LIVING THE MYSTICAL LIFE Lessons on Contemplative Meditation

LIVING THE MYSTICAL LIFE Lessons on Contemplative Meditation by Contemplative Pathways Marc Tankeh, Facilitator, Teacher and Practitioner ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Contemplative Pathways

Module CONTEMPLATIVE MEDITATION Contemplative Pathways Topic THE PRINCIPLE OF CONTEMPLATIVE MEDITATION FROM INVISIBLE SUPPLY, CHAPTER 3 ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 2

An Overview Contemplative Pathways CONTEMPLATIVE MEDITATION in The Infinite Way ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 3

Joel S. Goldsmith Founder of The Infinite Way 1892 – 1964 ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 4

Spiritual Contemplation in The Infinite Way 1. Study and learn the letter of Truth (LOT), to arrive at a correct understanding of its unitive or mystical meaning. 2. Contemplate the letter of Truth in silence, to experience or realize the Spirit of Truth. 3. Do not end your contemplation without some “feeling” for the meaning of the LOT, i. e. , a felt sense of the LOT. 4. Have your “God-contact. ” ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Joel S. Goldsmith The Infinite Way 5

Required Infinite Way Student Inputs and Activities 1 Associate in mystical fellowship. Study and learn the correct letter of Truth (LOT). 3 Contemplate the LOT in 2 silence, to experience the Spirit of Truth. ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Joel S. Goldsmith The Infinite Way 6

Lectio Divina and The Infinite Way As Relationship Lectio Divina Acquaintanceship Reading (lectio ) Formal A Personal Encounter with God/Christ Friendliness Reflection (meditatio ) Conversational Mental Discursive Meditation Friendship Commitment Union of Life Intimacy of Union Spontaneous Prayer / Response (oratio ) Prayer of Simplicity (or Prayer of the Heart) Resting in God (contemplatio ) Contemplative Prayer (Experiencing the Spirit) ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Infinite Way STUDY/LEARN the Letter of Truth CONTEMPLATE the Letter of Truth MEDITATE in the Silence (Receptivity) GOD-CONTACT (Experiencing the Spirit of Truth) 7

Introducing. . . Contemplative Pathways Chapter 3 of “Invisible Supply” ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 8

Chapter 3 of “Invisible Supply” The Principle of Contemplative Meditation Spiritual Consciousness (Faith and reliance on the Spirit for all things. ) ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Joel S. Goldsmith The Infinite Way 9

An Outline and Overview of Chapter 3 3. Living By Grace • Knowing an Invisible Presence is outpicturing in your experience as your “added good. ” • A fuller attainment of spiritual consciousness • You can experience God and know God by Its fruitage because with the realization of Its presence, you instantly lose ALL fear. You no longer fear life or any of life’s experiences even death. • To stop negativizing cannot be done humanly, but grace makes it natural for all negativizing to disappear from consciousness. • God cannot abandon His own, nor does God desert you in your moments of sin. [Click slide after reading to continue. ] 4. The Realization of Truth • Spiritual vs. material consciousness: THE REALIZATION OF THIS REINTERPRET appearances or form. • God is the source/activity/substanceof everything in the world. • True prayer: Learn to let God pray in you! • Affirm Truth to remind yourself that it is true, not to expect it to do something for you; then let the weight drop off your shoulders. • Omnipresence is experienced only where it is realized. The value of any truth is in the degree of realization of it. • As you embody Truth, you become a healer. [Click slide after reading to continue. ] Spiritual Consciousness DS LEA TO NEXT 1. How It Is Developed through theconstant activity of Truth (God) in consciousness — Ø Step 1: Initial exposure, maintenance • Read, hear, think, and ponder truth statements: – scripturalsources (e. g. , “I and the Father are one. ”) – absolutely truemetaphysical sources (e. g. , “Where I am, God is. ”) • Attend church services, lectures, classes • Associate: spiritual fellowships, satsang • Spiritualize thought: Always find some measure of God in every scene and person; behold God’s presence and activity around you and abide in scriptural truth always. Ø Step 2: Truth imparts from within • By means of MEDITATION – Developing the inner ear/eye – Listening for the still, small voice of God • Most important phase of Truth activity [Click slide after reading to continue. ] ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 2. Contemplative Meditation (Also, “Practicing the Presence of God” and “Entering the Silence”) Ø 1 st Stage: Pondering, cogitating, or contemplating God and the spiritual universe; then sitting in the silence • Do this quietly and peacefully. • Do this many, many times in a day. 1) Pause in your activities, to… 2) Contemplate for 3– 5 minutes, then… 3) Sit for 1– 2 minutes in complete quiet each time, then… 4) Resume (go about) your business. STOP — PONDER — LISTEN — GO • Do not sit for the purpose of waiting for realized God-contact. The waiting becomes a mental strain detrimental to making contact • To gain altitude in consciousness; enables… Ø 2 nd Stage: GOD-CONTACT • Comes as an aftermath of meditation and is realized when mental activity is OFF, i. e. , no reasoning or thinking process. • When human mind is off, Christ-Mind is ON! • Frequent meditation periods[p. 35] • What you DO with the Truth statements is what matters, not just reading/repeating them. • Living BY GRACE = when God implants the Word of Truth in your mind at some moment of need, which will outpicture as the solution. [p. 36] [Click slide after reading to continue. ] 10

Part 1 Contemplative Pathways How Spiritual Consciousness Is Developed ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 11

How Spiritual Consciousness Is Developed through the constant activity of Truth (God) in consciousness — Ø Step 1: Initial exposure and maintenance • Read, hear, think, and ponder truth statements: – scriptural sources (e. g. , “I and the Father are one. ”) – absolutely true metaphysical sources (e. g. , “Where I am, God is. ”) • Attend church services, lectures, classes • Associate: spiritual fellowships, satsang • Spiritualize thought: Always find some measure of God in every scene and person; behold God’s presence and activity around you and abide in scriptural truth always. Ø Step 2: Enabling “Truth impartations” from within • By means of MEDITATION – Developing the inner ear/eye – Listening for the still, small voice of God • Most important phase of Truth activity NEXT ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 12

How to Develop Spiritual Consciousness THE STEPS 4 God- Realization 3 2 1 Meditation Recognition of Oneness Practicing the Presence of God Man Was Not Born To Cry , pp. 22 -23, 27 -28 ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Joel S. Goldsmith The Infinite Way 13

Meditation Developing Spiritual Consciousness 3 2 1 God- Realization Meditation Recognition of Oneness Practicing the Presence of God Man Was Not Born To Cry , pp. 22 -23, 27 -28 ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Joel S. Goldsmith The Infinite Way 14

The Way of All Mystical Teachings… . . . is the way of meditation Man Was Not Born To Cry : Awake, p. 6. ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Joel S. Goldsmith The Infinite Way 15

Part 2 Contemplative Pathways Contemplative Meditation ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 16

A Two-Staged Process Ø 1 st Stage – a) You ponder, cogitate, or contemplate God and the spiritual universe, and then b) You sit in silence Ø 2 nd Stage – GOD-CONTACT ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 17

The First Stage Ø 1 st Stage: Pondering, cogitating, or contemplating God and the spiritual universe; and then sitting in silence • Do it quietly and peacefully. • Do it many, many times in a day. 1) 2) 3) 4) PAUSE in your activities, to… CONTEMPLATE for 3– 5 minutes, then… SIT for 1– 2 minutes in complete quiet each time, then… RESUME (go about) your business. STOP → PONDER → LISTEN → GO • Do not sit for the purpose of waiting for realized God-contact. The waiting becomes a mental strain detrimental to making contact. • Purpose: To gain altitude in consciousness; thus enabling… NEXT ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 18

The Second Stage Ø 2 nd Stage: GOD-CONTACT – the mystical experience • Comes as an aftermath of meditation, and is realized when mental activity is OFF, i. e. , no reasoning or thinking process is engaged. • When the human mind is off, the Christ-Mind is ON! • Have frequent meditation periods [Invisible Supply, p. 35] • What you DO with the Truth statements is what matters, not just reading or repeating them. • Living BY GRACE = is when God implants the Word of Truth in your mind at some moment of need, which will then outpicture as the solution. [Invisible Supply, p. 36] NEXT ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 19

Meditate Frequently The more often we meditate – not the length of time in any one period, but the number of times in each twenty-four hours, even if each time be only one minute, or two or three – the more rapidly will our spiritual awareness be developed, and spiritual harmony brought into our experience. Man Was Not Bor NEXT ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Joel S. Goldsmith The Infinite Way 20

God-Realization You should want God only for the purpose of Godrealization The Art of Spiritual Healing, p. 80. ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Joel S. Goldsmith The Infinite Way 21

God-Realization You should want God only for the purpose of God-realization. What God does to you or to your affairs is an entirely different matter. The Art of Spiritual Healing, p. 80. ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Joel S. Goldsmith The Infinite Way 22

God-Realization You should want God only for the purpose of God-realization. What God does to you or to your affairs is an entirely different matter. The minute you try to direct God to bring you companionship or a home, an occupation or a talent, God then becomes a means to an end. The Art of Spiritual Healing, p. 80. ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Joel S. Goldsmith The Infinite Way 23

God-Realization You should want God only for the purpose of God-realization. What God does to you or to your affairs is an entirely different matter. The minute you try to direct God to bring you companionship or a home, an occupation or a talent, God then becomes a means to an end. That is shocking when you stop to think about it; it is almost blasphemous — the idea of using God — and yet the commonly accepted concept of prayer and treatment is that God will do something for you, or that by your words God can be influenced in the right direction. The Art of Spiritual Healing, p. 80. ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Joel S. Goldsmith The Infinite Way 24

God-Realization You should want God only for the purpose of God-realization. What God does to you or to your affairs is an entirely different matter. The minute you try to direct God to bring you companionship or a home, an occupation or a talent, God then becomes a means to an end. That is shocking when you stop to think about it; it is almost blasphemous — the idea of using God — and yet the commonly accepted concept of prayer and treatment is that God will do something for you, or that by your words God can be influenced in the right direction. That is not prayer, and that is why most prayer is not effective. The only effective prayer is the attainment of God-realization The Art of Spiritual Healing, p. 80. ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Joel S. Goldsmith The Infinite Way 25

Part 3 Contemplative Pathways Living By Grace ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 26

Living By Grace • Knowing an Invisible Presence is outpicturing in your experience as your “added good. ” good • A fuller attainment of spiritual consciousness • You can experience God and know God by Its fruitage because with the realization of Its presence, you instantly lose ALL fear You no longer fear life or any of life’s experiences even death. NEXT ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 27

Living By Grace • To stop being negative cannot be cannot done humanly, but grace makes it natural for all negativizing to disappear from consciousness. • God cannot abandon His own, nor does God desert you in your moments of sin. NEXT ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 28

Part 4 The Realization of Truth ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Contemplative Pathways 29

The Realization of Truth • Spiritual vs. material consciousness: REINTERPRET appearances or form. • God is the source, activity, and substance of everything in the world. • True prayer: Learn to “let God pray in you!” you! [Invisible Supply, p. 38] NEXT ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 30

The Realization of Truth • Affirm the Truth to remind yourself that it is true, not to expect it to do something for you; then let the weight drop off your shoulders. • Omnipresence is experienced only where it is realized. The value of any truth is in the degree of realization of it. • As you embody Truth, you become a healer. NEXT ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 31

Joel S. Goldsmith’s THE INFINITE WAY Books Class Recordings Web Links Next Slide ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Joel S. Goldsmith The Infinite Way 32

Psalms 46: 10 Be still, and know that I am God. ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. 33

LIVING THE MYSTICAL LIFE This has been an online presentation by Contemplative Pathways Marc Tankeh, Facilitator, Teacher and Practitioner ©Contemplative Pathways/Marc Tankeh. NOTICE: Not for reproduction or distribution in any form or manner. Copyright protected. Contemplative Pathways