Why We Embraced the Mad Idea
The Mad Idea, as it is called by A Course in Miracles is a subject if great interest to many. One question many have is this. Since the idea to make this world where here is pain and distress is presented as “mad” and “insane” by the Course then why would we, of our own free will, have volunteered to participate in it, as we are doing right now in this world?
“This mad direction was your choice, and by your faith in what you chose, you made what you desired.” T-21.III.5
I thought it would be interesting to present actual quotes from the Course giving us insights as to why we made the decision.
The first quote above affirms that entering the illusion was our choice and we made this world because we desired it.
“The world is an illusion. Those who choose to come to it are seeking for a place where they can be illusions, and avoid their own reality.” W-pI.155.2. This was “the tiny, mad desire to be separate, different and special.” T-25.I.5
Apparently, we knew we were entering an illusion and we wanted to “be illusions” to avoid reality. One would indeed wonder why we wanted to avoid the peace, security and love in the eternal world called heaven. Did we have too much of a good thing? Were we bored and wanted a little risk and excitement? We definitely wanted “to be separate, different and special.”
Then we are told this:
“This sense of separation would never have arisen if you had not distorted your perception of truth, and had thus perceived yourself as lacking.” T-1.VI.2
So, the Course tells us in reality we were not lacking but we distorted the truth and perceived ourselves as lacking. What do you suppose we thought we were lacking in within a realm that has everything?
The Course expands on this thought:
“The inappropriate use of extension, or projection, occurs when you believe that some emptiness or lack exists in you, and that you can fill it with your own ideas instead of truth. This process involves the following steps:
“First, you believe that what God created can be changed by your own mind.
“Second, you believe that what is perfect can be rendered imperfect or lacking.
“Third, you believe that you can distort the creations of God, including yourself.
“Fourth, you believe that you can create yourself, and that the direction of your own creation is up to you.” T-2.I.2
Sounds like we developed a number of beliefs that were not in alignment with the true reality including the belief that we can create ourselves as discussed earlier.
As the Sonship acquired distorted beliefs “You chose to forget your Father but you do not really want to do so, and therefore you can decide otherwise.” T-12.VI.2
This is an interesting quote which seems to tell us that we didn’t really want to forget our Father, but we chose to do so anyway. Probably because it was the only way to enter the fantasy of our own making. Perhaps the forgetting of our Father was the beginning of the manifestation of sacrifice.
Concerning this world it says, “It is clearly not the world you saw before you slept. Rather it is a distortion of the world, planned solely around what you would have preferred… For the dream of your ability to control reality by substituting a world that you prefer is terrifying.” T-18.II.1
So this world we saw ourselves enter was one planned around that which we preferred over heaven. We wanted to “control reality” even though we would be in a terrifying world. This was probably the beginning of fear. To control reality in our fantasy we had to encounter terrifying situations.
Apparently, we were also seeking treasure:
“He would sacrifice his own identity with everything, to find a little treasure of his own. And this he cannot do without a sense of isolation, loss and loneliness.” T-26.VII.11
Sounds like we knew all the pitfalls, but we thought there was treasure to be found in the experience.
We as Sons decided “To establish your personal autonomy you tried to create unlike your Father, believing that what you made is capable of being unlike Him.” T-11.VII.3
Our dreams “are your protest against reality, and your fixed and insane idea that you can change it.” T-18.II.5
As a result our “Dreams show you that you have the power to make a world as you would have it be, and that because you want it you see it. And while you see it you do not doubt that it is real. Yet here is a world, clearly within your mind, that seems to be outside.” T-18.II.5
So, what was there about reality that caused us to “protest against” it? Did we have a need to feel special that we felt was not possible in heaven? That seems to be a part of the problem. These quotes from the Course paint a partial picture, but it would take assistance from the Holy Spirit to see the whole picture.
It is interesting to consider that some of these reasons for the separation are found in each of us or we wouldn’t still be here within a body. Perhaps doing a little introspection and reflection on these quotes will reveal our next step and speed our awakening.
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