I was asked a question on our Facebook Group for A Course in Miracles and I felt that it was a question I am sure many have on their heart and mind at some point. I felt to answer it here for deeper understanding for us all.
I answered her first question which was a post on the main page, and then she asked another question during our discussion.
I have both here for educational purposes:
QUESTION #1:
I was watching an ACIM video on Youtube (don't remember whose) and it was talking about the concept that only Love is real and everything else is a fabrication or projection (not sure of exact wording) of Mind. If that is the case, then what is the ACIM view on relieving suffering on the human plane? In other words, if pain and suffering aren't real, why have humanitarian efforts to help people?
Suffering on the human plane happens from erroneous thinking. We need correction of this thinking. Correction comes through prayer and willingness to see things differently. ACIM is given us as a tool to train our minds so that we turn away from this illusory world, and onto our part in Gods plan -which will bring us perfect joy. When we accept our part in Gods Plan (atonement) we have freed ourselves from the dream, thus can help free others.
Its not that "this world does not need to be saved". (as others said above) Salvation is FOR this world and salvation literally means "to save." We are to transform this world in our mind, so that our mind is open to HEAR Gods Voice and GIVE His miracles to this world through us. This world is in need of miracles. ACIM is teaching us to BE miracle workers. Once we accept this we WILL create like God and play our part to help this world by BEING His miracle workers. This the only way to truly help this world. Humanitarianism still only focuses on the form. What I speak of here is the content, where real change can happen. One may have a change of mind and THEN be a humanitarian....but in all honesty, when you change your mind you are a miracle worker and will do things that bring GREAT change and transformation to this planet that will be far out of the box of what already exists here.
We can turn to another teacher like david, or myself to try to learn this, sure......but we can never actually learn that way. I would prefer that all who are seeking answers turn WITHIN, and learn to LISTEN to the holy spirit. That is the ONLY place and only advisor , that can offer permanent healing and correction to and for us....
When we help ourselves, we can help the world..... Until we help ourselves and heal our minds through Gods forgiveness .. we will see the world as suffering and thus suffer along with it. The only way to help, is to see the world AS IT IS, and GIVE the gifts God has given us to give. For this, it requires us first asking for forgiveness of our OWN misperceptions, so that we can HEAL and then GIVE the healing we received to all those that are still caught suffering.
QUESTION #2:
When you say that suffering happens from erroneous thinking, how does that apply to, say, suffering from starvation, or suffering from cancer? Are you making the distinction between pain, and suffering? Or are you saying that those whose thinking is erroneous are plagued by things on the physical plane like starvation or cancer?
ANSWER #2:
Well very good questions.....I will gladly share more in-depth.
When I say that suffering happens from erroneous thinking, I mean ALL suffering including starvation and pains and cancers of the world- all first begin in the MIND. All suffering of the world in an EFFECT of the CAUSE which is an idea in the mind. This is a statement of RESPONSIBILITY which is a declaration of POWER to be able to change our minds and to heal.
The mind is the cause of all suffering because from the idea that "I am separate from God" comes the experience of what it is like to be separate from God (this earth is the perfect example, with all its wars, hatred, sickness's and attacks- how much is hurts, to think we are separate from God) This idea has become so hidden, and we are so distracted by what's "outside" -that most have forgotten how to turn within and listen for an answer that heals all problems. When people are unaware that the cause to ALL suffering as being in the mind, they often continue to suffer as they "do not know" the cause of their suffering and thus cannot correct it. To those who are aware that the error is of mind, we CAN change it and in fact, it is our FUNCTION to do so.
Salvation (forgiveness) is applied to this this very IDEA (of separation from God).This is a subconsciously held thought in the minds of ALL who walk earth. We are all responsible for finding it in our own minds, and bringing it to the light to BE corrected. As you see, cancer, sickness and starvation are all of the BODY. What we are learning through ACIM , is that ALL illness is mental illness. So to correct our own minds of erroneous thinking, we will correct the many problems of the world too.
To think we are only the body is NOT to know our Self or God. God IS Life and the giver of Life and he has given us Life by creating us like Him. When we do NOT know we are One with Him, we suffer, period. We can however, learn to CHANGE OUR MINDS about what we think we ARE, and instead of seeing our self as a weak body, we learn that we are a powerful SPIRIT! Spirit is synonymous with life and health. When we accept our selves AS Spirit, our minds heal, our bodies, our lives and relationships heal because the CAUSE of the suffering has been addressed and corrected, where it IS.
This is what is means in ACIM to "Accept the Atonement for myself" We are learning to accept the at-ONE-ment, our ONE self that God created (Spirit) in place of thinking we are this body. The body will always suffer and die. The Spirit is eternal, whole, and healed already. From the acceptance of this whole healed self(Spirit)- we can bring forward creations and miracles to help this world AS Jesus did. Our ONE SELF cannot suffer, it cannot experience pain, and it cannot die. Our aim is to accept this One Self as what we are and give it to the world so we ALL can be saved.
Feel free to join our room and ask any questions that linger on your heart!