ACIM Lesson 6 I am upset because I see something that is not there.
Lesson 6
I am upset because I see something that is not there.
1. The exercises with this idea are very similar to the preceding ones. ²Again, it is necessary to name both the form of upset (anger, fear, worry, depression and so on) and the perceived source very specifically for any application of the idea. ³For example:
⁴I am angry at _________ because I see something that is not there.
⁵I am worried about _________ because I see something that is not there.
2. Today’s idea is useful for application to anything that seems to upset you, and can profitably be used throughout the day for that purpose. ²However, the three or four practice periods which are required should be preceded by a minute or so of mind searching, as before, and the application of the idea to each upsetting thought uncovered in the search.
An Intriguing Statement
In form, today’s lesson seems to be simply a repeat of yesterday’s lesson. The emphasis is on watching your thoughts. This time instead of saying I am not angry at something for the reason I think, I am saying that I am not angry because I see something that is not there. This is the first time in the lessons that Jesus is alluding to the metaphysics the Course is based on. He does nothing more than tell us that we see something that is not there. However, it is an intriguing statement and we can look forward to learning more.
The Two Helpful Tips
3. Again, if you resist applying the idea to some upsetting thoughts more than to others, remind yourself of the two cautions stated in the previous lesson:
²There are no small upsets. ³They are all equally disturbing to my peace of mind.
⁴And:
⁵I cannot keep this form of upset and let the others go. ⁶For the purposes of these exercises, then, I will regard them all as the same.
I said yesterday that these two statements have been extremely valuable to me in my awakening. Evidently, Jesus agrees with me. He is emphasizing them again today. He is asking us to pay attention to this. The next time you notice that you were a little annoyed by something, notice that you have lost your peace even if it were for a short time. One moment you were at peace and then the next you were not at peace. Remind yourself of the truth; there are no small upsets.
The logic in the second statement that says I can’t keep this form of upset and let the others go may not be so obvious. Let us notice again what Jesus says about these upsets. He says we are seeing something that is not there. What could that mean except that what we see with our eyes is an illusion? So, if we hold onto one illusion, we believe illusions are real. And an illusion is an illusion whether it is something we prefer or something we regret, something we value, or something we don’t care about. To be free of illusions so that we can know Reality, we must let go of them all. Otherwise, we are still lost in our imagination.
To enjoy the Pathways of Light Insights on ACIM Lesson 6 click here.
If you found this content helpful, please share on social media so more people can read and learn.