The Greatest Works of Joseph Benner. Joseph Benner

      Chapter 1

      I AM

       Table of Contents

      To you who read, I speak.

      To you, who, through long years and much running to and fro, have been eagerly seeking, in books and teachings, in philosophy and religion, for you know not what Truth, Happiness, Freedom, God;

      To you whose Soul is weary and discouraged and almost destitute of hope;

      To you, who many times have obtained a glimpse of that "Truth" only to find, when you followed and tried to reach it, that it disappeared in the beyond, and was but the mirage of the desert; To you, who thought you had found it in some great teacher, who was perhaps the acknowledged head of some Society, Fraternity or Religion, and who appeared to you to be a "Master," so marvelous was the wisdom he taught and the works he performed; only to awaken later to the realization that that "Master" was but a human personality, with faults and weaknesses, and secret sins, the same as you, even though that personality may have been a channel through which were voiced many beautiful teachings, which seemed to you the highest "Truth;"

      And here you are, Soul aweary and enhungered, and not knowing where to turn To you, I AM come.

      Likewise to you, who have begun to feel the presence of that "Truth" within your Soul, and seek the confirmation of that which of late has been vaguely struggling for living expression within;

      Yes, to all you who hunger for the true "Bread of Life," I AM come.

      Are you ready to partake?

      If so, then arouse yourself. Sit up. Still your human mind and follow closely My Word herein spoken.

      Or you will turn away disappointed once more, with the aching hunger still in your heart.

      I!

      Who am I?

      I, Who speak with such seeming knowledge and authority?

      Listen!

      I AM You, that part of you who IS and KNOWS; WHO KNOWS ALL THINGS,

      And always knew, and always was.

      Yes, I AM You, Your SELF; that part of you who says I AM and is I AM;

      That transcendent, innermost part of you which quickens within as you read, which responds to this My Word, which perceives Its Truth, which recognizes all Truth and discards all error wherever found. Not that part which has been feeding on error all these years.

      For I AM your real Teacher, the only real one you will ever know, and the only MASTER;

      I, your Divine SELF.

      I, the I AM of you, bring to you this My Message, My living Word, as I have brought to you everything in life, be it book or "Master" to teach you that I and I alone, your own True Self, AM The Teacher for you, the only Teacher and the only God, Who is and always has been providing you not only with the Bread and Wine of Life, but with all things needed for your physical, mental and spiritual growth and sustenance.

      Therefore that which appeals to YOU, as you read, is MY Message, spoken to your outer human consciousness from within, and is but a confirmation of that which the I AM of you always knew within, but had not yet translated in definite, tangible terms to your outer consciousness.

      Likewise,