"Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists.
Herein Lies the peace of God."
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A
Course in Miracles
TEXT
CHAPTER 3
Retraining the Mind
IV. Miracles as Accurate Perception
25 We have repeatedly stated that the basic concepts referred to in this course are
not matters of degree. Certain fundamental concepts
cannot be meaningfully understood in terms of coexisting polarities. It is impossible to conceive of light and darkness, or everything and nothing, as joint possibilities. They are all true
or all false. It is essential that you realize that behavior is erratic until a firm commitment to one or the other is made.
26 A firm commitment to darkness or nothingness is impossible. No one has ever lived who has not experienced
some light and
some thing. This makes everyone really unable to deny truth totally, even if he generally deceives himself in this connection. That is why those who live largely in darkness and emptiness never find any lasting solace. Innocence is
not a partial attribute. It is not a real defense
until it is total. When it is partial, it is characterized by the same erratic nature that holds for other two-edged defenses.
27 The partly innocent are apt to be quite stupid at times. It is not until their innocence becomes a genuine viewpoint which is universal in its application that it becomes wisdom. Innocent (or true) perception means that you
never misperceive and
always see truly. More simply, it means that you never see what does not really exist. When you lack confidence in what someone will do, you are attesting to your belief that he is not in his right mind. This is hardly a miracle-based frame of reference. It also has the disastrous effect of denying the creative power of the miracle.
28 The miracle perceives everything
as it is. If nothing but the truth exists (and this is really a redundant statement because what is not true
cannot exist) right-minded seeing cannot see anything
but perfection. We have said many times that
only what God creates, or what man creates with the same will, has any real existence. This, then, is all the innocent can see. They do not suffer from the distortions of the separated ones. The way to correct all such distortions is to withdraw your
faith from them and invest it
only in what is true.
29 You
cannot validate the invalid. I would suggest that you voluntarily give up all such attempts because they can only be frantic. If you are willing to validate what
is true in everything you perceive, you will make it true for
you. Truth overcomes
all error. This means that if you perceive truly, you are canceling out misperceptions in yourself
and in others simultaneously. Because you see them as they are, you offer them your own validation of
their truth. This is the healing which the miracle actively fosters.
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A Course in Miracles
WORKBOOK
Part I
I. Introduction
1 A theoretical foundation such as the text is necessary as a background to make these exercises meaningful. Yet it is the exercises which will make the goal possible. An untrained mind can accomplish nothing. It is the purpose of these exercises to train the mind to think along the lines which the course sets forth.
2 The exercises are very simple. They do not require more than a few minutes, and it does not matter where or when you do them. They need no preparation. They are numbered, running from 1 to 365. The training period is one year. Do not undertake more than one exercise a day.
3 The purpose of these exercises is to train the mind to a different perception of everything in the world. The workbook is divided into two sections, the first dealing with the undoing of what you see now and the second with the restoration of sight. It is recommended that each exercise be repeated several times a day, preferably in a different place each time and, if possible, in every situation in which you spend any long period of time. The purpose is to train the mind to generalize the lessons, so that you will understand that each of them is as applicable to one situation as it is to another.
4 Unless specified to the contrary, the exercise should be practiced with the eyes open, since the aim is to learn how to see. The only rule that should be followed throughout is to practice the exercises with great specificity. Each one applies to every situation in which you find yourself and to everything you see in it. Each day's exercises are planned around one central idea, the exercises themselves consisting of applying that idea to as many specifics as possible. Be sure that you do not decide that there are some things you see to which the idea for the day is inapplicable. The aim of the exercises will always be to increase the application of the idea to everything. This will not require effort. Only be sure that you make no exceptions in applying the idea.
5 Some of the ideas you will find hard to believe, and others will seem quite startling. It does not matter. You are merely asked to apply them to what you see. You are not asked to judge them, nor even to believe them. You are asked only to use them. It is their use which will give them meaning to you, and show you they are true. Remember only this—you need not believe them, you need not accept them, and you need not welcome them. Some of them you may actively resist. None of this will matter nor decrease their efficacy. But allow yourself to make no exceptions in applying the ideas the exercises contain. Whatever your reactions to the ideas may be, use them. Nothing more than this is required.
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A Course in Miracles
WORKBOOK
Lesson 30
God is in everything I see because God is in my mind.
1 The idea for today is the springboard for vision. From this idea will the world open up before you, and you will look upon it and see in it what you have never seen before. Nor will what you saw before be even faintly visible to you.
2 Today we are trying to use the new kind of projection. We are not attempting to get rid of what we do not like by seeing it outside. Instead, we are trying to see in the world what is in our minds, and what we want to recognize is there. Thus we are trying to join with what we see, rather than keeping it apart from us. That is the fundamental difference between vision and the way you see.
3 Today's idea should be applied as often as possible throughout the day. Whenever you have a moment or so, repeat it to yourself slowly, looking about you and trying to realize that the idea applies to everything you do see now or could see now if it were within the range of your sight.
4 Real vision is not limited to concepts such as "near" and "far." To help you begin to get used to this idea, try to think of things beyond your present range as well as those you can actually see, as you apply today's idea. Real vision is not only unlimited by space and distance, but it does not depend on the body's eyes at all. The mind is its only source.
5 To aid in helping you to become more accustomed to this idea as well, devote several practice periods to applying today's idea with your eyes closed, using whatever subjects come to mind and looking within rather than without. Today's idea applies equally to both.
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ACIM Edmonton
Sarah's Reflections
Lesson 30
God is in everything I see because God is in my mind.
We are learning a kind of seeing that does not come from looking at the world with our eyes but instead seeing with vision. In fact, this Lesson says,
"The idea for today is the springboard for vision."
(W.30.1.1) It is an important Lesson because
"From this idea will the world open up before you, and you will look upon it and see in it what you have never seen before."
(W.30.1.2) If God is in everything I see because God is in my mind, then vision must come from getting in touch with the love of God in my mind. From this will come a new kind of seeing, which is not about the eyes at all. It is the love we are extending through us. Thus, one could expect there can be no vision with judgment because judgment blocks vision. With vision, our perception of everyone and everything reflects innocence and holiness.
In fact, it is
"a new kind of 'projection'"
(W.30.2.1) because rather than projecting the guilt in our minds, based on our judgments, love is projected or extended through us. Holding judgments against ourselves is painful. We project our self-attacking thoughts onto others, but what we don't recognize is that our minds are the cause of everything we see "out there." Everything we judge in the world starts with a judgment about ourselves. The ego knows we can’t abide all this self-hate. Its counsel is to project our guilt onto others in order to be rid of it. The reality is that this is precisely how we keep it. What we project onto others we actually maintain in our own minds. We think we are getting rid of it, but it is actually concealed. We can see what is concealed in us by what we hate in others. When we feel abandoned, rejected, criticized, and controlled, we can be certain we have done this to ourselves but prefer to see it in others because of our reluctance to take responsibility for our own self-attacks.
Now, Jesus is talking about a new kind of projection, which later he calls extension. This is what vision leads us to. It is about looking within, and through forgiveness, connecting with the love we are, which is then extended and seen all around us. It can only come through us when the guilt in our own minds is given over for healing. There is no other way to connect with the love within us. To try to be loving while holding onto our guilt is an ego ploy. The ego does not know how to love. To put on a loving countenance, which covers over the guilt, is simply to do a spiritual bypass. To get to the light within, we must go through the darkness. We must do the forgiveness work of bringing our dark, judgmental thoughts to the light. Then the light and the love in our minds, which is currently hidden by our guilt, is seen everywhere. When we are in touch with the love we are, it is extended through us to everyone and everything. Now we are no longer
". . . attempting to get rid of what we do not like by seeing it outside."
(W.30.2.2) When we connect with the love we are, we see it all around us, even in situations cloaked in pain and fear where the call for love is heard by the Love within us.
We still resist the truth because of our investment in the separation. We project our guilt onto others out of our wish to see them as separate from us. What we see in the world is an
". . . outward picture of a wish; an image that you wanted to be true."
(T.24.VII.8.10) (ACIM OE T.24.VIII.69) What we want to be true is for our guilt to be in our brother instead of in us. We justify why they are guilty and deserve to be punished. We share our stories of their guilt with others. All this does is cover over the love we fear to see.
"Instead, we are trying to see in the world what is in our minds, and what we want to recognize is there."
(W.30.2.3) We see it there because we want it to be there, but all we are seeing is what is in our own minds. We start the healing when we are willing to take responsibility for the guilt.
"Deceive yourself no longer that you are helpless in the face of what is done to you. Acknowledge but that you have been mistaken, and all effects of your mistakes will disappear."
(T.21.II.2.6-7) (ACIM OE T.21.III.16)
Vision sees that we are all the same. With vision, we know we are joined with our brothers and not separate from them. Our interests are now seen to be the same.
"Thus, we are trying to join with what we see, rather than keeping it apart from us. That is the fundamental difference between vision and the way you see."
(W.30.2.4-5) The way we see now is to keep everything separate from ourselves. With vision, we experience joining with all that is. We see our interests as the same and a reflection of our inherent Oneness. We don’t see our interests as separate from anyone else’s. This leads to healing, while with separate interests there is always conflict. When I was going through a divorce, there was an initial belief in needing to look after my interests. However, when I chose to let go of defenses and join with my brother, I experienced deep peace. I was not supported by friends in taking this stance. There seemed to be a loss, as the world saw it. But for me, the decision to remember the truth of who he was brought great rewards and great healing that was experienced before his death.
What is it you want? Do you want to see a world of separation? If you do, then seeing your brother guilty is how you maintain the separation and the differences. When we project guilt onto others, we make them responsible for our condition. That is the basis for all our stories of victimhood. Jesus asks us to beware of the temptation to see ourselves unfairly treated.
"It is impossible the Son of God be merely driven by events outside of him. It is impossible that happenings that come to him were not his choice. His power of decision is the determiner of every situation in which he seems to find himself by chance or accident. No accident nor chance is possible within the universe as God created it, outside of which is nothing. Suffer, and you decided sin was your goal. Be happy, and you gave the power of decision to Him Who must decide for God for you."
(T.21.II.3.1-6) (ACIM OE T.21.III.17) When we choose with the Holy Spirit, we are saying we want to connect with the love we are and thus see it in everyone. Alternatively, we can see the call for love in them when they exhibit distressed behavior. It all starts with what we want. It all starts with our choice for the ego or the Holy Spirit in each situation. It all starts with our thoughts.
Jesus takes this a step further by saying,
"Real vision is not limited to concepts such as 'near' and 'far..
.
'"
(W.30.4.1) Nor is it limited by space and distance and
". . . does not depend on the body's eyes at all."
(W.30.5.1) Vision depends on joining with the love within. It is actually a state of mind. Mind is the source and seeing is the effect. Another way to say this is that mind is the cause and the world we see is the effect.
"To aid in helping you to become more accustomed to this idea as well, devote several practice periods to applying today's idea with your eyes closed, using whatever subjects come to mind, and looking within rather than without. Today's idea applies equally to both."
(W.30.5.3-4)
Again, what we see out there is simply a projection of our thoughts. It all starts in our own minds, and then we can "see" there is nothing out there. Whether we see it within ourselves or what looks to be outside, it is all the same.
Love and blessings, Sarah
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