Greetings All -
FREEDOM ABIDES WITHIN YOU, waiting to be born within you, waiting to be claimed and accepted, waiting to be lived and applied and waiting to be honored and followed. You who have lived under the weight of your own imagination, you who have been a prisoner to your own thoughts and to the thoughts of others, you who have been intimidated and threatened by the appearances of this world now have hope, for true freedom abides within you. It awaits you. You have brought it with you from your Ancient Home.You carry it with you each day, each moment.
WITHIN THIS PROGRAM OF DEVELOPMENT, you are now learning to turn towards freedom and away from fear and the darkness of your own imagination. In freedom you will find stability and consistency. This will give you the foundation upon which to build your love and sense of self-worth, and this foundation shall not be shaken by the world, for it is greater than the world. It is not born of the misgiving of separation. It is born of the truth of your total inclusion in life.
UPON THE HOUR REPEAT TODAY’S IDEA and take a moment to feel that freedom is with you. As you come closer to freedom throughout the day, you will be able to recognize more and more clearly what holds you back.You will realize that it is but your adherence to your own thoughts that holds you back. It is your interest in your own imagination that holds you back. This will lighten your burden, and you will realize that a true choice is available. This realization will give you the strength to come to freedom today.
IN YOUR TWO DEEP MEDITATION PRACTICES, repeat today’s idea and attempt to allow your mind to be still, which is the beginning of its freedom.This practice in stillness will enable your mind to shake loose the chains that bind it—its unforgiveness from the past, its anxiety over the future and its avoidance of the present. In stillness your mind rises above all that keeps it small, hidden and isolated within its own darkness. How close is freedom to you today who need but be still to receive it. And how great is your reward, you who have come into the world, for freedom is with you.
PRACTICE 57: Two 30-minute practice periods.
Hourly practice.
Yesterday: Step 56 - Review
Review is important. The Step says: "Merely
realize what is required to follow the instructions as they are given
and involve yourself with them as fully as possible. Remember that you are learning to learn, and remember that you are learning to reclaim your self-worth and your true abilities."
Do as much as you can and keep moving. No single point seems to be the key. If you don't get it all this time, you'll get more when you go through any given Step again in the future, but most likely not all of it.
From the Journal:
Saturday, Sept 11, 1999
2:00 p.m. S2K review - Step 56 - I feel that I might move faster with these lessons. My world is changing daily. I could use my family as my only source, but that could lead to a narrow - even misguided path. I use outside sources to verify/cross check my thinking. This world is full of doing as is intended.
- The review. The week has been difficult - Step 50 is "Today I will be with knowledge." In the past I was to feel/sense Teachers, God, now Knowledge. To feel this greater presence - I've been there before - (Listening to Carlos Santana - "Samba Pa Ti" - each note jump into being a new, perfect sound to the pleasure of my mind - joy in these vibrations) was not easy the day I practiced on the Airplane. Next Step 51 - recognizing my fears - that was over an hour of listing. Useful - more to be discovered there. 9/7 Was to find the source of my knowledge - it turned out to be "relationships." Step 53 - My Gifts are for others had me thinking I had been giving too much too long. I'd burned out - and had to more to re-creation and self renewal as I was attached by ... - I believe in giving - but no longer giving everything ... - I have always desired to contribute - that's why I picked public service over business, but I know now business can contribute as well or better. Service above self - as Rotary asks - is a good value - yet, is there a limit?
Since I began trying to tithe and giving in response to others, my children and my world, I've not done without. I've been patient and gotten what I needed. Yet I've been hammered it seems.
3:58 p.m. - Still working on the review - should be in the woods. Step 54 I will not live in Idealism and Step 55 I will accept the world as it is were useful reminders of Krishnamurti"s "What is" focus. A positive/positivist realism emerges as the way? But that is faith, for logic is limited.
This week covered much ground.
The 45 fears listed for Step 51 are accurate, real and probably only partial. A great soul would laugh them away. I'm not laughing yet. Get me out of here? or Send help!
This how things were going in 1999. Thankfully, 14 years later, things are a bit more stable.
NNC
