6/8/16

The world is poor, but I am not. Step 160 - Steps to Knowledge: The Book of Inner Knowing ~ Spiritual Practices


Greetings All –

The world is poor, but I am not. Step 160 (MP3) [Open in Drive or copy to your Drive – Download folder or play from Drive – Step PDF also.]

The world is poor, but I am not. Step 160
THE WORLD IS POOR, BUT YOU ARE NOT POOR. Regardless of your circumstances, this is true because you are reclaiming the wealth of Knowledge. Understand, then, the meaning of impoverishment. Understand, then, the meaning of wealth. Do not think that those who possess more objects than you are in any way wealthier than you are, for without Knowledge they are impoverished and will acquire things only to offset their misery and uncertainty. Thus, their impoverishment is compounded by their acquisition.

THE WORLD IS POOR, BUT YOU ARE NOT, for you have brought Knowledge with you into the world where Knowledge has been forgotten and denied. Thus, in the reclamation of your own wealth, the world will reclaim its wealth as well, for you shall stimulate Knowledge in all, and their wealth will begin to reveal itself in your presence and in the presence of Knowledge which guides you.

THEREFORE, DO NOT ASK ANYTHING OF THE WORLD save what few material things you need to fulfill your function. This is a small request in light of what you have come to give. And if your demands are not in excess of what you need, the world will gladly render them to you in exchange for a greater gift which you possess.

CONSIDER THE IDEA FOR THE DAY UPON EACH HOUR. Do not let any hour pass without this recognition. Strengthen your resolution to use each practice in all circumstances of the day so that your life may be meaningful in all of its events. In your two longer practice periods today, enter into stillness and peace to learn more of the wealth that you possess.

PRACTICE 160:  Two 30-minute practice periods. Hourly practice.

Today’s practice says:  “In your two longer practice periods today, enter into stillness and peace to learn more of the wealth that you possess.” In time, this becomes a practice that can be done whenever needed. Sometimes it will occur spontaneously.

Picture:  It is not too difficult to find a picture that shows part of the world being “poor”. This is a building along a railroad line in Italy near Milan. The rails look new, but this perhaps old station building is on the decline and showing graffiti which is very common in urban environments; that a sign of poverty as well when people deface their own environment. Understanding the poverty and wealth of the world is what will be an outcome for Steps students.


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.