Several days ago I did Lesson
121 in A Course in Miracles (ACIM). In ACIM the act of forgiveness is
understanding there is no “sin” against God. After all, I am truly an
already-loved eternal spirit living in the mind of God, I am not a separate
human being that houses, somewhere, an eternal soul. There is only error based
on false egoic perceptions. AA old-timers state: “The easiest way to forgive is
to not blame in the first place.” I think it’s the same essential message.
LESSON 121: Forgiveness is the
key to happiness
1 Here is the answer to your search for peace. Here is the key to
meaning in a world that seems to make no sense. Here is the way to safety [from] dangers that appear to threaten you at
every turn, and bring uncertainty to all your hopes of ever finding quietness
and peace….
2 The unforgiving [egoic] mind
is full of fear, and offers love no room to be itself; no place where it can
spread its wings in peace and soar above the turmoil of the world. The
unforgiving mind is sad, without the hope of respite and release from pain. It
suffers and abides in misery, peering about in darkness, seeing not, yet
certain of the danger lurking there.
3 The unforgiving mind is torn with doubt, confused about itself and
all it sees; afraid and angry, weak and blustering, afraid to go ahead, afraid
to stay, afraid to waken or to go to sleep, afraid of every sound, yet more
afraid of stillness; terrified of darkness, yet more terrified at the approach
of light….
4 The unforgiving mind sees no mistakes, but only sins. It looks upon
the world with sightless eyes, and shrieks as it beholds its own projections
rising to attack its miserable parody of life. It wants to live, yet wishes it
were dead. It wants forgiveness, yet it sees no hope. It wants escape, yet can
conceive of none because it sees the sinful everywhere.
5 The unforgiving mind is in despair, without the prospect of a future,
which can offer anything but more despair. Yet it regards its judgment of the
world as irreversible, and does not see it has condemned itself to this
despair. It thinks it cannot change, for what it sees bears witness that its
judgment is correct. It does not ask, because it thinks it knows. It does not
question, certain it is right.
6 Forgiveness is acquired. It is not inherent in the mind which cannot
sin. As sin is an idea you taught yourself, forgiveness must be learned by you
as well, but from a Teacher other than yourself, Who represents the other Self
in you. Through Him you learn how to forgive the self you think you made, and
let it disappear. Thus you return your mind as one to Him Who is your Self and
Who can never sin.
Yet, I fight this concept at
times. I just don’t want to do it. Why? What do I have to give up to get this
kind of peace and serenity? Perhaps …
·
The joy of blaming
·
The fantasy of winning the lottery or achieving
fame and glory
·
The self-righteous superiority I feel when I
believe I’m right
·
The belief that my anger, fear and distrust are
justified because I see anger, fear and distrust (not understanding that I’m
just seeing what I’m projecting).
The Lesson goes on to instruct
me to go inward and bathe in the light and peace I find there. While at that
place, forgive someone I dislike and notice how the light of forgiveness
“splashes” onto me as well. Then do the same with someone I like.
So, I went to my “holy” place
within me and stood in front of the calmimg white light that I know is my True
Self. I have done this before, but – for the first time – I sensed a connection
with a Being – not just the Light and its Peacefulness. I also sensed He
communicated with me: I sensed Him smile.
I said, “Hello,”
He said, “I wait for you.”
I said, “What do you do?”
He said, “I am.” Again, He
smiled and said, “I wait for you.”
Then I smiled.
I noticed that in earlier lessons
and visits to this holy place in me, I remained something/someone different
than the bathed-in-Light-Self I encountered. But, for the first time I felt
like I and He were both face-to -face and alive. I know I am not finding the correct
words to use – but I wasn’t “alone” in front of Him. I was together “with” Him.
After this short meeting with my
Self, I promptly dozed off.
I still get goose-bumps when I
think of this. I found it very enjoyable. I was very relaxed.
I just wanted to share this experience
with you.
As I’ve stated before, “I have
to understand, on a visceral level, who the “Me” or “I” really is when I am
speaking or thinking. The “I” that says to myself, “I really need a newer, more
reliable car” is a different “I” than the one that says to Spirit, “I can’t do
this anymore; help me perceive things the way You see them.”
Although these messages are mostly for me,
thanks for listening to me and getting to know me – warts and all. As always,
feel free to forward this message to your friends, family, and those
accompanying you on your spiritual journey.
Don
#1 May 2017
Copyright
2017
