The Course on the Coronavirus: Part 1

THE SECRET PANDEMIC BENEATH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Of course you’re afraid. But it isn’t because of the coronavirus (covid-19), or any of the detrimental flow-on impacts on health or the economic, social and political landscape. As with every problem, the fear or distress we experience, has nothing to do with what the problem looks like externally; not the infection rate, job losses, death toll, dollars in your bank account, or bare supermarket shelves.

The fear comes from the implicit beliefs hidden beneath the form of the problem. This is the case with every aspect of the external world. But what are these beliefs that are implied by illusions and singlehandedly maintain them?

HOW TO STAY SANE WHILE THE WORLD LOSES ITS MIND

There’s no denying that things are officially nuts. The whole world is collectively freaking out. The day-to-day normality and stability of life that the majority of us take for granted is rapidly disintegrating in the wake of the spreading covid-19 pandemic. We haven’t experienced anything quite like it in living memory.

While fascinating in a surreal, this-has-never-happened-before sense, from a health, financial, and socio-political perspective, this can understandably feel quite frightening, stressful, and panic-inducing. It’s shaking us out of our autopilot routines and raising unsettling questions about our general sense of safety on a collective and personal level.

Media on all platforms is saturated with the latest information on the unfolding ramifications of the outbreak, and while it’s good to be sufficiently informed, it’s also helpful to examine the situation through the lens of A Course in Miracles. This is exactly what we need to be doing as students of the Course – before, after, or during whatever else we need to deal with on a daily basis.

So what do the teachings have to say about this pandemic? And better yet, how can we use this situation to further our understanding of the Course?

THERE IS NO WORLD

Firstly, A Course in Miracles has nothing specific to say about the coronavirus, or any other problem in the world. It asserts that the world is not real, so it only speaks to us about what is real- our mind. As such, it strictly teaches us what we can do about the state of our mind- how we look at or interpret things, rather than what we can do or change in the world.  

Looking at this whole scenario from the understanding that only the mind is real, already helps radically reorient our perspective for the better. We recognise that what we thought was the problem is not the real problem. Where we thought a solution should be implemented is actually found elsewhere- within us and our frame of reference.

AN ILLUSION IS AN ILLUSION IS AN ILLUSION…

The most important thing to remember in the midst of any concerning situation- regardless of the degree of gravity- is to step back psychologically & emotionally and remember that this is all made up. We need to firmly ground ourselves in the basics of the Course’s metaphysics by remembering that everything in form is false. Anything that appears to be happening in the world is an illusion because the world itself is made up. It’s not real and an illusion is an illusion is an illusion- whether happy or sad, frightening or beatific, global or microscopic.

Just as importantly, we need to keep in mind that the reason we first assert that this situation isn’t occurring is not because we want to be flippant about it. The aim is not to dismiss it, minimise it, delusionally deny, or try to avoid it. The reason we remember it’s not real is to ensure that we look at the situation from the right starting block; from the correct foundational premise according to the Course’s metaphysics.

…BUT DON’T DENY YOUR EXPERIENCES

This is a prerequisite key to understanding what the Course is teaching. To simply say that it’s all an illusion is not sufficient in and of itself because we don’t really know that it’s all made up. On the contrary it feels very, very important and real if we think we’re here.

Nevertheless, the Course itself says that it would be foolish to deny our experience. The world was designed to convince us of its reality. It’s not a sin to think the physical world is real. It’s simply a mistake; and not even a real one at that. All that’s really required is that we correct the mistaken beliefs that give rise to the illusion and make it seem as real as it does.

BE NORMAL: LOOK AFTER YOURSELF & OTHERS

It’s crucial to emphasise that this doesn’t mean that we don’t do what our bodies and lives require of us. The Course doesn’t apply to behaviour, so it’s important to just do whatever we would normally do in any given scenario. Acting appropriately is the key. Just as we touched on in the post about health (Magic & Miracles), if you’re sick, take care of yourself like anyone else would. Do whatever you need to do to relieve your symptoms and improve your situation. So by all means, follow the sensible measures being issued by the experts.

Given we’re in the midst of a pandemic, focus on what you can control that will help you stay physically, emotionally and psychologically healthy. All of the guidelines agree that we should wash our hands regularly, not touch our faces in public, practice social distancing or isolation if possible or mandated, and strengthen our immunity by eating for health, getting enough sleep, and keeping fit. Follow the best advice that will help minimise your chances of being adversely affected or adversely affecting others. Be kind to yourself and others and be considerate of those who are more vulnerable and at risk.

ACIM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WORLD BUT IT CAN HELP YOU DEVELOP UNCONDITIONAL CALM

And while you’re taking the appropriate measures to stay healthy, just keep practicing forgiveness too. The beauty of being a student of ACIM is that it can help you maintain perspective and a sense of calm and joy even in troubling and turbulent times.

To be clear however, the behavioural realm has absolutely nothing to do with the Course. The Course is never telling you to do or not do anything in the world. The only thing it’s concerned with is your perspective or interpretation of things.

*This concludes the first part of the 4-part series titled, ‘The Course on the Coronavirus.’ Please click on the arrow below to continue reading the second part in the series.