The general instructions for all the review Lessons are clearly articulated for us in the second paragraph of the introduction to this review. While this describes the approach we should take to the review periods, the content of the ideas presented is more important. This helps us think about the Lesson throughout the day and focus on the content of the Lesson with 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 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 is 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.
This will help us recognize 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, 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 were plenty of opportunities to make judgments and hold grievances. As I took a moment to remember my Lesson and my purpose, 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 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 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 to get to the place where we can truly feel peaceful, even in situations where everything seems to be falling apart around us. At these times, 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 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. We think we can solve the problem or resolve the situation on our own. But Jesus is showing us when we try to resolve our fear with the wrong mind, which means we are turning to our own resources for solutions, it just brings more unconscious guilt. The reason it does is because it is the very same mind that projected the problem in the first place! The only answer is with the Holy Spirit. Only when we turn to Him do we see there is only one problem, which is our separation from the love 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 in us. Then we learn to take that peace everywhere we go 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 she had x-ray eyes and those eyes could see into his heart. She told him 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 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, the 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. Jesus also 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 into 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, we remain flexible rather than focusing on getting the form right. We are really taking in the meaning so 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 we have been wrong about everything and now we must put ourselves in a place of humility so 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 in us. We are asked to recognize 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 the ego thought system brings pain. Jesus teaches 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 this is a judgment of some kind, and it is all self-attack. Everything stems from our interpretation of a situation and that interpretation comes from how we see ourselves. Every response reinforces the sense of separation. To remind ourselves we are never upset for the reason we think is to remember 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 I am trusting in my own wrong-minded idea of myself when I feel any sadness, confusion, anger, conflict or apprehension of any kind.
It is definitely not about denying any of our 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 we are can come through. Right now, the ego rushes in to give its meaning to every empty space. It rushes in to give us its view on everyone and everything, so no space is left open for Love to rush in. Because we want to be in control, we maintain our judgments. Our fear is 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) He is asking us to focus on the relationship among the ideas now. As I look at all of the Lessons, I note 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.