Notes on the Text of A Course in - Stephen Wingate

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Although the term "decision maker" is not used in
the Course, clearly it is implied. Altars represent a
choice: whether we are devoted to and worship at the
altar of the ego which is dripping with blood; or the
altar of the Holy Spirit which is strewn with the lilies
of forgiveness. Jesus is teaching us that when we
choose the ego we feel separation, pain and
suffering. When we choose the Holy Spirit we feel
wholeness, love and peace.
•
The decision we make for the ego or the Holy Spirit
determines our experience; no one else. This
realization is the beginning of true forgiveness.
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There is no order of difficulty in miracles because
the cause of my distress is not in the world —
whether my problem is a hang nail or cancer; an
argument with a friend or a World War. The cause of
my distress is in my mind, not in the illusory body or
world. There is no hierarchy of illusions, and there is
no order of difficulty in miracles. The one problem is
the mistaken choice I made for the ego's separation
and conflict; and the one solution is choosing the
Holy Spirit's oneness and love.
The Holy Spirit does not "do" anything with our
problems in the world. We bring our problems to the
light of the Holy Spirit, and in the light they dissolve.
The choice for despair and suffering, or true hope
and peace is ours, not the Holy Spirit's.
•
We cannot get to Heaven if we exclude anyone; this
is the importance of forgiveness. Salvation is a
collaborative venture. Excluding, rejecting, judging
or condemning another is in fact excluding, rejecting,
judging and condemning myself. I cannot feel peace,
love and wholeness if I exclude anyone. To crucify
one is to crucify the whole Sonship, including
myself.
<strong>Notes</strong> on Chapter Five – Healing and Wholeness
21
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The "Call" for God is a synonym for the Voice for
God or the Holy Spirit. Anger, judgment and
condemnation are never justified. We may feel
anger, judgment and condemnation, but they are
never justified. No one can be excluded from
forgiveness and love if you are to return to Heaven.
In Heaven all is one.
•
The "things that are God's" refer to the Sonship. All
of us are of God with no exceptions. It can be a
challenge for us to accept everyone as part of our self
and part of God. The desire to project our sin and
guilt out of ourselves and onto another can be a
challenge to overcome, but it is impossible to know
the love and peace of God while judging or
condemning even one other person. This is the
importance of all-inclusive, unconditional forgiveness.
•
Jesus’ role in our lives is to help us choose the Holy
Spirit, awaken from the dream of separation, and
accept the Atonement for ourselves.
•
The decision for the ego is the decision to exclude.
First we exclude God, and then we exclude
everybody else. Choosing the Holy Spirit is the
decision to share. I realize my shared Identity with
God; God and I are one. In my shared Identity with
God, I am one with you. We all share God's being
and are one in Him.
•
The capital "M" Mind is the One Mind of God. The
Call of the Holy Spirit is the Call to awaken from the
dream. In awakening is true rest.
•
"Teaching" does not refer to teaching the Course or
its philosophy. We teach by choosing to listen to the
Holy Spirit in our mind, and as we learn from the
Holy Spirit we teach what we learn by demonstrating
it.
End Chapter Five