A Course in Miracles

David Hoffmeister: The quiet mind that A Course in Miracles (ACIM) speaks of is the right mind. This mind is quiet. It is only when the mind chooses to identify with the ego (the belief in separation from God, or the wrong mind) that awareness of the memory of God is blocked, and the quiet is replaced by the ego’s thoughts of fear and guilt.A Course in Miraclesshows us that the purpose of the ego’s “shrieks” is to keep us anchored in its thought system, unaware that we have a mind at all, much less a quiet one (ACIM Text T-27.VI.1).

 

Meditation may be helpful to keep us focused on our goal, and several ACIM Lessons offer meditative exercises to help us. However, neither meditation nor quieting the body is the means A Course in Miracles uses to bring about the mind’s healing of the belief in separation from God. It is asking us to look at the thoughts, beliefs, and feelings that flood into our awareness, not to try to silence them: "Our task is but to continue, as fast as possible, the necessary process of looking straight at all the interference and seeing it exactly as it is" (T-15.IX).

 

The beliefs we hold about ourselves as sinful and guilty keep the awareness of God’s Love blocked. They have been purposefully chosen in defense of the decision to be separate, and must be recognized as the cause of all the devastating effects we experience in the ego’s nightmare.

 

Looking in this way leads us to question the value we place on our beliefs: "To learn this course requires willingness to question every value that you hold. Not one can be kept hidden and obscure but it will jeopardize your learning. No belief is neutral. Every one has the power to dictate each decision you make" (ACIM Text T-24.In). With ACIM Miracles we will eventually learn that our beliefs have no value; only then will we be free to let them go so they can be replaced by the thoughts of the Holy Spirit Who brings healing to our minds. This healed mind is the quiet mind where the memory of God returns to awareness.