Why the Text is Abstract

As you perceive more and more common elements in all situations, the transfer of training under the Holy Spirit's guidance increases and becomes generalized. Gradually you learn to apply it to everyone and everything, for its applicability is universal. When this has been accomplished, perception and knowledge have become so similar that they share the unification of the laws of God. (T-12.VI.6)

Some students are frustrated that the Text is too abstract and does not include specific examples for them to apply to their lives. There are three reasons for this:

--If specific examples are given you might think the lesson only applies to those specific situations and not see how it applies to your own situation.

--The goal of the Course is for you to learn to generalize – all illusions are the same, just as Truth is all the same. You may mistake specific examples as somehow “special” and different from situations not given as an example.

--There is a Workbook that is very specific! The Text lays out the theology on which those lessons are based.

If you are having a hard time understanding something abstract in the Text, ask your Holy Spirit for an example. Your Holy Spirit always answers. (T-12.VI.6)

www.acimmentor.com

Comments

Carrie Genevachild said…
I do ask Miriam for help in understanding the Text.

Reading the first sentence of each paragraph as key to its meaning is helpful.

Thinking about Jesus speaking directly to Helen and Bill helps me to make sense of some passages.

My favorite name for God is Divine Abstraction. (T.4.VII.5.4)
4:06 PM
hannah said…
the goal is to learnt to generalise.. im seeing now why that takes so long.. attachment to self, fear of oneness, makes specifics very important, and so generalising feels very fearful.

in the last couple of days, ive found im generalising, seeing one problem and one solution more clearly, and im finding that involves less thought; when i recall that there is only one purpose behind everything, thoughts and feelings around the situations kind of.. become less solid, still there often but.. misty, not as solid. and while that sometimes feels wonderful, relieving of tension, it often feels like my mind wants to jump around the 'blanker' spots, trying to find something 'concrete' to stop a feeling of um, how to describe that feeling? floating, being cut adrift, loosing connection to life. while im actually almost sure thats an ego defence to getting closer in awareness to truth, but its not very comfortable, it doesnt feel safe. but i trust that its a normal thing to feel. but i wonder, does it last long?
9:45 PM
hannah said…
does there HAVE to be ego backlash to opening to truth, for the whole journey?? at some point does that ease off? or does it ease off if a become better at not listening to it?
9:48 PM
ACIM Mentor said…
It does take a while to acclimate to detachment. As it becomes more familiar you will be more focused on the relief than on any sense of loss.

There will always be an ego backlash as long as the ego is in your mind. However, you will learn to not listen to it. When you stop believing in what it says it will no longer have an effect on you.
9:59 AM
hannah said…
ok, thank you. its silly really that having a different word to describe it feels like an anchor, but it does. 'detachment from ego' brings more calm, and commitment. 'loss of ego' or 'loss of self' brings more drama feelings. thanks again.
7:08 AM
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