Greetings All –
Step 117 - It is better
to be simple than to be poor. (MP3)
[Open in Drive or copy to
your Drive – Download folder or play from Drive – Step PDF also.]
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| "It is better to be simple than to be poor." Step 117 |
SIMPLICITY ALLOWS YOU TO GAIN ACCESS TO LIFE and to
enjoy its beneficence in every moment. Complexity is a state of self-disassociation
which renders you incapable of enjoying life and perceiving your role within
it. This is the source of all great poverty, for no worldly accomplishment and
no worldly possession can banish the sense of isolation and destitution that
accompanies such a disassociation.
THEREFORE, TODAY PRACTICE STILLNESS MORE DEEPLY
than before so that you may experience the power of Knowledge that is with you.
Allow yourself to be simple, for in simplicity all things may be given to you.
If you are considering yourself to be complex, or your problems to be complex,
it is because you are viewing yourself and your problems without Knowledge and
are thus lost in your evaluations. Here you are confusing things of greater
value with things of lesser value, things of greater priority with things of
lesser priority. Truth must always bring simplicity, for simplicity brings
resolution and right understanding and establishes peace and confidence in
those who can receive it.
PRACTICE DEEPLY TODAY. Repeat today’s idea upon the
hour, and in your two deep meditation practices, remind yourself that Knowledge
is with you and then enter into stillness. Allow yourself to be simple and
trust that Knowledge will guide you in all ways.
PRACTICE 117: Two 30-minute practice periods. Hourly
practice.
An uncommon view of simplicity and complexity in
this Step; one worthy of deep stillness.
Picture: Box
turtle, Front Royal, Virginia - Simple, not poor. The bright sun's reflection
is a spot on the shell. Turtles all the way down; Teachers all the way up.
From
the journal:
8:05
A.M. Wednesday, November 10, 1999
The
creator/creation is still and eternal- manifestation looks like storms on the
surface of a planet/sun – points of stillness connect the surface of a planet/sun
– points of stillness connect the surface manifestation to the source – which
moderates/manages the manifestation. I fear trauma. Why is that my focus?
…
New energy needed – where is community?
David
said Jamie will take Lane, he will keep Emily – they’ll split this weekend.
I’m
beginning to have little faith in relationships with others. Everyone feels
wronged – they all seem abusive.
Fairness?
What is that anyway?
Knowledge has the answer, or at least recommendations to minimize the
trauma of the creation trying to be the creator. The passing of Knowledge on
life, parenting, conflict resolution, sexuality, respect, failure, rebellion,
sustainability – could that be done better? I seek KNOWLEDGE but do I have the
strength to use what I find?
9:07 The death star shines. Why bother? Except for the children.
11:57 a.m. Risk management – I’ve taken risks in this job every day
since I became the director. It is a risk even to record this thought. I work
for KNOWLEDGE.
7:15 p.m. I am so mad, so lost, so hurt, so sad, so isolated and lonely,
so without human friends. The world is speeding up and I am slowing down. The
world is getting worse faster than it is getting better. With the exception of
pain, there is little awareness of life. Today I am to be patient with
Knowledge as all my beliefs slip away. My relationships number two. … I’m about
to disappear – and so what.
Tomorrow is 11/11/99 – at 11:11 a.m. I’ll be teaching. From 11:11 a.m.
to 11:11 p.m. thousands will meditate and pray for peace on earth. I will join
them – in my usual way.
Years ago we were at Swannanoa for 11/11/__ a key date in the Harmonic
Convergence progression.
…
7:24 p.m. I’m not satisfied with this. I want God.
8:47 p.m. Building a world for no one. The disparity in the world I see
now – technology going so fast – people missing out for lack of simple
investment.
…
There is frustration here you will note and along
with it the call for God. That is why I began Steps after having read “Greater
Community Spirituality.” Let us continue.
NNC
Journal
second time x2 Step 116.
This is for those who have completed Steps
once. Doing Steps with only the texts, messages and your life experience,
including what you may have studied and practiced is your journey. I’m showing
Step comments after the Step, so as not to influence you in advance. It is a
wilderness trek to be left to your own wits, but then you can also listen more
closely for guides, angels and teachers, always first saying: “I surround and
protect myself with the Love and the Grace of God.” Thankfully, I was taught
this practice in 1989.
P.S. 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.
