LESSON 11
January 11

"My meaningless thoughts are showing me a meaningless world."

PRACTICE SUMMARY

Exercise: 5 times (as many as 5 if you want and if it is comfortable), for 1 minute or so.

With eyes closed repeat idea slowly and casually.
Then open eyes and look about, up and down, near and far, letting eyes move rapidly from one thing to another. During this time repeat the idea leisurely, without urgency or effort.
To conclude, close eyes and repeat idea slowly.

Remarks: Be glad to practice this idea, for it is the initial form of a major phase of the correction process: the idea that your thoughts determine the world. This is the reversal of the world's thinking.

COMMENTARY

The lesson introduces "the concept that your thoughts determine the world you see" (1:3), a major theme in the Course. It is the reason for the famous line, "Seek not to change the world, but choose to change your mind about the world" (T-21.In.1:7). The mind is primary and the world secondary. We believe that the world causes (or at least affects) what we think; the Course teaches that mind is the cause, and the world, effect.

The idea, we are told, "contains the foundation for the peace, relaxation and freedom from worry we are trying to achieve" (3:4).

...in this idea is your release made sure. The key to forgiveness lies in it (1:4-5).

Why is that? If what I see outside is being caused by my own meaningless thoughts, then there is nothing to "blame" in the outside world; all that is needed is to correct my thoughts. I can forgive what I see because it is meaningless. I condemn and judge only when I think I see something that means something--something bad or evil or terrible. But if it is meaningless there is no ground for condemnation. And if my mind is the cause of what I see, then how can I judge it? All I can do is recognize that, as the Text says, "I am responsible for what I see" (T-21.II.2:3), and choose to change my own mind.