More on Extension vs. Projection
But learn and do not let your mind forget this law of seeing: You will look upon that which you feel within. If hatred finds a place within your heart, you will perceive a fearful world, held cruelly in death's sharp-pointed, bony fingers. If you feel the Love of God within you, you will look out on a world of mercy and of love. (W-189.5)
No one really sees anything. He sees only his thoughts projected outward. (W-8.1)
There’s a curious thing I’ve noticed about projecting ego and extending God. When I project ego it does seem as though what I am seeing is only “out there” and not related to me. Yet when I am centered in God and seeing peace I am clearly aware that I am seeing what I am first feeling.
The Course uses the word “project” to refer to ego and “extend” to refer to God – even though they refer to the same “law of seeing” – precisely because of the experience I just shared. When you “project” something you throw it away from you (think “projectile”). In the case of ego, it is specifically to get rid of it, to pretend it’s not coming from you. And when you “extend” you are reaching out, stretching yourself, like when you extend your hand in greeting to another. The hand is still you; you are not trying to get rid of it.
When you project ego it is as though God doesn’t exist. Peace is just wiped out. Yet when you extend God’s peace, it is as though peace surrounds, is within or behind what you are seeing, rendering it meaningless. Who cares what is appearing when the love of God is within you, wrapping your thoughts in peace?
There’s a lesson in this: For ego, God does not exist and it does not even want you to acknowledge what you made. For God, you exist in God as you always have, and you can look on what you have made and see that it is without any real effects. Ego teaches you to close your mind and be afraid; God teaches you to open your mind and see that fear has no cause. Which teacher do you think is more trustworthy?
www.acimmentor.com
No one really sees anything. He sees only his thoughts projected outward. (W-8.1)
There’s a curious thing I’ve noticed about projecting ego and extending God. When I project ego it does seem as though what I am seeing is only “out there” and not related to me. Yet when I am centered in God and seeing peace I am clearly aware that I am seeing what I am first feeling.
The Course uses the word “project” to refer to ego and “extend” to refer to God – even though they refer to the same “law of seeing” – precisely because of the experience I just shared. When you “project” something you throw it away from you (think “projectile”). In the case of ego, it is specifically to get rid of it, to pretend it’s not coming from you. And when you “extend” you are reaching out, stretching yourself, like when you extend your hand in greeting to another. The hand is still you; you are not trying to get rid of it.
When you project ego it is as though God doesn’t exist. Peace is just wiped out. Yet when you extend God’s peace, it is as though peace surrounds, is within or behind what you are seeing, rendering it meaningless. Who cares what is appearing when the love of God is within you, wrapping your thoughts in peace?
There’s a lesson in this: For ego, God does not exist and it does not even want you to acknowledge what you made. For God, you exist in God as you always have, and you can look on what you have made and see that it is without any real effects. Ego teaches you to close your mind and be afraid; God teaches you to open your mind and see that fear has no cause. Which teacher do you think is more trustworthy?
www.acimmentor.com
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