What this lesson is emphasizing is that it is not so much “what” we see but rather “how” we see it. And the “how” being with which teacher. We can only see with one of two teachers - either the wrong-mind of the ego, or the right-mind of spirit. This lesson also introduces the idea that minds are joined. We all share the same ego mind, the same spirit mind, and the same ability to choose one or the other. That’s why we’re never alone in experiencing the effects of our seeing. We are all joined. ...
Dec 04, 2019•1 min•Season 1Ep. 168
This lesson follows up from the prior lesson “I have no neutral thoughts.” In fact, this lesson starts off by saying “You see no neutral things because you have no neutral thoughts. It is always the thought that comes first, despite the temptation to believe that it is the other way around.” So, what we see first begins with what we think. And if our thoughts are not neutral, then we won’t see anything neutral. We will always see through the lens of judgment. Later in this lesson, the Course tel...
Dec 03, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 167
The Course uses the prominent theme of forgiveness in a way that is contrary to all our past experiences. We think of forgiveness as a means to absolve others of their bad behavior. They did something that hurt us or others in some way. There was an offense committed. But now, in the graciousness of our heart, we will forgive them “their trespasses” (as the Bible says). But what if there was no trespassing? Here is how A Course in Miracles defines atonement: “Forgiveness separates the dreamer fr...
Dec 02, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 166
"The idea for today is a beginning step in dispelling the belief that your thoughts have no effect. Everything you see is the result of your thoughts. There is no exception to this fact. Thoughts are not big or little; powerful or weak. They are merely true or false." Those lines are so compelling. “Everything you see if the result of your thoughts.” And what he means by thoughts being merely true or false - that depends on which mind we’ve chosen: either the ego mind or the mind of spirit. When...
Nov 27, 2019•1 min•Season 1Ep. 165
When we were young, we played make believe. We made up characters and gave them a history and then presented them with various challenges. And as kids, a part of us believed in these characters. We identified with them. They were something of an alter-ego for us. But a part of us obviously knew it was made up. In fact, the extent to which we immersed ourselves in the character is how much emotion we felt about the character’s various obstacles and interactions. In the same way, we are still play...
Nov 26, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 164
Let me read the first paragraph of this lesson: "It is because the thoughts you think you think appear as images that you do not recognize them as nothing. You think you think them, and so you think you see them. This is how your “seeing” was made. This is the function you have given your body’s eyes. It is not seeing. It is image making. It takes the place of seeing, replacing vision with illusions." In other words, what we see when we look around us is not reality but rather our interpretation...
Nov 25, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 163
This lesson hearkens back to the introduction in A Course in Miracles : "Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God." What the introduction and this lesson are teaching us is that anything that can be threatened or suffer or die is not real. What God created - which is the only true reality - is perfectly whole, lacking nothing. In this lesson are these lines: “The world you see has nothing to do with reality. It is of your own making, and it does not exi...
Nov 22, 2019•1 min•Season 1Ep. 162
One of the most challenging concepts in A Course in Miracles is the idea that perception is something we make, not something we observe. In other words, everything we experience is not the result of the various goings-on in the world and our body. Instead, what our senses witness to us comes from a choice we make in the mind. This line from the Course makes it clear: “Perception is a choice and not a fact.” (T-21.V.1) When we choose the ego mind, everything we experience has the purpose of provi...
Nov 21, 2019•1 min•Season 1Ep. 161
Everything we see and experience in the world is without meaning. There is no good. There is no bad. But we project onto this “blank slate” all the meaning everything has. What this lesson is teaching us is that we are quite fearful of this meaninglessness. And the reason is that our ego sees this void and worries that if it doesn’t rush in and fill this empty space that its own impotence and unreality would be demonstrated. To which the Course says “And on this alone is it [the ego] correct.” T...
Nov 20, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 160
Forgiveness is a tricky word. We think of it in regards to someone who has wronged us in some way. They did or said something hurtful, and we hold them accountable for their offense. Forgiveness, then, is putting it behind you. Overlooking the foul. Letting the other person off the hook. But is it really? If we still feel any sense of pain or regret or even a mild twinge of annoyance, then have we really forgiven? Perhaps the watered down version of “I forgive you, but I will never forget what y...
Nov 19, 2019•1 min•Season 1Ep. 159
The word “meaningless” is typically associated with some negative judgment. But when the Course uses that word, it literally means “without meaning”. In fact, toward the end of this lesson, are these lines: “What is meaningless is neither good nor bad. Why, then, should a meaningless world upset you? If you could accept the world as meaningless and let the truth be written upon it for you, it would make you indescribably happy.” We get upset because of things going on in the world, other bodies,...
Nov 18, 2019•1 min•Season 1Ep. 158
There’s a powerful question that A Course in Miracles suggests we ask ourselves anytime we’re tempted to be angry or upset with another person. And that question is this: “Does he need help or condemnation?” When we’re with our ego, we see all the reasons why this person deserves our wrath. They did this awful, unkind thing to us. They are not a good person - at least not in a particular moment. They were unfair. They should feel bad for what they did. And so on. But when we step back and ask ou...
Nov 17, 2019•1 min•Season 1Ep. 157
Our senses seem to inform us of what’s going on in the world and our body. But we have it backwards. Our thoughts determine everything we experience. https://livebeyondtheillusion.com/acim-lesson-11/ Support the show
Nov 14, 2019•1 min•Season 1Ep. 156
The causes of all our experiences in dreams aren’t what other people are doing. The cause of everything is the dreamer’s thoughts. The same is true when we’re “awake”. https://livebeyondtheillusion.com/acim-lesson-10/ Support the show
Nov 13, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 155
I grew up thinking that Heaven was a place you attained after leading a virtuous life. And it was a magnificent venue with no lack - just complete and total bliss. But it was conditional. If life weren’t lived well, then Heaven would be barred. Instead, I’d be cast into a fiery pit of hell. Eternal damnation. Talk about extreme opposites! It was never very clear to me what the entrance criteria was for Heaven. Some people said it was based on your birth lineage. Others said it was dependent on h...
Nov 12, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 154
What we think of as reality is an illusion. We’ve lost ourselves in slumber or story and don’t realize that what we experience isn’t real. https://livebeyondtheillusion.com/acim-lesson-9/ Support the show
Nov 11, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 153
When we realize the extent to which our mind is preoccupied as such, we being the process of recognizing the power of our mind - and the ability to completely change our experience. https://livebeyondtheillusion.com/acim-lesson-8/ Support the show
Nov 08, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 152
I used to spend a lot of time traveling for business, including countless hours sitting in airports. In most instances I was able to get away with just a carry-on, but on a few occasions I needed to bring more luggage. And in every one of those instances, I stood for a long time at the baggage carousel waiting to retrieve my suitcase. Inevitably, on another nearby conveyor belt, a bunch of unclaimed bags would spin round and round patiently waiting for their owners to come. And this image of unc...
Nov 07, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 151
Whenever someone hurt me in some way - whether it was a verbal assault or any other unkind action - not only would I feel upset and offended, but I also wanted to do something in return. I would often spend a lot of time, including many sleepless nights, rehashing the incident and wishing some sort of retribution for the violator. I eventually came to realize that no amount of revenge or “karma” - either real or imagined - would make me happy. And then I discovered A Course in Miracles and these...
Nov 06, 2019•1 min•Season 1Ep. 150
Recognizing that we see only the past begins the process of learning how to step out of time and into the blissful state of now. Read more here: https://livebeyondtheillusion.com/acim-lesson-7/ Support the show
Nov 05, 2019•1 min•Season 1Ep. 149
How would you like to never again feel angry? It’s a nice thought, but is that even possible? After all, anger is the result of a fair assessment of a situation in which an unfairness of some sort has occurred. But is it really? Let’s step back and think about what anger really means. And we’ll use this powerful sentence from A Course in Miracles : “Anger cannot occur unless you believe that you have been attacked, that your attack is justified in return, and that you are in no way responsible f...
Nov 04, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 148
What we think of as “reality” is just like our dreams at night. It seems real, but that’s only because we’ve identified with the dream figure instead of the dreamer. Read more here: https://livebeyondtheillusion.com/acim-lesson-6/ Support the show
Nov 01, 2019•1 min•Season 1Ep. 147
Several of the early workbook lessons in A Course in Miracles focus on the idea that we don’t know what anything is for and that we give everything all the meaning it has for us. These support a key Course theme that “projection makes perception.” In other words, everything we perceive in the world (and in our bodies) is something we first projected from our mind. But that’s totally different than anything we believe. We’ve taught ourselves that the world represents an objective reality in which...
Oct 31, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 146
Whenever we’re upset - it’s because we chose the ego. Not because of anything that happened in our lives or with our body. Read more here: https://livebeyondtheillusion.com/acim-lesson-5/ Support the show
Oct 28, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 145
The reason our thoughts don’t mean anything is because they come from a source that doesn’t mean anything. Read more in this article: https://livebeyondtheillusion.com/acim-lesson-4/ Support the show
Oct 27, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 144
All we need to do to experience unconditional peace is let go of judgment. Not just in action. Not just in thought. But in belief. Our belief in judgment is what leads to the perception of bodies, separate interests, and lack. Without judgment, we see the sameness in everyone and everything. We see no differences. We experience no separation. But all our strain, all our suffering, all our anxiety come from the unwillingness to let go of judgment. And thus we delay our awakening from this nightma...
Oct 25, 2019•1 min•Season 1Ep. 143
We really don’t understand what anything means. We think we do, but we’re wrong. But there’s another way of giving meaning that leads to real happiness. Read more here: https://livebeyondtheillusion.com/acim-lesson-3/ Support the show
Oct 24, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 142
Is there someone in your life you hold a grudge against? Thinking of them brings up feelings of anger or unfairness or disappointment. Or maybe even other negative emotions. We’ve been wronged by this person, and the memory is painful. There’s a line in A Course in Miracles that says, “frightened people can be vicious.” And we all know vicious people. At some point we, too, have been vicious, at least in our thoughts. While we aren’t responsible for the viciousness of other people and their awfu...
Oct 23, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 141
In Lesson 2, Anthony discusses the power of thought and how it is that we give everything all the meaning that it has for us. Learn more here: https://livebeyondtheillusion.com/acim-lesson-2/ Support the show
Oct 22, 2019•1 min•Season 1Ep. 140
This is the first lesson in A Course in Miracles . Nothing I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place] means anything. I talk about what that means and introduce the concept of mind: the wrong mind of the ego and the right mind of spirit. You can read more here: https://livebeyondtheillusion.com/acim-lesson-1/ Support the show...
Oct 21, 2019•2 min•Season 1Ep. 139
