Today’s idea is really another form of the preceding one, except that it is more specific as to the emotion aroused. A meaningless world is actually impossible. Nothing without meaning exists. However, this doesn’t mean that human beings will avoid thinking that they perceive something that actually has no meaning. On the contrary, given the current state of the human mind, they will be particularly likely to think that they do perceive such things.

Recognition of meaninglessness arouses intense anxiety in all the separated ones. It represents a situation in which the ego, or pseudo-self, and the true Creator of Life seem to “challenge” each other as to whose meaning is to be written in the empty space that meaninglessness provides. The ego rushes in frantically to establish its own “ideas” there, fearful that the void may otherwise be used to demonstrate its own unreality. And on this point alone in all the world is the ego correct.

It is essential, therefore, that you learn to recognize the appearance of the meaningless, and to accept it without fear. If you are fearful, it is certain that you will endow the world with attributes that it does not possess, and crowd it with images – your current perceptions – that do not exist. To the ego illusions are safety devices to protect its seeming existence, as they must also be to you who equate yourself with the ego.

Today’s lesson is our first attempt at stating an explicit cause and effect relationship of a kind that you may be very inexperienced in recognizing. The idea for today will therefore be practiced in a somewhat different way from the preceding ones. With eyes closed, repeat today’s idea to yourself:

“A meaningless world engenders fear.”

Then open your eyes and look about you slowly, saying:

“I am looking at a meaningless world.”

Repeat this statement to yourself as you look about for a minute or so. Then close your eyes and conclude with:

“A meaningless world engenders fear because I think I am in competition with the Divine.”

You are not expected to believe the concluding statement at this point, and may even dismiss it as preposterous. Note carefully, however, any signs of overt or covert fear that it may arouse. If you find it difficult to avoid resistance in one form or another to today’s concluding statement, whatever form such resistance may take, remind yourself that such a statement would only arouse fear in connection with the idea of retaliation from an adversary, or, more strongly stated, “vengeance” from an “enemy.”

In any case do not dwell on the concluding statement, and try not to even think of it except during the three or four exercise periods practiced today. That will suffice at present.