The Courtesy Colonies
The seven courtesy colonies sojourn on the architectural spheres for a
longer or shorter time while engaged in the furtherance of their
missions and in the execution of their special assignments. Their work
may be described as follows:
1. The Star Students, the celestial astronomers, choose to work on
spheres like Uversa because such specially constructed worlds are
unusually favorable for their observations and calculations. Uversa is
favorably situated for the work of this colony, not only because of its
central location, but also because there are no gigantic living or dead
suns near at hand to disturb the energy currents. These students are not
in any manner organically connected with the affairs of the
superuniverse; they are merely guests.
The astronomical colony of
Uversa contains individuals from many near-by realms, from the central
universe, and even from Norlatiadek. Any being on any world in any
system of any universe may become a star student, may aspire to join
some corps of celestial astronomers. The only requisites are: continuing
life and sufficient knowledge of the worlds of space, especially their
physical laws of evolution and control. Star students are not required
to serve eternally in this corps, but no one admitted to this group may
withdraw under one millennium of Uversa time.
The star-observer
colony of Uversa now numbers over one million. These astronomers come
and go, though some remain for comparatively long periods. They carry on
their work with the aid of a multitude of mechanical instruments and
physical appliances; they are also greatly assisted by the Solitary
Messengers and other spirit explorers. These celestial astronomers make
constant use of the living energy transformers and transmitters, as well
as of the reflective personalities, in their work of star study and
space survey. They study all forms and phases of space material and
energy manifestations, and they are just as much interested in force
function as in stellar phenomena; nothing in all space escapes their
scrutiny.
Similar astronomer colonies are to be found on the
sector headquarters worlds of the superuniverse as well as on the
architectural capitals of the local universes and their administrative
subdivisions. Except on Paradise, knowledge is not inherent;
understanding of the physical universe is largely dependent on
observation and research.
2. The Celestial Artisans serve throughout the seven superuniverses.
Ascending mortals have their initial contact with these groups in the
morontia career of the local universe in connection with which these
artisans will be more fully discussed.
3. The Reversion Directors are the promoters of relaxation and humor —
reversion to past memories. They are of great service in the practical
operation of the ascending scheme of mortal progression, especially
during the earlier phases of morontia transition and spirit experience.
Their story belongs to the narrative of the mortal career in the local
universe.
4. Extension-School
Instructors. The next higher residential world of the ascendant career
always maintains a strong corps of teachers on the world just below, a
sort of preparatory school for the progressing residents of that sphere;
this is a phase of the ascendant scheme for advancing the pilgrims of
time. These schools, their methods of instruction and examinations, are
wholly unlike anything which you essay to conduct on Urantia.
The
entire ascendant plan of mortal progression is characterized by the
practice of giving out to other beings new truth and experience just as
soon as acquired. You work your way through the long school of Paradise
attainment by serving as teachers to those pupils just behind you in the
scale of progression.
5. The Various Reserve Corps. Vast reserves of beings not under our
immediate supervision are mobilized on Uversa as the reserve-corps
colony. There are seventy primary divisions of this colony on Uversa,
and it is a liberal education to be permitted to spend a season with
these extraordinary personalities. Similar general reserves are
maintained on Salvington and other universe capitals; they are
dispatched on active service on the requisition of their respective
group directors.
6. The Student Visitors. From all the universe a
constant stream of celestial visitors pours through the various
headquarters worlds. As individuals and as classes these various types
of beings flock in upon us as observers, exchange pupils, and student
helpers. On Uversa, at present, there are over one billion persons in
this courtesy colony. Some of these visitors may tarry a day, others may
remain a year, all dependent on the nature of their mission. This
colony contains almost every class of universe beings except Creator
personalities and morontia mortals.
Morontia mortals are student
visitors only within the confines of the local universe of their origin.
They may visit in a superuniverse capacity only after they have
attained spirit status. Fully one half of our visitor colony consists of
“stopovers,” beings en route elsewhere who pause to visit the Orvonton
capital. These personalities may be executing a universe assignment, or
they may be enjoying a period of leisure — freedom from assignment. The
privilege of intrauniverse travel and observation is a part of the
career of all ascending beings. The human desire to travel and observe
new peoples and worlds will be fully gratified during the long and
eventful climb to Paradise through the local, super-, and central
universes.
7. The Ascending Pilgrims. As the ascending pilgrims are assigned to
various services in connection with their Paradise progression, they are
domiciled as a courtesy colony on the various headquarters spheres.
While functioning here and there throughout a superuniverse, such groups
are largely self-governing. They are an ever-shifting colony embracing
all orders of evolutionary mortals and their ascending associates.
Sponsored by a Mighty Messenger from Uversa, from The Urantia Papers.
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