Lesson: Week 6
by Tom Baker
Commentary on the Lessons
Lesson 22: What I see is a form of vengeance
Thoughts of attack and counter attack preoccupy our minds. We are in constant battles with each other. Yet we love each other. Love holds us together. Fear and shame (the ego) intervene leaving us angry at others and ourselves. Restore original vision with compliment, blessing, support, and delight in the other and in yourself. You will begin to see a form of connectedness, harmony, synchronicity, and delight.
Lesson 23: I can give up the world I see by giving up attack thoughts.
"Love [bless] your enemies; pray for those who persecute you."—Jesus Christ
Thoughts of judgment, condemnation, dismissal and ridicule are attack thoughts. Thinking of yourself as attacked is also an attack thought and will lead to thoughts and perceptions of vengeance. Attack thoughts appear to keep us safe but actually invite us to feel more and more endangered.
Lesson 24: I do not perceive my own best interests.
We usually do not doubt our fears or our desires. We tend to reflexively act upon both. Yet when we see others panicking over imaginary fears or questing after useless goals we see the wisdom of saying we do not perceive our own best interests. Parents see this in children often. The ego conditions our minds to believe in situation ethics and situation happiness. Thus we keep thinking that our situation rather than our hearts and minds make us happy.
Lesson 25: I do not know what anything is for.
We think of everything in terms of what the ego wants. Another way to say this is that people are extremely self-interested, despite what we say. Yet reality is One, eternal and made of love. Thus our own best interests are in terms of the Holy Spirit, or purposeful, loving, meaningful, wholesome contact with another and others and loving character traits (see MANUAL FOR TEACHERS, 4. WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD’S TEACHERS? Trust, Honesty, Tolerance, Gentleness, Joy, Defenselessness, Generosity, Patience, Faithfulness, and Open Mindedness.
Lesson 26: My attack thoughts are attacking my invulnerability.
"What would have effects through you must have effects on you." Attack and anger is fear projected outwards. In the Course invulnerability is identification with spirit not the ego’s invulnerability, which is defended and closed to love. When we no longer attack or defend the ego self in ourselves or others the ego is less and less in control of our minds and we can turn our thoughts and feelings to love which needs no defense and would never attack.
© Copyright Tom Baker 2014