Daily Lesson

  

L e s s o n  5 

I am never upset for the reason I think. 

<AUDIO> <VIDEO>

Hear Today's Lesson~Voice & Music by
Martin Weber-Caspers [maz] 
<GUIDANCE from ELDER BROTHER>

¹ This idea, like the preceding one, can be used with any person, situation, or event you think is causing you pain. Apply it specifically to whatever you believe is the cause of your upset, using the description of the feeling in whatever term seems accurate to you. The upset may seem to be fear, worry, depression, anxiety, anger, hatred, jealousy, or any number of forms, all of which will be perceived as different. This is not true. However, until you learn that form does not matter, each form becomes a proper subject for the exercises for the day. Applying the same idea to each of them separately is the first step in ultimately recognizing they are all the same.  

² When using the idea for today for a specific perceived cause of an upset in any form, use both the name of the form in which you see the upset and the cause which you ascribe to it. For example:  

³ I am not angry at ____ for the reason I think.
I am not afraid of ____ for the reason I think.  

⁴ But again, this should not be substituted for practice periods in which you first search your mind for "sources" of upset in which you believe and forms of upset which you think result.

⁵ In these exercises, more than in the preceding ones, you may find it hard to be indiscriminate and to avoid giving greater weight to some subjects than to others. It might help to precede the exercises with the statement:  

⁶ There are no small upsets. They are all
equally disturbing to my peace of mind.  

⁷ Then examine your mind for whatever is distressing you, regardless of how much or how little you think it is doing so.

⁸ You may also find yourself less willing to apply today's idea to some perceived sources of upset than to others. If this occurs, think first of this:

⁹ I cannot keep this form of upset and let
the others go. For the purposes of these
exercises, then, I will regard them all as the same.

¹⁰ Then search your mind for no more than a minute or so, and try to identify a number of different forms of upset that are disturbing you, regardless of the relative importance you may give them. Apply the idea for today to each of them, using the name of both the source of the upset as you perceive it and of the feelings as you experience it. Further examples are:  

¹¹ I am not worried about ____ for the reason I think.
I am not depressed about ____ for the reason I think.  

¹² Three or four times during the day are enough.

Workbook - Part 1
 Introduction 

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Voice & Music by Martin Weber-Caspers [maz] 

¹ A theoretical foundation such as the text is necessary as a background to make these exercises meaningful. Yet it is the exercises which will make the goal possible. An untrained mind can accomplish nothing. It is the purpose of these exercises to train the mind to think along the lines which the course sets forth.

² The exercises are very simple. They do not require more than a few minutes, and it does not matter where or when you do them. They need no preparation. They are numbered, running from 1 to 365. The training period is one year. Do not undertake more than one exercise a day.

³ The purpose of these exercises is to train the mind to a different perception of everything in the world. The workbook is divided into two sections, the first dealing with the undoing of what you see now and the second with the restoration of sight. It is recommended that each exercise be repeated several times a day, preferably in a different place each time and, if possible, in every situation in which you spend any long period of time. The purpose is to train the mind to generalize the lessons, so that you will understand that each of them is as applicable to one situation as it is to another.

⁴ Unless specified to the contrary, the exercise should be practiced with the eyes open, since the aim is to learn how to see. The only rule that should be followed throughout is to practice the exercises with great specificity. Each one applies to every situation in which you find yourself and to everything you see in it. Each day's exercises are planned around one central idea, the exercises themselves consisting of applying that idea to as many specifics as possible. Be sure that you do not decide that there are some things you see to which the idea for the day is inapplicable. The aim of the exercises will always be to increase the application of the idea to everything. This will not require effort. Only be sure that you make no exceptions in applying the idea.

⁵ Some of the ideas you will find hard to believe, and others will seem quite startling. It does not matter. You are merely asked to apply them to what you see. You are not asked to judge them, nor even to believe them. You are asked only to use them. It is their use which will give them meaning to you, and show you they are true. Remember only this-you need not believe them, you need not accept them, and you need not welcome them. Some of them you may actively resist. None of this will matter nor decrease their efficacy. But allow yourself to make no exceptions in applying the ideas the exercises contain. Whatever your reactions to the ideas may be, use them. Nothing more than this is required.

ACIM Edmonton - Sarah's Reflections 

Lesson  5   
 I am never upset for the reason I think.     

Sarah's Commentary:         

What is it that we get upset about? Anxious about? Worry about? Hate? Fear? Resent? Get disgusted about? What kind of a day have you had? Did a news story upset you? Did a driver cut you off in traffic? Did you drop something? Break a nail? Get on the scale and see you have gained weight? Have an angry exchange with someone? Have a computer that crashed? Missed a call? 100's of things upset us in a day. And we try to find ways to do life better only to end up feeling depressed because we can't get this thing called life no matter how hard we try.

We think there are myriad causes for our upsets-all outside of ourselves. The forms of the upsets seem different, but the form does not matter for purposes of this exercise. So we apply the lesson to each form of upset that shows up but ultimately we are learning that all upsets are the same. Again, as the Introduction to these lessons reminds us, we apply the lesson to the specifics in our lives but the idea is that they are generalized. The generalization we come to is that every form of upset is the same because they are all disturbing to our peace of mind.  We also see that nothing comes from outside of our own mind. We think the upsets are generated by things in the world, but in fact, it is only about the way we see them. We are not upset by what is outside but only because of the way we are looking at everything and the interpretations we give to people and events.  

The truth is that nothing outside of the mind causes us to be upset. We have made a decision to be upset because we see ourselves as the innocent victim of outside events. And we see ourselves that way because we want to be upset by events seemingly outside of the mind. Why? Because that way, we can see ourselves as not responsible for how we feel. The power of our decision is our own.  But when we chose to run away with the ego, and to run from God, we brought guilt into the mind. This is the actual source of all of our upsets. We think we know the cause of our upsets but the lesson shows us that we don't.  

Again, everything comes from inside of us, not from outside. We have made the events outside real and to us they are as real as the monsters in our nightmares while we sleep. When we awaken we see that they don't exist. It is the same in this illusory dream where no matter what we are bringing into our daily experience, it all comes from our own mind.

So the exercise starts by having us look within. W look at whatever thought or feeling we are holding about anything or anyone. "I am not angry at_________for the reason I think". "I am not afraid_____for the reason I think".

(2.3-4) We are searching our minds for "sources" of upset in which we believe so that we can start to recognize that they come from within ourselves and then show up as forms of upset that we see 'out there'.  

We may think that some upsets only cause a slight irritation and we may think that there is no point in really spending time with them, while the things that make us really angry seem more important to us. Thus we may find ourselves "Less willing to apply today's idea to some perceived sources of upset than to others." (6.1) We are cautioned not to do this. If we want to exclude anything we are urged to remind ourselves that: "I cannot keep this form of upset and let the others go. For the purposes of these exercises then, I will regard them all as the same." (6.3-4)   

This addresses the way that we put an order of difficulty and a hierarchy of importance on upsets we experience seeing some as bigger and harder than others. But this is precisely how the ego keeps us invested in the world, constantly working to solve our myriad of problems and seeing differences in their size and shape. While we are constantly occupied with what we think is coming at us, the ego goal is accomplished. How? It keeps us from recognizing that the only problem is the guilt in our minds and the only answer is in healing the mind by recognizing where the real problem is. Only then can the love that we are shine forth. It is currently blocked by our upsets. We must make space for the love by bringing what is not true (our dark thoughts) to awareness. Thus we must commit to this kind of mind training where we stay vigilant to what we are thinking.

So again, we are reminded that we don't believe this idea and that we don't need to. We don't even need to accept it or welcome it. All we are asked to do is apply it. When I started the workbook, I found that even though I hardly understood what I was applying the lessons still shifted my mind.  I am not sure why, except I approached the lessons with a naive perspective and willingness. It came about from the desperation that I felt about my life. I had so much angst and distress in my life that all I wanted was anything that would work. It seemed that everything I had tried up to that time, and I did try very hard to be happy in the world, was just not working for me. Oh yes, I looked successful as the world determines success but inwardly it seemed to me that nothing was working. I was jealous of what others seemed to have and felt deprived at my inner core. Only now do I see that that is the state for everyone of us here, regardless of appearances. We all came here to seek and never find. That is the nature of this world until we get on this path to the undoing of the 'me" that I think I am.

So all that is needed is to be willing to be taught. Are we willing just to do the lesson and accept that we don't know? If we think we already know then our minds are not open to be taught. Really take in the idea that you don't know--that what you think is the reason for your upset or your worry or jealousy, is not the reason.   Right now it is just acceptance of the "know nothing" mind. It is to accept that the cause we give to the upset is simply NEVER the cause.  

So don't over-look any upset. Start the exercises by reminding yourself that "there are no small upsets. They are all equally disturbing to my peace of mind" 4.3 Our decision to overlook an upset is actually a decision to keep it. The Course continually asks us to make no exceptions. Don't keep anything for yourself. Don't keep it apart from this healing process.

There is no easy way to salvation but strain is not helpful either. Mind training, however, does take work and attention.  

Yes we do want the easy way. We want it all to be soft and magical without doing the work. We walk away from the Course because it seems too hard. We may start shopping for other spiritual paths. But it is all a rationale for keeping our ego intact. Why? Because the ego is significantly threatened when something that might be its undoing shows up. Clearly the ego is threatened by the power that is in us to change our minds and choose against its lies.  

Sarah's Home Page

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A Course in Miracles   
TEXT  

Chapter One 

Introduction to Miracles

I. Principles of Miracles

26. ³⁰ Miracles represent freedom from fear. "Atoning" really means "undoing." The undoing of fear is an essential part of the Atonement value of miracles.

³¹ The purpose of the Atonement is to restore everything to you, or rather to restore it to your awareness. You were given everything when you were created, just as everyone was. When you have been restored to the recognition of your original state, you naturally become part of the Atonement yourself. As you share my inability to tolerate lack of love in yourself and others, you must join the Great Crusade to correct it. The slogan for the Crusade is "Listen, learn and do": Listen to my voice, learn to undo error, and do something to correct it.

³² The power to work miracles belongs to you. I will provide the opportunities to do them, but you must be ready and willing since you are already able. Doing them will bring conviction in the ability since conviction really comes through accomplishment. The ability is the potential; the achievement is its expression; and the Atonement is the purpose.

27. ³³ A miracle is a universal blessing from God through me to all my brothers. It is the privilege of the forgiven to forgive.

³⁴ The disciples were specifically told to be physicians of the Lord and to heal others. They were also told to heal themselves and were promised that I would never leave them or forsake them. Atonement is the natural profession of the Children of God because they have professed me. "Heaven and earth shall pass away" simply means that they will not continue to exist as separate states. My word, which is the resurrection and the light, shall not pass away because light is eternal. You are the work of God, and His work is wholly lovable and wholly loving. This is how a man must think of himself in his heart because this is what he is.

28. ³⁵ Miracles are a means of organizing different levels of consciousness.

³⁶ Miracles come from the below or subconscious level. Revelations come from the above or superconscious level. The conscious level is in between and reacts to either sub- or superconscious impulses in varying ratios.

Consciousness is the level which engages in the world and is capable of responding to both. Having no impulses from itself and being primarily a mechanism for inducing response, it can be very wrong.

³⁷ Revelation induces complete but temporary suspension of doubt and fear. It represents the original form of communication between God and His Souls, involving an extremely personal sense of closeness to creation which man tries to find in physical relationships. Physical closeness cannot achieve this. The subconscious impulses properly induce miracles, which are genuinely interpersonal and result in real closeness to others. This can be misunderstood by a personally willful consciousness as impulses toward physical gratification.

³⁸ Revelation unites Souls directly with God. Miracles unite minds directly with each other. Neither emanates from consciousness, but both are experienced there. This is essential since consciousness is the state which induces action, though it does not inspire it. Man is free to believe what he chooses, and what he does attests to what he believes. The deeper levels of the subconscious always contain the impulse to miracles, but man is free to fill its more superficial levels, which are closer to consciousness, with the impulses of this world and to identify himself with them. This results in denying himself access to the miracle level underneath. In his actions, then, his relationships also become superficial, and miracle-inspired relating becomes impossible.

29. ³⁹ Miracles are a way of earning release from fear.

⁴⁰ Revelation induces a state in which fear has already been abolished. Miracles are thus a means, and revelation is an end. [In this sense, they work together.] Miracles do not depend on revelation; they induce it. Revelation is intensely personal and cannot actually be translated into conscious content at all. That is why any attempt to describe it in words is usually incomprehensible. Revelation induces only experience. Miracles, on the other hand, induce [interpersonal] action. Miracles are more useful now because of their impersonal nature. In this phase of learning, working miracles is more important because freedom from fear cannot be thrust upon you.