Greetings All –
Step 210 – Review~
engaging your mind
actively on its behalf. (MP3)
[Open in Drive or copy to
your Drive – Download folder or play from Drive – Step PDF also.]
TODAY REVIEW THE PAST TWO WEEKS OF PREPARATION,
reading each lesson as it is given and recalling your practice for that day. In
your long practice period today once again begin to assess the progression of
events and all of your practices. Begin to see that there is a relationship
between how you apply your mind and what you experience as a result. View your
life objectively, without guilt or blame, so that you may understand how your
life is truly emerging.
YOUR LONG PRACTICE PERIOD TODAY will see you
engaging your mind actively on its behalf. You are learning to become objective
about your own progress as a student. You are learning to become objective about
the nature of learning itself. You are learning to become objective so that you
may see. Allow this Review, then, to give you greater perspective about the
work of Knowledge in the world and the presence of Knowledge in your life.
PRACTICE 210: One long practice period.
This Step
includes a reference to “crown of thorns” in the first paragraph:
“DO NOT BE CRUEL TO YOURSELF by attempting to wear
your crown of thorns, which represents your system of beliefs and
assumptions. Do not project upon yourself the weight of blame and
unforgiveness. Do not attempt to force your mind to exemplify those qualities
that you hold dear, for they will arise naturally from Knowledge.”
In
Christianity, the placement of this crown on Jesus by the Roman soldiers is an
act intended to humiliate Jesus. He did not put on the crown himself, nor do
Christians, but the NM speaks of the crown this way in Greater Community
Spirituality:
“This is
what it means to wear a crown of thorns. This is when the mind is a crown of
thorns. You wear it, but it torments you. It seems to give you a kingly title,
but in fact it is a harness of misery. It seems to elevate you and give you
stature in the world, but in fact it cuts you and hurts you, binds you and
mocks you. In order for the mind to become a halo instead of a crown of thorns,
you must affirm your authority.”
The only
other teaching that has a similar use is "A Course in Miracles." As a
Christian, it didn’t make sense there either, way back in the 1990's.
The first
time on this Step, I made no note of this. In the last year I brought this up
with other students as to how to understand it, as it may be a barrier. As of July
22, 2014, the first time I published this Step journal, I’ve resolved The
Teachers use of the term in this way: for it to make sense, we have to be the
Romans mocking ourselves. In fact, we and other Christians have done this due
to the emphasis in Christian teachings on the suffering of Jesus. To be
martyrs, to suffer as Jesus did, without sin, is something we may be taught to
emulate. We judge ourselves, which Steps teaches us to avoid, and take on the
burdens of the world, including the mistreatment of Jesus. This can be ego, our
mind, making us fail due to idealism and judgement.
Shocking
as it is, we may in-fact put on a “crown of thorns” to honor the suffering of
Jesus, but that is the wrong message to receive and to send. This is the
teaching as I understand it. Anyone without a strong Christian view of the
"Crown of Thorns" as mocking may overlook the thinking connected to
the term.
Little
things can take a long time to resolve. On this point, for me – only fourteen
years. Perhaps you’ll be quicker at it, or it’s not an issue at all.
From the Journal:
6:20
a.m. February 10, 2000 Thursday - there is no time for logic and rationality.
The idea of maintaining models for transportation plans disappears w/o
maintenance folks.
Step
209 - "I will not be cruel with myself today." Have I learned
anything? Yes, but I've tried to learn too many things. I actually thought I
had time to learn the flute, to drum, so I started too many things – interest
was neither time nor talent. I've gone down hundreds of paths – now to prune
the tree – focus on the fruitful areas – stay strong – get a broader
perspective. Know the mission. (2/11/2000 – Actually – computer replaced/displaced
drum/flute.)
–
S2K – Practice 1 – In the stillness – "Allow yourself to be blessed so
that you may bless the world. Allow yourself to bless the world so that you may
be blessed."
---
8:15
p.m. --- I went to Winchester for Chips L… and his International Symposium.
That will be work – every global org I find on the net I'm sending my local
scale planet text and asking for feedback.
Practice
#2 – only could do about 15 minutes.
community
='s market
regional
market = regional community
There
are whole's everywhere.
–
scale – scale – scale
– I
am not the PDC – I am using the pdc for my education.
There is much to learn and unlearn. Let us
continue.
NNC
Journal second time x2
Step 209. 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.
