[acimlessons_list] Lesson 69 - March 10

[Sue Carrier Roth]

Lesson 69 - March 10

"My grievances hide the light of the world in me."

PRACTICE SUMMARY

Purpose: to lift the veil of grievances that has hidden the light of
the world in you, so that you can experience that light and let it
shine salvation onto the world. This is yet another attempt to
experience the light in you (see 41.5:3 and 44.3:1).

Longer: 1 time, for 10-15 minutes

* Spend several minutes cultivating the heightened attitude that is so
crucial to Course-based meditation. Think about what you are about to
attempt, about its importance to you and to the world. You are trying
to lift the veil and get in touch with the light of the world, so you
can hold it up for all to see and be blessed by. You are trying to
reach your only need, your only function, goal, and purpose. Be
determined to reach it.

* Then, with eyes closed, let go of all your thoughts. Picture your
true mind as a vast sphere of radiant light, totally engulfed by a
layer of dark clouds (your grievances). From your vantage point
outside the sphere, all you can see are clouds.

* Now begin the meditation. As before, you can see it as having three aspects:
   1.	The basic motion is one of traveling through the clouds and into
the light.
	"Reach out and touch them in your mind. Brush them aside with your hand;
	feel them resting on your cheeks, and forehead and eyelids as you go
through them" (6:3-4).
   2.	If your mind wanders, repeat the idea and then continue your
journey through the clouds.
   3.	Most of all, hold that heightened attitude you cultivated in the
first phase,
	an attitude of desire (remember how much you want to reach the light),
	determination (be determined to get there), and confidence
	(realize you cannot fail, because this is in accord with God's Will).

* If you do your part properly, the power of God will do the rest. You
will feel His power lifting you up and carrying you into the light.

Frequent reminders: as often as possible (suggestion: several times an hour)
Say, "My grievances hide the light of the world in me. I cannot see
what I have hidden. Yet I want to let it be revealed to me [meaning,
by God], for my salvation and the salvation of the world."

Response to temptation: whenever you are tempted to hold a grievance
Say, "If I hold this grievance the light of the world will be hidden from me."

COMMENTARY

I am the light of the world, but the light cannot shine out because my
grievances hide it. When I let my grievances go, the light is
released, and releases my brother and myself. My job with everyone I
meet is to share my salvation with him.

Today's practice is another time of attempting to "reach the light in
you," or in other words, to become aware of my Self as God created It,
wholly loving and wholly loveable. Notice how the form of this
practice is similar to what we've seen before; it is a pattern that is
repeated often in the Workbook in different forms. In general, the
pattern is one of attempting to move past, or move through, or let go
of the thoughts that normally occupy my mind, settling down in deep
stillness, and reaching beyond my surface thoughts to something deep
within myself, a Self I am not normally aware of. This could be called
the Course method of meditation. It is one of the tools given to us by
the Workbook, and should be learned and used even after Workbook
practice per se has ended.

What we are trying to reach is "dearer to us than all else" (3:1).
Reaching it, finding it, and releasing it to the world is our only
purpose and only function on earth. "Learning salvation is our only
goal" (3:4). I love the poignant imagery of this sentence: "We are
trying to let the veil be lifted, and to see the tears of God's Son
disappear in the sunlight" (2:5). Can you feel that tug with me, that
longing to release the light of the world that is in you?

"There is a light that this world cannot give. Yet you can give it, as
it was given you. And as you give it, it shines forth to call you from
the world and follow it. For this light will attract you as nothing in
this world can do." (T-13.VI.11:1-4)