What would explain an intuitive negative feeling towards another person? Q #811: How would A Course in Miracles explain a negative intuitive/gut feeling I get when I meet a certain person? A new neighbor recently moved in and I get a strong negative feeling about this person -- that he may be socially deviant and someone I need to be worried about. Clearly there are misperceptions here in that I am not seeing this person as a perfect child of God and that I am seeing myself as vulnerable. How would Jesus have me deal with this situation? What is this intuitive feeling? Is it just an extension of my ego? A: In A Course in Miracles , Jesus teaches that the fundamental attack thought is the minds decision to proclaim: “I am a body.” Identity with the body is thus established, along with guilt for the “sin” of having taken the thought of separation seriously. In order to preserve body identity and escape responsibility for the attack, the mind erases the memory of making the choice. It does so by projecting guilt and seeing attack outside itself. This is the true source of everyones attack and fear of attack in the world, including your intuitive feeling: “Because your attack thoughts will be projected, you will fear attack. And if you fear attack, you must believe that you are not invulnerable. Attack thoughts therefore make you vulnerable in your own mind, which is where the attack thoughts are” (W.pI.26.2:3). The deep feeling of vulnerability is a reflection of the guilt for having chosen the ego. Fear thus becomes the force at work in the world, which is why it is filled with attacks ranging from the seemingly innocuous to the vicious. From fear comes the egos vast arsenal of defenses spurred by guilts battle cry “killed or be killed” (M.17.7:11). Therefore, like the rest of the animal kingdom, humans are trained to sense danger (sometimes with “gut feelings”), defend against it, and attack the perceived enemy. The important thing to remember, from the perspective of the Courses teaching, is that the source of all fear and vulnerability is guilt in the mind for choosing to believe the separation is real. The guilt is projected in many different forms of attack, some of which the world judges to be more deleterious than others. However, the attacker and the victims fear have the same source in the mind. In content, they are both equally insane. Recognition of this sameness is a good place to start in dealing with those whose insanity sparks fear in us in a more obvious way. In the Course, Jesus teaches that the source of fear is not the potential harm of someone elses attack on the body, but the minds choice for separation. However, although he tells us the “ mind cannot attack or be attacked” (T.7.VIII.4:3) , he also tells us thoughts are dangerous to bodies. (T.21.VIII.1). Therefore, it is wise to be careful in dealing with the world, and especially with those whose fear is expressed in physical attack upon others. Neither their fear, nor the harmful form it takes, diminishes their true Identity as a perfect sons of God, but it can make them dangerous bodies to be around: “frightened people can be vicious” (T.3.I.4:2). As long as any belief in the body is held, there is nothing wrong with being cautious when the threat of physical harm is perceived. This is no different from seeking medical help when the body is sick. We are not asked to deny our belief in the body, our fear, nor the potential for actual attack. What Jesus does ask us to do, is observe the feelings of vulnerability, fear, or defensiveness that arise, recognizing in them the minds forgotten choice to identify with the thought of separation and the body, thereby denying the true Identity of Gods Son; ours and the neighbors. Recognition of fears true source is an expression of the “little willingness” (26.VII.10:1) that is required. It takes the blame off our neighbors for the source of our fear, and returns our attention to our own minds need of healing. At least, then, we are at the root of the problem and can ask the Holy Spirits help to make another choice. That is all that is required. facimoutreach.org/qa/questions/questions156.htm#Q811
Posted on: Mon, 07 Apr 2014 05:14:03 +0000
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