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A COURSE IN MIRACLES
CH 19 "BEYOND THE BODY"
III. SIN VERSUS ERROR
23 There is no stone in all the ego's embattled citadel more heavily defended than the idea that sin is real---the natural expression of what the Son of God has made himself to be and what he
is. To the ego, this is no mistake. For this
is its reality; this is the "truth" from which escape will always be impossible. This is his past, his present, and his future. For he has somehow managed to corrupt his Father and changed His Mind completely. Mourn, then, the death of God, Whom sin has killed! And this would be the ego's wish, which in its madness it thinks it has accomplished.
24 Would you not rather that all this be nothing more than a mistake, entirely correctable, and so easily escaped from that its whole correction is like walking through a mist into the sun? For that is all it is. Perhaps you would be tempted to agree with the ego that it is far better to be sinful than mistaken. Yet think you carefully before you allow yourself to make this choice. Approach it not lightly, for it
is the choice of hell or Heaven.
ON LINE: ACIM.OE.TX.CH 19.III
AUDIO: TEXT CH 19, III
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A COURSE IN MIRACLES
WORKBOOK Part I
REVIEW VI
<AUDIO><VIDEO> Voice and Music by CIMS SonShip Radio
With this review, we take but one idea
each day, and practice it as often as
is possible. Besides the time we give
morning and evening, which should not be less
than fifteen minutes, and the hourly
remembrances we make throughout the day,
use the idea as often as you can
between them. Each of these ideas alone
would be sufficient for salvation, if
it is learned truly. Each would be enough
to give release to you and to the world
from every form of bondage, and invite
the memory of God to come again.
With this in mind, we start our practicing
in which we carefully review the thoughts
the Holy Spirit has bestowed on us
in our last twenty lessons. Each contains
the whole curriculum, if understood,
practiced, accepted and applied to all
the seeming happenings throughout the day.
One is enough. But for that one there must
be no exceptions made. And so we need
to use them all, and let them blend as one
as each contributes to the whole we learn.
These practice lessons, like our last review,
are centered round a central theme with which
we start and end each lesson. It is this:
"
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me."
The day begins and ends with this. And we
repeat it every time the hour strikes,
or we remember, in between, we have
a function that transcends the world we see.
Beyond this and a repetition of
the special thought we practice for the day,
no form of exercise is urged, except
a deep relinquishing of everything
that clutters up your mind, and makes it deaf
to reason, sanity and simple truth.
We will attempt to get beyond all words
and special forms of practicing for this
review. For we attempt this time to reach
a quickened pace along a shorter path
to the serenity and peace of God.
We merely close our eyes, and then forget
all that we thought we saw and understood.
For thus is freedom given us from all
we did not know and failed to understand.
There is but one exception to this lack
of structuring. Permit no idle thought
to go unchallenged. If you notice one,
deny its hold and hasten to assure
your mind that this is not what it would have.
Then gently let the thought which you denied
be given up in sure and quick exchange
for the idea we practice for the day.
When you are tempted, hasten to proclaim
your freedom from temptation, as you say:
"
This thought I do not want. I choose instead..."
And then repeat the idea for the day,
and let it take the place of what you thought.
Beyond such special applications of
each day's idea, we will add but few
formal expressions for specific thoughts
to aid your practicing. Instead we give
these times of quiet to the Teacher Who
instructs in quiet, speaks of peace, and gives
our thoughts whatever meaning they may have.
To Him I offer this review for you.
I place you in His charge, and let Him teach
you what to do and say and think each time
you turn to Him. He will not fail to be
available to you each time you call
to Him to help you. Let us offer Him
the whole review we now begin, and let
us also not forget to Whom it has
been given, as we practice, day by day,
advancing toward the goal He set for us;
allowing Him to teach us how to go,
and trusting Him completely for the way
each practice period can best become
a loving gift of freedom to the world.
~ Original Handscript of ACIM September 1, 1970
ACIM OE WORKBOOK REVIEW VI
CIRCLE OF ATONEMENT ~ COMMENTARY on INTRODUCTION
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A COURSE IN MIRACLES
DAILY LESSONS
L e s s o n 211
<AUDIO><VIDEO>
Voice and Music by CIMS SonShip Radio
I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.
[191] I am the holy Son of God Himself.
In silence and in true humility I seek God's glory to behold it in the Son whom He created as my Self.
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me
.
~ Original Handscript of ACIM
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ACIM Edmonton - Sarah's Reflections
LESSON 211 Review VI [191] I am the holy Son of God Himself.
Sarah's Commentary:
This Lesson once again is a reminder that we really are the Holy Son of God Himself. To us, it can sound arrogant. We can accept that Jesus is the holy Son of God, but can we accept ourselves as the same as him and equal to him? Jesus tells us to approach this thought "In silence and in true humility. . ." (W.211.1.2)
Why is this difficult for us? It's difficult because we perceive the Will of God as fearful, which, he tells us, "demonstrates that you are afraid of what you are." (T.9.I.1.4) (ACIM OE T.9.X.90) We are afraid of our own reality, which is not a body, not a personality, not a self-concept, but the Holy Son of our Holy Father. "If the purpose of this course is to help you remember what you are, and if you believe that what you are is fearful, then it must follow that you will not learn this course. Yet the reason for the course is that you do not know what you are." (T.9.I.2.4-5) (ACIM OE T.8.X.91) Jesus goes on to say that we do not ask for what we want because we are afraid that we might receive it. We are afraid of a state of unlimited freedom from the false self because it is still an unknown state to us for the most part. We are very familiar with the imprisoned self and have become used to the limitations that we think define us.
Our true will is to know the Self as the Holy Son of God, yet instead we "persist in asking the teacher [the ego] who could not possibly give you what you want." (T.9.I.7.4) (ACIM OE T.8.X.96) What is it we are asking for instead? We are asking for the things we think will make us happy here: the special relationships, recognition, money, safety, or worldly pleasures. The false self is all about getting what it thinks it lacks, and so we constantly look outside of ourselves for what we think will make us happy. We mistakenly think that we will find peace and happiness in the things we try to get. Yet when we put attention on these things, we are asking for nothing. In fact, we are asking for pain, because all of the things we think will bring us pleasure ultimately leave us with nothing. They do not lead to happiness but away from it, though we invest enormous energy in pursuing what has no value. When we turn to the ego for what we think we want, it leads us further into the darkness. It diverts us from the peace and joy inherent in us.
Today, we turn to the Truth in us instead, and we accept our reality as the Holy Son of God. It is not enough to affirm it because we cannot really override the ego without looking at it. Acceptance of the truth of what we are requires that we look at the thoughts that occupy our minds. These thoughts include a long list of competing goals. They include what we believe we need to accomplish, what concerns we have, what we fear might happen, or what pleasures we try to pursue. Holding onto these thoughts and plans keeps us from awareness of the love we are. When we release these interfering thoughts to the Holy Spirit and ask for His Help, we are brought back to our center. When we step back from our way, our goals and our ideas by looking at them with honesty, courage and no judgment, then space is made for truth. The Self we are is the expansive awareness behind our thoughts. The truth abides in our right minds, where it has never left us. The Holy Spirit is the symbol of the truth within and the bridge to God.
To accept that we don't know, and that we are wrong about everything that we have taught ourselves about what would bring us joy, requires "true humility." True humility is all about letting go of what we think we know. It is an act of deep surrender. It is to no longer attach to our own ideas. We give no attention to the obsessive thoughts in our minds. The chatter will go on in the mind, yet we don't need to listen to it. We simply withdraw our interest and attention. It is about letting our perceived problems be translated by the Holy Spirit, Who sees no problems.
A friend recently missed a plane and was quite distressed by what was happening. It meant he would have a three-hour time period to wait for the next plane, but then he realized he could join the Course group he had wanted to attend. It was not in his vicinity, but he was able to connect online. His "problem" could now be seen as a blessing and an opportunity. This could only happen when he was willing to surrender his upset and look for the blessing available to him. Problems reflect attachment to a concept of how we believe things should be. We are actually holding onto something from the past, some need, some desire, some expectation, some wish, or some demand for things to be different than they are. We can never meet past needs in the present, despite the effort we put into doing so. We can never be disappointed until we have determined (appointed) how things must be for our happiness.
Letting go allows us to receive. It is not about dissociating from the thoughts and feelings, as this is just our misguided attempt to gain control by trying to protect ourselves from getting hurt. Real letting go is acknowledging our upsets but then recognizing that the source of happiness has nothing to do with anything outside ourselves. The source of our happiness is within. It is apparent to us only when we bring our disturbances to the light of truth and place them on the inner altar. It takes courage and willingness to look at the ego, surrender our perspectives and control, release our doubts, fears, and beliefs, and melt into His embrace. We fear surrender because we see it as an act of defeat when, instead, it is the giving up what has no value for something of infinite value to us. It is the giving up nothing for everything.
Today, I seek God's glory in the place in my mind where truth abides. I come with deep humility to know my Self and recognize this truth is the same for everyone. "Because I will to know myself, I see you as God's Son and my brother." (T.9.II.12.6) (ACIM OE T.8.XI.119) What humility requires is an acknowledgment that what I think, perceive, and believe are wrong. I do not know anything. My way of understanding anything is extremely limited and limiting. My judgments are always based on what I see, which is false. In humility, I turn to the One Who knows and ask, "Show me how to see this situation, this brother, and this event through Your eyes and not my own."
Today, we offer this practice to the Holy Spirit to guide us, using our morning time for at least fifteen minutes to set the direction for our day and reminding ourselves of the truth every hour on the hour and frequently in between.
In addition, "When you are tempted, [to become upset about some event, person or circumstance today] hasten to proclaim your freedom from temptation, as you say: This thought I do not want. I choose instead _____." (W.RIV.IN.6.1-3) This is very important in helping us to regain our peace in the midst of any circumstance that distresses us. We look at all the distressing thoughts in our minds, remind ourselves of the thought for the day, and embrace it instead. Then, as evening comes, we enter our meditation time with the thought: "I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me," (W.211)followed by the thought for the day, "I am the holy Son of God Himself." (W.211.1.1) Take the Holy Spirit into your sleep and awaken with the Lesson on your lips. The benefits can be enormous. It takes us out of the ego rut of obsessive thoughts that keep us in despair. As we disengage from those thoughts and turn to the Holy Spirit, we connect with our innate innocence and holiness.
Love and blessings, Sarah
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PAUSED FOR WEEKEND
A Course in Miracles
TEXT
Chapter Nineteen
Beyond the Body
Voice and Music by Martin Weber, CIMS SonShip Radio
17 It is essential that error be not confused with "sin," and it is this distinction which makes salvation possible. For error can be corrected, and the wrong made right. But sin, were it possible, would be irreversible. The belief in sin is necessarily based on the firm conviction that
minds, not bodies, can attack. And thus the mind is guilty and will forever so remain unless a mind not part of it can give it absolution. Sin calls for punishment as error for correction, and the belief that punishment
is correction is clearly insane.
18 Sin is not an error, for sin entails an arrogance which the idea of error lacks. To sin would be to violate reality and to succeed. Sin is the proclamation that attack is real and guilt is justified. It assumes the Son of God is guilty and has thus succeeded in losing his innocence and making himself what God created not. Thus is creation seen as not eternal, and the Will of God open to opposition and defeat. Sin is the "grand illusion" underlying all the ego's grandiosity. For by it, God Himself is changed and rendered incomplete.
19 The Son of God can be mistaken; he can deceive himself; he can even turn the power of his mind against himself. But he
cannot sin. There is nothing he can do that would really change his reality in any way nor make him really guilty. That is what sin would do, for such is its purpose. Yet for all the wild insanity inherent in the whole idea of sin, it is impossible. For the wages of sin is death, and how can the immortal die?
20 A major tenet in the ego's insane religion is that sin is not error but
truth, and it is
innocence that would deceive. Purity is seen as arrogance, and the acceptance of the self as sinful is perceived as holiness. And it is this doctrine which replaces the reality of the Son of God as his Father created him and willed that he be forever. Is this humility? Or is it, rather, an attempt to wrest creation away from truth and keep it separate?
21 Any attempt to reinterpret sin as error is always indefensible to the ego. The idea of sin is wholly sacrosanct to its thought system and quite unapproachable except through reverence and awe. It is the most "holy" concept in the ego's system---lovely and powerful, wholly true, and necessarily protected with every defense at its disposal. For here lies its "best" defense which all the others serve. Here is its armor, its protection, and the fundamental purpose of the special relationship in its interpretation.
22 It can indeed be said the ego made its world on sin. Only in such a world could everything be upside-down. This is the strange illusion which makes the clouds of guilt seem heavy and impenetrable. The solidness this world's foundation seems to have is found in this. For sin has changed creation from an Idea of God to an ideal the ego wants; a world
it rules, made up of bodies, mindless and capable of complete corruption and decay. If this is a mistake, it can be undone easily by truth. Any mistake can be corrected, if truth be left to judge it. But if the mistake is given the status of truth, to what can it be brought? The "holiness" of sin is kept in place by just this strange device. As truth it is inviolate, and everything is brought to
it for judgment. As a mistake,
it must be brought to truth. It is impossible to have faith in sin, for sin is faithlessness. Yet it
is possible to have faith that a mistake can be corrected.
23 There is no stone in all the ego's embattled citadel more heavily defended than the idea that sin is real-the natural expression of what the Son of God has made himself to be and what he
is. To the ego, this is no mistake. For this
is its reality; this is the "truth" from which escape will always be impossible. This is his past, his present, and his future. For he has somehow managed to corrupt his Father and changed His Mind completely. Mourn, then, the death of God, Whom sin has killed! And this would be the ego's wish, which in its madness it thinks it has accomplished.
24 Would you not rather that all this be nothing more than a mistake, entirely correctable, and so easily escaped from that its whole correction is like walking through a mist into the sun? For that is all it is. Perhaps you would be tempted to agree with the ego that it is far better to be sinful than mistaken. Yet think you carefully before you allow yourself to make this choice. Approach it not lightly, for it
is the choice of hell or Heaven.
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