Our current goals:
- Widen the horizons of our vision
- Take direct approaches to uncover the blocks that keep our vision narrow
- Lift those blocks, however briefly, in order to experience the sense of liberation that comes when the blocks are removed
- Intensify our motivation for freedom
Yesterday we practiced “Be enlightened now.” Today we notice enlightenment is what we are.
Today’s workbook lesson is very clear. It says, “Those who seek the light are merely covering their eyes. The light is in them now. Enlightenment is but a recognition, not a change at all. … The light can not be lost. Why wait to find it in the future, or believe it has been lost already, or was never there? … look within, for there all vision starts.”
And then the lesson gives us very clear instructions for what we are to do:
“Sit quietly and close your eyes. The light within you is sufficient. It alone has the power to give the gift of sight to you. Exclude the outer world, and let your thoughts fly to the peace within. They know the way. For honest thoughts, untainted by the dream of worldly things outside yourself, become the holy messengers of God Himself.”
Here, the Course makes clear why we practice awareness-watching-awareness meditation. “It alone has the power to give the gift of sight to you.”
Why is this practice so important?
Truth is ever-present. We’ve spent several days noticing that awareness-life-presence is ever-present. However, any human who chooses to be honest can also see that even though awareness-life-presence is ever-present, it can be ignored and forgotten (and typically is) when we focus on the outside world and our thoughts about the outside world.
The more focus we put on the outside world and our thoughts about the outside world, the more we are unaware of ever-present awareness-life-presence.
What can we do to reverse that?
Focus in reverse. Spend time each day ignoring the world and our thoughts about the world, and place attention directly with awareness-life-presence.
If you look at this simple teaching without resistance, it makes perfect sense.
Today’s lesson tells us that perception’s source is awareness-life-presence. That’s true. Without awareness-life-presence, you could not perceive the sound of a bird’s song or the sound of waves rolling onto the beach, the sight of a beautiful sunset or the sight of a herd of deer moving through the pines, etc. Therefore, you can always take short breaks from thought throughout the day to notice that you are awareness-life-presence. However, concentrated time noticing this fact while ignoring everything else is most helpful. I recommend both concentrated time in awareness-watching-awareness meditation and short glimpses throughout the day.
Today’s lesson makes two points that I would like to highlight:
First, while pointing to the practice of awareness-watching-awareness, it mentions that this practice reminds us we are the “co-creator of all things that live.” Usually when people refer to us as co-creators, they are talking about our thoughts. For example, our hate thoughts help co-create the images of hate in the world, etc. However, today’s lesson refers to a more fundamental nature of creation. It points out that all things are awareness-life-presence, as we are. Our fundamental nature is the fundamental nature of all things. In this way, nothing is separate from us and everything is an extension of what we are.
Secondly, today’s lesson says, “Who recognizes it within himself must give it. And the means for giving it are in his understanding. He forgives because he recognized the truth in him.” In other words, one who recognizes that he is awareness-life-presence lives ‘be enlightened now’ instead of living from attachment to his thoughts.
Today we will continue our basic practices while remembering, “The peace of God is shining in me now.” We will practice awareness-watching-awareness meditation. We will pause and glimpse awareness-life-presence throughout the day, and we will ‘be enlightened now’ including practicing self-inquiry as needed.
