The concept of The Kingdom in spiritual literature often evokes images of divine realms, heavenly peace, and ultimate truth. In A Course in Miracles (ACIM) and The Way of Mastery, however, the Kingdom is not a distant paradise but a present reality—an eternal state of being that is accessible through remembrance, forgiveness, and the relinquishment of illusion.
The Kingdom as Awareness of Love’s Presence
ACIM defines the Kingdom not as a place, but as “the awareness of perfect Oneness” and “the awareness of Love’s presence.” It is the natural state of the Son of God, untainted by separation, fear, or judgment. The Course teaches that the Kingdom is already within us, obscured only by the ego’s veil of illusion. To enter the Kingdom is not to travel somewhere, but to awaken—to remember what has always been true.
This awakening is facilitated through forgiveness, which ACIM describes as the means by which we undo the ego’s false perception. By forgiving ourselves and others, we release the blocks to love and allow the light of the Kingdom to shine through. The Kingdom, then, is not earned but revealed—it is the inheritance of God’s creation, waiting to be accepted.
The Kingdom as the Mind of Christ
In The Way of Mastery, the Kingdom is intimately tied to the Mind of Christ—the awakened consciousness that sees only love, unity, and holiness. Jeshua, the voice of the text, invites the reader to “abide in the Kingdom by choosing only love in each moment.” The Kingdom is not a static state but a dynamic flow of divine presence, accessible through intentional choice and surrender.
The Way of Mastery emphasizes that the Kingdom is experienced through “living from the heart,” and “choosing peace over conflict.” It is a realm of clarity, joy, and creativity, where the soul remembers its divine purpose. The Kingdom is not separate from the world but is the truth behind it—a deeper reality that can be perceived when the mind is healed.
The Kingdom is You
Both ACIM and The Way of Mastery affirm that the Kingdom is not outside of us—it is us. It is the truth of our being, the eternal essence that cannot be threatened or changed. To know the Kingdom is to know oneself as God created: innocent, whole, and free.
This recognition is not achieved through effort but through surrender. As ACIM states, “To say ‘Of myself I can do nothing’ is to gain all power.” The Way of Mastery echoes this by teaching that “the Kingdom is revealed when you cease striving and simply allow.” In this allowing, the ego dissolves, and the light of Christ within shines forth.
Living in the Kingdom
To live in the Kingdom is to live in alignment with truth. It is to see with the eyes of forgiveness, to speak with the voice of compassion, and to act from the certainty of love. It is a life of grace, not because it is free from challenges, but because it is rooted in the unshakable peace of God.
In both texts, the Kingdom is not a reward for the righteous but the reality of all beings. It is inclusive, eternal, and ever-present. The journey to the Kingdom is not a journey at all—it is a return to what has never left.
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NORMAN R. VAN ETTEN
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