6-27-12
-Clarification of Terms
-INTRODUCTION
1 This is not a course in philosophical speculation, nor is it concerned with precise terminology. It is concerned only with Atonement, or the correction of perception. The means of the Atonement is forgiveness. The structure of “individual consciousness” is essentially irrelevant because it is a concept representing the “original error” or the “original sin.” To study the error itself does not lead to correction, if you are indeed to succeed in overlooking the error. And it is just this process of overlooking at which the course aims.
2 All terms are potentially controversial, and those who seek controversy will find it. Yet those who seek clarification will find it as well. They must, however, be willing to overlook controversy, recognizing that it is a defense against truth in the form of a delaying maneuver. Theological considerations as such are necessarily controversial, since they depend on belief and can therefore be accepted or rejected. A universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible but necessary. It is this experience toward which the course is directed. Here alone consistency becomes possible because here alone uncertainty ends.
3 This course remains within the ego framework, where it is needed. It is not concerned with what is beyond all error because it is planned only to set the direction towards it. Therefore it uses words, which are symbolic, and cannot express what lies beyond symbols. It is merely the ego that questions because it is only the ego that doubts. The course merely gives another answer, once a question has been raised. However, this answer does not attempt to resort to inventiveness or ingenuity. These are attributes of the ego. The course is simple. It has one function and one goal. Only in that does it remain wholly consistent because only that can be consistent.
4 The ego will demand many answers that this course does not give. It does not recognize as questions the mere form of a question to which an answer is impossible. The ego may ask, “How did the impossible occur?,” “To what did the impossible happen?,” and may ask this in many forms. Yet there is no answer; only an experience. Seek only this, and do not let theology delay you.
5 You will notice that the emphasis on structural issues in the course is brief and early. Afterwards and soon, it drops away to make way for the central teaching. Since you have asked for clarification, however, these are some of the terms that are used.
When I first began studying A Course in Miracles, it was all so new and strange to me. I read each word carefully, as if the words themselves had the answer to the meaning of life, and if I missed a word or misunderstood a word, I would miss the answer. I would struggle to understand, spending hours thinking about what I was reading and trying to pin these concepts down.
When I had someone to study with, we would debate the meaning of words and concepts. And, oh how I would struggle not to use those certain words or accidently state an idea in the wrong way. If I said that we create instead of make, if I said someone was special, you would have thought I had created a mortal sin. Evidently, Catholicism and that kind of structured thinking and fear of sin can carry over into a learning system designed to end that very thing.
I think the reason the Holy Spirit sent me on forays into related but different studies from time to time was to help let go of this kind of rigid thinking and to become more malleable. Words are but symbols and as the Course tells us, they are but symbols of symbols and are thus twice removed from reality. This means, don’t get hung up on words.
We are not meant to study the Course with the ego, that is we are not mean to study with the thinking mind. The ego mind will always separate and categorize and try to insist on rigid meanings. The ego mind wants its symbols to be absolute and stay in one place. If nothing is special, then quit using that word, the mind tells me. You can’t say create when you mean make, it insists. And it loves to find words and ideas to explain and limit the concepts the Course speaks of.
We do need to speak the same language and we are trying to reach a new understanding, so we must agree on the words we use, but we don’t need to be rigid about it and to do so is to miss the point of the Course. Using the language correctly does not mean that we have understanding and healing, just like using the language more loosely doesn’t mean we misunderstand. I always appreciated Ken Wapnick’s suggestion that we not be weird. ~smile~
A Course in Miracles is meant to be studied with the Holy Spirit. He will guide us from the concrete to the abstract. Studying with the thinking mind will never do this for us, and in fact, will entrench us more deeply into the concrete. As I stopped trying to think for myself and became more dependent on the Holy Spirit for interpretation, I relaxed into the process, stopped policing my mind (and stopped judging others as well) and my mind began to heal.
Not only do I not need to understand everything there is to understand, I can’t, and the Course does not try to bring me to that understanding. The only thing A Course in Miracles does is direct me toward what comes next by introducing me to my Guide and Healer, the Holy Spirit, helping me to understand that everything I think I know is wrong, and that all of it must be forgiven. It helps me understand that I am not what I thought I was, but does not attempt to teach me what I am. Yes, it teaches I am Love, but it does not try to teach what Love is.
Its all so very simple. I am not bad or sinful. I am not this separated thing I call a body. I am not alone and abandoned. God does not hold my evil deeds against me, and in fact nothing has happened at all. I am not victim to any of this, but rather, the maker of this. All I have to do to change anything is to desire that change wholly. I only imagine I have a will separate from God. The only problem I have is that I think I am separated from God, and the solution to that problem is in my mind. My job seems to consist of watching my mind and becoming willing to be healed of what I find there that is not what I think with God. I must do all this with the Holy Spirit.
Even if I didn’t know any of this stuff, I could still awaken from this dream-like trance of separation I find myself in. If I could follow and not veer from these three steps, I would get to the same place the most ardent student of the Course aims for.
1. Watch my mind vigilantly.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to correct my thinking and heal my mind.
3. Accept His guidance, His love and His comfort.
If I could do only this, it would be enough. I read the Course and do the lessons and spend years studying only to convince myself I want to do those three steps. Understanding is not necessary, only that I desire healing above all else. But since few of us know that we want to know God above all else, and are confused about what will make us happy, we are given this beautiful path to guide us to that realization.
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