ACIM Lesson 278 Contemplation

"If I am bound, my Father is not free".
This lesson emphasizes that if we believe we are imprisoned within a body... in a world of death... we are implying that God is also imprisoned. It teaches that by accepting the laws and limitations of the physical world as real and inescapable, we are denying our true nature and our oneness with God. The lesson encourages us to recognize that truth is free and unbounded and that by choosing to align with truth rather than illusion, we can experience our inherent freedom. It reminds us that our perception of being bound is a choice we can undo by asking for truth and choosing the way to God instead of madness and fear.

All quotes are from A Course in Miracles, copyright ©2007, Third Edition used with permission from the publisher and copyright holder, the Foundation for Inner Peace, 448 Ignacio Blvd., #306, Novato, CA 94949.

Transcript

A Course in Miracles,

Lesson 278 If I am bound,

My Father is not free.

If I accept that I am prisoner within a body,

If I accept that I am prisoner in a world in which all things that seem to live appear to die,

Then is my Father prisoner with me.

This do I believe when I maintain that the laws the world obeys,

I must obey.

I accept that I am a prisoner in this world when I believe that the frailties and the sins which I perceive are real.

I accept that I am a prisoner in this world when I believe that the sins which I perceive cannot be escaped.

If I am bound in any way,

I do not know my Father.

If I am bound in any way,

I do not know myself.

If I am bound in any way,

I am lost to all reality.

Truth is free.

What is bound is not a part of truth,

For nothing but the truth.

Father,

I have had many foolish thoughts about myself,

Many foolish thoughts about my creation.

Father,

I have had many foolish thoughts and I have brought a dream of fear into my mind.

Today,

I will not dream.

Father,

I choose the way to you instead of madness,

Instead of fear.

I know that truth is safe and only love is sure.

If I accept that I am prisoner within a body,

That I am prisoner in a world in which all things that seem to live appear to die,

Then is my Father prisoner with me.

I accept that I am a prisoner in this world when I believe that the frailties and the sins which I perceive are real.

That I am a prisoner in this world when I believe that the sins which I perceive cannot be escaped.

When I maintain that the laws the world obeys,

I must obey.

If I am bound in any way,

I do not know my Father.

I do not know myself.

If I am bound in any way,

I am lost to all reality.

Truth is free.

What is bound is not a part of truth.

Father,

I ask for nothing but the truth.

I have had many foolish thoughts about myself.

I have had many foolish thoughts about my creation.

I have had many foolish thoughts and I have brought a dream of fear into my mind.

Father,

Today I will not dream.

Today I choose the way to you instead of madness.

Father,

Today I choose the way to you instead of fear.

I know that truth is safe and only love is sure.

Father,

If I am bound,

You are not free.

Father,

If I am bound,

You are not free.

Nothing unreal exists.

Herein lies the peace of God.