Deepening our ACIM Practice: Jackie Lora Jones & Bruce Rawles share favorite methods

In this video, Jackie Lora Jones and Bruce Rawles draw from their tried and true techniques for both being more mindful and applying the pure non-dual metaphysics of A Course In Miracles. as well as some favorite Course quotes and a few anecdotes for deactivating our inner saboteur. Here are a few external references and ideas mentioned:

(All boldface type added by me for emphasis.)

• “Be passersby” – Saying #42 from Pursah’s Gospel of Thomas (page 166 in the hardback edition of Your Immortal Reality – How to Break the Cycle of Birth and Death by Gary R. Renard)
• The Guest House poem by Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi
• Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
• Free Guy (2021 movie)
• The 3 R’s of Forgiveness and Workbook Lesson 23
• Holy Spirit (HS) works through us; its inspiration doesn’t arise from us (as egos) … True helpfulness doesn’t come from us, but through us.
• Four stages of competence paralleling stages 1-5 in the Development of Trust
• Being vigilant for ego’s shenanigans, nothing to sneeze at! ?
• The Wizard of Oz (1939 movie)
• We are – in Truth – eternally both loved and loving; we needn’t worry about the outcome of our awakening process.
• Go “slow” (slow to condemn) to go “fast” (toward the inevitable peaceful mind we share); “Forgiveness, on the other hand, is still, and quietly does nothing. ²It offends no aspect of reality, nor seeks to twist it to appearances it likes. ³It merely looks, and waits, and judges not.” (ACIM, W-pII.1.4:1-3)
• The Matrix (1999 movie)
• “We’re all just walking each other home” – Ram Dass

Here are some helpful Course quotes read and discussed in this conversation:

“The overlooking of the battleground is now your purpose. … Be lifted up, and from a higher place look down upon it. ²From there will your perspective be quite different. Here in the midst of it, it does seem real.” (ACIM, T-23.IV.4:7–5:3)

“A tranquil mind is not a little gift.” (ACIM, M-20.4:8)

“Minds are joined; bodies are not.” (ACIM, T-18.VI.3:1)

“I will step back and let Him lead the way.” (ACIM, W-155)

“The value of the Atonement does not lie in the manner in which it is expressed.²In fact, if it is used truly, it will inevitably be expressed in whatever way is most helpful to the receiver.³This means that a miracle, to attain its full efficacy, must be expressed in a language that the recipient can understand without fear.⁴This does not necessarily mean that this is the highest level of communication of which he is capable.⁵It does mean, however, that it is the highest level of communication of which he is capable now.⁶The whole aim of the miracle is to raise the level of communication, not to lower it by increasing fear.” (ACIM, T-2.IV.5:1-6)

“Heaven is not a place nor a condition. ⁶It is merely an awareness of perfect Oneness, and the knowledge that there is nothing else; nothing outside this Oneness, and nothing else within.” (ACIM, T-18.VI.1:5-6)

“If God were reached directly in sustained awareness, the body would not be long maintained.” (ACIM, M-26.3:8)

“The power of decision is your one remaining freedom as a prisoner of this world.” (ACIM, T-12.VII.9:1)

“I rest in God.” (ACIM, W-109)

“I gladly make the “sacrifice” of fear.” (ACIM, W-323)

1. Spend more time with ACIM daily, not just upon awakening or before sleep (make awakening from the dream of separation an ongoing, continuous meditative practice
2. Notice when I’m not at peace and choose HS instead of ego: ask for help more often!
3. See (with HS) grievances transform into calls for love … into my calls for love
4. Remember that I’m the only one that needs to accept the Atonement; everyone else is already home; I’m the last one dreaming of exile
5. Look at ego without judgment! The part of the mind that can do this is not the ego.

“You have no idea of the tremendous release and deep peace that comes from meeting yourself and your brothers totally without judgment. ²When you recognize what you are and what your brothers are, you will realize that judging them in any way is without meaning. ³In fact, their meaning is lost to you precisely because you are judging them. ⁴All uncertainty comes from the belief that you are under the coercion of judgment. ⁵You do not need judgment to organize your life, and you certainly do not need it to organize yourself.” (ACIM, T-3.VI.3:1-5)

These conversations provide an opportunity to talk about a variety of helpful ideas and practices from the non-dual metaphysics of A Course in Miracles. Jackie is the host of the helpful “The 24th Hour – Positive News Magazine“, video blog YouTube Channel series of the same name. She has conducted insightful video interviews with Gary Renard and many others. She and her sister, Cindy Lora-Renard, facilitate classes on ACIM as well as excellent workshops on “The Course.” Jackie’s first book, All Peace, No Pieces is a valuable addition to any Course student’s library, regardless of their level of familiarity with the Course’s ideas, with some particularly fun and insightful metaphors from the Wizard of Oz movie.

Visit Jackie’s website to learn about Jackie’s new audiobook, online conference presentations, and other news.

This video recording was made on September 8, 2021.

Here are more ACIM-related conversations with Jackie Lora Jones and Bruce Rawles.