we continue today with chapter 3 section
creating versus the self-image every
system of thought must have a starting
point
it begins with either making or creating
a difference we have already discussed
their resemblance lies in their power as
foundations their difference lies in
what rest upon them both are
cornerstones for systems of belief by
which one lives
it is a mistake to believe that a
thought system based on lies is weak
nothing made by a child of God is
without power it is essential to realize
this because otherwise you will be
unable to escape from the prison you
have made you cannot resolve the
authority problem by depreciating the
power of your mind to do so is to
deceive yourself and this will hurt you
because you really understand the
strength of the mind you also realize
that you cannot weaken it any more than
you can we can God the quote devil is a
frightening concept because he seems to
be extremely powerful and extremely
active he is perceived as a force in
combat with God battling with him for
possession of his creations the devil
deceives by lies and builds kingdoms in
which everything is in direct opposition
to God yet he attracts men rather than
repels them and they are willing to
quote sell him their souls in return for
gifts of no real worth this makes
absolutely no sense we have discussed
fall or separation before
but its meaning must be clearly
understood the separation is a system of
thought real enough in time though not
in eternity all beliefs are real to the
believer the fruit of only one tree was
quote forbidden in the symbolic garden
but God could not have forbidden it or
it could not have been eaten if God
knows his children and I assure you that
he does what he have put them in a
position where their own destruction was
possible the quote forbidden tree was
named the tree of knowledge yet God
created knowledge and gave it freely to
his creations the symbolism here has
been given many interpretations but you
may be sure that any interpretation that
sees either God or his creations as
capable of destroying their own will
purpose in is in error eating of the
fruit of the tree of knowledge is a
symbolic expression for you serving the
ability for self creating this is the
only sense in which God and his
creations are not co-creators the belief
that they are is implicit in the quote
self-concept or tendency of the self to
make an image of itself images are
perceived not known knowledge cannot
deceive but perception can you can
perceive yourself itself creating but
you cannot do more than believe it you
cannot make it true
and as I said before when you finally
perceived correctly you can only be glad
that you cannot
until then however the belief that you
can is the foundation stone in your
thoughts system and all your defenses
are used to attack ideas that might
bring it to light you still believe you
are an image of your own making your
mind is split the Holy Spirit on this
point and there is no resolution while
you believe the one thing that is
literally inconceivable that is why you
cannot create and are filled with fear
about what you make the mind can make
the belief in separation very real and
very fearful and this belief is the
quote devil it is powerful active
destructive and clearly in opposition to
God because it literally denies his
fatherhood look at your life and see
what the devil has made but realize that
this making will surely dissolve in the
light of truth because its foundation is
a lie your creation by God is the only
foundation that cannot be shaken because
the light is in it
your starting point is truth and you
must return to your beginning much has
been scenes and then but nothing has
really happened your capital self is
still at peace even though your mind is
in conflict you have not yet gone back
far enough and that is why you become so
fearful as you approach the beginning
you feel the fear of the destruction of
your thoughts system upon you as if it
were the fear of death there is no death
but there is a belief in death the
branch that bears no fruit will be cut
off and will wither away be glad the
light will shine from this true
foundation of life and your own thoughts
system will stand corrected it cannot
stand otherwise you who fear salvation
are choosing death life-and-death light
and darkness knowledge and perception
are irreconcilable to believe that they
can be reconciled is to believe that God
and his son cannot only the oneness of
knowledge is free of conflict your
kingdom is not of this world because it
has given you from beyond this world
only in this world is the idea of an
authority problem meaningful the world
is not left by death but by truth and
truth can be known by all those for whom
the kingdom was created and for whom it
weights and from the workbook
lesson number 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 under the world he
sees vengeance about to strike at him
his own attack is 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 you
want to escape is it not joyous news to
hear that is not real is it not a happy
discovery to find that you can escape
you made what you would destroy
everything that you hate and would
attack and kill all that you fear does
not exist
look at the world about you at least
five times today for at least a minute
each time and as your 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
is this the world i really want to see
the answer is surely obvious
What I see is a form of vengeance.
So today's workbook lesson
again ties together the mind with perception
thoughts with images
and particularly focuses on:
attack thoughts produce a perception that is a form of vengeance.
What seems to be violence in this world is
the acting out of attack thoughts
that are held in mind, held in consciousness,
desired to be there.
The world is a witness
of the thoughts in the mind
So Jesus tells us,
"having projected his anger onto the world,
he sees vengeance
about to strike at him."
And then further, "his own attack is thus perceived as self-defense.
So anytime
there is a feeling of defensiveness
arising in the mind, at any time, at any place,
this is the opportunity to pause
and to realize
attack thoughts are arising in awareness.
And as they are arising, it is important to remember
that this is an opportunity for healing.
That these thoughts have been called upon,
called into awareness,
that they may be released.
The world is merely witnessing
the thoughts in the mind.
And really it doesn't matter what the images are.
When there is an attempt to defend against an image
or to justify a defense against an image,
this simply means that attack thoughts
are valued in the mind.
And the ego is valued, more than peace more than love.
And so today, we open up our hearts and minds
to see the world differently
to release all attack, all vengeance.
And to open, to the peace of God deep within
to affirm in our hearts there is nothing more, that we want.
To affirm again that this world is nothing more
than the reflection of thoughts.
To be grateful for the world, for its mirroring
for all the opportunities that we are given
to release attack thoughts.
Because we can only experience the peace of God
the innocence of Spirit
as we see, as we experience
the impossibility of attack.
Peace, innocence, happiness, joy cannot coexist with the belief in attack
because the belief in attack
is the belief that it's possible to leave the mind of the Creator
and make up a world apart from the Creator.
And every seeming little irritation and annoyance
is just a reverberation, just a reflection
of this one insane, tiny mad idea.
So today, as we move through the day
look around
observe the world
as emotions and thoughts move through consciousness
and remind yourself:
What I see is a form of vengeance.