In this YouTube video, Susan Dugan and Bruce Rawles read and converse about ACIM Workbook Lesson 34: I could see peace instead of this. (ACIM, W-34) from the Workbook of A Course In Miracles. This lesson – and ACIM Workbook Lesson 5 (I am never upset for the reason I think.) – are the two lessons that Ken Wapnick suggests are the two lessons to memorize (or at least memorize the titles and the essence of their message) if you want to have the vital ideas of the Course’s forgiveness process readily available in mind for any and all situations where our peace seems to be compromised. In each and every moment, we have the choice between ego’s insanity (the thought system we mindlessly fabricated that makes us miserable) – and Holy Spirit’s sanity (the thought system that perfectly, gently and patiently exposes the forgivable lie of dualistic dreams, leading us back to our whole minds where the belief in separation ultimately will merely cease to seem to be. Holy Spirit – our Inner Kindness Teacher – always present in our right minds, inexorably leads us back to peace by asking us to bring every seemingly fragmented aspect of our minds – the totality of which we call the world – back to the illuminated forgiveness classroom where guilt is seen as the silly, unsubstantial dream; absent both in our projected external dream world (spacetime and materiality) as well as our self-concept that depends on a separate self for a suffering, shameful hallucination which is vaporized by the light of total inclusion.
“Until forgiveness is complete, the world does have a purpose. ²It becomes the home in which forgiveness is born, and where it grows and becomes stronger and more all-embracing. ³Here is it nourished, for here it is needed. ⁴A gentle Savior, born where sin was made and guilt seemed real. ⁵Here is His home, for here there is need of Him indeed. ⁶He brings the ending of the world with Him. ⁷It is His Call God’s teachers answer, turning to Him in silence to receive His Word. ⁸The world will end when all things in it have been rightly judged by His judgment. ⁹The world will end with the benediction of holiness upon it. ¹⁰When not one thought of sin remains, the world is over. ¹¹It will not be destroyed nor attacked nor even touched. ¹²It will merely cease to seem to be.” (ACIM, M-14.2:1-12)
Here are the first 3 paragraphs from Lesson 34:
“1. The idea for today begins to describe the conditions that prevail in the other way of seeing. ²Peace of mind is clearly an internal matter. ³It must begin with your own thoughts, and then extend outward. ⁴It is from your peace of mind that a peaceful perception of the world arises.
2. Three longer practice periods are required for today’s exercises. ²One in the morning and one in the evening are advised, with an additional one to be undertaken at any time in between that seems most conducive to readiness. ³All applications should be done with your eyes closed. ⁴It is your inner world to which the applications of today’s idea should be made.
3. Some five minutes of mind searching are required for each of the longer practice periods. ²Search your mind for fear thoughts, anxiety-provoking situations, “offending” personalities or events, or anything else about which you are harboring unloving thoughts. ³Note them all casually, repeating the idea for today slowly as you watch them arise in your mind, and let each one go, to be replaced by the next.”
(This video was recorded on August 26, 2023.)
If you have questions or comments about this video, previous videos in this ACIM-related video series, or other Course-related topics, please email them to us via the ACIMblog.com contact form. Susan and Bruce will review and try to respond to questions and suggestions for future conversations. We look forward to extending the conversation with you!
If you are interested in Susan’s excellent weekly Tuesday evening classes based on the teachings of Kenneth Wapnick, you can contact her here.
Here are some prior ACIM-related conversations with Susan Dugan and Bruce Rawles.
I also had a very enjoyable conversation with Leon Joel Russell recently where we talked about ACIM, modern physics and lots of other fun and fascinating topics. Leon has been the guest of the Miracle Voices podcast as well as the Foundation for Inner Peace webinar series recently, and has his own blog with YouTube videos including other Course teachers such as Stefan Bolz who also has an excellent YouTube video channel. Check it out!