The Great Illusion of Time
A few years ago I led a study group which many brand-new students of A Course in Miracles attended. When they began to grasp the idea in the Course that a Part of God has decided to be not-God and that this world and our seeming selves in it are the not-God, many of them would say, “But that doesn’t make sense! How could Part of God be not-God?” And I would reply, “Exactly. Now you understand what the Course is saying. It doesn’t make sense.”
Into eternity, where all is one, there crept a tiny, mad idea, at which the Son of God remembered not to laugh. In his forgetting did the thought become a serious idea, and possible of both accomplishment and real effects. (T-27.VIII.6)
God, being Everything, must contain even Its own opposite. But what is the opposite of everything? Nothing! God cannot have an opposite.
The opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite. This course can therefore be summed up very simply in this way: Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God. (T-in.2)
God cannot be threatened. And there is nothing else but God. This is what forgiveness recognizes. So where does this gap come in where it seems as though nothingness – perception, the world, bodies, egos -- is real?
What is the world except a little gap perceived to tear eternity apart, and break it into days and months and years? And what are you who live within the world except a picture of the Son of God in broken pieces, each concealed within a separate and uncertain bit of clay? (T-28.III.7)
In God, there is this idea of not-God and all around this idea and within it God is going, “Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha”. What a crock! How can What is All be not-All and still be Its Self? It cannot. But being the opposite of God, Who is eternal, this idea contains time and so it seems to take time between the idea occurring and the idea being laughed away. Time is the great illusion on which rests all the other illusions that you are separate from God – perception, the world, bodies, egos. These only exist in the “story” of time. Without time, there would be no gap in which the illusion of separation from God could occur.
To test this out, use the holy instant. Become present to the Presence of God. You can do this any instant you choose. In this moment, the separation is over. God is intact and you are still One with God.
For what is time without a past and future? It has taken time to misguide you so completely, but it takes no time at all to be what you are. Begin to practice the Holy Spirit's use of time as a teaching aid to happiness and peace. Take this very instant, now, and think of it as all there is of time. Nothing can reach you here out of the past, and it is here that you are completely absolved, completely free and wholly without condemnation. From this holy instant wherein holiness was born again you will go forth in time without fear, and with no sense of change with time. (T-15.I.9)
What we are doing in the world is playing out the seeming time between the idea of separation and its undoing. Every moment you step out of the world and spend with God saves time by speeding the awareness of God to every mind. Whenever you forgive the illusion of separation from God by laughing away the ego, you save time. And whenever you call on the Holy Spirit, you are acknowledging that the separation is over and saving time again. Saving time is what your purpose is as a teacher of God.
There was never a question of outcome, for what can change the Will of God? But time, with its illusions of change and death, wears out the world and all things in it. Yet time has an ending, and it is this that the teachers of God are appointed to bring about. For time is in their hands. Such was their choice, and it is given them. (M-1.4)
>>>>
One-on-one study, support and guidance is available for students of A Course in Miracles who want inner peace, harmonious relationships and a deep sense of purpose faster and easier. Visit www.acimmentor.com. There you will also find an archive-by-topic for this blog and booklets to deepen your understanding of the Course.
Into eternity, where all is one, there crept a tiny, mad idea, at which the Son of God remembered not to laugh. In his forgetting did the thought become a serious idea, and possible of both accomplishment and real effects. (T-27.VIII.6)
God, being Everything, must contain even Its own opposite. But what is the opposite of everything? Nothing! God cannot have an opposite.
The opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite. This course can therefore be summed up very simply in this way: Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God. (T-in.2)
God cannot be threatened. And there is nothing else but God. This is what forgiveness recognizes. So where does this gap come in where it seems as though nothingness – perception, the world, bodies, egos -- is real?
What is the world except a little gap perceived to tear eternity apart, and break it into days and months and years? And what are you who live within the world except a picture of the Son of God in broken pieces, each concealed within a separate and uncertain bit of clay? (T-28.III.7)
In God, there is this idea of not-God and all around this idea and within it God is going, “Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha”. What a crock! How can What is All be not-All and still be Its Self? It cannot. But being the opposite of God, Who is eternal, this idea contains time and so it seems to take time between the idea occurring and the idea being laughed away. Time is the great illusion on which rests all the other illusions that you are separate from God – perception, the world, bodies, egos. These only exist in the “story” of time. Without time, there would be no gap in which the illusion of separation from God could occur.
To test this out, use the holy instant. Become present to the Presence of God. You can do this any instant you choose. In this moment, the separation is over. God is intact and you are still One with God.
For what is time without a past and future? It has taken time to misguide you so completely, but it takes no time at all to be what you are. Begin to practice the Holy Spirit's use of time as a teaching aid to happiness and peace. Take this very instant, now, and think of it as all there is of time. Nothing can reach you here out of the past, and it is here that you are completely absolved, completely free and wholly without condemnation. From this holy instant wherein holiness was born again you will go forth in time without fear, and with no sense of change with time. (T-15.I.9)
What we are doing in the world is playing out the seeming time between the idea of separation and its undoing. Every moment you step out of the world and spend with God saves time by speeding the awareness of God to every mind. Whenever you forgive the illusion of separation from God by laughing away the ego, you save time. And whenever you call on the Holy Spirit, you are acknowledging that the separation is over and saving time again. Saving time is what your purpose is as a teacher of God.
There was never a question of outcome, for what can change the Will of God? But time, with its illusions of change and death, wears out the world and all things in it. Yet time has an ending, and it is this that the teachers of God are appointed to bring about. For time is in their hands. Such was their choice, and it is given them. (M-1.4)
>>>>
One-on-one study, support and guidance is available for students of A Course in Miracles who want inner peace, harmonious relationships and a deep sense of purpose faster and easier. Visit www.acimmentor.com. There you will also find an archive-by-topic for this blog and booklets to deepen your understanding of the Course.
Comments
I stopped my cleaning for a moment to do some spine stretches and I was watching a thought go by in my mind which was, 'Ooh I'm gonna be sore tonight.' I asked for the Holy Spirits perception and It said, 'This thought contains time. Time is not real so whatever contains time and persists in time is a lie.'
Well, I am baffled! The Holy Spirit has never spoken to me about time before nor has It been so direct or matter-of-fact with me so I am amazed by this bit of knowledge that was clearly not of myself but for me. And I honestly did not know what to do with this information. Then Holy Spirit proceeded to tell me that we would be using reason to get me out of my mess to awaken to the Truth. And then I instantly just had this urge to share this information with just you even though I don't fully understand it all myself yet!
What are your thoughts on this, Liz? I'm sitting here like a stunned mullet (this seems to be my usual response when anything big like this comes to me.)