Lesson 333. Forgiveness ends the dream of conflict here.
(1) Conflict must be resolved. It cannot be evaded, set aside, denied, disguised, seen somewhere else, called by another name, or hidden by deceit of any kind, if it would be escaped. It must be seen exactly as it is, where it is thought to be, in the reality which has been given it, and with the purpose that the mind accorded it. For only then are its defenses lifted, and the truth can shine upon it as it disappears.
(2) Father, forgiveness is the light You chose to shine away all conflict and all doubt, and light the way for our return to You. No light but this can end our evil dream. No light but this can save the world. For this alone will never fail in anything, being Your gift to Your beloved Son.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Commentary on this lesson is by Kenneth Wapnick, from his books: "Journey Through the Workbook of A Course in Miracles." Book set may be purchased at the following site: ~ M. Street.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lesson 333. "Forgiveness ends the dream of conflict here."
This world originated with the thought of fear, the source of the conflict that is the root of all dreams. Thus, for example, I fear someone or something outside of me, their will being to attack, clearly in conflict with my will, which I perceive to be loving and peaceful. Yet it is impossible to be in this world as a body without conflicts of this nature, for the essence of physical life is rooted in the wrong mind's principle of <one or the other> -- an aspect of Darwin's notion of survival of the fittest. It is only when, through forgiveness, we step outside the dream with Jesus that we realize the illusory nature of the ego's thought system of separation and conflict. This lesson is especially important because of its emphasis on resolving the problem of ego conflict in the mind, not in the world or body.
(1:1-3) "Conflict must be resolved. It cannot be evaded, set aside, denied, disguised, seen somewhere else, called by another name, or hidden by deceit of any kind, if it would be escaped. It must be seen exactly as it is, where it is thought to be, in the reality which has been given it, and with the purpose that the mind accorded it."
Psychodynamic psychologists have focused on what they term <basic conflict>, and every theorist has had a different definition. Jesus, too, has a theory, and defines basic conflict as between illusion and truth. This conflict of the ego with God underlies everything in this world, and Jesus emphasizes that we cannot resolve it outside, but only at its source -- the mind's decision to be right rather than happy, aligning with the ego instead of the Holy Spirit. Thus no conflict is truly resolved in the world, and there will never be a lasting peace here, only hatred, because we are not in touch with its source that lies within the ego thought system shared by parties of every conflict -- past, present, and future.
We therefore need to see conflict where it is: in the mind. Once chosen, conflict is dissociated and then -- projected -- is seen in the world. There is then no hope of undoing it. As our teacher, Jesus asks us to let his eyes be ours, that we may learn the true source of conflict; never outside -- between people, governments, religions, and races -- but in the mind that believes it can exist only through conflict, rooted in the belief it has waged war with God, defeated Him, and now must avoid His inevitable retaliation. The process of healing begins with our external perceptions, and, Jesus helps us see that these are but "the outside picture of an inward condition" (T-21.in.1:5)
(1:4) "For only then are its defenses lifted, and the truth can shine upon it as it disappears."
Conflict ends when we bring its darkness to the light of forgiveness -- <in the mind>. Asking Jesus for help means looking at the situation through his eyes, learning that what we perceive as conflict outside is a projection of conflict inside: our war with God. Only when we look at that thought can we realize its insanity, allowing the light of truth to shine it away.
(2) "Father, forgiveness is the light You chose to shine away all conflict and all doubt, and light the way for our return to You. No light but this can end our evil dream. No light but this can save the world. For this alone will never fail in anything, being Your gift to Your beloved Son."
Jesus is saying no problem will ever be solved in this world without our first bringing it to its source, and then changing the mind's decision for the ego. Only then will the light return.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12. What Is The Ego?
(1) 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.
(2) 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.
(3) 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?
(4) 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.
(5) 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.
