Lesson 54 These are the review ideas for today:
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.
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The commentary on this lesson (below) is from Kenneth Wapnick's eight volume
series of books, called: "Journey Through the Workbook of A Course in Miracles,"
which can be purchased at the following site:??~ M. Street
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(1:1) (16) "I have no neutral thoughts."
*In this lesson Jesus focuses almost exclusively on the power of our thoughts.
The reason we have no neutral thoughts is that our thoughts have the power to
make up a world such as the one in which we live: a world of pain, suffering,
and death; a world in which God appears to be absent. Our thoughts can be just
as powerful on the right-minded side, however, in their power to undo the ego.
The ego's thoughts have no effect in Heaven, of course, but within the dream
they have tremendous power; thus the focus in A Course in Miracles is on the
power of our minds; specifically on the power to choose.*
(1:2-4) "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."
*These statements are reinforced by a statement Jesus makes in the text: "All
thinking produces form on some level" (T-2.VI.9:14). Our thoughts have
extraordinary effects. They can make the world of specialness in which we live,
or help us attain the real world by the complete undoing of the ego's world. The
problem is that because of our defensive structure, including the power of
denial, we almost never experience the effects of our thoughts. Consequently, we
are not aware we have thoughts, because we are not aware we have a mind.
(1:5) "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."
*The real world, which is the end product of forgiveness, is the state of mind
in which all ego thoughts have been undone. It is not something that is
specifically chosen, but rather is the natural state of the guiltless mind when
the ego's thought system of guilt has been chosen against.*
(1:6-8) "My thoughts cannot be neither true nor false. They must be one or the
other. What I see shows me which they are."
*This is another statement of that important theme, <one or the other>. We do
not have Heaven <and> hell, or hell <and> Heaven. They are mutually exclusive
states. This is the underlying metaphysical premise of A Course in Miracles, the
cornerstone of its thought system: There is God, and there is nothing else. If
we believe there is something else, we are believing there is no God. Again, the
way we know which thoughts we have chosen in our minds is by vigilantly paying
attention, with Jesus beside us, to our perceptions of the outer world. They
will reflect to us our decision for Heaven or hell, truth or falsity.
Now Jesus returns to the idea stated previously: *
(2:1) (17) "I see no neutral things."
(2:2-6) "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."
*We can see how Jesus repeatedly returns to this theme. The beauty of this
review is in the succinct manner in which Jesus weaves together the major themes
of the first fifty lessons. And this is a crucial one: "Let me look on the world
I see as the representation of my own state of mind." We recall these parallel
lines from the text:
"[The world is] the outside picture of an inward condition of evil
(T-21.in.1:5).
"[Perception] is the outward picture of a wish; an image that you wanted to
be true." (T-24.VII.8.10)
We cannot change the world but we can indeed change our minds. Certainly, "the
world I see can change as well." This does not mean, however, that the outside
world can change, but rather <the way that I see it> will change. Keep in mind
that perception is never of facts, it is always an interpretation of what we
call facts; an interpretation of either the ego or the Holy Spirit. When Jesus
talks about the world I see, "he is not talking about the world outside. <There
is no world outside>. The world is nothing but a projection or extension of the
thoughts in our minds. It is essential, therefore, that we recognize the direct
connection between the world and our thinking, otherwise we will never be able
to do anything to change our thoughts.
Before we move on, note the allusion in 2:2 -- "If I did not think I would not
exist" -- to Descartes' famous dictum "I think therefore I am (Cogito ergo sum).
However, while the great 17th century philosopher used this statement to prove
his <real> existence, Jesus ultimately employs it to demonstrate the presence of
our <illusory> existence, stemming from our <illusory> thoughts.
In paragraph 3 Jesus introduces the thought of <oneness> -- in Heaven as God's
one Son, as well as within the split mind. God's Son is One, whether He is
called Christ or the separated Son of God.*
(3:1) (18) "I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my seeing."
(3:2-4)"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."
*Even though it "was a sharing of nothing," that does not mean we do not believe
it. These statements nicely reflect the idea that despite what the world looks
like -- i.e., even if it is a dream of separation -- the Son of God has remained
one. That is why forgiveness is the central teaching of A Course in Miracles: In
forgiving you, I reflect that you and I have no separate interests, for we share
the same need to awaken from the dream of separation, guilt, and hate. That
begins the process of reversing the ego's fragmentation. As the text emphasizes:
If I forgive you perfectly, behind you stand thousands more, and behind each one
stands yet another thousand (T-27.V.10:4). This means that if I forgive you
perfectly, I have forgiven the Sonship -- there <is> only one Son.*
(3:5-7) "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."
*This tells me my function. It is not to heal others, nor to change or teach
them in the conventional way. My function is to remind you that the choice I
have made in the holy instant is the same one you can make. A passage in the
manual for teachers wonderfully summarizes this for us. We have quoted it
already, but its relevance certainly deserves additional mentions:
"To them [those who are sick] God's teachers come, to represent another
choice which they had forgotten. The simple presence of a teacher of God is a
reminder. His thoughts ask for the right to question what the patient has
accepted as true. As God's messengers, His teachers are the symbols of
salvation. They ask the patient for forgiveness for God's Son in his own Name.
They stand for the Alternative. With God's Word in their minds they come in
benediction, not to heal the sick but to remind them of the remedy God has
already given them. It is not their hands that heal. It is not their voice that
speaks the Word of God. They merely give what has been given them. Very gently
they call to their brothers to turn away from death: Behold, you Son of God,
what life can offer you. Would you choose sickness in place of this?"
(M-5.III.2)
However, the process works the other way as well: My separation thoughts call to
the separation thoughts in you. The expression of my decision for the ego --
judgment, attack, anxiety, and fear -- tells you that you are right in believing
you are separate, because I am demonstrating that you are. My anger confirms you
are right, as does my special love and dependency. You want to confirm that you
are right, just as I want you to do the same for me. These are the "secret vows"
we make with each other to reinforce our insanity, as Jesus explains in the
text, again in the context of sickness:
"This is the secret vow that you have made with every brother who would walk
apart. This is the secret oath you take again, whenever you perceive yourself
attacked. No one can suffer if he does not see himself attacked, and losing by
attack. Unstated and unheard in consciousness is every pledge to sickness. Yet
it is a promise to another to be hurt by him, and to attack him in return."
"Sickness is anger taken out upon the body, so that it will suffer pain. It
is the obvious effect of what was made in secret, in agreement with another's
secret wish to be apart from you, as you would be apart from him. Unless you
both agree that is your wish, it can have no effects." (T-28.VI.4:3--5:3).
Yet, again, Jesus is also telling us we can reinforce right-minded thinking in
each other:
"Whoever says, "There is no gap between my mind and yours" has kept God's
promise, not his tiny oath to be forever faithful unto death. And by his healing
is his brother healed."
"Let this be your agreement with each one; that you be one with him and not
apart. And he will keep the promise that you make with him, because it is the
one that he has made to God, as God has made to him. God keeps His promises; His
Son keeps his." (T-28.VI.5:4--6:3).
Thus, when I choose Jesus as my teacher instead of the ego, and I release my
grievances through forgiveness, I am teaching there is a right-minded thought in
you as well, and in that moment I have become a healing symbol for you. I do not
have to say anything, nor preach to you. Indeed, I do nothing. Moreover the
<you> may be someone who died twenty years ago. Since minds are joined,
forgiveness has nothing to do with bodies. <You> as a thought and <I> as a
thought are still united. Whenever I choose to let go of my grievances against
you, I am sending a clear message that says: "Awaken from the dream of death."
Delivering that message is our only function.*
(4:1) (19) "I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my thoughts."
(4:2-3) "I am alone in nothing. Everything I think or say or do teaches all the
universe."
* "All the universe" is the universe of the Sonship in my mind, joined with
everyone else's. There is only one mind, and I can think, say, or behave from
the Holy Spirit or my ego. Thus Jesus reiterates his teachings on oneness --
spirit <and> ego.*
(4:4-6) "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."
*This does not mean I can literally change your mind for you. I can serve as an
example of one who has changed his mind for himself, thereby realizing that that
"self" is all of us. Likewise, Jesus cannot do it for us. He can be our teacher
and model, showing us there is another choice we can make, but he cannot choose
for us. Jesus explained this to Helen early on in the scribing, and therefore to
all of us, in the context of her asking him to take her fear away. His answer
was a foreshadowing of all he was to teach in A Course in Miracles, for he
emphasized the power of Helen's mind to choose fear or against it, and that he
could not, and certainly would not remove that power from her mind by making the
choice for her:
"You may still complain about fear, but you nevertheless persist in making
yourself fearful. I have already indicated that you cannot ask me to release you
from fear. I know it does not exist, but you do not. If I intervened between
your thoughts and their results, I would be tampering with a basic law of cause
and effect; the most fundamental law there is. I would hardly help you if I
depreciated the power of your own thinking. This would be in direct opposition
to the purpose of this course. It is much more helpful to remind you that you do
not guard your thoughts carefully enough." (T-2.VII.1:1-7) *
(5:1) (20) "I am determined to see."
(5:2-3) "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."
*The witnesses we look upon are the witnesses we send out. This is an implied
reference to "The Attraction of Guilt" in the "Obstacles to Peace"
(T-19.IV-A.i). We send out messengers of love or fear, and what we send out we
see outside us, which become the witnesses that show what we have chosen. If we
are angry or upset, stubborn or having a temper tantrum, that tells us we have
sent out messengers of guilt, fear, hatred, and certainly separation. It is
these external witnesses we make real in our perception, seeing them outside
rather than in our selves. Another passage in the text illustrates the important
role our perceptions play in healing. By observing the witnesses in the world I
perceive, I am taught to see them as reflecting a decision I made in my mind.
Only then can I exercise the mind's power to change the decision:
"Damnation is your judgment on yourself, and this you will project upon the
world. See it as damned, and all you see is what you did to hurt the Son of God.
If you behold disaster and catastrophe, you tried to crucify him. If you see
holiness and hope, you joined the Will of God to set him free. There is no
choice that lies between these two decisions. And you will see the witness to
the choice you made, and learn from this to recognize which one you chose."
(T-21.in.1:1-6)*
(5:4-5) "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."
*Thus will we know which choice we made by paying careful attention to what we
perceive around us. We cannot be reminded too often that perception is not an
objective fact, but always an interpretation. When A Course in Miracles teaches
us to look at what we perceive, Jesus is not speaking of looking out and seeing
a desk or a book, a tree or a person. Rather, we are being instructed to look at
the <way> we perceive objects, people, and situations. In other words, do we
perceive proof of the Atonement principle, or proof of separation? Again, what
we perceive will reveal to us what our minds have chosen. Perceptions of love or
calls for love reflect the decision to accept the Atonement, and this
unequivocal choice ushers in the real world and the happy remembrance of the
unity of God and His Son.*
