[acimlessons_list] Review I, Lesson 55 - February 24

[Sue Carrier]

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+ COMMENTARIES ON LESSONS FROM THE WORKBOOK OF A COURSE IN MIRACLES
+ by Allen Watson, with Practice Summaries by Robert Perry, 
+ of The Circle of Atonement
+ Visit our website at <http://www.circleofa.com <http://www.circleofa.com/>
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Lesson 55 - February 24 (Review I)

Review of Lessons 21 to 25.

"I am determined to see things differently."

"What I see is a form of vengeance."

"I can escape from this world by giving up attack thoughts."

"I do not perceive my own best interests."

"I do not know what anything is for."

PRACTICE SUMMARY

Purpose: to review the lessons and therefore let them sink in a notch
deeper. Also, to see how they interrelated they are and how cohesive the
thought system is that they are leading you to.

Exercise: as often as possible (suggestion: every hour on the hour), for at
least 2 minutes
.	Alone in a quiet place, read one of the five lessons and the related
comments. Notice that the comments are written as if they are your own
thoughts about the idea. Try to imagine that they are. It will help if you
frequently insert your name. This will set you up for the next phase, in
which you generate similar thoughts of your own.
.	Close your eyes and think about the idea and the comments. Think
particularly about the central point of the commentary paragraph. Reflect on
it. Let related thoughts come (utilizing the training you've received in
that practice). If your mind wanders, repeat the idea and then get back to
your reflection. This is the same basic exercise as in Lesson 50, in which
you actively think about ideas in order to let them sink more deeply into
your mind.
Remarks: 
*	At the beginning and end of the day read all five lessons. 
*	Thereafter, cover one lesson per practice period, in no particular
order. 
*	Cover each lesson at least once.
*	Beyond that, concentrate on a particular lesson if it appeals to you
most.

COMMENTARY

The pattern laid down by these lessons becomes clearer with each day of
review. The writing in these ten lessons is among the clearest and most
straightforward in the entire Course.

Of course I am determined to see things differently; "disease, disaster and
death" (1:2) are not what I want to see. That I see them proves I do not
understand God, and I do not know who I am. The world I see pictures attack
thoughts, "attack on everything by everything" (2:3). In this world
everything lives by consuming the life of something else; whether it is the
life of an animal or a plant makes little difference. Even the lowest
life-form lives from the energy given off by the destruction of the Sun.
What gives rise to this picture? My own attack thoughts.

"My loving thoughts will save me from this perception of the world" (2:6).
Changing my mind from attack to love will change the world I see. "It is
this I choose to see, in place of what I look on now" (3:5).

And no wonder I am confused about my best interests! I don't know who I am;
how could I know what I need? I am willing to accept the guidance of One Who
knows me; I understand that I can't perceive my best interests by myself. I
use everything to sustain my illusions about myself (4:4). What I need is a
way to let the world teach me the truth about myself. Seeing it as I see it,
the world is frightening; I want to know the truth.

The transformation hinges on my willingness to recognize that I do not like
what I see, and since what I see comes from what I think, I want to change
what I think. I do not know my best interests, and the purpose I have
assigned to everything has been twisted to support my ego identity (5:2), so
now I am willing to let these ideas go. Confused as I am, how could I teach
myself what I do not know? I need a reliable, trustworthy Teacher, and in
the Holy Spirit I have that Teacher.

My only job is to make myself teachable by letting go of my false thinking,
letting go of my attack thoughts. I think they sustain me but they are
destroying me. I resolve today to choose differently, and to open my mind to
a way of thinking I cannot, as yet, begin to understand. I open my heart to
love. 
 
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+ Commentary by Allen Watson
+ Practice Summary: Robert Perry
+ Available in book format from The Circle
+ of Atonement (Vol. 1 reprint due by end of 2004, write us for info)
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