This article begins a series on what A Course in Miracles (ACIM) means when it speaks of the "miracle" and the "mind." While most students can cite definitions from the Course, understanding the non-dualistic meaning within the experience of dualism takes time to learn and apply. It is only with the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit that we can accomplish this unlearning-learning process. Correction is only in the mind of the perceiver and not through forms as true choice is between listening two voices: God or the ego. Claims to be of a "miracle mind" is really the ego, forgiveness-to-destroy and spiritual specialness. The ego speaks first and the loudest. Love is quiet; and love is expressed in this world through right-minded forgiveness.
Spiritual specialness is from the unconscious arrogance of the ego wrong mind which believes it is in competition with God. Since we're all the same, we're actually competing with everyone all the time until we learn this lesson. All conflict arises from the idea of competition. Spiritual specialness makes some relationships holy and others not because the ego's agenda is that we don't remember that the purpose given anything is in the mind from choosing with God or the ego. To take back our decision making ability is the point of the Course.
The ego's voice, which we mistakenly believe is the Holy Spirit, contains no humility nor dependence on God. Rather, it is the voice for being self-created, i.e., the authority problem. All of us have confusion regarding the author of our existence (ego or God) and the difference between form (illusion) and content (mind where correction take place). To be miracle-minded, we cannot be in conflict on any level for the right-mind itself is conflict-free. There is a difference between right-miracle-minded and the miracle mind of the ego.
We have no honesty when we use spiritual specialness as we are saying we're more holy, more chosen by God than another. This is a defense against the opposite and we will be discussing this best a course in miracles apple podcast in greater depth in subsequent article. Being more chosen is the antithesis of the Course's message.
To continue this discussion, let's begin with some word symbol definitions. We will look at both the ego definition and the Course's definition. Only the ego is fully definable because it is limitation itself. Perceived lack through projected forms (illusions) leads directly to spiritual specialness.
The Ego's Miracle:
In the dictionary, the word symbol definition for "miracle" is: "A surprising or welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency." The definition for "agency" is, "An organization with two or more parties."
This is a perfect example wherein two separate parties, the ego god and its version of the vengeful God, compete for forms within the dualistic illusion as the "divine agency." This is why forms don't need correction but rather the mind that perceives this silliness is in need of correction. Asking the ego god for a miracle event (to replace a form with a form) distorts prayer and the Son forgets who He is. The ego becomes the author of the Son's existence and spiritual specialness takes root wherein the Son who is choosing the ego, competes with God to make himself special to get noticed by God. So long as we don't look at this, we remain a prisoner of this world.
A common mistake for getting noticed here by God is to believe that changing our mind will change our life (forms, bodies, behaviors, relationships, etc.). According to the ego, if we have a good life, we avoid punishment but there are numerous versions (forms) of a good life so that's full of judgment. Again, changing forms make error real because it applies judgment that one form is better while condemning another.
There is no life outside of Heaven. Purpose is in the mind; and our life's purpose is to learn and practice forgiveness if we are to be miracle-minded. Peace, or inner peace, is about content and not form. It is from choosing what is not of this world (the right-minded content of the Holy Sprit) which is the true miracle-mind within the illusory world. The miracle is a shift in perception and not a shift in form (illusion).
The Course's Miracle:
In the Course, the word symbol definition for "miracle" is quite long because of what all a miracle accomplishes. We've referenced some aspects but to fully understand the miracle, spend time and willingness to unlearn the ego version and learn the ACIM version by starting with Chapter 1: The Meaning of Miracles. Additionally, Kenneth Wapnick has written a book called, "The 50 Miracle Principles of A Course in Miracles." For the purpose of this brief article, it is sufficient for us to incorporate the following into the discussion:
