Commentary on ACIM Lesson 331

© 2010 Rev. David Seacord

Do you think you wring every possible drop of growth out of the potential that the Course offers each time you do a lesson or read the text? Of course we don't.... we all recognize that for this transformation to be most valid, it is an incremental transformation, built brick atop brick, stone atop stone, realization atop realization. One purpose of this of course, is to heat the pot slowly so our proverbial ego-frog doesn't hop out and wreak havoc in our world. But the deeper purpose of spiritual 'slow growth' is to develop strength of being, just like the rings of a tree trunk testify to the depth of it's roots and the wisdom to be gained from much experience.

Although not as an excuse for spiritual laziness, my own wisdom tells me that it is better to humbly accept a little daily gain from a less than robust practice than to browbeat or berate ourself for lacking the discipline to do a practice perfectly. "To live in this realization is to be without anxiety about non-perfection" teaches the Zen sutra Hsin Hsin Ming (aka The Great Way....Verses on the Faith Mind). The realization being referred to is simply the realization of non-duality.

Anyway, where I was going when I started writing was to say 'Don't worry if you're not doing it perfect' ....nobody else is, very much including me. When we finish the Course at the end of the year, it will still be NOW, and there will still be teaching/learning/miracle moments. As far as I can see, there is no reason to stop doing the Course ever (although clearly HOW you do it will evolve), for it always has something to give when we are ready to receive.

Namaste,

David

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Lesson 331

Section 12. What is the Ego?

The ego is idolatry; the sign of limited and separated self, born in a body, doomed to suffer and to end its life in death. It is the "will" that sees the Will of God as enemy, and takes a form in which it is denied. The ego is the "proof" that strength is weak and love is fearful, life is really death, and what opposes God alone is true.

The ego is insane. In fear it stands beyond the Everywhere, apart from All, in separation from the Infinite. In its insanity it thinks it has become a victor over God Himself. And in its terrible autonomy it "sees" the Will of God has been destroyed. It dreams of punishment, and trembles at the figures in its dreams; its enemies, who seek to murder it before it can ensure its safety by attacking them.

The Son of God is egoless. What can he know of madness and the death of God, when he abides in Him? What can he know of sorrow and of suffering, when he lives in eternal joy? What can he know of fear and punishment, of sin and guilt, of hatred and attack, when all there is surrounding him is everlasting peace, forever conflict-free and undisturbed, in deepest silence and tranquility?

To know reality is not to see the ego and its thoughts, its works, its acts, its laws and its beliefs, its dreams, its hopes, its plans for its salvation, and the cost belief in it entails. In suffering, the price for faith in it is so immense that crucifixion of the Son of God is offered daily at its darkened shrine, and blood must flow before the altar where its sickly followers prepare to die.

Yet will one lily of forgiveness change the darkness into light; the altar to illusions to the shrine of Life Itself. And peace will be restored forever to the holy minds which God created as His Son, His dwelling place, His joy, His love, completely His, completely one with Him.

Lesson 331

There is no conflict, for my will is Yours.

How foolish, Father, to believe Your Son could cause himself to suffer! Could he make a plan for his damnation, and be left without a certain way to his release? You love me, Father. You could never leave me desolate, to die within a world of pain and cruelty. How could I think that Love has left Itself? There is no will except the Will of Love. Fear is a dream, and has no will that can conflict with Yours. Conflict is sleep, and peace awakening. Death is illusion; life, eternal truth. There is no opposition to Your Will. There is no conflict, for my will is Yours.

Forgiveness shows us that God's Will is One, and that we share it. Let us look upon the holy sights forgiveness shows today, that we may find the peace of God. Amen.