05 Mar 2022 Comments Off on Lesson 64 – Let me not forget my function.

Lesson 64 – Let me not forget my function.

Commentary (full lesson beneath commentary)

Let me not wander into temptation, let me not forget my function.  Today we focus on all related thoughts to strengthen and reinforce today’s idea:  The purpose of the body is to tempt me to forget God.  The Holy Spirit saves me by using all physical temptation for the spiritual recognition of our True Identity.

Choosing to fulfill my function is choosing to be happy.  My function is forgiveness.  Forgiveness brings the darkness to the Light.  The Light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness.  God has appointed “me” to save the world and my brothers by accepting salvation for myself.  I am God’s conduit for salvation.  Opening as a conduit reminds me that I am the Light and then the vortex shifts from horizontal to vertical.

The body which seems to be “me”  is the classroom where I seem to receive God’s direction for now.  All correction is actually happening in my mind, but it’s okay for me to experience mind expansion, relaxation, release of fear, peace, strengthened conviction, confidence in Reality through signs in my body.  This is the awakening process in time.  Waking itself will erase all time and answer all questions which ultimately need no answers.

It is a simple decision:

Let me not forget my function … forgiveness lets me recognize light, accept light, shine light, and bring darkness to light …
Let me not try to substitute mine for God’s … my function is Self-serving and salvation serves me and all my brothers.
Let me forgive and be happy … choosing forgiveness brings me happiness–it’s that simple and that easy … let me forgive and be happy.

LESSON 64

Let me not forget my function.

Today’s idea is merely another way of saying “Let me not wander into temptation.”  The purpose of the world you see is to obscure your function of forgiveness, and provide you with a justification for forgetting it.  It is the temptation to abandon God and His Son by taking on a physical appearance.  It is this the body’s eyes look upon.

Nothing the body’s eyes seem to see can be anything but a form of temptation, since this was the purpose of the body itself.  Yet we have learned that the Holy Spirit has another use for all the illusions you have made, and therefore He sees another purpose in them.  To the Holy Spirit, the world is a place where you learn to forgive yourself what you think of as your sins.  In this perception, the physical appearance of temptation becomes the spiritual recognition of salvation.

To review our last few lessons, your function here is to be the light of the world, a function given you by God.  It is only the arrogance of the ego that leads you to question this, and only the fear of the ego that induces you to regard yourself as unworthy of the task assigned to you by God Himself.  The world’s salvation awaits your forgiveness, because through it does the Son of God escape from all illusions, and thus from all temptation.  The Son of God is you.

Only by fulfilling the function given you by God will you be happy.  That is because your function is to be happy by using the means by which happiness becomes inevitable.  There is no other way.  Therefore, every time you choose whether or not to fulfill your function, you are really choosing whether or not to be happy.

Let us remember this today.  Let us remind ourselves of it in the morning and again at night, and all through the day as well.  Prepare yourself in advance for all the decisions you will make today by remembering they are all really very simple.  Each one will lead to happiness or unhappiness.  Can such a simple decision really be difficult to make?  Let not the form of the decision deceive you.  Complexity of form does not imply complexity of content.  It is impossible that any decision on earth can have a content different from just this one simple choice.  That is the only choice the Holy Spirit sees.  Therefore it is the only choice there is.

Today, then, let us practice with these thoughts:

Let me not forget my function.
Let me not try to substitute mine for God’s.
Let me forgive and be happy.

At least once devote ten or fifteen minutes today to reflecting on this with closed eyes.  Related thoughts will come to help you, if you remember the crucial importance of your function to you and to the world.

In the frequent applications of today’s idea throughout the day, devote several minutes to reviewing these thoughts, and then thinking about them and about nothing else.  This will be difficult, at first particularly, since you are not proficient in the mind discipline that it requires.  You may need to repeat “Let me not forget my function” quite often to help you concentrate.

Two forms of shorter practice periods are required.  At times, do the exercises with your eyes closed, trying to concentrate on the thoughts you are using.  At other times, keep your eyes open after reviewing the thoughts, and then look slowly and unselectively around you, telling yourself:

This is the world it is my function to save.

Let’s practice together!  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.

by Amy Torres in Spiritual Psychotherapy, Thoughts on A Course in Miracles, Today's ACIM Lesson, Undoing the Ego, Unlearning Classroom, Workin' the Workbook Tags: My experience with the ACIM Workbook Lessons

04 Mar 2022 Comments Off on Lesson 63 – The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness.

Lesson 63 – The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness.

Commentary (full lesson beneath commentary)

If salvation is accepted, salvation is given.  What seems like many minds boils down to one ego thought appearing in countless shapes and forms.  God’s Son is the One Self.  Salvation saves the One Self, which is Itself, from continuing delusional belief in an illusory idea that there could be an identity other than God, by unraveling that idea and discovering it has no Source.

The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness.  This “my” becomes completely impersonal as the importance of Lesson 63 is embraced.  In accepting Light, darkness is dissolved, and happiness blossoms effortlessly.  Forgiveness lays all concepts at the feet of Truth.  Having given self-concept to  Self, there is nothing but uncluttered space and loving laughter.  Life is a bowl of cherries!

LESSON 63

The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness.

How holy are you who have the power to bring peace to every mind!  How blessed are you who can learn to recognize the means for letting this be done through you!  What purpose could you have that would bring you greater happiness?

You are indeed the light of the world with such a function.  The Son of God looks to you for his redemption.  It is yours to give him, for it belongs to you.  Accept no trivial purpose or meaningless desire in its place, or you will forget your function and leave the Son of God in hell.  This is no idle request that is being asked of you.  You are being asked to accept salvation that it may be yours to give.

Recognizing the importance of this function, we will be happy to remember it very often today.  We will begin the day by acknowledging it, and close the day with the thought of it in our awareness.  And throughout the day we will repeat this as often as we can:

The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness.   I am the means God has appointed for the salvation of the world.

If you close your eyes, you will probably find it easier to let the related thoughts come to you in the minute or two that you should devote to considering this.  Do not, however, wait for such an opportunity.  No chance should be lost for reinforcing today’s idea.  Remember that God’s Son looks to you for his salvation.  And Who but your Self must be His Son?

Let’s practice together!  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.

by Amy Torres in Spiritual Psychotherapy, Thoughts on A Course in Miracles, Today's ACIM Lesson, Undoing the Ego, Unlearning Classroom, Workin' the Workbook Tags: My experience with the ACIM Workbook Lessons

03 Mar 2022 Comments Off on Lesson 62 – Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world.

Lesson 62 – Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world.

Commentary (full lesson beneath commentary)

Forgiveness and salvation are two ways of saying undoing.  Undoing darkness produces Light.  Giving darkness to the Holy Spirit is my function.  It is an uncluttering of the mind.  Uncluttering the mind leads to spacious unknowing.  Not knowing anything is happiness.  So very simple.

LESSON 62

Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world.

It is your forgiveness that will bring the world of darkness to the light.  It is your forgiveness that lets you recognize the light in which you see.  Forgiveness is the demonstration that you are the light of the world.  Through your forgiveness does the truth about yourself return to your memory.  Therefore, in your forgiveness lies your salvation.

Illusions about yourself and the world are one.  That is why all forgiveness is a gift to yourself.  Your goal is to find out who you are, having denied your Identity by attacking creation and its Creator.  Now you are learning how to remember the truth.  For this attack must be replaced by forgiveness, so that thoughts of life may replace thoughts of death.

Remember that in every attack you call upon your own weakness, while each time you forgive you call upon the strength of Christ in you.  Do you not then begin to understand what forgiveness will do for you?  It will remove all sense of weakness, strain and fatigue from your mind.  It will take away all fear and guilt and pain.  It will restore the invulnerability and power God gave His Son to your awareness.

Let us be glad to begin and end this day by practicing today’s idea, and to use it as frequently as possible throughout the day.  It will help to make the day as happy for you as God wants you to be.  And it will help those around you, as well as those who seem to be far away in space and time, to share this happiness with you.

As often as you can, closing your eyes if possible, say to yourself today:

Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world.
I would fulfill my function that I may be happy.

Then devote a minute or two to considering your function and the happiness and release it will bring you.  Let related thoughts come freely, for your heart will recognize these words, and in your mind is the awareness they are true.  Should your attention wander, repeat the idea and add:

I would remember this because I want to be happy.

Let’s practice together!  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.

by Amy Torres in Spiritual Psychotherapy, Thoughts on A Course in Miracles, Today's ACIM Lesson, Undoing the Ego, Unlearning Classroom, Workin' the Workbook Tags: My experience with the ACIM Workbook Lessons

02 Mar 2022 Comments Off on Lesson 61 – I am the light of the world.

Lesson 61 – I am the light of the world.

Commentary (full lesson beneath commentary)

In 2011, this is what I journaled for Lesson 61:  I am the light of the world.  I imagine God’s Heavenly Light streaming down from above, entering my crown chakra and pouring through me.  A three-dimensional light activates my pineal gland, then my spiritual eye, then my throat, heart, solar plexus, dan tien and root chakra.

This light looks like the chandeliers at the Metropolitan Opera House.  God gives them a spin with His Hand like twirling a dreidel and I alight from within.  I am lying on my back in supta baddha konasana and offer Him my hands and feet as well.  My palms and soles sparkle to life with diamond light energy.  I am alive.  I am activated.  I am the light of the world.  That is my only function here.  To shine with Love.  That is why I am here.

I also love how today’s lesson defines arrogance and humility.  The ego mistakes humility for self-debasement.  But true humility is to accept God’s assignment for us that we are the light of the world, the bringers of salvation through His Guidance.  How exciting to find out that Lesson 61 is the first of a number of giant steps we will take in the next few weeks!  We are the light of the world.

In 2015, this moment, it is known that Light, not the body, is true Identity.  “Light” is just a word that tries to describe the real state of Mind from which we spring.  The person does not even exist, not really.

Losing interest in the person is the greatest liberation.  I am the Light of the world.  This “I am” is not personal.  It is the first layer of identity, the first level of duality, the anandamaya kosha — the bliss sheath.  “I am” is the point at which we emerge from God to view God and experience God.  We have not yet chosen the ego.

“Am” is God-Self.  At this initial point of duality there is the ability to simply re-merge into “am.”  It happens naturally when the memory of God within stirs, rubs the sleep out of its eyes, and realizes it is the Light, not the person.  This is the culmination of undoing (salvation, forgiveness).  This is the right-minded outcome of following Inner Guidance (grace, Holy Spirit).

The Light of the world dispels all darkness and illusions.  In doing so, it reminds Itself it is the Light.  Aum.

LESSON 61

I am the light of the world.

Who is the light of the world except God’s Son?  This, then, is merely a statement of the truth about yourself.  It is the opposite of a statement of pride, of arrogance, or of self-deception.  It does not describe the self-concept you have made.  It does not refer to any of the characteristics with which you have endowed your idols.  It refers to you as you were created by God.  It simply states the truth.

To the ego, today’s idea is the epitome of self-glorification.  But the ego does not understand humility, mistaking it for self-debasement.  Humility consists of accepting your role in salvation and in taking no other.  It is not humility to insist you cannot be the light of the world if that is the function God assigned to you.  It is only arrogance that would assert this function cannot be for you, and arrogance is always of the ego.

True humility requires that you accept today’s idea because it is God’s Voice which tells you it is true.  This is a beginning step in accepting your real function on earth.  It is a giant stride toward taking your rightful place in salvation.  It is a positive assertion of your right to be saved, and an acknowledgment of the power that is given you to save others.

You will want to think about this idea as often as possible today.  It is the perfect answer to all illusions, and therefore to all temptation.  It brings all the images you have made about yourself to the truth, and helps you depart in peace, unburdened and certain of your purpose.

As many practice periods as possible should be undertaken today, although each one need not exceed a minute or two.  They should begin with telling yourself:

I am the light of the world.  That is my only function.  That is why I am here.

Then think about these statements for a short while, preferably with your eyes closed if the situation permits.  Let a few related thoughts come to you, and repeat the idea to yourself if your mind wanders away from the central thought.

Be sure both to begin and end each day with a practice period.  Thus you will awaken with an acknowledgment of the truth about yourself, reinforce it throughout the day, and turn to sleep as you reaffirm your function and your only purpose here.  These two practice periods may be longer than the rest, if you find them helpful and want to extend them.

Today’s idea goes far beyond the ego’s petty views of what you are and what your purpose is.  As a bringer of salvation, this is obviously necessary.  This is the first of a number of giant steps we will take in the next few weeks.  Try today to begin to build a firm foundation for these advances.  You are the light of the world.  God has built His plan for salvation of His Son on you.

Listen to You Are the Light of the World, a brief yet potent mindfulness exercise.  Let’s practice together!  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.

by Amy Torres in Spiritual Psychotherapy, Thoughts on A Course in Miracles, Today's ACIM Lesson, Undoing the Ego, Unlearning Classroom, Workin' the Workbook Tags: My experience with the ACIM Workbook Lessons

01 Mar 2022 Comments Off on Lesson 60 – Review of Lessons 46-50

Lesson 60 – Review of Lessons 46-50

Commentary (full lesson beneath commentary)

Forgiveness is the means by which Innocence is remembered.  Forgiveness is the reflection of God’s Love on earth.

It is God’s strength within that helps me to forgive.  Everyone and everything everywhere are blessed when seen through the reflections of God’s Love.

God’s Voice, the Holy Spirit within, is always with here, offering forgiveness, offering salvation.  I walked steadily on toward Truth because there was nowhere else to go.  Walking became being “walked” … and then … Quiet.

There is not a moment in which His Voice fails to direct my thoughts, guide my actions and lead my feet.  That is the only purpose for this body now.

LESSON 60

These ideas are for today’s review:

1.  (46)  God is the Love in which I forgive.

God does not forgive because He has never condemned.  The blameless cannot blame, and those who have accepted their innocence see nothing to forgive.  Yet forgiveness is the means by which I will recognize my innocence.  It is the reflection of God’s Love on earth.  It will bring me near enough to Heaven that the Love of God can reach down to me and raise me up to Him.

2.  (47)  God is the strength in which I trust.

It is not my own strength through which I forgive.  It is through the strength of God in me, which I am remembering as I forgive.  As I begin to see, I recognize His reflection on earth.  I forgive all things because I feel the stirring of His strength in me.  And I begin to remember the Love I chose to forget, but which has not forgotten me.

3.  (48)  There is nothing to fear.

How safe the world will look to me when I can see it!  It will not look anything like what I imagine I see now.  Everyone and everything I see will leap toward me to bless me.  I will recognize in everyone my dearest Friend.  What could there be to fear in a world that I have forgiven, and that has forgiven me?

4.  (49)  God’s Voice speaks to me all through the day.

There is not a moment in which God’s Voice ceases to call on my forgiveness to save me.  There is not a moment in which His Voice fails to direct my thoughts, guide my actions and lead my feet.  I am walking steadily on toward truth.  There is nowhere else I can go, because God’s Voice is the only Voice and the only Guide that has been given to His Son.

5.  (50)  I am sustained by the Love of God.

As I listen to God’s Voice, I am sustained by His Love.  As I open my eyes, His Love lights up the world for me to see.  As I forgive, His Love reminds me that His Son is sinless.  And as I look upon the world with the vision He has given me, I remember that I am His Son.

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

by Amy Torres in Spiritual Psychotherapy, Thoughts on A Course in Miracles, Today's ACIM Lesson, Undoing the Ego, Unlearning Classroom, Workin' the Workbook Tags: My experience with the ACIM Workbook Lessons

28 Feb 2022 Comments Off on Lesson 59 – Review of Lessons 41-45

Lesson 59 – Review of Lessons 41-45

Commentary (full lesson beneath commentary)

How can I be disturbed by anything when He rests in me in absolute peace?

Let me be willing to exchange my pitiful illusion of seeing for the vision that is given by God.

Given …  ForGiven … ForGiving … Giving is Receiving … Giving is Vision … It is through Christ’s vision that I choose to see.  I have tried to define what seeing is and I have been wrong.  Let me welcome vision and the happy world It shows.

God is the Mind with which I think.  As part of God’s Mind, my thoughts are the thoughts God thinks, and God’s Thoughts naturally pour through “me”… Now!

LESSON 59

The following ideas are for review today:

1.  (41)  God goes with me wherever I go.

How can I be alone when God always goes with me?  How can I be doubtful and unsure of myself when perfect certainty abides in Him?  How can I be disturbed by anything when He rests in me in absolute peace?  How can I suffer when love and joy surround me through Him?  Let me not cherish illusions about myself.  I am perfect because God goes with me wherever I go.

2.  (42)  God is my strength.  Vision is His gift.

Let me not look to my own eyes to see today.  Let me be willing to exchange my pitiful illusion of seeing for the vision that is given by God.  Christ’s vision is His gift, and He has given it to me.  Let me call upon this gift today, so that this day may help me to understand eternity.

3.  (43)  God is my Source.  I cannot see apart from Him.

I can see what God wants me to see.  I cannot see anything else.  Beyond His Will lie only illusions.  It is these I choose when I think I can see apart from Him.  It is these I choose when I try to see through the body’s eyes.  Yet the vision of Christ has been given me to replace them.  It is through this vision that I choose to see.

4.  (44)  God is the light in which I see.

I cannot see in darkness.  God is the only light.  Therefore, if I am to see, it must be through Him.  I have tried to define what seeing is, and I have been wrong.  Now it is given me to understand that God is the light in which I see.  Let me welcome vision and the happy world it will show me.

5.  (45)  God is the Mind with which I think.

I have no thoughts I do not share with God.  I have no thoughts apart from Him, because I have no mind apart from His.  As part of His Mind, my thoughts are His and His Thoughts are mine.

Listen to God Goes With You, a brief yet potent mindfulness exercise.  Let’s practice together!  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.

by Amy Torres in Spiritual Psychotherapy, Thoughts on A Course in Miracles, Today's ACIM Lesson, Undoing the Ego, Unlearning Classroom, Workin' the Workbook Tags: My experience with the ACIM Workbook Lessons

25 Feb 2022 Comments Off on Lesson 56 – Review of Lessons 26-30

Lesson 56 – Review of Lessons 26-30

Commentary (full lesson beneath commentary)

In Lesson 56, Jesus writes, “I would let the door behind this world be opened for me, that I may look past it to the world that reflects the Love of God.”

I say it quietly to myself, “I would let the door behind this world be opened for me …”

and words cease completely.

LESSON 56

Our review for today covers the following:

1.  (26)  My attack thoughts are attacking my invulnerability.

How can I know who I am when I see myself under constant attack?  Pain, illness, loss, age and death seem to threaten me.  All my hopes and wishes and plans appear to be at the mercy of a world I cannot control.  Yet perfect security and complete fulfillment are my inheritance.  I have tried to give my inheritance away in exchange for the world I see.  But God has kept my inheritance safe for me.  My own real thoughts will teach me what it is.

2.  (27)  Above all else I want to see.

Recognizing that what I see reflects what I think I am, I realize that vision is my greatest need.  The world I see attests to the fearful nature of the self-image I have made.  If I would remember who I am, it is essential that I let this image of myself go.  As it is replaced by truth, vision will surely be given me.  And with this vision, I will look upon the world and on myself with charity and love.

3.  (28)  Above all else I want to see differently.

The world I see holds my fearful self-image in place, and guarantees its continuance.  While I see the world as I see it now, truth cannot enter my awareness.  I would let the door behind this world be opened for me, that I may look past it to the world that reflects the Love of God.

4.  (29)  God is in everything I see.

Behind every image I have made, the truth remains unchanged.  Behind every veil I have drawn across the face of love, its light remains undimmed.  Beyond all my insane wishes is my will, united with the Will of my Father.  God is still everywhere and in everything forever.  And we who are part of Him will yet look past all appearances,and recognize the truth beyond them all.

5.  (30)  God is in everything I see because God is in my mind.

In my own mind, behind all my insane thoughts of separation and attack, is the knowledge that all is one forever.  I have not lost the knowledge of Who I am because I have forgotten it.  It has been kept for me in the Mind of God, Who has not left His Thoughts.  And I, who am among them, am one with them and one with Him.

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

by Amy Torres in Spiritual Psychotherapy, Thoughts on A Course in Miracles, Today's ACIM Lesson, Undoing the Ego, Unlearning Classroom, Workin' the Workbook Tags: My experience with the ACIM Workbook Lessons

24 Feb 2022 Comments Off on Lesson 55 – Review of Lessons 21-25

Lesson 55 – Review of Lessons 21-25

Commentary (full lesson beneath commentary)

The ego-person does not know who she really is.  The ego’s purpose is exactly that: to deliberately block true identity in order to maintain its illusion game.  All material things are witnesses to the “reality” of the ego.  Until grace arises within and we turn to the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit uses all that the ego has made for God’s loving purpose.  The Holy Spirit now witnesses to Love, rather than fear.  We are responsible for choosing the Holy Spirit and uncluttering the mind by giving Him all ego-thoughts.

This one decision is all we need do.  The Holy Spirit then undoes the ego’s trickery and the Truth is revealed in Its natural, illumined state of Mind.

LESSON 55

Today’s review includes the following:

1.  (21)  I am determined to see things differently.

What I see now are but signs of disease, disaster and death.  This cannot be what God created for His beloved Son.  The very fact that I see such things is proof that I do not understand God.  Therefore I also do not understand His Son.  What I see tells me that I do not know who I am.  I am determined to see the witnesses to truth in me, rather than those which show me an illusion of myself.

2.  (22)  What I see is a form of vengeance.

The world I see is hardly the representation of loving thoughts.  It is a picture of attack on everything by everything.  It is anything but a reflection of the Love of God and the Love of His Son.  It is my own attack thoughts that give rise to this picture.  My loving thoughts will save me from this perception of the world, and give me the peace God intended me to have.

3.  (23)  I can escape from this world by giving up attack thoughts.

Herein lies salvation, and nowhere else.  Without attack thoughts I could not see a world of attack.  As forgiveness allows love to return to my awareness, I will see a world of peace and safety and joy.  And it is this I choose to see, in place of what I look on now.

4.  (24)  I do not perceive my own best interests.

How could I recognize my own best interests when I do not know who I am?  What I think are my best interests would merely bind me closer to the world of illusions.  I am willing to follow the Guide God has given me to find out what my own best interests are, recognizing that I cannot perceive them by myself.

5.  (25)  I do not know what anything is for.

To me, the purpose of everything is to prove that my illusions about myself are real.  It is for this purpose that I attempt to use everyone and everything.  It is for this that I believe the world is for.  Therefore I do not recognize its real purpose.  The purpose I have given the world has led to a frightening picture of it.  Let me open my mind to the world’s real purpose by withdrawing the one I have given it, and learning the truth about it.

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

by Amy Torres in Spiritual Psychotherapy, Thoughts on A Course in Miracles, Today's ACIM Lesson, Undoing the Ego, Unlearning Classroom, Workin' the Workbook Tags: My experience with the ACIM Workbook Lessons