Greetings All –
Today
I want to hear the truth. Step 17 (MP3) [Open in Drive or copy to your Drive –
Download folder or play from Drive – Step PDF also.]
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| Today I want to hear the truth. Step 17 |
THE
DESIRE TO HEAR THE TRUTH is something that is both a process and the result of
true preparation. Developing the ability to hear and the desire to hear will
yield to you that which you seek. The truth is utterly beneficial to you, but
at first it can be quite shocking and disappointing to your other plans and
goals. This you must risk if you wish to have the certainty and the empowerment
that the truth will bring to you. The truth always brings resolution of
conflict, always provides an experience of self, always gives you a sense of
current reality and always provides direction for you to move forward.
TODAY,
IN YOUR THREE 15-MINUTE PRACTICE PERIODS, practice listening to the truth,
trying to listen beyond the mind and emotions. Again do not be concerned if all
you hear is the rushing about of your own thoughts. Remember, you are
developing listening. That is the most important thing. Like exercising a
muscle in the body, you are exercising the faculty of mind called listening.
Therefore, this day practice listening, taking these practice periods to devote
yourself so that you may feel the truth arising within you.
PRACTICE
17: Three 15-minute practice periods.
Picture: Boardwalk
truth seekers ~ Venice Beach, California ~ February 3, 2012
Yesterday, Step
16 - Beyond my mind is Knowledge.
Finding time to do the exercises is often a challenge. It is worth making the time.
Finding time to do the exercises is often a challenge. It is worth making the time.
From the Journal:
Reading the journal produced a surprise today. I learned (remembered thanks to the notes I put in the book, not in the journal) that I'd stopped after Step 15 on July 10 and did not resume with Step 16 until August 1, 1999, after completion of Volume II of Wisdom From the Greater Community.
There are some interesting thoughts in the intervening days which I may put in a later entry. The key thought here may be that the three books, Greater Community Spirituality, Wisdom I and Wisdom II, are a basic foundation. Of course, in 2015, much more material is available, but without the three initial books, it might be more difficult.
I stopped, then returned, and it didn't hurt my practice. So, this is something others might need to do. Judging by my journal entries, I did keep some meditation going. Also, I started on a Sunday, which meant reviews would come on Saturday, a normally convenient day to set aside time.
Students can shift their practice so that weekly or bi-weekly review fall on a day that is best for their regular schedule or, at least, this student did.
This blog will chug on at a Step a day, but students need not be so concerned about the date as the sequence. Whenever one begins Steps, they will be able to use the archive Steps of the blog in sequence, or stop and pick up, again in sequence by number rather than by date.
Reading the journal produced a surprise today. I learned (remembered thanks to the notes I put in the book, not in the journal) that I'd stopped after Step 15 on July 10 and did not resume with Step 16 until August 1, 1999, after completion of Volume II of Wisdom From the Greater Community.
There are some interesting thoughts in the intervening days which I may put in a later entry. The key thought here may be that the three books, Greater Community Spirituality, Wisdom I and Wisdom II, are a basic foundation. Of course, in 2015, much more material is available, but without the three initial books, it might be more difficult.
I stopped, then returned, and it didn't hurt my practice. So, this is something others might need to do. Judging by my journal entries, I did keep some meditation going. Also, I started on a Sunday, which meant reviews would come on Saturday, a normally convenient day to set aside time.
Students can shift their practice so that weekly or bi-weekly review fall on a day that is best for their regular schedule or, at least, this student did.
This blog will chug on at a Step a day, but students need not be so concerned about the date as the sequence. Whenever one begins Steps, they will be able to use the archive Steps of the blog in sequence, or stop and pick up, again in sequence by number rather than by date.
NNC
Journal
2nd Time Step 16.
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
my first year 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.
