What is Sin?

Our special theme says, “A madman’s dreams are frightening, and sin appears indeed to terrify. And yet what sin perceives is but a childish game.”

Let’s contemplate this using some of our alternative terms:

A madman’s dreams are frightening, and duality appears indeed to terrify. And yet what judgment perceives is but a childish game.

A madman’s dreams are frightening, and ignorance appears indeed to terrify. And yet what ignorance perceives is but a childish game.

A madman’s dreams are frightening, and outward focus appears indeed to terrify. And yet what outward focus perceives is but a childish game.

Our special theme continues, “The Son of God may play he has become a body, prey to evil and to guilt, with but a little life that ends in death. But all the while his Father shines on him, and loves him with an everlasting Love which his pretenses cannot change at all.”

These words are symbolic. However, they point toward our unaffected truth, which is not symbolic at all. It is very real, and it is present right now.

Today, we begin another day with clarity regarding the problem that “appears indeed to terrify.” That is ignoring truth, focusing outward and believing the mind’s judgments. This clarity reinforces the realization that the solution to the problem is paying attention to awareness, focusing inward for intuitive guidance and ignoring the mind’s judgments by practicing the Loving All Method.

Let me remember what my purpose is.

Today’s lesson says, “If I forget my goal I can be but confused, unsure of what I am, and thus conflicted in my actions.”

This is important to contemplate:

If I am confused about what I am, my actions will be confused also.

How might you act differently as the eternal unaffected Self than you do as an apparent personality-body-mind?

With which identity would you experience more peace?

With which identity would you respond more patiently and lovingly?

With which identity would you feel more secure?

When we were on Lesson 238, we saw that we make decisions based on who we think we are. We could also say that we live from our identity.

Today’s lesson reminds us to focus on our spiritual aspiration so “we may unify our thoughts and actions meaningfully.”

When we remember what we truly want, we are more likely to pay attention to awareness, feel inward for intuitive guidance and practice the Loving All Method. When those habits are our central focus, we are more likely to live from our unaffected Self than from the frantic personality-mind.

If you have 30 minutes for meditation today, I recommend this meditation:

AWA Description Y

What is Sin?

Since we have been with this special theme, we have replaced the word “sin” with “insanity,” with “My ideas of right and wrong, good and bad, what should be and what should not be,” with “judgment,” and with “duality.” As we read our special theme today, let’s replace the word sin with “ignorance.” In this case, “ignorance” is defined as ignoring the truth.

For example, “Ignorance is insanity.” Or, “Ignoring the truth is insanity. It is the means by which the mind is driven mad, and seeks to let illusions take the place of truth.”

After you have read the special theme using “ignorance” or “ignoring truth,” please return to my tip for today.

~ ~ ~ ~

Ignorance is accomplished through outward focus. We ignore truth when we give all of our attention to thoughts and to the world.

Let’s read the special theme again. This time, replace the word “sin” with “outward focus.”

For example, “Outward focus gave the body eyes, …” and “Outward focus is the home of all illusions, which but stand for things imagined, issuing from thoughts that are untrue.”

After you have read the special theme using “outward focus” in place of “sin,” please return to my tip, and we will look at today’s lesson.

~ ~ ~ ~

God is the only goal I have today.

Today’s lesson also uses the word, “sin.”

If sin had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?

If insanity had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?

If ideas of right and wrong, good and bad, what should be and what should not be had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?

If judgment had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?

If duality had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?

If ignorance had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?

If ignoring truth had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?

If outward focus had not been cherished by the mind, what need would there have been to find the way to where you are?

It’s important to look at all of these alternative terms, because “sin” typically implies guilt to most people. It reinforces the false idea that something is inherently wrong with me, which reinforces the idea of separation.

However, as we consider alternative terms, we see that there is a habit that has been formed. It is the habit of ignoring our true Self, focusing outward, and believing our thoughts’ judgments regarding everything the body senses. We also see that the body, as the sensing organ, reinforces this habit of looking outward, a habit that has been cherished by the mind.

When we see the problem clearly, we can also see the solution.

If ignoring the truth, focusing outward and believing the mind’s judgments is the problem, then paying attention to truth, focusing inward and ignoring the mind’s judgments is the solution.

Said another way, awareness-watching-awareness meditation, surrendering to intuition and the Loving All Method are the solutions to insanity.

Today is a day to put special attention on changing our goal. The mind has cherished ignorance. Today, we direct the mind to cherish truth instead. The mind is capable of cherishing truth, but we need to take the lead by teaching the mind new habits and by reminding the mind to attend to those new habits.

If you have 30 minutes for meditation today, I recommend this meditation:

AWA Description X

If you have time for two meditations today, and you would like to try a different meditation the second time you meditate, I recommend this meditation for later in the day:

Introduction to Loving Consciousness Meditation

What is Sin?

Our special theme says:

Sin is the home of all illusions, which but stand for things imagined, issuing from thoughts that are untrue. They are ‘proof’ that what has no reality is real.

Yesterday we replaced “sin” with “My ideas of right and wrong, good and bad, what should be and what should not be.”

My ideas of right and wrong, good and bad, what should be and what should not be are the home of all illusions, which but stand for things imagined, issuing from thoughts that are untrue. They are ‘proof’ that what has no reality is real.

NTI calls these ideas “judgment.”

Judgment is the home of all illusions, which but stand for things imagined, issuing from thoughts that are untrue. They are ‘proof’ that what has no reality is real.

Gina Lake calls these ideas “duality.”

Duality is the home of all illusions, which but stand for things imagined, issuing from thoughts that are untrue. They are ‘proof’ that what has no reality is real.

Today, we continue to notice our judgments or ideas of duality. We remember that these ideas feed the ego, make illusion and hide truth. We choose to disregard these ideas as mistaken, limited or unwanted and to practice the Loving All Method instead.

This day I choose to spend in perfect peace.

If we do not believe ideas of duality, and we practice the Loving All Method with everything that comes into our consciousness today, we will spend the day in perfect peace. This is entirely possible today.

If you find that you are not at peace at some point today, look at the thoughts that are in your mind, and ask yourself these questions:

Is there a thought of duality (judgment) in the mind now?

What is it?

Am I willing to see that idea as mistaken, limited and/or unwanted?

Am I willing to practice the Loving All Method now?

If you have 30 minutes for meditation today, I recommend this meditation:

AWA Description W

If you only have 20 minutes for meditation today or if you have 20 minutes later in the day for a second meditation, I recommend this guided meditation by AHAM and Karen Worth again today:

Say Yes to What Is