“I have given everything I see… all the meaning it
has for me”
A Course in Miracles. (Lesson 2).
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| Lotus by Simon |
One of our guiding
principles at Light Tree is that elements of Truth can be found among most spiritual
traditions and modern thought systems. It is helpful when a principle repeats
itself across a variety of traditions; this usually reveals an aspect of
universal truth that is worth paying attention to.
For example, Buddhism,
modern psychology and A Course in
Miracles discuss the idea that humans tend to project seeming unpleasant
thoughts outward on to others. Projection appears to be a common way in which
aspects of our mind can be viewed when we look at people and places that seem
to be apart from us.
If we are sincere about self
exploration, the easiest way to see what is going on within our mind is to
notice what is being projected outward onto the screen we see all around us.
The projections are merely neutral, but we create our own meaning based on our
past experience. They serve to show us the places that are yet to be healed
from guilt and fear.
Many of our projections seem
to revolve around ideas of guilt and unworthiness. When we perceive any kind of
scarcity or ugliness outside ourselves we can be pretty sure it’s our own mind
showing us places of fear. We often judge and label others when all we are
seeing are aspects of ourselves that are crying out for acceptance.
This is why it is important
to dwell in equanimity and forgive ourselves for believing in the illusions we
have created. We may have believed that fear keeps us safe in some way, but in
reality it is only by bringing gentle awareness to these frightened parts of
ourselves that we can find real peace.
The key word is gentle. Our
terrified inner self will only relax and open to healing if it does not feel
rushed or threatened. Anger and threat of punishment only make it hide or lash
out in defensiveness.
If we are ruthless at all,
it is in our determination to see what is true and apply all our resources to
send love to that frozen part. When we start to thaw these aspects of ourselves
that seem cut off from the rest, we find the deep peace that is part of our
wholeness. We know ourselves to be worthy and invulnerable when we hold our
projections with ‘utmost gentle affection’ and are willing to see ourselves in
a new light.