Step Two Hundred and Ninety-Three


Art by Lyse Marion

 Step 293. I Do Not Wish To Suffer Today.
Strengthen your resolve not to suffer today by being a student of Knowledge, by adhering to Knowledge and by devoting yourself to Knowledge. Do not let the world draw you into its meaningless pursuits, into its hopeless endeavors or into its incensed conflicts. All these things still hold attraction for you, yet do not allow yourself to give into them today, for the persuasions of the world are born of the world’s great anxiety and fear. Anxiety and fear are like diseases that affect minds. Do not allow your mind to be so affected today. You do not want to suffer today, and suffer you will if you follow the world’s persuasions. Participate in the world and fulfill your mundane responsibilities, but strengthen your resolve to be a student of Knowledge, for this will free you from all suffering and will give you the greatness that you are intended to give to the world.

Upon the hour confirm that you do not want to suffer today and realize the inevitability of your suffering if you attempt to engage yourself in the world without Knowledge. The world can only remind you of your one great purpose and responsibility now, which is to become a student of Knowledge. Be grateful that the world will support you in the only way that it can, and be grateful that from your Ancient Home, God has extended Grace into the world for you to receive and to learn to give.

Practice 293: Hourly practice.

Here you will find the entire book free for download http://stepstoknowledge.com/

Here you will find pointers for getting started if this is your first encounter with this practice: Taking the Steps to Knowledge.

March 30, 2014 Round One: As I look on the world today, I am certainly seeing the wisdom of being a student of Knowledge, seeing that this is my one great purpose and responsibility now.

“for the persuasions of the world are born of the world’s great anxiety and fear.”

This has become blatantly obvious, for if the world were not driven by fear we would be seeing a very different world today. Only Knowledge can put things in their true perspective. Only by adhering to Knowledge and devoting myself to Knowledge can I be spared the suffering that afflicts so many people in our world today. I am resisting the urge to be drawn into meaningless pursuits and hopeless endeavors. I am trusting in Knowledge to show me what is true and worth pursuing, I am trusting in Knowledge to show me the way.

May 30, 2015 Round Two: It never ceases to amaze me how meaningless pursuits, hopeless endeavors, and incensed conflicts hold such attraction for people. I like to credit myself with the fact I am not among that number, but I cannot say this absolutely. There are times I feel drawn to participate in some meaningless jabber, put in my two cents’ worth, try to argue my point, but immediately see the futility and retreat. 

I do not wish to suffer today, I do not wish to suffer because of my need for recognition. I often feel invisible, I feel I have something to say, but no one listens. I am not seen or heard. This is a lesson in humility for me.

This particularly struck me today as I listened to Day 5 of the Steps Vigil 2015 hosted by Mary. She has her own special style and humility, she is a shining example for me of a New Message responder. I wish to be like her. And Joe’s testimonial was awesome. I could not help but compare it to mine and see where I fall far short of what is required. Again I am brought to the realization that I still have such a long way to go, that there is some salient point I am still missing. 

I seek guidance and clarity ... and read this...

For vulnerability and aliveness are one

 "As you begin to discover the ways you are re-enacting old strategies of distancing and protection, it is important you do not shame yourself or conclude that you have failed, that something is wrong with you, or that something must urgently be 'fixed.'

 "Everything is okay, exactly as it is. The path is everywhere. Stay close. Rest. Lay your hands on your heart. Infuse your entire being with loving kindness. Everything... is... okay. You are okay, exactly as you are... right here. Right now."

April 28, 2019 Round Three: Suffering is inevitable if I do not follow Knowledge, for I will be overcome by the world’s persuasions. I strengthen my resolve to become a student of Knowledge so that I may be free of anxiety, fear and suffering. I no longer suffer for I am a student of Knowledge. Knowledge is the antidote to all suffering, I no longer drink because I am a student of Knowledge. God has extended Grace into the world from my Ancient Home for me to receive and learn to give.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Step Three Hundred and Seventeen

Image
Step 317. I Need But Relinquish My Ambivalence To Know The Truth. How simple it is to know the truth when the truth is truly desired. How easy it is to recognize ambivalence and to see its devastating impact upon your life. How simple it is to see the evidence of ambivalence in the world around you and how it undermines the deeper inclinations of all who dwell here. Seek, then, escape from ambivalence, for this is confusion. Seek, then, escape from the burden of constant decision making and choice, for this is a burden. The man and woman of Knowledge need not burden themselves with constant deliberation of what they must do, how they must be, who they are and where they are going in life, for these things become known as each step is anticipated and taken. Thus, the great weight that you carry in the world is released from your shoulders. Thus, you begin to trust yourself and the world. Here peace is possible and assured even for those who are active in the world, for they ca
Read more

Step Three Hundred and Fifteen

Image
Step 315. Today I Will Not Be Alone. Today do not be alone. Do not isolate yourself in your fear or in your negative imagination. Do not isolate yourself in your fantasies. Do not think you are alone, for this is a fantasy. Today do not be alone. Realize that those who are with you are not persuaded by your errors or dismayed by your failures, but recognize your true nature and your Knowledge. Those who are with you today love you without exception. Receive their love, for this will confirm that you are not alone, and this will confirm that you do not wish to be alone. Why else would you want to be alone except to hide your pain, your sense of failure and your sense of guilt? These things which are the result of your separation only isolate you further. Yet, today you are not alone. Therefore, choose not to be alone, and you will see that you have never been alone. Choose not to isolate yourself, and you will see that you are part of life already. Confirm this upon the hour a
Read more

Step Three Hundred and Twelve

Image
Step 312. There Are Greater Problems For Me To Solve In The World. Many of your personal problems will be resolved as you give yourself to a greater calling. Some of your personal problems you will need to attend to specifically, but even here you will find that their weight upon you will diminish as you enter into a greater arena of participation in life. Knowledge gives you greater things to do, but it does not overlook any detail of what you must accomplish. Therefore, small details and great details, small adjustments and great adjustments are all included. Nothing is left out. You yourself could not possibly balance your preparation in this respect, for you would not know how to establish your priorities between what is great and what is small. Your attempt to do so would merely push you deeper into confusion and frustration. Be grateful, then, that you have been spared from attempting the impossible for yourself, for what is real is given to you. What you must do is bec
Read more