Today: Step 225 - Today I will
be serious and lighthearted all at once. (MP3)
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| Today I will be serious and lighthearted all at once. Step 225 |
THERE IS NO CONTRADICTION IN TODAY’S MESSAGE for you
if it is understood. To take your life seriously is to receive its true grace,
which will make you very happy. Therefore, you must be very serious with
yourself as you are learning now to become a vehicle for Knowledge, and you may
be very happy and lighthearted that Knowledge is with you. This, then, is the
true application of your mind, for you are lighthearted with that which is
lighthearted, and you are serious with that which is serious. A mind that is
serious in its outward direction and lighthearted in its internal delight will
be a mind that is fully integrated. This will be a mind where Heaven and Earth
touch.
THE GRACE THAT YOU WILL BE RECEIVING THIS DAY will
engender happiness and true appreciation, yet the application it calls for will
require your serious engagement, your sincere dedication and the genuine
application of your mental and physical faculties. Here your strengths
represent your happiness, and your happiness is strengthened by the application
of your true abilities.
THINK OF THIS UPON THE HOUR as you repeat your idea
for today. As you attempt your deeper meditation practices, seriously engage your
mind so that it may experience the lightheartedness and the great joy of
Knowledge. In this, you will see that today’s idea is entirely uniform in its
meaning. In this, you will not confuse that which is happy and that which is
serious. This will give you a greater comprehension of the world.
PRACTICE 225: Two 30-minute practice periods. Hourly
practice.
Yesterday: Step
224 - Review
First - note card points from Steps:
211 -
“Realizing that Knowledge is the means
that propels the world in its true direction, you can then value and receive
that which gives your life purpose, meaning and direction”.
212 –
“You do gain strength from all who
practice with you, for every mind that attempts to engage itself with
Knowledge strengthens all other minds in doing so as well.” “With them you
share a true purpose, for your true purpose is to keep Knowledge alive in the
world”.
213 –
“The world will reveal itself to you as you look without these restraints and
limitations”. “You cannot be in the world without beliefs or assumptions. Yet
(they) … are meant to be tools to serve your mind, to give it a temporary
structure and to allow it to engage its natural abilities in a positive manner”.
214 –
“I do not understand myself”. “This is not a statement of failure or
limitation. It is simply a statement to liberate you from your own
impediments” “Free yourself from the burden of justifying your own judgments”.
215
- The “true gifts” of K. – 1 –“all
things that you have truly sought will be meaningfully satisfied” 2 – “you will
have a true foundation in life” 3 – “Heaven and Earth will come together within
you and all separation will end”. 4 - Here you can accept the limitations of your
physical existence and the greatness of your spiritual life”.
216 –
“The spiritual presence in your life is
ever with you, ever available to you and ever reminding you to look beyond your
own judgments”.
217 –
“For every
moment you spend in experiencing stillness or engaging your mind meaningfully,
Knowledge becomes stronger and ever more present within you”. “Give yourself to
Knowledge so that it may give itself to you”. This requires “stillness and
self-acceptance”.
218 – “Along with Knowledge comes the wisdom of how to use Knowledge in the world”. “…Knowledge
is the source of your understanding and Wisdom is learning how to apply it
meaningfully and constructively in the world”.
219 – “It
is in your receptivity to Knowledge that you will find Knowledge to be of the
greatest service and usefulness to you”.
220 –
“…learn the form of intentional restraint that represents an expression of your
power and self-discipline”. These “… must … be exercised to become strong, for
your mind and body are vehicles of Knowledge, and as vehicles, they must be
developed and strengthened”.
221 –
“Allow yourself to be confused, for in your genuine confusion Knowledge may
arise naturally”.
222 –
“The only judgement that you can make
upon the world is that it is confused. …The world is confused. Judge it not. (It) … is without Knowledge”
223 –
Knowledge “…dispels that which is unnecessary and purposefully engages you with that
which is necessary and has true potential for you. … Receive Knowledge so that
you may … understand your own meaning and value. Receive Knowledge so that you
may have certainty in the world and so that you may understand your own meaning
and value”.
224 - TODAY PRACTICE OBJECTIVITY BY REVIEWING the last two
weeks of practice. … As you learn to
view your life objectively, you will learn to see your life through the eyes of
your Teachers”.
From the journal:
7:44
a.m. March 31, 2001 – Rotary as a Knowledge organization. …
8:30
a.m. Woke up with plenty thoughts, but some of that has dissipated. The
Peoples’ Pharmacy was talking about physical fitness – need for strength
training/resistance after 40. I got bored with Tai Chi – didn't incorporate
strength – of course – my back/shoulder was unbalanced – and I like to eat.
Seems my decade of the 90’s was screw ups too learning. My finances – all kinds
of opportunities missed – a contentious marriage – where was I? Who was I? S2K
has given me the life perspective I needed which allows me to go on to do the
necessary.
…
–
Intrinsic relationships – what are mine? David – Sarah – they are parental –
feel to be intrinsic. I am devoted to Spirit, the Christ consciousness,
cooperation, regional community.
9:14
a.m. Long practice – Review – Step 224 – but first complete "Devotion and
Commitment" CH 21 – GCW – II.
9:28
a.m. "Knowledge is instinct in intelligent life".
4:15
p.m. 3/31/01 My instinct – to keep plugging@ what I'm doing.
True
1
Relationship – Knowledge in self/others
2
Purpose – Cooperation→ Regions
3
Calling – Regions→ Cooperation
4
Community – Earth humanity
>
I am already a member of a global organization dedicated to peace and human
unity.
–
Piece Kin –
→ Where am I now
with money? –
OK now – fear of future loss –
Fearful of investments –
Lacking knowledge
Surrounded by needy people –?
Self condemnation for missing opportunities –
Fear that my R & D will not support me in the
future
–
Regions – a method of organizing mapping the world – a scale thing –
→ What must I do? I am already doing it! I just need
more cooperators, better tools, a more comprehensive perspective.
→ Are things correct now in my life, my trends? Yes –
that's how I feel, that's what I Know! – This path is my path.
10:51
a.m. Completed, again, "Money" – CH 22 – GCW II
The
review –
Review
– Step 214 – "I do not understand myself". This is so hard. No wonder
I'm avoiding this review.
The
explanation in the text that "Of course you do not understand yourself or
the world, for you only understand your ideas, and they are not eternal. Therefore,
they cannot provide a solid foundation upon which you must learn to
stand", – is challenging. Not hard to believe, it is only the life
challenge to pick the better, more useful ideas, but go beyond them in
experience. That requires the out of body perspective of this review. As I drew
in the steps book last year at exercise 224
Step
224 – I started the review @ 9:14 a.m., Then, after GCW II again@10:51
a.m.,@1:10 p.m. and @ 2:31 p.m. I've just finished rereading the exercises and
adding to my index cards. The review text steps says: "Allow your Review
practice period today to be engaged on your own behalf. Utilize your mind
purposefully and do not allow it to wander. Break the habit of thinking
mindlessly. Break the habit of preoccupying yourself with foolish and
meaningless things. Allow your Review today to demonstrate to you that you are
a true student of Knowledge".
→I seek to be a
true student – but I'm not disciplined enough today. Amen
–
Intelligence
–
responsibility > 3 pillars for any
race or society
–
cooperation
…
4:19
p.m. Review complete – quite a long time. Some distraction. I give myself more
and more to K. I'd like to go to Colorado for the fall retreat next year. Who
else is doing this work?
11:48
p.m. Sarah called – I paid her electric bill. I watched the Duke – Maryland
game – Final Four [College basketball]. Maryland started strong, but then fell
behind. A little basketball is okay. Then a C-SPAN speech Christine Hefner –
Playboy – about the world of content. Articulate – a good speech – it's all
gobbledygook – the tech talk – so – what have I done this day of value? Just my
review?
Here
in bed – thinking the world will not begin or end with a single event, more
causes
→the fate of the
world, of humanity – is not in the hands of one or two… – I will learn and do
to the extent I can become stronger. I am still a student, seeking K & W –
and needing the world to work with me, (and as the context for my work.
4/28/01)
Lots of writing this day, even after cutting a
third. You don’t have to read it all, unless there is some benefit – that is
the goal – to be of benefit somehow. 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.
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