INNER LIGHT MInistries Journal Volume 22 Number 3
December, 2010
The Divine Flow by Jim Gordon, President of ILM
M
(from Giving Attention To The Divine, 5/2/10)
editation is nothing more than waking up to the truth of who we are, and if done correctly, is simple. God is simple. Loving is simple. And waking up to the truth of that simplicity is simple. We must begin by sitting down, by letting go of those things that stir within us, that distract us down into the world. We must hold our focus at the Seat of the Soul, hold our attention on the Sacred Name, and begin to move inward and upward above the mind, above all the elements of this creation. The challenge is that the mind doesn’t understand simplicity and it is ever tugging at us, ever wanting us to participate in the world. When we first begin to meditate we may find that it is difficult to let go of the body, the emotions, the mind – they are strong at this level of the physical, and the soul is weak. But if we meditate consistently, hold our attention at the Seat of the Soul and focus on loving God – you, the soul, the living loving essence, will begin to take dominion over the physical consciousness; and eventually the soul will become stronger than the physical. In order to truly share Loving with God we have to be open to share that Loving. We can’t have barriers or be in separation. We have to move to that place of centeredness, of strength, to where the Loving resides within us. In that same action of opening, we also allow ourselves to receive – as we give, so shall we receive. Every meditation is just that – if we focus first on God, first on loving God, we then become open and ready to receive God’s Loving. If we are meditating regularly, we will find that we are living in this river of Loving – where we are living in the continual flow of giving and receiving of God’s Loving. Remember, the soul is of God and is God’s essence. And so this continual flow of giving and receiving is just God loving God … loving God … loving God … loving God …loving God … until finally we don’t even know if we are the one giving or receiving in the moment. All we know is that we are in
the Loving and in the movement of the Divine flow. Once we begin experiencing this Divine flow in our meditation, then we can then truly live the Loving in our daily lives; we can take the Loving and God and awareness into every part of our lives to where we live as a living prayer, as a living meditation. We live it fully, and we become the living, loving essence of the Lord that we are. And yes, the mind is going to tell us that there are things we have to fulfill and accomplish in the world. When we begin to live more in the centeredness of the truth of who we are, of where the stillness resides, we will find that we can be very participatory in the world, successful and creative in the world, but not be caught up in the winds of the world. First, we begin to wake up to our Loving, and then we can go out in the world and do good works, do good deeds, participate in actions of service, and truly do what God intended – to be in the world but not of the world. Jesus said that over two thousand years ago now. Don’t be going out into the world looking for the answer, the solution. There’s nobody, nobody, nobody in this world who knows the answer to what we are asking, to what we are needing, to what we are longing for better than we, ourselves, do. And where does that answer lie? It lives within us. It doesn’t live within our gut, nor in our physical heart, and it doesn’t live in our mind; the answer lies within our own soul. Only our soul knows the truth of who we are. We begin with a simple action of sitting down, closing our eyes, going inside and holding our attention upon the Lord – God first and God only, and waking up inside first. We sit and chant inside the Name of God over and over, ever holding our focus inward and upward, ever sharing our Loving. And then, somewhere in our meditation, we’re going to find a moment when things become still, things become quiet, and we’ll open to receive God’s Loving.
Creativity Of The Soul
A
by Brian Yeakey, Vice President of ILM
and then, the karma is cleared, lesson is learned. That experience of the soul’s creativity is complete. So now what? Well, now we’re on to another creation. We create something new, and then we create something new. But the problem is that all of us have become so busy with multi-tasking that we’ve become scattered, overwhelmed, and we’re challenged to keep up with all of our creations. Because we have so many lessons going on at one time, we’re getting distracted, and are finding it hard to learn even one lesson. And then we’re not completing anything. So we try to simplify, let go of things, do less, attempting to make it easier to focus on one thing at a time or only a few things so that we can get something done, so that we can learn a lesson. This part of the journey in this world is an outer reflection of something we are doing within ourselves. A part of us knows that in order to wake up to the greater divinity, we need to have a greater focus so that we learn the lessons, so that we can take responsibility for our creations, bring them to completion, and get freedom from our karma.
(from Fulfilling Your Creativity, 7/18/10)
lot of us focus on expressing and developing our creativity. But what is that inner movement, that part of us that needs to create, or needs to always be doing something? It’s not only because being creative and expressing ourselves makes us feel better; it’s also because, in those actions of creating, we are allowing ourselves to let go of the blocks and resistances that we place against the soul’s natural expression of creativity and loving. It’s that simple. In meditation, we give attention to that inner dynamic creative loving force that all creation comes from. We open our awareness, our knowing, into that truth of who we are; the more we do our meditation, the greater the opportunity for the loving expression and creativity to show up on every realm of creation. When we open the doors to Spirit, Spirit will live and express throughout all these different levels within our consciousness; hence, greater creativity, greater understanding, and greater knowing.
At some point in every soul’s journey, there’s going to be that turning point where we begin to look away from the creation of down and out, away from the physical manifestation of our creativity, and now begin to bring that creative expression of Loving out of the world, out of our creations, and now back into Spirit. Through meditation, we now go inward and upward to the Seat of the Soul, above the material physical expression and upwards towards Spirit, toward God, toward the Divine. In order to live this pathway of bringing our soul Home to God we must begin to direct our loving towards God rather than into the world. There’s no greater creative action than loving God.
Often, when we begin a journey of spiritual awakening and begin to tap into that energy, we’ll suddenly find greater spurts of creativity, the “light bulb goes off more often,” we have bigger life changes. We’ll often think that it’s some other source, maybe something outside of ourselves, or it’s our high self, or our subconscious self, rather than claiming that it’s who we truly are, the divine of who we are.
So before starting the next creative project in the world, consider your next project to be meditation. Begin to create the greater expression of Loving with God, and find your greater freedom beyond the karmas you’ve created in this world. The fulfillment you get from doing worldly projects is short lived, and then you’re out searching for the next project. The fulfillment from meditation is one that keeps going; it never ends. If you are finding it hard to make the time to do the meditation, simply let go of some of the projects you’ve created in this physical world.
The creativity of the soul is giving life and expression to the mind, the emotions, the imagination, and the body. We have experience on these levels so that we, the soul, another part of God, come to know God in a greater fullness. The soul’s awakening of that experience is to awaken to our own divinity and all of God’s creation, including time and space where we find ourselves presently, as well as other creations. It’s all a wonderful divine journey of experience. We’re responsible for that which we create; in taking the creation to its fulfillment, we have the experience, awaken to the knowing and understanding of the creation,
(This talk is from the new CD, Living Your Loving, Fulfilling Your Creativity. See pages 10 & 11.) 2
I nner L ight M inistries
Calendar
Classes & Programs: Winter – Spring ‘11 Presented by Jim Gordon and Brian Yeakey in Austin, Texas:
W
eekly
For additional information, call 512-306-1056.
Classes:
Jim and Brian’s weekly class is held on Sundays, 3-5 pm at the ILM Center, Franklin Sq. Bldg, 3724 Jefferson, Ste. 100. Weekly classes include spiritual teachings, Q&A, and meditation. Jim and Brian assist participants to become more deeply aware of the Spirit within. No charge.
•
Upcoming Events in Austin:
ILM Community Movie & Potluck Nights:
•
Join the ILM community at Laura Kesten’s new home on the 1st Saturday of every month for fun, laughter, great chow, and an uplifting movie. If you have a favorite movie that speaks to you, we’ll add it to our list. Come early (5-5:30 pm). Bring a dish if you want to add to the potluck. Movie starts between 7-7:30 pm. Everyone is welcome. 13210 Calf Roping Trail, Austin Park on the street or at the pool/park and walk a short block
DEC 4, JAN 1, FEB 5, MARCH 5, APRIL 9 (2nd Sat.) For additional information, call Laura Kesten at 512-323-2058 or 512-658-4117, or e-mail: laurakesten@aol.com.
C°c Christmas Potluck Party: Join us for ILM’s Christmas celebration on Saturday, DEC 11
The celebration
•
begins at 4 pm at 203 Buckeye Trail in Austin, Texas. Everyone is welcome! It’s a potluck so bring a dish to share. 3
(ILM Calendar continues on pages 4-9)
•
Experiencing The Divine –
A Meditative Workshop
facilitated by Jim
Gordon and Brian Yeakey
2011
In the following meditative workshops and retreats, Jim and Brian will be taking
you on an experiential journey into the greater knowing of your Divine Nature. They will be sharing about the meditation practice of The Path of Sound and Light to “experience the Divine.”
in Austin: April at the ILM Center, 3724 Jefferson St., Suite 100: Friday, 6:15-10 pm* Saturday, 9 am-6 pm* (lunch on your own) Sunday, 9 am-1:30 pm.*
1-3
(See Weekend format below)
For more information contact: Laura Doggett at 512-306-1056 or e-mail Laura at ilmadmin@ilm.org.
in Fort Wayne: Choose one of two weekend workshops at the ILM Midwest Center, 220 Insurance Ave., Suite F:
ILM Center and ILM Midwest Center: No charge – donations are accepted.
Weekends: #1 May 20-22 or #2 May 27-29
Time of Events for each weekend:
Friday: Arrival/Check-in 6:15-6:45 pm & Intro and Sharing 7-10 pm* Saturday: Meditation 9 am-12 noon, and Teaching/Q&A from 2-6 pm* Sunday: Meditation and Sharing 9 am-1:30 pm* To register for one of these weekends please contact: Steven McAfee at 260-485-2167 or by e-mail at mcafeesa@aol.com. * Ending times are approximate. 44
Experiencing The Divine –
A Meditative Retreat 2011
in Hawaii: at Saint Anthony’s Retreat Center Honolulu, Hawaii: on Wednesday, July 13 at 6 pm* thru Sunday, July 17 at 1:30 pm.*
St. Anthony’s Cost:
Double Occupancy (per person) - $350
For more information contact: Laura Doggett at 512-306-1056 or e-mail Laura at ilmadmin@ilm.org.
in England: at Earnley Concourse, Earnley, Chichester West Sussex: on Wednesday, October 12 at 6 pm* thru Sunday, October 16 at 2 pm.* Earnley Concourse Cost:
For more information contact: Susanne Cook at 01444 870838 or Lynn Johnson at 01903 765928.
Single Occupancy - £370 To register contact: Double Occupancy of twin-bedded room Laura Doggett at 512-306-1056 or (per person) - £335 e-mail Laura at ilmadmin@ilm.org. * Ending times are approximate. 5
in Michigan and in Indiana
ILM presents:
Kalamazoo:
Saturday, May 14, 2011 Open Meeting with
Jim and Brian
Time of Event: 1:30-6 pm* Where: Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts
Tuesday, May 17 Tuesday Study Group Potluck & Sharing
with Jim
Gordon and Brian Yeakey
Time of Event: 5:30-8:30 pm* Where: 4715 Thistle Mill Court, Kalamazoo For further information, please contact Penny Miller at 269-664-3577 or by e-mail at pmiller@mei.net.
Fort Wayne:
Tuesdays, May 24 & 31
Tuesday Classes with Jim and Brian Time of Event: 7-9:30 pm*
at at ILM Midwest idwest Center enter, 220 Insurance nsurance Drive rive,
Suite uite F, Ft t. Wayne ayne Donation onation
Monday, May 30
Memorial Day Cookout at Kathy Stark’s Time of Event: 12-5 pm For further information please contact Steven McAfee at 260-485-2167 or by e-mail at mcafeesa@aol.com. * These ending times are approximate. 6
I nner L ight M inistries Calendar Presented by Steven McAfee, Midwest Coordinator:
For additional information, call Steven at 260-485-2167 or by e-mail at mcafeesa@aol.com.
T
uesday Class Series: Steven offers classes in Fort Wayne on Tuesday nights from 7-8:30 pm at the ILM Midwest Center. Part of each class is devoted to meditation and the rest of the class is a combination of ILM teachings and group discussion. The focus is upon our inner awakening to divine Loving.
V
S pecial ideo Conferences : Live from Austin! Special live video presentations by Jim and Brian via the magic of technology!
DEC 14 & APR 12 FEB 5
7-9:30 pm 3-5:30 pm
ILM Midwest Center ILM Midwest Center
Donation Donation
C
ILM ommunity Nights: More fun community nights are on their way! Please RSVP the week before so we can plan appropriately.
Dec. 7 6:30 pm CFK Gift-Wrapping Night DEC 22 7 pm Festival of Light ILM Christmas Party FEB 13 1 pm Potluck APR 2 7 pm Coffee House Night
ILM Midwest Center ILM Midwest Center ILM Midwest Center ILM Midwest Center
No charge No charge No charge No charge
hild At Heart: These programs are opportunities for children and the people who love them to C come participate in fun activities together in ILM. Materials will be provided. JAN 8 FEB 6 APR 23
3-4 pm Light A Single Candle (candle making) 3-4 pm Be My Valentine (valentine creation) 3-4 pm EGG-stravaganza (egg dyeing)
ILM Midwest Center ILM Midwest Center ILM Midwest Center
No charge No charge No charge
ntro To ILM: This program is to inform those who have more recently become involved with ILM, I and to provide greater clarity about the Path of Sound and Light to those considering initiation.
FEB 13, APR 2
ILM Midwest Center
2-3:30 pm
W
eekend
No charge
Programs:
The Spiritual Path in Ancient Texts: This series is devoted to the discovery of inner spiritual teachings that are revealed, yet hidden, within the sacred texts of a variety of traditions. Steven will be highlighting sacred literature references to the Path of Sound and Light and the “Unspoken Name of God.” MAR 26 MAR 27
12:30 potluck / 2-5 program 4715 Thistle Mill Court, Kalamazoo, Mich 2-4 Mother’s Trust Ganges, Mich
Donation Donation
Walking the Path: We have re-structured and expanded the Walking The Path series into a year-long program for 2011. This program is intended to support initiates in their spiritual journey, yet will also provide inspiration and information for anyone seeking to make a deeper spiritual commitment in their lives. DEC 5 1 pm potluck / 2-3 pm Introductory Meeting JAN 9, FEB 5, MAR 6, APR 3 2-4:30 pm Monthly Meetings
ILM Midwest Center ILM Midwest Center
No charge No charge
S
ervices: Steven occasionally serves as a guest speaker for various churches and spiritual unday S groups in the Midwest. The following is presently scheduled: Feb 6 & Apr 24 (Easter)
11 am
Service
Brigade of Light, Fort Wayne
Donation
7 (ILM Worldwide Calendar begins on next page)
I nner L ight M inistries Calendar Community ILM Meetings
•
Kalamazoo:
and
Events Worldwide:
Call Judy Richards at 269-349-3943 or e-mail jg.richards@charter.net.
G : These groups supports our spiritual growth with a short meditation and the study of S ILM books, CD’s or tapes. Come join us for an enriching experience of growing in our loving. tudy
roups
Tuesdays: JAN 11, FEB 8, MAR 8, APR 12 5-7 pm Judy Richards, 4715 Thistle Mill Ct., Kalamazoo No charge Wednesday: APR 27
1-3 pm
Carolyn Dailey, 2485 Brahms Ave., Portage
No charge
N M
Fun, enjoyable evenings with ILM friends, watching favorite movies having a spiritual
JAN 25, MAR 22
5:45-8 pm
ovie
ight:
message. Welcome all – yourself, friends and family members!
•
Chicago:
M
eeting:
No charge
Call Loretta Lassandro at 708-481-7751 or e-mail lassandro6@aol.com.
Join us for meditation. Call in advance so adequate space can be prepared for all participants.
3rd Sunday
•
Judy Richards (see her address above)
3:30-4:30 pm
Dallas:
125 Warwick Street in Park Forest
No charge
Call Jason Baker at 972-571-8511 for dates, times and directions.
: Each meeting will consist of a short meditation and the listening to a class CD by Jim and M Brian. If interested please check with Jason for the most current date, time and location. eeting
•
Colorado Springs:
M
eeting:
Connect with community and listen to Jim and Brian’s weekly meditation and talks.
2nd Sunday
•
Call Teri Sandler at 719-359-9951 (home) or 719-661-0817 (cell).
2 pm
Los Angeles:
(call for location)
No charge
Call Victoria Eng at 310-980-2224 to RSVP and get directions.
: The focus of each evening is on spiritual awakening and connecting to the Loving through M listening to an ILM meditation and talk by Jim and Brian. These meetings will be held every other eeting
Wednesday at Victoria and Willard Eng’s home in Beverlywood. Call for dates
•
6 pm
London, England:
Beverlywood, Los Angeles
No charge
Call Nanna Brincker at 0207-485-0699 for directions.
: Join us for a short meditation and talk by Jim and Brian and share your favorite spiritual M poetry, music and readings. Our ILM meetings are at 42A Montpelier Grove, London NW5, and start eeting
at 4 pm. Sundays
Dec 12, JAN 9 & 30, FEB 20, MAR 13, APR 3
No charge
8 (ILM Worldwide Calendar continues on next page)
I nner L Light M inistries Calendar Community ILM Meetings
•
(continued):
1. Call Nadine Ferraro at 808-988-7509, or 551-3123 (cell) for directions. eeting: Share in a one-hour meditation and fellowship opportunity.
M
6-7:30 pm
Manoa Valley, Honolulu
No charge
2. Call Mig Gaspar at 808-638-8153 for information and directions. eeting: Listen to Jim and Brian’s weekly meditations and talks.
M
Tuesdays
Events Worldwide
Hawaii: Call the contact person for the following events.
Mondays
and
M
7 pm
North Shore of Oahu
No charge
3. Call Brian Samo Ross at 808-247-3305 or 554-3305 (cell) for directions.
eeting:
Listen to Jim and Brian’s meditations and talks followed by a potluck.
2nd Sunday
10 am
Kaneohe, Oahu
No charge
ive one day at a time, one breath at a time. L Live in the now.
Live in the Loving.
– Jim Gordon
Welcome to Inner Light Ministries Introductory Packet
In this packet you will find ILM’s book Love and Loving,
the CD: An Introduction To ILM, the CD: Understanding The ‘Inner’ Pathway, the CD: Lotus Meditation, ILM’s brochure: Inner Light Ministries Guidelines For Initiation And Initiates, and a copy of our latest newsletter.
All of these materials have been selected to give a newcomer a better understanding of who we are and what we’re about. If you would like an Introductory Packet for yourself or someone else, just let us know. Call us, email us, or write us! Feel free to take a look at our website too: www.ilm.org (for more information see page 10). We are happy to do what we can to assist you on your spiritual journey. Blessings of Peace, Joy and Loving To You! Jim Gordon, Brian Yeakey, and The ILM Staff 9
Recent Talk Available:
Living Your Loving, Fulfilling Your Creativity Excerpt:
A
t some point in every soul’s journey, there’s going to be that turning point where we begin to look away from the creation of down and out, away from the physical manifestation of our creativity, and now begin to bring that creative expression of Loving out of the world, out of our creations, and now back into Spirit. Through meditation, we now go inward and upward to the Seat of the Soul, above the material physical expression and upwards towards Spirit, toward God, toward the Divine. In order to live this pathway of bringing our soul Home to God we must begin to direct our loving towards God rather than into the world. There’s no greater creative action than loving God. – Brian Yeakey For information about ordering CDs and books see the following page. ,
ILM.org — the Inner Light Ministries Website Watch for Updates to the ILM eStore The ILM.org eStore is being updated. The new store will include downloadable audio files for the ILM CD products. The files will be available in formats for both PC and Mac users.
• Jim & Brian’s weekly talks – listen on-line or download to your computer or MP3 Over 100 recordings of weekly talks available • ILM Journals – the most recent issue as well as archives • Calendar of Events – find out what’s going on by geographic location or by minister • Order CDs – you can get any and all of ILM’s CDs online • Open-ended Meditations – you can listen to or download edited meditations that allow you to continue meditating for as long as you desire • “Initiates Only” section – find out about Initiates events and listen to talks for Initiates From an Initiates Meeting: “As Initiates, you really do have a direct line to God.” – Brian Yeakey
Updated Initiate’s Handbook I
nitiates, remember to check out the recently updated version of the Initiate’s Handbook that has just been added to the Initiate’s Only section of the website. Whether you are newly initiated or a long-time initiate, this most current version of the Handbook contains information that will be of special significance to you on your daily walk on the Path. Check out our recently updated http://www.ILM.org today! 10
Inner Light Ministries
Only the titles with the circle icon next to it are available as a CD. The rest are tapes. Two titles together indicate ath f ound nd ight different lectures within a CD package or on the tape. To order please place a check mark (or a “2” if you want 2 of any title) in the circle icon (CD) or square icon (Tape) in front of your choice(s) below.
AP
O S
A
L
You can also place an order at ILM’s website, www.ILM.org.
ILM Audio CDs & Tapes
CD/Tape
Living Your Loving, Fulfilling Your Creativity My Journey Of Becoming A Spiritual Teacher Fulfillment Of The Soul An Introduction To ILM* The Action Of Initiation and The Power Of The Name Discipleship* Simplicity and Journaling* The Action Of Giving And Receiving* Enter Into The Journey Of Loving* The Pathway As A Classroom* Returning Back Into Spirit* Loving Who You Are* To Be Or Not To Be* The Living Loving Essence* The Tenth Door* Becoming Soul Liberated* ILM’s Toolbox: LAF* Wake Up, Wake Up!* The Three Fold Path* The Pearl Of Great Price* A Simple Way — The Path Of ILM Understanding The ‘Inner’ Pathway The Path Of Sound And Light Waking Up In Spirit What Separates Us From Our Loving A Frequency Of Change For A New Millennium A Soul’s Journey
Focusing On Christ Guardian Angels Soul vs Ego Angels (Manifesting) Abundance I } CD Set (Manifesting) Abundance II Sending The Light Awakening To Your Inner Light and Calling In The Light Keys to Inner Communication You as a Communicator, You as a Creator and A Meditation Moving Into Soul Consciousness and Communion Ceremony Meditative Techniques Communication Through Dreams The Levels To Soul And Beyond Our Right Relationship With God Songs Of Praise To God and A New Understanding Of Relationships The Path Of Neutrality Understanding Christ Consciousness Inner Revelation and A Flower From Heaven Lord, Make Me Worthy and The Master In Your Heart From Here To Eternity and Responsibility
(2010) (2009) (2007) (2009) (2008) (2006) (2005) (2007) (2006) (2006) (2006) (2006) (2006) (2005) (2005) (2005) (1999) (2005) (2003) (2003) (2003) (2003) (2002) (2001) (2001) (2000) (1999)
(1994) (1992) (1992) (1991) (1991) (1991) (1991) (1991) (1990) (1990) (1987) (1986) (1985) (1984)
Order Information & Postage Payment
* This CD set includes a Meditation and Talk.
CD/Tape
(1999) (1998) (1998) (1997) (1997) (1997) (1994)
Two Meditations by Jim Gordon
Since ILM is a spiritual pathway that is here to assist each person on their journey, our products are all available free of charge. You are welcome to order as many of the titles as you wish with the understanding that we will send you up to two of each item per order. There is a charge of $1.00 per item to cover shipping costs. In addition, donations towards replenishing the CDs and books are gratefully accepted. Checks may be made payable to Inner Light Ministries and sent to: Inner Light Ministries, PO Box 164332, Austin, Texas 78716.
Three Meditations by Jim Gordon
(If using a credit card, write the name, address, phone number that corresponds to the card)
CDs & Tapes On Meditation Lotus Meditation by Jim Gordon
{ The Spiritual Path Meditation by Jim Gordon The Heart Of God Meditation by Brian Yeakey
Name: Street Address: City & State: Daytime Phone: (
Meditation And The Healing Process by Brian Yeakey Practicing Meditation – Connecting With The Divine by Steven McAfee
ILM Books
Check or money order enclosed Charge my: Visa MasterCard American Express
By Jim Gordon
Love and Loving
(Revised)
Card Number: Expiration Date:
The Knowing of God The Staff of the Shepherd
)
Signature
(Revised)
Total Amount:
11
©
$
Inner Light Ministries, A Path Of Sound And Light
Q& A with Jim
Q:
(from Experiencing the Divine Meditative Retreat, 5/07/08)
I’m a little confused. You were talking about focusing on the Loving and just “plowing through” but then later on you said something about learning all our lessons. How do we know which to do?
our movement forward. We can stand free and live in the present moment if we will do the inner work, which includes concentration.
A: (Jim) When we are in the motion of concentration
In contemplation, we want to contemplate the Loving, merge into the frequency, and become the Loving, so now we’re not just standing behind the plow watching it plow the way, we are, instead, the Loving which is opening the way.
and, in a sense, plowing through the frequencies of these creations to go higher, we can actually move through things that we’re done with but we haven’t let go of yet. For example, we may have forgiven somebody or forgiven ourselves about a situation ten years ago but still keep reminiscing about it even though it’s done – by doing this energy of concentration, it truly can go into the past; it can just drop away, and we won’t find it hanging around us anymore. But if there is a real lesson for us to learn, the plow will either stop or it will continue to move with us; then we know that this is still something for us to learn and experience, and to not avoid.
Q: That’s contemplation – you become it? A:
Q:
Can you talk about contemplation because as I understand it, in concentration you are focusing on the tenth door and that’s plowing aside stuff but how does contemplation work in terms of meditation?
A:
Concentration is a way to move through the lower realms in a simple motion without a lot of struggle. We may find that there are certain unlearned lessons, judgments, fears, and other blocks in the road that will distract us in our movement inward and upward. With the action of concentration, or holding our attention on one thing, we will find that this action can carry our consciousness upward, and we’ll find that we can move through these blocks. If we hold our focus on Loving, what we ultimately want to do then is become the Loving. We may also find that we have moved through lessons or completed something at a certain level but have not let go of the old pattern or belief that is associated with the lesson. Through concentration on the Hu or Ani-hu, we can build a frequency of Loving inside that will lift us upward and will also lift all the things that might still be hanging around or that we will not let go of even though we have completed them. There is no need to have the past hanging around distracting us or blocking us from 12
Right. You become it. Ancient practices would teach concentration and contemplation by sitting in front of a tree and concentrating all of our awareness on the tree until we became the tree, and when we went back to our spiritual teacher we’d tell him the truth of the life of that tree. The teacher would then give the next lesson to learn. There are practices today that teach the student to become one with the flame, one with a flower, one with an animal. And that’s a part of contemplation where we merge into or become one with. But, if we go to the Seat of the Soul and wake up to God first, then we are one with all because it’s all God. Through concentration and contemplation we’ll begin to wake up into the qualities we are holding our attention on, so we’ll wake up into Loving, we’ll wake up into forgiveness, we’ll wake up into whatever it is that we are contemplating.
Q:
If we concentrate on the tenth door, will that take us to a place of contemplating the Loving the acceptance, the forgiveness?
A:
Right. The action of meditation is the key to what we do on the Path of Sound and Light and for the salvation of the soul. To understand meditation and to truly practice meditation in its fullest way, we also must understand and know how to move into concentration and contemplation because those are the doorways and the steps up to the true action of meditation. Meditation is about being able to focus all of our attention, all of our awareness, to a one-pointed focus, to hold it there in a place of concentration and contemplation, and merge into true experience of meditation.
Q& A
with
Q:
Brian
(from Experiencing the Divine Meditative Retreat, 5/07/08)
Sometimes when I do my meditation I’m not really present. Could you speak more to that?
stay focused on God. Got that Mind?” Now, I’m in resistance. What do I do? I say, “Alright. I hear you, mind, going on and on, and I’m just going to love you.” I bring the Loving into the process instead of resisting it, or making it wrong, or judging it, or fighting with it inside of me. I just begin to love it. And that’s when I see the resistance, the struggle, the judgments, begin to drop away.
A: (Brian) Well, that’s always the name of the game
because, really, a lot of the experience or process of meditation is staying present, staying focused, being in the here and the now, being attentive. It’s about staying conscious of what’s going on. Just as Rumi said, “Wake up, wake up, and don’t go back to sleep.” And so in waking up, we are consciously aware of the actions we are taking and of what we are experiencing. The action of sharing our loving with God and what we experience is more about receiving God’s Loving. And really, all we have to do is stay focused on that movement of consciousness within us.
A few months ago, I was fighting with the mind and finally I said, “You win! We’re going to spend the whole 2 ½ hours just doing your process.” And I did. I did 2 hours of my meditation time just participating with the mind – I didn’t judge it or make it wrong. I didn’t even say, ‘I love you.’ I just let the mind run and run and run and, after 2 hours, the mind finally came quiet on its own. What I was really doing in letting the mind run was accepting it, and in that acceptance I gave it the freedom to do what it does until it ran itself out, until it became quiet. And then, all of a sudden, there I was, right there in Spirit.
Part of the learning in meditation is that we’re going to become more aware and awake not only to that movement of Spirit but also to everything else – the imagination, the emotions, the mind, the body, the unconscious; and on this level, these things have predominance – that’s why meditation is so challenging. Meditation is super simple but it’s challenging because of those other levels of consciousness. So, in a sense, if we start to go unconscious, if our minds are wandering off somewhere else, or are habitually just saying the Name of God, part of the process of paying attention is to discover where we are wandering.
So, I’ve learned to play with these things. Whatever makes it easier, but we have to be careful too because there are other times when I’ve said, “Ok, mind, go and run,” and then it does run but it doesn’t stop. Over time, when we start to have that greater awareness of our own self and our own patterns of how things work inside of us, we’ll become sensitive to the quality of energy present, or call it intuition or true knowing of your experience. So when the mind runs a certain pattern, we’ll begin to know when to let the mind run or when to try something else.
When I find myself wandering, I simply begin to bring the loving with me. That’s another way I play with it. We often talk about letting go of everything and just staying focused on loving God – well, that’s what we attempt to do, but there are times when it just doesn’t happen, does it? What happens when we try to let go of all the distractions? Don’t we end up focusing on them more? And then we enter a battle, a struggle inside of trying to stop our mind from being distracted so that we can now focus on God? We say, “Let me free myself of all my thoughts so that I can be present with God.” Well, then we’re focused on our thoughts, on trying to get rid of them, and on calming the mind. It just doesn’t work that way. The mind becomes calm when we focus on God and on the Loving. Sometimes, I will even struggle with that too. Gritting my teeth I say, “I’m going to
Ultimately, bringing the Loving into our daily meditation is key to staying focused and quieting the mind.
I n that phrase, “Peace be still and know that I Am,” there’s a roadmap right there; to move to that place of peace where we’ll begin to wake up to know the “I Am” – that greater truth of the Divine of who we are. – Brian Yeakey 13
Untangling The Web We Weave
M
by Laura Kesten, ILM Minister
noise, from busying myself.
y life has changed so much in the past two years that I’d been praying for it to slow down for a bit. But when it did, I came crashing into the impact of those changes … and I didn’t like that either. That’s when I started to find my old ways of coping – upping my sugar intake, watching junky tv, staying up too late. I started to feel sad and scared. I’d feel fear all around me. I’d worry about things I should’ve done, things I hadn’t done. I’d feel myself disconnect with others, with myself, with God. I’d be in this whirlwind of just trying to get away from my self, my thoughts, my feelings. Sometimes, I just wanted my old life back. Sometimes, I’d find things in the world to distract me, but ultimately, the time would come again when everything would come to a screaming halt. And the cycle would begin again.
Last night was a turning point for me in this worldly cycle. I woke in the middle of the night and couldn’t go back to sleep. I peered into the darkness and didn’t know what to do. I was stuck with myself. I didn’t want to put on the tv. I didn’t want to read. I didn’t want to eat anything. So, I just lay in bed going over my options again. I then turned my attention to God and said, “Ok, I can’t do this anymore. I’ve made a mess of things.” I laid the mess at God’s feet. “Here, take it,” I said sheepishly. And as I do, my gaze goes straight up. I grab my journal that I keep by my bedside and begin to write this article. When I felt finished, I closed my journal, shut out the light, and snuggled into my pillows. I began to chant the Name of God and focus on the one and only way that will truly give me peace, give me quiet, fulfill me right now. I don’t have to make deals with myself to stop eating sugar, to go to bed earlier, to watch less tv … or anything. All that will shift on its own once my focus is on Spirit again.
I’d imagine God falling asleep waiting for me to wake up. Of course, this makes me laugh. But then I’d start thinking about what other sugar thing I might have stashed somewhere in my kitchen.
When I awoke this morning, I smiled remembering how I had put God first in my life again. But then, in the next breath, I started to worry about something I had no control but carried a huge judgment on myself thinking “if only I had done something else.” I opened my journal to something I had written just a few days before after an amazing dream I had with forgiveness.
“Oh what a tangled web we weave.” (1771-1832 Sir Walter Scott) I’ve weaved this chaos inside of me so many times, catching all the worldly – physical, mental and emotional, distractions in my web. “The only way out is in.” How many times have Jim and Brian said this? Of course, I’d nod in agreement, but then, when I’d start to spiral, I’d forget. Then I do the “beat me up” thing – “I’ve been on the Path long enough to know better.” Blah … blah, blah ... blah … blah.
Forgiveness is an inner journey of sifting through the rubble; it is not a mental exercise. It is the courage to bring the loving to a place where it has not been, and to stand strong in its loving embrace long enough that that memory begins to change into something greater, into its truth, and you see your own strength and the lesson God has set forth for you.
The mind is all blah, blah, blah, blah. It just goes on and on, loving to hear itself ramble worldly nonsense, loving to catch the soul, trap it, and feed it junk.
When we are in fear mode, then we get fear; if we worry, then we cannot be trusting Spirit. When we choose God, we reap the benefits Spirit has to offer. Our lives may still be rocky in places but by choosing God first and God only, we will be more peaceful inside which will help us get through those difficult times.
“The only way out is in.” Yes! I know! And yet, I turned away again and try different sugar cubes to escape … until finally, I’m exhausted. My body ached from sugar abuse, from the mental “beat up,” from trying to make 14
Coming In & Going Out
O
by Steven McAfee, ILM Minister that is accompanying the preparations for our coming grandchild. Coming in and going out – all movements of Loving.
ur daughter and son-in-law are expecting their first baby. There is a tremendous exhilaration and anticipation at the moment. A new life is coming into their world. Their life is now filled with the activity of preparation and the joys the coming days will bring. There are family and friends to be notified and updated with progress reports. There are medical check-ups, childbirth classes, picking out baby clothes and toys, and decorating the baby’s room. They will make certain that the birthing room is both supportive and welcoming for the mother and child; a sacred place will be held for the new baby’s arrival.
We all come into this life through birth and we will all go out through death. Both transitions make a tremendous impact on us. Both remain a mystery to us. The mind simply cannot comprehend the vastness of it all. Only the soul knows the true secret of life. The way we come to know that “secret” on this Path of Sound and Light is through the practice of dying every day; each time we meditate, we withdraw the consciousness from the physical body. We attune our conscious awareness to the higher, subtler vibrations of soul, beyond those of body, emotions, and mind. For the soul longing to return to its eternal home in God, death is the moment of release and fulfillment. The soul experiences joy unparalleled, freed from all the burdens, pains, limitations, and sorrows of earthly life.
Birth is a momentous event, not only for the parents, but for the incoming soul as well. Just as the parents are busy preparing, the incoming soul is preparing to enter into its new life in this world. It is getting ready for the lessons, challenges, and opportunities it seeks to fulfill and complete its spiritual journey. It is making a transition from its current state to entering into a human body and taking up life in this physical world. As parents and baby all prepare for the event, the spirit of loving is at the center of it all.
If we can assist the soul in its liberation by providing a loving, quiet space in the dying process, would it not be wise to do so for ourselves each day? Do we make a time where we will not permit ourselves to be disturbed by the world – a time when we do not accept visitors or respond to phone calls? Do we listen to songs that uplift us, read literature that inspires us to turn within? Do we create a quiet, sacred place in our selves for our spiritual devotion? Do we take the time to sit in meditation, and allow God’s Loving to gently withdraw our attention away from the outer, lifting us into Spirit?
Death is the reverse of birth; it is the time the soul is exiting its human body. The dying process, like the birthing process, is also a sacred time. It, too, needs a sacred space. Recently, amidst the happy expectations in our family, a dear friend of ours died. Everyone involved in her passing has been deeply touched by how her partner and daughter created and maintained a loving, sacred space. Together they gave her a most precious gift of unconditional love. They arranged with the hospice nurse to keep her pain-free. They asked friends not to stop by and not call to see how things were going, but to simply hold them all in the Loving. Everything was oriented to making her transition as conscious and comfortable as possible. She was sung to, read to, sat with, meditated with, held, and released. It was inspiring to witness the blessing of someone so lovingly cared for and supported at the time of death. At the center of it all, I felt that same spirit of loving
The things we busy ourselves with in our daily life lose their significance in the face of impending death. Our attention may turn to what is truly important, to what is real and everlasting, instead of that which is temporary and transient. The attention draws progressively inward and slowly disengages from its outer activities. Let us learn, before we die, to do the same. Let us focus on what matters most, and not allow ourselves to be consumed by that which matters least. If we want to truly know God after death, let us make a loving, welcoming space for Him in our lives right now. 15
Inner Light Ministries ®
PRESORTED FIRST CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID AUSTIN, TEXAS
A Path of Sound and Light
Editorial and Publishing Office P.O. Box 164332 Austin, Texas 78716-4332 Phone: 512-306-1056 Forwarding Service Requested
PERMIT NO. 1770
NNER LIGHT IGHT MInistries Inistries Journal INNER
About ILM
Mailing List
I nner 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.
Inner Light Ministries:
We have recently converted to a new mailing system. Please check the spelling of your name, street and city. If there is an error, please notify us by phone (512-306-1056), e-mail (ilmadmin@ilm.org) or by mail (PO Box 164332, Austin, TX 78716-4332). Thank you.
Donations Donations to Inner Light Ministries are gratefully accepted, and help us support: 1. ILM events, production of CDs, the ILM Journal, and books. 2. Scholarships toward supporting members taking ILM retreats and workshops. 3. ILM’s Christmas time project: Coins For Kids. Checks may be made payable to Inner Light Ministries and sent to: Inner Light Ministries, PO Box 164332, Austin, Texas 78716. Or to make a donation by credit card, go to ILM’s website at www.ilm.org. Donations are tax deductible.
Main Office: Jim Gordon, Brian Yeakey, P.O. Box 164332, Austin, TX 78716-4332; Midwest Office: Steven McAfee, P.O. Box 5139, Fort Wayne, IN 46895