Protection in A Course in Miracles, Exercises of Psychotherapy

Download Protection in A Course in Miracles and more Exercises Psychotherapy in PDF only on Docsity! Protection in A Course in Miracles by Robert Perry Exploring A Course in Miracles Podcast Episode #19 Discussion Guide To listen, watch, or download this episode, please visit circleofa.org/19 _________________________________________________________ We perhaps do not associate the theme of protection with the Course, but it’s in there. There are 237 references to it, which means it’s a huge topic, with many facets to it. The Course does, in other words, talk about how we can find real protection. What does it say? In simplest terms, it says something like this: You constantly strive to protect yourself, but it doesn’t work and you don’t need to protect yourself. God is your real protection, in body, mind, and spirit. However, you need to accept His protection before it can truly dawn upon your mind and become active in your experience. You do that by protecting your mind (from fear and anger), by following His guidance, and by extending a sense of safety and protection to others (by giving them miracles). What follows is this same picture in more detail: You constantly strive to protect yourself You think you are a weak, vulnerable body, and so you must figure out the rules that, if obeyed, will protect you. Then you make constant plans for this protection. You also attack for the sake of this same protection. These defenses, however, do not work. But that’s all right, because you don’t need them; you aren’t in danger. Recognize this and they’ll disappear, and then you’ll accept your real protection You still have too much faith in the body as a source of strength. What plans do you make that do not involve its comfort or protection or enjoyment in some way? (T- 22.VII.1:1-2) You operate from the belief you must protect yourself from what is happening, because it must contain what threatens you. A sense of threat is an acknowledgment of an inherent weakness, a belief that there is danger which has power to call on you to make appropriate defense. (W-135.2:2-3) [Psychotherapy’s] whole function, in the end, is to help the patient deal with one fundamental error; the belief that…by justifying attack he is protecting himself. (P- 2.In.1:5) You must question your ideas about your protection You need to open your mind about where real protection comes from. Fear has gripped your mind so strongly that you won’t relinquish your ideas about what protects you. But you must. You need to consciously and genuinely ask, “Where can I go for protection?” Being told by the ego that it is really part of the body and that the body is its protector, it is also constantly informed that the body cannot protect it. This, of course, is not only true, but perfectly obvious. Therefore, the mind asks, “Where can I go for protection?,” to which the ego replies, “Turn to me.” The mind, and not without cause, reminds the ego that it has itself insisted that it is identified with the body, so there is no point in turning to it for protection. The ego has no real answer to this, because there isn’t any, but it does have a typical solution. 4It obliterates the question from the mind’s awareness. Once unconscious, it can and does produce uneasiness, but it cannot be answered because it cannot be asked. This is the question which must be asked: “Where can I go for protection?” Only an insane mind fails to ask it. Even the insane ask it unconsciously, but it requires real sanity to ask it consciously. (T-4.VII.5:-7:3) God’s protection is the real source of your safety God is the real Source of your protection. You are protected by God in all things. This is because of His care for you and His love for you, because He is always with you and because you are one with Him. You are a ray of light in God’s Mind, protected and sustained by His being. (T-10.II.4:1) Only the love of God will protect you in all circumstances. (W-50.2:3) My Father supports me, protects me, and directs me in all things. (W-58.5:6) Today we will not doubt His love for us, nor question His protection and His care. (W- 124.3:1) The thought of God protects you, cares for you, makes soft your resting place and smooth your way, lighting your mind with happiness and love. (W-165.2:6)