Lesson 16: I have no neutral thoughts.

Leila Zitouni

Jan '24 (edited) • Feed

🧩 "THERE IS NO IDLE THOUGHT" OR THE PRINCIPLE OF CAUSALITY

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Thoughts are not neutral. It is impossible.

They are either true or false.

They produce effects to their likeness.

Everything we see is the result of them.

They either extend truth, peace, and love,

Or multiply illusions, wars, and fear.

🧩 UNREAL BUT DESTRUCTIVE... FROM CAUSALITY TO RESPONSIBILITY

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

💫 This crucial lesson emphasizes the importance of recognizing that thoughts are never idle. While they have no impact on God, they hold immense power over what the separate self perceives to be a very real world, a world experienced both physically and psychologically.

📘 "What gives rise to the perception of a whole world can hardly be called idle." (ACIM, W-16.2:2)

💫 In the practice periods, we repeat the idea that each thought is not neutral and recognize the specific thoughts that cause uneasiness. The goal is to understand that all thoughts, regardless of their perceived significance, contribute to either peace or pain until the recognition becomes more natural.

💫 Our thoughts constantly arise in our minds, and whether we are aware of them or not, they produce their effects. By developing our mindfulness, we will become more adept at correcting them when they lead us astray. Jesus wants us to cultivate the ability to remember the role of illusionist we play, our role of image maker, as seen in yesterday's lesson. How else are we going to counteract the power of denial behind which the ego is hiding? We are so keen to wear our mask of victims, pointing our finger at what is supposedly done to us while we are doing it all to ourselves, with our every thought. Empowerment or disempowerment, it's up to us.

The lesson's title could have been "I have no neutral thoughts because I am a powerful creator." We are bound to create by default, we have no say in the matter. Whether what we create will be lovely or not is the only choice we have. And this choice will always produce effects. So, for our and everyone's salvation, let us remember the power, either destructive or healing, of our every thought.

🌟🪄 Expecto Patronus! 🪄🌟

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

* 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.

12 comments