ACIM Lesson 10 My thoughts do not mean anything.

Lesson 10

My thoughts do not mean anything.

1. This idea applies to all the thoughts of which you are aware, or become aware in the practice periods. ²The reason the idea is applicable to all of them is that they are not your real thoughts. ³We have made this distinction before, and will do so again. ⁴You have no basis for comparison as yet. ⁵When you do, you will have no doubt that what you once believed were your thoughts did not mean anything.

2. This is the second time we have used this kind of idea. ²The form is only slightly different. ³This time the idea is introduced with “My thoughts” instead of “These thoughts,” and no link is made overtly with the things around you. ⁴The emphasis is now on the lack of reality of what you think you think.

As it Happens, That Thought Was Meaningless

At first glance it might seem that we have already done this lesson. However, Lesson 4 says that these thoughts do not mean anything. This lesson is bringing it closer to home, making it more personal as it says that my thoughts do not mean anything. Jesus is reminding us that this applies to all our thoughts that are not our real thoughts. This morning, I had a memory of someone I used to work for. The thought was that he would take advantage of me, asking me to do work that wasn’t mine to do.

I saw it right away because I don’t like how those kinds of thoughts make me feel. So, I released that thought as it was corrected with a truer thought, that in his fear, he is calling for love. The first thought was not my real thought, it was the ego perception of what was happening. The second thought was my real thought as it was the Holy Spirit’s perception of the situation. The first thought that this man would treat me unfairly was meaningless. It had nothing to do with the reality of our oneness. Further, The second thought was meaningful because in its forgiving nature it brings me closer to reality.

Recognizing Nothingness

3. This aspect of the correction process began with the idea that the thoughts of which you are aware are meaningless, outside rather than within; and then stressed their past rather than their present status. ²Now we are emphasizing that the presence of these “thoughts” means that you are not thinking. ³This is merely another way of repeating our earlier statement that your mind is really a blank. ⁴To recognize this is to recognize nothingness when you think you see it. ⁵As such, it is the prerequisite for vision.

In Lesson 4 Jesus was introducing us to the fact that our thoughts are meaningless. Also, he introduces the idea of projection, that what we think is then what we see. We will learn that we use projection to try to rid ourselves of our uncomfortable thoughts. However, this time the emphasis is that the presence of these thoughts mean we are not thinking at all. There is a reason this is important.

If we cannot recognize nothingness when we see it, we will not let it go and we will be blind to vision. For instance, in my judgmental thoughts toward the man I used to work for, I had to ask for another way to see. This brought me to a more charitable way to see him and this is a steppingstone to Christ’s vision. With Christ’s vision, I move from seeing him as calling for love, to seeing him as Love. In this way, I completely overlook anything that is not love as being irrelevant to his reality.

What an Odd Parade!

4. Close your eyes for these exercises, and introduce them by repeating the idea for today quite slowly to yourself. ²Then add:

³This idea will help to release me from all that I now believe.

⁴The exercises consist, as before, in searching your mind for all the thoughts that are available to you, without selection or judgment. ⁵Try to avoid classification of any kind. ⁶In fact, if you find it helpful to do so, you might imagine that you are watching an oddly assorted procession going by, which has little if any personal meaning to you. ⁷As each one crosses your mind, say:

⁸My thought about _________ does not mean anything.
⁹My thought about _________ does not mean anything.

5. Today’s thought can obviously serve for any thought that distresses you at any time. ²In addition, five practice periods are recommended, each involving no more than a minute or so of mind searching. ³It is not recommended that this time period be extended, and it should be reduced to half a minute or less if you experience discomfort. ⁴Remember, however, to repeat the idea slowly before applying it specifically, and also to add:

⁵This idea will help to release me from all that I now believe.

I love the idea of looking at my thoughts as an oddly assorted procession going by. The detachment this allows me helps me to not take any of it personally and thus to see them all as the same. For instance, my thought about my granddaughter being sick is not different than my thought about the cost of fruit being so much higher. Because neither are my real thoughts when my focus is on them, I am not thinking at all. They are just the thoughts I think I think and that means I am not aware of my real thoughts. How wonderful that as I do this lesson, I am being released from all that I now believe. I am making room for the truth.

Click here for an excellent reading on this lesson from Pathways of Light.