To gain the most from A Course in Miracles Text Made Simple, we recommend that
you read the corresponding chapter and section in the Text of the Second or
Third Edition of A Course in Miracles published by the Foundation for Inner Peace.
Read A Course in Miracles, Chapter 30, Section VI. (pages 638-640)
We are able to become aware of the real world as we accept in every situation the fact that, “Anger is never justified. Attack has no foundation.” (1:1-2)
As long as we think there is a just reason to be angry or even mildly irritated or disgruntled, we still have forgiveness work to do. We are still holding on to barriers that hide the real world from our awareness. As long as we think there is just reason for seeing guilt outside us, we are still thinking the unreal is real and so we still have forgiveness work to do. We have not escaped from fearful dreams as long as we believe that these dreams of separate bodies are real. As long as we believe in separation, we still have forgiveness work to do.
So it is very important that we remember Jesus’ helpful message to us that anger is never justified and that attack could never really happen. This message is so important that Jesus summed up the whole message of the Course in his introduction: “Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God.” (Intro.2:2-4) This healing idea is so important that all of forgiveness rests on learning this one lesson.
In paragraph two we learn that true pardon comes from true forgiveness. Jesus explains true forgiveness this way: “Salvation does not lie in being asked to make unnatural responses which are inappropriate to what is real. Instead, it merely asks that you respond appropriately to what is not real by not perceiving what has not occurred. If pardon were unjustified, you would be asked to sacrifice your rights when you return forgiveness for attack. But you are merely asked to see forgiveness as the natural reaction to distress that rests on error, and thus calls for help. Forgiveness is the only sane response. It keeps your rights from being sacrificed.” (2:4-9 italics added)
The ego mind is always looking to project guilt. Hurling guilt is perceived as its salvation. It is always looking for the next “guilt fix” to feed its addiction to seeking and finding guilt outside itself in order to relieve the pain of its own guilt.
Jesus explains how the ego mind in this world works: “While you regard [forgiveness] as a gift unwarranted, it must uphold the guilt you would ‘forgive.’ Unjustified forgiveness is attack. And this is all the world can ever give. It pardons ‘sinners’ sometimes, but remains aware that they have sinned. And so they do not merit the forgiveness that it gives. This is the false forgiveness which the world employs to keep the sense of sin alive.” (3:4-8, 4:1)
When we join with ego thinking, we inherently feel guilty and unworthy of forgiveness. In ego thinking we cannot believe that forgiveness is justified and therefore we must be guilty and feel forgiveness is not merited for us or our brothers. (Think how many churches teach that we are all sinners.)
Jesus helps us move past this false idea when he says: “And recognizing God is just, it seems impossible His pardon could be real. Thus is the fear of God the sure result of seeing pardon as unmerited. No one who sees himself as guilty can avoid the fear of God. But he is saved from this dilemma if he can forgive. The mind must think of its Creator as it looks upon itself. if you can see your brother merits pardon, you have learned forgiveness is your right as much as his. Nor will you think that God intends for you a fearful judgment that your brother does not merit. For it is the truth that you can merit neither more nor less than he.” (4:2-9)
In paragraphs 5-8 Jesus talks about the importance of bringing all appearances of separation (separate forms) to the truth of oneness. He tells us, “Be not deceived about the meaning of a fixed belief that some appearances are harder to look past than others are. It always means you think forgiveness must be limited. And you have set a goal of partial pardon and a limited escape from guilt for you. What can this be except a false forgiveness of yourself, and everyone who seems apart from you?” (6:4-7)
We are learning that all illusions (images of separation) are equally untrue and holding on to just one illusion still binds us to the ego’s belief in guilt. “Salvation rests on faith there cannot be some forms of guilt that you cannot forgive. And so there cannot be appearances that have replaced the truth about God’s Son. Look on your brother with the willingness to see him as he is. And do not keep a part of him outside your willingness that he is healed. To heal is to make whole.” (7:7-8, 8:1-3)
If we think anyone is guilty, we will not know the truth about him or ourselves. We will not know that he is still as God created him and that the appearance we are seeing is just a projected illusion of separation from our Source. Jesus gives us a statement of gratitude to help us remember the truth:
“I thank You, Father, for Your perfect Son, and in his glory will I see my own.” (9:4)
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