2012 Lesson Discussion Thread

[GeneHrsy]

Hi
Today's lesson is one that I need to repeatedly practice.
From the time I was born, I was taught how vulnerable I am. Unless I realize that Spirit creates the body, and spirit maintains it, but that I am Spirit only, how can I feel invulnerable? The fear of losing the forms that I create seems to be at the core of my belief in my vulnerability. and to live in this world, these forms I create require attention and service.
In this service I see other living beings in a relative state of Spirit taking physical form, and how much they are all a part of this experience and being. Can I truly perceive Invulnerability while others feel vulnerable? To do so seems to provoke proof of invulnerability.
The forms we create are not invulnerable, but the Spirit which creates them is/are. I see clearly, in this body state we are in, that nothing in our perceived universe goes without change; except for that fact that all forms change. That is what makes experience.
ACIM is leading me to see that there is more than what is clearly perceived, and that our common fears are what holds us back in realizing a more Loving and life sustaining existence on this little planet.

I would like to keep the lessons in chronological order to make it easier for others to follow. My thought is that discussion of these lessons is a good thing. And, if we use this thread, it will move throughout the lessons without disrupting their order. I will make one final post at the end of the Course and that should place all our discussion at the end of the Course ...if it works that way.
_________________
It Just Keeps Getting Better
Time is the measurement of humanity's Awakening to the True nature of Now.
Ever wonder what would happen if the whole world farted, then smiled at the same time??

[irides]

Gene, thank you very much for posting ACIM again. Each day is a great help to me.

Best wishes.
irides

[GeneHrsy]

You are welcome! Me too!
It is a Blessing.
_________________
It Just Keeps Getting Better
Time is the measurement of humanity's Awakening to the True nature of Now.
Ever wonder what would happen if the whole world farted, then smiled at the same time??

[GeneHrsy]

Through this course, a few people have asked, "What is a Miracle?"
The definition may be subjective to an individual mind. But if the definition can be generalized, I think this may be a good general definition.
When one begins to be Aware of Miracles, it becomes clear that everything we experience is just that, a Miracle.
A miracle is the energy of Love manifested in this physical realm. That's about as simple as it is. All being is Miracle. All being is Love. To realize this is to Forgive. Use forgiveness with the broadest paintbrush you have. Forgive everything that bugs you; others, governments, parents, yourself and God might top the list.
Had Love not been misconstrued, would there be any need for forgiveness? It is so important that it was the last thing that Jesus, reportedly, spoke before Trascendance. It is so important that this one thought pattern of forgiveness can and will change the entire world we see.
_________________
It Just Keeps Getting Better
Time is the measurement of humanity's Awakening to the True nature of Now.
Ever wonder what would happen if the whole world farted, then smiled at the same time??

[GeneHrsy]

In my experience, holding grievances serves to block the flow of Chi energy through the body. In particular, those which we hold in the subconscious mind will recreate situations that invoke similar emotional responses to the event which is held without forgiveness. In other words, the event or events that brought about the feelings of grievance will be repeated in different forms that evoke the same response; until the issue is resolved. This resolution is Forgiveness.
Grievances block the energy that heals us in mind and body. Many times, the grievance goes all the way back to the moment of our birth and our spirit interaction with our Source and the other beings we listen to, in that moment.
Once the lesson of Forgiveness is applied to ones own experience, the lesson may be shared with others and Forgiveness, given, can and does Heal the mind and the body.
If ego works the same in you as it does in me, it will immediately look for another grievance to take the place of the one you have forgiven...forgive it all.
_________________
It Just Keeps Getting Better
Time is the measurement of humanity's Awakening to the True nature of Now.
Ever wonder what would happen if the whole world farted, then smiled at the same time??

[GeneHrsy]

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooh; something must die for another to live; one goes through extreme suffering so that another may be happy and free. These are all examples of the thought process of a mind that accepts only a duality in conflict. The idea that there is a right way and a wrong way to live are at it's basis. The concept of placing our happiness in a, perceived, external object, or event, places the mind in a state of discontent, and leads one to feel lacking, or inferior.
Happiness is what all beings desire. The ego part of our mind can lead us down many undesirable paths, believing all the time that true happiness lies at the end of the journey. Only to find that, somewhere, happiness was abandoned for the pursuit.
True happiness comes from within, just as love. When we leave the constraints of a mind that sees only duality, and realize the oneness of all, happiness is innate. Being is Joy. Life is Love. Love is God. And nothing in this Universe is separate from that Love. There is only the Abundance of Love.
Though we create our physical form, it is not all that we are. In fact, it is a wondrous manifestation of love. Not separate from our Spirit, not an evil creation of ego, not the totality of what we are, but a fulfillment of our own desire and a function of Spirit (or the energy that motivates and animates this physicality. There is great joy in this fundamental essence. It is the essence of all. It is only mind, making its experimental excursions, that tells otherwise.
_________________
It Just Keeps Getting Better
Time is the measurement of humanity's Awakening to the True nature of Now.
Ever wonder what would happen if the whole world farted, then smiled at the same time??

[SnowTiger]

Thankyou Gene for providing this course When I first read Lesson One I wondered how meditation such as this could impact my spiritual life. And then I remembered how I left the Church of Christ in order to avoid the distraction that such short sighted teaching would cause. I did this in order to fine tune my senses towards my innerchild rather than on their doctrines. I understand then that from my own standpoint the meditation you speak of is only intended to free my mind of the distraction of attachment and desire in order that I might see clearly those things for that which they are and see what really needs to be seen and place them in their proper perspective in relation to my life's purpose which of course is ever changing and evolving. Thankyou

[GeneHrsy]

Snow Tiger,
I had a similar reaction my first time through. The Course is definitely brainwashing . And I needed it! When the gievences and guilt get cleaned up, the whole world looks like a better place to be. Doesn't it?
I am very thankful for Gods answer to my prayers in guiding us to ACIM, and all the wonderful others who help show the path to Love.

Gene
_________________
It Just Keeps Getting Better
Time is the measurement of humanity's Awakening to the True nature of Now.
Ever wonder what would happen if the whole world farted, then smiled at the same time??

[SnowTiger]

The last week or so I've been doing the exorcises contained in lessons
1-3. I've noticed that I have much more patience now towards my situations. I'm not phased as much by things. That's encouraging for me because for awhile there my situations were totally overwelming me while I've been trying to reason it all out. Thankyou

[GeneHrsy]

You might thank yourself, as it is you who are allowing Love to lead instead of ego. The old saying, " You can't live on love alone.", is proven to be totally false. We do live on love alone. For those who allow the change in thinking, love leads and everything else comes into place, with renewed meaning to the experiences.
Miracles occure in time. Some, it seems, are like bolts of lightning the change we see is so sudden and profound. Others seem to take their sweet time in manifesting, but are just as profound. The most available of these is Forgiveness. Include yourself in your forgiving.
I'm so glad the lessons are helping. For me, I'm amazed every day. I live the lessons, often the day before they are posted, and it serves as confirmation of Love's guidance to see the experiences explained in the text. To me, ACIM is truly a course in Miracles.
Shanti, Blessings to open our eyes to everyday.

Gene
_________________
It Just Keeps Getting Better
Time is the measurement of humanity's Awakening to the True nature of Now.
Ever wonder what would happen if the whole world farted, then smiled at the same time??

[SnowTiger]

The first miracle for me was patience on the roadway lol. The others such as forgiveness and being calm during a sudden interuptions take a bit longer but they do come. The one thing I noticed was that lessons one-four begin to occur more naturally as we set aside that time to practice them. Every moment of our lives and every place we go becomes a place of meditation no matter how unpleasent it might be. That is ministry so to speak. I am very happy that I am taking this course.

I don't know how received the bible is here, but I grew up with it so permit me this reference. I remember running across Job 31:1. It says that job made a covenant with his eyes so that he would not look improperly upon a woman. Now, when I look at a woman I train myself to see her creative potential rather than her mere appearance as John did at first towards Marjorie when he first met her. Anyways I see the same kind of concepts being applied to all things in the early lessons here. I thank God for putting energy into all things that we might share it for the common good.
_________________
It is the notion of right and wrong that keeps people in the dark; for in God's presence those distinctions are simply not made; they are instead in balance.

[GeneHrsy]

Well said!
You have a beautiful signature.
Seeing all persons, all life, all being as Divine is the truth. Those persons include yourself.
_________________
It Just Keeps Getting Better
Time is the measurement of humanity's Awakening to the True nature of Now.
Ever wonder what would happen if the whole world farted, then smiled at the same time??

[SnowTiger]

It's amazing how many experiences I've had since I started the course. It's brought a close member of my family and I back together. In fact she is taking this course now too. She has been a source of encouragement to me because this week has been very challenging. I can't seem to maintain a sense of tranquility about some things and so I wasn't sure if it was time to proceed to lesson 7 or not. She had no idea of what lesson I was on but her encouragement today confirmed to me that I should. And lesson 7 is on page with what she sent me. So I'll be starting that tomorrow lol.

I have learned something about taking these lessons. For one their intuitively arranged and therefore we should intuitively be lead from one lesson to the next. I feel that each lesson contains an insight that is relevant to the next. I dont proceed until I'm confident that I've discovered that insight. This is an adventure
_________________
It is the notion of right and wrong that keeps people in the dark; for in God's presence those distinctions are simply not made; they are instead in balance.

[GeneHrsy]

This is a most valuable lesson, for my mind. It is only in forgiveness that I find joy. I sat quietly, allowing each grievance my mind might conjour to be forgiven in this forever moment, now. Thanks!

It rained!! Over two inches! Prayers answered!

Blessings.
_________________
It Just Keeps Getting Better
Time is the measurement of humanity's Awakening to the True nature of Now.
Ever wonder what would happen if the whole world farted, then smiled at the same time??

[GeneHrsy]

Because Love ends suffering, and heals the scar that the illusion presents.

The first time I read this, I thought, 'how heartless and incompassionate is this?' But the healer does not give in to the illusion of illness, she brings truth and compassion that turns the power of false ideas back to the strength of wellness.

"Along with love, compassion is the face of altruism. It is a feeling from deep in the heart that you cannot bear others suffering without acting to relieve it. As compassion grows stronger, so does your willingness to commit yourself to the welfare of all beings, even if you have to do it alone. You will be unbiased in your service to all beings, no matter how they respond to you." - Dalhi Lama
_________________
It Just Keeps Getting Better
Time is the measurement of humanity's Awakening to the True nature of Now.
Ever wonder what would happen if the whole world farted, then smiled at the same time??