[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 times, morning, evening, and once in between, for 5 minutes
Close your eyes and search your mind for "upsetting" situations,
personalities, and 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 minutes, you 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 one, apply the idea to it. There are two forms of upset
to watch out for, each requiring a slightly different form of practice:
1.	If you are upset about a specific situation, apply 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 particular, but
consists of a general mood of depression or worry, simply repeat the idea.

If needed, take several minutes, repeating the idea until you feel relief.
It will help if you add, "I can replace my feelings of depression, anxiety
or worry [or my thoughts about this situation, personality or event] with
peace."

Remarks: The final sentences of this lesson make a very important point, one
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 brainwashing, in which you just drum your mind
into submission. However, I find this to be an exercise not in putting my
mind to sleep, but in gradually illuminating it. If I have strong negative
feelings, the first few repetitions of the idea may simply bounce off. But
if I keep it up, each repetition allows the truth to enter in a little bit
further, until I finally see the situation entirely differently. I urge you,
therefore, to 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 peace, but 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
thoughts, and 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 situation,
repeating these words, "I could see peace instead of this," has a decidedly
calming effect on my mind, <even if I cannot, in that very moment, see
peace.> In a very subtle way, it helps to convince my mind that the awful
things I am seeing are not rock solid, immutable reality. I am seeing
something other than peace, but if I really <could> see peace instead, then
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 occurred, I had to deal
with the situation and change things around in order to be at peace. Through
the practice of this lesson, I 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 do, if response is required, I act calmly and
without fear. Panic is not conducive to effectual action; far better to seek
peace first, then act.