Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God.
The Preface to A Course in Miracles contains some of the Course’s clearest and most comprehensive language. It explains how the Course came to be, what the Course is, and what it says.
The “What It Says” section really simplifies the overarching philosophy or view of the Course which is that we can chose either the world we see, or Heaven. There seem to be a million choices and options in life, but in reality, there are only these two “competing” alternatives to choose from.
And it gets even simpler, because one of the options (guess which one) is entirely illusion, unreal and not there! So there really is no choice. Heaven is the whole ball game.
The Preface says that the Course, …makes a fundamental distinction between the real and the unreal; between knowledge and perception.
It describes the world of perceptions, the world we seem to inhabit (what most people call “the real world) this way:
The world of perception… is the world of time, of change, of beginnings and endings. It is based on interpretation, not on facts. It is the world of birth and death, founded on the belief in scarcity, loss, separation and death. It is learned rather than given, selective in its perceptual emphases, unstable in its functioning, and inaccurate in its interpretations. (ACIM, Preface.3:1-4)
That pretty much sums it up. The world that we perceive makes no sense. It is “unstable” and constantly changing. “Scarcity, loss, separation and death,” seem to be everywhere inescapable “facts” of life.
Whereas Heaven is Home. It is where we belong, and indeed, it is where we are right now, safe and at peace.
Beautiful child of God… The Kingdom of Heaven is within you.
And
Seek not outside yourself. Heaven cannot be found where it is not, and there can be no peace excepting there.
We just happen to be sleeping and dreaming this illusory dream of insanity. We are (right now!) in Heaven and Heaven is in us.
If it’s real, it cannot be vulnerable.
If it’s not real, it doesn’t exist.
This is the recipe for perfect peace in a world of troubles.
The Course explains how it all started, in the allegory of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They lived in the place of perfect peace -- where we lived (and where we continue to live) before we fell asleep – dreaming the mad idea that we could ever be separate from God (from Heaven):
The Garden of Eden, or the pre-separation condition, was a state of mind in which nothing was needed. When Adam listened to the “lies of the serpent,” all he heard was untruth. You do not have to continue to believe what is not true unless you choose to do so. All that can literally disappear in the twinkling of an eye because it is merely a misperception.
What is seen in dreams seems to be very real. Yet the Bible says that a deep sleep fell upon Adam, and nowhere is there reference to his waking up. The world has not yet experienced any comprehensive reawakening or rebirth.
Such a rebirth is impossible as long as you continue to project….
(ACIM, T-2.I.3:1-8) (emphasis added)
So, how do we wake up? How do we stop projecting onto the illusion? How do we “get back to the Garden?”
A little later in the same chapter, the Course begins to give us the answer:
Only after the deep sleep fell upon Adam could he experience nightmares. If a light is suddenly turned on while someone is dreaming a fearful dream, he may initially interpret the light itself as part of his dream and be afraid of it. However, when he awakens, the light is correctly perceived as the release from the dream, which is then no longer accorded reality. This release does not depend on illusions. The knowledge that illuminates not only sets you free, but also shows you clearly that you are free. (ACIM, T-2.I.4:5-9)
The answer is that we move away from perception to become open to receiving knowledge because we perceive not “reality” but our own projections. Dreaming a fearful dream, we perceive “scarcity, loss, separation and death” all around us. Outside of us.
But there is a light that is inside of us that is trying to shine through the darkness and illuminate our minds, so that we can begin to awaken.
The Course tells us what that light is, a light that has been brought into the darkness of our dream, to gently call us to wake up and see that we are home:
Forgiveness.
“Forgiveness” is mentioned almost 700 times throughout the Course. From the first:
Miracles are natural signs of forgiveness. Through miracles you accept God’s forgiveness by extending it to others.(emphasis added)
To the last:
And with My gratitude will come the gift first of forgiveness, then eternal peace. (emphasis added)
Here’s the answer to all our problems: First forgiveness. Then eternal peace.
You first forgive, then pray, and you are healed. Your prayer has risen up and called to God, Who hears and answers. You have understood that you forgive and pray but for yourself. And in this understanding you are healed.
The formula is pretty clear and simple: first forgive, then pray, then you are healed. When we forgive others, we understand that we are giving that which we give to another to ourselves.
This is the end of the idea of separation, separate bodies, separate minds, separate ideas, separate life.
All is One.
Heaven can’t wait because there is nothing to wait for. Only in our minds is there a time-lag between us and God, us, and Heaven, us and health, wholeness, healing, forgiveness, JOY!
I highly recommend anyone – long-time A Course in Miracles students and those who have never read it before, to go and read the Preface. It provides newcomers and old-timers alike a fresh and uncomplicated look at an ancient dilemma of the human race:
What’s it all about?
Happy Sunday,
Johnny
I am available to do Prosperity Now! individual or group sessions or general life-coaching, I Ching readings, dream interpretation or join us for our weekly Wednesday Course in Miracles group.
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