DAILY LESSON

 

L e s s o n  11

 <AUDIO><VIDEO> 

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.

ACIM Edmonton - Sarah's Reflections 

 LESSON11 

What do we do when we experience the world as not supporting us; letting us down; 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 that the world we see is nothing more than the  "the witness to your state of mind, the outside picture of an inward condition. (T.21.IN.1.5) Since that is the case, then we are told to "therefore seek not to change the world, but choose to change your mind about the world."       (T.21.IN.1.7)

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 that 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 that our anger, our retaliation, our unhappiness is 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. But it all comes from thoughts that we are thinking that have no meaning. The events, themselves are neutral. We are the ones giving them all the meaning that they have for us. Jesus says that we are singing this dirge of victimhood and that healing won't occur until we "begin to hear the dirge we sing, and question its validity." (P.2.VI.1.5) So 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 that we might have it all backward in that we think the cause of everything is outside of our minds and is the reason that we think, feel, and perceive the way we do. This is our experience of the world.  In this lesson we are told that the thoughts in our mind are the cause that "determine the world we see (and experience)   (1.3) So, the only thing that will bring peace and joy instead of the anger and distress we feel, is to start to see that we are the authors of our script and not the helpless victims of this world. In fact we are the ones that dreamt 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. The key to forgiveness lies in it."  (1.3-5)It is such a powerful idea that we are told that 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."  (1.4). It will free us from guilt, from fear and from the myriad of emotions that seem to creep upon us seemingly against our will. And in the end it will free us of our bondage to the ego. And how that all happens is through forgiveness. So 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 then forgiveness becomes impossible. But if the world is a reflection of our own thoughts bouncing back at us, then forgiveness is about healing our perceptions that someone has hurt us. If I realize that I am a character in this dream and I have put you in my dream to help me to see my own unhealed perceptions then I can see that no one has done anything to me. It is my dream based on my thoughts projected on the world. As Jesus tells us in Part II of the Workbook "What is Forgiveness?" "Forgiveness recognizes that what you thought your brother did to you has not occurred."

So, when we learn to withdraw our judgments of 'good' and 'bad' from what seems to be coming at us, then there is nothing out there in the world to react to.  Course-based forgiveness is all 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 our unhealed judgments that 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 that we perceive.

 If I feel hurt by what I deem that the world is doing to me, then 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 that I chose what I am feeling. I don't have to choose anger in the face of attack. I am the one that is choosing to hurt myself with my response. I am responding to something that starts in my own mind. For example we all have insecurities that 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. And 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 that it is our own betrayal of ourselves that is being projected, then 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 that 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 that 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 of our own minds.

So if the world is nothing more than what I project on it, then 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 then we would indeed be powerless. But if it is MY thoughts which are the cause of what I see, then with the application of these lessons, all of it can change through forgiveness of 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, situations that appear to be creating havoc in my life. We have Mighty Help in this process as we can't do this without the Holy Spirit. But we can start the process by being willing to look at our thoughts and bringing 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? But Jesus quickly assures us that we should be happy that indeed we have, 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." (1.4)What we are released from is the bondage of the ego that holds us hostage to guilt.  So for now, let's just trust that 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." Again, as in the introduction to the workbook, we are reminded not to strain in the application of the idea. Jesus recognizes that 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."  (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 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 helpful in doing these lessons. 

 So 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 that 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." (S.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, then 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. And 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. But now we are looking at our beliefs and concepts that we have come to realize no longer work for us and allowing One who knows to take our false ideas, of what seems to be so real to us and be willing to have them healed so that we can experience the miracle.  Thus our wrong-minded perceptions can be changed to right minded perceptions that reflect God's Love . We learn through this teaching that the only thing that is 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 that is not of God, can have no affect on us.

How this looks to me right now is that 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, then I try to overlook how I feel, tell myself that it is not so bad, that it is not important, that 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." (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 that 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." (1.4)Today I am willing to give over my need to control, to understand, to justify and instead to let the Holy Spirit show me the way.

Love and blessings, Sarah 

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Quotes in this article are from Foundation for Inner Peace edition; To locate the same quotes in the 'Original Edition', use this link:  http://www.jcim.net/acim_us/Acim.php    

A Course in Miracles   
TEXT 

Chapter One

Introduction to Miracles

I. Principles of Miracles continued 

51. ⁸⁵ The miracle is the only device which man has at his immediate disposal for controlling time. Only revelation transcends time, having nothing to do with time at all.

⁸⁶ The miracle is much like the body in that both are learning aids which aim at facilitating a state in which they are unnecessary. When the Soul's original state of direct communication is reached, neither the body nor the miracle serves any purpose. While he believes he is in a body, however, man can choose between loveless and miraculous channels of expression. He can make an empty shell, but he cannot express nothing at all. He can wait, delay, paralyze himself, reduce his creativity to almost nothing, and even introduce a developmental arrest or even a regression. But he cannot abolish his creativity. He can destroy his medium of communication but not his potential.

⁸⁷ Man was not created by his own free will alone. Only what he creates is his to decide. The basic decision of the miracle-minded is not to wait on time any longer than is necessary. Time can waste as well as be wasted. The miracle-worker, therefore, accepts the time-control factor gladly because he recognizes that every collapse of time brings all men closer to the ultimate release from time in which the Son and the Father are one.

⁸⁸ Equality does not imply homogeneity now. When everyone recognizes that he has everything, individual contributions to the Sonship will no longer be necessary. When the Atonement has been completed, all talents will be shared by all the Sons of God. God is not partial. All His Children have His total love, and all His gifts are freely given to everyone alike. "Except ye become as little children" means that, unless you fully recognize your complete dependence on God, you cannot know the real power of the Son in his true relationship with the Father.

⁸⁹ You who want peace can find it only by complete forgiveness. You never really wanted peace before, so there was no point in being told how to achieve it. No learning is acquired by anyone unless he wants to learn it and believes in some way that he needs it. While the concept of lack does not exist in the creation of God, it is very apparent in the creations of man. It is, in fact, the essential difference. A need implies lack by definition. It involves the recognition that you would be better off in a state which is somehow different from the one you are in.

⁹⁰ Until the "separation," which is a better term than the "fall," nothing was lacking. This meant that man had no needs at all. If he had not deprived himself, he would never have experienced them. After the separation, needs became the most powerful source of motivation for human action. All behavior is essentially motivated by needs, but behavior itself is not a divine attribute. The body is the mechanism for behavior. The belief that he could be better off is the reason why man has this mechanism at his disposal.

⁹¹ Each one acts according to the particular hierarchy of needs he establishes for himself. His hierarchy, in turn, depends on his perception of what he is-that is, what he lacks. A sense of separation from God is the only lack he really needs to correct. This sense of separation would never have occurred if he had not distorted his perception of truth and thus perceived himself as lacking. The concept of any sort of need hierarchy arose because, having made this fundamental error, he had already fragmented himself into levels with different needs. As he integrates he becomes one, and his needs become one accordingly.

⁹² Unified need produces unified action because it produces a lack of ambivalence. The concept of a need hierarchy, a corollary to the original error that man can be separated from God, requires correction at its own level before the error of perceiving levels at all can be corrected. Man cannot behave effectively while he operates at split levels. However, while he does, correction must be introduced from the bottom up. This is because he now operates in space, where concepts such as "up" and "down" are meaningful. Ultimately, space is as meaningless as time. The concept is really one of space-time belief.

⁹³ The physical world exists only because man can use it to correct his unbelief, which placed him in it originally. He can never control the effects of fear himself because he made fear and believes in what he made. In attitude, then, though not in content, he resembles his own Creator, Who has perfect faith in His creations because He created them. Belief in a creation produces its existence. That is why a man can believe in what no one else thinks is true. It is true for him because it was made by him.

⁹⁴ Every aspect of fear proceeds from upside-down perception. The more truly creative devote their efforts to correcting perceptual distortions. The neurotic devotes his to compromise. The psychotic tries to escape by establishing the certain truth of his own errors. It is most difficult to free him by ordinary means because he is more consistent in his own denial of truth. The miracle, however, makes no such distinctions. It corrects errors because they are errors. Thus, the next point to remember about miracles is:

52. ⁹⁵ The miracle makes no distinction among degrees of misperception. It is a device for perception-correction, effective quite apart from either the degree or the direction of the error. This is its true indiscriminateness.

⁹⁶ Christ-controlled miracles are selective only in the sense that they are directed towards those who can use them for themselves. Since this makes it inevitable that they will extend them to others, a strong chain of Atonement is welded. However, Christ-control takes no account at all of the magnitude of the miracle itself because the concept of size exists in a plane that is itself unreal. Since the miracle aims at restoring the awareness of reality, it would hardly be useful if it were bound by the laws which govern the error it aims to correct. Only man makes this kind of mistake. It is an example of the foolish consistency which his own false beliefs have engendered.

⁹⁷ The power and strength of man's creative will must be understood before the real meaning of denial can be appreciated and relinquished. It is not mere negation. It is a positive miscreation. While the miscreation is necessarily believed in by its maker, it does not exist at all at the level of true creation.

53. ⁹⁸ The miracle compares what man has made with the higher level creation, accepting what is in accord as true and rejecting the discord as false. All aspects of fear are untrue because they do not exist at the higher creative level, and therefore do not exist at all. To whatever extent a man is willing to submit his beliefs to this test, to that extent are perceptions corrected.

⁹⁹ In sorting out the false from the true, the miracle proceeds along the following lines:

¹⁰⁰ If perfect love casts out fear,
  And if fear exists,
  Then there is not perfect love.
  But only perfect love really exists.
  If there is fear,
  It creates a state which does not exist.

¹⁰¹ Believe this and you will be free. Only God can establish this solution, and this faith is His gift.

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