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…”

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Comments

will said…
While I was studying this morning I had a miracle and thought I would share it. All the quotes are from the Text, Chapter 9, sections III &IV pgs. 166-169.
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.
will said…
I'm wondering if a better way to say it is 'using the personal mind to change perception into extension is a dead end'?
ACIM Mentor said…
Yes, Will, only from Truth can you see that illusion is illusion. You cannot see that illusion is illusion while in the midst of illusion. So grow your awareness of Truth and you will automatically see that illusion is illusion.
will said…
I have been going back to try and see where I went wrong. I think part of it is in how I understood the early lessons (1-25). There is an emphasis on looking at things with the eyes and I did not understand what was being said. Lesson 15 is a good example. To be honest, I worked hard to do the lessons correctly but at the end of the year I didn’t understand any more than when I started.
will said…
This is not the first time I have experienced this. I will have what I believe is an understanding of a concept of the course but find later I was unable to transfer it to the wider scheme of things. I think it takes years to get a sense of the seriousness of the handicap we are under having to use the personal mind to learn the course. It has no interest in learning it and sees it as a threat.
will said…
Liz, Coming back and re-reading these comments I can see I got off track. I wasn't saying that illusion can see illusion but that the course wants us to practice forgiveness as if we see the world as an illusion. I'm going to have to find an example.
ACIM Mentor said…
When you read ACIM, Will, always remember it was for Helen Schucman; her mind and where she was in her awareness of Truth. It was specific to her. The rest of us have to have to generalize her lessons for ourselves.
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.
will said…
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