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.
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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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Lesson 33."There is another way of looking at the world."
(1:1) "Today's idea is an attempt to recognize that you can shift your
perception of the world in both its outer and inner aspects."
*We can shift the perception because there is something within our minds to
which we can go for meaningful change. This "something" is the <decision maker>;
the only aspect of our dream in which we find true choice. It is not our outer
perceptions that need to be changed, but the inner perception of ourselves: are
we children of God, or of the ego; is our reality the changeless Oneness of
Christ, or changing individuality of separation; is our teacher the Holy Spirit
or the ego? In other words, this <other> way of looking at the world begins in
our minds, with our choice through which eyes we choose to see: vision or
judgment.*
(1:2-2:2) "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."
*Jesus does here what we have seen before. He takes a blockbuster of a theme but
does not discuss it much in the actual lesson because he is going to pick it up
again later. Thus, "I am not a victim of the world I see" is a heavy thought,
but is treated briefly in that lesson. "I am never upset for the reason I think"
was also not discussed much in the lesson itself, but the idea returns later as
well. And again here, Jesus simply introduces of the thought that there is
another way of looking at the world, and then focuses of the sameness of our
inner thoughts and the world we perceive outside. This truth is the foundation
for the <other way of looking at the world>.
Let me call your attention to another significant theme that is brought up in
the following paragraphs, and appears over and over again in these lessons --
applying the thought for the day <through-out> the day, whenever we become aware
of distress:*
(3-4) "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."
*These exercises are intended to be practical and helpful. Jesus is not
presenting us with a set of metaphysical principles to master intellectually. He
is training us to become increasingly vigilant as we go through our day. As soon
as we become aware of feeling distressed, upset, angry, frightened or guilty, we
would quickly go to him and say: "Help!" Even if we can say nothing else, we can
at least acknowledge there is another thought in our minds, another teacher to
choose. Even if we do not choose that teacher at the moment, we at least know
that he is there.
The point is that you become more accustomed to recognizing that if you feel
separated from someone or something, you would know that feeling is coming from
your ego. You do not have to go any further. The ego loves to indulge thoughts
of victimization: justifying and reinforcing them, finding allies to agree with
its misperceptions. As soon as a feeling of victimization comes, try to think of
the lesson, whatever the lesson is for you that day; it really doesn't matter
which one, as the content is the same. If you happen to be working with today's
lesson, as quickly as possible after catching yourself feeling separate or
victimized, say: "I can look at this differently." If you can do nothing else,
you are at least keeping the door open, reminding yourself there is another
thought system or teacher you could choose, but because you are so fearful, you
would much rather be right and miserable than wrong and happy (T-29.VII.1.9).
However you are being honest about what is going on; an immensely helpful part
of learning to forgive. The next lesson continues this line of thinking.*
