top of page
Writer's pictureAlison Sarah

The Art of “Yes”: Embracing Forgiveness from A Course in Miracles

In a world shaped by ego, saying “yes” can seem counterintuitive, especially when faced with circumstances that we perceive as requiring correction or resistance. Yet the teachings of A Course in Miracles invite us to a transcendent “yes,” an acceptance that leads to true forgiveness. Saying “yes” to the dream is embracing each situation as it is, without judgment, without attachment, and without the need to correct.





"Forgiveness stands still and does nothing. It watches, waits, and does not judge. It simply says yes."

Forgiveness, according to A Course in Miracles, is a state of total non-intervention. Saying yes is choosing not to act from our ego, not to correct or control what we perceive. This "yes" then becomes the inner space of peace, where we can simply be in acceptance.


"All you have to do is say yes to whatever happens in the dream. Yes. That's how you remain calm in the midst of the turmoil you create."

In the dream, all situations reflect the agitation of our thoughts. Saying yes is the attitude of surrender that allows us to keep our tranquility, even when emotions, thoughts or interactions seem contradictory. It is about recognizing that it is only a dream, and that everything that happens in it does not change our essence.


“Yes, it is forgiveness.”

This "yes" is not an acquiescence to the reality of the dream, but rather a way of forgiving whatever seems to be happening, without resistance. By saying yes, we free our minds from judgments, allowing peace to reveal itself.


"So all you want to do is, as the Course says, be still in the midst of the turmoil that you create. [...] So you just say yes. Yes to the dream - that's forgiveness."

To remain still means not to react to the dream, but to observe it. It requires a constant yes to every passing thought, every sensation, every emotion. Thus, we place ourselves in the posture of the observer and not of the participant.


“Yes, okay, there is an illusory ego thought of no, and I'm just going to let it be there, I'm just going to say yes, I'm going to forgive the fact that all these no thoughts are there, and that's going to undo them - just the yes.”

Forgiveness does not seek to remove ego thoughts, but to say "yes" to them. It is by accepting their presence without reacting to them that they are undone. Forgiveness therefore becomes a simple acceptance of what is, without opposition.


“Just say yes to the dream because it doesn't matter.”

Nothing in the dream has any real importance; so there is no need to fight or defend against it. This "yes" frees us from attachments, bringing us back to inner calm.


“When you say yes to the dream, your mind is at peace.”

This yes is the path to inner peace. By accepting each element of the dream as it is, we stop feeding the mental conflict, opening our mind to a serenity that the ego does not know.


“Your job is to say yes to the dream because it doesn’t matter.”

Our only task is to observe, welcome, and say "yes" without trying to change anything. By remembering that none of this matters, we come closer to the truth of our essence.


"When you say yes to the way your brother is, no matter how he appears in the dream, you can have the quiet center, you can have the memory of what you are in the Holy Spirit."

To say yes to another is to stop wanting him to change. This yes then becomes a return to the memory of our shared unity. In total acceptance, we find a calm center where only love persists.


"All you have to do is let go of your grievances about what your brother is doing, just say yes, because it's just a dream."

Grievances are an illusion of the ego to maintain judgment and separation. By letting go of them, by simply saying “yes,” we embrace the unified reality beyond appearances.


“You just have to say yes to them, and as soon as you say yes to everything, peace is there.”

Peace comes the moment we stop opposing the dream. The simple yes is the deepest tool of liberation; it reminds us that everything is already accepted within us.


"When you correct a brother, you tell him he is wrong."

The ego loves to correct, and this impulse to correct is a reinforcement of the idea of separation. True forgiveness asks us to see the perfection in the other, beyond what our perception shows us.


"For the ego it is kind, right and good to point out mistakes and correct them."

The desire for correction feeds the ego's judgment, while maintaining the illusion that we are right and the other is wrong. The practice of forgiveness involves giving up this tendency, ceasing to judge, and seeing beyond appearances.


"You are asked to live in such a way as to demonstrate that you are not an ego."

Living forgiveness means living in acceptance of everything as it is, in the moment. This unconditional "yes" becomes a silent demonstration of our choice for peace and truth.


"Your job is always to tell him that he is right because he is a son of God."

Rather than looking for mistakes in the other, recognizing his divinity is an act of profound forgiveness. This "yes" to the truth in him and in ourselves erases judgments, bringing us back to the peace of our true nature.

In conclusion, saying "yes" is an invitation to move beyond the illusions of separation. It is not an act of submission, but of loving acceptance of whatever comes, knowing that behind this dream lies the eternal peace we all share.


__________


Including “No” in “Yes”: Setting Limits without Contradiction

A Course in Miracles guides us toward total acceptance of whatever arises, but that doesn’t mean we have to say “yes” to behaviors or situations that go against our inner peace. Setting boundaries may seem at odds with accepting the dream, but it isn’t. Saying “no” in forgiveness is not a rejection of the other or a closure, but an act of clarity and discernment.

In the spirit of the Course, setting a boundary is a way of saying “yes” to our own peace and integrity. Sometimes we have to say “no” in the world of forms, while internally holding a “yes” to the truth of the person in front of us. This is what allows us to set boundaries without judgment, recognizing that, even in the appearance of a “no,” love remains our guide.


“No” as an Expression of Love

When we set a boundary, we are not denying the other person; we are simply affirming our commitment to inner peace. Saying “no” to a behavior or situation that is troubling our minds does not imply that we are rejecting or judging the person. The Course teaches us, “All you have to do is let go of your grievances about what your brother is doing.” In this way, we can say “no” while releasing the grievances, accepting that this “no” is not a separation, but an expression of respect for ourselves and for the other.


Keeping Peace of Mind Despite Limitations

The essence of forgiveness lies in seeing beyond behaviors, not letting appearances disturb our inner peace. Thus, we set boundaries in the dream, but with a still and non-judgmental mind. Keeping in mind that "none of this matters," we understand that setting a boundary has nothing to do with rejection or conflict; it is simply an acknowledgment of what allows us to remain at peace.


The “Yes” to the Dream Includes Acceptance of Our Own Needs

Saying “yes” to the dream also means saying “yes” to what we feel inside, including our needs for protection or rest. By agreeing to set boundaries when necessary, we acknowledge that our well-being is an integral part of the dream we are forgiving. This does not mean feeding the ego or reinforcing the idea of separation, but rather honoring our inner path without entering into conflict.


A “Yes” that Contains the “No”

The "yes" of forgiveness can therefore include a serene and respectful "no." This "no" addresses the temporary situation without questioning the truth of the other. Thus, by setting limits with love, we continue to say "yes" to forgiveness, peace, and acceptance. By remaining in the spirit of the Course, each "no" becomes an opportunity to maintain our inner peace, while affirming that love and acceptance are beyond the appearances of the dream.


Saying “yes” is an invitation to move beyond the illusions of separation. It is not an act of submission, but of loving acceptance of whatever comes, knowing that behind this dream lies the eternal peace we all share.

_____


This article was inspired by Keith Kavanagh 's podcast


I also leave you a transcription of an exchange he had at the end of the video which illustrates the "Yes" in a concrete case.


Woman: I'll give you a very brief example. I'm with my boyfriend and his son, and I offered to take my dog for an hour so they could set off fireworks, because it really upsets him, it would ruin the evening, he's very anxious and upset. I said I'd be gone for an hour and then they could do it. They said, "No, no, no, no, stay here, stay here, everything will be fine." Then, as soon as we relaxed, they set off fireworks near the trailer where my dog was, which freaked him out.


That night I didn't say anything because I was analyzing all these thoughts, did I project this, what's going on? But in my practical dream self I see that I have to keep my dog safe and I don't feel protected or respected, and I never go back. And I walk away from that relationship. This is not the only example. So what do I do?

I was upset because I was not respected and I could not protect my dog. What is this? It is a thought, my projection. Is this a thought?


Keith: Now, if you didn't have that thought, would you be upset?


Woman: No, it's true.


Keith: So, is it the situation with your boyfriend and his son, the fireworks and your dog that made you angry? Or can you just be hurt by your thoughts?


Woman: I can only be hurt by my thoughts.


Keith: So if the body is crucified right now and you don't have the thought that this shouldn't be happening, and you don't have the thought that yesterday there were no sensations and today there are intense sensations and I'm going to die, if those thoughts don't happen, can there be suffering?


Woman: No, no, but as a parent or caregiver, isn't it my responsibility to protect that animal? You know, to see Christ as vulnerable and be the holy ego that fixes him.


Keith: No, look again. The ego loves that, doesn't it? Because there will be egos that look and say, "Of course, you have to protect your family." Nothing I'm saying here implies that in the dream you won't take steps to protect your dog and your family. Nothing I'm saying means that it won't happen. What I'm saying is that whatever steps you take will not come from a place of discomfort, anger, judgment, or feeling like a victim.


You will say “yes” to what is happening in the dream because it is just a dream, and you will do whatever is obvious to do to help make things work out for the best. And if that means moving the dog, that is what you will do. But you will not do it as a victim, or angry, or feeling guilty. You will not vomit any of that back into the dream.


What you will do is spread peace in the dream and contribute in a helpful, loving and effective way to all involved in the situation, without considering anyone wrong. The first thing to do is to say “yes” to the dream, because it is just a dream. If you fight against the dream, you are lost. You will be of no help to yourself or to others.


You accept what is happening, everything works for the good, only for forgiveness. So if suffering arises in your mind - hatred, anger - so much the better, because that is what the dream is for. But do not blame the dream for that. See what the separate, imaginary self is doing in your mind, harming itself with its thoughts, and do not judge it. Now there is peace.


With this peace of non-judgment and non-resistance to what the world is doing, what the body is doing, what the separate imaginary self is doing, once peace is there, it begins to soften all perceptions, sensations and thoughts. Peace is.





6 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page