Lesson 8: My Mind is Preoccupied with Past Thoughts
In Lesson 8 of A Course in Miracles, we’re learning that most of our thoughts are actually tied to the past. This is why we struggle to see things clearly in the present moment. It’s all about realising that what we see outside is just a reflection of the thoughts we’re carrying inside—thoughts that are mostly based on past experiences.
Seeing Only the Past
This lesson points out that our minds are so wrapped up in past thoughts that we’re not really seeing what’s in front of us right now. Instead, we’re projecting old experiences onto the present. It’s kind of like watching a movie from years ago but reacting to it as if it’s happening now. This makes it hard to truly understand anything, because we’re not dealing with what’s really there.
Projection and Perception
One of the key takeaways here is that what we think inside is what shapes what we see outside. If our minds are full of thoughts about the past, then everything we look at is filtered through those old experiences. It’s a reminder that our thoughts about the world aren’t always based on reality—they’re based on what we’ve been through before.
For me, this lesson has been pretty mind-blowing. When I quiet my mind and pay attention to what thoughts pop up, I can really see them for what they are. If they’re about the past, I know they’re illusions—just leftover thoughts from things that aren’t happening anymore. If they’re about the future, like fears or anxieties, they’re not real yet, so I can easily wipe them away or dismiss them. This realisation has made it much easier for me to let go of thoughts that don’t serve me. It’s a seriously helpful lesson.
Thoughts are Not Real
The lesson also teaches us that our thoughts about the past aren’t real—they’re just illusions. The past doesn’t exist anymore, so thinking about it is like focusing on something that’s not even there. And while we might think our minds are busy with important thoughts, the truth is that they’re often filled with meaningless ideas. Recognising this is the first step toward seeing things as they really are.
Training the Mind
To start training our minds, we’re asked to do a simple exercise: close your eyes and notice the thoughts that come up for about a minute. Name each thought, whether it’s about a person, an object, or an emotion. For example:
I seem to be thinking about my job interview.
I seem to be thinking about that conversation with my friend.
I seem to be thinking about feeling anxious.
After naming your thoughts, finish by saying:
But my mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.
This exercise helps us get better at recognising when our minds are stuck in the past.
What This Means
This lesson helps us see that our preoccupation with the past keeps us from experiencing the present moment. We’re encouraged to recognise this pattern and start letting go of old thoughts so we can see things as they really are, in the here and now.
Lesson 8 shows us that our minds are often preoccupied with past thoughts, which blocks us from seeing clearly. By recognising this, we can begin to let go of these old, meaningless thoughts and open ourselves up to the present moment.
Have you noticed how much of your thinking is tied to the past or future?
Bibliography
A Course in Miracles.
Foundation for Inner Peace.
A Course in Miracles: Combined Volume, 3rd Edition. Foundation for Inner Peace, 2007.
URL: https://acim.org.
