We begin our July Newsletter with a PRAYER for the GULF of MEXICO by Dr. Emoto. We are not powerless. With our intension, we can send the energy of our Love and Gratitude to all living creatures.

        This prayer was brought to our attention by Dr. Lorena Peter whose article "Gaff and Mother Water" also appears in this issue. It is the third of a series of articles written specifically for our Newsletter. Lorena writes truths in the form of fiction and her style is the slow, lyrical style of the parable. She is the author of the book "Gaff: Wisdom from the Sea"

 

        The second article was written by Kellie Love, the person who recorded the entire Course in Miracles many years ago on audio casette tapes. For many Course students, the literal VOICE of Kellie Love, is the Voice of the Course.  After listening to hundreds of hours of these recordings, whenever we hear his voice, we are transported to the incredible wisdom which is A Course in Miracles. 

 

         Kellie has offered an article titled, "Real Courage" written in 1993 in which he takes the strong and courageous stance that Peace does not come from violence.      

         CIMS member Carmen Cameron continues her ongoing Good Questions section this month with the question:

Q: "Why are there no commandments in the Course?"  

        And finally, we are continuing to present Guidance from our Elder Brother as received and scribed by Sun~Rose. This article continues with commentary on the 53 Miracle Principles, as these principles appear in the original edition [oe] published by CIMS. The entire Guidance will be available in the forthcoming book by Sun~Rose entitled: "YOU ARE LOVED AND SAFE:Prep Notes for Awakening". 

 

       We also want to remind you to visit our BLOG which has a wealth of information regarding the Course in Miracles COMMUNITY including links to videos, music, radio stations and more.

 

      One of the main pages on the Blog is dedicated to "The Spirit Light Outreach" program founded by Joe Wolfe. This program is facilitating the shipment of copies of A Course in Miracles to prisoners who have requested them. Currently they are in need of funds for POSTAGE. If inspired to give to this worthy endeavor, please click here.

 

A. I know that it is really a jarring experience for anyone raised in a traditional Judeo-Christian or Muslim tradition to encounter a spiritual thought system like the Course that has no clear-cut list of "do's" and "don't's".  Those of us raised in those religions grow up with the simple clarity provided by a structure of rules that draw a comfortable and obviously demarcated "fence" around our lives. 

 

Having no commandments, the Course can FEEL a little too "permissive" to be helpful - or even somewhat "scary", especially in the beginning.  (The personal responsibility that comes with so much freedom is something that can psychologically overwhelm a mind that takes very clear behavioral boundaries for granted.)

 

But the essence of commandments is controlling behavior - which is an effect - and NOT addressing the cause - the split in will (in other words, a split mind), at all:

 

            "Correcting at the behavioral level can shift the error from the first [willing two conflicting actions] to the second type [doing what you "should" in spite of it not being what you want to do] of strain described above, but will NOT obliterate the fear."  T-2.VI.5.10

 

So while commandments may restrict negative human behaviors temporarily (and that's a good thing), they force a constant need for control (not so good - it's very stressful, in fact) because the CAUSE is obscured and overlooked.  And the ego just loves control, which is a defense, for just that very reason!

 

And so commandments are, at best, a temporary - and, at worst, a superficial - solution to the problem. 

 

Dealing with the cause is all that really works, however.  And that's why ACIM focuses on the cause, not its effects.  And that is sure to cause the ego fits! (I am chuckling softly here at the self-recognition that last sentence brought to mind.)

 

And that, in turn, is why the closest thing to a "commandment" in the Course is its endorsement of "The Golden Rule".  But even that has a qualifier:

 

            "Consider the Golden Rule again.  You are asked to behave towards others as you would have them behave toward you.  This means that the perception of both must be accurate, since the Golden Rule is the order for appropriate behavior.  You can't behave appropriately unless you perceive accurately, because appropriate behavior DEPENDS on lack of level confusion.  The presence of level confusion always results in variable reality testing, and hence variability in behavioral appropriateness."  the original form of  T-1.III.6

 

Without accurate (or healed) perception - which is the major goal of ACIM - even the Golden Rule falls short of yielding genuinely appropriate (i.e., consistently loving) behavior!  Rather, the mind and will must be changed at a far more fundamental level than mere behaviors.  And that change is challenging (and daunting) work.  That's why there is so much resistance to it. 

 

And it's also why commandments feel so comfortable even though:

 

            "It is extremely difficult to reach Atonement by fighting against sin. Nor is a lifetime of contemplation and long periods of meditation aimed at detachment from the body necessary. All such attempts will ultimately succeed because of their purpose. Yet the means are tedious and very time consuming, for all of them look to the FUTURE for release from a state of present unworthiness and inadequacy.

            Your way will be different, not in purpose, but in means."  T-18.VII.4.8 - 15.1

 

The Course gives us those means.  Not more - or even better - rules and regulations.  But it gives us the simple truth of reality, instead, so we can see (and choose) more truly.  Trusting that we are no longer spiritual children but finally ready to mature beyond the "need" for a heavenly parent's list of do's and don't's.

 

 And please be gentle with yourself, dear reader, in this process for just like learning to walk, some stumbles are almost certain.  But our goal is GUARANTEED!  (I rest in that.)

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: The text is taken from the JCIM edition <now referred to as the original edition>of A Course In Miracles.  The Course is a Miracle in itself, and I have so much appreciation for Helen Schucman's ability to hear and express His Voice with such supreme beauty.
 
I have not changed the Course text at all, except as it is interspersed with Jesus' current Guidance on it.
 
The Course text is in bold face and slightly larger font.  The Guidance is in normal type, slightly smaller.
 
In His Guidance here, He has asked Me to capitalize the pronouns You and We as an acknowledgement of the Divinity of All of Us, an acknowledgement of Equality, an expression of His Love and respect for You.   When You see the word 'You'  capitalized in the Guidance, know that He is not just speaking to You, He is honoring You.  

May 25, 2006

20. Miracles reawaken the awareness that the Spirit, not the body, is the altar of truth.

 

It is the awareness that ... Spirit - not body is the Altar of not only Truth, but of Life, Love, Principle, Identity.  Never - never - are any of You 'mortals'.

 
Your Divine Principle, or Source, is always God, Spirit.  You are not from the proverbial sperm and egg.  These are just childish games and rules invented by the dreamers.  It is necessary to wake up from them.  This is why I walked on water and through walls. 

 

I was not playing parlor games with My disciples, but rather wanting to jolt them out of their complacency with so-called matter.  

It was not done overnight - nor frequently in the past 2000 years; and yet, at any moment You can waken, realize the strange rules, with which You have bound yourself and others, are merely strange, not rules at all.

There is no mortal.  The ghosts and goblins that you see called 'human' are no more real than Halloween costumes of the same. 

The individuals - thinking they are really clever and inventive - have come up with their persona - (which, as you know, is 'mask' in Latin) and have become obsessively identified with it, forgetting that it is just a pointless figment of their imagination. 

Indeed, such a thought would send most dreamers into a defensive rage.  (Yes, it is good to note and understand that all rage is a defensive stance, while also being an addiction.) 

Who are these individuals?  Again: anyone who prefers the unreality of dreams to the Joy and Peace and - yes, Fun! - of Life as One with God.  So count yourself among them, while You wish to idly dream on, making all your own decisions.  And yet, the moment that You turn to Join - before You've yet to speak - a hand has clasped your outstretched one, and ... all your loneliness is gone.  Spirit now is free to work, as You defer to It. 

The recognition of the Help frees mind to hear.  This is the recognition that leads to the healing power of the miracle.

What did I say to you those years ago that cut right through your fear?  That Spirit is your loved one's Reality; and when acknowledged - that Truth reigns supreme.  And so it was, as your fear melted, it melted hers (for minds are joined) - and the healing of her body freely commenced.

The healing of the mind takes only such a shift.  Her mind is Mind - as free as Spirit - hatred, rage and fear can stick not to the Light.  
 
21. Miracles are natural expressions of total forgiveness. I think We will continue to speak on this because there is a need, not just in your experience but multiplied a billion-fold.  Your world is raging, a defensive move against the fear.  And all that will dissolve that rage is summed up in the single word 'forgiveness'.  There is much more to this than the letting go of grievances, as freeing as that is.  It is a shift of focus - of raison d'être - a change of mind for why You're here. 

Almost everyone has come to gratify addiction. A simple glance at your own behavior, as well as that of others, is enough.  There are many of them: anger, fear, drugs, sex, power, dominance, victim, control, war games, money, complaint.  This is the state We have discussed before of being here for getting.

 
To be here for giving constitutes the state of 'for-giveness'.  It is the only way to put the ego to the side. 

Although it was unspoken then, it surely is clear that I came to give - not get. The gifts were freely taken by greedy children, most of them, without a thought to what lay unseen behind the Gift of Healing. 

Those who play at being 'mortal' are so hungry for things, for relief from all their pain and lack.  And yet the Gift, when taken and not understood, is like admiring and wearing the beautiful wrapping paper, while the Garment of the Gift of Life lays, discarded on the floor. 

When You are miracle-ready, this means You are ready to accept God's Giving.  What does this really mean?  Who wouldn't want God's Gifts?  'Oh God help me! ...  After I've tried these vitamins, doctors, drugs, high colonics, surgeries, therapies, radiation, chemotherapy.

 
Heal me please when none of these really work.  And, while You're at it, please don't ask me to love my nasty boss, controlling father-in-law or the neighbors who play rock music at 1:00 a.m., or my child who just pierced her navel.' 

Accepting miracles, God's Gifts, means the beginning of accepting the All-Giving of God.  Which means - at least in a small degree - to begin to remember Home. 

 
More of You need to begin to allow the miracles You experience to change your lives, instead of just accepting them for making the human experience (so-called) more comfortable - temporarily more comfortable.  A healing of a headache is a statement that You need to have no more of them.  God's Gifts are permanent. 

 
Through miracles, man accepts God's forgiveness by extending it to others. So, how shall You extend the purpose of giving - of being here for giving - to others?  It is a two-step waltz.  The first step is the Acknowledgement of the Divine Presence of God as your neighbor and yourself.  And the second equal in importance is the Gift of active Love, which You will be Guided to extend. 

 
'Oh, You're the blessèd child of God, be well.' - leaves the Gift still half undone.  Ask Me, ask God, and You will be Guided what to say and what to give so that the wounded one may really feel the Love and find their healing come - not through your ministrations, but because of them - your willingness to give. 

 
And from your Gift, extended in the Name of God (unspoken may it be), something New takes place for Giver and Giftee. 

A small remembrance of How It Is has now appeared for both of You - a ray of Heaven in the midst of hell, which somehow glows with possibilities brand-new.  And both of You are one-step nearer Home