Alone I can do nothing. Step 337 - Steps to Knowledge: The Book of Inner Knowing ~ Spiritual Practices

Greetings All –

Alone I can do nothing. Step 337 (MP3) [Open in Drive or copy to your Drive – Download folder or play from Drive – Step PDF also.]

Alone I can do nothing. Step 337

ALONE YOU CAN DO NOTHING, but you are not alone. Yes, you are an individual, but you are greater than an individual. Thus it is that you cannot be alone, and thus it is that your individuality has great promise and purpose in the world. Thus it is that you who are part of the greatness that is greater than your individuality and you who are part of your individuality as well become whole and unified. In this, everything that you have constructed for yourself is turned for good. All of your creations are given purpose, meaning, direction and inclusion in life. Thus, your life is redeemed and reclaimed, and you become part of life and a vehicle for its unique expression. This is the true meaning of today’s lesson.

ONLY IN THE SHADOWS AND THE DARKNESS OF IMAGINATION can you hide from the light of truth. You must believe that you are alone to think that your imaginings are real. To learn that you are not alone at first may seem fearful because you are afraid that your imaginings and guilt would be revealed. Yet, as you consider this honestly and without condemnation, you realize that it means that you have been reclaimed, rejuvenated and are now being prepared to receive the power that abides with you, the power that is your Source and True Self.

REPEAT TODAY’S IDEA UPON THE HOUR and realize that it is an affirmation of your strength and inclusion in life. In your deeper meditations allow yourself to re-enter the stillness of your sanctuary of Knowledge where it will become evident that you are not alone. Here you are in true marriage with life and in true union with those who have come to serve you and guide you and with those who practice with you now. In your inclusion is your happiness. In your isolation is your misery. Your misery has no foundation, for you are not alone and your success is guaranteed, for alone you can do nothing.

PRACTICE 337: Two 30-minute practice periods. Hourly practice.

Picture:  Drum Corps International, Warrenton—Drums Corps in Northern Virginia. - August 4, 2011

Journal entry link Step 336x1

Journal entry link Step 336x2

Plan B - If the MP3 doesn’t work, here’s the link to the folder:  New Message - Student Spoken Steps Recordings - Steps to Knowledge - Working file

If this is your first time seeing one of the “Steps to Knowledge”, then welcome. There are 365 Steps, daily spiritual practices if one seeks to complete them in a year, but that is not necessary. They can be used by people of any religious tradition or no religious tradition. They will help one to become mindful in the world.

The Step today is from the book: Steps to Knowledge: The Book of Inner Knowing. The practices were brought to the world through Marshall Vian Summers, The Messenger for The New Message From God. Important background for the Steps is in: “Greater Community Spirituality” and the “Wisdom Books - I and II”. Hard copies are available from the New Knowledge Library Store. The Society for the New Message from God also has a Free Book Project. If you need the books now, PDF files can be found here: http://goo.gl/RJuuGP

Keeping a journal is recommended. If you have a Steps book, write your reactions and comments, highlight or underline points that strike you, and date the note. In this way, your Steps book can be a partial journal.

Using the PDF, you can print out pages as you need them, or use the software to maintain a digital copy where you can enter notes and highlight text that stands out.

Other modern methods of keeping a journal include having a document on your PC or phone to keep notes. You could send yourself an email or use the voice recorder function. It is important to capture insights and reactions because it is by this means that you can understand change. Sometimes it may just be a word or short phrase, an image or a scene.

To end this post I again offer the blessing: "May the presence of the Teachers be with you." In the invocative language of Knowledge this blessing is: "Nasi Novare Coram" (pronounced NAH-see no-VAHR-ay co-RAHM)

The short form of Nasi Novare Coram used by students is NNC.

NNC

P.S. 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. The 1x and 2x links above 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.

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 anyone 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.