When we think of attack, it usually brings to mind images of war or some sort of physical assault. In A Course in Miracles ( ACIM ), attack means much more than causing physical harm. We've all been the victim of less obvious attacks where we come away feeling on it's own, angry and victimized by others; and in return, we victimize them by retaliating. All attack is considered a call for love because the person is experiencing a condition of the idea of splitting up. We never attack another unless we already agreed (chose) to think ourselves separate and different.
Something that is the main teachings in the Course, but not widely understood as a core teaching, is that anyone who is suffering, in pain, sick, ill, upset, feeling alone, desperate, has problems, needs, lack, etc., is experiencing and enjoying the belief in splitting up. What they don't need is anyone to attack them and increase their feeling of splitting up and guiltiness. This does not heal and only serves to help expand the ego errors for the victim and victimizer. The catch is the victimizer (attacker) is also experiencing and enjoying the splitting up because they would not attack another if they understood it to be themselves (not separate). Victim and victimizer are the two sides of the same coin of error.
We don't join with inlaws until we remove all records of attack from the mind. Attack is the behavior from choosing with the ego to keep guiltiness estimated on another, versus looking within, and it denies the truth. Revulsion from attack and repairing our own mind, no matter what, is the key to freedom. If we really want to grasp the Course by practicing forgiveness, we must learn to catch ourselves in the ego trick of using the Course for attack. It's very concealed (hidden and not obvious) unless you realize how it works and that it follows the very principles the Course is training the mind to give up as ego judgments.
Course Students
As Course students, we can be probably the most awful victimizers and extremely unkind towards others under the guise of knowing the Course teachings. We forget our primary focus is on watching how you feel about what we are perceiving in another. We never attack, and are never upset, for the reasons we think.
It is never, ever about each other apart from the gift this helps you in reflecting back to you where you need to correct your brain because of how you are judging them. Those judgments with them (projections) are really your own self-condemnation judgments. If we don't correct our mind, we repress and hide our own guiltiness and end up approaching another. Being Course students, the weapon of choice is the Course itself.
Course Judgment
An uncorrected mind (ego) throws the book at someone. We tell of everything we can remember and will even search the Course for more just to make our point. The goal is to make sure the harmful person knows everything they are not doing to correct their mind, i. e., what they're still doing wrong and yes (judge and jury), what they just do not get. Nothing gets left out. They have to get all the principles and they have to get it now.
We refute that we don't "get it" as well which is apparent by us not repairing our mind first. Ignoring our own anxiety and fear, our concern is for ourselves and what another's problems or lack of Course understanding says about us. If they can't get it, then maybe we can't. We're wanting them to prove the Course operates by hitting them with it. If we repeat the attack often, and to many people, then some of it will sink in and prove us right.
Remember, we only attack in this fashion because we're still perceiving ourselves separate; and we're trying to make someone deep in feeling the splitting up encourage us that we're not separated. Any form of making it mandatory, demanding or trying to force Course comprehension and a static correction on another is only about ourselves and what we're denying. If our mind is fixed, we're at peace and have trust. If we've really accepted the Atonement, we have faith and no reason to push Course stuff on anyone.
Joining a Brother
What it means to join a brother is very clear in the Course but it takes the practice of forgiveness (correcting the mind) to discover how to join. We have a fear to look within our mind because of the belief that we might see sin. Getting enough a static correction of the mind (forgiveness) eventually introduces the question about sin not really being there.
Of all the times we eliminate the fear and guiltiness and the associated judgments, never do we end up seeing, perceiving or looking upon sin. We cannot as it's only an idea and not real. Once this realization is apparent, the Course points out our freedom is only part. We're in relation to answer (right-mindedness). Now we must join with your inlaws. It's the way to remember God.
Ending the idea of Splitting up
Joining is only done in the mind and if you want to end the idea of splitting up so you're completely right-minded (salvation), the next step involves your inlaws. You may not understand that they are pieces of your mind; but to remember who they are, you must go back to the 1st step in the Course and restore your projections off another and correct your brain no matter what the situation. Approaching with the Course is still keeping your projections in place. You have to put what the Course says into practice in all ways, and at all times, to get complete a static correction of the mind.
Minds are sick that think (believe) they're separate regardless of the way it shows up in form. As an attacker, your brain can be as "sick" as the person you are approaching even if you work with the Course for the attack. Judgment is judgment.
The wonder of the Course is in the forgiveness process. When we correct our mind first, we change the interior Teacher to the One who is kind and loving and knows everything for everyone equally. Look at the Course. Even when advertising some of the darkest messages, it has a very kind and loving tone. No place does it ever say that we should use the book as a weapon to make sure everyone gets it. Therefore, our job is to return our mind to this Teacher and take Him with us to join another who is experiencing and enjoying the splitting up and not contribute to it seeming worse.
People always inform us and what will make them feel better. With the right Teacher, we can comply with what they're asking (in form) because we see that the fear and guiltiness behind their request is the same fear and guiltiness in our mind as well. That recognition ends the illusion of splitting up and joins the mind. We all are related it with each and every person in our lives. If we're not willing to do this, we are unhealed healers because we're judging another and condemning the form request they're making for comfort.
Our job is not to correct someone, force the Course teachings or hide the word what at them. Thus, it can be appropriate not to use the Course teachings (or even its words). acim With the right Teacher, our words and actions would naturally be kind, loving and thoughtful. What heals is the light in the mind great with the effectiveness of God. Another's mind understands itself and will ask different questions to make different choices. You do not even say a word. Healing has the truth Healer which is extended through you in the joined mind. Minds that are perceiving splitting up (sick) don't heal. They attack.
A Teacher of God is not someone who can tell of the Course against another. He is someone who has by choice chosen to remember that his interests are the same as everyone else's interests. Joining with others at any level, his mind is full (mindful) of the characteristics of defenselessness, faithfulness, open-mindedness, gentleness, ceiling, generosity, patience, joy, credibility and trust to everyone inlaws as you.