"Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists.
Herein Lies the peace of God."
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A
Course in Miracles
TEXT
CHAPTER 27
The Body and the Dream
VIII. The Illusion of Suffering
62
Suffering is an emphasis upon all that the world has done to injure you. Here is the world's demented version of salvation clearly shown. Like to a dream of punishment in which the dreamer is unconscious of what brought on the attack against himself, he sees himself attacked unjustly and by something not himself. He is the victim of this "something else," a thing outside himself for which he has no reason to be held responsible. He must be innocent because he knows not what he does, but what is done to him. Yet is his own attack upon himself apparent still, for it is he who bears the suffering. And he cannot escape because its source is seen outside himself.
63
Now you are being shown you
can
escape. All that is needed is you look upon the problem as it
is,
and not the way that you have set it up. How could there be another way to solve a problem which is very simple but has been obscured by heavy clouds of complication which were made to
keep
the problem unresolved? Without the clouds, the problem will emerge in all its primitive simplicity. The choice will not be difficult, because the problem is absurd when clearly seen. No one has difficulty making up his mind to let a simple problem be resolved if it is
seen
as hurting him and also very easily removed.
64
The "reasoning" by which the world is made, on which it rests, by which it is maintained, is simply this: "
You
are the cause of what I do. Your presence
justifies
my wrath, and you exist and think
apart
from me. While you attack, I must be innocent. And what I suffer from is your attack." No one who looks upon this "reasoning" exactly as it is could fail to see it does not follow, and it makes no sense. Yet it seems sensible because it
looks
as if the world were hurting you. And so it seems as if there is no need to go beyond the obvious in terms of cause.
65
There is
indeed
a need. The world's escape from condemnation is a need which those within the world are joined in sharing. Yet they do not recognize their common need. For each one thinks that if he does his part, the condemnation of the world will rest on him. And it is this that he perceives to
be
his part in its deliverance. Vengeance must have a focus. Otherwise is the avenger's knife in his own hand and pointed to himself. And he must see it in another's hand if he would be a victim of attack he did not choose. And thus he suffers from the wounds a knife he does not hold has made upon himself. This is the
purpose
of the world he sees. And looked at thus, the world provides the means by which this purpose seems to be fulfilled.
66
The means
attest
the purpose but are not themselves a cause. Nor will the cause be changed by seeing it apart from its effects. The cause
produces
the effects which then bear witness to the cause and not themselves. Look, then, beyond effects. It is not here the cause of suffering and sin must lie. And dwell not on the suffering and sin, for they are but reflections of their cause.
67
The part you play in salvaging the world from condemnation is your
own
escape. Forget not that the witness to the world of evil cannot speak except for what has seen a need for evil in the world. And this is where your guilt was first beheld. In separation from your brother was the first attack upon yourself begun. And it is this the world bears witness to. Seek not another cause nor look among the mighty legions of its witnesses for its undoing. They
support
its claim on your allegiance. What conceals the truth is not where you should look to
find
the truth. The witnesses to sin all stand within one little space. And it is
here
you find the cause of your perspective on the world.
68
Once you were unaware of what the cause of everything the world appeared to thrust upon you, uninvited and unasked, must really be. Of one thing you were sure—of all the many causes you perceived as bringing pain and suffering to you, your guilt was not among them. Nor did you in any way request them for yourself. This is how
all
illusions come about. The one who makes them does not see himself as making them, and their reality does not depend on him. Whatever cause they have is something quite apart from him, and what he sees is
separate
from his mind. He cannot doubt his dreams' reality because he does not see the part he plays in making them and making them seem real.
69
No one can waken from a dream the world is dreaming
for
him. He becomes a part of someone else's dream. He cannot choose to waken from a dream he did not make. Helpless he stands, a victim to a dream conceived and cherished by a separate mind. Careless indeed of him this mind must be, as thoughtless of his peace and happiness as is the weather or the time of day. It loves him not but casts him as it will in any role that satisfies its dream. So little is his worth that he is but a dancing shadow, leaping up and down according to a senseless plot conceived within the idle dreaming of the world.
70
This is the only picture you can see, the one alternative that you can choose, the other possibility of cause if you be
not
the dreamer of your dreams. And this is what you choose, if you deny the cause of suffering is in
your
mind. Be glad indeed it is, for thus are you the
one
decider of your destiny in time. The choice is yours to make between a sleeping death and dreams of evil or a happy wakening and joy of life. What could you choose between
but
life or death, waking or sleeping, peace or war, your dreams or your reality? Yet if the choice is really given you, then you must see the causes of the things you choose between exactly
as
they are and
where
they are. What choices can be made between two states, but one of which is clearly recognized? Who could be free to choose between effects when only one is seen as up to him?
71
An honest choice could never be perceived as one in which the choice is split between a tiny you and an enormous world, with different dreams about the truth in you. The gap between reality and dreams lies not between the dreaming of the world and what you dream in secret.
They
are one. The dreaming of the world is but a part of your own dream you gave away and saw as if it were its start and ending both. Yet was it started by
your
secret dream, which you do not perceive, although it caused the part you see and do not doubt is real. How could you doubt it while you lie asleep and dream in secret that its cause is real?
72
A brother separated from yourself, an ancient enemy, a murderer who stalks you in the night and plots your death, yet plans that it be lingering and slow—of this you dream. Yet underneath this dream is yet another in which you become the murderer, the secret enemy, the scavenger and the destroyer of your brother and the world alike. Here is the
cause
of suffering, the space between your dreams and your reality. The little gap you do not even see, the birthplace of illusions and of fear, the time of terror and of ancient hate, the instant of disaster, all are here. Here is the
cause
of unreality. And it is here that it will be undone.
73
You
are the dreamer of the world of dreams. No other cause it has, nor ever will. Nothing more fearful than an idle dream has terrified God's Son and made him think that he has lost his innocence, denied his Father, and made war upon himself. So fearful is the dream, so seeming real, he could not waken to reality without the sweat of terror and a scream of mortal fear unless a gentler dream preceded his awaking and allowed his calmer mind to welcome, not to fear, the Voice that calls with love to waken him. [A gentler dream, in which his suffering was healed and where his brother was his friend.] God willed he waken gently and with joy. And gave him means to waken without fear. Accept the dream He gave instead of yours. It is not difficult to change a dream when once the dreamer has been recognized.
74
Rest in the Holy Spirit and allow His gentle dreams to take the place of those you dreamed in terror and in fear of death. He brings forgiving dreams in which the choice is not who is the murderer and who shall be the victim. In the dreams He brings, there
is
no murder and there
is
no death. The dream of guilt is fading from your sight, although your eyes are closed. A smile has come to lighten up your sleeping face. The sleep is peaceful now, for these are happy dreams.
75
Dream softly of your sinless brother, who unites with you in holy innocence. And from this dream, the Lord of Heaven will Himself awaken His beloved Son. Dream of your brother's kindnesses instead of dwelling in your dreams on his mistakes. Select his thoughtfulness to dream about instead of counting up the hurts he gave. Forgive him his illusions and give thanks to him for all the helpfulness he gave. And do not brush aside his many gifts because he is not perfect in your dreams.
76
He represents his Father, Whom you see as offering both life and death to you. Brother, He gives but life. Yet what you see as gifts your brother offers represent the gifts you dream your Father gives to you. Let all your brother's gifts be seen in light of charity and kindness offered you. And let no pain disturb your dream of deep appreciation for his gifts to you.
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A Course in Miracles
WORKBOOK
Part II
What is the Real World?
1
The real world is a symbol like the rest of what perception offers. Yet it stands for what is opposite to what you made. Your world is seen through eyes of fear and brings the witnesses of terror to your mind. The real world cannot be perceived except through eyes forgiveness blesses, so they see a world where terror is impossible and witnesses to fear can not be found.
2
The real world holds a counterpart for each unhappy thought reflected in your world, a sure correction for the sights of fear and sounds of battle which your world contains. The real world shows a world seen differently, through quiet eyes and with a mind at peace. Nothing but rest is there. There are no cries of pain and sorrow heard, for nothing here remains outside forgiveness. And the sights are gentle. Only happy sights and sounds can reach the mind that has forgiven itself.
3
What need has such a mind for thoughts of death, attack, and murder? What can it perceive surrounding it but safety, love, and joy? What is there it would choose to be condemned, and what is there that it would judge against? The world it sees arises from a mind at peace within itself. No danger lurks in anything it sees, for it is kind and only kindness does it look upon.
4
The real world is the symbol that the dream of sin and guilt is over and God's Son no longer sleeps. His waking eyes perceive the sure reflection of his Father's Love, the certain promise that he is redeemed. The real world signifies the end of time, for its perception makes time purposeless.
5
The Holy Spirit has no need of time when it has served His purpose. Now He waits but that one instant more for God to take His final step, and time has disappeared, taking perception with it as it goes and leaving but the Truth to be Itself. That instant is our goal, for it contains the memory of God. And as we look upon a world forgiven, it is He Who calls to us and comes to take us home, reminding us of our Identity which our forgiveness has restored to us.
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A Course in Miracles
WORKBOOK
Lesson 292
A happy outcome to all things is sure.
1
God's promises make no exceptions. And He guarantees that only joy can be the final outcome found for everything. Yet it is up to us when this is reached—how long we let an alien will appear to be opposing His. And while we think this will is real, we will not find the end He has appointed as the outcome of all problems we perceive, all trials we see, and every situation that we meet. Yet is the ending certain. For God's Will is done in earth and Heaven. We will seek and we will find according to His Will, which guarantees that our will is done.
2
We thank You, Father, for Your guarantee of only happy outcomes in the end. Help us not interfere and so delay the happy endings You have promised us for every problem that we can perceive, for every trial we think we still must meet.
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ACIM Edmonton
Sarah's Reflections
Lesson 292
A happy outcome to all things is sure.
Sarah's Commentary:
When we study this Course, we release our way of seeing things, our beliefs about where our happiness lies, and our control over outcomes. We question reality as we have believed it to be. We question many things: what we think is necessary for our happiness, how we see relationships, the beliefs we hold about who we are, the belief in death, the belief that we need to do something to control, manage, and fix things in the world, our investment in winning over others, the belief in the reality of time, and the belief in the reality of the world and bodies. In other words, we need to question our currently accepted frame of reference. Nothing we invest in as important in the world has ever, or will ever, bring us true peace and joy. We experience what we call pleasure, but none of it will last, which is the reason all pleasure is tinged with fear. What looks and feels like pleasure to us is only fleeting and will always bring pain.
"It is impossible to seek for pleasure through the body and not find pain."
(T.19.IV.B.I.12.1) (ACIM OE T.19.Vb.71) Jesus tells us,
"All roads that lead away from what you are will lead you to confusion and despair."
(T.31.IV.9.5) (ACIM OE T.31.IV.41)
But now we are told that there is a way out. Why would we not choose it? We don’t because of fear. What would I be without my thoughts? We have become so accustomed to listening to the ego---our own wrong-minded voice---that we think it is what we are. This voice is insistent, raucous, and obsessive. When we listen to it, it keeps us doing the same things over and over in the misguided belief that we can finally get it right and achieve some semblance of peace and happiness. This alien will, that we have come to identify with, is invested in maintaining a state of separation. It keeps us rooted in the illusion, with moments of seeming pleasure to offset the overall sense of pain and hopelessness that is there all the time. We have valiantly worked to adjust to this reality and tried to make it work for us, but true peace, joy, and love elude us. The mind that begins to radically question the nature of this world and our lives is what starts the process of healing.
Jesus tells us,
"A happy outcome to all things is sure,"
(W.292) but what does a happy outcome mean? Does it mean that my needs, as I perceive them, will be met? Does it mean that I will not experience any problems? What problems seem to be confronting you today? It may be helpful to list them. Now ask yourself, what would constitute a happy outcome to each problem? Are you looking for more money, a better job, a romantic relationship, improved health, a nicer car, better-behaved children, a new wardrobe, a vacation, a retreat, a better body, recognition, better sex, or a new partner? The list of what we think we want for our happiness is endless.
Jesus does not make us wrong because we have goals in this world, nor does he suggest that pursuing them should make us feel guilty. All he says is that they won't bring us the happiness we seek.
"Seek not for this in the bleak world of illusion, where nothing is certain and where everything fails to satisfy. In the Name of God, be wholly willing to abandon all illusions."
(T.16.IV.9.4-5) (ACIM OE T.16.V.38) He wants for us to know our true happiness. When we are radically honest with ourselves, we can see that when we have achieved our hopes and wishes, we still have not experienced the deep peace, joy, and happiness we had hoped for. This does not make our pursuits wrong. As Jesus says,
"For this you came, and you will surely do the thing you came for."
(W.131.3.2)
He knows that we came to experience this world and that this is where our attention goes until we accept a new purpose. Clearly, while we experience ourselves living in this world, Jesus recognizes that there are things we need in order to maintain our lives.
"You have been told to ask the Holy Spirit for the answer to any specific problem, and that you will receive a specific answer if such is your need."
(Song of Prayer 1.I.2.1) As long as we still believe in specifics, this is how we will be answered. Nevertheless, the reality is that
"there is only one problem and one answer.”
(S.1.I.2.2) However, Jesus acknowledges,
"there are decisions to make here, and they must be made whether they be illusions or not.”
(S.1.I.2.4) He is, ultimately, practical.
As we go about pursuing the things of this world, we are called to look at what purpose they serve. Is the purpose of pursuing our dreams and goals in order to stay invested in the illusion, or are we willing to use everything here as a backdrop for forgiveness and healing? When our activities serve the purpose of awakening from the dream, then every situation, every occurrence, every relationship, and every encounter becomes a classroom for forgiveness and healing. When we turn over our interpretation to the Holy spirit---whether we see the event as good or bad---He shows us how to use the situation for healing. Thus, there is never anything wrong. It is all perfectly orchestrated for our highest good. When we become willing to give all our perceived needs to the Holy Spirit and let Him Guide our activities, there is no effort.
What does this look like? Several years ago, when my mother was 98 (she is currently 102 years old), I needed to put in place more support for her. I felt overwhelmed by her issues and needs and wondered how I would be able to attend to all of the requirements and the amount of time all this would take. I had filled out a form for wheelchair transportation, but when I went to visit her, some distance from my home, I noticed that I had left the form at home. Needless to say, I was unhappy with my lack of attention to this, but I thought perhaps I could get another form and fill it in while I was at my mother's facility. Another form was not available but in the search I came across a number of people whom I had not previously met, and we were able to set in motion numerous activities to address her needs. It was all so easy. What could have been seen as a problem turned out to be an immense blessing. We can't know what anything is for. The Holy Spirit is always available in every situation, waiting for us to turn to Him so He can meet our needs, as long as we still think they are specific. All we need to do is accept His help and give up thinking that we know what anything is for.
What we are preparing, for now, is a surrender of all we think we know so we can step onto the bridge that takes us from this world to the real world. Are we willing to accept whatever is in front of us and see that it is all for our own healing? Are we willing to accept the truth? It means being willing to give up our way, our understandings, our perceptions of the problem, our attempts to control every situation, our opinions, and our belief that we know what everything is for.
"God's promises make no exceptions."
(W.292.1.1) We don't yet totally believe that this to be true. We still hang onto our own solutions generated by our own will. God
"guarantees that only joy can be the final outcome found for everything,"
(W.292.1.2) but Jesus tells us,
"it is up to us when this is reached; how long we let an alien will appear to be opposing His."
(W.292.1.3) We decide on the pace of our own healing. We choose when we are ready to turn every situation over to the Holy Spirit until forgiveness is complete. The journey goes as slowly or as quickly as determined by our readiness. We will not be hurled into Heaven.
The reality is that we really need do nothing. We are already on the other side of the bridge. We are already at home in God. The Atonement Principle is the assurance that we have not changed ourselves. We can only believe that we have done so. We have dreamed this existence, but it is not the truth. We are still completely innocent; but in order to realize this, we need to continue to look at the thoughts and beliefs that block our awareness of who we truly are. As these thoughts are brought to consciousness, we turn them over to the Holy Spirit.
We read in Chapter 24 that we must question every value we hold.
"But an unrecognized belief is a decision to war in secret, where the results of conflict are kept unknown and never brought to reason, to be considered sensible or not."
(T.24.I.2.2) (ACIM OE T.24.II.4) Thus, we can only forgive what we acknowledge. When we blame our brother and want to triumph over him, we are hanging onto our specialness instead of the truth. Only when we take responsibility for our thoughts can we start the process of letting go. To forgive is to take responsibility for everything in our world. As Byron Katie says,
"Whatever people say or do, how can you be upset with them when you know they're projections of your own mind."
We recognize that we are the ones choosing attack instead of love. We are responsible for our interpretations.
"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)
Why do we hang onto our own way? What is this resistance about? We think it is about our physical and psychological survival. We think that the "me" we identify with is our reality, so we look at all of the ways that we can keep this self safe. Yet the end is the same for all of us. We can't escape the ultimate destruction of the body, and so we hate the body.
"For fantasies have made your body your 'enemy'; weak, vulnerable and treacherous, worthy of the hate that you invest in it."
(T.18.VI.6.5) (ACIM OE T.18.VII.54) We hate our brother’s body,
"For what you think is sin is limitation, and whom you try to limit to the body you hate because you fear."
(T.21.III.7.2) (ACIM OE T.21.IV.35)
The body is not our reality. We are eternal. Death cannot end who we are. The ego is just a dream about ourselves, and our efforts in the dream to keep its "reality" intact will come to nothing. At this point in the Course, we are no longer taking the ego as seriously as we once did, even though we still have resistance. We still cling to the beliefs: There are some grievances that can't be forgiven. There are some addictions that have such a hold on us that they can't be broken. Our best efforts at turning over some situations have not brought us peace, and our anger can still get triggered at a moment's notice. What to do? We start feeling despair and wonder if we are beyond redemption! But those are the very thoughts that stubbornly resist healing only because we still
want
to hold onto them. We choose to believe them and, as long as we do, they will be implacable. This place of stubborn resistance in us is not real. It is another false belief, and we have the power within us to release all false beliefs that we hold about ourselves.
While we might say that we want to change, that we want the peace of God, and that we desperately desire to know our Self as Love, we still fear transformation.
"There is no statement that the world is more afraid to hear than this:
I do not know the thing I am, and therefore do not know what I am doing, where I am, or how to look upon the world or on myself.
Yet in this learning is salvation born."
(T.31.V.17.6-8) (ACIM OE T.31.V.60, 61) We will never do this alone. He offers the miracle when we are ready, but not until we are ready. The choice is ours. We must ask Him to
"Help us not interfere."
(W.292.2.2) Only we can get in our own way.
"I will step back and let Him lead the way."
(W.155) Only our interfering thoughts and beliefs will
"delay the happy endings You have promised us for every problem that we can perceive; for every trial we think we still must meet."
(W.292.2.2)
We are still deeply skeptical that the Holy Spirit will deliver us. Jesus knows this about us, which is why he gives us a
"guarantee of only happy outcomes in the end"
(W.292.2.1)
"For God's Will is done in earth and Heaven."
(W.292.1.6) Yet it does not get done without us because His Will is our own true will. Jesus is honoring our concept of time and our choices. We hold the power and just need to question: "How long do we want to wait?" "How long do we want to delay?" "How long do we want to suffer?"
Let's give up striving to change ourselves and trying to be better, more loving, kinder, sweeter, and more giving. We can relax now. We don't have to make ourselves into anything. Our only job is to question and uncover all we think we are and all we think we know. We need only give up whatever interferes with the magnificence of who we already are. Our efforts at improving ourselves will never work. We will always fail, and then beat up on ourselves for our failure and decide that we are beyond redemption. Laugh at this nonsense. Realize the ego truly is fighting its last hurrah and the best defense is to laugh at its silliness. Simply witness its futile efforts and don't beat up on yourself for its attempts to keep you in hell. Our reality is unchangeable. We just need to keep doing the forgiveness work of letting go of all that interferes with the truth of who we are. Let the Holy Spirit handle it all. You need do nothing!
"A happy outcome to all things is sure."
(W.292) Today, let us resolve to give up our dreams of misery. That is all they are---
Dreams
!
Love and blessings, Sarah
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