The idea for today begins to describe the conditions that prevail in the
other way of seeing. Peace of mind is clearly an internal matter. It
must begin with your own thoughts, and then extend outward. It is from
your peace of mind that a peaceful perception of the world arises.
Three longer practice periods are required for today’s exercises. One in
the morning and one in the evening is advised, with an additional one to
be undertaken at any time inbetween which seems most conducive to
readiness. All applications should be done with your eyes closed. It is
your inner world to which the applications of today’s idea should be
made.
Some five minutes of mind searching are required for each of the longer
practice periods. Search your mind for fear thoughts, anxiety provoking
situations, “offending” personalities or events, or anything else about
which you are harboring unloving thoughts. Note them all casually,
repeating the idea for today slowly as you watch them arise in your
mind, and let each one go, to be replaced by the next.
If you begin to experience difficulty in thinking of specific subjects,
continue to repeat the idea to yourself in an unhurried manner, without
applying it to anything in particular. Be sure, however, not to make any
specific exclusions.
The shorter applications are to be frequent, and made whenever you feel
your peace of mind is threatened in any way. The purpose is to protect
yourself from temptation throughout the day. If a specific form of
temptation arises in your awareness, the exercise should take this form:
“I could see peace in this situation instead of what I now see in
it.”
If the inroads on your peace of mind take the form of more generalized
adverse emotions, such as depression, anxiety or worry, use the idea in
its original form. If you find you need more than one application of
today’s idea to help you change your mind in any specific context, try
to take several minutes and devote them to repeating the idea until you
feel some sense of relief. It will help you if you tell yourself
specifically:
“I can replace my feelings of depression, anxiety or worry (or my
thoughts about this situation, personality or event) with peace.”