Recording 175B, “The Higher Self,” is from the 1956 New York Laurelton Hotel Class. It was used as source material for Chapter 10, “Ye Have Heard It Said of Old,” Chapter 11, “I Say Unto You,” and Chapter 12, “Resist Not,” in The Thunder of Silence. This recording is no longer available on this site. If you subscribe to the Joel Goldsmith Streaming Service, you can listen to it there. To purchase this recording and/or the transcript from The Infinite Way Office, click/tap here.
Attaining Christ Consciousness – The Goal of Our Work
In this class, Joel repeats that the goal of our work is the attainment of Christ Consciousness, and he says that this must be a conscious attainment. But how can we work toward that attainment? Here Joel gives us another practice, and it is up to us to take it to heart, contemplate it, and practice it. He says:
Now, the change from being a man of flesh who cannot please God and is not under the law of God, into the man who has the Spirit of God dwelling in him, and who therefore is the child of God, is a conscious attainment.
It is one that an individual has to make by not attempting in his life merely to gain the peace that the world can give; that is, more health, or more supply, or more happiness, but by attaining that mind that was in Christ Jesus, that Spirit which raised up Jesus from the dead.
Now watch the difference in your demonstration the very moment that you realize this: “I must live my daily life, of course. I must go out to my business, or I must keep house, or I must take care of whatever is given to me to do at this particular moment to do.” That’s right, and there is no shirking of any of those duties or obligations. But within me, in the inner sanctuary of my own being, I can realize this: “I am not seeking the peace that this world gives, but I’m seeking the peace that the Spirit of Christ gives. I’m seeking not things, but the conscious realization of God’s presence. My life is not dedicated to increasing my material good, but my spiritual awareness.” . . .
“Come out from among them and be separate.”[1] The first way that there is for us to come out and be separate is to ask ourselves, “Why am I on the spiritual path? What am I seeking? Is it more of this world’s goods? Is it more of this world’s harmonies? Is it more of this world’s success?” . . .
When we have renounced the way of the world, that is, the way of using the world’s weapons; when we have given up the use of the law and come to the realization of life by grace; then the whole new life begins, and we find this: that every time we have a conscious realization of that Spirit within, somebody in our outer world benefits by it. There too, you see, we are told that no one can have this light and keep it hidden under any baskets, because it won’t stay hidden. Everyone who attains even a tiny measure of this light is called upon for it; is called upon for its use on the world’s behalf.
[1] 2 Corinthians 6:17.
To download or print these study suggestions, click/tap here.
These optional study suggestions will remain the same throughout the program, although from time to time, we will post additional recordings for further optional study.
Read Different Translations of The Sermon on the Mount
Joel has said that it can be helpful to read several different translations of any Bible text because they can elicit new insights for you. On the Introduction page for this study program, we quote Joel on this topic and provide information about ways to access multiple Bible translations.
Write Your Own Version
As you study the Sermon on the Mount, you might enjoy paraphrasing the Bible text in your own words, keeping your interpretations and notes in a special journal. One way to approach this activity is to take one section of the Sermon, read and contemplate it, and then listen in receptivity, asking for light and wisdom. Then write what comes to you. As you write, often you will find that more and more insight comes to you.
As we suggested for an earlier study program, if writing is not something you enjoy, you can work in a different medium, capturing your interpretations in paintings or drawings, sculpture, poetry, music, or any art form.
Practice the Teachings
Each week, you might choose one thing from the Sermon and focus on practicing that for the entire week. It might be one of the beatitudes, or some other instruction given by Jesus, such as “judge not” or “pray for your enemies” or “take no thought.” Contemplate your selection to understand what it means. What would it look like to practice it in your own life? Then watch yourself throughout the day and see how you do. If you go off the beam, what pulled you off? How did you (or could you) get back on track? Reminder cards placed around your home or workspace, or reminders kept on your smartphone can be very helpful with this type of practice.
Use the Electronic Search Tool
As you hear the recordings and read Part 3 of The Thunder of Silence, if you feel that you don’t quite understand something that Joel teaches, the electronic search tool can help clarify his meaning. You can search for the topic or term you want to understand better and find many different places where Joel addresses that topic or term. As you read the excerpts provided by the search tool, you will gain a clearer understanding. To access the search tool and the instructions for using it, click/tap here.
Additional Reading
Seek Ye First
The title of Joel’s book Seek Ye First comes from the passage in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
In the book, Joel elaborates on the meaning of that passage and relates it directly to The Infinite Way principles. You might enjoy reading the book, or some excerpts from it, in connection with this study program.
The Sermon on the Mount by Emmet Fox
Joel had high praise for Emmet Fox as a great mystic. So we are comfortable recommending the book The Sermon on the Mount by Emmet Fox. The book may be particularly helpful to those who do not have a deep knowledge of the Sermon, because Fox takes the reader passage by passage through the entire text, offering his enlightened interpretations and insights along the way.