[acimlessons_list] Review II, Lesson 86 - March 27

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+ COMMENTARIES ON LESSONS FROM THE WORKBOOK OF A COURSE IN MIRACLES
+ by Allen Watson, with Practice Summaries by Robert Perry, 
+ of The Circle of Atonement
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Review II, Lesson 86 - March 27

"Only God's plan for salvation will work."

"Holding grievances is an attack on God's plan for salvation."

PRACTICE SUMMARY 

Longer: 2 times (once for each of the ideas), for about 15 minutes
*	For 3 or 4 minutes, slowly read over the idea and comments
(repeatedly if you wish) and think about them.
*	Close your eyes and spend the remainder listening for the message
the Holy Spirit has for you. We can see this time of listening as having the
following components:
1.	Listen "quietly but attentively" (3:1)-listen in stillness and with
all your attention.
2.	Hold an attitude of confidence ("this message belongs to me"),
desire ("I want this message"), and determination ("I'm determined to
succeed").
3.	Listening for ten minutes can easily be one big invitation to mind
wandering, and so the majority of instruction for this exercise deals with
this issue. For out-of-control mind wandering, go back and repeat the first
phase. For more minor wandering, realize the distracting thoughts have no
power and that your will has all the power, and then replace the thoughts
with your will to succeed. Do so with firmness. "Do not allow your intent to
waver" (4:1). "Refuse to be sidetracked" (5:2).
This is not mentioned in the instructions, but you may find it helpful to
actually ask for the message, at the beginning and then periodically
throughout. You may say, for instance, "What is Your message for me today?"
You may even want to use this request as the specific vehicle for dispelling
wandering thoughts.

REMARKS: Regard these exercises as dedication to God. Refuse to be
distracted. Be determined to assume your function today.

SHORTER: Frequent

First half of day: "Only God's plan for salvation will work." 

Second half of day: "Holding grievances is an attack on God's plan for
salvation."

Response to temptation: whenever you are tempted to be upset
Repeat some variation on the idea, modified to apply to this particular
upset. 
*	You may use one of the three "specific forms" suggested after each
lesson. Notice how they are directed at a specific upset. Virtually every
one is aimed at an upsetting "this" or an upsetting "name."
*	Or you may generate one of your own specific forms, by using a
variation on the practice of letting related thoughts come. Simply lean back
and let your mind come up with a sentence that applies the essence of the
idea to your current upset. For examples, see the specific forms suggested
after each lesson.

COMMENTARY

I find it really interesting the way the lessons seem to alternate
between seeing grievances, and where we see salvation. I'm beginning to
get the idea, I think: When my ego wants to keep me from finding God's
salvation within my own Self, it distracts me with some kind of
grievance outside myself. Seeing the cause of my distress outside, I
naturally look for the solution outside. I seek salvation outside
myself.

It's never what is outside that is the problem. "Those whom you see as
guilty become the witnesses to guilt in you, and you will see it there,
for it <is> there until it is undone. Guilt is always in your mind,
which has condemned itself. Project it not, for while you do, it cannot
be undone" (T-13.IX.6:6-8). What we are seeing out there, the object of
our grievances, is only the projection of self-condemnation. We may
change the name of the sin to protect the guilty (ourselves), but it is
our sin we are seeing out there in the world. That is why seeing
grievances <outside> keeps us from finding salvation <inside>.

As the review says, we have sought salvation in many different places
and things, and it was never where we looked for it (1:3). We can't find
it out there because it isn't out there, anywhere. There is no hope for
salvation in the world--and that is <good> news. It's good news because
we no longer have to depend on someone or something outside of ourselves
to play its proper role, to arrive at the right time to meet our needs,
or to do anything. We can let go of expecting someone else to save us,
and we can turn to the only place and thing we can absolutely depend on:
ourselves, our real Self. We can let everyone else off the hook we've
been holding them on for our entire lives. We can tell the world, "You
are freed from being responsible for me. I no longer hold you
accountable for my unhappiness. I've realized that is my own job, not
yours."

I remember how odd I felt, but how happy, to tell my dear friend Lynne,
years ago, "I've realized that I don't need you." She was delighted,
being far wiser than I was at the time. I was afraid she would be
insulted; how "unromantic" a thing to say to a partner in love! "I don't
need you." She understood exactly what I meant, though. I was telling
her that she was no longer expected to make me happy; she was no longer
saddled with the unbearable burden of my happiness. Thinking that our
love partner is responsible for our happiness is exactly what makes
special relationships into hell, because when I am not happy, I have a
grievance, just like in a labor union: "Hey! You're not living up to
your part of the bargain. You're supposed to make me happy." And the
grievance against our partner keeps us from seeing the salvation in our
own hearts.

I've always liked the last line in today's lesson: "This calls for
salvation, not attack" (4:4). It reminds me of the old line in the
ancient Superman TV series (the one with George Reeves--guess I'm really
dating myself here!). Clark Kent looks at some crime or disaster in
progress, and says, "This is a job for...[in a totally different,
'super-sounding' voice] Superman!" Instead of looking at the events in
our lives and thinking, "This is a job for the ego. Let's attack! Let's
form and hold a grievance!", we can look at the situation and say, "This
is a job for God! Let's forgive! Let's respond with love to the call for
love." When some need arises around me, which power will I call on: God,
or the ego?

The choice is "between misperception and salvation" (4:2). The only
alternative to salvation is something unreal, an illusion, a
misperception. The only way I can avoid being happy is to misperceive my
brother; if I see him or her truly, I will always find salvation. "By
holding grievances, I am therefore excluding my only hope of salvation
from my awareness" (3:4). What a silly thing to do! I think I'll stop!

"I would accept God's plan for salvation and be happy" (3:6).

PRACTICE SUMMARY

LONGER:1 time (or 2) for about 15 minutes

* For 3 or 4 minutes, read over the ideas and comments slowly
(repeatedly if you wish) and think about them.

* Close your eyes and spend the remainder of the time listening quietly
and attentively. There is a message for you. Be confident you will
receive it, for it belongs to you and you want it. If you have
distracting thoughts realize they have no meaning or power. Replace them
with your will to succeed. Trust it to carry you past distractions. If
your mind still wanders, repeat first phase of exercise.

REMARKS: Regard these exercises as dedication to God. Refuse to be
distracted. Be determined to assume your function today.

SHORTER: Frequent

First half of day: "Only God's plan for salvation will work."

Second half of day: "Holding grievances is an attack on God's plan for
salvation."

RESPONSE TO TEMPTATION: You may use these specific forms or your own
words:

First half of day: "God's plan for salvation will save me from my
perception of this." "This is no exception in God's plan for my
salvation." "Let me perceive this only in the light of God's plan for
salvation."

Second half of the day: "I am choosing between misperception and
salvation as I look on this." "If I see grounds for grievances in this,
I will not see the grounds for my salvation." "This calls for salvation,
not attack." 
 
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+ Commentary by Allen Watson
+ Practice Summary: Robert Perry
+ Available in book format from The Circle
+ of Atonement (Vol. 1 reprint due by end of 2004, write us for info)
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