.

• First-ever trade book presenting the spiritual essence of The Urantia Book, a supreme modern classic of spirituality, history, philosophy, cosmology, and science.
• Practical introduction to the essential Urantia teachings; an excellent gift book for Urantia Book readers.
• The Urantia revelation is the best-kept secret of American spirituality: 400,000 copies sold, 15 printings, 7 translations current, 50 translations planned.
• Beautiful, thought-provoking presentation juxtaposing celestial teachings and Urantia quotes.
• Handy reference text on key Urantian teachings on nature of God, life and teachings of Jesus, stillness meditation, genuine prayer, discerning the divine will, finding God, artistic living, dealing with ego, family living, the celestial hierarchy, sharing truth, transforming the planet.

Fred Harris and Byron Belitsos are long-time students of The Urantia Book and were participants in the Teaching Mission from its inception in 1992. Harris is an attorney and father of two; Belitsos is the publisher of Origin Press and is an author, journalist, and poet.

Reviews:

"This book offers a series of celestial teachings designed to awaken our awareness to a love-based, God-centered cosmos. The original source material, an underground tome called The Urantia Book, contains 2097 pages of information transmitted by a specially selected and trained corps of ascended mortals from other planets within our galaxy who are linked to study groups around the world. This book matches select quotations from that work with clarifying teachings channeled by an advanced being named Will. The material reaffirms the Christ-consciousness and gives a more advanced presentation of the life and purpose of Jesus. The 131 inspiring passages in this distillation celebrate compassion, forgiveness, and unity, while they stress personal responsibility for our collective future. Most important, they honor the spiritual quality of a loving God. These teachings offer a wonderful daily guide for right living whose aim is emotional healing, personal enlightenment, and planetary transformation."

-- NAPRA Review: Vol. 10, No. 2

Praise for The Center Within

"The Urantia Book is a fascinating and inspiring spiritual classic, not only for its cosmological breadth, but also for its original perspective on the life and teachings of Jesus. The Center Within provides a long-awaited introduction and explanation to some of the profound wisdom inherent within the Urantia revelation. If you're reluctant to tackle the two thousand page Urantia tome, this is the next best thing. I recommend The Center Within to all true spiritual seekers."
-- Michael Toms, cofounder of New Dimensions Radio and coauthor of True Work: The Sacred Dimension of Earning a Living

"The Center Within comes from the very heart of the teachings of the numinous Urantia revelation. This awe-inspiring book shows us how to live a loving and purposeful life according to the essence of Jesus' demonstration -- and of others who, behind the scenes, have always guided our precious mother earth, Urantia. This book should be on everyone's bedside table, to help keep us steady as we enter this vortex of rapid transformation now occurring on our planet. A 'spiritual springtime' is near! May many ears and hearts be open to receive this message."
-- Jacquelyn Small, LMSW, founder of Eupsychia Institute and author of Awakening in Time and Becoming a Practical Mystic

"The Center Within can form the basis of a new and more personal understanding of The Urantia Book. The 'channeled' writings that it contains ring true and contain a wisdom and a spirituality similar to what can be found in the Urantia revelation. As a longtime lover of The Urantia Book, I hope this book will restore vitality and a sense of purpose to this great, but still largely unknown, vision. The Center Within is a powerful new tool for spiritual growth. I will value it."
-- Timothy Wyllie, author of Dolphins, ETs, and Angels and coauthor of Ask Your Angels

"The Center Within offers satisfying and positive answers to the key questions of life on this planet, while providing eminently practical advice and exercises useful to people in all walks of life. It's like a user's manual for applying the superb teachings of The Urantia Book to your everyday life. This book will satisfy the soul-hunger of even the most skeptical and critical truth seeker."
-- David G. Schlundt, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, Vanderbilt University

"I continue to be drawn again and again to The Center Within. You can open it to any page and find mind and soul-stimulating inspiration. These teachings of Will strike the clarion that quickens a reader's hunger for spiritual destiny. Teacher Will is pure, punchy and profound. Belitsos and Harris have opened a new portal to the sacred."
-- Bob Slagle, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, California State University at Sonoma

Table of Contents

PART I: THE LOVE-CENTERED UNIVERSE

1. Jesus's Life Was a Disclosure of Love

• Jesus listened with his heart
• Jesus concerned himself only with fundamentals
• Just like you, Jesus had to practice
• The atonement doctrine is outdated
• The resurrection revealed the truth of Jesus' teachings

2. Realizations of the Father's Love

• His love flows out like a river
• God works with you only in the present
• This planet is being supercharged with the Father's love
• One by one, all hearts will turn to God
• The Father's love is a flame

3. The Indwelling Spirit: Infinite Gift of Love

• A brilliant spark of God is bestowed upon you
• This indwelling spirit ("Thought Adjuster") is your divine pilot
• The indwelling spirit elevates the quality of your thoughts
• The indwelling spirit makes God intimately available to all
• God is never absent from his post
• The spirit's realm is the present moment
• Follow the spirit's leading -- aim high

4. Stillness: The Technique of Centering

• Stillness opens you to the vitality of God
• Consciously make time for God
• Regularity of stillness practice is essential
• Correct physical posture is helpful
• Don't let the ego trivialize your stillness
• Decrease the time demands on your daily lives

5. The Meaning and Purpose of Stillness Practice

• Finding the door to stillness takes effort
• Stillness is not a quick fix
• Simple availability is the key
• Stillness builds a new life beyond ego's control
• The river of love flows all over, regardless
• Stillness can dissolve problems
• The indwelling spirit is nothing but spontaneous
• Heaven does not speak -- it acts
• The indwelling spirit is the source of our desire for perfection
• Stillness is implicit in the teachings of The Urantia Book

PART II: LIVING THE GOD-CENTERED LIFE

6. Discerning the Divine Will

• Jesus never erred because he sought God's will
• The Father's will is strange at first
• Always turn to the Father first
• The Father's will always entails service and love
• Take note of your choice: His will or yours
• God's participation is increased by your invitation
• Obedience to God must be freely given
• Grace tunes you to the Father's will
• Awaken to each moment inside you

7. Prayer in a New Light

• Turn to the Father at all times
• No sincere prayer is ignored
• Your prayer impulse is a response to the indwelling spirit
• Your prayer is like a revelation to the Father

8. Living in Sincere Faith

• Faith is not belief
• This planet creates rugged faith
• Behold the faith of a fully formed human
• Faith gives rise to joy
• Faith can overcome any cataclysm
• Fear is the antithesis of trust in God

9. Dealing with Negative Emotions

• Troublesome traits have an upside and a downside
• Worry will separate you from the Father
• Overcome the tired tricks of ego
• Self-denegration is like a thief
• Conquer fear with faith in God's goodness

10. Living Love: The Currency of the Universe

• Love is the currency of the universe
• Count the sheep in his kingdom
• Engage your fellows without defenses
• Brotherly love is rooted in Fatherly love
• Speak honestly to your fellows
• Let the indwelling spirit take the reins

11. Artistic Living: Simplicity and Balance

• Simplicity makes time for things of the heart
• Humility is necessary for proper progress
• Extremes are not recommended for spiritual growth
• Transformations are best experienced in small steps
• Spiritual progress is like rock climbing
• Strengthen your spirit through "spiritual aerobics"
• Become a master of graceful balance
• Experience the present before envisioning the future
• Feel this moment

12. God-Centered Family Life

• Families are those connected through the heart
• A return to the preeminence of the family is vital
• A story interlude: The conception and infancy of Jesus
• Familiy life is too often overlooked
• Each child is the hope of the world
• Spiritual education could begin at a younger age
• Functional families begin with healthy individuals
• Love each other like a family
• "There Was Always God": A lesson for young people

PART III: SHARING THE GOD-CENTERED LIFE

13. The 1-2-3 Exercise: The Basis of Sharing

• The 1-2-3 exercise: Visualize Jesus standing next to you
• Like Jesus, become a master at dealing with people
• You are ultimately responsible to be loving
• Carry the good news to those whose lives are empty

14. Baring Your Soul to Others

• Only your relationships matter
• Take risks in your encounters
• Remember that the indwelling spirit is primary
• The ideal contact is spontaneous
• Chance encounters can produce spontaneous enlightenment
• Small gestures can lead to deep connections
• Distribute as many spiritual tools as possible
• Challenge people with the highest interpretation of their own ideas
• By living a balanced life, you become a beacon

15. Listening: A Key to Sharing

• To listen, open your heart
• Actually listen before composing your response
• Discern what is really being said
• By listening to others, you learn about the Father's plan

16. Soulful Service

• Build the living church as the Master taught
• Service is an attitude committment
• The smallest task can be dedicated to God's glory
• Service is the path of learning
• Service opportunities abound
• You need not travel to be about the Father's work
• Minister to the poor in spirit
• Speak truth to those in power
• Charity is good for the giver
• "How may I serve?"
• Service is the only work worth doing

17. Sharing the Living Gospel

• Michael's gospel can only be experienced, not analyzed
• We are not bound by scripture
• You have the kind of opportunity celestial personalities beg for
• Plain speech is best
• I commission you

18. Transforming the Planet One Person at a Time

• You are shepherds of the light
• This planet's network of love is expanding rapidly
• Help weave the tapestry of love
• Plant seeds of love
• You are called upon to serve God and humankind

19. Getting Into Action

• The time is now
• Live as if there were no tomorrow
• Stand close to the fire
• A grand awakening is coming
• Play your part in the great symphony
• Fan the flames of the Mission
• Just act
• Earth changes are expected; leaders are needed
• The new dawn quickly approaches
• Soon it will be morning

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