Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Undermining the ego's thought system can be painful

It is written in A Course In Miracles, "Undermining the ego's thought system must be perceived as painful, even though this is anything but true. Babies scream in rage if you take away a knife or scissors, although they may well harm themselves if you do not. In this sense you are still a baby. You have no sense of self-preservation, and are likely to decide that you need precisely what would hurt the most." T-4.II.5:1-5

When I read this I feel uplifted, inspired, like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. So much of what we believe is the inherent worth and dignity of ourselves and others is like the babies with scissors. It is written a little later in ACIM, "Salvation is nothing more than 'right-mindedness,' which is not the One-mindedness of the Holy Spirit, but which must be achieved before One-mindedness is restored." T-4.II.10:1 What is this "right-mindedness" which ACIM speaks of? It is the awareness that all is one, the unitive knowledge of existence. It is this connection with the Godhead which is a manifestation of the "inherent worth and dignity of every person". This connection exists whether it is acknowledged or not, understood or not, appreciated or not, valued or not. We are all in this thing called Life together and our salvation depends are a growing awareness, appreciation, and Rev. Guengerich would say, gratitude, for this fact.

1 comment:

  1. People can do very hurtful, abusive, and unfair things to themselves, to others, and to the environment. These behaviors have no inherent worth and dignity but just the opposite. They are can be destructive, hurtful, toxic, and evil. How does UU distinguish and differentiate between the two? Anyone?

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