The End and the Means

The ultimate goal is ‘Atonement’ – experiencing ‘at one ment’ in this lifetime. The Course has taught us the means to that end are belief, faith, and vision. What do we believe? What kind of faith is necessary? How do we see the penultimate state? The end state is indescribable.

The ACIM Creed [Our beliefs]

• I believe that what I accept into my mind becomes my reality. Therefore, I am very selective about what I accept into my mind.
• I believe God is and is infinite, eternal and pure love.
• I believe that I was made in Our Creator’s Image, Likeness and Essence, thus I exist eternally.
• I believe my brothers and sisters were created just like me, thus they exist eternally.
• I believe when we returned to Earth, we assumed a physical form, we got caught up in sense perception and we simply forgot our Spiritual Nature – we fell asleep and are dreaming the dream of separation.
• I believe the way to wake up ourselves, is to help wake up our brothers and sisters.
• I believe that we can communicate with our Creator and Truth only comes from our Creator.
• I believe that until that Truth is revealed directly into our minds and hearts, we can rely on the guidance from A Course in Miracles.
• I believe that The Course informs us what to think, what to say and what to do in helping ourselves and our brothers and sisters to wake up.
• I believe that we are capable of two basic emotions, love and fear. And that all other emotions, feelings and motivations can be traced back to one or the other. Ultimately back to one – love.
• I believe that until I am fully awake, I will hear two voices. The voice of the ego and the Voice of the Spirit.
• I believe the voice of the ego can easily be distinguished from the Voice of the Spirit and that we have the free will to choose which voice to listen to.
• I believe the voice of the ego is based on fear, on lack, and the desire to fill that void with persons, places, things, events that lie outside – idols/illusions.
• I believe that the voice of the ego operates on the getting principle. It is the voice that leads to separation.
• I believe the Voice of the Spirit is based on love and speaks of compassion, kindness, gentleness, generosity, understanding and forgiveness.
• I believe that the Voice of the Spirit operates on the giving principle. It is the voice that leads us back to Oneness.
• I believe that until the Voice of the Spirit becomes the predominant voice in our minds, it serves us well to perform the Five Daily Practices:
• Contemplate and Meditate on the eternal truths that have been revealed in the Course.
• Continual Prayer: replace the chitter chatter of the our minds with repeating: T-4.in.2.”Be still and know that I am God.”
• Read and Study The Course and other inspirational material
• Share what I am reading and studying with my brothers and sisters
• Perform Miracles as guided by my Creator – i.e., express forgiveness as taught by the Course, extend unconditional love, and be of service to others.

Faith and Vision to be continued.