The Mysteries of A Course in Miracles, Part II

The Mysteries of A Course in Miracles, Part II

ACIM Conversations, Part 1

The following represents fictional, but realistic conversations between an ACIM student and a knowledgeable teacher.

The Key to Unity

Student: I have read through the text and most of the lessons and I still feel like a babe in the woods. I’ve been communicating with a number of other students, some of whom have studied the Course for decades. What I find confusing is that some of them come up with rather strange conclusions that do not make sense to me and many do not agree with each other. How am I to know what to believe when even dedicated students disagree with each other?

Teacher: Many look to others as a source of true interpretation of the Course. Do you know what the Course says you are choosing when you do this?

Student: Not sure.

Teacher: Idols.

Student: You mean idols like the golden calf in the days of Moses?

Teacher: The golden calf was a substitute for God, and anything that we accept as a source, above that which comes from God, is a substitute and therefore an idol, or a creation of the ego. Here, read this passage.

Student: (He reads): “You will not make decisions by yourself whatever you decide. For they are made with idols or with God. And you ask help of anti-Christ or Christ, and which you choose will join with you and tell you what to do.” T-30.I.14

Teacher: Note that we follow either idols or God or the Christ or the anti-Christ. Here’s a similar passage:

“The Holy Spirit and the ego are the only choices open to you.” T-5.V.6

And where is it that we find the true God, Christ or Holy Spirit?

Student: Within ourselves.

Teacher: And if two people look within, past the outward idols to the true God, will they get different answers and disagree or the same answer?

Student: You’d think they would get the same answer.

Teacher: And if they do not get the same answer, what does that tell us?

Student: It would seem that one or both of them are not receiving from the true Source. Is it really possible for two different people to get the same answer?

Teacher: Let’s see what the Course says. Read this:

Student: “The Holy Spirit’s goal gives one interpretation, meaningful to you and to your brother.” T-30.VII.6.

Teacher: If two receive from the Holy Spirit, how many interpretations will they receive?

Student: It seems to say they would just receive one. I wonder if that is really possible when you consider all the disagreement among students.

Teacher: Is contact and reception from the Holy Spirit possible?

Student: I think so, but it appears that even the students who are disagreeing think they are in contact.

Teacher: Yet when this happens, one or both must be in error as you say. What causes this error?

Student: It would seem that the ego would play a big role.

Teacher: The Course agrees with you. Read this:

Student: “The Holy Spirit is One, and anyone who listens is inevitably led to demonstrate His way for all… The ego is legion, but the Holy Spirit is One.” T-6.I.10

Teacher: So, what would be the difference between those who receive from the Holy Spirit and the ego?

Student: Those who receive from the Holy Spirit would be united in thought, whereas there would be a legion of opinions among those in the ego. Does this mean that those in contact with the Holy Spirit will agree on everything, like the best flavor of ice cream or the best sports team?

Teacher: The Course says that “The Holy Spirit will answer every specific problem.” T-11.VIII.3 Notice that it uses the word “problem.” Something becomes a problem when it increases the feeling of separation. Do you see it as a problem that a friend would like a different flavor of ice cream than yourself?

Student: Not at all.

Teacher: Yet, have you found problems surfacing in group discussions among students who disagree on what the Course teaches?

Student: I have seen a number of problems, especially concerning negative judgments that surface; definitely some dislike and even demand offensive ones be thrown off the discussion group or at least censored.

Teacher: These and other disagreements can increase feelings of separation, and it is here that the Holy Spirit will come when invited and bring unity.

The Course gives us powerful guidance on this in this quote:

“Everything you behold without is a judgment of what you beheld within. If it is your judgment it will be wrong, for judgment is not your function. If it is the judgment of the Holy Spirit it will be right, for judgment is His function. You share His function only by judging as He does, reserving no judgment at all for yourself.” T-12.VII.12

So, what does it tell us about relying on our judgment, or we could say the ego’s judgment?

Student: It says we will be wrong. If we want to be right, we listen to the Holy Spirit.

Teacher: So, if two people disagree to the point of separation, then one or both of them are listening to the ego. Would you agree?

Student: Sounds right.

Teacher: Why are judgments of truth made without the Holy Spirit always wrong?

Student: I’m not sure.

Teacher: Suppose someone gives you a jigsaw puzzle and it lacks the finished picture. You pick up a couple pieces and look at them. Do you think that you can establish the truth of the whole picture this way?

Student: I doubt it.

Teacher: That is the disadvantage of judging from the ego. Even if you are sincere, you cannot see the whole picture, a little like the story of the three blind men and the elephant.

Student: Makes sense.

Teacher: On the other hand, the Holy Spirit sees the whole picture, and when we allow Him to share it with us, this gives us power to make correct judgments. If you and I see the same picture, we are not likely to disagree with what is in it.

Student: Good point. You make oneness sound easy, and it probably should be easy, but I keep wondering why there is so much disagreement and conflict between students, and even some teachers, and what we can do about it.

Teacher: Good thought my friend, and we’ll talk about that when we continue this conversation.

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