ACIM Mentor

Some of your answers about death lately have not been particularly comforting…would you tell someone who just lost a loved one that they will never see them again?             I can see where the personal thought system (ego) in your mind would not find what I wrote about death to be comforting. It would like to be real and eternal and I stripped that idea away. Stripping away the personal thought system’s cherished wishes is what I do! I am a teacher of Truth, not a minister or therapist, so I do not teach to comfort personal selves. Instead, I teach minds the way to release themselves from guilt and fear so that they can be aware of Truth and be at peace. This indeed will make the personal thought system in your mind uncomfortable, but if you understand the forgiveness that I teach it will set you free. “Undermining the ego's thought system must be perceived as painful, even though this is anything but true. Babies scre...

In the tri-union of mind, body, spirit, what happens to the spirits/souls of psychopaths? Those defined as “individuals who are often intelligent and highly charismatic, but display a chronic inability to feel guilt, remorse, or anxiety about any of their actions.”             My understanding is that a psychopath also cannot genuinely feel or display love, either. Yet, our essence is essentially the energy of love. Can you explain? – DL             There are no souls or individual spirits. There is only one Truth (Spirit) and It is universal. It is the same in every seemingly-individual mind. It is all that is real and eternal in any mind. Everything else is false and falls away. The body, the mind, and Spirit (Truth) do not form a union. Mind is the aspect of Truth through which Truth knows Itself.  They are one and the same. The body and its thought system (eg...

I have a family member who's had a rough time of it for quite a while.  He got married, quickly had 2 children, then the marriage went sour and now he is dealing with a narcissistic ex-wife who seems determined to make his life a misery and a job that takes up most of his time. I get upset about the situation he's in and sometimes cry over his situation.  I think "There is nothing my holiness cannot do..." but it doesn't seem to work.  Then I get angry that this whole story is appearing and become impatient that he's not changing.  I'm furious with his ex-wife too. – SD             It is your belief that what is appearing is real and true that is making you unhappy. If you are willing to be aware of your Holiness, or the Truth (God) within you, then this awareness will lift you out of your fixed belief in the world as reality. But this is not going to change the world. It will change your rel...

If what you say about death is true it makes me sad to think that I will never see my loved ones again. This is how I have coped with their deaths… (December 7, 2012)             What you are actually feeling is fear of lack of Love (God; Truth). True Love is your Being and is always within you. But because the personal thought system (ego) is the denial of your Being it teaches you to look outward for its version of “love” (attachment). One place it teaches you to look for love is in the specialness of others. When they pass away it tells you that you have lost love. To deal with your pain it then tells you that you can hope to find this love again after you “die”. As usual, it does not address the actual source of your pain: your perception that Love is outside of you. It also does not address your pain now . Instead it tells you to hope to find relief for your current pain in a future that never arrives. Is it really comfo...

What happens to someone who dies before they “awaken” or are aware of Truth ? Do they still go back to God?             No. But someone who has become aware of Truth (God) also does not return to Truth upon death. The self does not come from Truth and can never be a part of Truth. It is only a mistaken idea in your mind now .             The Truth is already in your mind, whole and complete. It has no beginning and no ending. It is ongoing and untouched by the story of a self that you have in your mind. You do not have to wait for the self to die to be aware of Truth. Right now you can put aside the idea of a self and be aware of Truth and be at peace. It is your belief in the self as reality that blocks your awareness of Truth now .             Only the Truth in any mind is real and eternal. Everything else passes...

Where in ACIM does it use the lower case “s” on “son of God”? (November 30, 2012) [This question refers to this paragraph from my last article : “But within the thought-of-the-opposite-of-God there is an emptiness which is filled by a universe of form, or the opposite-of-God made manifest. The part of God’s mind where this thought seems to occur the Course calls the “son of God” (lower case “s” on “son”). It cannot leave God so it is split between God and not-God. This split mind projects billions of versions of itself into the universe of form (individual minds in bodies). For the seemingly-individual split mind the Course refers to the projection of not-God as “ego” and to the awareness of God as “Christ” (or “Son of God”; upper-case “s” on “son”) .].             Well, gosh, golly, darn…I could swear…But doing a search on my A Course in Miracles CD I cannot find an instance where the lower-case “s” is used for “Son of ...

In the lesson 'What is Creation?' the following passage answers the question: "Creation is the sum of all God's Thoughts, in number infinite and everywhere without limit. Only Love creates and only like Itself." I suddenly found today that I could not see how this fitted with the idea that all form (creation) is the sum of God's thoughts, if it is also illusory. Does the Universe we perceive exist only in the ego's mind - or is it the result of God's Thought? – MD-T              A Course in Miracles redefines the word “Creation” to refer to the Extension of God’s formless Being rather than to the universe of form, as the word is commonly used. When it speaks of “you” being God’s “Creation” it is referring to your True Being in God, not to the forms (body/personality) with which you mistakenly identify. You experience God’s boundless Creation – your True Being – not in form but within your mind. You “create” like Go...

Since the world is not real and all that we are experiencing is an illusion is there a basis for compassion? (November 16, 2012)             Actually, true compassion arises naturally and spontaneously only when you are aware that the world is not real and that the personal experience is an illusion. True compassion is an effect of true forgiveness.             The experience of Truth (God) is wholeness. It is boundless love, peace, and happiness. Any other experience is not-True (illusion). So all pain is caused by a lack of awareness that the Truth is in you and that you have everything in Truth.             The personal thought system’s (ego’s) version of compassion is to reinforce in your mind the idea that lack and pain are real. It has you join with another in their pain. You hurt with them and/or for them....

Don’t I need an ego to live in the world? If not how do I go to work, take care of my family, etc.? (November 9, 2012)             No, because the body, personality, and unfolding “life” of the personal self are neutral projections. They don’t have any meaning in themselves. They manifest either the personal thought system (ego) or your True thought system (Holy Spirit). The choice of thought system is yours to make. Either way the personal self eats, sleeps, goes to work, raises kids, makes love, plays, relates to others, etc. Your choice of thought system determines your internal experience of either conflict (personal) or peace (Truth). And because personal values, choices, and behaviors (effects) always follow from thoughts (their cause) the personal self’s life unfolds harmoniously when you choose the thought system of peace. This is how you can tell which thought system you are choosing: When you to identify as a pe...

My question is about prayer…The idea of Oneness is beginning to feel more natural as is accepting that we, not God, made the universe of form.  I’ve been used to saying traditional prayers as well as praying for special intentions for myself and others.  Given my emerging new thought system, that kind of prayer just doesn’t feel right anymore.  I still feel the need to pray, however.  Should I use meditation as a form of prayer now?... LD             Before I answer your question about prayer I want to address your statement that “we, not God, made the universe of form” because I hear this often from students of A Course in Miracles and there is great confusion about this idea. The maker of the universe of form is what the Course calls the “son of God” in the original and what I called the “split mind” in The Plain Language ACIM . The split mind is the part of God’s Mind that contains the idea of the op...

I have read that if one undertakes the Course as an exercise in academic learning, as a study of ideas to be mastered, you will fail…I’m in a study group where I think this is exactly what we are doing. – MW             A Course in Miracles intends for its ideas to be used, not just thought about: “This is not a course in the play of ideas, but in their practical application.” (T-11.VIII.5) “This course has explicitly stated that its goal for you is happiness and peace.” (T-13.II.7) But that can be quite apart from your goal for studying it. The measure of your success or failure in any endeavor is determined by your own goal for it. If your goal is to intellectually grasp the concepts in A Course in Miracles then study alone may be enough for you to reach your goal. But if your goal is lasting happiness and peace, which is the goal the Course intends for you, then you must put its ideas into practice to attai...

From the book 4 Habits for Inner Peace , Part IV.7.c: The Results of True Forgiving            True forgiving results in you releasing yourself from your identification with a personal self. You cannot force this. First you must develop your awareness of the Truth as Truth. Then forgiving will come naturally.             When you are aware of Truth you are in a forgiving state of mind. This results in you:             Letting the personal self’s feelings and desires be as you rest in peace within.             Letting the personal self’s moods be as you rest in peace within.             Letting the personal self go about its business in the world as you rest in peace within.         ...

From The ACIM Mentor Articles , October 20, 2007: http://acimmentor.blogspot.com/2007/10/true-forgiveness.html >>>> Learn about the books The ACIM Mentor Articles, The Plain Language A Course in Miracles, and 4 Habits for Inner Peace at www.acimmentor.com. If you have a question the answer to which you think will help others send it to Liz@acimmentor.com and indicate that you want it answered in the ACIM Mentor Newsletter/Blog.

…Forgiveness says to look past what appears to be our brother's error because it is really our own error projected upon his body.  It never happened because it is all imagination, all a dream in our mind…at what point do you point out your brother's error as "his" error?  At what point do we point out his error and have him suffer the consequences of his error.  Such as filing charges against him and thus having him pay a fine or go to jail…At what point does the "seriousness" of the offense make it necessary to point out the error and take steps to diminish the possibility of it happening again? What, if any, is the difference between the more serious offense and the tiny, minor offense?...My ego wants to point out every error, no matter how minor, and take actions to see that the brother doesn't do it again to me or any other brother. – RB             The errors to which A Course in Miracles refers are errors...

My goal is to fully awaken to the truth and reality of who I AM. I have confusion in balancing my time and energy spent in meditating, reading and being alone in the peace of the Spirit with work and enjoying outside life activities. I have an enjoyable job but would like more income to have more choices. I have good ideas for added income but do not want to be distracted from my Spiritual journey or peace within but want to live life to its fullest. – EB Your statement that you “want to live life to its fullest” indicates that you have conflicting goals. You do want Truth (God) but you also still want to have a full personal life. But you cannot be invested in a personal life and transcend it (be aware of Truth) at the same time. This conflict is why you are confused and having a hard time finding balance. However, you do not have to deny or fight against your personal goals and desires. They are only obstacles to your being aware of Truth when you see them as ends in themsel...

From the book, The ACIM Mentor Articles,  October 16, 2007: http://acimmentor.blogspot.com/2007/10/forgiveness-comes-wholesale.html >>>>> Learn about the books The ACIM Mentor Articles, The Plain Language A Course in Miracles, and 4 Habits for Inner Peace  at www.acimmentor.com. If you have a question the answer to which you think may help others send it to Liz@acimmentor.com and indicate that you want it answered in the ACIM Mentor Newsletter/Blog.

I have a real problem understanding the phrasing of Lesson 253 – “My Self is ruler of the universe”.   Maybe it’s the language; but even instinctively I am confused. “You are the Self Whom You created Son.”  Can you explain that a little more clearly? It sends my mind into a spin... – MD-T             Maybe you would understand it better replacing the word “Self” with the word “Being”: “My Being is ruler of the universe” and “You are the Being Whom You created Son.” When the word “self” is capitalized in A Course in Miracles it is referring to the one, limitless Being (God) that is rather than to the limited personal self, or ego, with which you are used to identifying. The lesson reminds you that God is your True Being, not a power over you. There is no power over you.             Perhaps some of your confusion comes from the use of the word “create”, w...

From 4 Habits for Inner Peace, Part IV.3.c : Enlightenment is the label given to an inner awareness of Truth. The True thought system in your mind is aware of Truth, so it is enlightened. The personal thought system, which is not-Truth, can never be aware of Truth. It can never become enlightened. When you are attached to it, it functions as an obstacle to your awareness that you already have enlightenment. So you do not have to seek for enlightenment. You only have to release the personal thought system and the Enlightened Mind will be all that is left in your awareness.             Truth is Universal, not personal or individual. So there is no such thing as “personal enlightenment” or an “enlightened person”. When your seemingly-individual mind is aware of Truth it transcends the personal and individual in the awareness that Truth is All. Then the boundary of “individual” drops away from your awareness. This applies not ...

From the book 4 Habits for Inner Peace  (available at www.lulu.com or www.amazon.com), Part IV, 3b: Eternal Life instead of Life After Death             Truth has no beginning and no ending. It is infinite. So questions about beginnings and endings always originate in not-Truth, are always about not-Truth, and are meant to reinforce the mistaken belief that not-Truth is True.             The personal thought system often asks questions that are not really questions but are statements in the form of questions. This is most evident with the question, “What happens when I die?” This question is based on the faulty premise that that which is asking the question exists. So there is no way to answer it directly without validating the faulty premise. This is why the question is really the personal thought system’s way of stating that it exists.     ...

I don't want to be reincarnated.  I know that I am "Home" already, and if I fully believed that would cease to appear to exist here in form.  When I die, or transition, from this "world", I don't want to come back (be reincarnated).  I don't want to experience a life time of searching for the Truth and finally finding it after years of believing the insanity and experiencing the pain of this life.  I want to go "Home" - all the way Home.  When I think of reincarnating I feel a kind of despair (which I know exists only because I believe it).  Do you think it's possible not to have to "come back"?   - KS You will be happy to know that there is no such thing as reincarnation. As it says in A Course in Miracles : In the ultimate sense, reincarnation is impossible. There is no past or future, and the idea of birth into a body has no meaning either once or many times. Reincarnation cannot, then, be true in any real sense. Our ...

I find it very hard to find peace when a family member is suffering.  My son who has terrible allergies suffers with chronic itching and pain.  Doctors are not able to help him as of yet.  I know that all illness comes from the mind.  My son is an atheist and does not believe as I do.  How do I find peace when I know someone I love is suffering?  And, is it possible to heal him without him knowing how he was healed. – SM Until the Truth (God) is real to you it will be very hard for you to watch loved ones suffer because you will think that you are looking at reality. So until Truth is real and true for you use those appearances in form that disturb your peace to remind you to turn your mind inward to Truth. Simply quiet your mind and invite Truth into your awareness. You can do this in a moment or as a longer meditation when you have the time. This is how you can use what is not true to grow your awareness of Truth. Your willingness to be aware of ...

From The ACIM Mentor Articles , October 2, 2007: http://acimmentor.blogspot.com/2007/10/for-those-in-healing-professions.html >>>>> Learn about the books The ACIM Mentor Articles, The Plain Language A Course in Miracles, and 4 Habits for Inner Peace at www.acimmentor.com. If you have a question that you want answered in the ACIM Mentor Newsletter/Blog send it to Liz@acimmentor.com and indicate that you want it answered here.

… The self-help industry stresses a gratitude practice. If nothing exists and everything is an illusion, why express gratitude for the things in the illusion? Does it play a role in awakening from the dream? – CL  Self-help practices are centered on the personal self but do play a limited role in growing your awareness of Truth. Practicing gratitude is important not for the specifics of the gratitude practiced but for the mind training involved. It is especially helpful for those who have a tendency to dwell on lack. The real lesson is not that you need to be grateful for what shows up for the personal self but that your thoughts are your choice and are not happening to you against your will. You will notice that much of A Course in Miracles focuses on replacing dark thoughts with lighter thoughts about a world that it teaches is not real. This teaches you that you have control over your thoughts and therefore over your experience of peace or conflict. Eventually you will re...

I was just re-listening to lesson 155…" And now He asks but that you think of Him a while each day, that He may speak to you and tell you of His Love, reminding you how great His trust; how limitless His Love." I was wondering why I don't hear those messages of love, why I think I need and want the love of a "man" (in this case, a particular one) more than the "love of God". "Death" sometimes seems as if it will be the only release from all this emotional agony! Sigh... – MCD             You read A Course in Miracles so you do hear God’s messages of Love. The Course is a love letter from the Truth (God) in you asking you to remember What you really are. Remember this as you learn how to hear the Teacher of Truth (Holy Spirit) within your mind. You are not comfortless. The Course was scribed by one (Helen Schucman) who was obviously hearing the Teacher of Truth within her mind at the time. Not everyone who picks up th...

… I read the lessons for the day. It's breathtaking, yet I feel so far from experiencing what the Course talks about. I feel pain in the body, emotional distress, and obsess about people places and things. When I notice this going on ~ how much of my mental, emotional and physical space it all takes up I feel like I'm just never going to "get it" or be able to keep my mind focused on "God" or not be affected or afflicted by all the things people suffer. I can't really say I've ever experienced a moment's respite from these afflictive thoughts of what happened in the past, what will happen in the future, what I did wrong, what they said, what they meant bla bla bla! …I'm wondering what your days are like? Is your mind clear? What does it all feel like? Or are you just telling yourself certain things? I feel like I have no new thoughts, just recycling the same ole same ole. - MCD Don’t aim for a perfectly quiet mind. Instead, simply open...

From The ACIM Mentor Articles , September 15, 2007: http://acimmentor.blogspot.com/2007/09/courses-unique-means-of-awakening.html >>>>> Learn about the books The ACIM Mentor Articles, The Plain Language A Course in Miracles,  and 4 Habits for Inner Peace  at www.acimmentor.com. If you have a question that you want answered in the ACIM Mentor Newsletter/Blog send it to Liz@acimmentor.com and indicate that you want it answered here.

From The ACIM Mentor Articles, Septem ber 11, 2007: http://acimmentor.blogspot.com/2007/09/when-other-believe-differently.html >>>>> Learn about the books The ACIM Mentor Articles, The Plain Language A Course in Miracles, and  4 Habits for Inner Peace  at www.acimmentor.com. If you have a question that you want answered in the ACIM Mentor Newsletter/Blog send it to Liz@acimmentor.com and indicate that you want it answered here.

From The ACIM Mentor Articles,  August, 2007: http://acimmentor.blogspot.com/2007/08/there-is-only-one-ego-to-forgive.html >>>>>> Learn about the books The ACIM Mentor Articles, The Plain Language A Course in Miracles, and 4 Habits for Inner Peace  at www.acimmentor.com. If you have a question that you want answered in the ACIM Mentor Newlsetter/Blog send it to Liz @acimmentor.com and indicate that you want it answered here.

I just came across this passage… 26. VI.1.  “Anything in this world that you believe is good and valuable and worth striving for can hurt you, and will do so”…I did some research in blogs and explanations and found that the emphasis is on the "striving."  What is your take and valuable insight on this passage? – KM I agree with the emphasis on the word “striving”. It is your belief in yourself as a personal self (ego) that hurts you. And striving for anything in the world is an expression of the belief that you have to make and maintain a personal identity to exist. Follow-up question: So stop trying to prove myself? The phrase that you quoted from A Course in Miracles is stating a fact, not suggesting a course of action. The need to prove yourself will fall away naturally as your identification with a personal self falls away. This is not something that you can force. You can’t pretend to not identify with a personal self when you do. That leads to repressing,...

From August 4, 2007, an explanation of "I need do nothing" in context: http://acimmentor.blogspot.com/2007/08/i-need-do-nothing-and-holy-instant.html >>>>> Learn about the books The ACIM Mentor Articles, The Plain Language A Course in Miracles  and  4 Habits for Inner Peace  at www.acimmentor.com. If you have a question that you want answered in the ACIM Mentor Newsletter/Blog send it to Liz@acimmentor.com and indicate that you want it answered here.

This week we revisit an article from The ACIM Mentor Articles (July 31, 2007) that discusses the distinction between denial, being a Pollyanna, and True Perception: http://acimmentor.blogspot.com/2007/07/pollyanna-and-true-perception.html >>>> Learn about the books The ACIM Mentor Articles, The Plain Language A Course in Miracles, and 4 Habits for Inner Peace  at www.acimmentor.com. If you have a question that you want answered in the ACIM Mentor Newsletter/Blog send it to Liz@acimmentor.com and indicate that you want it answered here.

Can you discuss in one of your articles co-dependency in relationships? And also, the basis for intimacy from a spiritual perspective. -LB             “Co-dependency” is a term that describes a lack of healthy boundaries in a relationship. It is the personal thought system’s (ego’s) dysfunctional response to your longing for the Unity (Wholeness) that you experience in Truth (God). It begins by you seeing you and another as incomplete. So you blur the line between where your personal self ends and another’s personal self begins to “join” and try to be whole. In practice this means you take responsibility for the thoughts, feelings, situation, and/or actions of another. Or you ask another to take responsibility for your thoughts, feelings, situation, and/or actions. This is unhealthy because it means you enable another to remain immature, dysfunctional, or in an active disease, like addiction or mental illness. Or someone else...