At the beginning of this exploration of the worldview of the Course it was said that the Course’s perspective in reaching us and teaching us is always from the Realm of the Eternal, beyond the dream of this world, reaching into the dream to gently offer awakening to us. As this overview has highlighted, the Course’s principles and premises are among the loftiest of any thought system, in reflection of its Source, its author, and its ultimate purpose. In light of this loftiness, the very real and at times seemingly mundane challenges of our earthly lives may seem to be quite disconnected from the teaching of the Course.
For instance, what if, on a very practical, earthly level, we can’t seem to bring about a resolution to a health issue we’re experiencing, to a toxic relationship we’re in, or to some other problem that is troubling us and seems to have no solution? What if a person whose actions impact us from near or far lives their life quite unconsciously, maybe causing harm to themselves and others through their ignorance or neglect, their behavior or lifestyle, or their misuse of power, or are merely unpleasant to be around? What if a person’s heart has actually “turned bad” and they deliberately commit acts of violence or other harm against others? Do the lofty principles of the Course still apply to our mundane personal challenges and to our relationships with such brothers or sisters?
The Course would answer yes. In fact, to address the source of the conditions of everything negative – which is everything unreal no matter how real it might seem to be – is why the gifts of the universal Truth curriculum in general, and the Course specifically, have come to humanity. All expressions or manifestations of lacks of Love, including health and relationship challenges, confusion and narrow-mindedness, fear and guilt, and hate and attack, are what the Course is designed to awaken us from through addressing their cause. As we awaken from these conditions through addressing their source, we offer awakening to all our sisters and brothers and to the world. The Divine has unfathomable compassion for Its Children whose experience is of the horrific stuff of nightmares as well as of the mundane things that make up our everyday unhappy dreams of what we believe reality is. While the Divine knows that these things are not real, It also knows that some of Its Children believe them real, and every needed miracle and healing are provided until each of Its Children has awakened from the dream of this world, with all of its pettiness and challenges and nightmares.
How does Spirit reach into the frightened and frightening dreams of those whose lives seem lost, even generating harm, to awaken the dreamer? Through Its unceasing Call and Its infinite Patience. Spirit calls all of us to awaken, and has done so every moment since time began, and will continue to do so as long as anyone remains in illusion with their part in Atonement unfulfilled. Thus the lofty principles of the Course are wholly applicable even to those who are completely asleep in the dream of this world and are embedded in its values, whose lives are mundane or even violent, and who seem to care nothing about Reality and Truth. And we aid Spirit in Its mighty Task when we ourselves choose to awaken, to see all our sisters and brothers clearly, and not to be deceived by the forms their calls for help may take.
It may sincerely be asked if those causing harm will ever be held accountable by a higher power for their destructive actions. Per the Course’s lofty perspective, will justice ever be done for all the apparent evil in the world, for all the harm perpetrated by hurt and hurtful people and other causes, suffered over the ages and also in our own lives? The Course’s answer to this question is threefold.
First, it is crucial for us to remember that “bad” can be done only in a dream, never in Reality. When we are in our right minds it is impossible for us to act outside of Divine Will. To the degree that we think and act outside of Divine Will, to that degree are we not in our right mind. Thus the question is: how much can we hold against someone who is not in their right mind? Those who do bad are like actors who play villains in a movie. The movie can get us very riled up over the story that it tells us. But when we walk out of the theater we understand that the villain who caused us distress while we watched the movie is not the same as the person the actor is beyond their performance. All that is done not in accord with Divine Will is simply actors acting in a dream that is like a movie. Who such “actors” are in Reality has nothing to do with the movie or dream they are acting in or the characters they are acting out. To believe it does is to believe that a movie or a dream is real. That would clearly be a delusion.
Second, the Divine Record accurately records everything everywhere, and assures that Balance is maintained in the whole Creation, with every Child of the Divine and all Life everywhere, including here in this world. There are no accidents anywhere in the Universe, and nothing can escape true Justice, which is received as Divine Correction when and where this is needed. Spirit, with the unfathomable compassion of the Creator, responds to all creative activity of the Divine Children – to that activity which is aligned with Divine Will and that which isn’t and therefore needs Correction – giving to each person the most helpful opportunities for healing and lessons in awakening that each is capable of receiving each moment and in each situation, including to those who cause harm through neglect, violence, attack, etc.
Spirit’s Response to all expressions of the Divine Children – expressions of Love and of lacks of Love – is true Justice in light of the Truth that the Innocence of all Children of the Divine can never be corrupted. “The real meaning of the phrase (“vengeance is mine”) is to lift all issues of justice to Spirit, Who, full of Mercy, knows exactly what is needed by everyone. Doing so releases the longing for justice as one’s own concern.” And it doesn’t matter what we or any of our sisters and brothers have done or think we have done prior to this present moment. Spirit lives only in the now and in Reality, and cannot even see error, which is always of the past and of a dream. Therefore, Its only Response to all of our expressions and activity is whatever will help toward awakening. This is Its one, unified Purpose for everything outside the Realm of Heaven, and becomes ours when we join the Atonement.
“Spirit will select the elements in all happenings that represent the Truth, and disregard those aspects that only reflect idle dreams. And It will reinterpret from Its one Frame of Reference, wholly unified and sure, all that you perceive, and all occurrences, each circumstance, and every happening that seems to touch on you in any way. And you will see the Love beyond the hate, the Constancy in change, the Pure that was obscured by the belief in separation and sin, and only Heaven’s Blessing on the world.
“Such is your resurrection from the death that all illusions represent, for your Life is not a part of anything you perceive. It stands beyond the body and the world, past every witness for unholiness, within the Holy, holy as Itself. In everyone and everything the Divine’s Voice would speak to you of nothing but your Self and your Creator, Who are One. So will you see the holy Face of Divine Essence in everything, and hear in everything no sound except the Echo of the Divine’s Voice.”
Finally, in our hearts we must be clear what true Justice isn’t. It never involves punishment or retribution. “The Divine never condemns. I won’t either.” “There is only Gentleness and Mercy in the Divine, and also in me.” “The Divine offers only Mercy.” Condemnation, punishment, vengeance and damnation of any kind are all impossible for the Divine, for these would be counter to Its very Nature and thus would perpetuate the very illusions they would purport to correct. In honor of the sanctity of our creative activity, we are given what we desire or wish, even if that desire or wish is reflected mindlessly or harmfully in our actions toward ourselves or others. Thankfully our receiving of the wishes we put forth in our mindless or harmful thoughts and actions is always modified as much as possible by Spirit to the degree that this can be done and our desire still be honored. This is part of what is meant by the statement, “The ego speaks in judgment [i.e., mindlessly and harmfully], and the Holy Spirit reverses its decisions [i.e., brings us as much awareness of Love in response to our loveless thoughts and actions as we are capable of receiving] . . .” And given that there are no accidents in the Universe, we can be sure that whoever is touched by the mindless actions or deliberate harm of a brother or sister experiences this for a reason held by the Divine Record, and that the experience holds healing potential toward awakening for all involved if framed and perceived clearly.
“The idea of karmic ‘retribution,’ however apparently deserved by anyone, is antithetical to Truth and to the Atonement in every way. The Divine creates only perfect Love, and neither It nor Its Spirit could ever ‘hold’ the misdeeds of a person ‘against’ them, or hold these misdeeds against another . . .” “The Divine holds nothing against anyone ever, for It is incapable of illusions of any kind. Release your sisters and brothers from the imprisonment of their illusions, and from your own, by forgiving them for the illusions that you perceive in them. Thus will you learn that you have been forgiven . . .”
As we join the Great Awakening that is the Atonement, we too will learn to have only pure compassion for everyone still playing out the drama of the dream of the world, including ourselves when old patterns manifest through us. The Course gives us a fresh, new, and ultimately hope-filled way to reframe each experience that caused us disappointment, pain, and anguish before. Truly forgiving frees us from our old, dissatisfying mindset and perspective, allowing us to see our sisters and brothers as ourselves and as Spirit sees us. As a Workbook lesson says, “Let me perceive forgiveness as it is. . . . Would I want to accuse myself of doing this? I will not lay this chain upon myself.” Just as we know that we have reasons for everything we do, including the unenlightened things, so can we extend this courtesy of knowing that our sisters and brothers are the same, even if their entanglement in illusion appears deeper than ours, and even if it makes no sense to us.
All too often we judge our sisters and brothers based on our own stories, which we have woven over our lifetime from our emotional wounds, and these judgments may have very little to do with the actual causes behind the actions of others. Maybe the person who cut in front of us on the road was preoccupied with a distressing situation in their lives or were just being thoughtless for a moment. Would we accuse ourselves of having flawed characters because of making a mistake like this? By reframing and forgiving, which is the new way of perception that the Course trains us in, we can generate an entirely different experience in ourselves around the things that take place in and around us. And if the person who cut in front of us actually has adopted such unpleasant behavior as a regular part of their interaction with the world, we can also know that there is a reason for that, and through reframing our perception, and forgiving, we can offer healing to such a brother or sister as well.
Our new way of perception thus becomes healing for everyone involved. And when we or anyone else acts mindlessly or in a manner that causes ourselves or another harm, we can remember the healing prayer: “Forgive us, Creator, for we know not what we do.” For when we know what we are doing, when we act out of Knowledge and Love, we can only do what is in accordance with Divine Will. In this light a healing thought can be that everything a person does couldn’t have been done differently, because if the person could have done it differently, more in alignment with Reality, they would have, given who they are in Truth. In this regard it can be said that everyone is actually always doing their best, given their level of awareness and awakening, their current state of mind, and their circumstances.
“If you perceive offense in a brother or sister, pluck the offense from your mind, for you are choosing to be offended by Divine Essence, and are not allowing yourself true witness about It. Heal in Divine Essence and be not offended by It, for there is no offense in It. If what you perceive offends you, then you are offended by yourself, and are condemning the Divine’s Children, whom the Divine never condemns. Let the Holy Spirit remove all offense of the Divine’s Children against themselves, and perceive everyone only through Spirit’s Guidance, for It would save you from all condemnation. Accept Spirit’s healing Power, and use It on behalf of everyone It sends you, for It wills to heal the Children of the Divine in Whom It can never be deceived.
“Children can perceive terrifying dragons and monsters and ghosts, and become terrified. But if they ask someone they trust for the real meaning of what they perceive, and are willing to let their interpretations go in favor of what is told to them of reality, their fear disappears. When children are helped to translate their ‘dragons’ into a dream, their ‘monsters’ into a shadow, and their ‘ghosts’ into a curtain, they are no longer afraid, and laugh happily at what was their fear. You, Children of the Divine, have become afraid of your sisters and brothers, of your Creator, and of yourselves. But you have merely become deceived about them. Ask what they are of the Teacher of Reality, and hearing Its Answer you too will laugh at your fears and replace them with Peace. For fear lies not in Reality, but in the minds of children who do not understand Reality.
“It is only your lack of Understanding that frightens you, and when you learn to perceive truly you will not be afraid. And because you are not afraid, you will ask for Truth when you are frightened again. It is not the Reality of your sisters and brothers, or your Creator, or yourself that frightens you. You do not know what they are, and so you perceive them as dragons and monsters and ghosts. Ask of their Reality from the One Who knows It, and It will tell you what they are. For you do not understand them, and because you are deceived by what you perceive, you need Reality to dispel your fears. Would you not exchange your fears for Truth if the exchange is yours for the asking? For if the Divine is not deceived by you, then you can be deceived only by yourself. But you can learn the Truth of yourself from the Holy Spirit, Who will teach you that, as Part of the Divine, deceit in you is impossible.”
Thus the Course calls on us to recognize ourselves and our sisters and brothers. “Perception can and must become stable for it to become real, but Knowledge is always timelessly stable. There are no strangers in the Divine Creation. Sisters and brothers in a human family can misperceive one another, but they rarely maintain that they do not recognize each other. This is possible only if they have forgotten or ceased to accept that they are of the same family. To create as the Divine creates is to create only what you know and accept as yours. The Divine knows Its Children with perfect Certainty. It created them by knowing them. It recognizes them perfectly. Through recognizing each other, the Children recognize their Creator.”
As the Course clarifies, all expressions (thoughts, feelings, words, actions) are either expressions of Love, or of lacks of Love and thus calls for help. All the apparent differences in how a call for help from a brother or sister is expressed have no meaning. Our only appropriate response is to provide the Love that is lacking in the situation, which is done by allowing a miracle to be performed through us when we are guided to do so. This providing of the Abundance of Love through miracles where It is needed is the essence of the Course.
“Everyone who believes themself to be in this world has entered darkness, yet no one has entered it alone. Nor need anyone stay more than an instant in darkness. For they have come with Heaven’s Help within them, ready to lead them out of darkness into Light at any time. The time they choose can be any time, for Help is there awaiting only their choice. And when they choose to avail themselves of what is given them, then will they see each situation turned to an event that justifies their Love, that they thought before was means to justify their judgment and anger. They will hear plainly that the calls to battle that they heard before are really calls for Peace. They will perceive that where they gave attack before is just another Altar where they now can bestow forgiveness, with equal ease, and with Happiness in place of misery. And they will reinterpret all temptation to mis-project as just another chance to bring them Joy.”
“The miracle offers exactly the same response to every call for help. It never judges the form that a call for help has. It merely recognizes what it is, and answers accordingly. It doesn’t consider which call is louder, or greater, or more important, or less insane. You may wonder how you, who are still bound to judgment, can be asked to do that which requires no judgment of your own. The answer is very simple. The Power of the Divine, and not of you, engenders miracles. The miracle itself is just the witness that you have the Power of the Divine in you. That is the reason the miracle gives equal blessing to all who share in it, and that is also why everyone shares in it.
“The Power of the Divine is limitless. Being always maximal, It offers Everything to every call from anyone, no matter the form of the call. There are no levels or orders here. A call for help is simply given help. The only ordering involved at all is in the Holy Spirit’s Evaluation of all expressions of the Children of the Divine into two categories, one of expressions of Love, and the other of the calls for Love, or help. You cannot safely make this ordering, for your mind is still much too confused either to recognize expressions of Love, or to believe that everything else is nothing but a need and call for Love. You are still too bound to form, and not free in content. What you consider content is not content at all. It is merely form, and nothing else. For you do not yet respond to what a brother or sister really offers you, but only to the particular perception of their offering by which your ego judges it. The ego is incapable of understanding true content, and is totally unconcerned with it. To the ego, if the form is acceptable, the content must also be. Otherwise, it will attack the form. . . .
“Let the Holy Spirit show your sisters and brothers to you, and teach you both their Love and their calls for Love. Neither their mind nor yours holds anything except these two orders of thought. The miracle is the recognition that this is true. Where there is Love, your sisters and brothers must share It with you, because of what Love is. But where there is a need for Love, you must offer It, because of what you are.”
The transforming in ourselves of what may seem petty and mundane is also an expression of providing Love where it is needed. When seen clearly, there is nothing mundane in Creation or in any aspect of our lives. Learning to perceive clearly Spirit’s Message and Meaning in each happening each hour of every day is the essence of awakening. Remembering this brings our awareness into the Presence of Love, always with us and available to respond to every call from us.