ARCIM

Daily Lesson 21 ~
January 21

I am determined to conceive and perceive things clearly.

The idea for today is obviously a continuation and extension of the preceding one. This time, however, specific mind-searching periods are necessary in addition to applying the idea to particular situations as they arise during the day. Five practice periods are urged, allowing a full minute for each.

In the practice periods, begin by repeating the idea to yourself. Then close your eyes and search your mind carefully for situations past, present, or anticipated that arouse anger in you. The anger may take the form of any reaction ranging from mild irritation to intense rage. The degree of the emotion you experience does not matter. You will become increasingly aware that a slight twinge of annoyance is nothing but a veil drawn over extreme fury. All forms of anger are attack thoughts.

Try, therefore, not to let the “little” thoughts of anger escape your awareness in the practice periods. Remember that you do not yet recognize what really arouses anger in you, and nothing that you believe in this connection means anything. In order to conceive and perceive all things truly, you must start by conceiving and perceiving specific things clearly.

You will probably be tempted to dwell more on some situations than on others, on the fallacious grounds that they are more “obvious.” This is not so. It is merely an example of the belief that some forms of attack are more justified than others.

As you search your mind for all the forms in which attack thoughts present themselves, hold each one in mind and tell yourself:

“I am determined to conceive and perceive (name of person) clearly.”

“I am determined to conceive and perceive (specify the situation) clearly.”

Try to be as specific as possible so that your clear conception and perception can become generalized. You may, for example, find that your anger seems to be focused mainly on a particular attribute of a particular person or situation, believing that the anger is limited to this aspect and situation or person. If your perception of a person or situation is suffering from this form of distortion, focus on that attribute so that your application can become generalized to all people, situations, and attributes, saying:

“I am determined to conceive and perceive clearly (specify the attribute) that I experience in (name of person or situation).

 

Corresponding Text Section

 

Principle of Miracles 21

Miracles rearrange the ordering or sequencing of perception, placing its levels – concept and percept, thought and perception – in their true perspective. This correct ordering demonstrates that perception is the effect of and thus always results from thought. This recognition heals at all levels, because all appearance of unwellness comes from confusing the levels of perception.

Commentary

The prayer of healing is the only legitimate prayer, and yet the only thing you should pray for is to know forgiveness. This is because once you know forgiveness you also know healing.

Everyone was given Everything in their creation. Yet something has been added to Creation’s Everything, namely the belief in a will or purpose opposed to the Divine, a belief that resulted in the experience of a lack of Love. This addition and the perception of lack that it caused have taken away your awareness that you already and always have Everything.

The Atonement – the eternal Correction of all mistakes and wrongs and acceptance of the Perfection of Reality – is the restoring of everyone to their one Mind and original Wholeness. Its Purpose is also naturally to restore Everything to you, that is, to restore your awareness of Everything. To do so Atonement merely takes away or undoes the one thing that has been falsely added to Creation that keeps your awareness of Everything from you. This is accomplished through forgiveness, or the releasing of everything unreal. Once you have truly forgiven and have accepted Atonement for yourself, that is, when you have extended It to all others, the unwellness that has afflicted your mind will be automatically undone and your mind will be healed and restored.

Through accepting forgiveness by extending it and being restored to your original State of Wholeness, you naturally become part of the Atonement yourself, sharing the unassailable will that I [the Course’s author, Jesus] have to heal all lacks of Love wherever these are experienced. This joining of our minds, hearts and will is the Great Awakening of the Divine Family to Its true eternal Being.

The motto or mantra for the Great Awakening is: “Learn, listen, and allow.” Learn to discern the Voice of the Divine – the Holy Spirit (which is also my voice) – from all disparate voices speaking in and to you; listen to Spirit’s Guidance to undo error and mistakes, which are always lacks of Love, wherever this Guidance leads you; and allow the miracles I ask of you to be performed through you, wherever you have been led. The first two actions are not enough to accomplish our Purpose. The Great Awakening requires all three steps. You will see miracles through your hands through mine.

The Power to work miracles belongs to you. I will arrange the right opportunities in time and space for you to do them. But you must be ready and willing to do them, since you are already able to. Doing them will bring conviction in the ability. Conviction or confidence really comes through accomplishment. Remember that ability is the potential, achievement is its expression, and Atonement is the Purpose.