A Course In Miracles from My Perspective

May 21st 2014  Lesson 22

What I see is a form of vengeance.

Today's idea accurately describes the way anyone who holds attack thoughts in his mind must see the world.  Having projected his anger onto the world, he sees vengeance about to strike at him.  His own attack is thus perceived as self defense.  This becomes an increasingly vicious circle until he is willing to change how he sees.  Otherwise, thoughts of attack and counter attack will preoccupy him and people his entire world.  What peace of mind is possible to him then?  
   
It is from this savage fantasy that we want to escape.  Is it not joyous news to hear that it is not real?  Is it not a happy discovery to find that you can escape?  The joyful truth is that a vengeful world Is not real; we made it all up, and so we can escape its effect by changing how we see.  We made what we would destroy; everything we hate and could attack and kill.  All that we fear does not exist.  Today's exercise helps us see the fantasy world we created, and uncreate it.

• Intention:  Five practice periods are urged, allowing a full minute for each.
     
• Practice: Look at the world about you and as you eyes move slowly from one object to another, from one body to another, say to yourself: 
    
  I see only the perishable.
  I see nothing that will last.
  What I see is not real.
  What I see is a form of vengeance.
        
  

  At the end of each practice period, ask yourself the following question; the answer is surely obvious:

  Is this the world I really want to see?
    
  
• Application:    Remember to be indiscriminate about the objects we select for practice.  This is the way to salvation or the correction of errors; only the truth will set us free.  We must first recognize that we have made an error in our thinking, perceiving, and acting, which has convinced us that the world we perceive outside ourselves is real and furthermore that we did not create it but are helpless subjects to it.  The truth is that we did create the world and therefore we can uncreate it.  This is the truth that will set us free.   By recognizing the error, we are automatically empowered with the wisdom to correct it.
  
     

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Insights/comments:

• Attack thoughts are thoughts of attacking or defending against what we do not like.  They are thoughts of judgement and separation; thoughts that make us displeased or angry with ourselves and others or with certain circumstances.  Attack thoughts are those that cloud our minds from the deeper truth about our identity as the holy children of God.  Attack thoughts make perception seem real, but now we are learning that because our perceptions are variable and changeable they are therefore inherently false, and like our dreams, they are based on what we think and believe.  As we change our thinking we automatically change perceptions, and as perceptions change, so do our actions.
  
  How to change our thinking, perceiving, and acting, is not immediately obvious, until we recognize that they are based on us being holy children of God, created perfect in the likeness of our Creator and endowed with the ability to create illusions, but more importantly with the ability to recognize the reality of our true identity.  Gradually we can begin to realize (make real in our awareness) our true identity by loosening the strong grip of our belief and investment in the apparent reality of our external world.  Gradually will we then begin to see the world for the illusion that it is.
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I and my Creator are One.