开云体育

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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Below, is an excerpt from Kenneth Wapnick's commentaries on this lesson, from his book set called: "J

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. Theworld 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. Try today not to allow any long periods of time to slip by without remembering today's idea, and thus remembering your function. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The commentary on this lesson (below

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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 42. "God is my strength. Vision is His gift." (1:1-2) "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." *This "cause and effect relationship" is that if I know God "walks with me" and He is my strength, I shall automatically perceive through the eyes of His Love and Holiness. Christ's vision comes from the thought I am holy and part of God. When I look out, which, as we have learned, has nothing to do with our physical eyes, all I shall see are figures in a dream either expressing love and trying to return home, or still too afraid of love and attempting to attack it. In other words, the <cause> is

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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 41. "God goes with me wherever I go." *This is obviously a happy thought, and just as obviously Jesus is not talking about a literal physical God Who walks with us, reminiscent of the song in the movie version of <The Student Prince,> "I walk with God." Jesus is telling us here that the memory of God is in our minds -- the home of the Holy Spirit -- and thus is always with us. In that sense, God is indeed with us wherever we go. This will become more evident as we go through th

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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 40. "I am blessed as a Son of God." (1:1) "Today we will begin to assert some of the happy things to which you are entitled, being what you are." *In these early lessons, as we have previously discussed, Jesus makes it very clear that our minds are split, part of which worships guilt and attack thoughts, while the other contains the memory of Who we truly are. Beginning with this lesson and continuing for the next ten, Jesus gives our egos a respite as he speaks almost exclusively about the other side -- "the happy things to which you are entitled" -- our right minds." * (1:2-6) "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." *The exercises for today thus represent a departure from the previous ones because of the absence of a long exercise period. In addition, Jesus continues his strong yet gentle urgings that we keep trying to remember -- as often as possible each hour -- without making our forgetting into a sin. Quite obviously he knows we will. The next paragraph is extremely important because it helps us recognize that these exercises must be applied <all> the time, whether we are meditating in a quiet room, or being about our busyness. <We do not have to close our eyes in order to remember God and His Son>: * (2) "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." *Thus, no matter where you are during the day -- driving your car, eating with a friend, quietly alone, busy at work -- you can remember today's lesson.* (3) "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 an

Lesson 39. My holiness is my salvation. 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 un-holiness. 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 mysalvation.< 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. 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.<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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," w

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 thatmy holiness cannot do.< In the situation involving___in which___sees himself, there is nothing myholiness 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 init.< 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 38. "There is nothing my holiness cannot do." *Jesus does not mean that your holiness will enable you to walk on water or heal people's physical symptoms. His focus, as we have already observed many times, is not on behavior, even though the language may sometimes suggest it is. The concern of A Course in Miracles is always on the thinking in your mind. The reason there is nothing that your holiness cannot do, think, say, or feel will come directly from your right-minded decision to identify with the holiness of Christ. That means there will be no interference or distortion: with guilt and judgment gone, all that remains is the love that transcends all problems and concerns.* (1:1-2) "Your holiness reverses all the laws of the world. It is beyond every restriction of time, space, distance and limits of any kind." *This is because your holiness resides in your right mind, accessed by choosing the holy instant in which you are joined with Jesus or the Holy Spirit. This means there is no separation, and so there can be no sin, guilt, or fear. If there is no <sin>, there is no <past>; if there is no <guilt>, there is no <present>; and if there is no <fear>, there is no <future>. In other words, there is no time in the holy instant. Moreover, if th

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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 37. "My holiness blesses the world." *This is another lesson that is extremely important in terms of what Jesus is teaching us, as well as correcting common mistakes made by students of A Course in Miracles. Jesus obviously is not telling us that we should bless the world that is outside us. This would directly contradict everything he has been teaching us so far. Remember, Jesus is teaching us the world is nothing more than a mirror of our thoughts. Therefore, the lessons <content> is not that we should bless a chair, stick, clock, or another person. Rather, he is saying that if we choose his blessing -- within our minds -- and see ourselves as holy because we have joined with him, that blessing will automatically extend through us and envelop everything we see. The principle <projection makes perception> must never be too far away from our thinking. This will become increasingly manifest as we look at this lesson.* (1:1-2) "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." *This is another way of saying our purpose or function is forgiveness. <Forgiveness> has not really made an appearance yet in these lessons, but the process of seeing the world through your own

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. 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 36. "My holiness envelops everything I see." *This lesson along with the next few are extremely important, as they explore the theme of our holiness. In so doing, they provide the obvious correction of the ego's wrong-minded thinking, which we have been discussing a great deal. They also clarify what Jesus means and does not mean by <holiness>. Another significant but unfortunate aspect of these lessons is that many students of A Course in Miracles have taken their inspiring message and run the wrong way with them, totally misunderstanding Jesus' teaching. I shall therefore explore that idea, among other important themes as we go along.* (1:1) "Today's idea extends the idea for yesterday from the perceiver to the perceived." *In the preceding lesson -- "My mind is part of God's. I am very holy" -- we had discussed the relationship between our inner world and what we perceive to be outside. The lesson now shifts the focus from the perceiver, namely our thoughts, to what we perceive outside. This is not really a shift, because the inner and outer are one and the same. What we see within, which really means what we <think> about ourselves, is exactly what we believe we see outside. As we discussed already, our <perception> does not mean simply <what> we see (or hear, etc.), but our <interpretation> of what we perceive. As always, the focus is on the <content> -- what is in the mind -- and never the <form> -- part of physical world.* (1:2-3) "You are holy because your mind is part of God's. And because you are holy, your sight must be holy as well." *The implication of this statement is that if we are holy within, what we perceive must be holy as well. If what we perceive is not holy -- i.e., if we perceive anything other than an expression of love or a call for love -- we did not first perceive ourselves as holy. We can thus tell whether we have chosen to identify with the ego or the Holy Spirit by paying attention to our perceptions; what we perceive will always be a direct mirror of what we have made real inside ourselves. An important passage in the text explains this: "Damnation is your judgment on yourself, and this you will project upon the world.

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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 35. "My mind is part of God's. I am very holy." *As noted at the end of the last lesson, Jesus continues his shift to a right-minded emphasis. He begins instructing us on what is found in the <other> part of our minds. Everyone should have trouble believing this, as Jesus himself says in the lesson. If you really knew that you were part of God, and therefore your mind was

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.> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 34. "I could see peace instead of this." (1:1-3) "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." *Peace of mind is an "internal matter." The problem is that most of the time we think it results from the outer world meeting our needs. However, Jesus teaches that peace has nothing to do with the external. The implications of this fact, once again, <must> evoke anxiety, because he is informing us that nothing outside can either hurt us or give us peace -- the outer world does not threaten, victimize, or please us --<there is nothing outside us!> The challenge lies in allowing ourselves to become increasingly aware of this <without> lapsing into denial. What helps <not> to fall into this ego trap is recognizing that the practical implications of this thought are that even though we may experience anxiety we attribute to external causes, we can still go within to the Teacher of truth, Who gently reminds us that peace is a choice <we> can make (and therefore experience), independent of outer circumstances. I remember when I first did this lesson I substituted <Jesus> for <peace.> In other words, when tempted to make some aspect of the error real, I would choose Jesus as my teacher and remember to smile at the silliness of believing there could ever be anything in my mind but his love.* (1:4) "It is from your peace of mind that a peaceful perception of

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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 situa

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: a.. I have invented this situation as I see it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is from Kenneth Wapnick's commentaries from his book set called: "Journey Through the Workbook of A Course in Miracles." which can be purchased at the following site: http://www.facim.org/cgi-bin/facimcart.cgi?a=prod&p=b-23 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 32. "I have invented the world I see." (1:1-2) "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." *I am not a victim of the world I see because I am the victim of my thoughts, which made up this world. Looked at from a metaphysical point of view, my entire life -- from birth to death -- is my dream; the script of victimization I wrote to accomplish the ego's purpose. As we have already seen, this purpose is to keep my individual existence, but split off my belief in sin by projecting it onto others. If my life is my dream, my play, my script, then I am obviously the author. Thus am I a victim of my own script writing. In truth, the decision maker identified with the ego -- the part of my split mind that identifies with separation -- wrote this script to teach that the world is a prison and everyone in it is my jailer. When I invite Him in, the Holy Spirit joins me there to teach me this world can now become a classroom in which I learn I made it up. He teaches me further <why> I did so: to protect my individuality and specialness. Therefore, because I made it up, because I invented the world I see, I can change it. Again, "I have invented the world I see" refers back to the idea that my life is my invention, based on the unreal premise I have been unfairly treated as a little child and therefore in need of defenses. Thus I, as healthy ego, literally invent the world that will always prove I am right and everyone else is wrong, and so my attack thoughts and behavior are justified.* (1:3-5) "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." *Jesus once again is talking about motivation: it is my <wish> to see a victimizing world, even if that

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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 31. "I am not the victim of the world I see." *This is many people's favorite lesson, or else their most <un>favorite one. As I said in the preceding lesson, everyone's life has developed as a defense against the pain of childhood victimization, which our society holds as sacrosanct. Therefore, to take this lesson seriously undermines everyone's physical and psychological existence. If you are not the victim of the world you see, then you do not need any defenses. Imagine your life without defenses! In traditional psychology, if you are without defenses you are thought to be psychotic, which is true from the world's point of view. To be identified with the Love of God is indeed a form of psychosis as the world sees it, because it goes against everything judged to be reality, beginning with the other-worldly selflessness that <is> our Self. Thus, if the statement "I am not the victim of the world I see" is true, your life is a lie -- meaningless and purposeless, which has been a major theme of these early lessons. You can therefore understand why A Course in Miracles must engender anxiety, and why you would always have to attack it in one way or another, or attack those who represent it to you. These teachings undermine everything you believe about yourself, beliefs which have given your life its meaning.* (1:1-3) "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." *Obviously, this is not release as the world sees it. This is a declaration of release from your ego, from the prison of your life of guilt and projection. The next few lines describe a new form of exercise, encompassing both a more sustained meditation of the day's ideas as well

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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The commentary on this lesson is from Kenneth Wapnick's series of books, called: "Journey Through the Workbook of A Course in Miracles," which can be purchased at the following site: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 30. "God is in everything I see because God is in my mind." *This lesson also is extremely important, explaining <why> God is in everything I see. He is in my mind. The context, again, is not what we perceive outside, but what is in our minds. Therefore, "think" can be substituted for "see," because our eyes report to us nothing more than the reflection of what we have been thinking. <Projection makes perception.> Indeed, this lesson advances our understanding and experience of projection, the ego's defense <par excellence> for retaining our guilt under the guise of getting rid of it.* (1) "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." *This is a theme that is repeated many times throughout A Course in Miracles: when our minds are awakened and we see with Jesus' love, everything we saw before will disappear. Our judgments against others and against ourselves, our strange way of understanding events -- all will disappear. As we reinforce this way of thinking and seeing, our judgments, which are defenses against the truth of our and our brother's reality, will gradually fade until they disappear entirely. This is what Jesus is saying to us here. It is easy to see why these ideas can frighten us. It is not just our judgments, distorted perceptions, and thinking that will disappear; <we>, as we have always known ourselves to be, will disappear as well. This is the real meaning of defenselessness: being <without> defenses. The ego would attempt to convince us that we need defenses to protect us from our pain, either inflicted from within or without. It never lets us in on its secret: its entire defensive structure is aimed at protecting us from God. Psychology -- the study of the ego -- helps us understand how everyone's life -- certainly by adulthood -- is built up as a defense against the pain and hurt of childhood. We came into this world so that we would feel victimized as children; that is the point of being born into this world, as I discussed in the Prelude. Our

Lesson 29. God is in everything I see. The idea for today explains why you can see all purpose in anything. 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Commentary on this lesson (29) is from Kenneth Wapnick's set of books, called: "Journey Through the Workbook of A Course in Miracles," which can be purchased at the following site: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 29. "God is in everything I see." *When people seek to criticize A Course in Miracles on grounds of pantheism -- a major heresy for Catholics that teaches that God is literally found in the materiality that is His manifestation -- this lesson in particular, as well as the one following, are selected as prime examples. Many years ago I was speaking to a Jesuit priest, who was reminiscent of an old-time heresy hunter. A very conservative Catholic, his major function in life seemed to be to find every heretical teaching in contemporary Christianity. After he heard about me and A Course in Miracles, he took it upon himself to save the nuns and priests with whom I had been working from falling into the depths of perdition with this course. I spent an hour with him one evening, during which time he proceeded to enumerate the Course's heresies. He actually had examined only the workbook, and had spent considerable time on this particular lesson as proof of A Course in Miracles' pantheism. It is true, in fact, when this initial statement, "God is in everything I see," is taken at face value, it does seem to be pantheistic: God is in the table, God is in the chair, God is in the body, God is in the plants, etc. It becomes clear as your study the lesson carefully, however, that is precisely <not> what Jesus is talking about. The theme of these two lessons -- Lesson 29 and 30 -- is that the <purpose> of God -- i.e., the purpose of forgiveness -- is in everything I see. This is so because purpose is in the mind, which will be explained as we proceed. The reader may recall my discussion in this book's Preface of how the language in the workbook, not to

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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The commentary on this lesson is from Kenneth Wapnick's set of books, called: "Journey Through the Workbook of A Course in Miracles," which can be purchased at the following site: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 28. "Above all else I want to see things differently." (1) "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." *The fundamental commitment is to prove that our whole identity rests on a lie -- or to state it in a less threatening way, the commitment is to realize we are wrong and Jesus is right: there is another way of looking at the world. Once again Jesus is applying

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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The commentary on this lesson is from Kenneth Wapnick's book set, called: "Journey Through the Workbook of A Course in Miracles," which can be purchased at the following site: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 27. "Above all else I want to see." *This lesson and the next form a pair ... and move us still further along in our learning, returning to the theme of motivation. Teachers recognize that the most important trait they wish to see in their students is the <desire> to learn. Without motivation, <nothing> will go on in the classroom. Likewise, therapists cannot be of help to their patients unless they are motivated to change. Thus, we want to learn what A Course in Miracles is teaching us, otherwise even the greatest teacher will fail. We want to learn Jesus' course because it will make us happy. To do this, Jesus first has to convince us that we are not happy now. His need is nicely expressed in the opening to "The Happy Learner" in the text: "The Holy Spirit needs a happy learner, in whom His mission can be happily accomplished. You who are steadfastly devoted to misery must first recognize that you are miserable and not happy. The Holy Spirit cannot teach without this contrast, for you believe that misery is happiness. This has so confused you that you have undertaken to learn to do what you can never do, believing that unless you learn it you will not be happy." (T.14.II.1.1-4) Now to the lesson itself:* (1:1-4) "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." *Jesus is not expecting anyone to really mean these words. If we give up judgment and choose vision, it is because we have chosen to let go of our investment in specialness, which to the ego means we are leaving ourselves wide open to attack. Without specialness to defend against our inner emptiness and lack, so the ego counsels us, we become vulnerable to the hostile world around us, hell-bent on our destruction.* (1:5) "The purpose of today's exercises is to bring the time when the idea will be wholly true a little nearer." *Jesus is making it clear, as he does throughout A Course in Miracles, that this is a process. Th

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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Below, is from Kenneth Wapnick's commentaries on this lesson, from "Journey Through the Workbook of A Course in Miracles," which can be purchased at the following site: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 26. "My attack thoughts are attacking my invulnerability." *This is another crucial lesson and, as I indicated, takes our learning (and practice) one step further. If I have attack thoughts, I must believe I am vulnerable. If I believe I am vulnerable, I cannot be Christ because He is invulnerable. If, as Jesus will repeatedly remind me, "I am as God created me," and if my reality is spirit, I must be one with everything and everyone. Therefore, there is literally nothing and no one "out there" who could hurt me. However, as long as I believe

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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Below, is from Kenneth Wapnick's commentaries on this lesson, from "Journey Through the Workbook of A Course in Miracles," which can be purchased at the following site: Foundation for A Course in Miracles ? ~ M. Street ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson 25. "I do not know what anything is for." *This lesson directly discusses the theme of <purpose>, so crucial in A Course in Miracles. Indeed, one could say that purpose alone helps us understand the ego's thought system, the world's role within it, and how through shifting the world's purpose the Holy Spirit uses the ego's plan to undo it.* (1) "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." *Jesus is picking up from the early lessons, including the preceding one, by helping us realize why nothing here means anything. Something has meaning for us only because we do not understand what it is for, which comes from not knowing our own best interests. We think these have to do with satisfying our specialness needs, whether physical or emotional, while what is truly in our interest is learning to forgive. That is why everything in this world is for our own best interests, if we choose