What is in that "Tenth of an Inch", you will decide.

There is a Zen saying that says, "Heaven and Hell are but a tenth of an inch apart".  I believe the Earth fills that space between the tenth of an inch and our individual perception of our situation on Earth tells us which way to lean.  Obviously great beauty is available to us on Earth and unthinkable hellish manifestations are here as well.  There is no point in studying or fearing Heaven or Hell when both are available in the here and now, here on Earth.

Perception is a huge personal responsibility.  Perception can also influence others to see the world as you do, for better or worse. If you saw the world and thought it was good and held up that mirror for others to look into, would they not have a better chance of seeing it that way then if you held up a poster advertising space for rent in hell?  Your perception of the world ultimately determines the way you will act towards it and what you will receive back.


I believe that religions and spiritual teachings from all over the world have many shards of light in their teachings and should not be discounted.  However I think that some things that are taught by people in these organizations are wrong (ie. infused with fear and material things as their focus) and that is the main reason I choose not to participate in organized religions and other spiritual practices.  Anytime fear is allowed to enter a thought system, it is headed in the wrong direction.  It is very difficult for humans to avoid fear as it is a very powerful motivator and can be deeply present at subconscious levels. 

As an example, Salvation, Atonement, Judgement Day are sometimes ideas that are taught as things that will occur at some future date, allowing fear and dread of damnation to slip in. I believe the only thing we have available to us ever in this life is the present moment.  If we live for any ideas such as what our future will be like (imagining those who will get into Heaven-judging them or imagining if we will get in Heaven- judging ourselves) we are ignoring a valuable opportunity to make what we will of our present situation.  It is clear that we can either live in a hellish state here or one of bliss and joy right now depending on how we see and how we act.  If we are to be judged by how we saw and treated others at some future date, then our bases would be covered by living that way now, so why wait?  Living for something in the future, some ultimate cosmic judgement date, only produces fear.  Fear induced kindness (subconscious or not) to others or simply for the sake of saving your soul seems extremely damaging to the self and who would want to accept such fear motivated kindness from someone anyway?

Perception, are we just dreaming it anyway?

ACIM has many poetic moments that refer to us as being in a dream state (which the Native Americans and Aboriginal people also thought).  Sometimes we dream that we are being crucified by others through their sins, their judgement on us, or their hate for us, etc.. This is why sin is not really possible on a higher level, because the dreamer is always safe at home (Heaven or in a spirit state or what you will) and the dreamer is never truly injured (in an eternal state) by what others seem to "do" to him.  However while you are dreaming it seems all too real until you wake up.  In this dream it is your responsibility to wake up and make the right choice, to take it all back once you realize where the error lies. It is all very metaphorical and allegorical. I find the opening statement, "The world is full of miracles", a very encouraging line because who couldn't use more miracles?

ACIM: p. 595 The Undoing Of Fear

"This world is full of miracles.  They stand in shining silence next to every dream of pain and suffering, of sin and guilt.  They are the dream's alternative, the choice to be the dreamer, rather than deny the active role in making up the dream.  They are the glad effects of taking back the consequences of sickness to its cause.  The body is released because the mind acknowledges "this is not done to me, but I am doing this."  And thus the mind is free to make another choice instead.  Beginning here, salvation will proceed to change the course of every step in the descent to separation, until all the steps have been retraced, the ladder gone, and all the dreaming of the world undone.