Lesson 23 – I can escape from the world I see

Lesson 23 of A Course In Miracles (I can escape from the world I see by giving up attack thoughts) is probably the most powerful lesson yet. What it is telling us is that the world is simply an effect of your thoughts. So to change the world, you simply need to change your thoughts!

Sounds simple doesn’t it? 

Well… I can hear many of you from here, and I can hear “old me” groaning, saying “It’s not as simple as it seems!”. 

I guess if you think it’s going to be hard, then it will be, which perfectly matches the theme of this lesson!

What are attack thoughts?

Before I go into the activity, I would like to define “attack thoughts”. Simply put, attack thoughts are thoughts which could be perceived as negative, or thoughts which feel bad.

Today’s activity

Pick five times throughout the day (also use it throughout the day as thoughts arise), to apply today’s idea. 

As you look about you, repeat the idea below slowly to yourself at first, and then close your eyes and devote about a minute to searching your mind for as many attack thoughts as occur to you. 
As each one crosses your mind, say:

I can escape from the world I see by giving up attack thoughts about ___.

Hold each attack thought in mind as you say this, and then dismiss that thought and go onto the next. 

Be sure to include both your thoughts of “attacking” and of “being attacked”. Their effects are exactly the same because they are exactly the same, as the Course says. 

The Course also says, “You do not recognise this as yet, and you are asked at this time only to treat them as the same (attacking vs being attacked) in today’s practice periods. We are still at the stage of identifying the cause of the world you see. When you finally learn that thoughts of attack and of being attacked are not different, you will be ready to let the cause go.”

And the cause, of course, are your thoughts! YEP!

Pam Grout’s take on this is extremely positive. She says it’s the “best news yet”! She calls this lesson the “secret key to the ocean of love that all these spiritual practices keep promising”.

Pam also finishes off this lesson to remind us that changing our thoughts and beliefs is a simple matter of asking for help. I like that!