|
|
||
|
|
Personal Economics by Richard Kieninger In recreating the Lemurian
system of doing things in the Nation of God, we must focus first on
developing the balanced individuals who will make up that civilization; for a
civilization’s strength and success are determined by the strength or
weakness, balance or imbalance, of the individuals who comprise that society. Perhaps the greatest truth
of which a man must become aware before any other truths have great meaning
for him is the fact that there is a purpose to human life. This
purpose is the perpetual elevation, through man’s own efforts, from clod to
God. With this must come the realization that only as man unfolds his
inherent abilities may he know that “peace which passeth understanding”—that
absolute security which comes about as the result of adherence to Natural
Law. Impress on the minds of many this great goal toward which all creation
moves, and the Nation of God will not be long in the making. In balancing our Egos, we
mustn’t overlook the dire need for balance in the economic sphere of our
lives. Economic balance is a barometer of our attention or inattention to
detail and our general attitudes about Creation. There are principles of the
Universe which, if followed precisely, will ensure prosperity and abundance
for everyone. Poverty is unnatural. There should not exist a single
non-prosperous citizen in a society. For poverty to exist means some
universal principle or principles are being violated. It is not God’s
intention that humanity should lack any of the good things of life. Through
infinite examples, He has shown that man has only to follow certain
principles and he shall inherit the earth. A few have chosen to follow these
principles in detail. To Them—the Masters or Elder Brothers—life presents
only harmonious good. For Them, security, beauty and peace are all assured.
At some point each of These Egos pondered the truth of Christ’s statement,
“He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater
works than these shall he do.” Each of Them realized that man’s potential is
almost unlimited if he will but set out to develop it. It is the plan of the Elder
Brothers to educate and train a nucleus of farseeing individuals so that
they may set into operation new causes the ultimate result of which
will be the integration of the New Civilization where peace and security
associated only with the Nation of God will prevail. In order to build a
sound economic structure for ourselves individually, we must be willing to
serve others and this Plan. This will require will power and seeming
sacrifice, and one’s courage and sincerity will meet their greatest tests. Nothing worthwhile is easy
to accomplish. For millennia, mankind has cried out for security and
happiness for all people. We must give of ourselves in loving, kindly,
considerate, efficient service for Christ’s Plan. Just as the flowers give of
their fragrance and beauty and the birds of their song, let us, too, for the
sheer joy we find in so doing, give what we can and fear not. As a result of years of
erroneous religious teachings, many of us have come to feel that economics is
too commercialistic a study to undertake when striving toward a spiritual
goal. We seem to forget that an empty stomach and a leaky roof—or lack of a
roof—are hardly conducive to that peace of mind essential to true
advancement. As long as we must have food, clothing, and shelter, money plays
an important role in our daily affairs. It was the love of money
against which Christ cautioned mankind, for money in itself is neither good
nor bad. It is the use to which it is put that determines its value.
Used for good, it becomes good. It is as wrong to discount materiality
as it is to discount spirituality. One is as important as the other. A
balance between the two leads to all that is good in both—to peace, serenity,
happiness, advancement, and plenty. Each individual aspiring for Citizenship
must acquire and maintain within himself this essential if he is to
experience that ideal as epitomized in the Nation of God. Universal Principles of
Prosperity We will study several sound
principles of the Universe which, when faithfully practiced, will inevitably
lead to security and abundance. These are: ·
The Principle
of Compensation ·
Value
Consciousness ·
Prosperity
Consciousness ·
Tithing ·
The Financial
Reserve ·
Personal Ledger The Principle of
Compensation In applying Mental
Precipitation in our lives, or the bringing of something into our
environment, we must also be aware of the need to give something in exchange. In creating the Universe,
God created a system that operates in a self-sustaining manner in perfect
balance. The same perfect balance must ultimately be brought about in the
lives of all humanity as integral parts of the Universe. As this balance
increases, man reaches to an ever greater degree the state of
self-sufficiency. In its attainment, the necessary steps toward the various
Initiations are made, and assuredly, none may become a Citizen of the Nation
of God except as such balance begins to manifest within himself and in the
consequent state of his affairs. Having attained perfect balance on the
physical plane, he has gained perfect control over himself and his
environment and shall merit the title “Master.” This balance is pivotal in
discussing economics. To understand the Principle
of Compensation, observe the manifestations of Nature as she responds to
anything man gives or does for her. By helping a tiny seed to fulfill its
destiny, nature compensates a hundredfold. One grain of corn planted and
cared for yields a hundred and more like itself. One tree, grown from one
seed, carefully tended, responds with countless bushels of fruit. With Nature
and God, there is no stinting; only an endless giving. All that man gives to
Nature and to God is compensated for in an even greater ratio. For all the
love and care one gives the flowers, the trees, the grasses, vegetables, and berries,
there is always a multiplied compensation in greatly increased beauty and
production. Exercise: This
week, start a process of taking some small and simple steps toward observing
the Principle of Compensation in action. On awakening tomorrow, determine to
make this day a “day of smiles.” No matter whom you meet or contact
throughout the day, make it a point to greet everyone with a smile. Make it a
natural one, not a forced or obvious grin. Just a simple, friendly smile.
Keep a mental record and by evening, note how many smiles greeted you in
return. Observe the effects in your contacts throughout the day, and you will
agree that the compensation for your smile will far more than offset the
small effort required. Follow this process for a month, and you will find
yourself surrounded with a smiling world. Let
your second step be to find something good to say of everyone mentioned
in your conversations. Before a month has passed, you will find yourself the
recipient of more goodwill than has been true in a long time. Third,
seek and find something good to do for each person you contact. Let it
be something small—some simple service. It may amount to nothing more than
sharpening a pencil, picking up something a fellow worker has dropped, giving
someone a hand with a task or indicating your appreciation to those whom you
will find doing things for you. One compensation which we
all can make to Nature and God for all the good received is the thinking of
good and constructive thoughts. Remember that it is the essence of such
thinking that will make possible the New Civilization—a nation of contented
and serene people well on the way to attaining the goal for this life wave. Among many individuals who
seemingly are good people, there are the petty advantages they take of
another, sometimes even feeling justified in so doing. We who strive for
Citizenship in the Nation of God must constantly watch our thoughts and
actions so that we may become more and more conscious of when we err. Regard compensation as a privilege
rather than a duty, and both God and Nature will reward you beyond
measure. Value Consciousness Value is defined as the
measure of worth. This applies to all that we have or enjoy. It applies to
actions, words, ideas, associations, friendships and wealth. The greatest of
all is its application to service. A value consciousness is
possible if we (1) conscientiously keep a daily personal ledger; (2) follow
the principle of tithing; and (3) develop a prosperity consciousness. In order to develop a value
consciousness in regard to our financial well-being,
we must learn to go about evaluating our expenditures in a systematic manner.
Through services rendered—earning of Karmic Credits necessary to the daily
conduct of our lives—we have earned a certain income in the form of money. It
should have a very real value in our eyes because of what has gone into the
rendering of the service which entitled us to this monetary return. Getting Value for Our
Money Suppose you happen to be
feeling thirsty, so you purchase a soda, and upon finishing it you discover
that it still requires a glass of water to satisfy you. Was the transient
pleasure of the soda actually worth the amount you paid? If you bought it
because of the pleasure its taste afforded you, perhaps it was. However, if
you took it simply because you were thirsty, when a glass of water would have
served that purpose even better, was the expenditure justified? Was it really
worth the ten minutes or more of work that money represented when,
after all, it did not quench the thirst? When we spend our income,
we are spending Karmic Credits, and this thought should always be borne in
mind with every amount of money spent regardless of how small it may be, for
money is a medium of exchange, without value in itself, but representing
services rendered. Do you frequently shop in
terms of price alone? Or do you thoughtfully consider the value of the item
being purchased or the service acquired? When you shop a sale, are you aware
of those items which are actually bargains based on your value
consciousness, or are you looking for something for nothing? Tithing We’ve discussed the
principle of tithing in prior lessons, so we won’t go into detail here. We
have learned that through the Principle of Compensation, we must give for all
we receive or inevitably be cut off from the source of supply. Neither can we
take without giving in return, for sooner or later, the Universal Principle
exacts its toll in misfortune and heartache. Just as many children are
inclined to feel they owe their parents no compensation for the love and
kindness lavished on them, so do we also take for granted all the good our
loving Father in Heaven has showered upon us. The air we breathe, the
sunlight, the soil, water—without them there can be no life. Deprived of any
of these for even a brief period, something of its value dawns on us. A
dreary world this would be, too, if there were no beauty of flowers and
sunsets and sky, no trees or grasses, no loving hearts, or no laughter. But
for the just and unfailing Natural Laws which govern the Universe, a sad
confused state of affairs would be manifest in all things. All this wonder of
intelligent guidance and loving consideration, and we simply accept it as a
matter of course—at times even grumbling because we haven’t more! If we do
not enjoy all the good to which God’s beneficence is capable, it is because
we have not troubled to think of doing our best to secure it. We have not
cooperated with Cosmic Law. To give a tenth of our net
income repays the Elder Brothers, Angels and Archangels for Their efforts in
maintaining balance in the Universe and providing us with the many life
forms to enjoy. The tithe is ten percent of your income given to the
service of God for the advancement of mankind and the establishment of the
Nation of God. A tithe is a voluntary contribution to the service of God. The tithe should not be
divided. In this day and age, there are any number of solicitations for
donations by various organizations, as well as churches we may be accustomed
to attending. To whom your tithe is to be given depends entirely on your
decision as to where it will best serve its purpose as an offering to God. In
some cases, donations are made obligatory by employers. However, if one undertook
to donate to all who solicit him, he would have little of his salary left, or
his donations would have to be very small. Which do you consider of greater
importance: tithing to further God’s Work or donations to charitable
enterprises? One of the cardinal
principles of Karmic Law is that each of us can receive only in proportion to
our giving. We can hope to reap only as we have sown. Therefore, in Their
infinite wisdom, the Elder Brothers have granted each aspirant the greatest
conceivable opportunity to earn his advancement and security. They have made
it possible for us to build our own personal oasis of true security, thus
making it truly our own so that no one may ever take it from us as long as we
observe and abide by God’s just Laws. The Financial Reserve Personal profit is that
portion of one’s income left after deducting his expenses of living. It has
been created by the performance of remunerated service in excess of one’s
needs. This amount, as it accumulates from month to month is one’s personal
financial reserve. This reserve must not be
confused with hoarding, which is the setting aside of anything simply for the
sake of accumulating it. Hoarding is selfish. It withholds from the community
the benefits which would accrue from the constructive use of that which is
being hoarded and is, therefore, a direct violation of how the Universe works. The hoarder will eventually
freeze his own source of supply and finally face financial bankruptcy. He is
like the man who has a full pitcher. The only way in which he can put more
into it is to pour out some of its contents. If he refuses to do this, the
water in it will become stagnant and useless. No one can continue to take
without giving, for he not only gains no Karmic Credits, but eventually
loses those he already has. He does not compensate for what he has received,
and such selfishness can have no place in the attainment of either
spirituality or the Brotherhood of Man. The study of increasing
one’s prosperity is superfluous unless every student expects to use this
knowledge during and after the final wars which will mark the close of this
cycle. Those who expect to live for Christ’s Great Cause should plan to
serve with all the resources at their disposal. To accumulate a reserve for
such a purpose, therefore, is not a selfish action, but one wherein he is
demonstrating a high degree of vision. Wishful thinking will not
bring you into Citizenship. You must plan a definite program whereby you will
take certain concrete actions of a constructive character that will enable
you to live as a Citizen. Plan your progress and move forward each month,
even though it be only a trifle. This is the opportunity before you. Whether
you are conscientious or not can be determined only as your daily living
conforms to Cosmic Law. That Law has certain definite economic implications,
and you need, therefore, to conduct your economic life in conformance with
it. Prosperity Consciousness Through a false, unworkable
and unjust economic system as we see in the world today, the purchasing value
of money can be made to fluctuate by the manipulations of conscienceless
bankers. Therefore, financial security must be predicated on more than the
accumulation of money as such. It must be remembered that no matter what
length the journey, we must start from where we are. There are a number of
techniques available for developing a prosperity consciousness. One most of
us is familiar with is the habit of making positive affirmations to condition
our subconscious of our worthiness of being prosperous. Being observant of
our self-talk is always important. Do you ever find yourself making
statements like, “I can’t afford that” or “That’s too rich for my blood?”
Always carry a hundred dollar bill in your wallet or purse which you never
spend even though you could. Personal Ledger A personal ledger is used
to record your personal financial receipts and expenditures. It records all
moneys that pass through your hands personally. (Note: If you own a business,
do not include moneys used or received relating to your business in your personal
ledger.) Begin your personal ledger
immediately on the first of the month—even though the amount in the beginning
is small—for if you hope to earn Citizenship in the Nation of God, you are
obliged to keep a personal ledger, for it is only through personal experience
that you may learn what is essential to that economic balance required for
true advancement. Even if you are in a marriage, each party should keep his
or her own personal ledger. The first step in keeping a
ledger is to review the expenditures of the day. In mentally beginning with
the latest event and proceeding in reverse order until your day began, you
increase your awareness and observation as well as serve to develop your
memory. As you mentally do this, record each expenditure in your ledger, at
the same time deciding on the nature of the expenditure—whether it was really
worthwhile, whether you “got your money’s worth,” or whether you might well
have dispensed with such an expenditure and still retain the money you spent. Separate your expenditures
into two categories: “transfers” (employing the services of people or buying
items which are not subject to disintegration) and “consumables” (anything
which is used up or eventually deteriorates away). Transfers may include
services, such as barber or beauty shop, repair work, visiting a health
practitioner, postage, printing of stationery, cards, transportation fares,
utilities, cleaning and laundry bills, etc. Also include recreation items,
such as movie or concert tickets, gifts, dining at a restaurant, improvements
on investment properties or beautification of property. These are
expenditures that keep money flowing in a positive way. Consumable items include
food, pharmaceuticals, clothing, rent, electric bills, house payments, hardware
items, stationery, household equipment, furniture or linens. These are items
that you alone use up and are a dead end in usage. Remember to include your
tithe and financial reserve in your ledger. It may seem like a lot of
work when you first begin this practice, but it will become easier as you
progress. So often, one of the greatest problem areas for those of us who are
attempting to progress toward Initiation has to deal with the area of
finances. One has only to view the economic conditions in the world to
realize there is a desperate need for a greater understanding of what is
fundamentally essential to restoring prosperity. For those aspiring to
Initiation, the establishment of an economic balance in one’s personal
affairs is of special importance. Please do not think that your personal
finances involve too small an amount of money to make the keeping of a
personal ledger worthwhile. Citizenship and Initiation imply a balanced individual—spiritually,
mentally and materially. One’s economic affairs must be in balance,
regardless of whether he is wealthy or of moderate circumstances. After you’ve prepared your
ledger and used it for a month or two to see what you’re spending, set a
budget for yourself. Hope for Tomorrow This path you have embarked
on may be termed a campaign of watchfulness, for the time has come when all
those who aspire to the truly magnificent goal of Citizenship in the coming
Nation of God must learn to say less and think more—to observe and to
learn—to discern and discriminate wisely. As the inescapable result of
mankind’s refusal to profit from its observation, life as lived by the
average person today is as aimless as the actions of a minnow in a pond or a
rudderless ship at the mercy of every errant breeze or erratic current. There
is too little intelligent direction, and the condition of the world
demonstrates this with terrifying reality. It takes courage to forego
the temptation to drift with the tide, even though we know it has taken us to
the very brink of disaster. It requires no small degree of determination and
will power to deliberately set out to build within one’s self the
characteristics necessary to the greatest efficiency of our God-given potentials.
It takes the vision of the glorious goal toward which we aspire to enable us
to understand that all else in life must now become secondary in our thoughts
and affairs. As a sincere student, life
can no longer be a haphazard, hit-and-miss affair, but a carefully planned
and executed system of intelligent thinking whereby you will find
yourself able to control any situation you may encounter. Such, obviously,
cannot be acquired through a mere lackadaisical desire nor through a dilatory
method of study. This training must become the most important thing in your
life—not something to be picked up and toyed with when there is nothing else
to do. It must become a vital part of your life. Every thought, every word,
every act must be with the idea in mind of making yourself more worthy of
Initiation. You are now in the process
of entering a new and better way of life and living. How far you progress is
strictly up to you and your efforts. And remember, the Elder Brothers are
always there to assist when you’ve done your best and need help. Enjoy with
new determination your worthwhile path to living in the Nation of God! |
|
|
|
|
|
