Seeing Differently

"Blue Flutist" by Bosch

ACIM Workbook Lesson #21: "I am determined to see things differently"

In this era of instant information, it is becoming increasingly obvious that most of us are receiving the news and opinions which agree with what we have decided is true. Social media is tailor-made to give us what we want, much in the same way as you will get advertisements for things you have searched for on the internet. It has become extremely easy for us to justify our opinions and become convinced that everyone agrees with us — unless, of course, they are on the other side of the fence and their opinions then become diametrically opposed to our own good intentions. We are asked today to examine our mind for anything which arouses anger in us. The lesson also tells us that the degree of anger, from slight irritation to rage, makes no difference. I suspect I will not need to search very far to fill in the blank in this sentence: “I am determined to see ________ [name of person] differently.” Today I will work toward seeing that none of my attack thoughts are justified, no matter how much I want to think they are. Namastè.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The human mind will sometime rise above all material and physical sense, exchanging it for spiritual perception, and exchanging human concepts for the divine consciousness.” Science & Health Page 531:10-13

Beyond the Appearance

photo credit: Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #20

"I am determined to see"

One of our learned behaviors is to place blame on others for things they have said or done which we perceive as detrimental to us or others. When we see what truly is, we are able to simply witness these events, without apportioning blame or cause to them. By this lack of reasoning, we then see things as they really are, without placing our own personal meaning on them. Today I am determined to see beyond the appearances. I strive to release what I believe about circumstances, allowing room for reality to show itSelf.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The question, 'What is Truth', convulses the world. Many are ready to meet this inquiry with the assurance which comes of understanding; but more are blinded by their old illusions, and try to 'give it pause'.” 

Science & Health Page 223:14-18

No Private Thoughts

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #19

"I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my thoughts."

Would it bother you to think that there are no private thoughts? There are many things we think of as coincidence which are leading us to the truth of our connectivity, but we insist on finding reasons it can't be true. That's all right, because we are also noticing ways in which our thoughts pass between us with no spoken words. Think of the times someone comes to mind just before the telephone rings and it's them calling you. On a personal level, if we say we want world peace, yet fill our thought with violent movies and doomsday conjectures, are we truly choosing peace? Every thought is important. A peaceful tipping point is getting closer all the time. I feel that's why such violence and craziness is happening everywhere: fear of losing control, fear of change, fear of a new world. Let's live as though every thought DOES make a difference and choose Love over fear!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“It should be thoroughly understood that all men have one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love. Mankind will become perfect in proportion as this fact becomes apparent, war will cease and the true brotherhood of man will be established.” Science & Health Page 467:9-13

Giving Impulse to Inquiry

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #18

"I am not alone in experiencing the effects of my seeing."

A good friend who receives these writings has asked me how she is to be compassionate if she is not going to accept the reality of someone’s pain or loss. This is a very good question! Today’s lesson emphasizes the idea that our minds are joined by way of divine Mind. The admission that everything is unified helps us to hold thought to a more elevated level, knowing that I am “not alone in experiencing the effects of my seeing”.  This doesn’t mean we should not help those in need, nor that we should make light of others’ pain and suffering. I strive to give people comfort without accepting within my thought that it’s a horrid event to be feared, or a sad event which will take time to release, or that change is something to avoid. There’s nothing “wrong” with crying with friends, holding their hand and offering comforting words, and helping them to find joy again. Never think that these teachings are meant to make us an automaton which unfeelingly goes forward in some sort of metaphysical trance. We are all individuals with a purpose! Never fear living life to the fullest!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"In the material world, thought has brought to light with great rapidity many useful wonders. With like activity have thought's swift pinions been rising towards the realm of the real, to the spiritual cause of those lower things which give impulse to inquiry." Science & Health Page 268:1-6

Spiritual Intuitions or Material Beliefs?

photo credit: Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #17

"I see no neutral things".

It's difficult to discern if we’re receiving an intuitive feeling warning us about a person, place, or thing, or if we’re simply being wary because of past experiences. I’m remembering a time where I was asked to make a decision about allowing a particular person to be in charge of my gallery. Just looking at him, I immediately thought of motorcycle ruffians, self-declared bigots of varying sorts, and perhaps even the gestapo. I got a good feeling from him in many ways, but wondered if it was because I always want to see the good in everyone. Did this man have a hidden agenda of which I wanted no part? Was I indulging bigoted thinking? It can be hard to tell, and there was no way I could personally know for sure. I see no neutral things and it's impossible for me, the material, mortal, ego-riddled Marsha to tell the difference, either then or now. But the true Self, stripped of past experiences, beliefs, and bias, recognizes Truth without question. I think I’ll listen to her today!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"To corporeal sense, the sun appears to rise and set, and the earth to stand still; but astronomical science contradicts this, and explains the solar system as working on a different plan. All the evidence of physical sense and all the knowledge obtained from physical sense must yield to Science [the knowledge of Christ-consciousness], to the immortal truth of all things." Science & Health Page 493:2-8

No Neutral Thoughts

photo credit: Dan Campbell

ACIM Workbook Lesson #16

“I have no neutral thoughts.”

We are reminded today: "Every thought you have contributes to truth or illusion: either it extends truth or it multiplies illusion." [ACIM] On a regular basis, things occur which we think of as disturbing. For instance, I recently heard of a dear friend's son's surprising suicide, and I found myself repeatedly imaging her pain. But wait -- Does that help her? If every thought is important (which I truly think it is!), then I should hold thought to Love, not pain or grief. What we dwell on multiplies, right? We've all seen it happen, both in our lives and the circumstance of others. So today I will take these words to heart and truly work toward practicing them in every facet of life. I can choose to see the world with ego-based thoughts, prejudiced by long-held beliefs, or I can follow the path cleared by divine Mind. I'm grateful to know there is a choice!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"In divine Science, the universe, including man, is spiritual, harmonious, and eternal. Science shows that what is termed matter is but the subjective state of what is termed by the author mortal mind." Science & Health Page 114:27-31

Images in Thought

"New Zealand"
photo credit: Dan Campbell

ACIM Workbook Lesson #15

“My thoughts are images that I have made.”

The world seems so real that it’s easy to get caught up in the image-making story. This topic reminds me of an experiment I witnessed in a video. A woman sitting at a table was asked to hold her right arm out, resting it from elbow to hand on the surface. They erected a barrier so she couldn't see her real hand and then they placed a rubber hand and arm in front of her, which she could see, with the elbow ending at her body. Then the person sitting on the other side of the table used a soft paint brush to stroke both her hand and the rubber hand. She stated she was feeling a little odd because she was beginning to experience sensation in the rubber hand. When the person moved the brush to the rubber thumb, stroking it but not hers, she jerked back because the feeling was so odd. Then the man across the table pulled out a hammer and hit the rubber hand. You can imagine how the woman reacted! This demonstrated how, in a matter of two minutes or less, a rubber hand became a human hand in the thought of this woman. This is, in essence, what we've done with everything around us. Belief becomes our reality -- and very quickly. So today I will practice moving away from beliefs and opening my thought to the reality of Spirit!

Mary Baker Eddy quotes:

"Mortals evolve images of thought." "Mortal mind sees what it believes as certainly as it believes what it sees. It feels, hears, and sees its own thoughts. Pictures are mentally formed before the artist can convey them to canvas. So is it with all material conceptions." Science & Health Page 86:13 and 86:29:1