Today’s ACIM Lesson

Different Teacher, Same Message: God-Communication

Posted on May 11, 2015

God-Communication Is the Best Communication that True Spiritualism Can Teach Us

by Hazrat Inayat Khan

The most profound inspiration comes always from the divine mind, and to God alone the credit is due. Even if an inspiration comes through the mind of a person living on earth or through a soul who has passed on to the other side, it still has come from God, for all knowledge and wisdom belong to God.

It is a fault on the part of mankind to attribute inspiration to some limited being who is nothing but a shadow covering God. When a person believes that an old Egyptian comes from the other side to inspire him or that an American Indian comes to lead him on his way, he builds a wall between himself and God. Instead of receiving directly from the source that is perfect and all sufficient, he is picturing his limited idea, making it a screen between himself and God.

from http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/II/II_43.htm

Is not God enough for our souls, and is He not sufficient to inspire us and to illuminate our wills and guide our souls? Is he any less of a friend here or in the spirit life? He is the great well-wisher. In Him mercy is complete. He is the Soul of all souls. When we devote ourselves to the thought of Him, all illumination and revelation are ours. God-communication is the best communication that true spiritualism can teach us.

from http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/VII/VII_21.htm

Thus the ultimate purpose, for which the soul is seeking every moment of our life, is our spiritual purpose. And you may ask how to attain to that purpose. The answer is that what you are seeking for is within yourself. Instead of looking outside, you must look within. The way to proceed to accomplish this is for some moments to suspend all your senses such as sight, hearing, smell, touch, in order to put a screen before the outside life. And by concentration and by developing that meditative quality you will sooner or later get in touch with the inner Self which is more communicative, which speaks more loudly than all the noises of this world. And this gives joy, creates peace, and produces in you a self-sufficient spirit, a spirit of independence, of true liberty. The moment you get in touch with your Self you are in communion with God. It is in this way, if God-communication is sought rightly, that spirituality is attained.

from http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/VI/VI_4.htm

Many thanks to Wahiduddin and his Bowl of Saki — the source of the above writings of Beloved Murshid, Hazrat Inayat Khan.

Proof of Nothing: I = 1

Posted on May 6, 2015

in Today's ACIM Lesson

by Amy Torres

It occurred to me this morning that “I” as in “I am” is equivalent to the number “1.” proof

The personal “I” that goes with “Amy” and “me” is not what I’m referring to. This discussion begins with the collective “I” from which duality springs, and, according to A Course in Miracles, where the power of decision abides.

“I” is the arising of otherness without fear or guilt. “I” is the ability to regard the God-Self in blissful reverence. “I” is the knowing of aliveness before the body or any form seems to exist.

Non-duality means “not two.” “I” is not-twoness. We could say “I” equals “one.”

The number “1” means what? Solo. Only. Single. Unified. Doing spiritual math, “I” minus “1” equals “0” … minus any number from th yin yang brush stroke e same number and you get zero. It just struck home this morning that, in English, “I” and “1” look awe-fully (not awfully) alike.

Big clue. Super obvious. I = 1. One thought of separateness, believed in, equals countless forms. One thought returned to Zero undoes that initial first thought.

One could say that 2 – 1 = 0. Realizing that you are not-two could seem to logically mean we are One … but deeper examination reveals there is no One. This recognition annihilates the belief in a personal self/ego. What is left is … no self-concept, no-thing, nada, zilch, Zero (another name for God ;-)).

Art by Kaku-an as reproduced by Shubun

“When there exists no form of dualism, even a thousand-eyed one fails to detect a loop-hole.” ~Kakuan Shien, translated by D.T. Suzuki

Thanks to Paul Hedderman for inspiring this piece: www.zenbitchslap.com

Why Attend “Weekend of Freedom” 2015?

Posted on April 25, 2015

in Today's ACIM Lesson

by Amy Torres

Intimate retreats like Weekend of Freedom 2015 are powerful and enlightening because they encourage communion with Truth (sometimes called satsang).

By committing to attend, whether you notice it or not, you immediately start to:

* Experience spontaneous miracles
* Clarify your understanding of ACIM concepts
* Immerse yourself in an atmosphere of Truth, Love and Freedom
* Connect with teachers who truly inspire you
* Just be … simply allow Spirit to guide you every day
* Absorb the healing energy of the retreat even before it’s begun
* Be more willing to practice forgiveness each day
* Meet like-minded people who are supportive of your spiritual life
* Get a natural facelift from smiling so much!
* Allow the Holy Spirit to provide, even when money seems scarce. After all, your nature is Unlimited Abundance and if you’re meant to attend, you will tap into God’s Inheritance 😉

As soon as you sign up, you begin to reap the benefits of the retreat! You have put your willingness into action. You have planted the seed of awakening. Miracles effortlessly ripple through you (even if it seems as though nothing is happening).

In my experience, signing up for retreats, workshops, intensives and other spiritual events has been a big opening for my healing and unlearning. There is every reason for Weekend of Freedom to be that opportunity for you.

Here’s more info about the event: http://weekendoffreedomretreat.com/price_list.php and how to commute there: http://stonypointcenter.org/events-retreats/getting-here#.VTv9pJPUzYB

Also, feel free to email me questions at miracles (at) amytorresacim (d0t) com

I look forward to hanging out with you during the Weekend of Freedom! Please introduce yourself to me and let’s have a hug! Much appreciated if you check the “Amy Torres” box on the registration form.

A Course in Miracles Is A Sexy Read

Posted on April 25, 2015

in Today's ACIM Lesson

by Amy Torres

A Course in Miracles, typically considered mystical scripture, can also be seen as a love story, a whodunnit, a thriller, a new genre mixing Fact and fiction, and an interactive read where the reader discovers she or he is the protagonist!

ACIM promotes naked honesty and constantly invites you to strip … your false identity. It is, after all, an exposé of the ego. How?

Well, at first, by forgiving everybody towards whom you’ve ever held a resentment or grievance. The twist is that everybody turns out to be you. Yep, it’s similar to the movie Fight Club — well worth watching if you’d like a better understanding of the ego and self-hatred.

ACIM 3rd Edition The book cover lacks an author. For some, it is obvious that the Course was written by none other than Jesus Christ. Others dispute this vehemently. Many don’t know and don’t care because deep immersion in A Course in Miracles reveals that although you seem to be in this world, you are certainly not of it — and the joy and freedom of this discovery make authorship inconsequential. Then, WOW, what a discovery! It turns out that you are the author.

Yes, it becomes obvious that you are the author of A Course in Miracles because it is simply the memory of God within you speaking through you to you of You. You might need to read that sentence again :).

The evil villain turns out to be you. The scrumptious lover turns out to be you. The cripple; the hero; the traitor; the staunch defender; the coward; the victor — all you. Jesus turns out to be you. In fact, you are an extension of God Itself.

This God-Self is totally impersonal and yet the most intimate love relationship of all. Plus, it’s never-ending bliss because as pure, unborn Life, You can never die. Stick with the Course and you’ll find out that at no single instant does the body exist at all. So that pesky personal identity that’s been plaguing you is just an idea (you’re human) that you’ve attached to another idea (you’re in a body), neither of which are real.

rose petal bed Suspenseful and mind-boggling, isn’t it? A Course in Miracles is over 1,200 pages, so you can settle into bed with this big, long book and have yourself a good time! Adam and Eve were the beginning of sex and guilt, but the Course is the Source of Infinite Bliss. You’ll never want it to end, and, luckily, Sinlessness never does.

But don’t take my word for it. Read it for yourself. After you get through the part about how you actually love crucifixion, and you’re truly terrified of redemption, then comes the really good stuff!

To hear Amy speak about A Course in Miracles, watch her YouTube videos, and join her at Change Your Mind, Change the World in Las Vegas this April.

If you’d like to ask Amy a question for her popular Ask Amy column in Miracles magazine, email miracles (at) amytorresacim (dot) com … Also, check out Workin’ the Workbook, Amy’s online class which supports the ACIM Workbook practice, and her book, Sweet Dreams of Awakening: 365 Good Night Blessings.

Shut Off Your Brain and Open Your Heart

Posted on April 25, 2015

in Today's ACIM Lesson

by Amy Torres

Brain Heart Patti Reed It’s always comforting and inspiring when people share ordinary miracles — things that happen daily but can easily be missed … unless you shift your attention to what is True.

Today, one of my Course students shared this beautiful miracle that occurred as she was walking on the beach.

She said a silent prayer and then looked down, saw two sea shells and took them to mean:

“Shut off your brain and open your heart and God’s Will will be done.” ~Patti Reed.

By the way, Patti is a miraculous healer and you can learn more about her work at http://www.pattiintuitivemovement.com

Thanks for sharing, Patti!

I welcome all your miracle stories. Please email them to me at miracles (at) amytorresacim (dot) com

Let’s practice together! You can watch and hear Amy reading each ACIM Lesson on Youtube. Also, check out Workin’ the Workbook, Amy’s online class which supports the ACIM Workbook practice.

Transfiguration … is that a good thing?

Posted on April 11, 2015

in Today's ACIM Lesson

by Amy Torres

Holidays come and go and I don’t notice them. But words like “transfiguration,” “metamorphosis” and “resurrection” get my attention!

When Jesus refers to Easter and Christmas in A Course in Miracles, he uses them just like everything else: to help us awaken to our true Identity. Transfiguration, metamorphosis and resurrection are meant to communicate the process of recognizing your true Self. Whether it seems possible or not, it is inevitable that you will discover that you are already awake.

Transfiguration by Alexandr Ivanov 1824

Jesus says it in many different ways throughout the Course, but the Message never varies: we are not the body, we are free, for we are still as God created us.

We are Spirit, we are One Self, we are Great Rays emanating from our Father Who has joined with us in formless timelessness. We share One Name. We are the Same.

Yet, we remain clueless about our true Identity although Jesus insists it is right in front of our nose, simple and obvious! How? By having a running monologue with the ego self. You take yourself to be a person, and are mesmerized by the person you seem to be!

The person you imagine yourself to be is the self-concept, dreamed up by the ego, who is talking to itself, disguised as many. This conversation, seemingly a dialogue, is actually the one ego-mind talking to itself. All the people around the world, good and bad, have emerged from this one ego and are fragments of the one ego mind. From savage disputes to special alliances, it is all one mind acting out different roles.

In A Course in Miracles, Jesus understands our insanity — one mind seeing itself as many and talking to and fighting against “others, out there.” He gives us a forgiveness practice to keep us busy. At first, it seems as if we are forgiving others. Eventually, it becomes clear we are forgiving ourselves. Beyond that, it is seen that forgiveness undoes the personal identity entirely.

“Through your transfiguration is the world redeemed, and joyfully released from guilt. Now do we lift our resurrected minds in gladness and in gratitude to Him Who has restored our sanity to us.” (W-151)

angel sky What does “transfiguration” mean? Basically the same thing that “metamorphosis” means. “Trans” and “meta” can both be used to mean “to go beyond.” To go beyond the figure is to go beyond the body. When we first experience that we are not the body it is miraculous! Eventually, this miracle becomes the new normal as the mind shifts from false personal identity to True Unified Identity. In other words, the process of transfiguration leads to resurrection.

Everyone who sees God’s Light in another will inevitably see her/himself as God’s Light. Jesus tells us, “Your resurrection is your reawakening. I am the model for rebirth, but rebirth itself is merely the dawning on your mind of what is already in it. God placed it there Himself, and so it is true forever.”

At first, this may seem impractical and unattainable, but, rest assured, it is supremely practical and need not even be attained because it is already so! Rebirth may sound like a grand achievement, but actually, even rebirth is unnecessary. As the great contemporary master, Sri Mooji, puts it: You are the Unborn, beyond human life and death. Once you know this, there are no more questions.

“Perhaps today, perhaps tomorrow, you will see your own transfiguration in the glass … When you are ready you will find it there, within your mind and waiting to be found. You will remember then the thought to which you gave this half an hour, thankfully aware that no time was ever better spent.” (W-124)

To ask Amy a question, email miracles (at) amytorresacim (dot com)

Lesson 92 – Miracles are seen in light, and light and strength are one.

Posted on April 2, 2015

in Today's ACIM Lesson

by Amy Torres

Commentary (full lesson beneath commentary)

My claim to miracles is inherent in the truth of What I Am. It is God’s Strength in me that is the light in which I see, as it is His Mind with which I think … it is laughable to think I think with the brain, see with the body’s eyes. When asked if she was afraid to catch leprosy from the people she was working with in the streets of Calcutta, Mother Teresa looked into the face of the child she was holding in her arms, and said, “What lepers?” She saw with God’s eyes, she saw the face of Christ in every face. “Truth is a savior and can only will happiness and peace for everyone. It gives its strength to everyone who asks, in limitless supply.”

Sit quietly and let this Truth roll through you. There is a quickening, a tingling, an effortless expansion of breath, a great Exhale. An anticipation, a sense of promise … a widening of knowing … a thinning of personal identity … a smile on the lips … a sense of purpose with no agenda, no ambition, no goals. Yes.

LESSON 92

Miracles are seen in light, and light and strength are one.

The idea for today is an extension of the previous one. [Lesson 91: Miracles are seen in light.] You do not think of light in terms of strength, and darkness in terms of weakness. That is because your idea of what seeing means is tied up with the body and its eyes and brain. Thus you believe that you can change what you see by putting little bits of glass before your eyes. This is among the many magical beliefs that come from the conviction you are a body, and the body’s eyes can see.

You also believe the body’s brain can think. If you but understood the nature of thought, you could but laugh at this insane idea. It is as if you thought you held the match that lights the sun and gives it all its warmth; or that you held the world within your hand, securely bound until you let it go. Yet this is no more foolish than to believe the body’s eyes can see; the brain can think.

It is God’s strength in you that is the light in which you see, as it is His Mind with which you think. His strength denies your weakness. It is your weakness that sees through the body’s eyes, peering about in darkness to behold the likeness of itself; the small, the weak, the sickly and the dying, those in need, the helpless and afraid, the sad, the poor, the starving and the joyless. These are seen through eyes that cannot see and cannot bless.

Strength overlooks these things by seeing past appearances. It keeps its steady gaze upon the light that lies beyond them. It unites with light, of which it is a part. It sees itself. It brings the light in which your Self appears. In darkness you perceive a self that is not there. Strength is the truth about you; weakness is an idol falsely worshipped and adored that strength may be dispelled, and darkness rule where God appointed that there should be light.

Strength comes from truth, and shines with light its Source has given it; weakness reflects the darkness of its maker. It is sick and looks on sickness, which is like itself. Truth is a savior and can only will for happiness and peace for everyone. It gives its strength to everyone who asks, in limitless supply. It sees that lack in anyone would be a lack in all. And so it gives its light that all may see and benefit as one. Its strength is shared, that it may bring to all the miracle in which they will unite in purpose and forgiveness and in love.

Weakness, which looks in darkness, cannot see a purpose in forgiveness and in love. It sees all others different from itself, and nothing in the world that it would share. It judges and condemns, but does not love. In darkness it remains to hide itself, and dreams that it is strong and conquering, a victor over limitations that but grow in darkness to enormous size.

It fears and it attacks and hates itself, and darkness covers everything it sees, leaving its dreams as fearful as itself. No miracles are here, but only hate. It separates itself from what it sees, while light and strength perceive themselves as one. The light of strength is not the light you see. It does not change and flicker and go out. It does not shift from night to day, and back to darkness till the morning comes again.

The light of strength is constant, sure as love, forever glad to give itself away, because it cannot give but to itself. No one can ask in vain to share its sight, and none who enters its abode can leave without a miracle before his eyes, and strength and light abiding in his heart.

The strength in you will offer you the light, and guide your seeing so you do not dwell on idle shadows that the body’s eyes provide for self-deception. Strength and light unite in you, and where they meet, your Self stands ready to embrace you as Its Own. Such is the meeting place we try today to find and rest in, for the peace of God is where your Self, His Son, is waiting now to meet Itself again, and be as One.

Let us give twenty minutes twice today to join this meeting. Let yourself be brought unto your Self. Its strength will be the light in which the gift of sight is given you. Leave, then, the dark a little while today, and we will practice seeing in the light, closing the body’s eyes and asking truth to show us how to find the meeting place of self and Self, where light and strength are one.

Morning and evening we will practice thus. After the morning meeting, we will use the day in preparation for the time at night when we will meet again in trust. Let us repeat as often as we can the idea for today, and recognize that we are being introduced to sight, and led away from darkness to the light where only miracles can be perceived.

Let’s practice together! Listen to God Goes With You. Watch and hear Amy reading each ACIM Lesson on Youtube. Also, check out Workin’ the Workbook, Amy’s online class which supports the ACIM Workbook practice.

To ask Amy a question, email [email protected]

Ask Amy: Sexually abused by a priest: are you responsible?

Posted on February 1, 2015

in Ask Amy, Non-duality, Spiritual Psychotherapy, Thoughts on A Course in Miracles, Today's ACIM Lesson, Undoing the Ego, Unlearning Classroom

by Amy Torres

Guy Question Q: As a boy, I was sexually abused by a priest, and it has crippled me as an adult in many ways. The Course has helped me to forgive him, but I feel like Jesus is blaming me when he tells us to say, “I am responsible for what I see. I choose the feelings I experience, and I decide upon the goal I would achieve. And everything that seems to happen to me I ask for, and receive as I have asked.” (T-21.II) How could I be responsible for this priest’s actions, especially since I was so young at the time?

A: Thank you for your courage in sharing this devastating situation. Your question is shared by so many people who were betrayed as children. There are several layers here, so let’s peel them away together.

First, you reveal that due to the abuse you are crippled as an adult. As realistic as this seems to you, please consider that no matter what your circumstances, feelings, or state of mind, Jesus clearly states in Chapter 1, “You are the work of God, and His work is wholly lovable and wholly loving.” Somewhere deep inside we all know this is true. Allow yourself to be a sponge and soak up this loving testament to who you really are, and always will be, God’s perfect child.

Second, you say the Course has helped you forgive the priest. In the ACIM Preface, Jesus explains that each special relationship holds the “chance to forgive oneself by forgiving the other.” This could be taken to mean that one person forgives another, but the Course clarifies that forgiveness occurs when you invite the Holy Spirit to take charge and work through you. The Holy Spirit truly empowers us by undoing projections of victimization no matter how justified they appear.

In the process, guilt may seem to move from “other” back to “self” until it evaporates entirely. Eventually, we discover forgiveness undoes the identification you have as a person and reveals there is no one to be forgiven. You don’t have to figure this out. ACIM is like a Zen koan — it boggles the mind in order to open the mind to its true Identity.

Third, you feel Jesus is blaming you, which reveals you are still carrying guilt. Not to worry. Guilt is the glue that holds the ego together. When you catch yourself feeling as if Jesus is blaming you, be aware that ego-thinking has taken over. Let this become an ongoing reminder to “choose again.” Simply say, “Holy Spirit, I choose your guidance. Remind me of my innocence.” Miracles are guaranteed.

Last, you ask, “How could I be responsible for the priest’s actions, especially since I was so young at the time?” Notice within your question is the inherent assumption that you are a person. Don’t fall for this ego trick. “A pseudo-question has no answer. It dictates the answer even as it asks.” (T-27.IV.5) The ego lures us to speculate endlessly about human affairs. Dismiss this temptation.

The prayer you cite is about a higher power of decision. There are only two choices: God or ego. You are responsible for choosing to see with the Holy Spirit’s unifying vision or the ego’s divisive eyesight. This prayer is neither an accusation nor a law of attraction mantra. Jesus is not concerned with people improving their personal lives, which only strengthens belief in ego illusions. Happily, the part of you that reads the Course understands this because it is the memory of God within you, awakening to its true Self.

Try this: “I, the One Son of God, am responsible for what I see.” Choose peace, make peace your goal, and you will come to feel peace, receive peace, give peace, and know you are peace. “Everything looked upon with vision is healed and holy.” (T-21.Intro)

Suggested reading: A Course in Miracles, T-11.VIII. The Problem and the Answer; T-26.II. Many Forms; One Correction; S-1.I. True Prayer, and How to Take Yourself Less Personally.

This Q&A appears in the Ask Amy column from the March-April 2015 issue of Miracles magazine. Miracles is a well-loved staple in the ACIM community. To get a subscription, email [email protected] or call 845-496-9089. To ask Amy a question, email miracles (at) amytorresacim (dot) com

W-9: I see nothing as it is now.

Posted on January 9, 2015

in Spiritual Psychotherapy, Thoughts on A Course in Miracles, Today's ACIM Lesson, Undoing the Ego, Unlearning Classroom, Workin' the Workbook

by Amy Torres

Commentary (full lesson beneath commentary)

I only see the past. My mind is preoccupied with past thoughts. These previous lessons lead to this one: “I see nothing as it is now.” What I seem to see is not really here.

All Jesus asks is that we apply the idea by doing the exercises. We don’t understand, that much is obvious. And if we did understand we wouldn’t need this workbook. Jesus says, “Each small step will clear a little of the darkness away, and understanding will finally come to lighten every corner of the mind that has been cleared of the debris that darkens it.” Practicing is as wonderfully, comfortingly mundane as cleaning out our closets. As I practice, clutter is removed, space is opened, and light dawns.

As usual, we are told that when doing the exercise, “remember the need for its indiscriminate application, and the essential rule of excluding nothing.”

Here goes:

I do not see this _____________ as it is now.

I do not see this blog as it is now. I do not see these fingers as they are now. I do not see this book as it is now. I do not see these crystal pyramids as they are now. I do not see this whirling dervish statuette as it is now. I do not see this glass of water as it is now. I do not see these reading glasses as they are now. I do not see this waste basket as it is now.

Cleaning out closets, uncluttering my mind. Little by little. My heart feel light and care-free.

LESSON 9

I see nothing as it is now.

This idea obviously follows from the two preceding ones. But while you may be able to accept it intellectually, it is unlikely that it will mean anything to you as yet. However, understanding is not necessary at this point. In fact, the recognition that you do not understand is a prerequisite for undoing your false ideas. These exercises are concerned with practice, not with understanding. You do not need to practice what you already understand. It would indeed be circular to aim at understanding, and assume that you have it already.

It is difficult for the untrained mind to believe that what it seems to picture is not there. This idea can be quite disturbing, and may meet with active resistance in any number of forms. Yet that does not preclude applying it. No more than that is required for these or any other exercises. Each small step will clear a little of the darkness away, and understanding will finally come to lighten every corner of the mind that has been cleared of the debris that darkens it.

These exercises, for which three or four practice periods are sufficient, involve looking about you and applying the idea for the day to whatever you see, remembering the need for its indiscriminate application, and the essential rule of excluding nothing. For example:

I do not see this typewriter as it is now.
I do not see this telephone as it is now.
I do not see this arm as it is now.

Begin with things that are nearest you, and then extend the range outward:

I do not see that coat rack as it is now.
I do not see that door as it is now.
I do not see that face as it is now.

It is emphasized again that while complete inclusion should not be attempted, specific exclusion must be avoided. Be sure you are honest with yourself in making this distinction. You may be tempted to obscure it.

Let’s practice together! Watch and listen to me reading each ACIM Lesson on Youtube. Also, check out Workin’ the Workbook, my online class which supports the ACIM Workbook practice.

W-8: My mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.

Posted on January 8, 2015

in Spiritual Psychotherapy, Thoughts on A Course in Miracles, Today's ACIM Lesson, Undoing the Ego, Unlearning Classroom, Workin' the Workbook

by Amy Torres

Commentary (full lesson beneath commentary)

This is getting funny now. The lesson says no one really sees anything, we’re just “seeing” our thoughts projected outward. I comprehend this through a swooping suction-y feeling, as if the content of my mind is being sucked through my forehead and vortexed forward and out. There it goes, what I believe, outpictured and accepted as reality. Yikes.

The lesson goes on to say that the only true thought about the past is that is doesn’t exist, therefore what we call thinking is actually in a state of blankness. Today’s exercise begins to train the mind to recognize when it is not thinking at all. That might make meditating easier. I could close my eyes and think about how all those passing thoughts are the past and my mind is actually blank. The thoughtless ideas I call thinking actually block the Truth. The Truth is there, but preoccupation with the past (Jesus is kind here — “obsession” is often more accurate) blocks the Truth.

This is important: Jesus says, “The purpose of the exercises for today is to begin to train your mind to recognize when it is not really thinking at all.” Stop. Let’s take that in.

The practice is: “I seem to be thinking about _________.” Fill in the blank and conclude with “But my mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.”

The purpose is to train my mind to recognize when it is not really thinking at all. The practice is to examine my thoughts. Purpose. Practice. Purpose. Practice.

Here goes: I seem to be thinking about having a snack and worrying that, at this rate, I’ll just get fatter and fatter. I seem to be thinking about my taxes and, oddly, feeling a sense of pleasure at being able to afford them. I seem to be thinking about that background noise: is the cat throwing up? I seem to be feeling irritated, but the exercise said that’s okay as long as I note my feeling. And anyway, all that’s actually happening is that my mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.

I am more the breath than I am the body. If I undo the body, I get back to the breath. The breath is invisible … except when it mists in cold temperatures. The breath is the bridge to Formlessness.

If God’s name is the sound of the breath, as I’ve learned more than once from various spiritual teachings, identifying with the breath takes me closer to God … I’ve also heard it said that when God exhales we inhale, and when God inhales we exhale. I’ve been invited to let God breath me. To put an end to my effortful breathing, my tense, constricted breathing, my shallow, inadequate inhales and overly depleting exhales and to just let myself fall into God’s flow, God’s rhythm, God’s breath of Life.

There’s been too much striving and trying for me. Even worse than perfectionism, all that trying. My mind is preoccupied with past thoughts, but something is budding, Something is making Itself felt. In spite of myself, thank God, the Truth shines on and Its Gleam within me glows softly, dimly, increasingly.

The lesson directs the practice for today, “I seem to be thinking about ______________.”

I seem to be thinking about my vision–there seems to be no comfortable distance from which I can read clearly. With contacts or without contacts, with reading glasses or without reading glasses, everything is mostly blurry and I feel sad about that. Many times I feel irritable, the texture-y anger and helpless that I call frustration. Right now I feel sad because I’m so engrossed in reading and writing these days and would like to enjoy reading and writing smoothly and effortlessly. But what’s really going on is that my mind is preoccupied with past thoughts. Right now

I seem to be thinking about …

But my mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.

Four to five times of practice is suggested for today … unless the lesson is irritating me, lol.

LESSON 8

My mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.

This idea is, of course, the reason why you only see the past. No one really sees anything. His sees only his thoughts projected outward. The mind’s preoccupation with the past is the cause of the misconception about time from which your seeing suffers. Your mind cannot grasp the present, which is the only time there is. It therefore cannot understand time, and cannot, in fact, understand anything.

The one wholly true thought one can hold about the past is that it is not here. To think about it at all is therefore to think about illusions. Very few have realized what is actually entailed in picturing the past or in anticipating the future. The mind is actually blank when it does this, because it is not really thinking about anything.

The purpose of the exercises for today is to begin to train your mind to recognize when it is not really thinking at all. While thoughtless ideas preoccupy your mind, the truth is blocked. Recognizing that your mind has been merely blank, rather than believing that it is filled with real ideas, is the first step to opening the way to vision.

The exercises for today should be done with eyes closed. This is because you can actually not see anything, and it is easier to recognize that no matter how vividly you may picture a thought, you are not seeing anything. With as little investment as possible, search your mind for the usual minute or so, merely noting the thoughts you find there. Name each one by the central figure or theme it contains, and pass on to the next. Introduce the practice period by saying:

I seem to be thinking about __________.

Then name each of your thoughts specifically, for example:

I seem to be thinking about [name of a person], about [name of an object], about [name of an emotion],

and so on, concluding at the end of the mind-searching period with:

But my mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.

This can be done four or five times during the day, unless you find it irritates you. If you find it trying, three or four times is sufficient. You might find it helpful, however, to include your irritation, or any emotion that the idea for today may induce, in the mind searching itself.

For more on “I seem to be thinking about …” read Coming Apart at the “Seems”.

Let’s practice together! Watch and listen to me reading each ACIM Lesson on Youtube. Also, check out Workin’ the Workbook, my online class which supports the ACIM Workbook practice.