Lesson 8 - Preoccupied With Past Thoughts

Lesson 8: My Mind Is Preoccupied with Past Thoughts

Description:

In this episode of Deep Dive in A Course In Miracles, we explore Lesson 8: “My mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.” This lesson invites us to recognize how our fixation on past thoughts clouds our perception and keeps us from experiencing the present moment fully. Through a guided exercise, we learn to identify these recurring thoughts, acknowledge their impact, and begin the process of freeing our minds for true vision. Join us as we uncover the transformative power of letting go of the past and embracing the present.

Briefing Doc: A Course in Miracles - Lesson 8

Main Theme: The mind’s preoccupation with thoughts of the past and its impact on our perception of time and reality.

Key Ideas:

• The past is not real: The past no longer exists and holds no tangible reality. Dwelling on it means engaging with illusions. “The only wholly true thought one can hold about the past is that it is not there.”

• The present is the only reality: A mind that clings to the past is incapable of perceiving the present, which is the only time that truly exists. This fixation distorts our understanding of time and reality. “Your mind cannot grasp the present, which is the only time there is.”

• Thoughts of the past empty the mind: When the mind is focused on the past or anticipates the future, it is not engaged with real or meaningful thoughts. Instead, it is effectively empty. “In fact, the mind is empty when it does this, because it is not really thinking about anything.”

• Recognizing mental emptiness as clarity: To achieve clear vision, it is crucial to acknowledge when the mind is not truly thinking, instead of falsely believing it is filled with valid ideas. “Recognizing that your mind is simply empty, rather than believing it is filled with real ideas, is the first step to opening the way to vision.”

Practical Exercise:

The lesson encourages a simple daily practice, performed multiple times, to build awareness of the mind’s preoccupation with the past.

• Observation: With eyes closed, spend one minute observing the thoughts occupying the mind.

• Labeling: Identify each thought by naming its central focus, such as a person, object, or emotion. Example: “It seems that I am thinking about [name of a person], [name of an object], [name of an emotion].”

• Conclusion: End the exercise by acknowledging the mind’s preoccupation with the past. Example: “But my mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.”

• Include emotional reactions: Note any feelings triggered by the exercise itself, such as irritation or resistance.

Objective:

This practice aims to help the mind recognize when it is preoccupied with irrelevant thoughts, paving the way for a deeper connection with the present moment and reality as it truly is.