2004 Vol 4, December

NEWSLETTER EWSLETTER NNER L IGHT M INISTRIES N IINNER LIGHT VOLUME 15 NUMBER 4

DECEMBER, 2004

THE DIVINE: EXPERIENCING A MEDITATIVE RETREAT

by Jim Gordon, President of ILM

R

ecently, Brian Yeakey and I were asked to do a weekend retreat on meditation. At the time Brian and I had, ‘coincidently’, been talking about just such a retreat and wondering when this might happen. So when the question came forward, from two Austin-area ILM members, our response was a big, resounding, “Yes!” We then explained to the two that if they truly wanted this retreat to happen they would have to assist in the logistics of finding a retreat center and organizing the event. Without hesitation they also replied with a big “YES,” and things have been moving forward at a rapid pace since that day. This article is intended to share information about the upcoming retreat, as well as to give you insight into our thoughts about other such retreats in the future.

One thing that I have learned over the years is how much time it takes to plan and put on a three-day retreat. The first thing is to find a retreat center in a location that is easy to get to for those traveling into the area, and that has nice accommodations, a quiet setting, good food with a chef or cook who can take care of special food needs, and handicap accessibility. Price is also a factor to be considered. With all this to consider, we got busy looking for a facility. We checked out a location near Austin that came highly recommended, the Red Corral Ranch. Together we went out to the ranch to meet with the director and staff and to sample the food as well as check out the rooms. The setting is on 1,100 acres in the Texas Hill Country, quiet and picturesque. OH, BOY, is the food great! Then we checked the rooms — very nice. In addition, there is a permanent labyrinth on the property. Sounds pretty nice for a meditation retreat, doesn’t it? So after spending a big part of an afternoon touring the property and talking with the staff, we decided to have our first meditation retreat at this location.

Further on in the newsletter you will find more information about the upcoming retreat, which we are calling, “Experiencing the Divine: a Meditative Retreat.”

What I next want to share with you is: this is the first of what I intend to be many ILM meditation retreats. I hope to be able to hold such retreats here in Austin as well as in others places throughout the U.S. and, one day, in England. I guess what I am saying is this is not to be the only meditation retreat! We will be having others and, hopefully, in your area if Austin is not your area. I am sharing this because we are limited in how many people we can have at this particular retreat event due to the size of the Red Corral Ranch, which can accommodate 40 people and may fill up quickly. So with this in mind, we are looking at other dates and other places to hold this same retreat in the future.

Another consideration with this particular retreat event is the cost. Unlike other retreats and day-long workshops, this retreat setting is a little more costly.

ILM’s policy has always been to provide trainings free of charge or to charge only what the facility costs. We are doing the same with this retreat, which is to only charge what the room and board is for each participant.

We will always do our best to keep the cost down to make our events available to everyone. We do have a limited scholarship fund available. For those who ask for a scholarship, ILM asks that you cover as much of the cost as you are able to. And we also ask anyone who wishes to donate toward the scholarship fund for this retreat or others to please talk with us or send in your donation, letting us know that you want this to go toward the scholarship fund.

Brian and I are looking forward to spending time with participants with a focus on meditation. Besides the meditation time we will also have other activities that support the meditation practice, including question and answer sessions. I look forward to experiencing with the group, in a deeper manner, meditation and the inner kingdom.

I know this is not my typical article, but I felt that there was much I wanted to say about this upcoming event and the possibility for others in the future. ILM is moving forward in the action of service to our community, and I am joy-filled to announce this new retreat!

THE HECK WITH IT, I’M GETTING UP

by Brian Yeakey, ILM Minister

O

ne morning recently in my meditation, I just couldn’t get into it. I called in the Light, I chanted The Holy Names of God, I loved God, I loved myself, I chanted The Names, I loved God, I loved myself, I chanted The Names, I loved God, etc., etc., etc. Until finally, I just said, “The heck with it, I’m gettin’ up!” And so, I did.

Over the years I have come to realize that this ‘energy’ is our creative expression of God’s loving. Everything is made of God’s loving, and it’s our expression of God’s loving that creates everything in our lives, internally and externally. As we allow ourselves to open and move with this energy in new and different ways, we can begin to create those things in our lives that we are seeking.

The trick is simply to take action and do something that moves us towards what we are seeking, be it external or internal. Obviously, if we like what we have created in our life, then we keep doing what we’ve been doing so that we continue having what we have. We only have to look to our own experience to know what that is. But, if we want to make changes, we simply begin seeking out what we can do differently to create the changes that we want. If what we want is spiritual in nature, it’s going to take a different type of action that is done internally, such as meditation, prayer, loving, devotion, etc. If it is physical in nature, then it will take physical actions. If it’s emotional, it will take emotional actions. And so on. The trick is simply to begin doing! Because, it is in the doing that it gets done. So let’s get doing!

The whole time I was in meditation, however, I was constantly thinking about all the events going on in my life and fantasizing about how I would like everything to be going in my life. And as much as I wanted to, I just couldn’t stop thinking. I just kept thinking and thinking about everything, even repeating the same thoughts, over and over. I even got a headache from the whole process! This was my time for meditation, to be in communion with God, and instead I was in a fantasy and in repetitive thought loops with my mind.

Even with all the chanting and loving, I couldn’t seem to shake it. So, I got up and decided to write this article . . . I decided that I was going to at least use my time in such a way that would serve me well!

One of the things I’ve learned over the years is that it helps for me to take supportive action steps to take care of myself. Whenever I find myself in a situation like the one I’ve described above, I have found it to be most useful not to judge or be upset with the situation, but rather to actively do those things that bring me into a loving place inside myself. Whenever I find myself getting reactive, irritated, defensive, resistant, passive, aggressive, etc., I know that’s the time I need to do something different. Otherwise, based upon my past experiences, something will happen pretty soon that I would rather not go through, whether internally or externally. So I take action to change the situation within me and around me. Sometimes I’ve found that it doesn’t matter so much what I do, but that I just do something. In doing something, something different from what was causing the reaction, I move the energy in a different way so that it doesn’t get stuck and cause disturbance.

Once we have it clear inside ourselves what it is that we truly want to experience, and we begin taking actions to have that experience, then we must continue doing those actions over and over to fully experience that which we’re after. I have learned to do just that!

Everyday, I present myself to God, in meditation, to be in loving, to experience loving, to be loving — and I AM! I continue doing that over and over, because my experience has taught me that it’s in the repetition that I will have more and more of what it is that I want. It is this loving persistence that carries me through and beyond all those things that would stop me from fully experiencing what I want to experience. I know that when I keep at it, I always come through! I don’t stop!

I don’t let anything get in the way or stop me. I may have temporary ‘slow downs’ or ‘pauses’, but I continue moving through and beyond it all by persistently taking loving action.

(GETTING UP continues on page 3) 2

I NNER L IGHT M INISTRIES

CALENDAR

CLASSES & PROGRAMS: DEC – JAN, 2004 P RESENTED

BY J IM G ORDON and B RIAN Y EAKEY : For additional information, call 512-306-1056.

W

EEKLY

CLASSES:

Jim’s weekly Austin class is held Tuesdays 7-9 pm,

ILM Center, Franklin Sq. Bldg, 3724 Jefferson, Ste. 100, Austin, Texas No Charge

Each class includes spiritual teaching, practical exercises, group discussion, and meditation.

Jim and Brian help participants to become more deeply in touch with the Spirit within.

oins For C Coins For Kids

Kids

in Austin

Our Christmas service project is coming up real soon ... so if you've been saving your coins or wondering what you might like to do as an expression of service this year, consider participating with us as we once again go on a joyful gift shopping spree for children in need at Christmas time.

This year’s shopping day will be on: SUNDAY, NOV 21.

Meet at 9 am at the ILM Center.

Wrapping day will be on: SUNDAY, DEC 5, 12-5 pm at the ILM Center.

Pizza and other refreshments will be provided.

C

HRIST MAS

POTL U C K P A RT Y UC

Join us for ILM’s Christmas celebration at 203 Buckeye Trail in Austin, Texas.

Everyone is welcome!

It’s a potluck so bring a dish to share.

SUNDAY, DEC 12 from 12-5 pm.

Call Laura Doggett at 512-306-1056 for more information.

IGHT COLUMNS in AUSTIN: This ILM event will be a service project to plant Light Columns L throughout Austin. Facilitated by Bill Stratton. The first half hour will be a talk on Light Columns, and

then the participants will group together and drive to various points in Austin to experience this wonderful service of bringing forward greater Light for greater good to the Austin community.

FEB 12

1-3 pm

ILM Center, Austin, Texas

No Charge

(ILM Calendar continues on pages 4 - 8)

by Brian Yeakey

Getting Up (continued from page 2)

presented myself to God, to be in loving communion, and I had a much deeper, fuller, more loving experience than what I had written about earlier. It is through this persistent doing that I have come to discover the way into my Being — where my being and doing become one. And this oneness is what carries me into the Oneness with God’s loving and God’s Being!

So, here I am back, at the computer writing the rest of my article ... a few days after I wrote the words above.

And wouldn’t you know it, my persistence paid off. I had a wonderful meditation this morning. I once again 3

Experiencing The Divine – A Meditative Retreat

facilitated by

Jim Gordon and Brian Yeakey

DATE: Thursday, March 17, 2005 at 6 pm (beginning with dinner; check-in begins at 4 pm) thru Sunday, March 20, 2005 at 1:30 pm (ending after lunch) Pre-registration is required before March 1, 2005.

PLACE: Red Corral Ranch 505 Red Corral Ranch Road Wimberley, Texas 78676 COST: $37500 (includes lodging and all meals; this is ILM’s actual cost for the retreat accommodations)

In this meditative retreat, Jim and Brian will be taking participants on an experiential journey into the greater knowing of their divine nature. Jim and Brian will be sharing about the meditation practice of The Path of Sound and Light to ‘experience the divine,’ and there will be gracious periods of time for meditation, relaxation, rejuvenation, and resurrection.

For further information and to register for this retreat contact: Diana Vandel at 512-328-5649 or dianavandel@mac.com, 916 Calithea Road, Austin, Texas 78746.

ILM REGISTRATION FORM: Please send a check for $375 (payable to ILM) along with this registration form to: Diana Vandel, 916 Calithea Rd, Austin, TX 78746. This form needs to be received by March 1.

(Please print.)

Experiencing The Divine: A Meditative Retreat

N AME ( S ):

E MAIL :

A DDRESS & Z IP C ODE : D AYTIME P HONE :

E VENING P HONE : 4

Sunday, January 9, 2005:

ILM SEMINAR and and

Q&A with with JIM IM and BRIAN RIAN

TIME: 2-5:30 pm WHERE: Ohana East Hotel, Waikiki, Hawaii Meeting Room off of Lobby located on the 2nd floor For Ohana Hotel reservations: Call Barbara Campbell at 808-921-6679 barbara.campbell@outrigger.com.

Park in the Ohana East garage located at 2375 Kuhio Avenue (all day parking with validation is $3.00).

DONATION

Sunday, January 16: EDITATION WORKSHOP ORKSHOP ILM MEDITATION with JJIM IM and and B BRIAN RIAN with TIMES OF EVENTS MEDITATION: 9:30 am-12 noon Lunch break Workshop: 1:30-5:30 pm WHERE: Ohana East Hotel, Waikiki, Hawaii (see above information) DONATION For further information please contact: Nadine Ferraro at 808-988-7509.

NITIATION and INITIATION SPIRITUAL COUNSELINGS

Brian will be available ˜ Jim and for initiation for those who have been approved.

˜

Brian will be available for spiritual counseling sessions.

WHEN:

January 11-20

To schedule counseling appointment with Brian Yeakey or to talk with Jim Gordon regarding initiation into The Path of Sound and Light please call 512-306-1056 and speak with Laura Doggett.

ILM REGISTRATION FORM: Please check the event(s) you will attend, and if you wish to make a donation send a check (payable to ILM) along with this registration form to: Nadine Ferraro, 2703 Terrace Drive, Honolulu, HI.

H AWAII :

ILM SEMINAR and Q&A

ILM MEDITATION WORKSHOP

(Please print.)

N AME ( S ):

E MAIL :

A DDRESS & Z IP C ODE : D AYTIME P HONE :

E VENING P HONE : 5

I NNER L IGHT M INISTRIES CALENDAR PRESENTED BY LAURA KESTEN: For additional information, call Laura at 512-894-0992.

TORIES UNTOLD: Have you heard your “calling” to write? Have you answered it yet? In this S program, we attend to our own personal callings to write — to write from the heart about our life

experiences — our tragedies, our triumphs, our insights, our wisdom, our awakenings, and our opening hearts. We do this through the healing words of our own untold stories as we write them down on paper, and then share them (optional) with a loving, safe and supportive group. This is an awesome experience!

Try it for one weekend and see for yourself. No experience is necessary!

MICHIGAN: FEB 18-20, Pretty Lake, Mattawan; APR 8-10, Kellogg, Richland; JUNE 19-25, Martha’s Cottage, Saugatuck; AUG 12-14, GilChrist, Three Rivers; OCT 7-9, The Orchard, Lawrence; DEC 9-11, Pretty Lake, Mattawan $125 per weekend

TEXAS: JAN 7-9, MAR 11-13, MAY 6-8, JULY 8-10, SEPT 9-11, NOV 11-13

365 D AYS

$100 per weekend

IVING C ONSCIOUSLY : What if you had one year to live? How would you L want to live it? Might you want your yearlong journey to be about living each day mindfully, living it OF

authentically, with integrity, and might you have it to include forgiveness, acceptance, and loving. What if you could live each day this year consciously and deliberately? Throughout 2005, our LIVING CONSCIOUSLY group will meet one Sunday each month. Join us NOW! JAN 23, FEB 27, MAR 27, APR 24

2-4 pm

ILM Center, Austin, Texas

Donation

EACEMAKER: This powerful and experiential workshop offers us a grand opportunity to let go P of negative belief systems and behaviors that no longer serve us, and in doing so, to open ourselves up to

embrace a “New Mind,” thus reconnecting with our own ‘peacemaker hearts’ within. Jean Houston describes the New Mind as, “a radical change in consciousness that opens itself to a new order of health, justice, and sacred power.” Come and experience this incredibly powerful workshop. Auditing PeaceMaker is an awesome experience!

JAN 14-16

Fri. 7-11 pm, Sat. 9 am-7 pm, Sun. 9 am-3 pm

ILM Center, Austin, Texas

Donation

CIRCLE OF WOMEN: JAN 28: DRUMMING CIRCLE – We’ll meet at Laura Kesten’s Home in Dripping Springs between 6:30-7 pm.

We’ll light the fire and drum. Use our drums or bring your own. Hot cocoa, cider, tea and coffee will follow.

FEB 25: MOVIE NITE – We’ll meet at the ILM Center to watch a movie together. What movie? That’s a surprise! We’ll provide the movie treats. Just bring yourself, and a friend if you want to.

•

MAR 25: TOUCH PAINTING – This is a unique meditative technique in painting requiring no brushes, no messy fingers, and no skill, but the results are absolutely amazing! Come and be amazed yourself!

APR 15: AN EVENING OF PAMPERING – This is a great evening for unwinding. We have all sorts of pampering items from footbaths to massage. You won’t want to miss this evening!

The above events are on Fridays, 7–9 pm

ILM Center, Austin, Texas

No Charge

(Note: please be aware that new programs are often scheduled after the newsletter goes to press, and, in rare instances, published schedules may have to be altered. For current information on any event or series, please call the presenter or contact person listed with the program. Thank you.)

6

(ILM Calendar continues on next page)

I NNER L IGHT M INISTRIES CALENDAR PRESENTED BY STEVEN R. MCAFEE, MIDWEST COORDINATOR: For additional information, call Steven at 260-485-2167.

Steven offers a series of weekly ILM classes in Ft. Wayne on Tuesday UESDAY CLASS SERIES: T nights from 7-8:30 pm at Unity Christ Church. Each series focuses on a specific spiritual topic and runs from 4-6 weeks in length. Some recent topics have included: meditation, a study of first century Christianity, and mystical teachings from the kabbalah. Please call Steven for up-to-date information on the current series.

ILM

OMMUNITY NIGHT: More music nights are on the way! Bring your voice, guitar, drum, or C other musical instrument. Or just come to listen and enjoy! We’ll provide soft drinks and light munchies.

Please RSVP during the preceding week so we can plan appropriately.

JAN 12, FEB 9, MAR 9, APR 13

THE “

K

7-10 pm

Steven & Anita’s home, Ft. Wayne

No Charge

SPIRITS” STUDY GROUP:

The following programs are open only to those ALREADY enrolled in this year-long study group. If you are interested in more information about our year-long study groups, please contact Steven.

INDRED

WORKSHOPS: JAN 16, FEB 20, APR 17 RETREATS: MAR 18-20

“

2:30-5:30 pm

Fri. 7:30 pm - Sun. 2:30 pm

YWCA Villa, Ft. Wayne Yarrow Conf. Ctr, Augusta, Mich.

Donation $233/person - double or $315/person - single

A S T S ”R : Join us for a weekend of S heartwarming story-telling, uplifting live music (by some of our very own local ILM musicians!), a relaxed ONGS

ND

TORIES FOR

HE

OUL

ETREAT

time for friendly discussions, and even a few circle dances.

JAN 28-30

“ M

Fri. 7:30 pm - Sun. 2:30 pm

EDITATION

Guesthouse Hotel, Ft. Wayne

Cost: TBA

AND SILENCE” RETREAT:

We will spend the weekend in periods of silence, meditation, and group sharing. Give your mind and body a rest and let your soul soar.

FEB 25-27

Fri. 7:30 pm - Sun. 2:30 pm

Location and cost: TBA

OOD F RIDAY SERVICE: An inter-faith service, consisting of devotional music, prayers, and G meditation will be presented, inspiring the realization that the symbology of faith, endurance, and hope

represented in the Good Friday/Easter story can be applied today in our own lives. The program is still being planned as this newsletter is going to press, so please call Steven for up-to-date information.

MAR 25

Unity Christ Church

Ft. Wayne

Donation

PASSOVER DINNER:

We will be holding a Passover dinner, featuring Jim Gordon’s insightful interpretation of the Exodus story as the story of our own soul’s journey into physical embodiment and its ultimate liberation back into the heart of God. There is no fee for attending, but you MUST register

by Apr. 15 to take part in the evening, as we will need to make appropriate meal arrangements.

APR 23

6:30-9 pm

Unity Christ Church, downstairs 7

Ft. Wayne

Donation

(Steven’s Calendar continues on next page)

I NNER L IGHT M INISTRIES CALENDAR PRESENTED BY STEVEN MCAFEE: (cont’d)

For additional information, call Steven at 260-485-2167.

S : ILM Tape Seminars are being offered in the Kalamazoo area at the T home of Carolyn Dailey for the following times: THURS, DEC 1, and THURS, DEC 16 at 11 am. Tape ILM

APE

EMINARS

seminars consist of an opening prayer, a silent meditation and listening to a tape of ILM presentations over the years by Jim Gordon, Brian Yeakey and Steven McAfee.

Call Carolyn Dailey at 269-327-6851 or email: carolee12@aol.com for directions or for 2005 schedule.

S : Steven frequently serves as a guest speaker for various churches and spiritual S groups in the Fort Wayne area. If you would like him to speak to your group, please call to make UNDAY

ERVICES

arrangements. The following are presently scheduled: JAN 16, FEB 20, MAR 20, APR 17

11 am Brigade of Light

Ft. Wayne

Donation

NOW AVAILABLE:

The Staff of the Shepherd

by Jim Gordon

This is a revised and expanded edition, with additional information about Inner Light Ministries and “The Path of Sound and Light.”

“The rod and the staff were tools of the ancient shepherds, used to usher their flocks of sheep along. In its symbolic meaning, the ‘rod and staff’ refer to the many tools, or ‘instruments’, by which God ushers us, His ‘flock’, along on our journeys through life. And perhaps the most important of the ‘instruments’ by which God assists us are his many assistants, or agents, which He sends to guide, serve and protect us on our way.”

– Jim Gordon

NOW AVAILABLE ON CD

The Path Path of of Neutrality Neutrality The

by Jim Gordon Newly Mastered Excerpt from The Path of Neutrality by Jim Gordon: One way to move into the Path of Neutrality is meditation. Meditation is an opportunity to go into that centeredness and to find that divine thread inside of you of neutrality, of the oneness, of the stillness.

I began learning this when I was a child. I had a teacher come to me on the inner levels, and all he ever said to me was: “Live in the moment. Live in the now. Live in the Loving. Live in the oneness.

Live one day at a time, one breath at a time. Live in the Loving.”

And that’s all he ever said. And that’s very profound. If you can do that, you’ve got it, you’ve done it.

That’s the whole teaching right there.

Live in the now. Live in the moment. Live in the here. Live in the Loving.

To order please turn to the page 9 for further information.

8

INNER NNER LIGHT IGHT MINISTRIES INISTRIES MATERIALS ATERIALS LIST IST ON MEDITATION

AUDIO TAPES & CDS OF JIM GORDON Each tape and CD is $9.00, except for the Abundance I & II CD packet which is $15. Only the titles with the CD icon next to it are available as a CD as well. Two titles together indicate different lectures on each side.

CD/Tape

T HE S PIRITUAL P ATH M EDITATION by Jim Gordon NEW T HE H EART O F G OD M EDITATION by Brian Yeakey

CD/Tape

A S IMPLE W AY —T HE P ATH O F ILM

(2003)

T WO M EDITATIONS by Jim Gordon

U NDERSTANDING T HE ‘I NNER ’ P ATHWAY

(2003)

T HE P ATH

(2002)

Sacred Place Meditation Forgiveness Meditation

OF

S OUND

AND

L IGHT

W AKING U P I N S PIRIT

(2001)

T HREE M EDITATIONS by Jim Gordon

W HAT S EPARATES U S F ROM O UR L OVING

(2001)

Starry Sky Meditation, A Healing Meditation & Balancing The Consciousness Meditatio n

(2000)

M EDITATION A ND T HE H EALING P ROCESS

A S OUL ’ S J OURNEY

(1999)

by Brian Yeakey

F OCUSING O N C HRIST

(1999)

G UARDIAN A NGELS

(1998)

P RACTICING M EDITATION — C ONNECTING W ITH T HE D IVINE

S OUL

(1998)

by Steven McAfee

A F REQUENCY O F C HANGE F OR A N EW M ILLENNIUM

VS

E GO

(1997)

A NGELS (M ANIFESTING ) A BUNDANCE I (M ANIFESTING ) A BUNDANCE II S ENDING

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(1994)

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I NNER C OMMUNICATION C OMMUNICATOR , Y OU

(1992)

(A replacement copy will be enclosed with your order.)

S OUL C ONSCIOUSNESS and

INTO

(1991) Name:

C OMMUNION C EREMONY M EDITATIVE T ECHNIQUES C OMMUNICATION T HE L EVELS

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LOVE AND LOVING THE KNOWING OF GOD THE STAFF OF THE SHEPHERD

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B Y J IM G ORDON ($6 each)

(1994)

A URA C LEANSING W ORKSHOP A WAKENING

(1997) (1994)

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(1997)

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B EYOND WITH

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(1991) Phone: (1991)

Address:

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Amount Enclosed:

ORDERING INFORMATION:

I NNER R EVELATION and A F LOWER

FROM

H EAVEN

(1986)

Each tape and CD is $9.00, except for the Abundance I & II CD packet which is $15.

Please add $3 postage and handling per order (not per item). Checks may be made payable to INNER LIGHT MINISTRIES and sent to:

L ORD , M AKE M E W ORTHY and T HE M ASTER

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(1985)

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(1984)

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$

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INNER LIGHT MINISTRIES P.O. Box 164332 Austin, Texas 78716-4332 9

Q&A

ON MEDITATION

by Jim Gordon, President of ILM

Q:

I'm under the impression that there are three different types of karmas: karmas from past lives, fate karmas and then karmas we do now. My question is, I know that they can drop off during meditation … how actually does that work?

we are free. And I would say this: don’t be concerned about the three different kinds of karma. Karma is karma. The thing to do is to look and see, not about what the karma is, not to focus on the karma, but focus on the loving and let the loving transform it all or raise you above it so that it just drops away.

When we meditate, when we’re chanting Jim: the name of God, and we’re building the power of the name up, we are aligning ourselves to the flow of the Holy Spirit. And we are bringing ourselves into the frequency of that loving action that is the Holy Spirit. And that which we call grace is God’s loving in action through the Holy Spirit. And if we will be vulnerable to that loving action, as it comes into our consciousness, by holding our focus to that and chanting the name of God and building that power up, that power is the energy of transformation. It is the consciousness of liberation that is building within us. And any and all things that are not in harmony with that frequency begin to drop away. And those things are our karmas. The karmas are ‘in harmony’, if I can call it harmony, with our lack, with our lust, with our need and greed, with all of that which is of the material and psychic world.

But when we align ourselves to loving, the true loving that is the grace of the Holy Spirit, and begin to awaken into the divine that we are, at the seat of the soul (pointing to the ‘eye center’ between the brows) and beyond, the frequency that resides here is above all that is of the material and psychic world. And so the material and psychic world begin to drop away.

And with that, the karmas. Now we still stay in our body, we don’t leave the body. But we no longer are ‘of the world’, even though we are in the world. Then we are in the world but not of the world, and so we begin to lose the frequency of the world. We find ourselves in the world, holding in loving, and so we begin to truly clear our karmas, complete our destiny, so that when we do leave our physical body for the last time, it is the last time that we are ever in the physical creation. Then we leave ‘as soul’, we go into the realm of soul, and on up into the realms of Spirit, and

Q:

You said one time that we could affect more change in the world by doing an act of devoted meditation, in one session, than we could in an entire lifetime of doing things in the physical world. Could you elaborate on that?

When you rise up, and you truly rise up above your karma, and begin to truly walk that inner pathway of Spirit, towards your soul, and then connect with your soul, what happens is you create a pathway, and as well a vacuum if you will. You’ve risen up, and now all of creation rises up a little bit with you. And so, you automatically lift creation up, just a little bit more every time. And the more people that come up towards soul, and into soul, the more the world is lifted up. And so, you can do more in one two hour session of meditation, and waking up into the soul, and lifting humanity by you waking up that way, than you can going out into the world. You can spend ten lifetimes ‘doing good’ in the world, and still not do the same thing you could have done in two hours if those two hours are spent in true devotion, in God, with God, and waking up in Spirit. Now, the key in meditation is, don’t ‘try’, just ‘be’. It’s not even ‘do’, just ‘be’. Be in meditation. Be the meditation. Be the name of God. Be the one who’s chanting. Be. And then let it happen. And each time, each day for me it’s different.

It’s never the same. It’s never repetitive. It’s not the same today as it was yesterday. It’s not the same today as it was five years ago, and it’s ever different, ever changing, ever moving. Because I’m ever moving into higher regions, higher levels. And if I’m not moving higher, I’m going back down here to clear

Jim:

(Q&A continues on page 11) 10

Q&A

ON MEDITATION

CONTINUED

That’s the greatest service. Active meditation, saying the names of God, Jim: waking up inside, traveling into the inner regions — that’s the greatest service we will ever perform for ourselves, for our families, for our friends, and for all of creation. That’s how creation can come to rest, where the chaos doesn’t exist anymore. The law of thermodynamics is very similar to the law of karma: eventually everything will come to rest.

Everything will come to quiet. Because the chaos will end ... in a moment. So, what we want to do is to bring that chaos to an end now, by being neutral, by being quiet. And then discover what happens. We won’t know what happens until we bring that chaos to quiet inside of ourselves. We may not bring quiet to the world, but in the inner world we can. That’s where we’re responsible. We are the creator of our thoughts, of our feelings, and of how we act from those. And that all takes place from in here (pointing to the ‘eye center’ between the brows), not out here.

So if we go inside and take responsibility for our own inner creation, and bring quiet to that, neutrality to that, bring chaos to an end inside ... then what comes forward is a dynamic loving, a dynamic light and sound. And that’s where we find our peace and our joy and our loving.

(continued from page 10)

up things that are to be cleared up in my consciousness. So, it’s just to relax, and to just go with the flow. Just go where God wants to take you.

In truth, when you are in this kind of meditation with the name of God, you are in the hand of God. And God is right there. And you’re resting there. And God is just waiting for you to wake up and realize that you are in the hand of God, and God is taking you in your meditation to those places you need to be for your own awakening. We think we’re making it happen — it’s really God doing it. God is up here in our own soul, pulling us up (pointing to the ‘eye center’ between the brows): “Come on, pay attention. Wake up! Come on up here. No, I’m up here.” And it’s like a puppet on a string: every time the puppeteer pulls a string, the puppet is either looking up or standing up straight, because it’s feeling the tug. And so we want to follow that tug, and go up, and not try to figure out how to do it, just follow it. Does that make sense to you?

Q:

Very much so. The active meditation really is the greatest service?

TWO NEW CDS from JIM (These CDs will be available in February, 2005) and Meditation The Pearl of Great Price and excerpt:

The Pathway is an inner pathway. The inner kingdom is where you find "The Pearl of Great Price." And so sit down every day and give time for God. Give time with God, whatever way you choose to do that. Whatever way works for you — prayer, meditation, quiet. I found that traveling the Path of Sound and Light, getting the names of God through initiation, then singing that song of Love inside, was the way that I got there; that I am able to walk up to the 'mountain top' and stay at the mountain top longer and longer every time.

The Three Three Fold Fold Path Path The excerpt:

The Path of Sound and Light is a path of action. It’s a path of inner action ... of going inside and being active inside, and chanting the name of God inside, over, and over, and over, bringing your attention to that Seat of the Soul and drawing up the Soul quality of who you are out of matter and back up unto itself. Collecting it fully unto itself, and then in that Self waking up and knowing the Self that you are as Soul. And then in that 'awakeful state', going out the tenth door and traveling the realms of Spirit.

11

M EDITATION –

A Wonder-full EXPERIENCE

by Laura Kesten, ILM Minister

R

ight out of college, I landed a job teaching 24 kindergartners. It was the children, however, who taught me the greatest lessons that year. A little boy named Nathan brought about one such lesson.

wide, and he delightfully twittered the story of his painting.

Over the years, this experience has gone on to give me insight and direction in all areas of my life, including my spiritual practice. This story holds three key elements for me.

Upon returning from a weekly art class, Nathan happily greeted me at our classroom door holding his painting up high for me to see.

The first key element is to “give up old ways.” For many of us, to sit in meditation, keeping the body and mind still for an extended period of time, is definitely a ‘new way’ of doing. We’re accustomed to being active and industrious, and it can feel unnatural if we aren’t tasking or multi-tasking. These days, my own life is very busy, but when I sit in meditation, I have to give up old ways — the hectic lifestyle — and give my body and mind permission to be still for that duration. With time and regularity, sitting in meditation becomes a natural practice.

“Oh, my!” I said. “What pretty flowers!”

His arm thrust downward, his painting crushed against his leg, and he emphatically said, “I didn’t paint flowers; I painted a giraffe eating leaves off a tree and there’s mosquitoes flying around his head!” He then stomped off and shoved his painting under his desktop.

I was stunned. I quickly apologized and asked him to show me again. He scowled it was too late. Feeling that I had done something terribly wrong, I confided in a senior colleague of mine.

The second key element is to “see things with new eyes” ... in other words, to not interpret or judge that which we experience in meditation. Many of us fall into selfjudging whenever we aren’t getting the results that we think we ‘should’ be getting, believing we must be doing something wrong or are somehow undeserving.

Actually, each meditation ‘sitting’ is a new sitting. And whatever the experience of that sitting, it’s whatever God gives us to experience. So whether it’s sitting in darkness or traveling out of body, it’s helpful to just experience it — not judge it or oneself, nor interpret it.

Indeed, traveling out-of-body is an awesome experience, no question, but sitting in darkness is also an experience.

“Seeing with new eyes” helps me to remember that I am sitting in meditation, not to have an out-of-body experience, but to experience God.

“The gift in teaching the five-year-olds,” she said, “is that they make us give up our old ways and see things with new eyes.”

“Okay,” I said. “But exactly how does one do that?”

Her face lit up. “By not interpreting anything they do or say,” she stated simply. “Delight in watching them, listen to their words, join in their wonder, and,” she paused long enough to heighten my interest, “never assume you know what they’ve painted.”

The next week, upon returning from art class, Nathan immediately walked his painting to his desk and shoved it in. Next was show-and-tell, and Nathan came to the front of the group and shared something he’d brought from home. When he finished, I asked if he would share his painting from art class. Shyly, he shuffled to his desk, retrieved his painting and held it up for us to see.

The third key element is to “watch, ... listen, ... in wonder.” Spiritual teachers tell us to experience God in meditation by listening for the Sound Current, watching for the Light, then traveling the Sound and Light to higher realms, and, ultimately, back to the heart of God ... and to go through the meditation process in a state of wonder. Being “in wonder” is being in our (EXPERIENCE continues on page 13)

I said, “Oh, my! So many colors! It looks like you really worked hard today! Will you tell us about your picture?” Nathan’s eyes grew large, his chest opened 12

THE

MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS

by Steven McAfee, ILM Minister

prevailed and permeated all we did. There was a sense of belonging — we were “family” and family mattered.

The outward events of Christmas seemed to me a reflection of what was happening within — an attempt to convey the warmth, peace, and joy of that sacredness inside, a reminder that it was really there.

I

remember Christmas as a child — the joyful expectancy, the air of wonder, and the magic of the twinkling lights in our home and throughout our city. Something sacred always seemed to happen within me at Christmas time.

It wasn’t just the presents, the gathering of family and friends, or even the delicious holiday foods. It was an inner gratitude, an appreciation, a deep “knowing” beyond all words that love was real. The magic of that love seemed to come alive in me more during the Christmas season that at any other time. Other people experienced it too. I could see it in their eyes. But not everyone caught this spirit of Christmas. For some, Christmas was just another meaningless holiday, or one more obligation on their to-do list. That knowing of the joy of love simply wasn’t there . . . and with these people as well, their eyes gave them away. Those who experienced that inner knowing shared a kind of common bond. A look of recognition often passed between them in the stores and on the streets, as if they shared a secret that others had not yet found.

Many years have passed since then, but today I still experience these two aspects of Christmas. Countless stories have been told and re-told about the meaning and symbology of Christmas, but to me the essence remains the same. Outwardly, it is about the quality of our relationships — how we treat one another. Being kind . . . it’s as simple as that. Inwardly, it is about knowing — an inner realization that God is love and love is real. We experience that knowing in the solitude of our private prayers and meditations. And that knowing changes everything. When we actually feel the reality of that love, what we feel is holiness — something truly set apart: something so pure, so free, and so eternal that nothing in this world can compare.

This year as we take part in Christmas with those we love, let’s enjoy the magic of being together. But let us also look at Christmas within ourselves. Do we see the Light and feel its glow? Can we sense the awesome Presence? When we find that love is truly alive within us, not as a mere idea, but as a living spirit, that is when we discover the enduring value and profound meaning of Christmas — that love is far more than a noble thought, an imaginary ideal, or a passing emotion — love is real. Even more than that, love is the central reality, the very heart of life itself.

For me, this inner aspect of Christmas — even as a child — was always very personal and private. I would sometimes get up in the middle of the night and sit all alone in the dark, just watching the radiant glow of our Christmas tree lights. A profound sense of awe would come over me, welling up from within. Everything seemed right with the world, and life was good.

Although I would not have described it this way at that time, life felt holy to me in those moments. And the experience of holiness is solitary. The very word holiness means “set apart.” Holiness is something experienced from within or not at all, I believe. Even when I was celebrating or singing carols with others, a part of me was focused deep inside on a movement of Spirit, a joy beyond the physical activities we were sharing, a quiet holiness too deep to express.

by Laura Kesten

Experience (continued from page 12)

innocence, like a child, opening ourselves to new experiences — listening, watching, taking it all in, freed from interpretation or judgment. In meditation, whenever my mind begins to wander, I’ll invite myself to move into this state of wonder, which brings my attention back to a focus.

There was also an outer aspect of Christmas for me — the family gatherings. This outer part was all about relationships — celebrating, talking, playing, eating, singing — sharing and creating the stories of our lives together. Despite any differences we may have had throughout the year, at Christmas a spirit of good will

To be in such a state of being in meditation: to give up old ways, to see things with new eyes, to watch, to listen ... is absolutely wonder-full!

13

I NNER L IGHT M INISTRIES NEWSLETTER ABOUT ILM

•

Happy Holidays

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INNER LIGHT MINISTRIES (ILM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching spiritual awakening through an inner practice of meditation. This meditation practice is an inner path through which the soul transcends the physical realms of creation to its true home in the spiritual realms within the heart of God. In spiritual teachings and literature this inner path is often referred to as “The Path of Sound and Light,” “The Path of The Holy Spirit,” “The Path of Love,” or simply as “The Path” or “The Way.” ILM offers initiation into this meditation practice enabling one to fully experience this inner journey of awakening.

To provide support for those individuals interested in this path, Inner Light Ministries offers numerous publications, materials, programs, and services, which encourage devotion to God and support a life-long practice of prayer, meditation, spiritual study, and service.

ILM:

The ILM Staff wishes you God’s Abundance with grace and ease throughout the holidays and new year!

Executive Office: Jim Gordon, P.O. Box 164332, Austin, TX 78716-4332; Business Office: Tom Beaver, P.O. Box 1086, Dripping Springs, TX 78620; Midwest Office: Steven McAfee, P.O. Box 5139, Fort Wayne, IN 46895

Inner Light Ministries Editorial and Publishing Office P.O. Box 164332 Austin, Texas 78716-4332 Phone: 512-306-1056 FORWARDING SERVICE REQUESTED