VOLUME 15 NUMBER 4 DECEMBER, 2004

by Jim Gordon,President of ILM

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

XPERIENCING THE DIVINE:A MEDITATIVE RETREAT

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ecently, Brian Yeakey and I were asked todo a weekend retreat on meditation. At the

time Brian and I had, ‘coincidently’, beentalking about just such a retreat and

wondering when this might happen. So when thequestion came forward, from two Austin-area ILMmembers, our response was a big, resounding, “Yes!”We then explained to the two that if they truly wantedthis retreat to happen they would have to assist in thelogistics of finding a retreat center and organizing theevent. Without hesitation they also replied with a big“YES,” and things have been moving forward at a rapidpace since that day. This article is intended to shareinformation about the upcoming retreat, as well as togive you insight into our thoughts about other suchretreats in the future.

One thing that I have learned over the years is how muchtime it takes to plan and put on a three-day retreat. Thefirst thing is to find a retreat center in a location that iseasy to get to for those traveling into the area, and thathas nice accommodations, a quiet setting, good foodwith a chef or cook who can take care of special foodneeds, and handicap accessibility. Price is also a factorto be considered. With all this to consider, we got busylooking for a facility. We checked out a location nearAustin that came highly recommended, the Red CorralRanch. Together we went out to the ranch to meet withthe director and staff and to sample the food as well ascheck out the rooms. The setting is on 1,100 acres inthe Texas Hill Country, quiet and picturesque. OH, BOY,is the food great! Then we checked the rooms — verynice. In addition, there is a permanent labyrinth on theproperty. Sounds pretty nice for a meditation retreat,doesn’t it? So after spending a big part of an afternoontouring the property and talking with the staff, wedecided to have our first meditation retreat at thislocation.

Further on in the newsletter you will find moreinformation about the upcoming retreat, which we arecalling, “Experiencing the Divine: a Meditative Retreat.”

What I next want to share with you is: this is the first ofwhat I intend to be many ILM meditation retreats. I hopeto be able to hold such retreats here in Austin as well asin others places throughout the U.S. and, one day, inEngland. I guess what I am saying is this is not to be theonly meditation retreat! We will be having others and,hopefully, in your area if Austin is not your area. I amsharing this because we are limited in how many peoplewe can have at this particular retreat event due to thesize of the Red Corral Ranch, which can accommodate40 people and may fill up quickly. So with this in mind,we are looking at other dates and other places to holdthis same retreat in the future.

Another consideration with this particular retreat eventis the cost. Unlike other retreats and day-longworkshops, this retreat setting is a little more costly.ILM’s policy has always been to provide trainings freeof charge or to charge only what the facility costs. Weare doing the same with this retreat, which is to onlycharge what the room and board is for each participant.We will always do our best to keep the cost down tomake our events available to everyone. We do have alimited scholarship fund available. For those who askfor a scholarship, ILM asks that you cover as much ofthe cost as you are able to. And we also ask anyone whowishes to donate toward the scholarship fund for thisretreat or others to please talk with us or send in yourdonation, letting us know that you want this to go towardthe scholarship fund.

Brian and I are looking forward to spending time withparticipants with a focus on meditation. Besides themeditation time we will also have other activities thatsupport the meditation practice, including question andanswer sessions. I look forward to experiencing withthe group, in a deeper manner, meditation and the innerkingdom.

I know this is not my typical article, but I felt that therewas much I wanted to say about this upcoming eventand the possibility for others in the future. ILM ismoving forward in the action of service to ourcommunity, and I am joy-filled to announce this newretreat!

Over the years I have come to realize that this ‘energy’is our creative expression of God’s loving. Everythingis made of God’s loving, and it’s our expression of God’sloving that creates everything in our lives, internallyand externally. As we allow ourselves to open and movewith this energy in new and different ways, we can beginto create those things in our lives that we are seeking.The trick is simply to take action and do somethingthat moves us towards what we are seeking, be itexternal or internal. Obviously, if we like what we havecreated in our life, then we keep doing what we’ve beendoing so that we continue having what we have. Weonly have to look to our own experience to know whatthat is. But, if we want to make changes, we simplybegin seeking out what we can do differently to createthe changes that we want. If what we want is spiritualin nature, it’s going to take a different type of actionthat is done internally, such as meditation, prayer,loving, devotion, etc. If it is physical in nature, then itwill take physical actions. If it’s emotional, it will takeemotional actions. And so on. The trick is simply tobegin doing! Because, it is in the doing that it getsdone. So let’s get doing!

Once we have it clear inside ourselves what it is thatwe truly want to experience, and we begin taking actionsto have that experience, then we must continue doingthose actions over and over to fully experience thatwhich we’re after. I have learned to do just that!Everyday, I present myself to God, in meditation, to bein loving, to experience loving, to be loving — and IAM! I continue doing that over and over, because myexperience has taught me that it’s in the repetition thatI will have more and more of what it is that I want. It isthis loving persistence that carries me through andbeyond all those things that would stop me from fullyexperiencing what I want to experience. I know thatwhen I keep at it, I always come through! I don’t stop!I don’t let anything get in the way or stop me. I mayhave temporary ‘slow downs’ or ‘pauses’, but I continuemoving through and beyond it all by persistently takingloving action.

by Brian Yeakey, ILM Minister

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O

(GETTING UP continues on page 3)

HE HECK WITH IT,I’M GETTING UP

ne morning recently in my meditation, I justcouldn’t get into it. I called in the Light, I

chanted The Holy Names of God, I lovedGod, I loved myself, I chanted The Names, I loved God,I loved myself, I chanted The Names, I loved God, etc.,etc., etc. Until finally, I just said, “The heck with it,I’m gettin’ up!” And so, I did.

The whole time I was in meditation, however, I wasconstantly thinking about all the events going on in mylife and fantasizing about how I would like everythingto be going in my life. And as much as I wanted to, Ijust couldn’t stop thinking. I just kept thinking andthinking about everything, even repeating the samethoughts, over and over. I even got a headache fromthe whole process! This was my time for meditation,to be in communion with God, and instead I was in afantasy and in repetitive thought loops with my mind.Even with all the chanting and loving, I couldn’t seemto shake it. So, I got up and decided to write this article. . . I decided that I was going to at least use my time insuch a way that would serve me well!

One of the things I’ve learned over the years is that ithelps for me to take supportive action steps to take careof myself. Whenever I find myself in a situation likethe one I’ve described above, I have found it to be mostuseful not to judge or be upset with the situation, butrather to actively do those things that bring me into aloving place inside myself. Whenever I find myselfgetting reactive, irritated, defensive, resistant, passive,aggressive, etc., I know that’s the time I need to dosomething different. Otherwise, based upon my pastexperiences, something will happen pretty soon that Iwould rather not go through, whether internally orexternally. So I take action to change the situationwithin me and around me. Sometimes I’ve found thatit doesn’t matter so much what I do, but that I just dosomething. In doing something, something differentfrom what was causing the reaction, I move the energyin a different way so that it doesn’t get stuck and causedisturbance.

o i n s Fo r K ids in AustinCOur Co ins For K ids Christmas service project is coming up real soon ...so if you've been saving your coins or wondering what you might like to do

as an expression of service this year, consider participating with usas we once again go on a joyful gift shopping spree

for children in need at Christmas time.

This year’s shopping day will be on: SUNDAY, NOV 21.Meet at 9 am at the ILM Center.

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

Pizza and other refreshments will be provided.

presented myself to God, to be in loving communion,and I had a much deeper, fuller, more loving experiencethan what I had written about earlier. It is through thispersistent doing that I have come to discover the wayinto my Being — where my being and doing becomeone. And this oneness is what carries me into theOneness with God’s loving and God’s Being!

So, here I am back, at the computer writing the rest ofmy article ... a few days after I wrote the words above.And wouldn’t you know it, my persistence paid off. Ihad a wonderful meditation this morning. I once again

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II NNER LL IGHT MM INISTRIES

CALENDARCLASSES & PROGRAMS: DEC – JAN, 2004

(ILM Calendar continues on pages 4 - 8)

Getting Up (continued from page 2)

by Brian Yeakey

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

Everyone is welcome! It’s a potluck so bring a dish to share. SUNDAY, DEC 12 from 12-5 pm.

HRISHRISHRISHRISHRISTTTTTMASMASMASMASMAS PPPPPOOOOOTTTTTLULULULULUCCCCCKKKKK PPPPPARARARARARTTTTTYYYYY

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

C

IGHT COLUMNS in AUSTIN:L

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 in touch with the Spirit within.

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

This ILM event will be a service project to plant Light Columnsthroughout Austin. Facilitated by Bill Stratton. The first half hour will be a talk on Light Columns, andthen the participants will group together and drive to various points in Austin to experience this wonderfulservice of bringing forward greater Light for greater good to the Austin community.

FEB 12 1-3 pm ILM Center, Austin, Texas No Charge

(Please print.)

facilitated by

Jim Gordon and Brian Yeakey

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

Experiencing The Divine –A Meditative Retreat

Experiencing The Divine –A Meditative Retreat

Experiencing The Divine: A Meditative RetreatExperiencing The Divine: A Meditative Retreat

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

thru Sunday, March 20, 2005 at 1:30 pm (ending after lunch)Pre-registration is required before March 1, 2005.

PLACE: Red Corral 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)

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

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

4

NAME(S): EMAIL:

ADDRESS & ZIP CODE:

DAYTIME PHONE: EVENING PHONE:

For further information please contact: Nadine Ferraro at 808-988-7509.

Brian will be available forspiritual counseling sessions.

WHEN: January 11-20

Jim and Brian will be availablefor initiation for those

who have been approved.

INITIATION and SPIRITUAL COUNSELINGS ˜

(Please print.)

ILM SEMINARand

Q&A with JIM and BRIAN

Sunday, January 9, 2005:

TTTTTIMEIMEIMEIMEIME::::: 2-5:30 pmWHERE: Ohana East Hotel, Waikiki, Hawaii

Meeting Room off of Lobby located on the 2nd floorMeeting Room off of Lobby located on the 2nd floorMeeting Room off of Lobby located on the 2nd floorMeeting Room off of Lobby located on the 2nd floorMeeting Room off of Lobby located on the 2nd floorFor Ohana Hotel reservations: Call Barbara Campbell at 808-921-6679 barbara.campbell@outrigger.com.

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

DONATION

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

HAWAII: ILM SEMINAR and Q&A ILM MEDITATION WORKSHOP

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

˜

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Sunday, January 16:

TTTTTIMESIMESIMESIMESIMES OFOFOFOFOF E E E E EVENTSVENTSVENTSVENTSVENTS

MMMMMEDITATIONEDITATIONEDITATIONEDITATIONEDITATION::::: 9:30 am-12 noonLunch break

Workshop: 1:30-5:30 pm

WWWWWHEREHEREHEREHEREHERE::::: Ohana East Hotel, Waikiki, Hawaii (see above information)

DDDDDONATIONONATIONONATIONONATIONONATION

ILM MEDITATION WORKSHOPwith JIM and BRIAN

ILM SEMINARand

Q&A with JIM and BRIAN

ILM MEDITATION WORKSHOPwith JIM and BRIAN

INITIATION and SPIRITUAL COUNSELINGS

NAME(S): EMAIL:

ADDRESS & ZIP CODE:

DAYTIME PHONE: EVENING PHONE:

6

TORIES UNTOLD:S

II NNER LL IGHT MM INISTRIES CALENDAR

365 DAYS OF IVING CONSCIOUSLY:L

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

DEC 9-11, Pretty Lake, Mattawan $125 per weekend

TEXAS: JAN 7-9, MAR 11-13, MAY 6-8, JULY 8-10, SEPT 9-11, NOV 11-13 $100 per weekend

(ILM Calendar continues on next page)

EACEMAKER:P

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

or contact person listed with the program. Thank you.)

IRCLE OF WOMEN:C

•

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!

This powerful and experiential workshop offers us a grand opportunity to let goof negative belief systems and behaviors that no longer serve us, and in doing so, to open ourselves up toembrace a “New Mind,” thus reconnecting with our own ‘peacemaker hearts’ within. Jean Houston describesthe New Mind as, “a radical change in consciousness that opens itself to a new order of health, justice, andsacred power.” Come and experience this incredibly powerful workshop. Auditing PeaceMaker is anawesome experience!

JAN 14-16 Fri. 7-11 pm, Sat. 9 am-7 pm, Sun. 9 am-3 pm ILM Center, Austin, Texas Donation

What if you had one year to live? How would youwant to live it? Might you want your yearlong journey to be about living each day mindfully, living itauthentically, with integrity, and might you have it to include forgiveness, acceptance, and loving. What ifyou could live each day this year consciously and deliberately? Throughout 2005, our LIVING CONSCIOUSLY

group will meet one Sunday each month. Join us NOW!

JAN 23, FEB 27, MAR 27, APR 24 2-4 pm ILM Center, Austin, Texas Donation

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

JAN 28: DRUMMING CIRCLE – We’ll meet at Laura Kesten’s Home in Dripping Springs between 6:30-7 pm.We’ll light the fire and drum. Use our drums or bring your own. Hot cocoa, cider, tea and coffee willfollow.

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

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

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

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

7

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

II NNER LL IGHT MM INISTRIES CALENDAR

TUESDAY CLASS SERIES:

CILM OMMUNITY NIGHT:

THE “ INDRED SPIRITS” STUDY GROUP:K

(Steven’s Calendar continues on next page)

ONGS AND STORIES FOR THE SOUL” RETREAT:S

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 recent topics have included: meditation, a study of first century Christianity,and mystical teachings from the kabbalah. Please call Steven for up-to-date information on the currentseries.

More music nights are on the way! Bring your voice, guitar, drum, orother musical instrument. Or just come to listen and enjoy! We’ll provide soft drinks and light munchies.Please RSVP during the preceding week so we can plan appropriately.

JAN 12, FEB 9, MAR 9, APR 13 7-10 pm Steven & Anita’s home, Ft. Wayne No Charge

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

WORKSHOPS:JAN 16, FEB 20, APR 17 2:30-5:30 pm YWCA Villa, Ft. Wayne Donation

RETREATS:MAR 18-20 Fri. 7:30 pm - Sun. 2:30 pm Yarrow Conf. Ctr, Augusta, Mich. $233/person - double

or $315/person - single

G OOD FRIDAY SERVICE:

P ASSOVER DINNER:

“

EDITATION AND SILENCE” RETREAT:M“ We will spend the weekend in periods ofsilence, meditation, and group sharing. Give your mind and body a rest and let your soul soar.

FEB 25-27 Fri. 7:30 pm - Sun. 2:30 pm Location and cost: TBA

We will be holding a Passover dinner, featuring Jim Gordon’s insightfulinterpretation of the Exodus story as the story of our own soul’s journey into physical embodiment andits ultimate liberation back into the heart of God. There is no fee for attending, but you MUST registerby Apr. 15 to take part in the evening, as we will need to make appropriate meal arrangements.

APR 23 6:30-9 pm Unity Christ Church, downstairs Ft. Wayne Donation

An inter-faith service, consisting of devotional music, prayers, andmeditation will be presented, inspiring the realization that the symbology of faith, endurance, and hoperepresented in the Good Friday/Easter story can be applied today in our own lives. The program is stillbeing planned as this newsletter is going to press, so please call Steven for up-to-date information.

MAR 25 Unity Christ Church Ft. Wayne Donation

Join us for a weekend ofheartwarming story-telling, uplifting live music (by some of our very own local ILM musicians!), a relaxedtime for friendly discussions, and even a few circle dances.

JAN 28-30 Fri. 7:30 pm - Sun. 2:30 pm Guesthouse Hotel, Ft. Wayne Cost: TBA

NOW AVAILABLE ON CD

NOW AVAILABLE:

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

II NNER LL IGHT MM INISTRIES CALENDAR

TILM APE SEMINARS:

SUNDAY SERVICES:

by Jim Gordon

8

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:

JAN 16, FEB 20, MAR 20, APR 17 11 am Brigade of Light Ft. Wayne Donation

PRESENTED BY STEVEN MCAFEE: (cont’d) For additional information, call Steven at 260-485-2167.

“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

The Path of Neutrality

Newly Mastered

ILM Tape Seminars are being offered in the Kalamazoo area at thehome of Carolyn Dailey for the following times: THURS, DEC 1, and THURS, DEC 16 at 11 am. Tapeseminars consist of an opening prayer, a silent meditation and listening to a tape of ILM presentations overthe years by Jim Gordon, Brian Yeakey and Steven McAfee.

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

Excerpt from The Path of NeutralityThe Path of NeutralityThe Path of NeutralityThe Path of NeutralityThe Path of Neutrality by Jim Gordon:

One way to move into the Path of Neutrality is meditation. Meditation is an opportunity to go into thatcenteredness and to find that divine thread inside of you of neutrality, of the oneness, of the stillness.

I began learning this when I was a child. I had a teacher come to me on the inner levels, and all he eversaid to me was:

“Live in the moment. Live in the now. Live in the Loving. Live in the oneness.Live one day at a time, one breath at a time. Live in the Loving.”

And that’s all he ever said. And that’s very profound. If you can do that, you’ve got it, you’ve done it.That’s the whole teaching right there.

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

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

The Path of Neutrality

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

(MANIFESTING) ABUNDANCE II

SENDING THE LIGHT

AURA CLEANSING WORKSHOP

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

HEALING AND COLOR THERAPY

MEDITATION AND THE HEALING PROCESS

by Brian Yeakey

PRACTICING MEDITATION—CONNECTING WITH THE DIVINE

by Steven McAfee

TWO MEDITATIONS by Jim Gordon

Sacred Place MeditationForgiveness Meditation

ILM BOOKSBY JIM GORDON ($6 each)

LLLLLOVEOVEOVEOVEOVE ANDANDANDANDAND L L L L LOVINGOVINGOVINGOVINGOVING

T T T T THEHEHEHEHE K K K K KNOWINGNOWINGNOWINGNOWINGNOWING OFOFOFOFOF G G G G GODODODODOD

T T T T THEHEHEHEHE S S S S STAFFTAFFTAFFTAFFTAFF OFOFOFOFOF THETHETHETHETHE S S S S SHEPHERDHEPHERDHEPHERDHEPHERDHEPHERD

INNER LIGHT MINISTRIES

P.O. Box 164332Austin, Texas 78716-4332

Each tape and CD is $9.00, except for the Abundance I & IICD packet which is $15. Only the titles with the CD

icon next to it are available as a CD as well. Two titlestogether indicate different lectures on each side.

ON MEDITATION

(2003)

(2003)

(2002)

(2001)

(2001)

(2000)

(1999)

(1999)

(1998)

(1998)

(1997)

(1997)

(1997)

(1994)

(1994)

(1994)

(1992)

(1992)

(1991)

(1991)

(1991)

(1991)

(1991)

(1990)

(1991)

(1990)

(1987)

(1986)

(1985)

(1984)

(1980)

} CD Set

CD/Tape

AUDIO TAPES & CDS OF JIM GORDON

THREE MEDITATIONS by Jim Gordon

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

THE SPIRITUAL PATH MEDITATION by Jim Gordon

THE HEART OF GOD MEDITATION by Brian Yeakey

CD/Tape

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

Name:

Phone:

Address:

Amount Enclosed: $

ORDERING INFORMATION:Each tape and CD is $9.00, except for the

Abundance I & II CD packet which is $15.Please add $3 postage and handling per or-der (not per item). Checks may be madepayable to INNER LIGHT MINISTRIES and sent to:

9

NEW

INNER LIGHT MINISTRIES MATERIALS LISTINNER LIGHT MINISTRIES MATERIALS LIST

by Jim Gordon, President of ILM

ON MEDITATIONQ&A

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

Q: You said one time that we could affect morechange in the world by doing an act of devotedmeditation, in one session, than we could in an entirelifetime of doing things in the physical world. Couldyou elaborate on that?

When you rise up, and you truly rise upabove your karma, and begin to truly walkthat inner pathway of Spirit, towards your

soul, and then connect with your soul, what happensis you create a pathway, and as well a vacuum if youwill. You’ve risen up, and now all of creation risesup a little bit with you. And so, you automaticallylift creation up, just a little bit more every time. Andthe more people that come up towards soul, and intosoul, the more the world is lifted up. And so, youcan do more in one two hour session of meditation,and waking up into the soul, and lifting humanity byyou waking up that way, than you can going out intothe world. You can spend ten lifetimes ‘doing good’in the world, and still not do the same thing you couldhave done in two hours if those two hours are spentin true devotion, in God, with God, and waking up inSpirit. Now, the key in meditation is, don’t ‘try’,just ‘be’. It’s not even ‘do’, just ‘be’. Be inmeditation. Be the meditation. Be the name of God.Be the one who’s chanting. Be. And then let ithappen. And each time, each day for me it’s different.It’s never the same. It’s never repetitive. It’s not thesame today as it was yesterday. It’s not the same todayas it was five years ago, and it’s ever different, everchanging, ever moving. Because I’m ever movinginto higher regions, higher levels. And if I’m notmoving higher, I’m going back down here to clear

(Q&A continues on page 11)10

Jim:

Jim:

I'm under the impression that thereare three different types of karmas:karmas from past lives, fate karmas

and then karmas we do now. My ques-tion is, I know that they can drop off during medita-tion … how actually does that work?

When we meditate, when we’re chantingthe name of God, and we’re building thepower of the name up, we are aligning

ourselves to the flow of the Holy Spirit. And we arebringing ourselves into the frequency of that lovingaction that is the Holy Spirit. And that which we callgrace is God’s loving in action through the HolySpirit. And if we will be vulnerable to that lovingaction, as it comes into our consciousness, by holdingour focus to that and chanting the name of God andbuilding that power up, that power is the energy oftransformation. It is the consciousness of liberationthat is building within us. And any and all things thatare not in harmony with that frequency begin to dropaway. And those things are our karmas. The karmasare ‘in harmony’, if I can call it harmony, with ourlack, with our lust, with our need and greed, with allof that which is of the material and psychic world.But when we align ourselves to loving, the true lovingthat is the grace of the Holy Spirit, and begin toawaken into the divine that we are, at the seat of thesoul (pointing to the ‘eye center’ between the brows)and beyond, the frequency that resides here is aboveall that is of the material and psychic world. And sothe material and psychic world begin to drop away.And with that, the karmas. Now we still stay in ourbody, we don’t leave the body. But we no longer are‘of the world’, even though we are in the world. Thenwe are in the world but not of the world, and so webegin to lose the frequency of the world. We findourselves in the world, holding in loving, and so webegin to truly clear our karmas, complete our destiny,so that when we do leave our physical body for the lasttime, it is the last time that we are ever in the physicalcreation. Then we leave ‘as soul’, we go into therealm of soul, and on up into the realms of Spirit, and

Q:

That’s the greatest service. Activemeditation, saying the names of God,waking up inside, traveling into the inner

regions — that’s the greatest service we will everperform for ourselves, for our families, for our friends,and for all of creation. That’s how creation can cometo rest, where the chaos doesn’t exist anymore. Thelaw of thermodynamics is very similar to the law ofkarma: eventually everything will come to rest.Everything will come to quiet. Because the chaoswill end ... in a moment. So, what we want to do is tobring that chaos to an end now, by being neutral, bybeing quiet. And then discover what happens. Wewon’t know what happens until we bring that chaosto quiet inside of ourselves. We may not bring quietto the world, but in the inner world we can. That’swhere we’re responsible. We are the creator of ourthoughts, of our feelings, and of how we act fromthose. And that all takes place from in here (pointingto the ‘eye center’ between the brows), not out here.So if we go inside and take responsibility for our owninner creation, and bring quiet to that, neutrality tothat, bring chaos to an end inside ... then what comesforward is a dynamic loving, a dynamic light andsound. And that’s where we find our peace and ourjoy and our loving.

up things that are to be cleared up in myconsciousness. So, it’s just to relax, and to just gowith the flow. Just go where God wants to take you.In truth, when you are in this kind of meditation withthe name of God, you are in the hand of God. AndGod is right there. And you’re resting there. And Godis just waiting for you to wake up and realize that youare in the hand of God, and God is taking you in yourmeditation to those places you need to be for yourown awakening. We think we’re making it happen— it’s really God doing it. God is up here in our ownsoul, pulling us up (pointing to the ‘eye center’between the brows): “Come on, pay attention. Wakeup! Come on up here. No, I’m up here.” And it’slike a puppet on a string: every time the puppeteerpulls a string, the puppet is either looking up orstanding up straight, because it’s feeling the tug. Andso we want to follow that tug, and go up, and not tryto figure out how to do it, just follow it. Does thatmake sense to you?

Q: Very much so. The active meditation reallyis the greatest service?

ON MEDITATION CONTINUEDQ&A(continued from page 10)

11

TWO NEW CDS from JIM

(These CDs will be available in February, 2005)

Jim:

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

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

The Pearl of Great Price and Meditation

The Three Fold Path

The Pearl of Great Price and Meditation

The Three Fold Path

excerpt:

excerpt:

12

by Laura Kesten, ILM Minister

R

M

ight out of college, I landed a job teaching24 kindergartners. It was the children,however, who taught me the greatestlessons that year. A little boy named

Nathan brought about one such lesson.

Upon returning from a weekly art class, Nathan happilygreeted me at our classroom door holding his paintingup high for me to see.

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

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

I was stunned. I quickly apologized and asked him toshow me again. He scowled it was too late. Feelingthat I had done something terribly wrong, I confided ina senior colleague of mine.

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

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

Her face lit up. “By not interpreting anything they door say,” she stated simply. “Delight in watching them,listen to their words, join in their wonder, and,” shepaused long enough to heighten my interest, “neverassume you know what they’ve painted.”

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

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

EDITATION –A Wonder-full EXPERIENCE

(EXPERIENCE continues on page 13)

wide, and he delightfully twittered the story of hispainting.

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

The first key element is to “give up old ways.” Formany of us, to sit in meditation, keeping the body andmind still for an extended period of time, is definitely a‘new way’ of doing. We’re accustomed to being activeand industrious, and it can feel unnatural if we aren’ttasking or multi-tasking. These days, my own life isvery busy, but when I sit in meditation, I have to giveup old ways — the hectic lifestyle — and give my bodyand mind permission to be still for that duration. Withtime and regularity, sitting in meditation becomes anatural practice.

The second key element is to “see things with new eyes”... in other words, to not interpret or judge that whichwe experience in meditation. Many of us fall into self-judging whenever we aren’t getting the results that wethink we ‘should’ be getting, believing we must be doingsomething wrong or are somehow undeserving.Actually, each meditation ‘sitting’ is a new sitting. Andwhatever the experience of that sitting, it’s whateverGod gives us to experience. So whether it’s sitting indarkness or traveling out of body, it’s helpful to justexperience it — not judge it or oneself, nor interpret it.Indeed, traveling out-of-body is an awesome experience,no question, but sitting in darkness is also an experience.“Seeing with new eyes” helps me to remember that Iam sitting in meditation, not to have an out-of-bodyexperience, but to experience God.

The third key element is to “watch, ... listen, ... inwonder.” Spiritual teachers tell us to experience Godin meditation by listening for the Sound Current,watching for the Light, then traveling the Sound andLight to higher realms, and, ultimately, back to the heartof God ... and to go through the meditation process in astate of wonder. Being “in wonder” is being in our

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

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

by Steven McAfee,ILM Minister

13

remember Christmas as a child — the joyfulexpectancy, the air of wonder, and the magicof the twinkling lights in our home and

throughout our city. Something sacredalways seemed to happen within me at Christmas time.It wasn’t just the presents, the gathering of family andfriends, or even the delicious holiday foods. It was aninner gratitude, an appreciation, a deep “knowing”beyond all words that love was real. The magic of thatlove seemed to come alive in me more during theChristmas season that at any other time. Other peopleexperienced it too. I could see it in their eyes. But noteveryone caught this spirit of Christmas. For some,Christmas was just another meaningless holiday, or onemore obligation on their to-do list. That knowing of thejoy of love simply wasn’t there . . . and with these peopleas well, their eyes gave them away. Those whoexperienced that inner knowing shared a kind ofcommon bond. A look of recognition often passedbetween them in the stores and on the streets, as if theyshared a secret that others had not yet found.

For me, this inner aspect of Christmas — even as a child— was always very personal and private. I wouldsometimes get up in the middle of the night and sit allalone in the dark, just watching the radiant glow of ourChristmas tree lights. A profound sense of awe wouldcome over me, welling up from within. Everythingseemed right with the world, and life was good.Although I would not have described it this way at thattime, life felt holy to me in those moments. And theexperience of holiness is solitary. The very wordholiness means “set apart.” Holiness is somethingexperienced from within or not at all, I believe. Evenwhen I was celebrating or singing carols with others, apart of me was focused deep inside on a movement ofSpirit, a joy beyond the physical activities we weresharing, a quiet holiness too deep to express.

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

THE AGIC OF CHRISTMASM

I

Experience (continued from page 12)

by Laura Kesten

prevailed and permeated all we did. There was a senseof belonging — we were “family” and family mattered.The outward events of Christmas seemed to me areflection of what was happening within — an attemptto convey the warmth, peace, and joy of that sacrednessinside, a reminder that it was really there.

Many years have passed since then, but today I stillexperience these two aspects of Christmas. Countlessstories have been told and re-told about the meaningand symbology of Christmas, but to me the essenceremains the same. Outwardly, it is about the quality ofour relationships — how we treat one another. Beingkind . . . it’s as simple as that. Inwardly, it is aboutknowing — an inner realization that God is love andlove is real. We experience that knowing in the solitudeof our private prayers and meditations. And that knowingchanges everything. When we actually feel the realityof that love, what we feel is holiness — something trulyset apart: something so pure, so free, and so eternal thatnothing in this world can compare.

This year as we take part in Christmas with those welove, let’s enjoy the magic of being together. But let usalso look at Christmas within ourselves. Do we see theLight and feel its glow? Can we sense the awesomePresence? When we find that love is truly alive withinus, not as a mere idea, but as a living spirit, that is whenwe discover the enduring value and profound meaningof Christmas — that love is far more than a noblethought, an imaginary ideal, or a passing emotion —love is real. Even more than that, love is the centralreality, the very heart of life itself.

II NNER LL IGHT MM INISTRIES NEWSLETTER

FORWARDING SERVICE REQUESTED

Inner Light MinistriesEditorial and Publishing Office

P.O. Box 164332Austin, Texas 78716-4332

Phone: 512-306-1056

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.

INNER LIGHT MINISTRIES (ILM)

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

• •Happy HolidaysHappy Holidays

The ILM Staff

wishes you

God’s Abundance

with grace and ease

throughout the holidays

and new year!

The ILM Staff

wishes you

God’s Abundance

with grace and ease

throughout the holidays

and new year!