Greetings All –
I
have a true foundation in the world. Step 6 (MP3)
[Open in Drive or copy to your Drive – Download folder or play from Drive –
Step PDF also.]
BEYOND
THE BELIEFS AND ASSUMPTIONS which mask your own fear and uncertainty, there exists
for you a true foundation in the world. This foundation is built upon your life
beyond this world, for that is where you have come from and that is what you
will return to. You have come from a place to which you will return, and you
have not come empty-handed.
TWICE
TODAY, SPEND TWO LONGER PERIODS of 15 to 20 minutes in considering what your
true foundation may be. Think of all your ideas about this. This is a very
important question. You must realize your great need for this to ask this
question with sincerity and with penetrating depth.
WITHOUT
A TRUE FOUNDATION, your real accomplishments and advancement would be without
hope. It is a great blessing, then, that you possess this, even if it is
unknown to you.
PRACTICE
6: Two 15 to 20-minute practice periods.
Picture: Stone
plaque mounted on South
Hall, Bascom Hill, University of Wisconsin campus, Madison, Wisconsin. I remembered
this from when I was a student there (1966-68) and had classes in the building.
I returned to visit the campus in the 1980’s and took this picture to put in my
office. This is a scan of my print. You may note that the left side is faded
some and there’s a coffee spot. To me, it became a test for truth. Truth makes
you free. Being a student of Steps and utilizing its practices has increased my
freedom in the world over a long period. It rings true using this test. Don't take my word for it or my experience; just follow the Steps as a beginning student to have your own experiences. The teaching says you have the experience first, understanding comes later.
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.
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. Posts linked below 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.
Journal entry link from Steps first time will be here.
Journal entry link from Steps second time will be here.
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.
