Key Takeaways
1. The Innate Spiritual Quest: A Worldly Beginning
“Oh, but I know that you are looking for God.”
Early stirrings. Joel S. Goldsmith's initial 36 years were steeped in a worldly life, marked by a successful importing business and extensive travel across the United States and Europe. Despite this outward success, he harbored an inner sense of detachment and sadness, a feeling uncommon in children, which his mother intuitively recognized as a search for God. This early, unarticulated longing laid the groundwork for his later spiritual awakening.
Miraculous catalyst. A pivotal moment arrived when his father, critically ill in Europe, experienced a miraculous recovery through Christian Science prayer. This event, initially met with skepticism by Joel, sparked a "desultory study" of Christian Science and ignited deeper questions about God's presence amidst global conflicts and human suffering. It was a direct challenge to his material worldview, hinting at a power beyond the physical.
Inner directives. At age nineteen, an inner "Voice or impression" urged him to "Find the man Jesus, and you will have the secret of life," followed by a similar directive to "Become a Mason and learn about God." These mysterious calls, despite his lack of religious background, set him on a dedicated path of inquiry, revealing a profound, hidden spiritual dimension that would eventually define his life's work.
2. From Business Failure to Divine Reliance: The Healing Ministry
“Oh, no,” It said, “‘that won’t do, Joel. That’s not right. That isn’t the kind of teaching that you have accepted that you are all right because these people owe you $150. The teaching you have accepted is that you are all right because you have found God.”
Business's demise. Joel's successful business career eventually dwindled, leading to financial ruin despite spiritual help from practitioners. This period of "lack" became a crucible for his spiritual growth, forcing him to confront his reliance on external circumstances. Paradoxically, as his business failed, acquaintances began seeking his spiritual healing.
A new calling. Penniless, Joel opened an office as a Christian Science practitioner, initially relying on traditional billing. However, a profound inner realization challenged this approach: his security should stem from God, not from what others owed him. This led to a radical act of faith:
- He wrote off $150 in patient debts.
- He declared his sole reliance on God for supply.
- Within 24 hours, a long-lost acquaintance repaid an old debt of exactly $150.
The "I AM" realization. This experience solidified his understanding that "I is God: I is Self-maintaining and Self-sustaining; I is the source of supply." He learned that abundance flows from within, not to him. This shift in consciousness, though initially challenging to reconcile with outward appearances of lack, ultimately established his practice and ended his financial struggles, proving that "what God sees in secret is rewarded openly."
3. Meditation: The Path to Unconditioned Consciousness
Thought is not power.
Seeking the secret. Early in his healing work, Joel recognized meditation as the key to deeper spiritual awareness, but found existing literature insufficient. He began a rigorous personal practice, sitting in quiet silence multiple times a day, initially without discernible results. Over time, these sessions led to subtle yet profound shifts:
- A "click" sensation, a deep breath, signaling a different kind of experience.
- Increased harmony, peace, and success in his daily life.
- A reduction in sleep needs, allowing for intense study and practice.
Revolutionary insight. In 1934, a startling inner message declared, "Thought is not power." This contradicted prevailing metaphysical teachings and caused significant internal turmoil. Through continued meditation, he realized that while thought could lead to stillness, it was ultimately ineffectual against serious problems. Only the "realization of God" or the "Spirit active in consciousness" could bring true harmony and healing.
Inner initiation. This period culminated in a "year of transition" in 1946, marked by two months of intense inner illumination. He experienced a profound "initiation into spiritual truth," a "revelation of something I could specifically grasp hold of and say, ‘Now, I know what this is and I can tell it.’" This experience, which he later linked to the Parthenon in Athens, stripped away veils and laid the foundation for The Infinite Way.
4. The Infinite Way: A Mystical Revelation, Not an Organization
“Illumination dissolves all material ties and binds men together with the golden chains of spiritual understanding; it acknowledges only the leadership of the Christ; it has no ritual or rule but the divine, impersonal universal Love; no other worship than the inner Flame that is ever lit at the shrine of Spirit.”
Core principles. The Infinite Way emerged from Joel's deep mystical experiences, distilled into three fundamental concepts:
- One: God is the sole, all-inclusive power, presence, and wisdom.
- As: God appears as individual being and the spiritual universe.
- Is: Reality, harmony, and perfection exist now, not in a future state.
These principles emphasize direct, conscious oneness with the Source, transcending intellectual understanding.
Anti-organizational stance. Joel firmly believed that his universal message could not be confined within a church or organization without losing its vitality. He actively resisted all attempts to formalize The Infinite Way, even declining substantial financial offers to do so. His inner guidance explicitly stated, "The Source of this work will never permit it to be organized, and whoever tries to do that will be removed."
Freedom and individual authority. The Infinite Way champions individual spiritual integrity as the ultimate authority, rejecting external rules, rituals, or memberships. It aims to turn individuals inward to discover the divine Source within their own consciousness, fostering a "free state of spiritual brotherhood" where each person's developed consciousness is their guide and proof.
5. Divine Guidance Shapes the Journey: A Global Mission Without Personal Agenda
“God performeth that which is given me to do.”
Inner compass. Joel's extensive travels, averaging 35,000 to 65,000 miles annually, were not driven by personal ambition but by an unwavering trust in inner guidance. He never initiated a trip or class without a clear "go-ahead signal from within," often receiving instructions that seemed illogical from a human perspective, such as going to London where he knew few students.
Unforeseen connections. His first trip to London, prompted by an inner Voice, led to unexpected connections:
- Discovering a practitioner sending his books to Sweden.
- Meeting Henry Thomas Hamblin, who championed his work in England.
- Arranging for the publication of Infinite Way writings in the UK and Europe.
These events demonstrated that a "Presence" was always "going before him," orchestrating opportunities and ensuring the message reached receptive individuals globally.
Beyond sightseeing. For Joel, travel was not about external sights but about connecting with people and fulfilling his mission to carry "consciousness" to those receptive to it. He saw the futility of travel divorced from spiritual purpose, emphasizing that "only when a person begins to discover people does he discover a reason not only for traveling but a reason for living." His journeys were a testament to living by Grace, allowing the divine plan to unfold through him.
6. Teaching from Emptiness: The Spontaneous Flow of Truth
“If I had known the truth when I went on that platform, there would have been no room for that great revelation.”
Unprepared delivery. Joel never prepared his talks; every lecture and class emerged spontaneously from within, often surprising even himself. He would mount the platform in a state of "emptiness," a "blank" consciousness, trusting that the truth would pour through him. This method ensured that his teachings were always fresh, alive, and directly inspired, rather than intellectual recitations.
Profound revelations. One memorable instance occurred in Chicago in 1956. Feeling utterly empty and contemplating canceling his lecture, an inner Voice directed him to "Fifth Chapter of Matthew, bottom of the page." This led to a sudden, blinding flash of insight into the "secret of the Sermon on the Mount," a truth he had never understood before. This experience underscored his belief that true teaching comes from revelation, not prior knowledge.
Beyond words. His teaching transcended mere intellectual discourse. He aimed to dismantle students' reliance on external crutches and handed-down concepts, guiding them to their own inner experience of God. With a select few, he engaged in "teaching without words," a silent impartation of truth in deep contemplation, where "the message is conveyed... completely on the spiritual plane."
7. The Impersonal Christ: Healing the World's Ills
“The Christ is the activity of God or the Spirit of God in your consciousness once you have recognized It, once you have realized what Jesus Christ meant when he said, ‘Before Abraham was, I am.’ ”
Universal application. Joel believed that the principles of The Infinite Way were not just for individual healing but for resolving global problems like war, corruption, and prejudice. He sought an "impersonal Christ-healing" that would be universally available, transcending personal limitations and beliefs. This vision was reinforced by a dramatic incident where a pilot survived a plane crash, seemingly aided by Joel's realization of the Christ's omnipresence.
World work through meditation. He initiated a worldwide daily meditation activity, inviting students to dedicate specific periods to realizing the Christ's activity in world affairs. This "world work" was to be done in secrecy, without personal glory, with the understanding that:
- The Christ-realization dissolves material sense.
- It opens human consciousness to Truth.
- It would raise up new ideas and leaders to solve global issues.
A new element. Joel was convinced that conventional methods could not solve humanity's deep-seated problems. He envisioned the introduction of a "new Element" into human consciousness—the realized Christ—that would dissolve the lust for power, greed, and fear. This "absolute realization and conviction of one Power which knows no opposites and no opposition" would ultimately lead to a new world where "all things are new."
8. The Cost of Attainment: Surrender and Inner Turmoil
“I have given my utmost all, so I can joy and rejoice in my failure.”
Profound struggles. Despite his outward success and spiritual stature, Joel experienced intense inner turmoil, often feeling an "overwhelming sense of failure" and "separation from God." These periods, which he called "nightmares" and "desolation," were not triggered by external events but were deep, internal processes of self-abnegation. He saw himself as his "own severest critic."
The "failure" letter. In November 1952, during a period of extreme inner stress, he wrote a poignant "Love Offering to God," declaring his 24-year spiritual journey a "glorious failure." This act of complete surrender brought a profound message: "You can never succeed because God is the only activity, but you can be the instrument for God’s work." This realization was a pivotal moment, dissolving his belief in personal power to succeed or fail.
Price of consciousness. Joel understood that such inner struggles—"crises, initiations"—were the necessary price for spiritual attainment. Each period of barrenness was a prelude to deeper unfoldments, emptying him to make way for new inspiration and clarity. He recognized that few were willing to pay this price of "self-abnegation and complete surrender of self," which is why he often discouraged those embarking on the spiritual path.
9. Consciousness as Eternal Reality: A Legacy Beyond Form
“I do not exist in time or space. The only place I can exist is in your consciousness and if you let me out of your consciousness, you have let go of me because all you can know of me is what you can embody in your consciousness, and that is not dependent on physical sense.”
Preparing for departure. In his final months, Joel's teachings increasingly prepared students for his physical absence, emphasizing the eternal nature of consciousness. He explained that his true presence was not physical but in the "consciousness of truth" he shared, an "eternal relationship" that transcended time, space, life, or death. This was a profound lesson in non-attachment to the physical form.
The Gethsemane revelation. A deep insight came to him in January 1963: Jesus "overcame the world in the Garden of Gethsemane," not on the Cross. This meant he "died to human life" and entered his Christ life before the crucifixion, continuing to live in a human frame as a "high demonstration." Joel believed it was possible to "meet death, attain the spiritual life, and yet walk around in the human frame," laying it aside when its purpose was served.
A living legacy. Joel's ultimate realization was that his true identity, like that of all beings, was consciousness itself, not the physical form. He taught that his message, The Infinite Way, would continue to function through the "consciousness of individual being universally experienced." His legacy is not in an organization or a physical presence, but in the transforming power of the Spirit, felt on every page of his writings and in the awakened consciousness of his students.
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