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THE STAGES OF SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
The steps to spiritual development lets one see from
where he has come and the path that his apprentices will be following.
Those you attract will be following somewhat the same path as you (like
attracts like).
THE AWAKENING STAGE
In the beginning most people are searchers. They have been searching
for a meaning to life and know there is more to life than mere existence.
When they hear the Introductory Lecture of the Inner Peace Movement and
decide to become involved in the program, they are in the Awakening Stage.
In most programs, the individual stays in the Awakening Stage all his life
- the eternal student. In the Inner Peace Movement the person starts learning
and leading himself and at the same time he has the opportunity to take
group work courses. This moves him into the Apprentice Level.
THE APPRENTICE STAGE
The Apprentice Stage has three definite levels.
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In level one a person wants to try spiritual leadership to see
if he has something in common with others and something to share with them.
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In level two the person realizes that he is a leader. He has
something to offer.
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In level three, the person decides that he wants to make his
spiritual business pay for itself.
THE JOURNEYMAN STAGE
In the Journeyman Stage the individual is abundant doing his spiritual
work. He concentrates on training his apprentices in the structure of the
program - the policies and procedures. He passes on the knowledge of how
to work with spirit. He keeps high standards and inner discipline to work
with his apprentices. He emphasizes the high motives and code of ethics
which spirit expects.
THE TRANSITIONAL STAGE
The Transitional Stage gives the person the opportunity to make a decision
for himself. He must answer the question, "Am I going to commit myself
to myself and do what I came to do, or am I going to continue the path
I have been following?" He may vacillate and go through a lot of inner
turmoil making that decision. He will eventually decide to do what he came
to do. He can make that decision at any moment and then accept the challenge
of life. He starts training others. At the same time, he is reaching his
apprentices on a full scale level. He will use a tremendous thrust of energy
and enthusiasm once he has made the decision to be fully committed to what
he came to do. He will realize that this is the best way to grow, unfold
himself and expand his state of consciousness. As long as he maintains
that commitment to action, he experiences and moves to the next stage.
THE AFFLUENT STAGE
In the Affluent Stage, the more the individual knows, the more spirit
expects of him. A spiritual leader at this time has so much training and
experience with resources, so much acquisition of wisdom, so much knowledge
of working with spirit and people that he doesn't have to concern himself
with abundance. Abundance is always there because the individual has organized
his service on all levels and is fully acquainted with the system. He works
with the big picture. Through his organized efforts, clear motives, genuine
sincerity and his ability to coordinate, he inspires others to unfold themselves
through opportunities to be a part of the big picture.
Anyone can move through these stages by total
involvement. It cannot be done by resting on past laurels, it is a process
of building upon ones own experience until one is fully committed to working
side by side with spirit and trusting himself and spirit.
Spirit wants total commitment. Total commitment
means being there when spirit needs you. It is then that you have an opportunity
to be of service. It means trusting to the point that you know spirit wouldn't
ask anything of you that you couldn't do. Once you commit yourself and
show that you mean it, the gates of energy and doors of life open. Spiritual
success is yours!
THE MASTER MERCHANDISER
The master merchandiser is anyone following the structure
moving through the IPM program and passing on the available services and
materials of the IPM program and the Americana Leadership College to those
who are searching spiritually. You build your knowledge of the services
and programs as you move onward in your own spiritual growth, it is the
sharing of your knowledge and wisdom that makes one a master merchandiser.
You are already on the road when you give your first introductory lecture
or lead a group. You are already on the road to being a merchandiser when
you share with others even a part of the IPM introductory lecture or lead
a group. You are a merchandiser of spiritual awareness - sharing tools
and techniques for spiritual growth. The more involved one is, the more
one has expanded his horizon, the greater the opportunity to assist others.
The master merchandiser makes sure that all people along the way have the
opportunity to continue to experience, to grow and to share.
The Inner Peace Movement has expanded and become so world wide that
we now have National Merchandising Directors. Their opportunity is to make
sure that the organized plan of the Inner Peace Movement is implemented
so that all people can grow at their own maximum speed. In this capacity,
they inspire and assist those people who are receiving and sharing as they
travel ever forward on their own spiritual path.
As a beginning merchandiser we:
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Give Introductory Lectures and enable people to become involved in the
New Spiritual Horizons (blue manual) groups.
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Offer people the opportunity to lead in their own groups and move into
leading other groups.
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Inspire and encourage people to share, to achieve outflow through
introductory lectures, courses, camps, media, the Times Communicator and
the Times Communicator Newsletter, etc.
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Follow through on the organized structure of program.
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Give people the understanding that as they follow this organized structure,
they are helping their apprentices be just as successful.
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Encourage people to move into opportunities on the rails so they can
grow by assisting those who are following.
From the New Spiritual Horizons the group moves on
through the Foundations of Spiritual Development group (orange manual)
and into the more advanced program. As you move through this group structure,
you not only become a leader of yourself but a leader of others - a wayshower.
You have traveled the road so you know the structure to follow. You have
organized yourself to be qualified and sure of yourself, your services
and material. You plan, execute and labor. You prepare yourself as an instructor.
You coordinate with others. You inspire others at a higher level. You stimulate
people's 90% positive outlook on life. You become organized to follow the
blueprint for group work. You find avenues so more introductory lectures
can be given and there is opportunity for others to use their leadership
ability in leading new groups.
THE FULFILLMENT OF INSPIRING OUR APPRENTICES
Understandings that develop as we share together:
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Working with spirit and clear energy creates no devotees or feelings
of indebtedness but rather a deep feeling of humility and oneness with
all.
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We are involved to:
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unfold spiritually
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become a more knowledgeable person
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learn better communication with ourselves, our guidance and the world
around us
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gain a better understanding of ourselves and so gain the ability to
be more successful in the world in which we live
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What we will gain is to:
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Enjoy a better way of life
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Build confidence in ourselves and feel at ease with others
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Become aware that everyone is searching and doing the best they know
how
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Realize that there are friends and people we have met before and mingled
with before
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What we will be able to do with our knowledge and wisdom is to:
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Assure ourselves that what we came to do on planet earth is going to
get done and we are the ones to do it
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Increase our awareness of the fact that as we help ourselves and others,
we are building a better universe.
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Realize that the more secure we become within ourselves, the easier
life becomes
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Feel better because we emphasize the 90% positive and minimize the negative
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Realize that the world will be a better place to live for ourselves
and others who have also helped themselves
Responsibilities that we share as leaders
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To let people know:
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What the program has to offer
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How to work with the program
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What the leader himself is getting out of his involvement
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What is being accomplished to the best of his ability in a conscientious
way
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How to check and recheck for successful completion of their opportunity
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To inspire through understanding the goals we must reach
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To inspire individuals to find their own purpose
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To see that each individual takes the opportunity to get involved
in his own training and recognizes that part of that training is to train
other people as they move through the program
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To recognize that encouragement is the main, and key, approach
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To see that everyone, from the beginning, has a big picture, knows
the schedule, the involvement, the cost and earnings.
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To know how to delegate, check and recheck and follow through
to a successful completion
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To see that people get counseled as soon as possible and receive
course
541: Inner Communication and Guidance.
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To see that the structure is followed consistently
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To recheck with people who have not followed through and discern
where help is needed
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To maintain high standards so everyone can experience who he is
as a human being so he can feel qualified to bring out the best in someone
else
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To help everyone bring out the balance of thought and feeling
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To maintain a non-judgmental attitude
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To give each individual the opportunity to lead a group so he
can practice leading and instructing the courses (walking through the structure)
excerpt from Community Courier volume 6, No.
3 March 1991
Please submit all questions and concerns to [email protected]
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