Commentary on ACIM Lesson 204

Rev. David Seacord

The Name of God is my inheritance.

The God Who IS the Almighty of this infinite universe is a just and compassionate God.... a God that neither needs nor desires that any being know pain in this life. Why then, do we see pain all around us? My take on that is that it has to do with the degree of our spiritual maturity.

The Buddhists have a phrase: "Suffering that is not suffering", which speaks to the experience of transcending suffering while being in the experience of suffering. It is a worthy thought, for it reminds us that we always have choice, no matter the circumstance. And just like the yogi who can walk on a bed of sharp nails without pain or injury because of his complete non-resistance to the nails.... so can we, when faced by the nails of life, call upon the Name of God to empower us and give us strength to surrender to the 'what IS' of this moment. What that strength does is remove from us (as much as we will allow) all sense of our self as 'personal'. Remember (if you have read the book The Four Agreements) that the first agreement is 'Don't take anything personally'.

As we are freed from personal identification to our bodies, God-identification naturally increases. It happens 'by default', for there is no vacuum in the entire universe.... where the false is seen as false, it is with the sight of truth that it is being seen. If that is not the case, then we are simply swapping illusions for illusions.

The way we can know if we are being in truth or self-deception is by either the presence of a deep and quiet Joyfulness or the presence of egoic pain. Nothing else is needed here but humble heartful self-honesty. As Werner Erhard was quoted many years ago.... the beginning of mastery always starts with the telling of the truth.

What a spiritual friend or teacher if for is simply to witness your truth telling, and confirm it, that doubt be ended.

Namaste,

David

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Lesson 204

I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.

(184) The Name of God is my inheritance.

God's Name reminds me that I am His Son, not slave to
time, unbound by laws which rule the world of sick illusions,
free in God, forever and forever one with Him.

I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.