[acimlessons_list] Lesson 20 - January 20

[Sue Roth]

Lesson 20 - January 20

"I am determined to see."

PRACTICE SUMMARY

Purpose: to be determined to have vision and so to receive vision.

Exercise: two per hour (preferably on the half hour)
	*	Repeat the idea. How you repeat it makes all the difference.
The lesson asks you to do so "slowly and positively" (5:1), remembering that
you are determined to exchange your present state for one you really want.
(In fact, you may want to try saying it this way just once right now, and
see if that makes a difference.) 
	*	If you find at some point that you have forgotten to
practice, "do not be distressed...but make a real effort to remember" (5:2)
from then on.

Remarks: This lesson marks a major shift in the Workbook. If the Workbook
has seemed easy up until this point, that was intentional. It cannot stay
that easy, however, and reach its goal of the total transformation of your
thinking. So beginning now it will give you more of a structure within which
to practice. This will include more frequent practice, set times in which to
practice, and longer practice. Today's lesson includes the first two of
those. How you respond to this structure is crucial. If you see it as an
imposition, as an outside will forcing itself on you, you will either
actively or passively rebel against it. Instead, try to see it as the
expression of your true will. You want all the things the Course offers you.
And you will only get them through having a trained mind, and you will only
get that through doing the practice. Therefore, doing the practice today is
your own true desire.

Response to temptation: Whenever you become upset about a person, situation,
or event

Repeat the idea as an emotional remedy. You may want to specify it: "I am
determined to see this situation." If you really want to see this situation
differently, you will.

COMMENTARY

Today's lesson does not really ask all that much of us: Every half hour,
remember to repeat the words, "I am determined to see." If we are studying
the Course this is something we probably truly want. "You want salvation.
You want to be happy. You want peace." Why then all the foofaraw about our
feeling coerced, resentful and opposed to the instructions?

Because, "This is our first attempt to introduce structure," and it will not
be the last. Our undisciplined minds have a built-in resistance to
structure. So what if its good for us? Actually something we want? If
someone <tells> us to do it in a certain way, at certain times, we rebel. We
drag our feet. We don't like being told what to do or how to do it. Our mind
is "totally undisciplined" and wants to remain that way to protect the ego's
vested interests.

The practice asked is extremely simple. So try it. You'll probably be amazed
at how often you forget, how the thought of doing it may flash into your
mind only to be postponed because it isn't convenient at the moment, or
because "It isn't really important," and then forgotten completely. This is
why the Workbook approaches the whole idea of structure with great caution;
it knows there will be resistance, and is trying to make us realize just how
important this deceptively simple practice really is. This is why it says:
"Do not be distressed if you forget to do so, but make a real effort to
remember."

"Your decision to see is all that vision requires." If we could really get
this lesson, in other words, and truly mean what we are saying, the job
would be done. Vision would be ours. "In your determination to see is vision
given you." This is NOT a trivial lesson; it is the core of everything the
Course is teaching. So let's put our heart into it today! Let's do this
joyfully, even--dare I say?--religiously, every half hour. Let's repeat the
idea "slowly and positively." Let's "make a real effort to remember." Let's
apply it "to any situation, person or event that upsets" us.

"You can see them differently, and you will. What you desire you will see.
Such is the real law of cause and effect as it operates in the world."