To go to the “Recordings and Study Materials” page, click/tap here. (Link will be active on May 17.)
In the 1962 Manchester Closed Class, Joel teaches how to intensify our practice so as to awaken ever more deeply to the inner Presence of God and our divine identity. This deeper awakening enables us to have the experience of life by grace, without human effort. As he began this class, Joel said:
“[In this class], we are going to be engaged in the function of seeking to know God aright, seeking God-realization, seeking to experience something of the kingdom of God and the grace of God. We are going to live our human lives in the ordinary human fashion, but without taking thought, without anxiety, without concern, because you cannot carry anxiety and concern into your spiritual realm—it acts as a barrier. . . . Let us seek the kingdom of God wholeheartedly.
“Let us acknowledge that there is a kingdom; there is a spiritual kingdom; there is a spiritual grace; and the natural man will never know these. But as long as we are seeking only human betterment, we will never know them. So, now we put aside adding to our human good and make the acknowledgment: There is a spiritual kingdom called ‘My kingdom,’ which is not of this world. There is a peace, a ‘My peace,’ which I can give, the Spirit can give, which is not of this world.
“There is a being, ‘I Am,’ who can be under the law of God, under the grace of God, and that is not my human selfhood. My human selfhood is the natural man, who is ‘not under the law of God, and who receiveth not the things of God.’ But there is a man who I am, a being I am. There is some part of me that is the child of God, living under the law of God, under the grace of God, knowing the kingdom of God, experiencing the peace that passes human understanding. Attaining the realization of this I is my goal. . . .
“‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.’ We will stay our mind on God throughout this class so that we will develop a habit, a new faculty—the ability, at any time and all times to open ourselves to the presence of God.”
We look forward to taking the journey through this class with you.
We will hear the six sessions of this class in the order in which Joel gave them. If a class was used as source material for any book chapter, we will reference the book, and we will provide optional study material for each session.
After we hear a recording for the first time, we will post it in the Study Center and on the telephone recordings line for the duration of the study program and for four weeks after we conclude the program. This enables students to access the recordings, regardless of when they begin to participate. We are most grateful to Sue Ropac, on behalf of the Estate of Joel S. Goldsmith, for permission to post these copyrighted recordings.
To go to the “Recordings and Study Materials” page, click/tap here. (Link will be active on May 17.)