HealingThroughSpiritual Understanding

Workbookforlevel5oftheHealingJourney
HJ5A:ANewEarthbyEckhartTolle HJ5B:ACourseinMiracles AlastairJCunningham,O.C.,Ph.D.,C.Psych.


HealingThroughSpiritualUnderstanding
WorkbookforLevel5oftheHealingJourney INTRODUCTION SelfhealingisaboutansweringthequestionWhoorwhatamI?atdeeperanddeeper levels.Itistheprocessoffindingouridentityinrelationtootherpeople,theworld,and ultimatelytoourspiritualground,sothatwecanbecomeourtrueselves,inharmonywithall aroundus.Itisalifelongquest,seldomcompleted,butapathalongwhichevenalittle progresscanmakeanenormousdifferencetomentalandphysicalhealth. Table1(attheendofthisintroduction)showstheunderstandingthatwehopetoreach atthedifferentlevelsoftheHealingJourneyprogram.Levels1and2aredevotedtofindingout whatourmindscandotoimproveourqualityoflife,ourexperience.Welearnsomebasic techniques:relaxation,imaging,thoughtwatchingandchanging,goalsetting,journaling, consultinganInnerHealer,andweintroducemeditation.Level3increasestheintensityofthe workbyinvitingparticipantstoexamineanddiminishsomeofthemajorblockstomental harmonyandspiritualexperience,notablyourtendencytojudgeothersandourselves,tofeel guilty,andtoprojectthisguilt.AtthislevelwealsointroduceideasaboutGod/theDivine,and pursuemeditationfurther.Level4consolidatesthislearning:itisabriefselfstudycourse, buildingontheforegoinglevels,andaimedatstrengtheningthoseattributesofourselvesthat havebeenshowninresearchstudies(byourgroupandothers)topromotelongevityinpeople withseriouscancers.Wehavedescribedtheseattitudesasauthenticity,autonomyand acceptance,meaningtheabilitytodefineandpursuewhatisimportantandfulfillinginlife, withoutselfcriticism,andtheacceptanceandpeacethatcomeswiththis. Therationaleandpracticesofthesefirst4levelsallremainlargelywithinthe boundariesofconventionalpsychology,exceptforagreaterthanusualemphasisonthe spiritualdimension.Thebenefitsoftheirapproacharewelldocumentedbyresearchand clinicalexperience.Level5,however,goesbeyondtheconventional.Itisforthosewillingto pursuehealingtoitsultimatedegree,andtoaskWhoorwhatamI?inaspiritualsense.It aimstobringustoawarenessofouressentialspiritualbeing,andtomoveusawayfromour usualsenseofbeingonlyamaterialbody,separatefromeverythingelse.Thevariouswisdom traditionsorspiritualsystems(andallmajorreligionshavethismysticalside)offeravarietyof waystohelppeoplefindthemselves.Wediscussedthisbrieflyinlevel3:majorroutesare throughdevotion(totheDivine),selflessservice,meditation,andunderstanding.Thefirsttwo arelargelyunfamiliartomostwesterners.Meditationisbecomingmoreaccepted,andcantake practitionerstoarealizationoftheirtrueselfasthinkingdropsaway.However,thisrequiresan intensityofpracticeandtime(manyyears)thatveryfewcandevotetoit.Ithereforepreferto 2

seemeditationasoneofanumberoftechniquesthatpeoplecanuseforhealing,andto emphasiseasacentralapproach,theacquiringofunderstandingabouttheself.Learningto understandourtruenatureusesthepartofourselvesthatismosthighlydeveloped,our reasoningfaculties,andcanleadtorapidprogress. Whatdoesitmean,tolearntounderstandourtruenature?Dontweknowitalready? Arewenotbodies,withabraindependentmind,existinginaworldofsolidmaterialobjects governedbyphysicallaws?Thatofcourseistheconventionalview,although100yearsof researchinphysicshaveshownusthatourusualideasofphysicalrealityareincorrect.Tothe mystics,too,thecommonviewhasalwaysbeenerroneous,andabarriertoknowingwhowe trulyare.Throughtheirvariouspractices,thesemenandwomenhave,throughouthistoryand inmanycultures,arrivedatatotallydifferentview:thatwearenotmaterialbutultimately spiritualbeings,allconnectedorallOne,immortal,invulnerable,experiencingonlyjoyand love,butengagedinsomekindofapparentshadowplayonthisEarth,wherepainand sufferingarethepredominantexperience.Perhapsmostofushavehadaninstantortwo, maybemore,ofexperienceofthis,ofthescalesdroppingfromoureyes,andsensingour onenessorwholenessforawhile,thenunfortunatelyfallingbackintothepainfulmundaneway thatconstitutesourordinarybeing.Toexperiencethisonenessistoheal;ithealsmentally,and almostcertainlymakesphysicalhealingmorelikely(althoughscientificdataonthisislacking). Level5addressesthelofty,andonecouldsaysacred,taskofhelpingpeoplewithserious diseasetomovetowardsthiskindofspiritualexperienceastheirregularwayofbeing.Thismay promotephysicalhealing,butwhetherornotitdoesso,thestateofthebodywillcometo seemmuchlessimportant,andthedeathofthebodywillnolongerbeseenastheend. 3

Table1:Healingasaprogressive,stepwiseprocessunderstandingreachedthroughthe5 LevelsoftheHealingJourney. LevelofHJ Understandingreachedafterthis MainIdeasandtechniqueslearnedat course level thislevel Before Myhealthandfatearedetermined Littleislearnedwithoutdeliberatestudy course bycircumstancesoutsidemycontrol andpractice. 1 Icanexertsomecontrolovermy Basicselfhelptechniques:body healing awareness,awarenessofthought streamandimagery 2 Icreatemyownexperience,andcan Meditation,imaging,journaling,setting influencemyhealthsubstantially. goalsandconsultinginnerwisdom. Takingdeliberatecontrolofmylife 3 Ihavesetup,andcandismantle Awarenessofblockstoauthenticity blockstotheexperienceofmy andspiritualconnection,and authenticself,includingjudgment, diminishingthese. projection,andguilt. 4 IknownowhowIwanttolive,andI Exploringandexpressingmyauthentic feelfreetochoosethat.Ibeginto self.Learningtoacceptratherthan sensethatIampartofalargerorder. judge.Beginningtoconnectwithmy spiritualorhigherSelf. 5 Myessentialnatureisnotmaterial:I StudyofACIM.Spiritualconnection ampartoftheDivineMind. greatlystrengthened,with(some) surrenderoftheseparateagenda. Choosingaguide: Whatguidestounderstandingdowehave?Oneoftheblessingsofmodernwestern civilizationisthatitmakesreadilyavailablethewritingsofspiritualsagesfrommanycultures andhistoricalperiods.AnyNewAgebookstoreisrepletewithtextsthediversitycanbe bewildering.Itisimportanttomakeadistinction,firstofall,betweentextswhicharesimply descriptionsofspiritualtraditions,andthestatementsofthegreatspiritualleadersthemselves; toputitbluntly,distinguishbetweenthemastersandthecommentators.Thewritingsofthe lattercanbeaveryusefulintroductiontospiritualideas,butforthemostauthenticand inspiringreadingweneedtogotothesourcesthemselves,tothoseremarkableindividualswho haveachievedalastingexperienceoftheironenesswiththeDivine. Themajorreligions,e.g.Christianity,Hinduism,Judaism,BuddhismandIslam,allhave theirsaintsandsages,andthosewhobelongtooneofthesereligionscanbenefitfromseeking 4

outthewritingsofthesehistoricalfigures:forChristians,thismightmeanreadingTeresaof Avila,StJohnoftheCross,orMeisterEkhardt,forexample.Alotoftheseolderworksare, however,ratherobscuretothemodernmind.Itwouldmakeourtaskeasierifguidescouldbe foundwhohavewrittenincontemporaryterms,andinmodernlanguages.Fortunatelywedo haveasmallnumberofhighlyevolvedmodernguides;someexampleswithwhomIam familiar:EknathEaswaran,EckhartTolle,Yogananda,SivanandaRadha,Krishnamurti,andthe authorofACourseinMiracles. Forlevel5oftheHealingJourneyIhavechosentextswrittenbytwooftheseauthors: EckhartTollesANewEarth,andACourseinMiracles(ACIM).Theycanbeseenasalternate orcomplementaryreadingsforlevel5;Ivelabeledthem5Aand5B.ANewEarth(5A)is muchthesimplerofthetwo,andshouldbereadilyunderstandabletoanyonewhohas completedHJlevels13.ACourseinMiracles(5B)isamoredetailedandprofoundtext, requiringmoreintensestudy.Thebenefitstobegainedfromeacharenotnecessarilyrelated toeaseofreading.InthisworkbookIfirstsetoutaseriesofexercisesbasedonTollesbook, andthenasimilarseriesonACIM.Thechoicewilldependonthesettinginwhichlevel5is carriedout,andonthepreferencesofindividualstudents.

HJ5A:ANewEarthbyEckhartTolle.
TolleisacontemporaryGermanCanadianauthor(livinginVancouver)whohada suddenenlightenmentexperienceatage29(whichhedescribesinhisearlierbookThePower ofNow).Thisledhimtoaprolongedperiodofstudyandpractice,andultimatelytohis presentroleasamuchlovedspiritualteacher.Hehaschosentoemphasiseonepathto enlightenment:learningtofocusonthepresentmoment(theNow),inplaceofourusual exclusivepreoccupationwithpastandfuture.Aswegraduallyrealizethatthismomentisall thereiswecometoseethatwearenotouregominds,notourbodies,butaneternalpartof anallinclusiveWhole.WhileTolleisnotalignedwithanyparticularreligionortradition,his teachingsareprobablyclosestinnaturetoBuddhism.Thereisnothinginthemtooffendthose whoareaversetoanyconsiderationofaDivinityorGod.Forthosewhowishtoimmerse themselvesthoroughlyinEckhartTollesteachings,therearealargenumberofCDsandDVDs availablefromNamastePublishing,inVancouver(www.namastepublishing.com).Asetof6CDs entitledTheArtofPresenceisanexcellentintroduction. Ivearrangedtheexercisesbelowintosessionscorrespondingtothe10chaptersofA NewEarth,(8sessions,2ofthemdealingwith2chapters).Furthersessionsforrevisionare recommendedoncetheinitialreadingiscompleted.Afterreadingeachchapterthrough,the studentmayconsiderthequestionsorexercisesposed;formaximumbenefit,itisimportantto writeresponses,notsimplytomuseaboutthem.Writingforcesonetoclarifyonesthinking, andtocometosomedefiniteconclusions.Itismostusefultoreadtheexercisessomedays beforethenextsession,toallowtimeforthinkingaboutresponsesbeforewriting. Whentheexercisesaredonebyaclass,thereareseveralwaysthattheleadercanassist studentstomakethemostofthem: 1. Askthatparticipantsreadexcerptsfromtheirwritingsatthefollowingclass. 2. Askstudentstosendcopiesoftheirwritingsaheadoftheclass,sothattheleadercan readandcomment(confidentially)onthematthefollowingclass.Writings,withthe leaderscomments,maythenbereturnedtoparticipantsinasealedenvelope,and selectedexcerptsthenreadtothewholegroup(onavoluntarybasis). 3. Grouptheparticipantsinpairs,theytheninteractwithoneanotherduringthewriting phase,andoffertheirjointconclusionsandexperiencesinreadingtothewholeclassat thefollowingmeeting. Noteonreferencestothetext:IrefertopageX/paragraphY,forexample15/2"ispage15, para2.HealingJourneylevelsareabbreviatedtoHJ1orHJ2,forexample.

Session1(Chapter1):TheFloweringofHumanConsciousness
EckhartTolleisoptimistic:heseesanewEarthcomingashumanschange.Thechange needstoberadicalatransformationnotsimplytheadoptingofbetterbehaviours.Itisour individualtasktopursuethistransformation.Tollecanbeourguide;hepointsoutthatweare reallyengagedinfindingoutwhoweare,andlearningthatwearenotthevoiceinthehead, butsomethingmuchdeeper,beyondthought.Weneedtolearnabouthowweconstructour ownillusoryidentity,andtoletthatgo. Exercise1(pg68)Recognizinghowthevoiceinthemindbehaves: 1. Whatdoesawakeningmeantoyou(aswithalltheseexercises,bepersonal,rather thanphilosophical,inyourresponses)?Askyourself,whatdoIneedtodotoawaken, andwhatmightitfeellike? 2. Review,andwriteabout,whatyoulearnedinearlierlevelsofHJ: HJ1:fromtherelaxationandmindquieteningexercises. HJ2:frommeditation HJ3:fromexamininghowtheworldlymind(ego)functions:judgment,resentment, guilt,projection. Howwouldyoudescribeanyoverallchangesinyourwayofbeing,tothispoint?Whatdoyou thinkarethenextsteps? Exercise2(9/3,i.e.pg9para3)Sinaslivingblindly: Reflectonanddescribehow(inwhatareas)yourmentalactivityislessthanskillful,andhow thiscausesyoudistressormisery. Exercise3(15/2)ManmadeGodinhisownimage: ThinkbacktoourdiscussionsinthefirstsessionofHJ3.HowdidyouimagineGod,thenand howdoyoudosonow? Exercise4(pg1719)Truthisnotfoundthroughthought: Howdoyouattempttoaccesstruth(reflectcarefullyonthisitiscentraltotheauthentic life)?Askyourself,forexample: WhatdoIneedtodotogetanswerstomyquestions? Sowhat,ifany,istheroleofthinking?Howcanithelp? Whatdoesitmeantoyoutobespiritual? 7

Session2(Chapter2):EgotheCurrentStateofHumanity
Mostpeoplearetotallyidentifiedwiththeiregothatsenseofbeingaseparateentity, onethathastodefenditselfagainsttheworld.Webelievewecanprotectandenhanceour selvesbyacquiringpossessions,andwespendmostofourtimeconstructinganearly continuousmentalstoryaboutourselvesandourlives.Tolleinvitesustorecognisethis,and thetremendousdamageitdoes. Exercise1(pg2830;35/2)TheIllusorySelf: RecalltherolesexerciseofHJ3;ifyoudidntdoitthen,nowwouldbeagoodtime!What rolesdoyouidentifywith?(Iama........)?Whatdoesyouregoseektoachievewiththese roles? Exercise2(38/1)IdentificationwithThings: ConsiderthequestionsraisedbyTolleinthatparagraph.Ifyouownaresidence,considerwhat thatdoestoyoursenseofself,andwhetherthatsenseiswarranted. Exercise3(44/1)TheNeedtobeRight: Whatconceptsdoyoufeelyoumustberightabout(keepitpersonal:Ihavearightto....;I musthave.....)? Exercise4(52/1and2)TheInnerBody: Trythisexercise,asdescribedbyTolle. Exercise5(53/3;54/1)IdentifyingwithThoughtsaboutYourself: Thoughtsareformstoo:theyaretheresultofnervecellsundergoingelectrochemical changesinthehead.Thereisnotmuchdifferencebetweenthinkingofourselvesasabody,or asaseriesofthoughts.AsTolleputsit:whenwethinkofourselvesasform,bodyandthoughts, weliveanightmare. Lookbackatyourresponsestoexercises14above,(andexercise6below)andreflectonhow yourthoughtsaboutyourselfcreatedistressandextremelimitation. 8

Exercise6(51/2;57/2,3;58/1)Acceptingvs.Resisting: Ifyouhaveadiseaseordisability(orotherproblem),considerhowyoumayhavecometosee yourselfasacancerpatientorsomeonewhois.......).Whichofthefollowingappliestoyou (yourthoughtsmaywellbeamixtureofanyorallofthese): Ifeellikeavictim;havehadbadluck,itsunfair,Imresentful,sadformyself. Ifeellikeafighter;mustresistthis,denyitsimplicationsandpossibleconsequences, beangryandfrustrated. Ifeellikeanacceptor;sadbutopentowhateverhappens;feelingaconnectionthat goesbeyondtheimmediatesituation. Otherthoughtsandfeelings(specify).

Session3(Chapter3):TheCoreofEgo
Thischapterisabouttheego,akindofcomputervirusthathasinfected,andlargely takenover,ourminds.Viewedthroughthisfalseprogram,theworldandeveryoneinitare potentiallythreateningtotheindividual,whoseesherselfasaseparatebodymind.Theego strivestoberight,tobesuperiortoothers,inordertoprotectitself.Tollepointsoutthatto escapethisillusionweneedtofind,andidentifyourselveswith,theconsciousness,Presence, awareness(thetermsmeanthesamething)thatunderliesitourtrueMind,infact. Exercise1(pg5961)HowOurThoughtsareAlmostAllaboutOurselves: ThroughouttheHealingJourney,wehaveemphasisedthecentralimportanceofwatchingthe mind.Thisvitalskillcanbelearnedbysittingwiththeeyesclosedandobservingthoughts,and thenbysimplywatchingthemmostofthetime,aswecarryonourdailyactivities.Now observe(bestdonesittingwitheyesclosedatfirst)howmuchofyourthinkingisabout yourself,directlyorindirectly.Forexample:Ineedtodo....;Xwillbeexpectingmeto....;Ihope shedoesntmakethemistakeof.....;Iwonderwhattheyaredoing....?).Ifyouarehonestabout thisyouwillfindthatmostofitisdesignedtobolsteronesownegoinsomeway,suchasby judgingothers,orcommentingonsituationsandhowappealingornottheymaybe.Touse anothermetaphor:itslikehavingafilterofthekindphotographersuse,placeddirectlyin frontoftheeyes.Thatfilteris:Imustprotect,edify,andjustifymyself.Writeaboutit. Exercise2(pg6164)NonReactioninPlaceofResentment: ReviewtheresentmentsexerciseofHJ2. Nowthinkofsomeoneyouresent.Reflectonthebasisforthis,andtrytodeterminehowmuch ofitisaimedatjustifyingyourself,yourownsenseofrightnessandworth.Lookforprojection (HJ3).Thenapplythistovariousaspectsofyourlife,suchaspoliticalviews,finances, interactionswithothers,work,childrearing,neighbours... Itcanbepainfulatfirstifyouarehonestabouttheseegodismantlingexercises,becausethey showuswhatmayhavebeenhiddenallourlives.Yetitisessentialforauthenticity(HJ4)that weacknowledgetheegosmanipulations,inordertoescapefromthem.Religious fundamentalism,andprobablyevenwar,wouldbeimpossibleamongpeoplewhopractised thiskindofselfawareness. Exercise3(pg8182)TheNeedtoFeelSuperior: (Anotheroftheseunpleasantinvestigationsoftheegoself!).Thinkofotherpeopleand whetheryoufeelinferiororsuperiortothem,andinwhatways.Askyourselfwhatsenseof 10

selfenhancementorprotectionappearstocomefromthoseevaluations.Inthesamevein, analyseyourneedtoberespected,orthoughtgoodatsomeskill.Whatmightothersthinkof youifyoulostyourvariousskills(e.g.ifyoucontracteddementia?) Exercise4(84/2)WeUsuallyWantSomethingfromOthers: Tollepointsoutthatwhenweoperatefromego,ourrelationshipsarealwaysdesignedtoget somethingfromothers.Evenresentingthem,orindifferencetothem,isegoserving.Explore thisinyourlife;itmightbewisetostartwithindividualswhoarenotcentralfiguresinyourlife!

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Session4(Chapter4):RolePlayingtheManyFacesoftheEgo
Thischaptercontinuesthediscussionofthemanywaysinwhichegomanifestsitself. Thereisagooddealofrepetition,buttheissueissoimportantwhoamI;egoorsomething else?thatfurtherreflectionisamplywarranted. Exercise1(102/1,2)AcceptingasOpposedtoResistingDisease: Reviewyournotesfromexercise6insession2.Nowtakethisastagefurther.Ifyouhavea disease(oranykindofdistressingsymptoms,physicalormental),reexaminehowyouplaythe roleofpatient,orsufferingperson,martyr,bravecoper,victim,orhoweverelseyou seeyourselfinthesecircumstances.Watchhowyougetcaughtupinyoursuffering.Now imagineacceptingratherthanresistingthesuffering,asTollesuggests.Think,forexample:My bodyisinpain,butIamnotmybody,andtrytogetasenseoftheSelfbeyondform. Exercise2(pg106109)BeingwithOthers: Whenmeetingwithotherpeople,particularlythosewhomyoudontseeoften,orwhoarenew toyou,practisesimplybeingasTollerecommends.Thisisdifficultformostofus,butwecan atleastwatchwhatourmindsaredoing,orreflectafterthemeetingonwhathappened.Few peoplearecompletelycomfortablewhenmeetingsomeoneunfamiliar.Noticehowmuchof thediscomfort,ornoncentredness,comesfromtheneedtoprotectoneself. Exercise3(pg110118)Unhappiness: Nexttimeyourfeelunhappy,andhavesufficientawarenessorpresencetorecognisethat,ask yourself:whatthoughtsamIallowingthatarecreatingthisunhappyfeeling? ConsiderhowTolleslist(p114)ofnegativethoughtsmayapplytoyou. Exercise4(pg127128)Immortality!: Meditateontheideasexpressedinthesepages.Topursuethisfurtheryoucouldfindan affirmationthatyoucanrepeattoyourself,e.g.:IampartoftheDivine,andIamimmortal.

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Session5(Chapters5and6):ThePainBody
Thecentralideahereisthatwearelargelyimprisonedbyournegativethinking.Tolle hasametaphortodescribetheaccumulatedfearsandselfdoubtsthatweallcarryaround:the painbody.Analternative(tomymindbetter)metaphorwouldbepainprogram.Thissetof oldmemoriesandhabitsofthoughtoccupiesmuchofourmindsandkeepsuslockedintoa cycleofangryandfearfulresponsivenesstoeventsaroundus. Tolleusessometermsandconceptsherethatdonotfitverywellwithmodernscience; forexample,theideathatapainbodycanbepassedongenetically,orthatthoughtshavea specificvibrationalfrequency(pg146)thislatterideaisnotsomethingthatismeasurableat present,andhemayintenditagainasmetaphor.However,thesediscrepanciesdonotaffect themainargument. Exercise1(pg129131)Iamnotmythoughts: Thesepagesfollowtheargument(onimmortality)madeattheendofchapter4(pg127 128).Reflectonourhabitofthinkingofmylife,mybodyandsoon.Tollepointsouthow thatconvention(whichisallitis)separatesusfromlifeitself,andfromtheworld.Itgetsworse! Weidentifycompletely,ashepointsout,withourthoughts.Itsasifwewereplayinga continualvideogame,inaseedyarcade,unawareofthebeautifulsunshineoutside. Insteadwecanseethinkingassomethingthebodyminddoes(pg129),justlikedigesting,but thethinkingisnotwhoweare.Meditateonthis,seekingtogetsomedistancebetweenyour selfandyourthoughts. Exercise2(136/3;137/1,2)Contrastingpositiveemotions(ego)withstatesoffeeling connected: IfyoufindTollesdiscussionhere,andintheprecedingpagesabitdifficulttofollow,itmight helptothinkofthefollowing3kindsofreactiontoeventsintheworld: 1.Instinctivereactions:thebodybrainsimplyresponds,withoutmuchorany involvementofthought.Thesimplestofthesearereflexes,likegoosebumpsontheskin incoldweather.Moreelaborateonesmightinvolvesomememories;e.g.fear, promptedbyahearingsuddensquealofbrakes;hungerinresponsetoanenticing smell.Atthecomplexendofthespectrum,thesebecomecontinuouswith(2)below. 2.Emotionalreactions:Aperceptionstimulatesthoughtswhichcauseabodyresponse. Asimpleexamplewouldbefearprovokedbyseeingsomeonedrivingacarasiftorun intoyou.Amoresophisticatedexamplemightbeyourmixtureofemotionalresponses 13

whensomeonemakesacriticalremarkaboutyou.Positiveexamples:pleasureat beingpraised,oratbuyinganewitemofclothing.Havinganemotionmeansthatthe egoisinvolved;itisourseparateselfthatfears,wants,feelsgratified. 3.Feelingconnected:Tolledescribestheseasdeeperemotionsthatemanatefrom yournaturalstateofconnectednesswithBeing(136/3).Theyareindependentof thought,andofego.Thesagespointtothedifficultyofdescribingthem,sincelanguage hasevolvedfromegoexperience,butthefeelingsalludedtoincludejoy,love,bliss,a senseofcosmicconnectedness. Asanexercise,reflectonrecentexperiencesofpositiveemotion,suchasfeelinghappy becauseyoureceivedagift,werecomplimented,ormadeorachievedsomethingimportantto you.Lookfortheroleofegointhishappiness,andfortheoppositeemotionhiddenwithin (137/1).Forexample,beingcomplimentedispleasant,butmaybeaccompaniedbyan underlyingfeelingthat(dontdeservethis:iftheyonlyknew!) Contrasthowyoufeelafteraneffectivemeditation. Exercise3(pg139141)CarryingPainfulMemoriesfromthePast: Identifyoneormoreunpleasant(usuallyselfcritical)memoriesthatyouhavebeencarrying aroundforyears(andperhapsmakingyourselfmiserablebyperiodicallyreplayingthem!). Canyouseewhytheegolovesthisprocess? Exercise4(147/3,andtherestofthechapter)EnjoyingPsychologicalPain: Thinkofarecentexamplewhereyouindulgedinbeingcritical,angry,frustrated,etc.Self righteousindignationisanobviousexampleofpeopleenjoyingtheiranger,butmoresubtle casescanbefound:forexample,Ihavetocleanuphermessmayhaveanenjoyable component,inthatitplacesmeinasuperiorposition.Anotherexample:criticismbyothers, whilenotovertlyenjoyable,maybeacceptablebecauseitappearstoconfirmonesfearsabout oneself. Exercise5(Chapter6)BreakingFreeofthePainBody: Chapter6isadiscussionofhowthepainbodycontrolsourlives,andhowwecanbeginto breakfreeofthisconditioning.Asanexerciseinbreakingfree,thinkofsituationswhereyou havehadastrongemotionalreactiontosomehappeninginthepast.Letyourselfexperience thefeelings(asinHJ3,itmayhelptoreplaythevideotapeafewtimes).Nowtryvariousways todefusethememory: 1.FollowingTolle(pg164166),identifyyourresistancetoaspectsoftheexperience, 14

andtrytodropthatjustallowingthememory;puttingaspacearoundit. 2.Imaginebeinganobserver,watchingthereplayfromoutside(thisisinfactwhatwe aredoingwhenweresideintheHigherSelf,andwatchtheanticsoftheego). 3.ImagineyourInnerHealer(HJ2),oraspiritualfigure,orGod,watchingoveryou, acceptingyoucompletely,whateveryouractionsandfeelings.Youcanaddan affirmationtothisprocess,e.g.:IampartoftheDivineMind,andcompletelysecure. Practisethiskindofnonreactionasyougoaboutyourdailyround

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Session6(Chapter7):FindingWhoYouTrulyAre
Wecanonlyfindoutwhowetrulyareifwefirstunderstandhowwehavecreateda falsesenseofselfthestoryofmeasTolleputsit.Thenwehavethechoiceofdropping(at leastsomeof)ourfocusonthatstory,quellingthecompulsivethinking,andallowingtheHigher Selftoemerge. Exercise1(pg186189)FindingOutWhatUpsetsandDisturbsUs: Reviewthemaineventsofthepastthathavecausedyouemotionalupset.Thepointhereisto findanumberofthings,extendingbackoverweeks,monthsoryears;thenlookforpatterns, forunderlyingcommoncausesoftheirimpact.Forexample,youmightfindthatyoutendtobe upsetwhenyoudontfeelrespectedorvalued;oritmaybethatyouhaveoftenfeltfrustrated, notgettingorachievingwhatyouwanted;oryoumightbeupsetwithapatternofnot respondingtochallengesasyouwouldliketodo.Youmaybeabletofindacommonpathway behindtheseemotionallydisturbingeventsatthedeepestlevel,theytendtoundermineour opinionofourselvesandourworth. Exercise2(pg190192)Givingfromabundance: Abundanceisagloriousconcept.Ifweseetheworldasabundant,andourselvesaspartaking ofthis,wecanonlyfeelhappyandbenevolent.Tryimaginingyouhave,inabundance,allthe thingsyoubelieved(inthelastexercise)thatyouwerenotgetting;thenpasstheseattributes orattitudesontoothersforaweekorso(191/1). Exercise3(195/2)LookingWithoutThinking: Practiseobservingthings,especiallyinnaturalsurroundings,whilenotallowingyourmindto thinkaboutthem.Thiscanbedoneasameditationsittingobservingsomethingwithout allowingthoughtsaboutit.Whenyoudothisfor5or10minutes,whatareyourfeelings towardstheobjectobserved? Exercise4(198/4;207/2,4)SayingYestoWhatHappens: Apracticerelatedtotheoneinthelastexerciseistoobserveeventsorthings,andinsteadof theusualappraisal/judgment,dredgingupnegativeassociationsormemories,sayYes,and mentallyacceptthem. Thiscanbedonewithtime:wheneveryoufeelpressedtohastenintothefuture,sayYesto thepresent. 16

Exercise5(211/2)TheHorizontalandVerticalDimensionsofLife: Youmightliketomakeachartintheformofacross,andonthehorizontalarm(representing time)plotyourmainaspirationsinthepastandforthefuture.Thenontheverticalarm,plot howyouseethepathofevolutionofyourspiritualunderstandingandconnectedness.

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Session7(Chapter8):TheDiscoveryofInnerSpace
Thischapterisafurtherdiscussionofthecentralthemethatwecanfindoutwhowe areifwedropthefocusonthings,onmaterialobjects,includingourselves,andonour streamofthoughts.Tollehasanumberofsuggestionsonspecifictechniquestohelpusmake thisshift:Ihighlightsomeofthesebelow.Youcouldtrythemall,thenselect1or2for continuingpractice. Exercise1(pg232233)Becomingawareofthespacebetweenthethoughts: Inourdailymeditationwebecomeawareofthisspace.Trynowtobeawareofitasyougo aboutyourdailyactivities. Exercise2(236/2)MeditatingonIamorIamthat: TollescommenthereremindsusoftheIndianmantraformeditationthatweencounteredin HJ3:Hamsa;soham,meaningIamthat;thatIam. Exercise3(pg240241)Observingobjectswithoutthought: Thisisthenowfamiliarexercise(fromlastsessionandbefore)oflookingintentlyatsome familiarobject,whiletryingnottoallowintoyourmindanythoughtsaboutit. Exercise4(pg241243)Whoistheexperiencer?: Tollediscusseshereamovementawayfromformandqualities,andtowardsawarenessofSelf. ThiswasthebasisofthesinglepracticeadvocatedbyRamanaMaharshi,agreatIndiansageof theearlytwentiethcentury.Wheneverthereisathoughtoremotion,Ramanawouldsay,ask yourself2questions:first,Whoisthinkingorfeelingthis?Theinevitableresponseis,Iam). Thensecond,askWhoamI?Wequicklydiscoverthatallexperiencesleadtothissecond question. Youmightliketoexplorethisforyourself.WhoamI?,ifconstantlybroughttothefrontofthe mind,actslikeaZenkan. Exercise5(pg243246)AwarenessofBreathing: ThroughouttheHealingJourneywehavepointedtoawarenessofthebreathasamethodto interruptthecompulsivethinking.Youcouldreturntothisbasicmeditationandexploreitin moredepthnow. 18

Exercise6(pg246248)Droppingaddictivebehaviours: Identifyoneormoreaddictivebehaviourpatternswithinyourself,andfollowTolles suggestions(247/2)fordiminishingthem. Exercise7(252/2)Awarenessoftheinnerbody: AfterreadingTollesdiscussionofinnerandouterspace(pp250253),practisefeelingthe inneralivenessthatcanbefeltwithinthebody.

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Session8(Chapters9and10):YourInnerPurposeANewEarth
Intheselast2chapters,Tollecutsthroughtheusualconfusionthatsurrounds discussionsofpurposeinlifebyshowingusthattherearetwokinds,orlevels,ofpurpose: theinner,whichisthespiritualgoalofawakening,andtheouter,whichcomprisesallthe actionswetakeintheworld(258/2).Ideally,aclearinnerpurposeinformsourouteractions, whicharethencarriedoutthroughusratherthanbyus.Theworld,ofcourse,typically recognisesonlyegodrivenactivity. Exercise1(Chapter9)Whatinspiresmygoals?: Listallthegoalsthatyouhaveconsideredimportantinrecentyears.(Youcouldreferalsoto anynotesmadeongoalsettinginHJ1and3).Hastherebeenanoverridingsenseofpurposein yourlife?Examinetowhatextentthissetofgoalshasbeendrivenbytheegosdesiretoget, ortoprotectitself. Exercise2(269/2;271/2)Innerpurpose: Asyoumeditate,orbeforeyoubegin,puttoyourselfthequestion:Whatisthepurposeofthe restofmylife?Trytokeepanalyticalthinkingoutofit,andletfeltsense,imagesand knowingsemerge. Exercise3(285/2)Howthefrailtyofthebodyallowsinnerpurposetoemerge: Ifyouhavealifethreateningillness,orifagemakestheendoflifeseemrelativelynear, reflect/meditateontheopeningthiscreatesforyourinnerpurposetoemerge.Towhatextent doworldlygoalsseemlessimportantthantheyusedtodo?Howhasyourattitudeaboutthe importanceofthematerialworldchanged?Towhatextentdootherpeoplesexpectationsof youseemtomatternow? Exercise4(pg295305)Acceptance,enjoyment,enthusiasm: Tolleliststheseattitudesormodalitiesaswaysinwhichconsciousnesscanflowintowhatyou do.Thediscussionisfairlybrief,soitisimportanttodistinguishthestatesofmindhe describes(namelyselflessenjoymentandenthusiasm)fromtheegogratifyingstatesforwhich thesamelabelsarecommonlyused.Thetablebelowmayhelp. 20

Acceptance Enjoyment

Enthusiasm

ExpressingEgoNeeds Resignation;givingup Emotionalexcitement Achievementsthatstrengthenego (selfworth) Foreseeingegoenhancementasa resultofyouractivity

ExpressingSpiritualAwareness Nonreaction;surrender Observingothersbeinghelped Feelingofflow,oneness,connectedness Feelingdirected,usedbytheDivine,to performactionsthathelpothers

Makealistofyourmajoractivities,andassignthemtooneofthe6categoriesinthetable (referalsotothesimilarexerciseinHJ4).

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ReviewSessions
ThepointofstudyingthewritingsofaspiritualmasterlikeTolleisnotsimplytoacquire newideas,buttousethemtoachieveanewwayofbeingintheworld.Thusitcanbevery helpfultohaveoneortwoadditionalsessions(ormore)todiscusswithothersyoureffortsto understandandintegratetheconcepts.Afruitfulareafordiscussionisthehonestsharingof theobstaclestoprogressyouencounter.Somefurthertopicsforpossiblediscussion: 1. Innerandouterpurpose:(chapters9and10) 2. Theidea,prominentinIndianphilosophy,thattheworldisakindofDivineplay,or dream.Imaginehowitmighthelpyouifyoucouldseeallyourheavyresponsibilities andanxietiesaspartofagame.(280/2) 3. Areyouafrequencyholderormoreofanactivist?Examinehonestlythemotives behindyourchoices;e.g.afrequencyholdercanactassuchforexaltedmotives,or becauseofinertiaorfear.Anactivistmaybeallowingherselftobeusedasachannel, ormaysimplybeaimingatselfjustification!(307/2,3) Recognisethatashumanswe(almost)allhavemixedmotives,andgiveyourselfapatonthe backfortryingtoevolve!

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HJ5B:ACourseinMiracles
ThesourcetobestudiedforthisversionofHJ5isamostremarkablebookfroman unusualsource.TheauthorisnoneotherthanJesusChristhimself,arguablythemost importantspiritualteacher(forwesternpeoples)in2millennia!Butdidnthedie2000years ago?ACIMisatextchanneledfromJesus,throughanatheisticpsychologist,Helen Schucman,overaperiodof7years,beginningin1965.Sheheardavoice,identifyingitselfas Jesus,anddictateddailyinstallmentsofwhathasbecomethetexttoacolleague,William Thetford,whotypedupthematerial,whichwaseventuallypublishedin1976.Thishistoryis likelytoinspiremorethanalittlescepticisminsomewhoencounteritforthefirsttime!Infact, therearemanyexamplesofsuchchannelingtheKoranwaschanneled,forexample.Texts generatedinthiswayshouldbejudgedbythenatureofthematerialreceived;thecontent, ratherthanthesource,isafterallwhatmatterstous,andthematerialofACIMisquite exceptional.Itisatextonhealingatalllevels,psychological,physicalandspiritual.Itisbyfar themostsophisticatedandprofoundmaterialonselfinitiatedhealing,andonthenatureofour reality,thatIhaveencounteredinabout30yearsofsearching,whichiswhyIdrawonithere. Moreoveritiswritteninmodernlanguage,withpsychologicallyunderstandablereasoning (althoughtheconclusionsgofarbeyondtheconventional).Itoffersusanextraordinary opportunitytoevolve,andalthoughChristianinterminologyandorigin,isnotconventionally Christianatall:infactcertainsectionsofferacorrectiontomanyofthemisconceptionsthat havecreptintothenewTestamentoftheBibleasaresultofcenturiesofinjectionofhuman ideasandvaluesintothattext.Atypicalreactiontosomethingasunusualasthisiscriticismand summaryrejection!Wemight,however,tryadifferentapproach:suspendingscepticismand seeingwhatitcandoforus,uponwhichwemaybecomefilledwithgratitudetoboththe authorandthetwoordinarypeoplewhopersevered,yearafteryear,inmakingthecourse availabletousall. Since1976,severalmillioncopiesofACIMhavebeendistributedinmanylanguages.A lotofintelligentpeoplehavewrittencommentariesexplainingsomeoftheconceptsinit. Therearealsoanumberofpopularbookswrittenbymentalhealthprofessionalswhobase theirtextsaroundACIM,forexamplethosebyMarianneWilliamson,KarenBentleyandGerald Jampolsky,amongothers(readingsomeofthesebookscanbeahelpfulintroduction).The FoundationforACIMhasbeenestablishedunderthedirectionofDrKenWapnick,perhaps theforemostexponentofthecourse,andamanwhowaspresentintheearlystagesofits publication.Thewebsite,www.facim.orgisaresourcecentreformaterials(manybooks,audio andvideotapes,plusadviceonworkshops),andquestionsmaybeput,onthesite,to foundationstaff. 23

WhatDoesACIMSay,andWhyisitHardToRead? Perhapsthemostimportantrevelation,inACIMasinothermysticalwritings,isthat GodortheDivineSourceiswithinusall,andnotsomeauthoritarianbeingoutsideourselves, asoftenrepresentedinthetheisticreligions.Toputitanotherway,weareallpartofthe Divine,butwehavelostsightofthat;ourtaskistorecoverthisawareness.Weareprimarily mindstuffratherthanbody,andarenotseparate,fromGodorfromothers,soweneednot attack(i.e.resist,judge)anyofthem!Fullyrealizingthisishealing. Itmustbeconceded,however,thatACIMisoftendifficultreading.(TheWorkbook partofit,asyouwillfind,isperhapssimplerthanthemaintext,andtheManualforTeachers easierstill,andthereforemaybeaplacetostartasoneisbecomingacquaintedwiththe course).Whyismuchofthetextsodifficult?Inpartbecauseitturnsmostofourconventional ideasaboutrealitythrough180degrees.Andinpartbecauseitseemstobedesignedtomake usthinkhard,sothatwetrulymasterthematerial,ratherthanhaveitslipdownandbe forgotten.Theterminologycanposeaninitialbarriertosomereadersalso,appearingsexist (alwaysheandyourbrothers),andChristianinsomeofitssymbology.Wesimplymust allowanyoldhacklesthisraisestosubside,andgetonwiththesubstanceofthetext,ifweare goingtobenefitfromit. WhileanyonecanofcourseplungerightintoACIMandmaketheirownwaythroughit, mostdofinditdifficult(Istillhavetroubleunderstandingsomepartsafter20yearsofstudy). SowhatIhavetriedtodointhismanualistoprovideasimpleraccess,andonewhich emphasisesideasthatmightassistourphysicalaswellasmentalhealing.Wedothisby selectingpassagesthatillustratethemes,andaskingyoutomeditateandreflectonthese,then writeaboutyourunderstanding.Thethemesarearrangedinalogicalandgradualway. Anoutlineoftheprocessofseparatingandhealing. Webegan,andarestillallpartofOneMind,whichmaybecalledbyvariousnames God,theDivine,theSource,theOneandsoon.ACIMusesGod,sometimestheFather (whichcanbevalidlytranslatedintoDivineMotherifyouwish).Theimportantpoint, however,isthatwearenotultimatelymaterialbutmental,theinvertedcommasdenoting thatthisisanapproximationwecant,fromthisearthlyvantagepoint,expecttounderstand fullywhatsuchadifferentstateofbeingwouldbelike.Atsomepoint,forreasonsthatarenot clear(IlikewhattheHindussay,thatitsGodsplay!),webecametemporarilyseparated fromGod(seeTable2).WeheremeansthatsomepartoraspectofGodbelieveditselftobe separate,althoughthiswasimmediatelycorrected.Thisapparentlyseparatepartiscalledthe SonofGodinACIM.Theseparationisanillusion,andtheseparatedmindretainsthat awareness,akindofconnectinglinkthatACIMcallstheHolySpirit(orwecancallitthe HigherSelf,andusethesameinitials,HS).Becauseoftheguiltsucharadicalseparation invoked,therewasimmediatelyafragmentationofthismindintomillionsofapparently 24

separatebeings,eachclothedinmaterialsubstance,thepurposebeing(toputitsimply)sothat otherscouldnowbeblamedformypredicament.Eachunithoweverstillcontaineda knowledgeofthewholetheseparationwas,andisanillusion,tosayityetagain,akindof dreamorplayputonbytheseparatedmind. Weare,unfortunately,someoftheapparentlyseparatedbeingsarisingfromthisBig Bangofcreation.Westartfromthefollowingmisconception,toparaphraseDescartes:Ithink Imseparate,thereforeIam.Butitisafalseconclusion.Wecanswimbackupstream,return toouroriginalhome,simplybyachangeinperception.Thisisnoteasybecause,asaresultof ourpresumedseparateness,wehavedevelopedallkindsoffearfulideasaboutourguilt (ultimatelytowardstheDivine,forleavingit/Him),andvulnerability(toretributionfromHim, andtoattackbyothers).Wethereforehavesurroundedourselvesbydefenses,includingour materialbodiesasadefense,andwehaveburiedtheknowledgeofourtruenatureunderneath allofthis.Now,wesay,wearesimplybodies,andwemayevengetillanddietoproveit!The materialworld,andparticularlyotherpeople,areblamedforallourproblems.Table2shows thisinoutlinethestagesofseparation(progressingdownwardsontheleftsideofthetable) andthethoughtsthataccompanythem(rightsideofthetable).Table3showssomeofthe mainmessagesofthecourse.The3figuresbelowexplainthisfurther. Table2:Developmentofasenseofseparateness,anditsconsequences ProcessofSeparation CorrespondingIdeasandFears DIVINEMIND Peace,love,joy,harmony [aparttemporarilysplitsoff,for unknownreasons] Separatedstate:theappearanceof multiple,apparentlymaterialbeings Personalviewofoneselfasbeing separatedfromallotherthings Emotionalreactiontothissenseof oneselfasseparate Reactiontootherapparentlyseparate beings

ThereisnoDivine;thematerialworld determineseverything Iamonlyaseparatebody Myegoismymentalidentity Iamlimited,vulnerable,guilty,and (unconsciously)fearfulofdivine retribution BecauseIamseparate,Imustdefend myselfandattackothers

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 Table3:ACIMMainmessages 1.Wehavemisunderstoodwhoandwhatweare. Wethinkweareaseparatelittlemindbody,whichACIMcallsego.This smallegomindisinfactlikeacomputervirus,aprogramthathastaken overthewholemind Itislargelyinsane,harmfultous;neverthelesswetypicallyletitguideus totally 2.Infact,wearemindinnature,notbody,andpartofthe DivineMind. ACIMcallsthisunitytheKingdom(ofHeaven). Allofus,thesonship,arepartofthis,andthereforejoinedtogether;we areinfactonmind. 3.Theegofightstopreserveitself. Weneedtolearnaboutitsharmfulstrategies Theegoseesitselfascentral,astheauthorofitself,asspecial. Itstrivestopreserveitsseparateness. Itmaintains,inus,asenseofguilt,unworthiness(concealed,andprojected out). Itattacksusandusesillnesstoproveitsseparatenessandvulnerability. 4.Whatweneedtodotoreturntoanawarenessofouressentialunitywiththe Divine,andthustohealcompletely. ACIMcallsthisreturntoonenesstheAtonement Practicalstrategies: A.Beingquiet: watchthemindconstantly doaslittlerandomthinkingaspossible recognizeIknownothing,andamopentonewunderstanding B.Nonreaction nonjudgment,nonattack,forgiveness,acceptance learnthatweneedonlytogive;truegivingandreceivingarethesame practisegratitudeandkindnesstoall. 26

C.Devotion. wearenotseparatefromthedivine listenforguidance;stoptryingtocontroleverything prayerbecomescommunion,surrender observeanddropownguilt dopractices,likemeditation,thatstrengthenconcentrationandfocus orientlifearoundspiritualidentity,notego. nonspecialness;weareeachonewithall knowourgrandeurandirreplaceability;valueoneself. Fig1isapyramidillustratingthepath,fromourusualsenseofbeingseparate,scattered beings(atthebaseofthepyramid),backuptoawarenessofouressentialunityorwholeness.

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Fig2showsusasatightlywalledoffego(asmallcircle)withinalargercircle(ourtrueor extendedmind,includingtheunconscious),whichisinturnincludedwithinaninfinitelylarge circle,theDivineMind.

Adegreeofhealingcanbeachievedwithoutinvokingspiritualconnectionandchange forexample,bymanagementofstressandaligningourselveswithapurposeinlifethatis fulfillingandmeaningfultoourselves.Anykindofhealingrequiresinitialopennesstochange, motivation,andafairamountofwork(toppartoffig3),butgiventhat,itmaygoindifferent directions.Thelowerlefthandsideoffig3showsasecularpathtohealingthrough psychologicalchange.Ourresearchoverthelast15yearshasprovidedfirmevidenceforthe opennesstoinvolvementsteps,andthedevelopmentofauthenticityinpeoplewhohave greatlyoutlivedtheirprognoses.Thespiritualroutetohealinginvolvesdevelopingaparticular kindofauthenticity,namelyouridentityaspartoftheDivine.Thisisillustratedbythelower righthandsideofthediagram.Itmaybeevenmorepowerfullyhealing,butwedontasyet havescientificevidenceforthat. 28

 Spiritualhealingisthereversalofseparation,ashiftinperceptionofwhatweare.It affectseveryaspectofourlivesincludingallthoselistedinthetables.ThisshiftiswhatACIM callsamiracle.Thewholetextisthusabouthealing,althoughnotspecificallyhealingofthe body,sinceitviewsthatasanillusion;thehopeisthatbycorrectingtheoverarchingillusion,all aspectsofourselveswillreturntoharmony.Aswereadthetextwewillreceivemanyideas abouthowtoheali.e.whathealingiswillbeexpressedinmanydifferentways.Thiscanbe confusinguntilyouseethatthesedifferentwaysrefertodifferentpointsalongtheprocessof separation(Table2).Wecanhealbyforgivingourbrothers;somethingthatweemphasisedin level3oftheHealingJourneycourse.Thisrequiresrecognizingthattheyhavenotsinned againstus,merelyfallenintoerror(ashaveweall),andthatevenanapparentattackonusis simplyadisguisedcallforhelp.Thenataslightlydeeperlevel,healingrequiresforgiving ourselves,recognizingthatwearenotsinners,destinedforpunishment.Higherstillthatwe arenotevenseparate,fromtheDivineorotherpeople;thatsomehowourmindsarealljoined. Andevenfurtherupstream,asitwere,therewasnorealinitialseparationfromtheDivine Mindatall,andhencenorealmaterialworldwasgeneratedtoprotectusandmaintainthis separation.Occasionally,remarkableindividualswillcometothislastrealizationinoneleap. Mostofus,however,havetoworkawayatthemoreaccessiblelevelsfirstourjudgmentof 29

othersandofourselves,movinguptowardsrealizingthatwearenotseparatefromthem,and canrisklovingthem,andourselves!Aswedothis,ouremphasisonthematerialworldwill diminish(thereisnoneedtofearlosingtouchwithit!Wesimplylearntohave,asthecourse putsit,ahappydreamratherthananunhappyone). Metaphorscanhelpusunderstandthisdrasticreversalofordinaryworldlyconceptions(allour conceptionsarefalsesaysACIM!).Hereareafew: 1.WecouldthinkoftheoriginalOneMindasatree,spreadingoutintoeversmaller branchesthentwigsandfinallyleaves.Eachofusisaleaf,andourpettyconcernisto competewithotherleavesforvariousadvantages,suchasbeingbiggerandmore beautiful,orhavingbetteraccesstothesunlight!Wecancontentourselveswith learningtoaccepttherightsofotherleaves(theusuallimitofhumanmentalhealing), orwecanmovebacktowardsourorigins,towherethetwigsdiverged,andrecognize thatweareinfactpartofthesamewhole,andultimatelyanintegralpartofthe tree/Mind. 2.Anotherexample:whenacontainerofliquidmercuryisspilled,itbreaksinto thousandsoftinydroplets,whichcanreadilymergeagainwhenpushedtogether.If, however,thesedropletsgetcoveredwithdustandgrit(ametaphorforworldly defensiveness),theystubbornlyrefusetomerge,andretaintheirseparateness!We need,ofcourse,toremovethegritthatnormallysurroundseachofus. 3.ACIMrefersinseveralplacestothemetaphorofdreaming.Whenwedreamitisasif ourmindssplitintomanyseparatecharactersorindividuals.Yettheyareallpartofthe onemind.Andwhenwewake,werealizethatitwasalladream.This,saythemystics, iswhatwewillunderstandwhenweawakenfromourcurrentworldlydream. 4.KenWapnickmakesacomparisonwiththecaseofpeoplewithmultiplepersonality disorder,apathologicalconditioninwhichapersonassumes,atdifferenttimes,entirely differentpersonalitiesthattendtobeunawareofoneanother.Yettheyareallpartsof thesamemind.Soitis,hesays,withtheemanationsoftheDivineMind. Iftheseideasareallnewtoyouanddifficulttounderstandatfirst,dontworry;wewill approachthisnotionofhealingbyreversingourseparatenessmoregraduallyinthesessionsof thepresentcourse.Youcouldcomebacktothisintroductionfromtimetotime,tonotehow yourunderstandinghasgrown. 30

Session1:HowACIMhelpsusmakearadicalshiftinthinkingaboutourselvesandourplace intheworld. Procedure: Itwillhelpyougreatly,asyouapproachastudyofACIM,tohavearegularpracticeof meditation,andtofeelthoroughlyfamiliarwithmindwatching.Youcanrefreshyourmemory ofthesetechniquesbygoingbacktotherelevantsectionsinearlierlevelsoftheHealing Journeyprogram. ItisobviousthatACIMisnotatextthatonereadslikeanovel.Ratherweapproachitas ascripturalwork,tobereadinsmallsections,whicharethenreflectedupondeeply.Weneed tobeaskingourselves,asweread:howdoesthisapplytome?Whataretheimplicationsfor myownlife?Inevitablywewillfindpartswecantcomprehendatfirst.Wecanreturnto themmanytimes,overaperiodofdaysandweeks;wecanmeditateonthem,meaningsimply readwithasemptyamindaswecanachieve,andsitandwaitquietly.Understandingand guidancemaycome;wecanaskforthis.Sometimeswejusthavetomoveon,andreturnto thedifficultpassagesweeksormonthslaterwhenouroverallunderstandingmayhave improvedsufficientlytoallowustoabsorbwhatwasformerlyobscure.Weneedtobe preparedforfrustrationofthiskind,andtoacceptit,aswealsoacceptthesometimes unfamiliarmodesofexpression,ortheuseofnewtermsandsymbols. Eachsessiondealswithaspecifictopic.Youwillfindanumberofsuggestedreadings (excerpts)ondifferentaspectsofthistopic,mostofwhicharefollowedbyoneormore questions.Pleasereadthesuggestedtextthrough,severaltimes,thinkaboutitandwrite yourresponsestothequestions(youwillbeaskedtopresentyourthoughtsanddiscussthem intheclasses).Togetthemostoutofthisworkitwouldbevaluabletoreadtheexcerptsearly intheperiodbetweenclasses,sothatyoucanbeconsideringwhattheymeanoveran extendedperiod,beforefinallysettingdownyourconclusions. ReferencestothemaintextofACIMareshownasinthefollowingexample:T26.IV.4.T meanstext,26isthechapter,IV(romannumerals)isthesection,and4theparagraphnumber. IftherewasmorethanoneparagraphtobeexaminedthiswouldbeshownasA48",for example.Theparagraphnumbermayoccasionallybefollowedbynumbersoftheindividual sentencesinaparagraph,asinT26.IV.4:7 Fortheworkbook:W.169.5,referstothelessonnumberandparagaph. FortheManualforTeachers,itsM13.3,theQuestion#andparagraph.

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Somebriefdefinitions ThetermscommonlyusedinACIMcanbeconfusing;herearesomebriefdefinitions,forfuture reference,adaptedfromaGlossarywrittenbyKenWapnick Atonement:theHolySpiritsplanofcorrectiontoundotheegoandhealthebeliefin separation Christ:theoneSonofGod,ortotalityoftheSonship ego:thebeliefintherealityoftheseparatedorfalseself,asasubstitutefortheSelfthatGod created extension:theongoingprocessofcreation,whereinspiritextendsitself. forgiveness(acceptance):changingourperceptionofwhatothers(orourselves)appearto havedone;seeingapparentsinsassimplyerrors God:theCreator,Sourceofallbeingorlife;theFirstCause,whoseessenceisspirit,whichis sharedwithallcreation. guilt:thefeelingexperiencedfromperceptionofonessinfulness healing:thecorrectioninthemindofthebeliefinsicknessthatmakestheseparationandthe bodyseemreal. Heaven;thenondualisticworldofknowledge holyinstant:theinstantoutsidetimeinwhichwechooseforgivenessinsteadofguilt HolySpirit:thatpartofthemindthatisthecommunicationlinkbetweenGodandhis separatedsons(daughters) Ideasleavenottheirsource:i.e.cannotleavethemindthatthoughtthem Jesus:(amanwho)firstcompletedhispartintheAtonement,bytranscendinghisego love:theessenceofGodsbeingandrelationshiptoHiscreation;impossibletoexperiencein theillusoryworldofperception. mind:theactivatingagentofspirit,towhichitisroughlyequivalent,supplyingitscreative energy. MindofGod:thecreativefunctionofGod. miracle:thechangeofmindthatshiftsourperceptionformtheegosworldofsin,guiltand fear,totheHolySpiritsworldofforgiveness(nottobeconfusedwiththetraditional understandingofmiraclesaschangesinexternalphenomena) projection:thefundamentallawofmind:whatweseeinwardlydetermineswhatwesee outsideourminds. realworld:thestateofmindinwhich,throughtotalforgiveness(acceptance),theworldof perceptionisreleasedfromtheprojectionsofguiltwehadplaceduponit. resurrection:awakeningfromthedreamofdeath revelation:thedirectcommunicationfromGodtoHisson;onlybrieflypossibleinthisworld. sacrifice:theegosmistakenideathatsomeonemustloseifanotheristogain. salvation:theAtonement,orundoingoftheseparation,fromachangeofmind Self:ourtrueidentityasSon(Daughter)ofGod;synonymouswiththeChrist. sickness:aconflictinthemind(guilt)displacedontothebody;theegosattempttodefend 32

itselfagainsttruth(spirit)byfocussingattentiononthebody sin:thebeliefintherealityofourseparationfromGod SonofGod:theChristwhoisourtrueSelf Spirit:thenatureofourtruereality,changelessandeternal world:theeffectoftheegosbeliefinseparateness.

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TheteachingmethodsofACIM Excerpt1.1:TheIntroductiontotheworkbook.(W.Intro) Theworkbook.Ifyouhaventalreadydoneso,lookattheWorkbookforStudents,one of3textsboundinto1volumecomprisingACIM.Youwillseethatthereare365dailylessons forselfstudy,aimedatretrainingthemind,establishingaviewofrealitythatisquite differentfromourconventionalview.Itisofcourseuptoyouifandwhenyoucommencethe workbookexercises;somewillwanttoplungeintoitimmediately,othersmayprefertobegin laterafterhavingworkedthroughsomeofthematerialinthispresentintroductorycourse. Whatisyourreactiontotheworkbookintroduction?Doesitseemlikeadauntingtask? Areyouafraidofbeingbrainwashed?Considertheextenttowhichwehaveallbeen brainwashedorconditionedalreadybyourculture,throughtheeducationsystem,themedia, andsoon.Writebrieflyaboutthis. Excerpt1.2:TheLessonsoftheHolySpirit(T6.V.14) Thisisverystraightforward.Perhapsyoufinditcomforting?Oryoumightbeoffended bythechildrenanalogy;yetarewenotallspiritualchildren?Andasyouproceedwiththis workyoumaycometoseetheworldasfullofchildren,whichisnotnecessarilya condescendingattitudejustarecognitionthatmostpeopledon'tevengetstartedonthepath tospiritualgrowthandunderstanding. Ifyouwanttotrysomethingmorechallenging,readonintothenextsection,marked AA.Tohaveallgivealltoallonpg104(secondedition).Meditateonparagraphs13.What isyourreactiontothestatementthatthebodyisseparateandthereforecannotbepartof you? Excerpt1.3:Thedirectionofthecurriculum(T8.I.16). Whatdoyoumakeofthestatementinpara3:Everyresponsetotheegoisacallto war?Thismayatfirstseemextremeorexaggerated,likealotofstatementsinACIM.Note howyourminddealswiththatdoyouthereforerejectit,ordoyouwonderwhetheryouhave beenunderestimatingorfailingtounderstandtheaggressivenatureofyouregothinking? Paragraph5talksaboutanewcurriculum.Areyoureadyforanewcurriculuminyour life?Hastheoriginalonemadeyouhappy,asJesusasks?Ifthereistobeanewplanforour (thinking)life,weneedanewteacher.Doyoufeelwillingtoallowthat,andifnot,whynot (examinethisclosely). Notethesimilaritybetweenifyouwantadifferent(outcome)achange...isobviously necessary,andtheidea,fromHJlevel1,thattochangethecourseofcancer,asufficient changeisnecessaryinthemindtochangethesoupinwhichthecancerisgrowing. 34

 HealingasWholenessandJoy. Excerpt1.4.IntroductiontoHealingandWholeness.(T.5.Intro.13)(p72). Thissectionismoreprofoundthanitmayseematfirstreading(likemost,perhapsallof ACIM!).Thefirstthingtoponderisoneofmanydefinitionsofhealing:Tohealistomake happy.HappinessinACIMmeansmorethantransitorysensoryorintellectualpleasureit meansjoyousness,whichwearetoldisthesameaslove.Writeaboutwhatjoyis,drawingon thematerialinthissection. AttendingtotheVoiceforGod Excerpt1.5.TheVoiceforGod.(T.5.II.18) Thereis,obviously,agreatdealinthissection;infactonemightalmostsaythatthe wholecourseisthere.ThisisafeatureofACIM:likeahologram,eachpartcontainsthewhole. Anotherwaytoputitisthatifwecouldcompletelyunderstandandinternalisethissection,we wouldnotneedtoreadanyfurther! Thewholesectionmaybetoomuchtoabsorbcompletelyatpresent,butreaditthrough andreflectonthefollowingpoints: Thereisavoicewithinus,calledheretheHolySpirit,whichisthatpartoftheseparated mindthatisstillconnectedtoGod.Wecanlearntolistentothat,bysubduingtheego mind. Thisvoiceoffers;itdoesnotcommand. Inthelaterparagraphs,(912)Jesuspointsoutwearejustlikehimexceptthathe chosetolistenonlytothevoiceforGod! Doyouhaveanysenseyetofanothervoicewithin?Itisunlikelytoresemblelisteningtothe telephonemoreakindofknowingorfeltsenseofwhattodo. Themetaphor:lifeasadream. Excerpt1.6.TheBasisoftheDream(T.18.II.16). Thissectionintroducestheveryhelpfulmetaphoroflifeasakindofwakingdream. Notethatthespecialrelationship(para5)istheconceivingofarelationshipwithanother person,orwithGod,thatattemptstosetoneapartfromandaboveothers(thisbecomesakey themelateron). 35

Session2:HowwethinkofGod,andwhoweareinrelationshiptoHim. WhoorwhatisGod? Excerpt2.1:TheLittleGarden(T18.VIII:17): Ignorethefirst5sentencesofpara1forthepresent,butconsiderthelast2sentences. DoyouthinkofGodassomethingoutsideyourself,asakindofsuperperson?Doesthatmake anysensereally?Notehowyourideas(probablyunexamined)haveconditionedthewayyou thinkofGod/theDivine. Nowconsiderparas27.Canyouseehowwealltendtoimprisonourselvesinan insignificantbody?Canyoubegintothinkofyourselfaspartofanonmaterialwhole,whichis God?Whatwouldbesomeoftheadvantagesofthiswayofthinking? Readtherestofpara1.Itsabitdifficult,sodontbeconcernedifitsnotentirelyclear yet.Whatdoyouthinktheauthormeansbythebodyisalimitonlove? Excerpt2.2.BeyondtheBody(T18.VI:1,11,9). Thissectioncontinuestheideaofthelast.WehaveallheardofTheKingdomof Heaven;howhaveyouimaginedit?Considerpara1,sentence6theawarenessofperfect Oneness.Whatmightthatbelike?Afterthinkingaboutthat,readpara11.Haveyouhadan experiencelikethis?Canyouseehowlove,inthespiritualsense(andhowisthatdifferentfrom worldlylove?)dependsonlosingourattachmenttoseparateness?Whatfearsdoesthisraisein you? Para9expoundstheideathatwearepartofGod.Someofthisisstraightforward,if verydifferentfromourusualwayofviewingourselves,whileotherpartsaremoredifficult. Whatdoyouunderstandfromsentences68?(Para10mayhelpalso). Paras16aremoredifficult,butatthisstageyoumaywanttoreviewthem,without anysenseofguilt(!)orinadequacyiftheyarenotclearasyet.Theyseemtosaythatwehave madeourbodiesakindofrepositoryforourguilt(originatingwhere?)Theclaimisthatwe hateandattackourbodieswhywouldwedothat?AccordingtoACIM,(theillusionof)illness comesfromthewayourmindsusethebodyfantasythatwehavemade;para6callsthis insane,whilepara5sayswecanusethebodyforlovingpurposes.Perhapsthissuggestsways inwhichwecouldviewthebodydifferently,sothatitmightnolongerneedtobeseenassick. Excerpt2.3.ReasonandPerception(T21.Intro,I,II).(i.e.theIntroductionandfirst2sections ofchapter21). Youmayneedtoreadthisanumberoftimes,toletthemeaningsinkin(thatistrueof mostofthisbook,asyouwillhavediscovereditsnodoubtintentional;weretainbestwhat wehavetoworkat).Notethatvisionhere(atermexplainedearlierinthetext)meanstrue 36

perception,seeingthetruth,theworldoftheDivine,ratherthanthematerialworldthatwe havecreated. SectionIstartswithanintriguinganalogybetweenourselvesandtheblind(paras15). Ponderthis.Thenparas68arealyricalaccountofthetruththatwehavealmost,butnot quite,forgotten.SectionIIremindsusthatweareresponsibleforwhatweperceive(the Introductionputthesameideainadifferentway).Perhapsyouhavealreadydiscoveredinyour lifethatwemakesituationsintowhatwewantthemtobe?ACIMisnowtakingthisidea muchfurtherthatwecreateevenmaterialevents,includingillness,byprojection(putting whatisinsideourmindsoutside).WhatdoesJCmeaninpara3whenhesayssuffer,andyou decidedsinwasyourgoal?(Lookupsinagaininthelistofdefinitions).Whatistheantidote thatJCsuggests?(Paras3and4).Continuetoparas6and7,wheretheideas,asalways,are reiteratedinslightlydifferentform.Heresthatwordaltaragainwhatdoesitmean? Youcouldwriteabriefaccountofyourunderstandingofthesesections,butforthe present,skipparasII:1013. Excerpt2.4.W29,30(workbooklessons29and30). Readingthese2lessonswillintroduceyoutotheclarityofthesedailyreadings,andtheir simplicityincomparisonwiththeACIMtext.Thelessonsaremeanttobestudied,asdirected, 1perday,andinorder.Youmaywishtostartdoingthis,orwaituntilyouhaveabetterideaof theoverallmessageoftheCourse.Forthepresent,pleasereviewlessons29and30andwrite brieflyaboutyourunderstandingofthem.(Thesamethemesaredevelopedthroughtolesson 50keenstudentsmaywishtoscantheseaswell).

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Session3:HowweResisttheCalloftheDivine,andConsequencesofAcceptingit. Thethemeforthissessionisourresistancetoacknowledgingourtruenatureaspartof theDivineMind,infavourofassertingthatweareseparateeachofuspreferstobethe centreofourUniverse!Thisthemerecursthroughoutthetext,asdodescriptionsofthe benefitsoflearningtoacceptourtruenature. Excerpt3.1:IllusionsoftheEgo(T4.Introduction,13;I.113) Para2oftheIntroquotesthewellknownbiblicalclause:BestillandknowthatIam God.Whatdoesthatmeantoyou?Ponderpara3:thereis,asusual,alotinit.Howdoyou crucifyyourself?[Advancedstudents:Whydoyoucrucifyyourself?].Whatdoesclingingto theoldruggedcrossmean? SectionIisquitelongbutreadilyunderstandableifyougooveritafewtimes.It containsawealthofinstructionandreassurance.Writeasummaryinpointform,i.e.setdown themainideas.Onecentralideaisthat,althoughweareheavilyidentifiedwithouregos,there isstillapartofthemind(Wapnickcallsitthedecisionmakerthatisfreetomakechoices). Whatisthekeychoicewemustmake?Howdoyourespondtotheideathatyourworthis absolutelyindependentofanythingyouthinkordo,butisestablishedbyGod?Ifyoureally believedthat,howmightitchangeyourlife?Why(specify)areyoucreatingforyourselfalife fulloffear? Excerpt3.2.:Itisimpossibletoseetwoworlds(W.130,especiallyparas1and4). Readthroughthelesson.Para1isanideathatisfrequentlyemphasisedinACIM:we perceivewhatwewanttoperceive.Canyouthinkofexamplesinyourordinarydailylifewhere youtendtoseewhatyouwant,andoverlookwhatyoudontwant?ACIMwouldsaythatour wholeworldiscreatedbyourprojection/perception,thereforewemust'wantit.Whydowe wantitthisway(i.e.aworldofseparateobjects)?Whatisitwedontwanttosee?Howcan weallowGodtohelp(paras8and9)? Excerpt3.3.:TheGiftsofFatherhood(i.e.ofGod).(T11.I.111). Startwiththefirstsentenceinpara6:GodhasgivenyouaplaceinHisMindthatis yoursforever!Notehowdifferentthismaybefromourusualwayofthinkingofourselves. Thenreadtherestofthesection.Again,makealistofthemainpointsitclarifiesyour thinking;everyoneslistwillbealittledifferent,e.g.AIneedhealing...thisinvolvesareturntoa knowledgeofGod/theDivine....IcantreallyexcludemyselffromHim/That.....Ihaveaunique placethereinfact...timemeansnothing...(?)...cantcontradictGodslaws(howpresumtpuous thatwouldbe!)...Iamaskedtogivewithoutlimit(whatdoesthatmean?)...Ishouldaskwhat Godswill(i.e.myowntruewill)isineverything...butIdontbecauseitappearstobedifferent frommy(theegos)will,soImafraid(ofwhat?)...andsoon. 38

Nowfocusonpara10,sentences3and4,and11.9.TheyaresoimportanttousthatIll reproducethemhere: YouareafraidtoknowGodsWill,becauseyoubelieveitisnotyours. Thisbeliefisyourwholesicknessandyourwholefear. ...healingisthebeginningoftherecognitionthatyourwillisHis. Thisisclearenough,isntit,especiallywhenyouseparatethekeyideasfromtheother text(ausefullearningdevicethroughoutthisstudy).Commentontheextract.Noticehowthe mindtendstoreturntooldideasofGodassomethingseparateorparental.Trytocomeback tothinkingofyourselfasactuallypartofGod/theDivine.Dothequotedpassagessuggestto youadirectionforyourownhealing? Excerpt3.4.TheInvitationtoHealing(T11.II..14andmore) Ifthelastsectionhaswhettedyourappetite,youmaywanttoreadon.SectionII,para1 explainsthatwhatwetrulywantisbeingratherthanhaving.Whatdoesthatmeantoyou? Whatchangeswoulditmakeinyourthinkinglife?Para2goesontosaythatwecanheal throughunderstandingthatistheapproachACIMuses(asopposedto,forexample,seeking healingonlythroughquietingtheegoschatter,byprolongedmeditation).Thelastsentences ofpara2explaintheprocessofshiftingfromseparationtohealing.Thefirstsentenceofpara4 isalsoprofoundwhatdoesitmeantoyou?Youcouldcompileagrowinglistofdefinitionsof healingasyoucomeacrossthem:therearemanythroughoutACIM.Thesectiongoesonto describethechangeweneedtomakeasmakingroomfor,orplayinghosttothevoicefor God/HolySpirit.Thisismetaphoricalofcourse.Amoremodernversionmightbeshiftingfrom oneprogramtoanotheronourmentalcomputer.We,theoperator,havethepowertomake thechoice.

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Session4:TheEgo,anditsgrievances. Thissession,andthenext,focusonwhatACIMexplainsisthecentralprobleminour livesanexclusiveidentificationwithaseparatethinkingselforego(anditsaccompanying body). Excerpt4.1:ErrorandtheEgo.T3.IV. Itsvaluabletoreadthewholesectionofcourse,andmakeyourownsummary.You couldfocusespeciallyonthefollowing: paras2and3:Pondertheideathatwehavecreatedthisthingorprogramthatwecall ego,andthatwearenowconfusedandafraidbecausewesenseourseparationfrom somethingmuchgreater.Thepracticalquestionis:howdoIremovethefear?By reversingtheseparation?HowmightIapproachthis?(Someanswersinpara5). Thetextcontinues,toexplainperceptionasapropertyofego.Wearesoconditioned totheideaofknowingthroughperceptionthatitishardtoconceiveofanythingelse. ContrastthiswithwhatACIMexplainsastheroutetotrueknowledge.Whyisspirit perceivedasathreat? Excerpt4.2:TheEgotheMiracle.ClarificationofTerms#2(p81) Takealookatthe2lastsectionsoftheACIMvolume:ManualforTeachers,and ClarificationofTerms.Themanual,particularly,ismucheasiertoreadthanthemaintext. Thesecondsectionoftheclarificationisadiscussionofego.Welearnthategoisjust athought,adream,andmorealarmingly,athingofmadness(ACIMusestheserather dramaticlabelstoawakenustothefactthatourusualthinkingissoharmfulinmanyways). Para2:Acknowledgesthattheego(theseparateself)cannotbedeniedinaworldof form;yetdoesitmakesenseifwearetrulypartoftheDivineMind,createdandexistingoutside oftime?Ponderthisandwriteyourreactions(itdoesseemstrangeatfirst). Amiracle(para5)istheoppositeofperception,orknowingthatwearepartofthe Divine.Metaphorically,thisperceptionislight,whiletheegoisdarkness.Enlightenment meansknowingthatwearelight.Thatawarenesscomestomostofusverygradually,notin someblazeoffireworks.Youmayfindyourselfreactingtotheideathattheegoisevil;itis againawakeupcall.Afterall,whatcausesalltheconflictintheworldexceptego? Considerpara9:itmayseemgrandiosesavetheworld?!Whatisreallybeingasked ofus?Howmightanaspirationtohelpothersimproveourhealth.Mightthatnotbeagood reasontostickaroundonthis(illusory?)planetforawhile? 40

Excerpt4.3.TheDecisionforguiltlessness.T14.III.4. Ashortexcerpt,althoughyoumaywanttoreadsomeofthesurroundingtext(always helpful). Putintoyourownwordswhatthechoiceis,foryou.Whyisitpresentedasachoice betweenguiltandguiltlessness?(Explain). Excerpt4.4.GrievancesandtheEgo.W#s6872. Imsuggestingthatyoulookthroughthese5lessons,whichareeasytoread(compared withmuchofthemainText).Atthispoint,theaimistoclarifyourideas;induecourseyou maydecidetogothroughtheworkbookdaybydayasrecommended.Focusfirston#72,para 2:averycleardescriptionoftheegoanditspurposes.Nowbacktolesson68. Lesson68,para1:Explaininyourownwords,thinkingofyourownlife,whyholding grievancesandknowingyourHigherSelfareincompatible(pleasedontbesatisfiedwith paraphrasingwhatiswritteninthelesson;instead,reallychewitover,trytofeeltheforceof eachpartofthepara).Movingon,howdoesholdinggrievancespromoteguilt?(Turnthis aroundaswithmuchofACIM,itaidsunderstandingtodothis). Notehowpara5suggestsasimilarexercisetotheoneswehavedoneearlierinHJ.Para 6islikethefeelingmyselfsecureoflevel3isntit?Trytheexercisesanumberoftimes,either inexactlytheformgivenhere,orthewayinwhichyoudidtheminHJ;writeaboutit. Lesson69.Readthelesson,thentry(againanumberoftimes)themeditativeexercise describedinparas68.

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Session5:Moreabouttheego,andtheharmitdoes. Chapter4isagoodplacetostartreadingthetextofACIM;afterlayingouttheoverall philosophyofthecourseinchapters13,(relativelydifficultinplaces),theauthorgetsdown tospecificsinthischapter.Youwillprobablyfindbitsyouunderstandandbitsyoudont, throughoutthisworkthatistobeexpected.Someoftheharderpartswillbecomeclearon laterreading. Excerpt5.1.TheRewardsofGod.T4.VI.1,3,4,6. Obviouslyyoucan,withbenefit,readthewholesection.Focusexpeciallyonthe following: Para1:37.Whatdoeshemeanbyyourotherlife? Para3:13.Weoftenspeakoflettinggo(ofobsessivecontrolneeds).Ifwedothis, whatorwhoisgoingtoguideourthoughtsandactions?WhatisACIMssolution? Para4.Autonomywascitedasoneofthequalitiesassociatedwithprolongedsurvival inthepatientswhoseexperiencewasdrawnonforlevel4oftheHJprogram.Yethere,and throughout,ACIMisaskingustostopdirectingourselves.Howcanyoureconcilethese2pieces ofadvice? Para6:13.Howappealing(ornot)isthemissionthatACIMoffersyou?Whatmightbe thegoodandbadfeaturesofacceptingthis? (Moreadvancedstudents:Explainpara7:25inyourownwords.Whyshouldwefeel gratefultoourbrothersandsisters?Whydoyouthinkhechosethiswordratherthanasking ustoloveourbrothers?) Excerpt5.2.TheEgoandFalseAutonomy.T4.II. Herewepickupthetextofch4aftersection2,whereweleftitinthethirdsession. Whilenoteasy,thisisarelativelystraightforwardsection,soyoucouldtryitall. Para5.Doestheprospectofdiminishingtheclamourofyouregofeelpainful?Why? Paras6and7.Considertheideathatgivingisassociatedwithsacrificeorloss,from theegospointofview.ACIMhasalottosayaboutsacrificeinlaterchapters.Whatsenseof yourselfandyourrelationtotheworldwouldyouneedtohavesothatgivingwouldnotseem likealoss? Para8.Thinkabouttheattempt(commoninreligion)oftheseparateselforegotoget intouchwithorgethelpfromahighersourceoftendescribedasspirit.Canyouseehowthis isanattempttoholdontotheseparateness,theselfwill? Para10:Whatismeantbyrightmindedness? 42

Para11:Thisparagraphisleadingustowardstheideathatwehaveonlyaverylimited conceptionofwhoweare,andthattheego,whichreliesonperception,willeventuallygiveway toasenseofSelfthatdoesnot,andisimmortalandstable(seealsothefirstparaofthenext section.ThetextwasdictatedbyJesusinacontinuousflow,thesectionheadingsbeingadded laterbytheeditors). Excerpt5.3.Lookingwithin.T12.VII.13. Thisisascarylittlesection!Whydoestheegowanttokillus?Whatwouldthatprove? Whatcrimedoestheego(secretly)fearwehavecommitted?Ifitseemsextreme,thinkof whatwouldhappentotheegoifyoucametoknowyourtrueSelfasimmortalandindependent ofthebody. Excerpt5.4.TheUnbelievablebelief.T7.VIII.57. Andherestheantidote!Wedonthavetoinvestbeliefinego/separateness.Perhaps youcanthinkofideasyouusedtohaveaboutyourselfandyourlimits(oryourabilities)thatyou nowseeasfalse?Theegoissimplyanoverallmisconceptionofthiskind. Para5:4.Whatdoesthissentencemean(recallsectionsoflevel3ifIfeeltotally secure,Idonothaveanydesiretoattack).Thenthenextsentences:whaterrorsmustwetry torootout,(thinkabouttheneedtocontroleverything),andhowdoesonegivethemoverto theHolySpirit? Para7:anicestatementofwhatACIMisabout.

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Session6.Alternativestoidentificationwiththeego. Nowwewilltieupsomelooseendsbyreadingmuchoftherestofchapter4.AsI suggestedinthelastsession,chapter4isagoodoneforintensivestudyearlyinourcontact withACIM,(andchapter5,whichflowsonfromit,isalsoquiteunderstandableandvery relevanttohealing).Bycontrast,thefirst3chaptersofthetextaremoredifficult,sodontbe concernedifyoudontunderstandallthatisinthemyouwillfindthattheygraduallyyield theirmeaningwhenyoucomebacktothemlater. Excerpt6.1.Lovewithoutconflict.T4.III, ReviewtheIntroductionandsectionsIandIIofchapter4,whichwestudiedinsessions3 and5.TheydescribeourtrueselfandworthasestablishedbyGod,andshowhowourself constructedegostrytosubvertthisawareness.Notethelastparagraph(#11)ofsectionII:who istheyoulivinginthisworld?Thisistheultimatequestionforusall;canyouseethatitis onewayofexpressingthesearchforhealing?Whatwouldbethelikelyimpactonyourhealth ofdiscoveringoruncoveringyourtrueSelf?(Dontjustanswerthatbyrotetrytofeelhowit wouldbe,andanswerfromthatfeeling). SectionIII,Para1:TheKingdomofHeavenisyou!Thinkofthisintermsofthetriangle diagramwehaveusedtodescribe,inaspatialmetaphor,theWholeMind.Godcouldbeseen asatthetop,whileoursmallmindsarefragmentsoftheDivine,scatteredalongthebaseofthe triangle.Yetweareanintegralpart,andhavepotentialaccesstothewholeinotherwords, wecanchoosetolocateourselvesanywherewithinthetriangle,andthehigherthebetter!We arealsobeingtoldherethatwe(ourspirits)create,muchasGodcreates:awesome!! Paras3and4:Contrasttheverylimitedsenseofselfthatcomesfromidentifyingwith ego.Whatstopsyoufromallowinglovetoenterimmediatelyintoyourmind?Whatisthe ambivalence?Howdoesthedrivetogetcontributetothis? Para6:Howdoesitfeeltobenotsomeimpotentpawn,ascertainreligioustraditions describeus,butabeingwhosewillisasfreeasthatofGod?(seealsoIV.7).Whatmightbethe responsibilitiesassociatedwithsuchfreedom? Paras79:considerthatwealreadyhaveeverything,butareobscuringthisrealization withthedemandsofouregos.Experimentwithmakingasingleunequivocalcall(para7, sentence10),andnoteanyideasthatsurfacetopreventyourdoingso. Excerpt6.2.Thisneednotbe.T4.IV. Thissectiondescribesabarometer,thestateofourbodyanditsassociatedbrainmind, thatwecanusetoassesswhetherornotwearespirituallyconnected.Wehavechosen rightlywhenwearejoyous,andwronglywhenwearent.Drawapiecharttoshowthe proportionoftimeyouarejoyousversusnotso.Trythequestionfrompara2:Thinkhonestly whatyouhavethoughtthatGodwouldnothavethought......(Inotherwordscomparewhat thoughtsmightbelikeatthebottomofthetriangle,andatthetop).Canyouseehowwetryto 44

combatanxietyandsadnessatthelevelofego,i.e.weexamineandtrytodropspecificanxious thoughts,whichhassomevalue,whileACIMoffersasolutionatamuchhigherlevelsimply shiftingouridentificationfromtheegototheHigherSelf.Reflectandcommentonthis,and alsoonhowthismightapplytophysicalhealing. Voluntarydispiriting,wearetold,neednotbe.Para7explainswhywedoit,because wedontbelieveweareworththeeffort!Examinethisideaasitappliestoyou. ContrastthepopularviewofapossibleSecondComingofChristwiththeexplanation givenhere(para10).Whydopeopleseekatangibleprophet?Whatwouldbesocietyslikely reactiontotheemergenceofsuchaperson? Excerpt6.3.Theegobodyillusion.T4.V. Paras14describehowweturntothebodyforouridentification.Whatarethe disadvantagesofthisstrategy?Canyoufindawaytohonourandenjoyyourbodywithout thinkingofitaswhoIam? Paras5and6areacalltodefiningpurposeinourlives,ifwewanttolivetheminan intentional(i.e.spiritual)way.Whatisyourmainpurposeinlife?Areyougivingthepursuitof thattoppriorityintermsoftimeandeffort? Excerpt6.4.Creationandcommunication.T4.VII. Thissectioncompletesthechapter;youwillrecallstudyingsectionVIinoursession5. SectionVIIintroducestheideathatourprimaryfunctionisnottotakeupspaceasmaterial bodies,buttobecommunicationcentres.Perhapswecouldseeourselvesasarepeater stationsinthecosmos,designedtopromulgatetheDivineAwarenesseverywhere?Being...is astateinwhichthemindisincommunicationwitheverythingthatisreal. Ifyouwanttoponderthisfurther,askyourselfwhatdoesthatmeantoyou?Trytofeel it,dontintellectualiseaboutit!. Whatdoesitmeantobewhollyhelpful?Explain(toyourownsatisfaction)whythis involvesbeingwhollyharmless. Youmaywishtoreadonintochapter5(recallingthatwestudiedsectionIIinour sessions1and2).Theveryfirstsentenceisaneyeopener!Tryturningitaround.MayIalso drawyourattentiontoIII.8,andtothebeautifulpassageinIV.8.Theideathattheegoisquite literallyafearfulthought(sectionV.3)isworththinkingaboutalso.

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Session7.Iamnotguiltyandneednotattackothers,ormyself. Letslookmoredeeplyintoourtendencytoattack,thatisblameorjudgeorcondemn, bothothersandourselves.YouwillrecallthatthiswasamajorthemeinHJlevel3. Excerpt7.1.W.22,23,26. ManyideasaremoresimplyexpressedintheworkbookthanintheText,sowewill lookatsomethoughtsaboutattackhere:Ihopethatdippingintoitlikethismayserveto familiariseyouwiththeworkbook,andperhapstointerestyouinbeginningtogothroughit daily,startingatlesson1. L.22,paras1and2:Whenweareangry(i.efrustratedbynotgettingwhatwewant)we blameandjudgeothers.Canyouseethatyoualso,inevitably,projectthisontotheworld,i.e. youexpectotherstobeangryandjudgmentaltowardsyou?Thisviciouscirclepromotesfear. L.23.Ponderthetitleaffirmation.Trytosensehowitwouldfeelifyoudidnotattack (judge,resist)anything(writeaboutit).NowseehowACIMtakesthisideatoitslogical conclusionfarbeyondwhatregularpsychologyunderstands.Ourthoughts,whicharemainly attacks(wantingthingstobeacertainway,whichisusuallydifferentfromhowtheyappearto be!)actuallycreateourmaterialworld!Whatwouldbetheoppositetoattacking?Canyou sensetheidentitybetweenattackingandbeingattacked(seethelastparagraph)?Howmight droppingattackrelatetoyourhealing? Ifyouwantabitmoreonthis,readlesson26. Excerpt7.2Theegosuseofguilt.T5.V. Wewillexaminethissectionveryclosely;notehow,ifyougothroughitmanytimes, sentencebysentence,arichnessofmeaningemergesthatwouldnotbeevidentonarapid perusal. Para1:aninvitationtolookattheegoslogiconguilt. Para8(readnext):Wearetoldagainthatthemindmakesourfuture,andthatour guiltcomesfromseparation(explain).FurtherbyacceptingtheAtonement(meaning?),wecan turnbacktofullcreation.Mightthismeanthatwecanrewritethescriptofourlives,soto speak?Doesitmeanwecanchangewhatwemaybeexperiencingphysically(writeyourown understandingofthis)? Paras2and3:SeparatingfromtheDivineis,essentially,mountinganattackonIt;hence weexpecttobeattackedinturn.Canyouthinkofexamplesfromyourownlifewherethis reciprocitybetweenattackingorblamingandbeingblamedhasoccurred?Notethedefinition hereofego(afearfulthought)! 46

Para4:Theantidotetoguiltis....? Para5:Explorethatfirstsentence:theguiltlessmindcannotsuffer.Aswithallsuch profoundstatementsinACIM,weneedtoturnitoverandoverinourminds,andtorelateitto ourownexperience,inordertounderstandandbenefitfromit.ThenJCgoesontoprovideone wayofunderstandingillness.Asolutiontoillnessisimpliedexplain. [ifyouwanttofollowupontherelationshipbetweenhealingofillnessandreleasefrom guilt,trytheManualforTeachers,section5(p17inthesecondedition).Iwontposequestions aboutithere,butwewillcomebacktoitinlatersessions]. Paras6and7:Watchyourmindforawhiletoexaminethetruthoftheassertionthat youaredecidingwhatyouwanteverysecond(writeaboutit).These2parascontinueto amplifythepathtodroppingguilt,andthelogicofdoingso.Youmightliketosummarisethis. Whatistruethought? Excerpt7.3.TheinheritanceofGodsson.T11.IV.5,6. Howdoyouunderstandthestatement:youcannotenterGodspresenceifyouattack HisSon?Whataboutselfblame? Excerpt7.4Theguiltlessworld.T13.Intro,I. Thischapterpursuesthecentralissueofourguilt,andrelatesittooursenseoftimeand ofourseparationfromothers. Intro,para1:Ifyoudidnotfeelguiltyyoucouldnotattack.Again,itisvitaltoestablish thetruthofthisforoneself,bymanipulatingourguiltintheimagination(i.e.imaginingit diminished),andnotingwhatthatdoestothedesiretoblameorjudge. Paras2and3:Thistextaddressestheoftenraisedobjection:HowcouldGodmakea worldlikethis?,andexplainshowandwhythispunitiveenvironmentwasinfactcreatedbyus toserveourownegoneeds. Para4:reiteratesthewayout. Forthekeenstudent,afewmorethingstoconsider: Para1:loveandguiltcannotcoexistcomments? Para3:Youarenotguiltlessintime,butineternity.Whatdoesthismean? Para8:Youcanholdontothepastonlythroughguilt.(Andviceversa?). Thereareatleasttwointerestingnewideasinthissection:theinterrelationofguiltandtime; andtheideathatceasingtoattack(andthereforenotbeingattacked)isequivalentto understandingouronenesswithall.

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Session8.Replacingattackwithforgiveness. Moreaboutthecentralthemethatthereisnoneedtoattackothersoroneself,oreven toseeoneselfasbeingattacked(andhencetobedefensive). Excerpt8.1.Forgivenessismyfunction....W62,63. L.62:Howwillforgivenessletyourecognizethelightinwhichyouseewhatdoesthis mean?Howisitrelevanttodiscovering(uncovering)youridentity?Whatistherelationshipof forgivenesstoacceptance?Whatdoyoufindhardtoaccept?Reflectonthisforsometime, andwriteaboutit. L.63:Thislessonistellingusaboutourrolenothinglessthansavingtheworld!Not throughactivism,butthroughcultivatingpeaceinourownminds.Howdoyouunderstandthis section? Excerpt8.2.Beyondperception.T3.V. Notetheratherspecificuseofsometermshere,inaslightlydifferentwayfromnormal worldlyusage,e.g.creative. Para6:Whyistheonlymeaningfulprayer...forforgiveness? Para9:Forgivenessisthehealingoftheperceptionofseparation.Howdoyou understandthis?(Aswithalltheseprofoundsayings,weneedtoexploreactively;thiscouldbe donebythinkingaboutwhereweareseparatedfromothers,fromourselvesandimagining whatitwouldbeliketobelessso). Excerpt8.3.Themessageofthecrucifixion.T6.Intro,I. Thissectiondiscussesthecrucifixion,andcorrectssomeoftheinterpretationsthathave grownuparoundthebiblicalaccount.Moreimportantforourpurposes,itdiscusseshowwe choosetocrucifyourselves.Wehavealreadyseenwhatwedotoourselvesbyourreactionto events;thisisthedomainofstressmanagement,learningtoreactless.Nowweseethatitis unnecessaryeventodefendourselvesagainstapparentpersecutionbyothers,andthatifwe do,weare,ineffect,attackingback. SectionIislongandabitconfusinginparts:Iwouldsuggestreadingitwithoutworrying toomuchifyoucantgraspitall.ThencomebacktotheIntroductiontochapter6,andread that,andsectionIparagraphs14morecarefully.Howareweaskedtorespondtoattack? trytofindwithinawayofnotneedingtodefendyourself.Canyouimaginethat?What changeswouldthatrequire,i.e.whatwouldyourownviewofrealityneedtobecomehow mightyoulearntoseetheWhole(orGod,ortheDivine),thematerialworld,andyourself? 48

Excerpt8.4.ThejudgmentoftheHolySpirit.T12.I. Thissectionfollowsonnicelyfromtheargumentinthelast(werecruisingtowards sainthoodhere!).Welearnthatattackisreallyacryforhelp!Imaginethatitdoesntusually feellikeitdoesit?.Likewise,respondingtoacryforhelpissaidtoberespondingtoourown needs(para7).Itappearsthateveryactionreallygoesbothways,towardsothersandtowards ourselves:givingisreceiving. Iwouldsuggestthesameapproachasforthelastexcerpt:readingthroughthewhole section,thenreturningtothefirst4paragraphsformoredetailedstudy.Inwhatwaymight attacksbeacallforhelp?Lookatotherswhoappeartoattackorinconvenienceor disempoweryou(maybeinsubtleorindirectways).Nowtrytoseeinadifferentlightallthe waysinwhichyouhavedescribedtheseandsimilarmatterstoyourself,probablyfordecades. Youmightliketoconsiderpara6also:gratitudetoourfellowman??Whatdoesthat mean?Whatistherelevanceofallthistohealing? Excerpt8.5.Yourfunctionintheatonement.T14.IV.3. Takesthingsalittlefurtherstill,andconnectswithLessons62and63fromthe Workbook.Ourfunctionistoaccepttheguiltlessnessofoursistersandbrothers,andof ourselves.Onearththisisyouronlyfunction(para3).Canyouseehowachievingitwould solveallproblems?

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Session9.Alternativestoguilt. Excerpt9.1.Dealingwithmagicthoughts.M.17.4,5.(ManualforTeachers,section17). AttheheartofACIMsteachingsistherelationshipbetweensin,guiltandanger. Considerthefollowingsequence,relativelyfamiliarbynow: WefeelguiltbecausewehaveseparatedourselvesfromtheDivineMind. Believingourselvestobeguiltyandseparate,wewillattempttomanipulatethe externalworldtoprotectandsupportourselves,andwillbeinevitablyandcontinuously dissatisfiedwiththeresult. Thisfrustrationisexpressedasanger. Canyouseehowangerisdependentonguilt?Ifyouwerefreeofguilt,couldyoube angry(tryitinimagination)?Whatismeantbythefirst2sentencesinpara4?Whatkindof broadinterpretationisJCreferringtohere? Magicistheoppositeofamiracle,i.e.itisanypowerexcepttheWillofGod,andso referstoourexpectationthatmaterialremedies,otherpeople,orourworldlyselves,canheal orindeedaccomplishanythingrealatall. Readtherestof#17.WhatresolutiondoesACIMadvocate?Canyoureconcilethiswith continuingtoliveahappydreamhereintheworld? Excerpt9.2.ReferringdecisionstotheHolySpirit.M.29.3. Thisparagraphgivesusanswerstotheproblemofwhattodointheworld.Everyone hastoconsiderthisintheirownwayandreconcileitwiththeirneedtocontroleventsinthis life.HowdoyouseeyourselffunctioningintheworldyetacknowledgingtheDivine?Howdo youseetheroleoftheordinary,worldly,decisionmakingsenseofselfonwhichwehaveall reliedforsolong?Howcanyouapproachyourlifeandyourhealingwiththisnewer understanding? Excerpt9.3.Letmerememberthatthereisnosin.L.259. Anexampleofthelaterworkbooklessons,whichbearsonthequestionwehavebeen discussing.Letstakeitonestepfurther: ACIMoftenpointsoutthatwefearlove.Whatkindofloveisbeingreferredto,and whydowefearit? Excerpt9.5.TheHeroofthedream.T27.VIII. Thefirst9paragraphsofthissectionareagentleridiculingoftheworldlyideawhich mightbestated:Iam,firstandforemost,abody,andeverythingrevolvesaroundthatfact! Para4:WhatdoesHemeanbythusareyounotthedreamer,butthedream?(Dont 50

letthatonezipby:itneedsalotofdigesting!) Para6:ThisisascloseasACIMcomestoansweringthequestionthatoccurstoall studentseventually,namelywhydidthissplit(awayfromtheDivineMind)everoccurinthefirst place?Presumably,wearenotyetinapositiontounderstanditfully. Paras1013:NotethatACIMisnotsayingyoucausedyourillnessinthesensethata naiveNewAgeprophetorapsychosomaticphysicianmightmeanit.Itisnotfocussedon whetheryousmokedtoomuch,orhadbadgenes,orweredamningyourselfbysome unrecognizedattitudetolife.WhatthendoesACIMmeanbyyouaredoingthisuntoyourself? Andwhatistheantidote,thehealingprocess?(Thisisobviouslyaquestionofkey,practical importancetous,andonethatdeservesalotofthought.Theanswersarehere.Ifyoucant makesenseofitalone,makesureyougetsatisfactionfromtheclassdiscussions.)

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Session10.Toloveothers(unconditionally)istoloveourselvesistohealourselves. Excerpt10.1.ThewaytorememberGod.T12.II. WepreviouslystudiedsectionIofthischapter.Itwouldbevaluabletoreviewyour notesandrereadthesection;recallthatitdescribedallattackasacryforhelp,orinother words,anappealforlove.Further,inrecognizingthisinothers,weseeitinourselves.In reactingtootherswithlovewereceiveitourselves:wereplaceourdreamofseparationwith thefactofunity. Thissecondsectioncontinuestodeveloptheunderstandingthatwhatwegivetoothers isgiventoourselves. Para1.Tellsuswehealourselvesbylovingourselves,andbyknowingthetruthabout ourselves.Inpracticalterms,wemustdenythedenialoftruth.WhydoesJCputitthisway,as adoublenegative,insteadofsimplysayingaccepttruth?Experimentwithbothwaysof consideringthiscalltoactionwhichprovidesabetterguide,andwhy? Paras2and3.AmplifiestheideathatwhatwegivetootherswegivetoourselvesJC makesnodistinction.Sobylovingothersunconditionally,weloveourselvesandthereforeheal ourselves.Itthusbecomesveryimportanttoconsideranyresentmentsyoumaybeholding againstanyotherpersons.Examinethis(especiallyinyourmostimportantrelationships).List resentments.Canyouseehowyoumightdropthem?Considerhowyoumaydenyyour denialofloveforthem. Para4.Pointsoutthatweblockourhealingbyclingingtothefallacythatwealready understand(thisisperhapsthemajormisconceptionthatpreventspeoplegettingfarwiththeir healingwork).Weareallinvestedinourviewoftheworldandofreality.Whatdoyoufear mighthappenifyouadmitIdontunderstandanything?Canyoufindapositivewaytolookat suchanadmission,suchasIamopeningtoawholenewunderstanding...? Paras510areabeautifulreassurancethatyes,wecandoit! Excerpt10.2.Thefearofredemption.T13.III. Thisisasectionthatstrikesattheheartofourresistancetochangeandgrowth.Tryto feelyourwayintoitacademicunderstandingherewonttakeusfar.Para4isagoodinitial summary.Theninpara2:canyoufindafearofGod/theDivine?WhydoyoufearIt?Canyou findinyourselfasavagewishtokillGodsSon?HowdoesattackprotectyoufromHeaven, whichyoumayseeaspersonalobliteration,ordoyou? Para3:Isitinfacthardertosay(andmean)IlovethanIhate?Tryitoutinreference tootherpeople,andtotheDivine(inameditativestate). 52

Paras6and7pointtotheneedforhonest,totalselfexamination(cfourlastexcerpt). Para8reiteratesthatwecanfindourtruenatureinourbrothersasinourselveswecanwork atitineitherway.Onespotoffearwillblocklove(para9). Paras1012introduceanideathatisthoroughlydiscussedthroughoutmostofthe secondhalfofthetext:howourwishtobespecialseparatesus.Wewilldomoreonthislater, butfornowexamineyourneedtobespecial.Canyouseetheconsequencesofthis(inspiritual termsofcourse)? Excerpt10.3.Thecircleofatonement.T14.V.3. Para3repeatsoneoftheideaswehavebeenconsidering:ourfunctionistodevote ourselvestothedenialofguilt.Whatisyourfunctionhere(inlessabstractterms?Thinkofthis mainlyintermsofyourdesiredstateofmind;bespecific,i.e.gobeyondobviousstatementslike Iwantpeace). Excerpt10.4.TheFearofhealing.T27.II. Asyouwillhavenoticedbynow,thereisalotofrepetitioninACIM.Sothissection, neartheendofthetext,isreiteratingideaswehavealreadyencountered,inaslightlydifferent way.Nevertheless,itisavaluablereview,andrelatesmuchofwhatwehavebeenstudyingto thepromotionofhealing.Considerespeciallythefollowing: Para2:theunhealedcannotpardon Para3:nooneinwhomtrueforgivenessrestscansuffer. Para4:Letyourselfbehealedthatyoumaybeforgiving,offeringsalvationtoyour brotherandyourself. Para5:abrokenbodyshowsthemindhasnotbeenhealed. Para7:Yourhealthisaresultofyourdesiretoseeyourbrotherwithnoblooduponhis hands,norguiltuponhisheart.... Para8:Thecostofyourserenityishis. Para10:Correctionisnotyourfunction

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