Nothing I See Means Anything.
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.
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.
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May 13th, 2008 at 12:17 am
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.
What does this lesson mean to me?
First I learned that nothing has any meaning of itself, then I learned that the meaning I thought it had was given by me. As I glanced at my cereal I thought about the meaning I gave it. I realized the meaning changed depending on what I was telling myself about it. First I told myself that it was healthy and supported my body in a good way. Another time, I told myself that it was not so healthy for me because it was processed so much. Then another time it went back to being healthy because it was non-fat, then it was an unwelcome addition to my diet because it had so many carbs. I saw that not only do I give it meaning, my meaning shifts and changes and is undependable.
How can I apply this lesson in my life right now?
I can recognize how unproductive it is for me to judge anything because my judgment is based on undependable and shifting meaning.
My message from Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit brought to mind a person I had judged. As I thought about him my mind sifted through all the reasons I am judging, all the ways he is wrong. Suddenly my attention returned to the lesson for today and I realized that I had given him all the meaning he has for me. So all the things I don’t like about him, or that make me uncomfortable, come from me.
My message to Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, thank you for that insight. I recognize that I have written meaning on this person, and I erase that meaning. I wait for you to write Your meaning there. I recognize that this person is symbolic of everything. I am deeply grateful to You as You gently correct my errors.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:21 am
The clutter of the mind disipates when unnecessary meaning is not applied. Through this realisation comes the knowledge that the application of unnecessary meaning drains energy and focus.
September 18th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Somehow with meaning removed worry is too? I’m not sure how exactly but it sure feels good. I’ve been worrying all morning, yesterday I was worrying. This is not my true nature, my normal self. We had a car accident on Tuesday, scary but miraculously we were unharmed, poor car took the brunt of it. Now I realise: that car has no meaning. I feel better. Thank you
October 19th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
My first thought upon reading this lesson? Well then, this LESSON does not mean anything. Then I took a step back and regrouped. I realized that the words on my screen have no meaning as physical, earthly objects, but the truths that are relayed within it and how it effects my soul means EVERYTHING. I hope I am not too far off course already on lesson 1, but to me I had to rearrange it in myself. My physical world means nothing but the spiritual truths and lessons it can provide matter more than anything in existence. Can’t wait to continue. I’m so tempted to go ahead, but I will trust in the course and let this settle until tomorrow.
October 20th, 2008 at 2:45 am
Scarlett,
Thank you for sharing! In my humble opinion, it would be impossible for you to be too far off course.
As the introduction to ACIM states – it is just one of many paths leading us all to the same place. The course is required, only the time we choose to take it is flexible.
I would recommend you give my Squidoo lens a read – as you’ll see, at least in my opinion the value of the course is not so much in what it says, but rather, how we internalize and reflect upon what it says to discover our own truths.
http://www.squidoo.com/UnderstandingaCourseinMiracles
February 9th, 2009 at 12:05 am
the things we given meaning to don’t have any importance or meaninng at all. Also the meanings can shift from day to day depending on the thought we give it.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I believe that what this statement means is that things are forever changing, and that is why nothing we are seeing now means anything at this time and place. It is all just vibrational energy which is always chanaging, changing, changing.
September 19th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
I love this lesson, and to me it means that when we look at a physical thing, whether a roughly handmade chair or a priceless antique for example, we steep the object in our own perception of its meaning and value.
We don’t see it as what it truly is: the basic compellation of wood, cloth and other items containing the life force of God.
When we start perceiving everyone and everything in this new way as a miraculous gift from God, our very life is transformed.
Lynn Pierson
author of the spiritual thriller compared to “The Da Vince Code” meets “A Course in Miracles.” http://www.thegreatawakeningsaga.com
December 21st, 2009 at 3:02 am
i am wondering if i am misinterpreting this because i seem to be the only one who doesn’t like it much. for example, i do understand and agree with removing attaching a meaning to an object. i like what lynn wrote about us assigning value to a painting when it is only wood and cloth and other materials.
what i am having trouble with is the value we attach to loved ones.
December 31st, 2009 at 7:19 am
I feel the meaning of this first lesson is that, in the end we all leave this physical world anyways. We are not hear to give meaning to anything we have created, but we are here to learn and progress ourselves spiritually. We are so worried about money, and working, and making a living for our selves we forget about what our true reason for being.
January 25th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
The meaning is well discussed in a book of neale donald walsch-Communion with God- about the end of the book.Essentially it says Anything you consider has no meaning in itself- it only has the meaning that you GIVE to it.