Questions that accept or deny Divinity

Questions were made as a form of denial of the only answer that has any meaning- Divine nature.

The ego asks questions and desires answers as a distraction from recognizing what is always here, unconditional love, which has no questions and simultaneously is the answer to every question. There are questions of the ego that seemingly go out – to look for solutions in the world in an attempt to prove the world is true– and questions that point inward toward the revelation of divine nature. Thus there are questions for delaying the recognition of what is true and questions for recognizing what is true.

Questions are a time bound construct and the ego answers questions with other time bound constructs. They are designed to perpetuate the ongoing experience of a feeling of lack. A feeling of lack is the experience of time- the idea/illusion that fullness and peace will be experienced in the future. The ego is the mechanism for questioning that induces an experience of doubt of divinity and then seems to “provide and answer” by “collecting information” about the "outside world" to give the illusion of safety- while actually being a defense.  This is the idea that something “known” is safety, yet this is a denial that the answer is already given. Seeming to know "something" creates the illusion of subject-object experience. This occurs in the illusion of time.

Questions through the “wrong mind”- the egoic thought system– are synonymous with biting from the apple of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Questions are a secret means to induce self doubt and thus support a feeling of lack that denies true nature. They are an “investment” in the continual experience of separation from God and thus a form of attack. Divine nature is here. The ego's only answer to wrong minded question is some experience of lack now. Thus it is impossible to discover Life through egoic thoughts and questions that arise from wrong mindedness. Yet it is understood through the benevolence of the Holy Spirit –the simultaneous answer to the first question that arose in response to identification with thought of a body and a world – that the denial of divine nature is deeply hidden in the subconscious mind. Thus questions used in purpose of the Holy Spirit are a function of right mindedness and point back to where there are no questions, to the only answer that has any meaning – divine nature. There is only what is.

I said before that the Holy Spirit is the Answer. He is the Answer to everything, because He knows what the answer to everything is. The ego does not know what a real question is, although it asks an endless number. Yet you can learn this as you learn to question the value of the ego, and thus establish your ability to evaluate its questions. 8:IX.1

Thus while the ego's questions are a means to question God/Divine nature – the habit of self imposed experience of limitation– all the focus of questioning in ACIM is questioning the truth of thought system of the ego- the idea of separation from God. Thus the Holy Spirit - the symbol of right mindedness-- uses self reflective questions that when carefully considered are revelatory in that they point inward toward the recognition of Divine nature.

Forgiveness is a means of questioning what is believed to be true in the thought system of separation. Forgiveness is a means of asking the question, "Is this idea true?" and asks the Holy Spirit- true identity-- for an answer-- "What is true?" It breaks the habit of identification with a false, limited identity. It points back to "Who am I really?"  What is true right now in direct experience? The ego thought system is designed to obscure this direct looking. In truth the ego, or sense of personal identity cannot answer the "Who am I?" question nor the "What is true?" question. It is important to emphasize that the answer to these questions of Spirit is only an admission of what is always true, beyond the habit of identification with the idea of a personal identity.

The revelation from "inward" pointing questions is that what is here is timeless, formless, changeless, unlimited, undying and unborn ever shining as joy, peace and happiness. Thus pointing far beyond the idea of personal identity. The ego is a self imposed agreement to feel limited and thus cannot recognize what is unlimited.  The idea of limitation arises in what is unlimited. Forgiveness, by questioning the validity of the limitations/questions of the ego and "washing away" the feeling (change in perception), leaves only what is unlimited.

The ego asks/believes questions are true and are an attempt deny the deep desire to feel separate- a deflection from recognizing truth of identity now. This is the face of Innocence that is discussed in A Course In Miracles.

This is the face that smiles and charms and even seems to love. It searches for companions and it looks, at times with pity, on the suffering, and sometimes offers solace. It believes that it is good within an evil world. (2:7-9)

Questions of the ego are a form of seeking with underlying desire to delay the recognition of truth (seek but do not find).

Questions of the ego/Death/Face of Innocence

How or why did this happen? The presupposition is that something has happened and that separation is possible.

Why is this happening to me? The assumption of a “me” – something happening to an object – body.

Why won't my mind stop?  Why do I feel attacked by the mind? The desire for the mind/thoughts/identity and the belief that attack is possible.

Questions of the Spirit

I am not a body, what am I?

Who am I?

Can the perceiver be perceived?

What is it for?  (purpose to support the thought system of the ego or to accept divinity/the Holy Spirit)

Through mind training and forgiveness there is more clarity for careful and deep reflections on the questions of Spirit.  In this reflection - silent reflection- going naked to God- it is revealed that divine nature is objectless and thus there is no "relative" world of a body and "other" objects.  The power of what is already here- unconditional love- shines untouched by anything of this world.  It is an admission that separation is impossible. This is recognition of the kingdom of Heaven within.

In gratitude and love,

Cay