A downloadable MP3 recording of Consciousness Class 45 given through the mediumship of Richard P. Goodwin on May 2, 1974.

An audio recording on compact disc of the Consciousness Class given through the mediumship of Richard P. Goodwin on May 9, 1974.

A short lecture about concentration upon peace and why the spoken word is life-giving energy; boredom and becoming aware of what controls us. Student questions: The meaning of the words control and receptive; principle and personality in relation to giving; understanding; anger and judgment; self-will and divine will; procrastination and grounding of self; hereditary and environmental influences; choice and responsibility; a definition of creation.

A downloadable MP3 recording of Consciousness Class 46 given through the mediumship of Richard P. Goodwin on May 9, 1974.

An audio recording on compact disc of the Consciousness Class given through the mediumship of Richard P. Goodwin on May 16, 1974.

Under the general topic of self-control, the introductory remarks include comments on the following: spiritual freedom is the direct effect of self-control; purpose of class is to share an understanding that, once applied, will free the student; the difference between knowledge and wisdom; rejection and retaliation; distractions along the path to awakening; how our sensitivity during unfoldment tends to magnify the gross as well as the finer vibrations; the meaning of struggle and suffering and willingly accepting the process of letting go and changing; how irritation awakens the soul; the exercise of questioning “Why this?” and “Why now?” as a start on an inward journey through the mind to find out what laws one has set into motion. Student questions: Commitment and the principles involved; the relationship of judgment and conscience to the circle of logic in the expression of anger; the importance of self-control in permitting a beneficial expression of anger; frustration as the effect of suppressed desire; principle of cohesion (like attracts like) and adhesion (opposites attract); how a sense function, properly applied, becomes a soul faculty, with the example that applied knowledge constitutes wisdom; explanation of the principle of guilt; understanding of the statement, “Be ever the observer and not the observed”; clarification of the conscious, subconscious, and superconscious minds and soul- mates or guardian angels; what it means to “speak on a soul level”; explanation of the meaning of nature’s physical and spiritual laws as contained in Spiritualism’s Declaration of Principles; definition of body with discussion on different kinds of bodies including the primitive mind; bowing the ego in humility to an authority greater than one’s brain; comment about a cause of our difficulties as not wanting to accept change, and discussion about demonstrating blind faith.

A downloadable MP3 recording of Consciousness Class 47 given through the mediumship of Richard P. Goodwin on May 16, 1974.

An audio recording on compact disc of the Consciousness Class given through the mediumship of Richard P. Goodwin on May 23, 1974.

A short lecture on the difficulties students experience in applying the spiritual teachings, despite the many ways shown to free themselves—knowledge without application is of no value; need to make effort to find out what true attitudes, motives, and values are; life is constantly revealing to us that we are getting what we want according to the laws we have set into motion; there is a crossroad of decision on the path to spiritual awakening when we must face the truth or continue on in a sleep of satisfaction; we must give up self-motivation in order to receive divine inspiration. Student questions are directed toward an understanding of acceptance, the divine will; the Law of Duality or Creation as guaranteeing choice or variety; perception and ego and the potential danger of loss of hearing when we “tune out”; difference between the sense function of self-will and the soul faculty of initiative, which demonstrates consideration, reason, and responsibility; comparison between meekness and weakness; discussion of motivation and perspective; the eternal moment and the possibility of perceiving a conversation before it takes place in the physical dimension; the true purpose of meditation; how communication with other dimensions reveals one’s level of consciousness in that like attracts like and guides and teachers are en rapport with the aspiration of one’s soul; caution not to seek mediumship in and of itself; clarification of understanding as the foundation of all the soul faculties and that of having a foundation of reason; feelings of wealth and poverty as an attitude of mind—“You don’t need money; it needs you”—being emotional when we accept that we are short of cash as a revelation of denial of our divinity; how responsibility is the direct effect of desire; releasing the energy through the creative principle.

A downloadable MP3 recording of Consciousness Class 48 given through the mediumship of Richard P. Goodwin on May 23, 1974.

An audio recording on compact disc of the Consciousness Class given through the mediumship of Richard P. Goodwin on May 29, 1974.

Introductory remarks are a sharing of the understanding about the process of death or transition; the importance of concentration; attitudes of mind and the critical importance of self-control; clarification of difference between perception and awareness and the relationship to ego; discussion on faith and fear and the wisdom of the divine will of acceptance; comments on promise and commitment; man’s will determines the form which he merits; discussion of the vital body; the symbol of determination; difference between determination and will; explanation that a slow growth is usually a healthy growth—progression is very individual to each soul; how the spoken word, which is life-giving energy, makes a law unto ourselves; choice, once having been made, becomes destiny; discussion on every problem being a lack of receptivity to the Divine Intelligence, known as the Spirit; comment on the divine great void having no experience until it enters the principle of duality; man’s greatest problem is his refusal to accept an intelligence greater than his brain; directing energy and attention to releasing so-called problems; facing east during meditation to receive natural illumination; dealing with the question of whether man is affected only by past incarnation or does it go back further; vibrations and how not to scatter thoughts or dissipate energy; discussion of generosity, givingness, and gratitude; relationship of sense functions and soul faculties and states of consciousness; finding out what is of value in your life; understanding of the word repentance; an explanation of the Law of Grace or one’s spiritual bank account.

A downloadable MP3 recording of Consciousness Class 49 given through the mediumship of Richard P. Goodwin on May 29, 1974.