ARCIM

Daily Lesson 15 ~
January 15

My past thoughts are images I have made of Reality, Which cannot be imaged. That is why they are meaningless.

Because the thoughts you think you think appear as images in your mind and perceptions in the world, you do not recognize them as nothing. You think you think them, and so you think you perceive them. This is how your “looking” was made. This is the function you have given your body’s eyes. It is not seeing, but image-making and projecting, and it takes the place of true perception, replacing vision with illusions.

This introductory idea to the process of image-making that you call perceiving will probably not have much meaning for you. You will begin to understand it when you start to see little edges of light around the same familiar objects that you look upon now. That is the beginning of real vision. You can be certain that true perception will come quickly when this has occurred.

As we go along, you may have many “light” experiences of this nature. They may take many different forms, some of them quite unexpected. Don’t be afraid of them. They are signs that you are opening your spiritual eye at last. They will not persist, because they merely symbolize true perception, and they are not related to Knowledge. These Workbook exercises are not intended to reveal Knowledge to you, because Knowledge is beyond perception, even seeing. But these exercises will prepare the way to Knowledge.

In practicing the idea for today, repeat it first to yourself, and then apply it to whatever you look at around you, using its name and letting your eyes rest on it as you say, for instance:

“This lamp is an image I have made.”

“That window is an image I have made.”

It is not necessary to include a large number of specific subjects for the application of today’s idea. It is necessary, however, to continue to look at each subject while you repeat the idea to yourself. The idea should be repeated quite slowly each time.

Although you will obviously not be able to apply the idea to very many things during the minute or so of practice that is recommended, try to make the selection as random as possible. If you begin to feel uneasy, you can shorten the practice period to less than a minute. Do not have more than three application periods for today’s idea unless you feel completely comfortable with it, and do not exceed four.

As usual, today’s idea can be applied as needed throughout the day.

 

Corresponding Text Section

 

Principle of Miracles 15

It would be well to begin each day by devoting it to allowing whatever miracles are asked of you that day to be performed through you. Each day and every moment is a new opportunity to use time miraculously.

Commentary

The right use of time – using time miraculously and creatively – was introduced by Spirit into experience so you could remember your own eternal ability to create, given to you in your creation by the Creator. Time has thus been repurposed as a teaching device and a means to an end. Time will cease when it is no longer needed for facilitating learning, at which point all lessons in awakening will have been learned.

Your mind currently includes its conscious aspect, of which you are aware, its unconscious aspect, of which you are not aware, and its superconscious aspect, which is its direct and eternal Connection with the Divine.

The development of abilities that transcend time and space, such as the ability to work miracles, will be very useful in the Divine’s Plan of Awakening when this development and these abilities come under superconscious control rather than unconscious lack of control. Following the right Guide in what is beyond your conscious volition will enable you to recognize both perceptible and imperceptible dangers, and will provide the means for avoiding each of them in the most efficient way.

This is a unique case in which the end does justify the means, that is, the end of illusion through awakening to who you truly are justifying the means of allowing yourself to be guided while you are still unable to see.

It is only when means and ends are not of the same level of experience, spiritual or physical, that fear is felt. Fear arises out of a misunderstanding of the inescapable awareness that only the appropriate means can work for the different kinds of ends you must accomplish before you can achieve your one true End – the end of all illusions – and the reacceptance of your full Creatorship. You were given this awareness by the Divine for all of time.

This awareness that you have in your right mind about appropriate means is a built-in check that was necessary in order for you to use the temporary gift of time usefully. While the belief in time and space still exists, nourishment and connection with others as if they are separate are both necessary. You will feel deprived if you lack either connection with others or nourishment, and you cannot release yourself from this feeling by confusing the two. All fear, shame, and depression ultimately stem from this confusion.