6/18/16

I am following the ancient rite of preparation today. Step 170 - Steps to Knowledge: The Book of Inner Knowing ~ Spiritual Practices


Greetings All –

I am following the ancient rite of preparation today. Step 170 (MP3) [Open in Drive or copy to your Drive – Download folder or play from Drive – Step PDF also.]

I am following the ancient rite of preparation today. Step 170
THIS PREPARATION THAT YOU ARE UNDERTAKING is ancient in its origin. It has been used for centuries, in this world and in other worlds as well. It is only adapted in its language and in its relevancy to your current time, yet it prepares the mind in the way that minds have always been prepared in The Way of Knowledge, for Knowledge does not change and the preparations only adapt themselves to current events and current understanding so that they may be relevant for the recipients. Yet, the true mechanism for preparation is unchanged.

YOU ARE UNDERTAKING AN ANCIENT RITE in the reclamation of Knowledge. Born of the Great Will of the Universe, this preparation has been constructed for the advancement of students of Knowledge. You are working in tandem now with many other individuals, both within this world and within other worlds as well. For Knowledge is being taught in all worlds where intelligent life exists. Thus, your efforts are supported and embellished by the efforts of those who are preparing with you. In this, you represent a community of learners. Think not, then, that your efforts are singular. Think not, then, that you are alone in the world undertaking the reclamation of Knowledge. Think not, then, that you are not part of a community of learners. This will be more evident to you in time as you begin to recognize those who are preparing with you. This will be more evident in time as your experience of the presence of your Teachers deepens. This will be more evident in time as the results of your Knowledge become evident even to you. This will be more evident in time as you consider your life as part of a Greater Community of Worlds.

REMIND YOURSELF OF YOUR PRACTICE UPON THE HOUR. In your deeper practices in stillness, receive the benefit of all who practice with you. Remind yourself that you are not alone and that their rewards are given to you as your rewards are given to them. Thus, you share in your accomplishments together. The power of your undertaking is so tremendously supported by the endeavor and the giving of others that it far exceeds your own abilities. When this is realized, it will give you all manner of encouragement and will banish forever the idea that you are inadequate to the tasks that are given to you. For your giving is supplemented by the giving of others, and this represents the Will of God in the universe.

PRACTICE 170: Two 30-minute practice periods. Hourly practice.

Picture:  Candles at Tomb of Boethius in San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro,.a Roman Catholic basilica of the Augustinians in Pavia, Italy. The lighting of candles is an ancient rite of remembrance.


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 Spiritualityand 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. 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.
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.