Великая истина жизни

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Alisa

For English version click here.

Великая истина жизни

Шаги к Знанию не склонены к самообольщению, хотя они придают внутреннюю и жизнеутверждающую силу. Шаг 24. Я достойна любви Бога как раз один из Шагов, который смело подталкивает на то, чтобы отбрасывать унижающее мнение о себе, а также чувства недостоинства, и познавать великую истину жизни—то, что я на самом деле достойна любви Бога, и более того, я и есть любовь Бога. Это и есть великая истина жизни.

После того, как я не чувствовала себя достойной любви и поддержку своих учителей, когда занималась Шагом 23, я почувствовала облегчение во время занятия Шагом 24, поскольку я приобрела совсем новый взгляд на понятие «достоинство».

В своих записях я написала: «Я смеюсь с облегчением, ведь настолько потрясающее и вдруг стало ясным. Чувства недостоинства исходят от эго, когда я смотрю на мир с сугубо личной позиции, когда я смотрю на себя как на личность, а не как часть целого. Когда я оцениваю всё в категориях, что хорошо и что плохо, тогда я чувствую себя недостойной. А совсем не в этом дело! Речь не идет о себе как личность, а о том, какой вклад я вложу, мое участие в целом. Осознав это, всё встало на свои места, всё стало понятно. Конечно я достойна! Как и может быть иначе?»

В Шаге гласит: «Как ты можешь быть недостойной любви Бога, когда она и является сутью своей”.

Это и есть великая истина жизни.

Я понимаю, что это понятие трудно дается, трудно его сформулировать внятном образом, особенно исходя от поверхностного ума, ума эго, ума жестких рамок, от ума, которое не принимает идею о том, что простой смертный может находиться на одном уровне с Богом. Однако, с самого начала, человек занимающий Шагами к Знанию понимает, что не следует полагаться на предположениях и старых стереотипах, а начинать с чистого листа (Шаг 3. Что Я Знаю На Самом Деле?)

И в Шаге дальше выясняется:

Ты достоин не твоих достижений в мире. Ты достоин того, кем ты и есть, откуда пришел, и куда уйдешь.

Это представляет понятие в совсем ином свете.

Это и есть великая истина жизни.

* * *

Welcome to Mystery of Ascension! We are students and advocates of the the New Message from God. We are members of a worldwide community. We seek to assist the world in successfully navigating difficult times ahead. We seek to assist the world in successfully emerging into a greater community of intelligent life. You will also find some poetry. Find out more about us here. Contact us here.

The Greatest Truth Of Life

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Alisa

Photo from the New Message from God

The greatest truth of life

Steps to Knowledge cannot be called an exercise in self-flattery, but they do have something empowering and life-affirming about them. Step 24. I Am Worthy of God’s Love is one of the Steps that audaciously encourages me to cast aside any denigrating opinion I may have of myself, as well as any feelings of unworthiness, to embrace the greatest truth of life—the fact that I am indeed worthy of God’s love. And more than that, I really am God’s love. This is the greatest truth of life.

After feeling unworthy of the love and support of my Teachers in Step 23. I found myself laughing in relief in Step 24 when I gained a whole new insight into the concept of worthiness.

My notes say: “I am laughing in a releasing way, because it is really so incredible and suddenly so clear. Feelings of unworthiness come from the ego. When I operate from my individuality and separation, when I put a value on everything, assess things as good or bad, then I feel unworthy. But that is not what it is all about. It is not about me, it is about my part in the whole. Having realized this, it all makes sense, and of course I am worthy! How could it be otherwise?”

How can you be unworthy of God’s love if that is what you are? the Step asks.

This is the greatest truth of life.

Now I will agree that this concept may be difficult to hold onto and formulate in a coherent way, particularly from the surface mind, the mind of the ego, a mind used to operating from rigid templates, a mind that rejects the idea of putting an ordinary mortal anywhere near the same level as God. However, a student of Steps to Knowledge becomes aware very early on that it is best not to have assumptions, but instead start from a clean slate (Step 3. What Do I Really Know?).

And the Step goes on to clarify.

You are worthy not for what you have done in the world. You are worthy for who you are, where you have come from and where you are going.

This puts the entire matter in a very different light.

This is the greatest truth of life.

* * *

Возрастая в благодати

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Alisa

For English version click here.

Возрастая в благодати

По мере моего прохождения по Шагам к Знанию, я возрастаю в благодати, всё сильнее чувствую благодать Реальности. Об этом говорится в Шаге 23. Божьи Наставники любят, окружают и поддерживают меня. По мере моего прохождения по Шагам и познания Знания, я вызываю своих Наставников к себе, просыпаюсь и выхожу из дремучего состояния моего воображения, и возрастаю в благодати.

Помнится, что в тот день, когда я прошла этот Шаг (26 ноября 2012), я не чувствовала себя достойной этой любви. Я не чувствовала, что я являюсь одной из тех немногих, кто имеет возможность обрести благодать. Теперь я понимаю безрассудство этой мысли, ведь когда тебе дарят что-либо, ты должен этот дар благосклонно принимать. Если я не приму ту благодать, подаренную мне с такой щедростью моими учителями, если я отклоню их любовь и поддержку, то я по сути дела даю им пощечину. Чувства недостоинства исходят от эго и не имеет под ними истинная прочная почва.

Мои Наставники окружают меня, любят меня и поддерживают меня, несмотря на мои собственные чувства недостоинства. Сегодня я не вижу никакого выгода в том, чтобы чувствовать себя недостойной. Мысль о том, что я возрастаю в благодати является вон более убедительной.

Возрастая в благодати

В этом Шаге упор делается на то, чтобы почувствовать любовь и поддержку своих Наставников. Рекомендуется, чтобы я это чувствовала и познавала, а не размышляла над этой идей или занималась предположениями. И я обнаружила, что я действительно могу почувствовать эту поддержку. Я её ощущаю сильнее всего, когда я нахожусь загородом, когда я окружена таинственностью и волшебством Природы. Я выбираю дерево и обнимаю его, ощущая как его энергия вливается в мое тело. Я как будто сливаюсь воедино, образуя одно целое с деревом. Я ощущаю энергию своих Учителей, их любовь и поддержку. Они меня окружают, они меня наполняют, я соединяюсь с ними в один поток. В таких моментах, я истинно чувствую, что возрастаю в благодати.

* * *

Emerging Into The Grace Of Reality

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Alisa

As I continue to take Steps to Knowledge, I am emerging into the grace of Reality. This is what speaks to me most in Step 23. I Am Loved, Surrounded and Supported By The Teachers of God. As I practice Steps and emerge into Knowledge, I am calling my Teachers to my side, awakening from the sleep of my own imagination and emerging into the grace of Reality.

I recall that on the day I did this Step (November 26, 2012), I did not feel worthy of this love and support. I did not feel like I was one of the few who has the promise or the opportunity to receive this gift. Now I realize the folly of this thought, for if a gift is given, it should be graciously received. If I do not accept the gift my Teachers are so generously bestowing on me, if I do not accept their love and support, I am basically giving them a slap in the face. My feelings of being unworthy of the love and support of my Teachers come from the ego, from the surface mind, from the part of me that still lives in separation.

The Step tells me that the truth of the fact I am loved, surrounded and supported by my teachers will become self-evident as I prepare. I do not remember this idea particularly challenging me, I only remember not feeling worthy.

However, my Teachers surround me, love me, and support me whether I feel worthy of this or not. Today I do not see the benefit in feeling unworthy. The thought that I am emerging into the grace of Reality is much more potent.

Emerging into the grace of Reality

This Step places great emphasis on feeling the love and support of my Teachers. It is something to feel and know, not something to speculate on as an idea. I find I can indeed feel this support.

I feel it most strongly when I am out in the countryside, in a natural setting, surrounded by the mystery and magic of nature. I pick a tree to put my arms around and feel its energy filling me. I feel my being merging with it. Here I feel the energy of my Teachers, their love and support. I am surrounded by them, filled with them, become one with them. This is when I truly feel I am emerging into the grace of Reality.

* * *

I Will Keep My Hands To The Plow Today

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Douglas

I will keep my hands to the plow today, I'll keep trying and believing, like the Little Engine That Could

Steps 65 through 67 of Steps to Knowledge contain three separate critiques, or criticisms, or rebukes of what passes for normal life in the world. Step 65, “I have come to work in the world,” pokes at the idea that we just showed up here. It rebukes the idea that our reason for being here reduces to individual and species survival. Step 66, “I will stop complaining about the world,” rebukes the idea that we are entitled to have the world conform to our ideals. Chances are good that the things I’m complaining about are the very things I came into the world to address. Step 67, “I do not know what I want for the world,” rebukes the idea that our preferences and anxieties are an adequate foundation for our mission in the world. A student might ask “Is there anything I get to keep?!?”

I will keep my hands to the plow today

Step 68, “I will not lose faith in myself today,” answers that question “Yes.” Do you have a beginner’s mind? Keep that. Do you have the resolve to go forward? Keep that. Do you have the willingness to receive the assistance of your Teachers? Keep that. Do you have the self-esteem required to approach the great mystery of your life? Keep that. Keep and fortify all of the above.

I will keep my hands to the plow today. I believe where I’m going is a place I want to be. I believe I have friends helping me get there. I believe I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living.

* * *

What Am I Being With? Why Am I Being With It?

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Douglas

I took a brief vacation from blogging about Steps to Knowledge after the lengthy Step 49 review of the first 48 steps. But I am now refreshed and ready to resume the ascent. Step 50 is “Today I will be with Knowledge.” What have we been told about Knowledge so far? We have been told, among other things…

I brought Knowledge with me from my Ancient Home. (Step 1)
Knowledge is something I greatly need (Step 7)
Knowledge is my True Self, a self that is not apart from life (Step 10)
Knowledge must be distinguished from my thoughts (Step 15)
The Teachers of God assist my discovery of Knowledge (Step 23)
My life up to now is a demonstration of life without Knowledge (Step 28)
Reclaiming Knowledge is part of my mission in life (Step 33)
There is a particular pathway to Knowledge which works for me (Step 38)
Reaching Knowledge, like everything else, is a group effort (Step 45)
Knowledge works in the limited context of my individuality (Step 46)

After all the amazing things that have been said about Knowledge, to say that I can be with Knowledge is another amazing thing. Can that really be so? There seems to be some awareness that I would wonder things like this, as the step instructs “Do not argue with yourself about the reality of your pursuit, for that is wasteful and meaningless.”

I still struggled with the idea of practicing feeling something when I did this step. It helped when they said “relax and be present.” I could do that.

* * *

Can I Take A Step Into A Larger World?

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Douglas

This is the fourth post in a series of seven posts regarding my experience of Step 49 of Steps to Knowledge. In this step, I am directed to review my practice and experience of the first 48 steps. I am sharing what I wrote when I did this step, and adding commentary when needed.

Step 22 – I am surrounded by the Teachers of God – “This step presents the Teachers as critters who have just been a little ways further down the road I’m on. I commented further on this step in this book” I finally got around to writing about my experience of the steps when I did them, when I did step 22.

Step 23 – I am loved, surrounded and supported by the Teachers of God – “I remember finding this Step as unusual (see commentary)” This is the commentary I wrote at the time: “One thing I find noteworthy about this step is that it I one of the rare (so far) occasions in Steps where something good is said about the student in his current state. The feeling for me is a feeling of connectedness, a feeling someone wants me to hit the jackpot, to find the great treasure, to win the brass ring. I have this thought that, generally speaking, the Teachers don’t do flattery.”

Step 24 – I am worthy of God’s love – “I recall having a nervousness about this step. What great efforts will I have to make to repair my errors? I didn’t have an answer for that. I still don’t” The step said “Your worthiness in the sight of God is unchanged. There is only great effort to repair your errors so that you may experience your True Self so that it may be rendered into the world.” At this point, slowly backing away from suffering over my errors is a good first step.

Step 25 – I am at one with the greatest truth of life – “I was nervous that the Step said my Teachers are within me. See above regarding feeling things.” Steps 22 and 23 went to great lengths to say that the Teachers of God weren’t just mental constructs or helpful metaphors, but actual individuals. And now they say they are within me?!? I’ve already written about my issues regarding practicing feeling things here and here.

Step 26 – My errors give birth to my Knowledge – “This step made me have a great deal of respect for the authors. I wanted to make the pain of my errors disappear, but not learn from them. They killed off many bad ideas (or incomplete ideas) in one paragraph.” If I can learn from my errors, I have a good chance of not committing them again. They killed off the ideas that error non-exists, that error is pure service, and error could be justified.

Step 27 – I have a wisdom which I wish to discover – “I remember the same thing about this step as Step 17.” On further review, this Step took what was in Step 17 and elaborated on it, so this is hardly surprising.

Step 28 – Review – “I don’t think I’ve had any miracles yet. I remember being nervous if I had done the Steps as hard, as much as I shoulda.” The prayer in Step 28 says “I accept the miracles of my life as a demonstration of the presence of Knowledge…” The word miracle is used exactly twice in Steps to Knowledge. A miracle is a demonstration of the presence of the great mystery of one’s life.

* * *

Why Do I Need Teachers? Let Me Count The Ways

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Douglas

The idea of the Teachers of God was introduced in Step 22 of Steps to Knowledge, and elaborated on in Steps 23, 24, 25, 28 and 36. They are being mentioned again in Step 47, but as part of larger discussion about the nature of learning. I quote from the Step:
“You have been prepared through relationships for everything that you have learned, whether it be a practical skill or a deeper insight.”

The way I see this, when anyone has the thought, “Hmm…maybe I should learn more about this particular subject,” if it is traced back far enough, it is another way of saying “Perhaps if I learned more about this particular subject, I could contribute something more to a certain relationship than I am currently contributing.” The very thought that I should care goes back to relationships.

Even in the area of practical skills, people have things they don’t know that they don’t know about themselves, and they have things they don’t know that they don’t know about the thing about which they want to learn something. I consider it a miracle that learning takes place as often as it does.

People will vigorously protest that they know how to learn. But the same people will also vigorously protest that they know how to eat. I willingly grant that people know how to put things in their mouths, chew them and swallow them. But how many of these people have health issues because they’re eating too much of this and not enough of that? And why are they eating too much of this and not enough of that? Some people’s learning is more profitable than other people’s learning, just like some people’s eating is more healthy than other people’s eating.

* * *

How Much Of The Message Is The Medium?

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Douglas

This is another post in a series of posts comparing the books “A Course in Miracles” and “Steps to Knowledge.”

Many people have found the literary style of A Course in Miracles worthy of investigation. The style element I recall the most is the use of iambic pentameter, or “da-Da da-Da da-Da da-Da da-Da” as the rhythm of a line

Every lesson in the Workbook for Students of A Course in Miracles after lesson 99 is written in iambic pentameter. It was not something I was expecting. I didn’t even know what iambic pentameter was when I studied A Course in Miracles. I remember thinking “It’s curious that many lessons have the same rhythm.”

There are occasional, infrequent instances of poetic language in Steps to Knowledge, like this one:

“It [the power of Knowledge] can be seen in the innocence of a child’s eyes; it can be imagined in the greatness of the movement of galaxies.” (Step 235, “The power of Knowledge is becoming evident to me.”)

My experience of the literary style of Steps to Knowledge is that of simple, direct, forthright declaration. Right or wrong, true or false, it means what it says. And that is a style consistent with this description of Knowledge:

“All things you truly need will be provided. It is when you want things that you do not truly need that your awareness of this becomes confused, and this leads you into dark speculation and grave disappointment.What you need will make you happy; what you don’t need will make you confused.This is very simple, very straightforward and very direct. Knowledge is always like that. Knowledge affirms that which is essential. Here your approach to life becomes simple and direct.Thus, you experience life as simple and direct.” (Step 253, “All things I truly need will be provided for me.”)

Just like the song on my lips and the song deep in my soul have to be the same song for me to progress, the literary style of a book and its content have to be singing the same song.

* * *

Alone Is An Unword In This Poem

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Douglas

I recall being not particularly happy with my study of step 25 in Steps to Knowledge “I am at one with the greatest truth of life” for multiple reasons.

I was eagerly waiting for a proposition to be proposed, only to be told that this great truth is an experience coming from great relationships.

Steps to Knowledge has already used the word “great” a number of times, and consistently uses it as an descriptive adjective signifying “large” or “larger than other things.”

I was not particularly happy with being told I hold a great relationship with life. On my weaker days, I have a hard time thinking life and I have been very good to each other. On my stronger days, I try to be a little bit better to life, and I recognize that life is trying to be a little bit better to me.

I was not particularly happy with being told I hold a great relationship with my Teachers, who are within me. Are they merely a mental construct? That doesn’t seem to go with Step 22 “I am surrounded by the Teachers of God” and Step 23 “I am loved, surrounded and supported by the Teachers of God.” I was not particularly clear as to what was meant by “within,” and not particularly happy about that.

I was not particularly happy with being instructed to practice feeling this relationship. I was not happy because I was still struggling with the very premise of practicing feeling something, and the fact that I’ve been given this instruction three times in the first 25 steps, signified to me that this is something about which I need to come to a better resolution. I was not particularly clear as to which relationship I was being asked to practice feeling. My relationship with life? My relationship with my Teachers?

You get the idea. On the other hand, other students have reported great happiness as they practiced this step. It would seem that analysis has its limits. That might be the point.

* * *

Mystery of Ascension

A great mystery / Is my true self that I bring / From my ancient home

Tag Archives: Step 23

Великая истина жизни

Великая истина жизни

The Greatest Truth Of Life

The greatest truth of life

Возрастая в благодати

Возрастая в благодати

Возрастая в благодати

Emerging Into The Grace Of Reality

Emerging into the grace of Reality

I Will Keep My Hands To The Plow Today

I will keep my hands to the plow today

What Am I Being With? Why Am I Being With It?

Can I Take A Step Into A Larger World?

Why Do I Need Teachers? Let Me Count The Ways

How Much Of The Message Is The Medium?

Alone Is An Unword In This Poem