My Course in Miracles

I am determined to see things differently.

2009-01-20T20:38:00.001-07:00

I am determined to see things differently. What I see now are but signs of disease, disaster and death. This cannot be what God created for His beloved Son. The very fact that I see such things is proof that I do not understand God. Therefore I also do not understand His Son. What I see tells me that I do not know who I am. I am determined to see the witnesses to the truth in me, rather than those which show me an illusion of myself.

What I see is a form of vengeance. The world I see is hardly the representation of loving thoughts. It is a picture of attack on everything by everything. It is anything but a reflection of the Love of God and the love of His Son. It is my own attack thoughts that give rise to this picture. My loving thoughts will save me from this perception of the world, and give me the peace God intended me to have.

I can escape from this world by giving up attack thoughts. Herein lies salvation, and nowhere else. Without attack thoughts I could not see a world of attack. As forgiveness allows love to return to my awareness, I will see a world of peace and safety and joy. And it is this I choose to see, in place of what I look on now.

I do not perceive my own best interests. How could I recognize my own best interests when I do not know who I am? What I think are my best interests would merely bind me closer to the world of illusions. I am willing to follow the Guide God has given me to find out what my own best interests are, recognizing that I cannot perceive them by myself.

I do not know what anything is for. To me, the purpose of everything is to prove that my illusions about myself are real. It is for this purpose that I attempt to use everyone and everything. It is for this that I believe the world is for. Therefore I do not recognize its real purpose. The purpose I have given the world has led to a frightening picture of it. Let me open my mind to the world's real purpose by withdrawing the one I have given it, and learning the truth about it.

Reviewing my lessons

2007-10-25T05:04:00.000-07:00

Lesson 53

1. I have no neutral thoughts. Neutral thoughts are impossible because all thoughts have power. They will either make a false world or lead me to the real one. But thoughts cannot be without effects. As the world I see arises from my thinking errors, so will the real world rise before my eyes as I let my errors be corrected. My thoughts cannot be neither true nor false. They must be one or the other. What I see shows me which they are.

2. I see no neutral things. What I see witnesses to what I think. If I did not think I would not exist, because life is thought. Let me look on the world I see as the representation of my own state of mind. I know that my state of mind can change. And so I also know the world I see can change as well.

3. I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my seeing. If I have no private thoughts, I cannot see a private world. Even the mad idea of separation had to be shared before it could form the basis of the world I see. Yet that sharing was a sharing of nothing. I can also call upon my real thoughts, which share everything with everyone. As my thoughts of separation call to the separation thoughts of others, so my real thoughts awaken the real thoughts in them. And the world my real thoughts show me will dawn on their sight as well as mine.

4. I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my thoughts. I am alone in nothing. Everything I think or say or do teaches all the universe. A Son of God cannot think or speak or act in vain. He cannot be alone in anything. It is therefore in my power to change every mind along with mine, for mine is the power of God.

5. I am determined to see. Recognizing the shared nature of my thoughts, I am determined to see. I would look upon the witnesses that show me the thinking of the world has been changed. I would behold the proof that what has been done through me has enabled love to replace fear, laughter to replace tears, and abundance to replace loss. I would look upon the real world, and let it teach me that my will and the Will of God are one.

My comments.... In my last post's comments, I said, "I have not been a good student. I have permitted months to go by since my last posting." Now here it is in late October and I have to make the same confession. I can tell you I have a good excuse (or 20), I'm losing my job, my mother is in the hospital, etc., etc. I must become better at this.

Reviewing my lessons

2007-08-22T05:28:00.000-07:00

Lesson 53

Today we will review the following:

1. My meaningless thoughts are showing me a meaningless world.
Since the thoughts of which I am aware do not mean anything, the world that pictures them can have no meaning. What is producing this world is insane, and so is what it produces. Reality is not insane, and I have real thoughts as well as insane ones. I can therefore see a real world, if I look to my real thoughts as my guide for seeing.

2. I am upset because I see a meaningless world.
Insane thoughts are upsetting. They produce a world in which there is no order anywhere. Only chaos rules a world that represents chaotic thinking, and chaos has no laws. I cannot live in peace in such a world. I am grateful that this world is not real, and that I need not see it at all unless I choose to value it. And I do not choose to value what is totally insane and has no meaning.

3. A meaningless world engenders fear.
The totally insane engenders fear because it is completely undependable, and offers no grounds for trust. Nothing in madness is dependable. It holds out no safety and no hope. But such a world is not real. I have given it the illusion of reality, and have suffered from my belief in it. Now I choose to withdraw this belief, and place my trust in reality. In choosing this, I will escape all the effects of the world of fear, because I am acknowledging that it does not exist.

4. God did not create a meaningless world.
How can a meaningless world exist if God did not create it? He is the Source of all meaning, and everything that is real is in His Mind. It is in my mind too, because He created it with me. Why should I continue to suffer from the effects of my own insane thoughts, when the perfection of creation is my home? Let me remember the power of my decision, and recognize where I really abide.

5. My thoughts are images that I have made.
Whatever I see reflects my thoughts. It is my thoughts that tell me where I am and what I am. The fact that I see a world in which there is suffering and loss and death shows me that I am seeing only the representation of my insane thoughts, and am not allowing my real thoughts to cast their beneficent light on what I see. Yet God's way is sure. The images I have made cannot prevail against Him because it is not my will that they do so. My will is His, and I will place no other gods before Him.

My comments . . . I have not been a good student. I have permitted months to go by since my last posting. I have been wrapped up in my "world that does not exist". That statement shows my current understanding and obvious acceptance of ACIM. I fail often. My ego is always trying to convince me that this can't be true.... get on with your "real life". This is quite a challenge for me, bu I will continue.

2007-05-20T05:06:00.000-07:00

Lesson 52

Today's review covers these ideas:

1. I am upset because I see what is not there.

Reality is never frightening. It is impossible that it could upset me. Reality brings only perfect peace. When I am upset, it is always because I have replaced reality with illusions I made up. The illusions are upsetting because I have given them reality, and thus regard reality as an illusion. Nothing in God's creation is affected in any way by this confusion of mine. I am always upset by nothing.

2. I see only the past.

As I look about, I condemn the world I look upon. I call this seeing. I hold the past against everyone and everything, making them my enemies. When I have forgiven myself and remembered Who I am, I will bless everyone and everything I see. There will be no past, and therefore no enemies. And I will look with love on all that I failed to see before.

3. My mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.

I see only my own thoughts, and my mind is preoccupied with the past. What, then, can I see as it is? Let me remember that I look on the past to prevent the present from dawning on my mind. Let me understand that I am trying to use time against God. Let me learn to give the past away, realizing that in so doing I am giving up nothing.

4. I see nothing as it is now.

If I see nothing as it is now, it can truly be said that I see nothing. I can see only what is now. The choice is not whether to see the past or the present; the choice is merely whether to see or not. What I have chosen to see has cost me vision. Now I would choose again, that I may see.

5. My thoughts do not mean anything.

I have no private thoughts. Yet it is only private thoughts of which I am aware. What can these thoughts mean? They do not exist, and so they mean nothing. Yet my mind is part of creation and part of its Creator. Would I not rather join the thinking of the universe than to obscure all that is really mine with my pitiful and meaningless "private" thoughts?

My comments... Why do all things "spiritual" have to be so . . . so aloof? To be sure, the ideas presented in A Course In Miracles are radically different than those taught in most "conventional" religions. And all religions require a leap of "faith" in that there is no scientific proof that these ideas (or theirs) are "real". . . just take our word for it ;-)

In that regard, ACIM is no different than any other belief - its just newer. Does new mean better or more up to date? I guess where I'm going with this is that I don't seem to be any more aware or a better person today than I was 50 lessons ago. I have the same confusion and am fighting the same self-talk and lac of total faith. I'm still very confused and I wonder why all this has to be so sloof... Yeah, I know... I made it this way and I must change things... sorry, I'm still very confused by all this.

Reviewing past lessons

2007-05-11T04:34:00.000-07:00

Lesson 51

The review for today covers the following ideas:

1. Nothing I see means anything.

The reason this is so is that I see nothing, and nothing has no meaning. It is necessary that I recognize this, that I may learn to see. What I think I see now is taking the place of vision. I must let it go by realizing it has no meaning, so that vision may take its place.

2. I have given what I see all the meaning it has for me.

I have judged everything I look upon, and it is this and only this I see. This is not vision. It is merely an illusion of reality, because my judgments have been made quite apart from reality. I am willing to recognize the lack of validity in my judgments, because I want to see. My judgments have hurt me, and I do not want to see according to them.

3. I do not understand anything I see.

How could I understand what I see when I have judged it amiss? What I see is the projection of my own errors of thought. I do not understand what I see because it is not understandable. There is no sense in trying to understand it. But there is every reason to let it go, and make room for what can be seen and understood and loved. I can exchange what I see now for this merely by being willing to do so. Is not this a better choice than the one I made before?

4. These thoughts do not mean anything.

The thoughts of which I am aware do not mean anything because I am trying to think without God. What I call "my" thoughts are not my real thoughts. My real thoughts are the thoughts I think with God. I am not aware of them because I have made my thoughts to take their place. I am willing to recognize that my thoughts do not mean anything, and to let them go. I choose to have them be replaced by what they were intended to replace. My thoughts are meaningless, but all creation lies in the thoughts I think with God.

5. I am never upset for the reason I think.

I am never upset for the reason I think because I am constantly trying to justify my thoughts. I am constantly trying to make them true. I make all things my enemies, so that my anger is justified and my attacks are warranted. I have not realized how much I have misused everything I see by assigning this role to it. I have done this to defend a thought system that has hurt me, and that I no longer want. I am willing to let it go.

My comments.... Wow, a review... I was not aware we would have such a thing, but I for one, like the idea. I am not looking ahead to other lessons while I go through this program, so this was a surprise for me. I like this review, it helped reinforce some ideas I have consciously forgotten about.

I don't know about those who have already completed these lessons, but it has been very difficult for me to keep my commitment to study one lesson each day. I turn around and weeks have gone by since I read the last lesson. Am I not committed - or am I so thoroughly wrapped up in my illusion that I get distracted? Maybe that's why Jesus created this review for me... get me back on track and to remember what I have learned.

I am sustained by the Love of God

2007-05-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

Lesson 50

Here is the answer to every problem that will confront you, today and tomorrow and throughout time. In this world, you believe you are sustained by everything but God. Your faith is placed in the most trivial and insane symbols; pills, money, "protective" clothing, influence, prestige, being liked, knowing the "right" people, and an endless list of forms of nothingness that you endow with magical powers.

All these things are your replacements for the Love of God. All these things are cherished to ensure a body identification. They are songs of praise to the ego. Do not put your faith in the worthless. It will not sustain you.

Only the Love of God will protect you in all circumstances. It will lift you out of every trial, and raise you high above all the perceived dangers of this world into a climate of perfect peace and safety. It will transport you into a state of mind that nothing can threaten, nothing can disturb, and where nothing can intrude upon the eternal calm of the Son of God.

Put not your faith in illusions. They will fail you. Put all your faith in the Love of God within you; eternal, changeless and forever unfailing. This is the answer to whatever confronts you today. Through the Love of God within you, you can resolve all seeming difficulties without effort and in sure confidence. Tell yourself this often today. It is a declaration of release from the belief in idols. It is your acknowledgment of the truth about yourself.

For ten minutes, twice today, morning and evening, let the idea for today sink deep into your consciousness. Repeat it, think about it, let related thoughts come to help you recognize its truth, and allow peace to flow over you like a blanket of protection and surety. Let no idle and foolish thoughts enter to disturb the holy mind of the Son of God. Such is the Kingdom of Heaven . Such is the resting place where your Father has placed you forever.

My comments... My comments... what an absolutely mind blowing statement, "Here is the answer to every problem that will confront you". How can one who is at this (my) level of awareness and understanding accept such a statement without fear? It is like asking me to step off a cliff and trust that I will defy the laws of gravity - that the universe will disappear and I will not fall? I can intellectualize this and hope for this and get excited about this, but I honestly admit to a fear of the consequences based on my illusory experiences. I surely wish to rise above my current understanding and accept such statements with no hesitation. I guess I have a long way to go...

God's Voice

2007-03-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

Lesson 49

God's Voice speaks to me all through the day.

It is quite possible to listen to God's Voice all through the day without interrupting your regular activities in any way. The part of your mind in which truth abides is in constant communication with God, whether you are aware of it or not. It is the other part of your mind that functions in the world and obeys the world's laws. It is this part that is constantly distracted, disorganized and highly uncertain.

The part that is listening to the Voice for God is calm, always at rest and wholly certain. It is really the only part there is. The other part is a wild illusion, frantic and distraught, but without reality of any kind. Try today not to listen to it. Try to identify with the part of your mind where stillness and peace reign forever. Try to hear God's Voice call to you lovingly, reminding you that your Creator has not forgotten His Son.

We will need at least four five-minute practice periods today, and more if possible. We will try actually to hear God's Voice reminding you of Him and of your Self. We will approach this happiest and holiest of thoughts with confidence, knowing that in doing so we are joining our will with the Will of God. He wants you to hear His Voice. He gave It to you to be heard.

Listen in deep silence. Be very still and open your mind. Go past all the raucous shrieks and sick imaginings that cover your real thoughts and obscure your eternal link with God. Sink deep into the peace that waits for you beyond the frantic, riotous thoughts and sights and sounds of this insane world. You do not live here. We are trying to reach your real home. We are trying to reach the place where you are truly welcome. We are trying to reach God.

Do not forget to repeat today's idea very frequently. Do so with your eyes open when necessary, but closed when possible. And be sure to sit quietly and repeat the idea for today whenever you can, closing your eyes on the world, and realizing that you are inviting God's Voice to speak to you.

My comments... to hear God's voice, the lesson recommends quiet and thought like meditation, which has always been thought of as a way to communicate with our deepest part - and God. This lesson (like so many others) seems to shed light on half-truths that have come down to us through the ages. All religious men encourage meditation, but they don't always say that it is the path to hearing God's voice. Today I will try to hear God.

There is nothing to fear

2007-02-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

Lesson 48

The idea for today simply states a fact. It is not a fact to those who believe in illusions, but illusions are not facts. In truth there is nothing to fear. It is very easy to recognize this. But it is very difficult to recognize it for those who want illusions to be true.

Today's practice periods will be very short, very simple and very frequent. Merely repeat the idea as often as possible. You can use it with your eyes open at any time and in any situation. It is strongly recommended, however, that you take a minute or so whenever possible to close your eyes and repeat the idea slowly to yourself several times. It is particularly important that you use the idea immediately, should anything disturb your peace of mind.

The presence of fear is a sure sign that you are trusting in your own strength. The awareness that there is nothing to fear shows that somewhere in your mind, though not necessarily in a place you recognize as yet, you have remembered God, and let His strength take the place of your weakness. The instant you are willing to do this there is indeed nothing to fear.

My comments... This is one of those epiphany lessons. The pure simplicity of the statement offers power, hope, peace and self-assuredness. There is NOTHING to fear. Why fear an illusion if we know it to be true?

God is the strength in which I trust

2007-01-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

Lesson 47

God is the strength in which I trust.

If you are trusting in your own strength, you have every reason to be apprehensive, anxious and fearful. What can you predict or control? What is there in you that can be counted on? What would give you the ability to be aware of all the facets of any problem, and to resolve them in such a way that only good can come of it? What is there in you that gives you the recognition of the right solution, and the guarantee that it will be accomplished?

Of yourself you can do none of these things. To believe that you can is to put your trust where trust is unwarranted, and to justify fear, anxiety, depression, anger and sorrow. Who can put his faith in weakness and feel safe? Yet who can put his faith in strength and feel weak?

God is your safety in every circumstance. His Voice speaks for Him in all situations and in every aspect of all situations, telling you exactly what to do to call upon His strength and His protection. There are no exceptions because God has no exceptions. And the Voice which speaks for Him thinks as He does.

Today we will try to reach past your own weakness to the Source of real strength. Four five-minute practice periods are necessary today, and longer and more frequent ones are urged. Close your eyes and begin, as usual, by repeating the idea for the day. Then spend a minute or two in searching for situations in your life which you have invested with fear, dismissing each one by telling yourself:

God is the strength in which I trust.

Now try to slip past all concerns related to your own sense of inadequacy. It is obvious that any situation that causes you concern is associated with feelings of inadequacy, for otherwise you would believe that you could deal with the situation successfully. It is not by trusting yourself that you will gain confidence. But the strength of God in you is successful in all things.

The recognition of your own frailty is a necessary step in the correction of your errors, but it is hardly a sufficient one in giving you the confidence which you need, and to which you are entitled. You must also gain an awareness that confidence in your real strength is fully justified in every respect and in all circumstances.

In the latter phase of the practice period, try to reach down into your mind to a place of real safety. You will recognize that you have reached it if you feel a sense of deep peace, however briefly. Let go all the trivial things that churn and bubble on the surface of your mind, and reach down and below them to the Kingdom of Heaven. There is a place in you where there is perfect peace. There is a place in you where nothing is impossible. There is a place in you where the strength of God abides.

During the day, repeat the idea often. Use it as your answer to any disturbance. Remember that peace is your right, because you are giving your trust to the strength of God.

My comments... This is a faith affirming statement. A way to teach myself that there is true strength that I can tap into. This again is a hard lesson to realize as our past experiences don't bear this out. How many times have we asked God for help and we didn't see the help given... was that because we had inadequate faith? Or did we not reach deep enough to connect - to BELIEVE that help was abailable? Was our doubt the thing that blocked God's help? God is the strength in which I now trust.

God has never condemned

2007-01-14T06:58:00.000-07:00

Lesson 46

God is the Love in which I forgive

God does not forgive because He has never condemned. And there must be condemnation before forgiveness is necessary. Forgiveness is the great need of this world, but that is because it is a world of illusions. Those who forgive are thus releasing themselves from illusions, while those who withhold forgiveness are binding themselves to them. As you condemn only yourself, so do you forgive only yourself.

Yet although God does not forgive, His Love is nevertheless the basis of forgiveness. Fear condemns and love forgives. Forgiveness thus undoes what fear has produced, returning the mind to the awareness of God. For this reason, forgiveness can truly be called salvation. It is the means by which illusions disappear.

Today's exercises require at least three full five-minute practice periods, and as many shorter ones as possible. Begin the longer practice periods by repeating today's idea to yourself, as usual. Close your eyes as you do so, and spend a minute or two in searching your mind for those whom you have not forgiven. It does not matter "how much" you have not forgiven them. You have forgiven them entirely or not at all.

If you are doing the exercises well you should have no difficulty in finding a number of people you have not forgiven. It is a safe rule that anyone you do not like is a suitable subject. Mention each one by name, and say:

God is the Love in which I forgive you, [name].

The purpose of the first phase of today's practice periods is to put you in a position to forgive yourself. After you have applied the idea to all those who have come to mind, tell yourself:

God is the Love in which I forgive myself.

Then devote the remainder of the practice period to adding related ideas such as:

God is the Love with which I love myself.
God is the Love in which I am blessed

The form of the application may vary considerably, but the central idea should not be lost sight of. You might say, for example:

I cannot be guilty because I am a Son of God.
I have already been forgiven.
No fear is possible in a mind beloved of God.
There is no need to attack because love has forgiven me.

The practice period should end, however, with a repetition of today's idea as originally stated.

The shorter practice periods may consist either of a repetition of the idea for today in the original or in a related form, as you prefer. Be sure, however, to make more specific applications if they are needed. They will be needed at any time during the day when you become aware of any kind of negative reaction to anyone, present or not. In that event, tell him silently:

God is the Love in which I forgive you.

My comments . . . This lesson just feels right. It brings together many of the previous lessons and practicing this lesson makes me feel like I am doing something - as opposed to just "learning". So often I feel like I am being instructed on things that I can't understand or don't yet understand, and I know this is part of the conflict I have with my ego. But feeling like you are actually accomplishing something... getting closer to the destination... this is how this lesson affects me.

A hard lesson

2007-01-08T11:52:00.000-07:00

Lesson 45

God is the Mind with which I think.

Today's idea holds the key to what your real thoughts are. They are nothing that you think you think, just as nothing that you think you see is related to vision in any way. There is no relationship between what is real and what you think is real. Nothing that you think are your real thoughts resemble your real thoughts in any respect. Nothing that you think you see bears any resemblance to what vision will show you.

You think with the Mind of God. Therefore you share your thoughts with Him, as He shares His with you. They are the same thoughts, because they are thought by the same Mind. To share is to make alike, or to make one. Nor do the thoughts you think with the Mind of God leave your mind, because thoughts do not leave their source. Therefore, your thoughts are in the Mind of God, as you are. They are in your mind as well, where He is. As you are part of His Mind, so are your thoughts part of His Mind.

Where, then, are your real thoughts? Today we will attempt to reach them. We will have to look for them in your mind, because that is where they are. They must still be there, because they cannot have left their source. What is thought by the Mind of God is eternal, being part of creation.

Our three five-minute practice periods for today will take the same general form that we used in applying yesterday's idea. We will attempt to leave the unreal and seek for the real. We will deny the world in favor of truth. We will not let the thoughts of the world hold us back. We will not let the beliefs of the world tell us that what God would have us do is impossible. Instead, we will try to recognize that only what God would have us do is possible.

We will also try to understand that only what God would have us do is what we want to do. And we will also try to remember that we cannot fail in doing what He would have us do. There is every reason to feel confident that we will succeed today. It is the Will of God.

Begin the exercises for today by repeating the idea to yourself, closing your eyes as you do so. Then spend a fairly short period in thinking a few relevant thoughts of your own, keeping the idea in mind. After you have added some four or five thoughts of your own to the idea, repeat it again and tell yourself gently:

My real thoughts are in my mind. I would like to find them.
Then try to go past all the unreal thoughts that cover the truth in your mind, and reach to the eternal.

Under all the senseless thoughts and mad ideas with which you have cluttered up your mind are the thoughts that you thought with God in the beginning. They are there in your mind now, completely unchanged. They will always be in your mind, exactly as they always were. Everything you have thought since then will change, but the Foundation on which it rests is wholly changeless.

It is this Foundation toward which the exercises for today are directed. Here is your mind joined with the Mind of God. Here are your thoughts one with His. For this kind of practice only one thing is necessary; approach it as you would an altar dedicated in Heaven to God the Father and to God the Son. For such is the place you are trying to reach. You will probably be unable as yet to realize how high you are trying to go. Yet even with the little understanding you have already gained, you should be able to remind yourself that this is no idle game, but an exercise in holiness and an attempt to reach the Kingdom of Heaven.

In the shorter exercise periods for today, try to remember how important it is to you to understand the holiness of the mind that thinks with God. Take a minute or two, as you repeat the idea throughout the day, to appreciate your mind's holiness. Stand aside, however briefly, from all thoughts that are unworthy of Him Whose host you are. And thank Him for the Thoughts He is thinking with you.

My comments… This is a powerful message that causes severe concentration – just to try and conceive of the meaning. That I could communicate with God? That we share memories? Wow, powerful and a feeling of complete unworthiness is what I am fighting. This is part of what Gary Renard was referring to in his book, Your Immortal Reality", I suppose.

God is the light

2006-12-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

Lesson 44

God is the light in which I see.

Today we are continuing the idea for yesterday, adding another dimension to it. You cannot see in darkness, and you cannot make light. You can make darkness and then think you see in it, but light reflects life, and is therefore an aspect of creation. Creation and darkness cannot coexist, but light and life must go together, being but different aspects of creation.
In order to see, you must recognize that light is within, not without. You do not see outside yourself, nor is the equipment for seeing outside you. An essential part of this equipment is the light that makes seeing possible. It is with you always, making vision possible in every circumstance.

Today we are going to attempt to reach that light. For this purpose, we will use a form of exercise which has been suggested before, and which we will utilize increasingly. It is a particularly difficult form for the undisciplined mind, and represents a major goal of mind training. It requires precisely what the untrained mind lacks. Yet this training must be accomplished if you are to see.

Have at least three practice periods today, each lasting three to five minutes. A longer time is highly recommended, but only if you find the time slipping by with little or no sense of strain. The form of practice we will use today is the most natural and easy one in the world for the trained mind, just as it seems to be the most unnatural and difficult for the untrained mind.

Your mind is no longer wholly untrained. You are quite ready to learn the form of exercise we will use today, but you may find that you will encounter strong resistance. The reason is very simple. While you practice in this way, you leave behind everything that you now believe, and all the thoughts that you have made up. Properly speaking, this is the release from hell. Yet perceived through the ego's eyes, it is loss of identity and a descent into hell.

If you can stand aside from the ego by ever so little, you will have no difficulty in recognizing that its opposition and its fears are meaningless. You might find it helpful to remind yourself, from time to time, that to reach light is to escape from darkness, whatever you may believe to the contrary. God is the light in which you see. You are attempting to reach Him.

Begin the practice period by repeating today's idea with your eyes open, and close them slowly, repeating the idea several times more. Then try to sink into your mind, letting go every kind of interference and intrusion by quietly sinking past them. Your mind cannot be stopped in this unless you choose to stop it. It is merely taking its natural course. Try to observe your passing thoughts without involvement, and slip quietly by them.

While no particular approach is advocated for this form of exercise, what is needful is a sense of the importance of what you are doing; its inestimable value to you, and an awareness that you are attempting something very holy. Salvation is your happiest accomplishment. It is also the only one that has any meaning, because it is the only one that has any real use to you at all.

If resistance rises in any form, pause long enough to repeat today's idea, keeping your eyes closed unless you are aware of fear. In that case, you will probably find it more reassuring to open your eyes briefly. Try, however, to return to the exercises with eyes closed as soon as possible.
If you are doing the exercises correctly, you should experience some sense of relaxation, and even a feeling that you are approaching, if not actually entering into light. Try to think of light, formless and without limit, as you pass by the thoughts of this world. And do not forget that they cannot hold you to the world unless you give them the power to do so.

Throughout the day repeat the idea often, with eyes open or closed as seems better to you at the time. But do not forget. Above all, be determined not to forget today.

My comments... Today is Christmas eve, a time when God is (or should be) on an Christian's mind. I need practice and help from the Holy Spirit to achieve with today's lesson. Pray for me so that I may learn and regain what I have lost. Merry Christmas to you and yours... and all people of the earth.

God is my Source

2006-12-03T06:53:00.000-07:00

Lesson 43

God is my Source. I cannot see apart from Him.

Perception is not an attribute of God. His is the realm of knowledge. Yet He has created the Holy Spirit as the Mediator between perception and knowledge. Without this link with God, perception would have replaced knowledge forever in your mind. With this link with God, perception will become so changed and purified that it will lead to knowledge. That is its function as the Holy Spirit sees it. Therefore, that is its function in truth.

In God you cannot see. Perception has no function in God, and does not exist. Yet in salvation, which is the undoing of what never was, perception has a mighty purpose. Made by the Son of God for an unholy purpose, it must become the means for the restoration of his holiness to his awareness. Perception has no meaning. Yet does the Holy Spirit give it a meaning very close to God's. Healed perception becomes the means by which the Son of God forgives his brother, and thus forgives himself.

You cannot see apart from God because you cannot be apart from God. Whatever you do you do in Him, because whatever you think, you think with His Mind. If vision is real, and it is real to the extent to which it shares the Holy Spirit's purpose, then you cannot see apart from God.

Three five-minute practice periods are required today, one as early and one as late as possible in the day. The third may be undertaken at the most convenient and suitable time that circumstances and readiness permit. At the beginning of these practice periods, repeat the idea for today to yourself with eyes open. Then glance around you for a short time, applying the idea specifically to what you see. Four or five subjects for this phase of the practice period are sufficient. You might say, for example:

God is my Source. I cannot see this desk apart from Him

God is my Source. I cannot see that picture apart from Him.

Although this part of the exercise period should be relatively short, be sure that you select the subjects for this phase of practice indiscriminately, without self-directed inclusion or exclusion. For the second and longer phase, close your eyes, repeat today's idea again, and then let whatever relevant thoughts occur to you add to the idea in your own personal way. Thoughts such as:

- I see through the eyes of forgiveness.
- I see the world as blessed.
- The world can show me myself.
- I see my own thoughts, which are like God's.

Any thought related more or less directly to today's idea is suitable. The thoughts need not bear any obvious relationship to the idea, but they should not be in opposition to it.

If you find your mind wandering; if you begin to be aware of thoughts which are clearly out of accord with today's idea, or if you seem to be unable to think of anything, open your eyes, repeat the first phase of the exercise period, and then attempt the second phase again. Do not allow any protracted period to occur in which you become preoccupied with irrelevant thoughts. Return to the first phase of the exercises as often as necessary to prevent this.

In applying today's idea in the shorter practice periods, the form may vary according to the circumstances and situations in which you find yourself during the day. When you are with someone else, for example, try to remember to tell him silently:

God is my Source. I cannot see you apart from Him.

This form is equally applicable to strangers as it is to those you think are closer to you. In fact, try not to make distinctions of this kind at all.

Today's idea should also be applied throughout the day to various situations and events that may occur, particularly to those which seem to distress you in any way. For this purpose, apply the idea in this form:
God is my Source. I cannot see this apart from Him.

If no particular subject presents itself to your awareness at the time, merely repeat the idea in its original form. 2 Try today not to allow any long periods of time to slip by without remembering today's idea, and thus remembering your function.

My comments... At times, these lessons (and often the text) from A Course In Miracles is so obscure to me as to be undecipherable. Take today's lesson, I've needed to read it over and over to try to "get it". (Gary Renard's books have helped me quite a lot)

Sometimes I get discouraged because some of this seems to be “doublespeak” – I get a clue, but not the prize. I want to scream…. “just tell me the truth and show me the way”. What is the purpose of all these lessons if the message remains shrouded in obscurity?

It is like someone is telling me about a rounded piece of fruit… it’s beautiful in color… it tastes delicious… it is very good for you… you will love it. Okay, great… just show me the apple!!!

There, I’m done with my rant…

God's gifts to me...

2006-11-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

Lesson 42

God is my strength. Vision is His gift.

The idea for today combines two very powerful thoughts, both of major importance. It also sets forth a cause and effect relationship that explains why you cannot fail in your efforts to achieve the goal of the course. You will see because it is the Will of God. It is His strength, not your own, that gives you power. And it is His gift, rather than your own, that offers vision to you.

God is indeed your strength, and what He gives is truly given. This means that you can receive it any time and anywhere, wherever you are, and in whatever circumstance you find yourself. Your passage through time and space is not at random. You cannot but be in the right place at the right time. Such is the strength of God. Such are His gifts.

We will have two three-to-five-minute practice periods today, one as soon as possible after you wake, and another as close as possible to the time you go to sleep. It is better, however, to wait until you can sit quietly by yourself, at a time when you feel ready, than it is to be concerned with the time as such.

Begin these practice periods by repeating the idea for today slowly, with your eyes open, looking about you. Then close your eyes and repeat the idea again, even slower than before. After this, try to think of nothing except thoughts that occur to you in relation to the idea for the day. You might think, for example:

Vision must be possible. God gives truly,

or:

God's gifts to me must be mine, because He gave them to me.

Any thought that is clearly related to the idea for today is suitable. You may, in fact, be astonished at the amount of course-related understanding some of your thoughts contain. Let them come without censoring unless you find your mind is merely wandering, and you have let obviously irrelevant thoughts intrude. You may also reach a point where no thoughts at all seem to come to mind. If such interferences occur, open your eyes and repeat the thought once more while looking slowly about; close your eyes, repeat the idea once more, and then continue to look for related thoughts in your mind.

Remember, however, that active searching for relevant thoughts is not appropriate for today's exercises. Try merely to step back and let the thoughts come. If you find this difficult, it is better to spend the practice period alternating between slow repetitions of the idea with eyes open, then with eyes closed, than it is to strain to find suitable thoughts.

There is no limit on the number of short practice periods that would be beneficial today. The idea for the day is a beginning step in bringing thoughts together, and teaching you that you are studying a unified thought system in which nothing is lacking that is needed, and nothing is included that is contradictory or irrelevant.

The more often you repeat the idea during the day, the more often you will be reminding yourself that the goal of the course is important to you, and that you have not forgotten it.

My comments... This is one of those "retain your perspective" lessons. If we accept that "Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God." - then I must accept this promise of vision. It is God's gift to me.

God goes where I go

2006-11-27T05:01:00.000-07:00

Lesson 41

God goes with me wherever I go.

Today's idea will eventually overcome completely the sense of loneliness and abandonment all the separated ones experience. Depression is an inevitable consequence of separation. So are anxiety, worry, a deep sense of helplessness, misery, suffering and intense fear of loss.

The separated ones have invented many "cures" for what they believe to be "the ills of the world." But the one thing they do not do is to question the reality of the problem. Yet its effects cannot be cured because the problem is not real. The idea for today has the power to end all this foolishness forever. And foolishness it is, despite the serious and tragic forms it may take.

Deep within you is everything that is perfect, ready to radiate through you and out into the world. It will cure all sorrow and pain and fear and loss because it will heal the mind that thought these things were real, and suffered out of its allegiance to them.

You can never be deprived of your perfect holiness because its Source goes with you wherever you go. You can never suffer because the Source of all joy goes with you wherever you go. You can never be alone because the Source of all life goes with you wherever you go. Nothing can destroy your peace of mind because God goes with you wherever you go.

We understand that you do not believe all this. How could you, when the truth is hidden deep within, under a heavy cloud of insane thoughts, dense and obscuring, yet representing all you see? Today we will make our first real attempt to get past this dark and heavy cloud, and to go through it to the light beyond.

There will be only one long practice period today. In the morning, as soon as you get up if possible, sit quietly for some three to five minutes, with your eyes closed. At the beginning of the practice period, repeat today's idea very slowly. Then make no effort to think of anything. Try, instead, to get a sense of turning inward, past all the idle thoughts of the world. Try to enter very deeply into your own mind, keeping it clear of any thoughts that might divert your attention.

From time to time, you may repeat the idea if you find it helpful. But most of all, try to sink down and inward, away from the world and all the foolish thoughts of the world. You are trying to reach past all these things. You are trying to leave appearances and approach reality.

It is quite possible to reach God. In fact it is very easy, because it is the most natural thing in the world. You might even say it is the only natural thing in the world. The way will open, if you believe that it is possible. This exercise can bring very startling results even the first time it is attempted, and sooner or later it is always successful. We will go into more detail about this kind of practice as we go along. But it will never fail completely, and instant success is possible.

Throughout the day use today's idea often, repeating it very slowly, preferably with eyes closed. Think of what you are saying; what the words mean. Concentrate on the holiness that they imply about you; on the unfailing companionship that is yours; on the complete protection that surrounds you.

You can indeed afford to laugh at fear thoughts, remembering that God goes with you wherever you go.

My comments... I did not have a spiritual encounter this morning when I tried to practice this lesson. God knows I want to, but either I could not quiet my mind or I am not yet ready to accept this gift. I appreciate the meaning of today's lesson and will try to reflect on the true meaning and meditate again. Hopefully I will experience these "startling results", I so much want to be able to truly feel God and dismiss the foolishness of this world of mine.

I am calm, quiet, assured and confident

2006-11-19T06:53:00.000-07:00

Lesson 40

I am blessed as a Son of God.

Today we will begin to assert some of the happy things to which you are entitled, being what you are. No long practice periods are required today, but very frequent short ones are necessary. Once every ten minutes would be highly desirable, and you are urged to attempt this schedule and to adhere to it whenever possible. If you forget, try again. If there are long interruptions, try again. Whenever you remember, try again.

You need not close your eyes for the exercise periods, although you will probably find it more helpful if you do. However, you may be in a number of situations during the day when closing your eyes would not be feasible. Do not miss a practice period because of this. You can practice quite well under any circumstances, if you really want to.

Today's exercises take little time and no effort. Repeat the idea for today, and then add several of the attributes you associate with being a Son of God, applying them to yourself. One practice period might, for example, consist of the following:

I am blessed as a Son of God.
I am happy, peaceful, loving and contented.

Another might take this form:

I am blessed as a Son of God.
I am calm, quiet, assured and confident.

If only a brief period is available, merely telling yourself that you are blessed as a Son of God will do.

My comments... I enjoyed reading about today's lesson. The first line of the lesson where it says "begin to assert some of the happy things to which you are entitled", this just seemed to offer me hope. It is like I am taking a proactive first step - as opposed to purely learning lessons. It is like I have been practicing on the piano for these months and now I get a chance to play - my recital.

Are you a parent of a teen?

2006-11-15T18:54:00.000-07:00

Permit me to stray from my objective of discussing my journey with A Course in Miracles and bring up a completely unrelated topic. This is for parents only... if you are not a parent you will have no interest in what I am about to discuss - I apologize.

If you are a parent of a teenager, a high school prom is most likely in your future. A friend who has watched three daughters drive off to the prom has just published a book about 'after prom parties'. She personally organized an after prom party for one of her daughters and learned enough to realize that this was an event that needed to be introduced to every parent of a high school student.

In doing her research, she inadvertently discovered that the night of the prom is one of the most dangerous times of a teenager's life. Every year, scores of American teens are killed every year on prom night and most of the accidents and deaths involve alcohol. The only way to protect our children from themselves during this perilous time is to provide a celebration that is more fun than other nonsanctioned activities. See what this mother suggests and learn more about her timely new book at www.After-Prom.org.

My holiness is my salvation

2006-11-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

Lesson 39

If guilt is hell, what is its opposite? Like the text for which this workbook was written, the ideas used for the exercises are very simple, very clear and totally unambiguous. We are not concerned with intellectual feats nor logical toys. We are dealing only in the very obvious, which has been overlooked in the clouds of complexity in which you think you think.

If guilt is hell, what is its opposite? This is not difficult, surely. The hesitation you may feel in answering is not due to the ambiguity of the question. But do you believe that guilt is hell? If you did, you would see at once how direct and simple the text is, and you would not need a workbook at all. No one needs practice to gain what is already his.

We have already said that your holiness is the salvation of the world. What about your own salvation? You cannot give what you do not have. A savior must be saved. How else can he teach salvation? Today's exercises will apply to you, recognizing that your salvation is crucial to the salvation of the world. As you apply the exercises to your world, the whole world stands to benefit.

Your holiness is the answer to every question that was ever asked, is being asked now, or will be asked in the future. Your holiness means the end of guilt, and therefore the end of hell. Your holiness is the salvation of the world, and your own. How could you to whom your holiness belongs be excluded from it? God does not know unholiness. Can it be He does not know His Son?

A full five minutes are urged for the four longer practice periods for today, and longer and more frequent practice sessions are encouraged. If you want to exceed the minimum requirements, more rather than longer sessions are recommended, although both are suggested.

Begin the practice periods as usual, by repeating today's idea to yourself. Then, with closed eyes, search out your unloving thoughts in whatever form they appear; uneasiness, depression, anger, fear, worry, attack, insecurity and so on. Whatever form they take, they are unloving and therefore fearful. And so it is from them that you need to be saved.

Specific situations, events or personalities you associate with unloving thoughts of any kind are suitable subjects for today's exercises. It is imperative for your salvation that you see them differently. And it is your blessing on them that will save you and give you vision.

Slowly, without conscious selection and without undue emphasis on any one in particular, search your mind for every thought that stands between you and your salvation. Apply the idea for today to each of them in this way:

My unloving thoughts about ___ are keeping me in hell.

My holiness is my salvation.

You may find these practice periods easier if you intersperse them with several short periods during which you merely repeat today's idea to yourself slowly a few times. You may also find it helpful to include a few short intervals in which you just relax and do not seem to be thinking of anything. Sustained concentration is very difficult at first. It will become much easier as your mind becomes more disciplined and less distractible.

Meanwhile, you should feel free to introduce variety into the exercise periods in whatever form appeals to you. Do not, however, change the idea itself as you vary the method of applying it. However you elect to use it, the idea should be stated so that its meaning is the fact that your holiness is your salvation. 4 End each practice period by repeating the idea in its original form once more, and adding:

If guilt is hell, what is its opposite?

In the shorter applications, which should be made some three or four times an hour and more if possible, you may ask yourself this question, repeat today's idea, and preferably both. If temptations arise, a particularly helpful form of the idea is:

My holiness is my salvation from this.

My comments... "Your holiness is the answer to every question that was ever asked" - is a statement that deserves extreme thought and deep meditation. The meaning of that statement is so powerful - it stops me in my tracks when I think about any of the thousands of questions I've had about this course, God, etc. When I truly accept my own holiness, my divinity (?), my personal hell goes away? Could it be that simple? Is it really that simple to change every belief you've ever had about almost anything?

Reversing all the laws of the world

2006-11-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

Lesson 38

There is nothing my holiness cannot do.

Your holiness reverses all the laws of the world. It is beyond every restriction of time, space, distance and limits of any kind. Your holiness is totally unlimited in its power because it establishes you as a Son of God, at one with the Mind of his Creator.

Through your holiness the power of God is made manifest. Through your holiness the power of God is made available. And there is nothing the power of God cannot do. Your holiness, then, can remove all pain, can end all sorrow, and can solve all problems. It can do so in connection with yourself and with anyone else. It is equal in its power to help anyone because it is equal in its power to save anyone.

If you are holy, so is everything God created. You are holy because all things He created are holy. And all things He created are holy because you are. In today's exercises, we will apply the power of your holiness to all problems, difficulties or suffering in any form that you happen to think of, in yourself or in someone else. We will make no distinctions because there are no distinctions.

In the four longer practice periods, each preferably to last a full five minutes, repeat the idea for today, close your eyes, and then search your mind for any sense of loss or unhappiness of any kind as you see it. Try to make as little distinction as possible between a situation that is difficult for you, and one that is difficult for someone else. Identify the situation specifically, and also the name of the person concerned. Use this form in applying the idea for today:

In the situation involving ___ in which I see myself, there is nothing that my holiness cannot do.

In the situation involving ___ in which ___ sees himself, there is nothing my holiness cannot do.

From time to time you may want to vary this procedure, and add some relevant thoughts of your own. You might like, for example, to include thoughts such as:

There is nothing my holiness cannot do because the power of God lies in it.

Introduce whatever variations appeal to you, but keep the exercises focused on the theme, "There is nothing my holiness cannot do." The purpose of today's exercises is to begin to instill in you a sense that you have dominion over all things because of what you are.

In the frequent shorter applications, apply the idea in its original form unless a specific problem concerning you or someone else arises, or comes to mind. In that event, use the more specific form in applying the idea to it.

My comments... wow! This is the first lesson that speaks to me of my capacity to perform miracles. The first sentence. "Your holiness reverses all the laws of the world. It is beyond every restriction of time, space, distance and limits of any kind", is a powerful statement. The issue I face as a student is the 'true belief' in such a statement. How does one go from - just being me - to being capable of performing a miracle that is beyond every restriction of time, space, distance and limits of any kind? I imagine that is the purpose of these lessons, to push aside the ego and accept my divinity. This is good - and so am I :-)

Responsibility

2006-10-31T09:12:00.000-07:00

Lesson 37

My holiness blesses the world

This idea contains the first glimmerings of your true function in the world, or why you are here. Your purpose is to see the world through your own holiness. Thus are you and the world blessed together. No one loses; nothing is taken away from anyone; everyone gains through your holy vision. It signifies the end of sacrifice because it offers everyone his full due. And he is entitled to everything because it is his birthright as a Son of God.

There is no other way in which the idea of sacrifice can be removed from the world's thinking. Any other way of seeing will inevitably demand payment of someone or something. As a result, the perceiver will lose. Nor will he have any idea why he is losing. Yet is his wholeness restored to his awareness through your vision. Your holiness blesses him by asking nothing of him. Those who see themselves as whole make no demands.

Your holiness is the salvation of the world. It lets you teach the world that it is one with you, not by preaching to it, not by telling it anything, but merely by your quiet recognition that in your holiness are all things blessed along with you.

Today's four longer exercise periods, each to involve three to five minutes of practice, begin with the repetition of the idea for today, followed by a minute or so of looking about you as you apply the idea to whatever you see:

My holiness blesses this chair
My holiness blesses that window
My holiness blesses this body

Then close your eyes and apply the idea to any person who occurs to you, using his name and saying

My holiness blesses you, [name].

You may continue the practice period with your eyes closed; you may open your eyes again and apply the idea for today to your outer world if you so desire; you may alternate between applying the idea to what you see around you and to those who are in your thoughts; or you may use any combination of these two phases of application that you prefer. The practice period should conclude with a repetition of the idea with your eyes closed, and another, following immediately, with your eyes open.

The shorter exercises consist of repeating the idea as often as you can. It is particularly helpful to apply it silently to anyone you meet, using his name as you do so. It is essential to use the idea if anyone seems to cause an adverse reaction in you. Offer him the blessing of your holiness immediately, that you may learn to keep it in your own awareness.

My comments... Again, we are building upon the previous lessons and this one drops a bombshell when it states that "Your holiness is the salvation of the world." That's a lot of pressure to assume (grin). If in fact, I created all this and am responsible for all that is in my reality, I guess that is not such a burdensome statement.

My holiness envelops everything

2006-10-28T05:22:00.000-07:00

Lesson 36

My holiness envelops everything I see

Today's idea extends the idea for yesterday from the perceiver to the perceived. You are holy because your mind is part of God's. And because you are holy, your sight must be holy as well. "Sinless" means without sin. You cannot be without sin a little. You are sinless or not. If your mind is part of God's you must be sinless, or a part of His Mind would be sinful. 8 Your sight is related to His Holiness, not to your ego, and therefore not to your body.

Four three-to-five-minute practice periods are required for today. Try to distribute them fairly evenly, and make the shorter applications frequently, to protect your protection throughout the day. The longer practice periods should take this form:

First, close your eyes and repeat the idea for today several times, slowly. Then open your eyes and look quite slowly about you, applying the idea specifically to whatever you note in your casual survey. Say, for example:

My holiness envelops that rug
My holiness envelops that wall
My holiness envelops these fingers
My holiness envelops that chair
My holiness envelops that body
My holiness envelops this pen.

Several times during these practice periods, close your eyes and repeat the idea to yourself. Then open your eyes, and continue as before.

For the shorter exercise periods, close your eyes and repeat the idea; look about you as you repeat it again; and conclude with one more repetition with your eyes closed. All applications should, of course, be made quite slowly, as effortlessly and unhurriedly as possible.

My comments... a building block lesson that reinforces lesson 35, which as I mentioned, I had trouble 'digesting'. This reminds me of earlier lessons where I was instructed to not see what I was seeing. Conditioning lessons, I like to call these. Preparing me for greater accomplishments in changing how I perceive the world I 'think' I see.

A New Perspective On Wellness

2006-10-25T05:12:00.000-07:00

When miracles do not occur something has gone wrong.

A new e-book called "A New Perspective On Wellness" by teachers of A Course in Miracles from A Course In Miracles International offers a practical and radical healing alternative to struggling with guilt, sickness and pain. (Excerpt)

The seemingly impossible dilemma inherent to the human condition is that it appearsalways to perceive something outside itself. Whether that “something” is adeadly strain of virus, the cancer I am fighting, the spinach I am eating, the carI am driving, the randomness of terrorism, or the obnoxiousness of my next doorneighbor---there is always something “out there” that can “get” me. The predicamentis the defining characteristic of all human behavior. Trying to find a referencepoint within the chaos of apparently opposing forces -- social, physical, emotional,intellectual, and sexual -- I react blindly to whatever I think I perceive. I standas if within a mirrored ball, bouncing off my own reflection, always in a reaction,projecting onto my body, my family, my community, and my world my own fearfuldefense against my own perceptions. The human race, the Master Teacher remindsus, is “suffering from the disease of projected self-identity.”

One of the book's main authors, the Master Teacher of A Course In Miracles states that "Wellness is a Whole Lot More Than Not Being Sick" and adds that there is available, a transformative mind training program through A Course In Miracles that utilizes the powerful application of love, healing, forgiveness and miracles offering people a systematic, direct, powerful approach to changing their lives for the better, once and for all.

"A New Perspective On Wellness" offers valuable tips on:

Wellness & Self-Help*Miracles as a natural part of life
Forgiveness and Recovery from Addiction
Mind-Training to Enlightenment
Miraculous and Spiritual Healing
Fostering World Peace through attaining Inner Peace

To obtain a free copy of this e-book, go to: http://healnow.acimi.org

I see myself as

2006-10-24T07:53:00.000-07:00

Lesson 35

My mind is part of God's. I am very holy.

Today's idea does not describe the way you see yourself now. It does, however, describe what vision will show you. It is difficult for anyone who thinks he is in this world to believe this of himself. Yet the reason he thinks he is in this world is because he does not believe it.

You will believe that you are part of where you think you are. That is because you surround yourself with the environment you want. And you want it to protect the image of yourself that you have made. The image is part of this environment. What you see while you believe you are in it is seen through the eyes of the image. This is not vision. Images cannot see.

The idea for today presents a very different view of yourself. By establishing your Source it establishes your Identity, and it describes you as you must really be in truth. We will use a somewhat different kind of application for today's idea because the emphasis for today is on the perceiver, rather than on what he perceives.

For each of the three five-minute practice periods today, begin by repeating today's idea to yourself, and then close your eyes and search your mind for the various kinds of descriptive terms in which you see yourself. Include all the ego-based attributes which you ascribe to yourself, positive or negative, desirable or undesirable, grandiose or debased. All of them are equally unreal, because you do not look upon yourself through the eyes of holiness.

In the earlier part of the mind-searching period, you will probably emphasize what you consider to be the more negative aspects of your perception of yourself. Toward the latter part of the exercise period, however, more self-inflating descriptive terms may well cross your mind. Try to recognize that the direction of your fantasies about yourself does not matter. Illusions have no direction in reality. They are merely not true.

A suitable unselected list for applying the idea for today might be as follows:

I see myself as imposed on
I see myself as depressed
I see myself as failing
I see myself as endangered
I see myself as helpless
I see myself as victorious
I see myself as losing out
I see myself as charitable
I see myself as virtuous.

You should not think of these terms in an abstract way. They will occur to you as various situations, personalities and events in which you figure cross your mind. Pick up any specific situation that occurs to you, identify the descriptive term or terms you feel are applicable to your reactions to that situation, and use them in applying today's idea. After you have named each one, add:

But my mind is part of God's. I am very holy.

During the longer exercise periods, there will probably be intervals in which nothing specific occurs to you. Do not strain to think up specific things to fill the interval, but merely relax and repeat today's idea slowly until something occurs to you. Although nothing that does occur should be omitted from the exercises, nothing should be "dug out" with effort. Neither force nor discrimination should be used.

As often as possible during the day, pick up a specific attribute or attributes you are ascribing to yourself at the time and apply the idea for today to them, adding the idea in the form stated above to each of them. If nothing particular occurs to you, merely repeat the idea to yourself, with closed eyes.

My comments... This did not make sense to me the first time I read it. I had to read this a number of times and really concentrate on the meaning. It goes against the grain to say something to yourself like "I see myself as failing". However the immediate response of "But my mind is part of God's. I am very holy" nullifies the statement and its connotations. This has been a very difficult exercise to comprehend.

Peace is my choice

2006-10-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Lesson 34

I could see peace instead of this.

The idea for today begins to describe the conditions that prevail in the other way of seeing. Peace of mind is clearly an internal matter. It must begin with your own thoughts, and then extend outward. It is from your peace of mind that a peaceful perception of the world arises.

Three longer practice periods are required for today's exercises. One in the morning and one in the evening are advised, with an additional one to be undertaken at any time in between that seems most conducive to readiness. All applications should be done with your eyes closed. It is your inner world to which the applications of today's idea should be made.

Some five minutes of mind searching are required for each of the longer practice periods. Search your mind for fear thoughts, anxiety-provoking situations, "offending" personalities or events, or anything else about which you are harboring unloving thoughts. Note them all casually, repeating the idea for today slowly as you watch them arise in your mind, and let each one go, to be replaced by the next.

If you begin to experience difficulty in thinking of specific subjects, continue to repeat the idea to yourself in an unhurried manner, without applying it to anything in particular. Be sure, however, not to make any specific exclusions.

The shorter applications are to be frequent, and made whenever you feel your peace of mind is threatened in any way. The purpose is to protect yourself from temptation throughout the day. If a specific form of temptation arises in your awareness, the exercise should take this form:

I could see peace in this situation instead of what I now see in it.

If the inroads on your peace of mind take the form of more generalized adverse emotions, such as depression, anxiety or worry, use the idea in its original form. If you find you need more than one application of today's idea to help you change your mind in any specific context, try to take several minutes and devote them to repeating the idea until you feel some sense of relief. It will help you if you tell yourself specifically:

I can replace my feelings of depression, anxiety or worry [or my thoughts about this situation, personality or event] with peace.

My comments... Sometimes I feel like snippets of ACIM are peppered throughout our history and philosophical beliefs. Take this lesson, which (to me) says I can change the way I look at something. I have the power to change what I believe about something. A relationship with a friend or employer might be stressful, but I can "choose" to look at what is happening differently. I can choose peace instead of stress.

A better way

2006-10-18T15:34:00.000-07:00

Lesson 33

There is another way of looking at the world.

Today's idea is an attempt to recognize that you can shift your perception of the world in both its outer and inner aspects. A full five minutes should be devoted to the morning and evening applications. In these practice periods, the idea should be repeated as often as you find comfortable, though unhurried applications are essential. Alternate between surveying your outer and inner perceptions, but without an abrupt sense of shifting.

Merely glance casually around the world you perceive as outside yourself, then close your eyes and survey your inner thoughts with equal casualness. Try to remain equally uninvolved in both, and to maintain this detachment as you repeat the idea throughout the day.

The shorter exercise periods should be as frequent as possible. Specific applications of today's idea should also be made immediately, when any situation arises which tempts you to become disturbed. For these applications, say:

There is another way of looking at this.

Remember to apply today's idea the instant you are aware of distress. It may be necessary to take a minute or so to sit quietly and repeat the idea to yourself several times. Closing your eyes will probably help in this form of application.

My comments... a lesson I can use. This is one that brings immediate understanding and aids in perception. It is said tha there is no such thing as coincidence, and coincidentally I received an email from a friend that corresponds to the meaning of this lesson.

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad."
"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh yeah," said the son.
"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."
The boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."

There is another way of looking at our world!

Side trip - a question

2006-10-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

I am probably not the best example of a typical blog reader as I don't often read the comments people make (on other blogs) - I usually just read the posts. In the event this also describes you, you may have missed an anonymous comment on a recent post that reads....

These "lessons" you are discussing, are they available other places online with greater explanations as to what this is about? I am interested in reading your comments, but I am not sure I get the full picture on what this is about.

Good question, and if you are not familiar with "A Course In Miracles", I can imagine your confusion. Heck, I've reading the Course for months now and I promise you that no one is more confused than me.

Yes, A Course In Miracles is readily available on the web. You can get the complete text, and even listen to daily lessons. This link is to the public domain version of A Course in Miracles. You can find the Workbook for Students and the Manual for Teachers and the full 365 lessons. Another handy place to Select a Lesson is at this link, from the Foundation for Inner Peace. To be sure, there are many other links to the Course, but these two I reference most frequently.

You may have heard that there is (or was) a controversy about who "owned" (the copyright) to the Course, but that is not something I wish to concern myself with. I purchased the complete printed book and also bought the audio version, which is quite handy when working around the house or traveling in my car. On my Miracles website I have links where you can get the ACIM book and the other books I have discussed by Gary Renard (Disappearance of the Universe) and Taylor G. Wilshire (The What If Guy).

I guess this is a long-winded answer to your question, but if it bothered you, it is probably a question that others had. In my opinion, the Course is a self-discovery journey. For this reason, I have not done a lot of searching online for opinions of others. I know that some refuse to accept ACIM as the word of Jesus, and others consider it some kind of cult. There are many ways into heaven, and the Christian Bible we see today poses as many questions as ACIM.

On this journey, I have chosen to study A Course In Miracles and my blog and website are out there in the hopes that others might benefit from what I learn along the way. If you're new to the Course, buy the book or audio program and give it a chance. You have nothing but eternity...

I am the inventor

2006-10-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

Lesson 32

I have invented the world I see.

Today we are continuing to develop the theme of cause and effect. You are not the victim of the world you see because you invented it. You can give it up as easily as you made it up. You will see it or not see it, as you wish. While you want it you will see it; when you no longer want it, it will not be there for you to see.

The idea for today, like the preceding ones, applies to your inner and outer worlds, which are actually the same. However, since you see them as different, the practice periods for today will again include two phases, one involving the world you see outside you, and the other the world you see in your mind. In today's exercises, try to introduce the thought that both are in your own imagination.

Again we will begin the practice periods for the morning and evening by repeating the idea for today two or three times while looking around at the world you see as outside yourself. Then close your eyes and look around your inner world. Try to treat them both as equally as possible. Repeat the idea for today unhurriedly as often as you wish, as you watch the images your imagination presents to your awareness.

For the two longer practice periods three to five minutes are recommended, with not less than three required. More than five can be utilized, if you find the exercise restful. To facilitate this, select a time when few distractions are anticipated, and when you yourself feel reasonably ready.

These exercises are also to be continued during the day, as often as possible. The shorter applications consist of repeating the idea slowly, as you survey either your inner or outer world. It does not matter which you choose.

The idea for today should also be applied immediately to any situation that may distress you. Apply the idea by telling yourself:

I have invented this situation as I see it.

My Comments... As I go through these lessons, I am also reading the text of ACIM. This idea that I "invented" all that I see and experience weighs heavy on my mind. Just yesterday I was watching the news on television and saw a report form Irag where car bombs were set-off and scores of civilians were slaughtered by their "neighbors". I remember thinking to myself as I remembered parts of the Course I had read... "I created this"? "Why would I create something so barbaric and distasteful"?

I fully appreciate the concept of separation and why I (my ego) created this illusion, but I have a hard time fathoming such brutality and violence. Where this is easier to accept is the argument that God created the world and all that we see in it. If we attribute the goodness and beauty to God, the creator, must we not also attribute these atrocities if in fact he DID create the world? Therein in the justification that He is not responsible for anything I think I see or experience. If God is perfect love, he could not have created, nor permit such things to happen. If not God, then it must be me.

I am not the victim

2006-10-12T20:50:00.000-07:00

Lesson 31

I am not the victim of the world I see.

Today's idea is the introduction to your declaration of release. Again, the idea should be applied to both the world you see without and the world you see within. In applying the idea, we will use a form of practice which will be used more and more, with changes as indicated. Generally speaking, the form includes two aspects, one in which you apply the idea on a more sustained basis, and the other consisting of frequent applications of the idea throughout the day.

Two longer periods of practice with the idea for today are needed, one in the morning and one at night. Three to five minutes for each of these are recommended. During that time, look about you slowly while repeating the idea two or three times. Then close your eyes, and apply the same idea to your inner world. You will escape from both together, for the inner is the cause of the outer.

As you survey your inner world, merely let whatever thoughts cross your mind come into your awareness, each to be considered for a moment, and then replaced by the next. Try not to establish any kind of hierarchy among them. Watch them come and go as dispassionately as possible. Do not dwell on any one in particular, but try to let the stream move on evenly and calmly, without any special investment on your part. As you sit and quietly watch your thoughts, repeat today's idea to yourself as often as you care to, but with no sense of hurry.

In addition, repeat the idea for today as often as possible during the day. Remind yourself that you are making a declaration of independence in the name of your own freedom. And in your freedom lies the freedom of the world.

The idea for today is also a particularly useful one to use as a response to any form of temptation that may arise. It is a declaration that you will not yield to it, and put yourself in bondage.

My comments... This tells me to rise above what I (think I) see and acknowledge that I am not part of the world I see outside or as I imagine things inside. Like so many of the previous lessons, this feels like an affirmation of sorts... convincing myself that I am not part of what appears to be going on around me.

God is in everything I see

2006-10-10T14:57:00.000-07:00

Lesson 30

God is in everything I see because God is in my mind.

The idea for today is the springboard for vision. From this idea will the world open up before you, and you will look upon it and see in it what you have never seen before. Nor will what you saw before be even faintly visible to you.

Today we are trying to use a new kind of "projection." We are not attempting to get rid of what we do not like by seeing it outside. Instead, we are trying to see in the world what is in our minds, and what we want to recognize is there. Thus, we are trying to join with what we see, rather than keeping it apart from us. That is the fundamental difference between vision and the way you see.

Today's idea should be applied as often as possible throughout the day. Whenever you have a moment or so, repeat it to yourself slowly, looking about you, and trying to realize that the idea applies to everything you do see now, or could see now if it were within the range of your sight.

Real vision is not limited to concepts such as "near" and "far." To help you begin to get used to this idea, try to think of things beyond your present range as well as those you can actually see, as you apply today's idea.

Real vision is not only unlimited by space and distance, but it does not depend on the body's eyes at all. The mind is its only source. To aid in helping you to become more accustomed to this idea as well, devote several practice periods to applying today's idea with your eyes closed, using whatever subjects come to mind, and looking within rather than without. Today's idea applies equally to both.

My comments... connecting the dots as it were. Yesterday's lesson taught me that "God is in everything I see". Today's lesson clarifies that I see God in everything because God is in my mind. God is with me, I am part of God and I am trying to recognize him - in me- in everything I can see or imagine.

I see God in everything

2006-10-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

Lesson 29

God is in everything I see.

The idea for today explains why you can see all purpose in everything. It explains why nothing is separate, by itself or in itself. And it explains why nothing you see means anything. In fact, it explains every idea we have used thus far, and all subsequent ones as well. Today's idea is the whole basis for vision.

You will probably find this idea very difficult to grasp at this point. You may find it silly, irreverent, senseless, funny and even objectionable. Certainly God is not in a table, for example, as you see it. Yet we emphasized yesterday that a table shares the purpose of the universe. And what shares the purpose of the universe shares the purpose of its Creator.
Try then, today, to begin to learn how to look on all things with love, appreciation and open-mindedness. You do not see them now. Would you know what is in them? Nothing is as it appears to you. Its holy purpose stands beyond your little range. When vision has shown you the holiness that lights up the world, you will understand today's idea perfectly. And you will not understand how you could ever have found it difficult.

Our six two-minute practice periods for today should follow a now familiar pattern: Begin with repeating the idea to yourself, and then apply it to randomly chosen subjects about you, naming each one specifically. Try to avoid the tendency toward self-directed selection, which may be particularly tempting in connection with today's idea because of its wholly alien nature. Remember that any order you impose is equally alien to reality.

Your list of subjects should therefore be as free of self-selection as possible. For example, a suitable list might include:

God is in this coat hanger.
God is in this magazine.
God is in this finger.
God is in this lamp.
God is in that body.
God is in that door.
God is in that waste basket.

In addition to the assigned practice periods, repeat the idea for today at least once an hour, looking slowly about you as you say the words unhurriedly to yourself. At least once or twice, you should experience a sense of restfulness as you do this.

My comments... In today's lesson, it states that "You will probably find this idea very difficult to grasp...", but on the contrary I find it easier than many previous lessons. I have always believed that I get a glimpse of God when looking at a majestic sunset or a beautiful natural landscape. If I feel this way, is it therefore a reach to say that I can also see God in a "pencil"?
The conflict (or unease) I get is when applying this lesson to something that is not appreciated such as war or illness, etc. I get self-imposed pushback if I say I see God in the Iraq war. But I know that God did not make that war or participate in the atrocities of that or any war - that is our doing (my doing). I see God in the people of that war, not in their actions.

I want to see things differently

2006-10-02T05:11:00.000-07:00

Lesson 28

Above all else I want to see things differently.

Today we are really giving specific application to the idea for yesterday. In these practice periods, you will be making a series of definite commitments. The question of whether you will keep them in the future is not our concern here. If you are willing at least to make them now, you have started on the way to keeping them. And we are still at the beginning.

You may wonder why it is important to say, for example, "Above all else I want to see this table differently." In itself it is not important at all. Yet what is by itself? And what does "in itself" mean? You see a lot of separate things about you, which really means you are not seeing at all. You either see or not. When you have seen one thing differently, you will see all things differently. The light you will see in any one of them is the same light you will see in them all.

When you say, "Above all else I want to see this table differently," you are making a commitment to withdraw your preconceived ideas about the table, and open your mind to what it is, and what it is for. You are not defining it in past terms. You are asking what it is, rather than telling it what it is. You are not binding its meaning to your tiny experience of tables, nor are you limiting its purpose to your little personal thoughts.

You will not question what you have already defined. And the purpose of these exercises is to ask questions and receive the answers. In saying, "Above all else I want to see this table differently," you are committing yourself to seeing. It is not an exclusive commitment. It is a commitment that applies to the table just as much as to anything else, neither more nor less.

You could, in fact, gain vision from just that table, if you would withdraw all your own ideas from it, and look upon it with a completely open mind. It has something to show you; something beautiful and clean and of infinite value, full of happiness and hope. Hidden under all your ideas about it is its real purpose, the purpose it shares with all the universe.

In using the table as a subject for applying the idea for today, you are therefore really asking to see the purpose of the universe. You will be making this same request of each subject that you use in the practice periods. And you are making a commitment to each of them to let its purpose be revealed to you, instead of placing your own judgment upon it.
We will have six two-minute practice periods today, in which the idea for the day is stated first, and then applied to whatever you see about you. Not only should the subjects be chosen randomly, but each one should be accorded equal sincerity as today's idea is applied to it, in an attempt to acknowledge the equal value of them all in their contribution to your seeing.

As usual, the applications should include the name of the subject your eyes happen to light on, and you should rest your eyes on it while saying

Above all else I want to see this ___ differently.

Each application should be made quite slowly, and as thoughtfully as possible. There is no hurry.

My comments... This is an important clarification to me. This lesson seems less abstract than so many of the previous lessons. The comment, "You could, in fact, gain vision from just that table, if you would withdraw all your own ideas from it, and look upon it with a completely open mind", strikes a chord. I have yet to see light surrounding an object or acknowledge anything that I would consider to be out of the ordinary. Meaning, that something about these lessons was changing my conscious perspective. But this message adds clarification that hopefully will cause me to begin to see and understand things differently.

Above all else...

2006-09-28T14:45:00.000-07:00

Lesson 27

Above all else I want to see.

Today's idea expresses something stronger than mere determination. It gives vision priority among your desires. You may feel hesitant about using the idea, on the grounds that you are not sure you really mean it. This does not matter. The purpose of today's exercises is to bring the time when the idea will be wholly true a little nearer.

There may be a great temptation to believe that some sort of sacrifice is being asked of you when you say you want to see above all else. If you become uneasy about the lack of reservation involved, add:

Vision has no cost to anyone.

If fear of loss still persists, add further:

It can only bless.

The idea for today needs many repetitions for maximum benefit. It should be used at least every half hour, and more if possible. You might try for every fifteen or twenty minutes. It is recommended that you set a definite time interval for using the idea when you wake or shortly afterwards, and attempt to adhere to it throughout the day. It will not be difficult to do this, even if you are engaged in conversation, or otherwise occupied at the time. You can still repeat one short sentence to yourself without disturbing anything.

The real question is, how often will you remember? How much do you want today's idea to be true? Answer one of these questions, and you have answered the other. You will probably miss several applications, and perhaps quite a number. Do not be disturbed by this, but do try to keep on your schedule from then on. If only once during the day you feel that you were perfectly sincere while you were repeating today's idea, you can be sure that you have saved yourself many years of effort.

My comments... Wow, this is a revealing lesson to me. It addresses a question I posed earlier about "missing practice sessions during the day", but most of all it just seemed to speak to me. Above all else I want to see. I really want to see. Bless you for reading this.

Invulnerable - am I - or am I not?

2006-09-26T08:17:00.000-07:00

Lesson 26

My attack thoughts are attacking my invulnerability.

It is surely obvious that if you can be attacked you are not invulnerable. You see attack as a real threat. That is because you believe that you can really attack. And what would have effects through you must also have effects on you. It is this law that will ultimately save you, but you are misusing it now. You must therefore learn how it can be used for your own best interests, rather than against them.

Because your attack thoughts will be projected, you will fear attack. And if you fear attack, you must believe that you are not invulnerable. Attack thoughts therefore make you vulnerable in your own mind, which is where the attack thoughts are. Attack thoughts and invulnerability cannot be accepted together. They contradict each other.

The idea for today introduces the thought that you always attack yourself first. If attack thoughts must entail the belief that you are vulnerable, their effect is to weaken you in your own eyes. Thus they have attacked your perception of yourself. And because you believe in them, you can no longer believe in yourself. A false image of yourself has come to take the place of what you are.

Practice with today's idea will help you to understand that vulnerability or invulnerability is the result of your own thoughts. Nothing except your thoughts can attack you. Nothing except your thoughts can make you think you are vulnerable. And nothing except your thoughts can prove to you this is not so.

Six practice periods are required in applying today's idea. A full two minutes should be attempted for each of them, although the time may be reduced to a minute if the discomfort is too great. Do not reduce it further.

The practice period should begin with repeating the idea for today, then closing your eyes and reviewing the unresolved questions whose outcomes are causing you concern. The concern may take the form of depression, worry, anger, a sense of imposition, fear, foreboding or preoccupation. Any problem as yet unsettled that tends to recur in your thoughts during the day is a suitable subject. You will not be able to use very many for any one practice period, because a longer time than usual should be spent with each one. Today's idea should be applied as follows:
First, name the situation:

I am concerned about ______.

Then go over every possible outcome that has occurred to you in that connection and which has caused you concern, referring to each one quite specifically, saying:

I am afraid ______ will happen.

If you are doing the exercises properly, you should have some five or six distressing possibilities available for each situation you use, and quite possibly more. It is much more helpful to cover a few situations thoroughly than to touch on a larger number. As the list of anticipated outcomes for each situation continues, you will probably find some of them, especially those that occur to you toward the end, less acceptable to you. Try, however, to treat them all alike to whatever extent you can.

After you have named each outcome of which you are afraid, tell yourself:

That thought is an attack upon myself.

Conclude each practice period by repeating today's idea to yourself once more.

My comments... Today's lesson dovetails with the previous lesson, "(#23) I can escape from the world I see by giving up attack thoughts". I see today's lesson as a very positive exercise. It is kind of like putting my thoughts in to perspective and making me realize that they are mine ONLLY, and ONLY I can change how I look at things and how I think about things. I will do my best to practice this the required number of times. As I mentioned in my previous comments, I'm having difficulty practicing the lessons the required number of times recommended. I guess I'm only human? :-)

I do not know what anything is for

2006-09-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

Lesson 25

I do not know what anything is for.

Purpose is meaning. Today's idea explains why nothing you see means anything. You do not know what it is for. Therefore, it is meaningless to you. Everything is for your own best interests. That is what it is for; that is its purpose; that is what it means. It is in recognizing this that your goals become unified. It is in recognizing this that what you see is given meaning.

You perceive the world and everything in it as meaningful in terms of ego goals. These goals have nothing to do with your own best interests, because the ego is not you. This false identification makes you incapable of understanding what anything is for. As a result, you are bound to misuse it. When you believe this, you will try to withdraw the goals you have assigned to the world, instead of attempting to reinforce them.

Another way of describing the goals you now perceive is to say that they are all concerned with "personal" interests. Since you have no personal interests, your goals are really concerned with nothing. In cherishing them, therefore, you have no goals at all. And thus you do not know what anything is for.

Before you can make any sense out of the exercises for today, one more thought is necessary. At the most superficial levels, you do recognize purpose. Yet purpose cannot be understood at these levels. For example, you do understand that a telephone is for the purpose of talking to someone who is not physically in your immediate vicinity. What you do not understand is what you want to reach him for. And it is this that makes your contact with him meaningful or not.

It is crucial to your learning to be willing to give up the goals you have established for everything. The recognition that they are meaningless, rather than "good" or "bad," is the only way to accomplish this. The idea for today is a step in this direction.

Six practice periods, each of two-minutes duration, are required. Each practice period should begin with a slow repetition of the idea for today, followed by looking about you and letting your glance rest on whatever happens to catch your eye, near or far, "important" or "unimportant," "human" or "nonhuman." With your eyes resting on each subject you so select, say, for example:

I do not know what this chair is for.

I do not know what this pencil is for.

I do not know what this hand is for.

Say this quite slowly, without shifting your eyes from the subject until you have completed the statement about it. Then move on to the next subject, and apply today's idea as before.

My comments... Upon first reading today's lesson, I thought - "here we go again with another one of those 'that tree is not a tree' lessons". But after reading the lesson description, it actually made more sense and was easier to understand. This reminded me of an old song by Chicago... "Does anybody really know what time it is"? The answer to that son's question is obviously - no.

A question I have for experienced ACIM practitioners is... what is lost if one does not follow the lessons instructions as required? As an example, this lesson says that I need to practice this for six practice sessions today. What is the result if I only do it twice? Should I start over with this lesson tomorrow or go on to the next lesson? I am embarassed to admit that I often forget to do the required number of sessions. I forget and then I go on to the next lesson. It is not that I'm trying to speed up or cut something out - I just forget during the course of the day to do the day's lesson.

Choosing what is best

2006-09-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

Lesson 24

I do not perceive my own best interests.

In no situation that arises do you realize the outcome that would make you happy. Therefore, you have no guide to appropriate action, and no way of judging the result. What you do is determined by your perception of the situation, and that perception is wrong. It is inevitable, then, that you will not serve your own best interests. Yet they are your only goal in any situation which is correctly perceived. Otherwise, you will not recognize what they are.

If you realized that you do not perceive your own best interests, you could be taught what they are. But in the presence of your conviction that you do know what they are, you cannot learn. The idea for today is a step toward opening your mind so that learning can begin.

The exercises for today require much more honesty than you are accustomed to using. A few subjects, honestly and carefully considered in each of the five practice periods which should be undertaken today, will be more helpful than a more cursory examination of a large number. Two minutes are suggested for each of the mind-searching periods which the exercises involve.

The practice periods should begin with repeating today's idea, followed by searching the mind, with closed eyes, for unresolved situations about which you are currently concerned. The emphasis should be on uncovering the outcome you want. You will quickly realize that you have a number of goals in mind as part of the desired outcome, and also that these goals are on different levels and often conflict.

In applying the idea for today, name each situation that occurs to you, and then enumerate carefully as many goals as possible that you would like to be met in its resolution. The form of each application should be roughly as follows:

In the situation involving ______, I would like ______ to happen, and ______ to happen,

. . . .and so on. Try to cover as many different kinds of outcomes as may honestly occur to you, even if some of them do not appear to be directly related to the situation, or even to be inherent in it at all.

If these exercises are done properly, you will quickly recognize that you are making a large number of demands of the situation which have nothing to do with it. You will also recognize that many of your goals are contradictory, that you have no unified outcome in mind, and that you must experience disappointment in connection with some of your goals, however the situation turns out.

After covering the list of as many hoped-for goals as possible, for each unresolved situation that crosses your mind say to yourself:

I do not perceive my own best interests in this situation,

. . . and go on to the next one.

My comments... "I do not perceive my own best interests" - now here is a statement that I've been hearing my entire life. As a child, we have all heard words to this effect, that "we don't know what's best for us", or "you don't make good choices". Although the outcome is different with today's exercise, it is the same thing on a different scale. This is an easier lesson to grasp and doesn't cause the mind confusion or anxiety.

My vengeful world

2006-09-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

Lesson 23

I can escape from the world I see by giving up attack thoughts.

The idea for today contains the only way out of fear that will ever succeed. Nothing else will work; everything else is meaningless. But this way cannot fail. Every thought you have makes up some segment of the world you see. It is with your thoughts, then, that we must work, if your perception of the world is to be changed.

If the cause of the world you see is attack thoughts, you must learn that it is these thoughts which you do not want. There is no point in lamenting the world. There is no point in trying to change the world. It is incapable of change because it is merely an effect. But there is indeed a point in changing your thoughts about the world. Here you are changing the cause. The effect will change automatically.

The world you see is a vengeful world, and everything in it is a symbol of vengeance. Each of your perceptions of "external reality" is a pictorial representation of your own attack thoughts. One can well ask if this can be called seeing. Is not fantasy a better word for such a process, and hallucination a more appropriate term for the result?

You see the world that you have made, but you do not see yourself as the image maker. You cannot be saved from the world, but you can escape from its cause. This is what salvation means, for where is the world you see when its cause is gone? Vision already holds a replacement for everything you think you see now. Loveliness can light your images, and so transform them that you will love them, even though they were made of hate. For you will not be making them alone.

The idea for today introduces the thought that you are not trapped in the world you see, because its cause can be changed. This change requires, first, that the cause be identified and then let go, so that it can be replaced. The first two steps in this process require your cooperation. The final one does not. Your images have already been replaced. By taking the first two steps, you will see that this is so.

Besides using it throughout the day as the need arises, five practice periods are required in applying today's idea. As you look about you, repeat the idea slowly to yourself first, and then close your eyes and devote about a minute to searching your mind for as many attack thoughts as occur to you. As each one crosses your mind say:

I can escape from the world I see

by giving up attack thoughts about ______.

Hold each attack thought in mind as you say this, and then dismiss that thought and go on to the next.

In the practice periods, be sure to include both your thoughts of attacking and of being attacked. Their effects are exactly the same because they are exactly the same. You do not recognize this as yet, and you are asked at this time only to treat them as the same in today's practice periods. We are still at the stage of identifying the cause of the world you see. When you finally learn that thoughts of attack and of being attacked are not different, you will be ready to let the cause go.

My comments... Oh my, this is another of those lessons that cause me much confusion. It is like I can only process part of these thoughts (there's logic rearing its ugly head again). "You see the world that you have made, but you do not see yourself as the image maker", is a statement I can nod my head when reading and agree. "Loveliness can light your images, and so transform them that you will love them, even though they were made of hate", I have trouble identifying with this statement - I WANT to, I'm just having intense difficulty. It is like saying that I can love another who murders a member of my family. I KNOW this is where I should be, but every fibre of my body wants to reject that thought.

Nothing lasts in this world

2006-09-10T04:46:00.000-07:00

Lesson 22

What I see is a form of vengeance.

Today's idea accurately describes the way anyone who holds attack thoughts in his mind must see the world. Having projected his anger onto the world, he sees vengeance about to strike at him. His own attack is thus perceived as self defense. This becomes an increasingly vicious circle until he is willing to change how he sees. Otherwise, thoughts of attack and counter-attack will preoccupy him and people his entire world. What peace of mind is possible to him then?

It is from this savage fantasy that you want to escape. Is it not joyous news to hear that it is not real? Is it not a happy discovery to find that you can escape? You made what you would destroy; everything that you hate and would attack and kill. All that you fear does not exist.

Look at the world about you at least five times today, for at least a minute each time. As your eyes move slowly from one object to another, from one body to another, say to yourself:

I see only the perishable.

I see nothing that will last.

What I see is not real.

What I see is a form of vengeance.

At the end of each practice period, ask yourself:

Is this the world I really want to see?

The answer is surely obvious.

My comments... This lesson obviously follows up on the previous lessons, but it is explained more clearly and (unlike some of the previous lessons) makes more sense to me. Possibly because the statements, "I see only the perishable, and I see nothing that will last" are true in this made up world of ours. Nothing lasts. This is easy to accept. The "vengeance" and "attack thoughts" aspect of today's lesson is something I must think about, as this is a different concept for me.

Determination brings relief

2006-09-06T06:45:00.000-07:00

Lesson 21

I am determined to see things differently.

The idea for today is obviously a continuation and extension of the preceding one. This time, however, specific mind-searching periods are necessary, in addition to applying the idea to particular situations as they may arise. Five practice periods are urged, allowing a full minute for each.
In the practice periods, begin by repeating the idea to yourself. Then close your eyes and search your mind carefully for situations past, present or anticipated that arouse anger in you. The anger may take the form of any reaction ranging from mild irritation to rage. The degree of the emotion you experience does not matter. You will become increasingly aware that a slight twinge of annoyance is nothing but a veil drawn over intense fury.

Try, therefore, not to let the "little" thoughts of anger escape you in the practice periods. Remember that you do not really recognize what arouses anger in you, and nothing that you believe in this connection means anything. You will probably be tempted to dwell more on some situations or persons than on others, on the fallacious grounds that they are more "obvious." This is not so. It is merely an example of the belief that some forms of attack are more justified than others.

As you search your mind for all the forms in which attack thoughts present themselves, hold each one in mind while you tell yourself:

I am determined to see ______ [name of person] differently.

I am determined to see ______ [specify the situation] differently.

Try to be as specific as possible. You may, for example, focus your anger on a particular attribute of a particular person, believing that the anger is limited to this aspect. If your perception is suffering from this form of distortion, say:

I am determined to see ______ [specify the attribute]in ______ [name of person] differently.

My comments... As mentioned in the lesson text above, this follows up on the previous lesson, but with more specifics. As I practiced yesterday's lesson and this one, I get a sense of calming when I identify a person or situation and state that I am determined to see this differently. It almost feels like I'm releasing myself (excusing myself) in some way. That by doing this, the guilt or anger I feel toward that thing is dissipating.... I'm determined!

I am determined

2006-08-30T19:06:00.000-07:00

Lesson 20

I am determined to see.

We have been quite casual about our practice periods thus far. There has been virtually no attempt to direct the time for undertaking them, minimal effort has been required, and not even active cooperation and interest have been asked. This approach has been intentional, and very carefully planned. We have not lost sight of the crucial importance of the reversal of your thinking. The salvation of the world depends on it. Yet you will not see if you regard yourself as being coerced, and if you give in to resentment and opposition.

This is our first attempt to introduce structure. Do not misconstrue it as an effort to exert force or pressure. You want salvation. You want to be happy. You want peace. You do not have them now, because your mind is totally undisciplined, and you cannot distinguish between joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, love and fear. You are now learning how to tell them apart. And great indeed will be your reward.

Your decision to see is all that vision requires. What you want is yours. Do not mistake the little effort that is asked of you for an indication that our goal is of little worth. Can the salvation of the world be a trivial purpose? And can the world be saved if you are not? God has one Son, and he is the resurrection and the life. His will is done because all power is given him in Heaven and on earth. In your determination to see is vision given you.

The exercises for today consist in reminding yourself throughout the day that you want to see. Today's idea also tacitly implies the recognition that you do not see now. Therefore, as you repeat the idea, you are stating that you are determined to change your present state for a better one, and one you really want.

Repeat today's idea slowly and positively at least twice an hour today, attempting to do so every half hour. Do not be distressed if you forget to do so, but make a real effort to remember. The extra repetitions should be applied to any situation, person or event that upsets you. You can see them differently, and you will. What you desire you will see. Such is the real law of cause and effect as it operates in the world.

My comments... As the lesson states, "this is our first attempt to introduce structure." This is something I have been eager to "see". Until now, these exercises seemed all over the board, as if there were no sequence being followed, and this added to my confusion. Today's lesson is simple, I am to repeat a phrase every half hour... "I am determined to see."

I believe that I am determined. To see and to experience the true meaning of God. This is why I am sticking with these exercises and why I share my feelings with you (whoever you are). Conventional "religion" has always held a promise to me, but it failed to do more than tease me. I have always felt there was something being held back, whether it be on purpose or because the powers that be deemed it that way. A Course In Miracles still "teases" me, but I am hopeful that if I follow the lessons and complete the text, the true meaning of all will be unfolded. This is my prayer. I am determined to see.

No private thoughts - deep

2006-08-30T19:04:00.000-07:00

Lesson 19

I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my thoughts.

The idea for today is obviously the reason why your seeing does not affect you alone. You will notice that at times the ideas related to thinking precede those related to perceiving, while at other times the order is reversed. The reason is that the order does not matter. Thinking and its results are really simultaneous, for cause and effect are never separate.
Today we are again emphasizing the fact that minds are joined. This is rarely a wholly welcome idea at first, since it seems to carry with it an enormous sense of responsibility, and may even be regarded as an "invasion of privacy." Yet it is a fact that there are no private thoughts. Despite your initial resistance to this idea, you will yet understand that it must be true if salvation is possible at all. And salvation must be possible because it is the Will of God.

The minute or so of mind searching which today's exercises require is to be undertaken with eyes closed. The idea for today is to be repeated first, and then the mind should be carefully searched for the thoughts it contains at that time. As you consider each one, name it in terms of the central person or theme it contains, and holding it in your mind as you do so, say:

I am not alone in experiencing the effects of this thought about ______ .

The requirement of as much indiscriminateness as possible in selecting subjects for the practice periods should be quite familiar to you by now, and will no longer be repeated each day, although it will occasionally be included as a reminder. Do not forget, however, that random selection of subjects for all practice periods remains essential throughout. Lack of order in this connection will ultimately make the recognition of lack of order in miracles meaningful to you.

Apart from the "as needed" application of today's idea, at least three practice periods are required, shortening the length of time involved, if necessary. Do not attempt more than four.

My comments... The statement, "There are no private thoughts", really struck a chord with me. I have a "friend" who I find very difficult to be around most of the time. I won't bore you with the details, but this person is full of himself and being around him literally saps my energy. Consequently, I often experience negative thoughts when I am around him and I've sometimes had the feeling that he senses these thoughts.

Today's lesson hit me between the eyes. On some level, my friend DOES sense my thoughts about him. To me, this is a reason why I must always be vigilant about my thoughts and realize what they are and that they are affection others. This is deep...

We are all connected

2006-08-30T18:19:00.000-07:00

Lesson 18

I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my seeing.

The idea for today is another step in learning that the thoughts which give rise to what you see are never neutral or unimportant. It also emphasizes the idea that minds are joined, which will be given increasing stress later on.

Today's idea does not refer to what you see as much as to how you see it. Therefore, the exercises for today emphasize this aspect of your perception. The three or four practice periods which are recommended should be done as follows:

Look about you, selecting subjects for the application of the idea for today as randomly as possible, and keeping your eyes on each one long enough to say:

I am not alone in experiencing the effects of how I see ______ .

Conclude each practice period by repeating the more general statement:

I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my seeing.

A minute or so, or even less, will be sufficient for each practice period.

My comments... I have done some reading on the new science of DNA where they are now demonstrating that DNA from a person separated from that person reacts to stimuli (of the host) as if it were still attached to the person. This offers tangible insight to the statement that we are all "connected" regardless of our separateness. As implausible as it may seem, we are connected to the radical Muslim suicide bomber who is trying to kill us. That person perceives a tree or a book in the same manner in which I see a book or a tree. This is an interesting lesson to me and is easier to grasp than some of the earlier lessons.

Your Immortal Reality

2006-08-28T07:47:00.000-07:00

Your Immortal Reality

If you are not familiar with how I came to discover A Course In Miracles, it was through reading a book by Gary Renard, author of Disappearance of the Universe. Well, I just learned that Gary has released a new book entitled, "Your Immortal Reality".

The write-up about Your Immortal Reality says that it expands the teachings of the Gospel of Thomas and A Course in Miracles. By implementing a unique modification in our understanding of forgiveness, and taking the true meaning of thought to a whole new level, the result will break the cycle of birth and death. Includes information from the Ascended Master Teachers, Arten and Pursah, who were first introduced to the world in Disappearance of the Universe. To learn more about what I have learned so far, see Your Immortal Reality.

I SEE nothing

2006-08-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

Lesson 17

I see no neutral things.

This idea is another step in the direction of identifying cause and effect as it really operates in the world. You see no neutral things because you have no neutral thoughts. It is always the thought that comes first, despite the temptation to believe that it is the other way around. This is not the way the world thinks, but you must learn that it is the way you think. If it were not so, perception would have no cause, and would itself be the cause of reality. In view of its highly variable nature, this is hardly likely.

In applying today's idea, say to yourself, with eyes open:

I see no neutral things becauseI have no neutral thoughts.

Then look about you, resting your glance on each thing you note long enough to say:

I do not see a neutral ______ becausemy thoughts about ______ are not neutral.

For example, you might say: I do not see a neutral wall, because my thoughts about walls are not neutral.

I do not see a neutral body, because my thoughts about bodies are not neutral.

As usual, it is essential to make no distinctions between what you believe to be animate or inanimate; pleasant or unpleasant. Regardless of what you may believe, you do not see anything that is really alive or really joyous. That is because you are unaware as yet of any thought that is really true, and therefore really happy.

Three or four specific practice periods are recommended, and no less than three are required for maximum benefit, even if you experience resistance. However, if you do, the length of the practice period may be reduced to less than the minute or so that is otherwise recommended.

My comments... More training and preparation for my feeble brain. I am constantly reminded of cliches such as "you become what you think about most" (someone famous said that). Again, I see these exercises as training and preparing me to accept thoughts that are not easy to grasp and meet with so much resistance from my ego. As I've mentioned many times before in this blog... I'm still having trouble looking at a tree from my window and telling myself that it is not real. Maybe I'm just a slow learner, or maybe I'm textbook "normal"... I have no idea, but I know that these exercises are not easily accepted by my (ego) brain.

Getting it

2006-08-20T06:59:00.000-07:00

Side trip today...

This was sent to me by a friend today and it really struck a chord. I think this mindset is what finally leads many of us to ACIM. Anyway, it is a powerful message by an unknown author. Enjoy...

A time comes in your life when you finally get it….. When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks, and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out -ENOUGH--!! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears, and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at theworld through new eyes. This is your awakening!!!!!!!

You realize that it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that he is not Prince Charming and you are not Cinderella and that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter), and that any guarantee of “happily ever after” must begin with you, and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love appreciate or approve of who or what you are….and that's OK (They are entitled to their own views and opinions). And you learn the importance of being and championing yourself; and in the process a sense of newfound confidence is born of self-approval.

You stop bitching and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say, and that not everyone will always be there for you, and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself; and in the process a sense of safety and security isborn of self reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers…and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties; and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness. You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. And you begin to sift through all the crap you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look, and how much you should weigh; what you should wear and where you should shop, and what you should drive; how and where you should live, and what you should do for a living; who you should sleep with, who you should marry, and what you should expect of a marriage; the importance of having and raising children, or what you owe your parents. You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with; and in the process you learn to go with your instincts. You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is honor and glory in creating and contributing; and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a “consumer” looking for you next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must built a life. You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world…and that you can't teach a pig to sing.

You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility, and the importance of setting boundaries, and learning to say NO. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry, and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. Romantic love and familial love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving, and when to walk away. You learn not to reject your needs or your feelings onto a relationship you learn that you will not be more beautiful, more intelligent, more lovable or important because of the man on your arm or the child that bears your name.

You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them to be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn that just as people grow and change, so it is with love. And you learn that you don't have the right to demand love on your terms…just to make you happy.

And, you learn that alone does not mean lonely. And you look in the mirror and come to terms with the fact that you will never be a size 5 or a perfect 10, and you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head and agonizing over how you “stack up.” You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK…and that it is your right to want things and to ask for things that you want…and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.

You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect; and you won't settle for less. And, you allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you to glorify you with his touch…and in the process you internalize the meaning of self-respect.
And you learn that your body really is your temple, and you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time to exercise. You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So you take more time to rest.

And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to and play. You learn that for the most part, in life you get what you believe you deserve…and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for, and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone and that it's OK to risk asking for help.

You learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time. FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it, and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms.

And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve; and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening.

And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal stage-the ego. You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you, and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about; a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself; and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever, settle for less than your heart's desire. And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

Finally, with courage in your heart and with God by your side you take a stand; you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.

(Author unknown)

Thoughts are True or False

2006-08-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

Lesson 16

I have no neutral thoughts.

The following is taken from the lesson...

The idea for today is a beginning step in dispelling the belief that your thoughts have no effect. Everything you see is the result of your thoughts. There is no exception to this fact. Thoughts are not big or little; powerful or weak. They are merely true or false. Those that are true create their own likeness. Those that are false make theirs.

There is no more self-contradictory concept than that of "idle thoughts." What gives rise to the perception of a whole world can hardly be called idle. Every thought you have contributes to truth or to illusion; either it extends the truth or it multiplies illusions. You can indeed multiply nothing, but you will not extend it by doing so.

Besides your recognizing that thoughts are never idle, salvation requires that you also recognize that every thought you have brings either peace or war; either love or fear. A neutral result is impossible because a neutral thought is impossible. There is such a temptation to dismiss fear thoughts as unimportant, trivial and not worth bothering about that it is essential you recognize them all as equally destructive, but equally unreal. We will practice this idea in many forms before you really understand it.

In applying the idea for today, search your mind for a minute or so with eyes closed, and actively seek not to overlook any "little" thought that may tend to elude the search. This is quite difficult until you get used to it. You will find that it is still hard for you not to make artificial distinctions. Every thought that occurs to you, regardless of the qualities that you assign to it, is a suitable subject for applying today's idea.

In the practice periods, first repeat the idea to yourself, and then as each one crosses your mind hold it in awareness while you tell yourself:

This thought about ______ is not a neutral thought.

That thought about ______ is not a neutral thought.

As usual, use today's idea whenever you are aware of a particular thought that arouses uneasiness. The following form is suggested for this purpose.

This thought about ______ is not a neutral thought,
because I have no neutral thoughts.

Four or five practice periods are recommended, if you find them relatively effortless. If strain is experienced, three will be enough. The length of the exercise period should also be reduced if there is discomfort.

My comments... This lesson (again) causes me confusion. It states, "Everything I see is the result of my thoughts." In Lesson 10 we learned that "My thought about ______ does not mean anything." If what I see is the result of my thoughts, how can it not mean anything - especially if it is either "true or false" (as stated in today's lesson). How can a thought not mean anything, yet be true or false?

Is this dichotomy part of the lesson? Am I trying too hard to understand this or is my ego putting up roadblocks disguised as logical thoughts (that don't mean anything)? It is questions such as this that create thoughts about the legitimacy of this program. When I wonder if I'm being duped with this CIM, the irrational thoughts that are produced cause me to believe the overall message. I don't know that a person could create such a course and not trip-up along the way? This helps me to believe that this actually was dictated by Jesus. However, I sure wish Jesus or Gary Renard's ascended masters would pay me a personal visit and make this a tad more clear.

Thoughts are things?

2006-08-12T09:02:00.000-07:00

Lesson# 15

My thoughts are images that I have made.

The following is taken from the lesson...

It is because the thoughts you think you think appear as images that you do not recognize them as nothing. You think you think them, and so you think you see them. This is how your "seeing" was made. This is the function you have given your body's eyes. It is not seeing. It is image making. It takes the place of seeing, replacing vision with illusions.

This introductory idea to the process of image making that you call seeing will not have much meaning for you. You will begin to understand it when you have seen little edges of light around the same familiar objects which you see now. That is the beginning of real vision. You can be certain that real vision will come quickly when this has occurred.

As we go along, you may have many "light episodes." They may take many different forms, some of them quite unexpected. Do not be afraid of them. They are signs that you are opening your eyes at last. They will not persist, because they merely symbolize true perception, and they are not related to knowledge. These exercises will not reveal knowledge to you. But they will prepare the way to it.

In practicing the idea for today, repeat it first to yourself, and then apply it to whatever you see around you, using its name and letting your eyes rest on it as you say:

That ______ is an image that I have made.

It is not necessary to include a large number of specific subjects for the application of today's idea. It is necessary, however, to continue to look at each subject while you repeat the idea to yourself. The idea should be repeated quite slowly each time.

Although you will obviously not be able to apply the idea to very many things during the minute or so of practice that is recommended, try to make the selection as random as possible. Less than a minute will do for the practice periods, if you begin to feel uneasy. Do not have more than three application periods for today's idea unless you feel completely comfortable with it, and do not exceed four. However, the idea can be applied as needed throughout the day.

My comments... This lesson comes easier to me than many of the others. It makes sense, especially as one recalls the previous lessons. "Thoughts are things", we've been taught to believe, but this further expands that meaning into thoughts are things that WE create. I have yet to experience any "light" surrounding those items I focus upon, but I'm hopeful that as this comes together - all things such as this will be revealed to me.

Not God's fault

2006-08-11T08:32:00.000-07:00

Lesson# 14

God did not create a meaningless world.

The following is taken from the lesson...

The idea for today is, of course, the reason why a meaningless world is impossible. What God did not create does not exist. And everything that does exist exists as He created it. The world you see has nothing to do with reality. It is of your own making, and it does not exist.

The exercises for today are to be practiced with eyes closed throughout. The mind-searching period should be short, a minute at most. Do not have more than three practice periods with today's idea unless you find them comfortable. If you do, it will be because you really understand what they are for.

The idea for today is another step in learning to let go the thoughts that you have written on the world, and see the Word of God in their place. The early steps in this exchange, which can truly be called salvation, can be quite difficult and even quite painful. Some of them will lead you directly into fear. You will not be left there. You will go far beyond it. Our direction is toward perfect safety and perfect peace.

With eyes closed, think of all the horrors in the world that cross your mind. Name each one as it occurs to you, and then deny its reality. God did not create it, and so it is not real. Say, for example:

God did not create that war, and so it is not real.
God did not create that airplane crash, and so it is not real.
God did not create that disaster [specify], and so it is not real.

Suitable subjects for the application of today's idea also include anything you are afraid might happen to you, or to anyone about whom you are concerned. In each case, name the "disaster" quite specifically. Do not use general terms. For example, do not say, "God did not create illness," but, "God did not create cancer," or heart attacks, or whatever may arouse fear in you.

This is your personal repertory of horrors at which you are looking. These things are part of the world you see. Some of them are shared illusions, and others are part of your personal hell. It does not matter. What God did not create can only be in your own mind apart from His. Therefore, it has no meaning. In recognition of this fact, conclude the practice periods by repeating today's idea:

God did not create a meaningless world.

The idea for today can, of course, be applied to anything that disturbs you during the day, aside from the practice periods. Be very specific in applying it. Say: God did not create a meaningless world.

He did not create [specify the situation which is disturbing you],and so it is not real.

My comments... I know I sound like a broken record with many of my comments. I keep expressing the trouble I am having with these "exercises" and their mystical qualities... There doesn't seem to be a direct path - to get anywhere you must first do these things, exercises, pay this price, etc. Why are we not told... "Just do this..." instead of these preparation exercises? Do I sound frustrated? I am. I search for answers and I keep being told . . . not yet . . . first you must do these things. Visualize, read, pray, keep searching... do these next 300 exercises and THEN you'll know. Yikes!

Sorry for the rant, I think it is a combination of frustration and lack of understanding. This whole "make believe" world where we have wars and bad people - and babies and sweetness, but God has nothing to do with any of it... makes my head swim.

A new book

2006-08-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I mentioned a book, Disappearance of the Universe by Gary Renard. This was the book that aroused my interest in ACIM. As it happens I stumbled upon a Press Release about a new novel to be published this fall by a first-time author, Taylor G. Wilshire. The book is entitled "The What If Guy".

According to the release, "this is the perfect escape with spiritual meaning from A Course in Miracles and self help tools. A new novel offers a fresh approach on meeting life's challenges, overcoming them and achieving health and happiness." It sounds like a fun and interesting read and is obviously from a person who has been down this Course in Miracles road already, so I've added information about it on my website.

You can pre-order your copy from Amazon. I'll give you my "professional" review after I receive my copy. Anything that helps with the understanding of the CIM is greatly appreciated.

Meaningless

2006-08-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

Lesson #13

A meaningless world engenders fear.

The following is taken from the lesson...

Today's idea is really another form of the preceding one, except that it is more specific as to the emotion aroused. Actually, a meaningless world is impossible. Nothing without meaning exists. However, it does not follow that you will not think you perceive something that has no meaning. On the contrary, you will be particularly likely to think you do perceive it.

Recognition of meaninglessness arouses intense anxiety in all the separated ones. It represents a situation in which God and the ego "challenge" each other as to whose meaning is to be written in the empty space that meaninglessness provides. The ego rushes in frantically to establish its own ideas there, fearful that the void may otherwise be used to demonstrate its own impotence and unreality. And on this alone it is correct.

It is essential, therefore, that you learn to recognize the meaningless, and accept it without fear. If you are fearful, it is certain that you will endow the world with attributes that it does not possess, and crowd it with images that do not exist. To the ego illusions are safety devices, as they must also be to you who equate yourself with the ego.

The exercises for today, which should be done about three or four times for not more than a minute or so at most each time, are to be practiced in a somewhat different way from the preceding ones. With eyes closed, repeat today's idea to yourself. Then open your eyes, and look about you slowly, saying:

I am looking at a meaningless world.

Repeat this statement to yourself as you look about. Then close your eyes, and conclude with:

A meaningless world engenders fear because I think I am in competition with God.

You may find it difficult to avoid resistance, in one form or another, to this concluding statement. Whatever form such resistance may take, remind yourself that you are really afraid of such a thought because of the "vengeance" of the "enemy." You are not expected to believe the statement at this point, and will probably dismiss it as preposterous. Note carefully, however, any signs of overt or covert fear which it may arouse.

This is our first attempt at stating an explicit cause and effect relationship of a kind which you are very inexperienced in recognizing. Do not dwell on the concluding statement, and try not even to think of it except during the practice periods. That will suffice at present.

My comments... How does one learn to recognize the meaningless, and accept it without fear? At the conclusion of these exercises, will I reach a place where this is so? It seems that most of the lessons are "preparing us" for something yet to be within reach or comprehension. I've said this before, but I can only proceed on faith... and hope.

Why does all this spiritual stuff have to be so mystical? Regardless of the religion or teaching, we're always instructed along a particular way or path - belief without proof. As a parent, I know the futility of saying to my kids... "because I said so" or "you'll understand some day". Are we not little children when it comes to such teachings and exercises? Yet we are supposed to believe that someday we'll understand.

How come a person like Gary Renard, author of Disappearance of the Universe, gets to meet an ascended master and receives personal coaching? The rest of us are forced to read books and practice these exercises, but Gary gets a first-class ticket? Isn't that just more of the "someday we'll understand" standard answer? I have trouble with this, but I am not surrendering or losing "faith"... just wondering out loud and trying to make sense of this. If you have anything to say that can help me with this....

Am I upset or not?

2006-07-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

Lesson #12

I am upset because I see a meaningless world.

The following is taken from the lesson...

The importance of this idea lies in the fact that it contains a correction for a major perceptual distortion. You think that what upsets you is a frightening world, or a sad world, or a violent world, or an insane world. All these attributes are given it by you. The world is meaningless in itself.
These exercises are done with eyes open. Look around you, this time quite slowly. Try to pace yourself so that the slow shifting of your glance from one thing to another involves a fairly constant time interval. Do not allow the time of the shift to become markedly longer or shorter, but try, instead, to keep a measured, even tempo throughout. What you see does not matter. You teach yourself this as you give whatever your glance rests on equal attention and equal time. This is a beginning step in learning to give them all equal value.

As you look about you, say to yourself:

I think I see a fearful world, a dangerous world,
. . . a hostile world,
. . . a sad world,
. . . a wicked world,
. . . a crazy world,

. . . and so on, using whatever descriptive terms happen to occur to you. If terms which seem positive rather than negative occur to you, include them. For example, you might think of "a good world," or "a satisfying world." If such terms occur to you, use them along with the rest. You may not yet understand why these "nice" adjectives belong in these exercises but remember that a "good world" implies a "bad" one, and a "satisfying world" implies an "unsatisfying" one. All terms which cross your mind are suitable subjects for today's exercises. Their seeming quality does not matter.

Be sure that you do not alter the time intervals between applying today's idea to what you think is pleasant and what you think is unpleasant. For the purposes of these exercises, there is no difference between them. At the end of the practice period, add:

But I am upset because I see a meaningless world.

What is meaningless is neither good nor bad. Why, then, should a meaningless world upset you? If you could accept the world as meaningless and let the truth be written upon it for you, it would make you indescribably happy. But because it is meaningless, you are impelled to write upon it what you would have it be. It is this you see in it. It is this that is meaningless in truth. Beneath your words is written the Word of God. The truth upsets you now, but when your words have been erased, you will see His. That is the ultimate purpose of these exercises.

Three or four times is enough for practicing the idea for today. Nor should the practice periods exceed a minute. You may find even this too long. Terminate the exercises whenever you experience a sense of strain.

My comments... Another challenging exercise in that (as explained by the lesson's text), it contradicts itself. In these days of the Iraq war, Israel at war with Lebanon, our U.S. political and legal system failing us... it is EASY to see a "sad, wicked, or crazy" world. However, as I stand in my yard and look at mountains and trees and blue sky, I see a beautiful world. Once again, I guess the key to all of this is having faith in the exercises, that all of this will "gel" at some point and become more clear.

Somebody, help!

2006-07-18T15:20:00.000-07:00

Lesson# 11

My meaningless thoughts are showing me a meaningless world.

The following is taken from the lesson...

This is the first idea we have had that 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 its initial form, for in this idea is your release made sure. The key to forgiveness lies in it.

The practice periods for today's idea are to be undertaken somewhat differently from the previous ones. Begin with your eyes closed, and repeat the idea slowly to yourself. Then open your eyes and look about, near and far, up and 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.

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, in particular, 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.

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.

My comments... Does this ever get any easier to accept? I am doing the exercises, but so far I see or feel no difference in my feelings or perceptions. It is like saying... "That tree is upside down", where every fiber of my body KNOWS that the tree is behaving exactly as a tree is supposed to... right side up! When does the mind start saying . . . Wait a minute, hold on, I think you have something here. I am forcing myself to accept that my thoughts about my beautiful daughter are meaningless? Oh my... I have a long way to go. Somebody, help!

Nothing means nothing

2006-07-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

Lesson #10

My thoughts do not mean anything.

The following is taken from the lesson...

This idea applies to all the thoughts of which you are aware, or become aware in the practice periods. The reason the idea is applicable to all of them is that they are not your real thoughts. We have made this distinction before, and will do so again. You have no basis for comparison as yet. When you do, you will have no doubt that what you once believed were your thoughts did not mean anything.

This is the second time we have used this kind of idea. The form is only slightly different. This time the idea is introduced with "My thoughts" instead of "These thoughts," and no link is made overtly with the things around you. The emphasis is now on the lack of reality of what you think you think.

This aspect of the correction process began with the idea that the thoughts of which you are aware are meaningless, outside rather than within; and then stressed their past rather than their present status. Now we are emphasizing that the presence of these "thoughts" means that you are not thinking. This is merely another way of repeating our earlier statement that your mind is really a blank. To recognize this is to recognize nothingness when you think you see it. As such, it is the prerequisite for vision.

Close your eyes for these exercises, and introduce them by repeating the idea for today quite slowly to yourself. Then add:

This idea will help to release me from all that I now believe.

The exercises consist, as before, in searching your mind for all the thoughts that are available to you, without selection or judgment. Try to avoid classification of any kind. In fact, if you find it helpful to do so, you might imagine that you are watching an oddly assorted procession going by, which has little if any personal meaning to you. As each one crosses your mind, say:

My thought about ______ does not mean anything.

My thought about ______ does not mean anything.

Today's thought can obviously serve for any thought that distresses you at any time. In addition, five practice periods are recommended, each involving no more than a minute or so of mind searching. It is not recommended that this time period be extended, and it should be reduced to half a minute or less if you experience discomfort. Remember, however, to repeat the idea slowly before applying it specifically, and also to add:
This idea will help to release me from all that I now believe.

My comments... I proceed on faith an hope at this point - in that I'm hoping that as I progress through these lessons, they become easier to accept. The internal fight I experience between what is "real" and what I am being told is NOT real is disturbing - to say the least. Doubt is rampant. I spent almost 50 years having "faith" in something that I am now learning was not real. What if I learn that this is not real? What is this is a sham? Am I wasting my time? Is this all just one divine joke? I'm not having fun yet.

Side trip

2006-06-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

Putting aside all the thoughts about what's real or truthful, and the meaning of all these exercises, the one effect of CIM that has been quite noteworthy is how the course is causing me to think. To REALLY think about things I've seldom dwelled upon. Oh yeah, I believe in God… but the nuances of what God is and my relationship to him - I've never spent so much time pondering these things. To be sure, I seem to discover more questions than I have answers, but the act of thinking so deeply about such a concept is new to me.

This process is an exercise I haven't yet seen in the course. I think it was Thoreau (or someone of his ilk) who said… "the unexamined life is not worth living". The Course in Miracles is forcing me to examine my life in a way that I have never imagined.

Encouragement

2006-06-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

Lesson #9

I see nothing as it is now.

I have to control myself to not be repetitious with my comments about these first nine lessons. These are intellectual exercises, and I THINK I understand whay they are being presented, but that understanding does not make the "accepting" any easier. As the lesson goes on to say, "understanding is not necessary at this point. In fact, the recognition that you do not understand is a prerequisite for undoing your false ideas. These exercises are concerned with practice, not with understanding." I take encouragement from that clarification.

The battle to KNOW (for me) far exceeds the understanding that this is an exercise. I liken these exercises to how I felt as a child when being taught how to do something. I want to play the game (NOW), I don't want to practice, I want to play!

Add to this - lessons that boggle my conscious mind such as "I see nothing as it is now" - to tell my brain that what it pictures is not really there.... I do not see the keyboard on which I am typing as it is now. One of the most encouraging statements I've read so far in the CIM was a comment that accompanied this lesson; "Each small step will clear a little of the darkness away, and understanding will finally come to lighten every corner of the mind that has been cleared of the debris that darkens it." That gives me comfort and hope.

Preoccupied? How about spinning?

2006-06-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

Lesson #8

My mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.

Yell yes . . . my mind is preoccupied with past thoughts, as I cannot see into the future. This is a "thought" provoking exercise that on first reading seems to make little sense (that seems to be a common feeling with most of these exercises). As a typical person desiring immediate gratification, I want to jump to the end and see if all this comes together - is easier to understand. However, I have promised myself that I would follow the rules and take these lessons as they are laid out. If I am to believe that Jesus dictated these Miracle Lessons, they I need to believe that there is a method in place that will make this come together when it is time... But this is tough sometimes.

The lesson goes on to say that "No one really sees anything". And that the "purpose of the exercises is to train my mind to recognize when it is not really thinking at all". Again, a contrary process based on what we have learned from our past experiences . . . which never happened, of course. Wow, this is serious mind games.

Judgment based on experiences

2006-06-25T04:29:00.000-07:00

Goodness, I cannot believe that it has been 10 days since my last posting. I had family visit for a week and have been playing catch-up since they left. My intention is to do a lesson every day as suggested, but I have fallen behind. According to today's lesson, I could judge myself a failure - based on my past experiences with not meeting commitments... but that is wrong.

Lesson #7

I see only the past.

The book says that this "is particularly difficult to believe at first. Yet it is the rationale for all of the preceding ones."

To me, this is a reasonable idea based on the fact that all "judgments" are made based on past experiences. (If I have never seen anything but green grass, then I would naturally believe that all grass is green. If someone were to tell me that there is purple grass, I would need proof before I changed my belief.)

Herein lies so much of the challenge (for me) with a CIM, I'm being asked to suspend belief in so many things I've come to know as unalterable truths.

Contrary thinking

2006-06-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

Lesson #6

I am upset because I see something that is not there.

This is along the lines of the preceding few lessons, another exercise to condition ourselves to erroneous thinking (I am assuming). The examples given are:

I am angry at ___ because I see something that is not there.
I am worried about ___ because I see something that is not there.

The difficulty I am having with such thinking is most likely shared by any new practitioner. When I say to myself, "I am worried about MONEY because I see something that is not there", logic again kicks in and tells me I'd better be worried - I have bills to pay and a retirement to fund. Don't I? Don't I still have to eat and live somewhere while I continue along this path? How do I not worry about such things?

Again, I am assuming that the point here is conditioning - preparation. I am not ready to look at a tree and say it does not exist, or that I need no money to continue my existence. There is a bridge to cross here that I am not yet ready to cross. But I persist and try to understand and accept. I'm only on lesson #6 and having such a dilemma - I can't wait to read what lesson #300 will bring.

Rings true

2006-06-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

Lesson #5

I am never upset for the reason I think.

This lesson rang my bell. I actually heard this idea many years ago in relation to why I was arguing with my wife. I was told that "we don't argue over what is REALLY bothering us". We may think we're fighting about the budget or house cleaning (you know all those issues we married people fight about), but in actuality we're arguing about a comment made last week or something else that may not even be a conscious memory. I thought this was absurd the first time I heard it, but over time I came to realize that it was true. When I could stand back and reflect on the argument, it dawned on me that what was REALLY bothering me was something altogether different than what the argument was about.

With today's lesson, we're instructed to say...

I am not angry at ______ for the reason I think.
I am not worried about ______ for the reason I think.
I am not depressed about ______ for the reason I think
I am not afraid of ______ for the reason I think.

There are no small upsets. They are all equally disturbing to my peace of mind.

Thoughts cont…

2006-06-13T08:58:00.000-07:00

In practicing today's lesson about "thoughts meaning nothing", it dawned on me how this flies in the face of so many things we've been taught about our thoughts…

- Thoughts are things
- Thoughts and things are correlated (Yogi Gupta)
- As a Man Thinketh So Is He (James Allen)

This is an interesting exercise indeed!

A penny for my thoughts?

2006-06-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

Lesson #4

These thoughts do not mean anything. They are like the things I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place].

One of the key statements in the instructions for today's lesson (to me) is... "you may find the suspension of judgment in connection with thoughts particularly difficult"... Amen (my comment). Again, like the preceding lessons I feel this is an exercise to help me confuse or break down the ego's grasp on my thinking. Another note that was important to me is to not distinguish between a "good" or "bad" thought, but apply the exercise to all thoughts without judgment.

In performing this exercise, I felt that it had a calming effect on me. When having a "bad" thought and stating that it does not mean anything, there was a small feeling of relief - or acceptance - or something unexplainable. Conversely, when having a "good" thought and saying that it does not mean anything, I felt that as nice as this thought is, it means nothing compared to what good feels like in the presence of God. Am I judging these thoughts? Probably. Hey, I'm new at this...

I do not understand

2006-06-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

Lesson #3:

I do not understand anything I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place].

What does this mean to me? According to the Course, this is to help clear the mind of past associations. I get the feeling that these exercises are trying to trick or confuse the ego. Like my "tree falling on me" in the previous post, it is not logical to make such statements - based on my current "knowing". I continue forward in blind faith that these kinds of exercises are akin to practicing for the big game. Building skills and experience for when they are needed. Oh and BTW, I don't understand you - or me at this point!

The blind leading the blind

2006-06-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

I remember an old saw that goes something like this, "you never really learn something until you try to teach it to someone".

I've experience that a number of times in my life when asked to talk about a topic I "knew", or make a presentation for business... it was during the preparation phase that I usually realized I didn't really know my topic and thus - additional research and my presentation to the group "taught me" more about the subject.

I was inspired to take that same approach to learning the Course. Yesterday morning I chose to begin at lesson #1 and study a new lesson every day, and I will teach what I learn as I proceed! Of course, I know nothing about the Course except what I have shared so far in this blog. So without further ado, I begin with Lesson #1 from yesterday and Lesson #2 for today. I'm combining the two lessons because they are similar.

Lesson #1:

Nothing I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place] means anything.

I am instructed to view my surroundings and apply this statement to whatever I see. i.e. This table does not mean anything.... Etc.

Lesson #2:

I have given everything I see in this room (on this street, from this window, in this place) all the meaning that it has for me.

What does this mean to me? I believe these lessons are designed to get me thinking about the mistake in my logic; that nothing is real, and my ego made all this up to support the grand story. Obviously, at this stage I have difficulty "believing" that the trees outside my window do not exist. I know that if one fell on me it would hurt like hell. This exercise is probably a way to begin chipping away at the amour of my ego in preparation for the next revelation that will, at first reading, sound equally absurd. Now do you understand? Good, because I do not - but I promise to continue trying.

Since you don't really exist, and your opinion of me means nothing, my ramblings here are of no importance to you. However, if in reading my "teachings", you have a comment that helps to clarify or explain what I've stated, please add your comments. Now isn't that a strange request??? I state that you don't exist, yet I'm asking for your help. Oh yeah this is going to be interesting...

Can we truly believe this?

2006-06-09T06:19:00.000-07:00

According to the official account, A Course in Miracles is the result of Jesus contacting a woman named Helen Schucman and instructing her to write down all that he said. Her introduction to “the voice of Jesus” said, "This is a course in miracles. Helen scribbled shorthand to keep up with the voice and a colleague, William Thetford accepted the job of transcribing her notes. Although educated doctors, these were “common people”, not theologians or spiritually enlightened people.

The most obvious question about why God chose these people to bring his message to the world is… why them? Why not choose a trusted and recognized spiritual leader like the Pope, Billy Graham or the Dali Lama? If the aim is to reach all people, why select such an unlikely spokesman such as Helen to be the messenger? Any first year advertising/PR student would know that this is a bad idea…

That question baffled me until I thought about the bible and its beginnings. If you compare Jesus’ original disciples to job descriptions of today, you’d find fisherman (dock workers), an IRS agent, farmers and other common laborers. Jesus didn’t choose from the best and the brightest Jewish Rabbis, he chose ordinary people to become his followers and preach is word.

The next most obvious question (to me) is how do we know that Helen is telling the truth? Why should we believe that Jesus actually spoke to her? How can we prove this? The bible’s answer to such questions is “faith” – blind faith. Are we willing to accept Helen’s writings on blind faith? Obviously, we can’t prove or disprove her story and I for one have trouble with blind faith being my only recourse. The only plausible solution here is to continue studying the course and if it stands on its own merits, then it - and Helen must be believable.

So, I continue. I like the Course’s message and I want to believe that it holds the explanation for our existence on this planet – real or imagined.

Questions

2006-06-06T15:03:00.000-07:00

I have been studying the Course and listening to CDs when I drive. My list of questions is only exceeded by my degree of confusion. These are radical ideas, yet I've seen many similar ideas presented in reading books about spirituality, metaphysical topics and Eastern religions views. So, is this nothing more than a spiritual philosophy, which has cannibalized popular religious beliefs and blended them into one comprehensive view?

There is a strong urge to push back from all this (which I attribute to my Catholic upbringing). My mind races with many questions - is that the ego trying to regain control? Or is it just an intelligent response to what appears to be "heretical" and uncomfortable statements? I'm rambling here, but that is how it feels as I read and listen to the CDs. I'm receiving information, but my mind spins with questions of uncertainty and a large share of insecurity... What if? How? Who? Why? Can this be possible? Is it true?

The Course says that we will experience discomfort and confusion. That is one statement that I have been able to accept unequivocally.

This is MY Course in Miracles

2006-06-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome. I am not a teacher or spiritual advisor, nor do I have memories of past lives or meetings with "ascended masters". I'm just a person who is seeking the same answers to questions which most of us eventually ask...

It is my hope that this blog evolves into a record of my discoveries and that my comments help others. Please visit my website for additional information about what I have learned about A Course in Miracles.

This is not a forum to debate; life is too short to argue with someone who feels the need to convert me, witness to me or tell me I'm going to hell because I choose to question "the word of God". It is my understanding that free will permits me that luxury. However, I am open to advice and help from anyone who thinks they can supply an answer or assist with my study. Thank you for visiting...