LESSON 4 These thoughts do not mean anything. They are like the things I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place].

1. 1Unlike the preceding ones, these exercises do not begin with the idea for the day. 2In these practice periods, begin with noting the thoughts that are crossing your mind for about a minute. 3Then apply the idea to them. 4If you are already aware of un­happy thoughts, use them as subjects for the idea. 5Do not, how­ever, select only the thoughts you think are “bad.” 6You will find, if you train yourself to look at your thoughts, that they represent such a mixture that, in a sense, none of them can be called “good” or “bad.” 7This is why they do not mean anything.

2. 1In selecting the subjects for the application of today’s idea, the usual specificity is required. 2Do not be afraid to use “good” thoughts as well as “bad.” 3None of them represents your real thoughts, which are being covered up by them. 4The “good” ones are but shadows of what lies beyond, and shadows make sight difficult. 5The “bad” ones are blocks to sight, and make seeing impossible. 6You do not want either.

3. 1This is a major exercise, and will be repeated from time to time in somewhat different form. 2The aim here is to train you in the first steps toward the goal of separating the meaningless from the meaningful. 3It is a first attempt in the long-range purpose of learning to see the meaningless as outside you, and the meaning­ful within. 4It is also the beginning of training your mind to rec­ognize what is the same and what is different.

4. 1In using your thoughts for application of the idea for today, identify each thought by the central figure or event it contains; for example:

2This thought about _________ does not mean anything.

3It is like the things I see in this room [on this street, and so on].

5. 1You can also use the idea for a particular thought that you recognize as harmful. 2This practice is useful, but is not a substi­tute for the more random procedures to be followed for the exercises. 3Do not, however, examine your mind for more than a minute or so. 4You are too inexperienced as yet to avoid a tendency to become pointlessly preoccupied.

6. 1Further, since these exercises are the first of their kind, you may find the suspension of judgment in connection with thoughts particularly difficult. 2Do not repeat these exercises more than three or four times during the day. 3We will return to them later.