Can't be polished if you resist the rubs. ACIM - Song of Prayer

• Text Analysis - Forgiveness and Illusions: Jevon Perra and Soo Kim review a section of "The Song of Prayer," focusing on the nature of forgiveness and how it relates to illusions. They discuss the text's assertion that one should not dictate the form forgiveness takes, noting that the form of illusions does not actually matter, although they acknowledge that humans often struggle because they are attached to specific outcomes and the forms their lives take.
• Spiritual Pursuits and Morality: Jevon Perra contrasts their previous religious experiences, which were based on moral codes and the avoidance of punishment, with their current understanding. They define the new perspective as a shift away from "deserving" punishment toward pursuing contentment, noting that if current methods for finding happiness are not working, they can be abandoned.
• Suffering and Attachment: Jevon Perra notes that suffering often stems from an attachment to specific forms, whether the suffering arises from desiring things one does not have or fearing the loss of things one currently possesses. They conclude that being committed to the "form" of life leads to a cycle of suffering, regardless of whether the person has the desired outcome or not.
• Navigating Projection and Judgments: Soo Kim shares an experience from a medical office where a classmate expressed a desire to live in isolation to avoid people and specific regional groups. Soo Kim reflects on how they previously would have tried to "fix" or lecture the classmate about projections, but instead, they were able to observe the classmate's perspective as a puzzle, choosing to release the need to change the other person.
• Life Challenges as Polishing: Jevon Perra references the Sufi poet Rumi, discussing how life challenges act as a "rub" that polishes the individual, removing rough spots. They note that resistance to these difficulties—such as complaining about family members or people in conversations—is a failure to embrace the process of personal development.
• Acceptance of Family and Friends: The participants discuss the difficulty of interacting with family or friends who hold different beliefs or act in ways they perceive as "wrong". Jevon Perra suggests that rather than trying to change these individuals or fix their problems, one can choose to simply be present with them and let go of the need for the other person to be different.
• Identity, Image, and Projection: Jevon Perra identifies a personal tendency to worry about how they appear to others, which they define as an ego-driven desire for status or respect. They observe that viewing others as "buffoons" or embarrassing is a projection of their own concern about their own image, which causes them significant discomfort.
• The Trap of Saving Others: Soo Kim and Jevon Perra discuss the "savior" complex, where they feel the need to fix or save others. Jevon Perra acknowledges that for years they were caught in the mind, believing they were freeing others while actually attempting to validate their own righteousness and prove they were worthy of love.
• Defining Forgiveness as a Function: Continuing their reading, the participants identify that their only true function is to forgive. They discuss how they frequently confuse this function with other actions, such as trying to save, fix, or overpower others, which are all methods of maintaining separation and control.
• Personality Dynamics and Conflict: Jevon Perra discusses Enneagram type 8 behaviors, noting that these individuals may use their power and anger to "defend the defenseless" or suppress others they view as weak. They observe that this often manifests as a constant need to fight and poke at others to test their worthiness to be heard.
• Scarcity and the Illusion of Time: The participants analyze how business environments, specifically sales, are structured around self-imposed scarcity. Soo Kim mentions a previous discussion regarding time as an illusion and observes that while their classmate used this concept to dismiss professional concerns, they recognize that time—along with other limits—is essential to the current existence and the "game" of the personality.
• Energy and the Personality: Jevon Perra suggests that individuals spend an immense amount of energy maintaining the "personality," which they describe as a tiny peephole through which the larger self views reality. They note that this intense focus intentionally blinds people to the broader "happening" of life, as if they are orchestrating a complex, precise operation through a narrow aperture.
• Somatic Experiences and Sound Bath: Soo Kim recounts a recent experience playing a new gong, describing how they were able to enter a state where time seemed to disappear. They note that after this intense meditative state, they felt disconnected from social norms and had difficulty engaging in typical linear conversations.
• Flow States and Social Engagement: Jevon Perra compares spiritual "out of body" flow states to stage fright, noting that stage fright involves being hyper-aware of the body, while flow involves being hyper-detached. They observe that when one identifies with the "bigger self" and lets go of the personality, it becomes difficult to maintain the distinct boundaries of right and wrong, good and bad, which makes social interactions more challenging.
• Final Text Review and Forgiveness: The participants complete their reading of the section, emphasizing that forgiveness is the key to opening the door to the "shining face of Christ" and seeing one's brother as they were created. Jevon Perra reiterates that the people who cause the most internal resistance are the very ones triggering the projection of separation, and the goal is to stop projecting these judgments.
• Reframing Life Circumstances: Jevon Perra concludes that life situations, such as dealing with a spouse or community, are not meant to make one "happy" in the conventional sense, but rather serve as opportunities to surface internal judgments. They argue that the focus should be on recognizing these judgments and the subsequent discomfort to release them, rather than trying to fix the world.

Conclusion of Study and Reflection: The participants determine they have been studying this material for 11 months, noting that they began the process around last July. Soo Kim expresses appreciation for Jevon Perra's patience and the journey they have shared, and Jevon Perra confirms the value of the partnership in their own process of forgiveness and seeing beauty