The Four Learning Attitudes

Two statements in the Course, “I am not a body” and “There is no world” were initially hard for me to accept. But when I read about learning attitudes in The Disappearance of the Universe (pages 29 - 37), those ideas fell neatly into place.

In The Disappearance of the Universe, Gary Renard describes four learning attitudes. Here is a brief outline.

1) Duality

Subject and object

Newtonian physics

The world created my mind and body.

I am separate from God, who can be wrathful or loving.

2) Semi-dualism

God is Love.

3) Non-dualism

Duality is a myth.

Quantum physics

There is no universe.

I have no body.

I would attain oneness with the ego mind that made the duality waves, outside of time, space and form.

4) Pure non-dualism

God is.

Nothing else is.

I have no existence as an individual entity.

I humbly let it go.

I am pure spirit, one with God.

The universe is an illusion made by the idea that separation was possible. It is not possible. The body identity was made to perpetuate the idea of separation in a dream of forgetfulness.

The first three learning attitudes all involve the idea of separation and hence, are part of the dream.

Your learning attitude is what is important for your healing.

To awaken, take the learning attitude of pure non-dualism; think the metaphysical thoughts in A Course in Miracles.

Do not make the illusion real. If nothing is outside your mind, then to judge it is to make it real, to give it power over you. Judge nothing.

Everything God creates is perfect. There is nothing else.

The way to heal your mind is to forgive rather than condemn. Overlook perception.

Forgive completely. Choose the perfect love of spirit. Trust God. Rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance. As you teach it, you will learn it. You will re-become that Voice.

The attitude of pure non-dualism makes two other essential Course ideas easy to understand:

1)     Change your mind, not the world.[1]

My mind is shared with God. My mind is cause. When I change my mind so my thoughts are like God’s thoughts, my mind returns to peace, and the Holy Spirit takes care of everything I thought I perceived in time and space.

On the other hand, when I try to change something in the world, I make myself powerless over what I want to change by giving it value, by making the illusion real. The illusion is only the projection of my fearful thought, an effect that cannot be changed in the world.

2)     Salvation comes from my one Self.

My thoughts are in my mind, which I alone rule. Each time I forgive my mistaken perceptions and choose instead to think like God, to listen to the Holy Spirit, I purify my mind. This practice leads to Salvation.

On the other hand, when I seek Salvation outside of myself, I dis-empower my mind and reinforce the duality illusion.