Today: Step 29 - I will observe myself today to learn of
Knowledge. (MP3)
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| I will observe myself today to learn of Knowledge.
Step 29 |
ON
THIS SPECIAL DAY OF PRACTICE, observe yourself throughout the day, maintaining
awareness of your thoughts and behavior as much as possible. To develop this
quality of self-observation, you must be as free of judgment as possible, for
judgment disables you from being observant. You must study yourself as if you
were someone else with whom you can be far more objective.
WE
SHALL PRACTICE ON THE HOUR TODAY. Each hour you will need to check in to see
your thoughts and to observe your current behavior. This constant self-checking
will enable you to become far more involved in your current experience and will
allow your Knowledge to exercise its beneficial influence upon you to a far
greater degree. Knowledge knows what you need and knows how to serve you, but
you must learn how to receive. In time, you must learn how to give as well so
that you may receive more. Your receiving is important because it enables you
to give, and giving is the essence of fulfillment in this world. But you cannot
give from an impoverished state. Therefore, your giving must be genuine, born
of the overflowing receptivity that you have cultivated within yourself, within
your relationships with others and with life.
EACH
PRACTICE PERIOD NEED ONLY TAKE SEVERAL MINUTES but should be given your full
attention. You need not close your eyes to do this, though if it is
appropriate, it will be helpful. You may practice in the middle of a
conversation with another. In fact, there are very few circumstances that will
prevent this moment of introspection. In practice you simply ask yourself, “How
do I feel?” and “What am I doing now?” That is all. Then feel if there is
something you must do that you are not doing. If there are no corrections to be
made, continue on with what you are doing. If there are corrections to be made,
make them as expediently as possible. Allow your inner guidance to influence
you, which it will do if you are not governed by impulses, fear or ambition.
Observe yourself this day.
PRACTICE
29: Hourly practice.
Picture: People
doing daily food shopping, perhaps observing themselves ~ Leuven, Belgium –
April 4, 2009
11 a.m.
Saturday, September 16, 2000
Reality
all day today. A competitive arena of creation. Compete to strengthen – not to
destroy, torture, harm. Don't call it love. Establish rules – follow the rules.
Just say Know. Error and truth, success and truth have been training me.
I seek the truth of creation to my level of understanding so that my
relationships can be better.
We
are involved in the play out of manifestation. Many stories have been created
to give a context. A greater context exists – and it may not be knowable from
within. That being the case we cannot help but be incarnate where we are and in
relationship.
4:35
p.m. Review – Step 28 –
1:45
a.m. Sunday, September 17, 2000 – completion
up
late – over-stimulated – Partnership – Regional Boundaries Frame Cooperation –
– Rules
for Evolutionaries – What are they? We have rules for revolutionaries
The
purpose of life is to screw around. High-minded screwing is preferred, though
not all can do so.
The
Steps reviewed:
Step 22: I
am surrounded by the Teachers of God.
Step 23: I
am loved, surrounded and supported by the Teachers of God.
Step 24: I
am worthy of God's love.
Step 25: I
am at one with the greatest truth of life.
Step 26: My
errors give birth to my Knowledge.
Step 27: I
have a Wisdom that I wish to discover.
From
these Steps, the review index cards had these excerpts as key points:
22 –
… feel the presence of the Teachers of God …
23 –
… feel the love support and direction … [of the Teachers of God] … Love is
something you must feel to know.
24 –
You are … worthy of God’s love. … you … are God’s love.
- practice receiving … the love, support and
direction of your Teachers
- You are worthy for (a) who you are, (b) where you
have come from and (c) where you are going.
25 –
… first you must experience the
source of your great relationship …
26 –
… error can bring you to value truth …
error is error … use it on your own behalf. … until value is derived from
error, it is error only and will be a source of pain and discomfort …
27 –
- My true will is to discover my wisdom.
- I
must cultivate the viewpoint of being served by my experience.
28 – I ACCEPT MY KNOWLEDGE AS A GIFT FROM GOD. I
accept my Teachers as my elder brothers and sisters. I accept my world as a
place where Knowledge can be reclaimed and contributed. I accept my past as a
demonstration of life without Knowledge. I accept the miracles of my life as a
demonstration of the presence of Knowledge and I give myself now to cultivate
that which is of the greatest good within myself to be given to the world.
These
may, or may not, be readable, but are simply an example of what you might do in your
studies. Writing, it is said, helps information stick.
In my review today,
January 28, 2015, one sentence in Step 26 stood out: “USE THESE PRACTICE PERIODS for this introspective
process and when you are done, do not speak of the results to any other person,
but allow the investigation to continue naturally, as it naturally will.”
Beginning students, you are advised to keep to your own
thoughts. This direction is given in other parts of the New Message. The
journey is personal. Yes, I’m sharing my experience, after 15 years. The
message, “Being
Alone,” may be helpful in this regard. More is available to students today,
but without having done Steps, it can overwhelm you. The goal is experience,
not command of some written words. Let us continue.
NNC
Note: If you’ve some interest due to this or other
Steps, you should go to the beginning blog post. From here you will learn about Steps to Knowledge
and can begin it on the day that makes sense; then progress as needed. You can
use the posts on this blog as a companion if it helps. They will remain in
order in the archives - one post per Step.
Often it takes 18 months to get through the Steps
once. For this blog, the pace is one-a-day, but it really makes no difference
how fast you do it, only that you begin, persist and repeat. Posts here provide
a trail that may let you have a virtual companion when and if you want one. One
may have to study alone, as I did in the beginning. There are other Steps
students blogging their experience and you might find a person more like you as
a companion, or use a number of such Steps journeys. There are options as well
through the Free School of the New Message.
