[acimlessons_list] Lesson 40 - February 9

[Sue Roth]

Lesson 40 - February 9

"I am blessed as a Son of God."

PRACTICE SUMMARY

Purpose: to put you in touch with the happy things that you are entitled to
as God's Son.

Frequent reminders: every 10 minutes is highly desirable
Close your eyes (if feasible), repeat the idea and apply to yourself several
attributes you associate with being a Son of God. For example: "I am blessed
as a Son of God. I am happy, peaceful, loving and contented." 

Remarks: You can see that he really means us to do this practice today. He
urges us to do our best to keep to the schedule (1:3). He reminds us that
the practice takes "little time and no effort" (3:1). And he has three
provisions for when we do not or cannot do the practice as instructed:
1.	When you notice that you have forgotten to practice, even for a long
stretch, rather than feeling guilty and giving up, simply get back to your
practicing right away. 
2.	If it is not feasible to close your eyes-which will often be the
case-don't let that keep you from practicing. Just practice with eyes open. 
3.	If there is not enough time to do the exercise as suggested, simply
repeat the idea. That takes about four seconds.

COMMENTARY

There is no escaping the importance the Workbook attachs to actually trying
to practice as instructed. In this lesson, whose practice is in one sense a
relaxation from yesterday's and in another sense an intensification, you
cannot read these words and think that the author believes that it does not
matter whether or not we follow the instructions:

"No long practice periods are required today, but very frequent short ones
are <necessary.> Once every ten minutes would be highly desirable, and you
are <urged> to attempt this schedule and to <adhere to it whenever
possible.> If you forget, <try again.> If there are long interruptions, <try
again.> Whenever you remember, <try again>" (1:2-5, my emphasis).

Attempt...try...try...try. The more often we can repeat the lesson, the more
impact it will have on our mind. How can you have a "course in
mind-training" without some kind of mental discipline? You can't; it's that
simple.

At the same time notice that there is no "guilting" going on here. The
author anticipates our indiscipline and expects (or allows for) our
forgetting, and for "long interruptions" (1:5). He knows we lack discipline;
that is exactly why the practice is so "necessary." But he does not judge us
for it. He says, simply, "If you forget, try again." Don't let forgetting,
even for long periods of the day, be an excuse to give up for the rest of
the day. Every time we remember, we add a link to the "chain of forgiveness
which, when completed, is the Atonement" (T-1.I.25:1).

He goes to the trouble of pointing out that just because you can't get alone
and close your eyes, that is no excuse for not practicing. "You can practice
quite well under any circumstances, if you really want to" (2:4).

The practice for today is, very simply, making positive affirmations as
often as possible. "I am blessed as a Son of God. I am calm, quiet, assured
and confident." This might take ten or fifteen seconds, perhaps a little
longer to think of a new list of attributes that you might associate with
being a Son of God: "I am serene, capable and unshakeable." "I am joyful,
radiant, and full of love."

Can any of us really consider it a trial to engage in practice like this?
Our egos do, and they will resist. I am no longer surprised, but still
amazed, at the variety of ways my ego finds to distract me and keep me from
practicing my own happiness--for that is all we are doing here. Observing my
ego's constant opposition to my happiness is one thing that has convinced me
of the truth of that line in the Text, "The ego does not love you"
(T-9.VII.3:5).

Because of what I am, an extension of God, I am entitled to happiness. The
ego <has> to resist that idea because its existence depends upon my
believing that I have separated myself from God; therefore the ego wants me
to be unhappy. It wants me to believe that I do not deserve to be happy.
Maybe it doesn't want me totally miserable--that might prompt me to
reconsider everything. Just "a mild river of misery," as Marianne Williamson
puts it. Just a vein of sadness and impermanence running through even my
best times. Just enough to keep me from listening to The Other Guy Who talks
about my union with God. And definitely not HAPPY. Happy is dangerous to the
ego. Happy says separation isn't true.

And it isn't!