Graphic by © Deposit Photos
A COURSE IN MIRACLES
CH 1 "THE INTRODUCTION TO MIRACLES"
I. PRINCIPLES OF MIRACLES continued
45.
72 The miracle is an expression of an inner awareness of Christ and the acceptance of His Atonement. The mind is then in a state of grace and naturally becomes gracious both to the host within and the stranger without. By bringing in the stranger, he becomes your brother.
|
A COURSE IN MIRACLES
WORKBOOK
INTRODUCTION
<AUDIO><VIDEO>
Voice and Music by CIMS SonShip Radio
1
A theoretical foundation such as the text is necessary as a background to make these exercises meaningful. Yet it is the exercises which will make the goal possible. An untrained mind can accomplish nothing. It is the purpose of these exercises to train the mind to think along the lines which the course sets forth.
2
The exercises are very simple. They do not require more than a few minutes, and it does not matter where or when you do them. They need no preparation. They are numbered, running from 1 to 365. The training period is one year. Do not undertake more than one exercise a day.
3
The purpose of these exercises is to train the mind to a different perception of everything in the world. The workbook is divided into two sections, the first dealing with the undoing of what you see now and the second with the restoration of sight. It is recommended that each exercise be repeated several times a day, preferably in a different place each time and, if possible, in every situation in which you spend any long period of time. The purpose is to train the mind to generalize the lessons, so that you will understand that each of them is as applicable to one situation as it is to another.
4
Unless specified to the contrary, the exercise should be practiced with the eyes open, since the aim is to learn how to see. The only rule that should be followed throughout is to practice the exercises with great specificity. Each one applies to every situation in which you find yourself and to everything you see in it. Each day's exercises are planned around one central idea, the exercises themselves consisting of applying that idea to as many specifics as possible. Be sure that you do not decide that there are some things you see to which the idea for the day is inapplicable. The aim of the exercises will always be to increase the application of the idea to everything. This will not require effort. Only be sure that you make no exceptions in applying the idea.
5
Some of the ideas you will find hard to believe, and others will seem quite startling. It does not matter. You are merely asked to apply them to what you see. You are not asked to judge them, nor even to believe them. You are asked only to use them. It is their use which will give them meaning to you, and show you they are true. Remember only this-you need not believe them, you need not accept them, and you need not welcome them. Some of them you may actively resist. None of this will matter nor decrease their efficacy. But allow yourself to make no exceptions in applying the ideas the exercises contain. Whatever your reactions to the ideas may be, use them. Nothing more than this is required.
~ Original Hand Script of ACIM
|
DAILY LESSON
L e s s o n 11
My meaningless thoughts are showing me a meaningless world.
Voice and Music by CIMS SonShip Radio
1 This is the first idea we have had which is related to a major phase of the correction process-the reversal of the thinking of the world. It seems as if the world determines what you perceive. Today's idea introduces the concept that your thoughts determine the world you see. Be glad indeed to practice the idea in this initial form, for in this idea is your release made sure. The key to forgiveness lies in it.
2 The practice periods for today's idea are to be undertaken somewhat differently from the previous ones. Begin with eyes closed, and repeat the idea slowly to yourself. Then open your eyes and look about, near or far, up or down-anywhere. During the minute or so to be spent in using the idea, merely repeat it to yourself, being sure to do so without haste and with no sense of urgency or effort.
3 To do these exercises for maximum benefit, the eyes should move from one thing to another fairly rapidly since they should not linger on anything in particular. The words, however, should be used in an unhurried, even leisurely fashion. The introduction to this idea should be practiced as casually as possible. It contains the foundation for the peace, relaxation, and freedom from worry that we are trying to achieve. On concluding the exercises, close your eyes and repeat the idea once more, slowly, to yourself.
4 Three practice periods today will probably be sufficient. However, if there is little or no uneasiness and an inclination to do more, as many as five may be undertaken. More than this is not recommended.
~ Original Hand Script of ACIM
|
|
ACIM Edmonton - Sarah's Reflections
Lesson 11
My meaningless thoughts are showing me a meaningless world.
Sarah's Commentary:
What do we do when we experience the world as not supporting us, as letting us down, or hurting us, etc.? Generally, we try to fix things. We try to change the world around us. We try to find solutions in the world that will make things better for us. In other words, we try to change the forms 'out there'. Yet clearly, Jesus keeps reminding us over and over again, the world we see is nothing more than "the witness to your state of mind, the outside picture of an inward condition." (T.21.IN.1.5)(ACIM OE T.21.I.1) Since that is the case, we are told, "Therefore, seek not to change the world, but choose to change your mind about the world." (T.21.IN.1.7)(ACIM OE T.21.I.1)
In other words, my meaningless thoughts are the cause and the world is the effect. It certainly does not seem that way to us. I think the events 'out there' are causing me to react the way I do. Somebody cut me off in traffic and therefore I am angry. Someone betrayed me and therefore I am feeling hurt. Someone ran into my car and therefore I am feeling vulnerable. My taxes have gone up and I feel victimized. We tell ourselves our anger, our retaliation, and our unhappiness are justified by something that has been done to us. We feel victimized by the conditions of the world and by what others seem to be doing. It all comes from thoughts we are thinking that have no meaning. The events themselves are neutral. We are the ones giving them all the meaning they have for us. Jesus says we are singing this dirge of victimhood and "Healing occurs as a patient begins to hear the dirge he sings, and questions its validity." (Pamphlet.2.VI.1.5) This first step is to tune into what we are thinking, and the second step is to question our beliefs.
Thus, the purpose behind this Lesson is to consider we might have it all backward in that we think the cause of everything is outside our minds and is the reason we think, feel, and perceive the way we do. This is our experience of the world. In this Lesson, we are told the thoughts in our mind are the cause that "determine the world we see [and experience]." (W.11.1.3) The only thing that will bring peace and joy instead of the anger and distress we feel is to start to see we are the authors of our script and not the helpless victims of this world. In fact, we are the ones that dreamed it into seeming existence in the first place, having made these bodies that come with the sensory apparatus that give us evidence of the reality of everything we experience. We identify with what we have made and think it is who we are, as a body living in a world that 'causes' us to react as we do.
"Today's idea introduces the concept that your thoughts determine the world you see." (W.11.1.3) "The key to forgiveness lies in it." (W.1.5) It is such a powerful idea that we are told this idea alone, if we really get it, will ensure our release. "Be glad indeed to practice the idea in its initial form, for in this idea is your release made sure." (W.11.1.4) It will free us from guilt, fear, and myriad emotions that seem to creep upon us seemingly against our will. In the end, it will free us from our bondage to the ego, and how that all happens is through forgiveness. We may wonder, how does the idea that our thoughts determine the world tie in with Course-based forgiveness? While a lot more is said in the text and in future lessons about forgiveness, the key here is that if the world is real and terrible things are really happening to us, forgiveness becomes impossible. But if the world is a reflection of our own thoughts bouncing back at us, forgiveness is about healing our perceptions that someone has hurt us. If I realize I am a character in this dream and I have put you in my dream to help me to see my own unhealed perceptions, I can see no one has done anything to me. It is my dream based on my thoughts projected onto the world. As Jesus tells us in "What is Forgiveness?", Part II of the Workbook, "Forgiveness recognizes that what you thought your brother did to you has not occurred." (W.PII.Q1.1.1)
When we learn to withdraw our judgments of 'good' and 'bad' from what seems to be coming at us, there is nothing out there in the world to react to. Course-based forgiveness is about bringing awareness to all of our thoughts, beliefs, and concepts that we hold. This is the first step in forgiveness, as we can't heal what we are not aware of. That is the purpose of the world, to reflect back to us our own thoughts. It shows us the unhealed judgments we hold. As such, the world becomes an important classroom for seeing what misperceptions are in our minds that seem to be creating the problems we perceive.
If I feel hurt by what I deem the world is doing to me, I am truly a victim of the world. I am like a puppet at the mercy of what is being done to me. I blame others for being responsible for making me feel the way I do. In doing so, I make myself powerless, but with this lesson I can start to see I chose what I am feeling. I don't have to choose anger in the face of attack. I am the one choosing to hurt myself with my response. I am responding to something that starts in my own mind. For example, we all have insecurities we cover over with false assurance, confidence and bravado. It comes from a belief that there is something wrong with us, but we work to keep this hidden, and we put on a brave face and move forward with a false sense of certainty. While seemingly doing our best, we feel our efforts are often not appreciated, that we are being misunderstood and sometimes outright attacked and betrayed.
When we recognize it is our own betrayal of ourselves being projected, we can bring these thoughts forth for healing. This betrayal shows up as not being transparent and authentic, but simply playing a role, which we all do when we identify with the ego. As we increasingly let down our defenses and see there is no advantage to the pretense, we no longer see others as betraying us. Only guilt requires defense. When we know the innocent Self we are, no defense is needed. The innocent are invulnerable. We now see the seemingly attacking behaviors as having nothing to do with us, but rather their own call for love and understanding. This too reflects our call. There truly is nothing outside our own minds.
If the world is nothing more than what I project onto it, the power is within my own mind to allow for another way of seeing everything and everyone, which changes our whole experience of everything and everyone. If we really were the victims of outside events, we would indeed be powerless. But if it is my thoughts that cause what I see, with the application of these lessons all of it can change. Through forgiveness I can change my mistaken perceptions, as long as I am willing to have my mind changed! I can choose to withdraw my experience of being a victim of the world and at the mercy of people, events, and situations that appear to be creating havoc in my life. We have Mighty Help in this process. We can't do this without the Holy Spirit, but we can start the process by being willing to look at our thoughts and bring them to His healing light.
While the thought that we are the cause of everything we see holds a lot of power, it also brings up fear. The thought that we are responsible for what we see and experience and for everything that seems to happen to us seems onerous. Have I really chosen it all? Jesus quickly assures us we should be happy that indeed we have chosen it all, for in this thought is our release! "Be glad indeed to practice the idea in its initial form, for in this idea is your release made sure." (W.11.1.4) What we are released from is the bondage of the ego that holds us hostage to guilt. For now, let's just trust we truly are being led to freedom from being at the mercy of the world. We simply need to be willing to trust in the process.
The practice instructions urge us to use the words of this lesson in an "unhurried, even leisurely fashion. The introduction to this idea, in particular, should be practiced as casually as possible." (W.11.3.2) Again, as in the introduction to the workbook, we are reminded not to strain in the application of the idea. Jesus recognizes we may experience some uneasiness in applying this idea. We are to do this exercise three times for one minute or so. "However, if there is little or no uneasiness and an inclination to do more, as many as five may be undertaken. More than this is not recommended." (W.11.4.2-3) That is an interesting caution and I suspect Jesus is speaking to our inclination to try for perfection or to please the teacher. Of course, this is the purview of the ego mind and introduces strain and ritual, which he cautions against. It is not about trying to be a good student, only about the desire for more peace and joy in our lives.
With eyes closed, repeat the idea slowly and casually, to reflect the peace and relaxation contained in the idea. Then open your eyes and look about, up and down, near and far, letting your eyes move rapidly from one thing to another. During this time repeat the idea leisurely and effortlessly. To conclude, close your eyes and repeat the idea slowly. The goal is to achieve peace, relaxation and freedom from worry. Thus, strain is not helpful, although discipline is, in doing these Lessons.
In essence, we are to let go of the false idea of what seems real in our world. We are entering into a process where we experience the humility of admitting we just don't know. "Humility brings peace because it does not claim that you must rule the universe, nor judge all things as you would have them be." (Song of Prayer.1.V.1.4) We have taught ourselves certain things that seemed to be true, but we are now learning that nothing we thought we knew and understood is true. If my meaningless thoughts are the cause of my life experience, and the world is the effect, everything I have thought I understood about the world is being reversed.
When we value things of this world, they become very important to us. We are invested in them. What happens as a result is that these things have the power to hurt us and to shatter our peace, because we have given them that power and thus we experience fear. Now we are looking at the beliefs and concepts we have come to realize no longer work for us. Now we allow the One who knows to take our false ideas of what seems to be so real to us, and heal them so we can experience the miracle. Thus, our wrong-minded perceptions can be changed to right-minded perceptions that reflects God's Love. We learn through this teaching that the only thing really worth valuing is the peace of God, and as we get connected with this peace, which is already in us, we no longer have fear, because anything not of God can have no effect on us.
How this looks to me right now is I believe I am being attacked by a circumstance that seems to be binding me and keeping me locked into feeling resentful. My false ideas about this situation seem so real and my resentment and anger feel justified. If I go to my ego mind for answers, I try to overlook how I feel, tell myself it is not so bad, it is not important, and I can be at peace in spite of this situation. Or I might try to address it in form and try to fix it "out there," but my way is not the truth. It reflects the "thinking of the world." (W.11.1.1) Resistance is in my mind to this lesson because I think my feelings are justified by the situation. Until I ask for help and admit I just don't understand anything and am willing to be shown, I will stubbornly insist on justifying my position. That is what this lesson is getting at. "Be glad indeed to practice the idea in its initial form, for in this idea is your release made sure." (W.11.1.4) Today, I am willing to give over my need to control, understand, and justify. Instead, I let the Holy Spirit show me the way.
Love and blessings, Sarah
|
I. Principles of Miracles
continued
44.
71 Miracles arise from a miraculous state of mind. By being one, this state of mind goes out to
anyone, even without the awareness of the miracle worker himself. The impersonal nature of miracles is because the Atonement itself is one, uniting all creations with their Creator.
45.
72 The miracle is an expression of an inner awareness of Christ and the acceptance of His Atonement. The mind is then in a state of grace and naturally becomes gracious both to the host within and the stranger without. By bringing in the stranger, he becomes your brother.
46.
73 A miracle is never lost. It touches many people you do not even know and sometimes produces undreamed of changes in forces of which you are not even aware. That is not your concern. The miracle will always bless
you.
74 The miracles you are
not asked to perform have not lost their value. They are still expressions of your own state of grace, but the
action aspect of the miracle should be Christ-controlled because of His complete awareness of the whole plan. The impersonal nature of miracle-mindedness ensures
your grace, but only Christ is in a position to know where grace can be
bestowed.
47.
75 Miracle-mindedness means miracle-readiness. Readiness means that you should always keep your perceptions straight, so that you will
always be ready, willing, and able. These are the essentials for "listen, learn, and do." You must be
ready to listen,
willing to learn, and
able to do. Only the last is involuntary because it is the
application of miracles which must be Christ-controlled. The other two, which are the
voluntary aspects of miracle-mindedness,
are up to you.
48.
76 Awe is an inappropriate response to miracles.
77 Revelation is literally unspeakable because it is an experience of unspeakable love. Awe should be reserved for revelation, to which it is perfectly and correctly applicable. It is
not appropriate for miracles because a state of awe is worshipful. It implies that one of a lesser order stands before a greater one. This is the case
only when a Soul stands before its Creator. Souls are perfect creations and experience awe only in the Presence of the Creator of perfection.
78 The miracle, on the other hand, is a sign of love among equals. Equals cannot be in awe of one another because awe implies inequality. It is therefore an inappropriate reaction to me. An elder brother is entitled to respect for his greater experience and a reasonable amount of obedience for his greater wisdom. He is also entitled to love because he
is a brother and also to devotion if he is devoted. It is only my devotion that entitles me to yours. There is nothing about me that
you cannot attain. I have nothing that does not come from God. The main difference between us as yet is that I have
nothing else. This leaves me in a state of true holiness, which is only a
potential in you.
79 "No man cometh unto the Father but by me" is among the most misunderstood statements in the Bible. It does
not mean that I am in any way separate or different from you
except in time, which does not really exist at all. Actually, the quotation is more meaningful if it is considered on a vertical rather than a horizontal axis. Regarded along the vertical, man stands below me and I stand below God. In the process of "rising up," I
am higher. This is because, without me, the distance between God and man would be too great for you to encompass.
80 I bridge the distance as an elder brother to man on the one hand and as a Son of God on the other. My devotion to my brothers has placed me in charge of the Sonship, which I can render complete only to the extent to which I can
share it. This may appear to contradict the statement, "I and my Father are one," but there are still separate parts in the statement in recognition that the Father is greater. (The original statement was "are of one kind"). The Holy Spirit is the bringer of revelations. Revelations are
indirectly inspired by me because I am close to the Holy Spirit and alert to the revelation-readiness of my brothers. I can thus
bring down to them more than they can
draw down to themselves.
49.
81 The Holy Spirit is the highest communication medium. Miracles do not involve this type of communication because they are
temporary communication devices. When man returns to his original form of communication with God, the need for miracles is over. The Holy Spirit mediates higher to lower communication, keeping the direct channel from God to man open for revelation. Revelation is not reciprocal. It is always
from God
to man. The miracle
is reciprocal because it involves equality.
50.
82 The miracle is a learning device which lessens the need for time. In the longitudinal or horizontal plane, the recognition of the true equality of all the members of the Sonship appears to involve almost endless time. However, the sudden shift from horizontal to vertical perception which the miracle entails introduces an interval from which the doer and the receiver
both emerge much farther along in time than they would otherwise have been.
83 The miracle thus has the unique property of shortening time by rendering the space of time it occupies unnecessary. There is
no relationship between the time a miracle
takes and the time it
covers. It substitutes for learning that might have taken thousands of years. It does this by the underlying recognition of perfect equality and holiness between the doer and the receiver on which the miracle rests.
84 We said before that the miracle abolishes time. It does this by a process of
collapsing it and thus abolishing certain
intervals within it. It does this, however,
within the larger temporal sequence. It establishes an out-of-pattern time interval which is
not under the usual laws of time. Only in this sense is it timeless. By collapsing time, it literally saves time. Much as daylight saving time does, it rearranges the distribution of light.
ON LINE SEARCHABLE Original Edition
Hope you will click Heart to LIKE Us
Click this Heart and then click heart on SoundCloud page
to LIKE Us
|
|
|
