L e s s o n  291

This is a day of stillness and of peace. 
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IAMBIC PENTAMETER

Now we have a new section to review 8. What is the Real World? To reach the state of the real world is the culmination of our journey as a result of the undoing of our thought system that we chose in our separation from God. It is a release of all that is past. It is a reflection of heaven, the dream symbol of the awakened state. It is a world where there is a "counterpart for each unhappy thought reflected in your world; a sure correction for the sights of fear and sounds of battle which your world contains." (2.1)We see this world through "quiet eyes and with a mind at peace." (2.2) It is a state of mind outside of the world of hate, attack, pain, sorrow and death where we are asleep in our dream of exile from perfect oneness, now seemingly split into billions of fragments all different from each other, all competing for their own self interest where everyone is in a state of conflict. The problems of this world, reflected in many unhappy thoughts, is actually only one problem and one thought which is that of separation. It is the healing of that thought that brings about the real world. It is a world of rest from the conflict of this world with only happy sights and sounds.

Within the dream, death and attack have reality because we have given them reality. The body seems real as does the world which is a projection of guilt that arose as a result of the attack on God. This attack was reflected in the separation where in order for this identity of the self that we think we are to exist, then God could not exist. It had to be either me or God because my perceived state of individuality and that of oneness cannot both be true. If we think our reality is true, then God must be wiped out. We have made this thought system of one-or-the-other real in our minds. When we recognize that this life is not serving us, not bringing us the peace and joy that we yearn for, then we are ready to start on this path. Until then we do everything we can to adjust to the world and strive for the idols that we think will bring us happiness. But when we seek for happiness in the things of this world, it will always elude us.  

If there is only kindness in the mind, then only kindness can be seen. Now there is nothing to condemn or judge against. When we show kindness, we are recognizing our Source as being kind. And then we can know that kindness is in our own minds. And when the mind is totally kind, then all thoughts and perceptions would be kind because they are all products of the mind. Now "only happy sights and sounds can reach the mind that has forgiven itself." (2.6)

So the real world is the end of time. Time was made by us to reinforce guilt but time is used by the Holy Spirit for healing of guilt. Thus time was made by us for a hurtful purpose but the Holy Spirit uses it to help us awaken to the truth of who we are. This requires bringing our grievances, attack thoughts, all dark thoughts to the light. If we hold onto grievances we are saying that we don't want to return home. We need to be aware of our decisions to judge and attack, because they are simply decisions to stay in the dream and choose to see ourselves as separate and alone.

Lesson 291 has extra meaning for me as I take it very personally since it comes as a gift to my mind every year on October 18-the day I was seemingly born. So I devote this day to stillness and peace knowing that it is not about anything outside of my mind. What are you feeling about this day? What kind of a day is it for you? What challenges face you today?

The day of stillness and peace talked about in this lesson is not about anything outside of our minds. Stillness and peace is, in fact, an attribute of our mind. It is who we really are in our creation. Anything unlike that is not our natural state. The experiences that we seem to have that create turmoil and distress in our lives, are not the truth.  They are not a fact. Jesus says that what is a fact is that this day is a day of stillness and peace. How can that be? Which is true? What he says or what I am experiencing? Am I a body living in the world or am I the Christ? Only one of these realities is true. Which one do I accept? My frame of reference looks like chaos, with unpredictable events. I seem to be at their mercy. But this is not the frame of reference of this teaching. Do I open up to the holiness, which is the truth or hold to my frame of reference?

 In Chapter 14.X.5 the ego mind is described as "a weaving, changing pattern that never rests and is never still. It shifts unceasingly across the mirror or your mind and the reflections of Heaven last but a moment and grow dim, as darkness blots them out." It is this restless mind with all of the thoughts that go around and around that creates chaos for us. That is why we are challenged to watch our thoughts and release them to the Holy Spirit. It is a discipline that takes time and practice but is the only way to uncover what is always behind these thoughts. What is always there blocked by our restless thoughts is stillness and  peace. Lesson 236 reminds us that "I rule my mind which I alone must rule". The thoughts that we hold and the feelings that we experience are what blocks us to the awareness of truth.

To us salvation is about getting everything done in the world by attending to our stuff. We even get anxious about not understanding the course perfectly or believing that we are not even good at meditating! But that is just another way we bring suffering to the mind which is how the ego thought system is maintained. It is continual noise in the mind which keeps God away since God is in the quiet mind. One way that we keep truth away is by arguing, judging, comparing and controlling. It is the way of the ego and keeps the ego in business.

We try to convince ourselves that it is God's world that is the illusion and that what we made is real. This world does seem very real and tangible to us. But we will see the real world when we use this world as the forum for unlearning all that we have learned. We are learning that this world, which seems so real and solid to us, is actually illusion. It is all a dream that we have made up and believe to be reality. And in this dream, stillness and peace are not our constant experience. 

We need do nothing to experience stillness and peace except to bring awareness to the way we are blocking our true Will which we share with God. What that means is that we bring awareness to our egoic thoughts. Everything that seems to be happening to you today is another opportunity to apply the course teaching. Every day offers us lots and lots of opportunities for forgiveness.

To the ego mind peace and stillness is having everything going our way as we have defined it.   The course teaching does not fit into our frame of reference. It turns our frame of reference upside down. So how do we experience the truth of this lesson?  We experience it through forgiveness and through the practice of the holy instant. And thus we have experiences of peace surrounding us when the mind goes quiet. And in the quiet mind is where we connect to our Source. By now we know that this is not an easy process though. It takes a lot of discipline and hard work. And in the beginning stages, which by the way can last a long time, we may find that things seem worse because we are uncovering a whole host of thoughts that we had never been aware of before because they were so well hidden by our conditioned mind that had learned to always be nice.

We are reminded in 2.3 "I do not know the way to you". We do think we know and it is this knowing mind that can't be taught. Until we admit we don't know and have been wrong in all of our judgments and perceptions we will not choose another teacher. It reminds me of the movie "Dark City" where the ego was trying to find the way out by looking for a taxi or train to go to the beach (heaven). It wants to think it can figure its own way. But the ego's way will never work. In the movie we learn that the way to leave the illusory world is to give up the doubt thoughts. And it is the same for us. We basically have to give up our way and our answers and recognize that we don't know and only that we have the desire to be taught.

I had an experience of this yesterday where a problem showed up for me and in my usual fashion I started the process of solving it. Part of the solution was for me to have access to my mother's doctor who could assist her with severe pain. However he refused to see me. My mind started immediately to look for other options. But the Voice I heard was just to be still. In the stillness I realized that the ego could solve no problems. Any problem solved by the ego just bred further problems. When the concerns were released from my mind, I checked back with my mother whose pain had subsided and there was no need for action. What happened? I don't know but I got a lesson in not reacting and to take time to find peace and listen before acting on anything.

"Father, guide Your Son along the quiet path that leads to You. Let my forgiveness be complete, and let the memory of You return to me" (2.5)

And when it does we see the forgiven world as described in Chapter 17.II-a world we can't even imagine it is so very lovely. But we can't get there with the ego as our guide. He asks us to accept God's Thoughts because our own thoughts don't know the way. That is why the mind needs to be quiet and we need to listen in stillness so He can guide us along the quiet paths that lead to Him. And what is that path? It is a path of forgiveness. And only in this way can Christ's vision show us the truth of who everyone is and ultimately to show us the real world-a world which is a symbol for heaven. This is such a contrast to our world of fear which is witnessed to by our eyes. Our eyes give us evidence as to why we should be afraid. But Christ's vision shows us only that which is seen through forgiving eyes. And it is indeed a world of holiness, divinity and innocence. 

There is a perspective among some that we came into this world to learn and teach the lesson that falls on the date of our birthday. And so today this is my lesson and I am reminded to "let my forgiveness be complete and let the memory of You return to me". Just getting that would take me all the way home. Lovely!

  Love and blessings, Sarah

"To meet everything and everyone through stillness instead of mental noise is the greatest gift you can offer to the universe. I call it stillness, but it is a jewel with many facets: that stillness is also joy, and it is love." Eckhart Tolle

   
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^{A Course in Miracles
 TEXT
 Chapter Twenty Seven
The Body and the Dream}

VII. The Purpose of Pain