Origin of Apples and Forgiveness

Spirit (Ling): Greetings.

Sitters (Hilton, Jenny, Ken): Greetings Ling.

Note: At circle opening Jenny commented that she knew that she talked fast and was trying to slow down.

Ling: To hear cheerful chatter is like the running of a pretty stream. So though you may want to make your words come slower, to do that is good discipline, but really, is it necessary?

Jenny: Thank you Ling, I'm not sure.

Ling: And now... the all-important question... 'Apples'? [Pause] I'm waiting? [Laughter] (Jenny: Oh dear)

Note: Last week sitters were asked to see if they could find out from what country apples originated.

Hilton: The information we all have is much the same. We didn't get to the library so we tried to get it on a computer, without much luck. We only seemed to get a lot about 'Apple Macintosh' computers. Ken got some information from computers. I think the most we discovered was that the apple has always been around. It was brought to Britain by the Romans and I presume it went from Britain to the New World. We think it must have been European.

Ken: I read three different accounts of where apples originated so I'm not sure of the answer. One of them said that they had evidence of apples existing back in the Stone Age days. Another said that the Crab-apple, from which all modern apples were developed, started in England, but then another source was talking about the Romans and the Greeks earlier on, so I really don't know.

Hilton: And that's as far as we got.

Ling: Well that made you use your minds. But think of it this way, (I'm not saying that this is fact), but I too tried to find out a bit over this last week... teacher must keep up with pupil.

It travelled from central Europe to the Scandinavian countries. From there across Russia, through Mongolia, to China.

Now you are probably thinking that the apple couldn't do that, because it needs a more temperate climate than it would get in many of these countries. But what modern man doesn't altogether comprehend, is the vast amount of travel that was undertaken by people hundreds and thousands of years ago: and the apple, being such an accommodating fruit could be carried in caravans, and perhaps around their fires or their camps, the fruit was exchanged, and that s how it travelled over such a vast area: but not over the big ocean to America. That took the sailing ships, which also brought it to New Zealand.

The apple, as you know it today, was mainly produced in England. It is not by any means like the original apple. But it is interesting, I think, to find out these things, and it has given you people something to do with your spare time? [Laughter]

Ken: Oh yes. Thank you.

Ling: Now tonight I'd like to give a brief talk on the word, 'Forgiveness'. Now this is not necessarily directed at you people, but you may be able to make use of it.

As I have said before, the great sin as far as we are concerned is really "Conscious selfishness", and this we have explained in the past; but every one of us, at some stage during our life, either intentionally or accidentally, hurt people, do unforgivable things, make big mistakes, and we are all inclined to live with them.

Now what should really happen is once you have realised, that the manner in which you spoke to that person, and the words that you said, were unforgivable... it was a shocking thing to have done, you have realised it... you have made a mistake.

Unfortunately that person has gone. Whether they have joined us, or travelled to the other side of the world, (you have no idea where), and you cannot personally say, "I'm sorry"... but really you can!

If you are genuinely sorry for whatever you did, or said, admit it. Admit it in your mind to that person. "Albert, I'm sorry for the words I spoke. I'm sorry for absconding with your wife", (or whatever), "Please forgive me". In the case of the wife, he may have been thankful, (this does happen). [mirth]  But we are looking at it seriously. Ask that person for forgiveness. You have done all you possibly can. If you can’t do it personally, do it mind to mind.

And then, you have a harder task... you must forgive yourself! And that is where most people come unstuck! To forgive one's self for the errors one has made, is very hard. But until we do this, until we can set it aside as a mistake that we have made, (and something we hope we have learnt by), it is very hard to progress further.

This haunting of your error, can hold you back: and this applies to the major, and even the trivial, mistakes that we make. We must forgive ourselves for them!

When we say this, we do not mean... you spoke sharply to someone yesterday say, and you think, "Oh I'm sorry for that, that's it", and go on with your life. It has got to be sincere, from your heart. You know it, as to whether it is sincere or not, and of course, as you know, when you join us, your sincerity or insincerity, is recognised.

So for your own good, don't carry your burdens. Be sincere in asking forgiveness, and then carry on with your life.

I am sure you all know of someone, if not yourselves, someone who could do with that advice in as simple a form as you can possibly give: because a person saying, "I have forgiven you", is not the same as you being able to forgive yourselves. You need both.

Do you understand this problem that we are trying to explain?

Sitters: Yes thank you.

Ling: Don't keep it to yourselves. When you get the opportunity, pass it on, so that people can think, "Well I did say I was sorry, but I carry that burden. I must forgive myself if in saying sorry, I was genuine". That's the important thing.

Well my friends... we've had a little education tonight, we've had a little serious talk, and a little bit of laughter. I think it is time I moved on because our other friends are hoping that it is still convenient for you to sit for them?

Sitters: Yes.
Ling: I have been asked to say, that if at any time this is not convenient, they do not wish to make it a burden for you.

Sitters: Thank you but it is no problem.

Ling: Good. You were about to say something Ken?

Ken: Yes I was. I was just thinking that we were advised to put a multicoloured cloth in the middle of the circle, but we weren't told which circle. It wasn't of interest to our old circle. If it is pertaining to this new circle, could you find out for us if the advice we were given was right and they do want the coloured cloth, or whether we shouldn't bother; and could you let us know sometime please?

Ling: Two things. What's this old circle? [Laughter]

Ken: The circle that has been going for some years as opposed to the one that now takes place afterwards.

Ling: I understand and we will have to contact our Liaison Officer, isn't that what he called himself?

Sitters: [mirth] Yes.

Ling: And he may be able to find that out for you.

Ken: Thank you. We'd like to do it if it is wanted, but if not wanted then there's no point.

Ling: Of course.

Well God bless you from your old circle. [laughter]

Jenny: And God bless you too Ling.

Ken: And thank you very much again from us.

Hilton: Thank you.

Ling: Goodnight.

Sitters: Goodnight.

Note Afterwards we again continued to sit for another spirit group of experimenters, and again witnessed many lights, etc, over about half an hour. Having a coloured cloth in the middle of the circle appeared to make no noticeable difference.