Step One Hundred and Seventy-Eight


Step 178. I Will Remember Those Who Have Given To Me Today.
This is a special day of acknowledging the presence of genuine relationships in your life. It is a special day of acknowledging the gifts that have been given to you. It is a day meant for gratitude.

Upon the hour, then, repeat this statement and take a moment to recall those who have given to you. Try to think very carefully of the individuals who have given benefit to you, both by demonstrating their Wisdom and their error. Think of those who have illustrated the way to go and the way not to go. As you inquire further into this in your two longer practice periods today, try to think more carefully and allow any individual who comes to mind to be the subject of your investigation. This is an active practice time in your meditation periods.

In your longer practice periods, repeat the statement at the beginning of practice and allow individuals to come to you. Learn to recognize their contribution to the reclamation of Knowledge. Learn to recognize their contribution to your physical and emotional wellbeing. Learn to recognize how they have served you. In this way, your entire concept of giving and receiving and of service in the world may be expanded and developed. This will give you a true vision of the world so that you may learn to be compassionate with yourself and with others.

This, then, is a day of affirmation and a day of gratitude. Allow your practices to be meaningful and effective so that you may receive their reward.

Practice 178: Two 30-minute practice periods. 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.

July 28, 2013 Round One: As I practice this Step, I recognize the contribution that many people have made to the reclamation of Knowledge. I see that it is not only significant people in my life, but also some chance acquaintance. All kinds of people have served me, wittingly and unwittingly. In fact, I think it is the unwitting service that may be the most profound. I see that something positive and advancing can be found in every relationship, in every person I have encountered in my life. It is for me to be aware and recognize each contribution for what it is. I am very grateful to all the people who have made a contribution to my reclamation of Knowledge, whether they realize it or not.
January 25, 2015 Round Two: We are all part of a widespread network, a web of give and take, so we all serve each other for better or for worse. Being able to appreciate that I also benefit from the errors of others is of immense value. There is no censure or judgment here. I benefit in every way from all my relationships if only I am astute and discerning enough to recognize what is being given to me. I give gratitude for this today.

 December 26, 2018 Round Three: The people who came to mind this time are those I have "issues" with, the people who make me look at my own motives and question myself, the people who rub me up the wrong way on many occasions or with whom I have bones of contention. I am grateful for the opportunity they give me to delve deeper into my own truth.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Step One Hundred and Twenty-One

Image
Step 121. Today I Am Free To Give. You are free to give today because your life is becoming simple and your needs are being met. This frees you to give, for once you have received, you will only want to give. You will have a special practice two times today where you are to think of someone in need and then give them a quality that you wish to receive yourself. Send that individual that quality. Send them love or strength or faith or encouragement or determination or surrender or acceptance or self-discipline—whatever they need to bring about resolution in their lives. You are free to give this today, for your own needs are being met. Therefore, in each of your two practices, with your eyes closed, bring to mind individuals and give to them what you know they need. Do not try to solve their problems for them. Do not try to strengthen a preferred outcome, for you cannot usually know the right outcome for any other person. But you can always give strength of character and str...
Read more

Step Fifty-One

Image
Touch Drawing by Deborah Koff-Chapin Step 51. Let Me Recognize My Fears   So That I May See The Truth Beyond Them. Your obstacles must be recognized in order for you to see beyond them. If they are ignored or denied, if they are protected or called by other names, you will not realize the nature of your restraint. You will not understand that which oppresses you. Your life is not born of fear. Your Source is not born of fear. To be able to recognize your fear means that you must realize that you are part of something greater. Realizing this you can learn to become objective about your life and to understand your present circumstances without self-condemnation, for it is within these circumstances that you must cultivate yourself. You must start from where you are. To do this you must take inventory of your strengths and weaknesses. In your two practice periods today, evaluate the existence of your fears and remind yourself that your reality is beyond them, but that you ...
Read more

Step One Hundred and Ninety-Seven

Image
Step 197. Knowledge Must Be Experienced To Be Realized. Today I will not think that I can understand Knowledge with my intellect or that I can conceptualize the greatness of life. I will not think today that by a mere idea or assumption I can fully gain access to Knowledge itself. Realizing this, I will understand what is required of me and what I must give to my practices, for I must give of myself. You must give of yourself. You cannot merely think of ideas and hope that they will answer your greatest need. Realizing this today, repeat your practice upon the hour and in your deeper meditations give yourself completely to the experience of Knowledge. Enter into stillness. Allow yourself to be completely involved. With this you will exercise the power of your own mind on your behalf. You will then realize that you have the power to dispel distractions; you have the power to dispel fear; you have the power to dispel obstructions because your will is to know Knowledge. Pr...
Read more