LESSON 17

This lesson continues to look at the relationship between what you think (cause) and what you see (effect). The truth is that people, objects, and events outside of ourselves do not cause our perceptions. What we see is determined by our thoughts. What we believe we are seeing and experiencing are the effects of our thoughts. We have a thought, and as a result of the thought that is in our mind, we project that thought onto the world of people, situations, things and events and see our thoughts reflected there. Yet we have forgotten that the cause is in our minds. We think that the world is the cause and we are the effect. Thus, we feel like a victim of this world and helpless in the face of events, people and circumstances acting on us.

And so we wonder, "How did I get here (on this planet)?" "How did it happen that I have the parents that I do?" "Why am I so unhappy?" We don't see that it is all our own decision. We truly have come to believe that none of this is our choice and that it is because of events outside of our own power that cause us to feel and think as we do. This is a result of our free will whereby we chose to separate from God, but we do not want to take responsibility for that choice. So, we project our decision to separate onto God and now we see Him as abandoning us. It is how we have reversed cause and effect. It is this reversal that forms our belief that the world is acting on us and there is nothing we can do about it. If this were the case, then we truly would be victims of our circumstances, but all of this was set up by the ego to keep us in this illusion. If all the power is with outside events and circumstances, then we would indeed be powerless.

What if we truly have been wrong, as Jesus says we are. "If it were not so, perception would have no cause, and would itself be the cause of reality. In view of its highly variable nature, this is hardly likely." (W.17.1.5-6) In other words, the world of perception would then be real and would be the cause of our experience and there would be nothing we could do about it. We would then be caught in hopelessness. Now the conditions of the world become real, as does suffering and death. When we realize that our minds are the cause, then there is something we can do to be released from this hopeless cycle of birth and death. Now Jesus is telling us that indeed there is a way out if we are willing to admit that we have been wrong. "This is not the way the world thinks, but you must learn that it is the way you think." (W.17.1.4)
  
We have come to trust our way of seeing the world. The perpetrators of our experience are seen "out there." We trust our senses and thus think that what we are seeing and experiencing is the truth. We may wonder why we are feeling the way that we are and start to look for the causes of these feelings, and what do we do? We start to look for things in the world that we believe caused these feelings of anger, depression, sadness or happiness. We blame others for attacking us, betraying us, hurting us, upsetting us etc. We are convinced that the cause is outside of ourselves and not our own thoughts. We want to make sense of the snippets of things that have seemingly happened in our lives and so we tell a story that fits our experience. We weave it together in such a way that it seems to make rational sense.

For years I told the story of victimization at the hands of my parents until one day the question that was put to me was "what if I had chosen them?" What if they were absolutely perfect for what I came to this planet to learn? Contemplating this possibility changed everything for me so that now I am very grateful for the events of my life. Increasingly I see that it is my script that serves my highest good. Though often painful to the ego, I can now see that it is all for my awakening when used for this purpose.

Jesus is trying to help us see that nothing we see or interpret is the truth---Nothing! We are wrong about everything, but until we are ready to admit that our way does not work, no matter how hard we try to get our needs met and no matter how much we try to avoid pain, it is impossible. At some point, we become motivated to listen to what Jesus is trying to help us see, but it is a process, and not an easy one for us. We will have many opportunities to help us in this regard. "Trials are but lessons that you failed to learn presented once again, so where you made a faulty choice before you now can make a better one, and thus escape all pain that what you chose before has brought to you." (T.31.VIII.3.1) (ACIM OE T.31.VIII.87) That is such an encouraging thought!
 
We are learning to see that our thoughts are where the power is, and not what others do. This is a reversal of how we think now. I find it helpful to think of myself as the director of this play of my life. I wrote the script for these characters in my dream. They are just acting out the script written by me. In my play there are special people that take center stage. Some I love to hate and others I think I love, but they hurt me and betray me and upset me, sometimes fulfilling my needs and other times failing my requirements. They are the most difficult characters in my play. Then there are the irritating minor roles---the inconsiderate clerk in the store, the guy who cut me off in traffic, or the person who put graffiti on my wall---you get the picture. But I keep forgetting that I wrote the script. I keep forgetting that these are all my thoughts projected out and reflecting my own thoughts back to me. While I am seeing their actions as independent of my thoughts there is nothing I can do. I think what I am seeing is a fact because, after all, I see it with my own eyes. I can make a convincing case that all of this is exactly the way it is. And every time I do see it that way, I am telling Jesus that he is wrong in what he is saying. I am telling him that I am right about the way I am seeing the situation and furthermore, I have the evidence and am prepared to make my case. Do you see how we do this over and over again every time we justify our feelings of being victimized?

Jesus is telling us, "It is always the thought that comes first, despite the temptation to believe that it is the other way around." (W.17.1.3) This is the whole basis for forgiveness. To forgive is to see my own judgments and to take responsibility that what I see in the world is a reflection of my thoughts. Now I have the power to change those thoughts. I can choose to look at my brother as the ego directs, which is to judge, attack and see guilt 'out there'. Or I could choose the Holy Spirit as my Guide and Teacher and look within at my own condemning thoughts. While this is empowering, it is also difficult. Daily we find ourselves reacting to the external, but we must not judge ourselves for our mistakes. It is just another opportunity to recognize what we have done and to give our judgments to the Holy Spirit. Being mindful as to how we are constantly pushing this teaching away and reacting to the external will help us to see how much we resist this idea. The ego set it up for us so that we would never change our minds and be stuck in this cycle of sin, guilt and fear through myriads of lifetimes, living at the mercy of a cruel world, suffering and dying with no hope of ever knowing true joy and peace.
 
Perception is an effect, caused by our own thoughts. Our perception is so variable because our thoughts are so variable. One day we see someone as very difficult and then we change our minds and see that we were wrong in what we saw previously. We can see the "highly variable nature" (W.17.1.6) of our perceptions. We can see the same person through judgment one day or through forgiveness the next and thus it becomes a different picture we see. While perception is highly variable, reality is changeless.

The purpose of the Course is to help us to see the sameness in all illusions. Some problems are not bigger than others even though it appears so to us. Until we recognize that all illusions are the same, we find some more difficult than others. They have no meaning except the meaning we give them. Some we prefer more than others. Some we see as more difficult than others. Just as there is no hierarchy of illusions, there is also no hierarchy when it comes to miracles. The miracle does not regard some illusions more difficult or harder to address than others. "There is no order of difficulty in miracles. One is not 'harder' or 'bigger' than another. They are all the same. All expressions of love are maximal." (T.1.I.1.1)

"Regardless of what you may believe, you do not see anything that is really alive or really joyous. That is because you are unaware as yet of any thought that is really true, and therefore really happy." (W.17.3.2-3) What an amazing statement! It is certainly radical for us, because we think of this experience as our life. Yet Jesus says, "What you have given 'life' is not alive, and symbolizes but your wish to be alive apart from life, alive in death, with death perceived as life, and living, death." (T.29.II.6.2 ) (ACIM OE T.29.III.15) We are told in the Course that the body does not die because it has never lived. What the Course calls life is what can never die, which is our eternal Self. The body and world are the effect of our choice for the ego thought system of sin, guilt and fear, projected out. Sin is the past, guilt is the present and fear of consequences is the future. Thus, in the ego thought system, suffering, aging and death are part of the reality of time and space. When we accept this as life, there is nothing we can do about it except live our lives as best we can, avoiding pain and seeking pleasure. However, what we are learning in this Course is that suffering and death are the result of our thought system. We will come to know our innocent, eternal Self that can't suffer and die when we learn to identify with the thought system of this teaching rather than with that of the ego.
  
Nothing we see is true. Only God's thoughts are true. Only what God created is real. God created perfect love. Nothing real can be threatened (Spirit). Nothing unreal exists (body/form). Reality is everlasting, unchanging and true. Perceptions are temporary interpretations based on our beliefs, past experiences and associations. There is no objective world. There is only One Reality. There is only One Divine Mind and nothing apart from that. We believe we have separated from our Source although this is not possible. What is possible, though, is our lack of awareness of that connection. The belief we hold, that we have separated from our Source, has brought pain into our minds. Our belief that we have separated from God is the reason for our mountain of guilt and this is what we now project out.

More specifically with regard to this Lesson, it is about helping us start to see that what we think determines what we see. Recently as we were watching the news, Don and I were sharing our perceptions about what was being said. I shared with him my judgment that one of the candidates for office (in my perception) had views that were dangerous and that I didn't trust him. Don, on the other hand saw him as benign. Who is right? Neither one of us is right. Obviously our perceptions are not objective reality. They are, indeed, only the projections of the guilt in our own minds. "Nothing beyond yourself can make you fearful or loving, because nothing is beyond you. Time and eternity are both in your mind, and will conflict until you perceive time solely as a means to regain eternity. You cannot do this as long as you believe that anything happening to you is caused by factors outside yourself. You must learn that time is solely at your disposal, and that nothing in the world can take this responsibility from you." (T.10.in.1.1-4)(ACIM OE T.9.VIII.59)
 Now for the practice for today, for one minute, (or less if you feel a lot of resistance coming up), three or four times today with eyes open say, "I see no neutral things because I have no neutral thoughts." (W.17.2.2) Then we look about and resting our glance on each thing we note, long enough to say, "I do not see a neutral______, because my thoughts about ______are not neutral." (W.17.2.4)

If you find you experience resistance, "the length of the practice period may be reduced to less than the minute or so that is otherwise recommended." (W.17.4.2) What a loving teacher we have who takes us through this process so gently, not asking us to strain. He recognizes that this is challenging for us and that we will have tremendous resistance. He does not wish for us to experience more guilt than we already have. He understands that this idea runs contrary to everything we now believe. Noticing our fear and resistance can be helpful so that we can ask for help with it.
    
Love and blessings, Sarah

A Course in Miracles 

 

Chapter Two

The Illusion of Separation

II. The Reinterpretation of Defenses

  continued

³⁶ The Atonement is the only defense which cannot be used destructively. That is because, while everyone must eventually join it, it is not a device which was generated by man. The Atonement principle was in effect long before the Atonement itself began. The principle was love, and the Atonement itself was an act of love. Acts were not necessary before the separation because the time-space belief did not exist. It was only after the separation that the defense of Atonement and the necessary conditions for its fulfillment were planned.

 

³⁷ It became increasingly apparent that all of the defenses which man can choose to use constructively or destructively were not enough to save him. It was therefore decided that he needed a defense which was so splendid that he could not misuse it, although he could refuse it. His choice could not, however, turn it into a weapon of attack, which is the inherent characteristic of all other defenses. The Atonement thus becomes the only defense which is not a two-edged sword.

 

³⁸ The Atonement actually began long before the crucifixion. Many Souls offered their efforts on behalf of the separated ones, but they could not withstand the strength of the attack and had to be brought back. Angels came, too, but their protection did not suffice because the separated ones were not interested in peace. They had already split their minds and were bent on further dividing rather than reintegrating. The levels they introduced into their minds turned against each other, and they established differences, divisions, cleavages, dispersions, and all the other concepts related to the increasing splits which they produced.

 

³⁹ Not being in their right minds, they turned their defenses from protection to assault and acted literally insanely. It was essential to introduce a split-proof device which could be used only to heal, if it were used at all. The Atonement was built into the space-time belief in order to set a limit on the need for the belief and ultimately to make learning complete. The Atonement is the final lesson. Learning itself, like the classrooms in which it occurs, is temporary. The ability to learn has no value when change of understanding is no longer necessary. The eternally creative have nothing to learn. Only after the separation was it necessary to direct the creative forces to learning because changed behavior had become mandatory.

 

⁴⁰ Men can learn to improve their behavior and can also learn to become better and better learners. This serves to bring them into closer and closer accord with the Sonship, but the Sonship itself is a perfect creation, and perfection is not a matter of degree. Only while there are different degrees is learning meaningful. The "evolution" of man is merely a process by which he proceeds from one degree to the next. He corrects his previous missteps by stepping forward. This represents a process which is actually incomprehensible in temporal terms because he returns as he goes forward.

 

⁴¹ The Atonement is the device by which he can free himself from the past as he goes ahead. It undoes his past errors, thus making it unnecessary for him to keep retracing his steps without advancing to his return. In this sense the Atonement saves time, but like the miracle which serves, it does not abolish it. As long as there is need for Atonement, there is need for time. But the Atonement as a completed plan does have a unique relationship to time. Until the Atonement is finished, its various phases will proceed in time, but the whole Atonement stands at time's end. At this point, the bridge of the return has been built.

 

⁴² The Atonement is a total commitment. You still think this is associated with loss. This is the same mistake all the separated ones make in one way or another. They cannot believe that a defense which cannot attack is the best defense. This is what is meant by "the meek shall inherit the earth." They will literally take it over because of their strength. A two-way defense is inherently weak precisely because it has two edges and can turn against the self very unexpectedly. This tendency cannot be controlled except by miracles.

 

⁴³ The miracle turns the defense of Atonement to the protection of the inner self, which, as it becomes more and more secure, assumes its natural talent of protecting others. The inner self knows itself as both a brother and a Son. You know that when defenses are disrupted, there is a period of real disorientation accompanied by fear, guilt, and usually vacillations between anxiety and depression. This course is different in that defenses are not being disrupted but reinterpreted, even though you may experience it as the same thing. In the reinterpretation of defenses, only their use for attack is lost. Since this means they can be used only one way, they become much stronger and much more dependable. They no longer oppose the Atonement but greatly facilitate it.

 

⁴⁴ The Atonement can only be accepted within you. You have perceived it largely as external thus far, and that is why your experience of it has been minimal. The reinterpretation of defenses is essential in releasing the inner light. Since the separation, man's defenses have been used almost entirely to defend himself against the Atonement and thus maintain the separation. They themselves generally see this as a need to protect the body. The many body fantasies with which men's minds are engaged arise from the distorted belief that the body can be used as a means for attaining "atonement."

 

⁴⁵ Perceiving the body as a temple is only the first step in correcting this kind of distortion. It alters part of the misperception but not all of it. It does recognize, however, that the concept of Atonement in physical terms is not appropriate. However, the next step is to realize that a temple is not a building at all. Its real holiness lies in the inner altar around which the building is built. The inappropriate emphasis men have put on beautiful church buildings is a sign of their fear of Atonement and their unwillingness to reach the altar itself. The real beauty of the temple cannot be seen with the physical eye. The Spiritual eye, on the other hand, cannot see the building at all because it has perfect sight. It can, however, see the altar with perfect clarity.

 

⁴⁶ For perfect effectiveness, the Atonement belongs at the center of the inner altar, where it undoes the separation and restores the wholeness of the mind. Before the separation, the mind was invulnerable to fear because fear did not exist. Both the separation and the fear are miscreations of the mind which must be undone. This is what is meant by "the restoration of the temple." It does not mean the restoration of the building but the opening of the altar to receive the Atonement. This heals the separation and places within man the one defense against all separation mind-errors which can make him perfectly invulnerable.

 

⁴⁷ The acceptance of the Atonement by everyone is only a matter of time. In fact, both time and matter were created for this purpose. This appears to contradict free will because of the inevitability of the final decision. If you review the idea carefully, however, you will realize that this is not true. Everything is limited in some way by the manner of its creation. Free will can temporize and is capable of enormous procrastination. But it cannot depart entirely from its Creator, Who set the limits on its ability to miscreate by virtue of its own real purpose.

 

⁴⁸ The misuse of will engenders a situation which in the extreme becomes altogether intolerable. Pain thresholds can be high, but they are not limitless. Eventually everyone begins to recognize, however dimly, that there must be a better way. As this recognition becomes more firmly established, it becomes a perceptual turning-point. This ultimately reawakens the Spiritual eye, simultaneously weakening the investment in physical sight. The alternating investment in the two types or levels of perception is usually experienced as conflict for a long time and can become very acute, but the outcome is as certain as God.

 

⁴⁹ The Spiritual eye literally cannot see error and merely looks for Atonement. All the solutions which the physical eyes seek dissolve in its sight. The Spiritual eye, which looks within, recognizes immediately that the altar has been defiled and needs to be repaired and protected. Perfectly aware of the right defense, It passes over all others, looking past error to truth. Because of the real strength of Its vision, It pulls the will into Its service and impels the mind to concur. This reestablishes the true power of the will and makes it increasingly unable to tolerate delay. The mind then realizes with increasing certainty that delay is only a way of increasing unnecessary pain, which it need not tolerate at all. The pain threshold drops accordingly, and the mind becomes increasingly sensitive to what it would once have regarded as very minor intrusions of discomfort.

 

⁵⁰ The Children of God are entitled to perfect comfort, which comes from a sense of perfect trust. Until they achieve this, they waste themselves and their true creative powers on useless attempts to make themselves more comfortable by inappropriate means. But the real means is already provided and does not involve any effort at all on their part. Their egocentricity usually misperceives this as personally insulting, an interpretation which obviously arises from their misperception of themselves. Egocentricity and communion cannot coexist. Even the terms are contradictory.

 

⁵¹ The Atonement is the only gift that is worthy of being offered to the altar of God. This is because of the inestimable value of the altar itself. It was created perfect and is entirely worthy of receiving perfection. God is lonely without His Souls, and they are lonely without Him. Men must learn to perceive the world as a means of healing the separation. The Atonement is the guarantee that they will ultimately succeed.

 

                                                  

 ACIM OE TX. CH 2, II    

 

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