Susan Dugan and Bruce Rawles read and discuss “What is the real Peace of God?” (M-20) from the Manual For Teachers from A Course In Miracles in this YouTube video. The two intertwined themes – of 1) Trusting in our Inner Kindness Teacher (a.k.a. Holy Spirit) and 2) Seeing shared interests – appear throughout the Manual, and this section is no exception in affirming the importance of these practices. This section in ACIM reminds us that we’re all clueless about what that peace – that transcends anything our ego minds can offer – is as well as how to find it. We need constant practice to keep in alignment with that counsel that speaks for all-inclusive innocence beyond our dreams of separation. Therefore, patience and gentle vigilance are paramount to our process in questioning ego’s dubious mythological propaganda about it’s proffered fake identity in order to further strengthen our trust in, and identification with kindness.
Along those lines, we briefly touched on a unique travelogue series, The Kindness Diaries, which contrasted extremes in human kindness and cruelty; a technique employed throughout ACIM to show us the contrast between ego’s slavery and Holy Spirit’s freedom. The peace that ACIM shows the way to transcends the form of human expressions of kindness, yet that peace can be reflected in the world when we bring our thoughts of conflict to the altar of our decision-making mind guided by our Inner Kindness Teacher. When we’re identified with our silly, seemingly separate selves, the world is threatening; when we realize that our projected nightmares only exist in a forgivable part of our mind, we eventually realize that nothing unreal exists, and the Peace of God is revealed in our mind where it has continued through eternity unaffected by our egoic misinterpretations.
Here are the first three paragraphs of the “What is the real Peace of God?” (M-20) section:
“It has been said that there is a kind of peace that is not of this world. How is it recognized? How is it found? And being found, how can it be retained? Let us consider each of these questions separately, for each reflects a different step along the way.
First, how can the peace of God be recognized? God’s peace is recognized at first by just one thing; in every way it is totally unlike all previous experiences. It calls to mind nothing that went before. It brings with it no past associations. It is a new thing entirely. There is a contrast, yes, between this thing and all the past. But strangely, it is not a contrast of true differences. The past just slips away, and in its place is everlasting quiet. Only that. The contrast first perceived has merely gone. Quiet has reached to cover everything.
How is this quiet found? No one can fail to find it who but seeks out its conditions. God’s peace can never come where anger is, for anger must deny that peace exists. Who sees anger as justified in any way or any circumstance proclaims that peace is meaningless, and must believe that it cannot exist. In this condition, peace cannot be found. Therefore, forgiveness is the necessary condition for finding the peace of God. More than this, given forgiveness there must be peace. For what except attack will lead to war? And what but peace is opposite to war? Here the initial contrast stands out clear and apparent. Yet when peace is found, the war is meaningless. And it is conflict now that is perceived as nonexistent and unreal.” – M-20.1-3
(This video was recorded on August 14, 2020.)
If you have questions or comments about this video, prior videos in this ACIM-related video series or other Course-related topics, please email them 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!
Here are some prior ACIM-related conversations with Susan Dugan and Bruce Rawles.