The first lesson of the Course In Miracles is a radical beginning. I am instructed to look around my surroundings and affirm that everything I see does not mean anything. Literally, I am to look around the room and say "That door does not mean anything", "That window does not mean anything", and so on.
Its definitely not the sort of pious, fear-wielding, guilt-causing orders that you might think of when considering other religions. This is one of many differences of the Course In Miracles, it is not a religion. It is a mind re-training, teaching you to re-perceive reality in a correct manner.
This lesson was a good reminder that I see objects and they actually have no meaning. It is only when my mind makes a decision, based on beliefs that may or may not be true to me or anyone else, that any object suddenly comes to acquire meaning.
This makes me wonder. What beliefs have I acquired simply due to a decision I made in the heat of a moment in my past? Am I even conscious of them? Would I agree with them now at this present time in my awareness?
You can read the first lesson online by clicking on this link.
My mother took this course years and years ago and I sat in on some of her classes, but I couldn't grasp the concepts. I would love to take it now, so that she and I could talk about what I'm learning.
Posted by: Dona | January 03, 2010 at 08:54 PM
Hi Dona,
I am posting the links to each lesson so anyone can follow along if interested. It is a life-changing course it couldn't hurt to try it out.
I went to a class and didn't enjoy it that much. The Course specifically states it is self-study.
For workshops, Gary Renard is the best of the Course In Miracles speakers.
Take care,
Scott
Posted by: Scott Desgrosseilliers | January 04, 2010 at 06:24 AM