“I am determined to see things differently…”
This, seeing with new -eyes, is after all, what it’s all about, isn’t it. We are determined to accept another way of looking at the world; people, situations, events and relationships in order that we might have an experience of life, joy, peace and love without fear of loss at every turn… yes?
You might begin to notice as you go along through the lessons, as I have that though we start by, every day, getting up and showing up and doing the daily lesson. Then doing our best to remember the applications suggested for that day’s lesson. At night, in faith, we give our minds over to the Holy Spirit for correction while we sleep, etc. Progressively, however, we begin to feel/see/experience this mind-training Course applying itself to us; prompting and reminding and leaving us unsettled in our old ways… have you noticed?
I have become increasingly fine-tuned to the more incidous subtle recesses of ‘private’ thoughts’ and ‘private feelings’.
Even the slightest irritation, or preference, seems intolerable to my peace of mind… And only total release to the Holy Spirit suffices.
I have learned (the hard way) that this can only be done through complete honesty on my part and looking with the Holy Spirit squarely upon the seeming upset in my mind. When I do~ Always ~without exception ~I see it differently.
Chapter 7 in the text really addresses this beautifully. May I recommend you leaf through it in adjunct to today’s lesson, paying particular note to (T-7.III.1-6 & T-7.VIII.5)
Ideas and beliefs I was totally unaware that I was signed on for (and would have actively argued against having) continue to reveal themselves to me as I become progressively aware and accepting of the fact that ‘they are all the same’. They are separation…
~Love thinks me, I notice~ and whenever I’m not thinking, planning, judging, etc. ~Love is always, already there. Even my small willingness to suspect I could be ‘wrong’ about the particular ‘stand’ I've taken or understanding I find myself shiftng ground on at any given moment ~that is enough…
The Course teaches from two levels: 1) the metaphysical non-dual ‘Reality’. Which is the theoretical background from which the Course takes it metaphorical and symbolic reference for. and 2)the practical (mind-training) aspect designed to reach us ‘where we think we are’, in the seemingly dualistic universe of us and others.
I mention this because of my own experience in working with the Course. Which has been often a good example of attempting to bring truth to illusion and I have (although well intentioned) misinterpreted much of it~ merely to justify ego pursuits. Thought it seems obvious to me, now...~ Yet, this has not mattered. There is no order of difficulty in miracles.
As a matter of fact, the Course is designed accordingly. Of course the wrong-mind ‘we’ will misinterpret, reframe, misuse what it says. That is its survival. And the forgiveness of the very same, is salvation. YEAH!
Ideas and beliefs I was totally unaware that I was signed on for (and would have actively argued against having) continue to reveal themselves to me as I become progressively aware and accepting of the fact that ‘they are all the same’. They are separation…
~Love thinks me, I notice~ and whenever I’m not thinking, planning, judging, etc. ~Love is always, already there. Even my small willingness to suspect I could be ‘wrong’ about the particular ‘stand’ I've taken or understanding I find myself shiftng ground on at any given moment ~that is enough…
The Course teaches from two levels: 1) the metaphysical non-dual ‘Reality’. Which is the theoretical background from which the Course takes it metaphorical and symbolic reference for. and 2)the practical (mind-training) aspect designed to reach us ‘where we think we are’, in the seemingly dualistic universe of us and others.
I mention this because of my own experience in working with the Course. Which has been often a good example of attempting to bring truth to illusion and I have (although well intentioned) misinterpreted much of it~ merely to justify ego pursuits. Thought it seems obvious to me, now...~ Yet, this has not mattered. There is no order of difficulty in miracles.
As a matter of fact, the Course is designed accordingly. Of course the wrong-mind ‘we’ will misinterpret, reframe, misuse what it says. That is its survival. And the forgiveness of the very same, is salvation. YEAH!
One more adjunct reading I might suggest to compliment today’s lesson: Chapter 25.1.5-7, a passage I love dearly, it speaks to and has mended my broken wings when I have attempt to fly off on my own …
Even when visited with apparent clarity, I have often held to my belief in specialness~ my judgment that I ‘should be doing it perfectly’, if I really cared, ~if I really wanted to wake up, I wouldn’t forget. I wouldn’t judge. I wouldn’t desire something else…blah, blah, blah… Then I remember: “The distractions of the ego may seem to interfere with your learning, but the ego has no power to distract you unless you give it the power to do so. The ego's voice is an hallucination. You cannot expect it to say "I am not real." Yet you are not asked to dispel your hallucinations alone. You are merely asked to evaluate them in terms of their results to you. If you do not want them on the basis of loss of peace, they will be removed from your mind for you.” (T-8.I.2-4)
I remember and peace is restored. And nothing has really happened at all…
It has been a poignant lesson in level confusion. And an excellent specimen of the ego at work ~what the Course refers to as the ego being “suspicious at least and vicious at worst”… none of this has mattered… all of it forgiven… and behind it I hear in the echoes of the cosmic belly laugh- in symphony with the ‘forgotten song’ of joy… can’t you hear it now…
…ah, the determination to see things differently… one purpose, unified and sure… what Joy ~
Even when visited with apparent clarity, I have often held to my belief in specialness~ my judgment that I ‘should be doing it perfectly’, if I really cared, ~if I really wanted to wake up, I wouldn’t forget. I wouldn’t judge. I wouldn’t desire something else…blah, blah, blah… Then I remember: “The distractions of the ego may seem to interfere with your learning, but the ego has no power to distract you unless you give it the power to do so. The ego's voice is an hallucination. You cannot expect it to say "I am not real." Yet you are not asked to dispel your hallucinations alone. You are merely asked to evaluate them in terms of their results to you. If you do not want them on the basis of loss of peace, they will be removed from your mind for you.” (T-8.I.2-4)
I remember and peace is restored. And nothing has really happened at all…
It has been a poignant lesson in level confusion. And an excellent specimen of the ego at work ~what the Course refers to as the ego being “suspicious at least and vicious at worst”… none of this has mattered… all of it forgiven… and behind it I hear in the echoes of the cosmic belly laugh- in symphony with the ‘forgotten song’ of joy… can’t you hear it now…
…ah, the determination to see things differently… one purpose, unified and sure… what Joy ~
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