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TrueEmpathy
ExcerptsfromtheWorkshopheldatthe
FoundationforACOURSEINMIRACLES
TemeculaCA

KennethWapnick,Ph.D.

TheMetaphysicalBackgroundofEmpathy

Thethemeofthisworkshop,TrueEmpathy,isoneofseveralsubjectsthatallowustoseethetremendouspower
anddepthoftheCourse'steachings.Specifically,itallowsustorecognizealittlemoredeeplytheimportanceofthe
Course'smetaphysicsforunderstandingwhatforgivenessmeans.IfyoutakeawaytheCourse'smetaphysical
teachingsnamely,thatthewholeworldisanillusion,and,infact,thattheworldwasmadeasadefenseagainst
GodandadistractionagainsttheHolySpirit'spresenceinourmindsthen,basically,everythingthattheCourse
teachesonforgivenessfallsapart.Sointhisworkshopwewillbeginbylookingatthepurposeoftheworldandthe
body,andthenthepurposeofproblemsandsickness.Wewillspendagreatdealoftimetalkingaboutthedifference
betweentrueempathyandfalseempathytheHolySpirit'sjoining,whichreallyistheGreaterJoining,versuswhat
theegocallsjoining,whichiswhattheworldcallsconcern,pity,sympathy,compassion,andlove.

We'lllookatseveralsections,includingtheobviousone,"TrueEmpathy"(T16.I),andaseriesofthreesectionsin
Chapter28:"TheAgreementtoJoin,""TheGreaterJoining,"and"TheAlternatetoDreamsofFear"(T28.III,IV,V).
Thesesectionsdescribesicknessandhealingspecificallyintermsofseparationandjoiningcontrastingwhatthe
egocallsjoiningwithwhattheHolySpiritorJesusseeastruejoining.

I'llstartfirstbygoingthroughthechart(includedbelow)whichI'lldorelativelyquickly.We'llbeginwithGodand
Christ,WhoseperfectunityandOnenessiswhattheCoursereferstoas"Heaven."Thekeywordhereis"unity."In
asense,ourjoiningwitheachotherherethroughtheHolySpiritisareflectionoftheGreaterJoining,whichis
betweenGodandChrist.Andthatjoiningissocompleteandtotal,astheworkbookremindsusatonepoint,that
thereisnoplacewheretheFatherendsandtheSonbegins(WpI.132.12:4).Sothereisnodifferentiationatall.And
then,astheCourseexplains,"Intoeternity,whereallisone,therecreptatiny,madidea,atwhichtheSonofGod
rememberednottolaugh"(T27.VIII.6:2).Andthatmadideaistheseparation,whichisveryoftendescribedinthe
Courseasadream.Inreality,ofcourse,thisneverhappenedatall,butwebelievedithappened.Thisthenbecomes
thefirstexpressionofseparation,orthefirstsplit,becausenowtheSonofGodbelievesthattherearetwominds:
thereistheMindofChrist,ortheMindofGod,thathasbeenseparatedfromandthereiswhatwecouldthinkofas
thelittle"m"mindwhichissplitofffromthecapital"M"Mind.Ofthesetwo,onlyoneistrue:theMindofChrist.The
little"m"mind,whichwealmostalwaysrefertoastheego,isillusoryandneverreallyhappened.That'sthefirst
split.

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Whatfollowsharduponthatisthesecondsplit,wherebythesplitmindnowappearstobesplitaswellintothepart
thatconstitutesthevoiceoftheegoandthepartthatconstitutestheVoiceoftheHolySpirit.Andthenthereisthe
partofthesplitmindthatwe'llcallthedecisionmaker.That'sthepartoftheSonofGod'smindthathastochoose
betweenthesetwovoicesthevoiceoftheegoandtheVoiceoftheHolySpirit.Thevoiceoftheegospeaksforthe
seemingrealityofthedream,thattheseparationfromGodhastrulyhappened.TheHolySpiritspeaksforthe
unrealityofthedream,whichiswhattheCoursereferstoastheprincipleoftheAtonement,whichsaysthatthe
separationnevertrulyhappened.WecouldamplifythatandsaythatthethoughtofbeingseparatefromGodis
nothingmorethanasillydreamandnotonetobetakenseriouslyatall.Theego,ontheotherhand,takesallthis
veryseriously,becausetheegoisliterallythethoughtofthedream,thethoughtoftheseparation.Andthedecision
maker,ortheSonofGod,nowmustchoosebetweenthesetwovoices,whichmaketwoantitheticalstatements.

Continuingwiththisasifitwereamythorastory,weseetheegonowhasaseriousproblemonitshands.The
problemisthatiftheSonofGodturnstotheHolySpiritandlistenstoHisVoiceandrealizesthisisnothingbuta
dreamthatthe"tiny,madidea"issimplythat,amad(meaninginsane)ideathathasnoeffectatallthentheSon
willwakenfromthedreamandtheegowilldisappear,astheCourseexplains,backintothenothingnessfromwhich
itcame(M13.1:2).SotheegonowhastocomeupwithaplantoconvincetheSonofGodnottolistentotheHoly
Spiritbutrathertolistentoitself.

Theego'splanbasicallyistotelltheSonofGodastorythathasthreepartstoit,whichwecandenotebythewords
"sin,""guilt,"and"fear."Thepurposeofthestory,aswe'llsee,istoconvincehimnottolistentotheHolySpirit.And
sothestorybeginswiththeegotellingtheSonofGodthathehascommittedasinhehasdoneaterriblething.He
hastakentheLoveofhisFather,theLoveofhisCreator,andturnedhisbackonit,sayingtoGod,ineffect,"What
youhavegivenmeisnotenough,andIwantsomethingmorethaneverything."TheegotellstheSon,"Youhave
hurtyourFather'sfeelings.ByseparatingfromyourSourceyouhaverupturedtheunityofHeaven.Wheretherewas
onlyperfectOnenessbetweenGodandHisSon,nowthereisadivisionthereisnowasplit.Somethingterriblehas
happened."Andthatterriblethingiswhatwecall"sin."

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Fromsincomestheinevitableexperienceofguilt,wherebytheegotellstheSon,"Youshouldreallyfeelguiltyyou
shouldreallyfeelterriblebecauseofwhatyou'vedone,becauseyouhavestolenfromyourCreatorandyourSource.
WhatHehad,younowhave,andHenolongerhasit."Initsmostextremeformthisisourbeliefthatwehave
literallykilledGod.WehaveshatteredHeaven,andsoHeavennolongerexists.Whatnowexistsistheegoandits
thoughtsystemand,soontobe,aswe'llsee,itsworld.

Theegocontinuesitsstory,tellingtheSon,"WhatyouhavedonetoGodwassoawfulandsoterriblethatGodis
angry,andHeisnotgoingtotakethisstufflyingdown.Infact,Godwantstopunishyouandtakebackfromyou
whatyoustolefromHim."TheegoculminatesitsstorybytellingtheSonofGod:"Thepresenceofloveandlight
andAtonementinyourmindthatyoucalltheHolySpiritdon'tbelieveit.Yes,indeed,thatisGod'sVoice,butitis
notavoicethatspeaksofloveanddreaming.It'savoicethatspeaksofvengeanceandwrath."Thisistheoriginof
allthe"wrathofGod"passagesthatwefindintheBible,inboththeOldandNewTestaments.Theyhavetheirbirth,
notintheconsciousnessofthewritersofthesebooks,butinthatoriginalinstant.

Again,thebeliefisthattheHolySpiritnowisnolongerourfriendrather,Heistheenemy.Ineffect,theegochanges
theHolySpiritfromthepresenceoftheLoveofGodtotheepitomeofthewrathofGod.TheegocautionstheSonof
God,saying,"IfyoutaketheHolySpirit'shand,HewillnotleadyoufromthedreambacktoHeaven.Hewillleadyou
fromthedreamintoanevenworsedream,whichwillbeGod'sfuryandGod'swrathandGod'svengeanceandyou
willbedestroyed."TheSonofGodnowhasachoicetomakebetweenlisteningtotheegoortheHolySpirit.Ifhe
listenstotheHolySpirit,hetrustsHimandbelievesintherealityoflove,andthatlovecannotberejected,
abandoned,betrayed,orkilled.Ifhelistenstothevoiceoftheego,hebelievesjusttheopposite:thatlovecanbe
abandoned,betrayedandkilled,butlovewillhaveitsvengeance.Inanimportantthemewhichbecomescentralto
thewholeCourseteaching,theegotellstheSonofGodthatlovecrucifies,lovepersecutes,lovepursues,love
punishes,andlove,aboveall,kills.

AsweallknowbecauseotherwisenoneofuswouldbeheretodaytheSonofGodmakesthewrongchoiceand,
astheBiblesays,listenstotheliesoftheserpent,whichreallyaretheliesoftheego,andbelieveswhattheego
hastoldhim.TheSonofGodbuystheego'sstory,lock,stock,andbarrel.Andofcourseeachofusinour
seeminglyfragmentedorseparatedstateisasegmentorafragmentofthatoriginalSonofGod.Webeganasone
mind,andeventuallythatmindfragmentsoverandoverandoveragain.AstheCourseexplainsatonepoint,the
mindsubdividesoverandover(T18.I.4:3),similar,actually,towhathappensinwhatwecallmitosis,orcelldivision,
whereorganismsbeginasonecell,becometwocellsandfourcellsandeightcells,etc.,multiplyingoverandover
again.Thatisareplication,orreflection,ofwhatoriginallyhappenedinthemind:thatonethoughtoftheego,which
theSonofGodbelievesinandbecomes,fragmentsoverandoveragain.Soeachofuscarriesaroundwithusthat
originalthought.We'llseeinthecourseoftheworkshophowcentralthisideaisforunderstandingwhywedothe
kindsofthingswedowhywefeelsorryforpeopleandfeelcompassionandconcernforpeople.

SotheSonofGodturnstowardstheegoweturnourbackontheLoveoftheHolySpirit,becausewenowbelieve
theHolySpiritistheenemy.Welistentotheegoandnowthattheegohaswonusover,itcontinuesitsplan.The
egotellstheSonofGod,"Wehavearealproblemonourhands,theproblembeingthispresenceinthemindofthe
HolySpirit,Whoobviouslywillnotgoaway.IfwegonearHim,HewilldragusbacktoGod,andwe'llbedestroyed.
AndsowehavetodosomethingaboutthewrathofGod."WhattheegohasverycleverlydoneistoturntheLoveof
Godintoitsopposite,intothewrathofGod,whichwearetaughtweshouldbeafraidof.Intruth,theegoisreally
afraidofGod'sLove,becausethereisnowrathorvengeanceinGod,andinthepresenceofGod'sLovetheego
woulddisappear.Buttheegodoesn'ttellusthat.InsteadittellsusGodisnotLove,Godisvengeanceandfuryand
hatredandinsanity,etc.

Andsowebelievetheego,andthenwehaveaproblem.Theproblemis:What,now,dowedoinordertosurvive?To
theego,andtotheSonofGodwhonowidentifieswiththeego,themindhasbecomeabattlegroundinwhichwe
believethatweareatwarwithGod.Inreality,ofcourse,Goddoesn'tevenknowaboutthis.Everythingbelowthe
firstlineatthetopofthechartisoutsideHisMind,andthereforedoesnotexist.Butwithinthedreamwedobelieve
thatGodknowsabouttheseparationandisveryangry.

Wethenineffectgototheegoandsay:"Okay,Ibelievedyourstory,butnowwhatdoIdo?Youknow,thisdoesn't
helpmeallthatmuchbecauseIstillhavethismaniacalpresenceofvengeanceinmymind.Help!"Andtheego
says,"Ihaveawonderfulidea."TheegoexplainstotheSonofGodthatthereisnowaywecandefeatGodorthe
HolySpirit,because,afterall,thisisGod,andwe'reoutmatchedtotallyonthisbattleground.Butwecanleavethe
battleground,wecanleavethemind,andwecanhide.TheegoexplainstotheSonofGodthatwhenweleavethe
mindandhide,Godwillneverfindus.Sowesay:"Thatsoundslikeagreatidea.Whendowestart?"Andtheego
says,"Well,there'snotimelikethepresent."Sowedoitimmediately.BasicallytheegoistellingtheSonofGod
howtodefendhimselfagainstGod'swrath.Andtheego'sansweristoleavethemind.Thepsychologicaltermthat
wegivetothisdynamicoftakingsomethingwithinthemindandplacingitoutsidethemindis"projection."And,
therefore,whenitisthethoughtofseparationbeingprojectedfromthemind,itgivesrisetoaworldofseparation.
Thisbecomestheego'swayofdefendingagainstthewrathofGod.

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That'swhytheCourseexplainsinonepassagethattheworldbywhichtheCoursemeanstheentirephysical
universe,notjustthisplanet,notjusttheawfulthingsintheworld,buttheentirephysicaluniversewasmadeasan
attackonGod(WpI.3.2:1).Andfurtherdowninthesameparagraph:"TheworldwasmadetobeaplacewhereGod
couldenternot"(2:4).Remember,that'stheego'splan:tomakeaplacewherewecanhideandGodwillneverfind
us.Ifweremaininthemind,theegotellsus,theHolySpiritwillgetus,andwewillbedestroyed.Sothemind,then,
becomesaverydangerousplace.

Ineffect,theegotakesitsthoughtsystem,whichisathoughtsystemofsin,guilt,andfear,athoughtsystemof
separation,death,defense,andattack,andliterallytransfersitintotheworld,sothattheworldbecomessimplythe
reflection,ortheoutpicturing,ofwhatisinthemind.It'sanimagethatwe'lluseinthecourseoftheworkshop:What
weperceiveonamoviescreenwhenwesitinamovietheaterisnothingmorethantheprojectionofthefilmthatis
runningthroughthefilmprojector.Thefilmprojectorisrepresentativeofthemind,andthefilmrunningthroughthe
projectoristhefilmoftheegotheego'sstoryofsin,guilt,andfear.

Therefore,whatisrunningthroughtheprojectorisexactlywhatweperceiveonthescreen.Whatweperceiveonthe
screenisexactly,nomoreandnolessthanwhatisinthefilm.Everythingwebelieveweperceiveoutsideinthe
world,isnothingmorethantheoutpicturing,orprojectionofwhatiswithinthemind.

Theegonowtakesstepstoensurethatitsplanwillwork.Theveryfactthatthisworldseemstohavegoneonfor
billionsofyearsandwillprobablygoonforanevenlongerperiodoftime,alongwiththefactthatweallbelievewe
arehereandtakeourbeinginthebodyextremelyseriously,areproofofwhatacleverplanthisis,andhowcleverly
theegohasprotectedit.Andnowwe'llseeexactlyhowtheegohasdonethis.

First,oncetheworldismadeup,whichmeansoncethethoughthasbeenprojectedfromthemind,theegocausesa
veiltofallacrossthemindsothatweforgetwhatwe'vedonewe'llcallthattheveilofdenialorforgetfulness.We
nowliterallyforgetwhatwehavemade,whichmeansweforgetwheretheworldcamefrom.Weforgetthattheworld
isnothingmorethanaprojectionofwhatisinthemind,nomorerealthanthecharactersthatweperceiveonthe
moviescreen.Weallknow,whenwearenotidentifiedwithorreallyapartofthefilmthatwe'rewatching,thatthere
arenolivepeopleonthescreen.Weknowthatit'sallmakebelieveit'sanillusion.It'salldonewithlightsand
shadows,etc.Similarly,thisentireworldisthatway.However,onceweforgetwheretheworldcamefrombecauseof
thisveilofdenial,theworldnowappearstobeindependentandexternaltothemindwhichmadeitandprojectedit
out.So,astheCourseexplainsinseveralpassages,especiallywhenitdiscussesguilt,webelievethatwhatwe
haveprojectedoutisoutside(T20.VIII.9:6T26.VII.4:912:2).Butwhatisprojectedneverleavesthemind,asthe
Courseexplainsinaveryimportantprinciple:Ideasdonotleavetheirsource(T26.VII.4:7W
pI.132.5:3156.1:3167.3:6).Theworldisanidea,andithasneverleftitssourcewhichisinthemind,justasChrist
isanIdeaintheMindofGod,andChristhasneverleftHisSourceintheMind.But,becauseofthisveil,theworld
nowappearsasifitisseparatefromthemind.

Thecrowningachievementoftheegothoughtsystemisthatitmakesabody.Thebody,whichisregulatedbythe
brainwe'lltalkalittlemorelateraboutthebrainnowbecomeswhatwebelieveweare.Itisthebody,whichhas
beeninstructed,conditioned,trainedandprogrammedbythemind,whichtellsusthereisindeedaworldoutsideus.
Thereasonwearesosurethereisaworldinwhichwefeelandtouch,andinwhichwestudy,aworldintowhichwe
werebornandwhichwewillleavewhenwedie,thereasonwebelieveallthisisthebody.Thebodyisoperatedbya
brainwhichgivesmessagestooursensoryapparatuswhichbringsbacktothebrainthemessagesthemindhas
askedforwhichspeakoftheworldasbeingreal.Thebraintheninterpretsitforus,andwebelievethatallthisis
exactlywhatrealityis.We'lllookalittlelateratsomepassageswhichtalkaboutthisspecifically.Again,keepin
mindalwayswhattheego'sfundamentalpurposeistoescapefromtheLoveofGod.TheLoveofGodisthereal
threat.TheLoveofGodcanalsobeunderstoodandthiswillbecomeimportantforthethemeofthisworkshopas
analogoustothatjoiningofGodandChrist,becausetheAtonementsaysthattheperfectOnenessofGodandChrist
hasneverbeenseparatedordivided.

Thereisawonderfulpassageinthetextthatreferstotimeas"atinytick"(T26.V.3:5).Itsaysthattickoftimewas
sotinyandinsignificantthat"notonenoteinHeaven'ssongwasmissed"(T26.V.5:4).Everythingthathasseemed
tohappensincethattiny,madideahashadnoeffectwhatsoeveronHeaven.Heavendoesn'tevenknowaboutit.
"NotonenoteinHeaven'ssongwasmissed."TheperfectunityandOnenessofGodandChristhasneverbeen
shattered.WehaveneverleftourFather'shouse.The"songofprayer"thatthepamphletspeaksabout,thatthe
FathersingstotheSonandtheSonsingstotheFather(S1.In.1:2),hasneverbeeninterruptedandhasnever
changed.Sowecanputintheword"joining"here(seechart:HolySpirit).TheHolySpirit,then,becomesthe
reminder,orthereflection,ofthejoiningofGodandChrist,theFatherandtheSon,thathasnever,never,ever
stopped,thathasneverbeenseveredordisturbed.

Theegoisthethoughtputtheword"separation"here(seechart:ego)thatthejoininghasindeedbeendisrupted,
infact,notonlydisrupted,ithasbeendestroyedandthattheFatherandtheSonwillbeforeverseparatedand
foreveratoddswithoneanother.Anotherwayofunderstandingtheoriginalseparation,whichisthecoreofthis
thoughtsystemisthatoncetheSonofGodbelievedthathewasseparatefromGod,heperceivedadifference.In

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otherwords,GodandChristwerenolongeraperfectunitynowtherewastheFatherandtheSon,andtherewasa
differencebetweenthem.

Now,inrealitythereisalwaysadifference,becauseGodistheCreatorandtheSource,andChrist,HisSon,isthe
createdortheEffect.GodistheFirstCauseandHisEffectistheSon.However,inthestateofHeaven,Christdoes
nothaveaseparatedconsciousnessthatcanstepbackandexperienceHimselfasseparatefromthe
consciousnessofHisCreator.Inotherwords,Theyareperfectlyone.ThereisnoplacewheretheFatherendsand
theSonbegins,torepeatapassagequotedearlier(WpI.132.12:4).Thereisnostateofdualityconsciousnessin
Heaven.ThereisonlytheperfectonenessofGodandChrist,andsothereisnosenseofbeingseparateand
thereforenoconsciousnessthatcouldobserveadifference.

Itisonlywhenthedreambeginsandtheseparationthoughthasbeguntoweaveitsmagicanditspoisonhas
infiltratedthemind,thattheseparationbecomesreal,whichautomaticallyleadstotheideathatthereisadifference
betweenGodandHisSon.GodistheCreator,thePrimeCreator,theFirstCause,theSourceandChrist,orthe
Son,isasecondclasscitizen,theEffect.Thatleadstotheideaofjudgment,becausetheSonlooksatthe
difference,makesajudgmentaboutit,andsays,"WhatGodhasisgood,andwhatIhaveisbad.GodisfirstandI
amsecond,andthat'snotfair."Thesethreetermsreallyarebasicallyoneandthesame.I'mtalkingaboutthemasif
theyweresequenced,butobviouslytheyareallpartofthesamephenomenon.Sotheseparationleadstotheidea
thatthereisadifference.Thedifferenceisimmediatelyjudged,andtheSonnowbelievesthathehasbeenunfairly
treated."It'snotfairthatGodistheAuthority,thatGodistheCause,thatGodisincharge.Iwanttobeincharge.I
coulddoabetterjobthanGod."Thisisthejudgmentwhichformsthecoreoftheauthorityproblem(T3.VI)that's
anotherworkshop.Butit'stheideathatwe'reincompetitionwithourCreator,whichinthisworldautomaticallyleads
tocompetitionwithourparents,ouroldersiblings,ourteachers,ourtherapists,ourbosses,ourfriends,ourspouses,
ourchildren,andonandonandon.Itallcomesfromthejudgment,"IcoulddoitbetterwhatGodhasdoneisnot
fair."Andthatjustifies,fromtheego'spointofview,takingfromGodwhattheego,ortheseparatedSon,believes
wasalwayshis.Inotherwords,inthearroganceandinsanityoftheSonofGod'smind,hebelievesthathebeganas
topdoghebeganasGod.ButGodstolefromhim,andsonowheisjustifiedinstealingbackfromGod.That
judgmentautomaticallyleadstothefinalidea,whichisattack.We'retalkinghereabouttheego'sjudgments,notthe
HolySpirit'sjudgmentthateverythingisanexpressionofloveoracallforitthat'satotallydifferentidea.Theego
alwaysjudgesintermsofsomeonebeingbetterorworsethananother.

We'llseelateronintheworkshopthatoneofthemostviciouswaystheegojudgesandattacks,undertheguiseof
beingloving,involvestheideaofsickness:SomeoneissickandIamnotsomeoneisintroubleandIamnot
someoneisoppressedandIamnot,andI'mgoingtodosomethingaboutit.We'llseethatwhattheworldcallslove,
concern,pity,andcompassionisjusttheopposite.Thereisalineinthetextthatsays"Whatisnotloveismurder"
(T23.IV.1:10).TheCourseexplainsthatnoneofwhatwecallcaringandsympathyandconcernisloving.And
thereforeitisaconcealeddesiretokill.We'llgetbacktothislater.Thisisjustalittleofthecomingattractions.

Soonceweperceiveseparationweareseeingdifferences.Differencesautomaticallyleadtojudgment,andjudgment
isalwaysattack.TheSonofGodviewingGodasdifferentfromhimandhavingsomethinghedoesn'thave
constitutesanattack.Thereisanger:"Ihavenotbeentreatedfairly."Whatthenautomaticallyfollowsisthebehavior
ofattack.Inourstory,intheoriginalmyth,theSonnowbelieveshecanstealfromGodwhathefeelsjustifiedin
takingbecauseitwasoriginallyhis.Sin,then,isequatedultimatelywithattack.Wecansee,justbythinkingbriefly
aboutit,thatourentireworldherebecomestheexpressioninformofseparation,difference,judgment,andattack.
Everysinglethingwedohereisanexpressionofseparation,difference,judgment,andattack.We'llseelateronhow
sicknessfallsvery,verynicelyintothat.Infact,that'swhytheegomadesickness.

We'rebacktotheculminationoftheego'splot,whichbasicallyisaplotorwaragainstGod,inwhichtheego
believesitcandoanendrunaroundHim,becausethere'snowaythatitcandefeatGodandgorightupthemiddle.
Instead,theegosneaksaroundsoGodhopefullywillneverfindit,andmakesupaworldprojectedoutsidethemind
inwhichitcanhide,becausetheHolySpiritisinthemind,notinthebodyandtheworld.

TheegohaspersuadedtheSonofGodtoidentifywithathoughtsystemofsin,guilt,andfearthatculminatesin
sheerterroratthethoughtofconfrontingtheLoveofGod,whichleadstheSonofGodveryquicklytobecomethe
ego.It'snolongerthattheSonofGodhassimplylistenedtothevoiceoftheego.Henowhasidentifiedtotallywith
thevoiceoftheego,whichmeans,forallintentsandpurposes,theHolySpirithasbeenobliteratedfromhismind.
AstheCourseexplains,theLoveofGodcanneverreallybeobliteratedfromthemind,butitcertainlycanbehidden,
andthat'swhatthisthoughtsystemandtheworlddo.That'swhywespeakoftheworldas"ahidingplace."It
becomesadistractionorasmokescreen,itspurposebeingtodistracttheSonofGod'sattentionfromwherethe
problemis.Theegotellshimtheproblemisinthemind,theproblembeingtheHolySpirit.Whattheego,ofcourse,
nevertellstheSonofGodisthattheproblemisnottheHolySpirittheproblemiswiththedecisionmakingpartof
hismind.ThemomentthatheturnsbacktowardstheHolySpirittheproblemends.Ratherthanhavethathappen,
becauseifithappenstheegoisfinished,theegoagaintellsitsstoryandpersuadestheSonofGodtodistract
himself.(That'swhatthearrowinthechartrepresents.).Hisattentionnowleaveshismindandgoesintotheworld.

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ThisisonewayofunderstandingthelineearlyinthetextwhereJesussaysthat"youaremuchtootolerantofmind
wandering"(T2.VI.4:6).Basically,intheultimatesense,ourattentionhaswanderedfromthemindoutintotheworld.
Oncethathashappened,weforgetwherewecamefrom.That'swhytheveilofdenialissoimportantitcausesus
toforgetwherewecamefrom.Nowweactuallybelieveweareabodywithabrain.Forallintentsandpurposeswe
havebecomemindless,whichistheego'sultimatepurpose.Inresponse,theultimatepurposeoftheCourseisto
haveusrediscoverthepowerofthemind,becauseonlywithinthemindcanwefindsalvation.Salvationdoesnotlie
withtheHolySpiritsalvationdoesnotliewithGod.SalvationlieswiththepowerofthemindtochoosetheHoly
Spirit.ThepowerofchoiceisthecentralteachingoftheCourse.Theegohastaughtusthatwehavenochoice,that
wehavebecometheegoandthereisnolongeranyalternative.

That'sthemeaningofthesection,"TheAlternatetoDreamsofFear,"thatwe'lllookatlateronintheworkshop.It
saysatonepoint,"GodistheAlternatetodreamsoffear"(T28.V.1:6).Theegohastoldusthereisnoalternateto
thedreamoffear.Wearethedreamoffear.Theegohasthentransferredthedreamoffearfromthemindtothe
body.Again,asImentionedearlierintermsofthefilmandwhatweseeprojectedonthescreen,whatwasinthe
mindwhichhasnowbeensplitoffbecomesdepositedinthebody.Andsothethoughtsystemofsin,guilt,andfear
thethoughtsofseparation,difference,judgment,andattackallhavebecomepartoftheprogrammingofthebrain
andthebodyinfact,ofthewholeworld.Sotheworldisanexactmirrorofwhatiswithinthemind,exceptwehave
forgottenthatitissimplythereflection,andwe'vetakenthereflectionforthereality.

YoumightsaytheCourseisaskingustoquestionthemostbasicexperiencethatIamasubjectandthatobjects
outsidemeaffectmethroughmysensoryorgans.Theegohasbeensoskillfulinthisthatsomeofthemostbrilliant
brainsthroughouthistoryhavespeculatedandtheorized,theologized,philosophized,andmeditatedonthebody,the
senses,thebrainandtheworld,whatweperceiveandwhatwedon'tperceive,havingnoideathatnoneofthisis
real,thateverythingisaprojectionofthemind.It'slikeadogchasingitsowntailitneverendsanywhere,whichis
whynobodyunderstandsanything.Theworldwasmadenottobeunderstood.Theonlythingthat'sunderstandable
abouttheworldisthatthere'snowayitcanbeunderstood.Theentirephysicaluniverseeverythingaboutthebody
andthebrainwasliterallymadeupbytheegotodistractusfromtherealproblem,thatwemadethewrongchoice.

Theegomadeupthesensoryworldanditmadeupabrainandabodywhichperceiveandinterpretthesensory
worldandreacttoitasifitwerereallythere.Lesson92intheworkbookmakesthispointveryclearlywe'llbegoing
throughthislessoninalittlewhile,asitservesasanintroductiontowhatwewillbecoveringinthisworkshop.

Thebrainiswhattheegotellsuswereallyare.Thebrainiswithinthebody,verymuchapartofthephysicalworld.
Thefunctioningofthebrainiswhatmostpeopletodayrefertoasthemind.Allthishasabsolutelynothing
whatsoevertodowiththeminditself.Agoodanalogyisapuppeteerandthepuppets,withthepuppeteerabovethe
stage.Let'ssaythatthepuppetsaremarionettes,whichmeansthattheyhavestrings,andthepuppeteerisontopof
thestagehe'snotvisible.Hepullsthestringsoftheselifelesspiecesofwoodthathavebeenpaintedanddressed
uptobepuppets.Thepuppetshavenolifetothemtheycannotseetheycannotheartheycannottastethey
cannotfeeltheycannotlivetheycannotdie.Butifthepuppetshowisagoodoneandthepuppeteerisskillful,he
canfoolpeople,especiallyyoungpeoplelittlechildren.Butthepuppeteerisnotinthepuppetthepuppetistotally
separatefromthemind.

Anotheranalogyisacomputer,whichistotallylifeless,totallydumb.Itcannotthink.Butoncethecomputerhas
beenprogrammedbyaprogrammerwhowritesaprogramandtellsthecomputerhowtothink,thenthecomputer
doesallkindsofveryimpressivethings.Theprogrammerisnotinthecomputer.Themindisnotinthebrain.The
mind,aswe'llseeinjustaminute,tellsthebodyandthebrainwhattodo.Andwhatdoesittellthebodyandbrainto
do?Ittellsthemtomaketheworldreal.

Remember,themind,orthedecisionmaker,whichhasnowbecometotallyidentifiedwiththeego,tellsthebodyto
followtheego'spurpose,whichistohaveaworldthatwilldistractusanddefendusagainstGod.Theegoconvinces
usthatwearethisbodyandthisworldisourhome.Itisthemindthathasprogrammedthebodyandthebrainto
believethatthereisindeedabodyandabrain,andthatthereareotherbodiesoutsideitself.Sotheworldisthe
reflection,ortheoutpicturing,ofthisthoughtsystemthattheegohastoldtheSonofGodisreality.Wehavesinned
againstGodandweareguilty.WeareterrifiedofGod'swrath,andthisterrorcanonlybeappeasedbyrunningaway
fromit,byhidingandmakingupaworld.Inotherwords,weagreedwiththeegoandvowedandpromisedtheego
thatwewouldneverlookatwhatisinthemind.Weagreedtolettheworldbeadistractionandsotheworldthen
becamethecover,andweforgotthatwemadeitup.Wecertainlyhaveforgottenwhywemadeuptheworld.Allwe
knowistheworldandthebody.

Oncetheegohasuswhereitwantsus,believingtheseparationisreal,feelingsofguiltandterroroverGod's
punishmentautomaticallyfollow.Theseinevitablyleadtotheneedtohaveadefenseinordertokeepourselves
alive.Theworldbecomesthatdefenseandthebodybecomesourindividualexperienceoftheworldandthe
separated,sinful,guilty,fearful,limitedselfbecomesensconcedinthebody.Andsothebodybecomeslimited,
separated,fragmented,sinful,guilty,fearful,etc.

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Theultimatethoughtoftheegoisdeath,whichmeansthat'stheultimatefateofeveryonehereintheworld.The
ego'sidea,whichtheCourseatonepointsummarizesas"killorbekilled"(M17.7:11),hasitsoriginintheego's
battleagainstGod.It'soneortheothereitherIliveorGodlives.Butwebothcannotlivesimultaneously,becauseat
thispointwerepresentmutuallyexclusiveideas.GodisthethoughtofperfectOnenesstheegoisthethoughtof
perfectseparation.Theycan'tcoexist,soit'soneortheother.Sincedeathistheultimatepurposeoftheegothat
wantstotriumphoverGodanddestroyHim,theultimateconsequencetothoseofuswhobelieveweareinthis
worldisdeath.

Inanticipationofwhatwewilldiscussmoreindepthlater,Iwilljustbrieflymentionherethatitisthemiraclethat
leadsusoutoftheegothoughtsystemandundoesthewholeplanoftheego.Themiraclerepresentsthedynamicof
returningourattentiontothemind.Theegoprojecteditselffromthemindandputtheproblemofthemind,whichis
theproblemofseparationfromGod,intotheworld.Themiraclebringsusbacktothemind.Themiracle
forgivenessisthesamethingsaystheproblemisnotintheworldtheproblemisbackwithinthemind.We'llget
backtothatlater.

Oncetheegohasmadeuptheworldandabody,itsplanistodistractuscontinually,sowewillcontinuetobelieve
thattheworldandthebodyarereal.Oneoftheego'sfavoritewaystodothisistomakeupproblems.Andproblems
willalwaysinvolvethebody,whetherwe'retalkingaboutthephysicalbodyorthepsychologicalbody.Ourentire
experienceinthisworld,inthebody,consistsofsolvingproblems.Therearetheverybasicproblemsinherentto
beinginabody:IhavetofeedthebodyIhavetoprotectitagainsttheelementsIhavetorestitIalwayshaveto
seetoitthatIhaveoxygensoIcanbreathe.Theseareproblemsthateverylivingthing,orwhatwecallliving,has
tocopewithandsolve.Thesearethekindsofgeneralizedproblemseveryonehas.

Andthenweallhaveourindividualexpressionsofthese,allthelittlethingsthatareproblemstous:we'renothappy
unlesswehaveacertaincolorclothes,orliveinacertainplace,orhaveacertainkindoffoodtoeat,orcanbewith
certainkindsofpeople,etc.Theegomakesupproblemsthatallhavetodowiththebody,andthenwehavetosolve
them.Theybasicallyallfallunderthecategoryofspecialrelationships,allthedifferentwaysthatwesolveour
problems.Whenwefeelaproblemhasbeensolved,wecallthatpleasure.Whenwefeelaproblemhasnotbeen
solved,wecallthatpain.That'swhyatonepointJesustellsusintheCoursethatwereallybelievethereisa
differencebetweenpleasureandpain(T27.VIII.1:8).Forexample,ifIhaveaproblemoflonelinessandthenIfind
somebodytosharemyspacewithme,physicallyorpsychologically,I'mnolongerlonelyandIcallthatpleasurable.
IfmybodydemandsacertainkindofgratificationorsensationandIgetit,that'spleasure.Theabsenceofthisof
coursewouldbepain.Wecouldgoonandon,butIthinkyouhavethecentralpoint.

Oneofthespecificwaysthattheegodealswithproblemsandpainissickness,whichwe'llspendalotoftime
discussing.Theimportantworkbooklesson,"Sicknessisadefenseagainstthetruth,"discusseshowtheego,when
itbecomesafraidoftruth,seekstodefenditselfagainstitbychoosingsicknessandsuffering.Iftruthissome
aspectofspirit,ifloveissomeaspectofspirit,ifhealingissomeaspectofspirit,etc.,andthat'swhattheegois
afraidof,thenitcausesustorushrightbackintothebody.Sicknessandsufferingofcoursedothatveryeffectively.
SicknessworksjustaseffectivelywhetherIbelieveI'mtheonewho'ssick,orIbelievesomeoneelseissick.
Dynamically,theyareexactlythesame,whetherIidentifywithyourpainandsuffering,orIfeelitinmyself.It
doesn'tmatter,becauseeitherwaythebodyandsufferinghavebeenmadereal,whichtheegointerpretsas
punishmentfromGod.Allsufferingthatthebodyexperiences,whetherwepersonallyexperienceitorotherpeople
experienceitandweidentifywithit,theegointerpretsasproofthatGodhasbrokenthroughourdefenses,foundus
outandisnowgoingtotakebackwhatwestolefromHim.UltimatelywhatwestolefromHimistheabilityto
"create"life,tobealive.WhatwestolefromGodHelacksandwehave,andwehavehiddenitinthebody,as"The
LawsofChaos"sectionexplains(T23.II).WebelievethatwehaveusurpedGod'splaceasCreator,placing
ourselvesuponHisthroneandthatwenowcreatelife.Whatinus"creates"life?It'sthebody.Sothebodybecomes
thesymbolofGod.That'swhyeveryonehasconflictsaroundsex,becausesexultimatelyforusisthethought:I
havedoneitIhavestolenfromGodandIcancreatewithwhatIstolefromHim.WhatIstolefromGodisinmy
body,andIbelieveGodisgoingtobreakthroughthefortress,whichistheworldandthebody,andstealfromme
whatItookfromHim.IfHestealslifefrommybody,whatdoesthatmean?ItmeansthatIdie,becausenowHehas
lifeandIdon't.AndifIdon'thavelife,well,that'sthedefinitionofdeath!

TheAdamandEvemythgivesawonderfulaccountofthis,whichiswhythatmythissoimportantinWestern
thought.Inthemyth,whenGodcatchesupwithAdamandEveintheGardenandconfrontsthemwiththeirsin
againstHim,Hepunishesthem,whichisexactlywhattheegotellsusHewilldo.AndthepunishmentthatGod
givestoAdamandEveisthattheywillbeborninpain,sufferalloftheirlives,andthendie.That'stheultimateproof
thatourdefensesagainstGodhavenotworked.OurdeathprovesthatintheendGodisgoingtogetbackwhatwe
tookfromHim.Hewillenduphavinglifeandwewilldie.

That'swhypeoplearesocrazyabouttryingtoprolonglife:sothatwewilllivelongerandlonger.CertainNewAge
systemsteachthatlifeiseternal,andthatit'spossibletostayinthebodyforever.That'stheegotalking:"WhatI've
takenfromGodHe'llnevergetbackfromme.We'llfindthefountainofyouth.We'llliveinsuchawaythatwewill
stayhere."FromthepointofviewoftheCourse,that'sabsoluteinsanity.Whowouldeverwanttostayinthisworld
orthisbody?Ourhomeisnothere.OurhomeisinHeaven.It'stheegothat'sinsane,thatactuallybelievesit'sbetter
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offbybeingaliveinthebody.Iftheegoconvincesusthatweliveinthebody,thentheego'sreallife,whichisthe
thoughtinthemind,nevergetslookedat.Ifitnevergetslookedat,thenitnevergetschanged.Butthat'swhatweall
do.Theegomakesupproblemsofsickness,suffering,anddeath,andthenwetrytosolvetheproblemsof
sickness,suffering,anddeath.Wefeelsorryforpeoplewhoaresickordying.Asasociety,weexpendtremendous
effortandlargesumsofmoney,tryingtofindthecausesofdiseases.Andnosoonerdowesolveonediseasethan
anotheronecomesup.Thenwesolvethatoneandanotheronecomesup.Itjustkeepsgoingonandonandon.
That'sexactlywhattheegodoes.Andweneverstoptothinkthatmaybethiswholethingisacharade.Maybethis
wholethingismadeup.

That'swhy,togetalittleaheadofourselves,whenweidentifywithpeoplewhoaresick(whattheCourseregardsas
falseempathy),andwanttohelpthem,whatwearereallydoingisfallingintotheego'strap.Thereisnoonewhois
sick,justasapuppetonastageisnotsick.Allthepuppetdoesisactoutwhatthepuppeteerhasitdo.Whatis
sickisthedecisionmakerwhobelievedtheegowastellingthetruthandtheHolySpiritwasaliar.Thatiswhatis
sick.Infact,thatistheonlysicknessthatwemadethewrongchoice.Aswe'llseelaterintheworkshop,the
miracleenablesustoreconsiderthedecision.Themiracletellsusthereisindeedanotherchoice.It'snotthatthere
isonlyonechoicetheegoandthat'sit.We'renowabletoseetherereallyisanotherchoicethere'sanother
thoughtsystem.Thereisanotherpresenceinthemindthatwecanchoose.BecausewehaveforgottenthattheHoly
Spiritisinthemind,thewholepurposeofthemiracleistoremindus.

Jesus'wholepurposeincomingintotheworldwastotellusthereisanotheralternative.GodisnotwrathfulGodis
notangry.Godisloving.BecauseJesusrepresentedthealternativetothedreamoffear,whatdidthefiguresinthis
dreamhavetodo?Theyhadtokillhim.Hewastherepresentativeinthisdreamworldofwhatitmeanstobea
totallylivingandlovingpresenceofGod.Sothefiguresinthisdreamoffearhadtoswallowhimupanddestroyhim,
becausehemeanttheendofthedream.NotonlydidJesushavetobekilled,buthisteachingandhismessagehad
tobekilledaswell.That'swhyintheCoursewegetanotherchancetolookatwhatJesusreallytaught.

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