Meditation with A Course in Miracles

The Course doesn't use the word "meditation" often, but many of its practices are deeply meditative. The workbook includes numerous exercises that involve closing your eyes, quieting your mind, and resting in stillness.

The Course's Approach to Stillness

ACIM's approach to quiet practice differs from many meditation traditions:

It's not about emptying the mind. The Course asks you to move past your thoughts to a quiet place beneath them — but it doesn't ask you to stop thinking.
It's not observation-based. Unlike mindfulness meditation, the Course gives you a specific idea to hold in mind rather than simply observing what arises.
It has a goal. The Course's quiet practices are directed toward an experience of God's presence, love, or peace — not open-ended awareness.

How to Practice

The Basic Pattern

Many workbook lessons follow this structure:

1. Repeat the idea for the day slowly, two or three times 2. Close your eyes and let your mind grow still 3. Sink past the surface thoughts — imagine descending below the chatter to a quiet place 4. Rest there for a minute or several minutes, depending on the lesson's instructions 5. If thoughts intrude, gently return to the idea and sink beneath it again

The "Sinking Down" Technique

The Course frequently uses the image of sinking or going deeper. Think of your thoughts as the surface of water — busy, choppy, always moving. Beneath the surface, the water is still. The practice is to let yourself sink below the surface.

You don't need to fight the surface thoughts. Just let them go and settle deeper. The idea for the day serves as a kind of anchor, drawing you down to that quiet place.

Listening Practice

Later lessons introduce a listening component:

After repeating the idea and sinking into quiet, simply listen
The Course says the Holy Spirit speaks in the silence
Don't expect a booming voice — guidance often comes as a sense of peace, a gentle thought, a shift in perception
If nothing comes, that's fine. The willingness to listen is itself the practice

Practical Tips for Meditation with ACIM

Short and frequent. The Course emphasizes brief practice periods throughout the day over one long session.
Don't strain. If your mind won't quiet, that's okay. Gentleness is more important than success.
Use the practice timer. Our practice timer on each lesson page can help structure your quiet time.
Morning is ideal but any time works. The Course suggests practicing upon waking, before sleep, and at regular intervals through the day.
You're not doing it wrong. If you're showing up and trying, you're doing it right.

The Workbook's Progressive Training

The workbook gradually trains you in deeper practice:

Lessons 1–50: Brief applications, mostly with eyes open
Lessons 51–100: Longer quiet periods begin, eyes closed exercises introduced
Lessons 100–150: More structured meditation periods, deeper quiet
Lessons 150–220: Extended quiet time, listening practices
Lessons 221–365: Increasing emphasis on sustained stillness and communion

The progression is gradual and natural. Trust the pace of the workbook.

*For the complete Course text, visit acim.org. This is original commentary and does not reproduce copyrighted Course material.*