I want what I think I know. Step 4 (MP3) [Open in Drive or copy to your Drive – Download folder or play from Drive – Step PDF also.]
Greetings All –
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| I want what I think I know. Step 4 |
YOU WANT WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW,
and this is what constitutes the basis of your understanding of yourself and
your world. In fact, this constitutes the basis of your whole identity. You
will find, however, upon honest examination that your understanding is based
upon assumptions primarily, and these assumptions have not been founded upon
your experience to a very great degree, if at all.
TODAY IN YOUR THREE BRIEF
PRACTICE PERIODS, in which you devote your total attention to examining your
assumptions, think about the things you really think you know, including things
that you have not thought to question before—things that you think you know.
Today’s exercise, then, carries forth from the previous steps where you begin
to see the difference between what you think you know and real Knowledge itself
and the relationship between what you think of as Knowledge and your own
assumptions, beliefs and hopes for things.
THEREFORE, IN EACH PRACTICE
SESSION it is very essential for you to think about the things you think you
know. When you realize they are based primarily upon your assumptions, you will
realize how weak is your foundation in the world. Understanding this may be
upsetting and disconcerting, but it is absolutely essential for you to give you
the impetus and the desire to discover your true foundation in the world.
PRACTICE 4: Three 10-minute
practice periods.
Picture: UCLA Campus, Los Angeles, California January
31, 2012
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.
