a course in miracles (acim) on pain

I thought you might like to see some of this section on "sensation." You may say that it sounds nice, but how do we do it? It all starts with our thoughts. In yoga we are learning that our default ego settings are not absolute. Once we question this, we realize that in every instant we do have a choice- we have the freedom to "change our minds" set forth below Notice the effects of "idle wishes." It is urgent to gain mastery of our thoughts.

It is your thoughts alone that cause you pain. 2 Nothing external to your mind can hurt or injure you in any way. 3 There is no cause beyond yourself that can reach down and bring oppression. 4 No one but yourself affects you. 5 There is nothing in the world that has the power to make you ill or sad, or weak or frail. 6 But it is you who have the power to dominate all things you see by merely recognizing what you are. 7 As you perceive the harmlessness in them, they will accept your holy will as theirs. 8 And what was seen as fearful now becomes a source of innocence and holiness.

W-190.6. My holy brother, think of this awhile: The world you see does nothing. 2 It has no effects at all. 3 It merely represents your thoughts. 4 And it will change entirely as you elect to change your mind, and choose the joy of God as what you really want. 5 Your Self is radiant in this holy joy, unchanged, unchanging and unchangeable, forever and forever. 6 And would you deny a little corner of your mind its own inheritance, and keep it as a hospital for pain; a sickly place where living things must come at last to die?

W-190.7. The world may seem to cause you pain. 2 And yet the world, as causeless, has no power to cause. 3 As an effect, it cannot make effects. 4 As an illusion, it is what you wish. 5 Your idle wishes represent its pains. 6 Your strange desires bring it evil dreams. 7 Your thoughts of death envelop it in fear, while in your kind forgiveness does it live.

W-190.8.2 Pain is the ransom you have gladly paid not to be free.

W-190.9. Lay down your arms, and come without defense into the quiet place where Heaven's peace holds all things still at last. 2 Lay down all thoughts of danger and of fear. 3 Let no attack enter with you.

W-190.10. Here will you understand there is no pain. 2 Here does the joy of God belong to you. 3 This is the day when it is given you to realize the lesson that contains all of salvation's power. 4 It is this: Pain is illusion; joy, reality. 5 Pain is but sleep; joy is awakening. 6 Pain is deception; joy alone is truth.

W-190.11. And so again we make the only choice that ever can be made; we choose between illusions and the truth, or pain and joy, or hell and Heaven.