Lesson 10
My thoughts do not mean anything.
Today’s lesson is very profound and invites courage to take the responsibility for our own thoughts. But we are more than ready to take on today’s work. This is why: ten days in, let us recap specific lessons that have led us to this one in particular:
Lesson 1: Nothing I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place] means anything.
We focused our attention to our outer awareness on what the eye could see. To emphasize this idea, we repeated this in various ways for the next few lessons.
Lesson 4: These thoughts do not mean anything. They are like the things I see in this room [on this street from this window, in this place].
Now our focus turned inward to “these thoughts.” Notice how with the words “these thoughts” the lesson remained neutral. They were not her thoughts, my thoughts, his thoughts, the world’s thoughts, etc. They were just plain old, “these thoughts,” and easy for the ego to digest. There was no ownership intended in the practice periods.
Lesson 7: I see only the past.
Again our attention is brought to our outer world while also connecting the mind, a little, recognizing that when we see an object we place a label on it that is based upon our conditioning and our past experience. We do not yet see what is Truly there. We only see the past.
Lesson 9: I see nothing as it is now.
The answer is actually in the lesson statement which leads us perfectly to what we are to practice today. We see “nothing.” We actually see “nothing” because our thoughts are of nothing at all. And as we have learned, our thoughts create what we see.
How perfectly prepared we are to practice today’s lesson. We are prime and ready for the ownership that today requires. The thoughts I think I think are “My Thoughts.” Yes, I know it is a word jumble but it is very true. Today we are ready to take full responsibility for our thoughts and our steps along this journey in miracles. This is the work that is to be done and it is ours to do.
“This aspect of the correction process began with the idea that the thoughts of which you are aware are meaningless, outside, rather than within; and then stressed their past rather than their present status. Now we are emphasizing that the presence of these “thoughts” means that you are not thinking (ACIM Lesson 10 3:1-2).”
The lesson goes on to mention the word “blank” once more which was an idea introduced to us in lesson 8:
“Very few have realized what is actually entailed in picturing the past or in anticipating the future. The mind is actually blank when it does this, because it is not really thinking about anything (ACIM Lesson 8 3:2-3).”
Imagining that our mind is as blank as an artist’s canvas can be tough. With all these thoughts that come and go as we have witnessed during our practice periods, how could it be possible for the mind to be blank when it just doesn’t seem so. Today’s lesson helps with this very predicament.
As we begin our practice periods, we gently invite correction with the statement, this idea will help to release me from all that I now believe. What a relief this brings! This eases the mind and reminds us that we do this correcting of the mind because it is for our highest good and it is our true desire. We truly do want to see and let go of the shadows.
“The ‘good’ [thoughts] are but shadows of what lies beyond, and shadows make sight difficult. The ‘bad’ [thoughts] are blocks to sight, and make seeing impossible. You do not want either. (ACIM Lesson 4 :4-6).”
Thus, as we begin our practice periods we recognize our desire to truly see and we welcome the liberation that this lesson offers. Now we begin to survey the mind as if we were watching clouds in the sky. We might say “that cloud that looks like fear does not mean anything, that cloud that looks like someone is talking bad about me means nothing, that cloud that looks like I have failed does not mean anything, and that cloud that looks like I am awesome for bringing dinner to a sick friend means nothing.
This lesson can be that liberating and light as we picture our mind as a canvas of open blue sky and our thoughts are just clouds floating by, meaning nothing at all. Today brings much excitement to me and I get more and more curious about what my True Thoughts are. What is it like to live as a blank canvas? What is it like to release these thoughts and live in spacious nothingness? What is it like to release the power these thoughts seem to have over me with my reaction to them?
This is the gift of the journey in miracles. The gift of sight and the reclaiming of power. No longer living asleep but with each practice period we connect with the awakened being within that has been waiting for our attention. Welcome Home.
Namaste.