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Humility
Versus Arrogance
By Kenneth
Wapnick, Ph.D.
From The
Message of A Course in Miracles, Introduction to
Volume 2 which is entitled
Few Choose to Listen, copyright
1997 by the Foundation
for A Course in Miracles,
This book
-- Volume Two of The Message of A Course in Miracles -- is the companion
to All Are Called [Volume One] and, as explained in the Introduction
to that book, could indeed carry the subtitle: "What A Course in Miracles
does not say." Its focus therefore is not really on what the Course teaches,
since this is the burden of the first volume, but rather on the ways in
which students have understood
A Course in Miracles to say something
it simply does not say or mean; in other words, their choosing not
to listen to its message. In this sense, Few Choose to Listen is
a guide for errors to be avoided. Thus my purpose in this book is to guide
students in how to avoid certain potential mistakes or confusions as they
read, study, and implement into their daily lives the teachings of A
Course in Miracles. Such sidestepping of errors will, it is hoped,
be of help in clearing the way for the student to be more accessible to
the Holy Spirit's "particular care and guidance" (M-29.2:6).
The misunderstandings
of its students have led to conclusions, both theoretical and practical,
directly opposite to what
A Course in Miracles actually teaches.
On one level we should not expect otherwise. Following upon our discussion
in All Are Called, we can recognize the tremendous investment egos
have in holding to the beliefs that reinforce and support its thought system
and very existence. These beliefs include, in one way or another and however
subtly they may be practiced, our making real the error of separation.
To remove our investment in perpetuating this error is to undo the very
foundation of the ego's thought system.
Thus, in general,
we can see that these errors in understanding are defenses against the
truth that we find in the Course. As Jesus points out in A Course in
Miracles, and as I have emphasized, when the ego is confronted by the
loving truth of the Holy Spirit it becomes afraid, for the truth of our
reality as God's Son is the greatest threat to the integrity of its thought
system. The Course explains:
The ego
is ... particularly likely to attack you when you react lovingly, because
it has evaluated you as unloving and you are going against its judgment
.... This is when it will shift abruptly from suspiciousness to viciousness,
since its uncertainty is increased .... It remains suspicious as long as
you despair of yourself. It shifts to viciousness when you decide not to
tolerate self-abasement and seek relief. Then it offers you the illusion
of attack as a "solution."... When the ego experiences threat, its only
decision is whether to attack now or to withdraw to attack later .... Even
the faintest hint of your reality literally drives the ego from your mind,
because you will give up all investment in it .... The ego will make every
effort to recover and mobilize its energies against your release (T-9.VII.4:5,7;
T-9.VIII.2:8-10; 3:4; 4:2,5).
Therefore, if the
ego cannot attack directly -- because the Son would find that totally unacceptable
-- then it "withdraws" to attack later through distortion, its form of
passive resistance. Thus the ego follows the axiom: "If you can't lick
'em, join 'em." Unable to convince us not to pursue A Course
in Miracles, the ego nonetheless is able to distort the Course's teachings
sufficiently to allow its truth to be clouded over, protecting the ego's
belief system from ever being looked at openly and honestly. Jesus asks
each of us in the Course to "Be very honest with yourself... for we must
hide nothing from each other" (T-4.111.8:2). Thus we must openly look at
these errors and bring them to his love, after which they can be
released. Without such honest examination, the truth will continue to be
obstructed, and its light "forbidden" entry into the hidden portals of
the ego's darkened mind, where it would surely heal our mistaken thoughts.
In his Introduction to the fourth review in the workbook, Jesus urges his
students to look at and understand their defenses as part of the preparation
for the application of the truth to their daily lives (W-pl.rIV.in.1:1):
Let us
begin our preparation with some understanding of the many forms in which
the lack of true forgiveness may be carefully concealed. Because they are
illusions, they are not perceived to be but what they are; defenses that
protect your unforgiving thoughts from being seen and recognized. Their
purpose is to show you something else, and hold correction off through
self-deceptions made to take its place (W-pI.rIV.in.3).
This fear of the
truth leading to the defense of distortion has striking parallels to the
early history of Christianity, where the followers of Jesus quite clearly
changed his teachings to suit their own fear and guilt. As Jesus comments
in the text, specifically referring to the aforementioned "upside-down"
interpretations given to his crucifixion:
If you
interpret the crucifixion in any other way [i.e., than a loving and unsacrificial
act], you are using it as a weapon for assault rather than as the call
for peace for which it was intended. The Apostles often misunderstood it,
and for the same reason that anyone misunderstands it. Their own imperfect
love made them vulnerable to projection, and out of their own fear they
spoke of the "wrath of God" as His retaliatory weapon. Nor could they speak
of the crucifixion entirely without anger, because their sense of guilt
had made them angry.... I do not want you to allow any fear to enter into
the thought system toward which I am guiding you (T-6.1.14-, 16:2).
Finally, we may recall
again the Course's statement:
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
(T-24.in.2:1-2).
This important teaching
refers to our willingness to generalize the Course's principles totally,
without exception. To hold out any situation or belief from its uncompromising
non-dualism is to make some aspect of the illusory world real. A serious
student of A Course in Miracles recognizes the absoluteness of its
thought system. To quote again one of Jesus' statements about his Course:
This
course will be believed entirely or not at all. For it is wholly true or
wholly false, and cannot he but partially believed (T-22.11.7:4-5).
CONTINUED
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