Chapter 4.V – The Calm Being of God’s Kingdom

April 8, 2021

In this section we gain a better understanding of the proverbial struggle between true and false. As we have learned, there are two thought systems each with their own foundation and each completely incapable of communicating with the other.

The ego is very invested in maintaining its existence. As censor of our unconscious, it interprets impulses from God, originating in the superconscious, as unacceptable because these impulses speak of our real identity and the nonexistence of the ego. These impulses are therefore reinterpreted as originating from the unconscious and as more base bodily impulses or human appetites. This reinterpretation then preserves the ego rather than exposes its nonexistence.

This act of censorship places the pull of God, which induces love, in the unconscious along with the body impulses which produce fear. Thus, the conflict between love and fear is hidden away. These impulses are hidden by inhibitions. We try to minimize or inhibit our fear in this world, but the Course is telling us that to reach salvation, we need to disinhibit love.

We do not understand love in the way God is love because we do not love what we have made…our identity as separated bodies. We love and hate what we have made, unable to step beyond our ambivalence. “You cannot conceive of the true relationship that exists between God and His Sons because of the hatred you have for the self you have made. You project onto your own idea of yourself the will to separate, which conflicts with the love you also feel for what you made.” (9:5-6)

The existence of the ego depends upon the separation. In return for its redirection of spirit impulses to body impulses it gives us a sense of temporary existence. It makes us believe it is what we are. Therefore, we began in the separation and our existence depends upon the continuation of the separation.

The message of the Atonement is that “the Kingdom of Heaven is you” (1:4) This is God’s creation. We are the Christ mind, not the ego. We also create and we create our own Kingdom, which is quite apart from and not affected at all by our journey into perception with the ego. Our true selves remain unchanged.

As spirit we both have everything and are everything. We receive “knowledge of [our] permanent unshakable being.” (8:1) Once we experience an undistorted impulse from God we will “never fully believe in the ego again.” (8:2) This experience is one of love without ambivalence and is so different from what the ego offers we will never hide the light of our true identity in the darkness of the ego again. The fact that we do now means the light cannot enter unless we ask. Our true will is so great that nothing can force itself past our barriers in order to guide us.

We need to somehow understand the need and develop the willingness for help in this. Jesus is offering to be our guide. Remember his role as teacher of the ego and that means “he will separate the true from the false in our own unconscious, so truth can break through the barriers the ego has set up and shine into your mind.” (6:2) He tells us that what prevents the Holy One from entering are the thousands of little scraps of meanness we retain. This is our signal that we are opposing knowledge and clinging to separation. He wants us to become aware of these scraps of meanness and instead to ask him to help. He must wait for us to ask him truly; in other words, we must desire his help because we need to use our will to forsake what we have made as our identity. We then call for love without ambivalence to replace our meanness. He will “wait [for us to ask truly] in love and not impatience.” (14:9)

It is particularly important that we develop the will to look honestly at our desires and not try to hide anything from Jesus. As we have learned we are very devious and inventive when it comes to hiding. This is the first step toward preparing our mind for the Holy One to enter.” (15:3) Jesus will do this with us and when we are ready, we will work with him to help others prepare. This is how we make our minds ready for our Father. As we are His Kingdom, Jesus asks, how long will we deny ourselves to Him?

Exercise Suggestion:

“Consider how much vigilance you have been willing to exert to protect your ego, and how little you have been willing to protect your higher mind!” (17:3)

Let us decide today to stop protecting the ego at the cost of truth.

Keep your mind open to any scraps of meanness today. It may be something that seems huge, as in a major upset about someone or something. Or it may seem trivial and insignificant, as in some minor upset that has you expressing mild irritation. Remember to “be honest with yourself about this, for we must hide nothing from each other.” (15:2)

Ask God in Jesus’ name “to keep you mindful of His love for you and yours for Him.” (12:1) This is only what God wills. If you feel fear about this, remind yourself that the ego does not exist.

Pray: “The Kingdom is perfectly united and perfectly protected, and the ego will not prevail against it. Amen.” (2:8-9)

This is your declaration of independence from the ego. You understand its powerlessness. “In your own unconscious, deeply repressed by the ego, is the declaration of your release: God has given you everything. (16:1)

Practice Suggestion:

I am unwilling to protect the belief in my identity as ego at the cost of truth. My sane mind is perfectly conscious in the calm being of God’s Kingdom.