Month: February 2022

ACIM Conversations, Part 6

Joseph Dewey

ACIM Conversations, Part 6
Is Anything Happening?

Student: Another discussion I see a lot is something that sounds kind of silly to someone who is not a Course student. It is whether or not we are here. The idea is that this world never happened and we never left heaven and are still there. Others say something did happen and we are here but in an illusionary sense. What do you think?

Teacher: The big question is what does the Voice in ACIM say about it? This is another situation where various passages from the Course, taken in isolation, can support either side of the argument. For instance, quotes used by those who say nothing happened say the physical body is not eternal and “does not exist.” T-6.V.A.2 and “The world you see does not exist.” T-28.V.7. But what about you? Does it seem that you are here living on planet earth?

Student: Yes, it seems that way to me and everyone here.

Teacher: How could that be if you are not here?

Student: Here is a passage I’ve seen quoted. It says: “You dwell not here, but in eternity. You travel but in dreams, while safe at home.” T-13.VII.17

Teacher: Yes, the Course basically tells us we seem to be here because we “travel but in dreams.” In other words, it tells us that this world seems real because we dreamed it up, kind of like presented in some science fiction movies like the Matrix.

Student: I loved that movie.

Teacher: Tell me this. When Neo returned to the real world, did anyone there declare Neo’s experience fighting Mr. Smith never happened?

Student: Not that I recall.

Teacher: Did you have a dream last night?

Student: Yes. I dreamed I was romancing this beautiful lady. It was a pleasant dream, unlike Neo’s.

Teacher: Did you actually have a dream then?

Student: I guess I would say yes.

Teacher: So, in what sense did the dream never happen?

Student: It didn’t happen in my waking world. I was kind of disappointed when I woke up and the lady was no longer by my side.

Teacher: So, it was as if the events of the dream never happened in this world, but it was a definite happening that you had the dream and the experience in the dream. Is that correct?

Student: I would have to agree.

Teacher: So, where is the true reality, and the dream according to the Course?

Student: The true reality is the eternal world that we came from before the dream began. The dream is this temporary world in time and space that we perceive with the physical eyes.

Teacher: Would you say it is literally correct to say that your dream last night as well as your dream of this world never happened?

Student: I think it is misleading to claim this without explaining the point of reference. Even though my dream did not happen in this world, it is true that I had a dream. I would also think that even though this temporary world does not exist in the eternal world, that it is still something that happened – just as my dream of the lady really happened here.

Teacher: Good point. So, even though your dream last night is not happening in this world, would you say it was a real experience?

Student: I’d have to say yes. It was an experience and I can still relive it in my mind.

Teacher: And how about your life here on earth? Discounting the fact that it is a dream, not existing in the waking state in heaven, how about your experience here? Have you had an experience or not?

Student: I’d have to say that I have had quite an experience and, dream or no dream, I’ve had a real experience. The problem is that the Course sometimes reads like nothing has happened, and other times like something has happened. Can you shed some light here?

Teacher: The answer is quite simple. When you awaken from a nightmare, you may have a sense of relief and exclaim, “Wow, I’m glad that never happened!” What are you really saying when you say this? Are you saying the dream never happened?

Student: No. I would be merely saying that the dream never happened in what we consider reality – our waking state.

Teacher: Does it make sense then that the Course is expressing a similar view when speaking of things in our world as not being real or never happening?

Student: That would make sense.

Teacher: The Course even speaks along these lines: “You recognize from your own experience that what you see in dreams you think is real while you are asleep. Yet the instant you waken you realize that everything that seemed to happen in the dream did not happen at all.” T-10.I.2

It didn’t happen at all in the waking state, but still a dream did happen.

Student: Have you found references from the Course that indicate something did happen concerning our world?

Teacher: Quite a few actually. The Course tells us the separation began with a mad idea and “the thought become a serious idea, and possible of both accomplishment and real effects.” T-27.VIII.6

Would you say that a mad idea capable of real effects is something that happened?

Student: One would think so.

Teacher: In addition, it says that “the separation occurred over millions of years.” T-2.VIII.2 To say something “occurred” is basically the same thing as saying something happened, is it not?

Student: I would think so.

Teacher: Then after this occurrence, or happening, God responded with a very significant creation. It is written that God created the “Holy Spirit, Who was God’s answer to the separation.” T-17.IV.4 “He has created the Holy Spirit as the Mediator between perception and knowledge.” W-pI.43.1

Would God have created the Holy Spirit in response to something that never happened?

Student: That wouldn’t make sense.

Teacher: Finally, we are told that the separation “shattered heaven.” T-18.I.12 One would think then that the separation was not only a happening, but must have been a very significant event to create such a disturbance.

Student: Must have been to have shattered heaven.

Teacher: To sum it up, we can say that when the separation occurred a good portion of the Sonship entered a dream state, and when the Course speaks of things that are not real or didn’t happen, it is speaking in relation to the eternal world.

Student: Yeah. Our conversation is happening in our world but is not seen as happening in heaven.

Teacher: The Course encapsulates our situation in this quote: “What you believe is true for you. In this sense the separation has occurred, and to deny it is merely to use denial inappropriately.” T-2.VII.5

Student: Sounds like we should not deny the separation, but understand it.

Teacher: Exactly.

Links to The Mysteries of A Course in Miracles:

Copyright by J J Dewey

Read the Introduction HERE, Read Chapter One HERE. Chapter Two HERE, Chapter Three HERE, Chapter Four HERE, Chapter Five HERE Chapter Six HERE, Chapter Seven HERE, Chapter Eight HERE, Chapter Nine HERE, Chapter Ten HERE, Chapter Eleven HERE, Chapter Twelve HERE, Chapter Thirteen HERE, Chapter Fourteen HERE, Fifteen HERE, Sixteen HERE, Seventeen HERE,       Eighteen HERE, Nineteen HERE, Twenty HERE, Twenty-One HERE, Twenty-Two HERE, Twenty-Three HERE, Twenty-Four HERE, Twenty-Five HERE, Twenty-Six HERE, Twenty-Seven  HERE, Twenty-Eight  HERE, Twenty-Nine HERE, Thirty HERE

ACIM Conversations, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part  16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24, Part 25

Index for Original Archives

Index for Recent Posts

Easy Access to All the Writings

For Free Book go HERE and other books HERE

JJ’s Amazon page HERE

Gather with JJ on Facebook HERE

ACIM Conversations, Part 5

Joseph Dewey

ACIM Conversations, Part 5
Is Heaven on Earth?

Teacher: In our last discussion we established that there are two major steps given in the Course necessary to fully awaken and enter heaven. Step one is seeing the real world. Step two is when the Father takes us back home. What hurdles do you suppose we need overcome before we even enter the real world?

Student: Applying forgiveness is a big one. Also, we must overcome fear, grievances. We must be willing to see Christ within our brothers, as well as ourselves, and the oneness of all life. It seems that there are quite a few steps, or hurdles as you say.

Teacher: It seems you have missed the most important and first step. Can you tell me what it is?

Student: Can’t think of anything more important than forgiveness which is stressed by the Course.

Teacher: But will you apply anything in the Course if you do not want to investigate the meaning of life?

Student: I think I see what you are getting at. The first step is asking questions about our true nature.

Teacher: Yes. We are told “the purpose of this course is to help you remember what you are… the reason for the course is that you do not know what you are.” T-9.I.2

If we do not ask this question, then we will never get to the other steps or even take the Course.

Student: I’m confused over the idea that we need to take all these steps to get to heaven, if we are already there as some think.

Teacher: Have you noticed that there are two groups who think we are already in heaven – those who think we experience heaven on earth and those who say we never left?

Student: I have, and it hurts my brain considering some of the paradoxical discussions around these things.

Teacher: Let us explore the mystery and start with the first one. Why do you suppose that many think we can be in heaven right here on earth while still in bodies?

Student: The Course makes it sound that way in the passages previously quoted such as: “Heaven is here. There is nowhere else. Heaven is now. There is no other time.” M-24.6

Teacher: To resolve these passages that seem to contradict, the student must realize that sometimes the Voice speaks from the view of the eternal world, and other times, for the sake of communication, it speaks from our point of view on this world. Statements made from these two viewpoints can both be true, but appear to contradict. Concerning your quote, one may assume it is spoken from the eternal view of the true reality.

From this view, heaven is always here because only the real is here, and our world does not even exist. There is nowhere that is not real. Heaven is now because from the eternal view, there is no past or future but only now. There is no other time because the present is the only time there is.

Student: So heaven cannot be here on this earth because our world does not even exist in the true reality. Is that right?

Teacher: Yes and no.

Student: Now that’s the type of answer I was talking about that makes my brain hurt.

Teacher: I’ll try and go easy on your brain. While in this illusionary dream state, we will not find heaven in what appears to be outside of us anywhere on earth or in any object. That’s like trying to find God in an idol, like the golden calf. But while residing on earth, there is a place we can look to find heaven. Where do you suppose that would be?

Student: Jesus said the Kingdom of God is within. It is stated in the Bible and affirmed in the Course.

Teacher: The Course makes numerous statements to the effect that we have heaven and divinity within us, such as:

“The Christ in you inhabits not a body. Yet He is in you. And thus it must be that you are not within a body.” T-25.in.1

“Do not try to look beyond yourself for truth, for truth can only be within you. Say, therefore: Christ is in me, and where He is God must be, for Christ is part of Him.” T-9.I.14

So, the truth, Christ, God and the Holy Spirit are all found within, but it tells us they not within the body. Where are they?

Student: That’s an interesting question because when one thinks of going within, the tendency is to focus within the body

Teacher: Indeed. But the body is merely a projection of our thought, so we do not want to go within the projected image, but we want the real thing instead. What is that?

Student: The real part of our self is one with Christ, so I guess it just means to focus on your divine mind and all is available.

Teacher: Technically, “within” may not be accurate, but it is probably the best word to use to direct our focus. In reality, our true self is one with all there is, and it may be more correct to say we need to look beyond this world to the true reality.

Student: So, when I look beyond the illusion to my true self, am I then in heaven?

Teacher: Have you tried to do this?

Student: Yes.

Teacher: And did you find heaven?

Student: I’m not sure, but I found a really nice peace and sense of oneness.

Teacher: Did you feel that you had reached the ultimate state of existence?

Student: It felt heavenly, but I also felt there was more. Much more actually. It seems there is something beyond a normal consciousness.

Teacher: Now read this passage:

Student reads: “It is impossible to see two worlds which have no overlap of any kind. Seek for the one; the other disappears. But one remains. They are the range of choice beyond which your decision cannot go. The real and the unreal are all there are to choose between, and nothing more than these.” W-pI.130.5

Teacher: There are two worlds. One is the world of illusion and the other is called heaven. Which do you see now?

Student: I see your body, which the Course says does not exist, so I suppose I am seeing the illusion.

Teacher: Yes, and I see your body so I am in the same situation. The Course says this: “The body stands between the Father and the Heaven.” T-23.IV.7 As long as we see our bodies, and this world instead of the heavenly, we are obviously not fully in heaven.

Student: You said “not fully.” Are you saying we are part way there?

Teacher: The honest seeker can catch a glimpse of heaven in his quiet moments when he takes his attention off this world, but then as he goes about his daily activities, he sees only this world, though he can also have a sense of the peace of heaven.

Student: Sounds like seekers are having experiences in both worlds.

Teacher: Yes, when we begin to wake up it is like going outside and being aware of the sun overhead and how powerful it is. But compare that to being the sun, which would be much more encompassing.

Student: So, you are saying we can get a sense of heaven while we live here and see this world, but it will be something else to leave this world and be fully awake.

Teacher: Yes. Here’s a quote verifying that thought: “No one on earth can grasp what Heaven is, or what its one Creator really means.” M-23.6

So, we can get a sense of heaven while here on earth, but we cannot fully grasp what it is until we return.

Student: That is kind of what I felt in my highest spiritual moments, or my holy instant.

Links to The Mysteries of A Course in Miracles:

Copyright by J J Dewey

Read the Introduction HERE, Read Chapter One HERE. Chapter Two HERE, Chapter Three HERE, Chapter Four HERE, Chapter Five HERE Chapter Six HERE, Chapter Seven HERE, Chapter Eight HERE, Chapter Nine HERE, Chapter Ten HERE, Chapter Eleven HERE, Chapter Twelve HERE, Chapter Thirteen HERE, Chapter Fourteen HERE, Fifteen HERE, Sixteen HERE, Seventeen HERE,       Eighteen HERE, Nineteen HERE, Twenty HERE, Twenty-One HERE, Twenty-Two HERE, Twenty-Three HERE, Twenty-Four HERE, Twenty-Five HERE, Twenty-Six HERE, Twenty-Seven  HERE, Twenty-Eight  HERE, Twenty-Nine HERE, Thirty HERE

ACIM Conversations, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part  16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24, Part 25

Index for Original Archives

Index for Recent Posts

Easy Access to All the Writings

For Free Book go HERE and other books HERE

JJ’s Amazon page HERE

Gather with JJ on Facebook HERE

 

ACIM Conversations, Part 4

Joseph Dewey

ACIM Conversations, Part 4
Two Steps to Heaven

Student: I’ve encountered disagreement among students as to where or when heaven is entered. Some say we can be in heaven right here on the earth and others say we have to leave this earth behind to enter heaven.

Teacher: Do the ones who say heaven is here give any reference?

Student: They do. Here, I’ll read two of them to you.

“Atonement might be equated with total escape from the past and total lack of interest in the future. Heaven is here. There is nowhere else. Heaven is now. There is no other time.” M-24.6

“Heaven has come to earth at last, from which the ego’s rule has kept it out so long. Heaven has come because it found a home in your relationship on earth. And earth can hold no longer what has been given Heaven as its own.” T-21.IV.7

It does kind of sound like heaven is right here, but there are other passages that tell us we must leave the world behind. It’s quite confusing.

Teacher: This highlights the point we discussed about the importance of looking at the whole rather than the part, as there are a number of times the Course does seem to say contradictory things, but when examined in context with other text, we can see what the Voice is trying to say, and that there is no conflict.

What we need to do here is list the things said about heaven and our return that are clearly stated, and not disputed, and see what adds up. The Course speaks of two major steps necessary to arrive home. Can you name the first?

Student: There seems to be a lot of things like overcoming guilt and fear as well as learning to forgive to name a few.

Teacher: But there is one major one we must achieve.

Student: Would that be the real world?

Teacher: That is correct. Before we fully enter heaven, we must overcome the hurdles you mention and more until we see the real world. And what is the real world?

Student: From what I have read it is a higher reality between heaven and earth – sort of a bridge.

Teacher: Yes. Here is what the Course specifically says: It describes it as “a borderland of thought that stands between this world and Heaven. It is not a place, and when you reach it is apart from time. Here is the meeting place where thoughts are brought together; where conflicting values meet and all illusions are laid down beside the truth, where they are judged to be untrue. This borderland is just beyond the gate of Heaven.” T-26.III.3

So, what is the real world according to this?

Student: A borderland between this world and heaven.

Teacher: Does this tell us that if we are in this world, or even the real world, we are not yet awakened and fully in heaven?

Student: Seems to. A bridge to a place is not the place itself.

Teacher: And what do we have to accomplish to enter the real world?

Student: According to that text we will see beyond illusions to the truth.

Teacher: And a part of this seeing is described here: “You will begin to understand it when you have seen little edges of light around the same familiar objects which you see now. That is the beginning of real vision. You can be certain that real vision will come quickly when this has occurred.” W-pI.15.2

That real vision spoken of enables us to see the true light behind the illusion here and discern the real from the unreal.

If you become centered on the real world, are you then in heaven or still on earth?

Student: From what I have read, it seems we are still here on earth in our bodies, but we just see things clearly. Perhaps we are in that happy dream the Course speaks of.

Teacher: Yes, the Course tells us that “the real world is the second part of the hallucination.” (T-26.V.12) and this:

“The real world still is but a dream. Except the figures have been changed. They are not seen as idols which betray. It is a dream in which no one is used to substitute for something else, nor interposed between the thoughts the mind conceives and what it sees.” T-29.IX.7

So, are we still in the dream while in the real world?

Student: It appears so, but just the second stage before entering heaven.

Teacher: And what is the third and final stage?

Student: It is said that the Father will take the final step when we are ready.

Teacher: Yes, it is written that “When you perceive yourself without deceit, you will accept the real world in place of the false one you have made. And then your Father will lean down to you and take the last step for you, by raising you unto Himself.” T-11.VIII.15

Would you say then that we are not fully out of the illusion and in heaven until this last step is taken?

Student: It would appear so. Why would we have to take two major steps to enter heaven if we are already there? But what I do not understand is why many think we are already in heaven when it clearly says we have two major steps to go to arrive there?

Teacher: That’s a great question which we shall deal with next.

Links to The Mysteries of A Course in Miracles:

Copyright by J J Dewey

Read the Introduction HERE, Read Chapter One HERE. Chapter Two HERE, Chapter Three HERE, Chapter Four HERE, Chapter Five HERE Chapter Six HERE, Chapter Seven HERE, Chapter Eight HERE, Chapter Nine HERE, Chapter Ten HERE, Chapter Eleven HERE, Chapter Twelve HERE, Chapter Thirteen HERE, Chapter Fourteen HERE, Fifteen HERE, Sixteen HERE, Seventeen HERE,       Eighteen HERE, Nineteen HERE, Twenty HERE, Twenty-One HERE, Twenty-Two HERE, Twenty-Three HERE, Twenty-Four HERE, Twenty-Five HERE, Twenty-Six HERE, Twenty-Seven  HERE, Twenty-Eight  HERE, Twenty-Nine HERE, Thirty HERE

ACIM Conversations, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part  16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24, Part 25

Index for Original Archives

Index for Recent Posts

Easy Access to All the Writings

For Free Book go HERE and other books HERE

JJ’s Amazon page HERE

Gather with JJ on Facebook HERE

Illusion within Illusion

Joseph Dewey

Illusion within Illusion

A reader quotes me as saying:

“On this plane we may take a bath in water that is 100 degrees. Thus, it is an absolute fact that the water was 100 degrees.”

Actually, it is a relative ‘fact’ and so not a FACT at all.

JJ: Why do you think this? Can anything change the absolute fact that the water was 100 degrees at that point in time and space? Are you saying you can go back in history and change the temperature? That is what you would have to be able to do if it is relative.

Reader: Masters are able to walk through fire and emerge unscathed.

JJ: What does this have to do with the subject? A Master walking through anything does not change the temperature of my bath water.

Reader: Using their divinely-aligned will they can transcend all physical laws and ‘facts’ and so negate them, demonstrating that in the physical world there are no enduring facts, but only a light and shadow movie that passes away when the TRUTH appears (is realized).

JJ: All facts are eternal. It is eternally true that I am typing at this computer at this point in time and space. A million years from now it will still be true that I was here typing at this point in time, even if this world and time is an illusion. And if I dream I am typing it is still a fact that I am dreaming this at a point in time and space.

Reader: There is no fundamental difference between astral, etheric or physical matter other than its rate of vibration and therefore its density.

JJ: That is like saying there is no difference between oxygen and iron because they are both made of protons and electrons. Just like there is a great difference between oxygen and iron, even so are there many significant differences between the physical and the astral – the main one being that the astral is manipulated by feeling and the physical mainly by action.

Reader: Both the astral world and the physical are part of Maya, and while the mind of man may choose to compartmentalize, categorize and discriminate, it is all still Maya; essentially the same ephemeral illusion rising and passing away many times per second.

JJ: Because they participate in Maya does not mean they do not exist on some level. It merely means that we do not perceive the existence as it really is.

DK says this: “Maya is oft regarded as being of the same nature as the concept promulgated by the Christian Scientist that there is no such thing as matter. We are asked to regard the entire world phenomena as Maya and to believe that its existence is simply an error of mortal mind, and a form of auto-suggestion or self-hypnotism. Through this induced belief we force ourselves into a state of mind which recognizes that the tangible and the objective are only figments of man’s imaginative mind. This, in its turn, is likewise a travesty of reality.” Esoteric Psychology, Vol 2, Page 471-472

He also indicates that the effects of matter are mostly demonstrated on the physical plane: “On the physical plane (and by that I mean upon the etheric levels of the physical plane whereon the deceptive power of Maya is experienced) there is the meeting of the forces of the subjective world…” Glamour, A World Problem, Page 86

He tells us that the principle behind Maya is caused by the pull of matter itself and this pull distorts our vision. This pull of matter must be overcome before we can move to the next level and then tackle glamour, the main obstacle of the astral plane.

This is a little different approach to Maya than some teachings, but the important point is that true principles are presented and if the principle is seen then light will come.

Reader: The transient ‘facts’ of Maya are not TRUE in the divine sense; therefore neither are they FACTS, which must be able to be demonstrated forever and in all cases for them to be TRUE.

JJ:  What is the difference between truth in the divine sense and truth that is not divine? Does not all truth lead to the divine?

I would be interested in what you consider to be three divine truths and then three that are not divine.

Reader: Maya is Maya and TRUTH is TRUTH, and never can the two become one.

JJ:  Of course they are one. Maya is a true principle and has a truth behind its manifestation as divine as any other truth. Just because you are lost in a maze this does not mean that the construction of the maze is not part of a true principle.

Reader: Truth cannot manifest in an illusion.

JJ: Yet it is true that there is such a thing as illusion – therefore even illusion is a part of the whole truth. If a magician pulls a rabbit out of a hat, it is true that this is what appears and there is also a truth behind how the trick works.

Reader: If it did, then the illusion (Maya) would be transmuted and would cease to exist, along with the ‘facts’ of that illusion.

JJ: Maya will cease to exist during the great pralaya where we all return home to rest between the eternities, but the facts within the illusion will always be a part of history.

Reader: TRUTH is not illusion, and illusion is not TRUTH. TRUTH is True and Factual; illusion is false and ephemeral, impermanent, a mirage, substanceless, and will pass away.

JJ:  Everything in form, time and space passes away so you are saying there is no such thing as truth in our reality. You seem to be using a much different definition of truth than in the dictionary. If one uses an obscure definition to advance his teaching then the teacher should give the definition at the beginning to avoid confusion as we all assume the regular definition of words unless stated otherwise.

Now some, which seems to include yourself, seem to only think of truth as pertaining to something which is unchanging and eternal. That is fine, but you never defined your unorthodox terms that run contrary to the dictionary.

Because something passes away does not mean it is not true as truth is normally defined. I ate lunch a while back and am no longer eating lunch, yet it is still a true fact that I ate lunch,  even if I  am doing it in  an illusionary existence.

This is quite basic truth and surprised we need to cover this as all children understand this.

Reader: It seems that you are teaching people here to regard Maya as a FACT (even absolute FACT!), as REAL, as PERMANENT, while all enlightened teachers have always taught the exact opposite.

JJ:  I teach that Maya is a fact and true, but I said nothing of it being permanent. Nothing in form is without change. Change is the only thing in the universe of time and space which is permanent. So according to your definition it would seem that the only truth in our universe is change.

Reader: There is a karma-free divine Astral World and an undivine shadow or reflection/imitation astral world.

JJ: I’ve never heard about a karma free astral world. According to DK the entire astral is not built on a true principle but created through the interplay of mind and etheric matter. If you consider that the astral is created only through interplay of planes one and three then one could reason that little or no karma would play out if one were consigned to that sphere alone. Emotion wrongly expressed in the physical world would definitely lead to karma.

Reader: This word, “learning” does not apply to what is already true and so divinely perfect. It applies only to amnesiac souls, and even then only as a “remembrance” of Truth which has been forgotten. There is no real “learning” in the eternally complete All; there is only choice, play, possible forgetfulness and remembering.

JJ: Why do you assume there is something eternally complete? If there were such a thing then there would be no creation. Because there is creation we have proof that there is no eternal completion though in the highest spiritual state one would feel complete in identifying with what has been created so far.

Can you think of a greater hell than being eternally complete and doing absolutely nothing forever? If such a thing did exist there would be no consciousness, no life, no being and no creation or power to create.

Reader: Mostly, souls on this mayic earth-plane do not incarnate in order to learn (after all, what can be truly learned that is Real from and in an illusion?), but to re-Member; that is to say – to re-unite with Truth, with God, or perhaps to play some more or to Call other fragments of the Great Forgetting in order to inspire them to go the Way of Return that leads back to eternal Freedom.

JJ: Are you saying we came here just to go back? Then God is surely flawed to allow such a convoluted thing to occur. Why leave and get immersed in illusion in the first place if that is all there is to it?

Reader: The brain and mind/intellect are faculties born of mayic identification; they are made of the same substance (slow vibration) as Maya and so can never comprehend or know Truth, which vibrates beyond them, just as the microscope of the secular scientist can never see God.

JJ: But the scientist can see truths in the creation of God. Our brains can register true facts which are the first step toward greater truths. He who denies true facts goes backwards on the path and he who acknowledges them goes forward.

Reader: If we followed or remained true to the universal laws as opposed to the temporal laws of maya, we would never have forgotten in the first place.

JJ: Then we would have not left the universe of pure spirit and not had the opportunity to have an experience in time and space – something which many billions chose to have. According to some teachings there was disagreement over value of the descent into matter. Whatever the  case, the motive for coming here was greater than to just go back.

Reader: We could have played in maya, had fun in temporal co-creation (which was the original Intention), while ever leaving open the portal leading back to the Truth. This is indeed the situation for countless sparks or souls in the higher realms who have never chosen to seriously follow “Lucifer” by actually believing that mayic reality has Substance. However, those fragments that did choose to go the way of self-will and so to create an illusion and then become wholly identified with that illusion, have themselves closed the portal; they no longer believe or have faith and have become so entrenched in the false that they require avatars and God- men to remind them of what they long ago, in time, forgot.

JJ: Does this include you? Are you here because you chose to follow Lucifer and left the portal going the way of self will? You are obviously here with the rest of us in this illusion you describe. Have you found the way out? If so why are you still here?

Reader: If we give any credence to the ideas and beliefs that we accumulate in our minds, then we are only perpetuating maya in our own consciousness, for thoughts and beliefs are of maya; they do not exist in Truth.

JJ: You seem to give a lot of credence to these thoughts and beliefs you are presenting to us. Is this taking you further into Maya and illusion?

“Science is facts; just as houses are made of stones, so is science made of facts; but a pile of stone is not a house and a collection of facts is not necessarily science.”  Henri Poincare (1854 – 1912)

Oct 5, 2004

Copyright by J J Dewey

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ACIM Conversations, Part 3

Joseph Dewey

ACIM Conversations, Part 3
Resolving Disagreements

Student: I’ve noticed that when two have a heated disagreement about the meaning of the Course that no one ever admits to being in the ego. Almost all seem to think that their thinking is endorsed by the Holy Spirit.

Teacher: Yes, the ego never wants to reveal itself unless it furthers its cause.

Student: Is there anything that those who are in disagreement can do to bring oneness?

Teacher: They can prayerfully, or in meditation, present their disagreement together to the Holy Spirit and in silence wait for a response

Student: That sounds right but when a good argument gets going, the students do not seem to be in the mood for such a suggestion. Is there anything else they can do?

Teacher: When the emotions are not at peace during an argument, then the ego is in control and they will not consider resolving the problem through the peace of the Spirit. The Course asks: “Do you prefer that you be right or happy?” T-29.VII.1 Many do not want their feeling of being right disturbed by the peace of the Holy Spirit.

On the other hand, there is something else they can do. What do most students feel that the Holy Spirit has verified to them?

Student: Probably the Course itself.

Teacher: And that makes the Course the second highest authority for them while they are in this world. But what should be their highest authority?

Student: I would suppose that would be their direct connection to God, the Holy Spirit.

Teacher: Exactly. But since many in disagreement are unwilling or unable to allow the Spirit to resolve their differences, the Course itself provides the next best course of action. Why do you suppose the Course is inferior to the Holy Spirit in resolving differences?

Student: The Holy Spirit gives us a complete picture that doesn’t need interpretation, whereas the written word is subject to numerous interpretations.

Teacher: Exactly. The interference of the ego causes most of those who are both in the Spirit and the ego to resort to the written word, perception and interpretation in their discussions. But we must always remember this: having an inspired written word is much better than nothing at all. Just think of the millions who have read A Course in Miracles and have made a step or two toward greater enlightenment.

Student: That includes me. I know I have a ways to go yet, but it has definitely made me aware of the problems to awakening that we face.

Teacher: So, if our best immediate tool to solve differences is the Course, what is the best way to use it?

Student: If you believe the Course is in harmony with your belief then there should be passages that agree with you.

Teacher: This is true. I’m sure you have seen arguments between students who each quote passages supporting their view from the Course, yet cannot reach agreement. Why do you suppose that two knowledgeable students may not be able to reach unity?

Student: I’m sure that bias enters in, but I can see that many arguments are quite vague, so overcoming the bias becomes impossible.

Teacher: So, what do you see as some of the problems with the various presentations?

Student: A common one I see is that some will quote a large amount of material thinking that will prove their view to be correct. When I read that over, I can usually find nothing specific that even addresses the argument.

Teacher: Yes. This is the shotgun approach of the ego. Throw a lot of information out there and claim proof is in there somewhere. Anything else?

Student: Others give quotes that seem to have little or nothing to do with the subject of the disagreement. That doesn’t seem productive.

Teacher: This and your last point illustrates the strategy of the ego: “Its dictates, then, can be summed up simply as: ‘Seek and do not find.’ This is the one promise the ego holds out to you, and the one promise it will keep.” T-12.IV.1

Student: Could we say then that answers from the ego are designed to not find the truth?

Teacher: Indeed. One of the prime tactics of the ego is to avoid being specific. It loves to argue with generalities.

Student: One thing I see in that direction is students sometimes will just declare that “Love is the answer” when love has little to do with the subject at hand.

Teacher: Yes. That answer always sounds good but, in many cases, it supports the confusion endorsed by the ego. What else have you noticed about unresolved disagreements?

Student: Sometimes two knowledgeable students disagree and do quote specific passages on the subject, but continue to disagree because one text seems to disagree with another. For instance, one may believe there is only one Son of God and another believe there are many, yet both have quotes to back them up.

Teacher: You just pointed out a prime tactic of the ego as noted here: “the ego attacks everything it perceives by breaking it into small, disconnected parts, without meaningful relationships and therefore without meaning. The ego will always substitute chaos for meaning, for if separation is salvation, harmony is threat.” T-11.V.13

Instead of examining the text that seems to be contradictory and looking for the harmony, the ego breaks it down and picks a side. It figures that there is either one Son or many and chooses with black-and-white thinking. In the end, both students could be following the ego in this argument.

Here is what the Voice said about this problem:

“You may believe from time to time that I am misdirecting you. I have made every effort to use words that are almost impossible to distort, but it is always possible to twist symbols around if you wish.” T-3.I.3

Student: It does seem that a lot of students do twist the words around. What would one following the Holy Spirit do?

Teacher: He would figure that since ACIM is inspired, then there would be truth in both statements and study them in context. In this case, he would realize there is one Son but with many parts, and see that the one and the many is not a contradiction. He finds he does not have to pick a side.

Student: Then there are teachings that are almost impossible to distort, like your quote says.

Teacher: But never underestimate the ego’s determination to create confusion.

Student: So, is there any value then in two or more students discussing a disagreement in ACIM?

Teacher: Yes. Outside of the Holy Spirit this and pure reasoning are the only tools we have for students to reach oneness, which is one of the main goals of the Course.

A civil discussion of opposing views can have a number of benefits. Here are three:

[1] Generally, neither party will claim victory nor admit they were in error, but later in quiet moments one may sense the Holy Spirit confirming to him a truth in the other guy’s presentation and come to change his mind.

[2] Sometimes a discussion will bring up a quote that one did not realize was even in the Course and this will alter his thinking. Most who read the text for a second or third time will be amazed at how much is in there that they did not see in their first reading. Some students see things that others miss, so sharing of any kind can be helpful if it is civil.

[3] Even if the two having the disagreement do not make any progress, the exchange may bring light to observers. Have you had that happen when observing a heated exchange in a discussion?

Student: Yes, I have. Often the two are of the same opinion still, but the dialog gave me a lot to think about.

Teacher: So, let us conclude with this statement. Doing something to take us to unity, however flawed, is better than doing nothing.

Student: Agreed. If we take no steps to fully understand the Course, we may be caught up in the illusion indefinitely.

Copyright by J J Dewey

Read the Introduction HERE, Read Chapter One HERE. Chapter Two HERE, Chapter Three HERE, Chapter Four HERE, Chapter Five HERE Chapter Six HERE, Chapter Seven HERE, Chapter Eight HERE, Chapter Nine HERE, Chapter Ten HERE, Chapter Eleven HERE, Chapter Twelve HERE, Chapter Thirteen HERE, Chapter Fourteen HERE, Fifteen HERE, Sixteen HERE, Seventeen HERE,       Eighteen HERE, Nineteen HERE, Twenty HERE, Twenty-One HERE, Twenty-Two HERE, Twenty-Three HERE, Twenty-Four HERE, Twenty-Five HERE, Twenty-Six HERE, Twenty-Seven  HERE, Twenty-Eight  HERE, Twenty-Nine HERE, Thirty HERE

ACIM Conversations, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part  16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24, Part 25

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