Ask: Can you give examples of where ACIM says what to do at the level of form?
“I appreciate your last e-newsletter and found the
question and your answer very interesting and valuable. However, I also
resonated with the questioner's statement that the Course does not address how to deal with issues at
the level of form. You said: "I'm not sure why you say ACIM does not
address what one should or should not do at the level of form when most of the
Workbook and much of the Text addresses this!" Could you provide an
example of how the Course addresses
what one should or should not do at the level of form, maybe in your next
newsletter?” – CT
This course remains
within the ego framework, where it is needed. It is not concerned with what is
beyond all error because it is planned only to set the direction towards it.
(C-in.3)
I
hear often enough that A Course in
Miracles does not deal with the level of form to assume that the perception
that it is an ethereal, impractical teaching must be a fairly common form of
ego (personal thought system) resistance to it. But all of ACIM deals with your
thoughts, your feelings, and your perceptions, which are all forms. And the
Workbook lessons teach you very specifically what to do to deal with those. The
Text, as well, is also full of practical advice. What could be clearer about
what to do at the level of form than Chapter 30’s “Rules for Decision”?
You may complain that
this course is not sufficiently specific for you to understand and use. Yet
perhaps you have not done what it specifically advocates. This is not a
course in the play of ideas, but in their practical application. Nothing
could be more specific than to be told that if you ask you will receive. The
Holy Spirit will answer every specific problem as long as you believe that
problems are specific. (T-11.VIII.5) (The underlines are mine).
Perhaps what people mean when they say ACIM does not say
what to do at the level of form is that ACIM does not give guidance on
behavior. This is because ACIM deals with cause, not effect. Behavior is the
effect of beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. So when you change your
mind the self’s behavior automatically changes. In fact, there was an example
of this in the last newsletter. The writer had been in unhealthy relationships.
As she changed her mind and became aware of the Truth within her, her sense of
self-worth grew. She found she no longer had a need for dysfunctional, abusive
relationships that reflected her former low self-worth. So she was moved to change
her behavior: She set boundaries with those who do not treat her with respect.
However, some of those unhealthy others refuse to respect her boundaries. So she
was further moved to end those relationships.
It may also be the case that some think that “hearing” the
Holy Spirit means hearing a Voice from on-high every time they present the Holy
Spirit with a problem. And sometimes you do hear It as a still, quiet Voice
within. But the Holy Spirit is just the label given to your own mind’s
awareness of Truth. In the example above, the motivation to set boundaries was
the Holy Spirit guiding the writer. Her unhappiness in her relationships was
her call for help in a specific situation at the level of form. Her new-found
motivation to set boundaries was the specific answer she needed at the level of
form.
>>>>>
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.
Comments
I also agree with CT, whole heartedly, that the book, 4 Habits for Inner Peace presents a clear and concise way to use the precepts of the Course in your life and provides the mind and heart training to receive the Truth, from your core, in every moment.
Then, as we learn listen and trust the 'Teacher of Truth' in the Stillness, we begin to understand the Course (Truth) on a level that is experiential and not intellectual. Quite a feat! ;-)
Of course this statement/question is engendered by powerlessness about situations over which I have no real control, like bureaucracies of all kinds, medical system frozen in its tracks, etc.
Any comments?
From Thula.
That's why when faced with conflict with another body I think I need to fix it somehow or I'm failing the Course. But I think what it means in form is that I observe my reactions to the confrontation, whatever they are. I don't try to spout spiritual passages and pretend I don't want to scream and shout at the other person, but I do admit that that is my preference, without guilt, to myself. Like..oh, there it goes again. How silly.
I'm still trying to make the world a better place. I'm still trying to make my life easier and pain free and I think that my taking my still doing that seriously is what needs to be addressed. I'm not going to be able to stop trying to make this world work and keep my body safe UNTIL I progress enough to know that I'm NOT a body, living in a world. Until then, all I need do, I think, is observe what the ego does and how it responds without feeling guilt over it, not to make it a big deal.
Making anything a big deal is making a hierarchy of illusions. It's not the form that that is the problem, it's the belief that there IS form. But since we believe we ARE form we have to see how that belief is keeping us rooted in the dream and miserable, even when we think we're happy. That's where patience, practice and perseverance come in.
But then we think, yes, but I'm stuck here in this situation and I need to know what to do about it. It's very real to me and I'm in great pain. It's difficult to be objective and look at that situation as it is, not how I have set it up. It difficult to admit that I wanted that situation so I could prove to Truth that It's wrong and I'm right. I am real, see how much pain I'm in! So I can either use that situation as a means to keep me rooted in the illusion or I can use it as a classroom that will ultimately set me free.
We are never upset for the reasons we think. That passage is finally beginning to make perfect sense to me!
A simple lesson in physics says that anything in motion will continue on its path unless an out side force slows it down. Likewise, if an object is sitting still it will stay sitting unless and outside force moves it. This is the definition of inertia.
Think of our ego selves as a force moving along a path that will continue until something outside itself slows it down until it stops. As an example: When a gun is fired the bullet leaves the barrel at an astounding speed and eventually falls to the ground as both gravity and the friction of air slows it down until it stops. Without gravity, friction, or both, the bullet would continue on its path indefinitely. Ergo the ego.
What is the outside force that can influence the inertia of the ego? That force is your choice to consider there is an alternate existence to the pain and agony of this world. Focusing on your pain and agony is a force that gives the ego more energy to continue on its path. Any response to the events of this life that accepts the events as real keeps the ego moving on its path. If you can begin to understand inertia you can see why there is repetition in your life - the dream of life repeats itself over and over until something gets in its way of repetition. Looking at life this way relieves us of guilt because we can begin to understand we are not doing anything wrong, have never done anything wrong, except to give the ego and the imagined world the energy to continue existing. We can now stand back and watch instead of being involved.
Our reaction to the events of the dream is what the Course is all about. It is telling us that we are reacting to a dream looking at it as though it is real and that we are the person in the dream. You are not the person in the dream but you are the dreamer and the observer of your dream. Become aware of the observer. Observe the observer and you will begin to lose your attachment to the ego (personal self) and start slowing this speeding train down so you can get off and enjoy Life.
Observing the observer is to begin the awakening, and here is one way you may begin to practice this. Search back in your memory to a time you were watching a movie. You see yourself sitting in a theater or in a living room on the couch? You are now observing the observer of the movie. While you were sitting there watching the movie you became involved with the movie and in a sense lost consciousness of you sitting there. Look at yourself right now and consider that you are sitting somewhere watching the dream and are so involved you have lost consciousness of who you are. Can you begin to look at this world of form as an observer rather than as a participant? Close your eyes and imagine seeing yourself sitting at your computer reading these words on the screen. You are now observing the observer.
As happens, the thread of comments goes in many directions sometimes, but somehow, the comments always seem related to each other.
Thula, regarding your comment, though, I'm puzzled, too. I've read it many times and I'm not sure what you're asking. Maybe you could restate?
Thank you, Suzanne -- I needed your comments, everyone's comments.
Just when I think that I have overcome the world, when I no longer make a big deal out of something like maybe somebody close to me's illness, when I no longer feel fearful, then something else crops up and I feel fear about it! I say to myself, oh but this is a big thing, and it is finally hitting me that I am not where I thought I was in overcoming the world. I need to be patient, and I'm having plenty of practice, and I will persevere in surrendering it all to the Holy Spirit - let go and stay in that place where I know All is Well!