Lesson 11: My meaningless thoughts are showing me a meaningless world.

Jan '24 (edited) • Feed

🧩 THE REVERSAL OF THE THINKING OF THE WORLD

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This is a crucial and potent lesson. After having us move our attention to either the world or our thoughts, in the previous lessons, Jesus is now stating as clearly as can be the cause-and-effect relationship between the two:

"This is the first idea we have had that is related to a major phase of the correction process; the reversal of the thinking of the world. ²It seems as if the world determines what you perceive. ³Today’s idea introduces the concept that your thoughts determine the world you see." (ACIM, W-11.1:1-3)

This is "a major phase of the correction process", Jesus says. He's really asking us to pay attention. We do not have thoughts, ideas, emotions, or even experiences because of the world. The thoughts come first and the world follows accordingly. This is a complete reversal of our unchallenged ego thought system. If we are not shaken even a little when exposed to this idea, we are probably not thinking it through. And if we are cool with it, we should double-check that it is still the case when we are triggered by something or someone 😆 That would be a good test and it is actually what all these lessons are about. Putting our current ideas and believes to the test.

🧩 DISCRETE INTRODUCTION TO THE IDEA OF FORGIVENESS

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"Be glad indeed to practice the idea in its initial form, for in this idea is your release made sure. ⁵The key to forgiveness lies in it." (ACIM, W-11.1:4-5)

Without intimidating us with more definitions, Jesus is presenting us with an idea "in its initial form", letting us know that we should expect him to build on it in the coming lessons. The introduction to the idea of forgiveness that follows is so subtle that we could miss it. Especially as he does not elaborate more at this stage. It is nonetheless important, let's see what Kenneth has to say:

“That is how we learn forgiveness. I cannot forgive a world that is real. I cannot forgive others for what they have actually done, regardless of the seeming effect it has had on me. I can forgive you only by realizing I am the one who put you in my dream, and it is my dream. That is the key to forgiveness, and to the important definition in A Course in Miracles that you forgive your brother for what he has not done to you (e.g., W-pII.1.1:1). It may very well be that the person has done a great deal to you or to others on the physical or psychological level. But on the level of your mind he has done nothing, because he is nothing but a thought in your mind. Just as you, the victim of the victimizer, are also a thought in your mind. Victim and victimizer are one and the same.”

Excerpt from Journey through the Workbook of "A Course in Miracles", Kenneth Wapnick, Vol. 1, p 35.

🧩 ITEMS OF ATTENTION:

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🎯 New form in the idea's application:

1) Repeating/contemplating the idea with eyes closed (MIND)

2) Opening the eyes while leisurely repeating the idea as we look around with our eyes moving "from one thing to another fairly rapidly, since they should not linger on anything in particular." (WORLD)

3) Concluding the exercise with eyes closed and one more repetition of the idea (BACK TO MIND)

🎯 Insistance that the period exercise should be done in a relaxed and casual way:

"The introduction to this idea, in particular, should be practiced as casually as possible. ⁴It contains the foundation for the peace, relaxation and freedom from worry that we are trying to achieve." (ACIM, W-11.3:3-4)

Just so we know what we are aiming for...

💫💙 You are the Love and Light 💙💫

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* My comment on this lesson follows my studying of the in-depth comment of the same lesson by Kenneth Wapnick in his published work, Journey through the Workbook of "A Course in Miracles". While it may sometimes contain my thoughts on it, it is essentially my humble take and summary of the masterful work of Kenneth. I share them here in the hope that someone might find them helpful.

** I also share, in these ACIM posts, the wallpaper images that I use on my phone and change every day to help me commit to my lesson, in the hope that some might enjoy them as well. Here is the link to a Dropbox folder where you can download the lessons's wallpaper for mobile I have uploaded so far.

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