I Am: A Course in Miracles (ACIM)

lesson 53 Today we will review the following: [11] â??My meaningless thoughts are showing me a meaningless world.â?? Since the thoughts of which I am aware do not mean anything, the world which pictures them can have no meaning.What is producing this world is insane, and so is what it produces. Reality is not insane, and I have real thoughts as well as insane ones. I can therefore see a real world, if I look to my real thoughts as my guide for seeing. [12] â??I am upset because I see a meaningless world.â?? Insane thoughts are upsetting, they produce a world in which there is no order anywhere. Only chaos rules a world which represents chaotic thinking, and chaos has no laws. I cannot live in peace in such a world. I am grateful that this world is not real, and that I need not see it at all unless I choose to value it. And I do not choose to value what is totally insane and has no meaning. [13] â??A meaningless world engenders fear.â?? The totally insane engenders fear because it is completely undependable, and offers no grounds for trust. Nothing in madness is dependable. It holds out no safety and no hope. But such a world is not real. I have given it the illusion of reality, and have suffered from my belief in it. Now I choose to withdraw this belief, and place my trust in reality. In choosing this, I will escape all the effects of the world of fear because I am acknowledging that it does not exist. [14] â??God did not create a meaningless world.â?? How can a meaningless world exist if God did not create it? He is the Source of all meaning, and everything that is real is in His Mind. It is in my mind too, because He created it with me. Why should I continue to suffer from the effects of my own insane thoughts, when the perfection of creation is my home? Let me remember the power of my decision, and recognize where I really abide. [15] â??My thoughts are images which I have made.â?? Whatever I see reflects my thoughts. It is my thoughts which tell me where I am and what I am.The fact that I see a world in which there PART I

lesson 52 Todayâ??s review covers these ideas: [6] â??I am upset because I see what is not there.â?? Reality is never frightening. It is impossible that it could upset me. Reality brings only perfect peace. When I am upset, it is always because I have replaced reality with illusions which I made up.The illusions are upsetting because I have given them reality, and thus regard reality as an illusion. Nothing in Godâ??s creation is affected in any way by this confusion of mine. I am always upset by nothing. [7] â??I see only the past.â?? As I look about, I condemn the world I look upon. I call this seeing. I hold the past against everyone and everything, making them my â??enemies.â??When I have forgiven myself and remembered who I am, I will bless everyone and everything I see.There will be no past, and therefore no â??enemies.â?? And I will look with God on all that I failed to see before. [8] â??My mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.â?? I see only my own thoughts, and my mind is preoccupied with the past. What, then, can I see as it is? Let me remember that I look on the past to prevent the present from dawning on my mind. Let me understand that I am trying to use time against God. Let me learn to give the past away, realizing that in so doing I am giving up nothing. [9] â??I see nothing as it is now.â?? If I see nothing as it is now, it can truly be said that I see nothing. I can see only what is now.The choice is not whether to see the past or the present: it is merely whether to see or not.What I have chosen to see has cost me vision. Now I would choose again, that I may see. [10] â??My thoughts do not mean anything.â?? I have no private thoughts.Yet it is only private thoughts of which I am aware. What can these thoughts mean? They do not exist, and so they mean nothing.Yet my mind is part of creation and part of its Creator.Would I not rather join the thinking of the universe than to obscure all that is really mine with my pitiful and meaningless â??privateâ?? thoughts?

lesson 51 The review for today covers the following ideas: [1] â??Nothing I see means anything.â?? The reason this is so is that I see nothing, and nothing has no meaning. It is necessary that I recognize this, that I may learn to see. What I think I see now is taking the place of vision. I must let it go by realizing that it has no meaning so that vision may take its place. [2] â??I have given what I see all the meaning it has for me.â?? I have judged everything I look upon.And it is this and only this that I see.This is not vision. It is merely an illusion of reality, because my judgements have been made quite apart from reality. I am willing to recognize the lack of validity in my judgements, because I want to see. My judgements have hurt me, and I do not want to see according to them. [3] â??I do not understand anything I see.â?? How could I understand what I see when I have judged it amiss? What I see is the projection of my own errors of thought. I do not understand what I see because it is not understandable.There is no sense in trying to understand it. But there is every reason to let it go, to make room for what can be seen and understood and loved. I can exchange what I see now for this merely by being willing to do so. Is not this a better choice than the one I made before? [4] â??These thoughts do not mean anything.â?? The thoughts of which I am aware do not mean anything because I am trying to think without God.What I call â??myâ?? thoughts are not my real thoughts. My real thoughts are the thoughts I think with God. I am not aware of them because I have made â??myâ?? thoughts to take their place. I am willing to recognize that â??myâ?? thoughts do not mean anything, and to let them go. I choose to have them be replaced by what they were intended to replace. â??Myâ?? thoughts are meaningless, but all creation lies in the Thoughts I think with God. [5] â??I am never upset for the reason I think.â?? I am never upset for the reason I think because I am constantly

lesson 50 â??I am sustained by the Love of God.â?? Here is the answer to every problem that confronts you today and tomorrow and throughout time. In this world, you believe you are sustained by everything but God.Your faith is placed in the most trivial and insane symbols; pills, money, â??protectiveâ?? clothing, â??influence,â?? â??prestige,â?? being liked, knowing the â??rightâ?? people, and an endless list of forms of nothingness which you endow with magical powers.All these things are your replacements for the Love of God. All these things are cherished to ensure a body identification.They are songs of praise to the ego. Do not put your faith in the worthless. It will not sustain you. Only the Love of God will protect you in all circumstances. It will lift you out of every trial, and raise you high above all the perceived dangers of this world into a climate of perfect peace and safety. It will transport you into a state of mind which nothing can threaten, nothing can disturb, and nothing can intrude upon the eternal calm of the Son of God. Put not your faith in illusions. They will fail you. Put all your faith in the Love of God within you, eternal, changeless and forever unfailing. This is the answer to whatever confronts you today. Through the Love of God in you, you can resolve all seeming difficulties without effort and in sure confidence.Tell yourself this often today. It is a declaration of release from the belief in idols. It is your acknowledgment of the truth about yourself. Twice today, morning and evening, let the idea for today sink deep into your consciousness. Repeat it, think about it, let related thoughts come to help you recognize its truth, and allow peace to flow over you like a blanket of protection and surety. Let no idle and foolish thoughts enter to disturb the holy mind of the Son of God. Such is the Kingdom of Heaven. Such is the resting-place where your Father has placed you forever.

lesson 49 â??Godâ??s Voice speaks to me all through the day.â?? It is quite possible to listen to Godâ??s Voice all day without interrupting your regular activities in any way.The part of your mind in which truth abides is in constant communication with God, whether you are aware of it or not. It is the other part of your mind that functions in the world and obeys the worldâ??s laws. It is this part which is constantly distracted, disorganized, and highly uncertain. The part that is listening to the Voice of God is calm, always at rest and wholly certain. It is really the only part there is. The other part is a wild illusion, frantic and distraught, but without reality of any kind.Try today not to listen to it.Try to identify with the part of your mind where stillness and peace reign forever.Try to hear Godâ??s Voice call to you lovingly, reminding you that your Creator has not forgotten His Son. We will need at least four five-minute practice periods today, and more if possible.We will try actually to hear theVoice reminding you of God and of your Self. We will approach this happiest and holiest of thoughts with confidence, knowing that in doing so we are joining our will with the Will of God. He wants you to hear His Voice. He gave It to you to be heard. Listen in deep silence. Be very still and open your mind. Go past all the raucous shrieks and sick imaginings that cover your real thoughts and obscure your eternal link with God. Sink deep into the peace that waits for you beyond the frantic, riotous thoughts and sounds and sights of this insane world.You do not live there.We are trying to reach your real home. We are trying to reach the place where you are truly welcome.We are trying to reach God. Do not forget to repeat todayâ??s idea very frequently. Do so with your eyes open when necessary, but closed when possible. And be sure that you sit quietly and repeat the idea for today slowly whenever you can, closing your eyes on the world, and realizing that you are inviting Godâ??sVoice to speak to you.

lesson 48 �¢??There is nothing to fear.�¢?? The idea for today simply states a fact. It is not a fact to those who believe in illusions, but illusions are not facts. In truth there is nothing to fear. It is very easy to recognize this. But it is very difficult to recognize for those who want illusions to be true. Today�¢??s practice periods will be very short, very simple, and very frequent. Merely repeat the idea as often as possible.You can use it with your eyes open at any time and in any situation. It is strongly recommended, however, that you take a minute or so whenever possible to close your eyes and repeat the idea slowly to yourself several times. It is particularly important that you use the idea immediately should anything disturb your peace of mind. The presence of fear is a sure sign that you are trusting in your own strength.The awareness that there is nothing to fear shows that somewhere in your mind, not necessarily in a place which you recognize as yet, you have remembered God and let His Strength take the place of yours.The instant you are willing to do this there is indeed nothing to fear.

lesson 47 â??God is the Strength in which I trust.â?? If you are trusting your own strength, you have every reason to be apprehensive, anxious, and fearful. What can you predict or control? What is there in you that can be counted on? What would give you the ability to be aware of all the facets of any problem, and to resolve them in such a way that only good can come of it? What is there in you that gives you the recognition of the right solution, and the guarantee that it will be accomplished? Of yourself you can do none of these things.To believe that you can is to put your trust where trust is unwarranted, and to justify fear, anxiety, depression, anger, and sorrow.Who can put his faith in weakness and feel safe? Yet who can put his faith in strength and feel weak? God is your safety in every circumstance. His Voice speaks for Him in all situations and in every aspect of all situations, telling you exactly what to do to call upon His strength and His protection. There are no exceptions because God has no exceptions. And the Voice Which speaks for Him thinks as He does. Today we will try to reach past your own weakness to the Source of real strength. Four five-minute practice periods are necessary today, and longer and more frequent ones are urged. Close your eyes and begin as usual by repeating todayâ??s idea.Then spend a minute or two in searching for situations in your life which you have invested with fear, dismissing each one by telling yourself, â??God is the Strength in which I trust.â?? Now try to slip past all concerns related to your own sense of inadequacy. It is obvious that any situation that causes you concern is associated with feelings of inadequacy, since otherwise you would believe that you could deal with the situation successfully. It is not by trusting yourself that you will gain confidence. But the strength of God in you is successful in all things. The recognition of your own frailty is a necessary step in the correction of your errors. But it is hardly a sufficient one in giving

lesson 46 â??God is the Love in which I forgive.â?? God does not forgive because He has never condemned.And there must be condemnation before forgiveness is necessary. Forgiveness is the great need of this world, but that is because it is a world of illusions. Those who forgive are thus releasing themselves from illusions, while those who withhold forgiveness are binding themselves to them. As you condemn only yourself, so do you forgive only yourself. Although God does not forgive, His Love is nevertheless the basis of forgiveness. Fear condemns and love forgives. Forgiveness thus undoes what fear has produced, returning the mind to the awareness of God. For this reason, forgiveness can truly be called salvation. It is the means by which illusions disappear. Todayâ??s exercises require at least three full five-minute practice periods, and as many shorter applications as possible. Begin the practice periods by repeating todayâ??s idea to yourself, as usual. Close your eyes as you do so, and spend a minute or two in searching your mind for those whom you have not forgiven. It does not matter â??how muchâ?? you have not forgiven.You have forgiven them entirely or not at all. If you are doing the exercises well, you should have no difficulty in finding a number of people you have not forgiven. It is a safe rule that anyone you do not like is a suitable subject. Mention each one by name, and say: â??God is the Love in which I forgive you, [name].â?? The purpose of the first phase of todayâ??s practice is to put you in the best position to forgive yourself.After you have applied the idea for today to all those who have come to mind, tell yourself, â??God is the Love in which I forgive myself.â?? Then devote the remainder of the practice period to offering related ideas such as: â??God is the Love with which I love myself.â??

lesson 45 â??God is the Mind with which I think.â?? Todayâ??s idea holds the key to what your real thoughts are.They are nothing that you think you think, just as nothing that you think you see is related to vision in any way.There is no relationship between what is real and what you think is real. Nothing that you think are your real thoughts resemble your real thoughts in any respect. Nothing that you think you see bears any resemblance to what vision will show you. You think with the Mind of God. Therefore you share your thoughts with Him, as He shares His with you. They are the same thoughts because they are thought by the same Mind.To share is to make alike, or to make one. Nor do the thoughts you think with the Mind of God leave your mind, because thoughts do not leave their source.Therefore your thoughts are in the Mind of God, as you are. They are in your mind as well, where He is. As you are part of His Mind, so are your thoughts part of His Thoughts. Where, then, are your real thoughts? Today we will attempt to reach them.We will have to look for them in your mind, because that is where they are.They must still be there because they cannot have left. What is thought by the Mind of God is eternal, being part of creation. Our three five-minute practice periods for today will take the same general form that we used in applying yesterdayâ??s idea.We will attempt to leave the unreal and seek for the real.We will deny the world in favor of truth.We will not let the thoughts of the world hold us back, and we will not let the beliefs of the world tell us that what God would have us do is impossible. Instead, we will try to recognize that only what God would have us do is possible.We will also try to understand that only what God would have us do is what we want to do.And we will also try to remember that we cannot fail in doing what He would have us do. There is every reason to feel confident that you will succeed today. It is the Will of God. Begin the exercises for today by repeating the idea to yourself,

lesson 44 â??God is the Light in which I see.â?? Today we are continuing with the idea for yesterday, adding another dimension to it.You cannot see in darkness, and you cannot make light.You can make darkness and then think you see in it, but light reflects life, and is therefore an aspect of creation. Creation and darkness cannot coexist, but light and life must go together, being but different aspects of creation. In order to see, one must recognize that light is within, not without.You do not see outside yourself. Nor is the equipment for seeing outside you. An essential part of this equipment is the light that makes seeing possible. It is with you always, making vision possible in every circumstance. Today we are going to attempt to reach that light. For that purpose, we will use a form of practice which has been suggested once before, and which we will utilize increasingly. It is a particularly difficult form for the undisciplined mind because it represents a major goal of mind training. It embodies precisely what the untrained mind lacks.Yet the training must be accomplished if you are to see. Have at least three practice periods today, each lasting three to five minutes. A longer time is highly recommended, but only if you find the time merely slipping by with little or no sense of strain.The form of exercise we will use today is the most natural and easy one in the world for the trained mind, just as it seems to be the most unnatural and difficult for the untrained mind. Your mind is no longer wholly untrained.You are quite ready to learn the form of exercise we will use today, but you may find that you will encounter strong resistance.The reason is very simple.While you practice in this form, you leave behind everything that you now believe, and all the thoughts which you have made up. Properly speaking, this is the release from hell. Perceived through the egoâ??s eyes, it is loss of identity and a descent into hell. If you can stand aside from the ego ever so little, you will have no difficulty in recognizing that its opposition and fears are meaningless.You might find it helpful to remind yourself from time

lesson 43 â??God is my Source. I cannot see apart from Him.â?? Perception is not an attribute of God. His is the realm of knowledge. Yet He has created the Holy Spirit as the Mediator between perception and knowledge. Without this link with God, perception would have replaced knowledge forever in your minds.With this link with God, perception will become so changed and purified that it will lead to knowledge.That is its function as the Holy Spirit sees it. Therefore, that is its function in truth. In God you cannot see. Perception has no function in God, and does not exist.Yet in salvation, which is the undoing of what never was, perception has a mighty purpose. Made by the Son of God for an unholy purpose, it must become the means for the restoration of his holiness to his awareness. Perception has no meaning.Yet does the Holy Spirit give it a meaning very close to Godâ??s. Healed perception becomes the means by which the Son of God forgives his brother and thus forgives himself. You cannot see apart from God because you cannot be apart from God.Whatever you do you do in Him because whatever you think you think with His Mind. If vision is real, and it is real to the extent to which it shares the Holy Spiritâ??s purpose, then you cannot see apart from God. Three five-minute practice periods are required today, one as early as possible and another as late as possible. The third may be undertaken at the most convenient and suitable time which circumstances and readiness permit. At the beginning of these practice periods, repeat the idea to yourself with eyes open.Then glance around you for a short time, applying the idea specifically to what you see. Four or five subjects for this phase of the exercises are sufficient.You might say, for example: â??God is my Source. I cannot see this desk apart from Him.â?? â??God is my Source. I cannot see that picture apart from Him.â?? Although this part of the exercise period should be relatively short, be sure that you select the subjects for this phase indiscriminately, without self-directed inclusion or exclusion. PART I 67 WORKBOOK For the second and longer phase of the exercise period, close your eyes, repeat todayâ??s idea again, and then let whatever relevant thoughts occur to you add to the idea in your own personal way. Thoughts such as: â??I see through the eyes of forgiveness,â?? â??I see the world as blessed,â?? â??The world can show me myself,â?? â??I see my own thoughts, which are like Godâ??s,â?? or any thought related more or less directly to todayâ??s idea is suitable. The thoughts need not bear an obvious relationship to the idea, but they should not be in opposition to it. If you should find your mind wandering; if you begin to be aware of thoughts which are clearly out of accord with todayâ??s idea, or if you seem to be unable to think of anything, open your eyes, repeat the first phase, and then try the second phase again. Do not allow any protracted period to occur in which you become preoccupied with irrelevant thoughts. Return to the first phase of the exercises as often as necessary to prevent this. In applying todayâ??s idea in the shorter practice periods, the form may vary according to the circumstances and situations in which you find yourself during the day.When you are with someone else, for example, try to remember to tell him silently, â??God is my Source. I cannot see you apart from Him.â?? This form is equally applicable to strangers and to those you know well.Try, in fact, not to make distinctions of this kind at all. The idea should also be applied throughout the day to various situations and events which may occur, particularly to those which distress you in any way. For this kind of application use this form: â??God is my Source. I cannot see this apart from Him.â?? If no particular subject presents itself to your awareness merely repeat the idea in its original form. Try today not to allow long periods of time to slip by without remembering todayâ??s idea, and thus remembering your function.

lesson 42 â??God is my strength.Vision is His gift.â?? The idea for today combines two very powerful thoughts, both of major importance. It also sets forth a cause and effect relationship which explains why you cannot fail in your efforts to achieve the goal of the course.You will see because it is the Will of God. It is His strength, not your own, that gives you power. And it is His gift to you, rather than your own, which offers vision to you. God is indeed your strength.And what He gives is truly given. This means that you can receive it any time and anywhere, wherever you are and in whatever circumstances you find yourself. Your passage through time and space is not random.You cannot but be in the right place at the right time. Such is the strength of God. Such are His gifts. We will have two three-to-five-minute longer exercise periods today, one as soon as possible after you wake, and another as close as possible to the time you go to sleep. It is better, however, to wait until you can sit quietly by yourself at a time when you feel ready than it is to be concerned with the time as such. Begin the practice period by repeating the idea for today slowly, with eyes open, looking about you.Then close your eyes and repeat the idea again, quite slowly. After this, try to think of nothing except thoughts which occur to you in relation to todayâ??s idea.You might think, for example: â??Vision must be possible. God gives truly,â?? Or, Whatever thought that is clearly related to the idea itself is suitable. You may, in fact, be astonished at the amount of course- related understanding some of your own thoughts contain. Let them come without censoring unless you realize your mind is merely wandering, and you have let obviously irrelevant thoughts intrude. You may also reach a point where no thoughts at all seem to come to â??Godâ??s gifts to me must be mine, because He gave them to me.â?? PART I

lesson 41 â??God goes with me wherever I go.â?? Todayâ??s idea will eventually overcome completely the sense of loneliness and abandonment which all the separated ones experience. Depression is an inevitable consequence of separation. So are anxiety, worry, a deep sense of helplessness, misery, suffering and intense fear of loss. The separated ones have invented many â??curesâ?? for what they believe to be â??the ills of the world.â?? But the one thing they do not do is to question the reality of the problem.Yet its effects cannot be cured because it is not real. The idea for today has the power to end all this foolishness forever. And foolishness it is, despite the serious and tragic forms it may take. Deep within you is everything that is perfect, ready to radiate through you and out into the whole world. It will cure all sorrow and pain and fear and loss because it will heal the mind that thought these things were real, and suffered out of its allegiance to these beliefs. You can never be deprived of your perfect holiness because its Source goes with you wherever you go.You can never suffer because the Source of all joy goes with you wherever you go.You can never be alone because the Source of all life goes with you wherever you go. Nothing can destroy your peace of mind because God goes with you wherever you go. We understand that you do not believe all this. How could you, when the truth is hidden deep within, under a heavy cloud of insane thoughts, dense and obscuring, yet representing all you see? Today we will make our first real attempt to get past this dark and heavy cloud, and to go through it to the light beyond. There will be only one long practice period today. In the morning, as soon as you get up if possible, sit quietly for some three to five minutes with your eyes closed. At the beginning of a practice period, repeat todayâ??s idea very slowly.Then make no effort to think of anything.Try, instead, to get a sense of turning inward, past all the idle thoughts of the world.Try to enter very deeply into your own mind, keeping it clear of any thoughts that might divert your attention.

lesson 40 â??I am blessed as a Son of God.â?? Today we will begin to insert some of the happy things to which you are entitled, being what you are. No long practice periods are required today, but very frequent short ones are necessary. Once every ten minutes would be highly desirable, and you are urged to attempt this and to adhere to this schedule whenever possible. If you forget, try again. If there are long interruptions, try again.Whenever you remember, try again. You need not close your eyes for the exercise periods, although you will probably find it more helpful if you do. However, you may be in a number of situations during the day when closing your eyes would not be appropriate. Do not miss a practice period because of this.You can practice quite well under almost any circumstance, if you really want to. Todayâ??s exercises take little time and no effort. Repeat todayâ??s idea, and then add several of the attributes which you associate with being a Son of God, applying them to yourself. One practice period might, for example, consist of the following: â??I am blessed as a Son of God. I am happy, peaceful, loving and contented.â?? Another might be something as follows: â??I am blessed as a Son of God. I am calm, quiet, assured and confident.â?? If only a brief period is available, merely telling yourself that you are blessed as a Son of God will do.

lesson 39 â??My holiness is my salvation.â?? If guilt is hell, what is its opposite? Like the text for which this workbook was written, the ideas which are used for the exercises are very simple, very clear and totally unambiguous. We are not concerned with intellectual feats nor logical toys.We are dealing only in the very obvious, which has been overlooked in the clouds of complexity in which you think you think. If guilt is hell, what is its opposite? This is not difficult, surely.The hesitation you may feel in answering is not due to the ambiguity of the question. But do you believe that guilt is hell? If you did, you would see at once how direct and simple the text is, and you would not need a workbook at all. No-one needs practice to gain what is already his. We have already said that your holiness is the salvation of the world.What about your own salvation?You cannot give what you do not have. A savior must be saved. How else can he teach salvation? Todayâ??s exercises will apply to you alone, recognizing that your salvation is crucial to the salvation of the world. As you apply the exercises to your own world, the whole world stands to benefit. Your holiness is the answer to every question that was ever asked, is being asked now, or will be asked in the future.Your holiness means the end of guilt, and therefore the end of hell.Your holiness is the salvation of the world, and your own. How could you to whom your holiness belongs be excluded from it? God does not know unholiness. Can it be He does not know His Son? A full five minutes are urged for the four longer practice periods for today. Longer and more frequent practice sessions are encouraged. If you want to exceed the minimum requirements, more rather than longer sessions are recommended, although both are encouraged. Begin the practice periods as usual, by repeating todayâ??s idea to yourself. Then, with closed eyes, search out your unloving thoughts in whatever form they appear; uneasiness, depression, anger, fear, worry, attack, insecurity and so on.Whatever form they take, they are unloving and therefore fearful.And so it is from them that you need