[acimlessons_list] Lesson 34 - February 3

[Sue Roth]

Lesson 34 - February 3

"I could see peace instead of this."

PRACTICE SUMMARY

Purpose: to begin to experience the peace that characterizes true vision.

Longer: 3 timesmorningeveningand once in betweenfor 5 minutes
Close your eyes and search your mind for "upsetting"
situationspersonalitiesand events (a typical triad in the Workbook). Repeat
the idea slowly as you dispassionately watch the stream of upsets go by.
After a couple of minutesyou may run out of upsets. That is all right. Just
keep repeating the idea slowly until the five minutes are up. 

Response to temptation: Make a point of watching your mind today for upsets.
Whenever you notice oneapply the idea to it. There are two forms of upset to
watch out foreach requiring a slightly different form of practice:
1. If you are upset about a specific situationapply the idea specifically: 
I could see peace in this situation instead of what I now see in it."
2. If your upset is not attached to anything in particularbut consists of a
general mood of depression or worrysimply repeat the idea.

If neededtake several minutesrepeating the idea until you feel relief. It
will help if you add"I can replace my feelings of depressionanxiety or worry
[or my thoughts about this situationpersonality or event] with peace."

Remarks: The final sentences of this lesson make a very important pointone
to remember throughout the Workbook and afterwards. Repeating the idea just
once may not do the trick. Your upset may go away only after you've spent
several minutes repeating the idea. Repeating the same line again and again
may sound like some kind of brainwashingin which you just drum your mind
into submission. HoweverI find this to be an exercise not in putting my mind
to sleepbut in gradually illuminating it. If I have strong negative
feelingsthe first few repetitions of the idea may simply bounce off. But if
I keep it upeach repetition allows the truth to enter in a little bit
furtheruntil I finally see the situation entirely differently. I urge
youthereforeto give this longer form of practice a real try today.

COMMENTARY

The most helpful thought I ever heard in relation to this lesson was this:
Notice that it says "I <could> see peace" and not "I <should> see peace." It
is far too easy to take this lesson as another reason for guilt. "Terrible
me! I should see peacebut I am seeing this mess instead. What is wrong with
me?" That is not how this lesson is meant to be applied.

The opening paragraph contains such a wonderful summation of the Course's
philosophy of peace:

"Peace of mind is clearly an internal matter. It must begin with your own
thoughtsand then extend outward. It is from your peace of mind that a
peaceful perception of the world arises" (1:2-4).

Peace is the motivation for doing this Course (T-24.In.1:1). Our goal is
what a later lesson refers to as "a mind at peace within itself" (W-pII.8
3:4). Peace must begin with our thoughts and extend outward from our minds.
The focus is on the mind.

We can replace our negative feelings and our unloving thoughts with peace.
We have that power. We can choose peace if we want peace. Notice that the
practice instructions for applying the lesson to "adverse emotions" suggest
that we repeat the idea "until you feel some sense of relief" (6:2). This
practice is meant to have tangible effects.

At times I have found that even in an extremely upsetting situationrepeating
these words"I could see peace instead of this" has a decidedly calming
effect on my mind<even if I cannotin that very momentsee peace.> In a very
subtle wayit helps to convince my mind that the awful things I am seeing are
not rock solidimmutable reality. I am seeing something other than peacebut
if I really <could> see peace insteadthen what I am seeing must not be as
real as I think. Even that level of relief is worth the time it takes to
practice.

I used to believe that when upsetting situations occurredI had to deal with the situation and change things around in order to be at peace. Through the practice of this lessonI have learned that I can respond to any situation much more effectively if my mind is at peace <first.> I have discovered that I can bring my mind to peace without having first "solved" my problems. It really is possible to see peace instead of whatever seems to be upsetting me. And when I doif response is requiredI act calmly and without fear. Panic is not conducive to effectual actionfar better to seek peace firstthen act.