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July - September, 2009

Judgment and Self-Judgment — The Miracle of Reinterpretation

Nouk Sanchez and Tomas Vieira

When we began studying A Course in Miracles in 1990 we had a limited understanding of the nature of judgment and absolutely no idea just how destructive judgment was, regardless of the form it took. Despite the fact that the Course says there are no neutral thoughts, we would pass all sorts of judgments when watching TV, listening to the radio or observing passers by while having coffee. We just ‘tried’ not to judge the people we came into contact with and attempted to withdraw judgment when in conflict. We weren’t very peaceful then and we always felt threatened, but never put ‘two and two’ together. We didn’t realize just how insidious judgment was nor did we recognize then, the negative effects it had on us.

So, what is judgment? The ego uses judgment all the time. It’s the ego’s fuel because without judgment it could not survive. When we’re judging, we are making an unreal thought real in our minds. Every judgment is a belief we have that is uninvestigated, unchallenged. What occurs when you believe a thought? You don’t question it… in fact you justify and defend it. When you believe something, you will see your manufactured belief seemingly crystallize in front of you. Judgment is resisting ‘what is.’ It is a willful ego statement that something is wrong.

Most of us consistently, yet unknowingly use the ego’s judgment; just look at our daily concerns. Who doesn’t have concerns right now about their financial security, or perhaps, their health? Maybe we’re worried about our children’s education or state of mind. All these so called concerns are fears which are judgments (beliefs made real) in themselves.

We often make the mistake of thinking that judgment is limited exclusively to how we judge others. However its destructive element extends to all the judgments we make until we learn radical self inquiry and Quantum Forgiveness. The poison of judgment includes every belief (conscious and unconscious) that robs us of peace and we need to ask for the Holy Spirit’s help in this, because most of our judgments are made unconsciously. “He sees for you, and unless you look with Him, He cannot see.” (T-14.VII.6:1)

How do we know that we are making a judgment? Any feelings we have of “lack of peace” are an indicator that we’ve made a judgment; we’ve believed a thought. We cannot suffer if we question and withdraw our investment in the reality of our judgment. Anytime we experience suffering, pain, hurt, anger and resentment with people, self, things or circumstances, these are moments of judgment.

The Course urges us to forgive over and over; in fact forgiveness is the way Home. Yet many of us studying the Course and practicing forgiveness do not realize one very important point and that is: “Yet no one can forgive a sin that he believes is real.” (T-27.II.2:4) If you still believe that a past abuse or betrayal really did harm you and continues to have an effect, then it will be impossible to apply the Course’s forgiveness. Why? Because how in the world can you forgive something that you still believe (now) you suffered from?

“What you remember never was. It came from causelessness which you confused with cause. It can deserve but laughter, when you learn you have remembered consequences that were causeless and could never be effects. The miracle reminds you of a Cause forever present, perfectly untouched by time and interference.” (T-28.I.9:1-4)

“Only the past is held in memory as you make use of it, and so it is a way to hold the past against the now.” (T-28.1.6:7)

Anything that has ever seemed to happen was but an illusion. Memory is used by the ego to separate and hold grievances against God and is only valuable to the degree we ask Holy Spirit to reinterpret it for us in the awakening process. There are never any victims or victimizers and to take offense is the exact same mistake, as is to give offense.

Self-Judgment

One of the most prolific forms of judgment that seems to plague us particularly as we study the Course is self-judgment. The ego is perpetually judging outside and we’re being asked to apply the Holy Spirit’s forgiveness to it all. What many of us do when we catch ourselves judging is to turn inward and continue the ego’s judgment by judging ourselves for making the judgment. This is insane! The ego thrives on judgment, no matter what it judges. Judging yourself or another amounts to the identical illusion… a way to keep you from the peace of Holy Spirit. “… as blame is withdrawn from without, there is a strong tendency to harbor it within. It is difficult at first to realize that this is exactly the same thing, for there is no distinction between within and without.” (T.11.IV.4-6)

The Course’s objective is not to cease making judgments on self and others. It is to learn not to judge ourselves for judging! In other words, if you judge yourself and realize this, then do not compound (make more real) the insanity by judging yourself for judging.

When tempted to judge another, yourself or a situation; whenever your peace is threatened…

1. Stop and Recognize! First recognize your lack of peace in this moment. The source is always the ego; your own split mind and never something or someone outside you. This is the signal to stop and recognize. Simply “observe” that you made a judgment. Do not judge again. Recognize that it could only be ego judging itself. And never judge a self judgment as it seeks only to make it real. Recognize your emotional charge, ie: anger, frustration, physical discomfort, etc. Rather than suppress it, just recognize it.

2. Look! Now look with Holy Spirit. This is where the real healing takes place; it’s in the looking without judgment. The miracle occurs in an instant when we courageously look without judgment. In this now instant, the Holy Instant, the ego disappears,
being the block to the awareness of Love’s presence, leaving Spirit to reinterpret the present and past; undoing all effects of our illusion. Every present moment of conflict that is reinterpreted by Holy Spirit undoes a chunk of our perception of past trauma. There is no need to rehash or revisit the past. All present suffering is caused by our conscious or unconscious past revisited and re-presented in another form by the ego. Allowing an instant of non-judgment weakens the ego’s investment in the reality of the judgment thus weakening its affect in you.

3. Release! Let it go. Say this: “I accept the Atonement for myself,” which means you are accepting the correction of error in your perception in that instant. If judgment or self-judgment arises again… If fear, guilt, shame and more judgment appear? Remember the purpose of the ego’s judgment is to separate you. That’s its goal of course, but it does help to remind ourselves consciously of this fact every time we catch ourselves judging.

The Cost of Judgment

What is the cost of judgment in your life? What are the costs concerning your health, happiness, joy and sense of abundance? Un-relinquished judgments cost you the peace of God. Do you want to be right or happy? What do you want more than the remembrance of Who you are in truth? The first judgment we ever made was to prefer separation over Oneness or fear over love.  We really cannot judge in truth. All that we can do is to choose, that is to choose to be right-minded. “You have often been urged to refrain from judging, not because it is a right to be withheld from you. You cannot judge. You merely can believe the ego’s judgments, all of which are false.” (W-pl.151.4:2-4)

Your job right now is this: to offer your willingness to let Holy Spirit reinterpret the past fully. This is done, not by consciously reentering past trauma, but by being vigilant every present moment that you feel threat; moments where you feel inadequate, fearful, resentful or physical pain, etc. Your job is to be the impartial “observer” of whatever feelings and memories surface and to be present with Spirit. This means that you are to watch without further judgment. When you decide to be the non-judgmental witness only, watching uncomfortable feelings arise… you leave a miraculous gap. In this “gap” the ego disappears! In this gap Spirit is revealed and the miracle of reinterpretation occurs. You don’t have to know how or when. All you need is the little willingness to be present and to allow that instant of non-judgment; to allow the suspension of doubt. Love is Who you are. Trust that the Holy Spirit is right there with you waiting patiently for you to allow Him to reveal the absolute and invulnerable security that lay at your core. All you’re asked for is a little willingness….

© 2009, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
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