Hi Ian,
I've never read ACIM and cannot say what meaning I might derive from their printed words. To me what you've written here means that the concept is basically discussing some of which I posted in answer to Roger on another thread. (btw Roger I'm not saying we should suppress the ego. Doing that only has the effect of keeping us locked in a cycle of fear. If we eliminate the fears that are the reason for the existence of the ego mask, then what is left is humility and compassion. The ego is not our individuality. Individuality is an attribute of our consciousness based on our individual experiences and our interpretation of those experiences.)
Quote:There's a view (in e.g. ACIM, but also in other traditions) that teaches that we should not correct another, even if he/she is making no sense. Basically because errors are of the ego, while the correction of errors lies in the relinquishment of the ego so that the Holy Spirit is allowed in to make the required correction.
Yes this is essentially correct. Here in this physical consciousness reality we are limited because of the laws and rules that govern us. To use the metaphor of light, the spiritual wisdom we were born with has been dimmed and we live in ignorance because of this constraint. To counter the fear that was created by this ignorance we developed an ego mask that identifies with form rather than the nonphysical consciousness that we are. Most of what we think, say and do comes from the ego mask because of the fears that lay beneath it. When we correct another we cannot help but come from our ego mask most of the time. That's the name of the game in the ELS. For the purpose of consciousness evolution that is how it is suppose to be.
However, even though our inner wisdom dims it does not completely disappear. We still carry the seed or pattern of God the Holy Spirit within and it is by letting go of fear and our protective ego mask that the Holy Spirit can then work with us and aid us in our spiritual development.
Quote:We can't correct errors, because we don't know truth.
What is important to our spiritual growth is intent. We cannot know a person's true intent by the outcome of an action. Someone may have a good/right intent, but the results of the action may not turn out to be what they intended. Or in other words the action didn't show their good intent. On the other hand someone may have a bad/wrong intent where the resulting action taken looks good to others however in the long run because of the wrong intent behind the action spiritual growth doesn't take place. Just because someone does a good deed does not mean that the person had right intent. No one can judge someone's true intent based on a resulting act.
Quote:Reacting to errors means we're not listening to Spirit, and means we're making errors real to us when in fact they are not of the real person. You actually end up attacking yourself in that case, since at the higher level all is one. Your brother is as right as you are (or you are equally wrong!), and if you think he is wrong you actually condemn yourself.
Hmmm... this reminds me of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount where he said "Judge not, that you be not judged... Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own." Mathew 7.
Basically we could look to see what is within our own heart, in our own consciousness and the spiritual lessons we've learned. If our intent is motivated by true love then it will come from a sense of compassion, humility and understanding. If our intent is motivated by fear then it comes from a sense of ignorance, weakness as well as feelings of superiority... power over another or trying to prove to yourself that you are the good one, more spiritually advanced, better than... etc. etc.
Quote:This is a paraphrasing of the chapter on the topic. It's pretty tough to understand, because it goes against all our urges and conditioning.
Yet it makes sense. To correct from ego can only trigger argument, resistance or worse, and result in the other's becoming reactive and wedded even more strongly to his/her views - which is of course a strengthening of the ego.
Exactly. One ego pitted against another ego both intent on proving their right and the other is wrong. At the deepest level fear is generated by ignorance and fear together with ego are mutually supportive because one creates and encourages the other in a vicious cycle.
Quote:Our task is in effect to use time for the purpose for which it is intended - which is healing by Spirit. If we try to take on Spirit's function in this regard we risk losing the will to return to God. i.e. being sucked deeper into ego, and so blocking access by Spirit. (free will is paramount)
We can only (with the help of Spirit) learn to see ourselves without condemnation by learning how to look on everything else (actually also us, the perception of separation is an ego effect) without it. Its in effect the result of the absolute separation between the realms of God, and of the ego. Our task is to remember how to see at the God level and use the logic of His level again, but this is not possible while ego calls the shots, and our logic/seeing is blocked by its drives and noise.
Condemnation (judgement) will then not be real for us, and all our errors will (as we perceive it from this level - actually they never existed in the first place as God is love and does not judge, and we are at the level of His reality perfect) be forgiven. (this is in effect an application of the principle that mind creates - if we believe ourselves guilty, then that will become our reality - and in that case we'll out of fear remain separated from God)
So.... What does this mean in practice. Is it suggesting that we drop all attempts at education and teaching, or is it saying that we should only educate by indirect means like e.g. allowing others to learn through life experience, and by helping the other to see the consequences of their actions? Or something else?
Where is the line crossed between correction and education?
The line is drawn on the basis of personal intent. Is our personal intent love based or fear based? It truly is difficult to tell sometimes. Experience and examining our inner motives/intent helps us learn though. And yes, it is healing. Separation always stems from fear, just as the ego mask is a result of fear.
It is a learning, evolutionary process that takes place by examining all the possibilities to find the ones that truly lead us to spiritual growth. In order to truly have free will we must have the opportunity to explore all the possibilities available to us. This means that we are completely free to evolve spiritually or devolve to the other extreme. We can certainly learn from others, but to really know is to experience.
Kathy