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Word Gems
exploring self-realization, sacred personhood, and full humanity
A Course In Miracles
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The Atonement is the final lesson. Learning itself, like the classrooms in which it occurs, is temporary. The ability to learn has no value when change is no longer necessary.
Editor's note: As usual, the Course has ultimate values in mind when it declares that learning is temporary. When we finally perceive the perfection and fullness of the soul – which understanding is facilitated by the Atonement -- learning, in this case, comes to an end. It seems, however, this goal in its fullness may ever be out of reach; apparently, we will spend eternity learning of the perfection of the inner riches, every sharpening our perception of what God has given us. As such, the Course says, "You can learn to improve your perceptions, and become a better and better learner. This will bring you into closer and closer accord with the Sonship; but the Sonship is a perfect creation and perfection is not a matter of degree." However, other forms of learning, without debate, go on endlessly in our eternal lives. The universe is a big place, filled with all manner of knowledge, and we will always thrill to learn more about these externals.
Spirit need not be taught, but the ego must be... My lesson was like yours and because I learned it I can teach it.
Teaching and learning are your greatest strengths now, because they enable you to change your mind and help others to change theirs.
The Holy Spirit is the perfect teacher. He uses only what your mind already understands to teach you [what] you do not understand
Every good teacher hopes to give his students so much of his own learning that they will one day no longer need him. This is the one true goal of the teacher.
think with me ... my goal will always be to absolve you finally from the need for a teacher.
I call upon you to teach what you have learned, because by so doing you can depend on it
My part in the Atonement is not complete until you join it and give it away. As you teach, so shall you learn
I need devoted teachers who share my aim of healing the mind. Editor’s note: We are all to become teachers of God’s way of life. It's the Family Business (see the inset box on the "Summerland, 1-minute" page). Not only will this provide a service to those less-developed, but we, too, gain immensely when required to explain to others. John Wheeler reported that, as a young man, Einstein told him, “If you want to learn, teach!”
Undermining the ego's thought system [can seem to be] painful [as it is so familiar to us] ... Babies scream in rage if you take away a knife or scissors [so too] ... Your attitudes [toward removing the ego's power] are [presently] conflicted... This will not last. Be patient a while and remember that the outcome [of final healing] is as certain as God.
Good teachers never terrorize their students. To terrorize is to attack, and this results in rejection of what the teacher offers. The result is learning failure. Editor's note: The ancient Spirit Guide Abu speaks of the teaching style of God in very similar terms; that, unless the spiritually insane find themselves wanting to be like their teachers, to love their teachers, no good can come from any outreach effort.
No force except your own will is strong enough or worthy enough to guide you. In this you are as free as God, and must remain so forever.
You retain thousands of little scraps of fear [which prevent your learning and rising to a better level of consciousness]. Light cannot penetrate through the walls you make to block it ... Watch your mind for the scraps of fear
How can you teach someone the value of something he has deliberately thrown away? He must have thrown it away because he did not value it. You can only show him how miserable he is without it, and slowly bring it nearer so he can learn how his misery lessens as he approaches it.
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