My attack thoughts are attacking my invulnerability

The exciting thing about A Course In Miracles is that everything changes in an instant. Literally in the blink of an eye there is a whole new configuration and it is happening in you. This is the power of your mind. It can move mountains, it can part the sea, because in God all things are possible and you were created by God in His Likeness.

Today you are looking at your attack thoughts and the result that they give you. It is quite obvious by now, or it should be, that everything that happens to you is by your choice. By allowing for attack thoughts, by giving them power, you are stating your vulnerability and denying your invulnerability.

It is surely obvious that if you can be attacked you are not invulnerable. You see attack as a real threat. That is because you believe that you can really attack. And what would have effects through you must also have effects on you.

It starts with your decision, with your belief, it always does. Cause and effect are not apart. You believe you can attack and so you simultaneously believe that you can be attacked. This happens in one instant and now you proceed from that belief. You are trapped. Thank God for A Course In Miracles and the clarity of its message.

Because your attack thoughts will be projected, you will fear attack. And if you fear attack, you must believe that you are not invulnerable. Attack thoughts therefore make you vulnerable in your own mind, which is where the attack thoughts are. Attack thoughts and invulnerability cannot be accepted together. They contradict each other.

It’s not outside of you, because nothing is outside of you. Everything you experience is happening in your mind.

Nothing except your thoughts can attack you. Nothing except your thoughts can make you think you are vulnerable.  And nothing except your thoughts can prove to you this is not so.

Look at it for a moment and you will see the complete reasonableness of it. Your thoughts make up the whole world you see, your thoughts are a continuous story of a sequentiality of  time. One thought, after another, after another, following each other in a continuous movie reel that plays inside your head. It is up to you to stop it, it’s up to you to say, “No more.” In that one instant where your mind is empty, God enters in. He has been there all along, but while you were preoccupying your mind with thoughts about past and future you could not feel His presence and the Gifts that He offers you.

The practice period should begin with repeating the idea for today, then closing your eyes and reviewing the unresolved questions whose outcomes are causing you concern. The concern may take the form of depression, worry, anger, a sense of imposition, fear, foreboding or preoccupation. Any problem as yet unsettled that tends to recur in your thoughts during the day is a suitable subject.

Look at this offering, it is the complete release from depression, worry, anger, fear or preoccupation. You have the key in your hand right now for a day wherein you trust completely in God without any concern. Simply apply the lesson for today and allow it to work in you. It will work. God is here and He is complete Love.

I am concerned about  ___.

I am afraid ___ will happen.

That thought is an attack upon myself.

Wow! The power is in you to let go of all thoughts of attack today, this instant. All you have to do is be willing. You don’t have to believe the idea, you don’t even have to believe that it will work, just apply it. Let it work in you. Let it amaze and surprise you as it reveals the truth of itself to you. Miracles are offered you today, they are all around you. They are the most natural thing in the world. They are, in fact, the only natural thing in this world. They are your birthright.

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I can escape from the world I see by giving up attack thoughts

The idea for today contains the only way out of fear that will ever succeed. Nothing else will work; everything else is meaningless. But this way cannot fail. Every thought you have makes up some segment of the world you see. It is with your thoughts, then, that we must work, if your perception of the world is to be changed.

A Course In Miracles tells you the same thing over and over again. It shows you that salvation is only possible through the change of your mind. You are offered an experience. It is only through this experience that you will know that the message of the Course is true. It is the experience that makes all things fall into place. It is the experience that affects you on a cellular level and awakens the memory of  truth in every fiber of your being. Truth is true and nothing else is true. You can’t grasp it conceptually, your understanding is not required, simply the willingness to be undone will offer you the totality of the experience.

If the cause of the world you see is attack thoughts, you must learn that it is these thoughts which you do not want. There is no point in lamenting the world. There is no point in trying to change the world. It is incapable of change because it is merely an effect. But there is indeed a point in changing your thoughts about the world. Here you are changing the cause. The effect will change automatically.

This is essential, but so easily overlooked. You don’t really want to hear that there is no point in changing things ‘out there’. It will never work. Give up now. It is only the change of your mind that is required, not the change of somebody else’s mind. There isn’t anyone else. You are only looking at reflections of your mind, and that is why it is futile to change things ‘out there’.

The world you see is a vengeful world, and everything in it is a symbol of vengeance. Each of your perceptions of “external reality” is a pictorial representation of your own attack thoughts.

You can read this lesson and apply it. It is a confrontation with yourself in your own mind, and only when you have used every road that you think will save you, when you have used up all your ideas, will you be willing to accept the fact that your mind is so powerful it can literally move mountains. You make up the world you see. You can change your mind.

I can escape from the world I see by giving up attack thoughts.

I see no neutral things

This idea is another step in the direction of identifying cause and effect as it really operates in the world. You see no neutral things because you have no neutral thoughts. It is always the thought that comes first, despite the temptation to believe that it is the other way around. This is not the way the world thinks, but you must learn that it is the way you think. If it were not so, perception would have no cause, and would itself be the cause of reality. In view of its highly variable nature, this is hardly likely.

You see no neutral things because you have no neutral thoughts. Today’s lesson is a beautiful follow-up on the previous one.

I have no neutral thoughts.

I see no neutral things.

Everything you see you associate with something. Nothing is simply what it is. You bring the past to everything and everyone, you think this is what knowledge is. The more past you have, the more you think you know. But the fact is: the more you bring time into it, the less you know. Knowledge is available to you right here and now, it has nothing to do with your thought system as you have been using it. This is why today’s lesson is crucial for the undoing of your false idea of self, your false idea of thinking. You see no neutral things.

I do not see a neutral wall, because my thoughts about walls are not neutral.
I do not see a neutral body, because my thoughts about bodies are not neutral.

It’s amazing how many thoughts come in when you look at one single object. You do this all the time and you don’t even realize it. Everything is linked to everything else. There is a continuous timeline in your thinking.  It is simply amazing that you are shown all this in A Course In Miracles. What you are offered here is not of this world. You are remembering your Self and it has nothing to do with the world, with time, with any idea about anything. Are you willing to let go of every idea you have ever had? That’s all it takes to recognize your oneness with God. Jesus tells you in the Urtext, ” God is not in you, but you are a part of God.” It’s all the difference there is. It’s the letting go of yourself as a separate identity and the recognition that minds are joined. It’s right next to every idea you have ever had, but only God can lead you to it. Be grateful that it is only your undoing and not your doing. It doesn’t require your understanding, only your willingness.

I have no neutral thoughts

These lessons are absolute lifesavers, and they are so easy to apply. Whenever you feel your mind wander into thoughts, going down a path that leads nowhere, you simply remember the lesson for today.

I have no neutral thoughts.

Everything you see is the result of your thoughts. There is no exception to this fact. Thoughts are not big or little; powerful or weak. They are merely true or false. Those that are true create their own likeness. Those that are false make theirs.

It is amazing how everything is given you. I was reading the Urtext and it is mind blowing to see how Jesus literally addresses everything that is happening, even to the seeming littlest things: a meeting, a phone conversation, a thought. And He will say: you only have to ask me first. It is really that simple. Every moment of every day you can ask for help, every moment of every day you can apply the lesson of the workbook. It’s all used, it’s all integrated, and it is indeed a mind training. The undoing of your mind as you use it now.

There is no more self-contradictory concept than that of “idle thoughts.” What gives rise to the perception of a whole world can hardly be called idle. Every thought you have contributes to truth or to illusion; either it extends the truth or it multiplies illusions. You can indeed multiply nothing, but you will not extend it by doing so.

Talk about a wake-up call… Every thought you have contributes to truth or illusion. That brings the responsibility right back to you. What decision are you making right now? What thought are you having? This does take vigilance. Watch your mind wander and say:

This thought about ___ is not a neutral thought.
That thought about ___ is not a neutral thought.

This is the key to salvation. You recognize that every thought you have brings either peace or war; either love or fear. A neutral result is impossible because a neutral thought is impossible. Now it get’s intense, now it gets exciting. You realize that you need help every moment, with every thought you have. As much as you want salvation, as much as you want to awaken, you can’t do it yourself. You can only take the first step, show the little willingness, the rest is up to God. You still think you can decide, you still think you can make up the rules for you transformation, it is not so. It is simply the following of instructions: do the lesson. When you are asked to go somewhere, you do it and you make sure that you are on time. You show your brother courtesy. Freedom is not in doing your own will. Freedom is in following directions, listening to One Who Knows, freedom is of the mind and has nothing to do with circumstances. Today’s lesson offers you absolute freedom in the undoing of your thought system.You have no neutral thoughts. You recognize the power of your mind and you take responsibility for it. Now you are in an awakening experience.

My thoughts are images that I have made

It is because the thoughts you think you think appear as images that you do not recognize them as nothing. You think you think them, and so you think you see them. This is how your “seeing” was made. This is the function you have given your body’s eyes. It is not seeing. It is image making. It takes the place of seeing, replacing vision with illusions.

These lessons are an absolute confrontation with your thought system. Your way of thinking is so ingrained in you that you don’t recognize that you are not thinking at all. You are so used to projecting your thoughts outward that you can’t remember what seeing is. Your thoughts, your seeing, are completely off. And on this you base everything you believe. What an impossible situation.

My thoughts are images that I have made.

Everything you see is an image of what you think. And you believe it to be true. You walk around in imagery of your own making and this is exactly why Jesus tells you not to seek to change the world, but to choose to change your mind about the world. Your thoughts have the power to move mountains. You don’t believe this. Everything you see is a result of your thought. You don’t believe this. Fortunately all that is asked of you is to apply the lesson for the day, not to understand it or to even believe it. Just do it.

You will begin to understand when you have seen little edges of light around the same familiar objects which you see now. That is the beginning of real vision. You can be certain that real vision will come quickly when this has occurred.

As we go along, you may have many “light episodes” They may take many different forms, some of them quite unexpected. Do not be afraid of them. They are signs that you are opening your eyes at last. They will not persist, because they merely symbolize true perception, and they are not related to knowledge. These exercises will not reveal knowledge to you. But they will prepare the way to it.

Light episodes: that’s exciting. You have never really used your eyes before, but now you are beginning to see. Jesus is reminding you that there is nothing to fear. Let the new and unexpected happen. God is in charge here. No matter how hard you try, you are never in charge. No matter how much you try to change things, real change is of God. Now you can relax. Everything is taken care of. This world is just imagery of your own making. Your Home is in Heaven and you can experience it here and now by remembering that your thoughts are images that you have made.

My meaningless thoughts are showing me a meaningless world

It seems as if the world determines what you perceive. Today’s idea introduces the concept that your thoughts determine the world you see.

It’s amazing in it’s simplicity, and yet it’s constantly overlooked. Your thoughts determine the world you see. Your thoughts determine the experience that you are having. You keep insisting that it is something outside of you that needs to change, when all you have to do is go inward and look at the thoughts that you are having.

Be glad indeed to practice the idea in its initial form, for in this idea is your release made sure. The key to forgiveness lies in it.

Your meaningless thoughts are showing you a meaningless world. Your boring thoughts are giving you a boring experience. The only shake-up that needs to happen is in your mind. What an amazing thing. You constantly try to get comfortable, to arrange things to your liking, when all you need do is change your mind about the world. Make no mistake, what you consider to be your holy thoughts are still as meaningless as what you consider to be your unholy ones. Practice the idea well today, it is here for you. It’s never too early, it’s never too late, it is simply the right time for you to hear this message.

My meaningless thoughts are showing me a meaningless world.

My mind is preoccupied with past thoughts

This idea is, of course, the reason why you see only the past. No one really sees anything. 3 He sees only his thoughts projected outward. The mind’s preoccupation with the past is the cause of the misconception about time from which your seeing suffers. Your mind cannot grasp the present, which is the only time there is. It therefore cannot understand time, and cannot, in fact, understand anything.

This is gentle Jesus reminding you that you do not understand anything. It is amazing how such a gentle tone, such beautiful words, can express an immediate truth and experience. It hits you right in the face, which just shows you that you don’t need to raise your voice to make a point. Truth is true and nothing else is true. When true words are spoken or written, you recognize them immediately, they resonate in you, it is cellular experience. Hearing the truth raises the frequency in you, everything starts vibrating at a higher level, you are more alert, more open. Your understanding is not required. It is simply an experience.

The one wholly true thought one can hold about the past is that it is not here. To think about it at all is therefore to think about illusions. Very few have realized what is actually entailed in picturing the past or in anticipating the future. The mind is actually blank when it does this, because it is not really thinking about anything.

The past is not here. That’s reasonable; you know this to be true. Then look at where Jesus takes your mind and it will be perfectly clear to you. You already know this, He is just reminding you. It’s not complicated, it takes no study. It is simply an immediate recognition. When you think about the past, you are not thinking about anything. Now you might want to decide that you want to use your mind differently and today’s lesson is just the tool for that.

The purpose of the exercises for today is to begin to train your mind to recognize when it is not really thinking at all.  While thoughtless ideas preoccupy your mind, the truth is blocked. Recognizing that your mind has been merely blank, rather than believing that it is filled with real ideas, is the first step to opening the way to vision.

I seem to be thinking about [name of a person], about [name of an object], about [name of an emotion], but my mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.

You are not really thinking about what you think you are thinking about. You are simply reliving the past, over and over and over again. You have done this every moment of every day. But no more. Today you will see things differently and you are in the happy recognition that you are in an awakening experience. What a miracle. There is no mistake about you finding A Course In Miracles, this book was brought to you because somewhere and somehow you asked for help. The help was given. Now it is up to you to use it, to stand in the active experience of it. It is indeed a whole new year, because you have decided to actually do the workbook of A Course In Miracles. It is the best decision you have ever made for yourself. It is the greatest gift that you have ever been given.

My mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.

I am never upset for the reason I think.

Well, there you have it. You are never upset for the reason you think. You think you know what is upsetting you and you give that all the meaning it has for you. Now you have placed the source of your upset outside of you and you are at the mercy of things you have no control over. This is how you have lived your life, and you have taught yourself that it is what life is. You were mistaken. Today you will see things differently.

I am never upset for the reason I think.

This idea, like the preceding one, can be used with any person, situation or event you think is causing you pain.

Notice how specific this lesson is. You are not asked to gloss over the emotion, to push it down and tell yourself that everything is okay and you are happy, happy, joy, joy. Instead you are asked to let the emotion rise to the surface, whatever it is. You are asked to look at what you think is causing this emotion and then you are offered the way to let it go.

There are no small upsets. They are all equally disturbing to my peace of mind.

I am never upset for the reason I think.

All you have to do is apply the lesson for today. Again, you are not asked to understand it or to add anything to it. Simply do as you are asked.

I am not angry at ___ for the reason I think.
I am not afraid of ___ for the reason I think.

I am not worried about ___ for the reason I think.
I am not depressed about ___ for the reason I think.

Have fun with this lesson. Look at everything that is going on in your mind, at everyone and everything you think it is related to. If you are angry, use it. If you are worried, use it. If you are depressed, use it. Help is right here, right now. All you have to do is be honest, so that all obstacles in your mind may be removed by a power greater than your own. There is a God.

I am never upset for the reason I think.

These thoughts do not mean anything. They are like the things I see.

Transfer of training in true perception does not proceed as does transfer of the training of the world. If true perception has been achieved in connection with any person, situation or event, total transfer to everyone and everything is certain. On the other hand, one exception held apart from true perception makes its accomplishments anywhere impossible.

In the practice of the lesson it is good to go back to the Introduction for a moment. Sentences like the above are the essence of A Course In Miracles. Don’t try to understand it, don’t try to explain it, simply accept it. Your experience of true perception transfers to everyone and everything. That is because you are connected with everyone and everything. That is because everything you see is really just you. Go figure.

Today you are going inward, you are looking at your thoughts. That is where the change happens, it is in your mind and in your mind only. Every thought you have about someone or something, actually has nothing to do with that someone or something. It is enough to know that it is your thought. It is being thought in your mind. You are responsible. Here is where a change can occur.

You will find, if you train yourself to look at your thoughts, that they represent such a mixture that, in a sense, none of them can be called “good” or “bad.” This is why they do not mean anything.

Do not be afraid to use “good” thoughts as well as “bad.” None of them represents your real thoughts, which are being covered up by them. The “good” ones are but shadows of what lies beyond, and shadows make sight difficult. The “bad” ones are blocks to sight, and make seeing impossible. You do not want either.

Real change can only happen in your mind, and it is your decision. The mind training that A Course In Miracles offers you is a total dedication. You can’t do this half way. Total dedication offers you a total experience. If you want that experience, the choice is clear. If you are wondering why you are not having an experience, it is because you are not willing to follow Jesus’ simple instructions in this course. Apply the lesson today, just do it. You don’t have to understand it, you don’t have to try to grasp what it is you are doing. In your not-knowing is everything revealed to you. Today, be willing to accept that your thoughts do not mean anything.

These thoughts do not mean anything. They are like the things I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place].

This holy instant would I give to You. Be You in charge. For I would follow You, certain that Your direction gives me peace.

Today’s lesson, and the lesson for every day until the end of this year, is the beautiful declaration that you will follow God. You have decided to step back, to merely follow and not lead. It goes so beautifully with the DVD I was watching today ‘A Gathering Of Unchained Melody: I Will Step Back And Let Him Lead The Way‘. You can watch this DVD at http://www.themasterteacher.tv/members/videos/MMF-02.htm. If you have trouble using this link, simply login and try anew. Signing up for this website is free and it gives you unlimited access to all the DVD’s that are available on lessons from A Course In Miracles.

The incredible quote from the DVD is this:

“Walk safely now, yet carefully, because this path is new to you. And you may find that you are tempted still to walk ahead of truth, and let illusions be your guide. Your holy brothers have been given you, to follow in your footsteps as you walk with certainty of purpose to the truth. It goes before you now, that they may see something with which they can identify; something they understand to lead the way.

It goes before you right now. Ok? You are at the journey’s ending. Can you tell? If you kept stepping back, suddenly you find yourself surrounded by a light that allows you to leave the continuum in which you thought you were present. Ok? Step back, step back now:

Yet at the journey’s ending there will be no gap, no distance between truth and you. And all illusions walking in the way you traveled will be gone from you as well, with nothing left to keep the truth apart from God’s completion, holy as Himself. Step back in faith and let truth lead the way. You know not where you go. But One Who knows goes with you. Let Him lead you with the rest. Listen.

When dreams are over, time has closed the door on all the things that pass and miracles are purposeless, the holy Son of God will make no journeys. There will be no wish to be illusion rather than the truth. And we step forth toward this, as we progress along the way that truth points out to us. This is our final journey, which we make for everyone. We must not lose our way. For as truth goes before us, so it goes before our brothers who have been following us.”

You let the light guide you. You don’t try to get ahead of it and to stay ahead of it, you don’t try to do things of your own accord; you simply wait and ask and then you proceed. You let the Holy Spirit lead you, you let God take over. And what comes out of your mouth might surprise you, it may cause mayhem and uproar; let it. This is your undoing. It’s all too easy to give into this world, to concede to getting old and dying, because it seems to be the easiest way out and you have simply given up.  But the light is here, it is always with you. Don’t forget now what you have been shown. You are responsible. You owe a great debt to your brother, you owe him the truth. Give him what you have been offered, and be you uncompromising in your declaration. Let your world fall apart, it will reconfigure in a brand new continuum. Let all things be new, that you may be new. It is the time of rebirth and it is happening in you.

And if I need a word to help me, He will give it to me. If I need a thought, that will He also give. And if I need but stillness and a tranquil, open mind, these are the gifts I will receive of Him. He is in charge by my request. And He will hear and answer me, because He speaks for God my Father and His holy Son.