1. A theoretical foundation like the Text is necessary for these exercises to be meaningful.I
²But it is the practice of the exercises that will make the goal of this Course attainable.II
³An untrained mind can accomplish nothing.
⁴The purpose of these exercises is to train the mind to think according to the principles this Course sets forth.
2. The exercises are very simple.
²They require only a few minutes, and it does not matter where or when you do them.
³They need no preparation.
⁴The lessons are numbered from 1 to 365.
⁵The training period is one year.
⁶Do not do more than one lesson a day.
3. The purpose of this Workbook is to train the mind to achieve a different perception of everything in the world.III
²This Workbook is divided into two sections.
³The first is to undo what you now see.IV
⁴And the second is to restore Vision.V
4. It is recommended that each exercise be repeated several times a day, preferably in a different place each time, and, if possible, in every situation in which you spend a significant amount of time.
²The aim is to train the mind to generalize the lessons, so that you understand each one is equally applicable to any situation.
³Unless otherwise noted, the exercises should be done with eyes open, for the goal is to learn how to see.
⁴The only rule that must be followed at all times is to practice the exercises exactly as instructed.
⁵Apply the daily idea to every situation in which you find yourself, and to everything you see in it.
5. These exercises are designed around a central idea.
²The practice consists in applying that idea to as many specific things as possible.
³Be sure not to decide that there are some things to which the idea of the day cannot be applied.
⁴The purpose of the exercises is always to extend the application of that central idea to everything.
⁵This will require no effort on your part. ⁶The exercises themselves contain the conditions required for this kind of transfer.VI
⁷Just be sure not to make exceptions when applying the idea.
⁸That would interfere with the transfer of what you have learned.VII
⁹The transfer of what you learn in a state of true perception does not proceed like the transfer of what the world teaches.
¹⁰If you have reached true perception with regard to any person, situation, or event, complete transfer to all people and things is certain.
¹¹On the other hand, if you exclude even one thing from the true way of seeing, that way of seeing cannot be transferred to anything.
¹²The very nature of true perception is that it has no limits.
¹³It is the opposite of the way you see now.
6. Some of the ideas presented may be difficult for you to believe, and others may seem quite startling.
²That does not matter.
³You are merely asked to apply them to everything you see.
⁴You are not asked to judge them, or even to believe them.
⁵You are simply asked to use them.
⁶Their use is what will give them meaning for you, and will show you that they are true.
7. Just remember this:
²It is not necessary to believe the ideas presented.
³It is not necessary to accept them.
⁴And it is not necessary to welcome them.
⁵You may even actively resist some of them.
⁶None of this matters, nor does it lessen their effectiveness.
⁷But do not allow yourself to make any exceptions in applying the ideas contained in these exercises.
⁸Whatever your reactions to these ideas may be, use them.
⁹Nothing more than that is required.
I The dictation of the Text began on October 21, 1965, and concluded on October 10, 1968. The dictation of the Workbook began on May 26, 1969.
With the Workbook, you embark upon a structured and systematic practice of the new thought system set forth in the Text of A Course in Miracles. There the theoretical foundations of this new way of using the mind are explained—that is, the ontological principles (what is real) and the epistemological principles (what it is to know) of this paradigm. Yet knowing and recognizing them will be of no use to you unless they become your new way of using the mind.
Perhaps the most important thing to be aware of as you begin this practice is that the process of reversing your thought system is no trivial matter. It is a feat of such magnitude that you are at present incapable even of imagining it. Therefore, before attempting it, you must understand that, in order to succeed, you will need all the humility, honesty, and perseverance you can find within yourself, and you will also need to ask for help constantly from the Holy Spirit and from Jesus. But do not be concerned. If your purpose is sincere, Their strength and Their light will always accompany you. That is Their function; yours is simply to follow Them. The Voice of God and the Brother who loves you are so intimate and so close to you that, while you may not hear Them, it is impossible to truly banish Them from your mind and heart. Count on Them, for They trust in you and rely on you. They know perfectly well who you are; They know that you are the Savior of the world.
It is also essential that you strive to follow precisely the instructions given in the Lessons. Remember that you have all the time you need to complete a Lesson well. If you wish, you may take several days with one, but do it well, do it wholeheartedly. Pay special attention to the Lessons that prove most difficult, for they point to the most ailing aspects of your mind—those that most need healing. This difficulty may show itself as aversion, discomfort, or simple forgetfulness. All these are but different strategies of the ego to keep you from changing.
Finally, you are now beginning an exceptional period in your life of limited duration. It is a practice that, if undertaken well, will place you in a mental state of lasting joy, peace, and trust. It is a training that, once completed, will become the only joyous way of being in this world, and you will never again need to struggle for anything—except to remember that you are the Son of God. Be absolutely certain that you are most fortunate: you are about to embark on a marvelous adventure of love and freedom.
II Studying the theory is only the beginning of the learning process. There you are presented with a series of proposals on how to use the mind rightly, but it is the actual practice of those principles that will establish your mind in this new paradigm. For your mind to change, it is not enough to know these proposals; you must decide to embrace them and apply them consistently in your daily life.
This is a Course about the will: about the willingness to exchange your old will for a new one—the will to desire reality instead of illusions. And this is achieved only through the exercise of your new will by practicing these blessed Lessons. In the Text you learn what your true will is, and through the practice of the Workbook you exercise it.
III But to succeed in seeing the world differently, it is essential to desire to see it so; the will to acquire a new vision is indispensable. Therefore, only those who, completely disillusioned with what the world has taught them, remain open and receptive to using their minds in a new way will attain that experience. Those who are not strongly motivated to make that change will not reach that goal.
IV The First Part of this Workbook, from Lesson 1 through Lesson 220, is devoted to discrediting your old thought system by dismantling the false beliefs that sustain it. Nearly all of the first 30 Lessons are distinctly negative. Yet from that point onward, the foundations of a new and far more luminous way of relating to the world begin to be introduced. The exercises that accompany them are very strict and are carried out with precise instructions that must be followed as accurately as possible, for one of their chief aims is to discipline the mind.
V The Second Part is quite different, for it deals more with aspirations than with concrete directives. The mind, now purified and trained, is devoted to seeking the mystical experience of union with God through prayer and contemplation. It is the time to gather the fruits of previous work and to lay the foundations for a new way of living in the world, one centered in God.
VI From this line onward and through the end of the paragraph, the text appears in the FIP version, but it is not found in the Urtext nor in Helen’s Notes.
VII In psychology, transfer of learning refers to the ability to apply something originally learned in one context to other contexts.
LESSON 1
Nothing I see means anything.
1. Nothing I see in this room, on this street, from this window, in this place, means anything.I
2. Now look around slowly and apply this idea very specifically to everything you see:
²This table does not mean anything.
³This chair does not mean anything.
⁴This hand does not mean anything.
⁵This foot does not mean anything.
⁶This pen does not mean anything.
3. Then look a little farther away and apply the idea to a wider range of things:
²That door does not mean anything.
³That body does not mean anything.
⁴That lamp does not mean anything.
⁵That sign does not mean anything.
⁶That shadow does not mean anything.
4. Notice that these statements are not in any specific order and do not consider differences in the kinds of things to which they are applied.
²That is exactly the purpose of the exercise.
³The statement is simply applied to everything you see.
⁴When you practice today’s idea, do so in a completely indiscriminate way.
⁵Do not try to include everything you see, because these exercises are not meant to become rituals.
⁶Just be sure not to deliberately leave anything out.
⁷One thing is just like another when it comes to applying the idea.
5. None of the first three lessons should be practiced more than twice a day, preferably once in the morning and once in the evening.
²They also should not last more than a minute, unless that feels uncomfortably rushed. ³It is essential to keep a sense of ease throughout.II
I In this Lesson you declare that the things of this world—what we call “reality”—in themselves have no meaning. In later Lessons you will see why; for now, you do not know that. Here you are asked to look at anything around you and declare that it means nothing. It is very important that you understand you are not being asked in any way to believe what you are saying. If you did believe it, you would have no need for this practice. Simply look and declare that what you behold means nothing. That is all. You can and should do this exercise in a state of perfect ease and mental freedom.
Jesus will never, ever demand anything of you, nor will He ever, ever blame you for anything. He knows you as well as He knows Himself, and that is why He loves you. He knows that you are as free and innocent as He is, for you are His brother, the Son of the Same Father. He only wants to free you from a confusion that has made you forget your true identity and has sickened your mind. He has remembered Who He is, and He wants to share that joyous discovery with you.
“Nothing I see means anything” is a declaration that carries an honesty of which, for now, you are incapable. Do not be concerned. This practice will be what leads you to attain it. Once again: do not force yourself to believe the postulates of these first Lessons, above all. Acknowledge honestly that what is said here is utterly foreign and strange to what you now believe. Do not impose a new truth upon yourself by force. Instead, practice the Lessons exactly as you are asked to, and ask yourself: “Could this be true?” Do not try to answer that question; simply let it rest in your mind as a prayer lifted upward, and trust that, at some moment, the Truth will answer you and Light will dawn in your mind. And when that happens, you will understand that this Truth, this Light you were seeking, is precisely what you are.
II This paragraph does not appear in the Notes or in the Urtext, but it does appear in the Criswell/FIP version. It is likely that it comes from a later dictation of Jesus to Helen at the time of editing.