we’ve been on up until this time. Now, we’re in a new action, and that is to walk this path consciously, to live it consciously, day in and day out, with every breath; this new action is to become conscious of ourselves, as soul, living this pathway.

When God set forth our soul out into creation, He also sent the Grace of the Holy Spirit in the form of Sound and Light. That creative sound that has created our soul, that has gone forward with us in all of our experience, in all of our existence, ever being present with us, ever guiding us, ever directing us, ever present to assist us as we’ve been going out and experiencing all the different regions of God’s creation, is now the means by which something different is happening.

This “something different” is: God is calling our soul home. We’ve experienced it all, we’ve done it all, and now God is calling our soul home. “Hey, time to come Home. You’re finished. You’ve experienced it all for Me. Now, come back Home from which you came; come back into the fullness of who I am in you and you are in Me, and let us dwell together as one in fullness, in awareness, in the true movement of Loving once again. No longer are you looking down and out into all of My creations, looking away from me, feeling separated. Now, I want you to begin a different part of the journey; and that is to look towards Me, to look to Me once again, and to have your journey focused on Me, not on My creation.”

There are many in this world that feel this longing but don’t understand it, and they let the longing be interpreted as something still out in the world. It’s interpreted by them as a new mate, a new car, a new position, a diploma, or money, alcohol, or food. We’ve all experienced this in this lifetime in some form or another, looking out into the world, trying to find fulfillment, completions, answers trying to fill up the emptiness inside, to find where that longing is wanting to go and be fulfilled.

Volume 21 Number 2 August, 2009

INNER LIGHT MInIstrIes JournalINNER LIGHT MInIstrIes Journal

(FulFilling continues on page 3)

FulFilling god’s intention

The Path of Sound and Light is a spiritual journey that our souls have been on since the soul was created. It isn’t something we’re just starting

right now. It isn’t something where, if we get initiated into this pathway, we now are doing The Path of Sound and Light. The very moment our soul was created, we were walking this pathway. God spoke, and with that spoken Word, with that Sound, came forth the Light; that very first Light is the Light of soul. We are that Light. We are God’s light. We are God’s creation.

Why did God create us as soul? We came forward out of God’s loving for a reason. He created us with intention, with reason, with purpose. He created us out of Loving. He brought forward His Loving and created the soul. And since that moment we have been on the journey fulfilling God’s intention for our soul, which is to go forward into God’s creation and to experience creation.

Now, why do you think God has done that? God has put us into motion, into action, into experience on this journey so that He can go forth, through us, as soul, and experience all of His creation. God experiences His creation fully through our souls’ loving and creativity.

Our soul is Loving; our soul is creative. God creates everything out of Loving. God, which dwells at the Spiritual Center as the divine spark that we are, is Loving and creative. God gave us opportunity to go into all of His creation and to create and to love our creations, and to love all of God’s creation. This has been our journey throughout all of our existence.

With this awareness in mind, we are now embarking upon another part of the journey, and this part is different than any other part of the journey that

(from Experiencing The Divine Meditative Retreat, April, 2007)

by Jim Gordon, President of ILM

It’s up to you to have experiences by what you do, and complaining about a lack of experiences is not going to get it. Believe me, I’ve done enough of that, of complaining. Not only that, I’ve wished and wanted a lot more, and all that wanting just created an inner pressure that actually blocked more of the greater experience from myself. I wanted it so badly, but that wanting actually got in the way of having the experience.

You will hear and know that inner voice of God speaking to you, calling you Home. And then you will celebrate. That is the joyous moment of awakening to what really is, knowing what really is – and there will be tears of joy and gratitude, believe me. If you haven’t had that already, there will be a day that you will. So just allow yourself to follow that Voice of God.

So, always remember to begin your meditation by simply sharing your loving with the Creator within … because that’s the movement that will bring things alive and awake within you, where you will really come to know and wake up. Be aware. Experience that movement of Loving, that Voice that is calling you Home that says, “Follow me. I am The Pathway of Sound and Light.” That “following” is simply done through your awareness – wherever that Sound and Light moves you, wherever that experience brings you, simply follow and allow yourself to move along for the ride. That’s really all you have to do. There’s no forcing, or pushing, or pressuring here; it’s simply relaxing and sharing your loving, and allowing yourself to move into that current of Loving that is God bringing you Home.

So, just relax and go into the Loving. It’s that inner focus of loving where it will just unfold. You don’t have to pray for it, or ask for it, and you don’t have to complain that you’re not getting it. It will come simply as you bring yourself to it by chanting the Names of God and loving God. That’s it; that’s all there is. It’s amazing that that’s all it is.

by Brian Yeakey, Vice President of ILM

2

haring our loving

Follow me. I am The Pathway of Sound and Light. Follow me.” That’s always what the voice of God says. That’s what this pathway is – the voice of God

bringing the soul Home. What is called the sound current, the sound of Spirit, the audible life stream – that truly is the voice of God that speaks to the soul to call it Home.

That voice of God is the movement of Loving. It is the very living, loving, essence of the Lord that we speak of so often. It is this voice that we’ll hear within. In the beginning we may not know it, we may not understand it, but through the vehicle of the spiritual teacher, we come to understand and know what that voice is. And it is in the knowing that we follow that voice more and more. Always, always: follow that inner voice of God.

Meditation is simply the technique or the way by which we can begin to open, to recognize, to understand and perceive all the workings of that inner voice through the light, through the sound, through the movement of that Spirit within, through all the experiences both in the body and out of the body. All of these are a movement of the Voice. That Voice of God is the river of Loving, and it actually appears inside like a river. We may even have inner experiences in a dream state, or out of body, or in a vision while meditating of literally being in a river – and that river gathers and pulls us in its current toward its source to where its going. All we have to do is get in. But to get in we have to be able to recognize where the river is. The way we recognize it is to open to that movement in meditation. It’s up to us to get the waters moving, to stir the waters in order to get the flow going so that we, in a sense, bring ourselves back into that main river. And we do that by sharing our Loving with God; as the voice of our soul, the voice of God that we are, begins to call out in Loving, it connects and merges once again into that greater Voice. That’s all we have to do.

(from Be In The Loving With The Lord, August 26, 2007)

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I nner L ight M inistriesI L M

Jim and Brian’s weekly class is held on Sundays, 3-5 pmat the ILM Center, Franklin Sq. Bldg, 3724 Jefferson, Ste. 100.

Presented by Jim gordon and brian yeakey in austin, texas:For additional information, call 512-306-1056.

W

CalendarCLassEs & PRoGRaMs: suMMER – auTuMN ‘09

Each class includes spiritual teachings, practical exercises, group discussion, and meditation. Jim and Brian help participants to become

more deeply aware of the Spirit within. No charge.

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eekly Classes:

ILM presents:

FulFilling by Jim Gordon(continued from page 1)

in England

Saturday, October 10, 2009

time oF event: 1:30-6 pm* Where: at the mayFair ConFerenCe Center

17 Connaught PlaCe,london W2 el

Phone: 020 7262 0416

* These ending times are approximate.

ILM presents:

Well, I know there is only one place that can really truly fulfill that emptiness, and that is God. If you

are interested, if you are focused, if you are feeling the pull, the call inside, the longing to come home to God … this is the time. This is the time to sit down in meditation every day and go within, and be in the Loving with the Lord. It is that simple.

sharing and Q & awith Jim gordon and brian yeakey

(For further information call Nanna Brincker at 0207-485-0699.)

sharing and Q & awith Jim gordon and brian yeakey

(For further information call Nanna Brincker at 0207-485-0699.)

(ILM Calendar continues on pages 4 - 10

at earnley Concourse, earnley, Chichester West Sussex:

on Friday, October 16 at 6 pm thru Monday, October 19 at 1:30 pm.*

For more information contact: Susanne Cook at 01444 870838 or lynn Johnson at 01903 765928.

To register contact: laura doggett at 512-306-1056 or email Laura at ilmadmin@ilm.org.

Experiencing The Divine – A Meditative Retreat

Experiencing The Divine – A Meditative Retreat

in England:

4

in Hawaii:

earnley ConCourse Cost: Single Occupancy - £278

Double Occupancy (per person) - £256

at Saint anthony’s retreat Center Honolulu, Hawaii:

on Wednesday, august 5 at 6 pm thru Sunday, august 9 at 1:30 pm.* For more information contact: laura doggett at 512-306-1056 or email Laura at ilmadmin@ilm.org.

st. anthony’s Cost: Double Occupancy (per person) - $350

facilitated by Jim Gordon and Brian Yeakey

20092009

II

* These ending times are approximate.

n this meditative retreat, Jim and Brian will be taking you on an experiential journey into the greater knowing of your Divine Nature.

They will be sharing about the meditation practice of The Path of Sound and Lightto “experience the Divine,” and there will be gracious periods of time

for meditation, relaxation, and rejuvenation.

n this meditative retreat, Jim and Brian will be taking you on an experiential journey into the greater knowing of your Divine Nature.

They will be sharing about the meditation practice of The Path of Sound and Lightto “experience the Divine,” and there will be gracious periods of time

for meditation, relaxation, and rejuvenation.

ILM presents:

For further information regarding this event please contact Nadine Ferraro at 808-988-7509.For further information regarding this event please contact Nadine Ferraro at 808-988-7509.

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time oF event: 5:30 Pm PotluCk

6:45 sharing and Q & a

in Hawaii

time oF event: 5:30 pm PotluCk

6:45 pm sharing and Q & aWhere: merCedes home

Please contact Mercedes for information and directions.

Saturday, August 15 Saturday, August 15

time oF event: 1:30-6 pm* Where: Ohana East Hotel, Waikiki, Hawaii

Ohana East Lobby Conference RoomPark in the Ohana East garage located at 2375 Kuhio avenue.

Parking will be provided by ILM.donation

Sunday, August 2

time oF event: 1:30-6 pm* Where: Ohana East Hotel, Waikiki, Hawaii

Ohana East Lobby Conference RoomPark in the Ohana East garage located at 2375 Kuhio avenue.

Parking will be provided by ILM.donation

time oF event: 6 PmWhere: nadine Ferraro’s home, 2703 terraCe drive, honolulu

Please contact Nadine at 808-988-7509 for information and directions.

sharing and Q & a with Jim gordon and brian yeakey

Saturday, August 1

Sunday, August 2sharing and Q & a

with Jim gordon and brian yeakey

time oF event: 6 pmWhere: nadine Ferraro’s home, 2703 terraCe drive, honolulu

Please contact Nadine at 808-988-7509 for information and directions.

sharing and Q & awith Jim gordon and brian yeakey

Saturday, August 1

Monday, August 3, 10, and 17

sharing and Q & a with Jim gordon and brian yeakey

Monday, August 3, 10, and 17

PotluCk and meetingwith Jim gordon and brian yeakey

PotluCk and meetingwith Jim gordon and brian yeakey

meetings with Jim gordon and brian yeakeymeetings with Jim gordon and brian yeakey

* These ending times are approximate.

time oF event: 1:30-5:30 Pm*Where: mig gasPar’s home, 59-250 PuPukea road, haleiWa

Please contact Mig at 808-638-8153 for information and directions.

time oF event: 1:30-5:30 pm*Where: mig gasPar’s home, 59-250 PuPukea road, haleiWa

Please contact Mig at 808-638-8153 for information and directions.

(ILM Calendar continues on pages 4 - 10)

hristmAs Potluck PArty:

oins For KidsC

C

he celebration begins at 4 pm at 203 Buckeye Trail in Austin, Texas. Everyone is welcome!

It’s a potluck so bring a dish to share.

ILM CoMMunIty MovIe nIghtsoin the ILM community at Laura Kesten’s home on the 1st Saturday of every month

for fun, laughter, and to watch an uplifting movie. Come early (5 pm) and have a fresh bowl of homemade soup and slice of fresh bread. Bring a dish if you want to add to the menu.

Movie starts between 6:30–7 pm. Everyone is welcome.

• •

• •6

SEPT 5: The Secret Of Roan Inish OCT 3: Lars And The Real Girl

NOV 7: Puff The Magic Dragon, The Velveteen Rabbit, and The Reluctant Dragon DEC 5: The Bear (short cartoon), and It’s A Wonderful Life

ur Coins For Kids Christmas service project is coming up ...

so if you’ve been saving your coins or wondering what you might like to doas an expression of service this year, consider participating with us as we once again

go on a joyful gift shopping spree for children in need at Christmas time.

Drop off your coins/donation at one of Jim and Brian’s Sunday classes

by SUNDaY, NOV 15, or you can mail a check to:

ILM, P.O. Box 164332, Austin, TX 78716-4332.(All donations to ILM are tax deductible.)

Shopping Day will be on SUNDaY, NOV 22Meet at 9:30 am at the Super Target

at I-35 and Parmer.

Community Events in Austin:

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oin us for ILM’s Christmas celebration on SatURDaY, DEC 12

J

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J

(ILM Calendar continues on next page)

I nner L ight M inistries CalendarI L M

tories untold:S Jim and Brian talk about Loving, Acceptance, and Forgiveness in every talk they give. Through our writing in stories untold, we first-handedly get to practice and experience Loving, Acceptance and Forgiveness in the events of our lives, letting go of the past so that we can open more fully to the Divine. As a bonus, the process of writing also prepares us in the present, as well as laying a foundation for the future – keeping us more aligned and in the flow of God’s Loving. These weekends are magical! Try it for one weekend and see for yourself. No experience necessary! You just have to show up!

Presented by laura kesten:For additional information, call Laura at 512-266-9400 or 512-658-4117 or email: LSKestenB@aol.com.

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Check out our recently updated http://www.ILM.org today!Check out our recently updated http://www.ILM.org today!

If you ever wished the recorded meditations would not end so soon, you’ll be interested in checking out the new Open-ended Meditation page on the web site. Several of Jim & Brian’s meditations have been edited so that they will simply stop playing after the beginning and you can continue to meditate for as long as you desire.

Open-ended Meditations NEWNEW

ILM.org — the inner light ministries Website

Stay connected to ILM!

ILM.org — the inner light ministries Website

Stay connected to ILM! • Jim & Brian’s weekly talks – listen on-line or download to your computer or MP3 Over 100 recordings of weekly talks available • ILM Quarterly Newsletters – the most recent issue as well as archives • Calendar of Events – find out what’s going on by geographic location or by minister • Order CDs – you can get any CD for only $1.00 for shipping and handling • Initiates Only section – find out about Initiates events and listen to talks for Initiates

midWest: OCT 16-18 ILM Midwest Center Ft. Wayne, Ind. $50

2010: MAR 26-28 ILM Midwest Center Ft. Wayne, Ind. $50 JUNE or JULY TBA Saugatuck, Mich. $450

OCT 15-17 ILM Midwest Center Ft. Wayne, Ind. $50

texas: aUG 22 ILM Center Austin No charge OCT 22-29 Laura Kesten’s Home Lakeway $75

* * *Also, in Texas, there is a small group of writers who write 2-3 times a month. This is not a workshop but a time to work on your own writing within a group setting of other writers. Sharing is optional at the end of the session. We meet on Thursdays from 10 am–6 pm at Laura Kesten’s home in Lakeway. Please contact Laura for upcoming writing sessions.

•

(ILM Calendar continues on next page)

hristmAs PArty:

oins For KidsC

ILM CoMMunIty nIghts

ore fun community nights are on their way! We’ll provide soft drinks and munchies. Please RSVP a week ahead so we can plan appropriately. Donations accepted.

(For more Community Nights see page 10.)

•

• •

ring your holiday spirit and come enjoy the food, the lights, the music and the fun; the gift of your presence is all that is needed to make the celebration complete!

C

ThURSDAY, OCT. 29 at 7 pmILM Center

t’s a potluck Halloween party! Wear your favorite costume, brush up on your favorite spook-tacular tunes, and bring a dish from your mummy’s recipe!

Join us for a night of ho l g good fun!

Shopping Day will be on MONDaY, DEC 7.Meet at 7 pm at Wal-Mart on Coldwater Rd.

Wrapping Party will be on tHURSDaY, DEC 10.Meet at 6:30 pm at the ILM Midwest Center. (Note: pizzas and drinks will be provided.)

Gift Delivery will be on tUESDaY, DEC 22.Details TBA

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Community Events in Ft. WAyne:

C ° c

C ° c

he celebration begins at 7 pm

at Steven & Anita’s home in Fort Wayne.

oin us for ILM’s Christmas celebration on MONDaY, DEC 21

HalloweenPotluck & Music nigHt

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I nner L ight M inistries CalendarI L M

I“ nner studies:”

Presented by steven mCaFee, midWest Coordinator:For additional information, call Steven at 260-485-2167 or by e-mail at mcafeesa@aol.com.

uesday Class series: T

These programs are open ONLY to those enrolled in the year-long program.

Tuesday Meditations:

Meetings: AUG 2, SEPT 6, NOV 8 ILM Midwest Center Donation

Weekend Workshop: OCT 2-4 ILM Midwest Center Donation

introductory Meeting: DEC 6 (Intro for 2010-potluck after) ILM Midwest Center Donation

The ILM Midwest Center will be open for silent meditation from 6:30 to 7:15 pm. Those wishing to attend are asked to silently enter and be ready to begin by 6:30. After the meditation, participants are free to either leave or to stay for the class immediately following at 7:30. People coming for just the 7:30 class are asked not to enter the ILM suite until 7:15.

Steven offers a series of weekly ILM classes in Fort Wayne on Tuesday nights from 7:30-8:30 pm at the ILM Midwest Center. Each month-long series focuses on our inner awakening to the Divine Loving that is the essence of the Holy Spirit.

ilM oMMunity night: C More fun community nights are on their way! Please RSVP a week ahead so we can plan appropriately. Bring a dish to share. (Also see page 9.)

AUG 1 12 noon Dog Picnic/Potluck Kathy Stark’s place No chargeOCT 2 7 pm Social gathering: tBa ILM Midwest Center No charge

unday serviCes:S Steven occasionally serves as a guest speaker for various churches and spiritual groups in the Midwest. The following is presently scheduled:

AUG 16, OCT 25 Regular Service 11 am Brigade of Light, Fort Wayne Donation

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xtended Meditations: The ILM Midwest Center is open for silent meditation on selected dates. Those wishing to attend are asked to silently enter, and to be ready to begin by the time listed. Please note that there will be no teaching or social activity connected with these meditations.

AUG 16 & OCT 25 at 2:30-4:30 pm

(Worldwide Calendar continues on next page)

eekend retreats:W Please register for these events in advance.

knoW thyself - One of the most ancient teachings found in many “mystery schools” reads: “Know Thyself.” This retreat will provide a sacred space and quiet time for us to awaken more fully to the truth of our Being. There will be periods of meditation, journal writing, a labyrinth walk, music, group sharing, and personal time.

NOV 5-8 Thurs 6 pm - Sun 3 pm GilChrist Three Rivers, Mich. $230/person.

(Space in this retreat is limited and no scholarships are available for this retreat.)

neW Beginnings - Join us as we learn and share about new beginnings in our lives and within ourselves. (Advanced registration required. Space is limited and no scholarships are available for this program.) For more information or to register please call Steven or Anita McAfee at (260) 485-2167.

SEPT 18-20 Fri 5:30 pm - Sun 3 pm Seasons at Fetzer Kalamazoo, Mich. $150/person

I nner L ight M inistries CalendarI L MCommunity ilm seminars and events WorldWide:

ilm aCtivity in dallas:Please contact Jason Baker at 972-571-8511 for dates, times and direction.

•

Each seminar will consist of a short meditation and the listening to a Class CD by Jim and Brian. The ILM seminars will be held at various locations in the Dallas area. The dates and times for the seminars are yet to be determined. At this time seminars are held on intermittent Sunday afternoons. Please check with Jason for the most current information.

•

ilm aCtivity in los angeles:Please contact Victoria Eng at 310-980-2224 to RSVP before coming.

• The focus of each evening is on spiritual awakening and connecting to the Loving through listening to an ILM meditation and talk by Jim and Brian. These seminars will be held every other Wednesday at Victoria and Willard Eng’s home in Beverlywood.

Call for dates 6 pm Beverlywood, Los Angeles No charge

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eeting:M

2. Please contact Mig Gaspar at 808-638-8153 for information and directions. Listen to Jim and Brian’s weekly meditations and talks on:

Tuesdays evenings 7 pm North Shore of Oahu No charge

3. Please contact Brian Samo Ross at 808-247-3305 or 554-3305 (cell) for directions. Listen to Jim and Brian’s meditations and talks followed by a potluck:

Second Sundays 10 am Kaneohe, Oahu No charge

ilm aCtivity in london, england:Please contact Nanna Brinker at 0207-485-0699 for directions.

Join us in a short meditation and talk by Jim and Brian and share your favorite spiritual poetry, music and readings. Our ILM seminars are at 42A Montpelier Grove, London NW5, on the following dates. All meetings start at 4 pm.

Sundays Aug 30, Sept 20, Oct 25, Nov 15 & 29, Dec 12 (special Christmas celebration) No charge

Share in a one-hour meditation and fellowship opportunity on:

Monday evenings 6-7:30 pm Manoa Valley, Honolulu No charge

eeting:M

eeting:M

eeting:M

eeting:M•

ilm aCtivities in haWaii: 1. Please contact Nadine Ferraro at 808-988-7509, or 551-3123 (cell) for directions.

•

ilm aCtivities in kalamazoo: For additional information, call Penny Miller at 269-664-3577 or by e-mail at pmiller@mei.net.

eeting:M

S tudy group: The Kalamazoo group has meetings, including potlucks and movie nights, periodi-cally at three different homes: Judy Richards (ph: 269-349-3943. e-mail: jg.richards@charter.net), Penny Miller (ph: 269-664-3577. e-mail: pmiller@mei.net), and Carolyn Dailey (ph: 269-327-6851. e-mail: carolee12@chartermi.net). Please call or email for current schedule and directions.

Recent Talk Available:an introduCtion to ilm

If we want to let go of all the struggle, separation and reaction, we can just focus on the Loving; and in the

Loving, we can rise above it. In the rising above it, all the struggle, separation and reaction just drop away because we are no longer ‘feeding’ it. It’s in our feeding it that we keep it ‘charged’.

So the action of meditation is, in a sense, to malnourish that which we’ve been feeding in the world – the mind, the emotions and body – and to now feed our souls. Chanting the “HU,” that sacred name, in meditation has also been referred to as “feeding the soul,” “the manna from heaven,” “the nectar of Spirit,” “the milk and honey of the Promised Land” ... all these are references to feeding our souls.

So we want to feed ourselves that spiritual food ... and that’s what we’re doing in meditation. – Brian Yeakey

Excerpt from an introduCtion to ilm:

order inForMation & postage payMent: Since ILM is a spiritual pathway that is here to assist each person on their journey, our products are all available free of charge. You are welcome to order as many of the titles as you wish with the understanding that we will send you up to two of each item per order. There is a charge of $1.00 per item to cover shipping costs. In addition, donations towards replenishing the CDs and books are gratefully accepted. Checks may be made payable to Inner Light Ministries and sent to: Inner Light Ministries, PO Box 164332, Austin, Texas 78716.

In this packet you will find ILM’s book love and loving,the CD an Introduction to ILM,

the CD understanding the ‘inner’ PathWay, the CD lotus meditation,ILM’s brochure inner light ministries guidelines

For initiation and initiates, and a copy of our latest newsletter.

all of these materials were selected to give a newcomera better understanding of who we are and what we’re about.

If you would like an Introductory Packet for yourself or someone else, just let us know.

Call us, email us, or write us! Feel free to take a look at our website too: www.ilm.org

(for more information see page 7). We are happy to do what we can to assist you

on your spiritual journey.

Blessings of Peace, Joy and Loving to You!

Jim Gordon, Brian Yeakey, and the ILM Staff

Welcome to Inner Light Ministries!Introductory Packet

11

Light is of transformation and transmutation. That Purple Light in the psychic realm is clearing away karmas that have blocked us from that oneness with God. Karmas are in the psychic realms – there are no karmas on the upper level.

So, the starry sky is only the beginning of the journey out of the body. If we’re not seeing that, it may be because we are already beyond it. Just follow that Purple Light, or however it manifests.

Along the way, we may see a lot of other lights. If we think of the spectrum of the rainbow, the Purple Light goes into the White Light, the pure White Light of the Holy Spirit. It’s in the realms of soul and above that we start to see the pure White Light of the Holy Spirit. Know that the White Light is the action of the Holy Spirit, and it is working through all the different realms of our awakening. There’s actually a soul level at the top of each of the realms of creation – the physical, astral, causal, mental, etheric realms. The Purple Light has to take us through all the realms of karma, to dissolve all the karma, so that now soul can truly enter into the kingdom of God. And that’s where we will really start to wake up and know that greater White Light.

So, in our meditations, look for the brightest light in the inner sky. If it’s a dark starry sky, look for the brightest star; and if it’s a blue sky, look for the sun. It’s the same light; it’s the light of the soul realm. All we have to do is keep our eye on that, and we will begin to travel towards Him, until the day we actually enter into the Heart of God.

Q: Can you talk a little about the Purple Light?

a: (Brian) You’ve quite often heard Jim or I talk about the starry sky, and I’ve had so many people say, “But I haven’t seen the starry sky.” In my many conversations with people about this, I start to talk about the Purple Light, and most people I talk with then say, “Well, I see that.”

The Purple Light is the main thing to be looking for in meditation. The Purple Light is the action of the Holy Spirit that lifts the soul from these physical realms into the realms of spirit. The Holy Spirit comes out of the Heart of God, and when we are initiated on The Path of Sound and Light, we are connected to this spiritually for the soul’s return journey.

As we hold our focus and attention longer in meditation as the Purple Light comes into our consciousness, we may begin to have some experiences. Some people have shared that when they see the Purple Light, it’s pulsating. Spirit is always in movement; it’s not stagnant. It’s a movement of Loving. The Purple Light can look like it’s coming or going, or it can move around and seem like it’s coming from all directions; there’s always a movement. It never stands still.

Some people say they see it directly in front of them. Jim has talked about the three levels of the spiritual eye: down, out, and up. Seeing the Purple Light right in front of us horizontally is the psychic realm. If you see the Purple Light in the psychic realm, don’t worry because part of the action of the Purple

(from Experiencing The Divine Meditative Retreat, April, 2006)

Q & awith Brian

The first service is really to God. And how do we do that? We go into meditation and we love God. That is the way we serve God, and at the same time that is the first service to ourselves - our soul.

The true action of meditation is where we, the soul, are loving God and opening to let God love us. That’s all inwards, truly all in Spirit. – Brian Yeakey

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Q: I know this is my mind coming in, but I don’t understand how vowels and consonants mixed up together can have any frequency to it.

a: But they do. When you create music, how many notes of music do you have to play with?

Q: Twelve.

a: and if you put them in one order, you have a certain type of song. If you put them in another type of order, you have a different type of song – those are different frequencies. By putting words in a certain order, or syllables or vowels and consonants in a certain order, you get a frequency. If you shift those letters around, you have a different frequency. It’s all about frequency. One group of notes that you put together can lead people into depression. Change those notes around, same notes, just change them around and you can lead them into great inspiration. Why? You explain that to me and then we will be talking the same language. But the words given in initiation by the Teacher do contain a frequency in the particular words and in the order that they are given.

Q: So the alignment that leads us toward inspiration reminds us of the “real one” that really leads us toward inspiration.

a: Yes, and that’s what the Names of God are.

Q: So these words represent something, and when we are initiated, we get connected with the real energy so that these words remind us of those?

a: Yes. That’s it.

Q: That makes sense to me.

a: (Brian): It’s like the difference between reading the music or actually listening to the music.

Q: The unspoken Name of God isn’t the same in every tradition – sometimes there’s thirteen words and sometimes there’s five, and in the last spiritual path I was on, they were the same words as in ILM except a couple of them are in a different order. I don’t understand how all those little words can do anything about lining you up with God just because you are rattling through them in your head.

a: (Jim) they don’t.

Q: Then why do we do it?

a: Because it begins to take us above the mind. The Names of God have a frequency to them that when it begins to come alive inside of us, this frequency begins to lift us above the mind. It’s all about concentration. It’s not about the words. It’s all about learning how to hold your focus in a one-pointed concentrated focus, and lift above the mind in such a way that you begin to free yourself of the mind. And that’s what the mind is challenged by. It’s not by the words. It’s by the action; but the real action is devotion with God. It’s about loving God first, having God only before all things; and that begins a whole different process in our awakening. Even in your daily life, if you put God first, you are going to walk into a different experience than if you put the world first, or yourself first. And so the words themselves have nothing. I could give you hamburger, hot dog, cottage cheese, macaroni and cheese, and baked potato and initiate you with those names, and they would work. Why? It is because at the moment of the initiation, the Holy Spirit comes in and anchors in your consciousness through whatever words the Teacher gives. And when you chant regularly, with devotion and with one-pointed focus, what the Holy Spirit has given you, you’re allowing the Holy Spirit to come in, participate, lift you, and bring you Home – that’s what you are really doing. It’s a call to God.

(from Experiencing The Divine Meditative Retreat, March, 2009)

With initiation comes a great blessing, and that blessing is Grace. Grace allows the soul the freedom to move beyond the bounds of this creation. By moving into our own loving, by expanding that loving to

be with God’s Loving, and by opening and receiving God’s Loving, we then merge into the Oneness. And as we do that, we allow more and more Grace, to live in us, to move in us, and to transform us. – Jim Gordon

Q & awith JiM

13

hair, are all subject to a right-wrong discussion.

And why not stir the water and make it frothy and murky? It’s fun, right? Or is it?

Thirty minutes into my friend’s and my conversation, we suddenly both stopped talking. We sat there listening to the hum of the ceiling fan. We both cooled off, then went deep into thought. And then we looked at each other and started laughing. I said, “What does any of this have to do with Spirit?” He said, “Absolutely nothing.” And we sat there shaking our heads at the absurdity of it all. I said, “Wow, that’s how Kal works. That’s how he keeps pulling us back into the world.” And he said, “Really, none of this matters anyway. The world is always going to be the world; and whether we disagree or agree, the world is going to keep on doing its thing.”

What was amazing to me was how both of us, ILM initiates on The Path of Sound and Light, had so easily grabbed onto the world and wouldn’t let go. Except, we did let go. And I now use this experience as a new reference point reminding me, first, how easy it is to get sucked into the world and, secondly, how easy it is to just let go again. I use to wonder why Jim and Brian never entered into the political discussions that popped up whenever a group of us gathered around a meal, why they just grinned from ear to ear and remained silent. Now I get it. The world has nothing to do with Spirit or with the journey we are on of going back Home. It is very difficult to live in the Loving when we are protecting our ego-based self-righteousness. On the other hand it is very difficult to be chanting the Name of God in one moment and clenching our fists in the next. And it is very difficult to be focused upward towards God when we are holding our ground in the creation below. But what is surprisingly easy is to do what our Teachers model: stay focused on Spirit, stay in the movement of Loving … and just grin.

by Laura Kesten, ILM Minister

earning to let go

Irecently was engaged in a conversation with a friend of mine talking about the housing market and the strained economy. At first, the banter was

friendly and we were in agreement with our beliefs, but at some point things turned combative and we ended up at opposite podiums of a political debate. Both of us were sure we knew who was to blame for the state of the economy, we both were certain we were right about our speculations of when our country would recover, and we both held firm to whether our government should or shouldn’t be involved in the bailout, yadda, yadda, yadda.

I felt heat rising in my body, the muscles in my neck began to strain. I rolled my eyes; he interrupted me and said I needed to read more. Insults like, “You’ve got to be kidding,” and “Oh, right, that’ll work” went back and forth as we both stood our ground. Our voices grew louder as if upping the volume would make a difference in our success of convincing the other. He’d shake his head, certain he was right and I was wrong. I’d point my finger, certain I could manipulate him to think like me. Ten minutes into the conversation, he was riled up and I was incensed.

You know the discussions I’m talking about. Most of us have an opinion on what has happened and is happening all around us. Some of us have been unyielding participants in heated discussions about things, as I found myself being, and, other times, have been a witness to. These arguments rise out of a strong belief system of right and wrong, and they can flare in many types of discussions. Not limited to politics, discussions can flare into verbal battles about religion, abortion, ethnicity, women’s rights, education, the price of gas, or your neighbor’s preference to lawn ornaments. We can get angry about most anything and make it a right-wrong issue. The news is full of these topics. Likewise, issues in our relationships with our partners, our siblings, our co-workers, our parents, the woman who cuts our

14

l

have to wait until we die to “go to heaven” and be with God. We can be with God now, while we are still in the body, still surrounded by all our distractions and sorrows and anxieties of this world. In the midst of these worldly problems, we can let our focus stay fixed on God, and His loving will sustain us through it all.

The third lesson is that while this flood appeared to be an unfortunate accident, in truth, it really was a movement of Spirit. Anita and I had been talking about remodeling for years, but there always seemed to be a really good reason to put it off a little longer. So sometimes, we need a little prodding from Spirit to move in the direction we already know we want to go.

The fourth lesson we’ve learned is that we can see the direction we want to go and envision a plan that will get us there, but, in this world, things take time and space to be fulfilled. Our design for the house-remodel was a relatively simple process. We sketched out what we wanted and talked it over with a good friend of ours who is a contractor. But then came the physical part of doing it. Working with drywall people, flooring people, window people, framing people, concrete people, plumbers, electricians, and cabinetmakers. Plus, all the construction had to be done in a certain order. First the concrete, then the framing, then the plumbing, later the flooring – you get the picture. It’s been anything but simple! So while the envisioning of what we want can be done overnight, the fulfilling of it in the physical is a much longer process.

In a similar way to remodeling a house, we can know that we want God, that our direction is to go “Home,” and that our plan for doing so is to meditate and live a life of loving, accepting, and forgiving. But it still takes time. We have to discipline ourselves to create the space and take the time that is necessary to complete and fulfill our longing. How much space? That will depend on how big you want your new ‘room’ to be. How much time will it take? It’ll take as long as it takes. But if your ‘Contractor’ is a close friend who can see you through to the end of the project, you can trust the outcome and be assured that you will love your new “Home.”

by Steven McAfee, ILM Minister

15

This spring Jim and Brian came to the Midwest and held several events for the ILM community here. My wife, Anita, and I were in Kalamazoo at one of these

events when our daughter called us and exclaimed: “It looks like it’s raining in your kitchen!” A plumbing mishap in the upstairs of our home had flooded the kitchen downstairs, and two to three inches of water was running out of the kitchen into the adjacent rooms.

Now, we did not find this amusing (or spiritually instructive) at the time. Then we remembered that the day before, Jim had left us a telephone message confirming our meeting time. At the end of the message he said, “It’s going to be raining tomorrow – be careful.” All the way to Michigan, Anita kept reminding me to be sure to drive very attentively because Jim had warned us about unexpected rain … but there was never any rain. However, later that day, the phone call from our daughter came. Anita exclaimed, “I didn’t know Jim meant it would be raining inside our house!!!”

Now that a few months have passed since our ‘rain’, Anita and I have learned, or have been reminded of, a number of spiritual lessons as a result of this experience.

The first lesson is to release the illusion that, just because we are walking a spiritual path, we will automatically be protected from the unpleasant things that happen in the world. The world is what it is, and life here goes on as it always has. Our spiritual path is about waking up to Spirit and going Home. It is not about ‘pie in the sky’ in this world.

The second lesson is to not wait until life is perfect and all the problems in the world have been handled before we decide to live a spiritual life. In the midst of so many blessings that Anita and I were experiencing with Jim and Brian during their visit, we also had, simultaneously, a disaster in our home. We were forced to remember that, right here and right now, God is present with us in whatever we are going through. We don’t have to postpone the joy of sharing our life with God until all our worldly circumstances are “just right.” We don’t

here are many roomstin my Father’s house

is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching spiritual awakening through an inner practice of meditation. This meditation practice is an inner path through which the soul transcends the physical realms of creation to its true home in the spiritual realms within the heart of God. In spiritual teachings and literature this inner path is often referred to as “The Path of Sound and Light,” “The Path of The Holy Spirit,” “The Path of Love,” or simply as “The Path” or “The Way.” ILM offers initiation into this meditation practice enabling one to fully experience this inner journey of awakening.

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