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Showing posts from January, 2013

Ask: If there is no duality how does that allow for relationships?

… The Course speaks repeatedly about relationships, especially "The Holy Relationship".  However, if those that we have had relationships in the illusion do not really exist, who do we have relationships with in Heaven?  If, in Truth, there is no duality which means "all is one" - how does that allow for a relationship?  Doesn't it take "two to tango"? Or, is it what I sometimes intuit, that when we see the Truth in another, we are really seeing a reflection of the Truth in us.  And it is only in that state that we can truly "relate" to another?  Could it be that when our Oneness is re-cognized, we do have relationships with all, knowing that the essence that flows through us is the same for all?  Or am I trying to make a pseudo-illusion with this example?... – SL             Like all forms of forgiveness, the Holy Relationship manifests only at the level of perception, or illusion. It is a temporarily useful illusion that strengthens

Ask: Which guilt is ACIM talking about?

When ACIM talks about guilt is it talking about guilt for things I’ve done or is it talking about guilt for separating from God or both?             In a practical sense both, not because they are the same, but because the personal thought system (ego) blends them.             In the world there are laws and moral codes that are set up for the civilized functioning of society. These laws and codes vary from culture to culture and over time. When you are a child adults are supposed to teach you the laws and codes of your culture and instill in you a social conscience that is bothered when you violate them. When you do violate them you make amends or “pay your debt to society”. In theory your conscience could be wiped clean. But the personal thought system in your mind will never allow you to have a clear conscience because it requires guilt to maintain itself in your mind.             Your mind’s natural state is limitlessness. In your identification with a personal self it is

Ask: Any thoughts to help us in these difficult economic times?

In this time of financial woes, hopefully many can benefit from some words for guidance on surviving the money crunch. Trying to see things from the perspective of abundance and not from lack does get difficult when in the physical world bills pile up, debts get larger and income starts to shrink. Please share some of the thoughts that can keep us in line with Truth in these difficult times … – MLN             Do not define yourself by what does or does not appear in the universe of form. The self in the world is not you. What does or does not show up is not you. These are all just passing thoughts.             As with anything that disturbs your peace, use it as a reminder to turn inward and feel your wholeness in Truth (God). If you are not yet able to feel your wholeness in Truth, then use disturbing appearances to remind you to turn inward and grow your awareness of Truth. Sit quietly and let disturbing thoughts rise up. Do not embrace them; do not fight them. Observe them

Ask: What about ghosts and near-death experiences?

You say there are no individual spirits but what about ghosts? What about people who say they’ve seen Jesus? Or people who have near-death experiences say that they see their loved ones…             Just like material bodies, ghosts are projections of the split mind. Just like material bodies, any meaning you see in them you give to them. They are another form of not-Truth, or illusion.             Part of the confusion is that the word “spirit” is commonly used for both non-material form (ghosts) and Formlessness (Truth/God). And they are not the same. Part of the confusion is also that the personal thought system (ego) confuses anything “supernatural” or unseen by the body’s eyes with Truth. This spiritualizes some forms so that you do not seek beyond form for Truth. To help you sort out illusion from Truth remember that Truth is formless. So all form is not-Truth (illusion). Anything that can be perceived, measured, or has boundaries or limitations is form. Some form is ma

Ask: It seems to me that ACIM is saying that I don't really exist...

All of my life isn’t real…it seems to me that A Course in Miracles is saying that I don’t really exist…yet here I am existing…             What A Course in Miracles says is that your experience of yourself as a personal self in a body in a world (ego) is not real existence. It is a false sense of reality (illusion).             Within you is the solid experience “I am” or “I exist”. This is True Being (God). It is real, infinite, and eternal. You also have this other experience of a limited, time-bound personal self in a body in a world. These two experiences have become conflated in your mind so that you think that the experience of “I exist” refers to the personal self. This confusion is the source of all manifestations of pain. What the Course teaches is that your experience of Existence and your experience of a personal self are actually two disparate experiences. It teaches you how to sort them out so that you can release the false sense of limited identity and know tru