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Mystical
Path 4: How Can I Help? The Way of The Heart
 The
goal of this seven week series, Modern Day Mystic,
is for each of us to work to understand the
principles of each of the seven paths. Once we do,
we begin to identify with one or more paths that
seem to "fit" our nature. Some find there is one
dominant path and 1 or more strong supporting paths.
If you are thinking you see parts of yourself in all
seven paths, you are perfectly correct. However, you
are encouraged to go deep, be silent and feel which
of the seven paths will be those where you spend
more time practicing the exercises that will bring
you closer to God.
What we discovered in the second
meeting was that there are many resources to
supplement your work. While we continue to learn how
to live effortlessly with no limitations, focusing
your time and attention on those two or three paths
that serve you is likely to work well for you.
While the format of each session is
the same, the content is never the same. What we are
finding as we progress is our spiritual energy is
building. We are also discovering the reality of
life that even in a relatively small group that
appears to be very diverse, there is a strong sense
of oneness. You are invited to work with us in
person or in spirit. It is never to late to join one
of our meetings. They are held every Thursday
evening at 7PM. I am sure our host will love it if
you show up. For more information
Click Here to Send Us An
Email and we will give you the
details.
As a reminder for everyone, the more
work you do, the more you will benefit. Having said
that we have one member in our group who is taking
the effortless route. She is teaching us that all
things are possible as her energy is building with
all of us effortlessly. As you know, each person
individually should review the books, recordings and
workbook for this series in advance of each week's
session.
Greeting and Meditative Prayer- a meditative prayer
is shared with the purpose of focusing the
participants on the topics for the session. If you
are following this program in spirit on line, we
recommend you begin each session of your work, like
we do with a meditative prayer. Meditation is
designed to strengthen our connection to God. We are
petitioning the Divine Guidance in ourselves to
strengthen the pipeline to our connection with
God.
Review of This Session's Agenda:
Part 1 : 60 minutes.
Greeting and Meditative Prayer, 10 min
Term for Reflection, 20 min.
Your Answers To Your Purpose, 20 min
The Impact of This Week's Poem 10 min
Part 2: 50 minutes.
Discuss the Results of The Exercises For Path 4
Part 3. Review of Next Week's Path
and Exercises 10 Minutes
Closing: Departure meditative prayer and assignments
10 Minutes
Total Time 120 Minutes
Resources for Spirit Expressing
Terms for Reflection and Discussion
Acceptance
Awareness
Energy
Message
Practice
Purpose
Teach
Transformation
Note The Path 4 Term that will be discussed is
Practice: The discussion question is: what are you
practicing and what could you be practicing to
accept your true self and recognize the God in
others?
Each Week One Of The
Following 7 (or 8) Questions Will Be Discussed:
Do you know what you
believe?
Do you know why you believe that?
Do you understand that what you do
affects others and yourself?
Do you recognize you always have
choices?
What do you feel you need to make a
choice about?
What makes something spiritually
meaningful?
Who is God to you?
When did you become aware of God in
your life?
The Question That We Will Discuss
At The Path 4 Group Meeting Is:
What Do You Feel You Need To Make A Choice About?
The Path 4 Poem:
The Mystic of the Week is Meister
Eckhart (1260-1328). Meister was a Catholic monk and
scholar whose messages were filled with
stunning clarity.
"The Hope of
Loving,"
What keeps us alive, what allows us to endure?
I think it is the
hope of loving or being loved.
I heard a fable
once about the sun going on
a journey to find its source, and how the moon
wept without her lover's warm glaze.
We weep when light does not reach our hearts.
We wither like fields if someone close does not
rain their kindness upon us.
--Meister Eckhart
Path 4 Exercise:
Ponder this poem for a day
- every day for the week. Note what it means to you
and note your thoughts. Those meeting in a group
will share what they are moved to share about those
thoughts. I add this: Meister clearly presents our
natural reactions when we experience a lack of love
or kindness that does not come. God within us is the
ultimate lover and source of universal kindness.
"God has your picture on the nightstand beside God's
bed and has unlimited love for you." I am thinking
many of us could do a better job of recognizing and
thanking God for that love and source of kindness.
What to you think about that?
Mystical Path 4 Teaching and
Living From The Heart
Chakra Four:
Air, Social identity, oriented to
self-acceptance
This chakra is called the heart chakra and is the
middle chakra in a system of seven. It is related to
love and is the integrator of opposites in the
psyche: mind and body, male and female, persona and
shadow, ego and unity. A healthy fourth chakra
allows us to love deeply, feel compassion, have a
deep sense of peace and centeredness
Joan Borysenko tells a wonderful
story of a failing monastery and the meeting between
the head or abbot of the monastery and a rabbi who
was counseling the abbot. The rabbi said "one of you
is the Messiah."
I you believe as I do that God is within all, then
you agree the Messiah is in all of us. If you knew
that by walking through a certain door that you
would meet Jesus Christ, I am thinking you would
have a certain look on your face. Maybe it would be
one of freight. Most likely it would be one of
reverence and respect.
I think it is hard to look at some
people like we would look at Jesus Christ. However,
if like the airport bookstore cashier Joan mentions
in Path 4, we can be respectful and reverent to all.
It is a matter of how we think.
Now there are many who are not at our level of
understanding yet so if you are confronted with a
person who wants to harm you, God gave you the
intelligence to take steps to protect yourself.
While you are learning to manifest unlimited
ability, I suggest you protect yourself in that
situation.
I believe God is everywhere and can
do anything. I believe God can fly and I believe God
can appear in China while attending a hockey game in
Tampa Bay. While I believe that I am not standing on
the Skyway bridge testing my flying skills.
Were you surprised to read Joan's account of the two
areas all the "successful" people she worked with
listed as their main problems? Can you imagine
doctors and bank presidents saying that if you knew
them you wouldn't like them and they felt guilty
about who they were? She writes (aren't you glad you
are studying this book Joan wrote?) each person is
unique and important to the Whole we call God. It is
our mission to express our true selves even if we
are not recognized by others. WOW - not being
recognized by others and still being in bliss.
Imagine that!
In our second week we discussed one way to begin
understanding our mission. Deepak suggests paying
attention to those times when we totally lose track
of time. It's then that we are being our true
selves. Does this mean that our true self never
changes? I believe a component of being our true
self is to further develop along the path of the
gifts we have been given.
David Essel in his presentations and book titled
"Slow Down - The Fastest Way To Get Everything You
Want" ask us to challenge our belief system by
acknowledging those that are often most offensive to
us. My grandmother always said to me when I was
leaving her home to return to college "drive slow -
go further" I thought she was nuts. Now David Essel
writes a book and it all makes sense.
So how do we get better at treating others as a
Messiah? You always start with yourself. Dr. Lien
helped restore an entire population in a psychiatric
prison to normalcy by treating himself. That prison
in Hawaii is now closed. There is no longer a need
for it. This is from the book Zero Limits and you
will find a link to a lot more material on this at
www.IStandForGod.com
Is there a first step to bringing yourself more in
alignment with the God within you? If there is a
first step, it is likely to be forgiveness. Joan
writes: forgiveness is one of the least understood
of all spiritual practices. It has nothing to do
with condoning poor behavior in ourselves and
others. Rather it calls us to responsibility. " In
forgiving ourselves, we make the journey from guilt
for what we have done or not done to celebration of
what we have become.
A related step is that we often find
forgiveness and respect for ourselves and others
through the study and imitation of others of
spiritual mentors.
Suggestions for the Path 4 Mystic
( the details of these suggestions are in Joan's
book.)
Try the practice of metta, or loving kindness
meditation. as it is called in the Buddhist
tradition.
Practice self -forgiveness
Forgive Others
See God in other people
Practice devotion
Maintain an active prayer life
Let music open your heart to God
Spirit Expressing Mystical
Path #4
Several supplemental reports been
developed for this session including the meditation
guide offered by Joan and a special report on
forgiveness.
Exercises For Week 3:
Read the book 7 Paths To God through
Path #4
Read a poem from Love Poems from God. Share one of
your favorite poems with the group
Select one word - a prayer word - to use when the
mind becomes busy and distracted. Share your word
with your group.
Take time for yourself
Cultivate a sense of humor.
Practice self - forgiving and
forgiving others
Let music open your hearts to God.
Email your
facilitator
you favorite song that helps you open your
heart to God.
Practice devotion
See God in other people
__________________
If you have doubts, remember
these words "you have tried everything else, now try
ME!"... Message from God.
May you experience the
unlimited love, health, happiness and prosperity
that is yours for the asking!
God! The God In Me
and The God In All Of Us!
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