“(ACIM) presents this built-in teacher, built-in companion … that we need to work with and become vulnerable to, honest and intimate with. That’s a journey in itself. We’re walking along the seeming road with that teacher beside us, but a lot times feeling that we’re completely alone, believing we’re alone because of that’s the guilt we’re secretly accusing ourselves of. We believed we were separate, but we learn that (thought) had no real effects. We learn that one situation, one relationship, one scene in the dream at a time by looking at how invested we are in believing that and turning to let that Love within us lead.” – Susan Dugan (paraphrased slightly)
A quote that a fellow Course student shared that fits our apparent (self-inflicted) dream of abandonment:
“If God seems far away, guess who moved?”
Judging based on our misleading mis-interpretations of form (incorrect cues for inference) instead of asking for help to see the intrinsic sameness in everyone and everything, we “drop the hand” of our Inner Guide; yet every time we ask to restore the awareness that we are all the same where it is important (in eternity, but not in time) we realize that our Inner Guide has never let go; we’ve only dreamt that we’ve moved away from that thought system. Everyone is on the same journey; whenever we exclude anyone in our mind from the grace of seeing our sameness (equal, undiminished eternal innocence) we get off track (in our dream only). Our task isn’t to strain to see sameness in our material world, but to notice in our mind how much we want to defend differences, keeping ourselves in exile from peace… and forgiving ourselves for that silliness!
“Your cues for inference are wrong, and so you stumble and fall down upon the stones you did not recognize, but fail to be aware you can go through the doors you thought were closed, but which stand open before unseeing eyes, waiting to welcome you.” (ACIM, T-21.I.1:5)
Happiness … as well as victimhood … is truly a choice we’re making 24/7/365 solely resulting from our choice of teachers: either ego or Holy Spirit; insane or sane; exclusive or inclusive.
All pixels are neutral (and everything we sense in this world could be said to be equivalent to these trillions of neutral 1’s and 0’s that make up our divided mind dream screens) yet it’s only when we heap on massive interpretations to the most trivial bits of minutiae that leads to war within our minds. As Ken Wapnick pointed out in one of has many brilliant talks about where war (and peace) truly reside:
The Preamble to the Constitution of UNESCO declares that “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.”
Some other related Course quotes that align with this subject and workbook lesson:
“Everything I’ve always wanted is just beyond my (ego) comfort zone.” – sign on a friends wall
“I have given everything I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place] all the meaning that it has for me.” (ACIM, W-2)
“The necessary condition for the holy instant does not require that you have no thoughts that are not pure. ²But it does require that you have none that you would keep.” (ACIM, T-15.IV.9:1-2)
“You may still complain about fear, but you nevertheless persist in making yourself fearful. ²I have already indicated that you cannot ask me to release you from fear. ³I know it does not exist, but you do not. ⁴If I intervened between your thoughts and their results, I would be tampering with a basic law of cause and effect; the most fundamental law there is. ⁵I would hardly help you if I depreciated the power of your own thinking.” (ACIM, T-2.VII.1:1-5)
“We speak today for everyone who walks this world, for he is not at home. ²He goes uncertainly about in endless search, seeking in darkness what he cannot find; not recognizing what it is he seeks. ³A thousand homes he makes, yet none contents his restless mind. ⁴He does not understand he builds in vain. ⁵The home he seeks can not be made by him. ⁶There is no substitute for Heaven. ⁷All he ever made was hell.” (ACIM, W-182.3:1-7)
Here are the selected paragraphs from Lesson 156: I walk with God in perfect holiness (ACIM, W-156) that we read aloud and commented on:
“1. Today’s idea but states the simple truth that makes the thought of sin impossible. ²It promises there is no cause for guilt, and being causeless it does not exist. ³It follows surely from the basic thought so often mentioned in the text; ideas leave not their source. ⁴If this be true, how can you be apart from God? ⁵How could you walk the world alone and separate from your Source?” (ACIM, W-156.1:1-5)
…
“5. The light in you is what the universe longs to behold. ²All living things are still before you, for they recognize Who walks with you. ³The light you carry is their own. ⁴And thus they see in you their holiness, saluting you as savior and as God. ⁵Accept their reverence, for it is due to Holiness Itself, which walks with you, transforming in Its gentle light all things unto Its likeness and Its purity.” (ACIM, W-156.5:1-5)
“6. This is the way salvation works. ²As you step back, the light in you steps forward and encompasses the world. ³It heralds not the end of sin in punishment and death. ⁴In lightness and in laughter is sin gone, because its quaint absurdity is seen. ⁵It is a foolish thought, a silly dream, not frightening, ridiculous perhaps, but who would waste an instant in approach to God Himself for such a senseless whim?” (ACIM, W-156.6:1-5)
“7. Yet you have wasted many, many years on just this foolish thought. ²The past is gone, with all its fantasies. ³They keep you bound no longer. ⁴The approach to God is near. ⁵And in the little interval of doubt that still remains, you may perhaps lose sight of your Companion, and mistake Him for the senseless, ancient dream that now is past.” (ACIM, W-156.7:1-5)
“8. ‘Who walks with me?’ ²This question should be asked a thousand times a day, till certainty has ended doubting and established peace. ³Today let doubting cease. ⁴God speaks for you in answering your question with these words:
⁵I walk with God in perfect holiness. ⁶I light the world, I light my mind and all the minds which God created one with me.”(ACIM, W-156.8:1-6)
(This video was recorded on June 8, 2024.)
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.
We like to remind those who have enjoyed these conversations to check out the latest releases from FACIM as well as support the work of Susan and Bruce (via PayPal links at the bottom of the sidebars on their respective websites) if you feel inspired to do so. THANKS!
