Lesson 157
Into His Presence would I enter now.
“This is a day of silence and of trust.”
“This is another crucial turning point in the curriculum.”
“Today it will be given you to feel a touch of Heaven, though you will return to paths of learning.”
“Nothing is needed but today’s idea to light your mind, and let it rest in still anticipation and in quiet joy, wherein you quickly leave the world behind.”
Jesus is telling us that we may still be in the learning stage, but that today is going to be special. Today we will get a touch of Heaven; we will walk in eternity for a while. He will direct our practicing and we will rise above the laws of the world and leave it behind. The ego-mind will doubt this and will choose otherwise, but surely, we know by now that we are not the ego. We have learned that we can listen to the ego, or not listen to it, believe it or not believe it.
Jesus is making some extraordinary statements in this lesson as he did in yesterday’s lesson. He says that from this day forth, your ministry takes on a genuine devotion. He says that your experience will so transform your mind that it becomes the touchstone for the holy Thoughts of God. Holy cow! And not just the mind, but the body is sanctified today because we will be using it for its true purpose. Soon we will have no use for a body and but for now, we will use it for its purpose and it will serve it well.
“Into Christ’s Presence will we enter now, serenely unaware of everything except His shining face and perfect Love. The vision of His face will stay with you, but there will be an instant which transcends all vision, even this, the holiest. This you will never teach, for you attained it not through learning. Yet the vision speaks of your remembrance of what you knew that instant, and will surely know again.”
I am hoping for a clear and transcendent experience today, but so far that has not occurred. I am feeling love and joy welling up in me and I feel peaceful even though there are circumstances today that might have pulled me into ego thinking at another time. We shall see. (Ha ha. I am reading what I wrote and clearly, I didn’t understand what transcendence means. Yes, my experience would deepen but feeling love and joy and peace in the face of the ego world and its circumstances is pretty sarn transcendent.)
Regina’s Tips
If one is to awaken to truth, it is important to let go of concepts, because concepts are not truth.
Today we will let go of our concepts about God. We will let go of the idea of a “Him” who seems different and separate from us. Although these terms will continue to be used, we will realize the truth. God is the life that we are.
Today’s workbook lesson says, “This day is holy, for it ushers in a new experience; a different kind of feeling and awareness. … Today you learn to feel the joy of life.”
My thoughts
Regina likes to remove the spiritual language, perhaps because of all the concepts we have picked up around terms like God, but I just don’t relate to the idea of Life as opposed to God. Life just doesn’t evoke in me the kind of loving, joyful feeling that God does. But, because it is used so much in this study and in other writings and meditations that I use, I am slowly letting my mind shift a bit to accept other ways of naming the Creator.
Manual for Teachers
M-5.II.3:8-11 The world does nothing to him. He only thought it did. Nor does he do anything to the world, because he was mistaken about what it is. Herein is the release from guilt and sickness both, for they are one. Yet to accept this release, the insignificance of the body must be an acceptable idea.
The Manual for Teachers explains why we choose sickness and assure us we can do something about it. In fact, the magical solutions we turn to only work because we decide they do. Sickness isn’t of the body at all, but of the mind and thus sickness can only be cured by the mind. Our medicines and procedures to help the body make temporary corrections, and that’s a blessing when we need it, but because they don’t address the cause which is in the mind, nothing is really cured and will return in one form or another until the mind is healed. What is the cause of sickness? Jesus tells us in this sentence. “Herein is the release from guilt and sickness both, for they are one.”
This is why we have so many problems of the body and why it is sometimes so hard to get permanent relief. I am a pretty healthy person and always have been, but still, I have had occasional serious situations requiring medicine and surgery. As I get older, this is happening more. The problem isn’t the body, it’s the guilt. My mind was sick because I had poisoned it with guilt. What I finally came to understand is that guilt is not real. It doesn’t exist. It was made up when the separation idea came into manifestation. Because it is not real, I don’t have to believe in it. Why believe in something that doesn’t exist? Letting go of the idea that guilt is real releases us from the effects of that belief.
Text
We all experience doubt. This is such a long dream and it feels so real, and we can feel very alone in this since most people are not yet ready for awakening. To make it even harder, as long as we identify with the split mind, we will feel like we are fighting ourselves. Hang in there, though, because that false identity is slowly falling away and one day it will be a vague memory.
You can achieve freedom from doubt faster if you are consistent in your forgiveness work. There is a Voice in your mind that is constantly guiding you and it is up to you to choose to listen to that Voice rather than the ego voice. Choose the Voice for God consistently and awakening will come sooner. It is up to you.
© Copyright 2019, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this notice is included.
Has this page been helpful to you?
Your contribution in support of this site is greatly appreciated. To make a tax deductible contribution or become a member online, go to http://www.pathwaysoflight.org/polshop/home.php?cat=254.
Or send a check or money order to Pathways of Light, 6 Oak Court, Ormond Beach, FL 32174-2623 (USD only, please) Thank you for your support.