2005 vol 1, march

VOLUME 16 NUMBER 1 MARCH, 2005

by Jim Gordon, President of ILM

A

NEWSLETTER MM INISTRIESII NNER LL IGHTII NNER LL IGHT MM INISTRIES NEWSLETTER

PIRITUAL INTERVIEWSS

s I look to the present moment and continueto step forward into what is next, I am everreferencing to my past experiences to see

what I have learned and what I can bringforward and apply to this moment. I learned many yearsago how important it is to build a strong foundationupon which to construct the ‘structure’ of one’s life.Recently, I have been very aware of this action ofbuilding a foundation upon which I am expanding intonew activities and new ways of living my life.

When I was 16 years old, I was working on a ranch andthe owner decided to build a new barn. When we beganthe work, the first thing we did was to prepare the groundupon which the new structure was going to stand. Wethen began the work of laying in the foundation. Ilearned as we went along that this is a very importantpart of the construction. If we’d put in a foundationthat was not level, that was not strong, and that was notsitting on a firm supportive base, then the barn we werebuilding would have had structural problems that wouldappear in the future and undermine the integrity of thestructure. So we spent a lot of time preparing the base andfoundation before we ever started raising the barn.

In 1967 I began to do my spiritual service in the world,and again I was told to build on solid rock and to build astrong foundation — this time in spirit. Then whatevercame forward in my life, I would know that my base andmy reason for doing would stand strong and sturdy. Now,as I look back over the years at how I have put togetherILM, and I look at the spiritual action and service that hascome forward, I know that the foundation I built upon ison rock — sturdy and sound. Today there are changesthat are taking place in ILM, and I can see that thefoundation laid so many years ago, with the guidance ofthe Holy Spirit, is sound and strong.

One of the big changes in ILM is the action that started in2003 of initiating into the meditation practice of Soundand Light. With this action coming forward many other (INTERVIEWS continues on page 3)

changes have come into being as well. One is the actionof me taking better care of myself: giving myself moretime to meditate, taking better care of my body throughexercise and nutrition, and having others come into ILMto help me in getting things done. And so besides havingTom Beaver, Laura Kesten, and Steven McAfee on staff,we now also have Brian Yeakey, Bill Stratton, LauraDoggett, Jaden von Behren and Steve Bratsch all helpingand working in ILM.

Another action that came forward was for me to end mycounseling work that I had been doing with people since1967. Through my own meditation the Holy Spirit hasmade it clear to me that it is now time for me to focus onthe many who are coming to ILM for initiation into theinner spiritual meditative path, rather than focusing onthe outer lives of individuals in counseling. This changehas been a bit of a challenge, for I love people so muchand enjoy sharing with them from a spiritual place thatthey might better understand their lives. I have seen howspirit has helped so many people through the counselingwork that I have done with them over the years. And soit was challenging to do what the Holy Spirit directed.Recently, however, it has been laid out for me why thisnew action on my part is necessary, and it is very clear tome that this phase of my service has come to completion.

As ILM moved forward in initiating people, I asked BrianYeakey to step forward and continue the counselingwork I had been doing. He has been doing counselingwork with people since January 2001. He has performeda wonderful action of service and has assisted manypeople over these last four years. As Bob Dylan said inone of his songs, “The times they are a changin’.” Andthis is true for Brian as well as myself.

Brian and I have now been asked to hold a focus of lovingand service for those who are drawn to initiation. Thismeans serving those initiates, intended initiates andseekers interested in finding out more about the spiritual,inner path of meditation. With this awareness comingforward from the Holy Spirit, to be more available in thisway, we have realized that change is once again taking

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by Laura Kesten,ILM Minister

A

M

couple of days ago, as I rolled around on thefloor with our dogs, getting dog-kissed andtangled in legs and tails, my daughter looked

at me with wide eyes and said, “I’ve neverever seen you let a dog lick your face, much less get downon the floor to play with them! I love it, but who areyou?”

Who am I? I’m a person who has recently discovered anew level of joy, and it comes from the least expectedsource — dogs!

More Dogs! We’d already had two, butrecently we doubled that number! Ourdaughter, Cally, thought it would be acool idea to give her parents each a puppyfor Christmas. Knowing what we hadboth wanted: my husband Tom —something big, me — something little,she took us to pick out puppies onChristmas Eve. Tom got his big dog — aRottweiler, and I got my little dog — aMaltese.

As I drove home, the little Maltese puppy asleep onCally’s lap, the big puppy snuggled in Tom’s arm, oneresounding question pounded on my brain: Oh, my God,what have we done?! And it only boomed louder after thebig puppy got sick on the way home. But when we gothome and took a good look at our new additions,introduced them to our two adult dogs and our indoor andoutdoor cats, and watched with joy as they immediatelymade themselves at home (our aging Rottie Bleu,especially, was instantly ‘taken’ with his new protégé), Iknew we indeed hadn’t made a mistake.

As the weeks go by, the dishes pile in the sink, the layerof dust thickens, puppy toys are scattered everywhere —and I care not in the least! I get my work done for ILM,and whatever else I absolutely need to do every day, butnothing more. Instead, I spend all my ‘housekeepingtime’ watching the puppies play, watching them learnfrom the older dogs, watching them leap and bound whenwe call out to them. Even now as I write this article, I’msitting on the kitchen floor with my computer on my lap,

the little puppy pulling on my sweatshirt sleeve, the bigpuppy pulling on my shoestring, and with the two olderdogs lying close by ‘supervising’. It’s spontaneous,disorderly — and it’s joyful! This combination is a brandnew experience for me.

I find myself waking each morning with joy as I wait tobe greeted by my Maltese puppy, Caper: a fluffy-white,under-two-pound bundle of loving joy. He pops his headover his basket and whines for me to take him out.Wiggling in my arms, he lunges for my face and dousesme with good morning kisses, so happy to see me. Ireturn his happiness with kisses of my own and high-

pitched puppy-baby talk.

I take Caper everywhere I go; placed in alarge satchel I carry like a purse, he nestlesunder his blanket. When I show a storeclerk what’s in my bag, she shrieks withdelight, attracting all the other clerks andcustomers to come take a peek. They tooshriek with delight as they pass him aroundgetting puppy-kissed: their faces light up,then a big breath is taken in and sounds ofextreme joy are exhaled. At one store,

four young men who worked there got down on theirbellies to play with Caper. I told them they should thinkabout getting one for themselves — it could be a realchick magnet. One of them looked up at me and said,“Well, right now lady it’s a real guy magnet!”

Another time I was sitting in a waiting room when awoman walked in, gasped with joy, and immediately saton the floor with Caper and me. Caper ran to her withreciprocated joy. After a few minutes, she asked, “Howdo you get anything done?” I laughed and said, “Exactly!A lot of happiness is being accomplished!”

Jim Gordon has spoken about the value of having a“reference point for joy,” an experience in our lives thatis so purely joyful that we can, by just remembering it,create a little pocket of joy within us for whenever wewant it or need it. For me, that’s exactly what Caper is:a spiritual experience God has blessed me with of joyfulloving action, and which I get not only to experience formyself, but also to witness Caper spreading to otherseverywhere he goes. Every day now, I get to drop down

ORE DOGS! MORE JOY!

(MORE JOY continues on page 3)

and to those who have written letters of intention towardsinitiation. If you would like to order the CD please calland let Laura Doggett know.

And so, with the firm foundation of the Holy Spirit andThe Path of Sound and Light to build upon, ILM continuesto move forward in its mission of loving service to thosewho come to us with a desire for an inner spiritualjourney. You are welcome to join us!

on the floor and allow the joy of God to flow throughCaper (and Teddy, the Rottie puppy) to me. And everyday I get to look into the eyes of all those who stop toconnect with Caper’s God-joy, and to share this momentwith them.

The dishes will get washed, and the dusting andvacuuming will get done, eventually. But for rightnow, I don’t want to miss one moment of this newfoundjoy, the one wrapped in small bundles. Every day myheart opens to these blessed occurrences. And everyday, my gratitude swells.

place. So Brian and I are now going to be doingSpiritual Interviews rather than personal counselings.The focus will be on sharing about the inner pathwayand in bringing clarity around The Path of Sound andLight. And so the interviews we give will be to answerany questions about the inner path and to assist focusingpeople inward toward God. As the Bible says, “Seekfirst the Kingdom of Heaven and all else will be givenunto you.” So rather than focusing on helping peoplewith the outer problems of the day, we are nowfocusing on the inner truth and loving that answers allquestions and brings clarity into one’s daily life.

So if you call and ask for a counseling with Jim or Brian,please be aware that Laura Doggett will be sharing withyou more about this new action we are taking. If youhave any questions about this action, please call so wecan clarify how we can best serve you.

There is also a CD available for those who would likemore information concerning the new actions of ILM.During our regular weekly class in Austin on December14, 2004, I shared about my process and the changes thatare taking place. We have sent this CD out to our initiates

3

CALENDAR

(ILM Calendar continues on pages 4 - 9)

Interviews (continued from page 1)

by Jim Gordon

WWWWW 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 aware of the Spirit within.

PRESENTED BY JIM GORDON and BRIAN YEAKEY:For additional information, call 512-306-1056.

IGHT COLUMNS in AUSTIN:L

II NNER LL IGHT MM INISTRIES

More Joy (continued from page 2)

by Laura Kesten

CLASSES & PROGRAMS: MARCH – JUNE, 2005

This ILM event will be a Sunday afternoon service projectto plant Light Columns around North Austin. Facilitated by Bill Stratton. Participants will grouptogether and drive to various points in the North Austin area to experience this wonderful service ofbringing forward greater Light for greater good to the Austin community. A potluck starts things off.Call Bill to RSVP, and for more information.

JUNE 12 12:30 Lunch, 2:30-4 pm Light Columns Bill’s house, North Austin No Charge

PRESENTED BY BILL STRATTON:For additional information, call Bill at 512-218-1995.

facilitated by

Jim Gordon and Brian Yeakey

Experiencing The Divine –A Meditative Retreat

Experiencing The Divine –A Meditative Retreat

DATES: Thursday, March 17, 2005 at 6 pm(beginning with dinner; check-in begins at 4 pm)

thru Sunday, March 20 at 1:30 pm(ending after lunch)

PLACE: Red Corral Ranch505 Red Corral Ranch Road

Wimberley, Texas 78676

COST: $37500 (includes lodging and all meals;this is ILM’s actual cost for the retreat accommodations)

4

For further information and to register for this retreat contact:Diana Vandel at 512-328-5649 or [email protected], 916 Calithea Road, Austin, Texas 78746.

In this meditative retreat, Jim and Brian will be taking participantson an experiential journey into the greater knowing of their divine nature.

Jim and Brian will be sharing about the meditation practiceof The Path of Sound and Light to ‘experience the divine,’

and there will be gracious periods of time formeditation, relaxation, rejuvenation, and resurrection.

5

A DAY WITH SPIRIT S HARING

and Q&A

A DAY WITH SPIRIT S HARING

and Q&A

For further information please contact Steven McAfee at 260-485-2167.

To schedule spiritual interviews with Brian Yeakey or to talk with Jim Gordon regardinginitiation into The Path of Sound and Light, please call Laura Doggett at 512-306-1056.

April 3 & 4Jim and Brian will be available

for initiation for thosewho have been approved.

Kalamazoo:Kalamazoo:Kalamazoo:Kalamazoo:Kalamazoo:

For further information please contact Carolyn Dailey at 269-327-6851.

Ft. WayneFt. WayneFt. WayneFt. WayneFt. Wayne:

TTTTTIMESIMESIMESIMESIMES OFOFOFOFOF E E E E EVENTSVENTSVENTSVENTSVENTS

MMMMMEDITATIONEDITATIONEDITATIONEDITATIONEDITATION: : : : : 9:30 am-12 noon Lunch break: 12-2 pm12 noon Lunch break: 12-2 pm12 noon Lunch break: 12-2 pm12 noon Lunch break: 12-2 pm12 noon Lunch break: 12-2 pmSharing and Q&A: 2-5:30 pmSharing and Q&A: 2-5:30 pmSharing and Q&A: 2-5:30 pmSharing and Q&A: 2-5:30 pmSharing and Q&A: 2-5:30 pm

WWWWWHEREHEREHEREHEREHERE::::: Brigade of Light meeting room at the YWCA Villa, 2000 N. Wells St, Ft. Wayne, Ind.DonationDonationDonationDonationDonation

Saturday, April 2, 2005

Saturday, April 9

with JIM and BRIAN

TTTTTIMEIMEIMEIMEIME: : : : : 1-----5 pm pm pm pm pmWHERE: Country Inn & Suites, 1912 East Kilgore Road, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Country Inn & Suites is located on Old Kilgore (formerly Howard Johnson s) by the airport.

Donation

with JIM and BRIAN

Kalamazoo:Kalamazoo:Kalamazoo:Kalamazoo:Kalamazoo:

Brian will be available for spiritual interviews.

˜INITIATION and SPIRITUAL INTERVIEWS

˜

INITIATION and SPIRITUAL INTERVIEWS

April 6-10Jim and Brian will be available


To schedule spiritual interviews with Brian Yeakey or to talk with Jim Gordon regardinginitiation into The Path of Sound and Light, please call Steven McAfee at 260-485-2167.

Ft. Wayne:Ft. Wayne:Ft. Wayne:Ft. Wayne:Ft. Wayne:



˜


with JIM and BRIANwith JIM and BRIANILM MEDITATION

and S HARING with Q&A

ILM MEDITATION and S HARING

with Q&A

ILM INTRODUCTION with S HARING

and Q&A

For further information please contact Ford Crull at 212-619-0582.

TTTTTIMEIMEIMEIMEIME: : : : : 1:30-----6 pm pm pm pm pmWHERE: Ford Crull’s Apartment

258 Broadway, 3E, New York City.

Donation

For further information please contact: Carolyn Dailey at 269-327-6851.

New York City:

London, England:

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Sunday, May 22

TTTTTIMESIMESIMESIMESIMES OFOFOFOFOF E E E E EVENTSVENTSVENTSVENTSVENTS

MMMMMEDITATIONEDITATIONEDITATIONEDITATIONEDITATION: : : : : 9:30 am-12 noon Lunch break: 12-1:30 pm12 noon Lunch break: 12-1:30 pm12 noon Lunch break: 12-1:30 pm12 noon Lunch break: 12-1:30 pm12 noon Lunch break: 12-1:30 pmSharing and Q&A: 1:30-5:30 pmSharing and Q&A: 1:30-5:30 pmSharing and Q&A: 1:30-5:30 pmSharing and Q&A: 1:30-5:30 pmSharing and Q&A: 1:30-5:30 pm

WWWWWHEREHEREHEREHEREHERE::::: Mayfair Conference Center, 17 Connaught Place, London, W2 ELPhone: 020 7262 0416

DonationDonationDonationDonationDonation

with JIM and BRIANwith JIM and BRIAN

May 9-20Jim and Brian will be available


To schedule spiritual interviews with Brian Yeakey or to talk with Jim Gordon regardinginitiation into The Path of Sound and Light, please call Nana Brincker at ?????????.



˜


ILM INTRODUCTION with S HARING

and Q&A

with JIM and BRIANwith JIM and BRIAN

6


with Q&A


with Q&A

7

TORIES UNTOLD:S

II NNER LL IGHT MM INISTRIES CALENDAR

365 DAYS OF IVING CONSCIOUSLY:L

(ILM Calendar continues on next page)

(Note: please be aware that new programs are often scheduled after the newsletter goes to press, and, in someinstances, 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.)

IRCLE OF WOMEN:C

•

What if you had one year to live? How wouldyou want to live it? Might you want your yearlong journey to be about living each day mindfully, livingit authentically, with integrity; and might you have it 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 anytime!

MAR 27, APR 24, MAY 22, JUNE 12, JULY 17

SUNDAYS 2-4 pm ILM Center, Austin, Texas Donation

PRESENTED BY LAURA KESTEN:For additional information, call Laura at 512-894-0992.

Have you heard your “calling” to write? Have you answered it yet? In thisprogram, we attend to our own personal callings to write — to write from the heart about our lifeexperiences — our tragedies, our triumphs, our insights, our wisdom, our awakenings, and our openinghearts. 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:SEVEN DAY RETREAT:

JUNE 18-25, Martha’s Cottage, Saugatuck: This is a week-long Intensiveand each participant must have attended at least three previous STORIES UNTOLD weekends

in the past year (unless there is availability). $350WEEKEND WORKSHOPS:

APR 1-3, Kellogg, Richland AUG (TBA), GilChrist, Three RiversSEPT 30-OCT 2, The Orchard, Lawrence DEC 9-11, Pretty Lake, Mattawan

$125 per weekend

TEXAS:MAR 12-13, MAY 7-8, JULY 9-10, SEPT 24-25, NOV 12-13

SAT: 9 am – 7 pm, SUN: 10 am – 4 pm ILM Center, Austin, Texas Donation

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 amazedyourself!

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

MAY 13: MUSIC MEDITATION – We invite you to float on the sound waves of a truly unique musicalarrangement of harps and flutes, violins and bagpipes, concluding with a silent meditation.

The above events are on Fridays, 7–9 pm ILM Center, Austin, Texas No Charge

8

PRESENTED BY STEVEN R. MCAFEE, MIDWEST COORDINATOR:For additional information, call Steven at 260-485-2167.


TUESDAY CLASS SERIES:

CILM OMMUNITY NIGHT:

THE “ INDRED SPIRITS” STUDY GROUP:K

(Midwest Calendar continues on next page)

IRST CENTURY MYSTICAL PRACTICES WORKSHOP:F

Steven offers a series of weekly ILM classes in Ft. Wayne on Tuesdaynights from 7-8:30 pm at Unity Christ Church. Each series focuses on a specific spiritual topic and runsfrom 4-6 weeks in length. Some of our recent topics have included: Jim Gordon’s book, The Knowing ofGod, mystical teachings from the Kabbalah, a study of first century Christianity, and the ‘lost books’ of theBible. Please call Steven for up-to-date information on the current series.

More music nights are on the way! We’ll provide soft drinks andmunchies. Please RSVP a week ahead so we can plan appropriately.

MAR 9, APR 6, MAY 11, JUNE 8 7-10 pm Steven & Anita’s home, Ft. Wayne No Charge

The following events are open only to thosealready enrolled in the year-long KINDRED SPIRITS study program.

RETREATS:MAR 18-20 Fri. 7:30 pm-Sun. 2:30 pm Yarrow Conference Center, Augusta, Mich. $235

WORKSHOPS (usually on the third Sunday of the month):APR 17, MAY 15, JUNE 12 2:30-5:30 pm Brigade of Light, YWCA Ft. Wayne Donation

T HE MERKAVAH MYSTICS:

P ASSOVER SEDER DINNER: Please join us for an evening of delicious food, beautiful candlelitdecor, and inspirational sharing. We will recount the story of the liberation of the Hebrew people frombondage in Egypt, and will reveal the symbolism in the story about the path of liberation of the soul frombondage in the realms of matter. There is no fee for attending, but you MUST register by April 9th to takepart in the evening, as there is a great deal of preparation involved. Seating is limited, so register early.

APR 23 6-9 pm Unity Christ Church Ft. Wayne Donation

SUNDAY SERVICES: Steven frequently serves as a guest speaker for various churches and spiritualgroups in the Fort Wayne area. If you would like him to speak to your group, please call to makearrangements. The following are presently scheduled:

MAR 27, APR 17, MAY 15, JUNE 12 11 am Brigade of LightJUNE 5 10:30 am Unity Christ Church

The morning session willintroduce basic teachings from the Kabbalah (Jewish mystical writings) as the framework on which Jewishmystics, including Jesus, built their prayer and meditation practices. In the afternoon session, we will havethe opportunity to actually practice some of their prayers, chants, and meditations together. Lunch provided.

MAR 5 9:30 am-3 pm Cottage Retreat Center Jackson, Mich. $50

The morning session will present an overview of the “Merkavah” or“chariot” — ancient teachings about the methods used by prophets such as Ezekiel for consciouslyexperiencing the inner realms. In the afternoon session, we will learn about some of their prayer andcontemplation practices. Lunch provided.

MAY 29 11 am-4 pm Lakeshore Interfaith Institute Ganges, Mich. Donation

NOW AVAILABLE:

NEW TALK AND MEDITATION ON CD

The Staff of the ShepherdThe Staff of the Shepherd

This is a revised and expanded edition, with additional informationabout Inner Light Ministries and The Path of Sound and Light.

by Jim Gordon


TILM APE SEMINARS:

by Jim Gordon

9

EVENTS IN THE KALAMAZOO AREA: Please contact Carolyn Dailey at 269-327-6851or email [email protected] for more information on the activities below.

“The rod and the staff were tools of the ancient shepherds, used to ushertheir 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 importantof the ‘instruments’ by which God assists us are his many assistants, oragents, which He sends to guide, serve and protect us on our way.”

– Jim Gordon

To order, please turn to the back page for further information.

Excerpt from The Pearl Of Great PriceThe Pearl Of Great PriceThe Pearl Of Great PriceThe Pearl Of Great PriceThe Pearl Of Great Price by Jim Gordon:

"That divine melody that comes out of the heart of God, the placewhere we came from, is being sung eternally. And it's ever therebeing sung, waiting for us to one day begin to hear that great song... and for us to begin to sing that song with it so that we can beginto go back to where we came from. It's in singing that song whichwe hear being sung, and becoming one with it, that we get thispearl of great price, and that we return back to the place fromwhich we came."

ILM TUDY GROUP:S

Carolyn Dailey is conducting semi-monthly ILM tape seminars inthe Kalamazoo area. Each seminar includes: Calling in the Light, a short meditation time, and listeningto a tape or CD by ILM Ministers Jim Gordon, Steven McAfee, or Brian Yeakey.

2nd & 4th Thursdays 11am-12:30 pm 2485 Brahms Ave., Portage, Mich. No Charge

Carolyn Dailey is facilitating a weekly study group based on theILM book, Love and Loving by Jim Gordon. Participants will read a chapter of the book in preparationfor each session, which will consist of discussion, exercises and processes based on that chapter.

Wednesdays 6:15-8:30 pm Executive Suites and Services, 5955 West Main, Kalamazoo No Charge

The Pearl Of Great Price (TALK and MEDITATION)The Pearl Of Great Price (TALK and MEDITATION)

10

by Bill Stratton, ILM Minister

keep one’s spiritual experiences to oneself instead ofdiluting the experience by sharing it with others.However, as I later thought about my friend’s question

to me, I rememberedmany years ago ateacher’s reply to astudent’s question aboutwanting to see the faceof God: “Look in themirror.” That responsewas not exactly theanswer any of us

wanted to hear at the time, but a little later I realizedthe profoundness of it. We all are aspects of God, andwe need only look at ourselves and others in thatradiance and connect to that experience, in order tounderstand the teacher’s response.

This collection of photographs gave me that experience.As I looked at all the gleamingfaces I realized that it didn’tmatter the age, gender, race,ability or disability; the face wasalways the same. The face ofLoving shown through in all ofits many expressions. And inthat realization gratitude swelledup inside of me as I realized howin so many ways ILM has given us all a variety ofopportunities throughout the past year to have this kindof experience — both inwardly and outwardly, withinourselves and with others.

Since my experience with these photos I’ve beenexercising thislearning when I’m atthe mall, or at thegrocery store, or at acoffee shop, bysimply looking atpeople and ‘seeing’ asmile on their face.Sometimes when

they look my way I smile, and then I see the smilereturned. And that same feeling of gratitude returns tome! It’s like God looking at God.

THE ANY FACESOF GODM

A fter Christmas I decided I would put togethera photo album of 2004’s ILM events:pictures of my own and from others which

I had gathered over the year. In the process of goingthrough all the pictures I looked at a great number offaces, of many different ages, all smiling and expressingjoy, loving, and peace. As I sorted through these photosI realized I was experi-encing a very lovingsensation inside which,simply, lifted my spirits.It was such a goodfeeling, that I thought Iwould share it with thefirst ILM class Ifacilitated while Jim andBrian were away for the holidays. So I placed thepictures on a CD and played it for the class as a slideshow with music playing in the background, and Iintroduced it as a meditation through which the viewerscould experience for themselves the Light and Loving ineach face. The slide show played for around 20 minutes,and as I looked around at the faces of the class members

watching the presentationI could sense the effect itwas having on them — arecognition inside ofthem of somethinggreater than just thephysical faces showingin front of them. It was arecognition which stirredin them all those qualities

that are inside each of us — of joy, loving and peace. Theviewing brought forth, for that brief time, an experiencethat is greater than all of those qualities combined. It wasan experience of seeing the many faces of God.

A few weeks before this ILM class, at a busy andsomewhat noisy restaurant, a friend had asked me,“When do you see the face of God?” I answered at thetime that such a thing as “seeing the face of God” was apersonal spiritual experience about which I’d rather notshare. I have been taught over the years that it’s best to

At the ILM Center, Austin, TexasILM EVENTS

and Wrapping Days.

COINS FOR KIDS Shopping ...

11

MuchLoving!

12

SPIRITUAL ABUNDANCE RETREAT

Midwest MUSIC NIGHT

Midwest KINDRED SPIRIT

Ft. Wayne COINS FOR KIDS

“Christmas is a time many of us treasure, and this year it was somuch sweeter because of the COINS FOR KIDS experience.”

– Steven McAfee

MuchJoy!

ILM EVENTS continued

I’ve been meditating for a couple ofdecades, trying to focus on Spirit inside.And I have to say that probably more thanhalf the time it’s like a fight in there. I

mean, at times it’s like ants with paint ball guns inthere! How does one address that when it comes, whenit feels like you’re being fought against in there?

When you’re chanting your names (givenat initiation) inside, and you’re holding yourfocus at the seat of the soul (at the “Third

Eye” center, between the brows), what else is goingon? Are you holding your attention on the names? Ifyou are, then at the same time you’re chanting thename of God inside, let yourself know that this is yousharing your love with God: “I am now sharing mylove with God as I chant the name of God. This is myloving I’m sharing with you.” And that’ll begin tobring you up into the higher frequency of the seat ofthe soul. Otherwise, you may still be focused moretowards the lower part of you, if you will.

The third eye has three levels to it. The first level focusesdown at the world, and that’s where most people aretoday. They’re just looking into the world, and they’retrying to figure out the world and get from the world whatthey want. The next level is more directly straight out,and it’s of the psychic realms. And it has to do with allthe unseen, unknowable worlds of the physical creation.For most people it’s unseen and unknowable. But it’sthere, and that’s the psychic level. And the third level isthe realm of Spirit. So we really want to be looking up,truly up; not just holding our attention here (between thebrows), but also focusing upward. And as you do, say,“Lord, I’m sharing my love with you as I chant thesenames.” And begin to be aware of that movement of love,and share your love with God. Say the names in loving,so that the names go to God. And as you say them withlove, you’re sharing your love with God and creating aspace for God to share Loving with you as well. And thatsharing of God’s Love with you is the Audible Lifestream.It may come in as a color, a light. It may come in as asound. It may come in as a feeling. However it comes,you continue chanting until you feel the peace, until youfeel the quiet, or until you hear the sound, or until you seethe purple or the blue light. And then you become quietand you listen for the Sound. Now listening could be as

by Jim Gordon, President of ILM

ON MEDITATIONQ&Ayou are looking at whatever you are seeing; or listeningcould be just listening, in the quiet, in the peace. And aslong as you’re in that place, then hold to that. But alwayshold it in here at the seat of the soul, and upward. Andallow yourself to receive the Peace of God, the Quiet ofGod, the Loving of God, and let it begin to move in youand fill you, or let it begin to pull you inward and upwardmore, until you begin to leave the body. But if there’s atime where you become more aware again of the psychicworld, or the material world such as the body, then beginchanting again, to bring your focus and attention moredirectly upward and towards God. So what you’re de-scribing isn’t unusual; it’s what a lot of people gothrough. But I would just say, begin by holding yourattention more ‘vertically’, more upward. Or even beginto hold your attention up through the crown chakra (onthe top of the head), and just see if you can kind of lookup and see through that window up there, into thosehigher realms, and share your loving with God that way.

It seems more comfortable for me to look straightout, so I probably should be doing this instead.

Right. It is more comfortable because that’swhat the body, and the consciousness, ismore used to; so that’s where we’re naturally

going to look. But that’s the thing that keeps the soulin the world. Because when the soul came down intothe physical manifestation, it took on the mind. Themind said, “Well, the answers are in the world; so wehave to go get a body with two eyes to look out intothe world, to find out where the answers are. And sothe mind is ever looking out, out into the world, for theanswer. So if we close our eyes and go inside andwe’re still looking straight out, the mind goes, “Oh,okay, so now we’re just going to figure it out from inhere.” And so you’re still engaged in the mind. You’vegot to focus above the mind. The mind will protest,“No, no, no, I’m down here!” And you go, “I know,I’m not looking for you right now.” And it’ll go, “Well,what are you looking for?” Eventually, the mind willactually look up with you. And as you begin to haveinner experiences the mind will go, “Well, how didyou do that? Where did that come from? Can we havemore of that? That was pretty good!” And then it’llbegin to support you in meditation. But until then, it’sgoing to say, “You’re wasting your time, come backdown here and let’s talk!”

13

Jim:

Q:

Jim:

Q:

I have found that my real work is to bring myself intothis place within. I do my part to get there, and Goddoes His part from there on. Sometimes I find itchallenging to get to this place within, because of thosethings that are separating me from God, things that Ihave to work through to get to that open place. That’swhen I call it “work.” Other times it just opens up andI find it easy. That’s when I call it fun. Either way,however, I have learned to keep on going until I getthere, because it is in the getting ‘there’, to this innerplace, that the full experience and understanding takeplace.

Once I’m there, I continue to do what I can to staythere, by keeping that ‘inner door’ open within me. Ihave found that this is as simple as holding my focusinwardly, always making God first. And as I do that,the Loving just keeps on flowing from Above and Imove with it, doing my life internally as I move throughmy life externally.

In moving through the external, physical world I domy service by being in this internal flow of Loving. Ihave found that my True Service is simply letting God’sLoving flow through me ... there’s nothing else reallyfor me to do. Sure, I do physical actions such as talkingwith people, facilitating workshops and classes andother such outer actions of service, but it is in thesharing of the Spirit flowing through me, during thesephysical actions, that I know the True Service. If I canhold that door open within me, and let God’s Lovingflow through, I have done my part. And I leave therest up to God, because I know that God will do God’spart! And that’s the most magnificent part of all.

In this message I hope to convey to you that what Ihave come to find out over all these years of ‘working’with Spirit, with God’s Loving, is that all any of usreally need to do is to do our part of opening to andconnecting with God’s Loving Spirit, and to live ourlives in that on-going flow of Loving. In living moreand more this way, our lives become much simplerand easier, and more joy-filled.

by Brian Yeakey, Vice President of ILM

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ORKING ON SELFAND SELFLESS SERVICE

s the years go by of ‘doing’ Spirit as aneveryday part of my life, I am always

experiencing ever-greater levels ofawareness and loving with God. In doing my workfor ILM, what is foremost for me is to go inside toexperience what is there for me in any given moment.It is in that experience that I discover the truth as itlives within me. And it is from this ‘place’ insidemyself that I share, and learn even more, when I talkabout God, Spirit, and my inner experiences.

I constantly pay attention to what is going on inside ofme, and as I do, I continue to become more aware ofmy ‘inner’ environment and how it relates to my outerenvironment. My ‘inner observation’ is where I startin learning more about myself and others and theenvironment around me. As things come up that makeme uncomfortable or are trying, I begin to look insideand observe what is taking place — physically,emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Then I begin aprocess within myself where I ‘open up’ to Spirit andlet Spirit fill me and lift me in such a way that it bringsme into a place of peace and vulnerability; and fromthat place I am better able to handle whatever challengeI may be going through. This quite often is referred toas “Letting go and letting God,” or rising above thesituation. It is from this place that I become more awareof what it is that’s going on within me, what is causingthe challenge, and how I may see my way through it.It is from this heightened place of observation wheremy ‘greater’ learning takes place. It is also in thisplace that I begin to experience my freedom.

In my ‘opening up’ process I experience God’s Lovingfilling me and freeing me, assisting me in releasingany attachments or reactions to whatever may be takingplace within me or around me. And as this freeingand releasing action of Loving takes place, anunderstanding of the nature of what is going on insideof me in any given situation quite often comes intomy awareness. It is in this understanding that mylearning takes place.

person he met, his face seemed to be saying, “Oh boy, anew friend!” To Jayden, everybody looked the same.He had not yet learned to make internal judgments aboutpeople based on the clothes they were wearing, how fator skinny they were, how old or young they were, whatcolor their skin was, or any of the other things we use inmaking instant assessments of the people we meet. Tohim, every person was just a person — and a potentialplaymate.

As I watched Jayden make a whole variety of newfriends, I realized how often I make up little stories withinmyself about the people I see. Based on their appearance,I imagine them to be gruff or pleasant, lazy or ambitious,poor or wealthy, competent or not. It’s not that I holdany judgment in the sense of condemnation against them,but I subtly create an attitude about the kind of person Ithink they are. Jayden waits to see how someone treatshim before he forms an opinion of them. Once he knowssomeone, then he adopts certain feelings toward them— like when his God-papa Larry walks into the room,Jayden’s whole face lights up (so does Larry’s).

It seems that Jayden intuitively knows some things thatI have nearly forgotten. Our relationships with peopleare the most free when they are based upon what peopleactually do, not on what we imagine they might think ordo. However, we often relate more to our own self-created images of people than to who they really are.For example, we fall in love with an image of who wewant a person to be, without getting to know who he orshe really is. Later, we discover they are not who wethought they were, and we are disappointed. Or, weassume someone is unintelligent, uncooperative, oruntrustworthy because of the way they look, withoutgiving them a chance to demonstrate their characterthrough their actions. What we imagine about othersinfluences, and often inhibits, the way we behave towardthem, and sets us up for disappointment.

In his innocence, Jayden is free to explore and encounterhis world. Accepting people (and ourselves) as they arefrees us from so much weight — from the worry of beingrejected, from the reluctance to reveal our ownplayfulness; from the wearisome stress of always tryingto fix everyone else; and mostly, from the desperate needto pretend to be the way we think we are supposed to be.Without these weights, we are free, like Jaden, to beinnocent.

by Steven McAfee,ILM Minister

15

his winter we spent a weekend with someof our friends and family at a ski lodge. Ourgrandson Jayden, being just a year old,didn’t ski, but he had a great time wandering

around the lodge looking at everything. It was,of course, all brand new to him. Most everything is. Ispent most of my time watching him.

After Jayden had finished lunch in his stroller beside usin the lounge, he made this funny face, stuck out histongue, and “pthrrrr’d” at me (you know, “theraspberry”). I instinctively did it back to him. Helaughed. Then he did it to me again and waited, withthis twinkle in his eye and this expectant look on hisface. I did it back again. He giggled so loud and hardthat his face turned red. The game was on! We keptdoing it back and forth to each other, over and over. Iexpected him to tire of it quickly, but he didn’t. Eachtime we did it was like the first time to him — as if hehad never seen it before and it was the funniest thing inthe universe. I was amazed at how long it went on —probably 30 minutes! We finally quit — not because hetired of the game or found it less amusing, but because Idid (not to mention he has a much greater capacity forsaliva than I do!).

Our little game made me think about the effect that theface of innocence has in the world. It certainly had aneffect on me: I played. I didn’t think about howridiculous I must look or what others would be thinkingof me. I just naturally responded. I entered the game.The innocence in him naturally reached out to theinnocence in me, and my innocence responded to his.And, to the innocent, the game is always new and fresh.

I also watched during the weekend as Jayden interactedwith the strangers around us. As he toddled about,looking down at his feet while he walked (he has newshoes), he would suddenly see other feet in front of him,then look up into the face of that person and smile witha delighted grin. Some smiled back or even bent downto play with him. Others ignored him completely, and afew looked mildly annoyed. When someone didn’trespond favorably to him, he wasn’t disappointed; hejust cheerfully went on to the next encounter. With each

THE REEDOM OF INNOCENCEF

T

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ABOUT ILM is a non-profit

organization dedicated to teaching spiritual awakeningthrough an inner practice of meditation. This meditationpractice is an inner path through which the soultranscends the physical realms of creation to its truehome in the spiritual realms within the heart of God. Inspiritual teachings and literature this inner path isoften referred to as “The Path of Sound and Light,”“The Path of The Holy Spirit,” “The Path of Love,” orsimply as “The Path” or “The Way.” ILM offersinitiation into this meditation practice enabling one tofully experience this inner journey of awakening.

To provide support for those individuals interested inthis path, Inner Light Ministries offers numerouspublications, materials, programs, and services, whichencourage devotion to God and support a life-longpractice of prayer, meditation, spiritual study, andservice.

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ILM: 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

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