ACIM Commentary on Lesson 9
©2010 Rev. David Seacord
I see nothing as it is now.
As I read through todays lesson, two sentences jumped out for me 'newly': 1. Each small step will clear a little of the darkness away, and understanding will finally come (my emphasis, on the promise).... and 2. Be sure you are honest with yourself.
The Course is a training course, specifically, a mind training course. The first paragraph of the Workbook introduction states clearly why: "An untrained mind can accomplish nothing". What the course offers is the converse, that: "A trained mind can accomplish anything". Along the road from untrained mind to trained mind are many small, seemingly insignificant steps. Yet they are not. They are the necessary steps to spiritual freedom. Spiritual freedom is to understand truly (as the 3rd Zen Patriarch describes) "with no exertion of the minds power." So what is this accomplishment we are training the mind to attain? Simply, to be able to be empty, quiet, silent, still. A very audacious goal, in light of the cacophony nature of this world. A goal very attractive to our spiritual egos too. For in this perfect stillness, there is nothing you will not be able to know. Here, in silence, nothing remains hidden. Only, only, only: the 'you', the 'me' that is being silent must be completely empty of it's 'me'-ness (specialness) to be able to truly know this. That is true spiritual sight: To be empty (self-less) and yet, to see and to know. And what is the saboteur of this? Any form of self-dishonesty. Thus the admonition: Be sure you are honest. Impeccably honest. Remember Shakespeare? "To thy own self be true, and it follows as night the day, thou cans't be false to no man." Another way it could be said: To deny another as yourself is to deny yourself.
Somewhere within us we all already know this. However, as the lesson says (paraphrased): Be only concerned with your practice, and not with trying to understanding this. So let us do that today, and with gratitude.
Namaste,
David
©2010 Rev. David Seacord
I see nothing as it is now.
As I read through todays lesson, two sentences jumped out for me 'newly': 1. Each small step will clear a little of the darkness away, and understanding will finally come (my emphasis, on the promise).... and 2. Be sure you are honest with yourself.
The Course is a training course, specifically, a mind training course. The first paragraph of the Workbook introduction states clearly why: "An untrained mind can accomplish nothing". What the course offers is the converse, that: "A trained mind can accomplish anything". Along the road from untrained mind to trained mind are many small, seemingly insignificant steps. Yet they are not. They are the necessary steps to spiritual freedom. Spiritual freedom is to understand truly (as the 3rd Zen Patriarch describes) "with no exertion of the minds power." So what is this accomplishment we are training the mind to attain? Simply, to be able to be empty, quiet, silent, still. A very audacious goal, in light of the cacophony nature of this world. A goal very attractive to our spiritual egos too. For in this perfect stillness, there is nothing you will not be able to know. Here, in silence, nothing remains hidden. Only, only, only: the 'you', the 'me' that is being silent must be completely empty of it's 'me'-ness (specialness) to be able to truly know this. That is true spiritual sight: To be empty (self-less) and yet, to see and to know. And what is the saboteur of this? Any form of self-dishonesty. Thus the admonition: Be sure you are honest. Impeccably honest. Remember Shakespeare? "To thy own self be true, and it follows as night the day, thou cans't be false to no man." Another way it could be said: To deny another as yourself is to deny yourself.
Somewhere within us we all already know this. However, as the lesson says (paraphrased): Be only concerned with your practice, and not with trying to understanding this. So let us do that today, and with gratitude.
Namaste,
David
posted by Rev. David Seacord at
3:41 PM
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