The general instructions for all the review lessons are clearly articulated for us in the second paragraph of the introduction to this review. While the approach we should take to the review periods is described, more important is the content of the ideas presented. It is to help us think about the Lesson throughout the day and focus on the content of the Lesson that has the most meaning for us.
"After you have read the idea and the related comments, the exercises should be done with your eyes closed and when you are alone in a quiet place, if possible." (W.PI.RI.IN.3.3)
"This is emphasized for practice periods at your stage of learning. It will be necessary, however, that you learn to require no special settings in which to apply what you have learned." (W.PI.R1.IN.4.1-2)
This is really important. Clearly, in the initial stages of our practice, it is valuable to have a quiet setting to the extent that this is possible. Jesus speaks here about the early stages, yet ultimately "It will be necessary, however, that you learn to require no special settings in which to apply what you have learned." (W.PI.RI.IN.4.2) The reason for this is that we will especially need these Lessons when we are in situations that are difficult, challenging, and upsetting to our peace of mind. This is when we will really need to draw on the teachings. Whichever Lesson most resonates with you, and you feel would be most helpful to you, should be applied in these situations.
It is to help us recognize that we can always draw on the strength of the Holy Spirit in any situation, not only when we are in our meditation time with Him. It is important to remember, for now, that we are in an early "stage of learning," (W.PI.RI.IN.4.1) which Jesus recognizes and understands. Until this thought system becomes what we draw on in every moment and in every situation, we will still need the quiet times for practice. However, "The purpose of your learning is to enable you to bring the quiet with you, and to heal distress and turmoil. This is not done by avoiding them and seeking a haven of isolation for yourself." (W.PI.RI.IN.4.4-5)
I find, there is a wonderful sense of achievement whenever I am in a situation of conflict or distress of any kind, if I can remember the truth. Recently I was at a function where there was plenty of opportunity to make judgments and hold grievances. Yet as I took a moment to remember the truth, I found I could more readily stand aside from the ego and look at the situation with quiet amusement. As such, I was able to look at the characters in this dream from outside of the dream to some extent. It is very empowering not to get sucked into the drama, to be free of judgment and yet feel compassion. For me, it has taken years of work and practice and continues to do so. Sometimes I get caught in the situation, but rather than looking at myself as having failed, I know that it is just another opportunity to choose again.
While we still identify with this dream, we will have work to do in applying these Lessons, so that we can truly feel peaceful when everything seems to be falling apart around us. These are the times when we are tempted to respond with anger and judgment. When we ask for help to set aside the temptation to react from the wrong mind, we have taken the first step toward peace. Thus, every situation that we are in provides us another opportunity to choose forgiveness and peace. The ego immediately wants to go to the story, to justify why we should feel and react as we do. Or we think we can solve the problem or resolve the situation. But Jesus is showing us that when we try to resolve our fear with the wrong mind, which means we are turning to our own resources for solutions, this just brings more unconscious guilt. The reason being that this is the very same mind that has projected the problem in the first place! The only answer is with the Holy Spirit. Only when we turn to Him do we see that there is only one problem, which is our separation from the love that we are.
At the very early stages of our mind training we do need to do the practice in a quiet place in order to find the peace that is in us. Then we learn to take that peace everywhere and we are no longer fearful of distress and turmoil. Finally, in the later stages of our development we will recognize peace as no longer conditional on things going right "out there." We will see peace everywhere regardless of how things appear to be. All attack is just seen as a call for love.
I was recently watching a movie where a mother was listening to her son's abusive comments directed at her. She approached him with great tenderness and said that she had x-ray eyes and that those eyes could see into his heart. She told him that despite his angry words, she was feeling the tears in his throat. He melted into her as he cried. Our peace can also give us such "x-ray eyes," which in the Course is called vision. Vision can see behind the behavior and hear any seeming abuse or any pain as a cry for love. Our goal is to come to a place where we bring our peace and love to every situation without exception or exclusion. We don't rely on our own assessment of any situation. We call on God for guidance on how to respond.
Finally, we are told that ideas given in the review are not given in their original form, but instead of going back to the original Lesson, we should use the current descriptions. As well, Jesus says we should not apply the ideas in the same way as suggested originally. This is curious to reflect on as to why he is saying this. It probably ties in to what he told us in the introduction to the workbook where he talked about not ritualizing our Lessons. He does not want us to focus on form, but to focus on the content. The idea is to look at the relationships among these ideas and see "the cohesiveness of the thought system to which they are leading you." (W.PI.RI.IN.6.4) In other words, it is to remain flexible rather than focusing on getting the form right. It is about really taking in the meaning. It is so that we don't get rigid in our minds about following some kind of rules of how to do the Lessons. We are basically being asked to let go of:
The meaning we have given everything
Our judgments
Our understandings
Our thoughts
Our justifications for how we see things
We are not seeing what is really there because we have blocked the loving thoughts in our mind with thoughts of attack, guilt, fears, worries, unworthiness and judgments. If we want to see with vision, we have to cease letting judgments govern our sight. It means that we have been wrong about everything and now we must put ourselves in a place of humility so that we can be taught. We are currently protecting our individuality and separate, unique selves. Thus, with every wrong-minded thought, we are defending against the love that is in us. We are asked to recognize that our judgments have hurt us and we no longer want to see and feel according to what they are telling us to see and feel. In other words, we no longer want our interpretations of any situation, but to let the Holy Spirit interpret for us.
If there is a particular Lesson that appeals to you here, you may want to pick it out and concentrate on it. I particularly like "I do not understand anything I see," (W.3) and "I have given what I see all the meaning it has for me." (W.2) I particularly want to focus today on how my judgments have hurt me and kept me from vision. Also I am really getting that I really don't understand anything I see. The mind that thinks it knows is blocking real seeing.
The other one that really impacts me is, "I am never upset for the reason I think." (W.5) It is a recognition that it is the ego thought system that brings pain. Jesus teaches that our only problem is the separation from God, regardless of whatever form in which our problems show up. The separation is painful because with it has come the idea of sin, guilt and fear.
The ego's plan shows up as multiple problems, which invite us to react, to feel bad, guilty, angry, defeated, bored, scared, inferior, self-conscious, annoyed, lonely, condescending, or superior. All of it is a judgment of some kind. Everything stems from our interpretation of a situation. Every response reinforces the sense of separation. To remind ourselves that we are never upset for the reason we think is to remember that the reasons we give ourselves for our upsets are not true. The stories we tell about them are not true. There is only one reason. We believe we are separate, individual and alone. This is not the truth!! It just means that I am trusting in my own wrong-minded idea of myself when I am feeling any sadness, confusion, anger, conflict or apprehension of any kind.
But it is definitely not about denying any of these feelings. We need to be aware of our thoughts and feelings and bring them for correction. In choosing to do so, we will experience the miracle. For only in this way will we give over our hold on any situation and trust in God's strength and not our own. Only in this way do we open up a space where the love that we are can come through. Right now it is the ego that rushes in to give its meaning to every empty space. It rushes in to give us its view on everyone and everything so that no space is left open for Love to rush in. Because we want to be in control, we maintain our judgments. Our fear is that we will dissolve into love if we don't maintain control. Until that fear is looked at for what it is, which is nothing at all, dark clouds of our mistaken thoughts will obscure the truth about us. Which will you choose today? Your perspectives or God's peace?
In the practice today, use the ideas as they are given. It is not necessary to return to the original statements "nor apply the ideas as was suggested then." (W.PI.RI.IN.6.3) It is the relationship among the ideas that he is asking us to focus on now. As I looked at all of the Lessons, I note that the focus is on letting go of everything I think I know, and even who I think I am, by looking at my thoughts and being willing to question them. I am working on bringing more willingness to release the way I see things and the meaning I give my judgments about everything.
Love and blessings, Sarah