Many people who study A Course in Miracles study at the level of mind–at the the level of thinking–so when they come to Lesson 94, they adopt the idea, “I am as God created me,” including their imagination of what that means to them. It doesn’t penetrate very deep, because it is only at the level of mind.

We are now at the phase of Self-inquiry. Self-inquiry has nothing to do with thinking. Self-inquiry is LOOKING. For people who believe everything is resolved by thinking, it takes practice to drop thinking and practice looking, but it can be done. With looking you have the attitude of, “What am I?” and then you LOOK with inner-looking, intuitive looking, to realize the answer.

Yesterday we saw that some of the symptoms of the “I am a body” belief are judgment, condemnation, fear, attack, and self-hatred. The voice in your head that we call the ego is the voice of the “I am a body” belief. Watch it as a curious observer and you will see what I mean.

“I am so stupid.” “I’m pretty clever.” “He is so annoying.” “She is prettier than me.” “They don’t ever listen to me.” “I better get this done or they’ll think I’m avoiding work.”

Look at those sentences and the sentences that come into your mind today. Do you see the “I am a body” idea in those thoughts?

Today’s workbook lesson says, “You think if anyone could see the truth about you he would be repelled, recoiling from you as if from a poisonous snake.” That sense that we have about ourselves, that sense that ‘I am the scum of the earth’, is the voice of the “I am a body” belief.

Today’s workbook lesson also says, “Today we question this, not from the point of view of what you think, but from a very different reference point.”

We are going to question our ‘I am a body’ thinking from the point-of-view of our truth. That is, from awareness. An important part of this questioning is “What am I?” Be curious to discover what you are. Are you the body? Are you this thinking? Or are you awareness? Which one is most true about what you are? Which ones can you observe and which one is you, the observer? As you become more familiar with the true you, thoughts that do not reflect your truth lose their power.

For example, if I went into a big tirade about what a terrible tree you are, I could go on and on about how you never drop your leaves in the fall; I could go on and on about how trees are suppose to stay in one place and you are always moving around; I could go on and on about how you don’t put off enough shade, and you’d just think that I am crazy. Those thoughts wouldn’t affect you because you don’t think you are a tree. If you aren’t a tree, you can’t be a bad tree.

Well, if you aren’t a body, you can’t be a bad or stupid or ugly body. So we question all of the beliefs and ideas that are part of the “I am a body” thought system by questioning the basis of the thought system itself. What am I?

Today you are asked to give the first 5 minutes of each hour to today’s lesson. It’s possible that you won’t be able to do that, but give those 5 minutes when you can. During that time, wonder, “What am I?” and then look to see what the true answer is. Use the video that is attached to this post to help guide you. You might watch it as part of your practice during one or more of the 5-minute periods today.

When you can’t give a full 5 minutes to today’s practice, give at least the 2-5 seconds that was represented by yesterday’s Bentinho video. If you say today’s workbook lesson and then give a full 5 minutes (or at least 2-5 seconds) to this looking every hour today, you will take great strides in freeing yourself from the “I am the body” belief and from the thinking that goes with it.

Here’s today’s video:

An example of what I am calling a “visualization plan” is in the audio “The Secret Holy Spirit Style,” which is also part of this week’s homework. Maybe my term, “visualization plan,” is a poor choice of words, but I am pointing to the kind of visualization/contemplation statements that I shared in that audio. Of course, your statements should be developed personally for you. Here is a link to the plan I referred to in that audio:

Click Here

This is the visualization plan that I have come up with for me now. It supports my spiritual aspiration.

Relaxed in Self-certainty, I know where to place attention in every moment including how to think, how to perceive and how to spend my time. I easily focus attention without distraction. I use the mind effectively when it is useful. It rests silently when not in use. I abide in Self-realization, even as the body is engaged in activity. I experience truth as it is, without a second. I am the direct experience of truth.

Yesterday we saw that the miracle is what you are, and light is awareness. Your truth is known in awareness. Today we learn what strength is. Strength is the natural beneficence of awareness. Beneficence and awareness are one.

The idea that you are a body in a world of other bodies is false. In today’s workbook lesson, this idea is called “weakness.”

What is the miracle?

Today’s workbook lesson says, “The miracle is always there.” The miracle in this context is what you are.

What is light?

Light is awareness.

“Miracles are seen in light” means: Your truth is known in awareness.

Today’s workbook lesson also says, “To you, then, light is crucial. While you remain in darkness, the miracle remains unseen.”

The ego thought system is darkness. While we remain focused on the ego thought system, we are not aware of truth. We are not aware of what we are.

When today’s workbook lesson is contemplated deeply, we see why awareness-watching-awareness meditation is so important to our daily practice. When we are focused on awareness in meditation, we are paying attention to our Self.

In all honesty, most of our time on any given day is focused on darkness. Most of our time is focused on the ego thought system. We are typically absorbed in it, mesmerized, hypnotized, dreaming away. But when we sit down in awareness-watching-awareness meditation, we are concentrated in reaching for our Self. This practice is “crucial” for us.

One of the best ways to focus attention on awareness and to learn to concentrate attention on awareness is Self-inquiry. This is the practice of learning to ask, “What am I?” and then LOOKING to observe the answer (rather than thinking about the answer).

Today’s workbook lesson is an introduction to Self-inquiry. As we move through gentle healing together, Self-inquiry is a practice that will be practiced more and more. However, Self-inquiry is a means to awareness-watching-awareness. Awareness-watching-awareness is the primary practice. Awareness-watching-awareness is the direct path to Self-realization. It’s important to see this, because then our practice time will be more focused on what is most important.

There are two more things I’d like to point out about today’s workbook lesson, and then I will leave you to your practice.

1 – Today’s workbook lesson says, “Your efforts, however little they may be, have strong support.” This points to the quantum leaps that we can expect as we dedicate our selves to our purpose and our practice. When we combine intention with action (spiritual practice), we call out to our true Self with a power that the mind cannot fathom, and the true Self answers. This answer to our call is certain. We simply need to put out the call.

Do your part to the best of your little ability, and the true Self will do its part, and its ability is way beyond yours. Prepare to be amazed.

2 – Today’s workbook lesson says, “Faith goes to what you want, and you instruct your mind accordingly.” This points to the importance of developing the visualization plan you’ve been asked to develop this week. We will use our visualization plans in coming weeks. So if you haven’t set special time aside for deep contemplation and asking in order to develop this plan, please do. It is very important, for the purpose of calling forth the power of the Self, which is the power of, the power behind and the power beyond the entire Universe. As NTI Revelation, Chapter 1 says:

“You will never be asked to take a single step alone, but you must always be willing to take the lead by deciding the purpose and calling it out to Us.”

I don’t know about you, but I am excited for the new start that begins tomorrow … our first lesson after the second review period. My heart is beating excitedly with joyous anticipation of the journey ahead. (It is also kind of fun that we begin this newest phase of our journey on Easter morning !! )

We are all currently working with our spiritual aspiration. After we watch the Meta-Secret film and listen to “The Secret Holy Spirit Style,” we will focus within and receive our own visualization plan. The purpose of the visualization plan is to promote our spiritual aspiration.

For most of us, the spiritual path is a path of hills and valleys, of what might feel like successes and failures. There are times when we feel like we aren’t doing good enough. Maybe we plan not to get angry, and then we get really angry. Maybe we plan to remember our Course lesson throughout the day, and then we forget about it for most of the day. Maybe we plan to meditate, and we fall asleep. Maybe it’s something else, but it seems there are opportunities to judge ourselves as not doing well enough.