While at the beach, I had some short conversations with the Holy Spirit about things written in A Course in Miracles. My questions and the answers are posted below.

 

With Love,
Regina Akers

 

Question: What does it mean when the Course text says:

 

"The world was over long ago. The thoughts that made it are no longer in the mind that thought of them and loved them for a little while."

 

Answer: The thought of separation was a single thought by a mind that thought it wanted more than it had. But that thought was only loved a little as a daydream before the seeming thought of guilt set in, which led to hatred and fear. Those thoughts became the obsession of the mind and the original attraction was gone. But the mind that became obsessed forgot to remember who it was, and so it forgot to let the original thought go. Instead of reversing its own effects, it let itself become a victim of itself and tried to hide from its own thoughts and the seeming effects of its thoughts. In [the act of] hiding, a world was born. But the beginning of that world was lost and forgotten, so the way out of the world seemed to close upon itself, and the world of guilt and fear became like a trap where the Son of God believed he was, so he tried to adjust.

 

Question: Please tell me clearly the way out of this trap.

 

Answer: The Son of God must forget all that he has imagined for himself by ceasing to imagine further. He must rest his mind and let all thoughts of imagination go, for now his thoughts of imagination are based on imagination and forgetfulness, so he knows not what he imagines or why. He does not even know that he imagines, for he has completely forgotten who he is and he believes himself to be someone else, a victim instead of a creator.

 

A creator who has forgotten he is a creator cannot create. He can only dream. But he can be awakened from his dream if he recognizes he no longer wants the dream and ceases the dreaming for himself. When he stops the activity of dreaming, he is no longer producing the dream. Then One who is with him and remembers all that has happened can complete the dream for him, but this One completes the dream by bringing it back to its beginning so that the door that seemed to be closed can be found and opened again. Then, when the dreamer is presented with the clear choice to stay within the forgotten thought or let it go, he can let it go and it will be gone, and the dream will be no more.

 

Question: How was the Holy Spirit created within the mind that forgot who it is?

 

Answer: The Holy Spirit is a memory that is now like a faint calling that calls the mind back to what it was. What it was is what it Is, and so it cannot be lost, and that is the Holy Spirit. When the memory of truth is not desired, it seems to be forgotten and only remembered a little every now and then, and then forgotten again.  But the truth is always there because it is the truth, and so it can become manifest whenever it is truly called upon. It is the manifestation of truth within a world of dreams that is called the Holy Spirit. And this manifestation may appear differently within an aspect of the mind that seems to have a different desire, but the call for truth is always the same and so [the manifestation of truth] is the same in each of its different appearances.

 

Question: And so it is our own memory that leads us back in a way that works for us?

 

Answer: Yes, you are helping yourself even though you have forgotten your Self. It is the Self that remembers that answers the call of the self that has forgotten. It is all one thought within the Mind of God that seems to have divided into separate thoughts. Now, it is gathering Itself unto Itself that it may know Itself as whole again.

 

Question: What does the Teacher's Manual mean when it says:

 

"Why would you choose to start again when [Jesus] has made the journey for you?"

 

Answer: You have [A Course in Miracles] to help you. You have the story of Jesus' life and the symbols his life represents to you. You do not need to sit under a tree and start with the first question to find all of the answers. Through Jesus, you have been given a head start. Through his words and his life, a Finger points directly to the questions you must ask so you can move speedily along the path of salvation. And you, too, shall leave bread crumbs for your brothers, and they will benefit from your way.

 

Question: There is confusion between accepting form as it is and being a "doormat." There is also confusion about giving all to all and giving your brother anything he asks for. There is confusion about turning the other cheek. Please help with this confusion.

 

Answer: Follow your Heart, not your mind. By this I mean . . . do not fight for what you think you need, for you need nothing. Whenever you fight you are denying your Self. And yet within the world of form, you are free to speak your truth clearly in love and understanding.

 

Question: Please be more clear. This is such a strong point of confusion and there are many of us who seek clarity. How do we relinquish self-will, and what is the difference between true relinquishment and being a doormat?

 

Answer: One who has relinquished self-will cannot be a doormat. To be a doormat, one must first have a will that is separate from another, and then one must be a victim to that will that is not its own.

 

Question: OK. I see that. So the feeling of being a doormat is evidence that we believe in a separate will. When we see this evidence and feel this concern, how do we truly turn our will over to you?

 

Answer: Remember that it is not the form that is important. Remember there is nothing to feel guilty about because you are only dreaming of a conflict of separate wills, but also acknowledge your desire to wake up from this dream. Take a moment to love yourself as if you were another. What would you tell that one? Would you tell her that she must do something against her will, under coercion, if she is to find the love of God? No. You would tell her to follow her heart. You would tell her to take a moment to ask what she truly wants, to listen to herself and to do whatever the answer must be. This is what it means to "let your no mean no." No can mean no in peace and confidence. If, in saying no, she feels she has uncovered a thought she must let go of, she can also give her willingness to let go of that thought while saying no. If she feels she is following true guidance in her answer, she can feel grateful for the guidance and release concern for the outcome to the Holy Spirit. Either way, she is free to accept peace while saying no.

 

There is never coercion on the path to God. All steps must be freely chosen. This is what it means to have freewill within the world.