When I decide an idea is meaningful, the idea becomes manifest in some way. When it is manifest it is experienced. If I decide an idea has importance or meaning it seems real. Once I experience an idea as real, it is like a mesmerizing spell, that I ignorantly believe and continue to see as real. But this isn’t reality. I am upset because it is not true and I know it at the depth of my being. To wake up from this cycle, I must choose to slip outside of the spell by realizing the meaninglessness of my self directed “seeing” and surrender to that part of me that does know–my True Self.
7)”I see only the past.”
I don’t think. I look for memories or associations with ideas I have learned in the past. How many times have I been in a conversation where the other person is talking about something I know very little about, but when something is said that reminds me of something I heard in the past that is somewhat similar to the subject matter, I say what I know or think I know about the subject. I do this with everything. All my likes and dislikes are based on something that occurred in my past. Then I prioritize or judge these things or people or places and I live my life based on this hierarchy, making things and people and all illusions unequal. So I decide some illusions are more important in my ranking, but what has actually happened is I have blocked the awareness that all of my illusions are equally unreal.
8) “My mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.”
This lesson says, “I’m trying to use time against God.” ACIM says we had an opportunity to laugh at the idea of being separate from God, but we choose not to laugh it off and became preoccupied with thoughts of separation. So Jesus in the Course says the question isn’t really how did this happen, but why do we continue to choose separation. NTI Romans 7 said, “Remember that the universe is a reflection of a past wish, a past belief in the mind.” The concept of personhood is synonymous with separation. Awareness knows I am a part of the larger fabric of existence. I will practice awareness watching awareness and give up my preoccupation with the past.
9)”I see nothing as it is now.”
I see nothing as it is now because I am only seeing my past experiences. Everything I think I see has a memory connected to it. I am not seeing. I am reliving the memory. If I want to see, I need to drop the past associations I have with what I think I am seeing. A fresh, unencumbered experience is available in the present moment.
10)”My thoughts do not mean anything.”
My thoughts do not mean anything because my private thoughts are meaningless. The lesson says my mind is really blank when I seem to be having private thoughts. This is because I am unconscious when I seem to be thinking private thoughts. When I are believe I am a private person with private thoughts, I believe I am a person that can act on the world and be acted upon by the world. I see everything as outside of me or what I perceive as me. Of course, this is duality and is the root of all my perceived problems. There is no distinct person. It is only a misperception that doesn’t mean anything. Awareness watching awareness is a fresh perspective that will release me from this old and tired way of thinking and being.
