ACIM Self-Study: This Need Not Be

If you cannot hear the Voice for God, it is because you do not choose to listen. (ACIM, T-4.IV.1:1)

Sabi ni God kay Neale Donald Walsch sa Conversations with God: “I talk to everyone, all the time. The question is not to whom do I talk, but who listens?”

Galing rin sa mga letters na listen, kailangan silent tayo para mapakinggan yung Voice for God, yung Holy Spirit.

Kasi yung Holy Spirit, hindi siya yung mga maiingay at walang tigil na thoughts sa isipan natin.

So yun ang isang clue para malaman yung Voice for God: alamin muna natin kung ano yung noise – noise of ego.

²That you do listen to the voice of your ego is demonstrated by your attitudes, your feelings and your behavior. (ACIM, T-4.IV.1:2)

Malalaman raw natin kung ano yung pinapakinggan natin – yung “The Voice” ba o yung noise.

Nagre-reflect yun sa ating attitudes, feelings, at behavior.

Pag fear, depression, anger, hatred, worry, anxiety – noise ang napapakinggan natin.

Pag peace, love, joy, excitement, fun – The Voice yun.

I have said that you cannot change your mind by changing your behavior, but I have also said, and many times, that you can change your mind. ²When your mood tells you that you have chosen wrongly, and this is so whenever you are not joyous, then know this need not be. (ACIM, T-4.IV.2:1-2)

Hindi uubra yung pagbabago ng habits kung walang pagbabago sa pag-iisip natin.

At yun ang tinuturo sa atin ng A Course in Miracles – ang pagbabago ng ating kaisipan.

So pag hindi natin nararamdaman yung joy, love, at peace, may kailangan tayong baguhin sa ating pag-iisip.

⁴Think honestly what you have thought that God would not have thought, and what you have not thought that God would have you think. ⁵Search sincerely for what you have done and left undone accordingly, and then change your mind to think with God’s. (ACIM, T-4.IV.2:4-5)

“What would Jesus do?” yung magandang reminder para dito.

Tapos i-model natin kung paano yung naging buhay ni Jesus. Note: hindi kailangan maging perpekto o magpaka-martyr ha.

Kung ano lang yung nakakapag-inspire sa’yo, yun ang sundan mo kasi yung inspiration, natutunan nga natin sa previous topic, ay galing sa Holy Spirit, the Voice for God.

When you are sad, know this need not be. ²Depression comes from a sense of being deprived of something you want and do not have. ³Remember that you are deprived of nothing except by your own decisions, and then decide otherwise. (ACIM, T-4.IV.3:1-3)

Anong kabaliktaran ng inspiration? Depression. Eto yung feeling na something is missing.

Pero alalahanin natin na wala tayong kakulangan, unless iisipin natin na may kulang nga sa atin.

So kailangan baguhin natin yung ganung kaisipan para yung depression maging inspiration.

When you are anxious, realize that anxiety comes from the capriciousness of the ego, and know this need not be. ²You can be as vigilant against the ego’s dictates as for them. (ACIM, T-4.IV.4:1-2)

Kapag nakakaranas naman tayo ng anxiety, kailangang maging aware tayo sa mga anxious thoughts na galing sa ego para hindi natin sila ma-entertain.

Ang kailangan namang baguhin dito ay yung atensyon natin. Ilipat ang focus sa peaceful at loving thoughts.

When you feel guilty, remember that the ego has indeed violated the laws of God, but you have not. (ACIM, T-4.IV.5:1)

Guilt – eto yung trap ng ego para ‘di tayo makawala sa illusion.

Hangga’t pinaniniwalaan natin yung illusion of separation from God – yung idea of “original sin” – e nakakulong rin tayo sa guilt.

Eto ang susi: hindi tayo guilty, dahil wala tayong bahid ng kasalanan.

⁵While you feel guilty your ego is in command, because only the ego can experience guilt. ⁶This need not be. (ACIM, T-4.IV.5:5-6)

So pag na-gi-guilty, laging tatandaan: it’s not you, it’s your ego.

Normal lang na part ng human experience yung ma-feel guilty tayo pag nagkakamali tayo – mangyayari at mangyayari yun habang nabubuhay tayo para matutunan natin yung lesson na tinuturo sa atin ng buhay.

Pero realize na your feelings are not who you are.

Feel your feelings but don’t get attached to them.

Watch your mind for the temptations of the ego, and do not be deceived by it. ²It offers you nothing. ³When you have given up this voluntary dis-spiriting, you will see how your mind can focus and rise above fatigue and heal. (ACIM, T-4.IV.6:1-3)

Normal lang rin yung mga temptations. Sa una, malakas talaga ang hatak nila at bumibigay tayo.

Pero pwedeng ma-train ang mind natin para maging aware tayo at hindi tayo ma-deceive. Tried at tested ko personally at scientifically proven na para dyan ang meditation.

Meditation yung naging main tool ko for healing. Kaya naman talagang naging bahagi na siya ng daily routine ko sa gabi bago matulog.

Meditation works. Kailangan lang ng consistency para ma-develop yung habit hanggang sa maging almost effortless na siyang gawin.

The habit of engaging with God and His creations is easily made if you actively refuse to let your mind slip away. ²The problem is not one of concentration; it is the belief that no one, including yourself, is worth consistent effort. (ACIM, T-4.IV.7:1-2)

Eventually, kusa mo na lang mararanasan yung positive effect ng meditation sa’yo. Mapapansin mo na hindi ka na nag-re-react unconsciously tulad ng dati at nakaka-respond ka ng mabuti sa sitwasyon.

Bakit? Dahil sa mental discipline na dala ng meditation practice.

Comment ni Jesus: hindi mahirap mag-concentrate. Meron lang mga beliefs na humahadlang para hindi mo magawa yun. (Applicable ‘to sa lahat ng bagay na pinaniniwalaan mong “hindi kayang gawin.”)

Have you really considered how many opportunities you have had to gladden yourself, and how many of them you have refused? ²There is no limit to the power of a Son of God, but he can limit the expression of his power as much as he chooses. ³Your mind and mine can unite in shining your ego away, releasing the strength of God into everything you think and do. ⁴Do not settle for anything less than this, and refuse to accept anything but this as your goal. ⁵Watch your mind carefully for any beliefs that hinder its accomplishment, and step away from them. (ACIM, T-4.IV.8:1-5)

“Busy… wala akong time.” Yan yung isang major major limiting belief ng karamihan sa ‘tin.

Pero kung makapag-facebook, wagas!... Oks lang naman yun.

Sinasabi lang natin e kahit 10-15mins lang yung ilaan natin para sa mas makakapagbigay sa atin ng peace of mind, na pundasyon para sa true happiness.

At yung happiness na yun ay walang limit. Tayo ang naglalagay ng limit sa happiness na pwede nating maranasan.

Kumbaga ang supply natin ay yung dagat, pero ang pansalok natin ng tubig ay isang tabo lang. Pinagdadamutan natin yung ating sarili kasi may limiting belief tayo na hindi tayo deserving.

Yung meditation ang nagpapalawak ng kaisipan natin para maging aware tayo sa mga limiting beliefs na tulad nun at hindi nila tayo malimitahan.

You are a mirror of truth, in which God Himself shines in perfect light. ⁶Your ego cannot prevent Him from shining on you, but it can prevent you from letting Him shine through you. (ACIM, T-4.IV.9:1,6)

Yung light ni God ay parang araw, laging nag-sha-shine sa lahat. Pero kung nasa loob tayo ng kweba, e talagang hindi natin maaaninag yung liwanag.

Ganun yung ginagawa ng mga limiting beliefs – kinukubli tayo sa kwebang madilim.

So kailangan sa atin manggaling yung kagustuhan na makakita ng liwanag. Pag ginusto natin, lalabas tayo dun sa ating nakasanayan at i-we-welcome natin yung liwanag.

The First Coming of Christ is merely another name for the creation, for Christ is the Son of God. ²The Second Coming of Christ means nothing more than the end of the ego’s rule and the healing of the mind. (ACIM, T-4.IV.10:1-2)

Eto yung isang belief na magandang itama: yung “Second Coming of Christ,” na nire-relate natin sa either muling pagbabalik ni Jesus, o yung mas matindi, “end of the world.”

Ang nag-eend talaga ay yung ego, yung illusion of separation from God, na mas napag-usapan natin sa topic na Last Judgment.

At sa pag end nung illusion of separation, nanunumbalik sa awareness natin yung truth, na tayong lahat ay anak ng Diyos at never nawalay sa Kanya. Yan naman yung “Christ” na ibig sabihin ay Child of God.