"Which is based on what, exactly, Father?

"That's just it. It is based on nothing. There is no solid foundation. Ego believes in itself. In fact, ego doesn't even want you for a partner. From that point on, he makes all the decisions for you. Once he snatches this power from you, there is no turning back. You relinquish it to his clever manipulations. Once you lose this battle, you lose the war. There is no room in your life for me or the spiritual side of your existence. In your mind, I do not exist, because the two cannot stand side by side, especially when ego is in control of your heart and mind. You are now a hired hand. Your ego tells you what to do, how to act, wht to say, based on his shallow interpretation of the world, which is lopsided and not real. The ego's job is to reverse your opinion of me and the spiritual world. For him, this is not a problem. Like any champion wrestler, he does that by using his guile, his quickness and his strength. These combined skills make ego a formidable foe. He knows what he wants (your attention) and he takes it be force, flattery or whatever means he has at his disposal. He doesn't care about truth, facts or morality. For him, lying is good enough. He tells you what you want to hear. He makes you feel good at the time. He never tells you that you will eventually become his slave, nor that you will be miserable in the future. He leaves that part out. These are facts that he doesn't want you to know. Little by little, your ability to see through his game fades away. At some point in time, thee is no clarity in your life at all. None. When you have no clarity you have no truth. In this way, ego is your version of the 'Trojan Horse.' Once you allow him to take over your mind, the battle may as well be over. Ego, the sworn enemy of your spiritual essence, will do anything to win. Clever and devious beyond all imagination, his ability to fool the host (you) is both legendary and lethal. This is how he controls you, by convincing you that he is right and I am wrong. He is always right. Does it sound familiar? The more you believe that lie, the less chance you have of ever achieving clarity. His goal is to prevent you from actualizing your true identity. To choose him (ego) over your spiritual essence is a decision only you can make, but once you make that decision it is very difficult to reverse. Ego needs your permission to control you, my Son. He does that by convincing you he is real and I am not. He tells you that I am a figment of your imagintion, not the other way around (which is the actual truth). It is ironical, is it not, that ego is so good he can convince you to work against your actual self? That's how clever happens to be. That's also why you must never underestimate him. To do means your downfall. That's one reason this book came into being, my Son, to remind you of the importance of clarity in your day-to-day existence."

2. In response to a question concerning one's spiritual essence...(from page 46)

"...until you come to grips with your spiritual essence, you cannot know who you are. The longer you wait the harder it gets. The longer you deny your true self, the harder it is to discover on your own. It is almost never discovered taking the easy way. Most of the time, suffering precedes the breakthrough. When you are born of the spirit all of that changes. You become a completely different person. You have the same features, the same eyes and ears, but your heart and soul are changed forever. You develop empathy for all men. You no longer harbor hatred or hold grudges against those who offend, insult or threaten you. These people are still there, but you no longer pay attention to them. Your whole being is forever altered. You don't hve to go out to the bars and look for someone to be with. You don't have to be with anyone. You are complete unto yourself. At some point, you stop creating your own misery, and begin to work with your unseen friends. In the past, all of your suffering had to do with the illusions you accepted. These illusions are a mirage. They do not exist, except in your mind. You are so clever you create them out of nothing. For many of you, this life can become your own hell on earth. You don't need others to do you harm, my Son. You do it to yourself. This is the real reason that most people are miserable. No therapist can reveal this to you without you first recognizing it for yourself. Once you begin to see that you create your own reality you have taken the first step toward solving most, if not all, of your problems."

3."How do you feel about the United States of America? (from page 107)

"I am very proud of what your country represents. You set the standard for the rest of the world. You support the poor around the world. You are the first to step forward and help in time of emergency. You have allowed the immigrants from around the world to blend in. You are tolerant of all religions. Anyone can become succesful in America. I am proud of you for all of these facts.

I sense a but coming, Michael?

"Not exactly, but what I do sense is an America that is spiritually lost at the moment. What you do not realize is that the eyes of the world are on you. They look up to you. They hold you up as the beacon. I know they criticize you for every little thing, but that's just becuase they expect you to be the best, they want you to be better. I also have my expectations and they revolve around your generosity and your caring nature for those who have less than you. In a word, I expect greatness from you, and usually you have not disappointed me, but you must realize that with greatness comes responsibility. You are free enough to realize that every child is a miracle in the making and I expect you to honor your children, protect them and keep them from harm at all costs. I also expect you to remember who you are, all Children of God, Mortal Ascenders destined for Paradise and a meeting with the Infinite One himself. I know that many of you want to deny me, and that is your right by the Free Will decree from my Father in heaven. But please, I beg of you, do not deny him. Your country was founded on certain principles, by a group of God-fearing men. Their goal was greatness itself, to found a country where all men were created equal. This ideal has stirred the world into action. What they don't understand is how to go about geting it. Now, most of them want what you have. But, in becoming the greatest country you world has ever seen some of you have lost sight of the real goal. This has nothing to do with dominance, control or militry might, but more to do with the realization of the spiritual essence of every one of you citizens. This is where the source of you greatness lies, your respect for each other. If you somehow lose sight of this ideal, in the eyes of the rest of the world, your society would be diminished, and I do not want to see that happen."