ACIM: Changing our Mind Together

In Monday’s newsletter I wrote about the way in which judgment arises as a replacement for Vision. As the course asks: why judge when you can see?

Judgment is a form of interpretation, and interpretation is never without ego involvement (T-12.I.2:1). This is not a crime against God or Nature! It’s simply another form of conflict making us deeply unhappy. If there is a useful alternative, why not avail ourselves of it?

Judgment and projection are related, in the sense that judgment is too painful to bear so we project it outward. We judge the ones making war, for example, and that feels just. It feels right. And that self-righteousness allows us to temporarily allay the pain of judgment. It addresses the symptom but leaves the underlying cause of suffering untouched.

A Course in Miracles is very practical. Sometimes we forget this because of its overly-wrought language and density, and because of the drama that often attends our ACIM community in the form of ascended masters, spiritual lights, new texts channeled from Jesus et cetera. But truly it offers us a way to become naturally sustainably happy and to co-create – with God and with each other – a world in which we are all naturally sustainably happy.

“Projection makes perception” (T-21.In.1:1). Therefore, the world that we experience through the body witnesses to our state of mind. It is “the outside picture of an inward condition” (T-21.In.1:4). It always reflects either love or fear, and thus our decision to listen to either the Holy Spirit or the ego.

Damnation is your judgment on yourself, and this you will project upon the world. See it as damned, and all you see is what you did to hurt the Son of God. If you behold disaster and catastrophe, you tried to crucify him. If you see holiness and hope, you joined the Will of God to set him free (T-21.In.2:1-4).

How is this practical?

Because if the world we see is no more than what we gave it, we can give it something else.

The world you see but shows you how much joy you have allowed yourself to see in you, and to accept as yours. And if this is its meaning, then the power to give it joy must lie within you (T-21.In.2:7-8).

A Course in Miracles invites us to change our mind rather than the world. But it makes clear that as our mind changes, the world will change with it. Therefore, we are not ignoring war and famine, injustice and hate. We are simply responding to it at its source, which is inside us.

This is not an invitation to forget the suffering of our brothers and sisters. It is not an invitation to become distracted by metaphysical ruminations about illusion and reality. It is an invitation to become fully responsible for it. A Course in Miracles invites us to become peacemakers, living symbols of a joy that is merciful, just and nonviolent.

Mercy, justice and nonviolence create – by extending through relationship – happiness for all.

Our practice is not to ignore the world but to read it carefully and allow the Holy Spirit rather than ego to teach us what it means. The Holy Spirit will interpret in favor of love and peace, and as a consequence our behavior will naturally bring forth love and peace.

But it has to happen in that order! Read the signs, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you what it means and how to respond.

If we reverse the order – decide what to do and then try to get our mind to go along – then we are simply listening to ego. And ego is happy to work for peace and justice. It will take that project over in a heartbeat. But if it does, nothing will change and we will simply be frustrated and exhausted and the list of people, institutions and belief systems to blame for our problems and the world’s problems will simply grow longer and longer.

There is – there is always – another way.

My practice of A Course in Miracles – in which I join with you, if you will join with me – is to go slowly and patiently through the world, humbly seeking to be helpful.

I am only here to be truly helpful.
I am here to represent Him Who sent me.
I do not have to worry about what to say or what to do, because He Who sent me will direct me.
I am content to be whereever He wishes, knowing He goes there with me.
I will be healed as I let Him teach me to heal (T-2.V.A.18.2-6).

Note that “helpful” sometimes means – in fact, often means – just staying out of the way.

Thank you, as always, for sharing this path with me. It is not easy, but the company is good. Our shared desire to be healed is the answer to all the world’s problems, big and small. Let us support one another in changing our minds.

Love,
Sean

12 Comments

  1. I love this Sean. Thanks for taking the time to share your practice with us. Thank you for the reminder to be helpful as well as humble. It really is that simple.
    πŸ™

    1. You’re welcome, Linda. Thanks for being here; I’m very grateful for the company.

      πŸ™πŸ™

      ~ Sean

  2. Sean, I will join you in this prayer and intention: may I go slowly and patiently through the world, humbly seeking to be helpful too. Amen.

    1. You’re welcome, Jennifer. Thank you for sharing the way with me – I’m very grateful. πŸ™πŸ™

      ~ Sean

  3. This post is such an important reminder that we do need to let the Holy Spirit teach us how to react, and respond, appropriately to what we see appearing in the world of form. Our default reaction is to respond with the ego’s dictates, and to be honest it is the ego that has created the insane situation that we find ourselves witnessing in the first place.
    As always, as in everything, we need to rise above the battleground and see the truth through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. Let Him do His job of helping us on the path back to peace.

    It is insane to think that war, or anything the ego makes can be the answer to anything. If we want peace we have to think peacefully, to think with clarity, that only Love can bring true and lasting peace.
    I personally don’t now how t achieve this in every situation but I do know where to go to receive guidance from the One Who does.

    So thank you Sean for reminding me there is another way of seeing everything, and that is only through the eyes of Love.
    Bless you for being there, Much Love as Always, Suzy xxx

    1. Thank you Suzy. I love this sentence:

      “I personally don’t know how to achieve this in every situation but I do know where to go to receive guidance from the One Who does.”

      I feel like that is one of the secrets to inner peace, and a great description of what it means to practice ACIM. Some day I’ll figure out how to be that clear and succinct πŸ™‚

      Thanks for sharing your light. I’m really grateful.

      Love,
      Sean

      1. Thank you Sean.

        We often think that we need to do something, and that simply putting our grievances and situations in the hands of the Holy Spirit, or asking the Holy Spirit for guidance and true vision on a situation is not enough. But we need to remember if we see suffering or feel we are suffering ourselves, it is the only real answer open to us.

        It is the practical solution as well as the intellectual solution, it can be the only solution for us, as how on earth can we know the bigger picture?

        I feel this is truly trusting in the only power available to us in every single moment, for it is the only thing that will give us peace in an insane world.

        This is what you do Sean, you remind us to keep returning our minds to the truth, to where the real solutions are, this is our greatest gift because this is exactly the help we need in every moment of every day.

        Love you my friend. xxx

        1. Thank you Suzy. We do not know the bigger picture, true, but I love that it includes such helpful companions with whom to travel. Love right back to you πŸ™πŸ™

          ~ Sean

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