Day Two: 11/7/11 (Monday)

Lesson 2

I have given everything I see in this room
[on this street, from this window, in this place]
all the meaning that it has for me. 

The exercises with this idea are the same as those for the first one. 

Begin with the things that are near you, and apply the idea to whatever your glance rests on. Then increase the range outward. 

 Turn your head so that you include whatever is on either side. If possible, turn around and apply the idea to what was behind you. 

Remain as indiscriminate as possible in selecting subjects for its application, do not concentrate on anything in particular, and do not attempt to include everything you see in a given area, or you will introduce strain. 

Merely glance easily and fairly quickly around you, trying to avoid selection by size, brightness, color, material, or relative importance to you. Take the subjects simply as you see them. 

Try to apply the exercise with equal ease to a body or a button, a fly or a floor, an arm or an apple. 

The sole criterion for applying the idea to anything is merely that your eyes have lighted on it. Make no attempt to include anything particular, but be sure that nothing is specifically excluded.

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Each of the first three lessons should not be done more than twice a day each, preferably morning and evening. Nor should they be attempted for more than a minute or so, unless that entails a sense of hurry. A comfortable sense of leisure is essential.

I'm here

Day One, 11/6/11

Lesson 1

Nothing I see in this room [on this street, from this window,
in this place] means anything.

Now look slowly around you, and practice applying this idea very specifically to whatever you see:

This table does not mean anything.
This chair does not mean anything.
This hand does not mean anything.
This foot does not mean anything.
This pen does not mean anything.

Then look farther away from your immediate area, and apply the idea to a wider range:

That door does not mean anything.
That body does not mean anything.
That lamp does not mean anything.
That sign does not mean anything.
That shadow does not mean anything.

Notice that these statements are not arranged in any order, and make no allowance for differences in the kinds of things to which they are applied. That is the purpose of the exercise. The statement should merely be applied to anything you see. As you practice the idea for the day, use it totally indiscriminately. Do not attempt to apply it to everything you see, for these exercises should not become ritualistic. Only be sure that nothing you see is specifically excluded. One thing is like another as far as the application of the idea is concerned.

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Each of the first three lessons should not be done more than twice a day each, preferably morning and evening. Nor should they be attempted for more than a minute or so, unless that entails a sense of hurry. A comfortable sense of leisure is essential.

The Introduction

An Introduction

The introduction to the Workbook assures us that: "The exercises are very simple. They do not require a great deal of time, and it does not matter where you do them. They need no preparation."

As for the lessons themselves and this invitation to practice them, the introduction goes on to explain:

"The purpose of the workbook is to train your mind in a systematic way to a different perception of everyone and everything in the world. The exercises are planned to help you generalize the lessons, so that you will understand that each of them is equally applicable to everyone and everything you see.
"The overall aim of the exercises is to increase your ability to extend the ideas you will be practicing to include everything. This will require no effort on your part. The exercises themselves meet the conditions necessary for this kind of transfer."

In addition, a little faith in the process and in your inherent ability to understand and succeed will be helpful, but even that is not required if you are willing to seek the truth about yourself and the world, and the happiness that awaits you for your efforts. The introduction goes on to encourage us to trust in ourselves and in Who It is that is always with us to direct us along the way:

"Some of the ideas the workbook presents you will find hard to believe, and others may seem to be quite startling. This does not matter. You are merely asked to apply the ideas as you are directed to do. You are not asked to judge them at all. You are asked only to use them. It is their use that will give them meaning to you, and will show you that they are true.
"Remember only this; you need not believe the ideas, you need not accept them, and you need not even welcome them. Some of them you may actively resist. None of this will matter, or decrease their efficacy. But do not allow yourself to make exceptions in applying the ideas the workbook contains, and whatever your reactions to the ideas may be, use them. Nothing more than that is required,"

There are a variety of things you could do that might serve as companion to your visit to the day's Lesson, such as relaxing and listening with eyes open or closed to what is read, using the spoken word to follow the printed word from the Workbook itself, or even joining friends in support of one another's efforts along the way. Whatever your method, the important thing is that you proceed in a way that is comfortable for you and that fits your personal study habits and lifestyle.

And always remember that when you study and practice each Lesson you'll be in good company, no matter the time or place. The last sentence of the Epilogue of the Workbook for Students makes this clear enough:

"You do not walk alone. God's angels hover near and all about. His Love surrounds you, and of this be sure; that I will never leave you comfortless."

This is Faith again. I am not meaning to fuck with anyone's copyright. I am just trying to grow with a friend. Please don't sue us. :)
 

Billy, Billy, where are you?

Are you going to play this game with me that is no game at all?

Do the lessons with me. Can we start tonight?