Day 102
3 It is easiest to let error be corrected where it is most apparent, and errors can be recognized by their results. A lesson truly taught can lead to nothing but release for teacher and pupil, who have shared in one intent. Attack can enter only if perception of separate goals has entered. And this must indeed have been the case if the result is anything but joy. The single aim of the teacher turns the divided goal of the pupil into one direction, with the call for help becoming his one appeal. This then is easily responded to with just one answer, and this answer will enter the teacher’s mind unfailingly. From there it shines into his pupil’s mind, making it one with his.
Pam calls me every week and we talk about the difficult relationship she has with her husband. Very gently we explore this relationship and each time she realizes that her husband is not the source of her unhappiness, and she ends the hour with a renewed desire to focus on her own mind, and each week she forgets this. Each week we start the process over again and it appears as if we are not making any true progress.
When I listen to the thinking mind I wonder if we are wasting our time. I wonder if I am doing something wrong and maybe I should suggest someone who would be better able to help. I think maybe I should say something to her, something that would give her a mental shake, get her to try harder or be more serious about moving through this.
If I were to listen to the ego mind and act on those thoughts I would be attacking my student. I would be making the problem real for her by telling her that she needs to work harder or do something to make a change. Right now those thoughts are just passing through my mind and I can just let them pass through. But if I begin to focus on them, I will say something whether I plan to or not. Even if I don’t say something, our one mind will be affected by the belief.
When Pam and I first started talking we shared one goal; we wanted to join in healing the mind. If I listened to the ego impatient mind, we would no longer share a single goal, because now I would have a different goal. I would have a perceived best outcome and I would have a timetable, and I would think the goal would be to get Pam to that outcome and to do so in a timely manner. In my mind Pam’s goal would be to meet my expectations, and my goal would be to succeed in getting her to do that.
Now whatever I say to Pam to encourage this goal of mine will be an attack, and will engender fear in Pam that she cannot do this, that maybe she cannot heal and be happy. And it will engender fear in me that I won’t be successful in helping Pam and so will be a failure. If carried too far, I will start to project my fear onto Pam and believe it is her fault I am failing and that I feel so bad.
If instead I see the thoughts and ignore them, and stay true to our one shared goal, I will trust the Holy Spirit to guide my words and actions. I will wait for His answer to be in my mind before I say anything. Without a perceived outcome and without a need to make something happen, the counseling will move at a pace and in a direction that is not my concern. I will trust that Love will find its own way in its own time. Pam cannot fail and neither can I because our goal is one and Love cannot fail.
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