Ask: Why do I keep passing out into peace?
“When I read the
text, the manual and/or the lessons, I invariably fall asleep with the book
open in front of me, often even when I’m fresh soon after waking. I first read
the Course nearly 30 years ago. Ever since, it happens
each time I read the Course,
including your “Message of…” versions
of them. It does not happen when I read them with a group. But this falling asleep
— more like passing out — is often a remarkable experience because when I wake
I experience a sense of release, clarity, energy, and a great welcome for what
is happening in the present. It’s something more than merely waking from a nap
or even from a deep night’s sleep. The words of the Course seem to have so much power that they
virtually sort through my thoughts and find a new place, such that “my”
thoughts seem to be set aside. The result is that I feel a great sense of peace
even though I’m perplexed why I seem to pass out while reading. Is this an
experience you’ve had, and is there a way that I can be conscious of its
purpose and value?” – GB
When I was first a student of A Course in Miracles I would read a
paragraph in the Text and fall asleep. I could not keep myself awake, no matter
the time of day or that I was an otherwise vigorous and energetic 20 year old.
This was clearly a form of resistance because it totally interfered with my
studying. But what you describe does not sound like a form of resistance. It
seems like your unique way of absorbing the Course.
I have not heard of this before. But I have heard from
others that they sometimes have dreams at night that seem to lead to a similar
experience though they do not always remember the dream or the dream itself seems
unremarkable. Something is going on in the unconscious in these experiences.
And you stated the purpose and value of them yourself: “…I experience a sense of release, clarity, energy, and a great welcome
for what is happening in the present…
The result is that I feel a great sense of peace…”>>>>>
Learn about the books The ACIM Mentor Articles, The Plain Language A Course in Miracles, 4 Habits for Inner Peace, and Releasing Guilt 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.
Comments
Ever since I first started the Course and was trying to explain it to others by saying everything is an illusion to ten years later trying to practice Forgiveness by seeing the world as an illusion, it seemed like a dead end. But I would try visually or by some kind of mental gymnastics to reframe everything as an illusion. I thought if I wasn’t doing that, practicing doing that, then I wasn’t doing my part in the Course and I would never progress. I can’t do that for very long let alone walk around all the time doing it. This morning I’m reading this:
“You do not understand how to overlook errors (trying to see people as an illusion) or you would not make them. It would merely be further error to believe you can correct them without a Guide to correction… the ego’s plan is to have you see error clearly first (see and recognize people as real) and then overlook it. Yet how can you overlook what you have made real? By seeing it clearly you have made it real and CANNOT OVERLOOK IT.” Trying to practice Forgiveness like I was, using the personal mind to change perception is a dead end and not what the Course wants you to be doing.
All comments are welcomed.
Helen could hear the Voice. She experienced Truth as she wrote ACIM. So she had It to go to, to practice the forgiveness described in ACIM. Some who come to ACIM have yet to make that first step of being aware of Truth. That has to come first. Then one can use ACIM to GROW their awareness of Truth.