Lesson 29

"God is in everything I see."

The idea for today explains why you can see all purposes in everything. It explains why nothing is separate, by itself or in itself. And it explains why nothing you see means anything. In fact, it explains every idea we have used thus far, and all subsequent ones as well. Today's idea is the whole basis for vision.

We emphasized yesterday that a table shares the purpose of the universe. And what shares the purpose of the universe shares the purpose of its creator.

Try then, today, to begin to learn how to look on all things with love, appreciation and open-mindedness. You do not see them now. Would you know what is in them? Nothing is as it appears to you. It's holy purpose stands beyond your little range. When vision has shown you the holiness that lights up the world, you'll understand today's idea perfectly. And you will not understand how you could ever have found it difficult.

Begin with repeating the idea to yourself, and then apply it to randomly chosen subjects about you, naming each one specifically. Try to avoid the tendency towards self-directed selection, which may be particularly tempting in connection with today's idea. Remember that any order you impose is equally alien to reality.

"God is in this finger."

"God is in this lamp."

"God is in that body."

"God is in that door."

Look slowly about you as you say the words unhurriedly to yourself. You should experience a sense of restfulness as you do this.

Lesson 30

"God is in everything I see because God is in my mind."

The idea for today is the springboard for vision. From this idea will the world open up before you, and you will look upon it and see in it what you have never seen before. Nor will what you saw before be even faintly visible to you.

We are trying to join with what we see, rather than keeping it apart from us. That is the fundamental difference between vision and the way you see. Today's idea should be applied as often as possible throughout the day, trying to realize that the idea applies to everything you do see now, or could see now if it were within the range of your sight.

Real vision is not limited to concepts such as "near" and "far." Try to think of things beyond your present range as well as those you can actually see, as you apply today's idea. Real vision is not only unlimited by space and distance, it does not depend on the body size at all. The mind is its only source. To aid in helping you to become more accustomed to this idea as well, decode several practice periods to applying today's idea with your eyes closed, using whatever subjects come to mind, and looking within rather than without. Today's idea applies equally to both.

Lesson 31

"I am not the victim of the world I see."

Today's idea is the introduction of your declaration of release. Again, the idea should be applied to both the world you see with out to the world you see within. We will use a form of practice that will be used more and more, with changes as indicated. The form includes two aspects, one in which you apply the idea on a more sustained basis, and the other consisting of frequent applications of the idea throughout the day.

Two longer periods of practice with the idea for today are needed, one in the morning and one at night. During that time, look about you slowly while repeating the idea two or three times. Then close your eyes, and apply the same idea to your inner world.

You will escape from both together, for the inner is the cause of the outer. This is also particularly useful to use as a response to any form of temptation that may arise. It is a declaration that you will not yield to it, and put yourself in bondage.

Lesson 32

"I have invented the world I see."

We are continuing to develop the theme of cause and effect. You are not the victim of the world you see because you invented it. You can give it up as easily as you made it up. You will see it or not see it, as you wish. While you want it you will see it; when you no longer want it, it will not be there for you to see.

The idea applies to your inner and outer worlds, which are actually the same. However, since you see them as different, the practice periods will include involving the world you see outside you, and it. Involving the world you see in your mind. Try to introduce the thought that both are in your own imagination.

We will begin the practice periods for the morning and evening by repeating the idea for today while looking around at the world you see as outside yourself. Then close your eyes and look around your inner world. Try to treat them both us equally as possible. Repeat the idea for today unhurriedly as often as you wish, as you watch the images your imagination presents to your awareness. Select a time when few distractions are anticipated, and when you feel reasonably ready. Continue these exercises during the day, as often as possible.

The idea for today should also be applied immediately to any situation that may be stressful to you.

"I have invented the situation as I see it."

Lesson 33

"There is another way of looking at the world."

Today's idea is an attempt to recognize that you can shift your perception of the world in both its inner and outer aspects. Devote some time to this in a morning and evening application. The idea should be repeated as often as you find comfortable, though unhurried applications are essential. Alternate between surveying your outer and inner perceptions, but without an abrupt sense of shifting. Merely glance casually around the world you perceive as outside yourself, then close your eyes and survey your inner thoughts with equal casualness. Remain equally uninvolved in both, to maintain this detachment as you repeat the idea throughout the day.

Specific applications of today's idea should also be made immediately, when any situation arises which tempts you to become disturbed.

"There is another way of looking at this."

Remember to apply today's idea the instant you are aware of distress. It may be necessary to take a minute or so to sit quietly and repeat the idea to yourself several times. Closing your eyes will probably help in this form of application.

Lesson 34

"I could see peace instead of this."

This idea begins to describe conditions that prevail in the other way of seeing. Peace of mind is clearly an internal matter. It must begin with your own thoughts, and then extend outward. It is from your peace of mind that a peaceful perception of the world arises. Three practice periods are advised: one in the morning and one in the evening with an additional one at any time that seems most conducive to readiness. All applications should be done with your eyes closed. It is your inner world to which the applications of today's idea should be made.

Search your mind for fear thoughts, anxiety-provoking situations, "offending" personalities or defense, or anything else about which you are harboring unloving thoughts. Note them all casually, repeating the idea slowly as you watch them arise in your mind, and let each one go, to be replaced by the next. Continue to repeat the idea in an unhurried manner, without applying it to anything in particular. Be sure not to make any specific exclusions. The purpose is to protect yourself from temptations throughout the day. If a specific form of temptation arises in your awareness, the exercise should take this form:

"I could see peace in the situation instead of what I now see in it."

If the inroads on your peace of mind take the form of more generalized adverse emotions, such as depression, anxiety or worry, use the idea in its original form. If you find you need more to change your mind in a specific context, take time to repeat the idea until you feel some sense of relief. Tell yourself specifically:

"I can replace my feelings of depression, anxiety or worry [or my thoughts about the situation, personality or event] with peace."

Lesson 35

"My mind is part of God's. I am very holy."

Today's idea describes what vision will show you. It is difficult for anyone who thinks he is in this world to believe this of himself. Yet the reason he thinks he is in this world is because he does not believe it. You will believe that you are part of where you think you are. That is because you surround yourself with the environment you want. And you want it to protect the image of yourself that you have made. The image is part of this environment. What you see while you believe you are in it is seen through the eyes of the image. This is not vision. Images cannot see.

The idea for today presents a very different view of yourself. By establishing your Source it establishes your identity, and it describes you as you must really be in truth. We will use a somewhat different kind of application for today's idea because the emphasis for today is on the perceiver, rather than on what he perceives. Begin by repeating today's idea to yourself, and then close your eyes and search your mind for the various kinds of descriptive terms in which you see yourself. Include all the ego-based attributes that you ascribe to yourself, positive and or negative, desirable or undesirable, grandiose or debased. All of them are equally unreal, because you do not look upon yourself through the eyes of holiness.

In the earlier part of the mind searching, you will probably emphasize what you considered to be the more negative aspects of your perception of yourself. Toward the latter part of the exercise, however, more self-inflating descriptive terms may well cross your mind. Try to recognize that illusions have no direction in reality. They are merely not true.

A suitable selected list for applying the idea for today might be:

"I see myself as imposed on."

"I see myself has depressed."

"I see myself as failing."

"I see myself as endangered."

"I see myself as helpless."

"I see myself as victorious."

"I see myself as charitable."

"I see myself as virtuous."

These terms will occur to you as various situations, personalities and events in which you figure cross your mind. Pick up any specific situation that occurs to you, identify the descriptive term or terms you feel are applicable to your reaction to the situation, and use them:

"But my mind is part of God's. I am very holy."

There will probably be intervals in which nothing specific occurs to you. Do not strain to pick up specific things to fill the interval, but merely relax and repeat today's idea slowly until something occurs to you. Although nothing that does occur should be omitted from the exercises, nothing should be "dug out" with effort. Neither force nor discrimination should be used. As often as possible during the day apply the idea. If nothing particular occurs to you, merely repeat the idea to yourself, with closed eyes.