Have you have you ever heard the expression “it really is what it is”? What does that expression mean exactly?
Before I understood the deeper meaning of the expression, I envisioned an emaciated yogi guru in the lotus position floating above the bottom imperiously imparting wisdom that could take scholars multiple lifetimes to interpret. Seeing as how that is my last life on earth and the lotus position would put me in traction, I knew that consulting the Course In Miracles would help me clarify its meaning.
What’s the IT that people are writing about here? According to the Course in Miracles, IT is truth, specifically God’s truth. Why is it important to emphasize that it is God’s truth? Because God’s facts are not open to interpretations whereas a human’s truth is. Multiple versions of human truth have lead to a myriad of religions. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia defines religion as a “system of thought, feeling, and action that is shared by a group and that provides the members an object of devotion.”
Who devised the machine of thought? On whose feelings are these thoughts based? Are actions really necessary? In line with the Course In Miracles, God just is and our ultimate goal would be to return to a perfect state of being. There is no thought or action in the state of being, you merely are. What must not be forgotten may be the underlying thread of most religions: God is creator, God is love and we all have been perfect and infinite children of God.
Most find it very unsettling to take into account the theory that choice is actually an illusion, or the illusion of preference, as stated in A Course in Miracles (ACIM). You make choices everyday, therefore the idea of choice not being real seems highly illogical also to say the least, improbable, given its consistent daily use. Although choice is necessary while you are here, it ultimately remains a part of the illusion and is not an integral part of God. Choice is unsettling as you believe it to be necessary, not because it can be an illusion.”
It stands to reason you are in what you think of as this world as you have made a decision, or choice, because of this world to be real. In the event that you continue making that same choice, it keeps on becoming more and more real. ACIM clearly highlights that ideas do not leave their source. Who then would be the source? What choices are you really making?
Choice, Perception and Judgment:
You think this world is real as you made the choice to trust the ego’s version of reality from the initial separation. Those initial perceptions are accompanied by the next choice which is to judge the results, thereby producing further consequences which reinforce the belief in this world. It’s a vicious, no-win cycle. As you perceive you will judge; and as you judge you’ll perceive. Error is made real by this simple twisted deception. Withdraw your choice to believe in the outcomes and the error can be corrected.
Choice and Source:
Can you not then function as source since you are the one making the decision to believe? You do not remember that original separation; however, you are making choices now, and you are doing so constantly. Every moment you are choosing between thoughts, feelings and ideas, etc. If it isn’t you, then who do you want to claim is responsible? Be cautious, because claiming another is responsible is actually blame and you haven’t any power to change so long as you think another is in control. You are simply making yourself a victim. Both of these are ego tricks.
Accepting responsibility for everything, including choice and its own consequences may be the fastest way to change. This allows one to choose again because you can see the outcomes and realize that you must have chosen in error. It is your thoughts and beliefs combined with the decision, or choice, to create them true that becomes the result of everything you see in your world. The Law of Cause and Effect is simple: Based on the mind you pick from, as cause, you will see the corresponding effect.
As long as as you have a split mind, you are constantly choosing between the wrong mind of the ego (error) and the Right Mind of the Holy Spirit (correction). You will notice the effect according to the choice of actually use as cause. You cannot have two masters. In the ego world, it is always one or the other. Choosing the correction of the Holy Spirit undoes the error of the ego and returns your brain to the peace of God. This process is also known as forgiveness.
Choice for Correction:
Forgiveness is only your brain being returned, or corrected, back again to the Truth because you decide for it to be this way. Handing on the ego’s judgments corrects the mind and correction is what? Forgiveness. A different cause results in a different effect.
Choice is, therefore, necessary in this illusion since there is something to select between. However, the best use of choice is served by knowing both the error and correction sides of the split mind, or what you are choosing between. Then, simply understand that your goal would be to return the mind to True Perception and choose again! It will help to keep at heart the coinciding terms for True Perception: Correction, forgiveness, salvation, atonement, truth, Holy Spirit and God. There is no difference. course in miracles
