[Editor’s note: The author, Michael Knoche, is a member of the Palm Bay, FL, A Search For God Study Group, as well as being a member of the Association for Research and Enlightenment.]
In the A Search for God material we discuss topics such as Meditation, Cooperation, Patience and so on. Most of us are familiar with the books. If you are not, I suggest you get a copy of them, Books 1 and 2. These books have helped me to gain some clarity within myself and how I relate to God.
Why would I say clarity? While growing up I was privy to a mother who created these classes much like the A Search for God series, but with a different flare. Following the premise that mind is the builder, then physical is the result, or as author Dick Daily says, your life is the result. In Reading 262-8 our bodies are made up of the physical, mental, and spiritual body. This is also stated in Reading 281-24 and 341-36. As you can see it is a common theme within the readings. One other way to express it is body, mind, spirit.
So, in the A Search for God material we would start with Meditation, although from the original readings Cooperation was the first chapter. With my mothers’ classes she started with Confidence.
Confidence: Trust, belief, faith, reliance. These are all things we need on a physical level. Confidence is so important for each one of us to have to function each day. Who doesn’t need more of it? We certainly do not want it so much that we are arrogant about it. Most people who express that much confidence have less of it; they just overcompensate to give an illusion. Confidence is often expressed in walking, mannerisms, and action, not arrogance. With confidence we have a surety in action, something we all need each day. Our ability to remain confident is shaken each day. If we drop something that we were sure we had a grip on this certainly brings to question our ability to have a solid grip. When someone questions your decision, this will trigger your confidence.
Patience: Forbearance, restraint, calmness. Cayce teachings say that patience is the cornerstone of soul development. What we are, what we have been, and what we intend to be are shown more in the patience we exhibit than through any other virtue.
Having patience on a physical level is about self and others. Showing patience is the beginning of self-happiness.
How gracious is thy presence in the earth, o Lord! Be thou the guide, that we with patience may run the race which is set before us, looking to thee, the author, the giver of light. 262-24
Tolerance: Open-mindedness, long suffering, sympathy are but a few definitions of tolerance.
The word in the New Testament rendered "longsuffering," makrothumia (once makrothumeo, "to be longsuffering"), which is the rendering of 'erekh 'appayim in the Septuagint, is literally, "long of mind or soul" (regarded as the seat of the emotions), opposed to shortness of mind or soul, irascibility, impatience, intolerance.
There is only one way and it is not man made, but Christ made. It is the way of selflessness, love, mercy, forgiveness, patience, and long suffering.
Will we be led by the Spirit of Truth or will self, the ego, our own material desires, so outweigh the purposes, the missions for which our souls are given opportunities in material expressions, that it may be said of us, except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the self- righteousness you shall all likewise sin. 262-129
First begin by sowing, then, the seeds of the fruit of the spirit; as in patience and longsuffering, the lack of hate; showing brotherly love, the lack of animosity and the lack of intolerance. Rather show tolerance and lovingkindness, and patience above all. 315-5
Having patience and tolerance, although similar in definition, they often can be dissimilar. You can be patient with a person but can disagree with their viewpoint and become intolerant of their stand or even rebellious.
Understanding: Comprehension, grasp, perception. To understand why and how people do things makes it helpful for us to have patience and tolerance.
In the A Search for God books, we learn that virtue and understanding go hand in hand with each other which they do on a spiritual level. In a human level understanding your fellow man is key to assuring tolerance and patience.
True understanding is beyond the reason of the senses. With true virtue you understand all. This is what we strive for on a spiritual level. To get there we must first conquer understanding on a physical level.
I believe spiritual understanding comes with time and work from within. Where I prefer to focus on is understanding my fellow humans and their motives. Knowing this will assist me in helping others in their personal spiritual path.
Neutral: unbiased, impartial, without favoritism. To remain neutral in any situation by showing patience, tolerance and understanding is showing strength and confidence as well as wisdom.
Faith: True faith is believing there is a purpose for everything that happens to us. Faith can also believe that it will all work out. I have faith that we will get better. I have faith in you. Having faith brings all thing together. We do not see God but believe in him, believe that it exists. Faith is essential to all and every religion. Having faith in oneself will always get you through each day.
Create in me a pure heart, O God. Open Thou my heart to the faith Thou hast implanted in all that seek Thy face. Help Thou mine unbelief in my God, in my neighbor, in myself. 262-13
Exodus 3:14
And God says to Moses, “I AM THAT WHICH I AM.” He also says, “Thus you say to the sons of
Israel: I AM has sent me to you.”
Since we are brothers and sisters to Jesus and he refers to God as his father that makes us sons and daughters of God; as Cayce’s says, co-creators with God. Using that logic do the following simple homework: 40 times in the morning and 40 times at night write “I am Confident”. Do this for 2 weeks. Then, each consecutive week, write I am Patient, then Tolerant, Understanding then Neutral, another week of Confident and then ending up with I have Faith.
It is not unusual for people to get a little sick or experience some changes. This is caused by you changing your vibration within yourself. Jesus had confidence in himself, in his love for his father, and he had patience with his fellow man. Jesus was understanding of others, he was tolerant of others’ shortcomings, he had faith in himself and God, and he always remained neutral in his thoughts about the deeds of others. He was the Christ, he was our older brother, our teacher, the example we should all strive to be.