There is no need for sacrifice

I receive random Buddhist quotes on my iGoogle page every day, and was surprised to see the following:

“Renunciation is not getting rid of the things of this world, but accepting that they pass away.” - Aitken Roshi

This is a point that is also stressed very often in A Course in Miracles, that we are not asked to “sacrifice” anything:

M-4.I.A.3. 3 It seems as if things are being taken away, and it is rarely understood initially that their lack of value is merely being recognized.

This is a difficult lesson for us to learn, because we believe that if we let go control over the things around us, we will also lose them. Worse, we may believe that we have to give them away as a sacrifice to “atone for our sins.” But ACIM teaches very clearly that there is no sin, and therefore sacrifice is pointless.

As Course students, therefore, we can simply live our lives. We do not need to do anything special (T-18.VII).

As I continue to study the history and teachings of Buddhism I am pleasantly surprised by the similarities with ACIM. The teachings may be different in philosophy, but in practice they amount to the same thing. As ACIM teaches:

C-in.2. 4 Theological considerations as such are necessarily controversial, since they depend on belief and can therefore be accepted or rejected. 5 A universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible but necessary. 6 It is this experience toward which the course is directed. 7 Here alone consistency becomes possible because here alone uncertainty ends.

Therefore look beyond the theory, drop the controversy, and accept the simple peace that is there for the taking in any moment.

Remember that this is not a difficult course. Only our unwillingness to do it can be difficult. In Buddhist terms, this amounts to the refusal to accept “anicca” – the simple fact that all things pass away eventually.

Namaste.
Igacim