Practicing Nonjudgment: 129 Ideas to Repeat
I have recently been making nonjudgment the focus of my daily practice. So I decided to mine the Course for quotes on nonjudgment, so that I could turn them into Workbook-like ideas that I could repeat throughout the day. The quotes I found were so numerous and so powerful that I decided to have the whole collection posted on the website.
In the left column below are the actual quotes from the Course, then across from them in the right column are reworked versions of those quotes, placed in the first person and designed to be silently repeated as one would repeat a Workbook lesson.
There are four kinds of ideas in the right column:
- Statements of general nonjudgment
- Nonjudgment applied to another person (these ones usually say “[name]”)
- Nonjudgment applied to oneself
- Nonjudgment applied to a situation
You can use the right column in different ways. You might go through the entire collection, applying the “[name]” statements to whoever comes to mind, and applying the “this situation” statements to whatever situation comes up for you. Or you might go through just a page at one sitting in this way (if you print them out there will probably be about twenty per page). Or you may choose someone you are upset with and just focus on the “[name]” statements, or just focus on the statements about not judging yourself. Or you may choose a particular situation and either apply just the “situation” statements to it, or apply all of them to it.
Whatever you do, read through the various ideas slowly and attentively. Don’t read them as casual reading material, but as the focus of concentrated practice. Give enough time and attention to repeating each idea that you can feel it go in and cause a shift. There are some amazing ideas here. Each one has power to rock your thought system, if you let it in.
You also may decide to pull out one idea in particular and make it the focus of your daily practice (if you aren’t currently doing the Workbook). In other words, spend time with it in the morning, spend a couple minutes on the hour dwelling on it, repeat it often during the hour, use it as a response to temptation whenever you become even mildly upset, and focus on it in your evening practice period.
One final note: In the Course, nonjudgment doesn’t mean that you decide conditions in this world are somehow perfect and don’t need to be changed, just accepted. Rather, Course-based nonjudgment is more about reality beyond this world, particularly the reality of our brothers and ourselves. That is what is perfect, need not be changed, and cannot be judged. The conditions of this world (which are inherently imperfect) do need to be judged, so that we can appropriately respond to them. However, the Course emphasizes (as we will see below) that we ourselves are not equipped to make these judgments accurately. We need to turn that function over to the Holy Spirit.
| Miracle-minded forgiveness is only correction. It has no element of judgment at all. (T-2.V(A)16:1-2) | My forgiveness has no element of judgment at all. My forgiveness of [name] has no element of judgment at all. |
| The statement “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” in no way evaluates what they do. (T-2.V(A)16:3) | Father, I forgive him, for he knows not what he does. This in no way evaluates what he does. |
| Your own last judgment cannot be directed toward yourself, because you are not your own creation. (T-2.VIII.5:5) | I cannot judge myself, because I am not my own creation. |
| If you judge the reality of others you will be unable to avoid judging your own. (T-3.VI.1:4) | If I judge [name’s] reality I will be unable to avoid judging my own. |
| Judgment always involves rejection. (T-3.VI.2:4) | Judgment always involves rejection. Judging [name] always involves rejecting [name]. |
| Judgment…implies the belief that reality is yours to select from. (T-3.VI.2:12) | Reality is not mine to select from. |
| You have no idea of the tremendous release and deep peace that comes from meeting yourself and your brothers totally without judgment. (T-3.VI.3:1) | I have no idea of the tremendous release and deep peace that comes from meeting myself and my brothers totally without judgment. I have no idea of the tremendous release and deep peace that comes from meeting [name] totally without judgment. |
| Judging them in any way is without meaning. (T-3.VI.3:2) | Judging [name] in any way is without meaning. |
| Their meaning is lost to you precisely because you are judging them. (T-3.VI.3:3) | [Name’s] meaning is lost to me precisely because I am judging her. |
| You do not need judgment to organize your life, and you certainly do not need it to organize yourself. (T-3.VI.3:5) | I do not need judgment to organize my life, and I certainly do not need it to organize myself. |
| In the presence of knowledge all judgment is automatically suspended. (T-3.VI.3:6) | In the presence of knowledge, all judgment is automatically suspended. |
| The strain of constant judgment is virtually intolerable. (T-3.VI.5:6) | In the presence of knowledge, all judgment of [name] is automatically suspended. |
| It is possible to look on reality without judgment and merely know that it is there. (T-3.VI.9:6) | It is possible to look on reality without judgment and merely know that it is there. It is possible to look on [name’s] reality without judgment and merely know that it is there. |
| The Holy Spirit does not teach you to judge others. (T-6.V(C).2:1) | The Holy Spirit does not teach me to judge others. The Holy Spirit does not teach me to judge [name]. |
| This enables the mind to teach without judgment, and therefore to learn to be without judgment. (T-6.V(C).2:4) | My mind can teach without judgment, and therefore learn to be without judgment. |
| It is evident, then, that you are judging something of which you are totally unaware. (T-9.I.3:4) | By judging [name’s] reality, I am judging something of which I am totally unaware. |
| God does not judge His guiltless Son. (T-11.VI.7:6) | God does not judge His guiltless Son. I am His guiltless Son. God does not judge His guiltless Son. You are His guiltless Son. |
| It is surely good advice to tell you not to judge what you do not understand. (T-12.I.5:1) | I will not judge what I do not understand. I will not judge [name], for I do not understand his reality. |
| You share His function only by judging as He does, reserving no judgment at all for yourself. (T-12.VII.12:7) | I judge this situation only as the Holy Spirit does. I reserve no judgment at all for myself. |
| Deny your world and judge him not, for his eternal guiltlessness is in the Mind of his Father, and protects him forever. (T-13.I.5:8) | I will deny my world and judge [name] not. For her eternal guiltlessness is in the Mind of God, and protects her forever. |
| Judgment and condemnation are behind you, and unless you bring them with you, you will see that you are free of them. (T-13.VI.6:1) | Judgment and condemnation are behind me. I am free of them. Judgment of [name] is behind me. I am free of it. |
| You who would judge reality cannot see it, for whenever judgment enters reality has slipped away. (T-13.VII.5:5) | I who would judge reality cannot see it, for whenever judgment enters reality has slipped away. I who would judge [name] cannot see him, for whenever judgment enters reality has slipped away. |
| Value is where God placed it, and the value of what God esteems cannot be judged, for it has been established. It is wholly of value. (T-13.XI.3:3-4) | The value of what God esteems cannot be judged, for it is wholly of value. The value of [name], whom God esteems, cannot be judged, for he is wholly of value. |
| Seek not to appraise the worth of God’s Son whom He created holy, for to do so is to evaluate his Father and judge against Him. (T-14.III.15:1) | I will seek not to appraise the worth of [name], whom God created holy, for to do so is to evaluate God. |
| Judge not except in quietness which is not of you. (T-14.V.11:4) | I will judge not except in quietness which is not of me. I will judge not this situation, except in quietness which is not of me. |
| The miracle offers exactly the same response to every call for help. It does not judge the call. It merely recognizes what it is, and answers accordingly. (T-14.X.6:3-5) | I do not judge [name’s] call for help. I merely recognize what it is, and answer accordingly. |
| Judgment is impossible without the past, for without it you do not understand anything. (T-15.V.1:4) | Judgment is impossible without the past, for without the past I do not understand anything. Judging [name] is impossible without the past, for without the past I do not understand anything. |
| Think you that you can judge the Self of God? God has created It beyond judgment, out of His need to extend His Love. (T-15.V.11:1-2) | Do I think that I can judge [name’s] Self? God created It beyond judgment. |
| Confronted with such seeming uncertainty of meaning, judge it not. (T-19.IV(C).11:5) | Confronted with this uncertainty of meaning, I will judge it not. |
| Take this from me and look upon it, judging it for me. (T-19.IV(C).11:8) | [To the Holy Spirit:] Take this from me and look upon it, judging it for me. |
| Judge not what is invisible to you or you will never see it, but wait in patience for its coming. (T-20.V.3:5) | I will judge not what is invisible to me, or I will never see it. Instead, I will wait in patience for its coming. I will judge not [name’s] reality, which is invisible to me. Instead, I will instead wait in patience for its coming |
| The body cannot be looked upon except through judgment. (T-20.VII.8:1) | [Name’s] body cannot be looked upon except through judgment. |
| No one who loves can judge, and what he sees is free of condemnation. (T-20.VII.9:7) | I who would love cannot judge, and what I see is free of condemnation. |
| For recognition comes of vision and suspended judgment. (T-21.II.8:3) | Recognition comes from suspended judgment. Recognition of [name] comes from suspended judgment. |
| Peace must come to those who choose to heal and not to judge. (T-21.VIII.2:8) | Peace must come to me, for I choose to heal and not to judge. Peace must come to me, for I choose to heal [name], and not to judge her. |
| A savior cannot be a judge. (T-22.II.8:3) | To be a savior, I cannot be a judge. To be a savior of [name], I cannot be a judge |
| Judge not because you cannot. (T-25.VIII.13:3) | I judge not because I cannot. I judge not [name] because I cannot. |
| How can God’s Son awaken from the dream? It is a dream of judgment. So must he judge not, and he will waken. (T-29.IX.2:3-5) | This is a dream of judgment. So must I judge not, and I will awaken. |
| He does not fear his judgment for he has judged no one. (T-29.IX.10:5) | I do not fear my judgment for I have judged no one. |
| But it must also mean you will not judge the situations where you will be called upon to make response. (T-30.I.2:4) | I will not judge the situations where I am called upon to make response. I will not judge this situation where I am called upon to make response. |
| You do not have to judge, for you have learned one meaning has been given everything, and you are glad to see it everywhere. (T-30.VII.4:3) | I do not have to judge, for one meaning has been given everything, and I am glad to see it everywhere. I do not have to judge this situation, for one meaning has been given everything, and I am glad to see it everywhere. |
| Be innocent of judgment, unaware of any thoughts of evil or of good that ever crossed your mind of anyone. (T-31.I.13:1) | I am innocent of judgment, unaware of any thoughts of evil or of good that ever crossed my mind of anyone. |
| It cannot judge because it does not know. (T-31.VII.13:4) | I cannot judge because I do not know. I cannot judge [name] because I do not know [name’s] reality. |
| It is therefore essential that you keep a perfectly open mind, unhampered by judgment, in selecting the things to which the idea for the day is to be applied. (W-pI.3.2:2) | It is essential that I keep a perfectly open mind, unhampered by judgment. It is essential that I keep a perfectly open mind about [name], unhampered by judgment. |
| And you are making a commitment to each of them to let its purpose be revealed to you, instead of placing your own judgment upon it. (W-pI.28.6:3) | Instead of placing my judgment on this situation, I commit to letting its purpose be revealed to me. |
| I am willing to recognize the lack of validity in my judgments, because I want to see. (W-pI.rI.51.2:5) | I am willing to recognize the lack of validity in my judgments, because I want to see. I am willing to recognize the lack of validity in my judgments about you, because I want to see you. |
| My judgments have hurt me, and I do not want to see according to them. (W-pI.rI.51.2:6) | My judgments have hurt me, and I do not want to see according to them. My judgments of [name] have hurt me, and I do not want to see according to them. |
| We will not judge ourselves today, for what we are can not be judged. (W-pI.125.3:2) | I will not judge myself today, for what I am cannot be judged. I will not judge [name] today, for what he is cannot be judged. |
| You stand apart from all the judgments which the world has laid upon the Son of God. (W-pI.125.3:3) | I stand apart from all the judgments that the world has laid upon me, for I am God’s Son. I stand apart from all the judgments that the world has laid upon you, for you are God’s Son. |
| Love cannot judge. (W-pI.127.3:1-2) | Love cannot judge. Love cannot judge [name]. |
| Judge not God’s Son, but follow in the way He has established. (W-pI.159.10:3) | I will judge not God’s Son [name], but follow in the way God has established. |
| We will not judge today. We will receive but what is given us from judgment made beyond the world. (W-pI.164.7:1-2) | I will not judge today. I will receive what is given me from judgment made beyond the world. |
| Accept the plan you did not make instead. Judge not your value to it. (W-pI.186.5:2-3) | I will judge not my value to God’s plan. Instead, I will accept the plan I did not make. |
| Lay down the cruel sword of judgment that you hold against your throat. (W-pI.190.9:4) | I lay down the cruel sword of judgment that I hold against my throat. I lay down the cruel sword of judging [name] that I hold against my throat. |
| Instead of judging, we need but be still and let all things be healed. (W-pII.In.10:5) | Instead of judging, I will be still and let all things be healed. Instead of judging [name], I will be still and let him be healed. |
| It merely looks, and waits, and judges not. (W-pII.1.4:3) | I merely look, and wait, and judge not. |
| Today I will judge nothing that occurs. (W-pII.243.Heading) | Today I will judge nothing that occurs. |
| Father, I will not judge Your world today. (W-pII.301.1:7) | Father, I will not judge Your world today. Father, I will not judge Your Son [name] today. |
| It judges what it cannot understand, because it cannot see totality and therefore judges falsely. (W-pII.311.1:4-5) | I judge what I cannot understand, because I cannot see totality. |
| Father, we wait with open mind today, to hear Your Judgment of the Son You love. We do not know him, and we cannot judge. (W-pII.311 2:1-2) | Father, I wait with open mind to hear Your Judgment of [name], the Son You love. I do not know him, and I cannot judge. |
| I have no purpose for today except to look upon a liberated world, set free from all the judgments I have made. (W-pII.312.2:1) | I have no purpose for today except to look upon a liberated world, set free from all the judgments I have made. I have no purpose for today except to look upon a liberated [name], set free from all the judgments I have made. |
| From judgment comes a world condemned. And from forgiving thoughts a gentle world comes forth. (W-pII.325.1:5-6) | From judgment comes a world condemned. From forgiveness comes a world of gentleness. |
| Anger must come from judgment. Judgment is The weapon I would use against myself, To keep the miracle away from me. (W-pII.347.Heading) | Anger must come from judgment. Judgment is The weapon I would use against myself, To keep the miracle away from me. |
| Be very still, and hear the gentle Voice for God assuring you that He has judged you as the Son He loves. (W-pII.347.2:2) | I will be still and hear the gentle Voice for God assuring me that He has judged me as the Son He loves. |
| Today I let Christ’s vision look upon All things for me and judge them not, but give Each one a miracle of love instead. (W-pII.349.Heading) |
Today I let Christ’s vision look upon All things for me and judge them not, but give Each one a miracle of love instead. |
| Judgment and love are opposites. From one Come all the sorrows of the world. But from The other comes the peace of God Himself. (W-pII.352.Heading) |
Judgment and love are opposites. From one Come all the sorrows of the world. But from The other comes the peace of God Himself. |
| Forgiveness looks on sinlessness alone, and judges not. (W-pII.352.1:1) | Forgiveness looks on sinlessness alone, and judges not. Forgiveness looks on [name’s] sinlessness alone, and judges not. |
| He must learn to lay all judgment aside, and ask only what he really wants in every circumstance. (M-4.I.A.7:8) | I must learn to lay all judgment aside, and ask only what I really want in every circumstance. I lay all judgment aside and ask only what I really want in this circumstance. |
| God’s teachers do not judge. (M-4.III.1:1) | As a teacher of God, I do not judge. |
| To judge is to be dishonest, for to judge is to assume a position you do not have. (M-4.III.1:2) | To judge is to be dishonest, for to judge is to assume a position I do not have. To judge [name] is to be dishonest, for to judge is to assume a position I do not have. |
| Judgment implies a lack of trust. (M-4.III.1:6) | Judging [name] implies a lack of trust. |
| Without judgment are all things equally acceptable, for who could judge otherwise? (M-4.III.1:8) | Without judgment are all things equally acceptable, for who could judge otherwise? |
| Without judgment are all men brothers, for who is there who stands apart? (M-4.III.1:9) | Without judgment are all men brothers, for I no longer stand apart. |
| As judgment shuts the mind against God’s Teacher, so open-mindedness invites Him to come in. (M-4.X.1:3) | Judgment shuts my mind against my internal Teacher. Open-mindedness invites Him to come in. |
| It is necessary for the teacher of God to realize, not that he should not judge, but that he cannot. (M-10.2:1) | I must realize not that I should not judge, but that I cannot. I must realize not that I should not judge [name], but that I cannot. |
| Recognizing that judgment was always impossible for him, he no longer attempts it. (M-10.2:5) | Recognizing that judgment was always impossible for me, I no longer attempt it. Recognizing that judging [name] was always impossible for me, I no longer attempt it. |
| Wisdom is not judgment; it is the relinquishment of judgment. (M-10.4:5) | In this situation, wisdom is not judgment; it is the relinquishment of judgment. |
| Therefore lay judgment down, not with regret but with a sigh of gratitude. (M-10.5:1) | I therefore lay judgment down, not with regret but with a sigh of gratitude. I therefore lay judgment of [name] down, not with regret but with a sigh of gratitude. |
| And where he came to judge, he comes to bless. (M-10.5:12) | Where I came to judge, I come to bless. Where I came to judge [name], I come to bless. |
| It is not difficult to relinquish judgment. But it is difficult indeed to try to keep it. (M-10.6:1-2) | It is not difficult to relinquish judgment. But it is difficult indeed to try to keep it. It is not difficult to relinquish judgment of [name]. But it is difficult indeed to try to keep it. |
| The teacher of God lays it [judgment] down happily the instant he recognizes its cost (M-10.6:3) | I lay judgment down happily the instant I recognize its cost. I lay judgment of [name] down happily the instant I recognize its cost. |
| His perception of himself is based upon God’s Judgment, not his own. (M-12.1:7) | My perception of myself is based upon God’s Judgment, not my own. |
| He does not judge it either as hard or easy. His Teacher points to it, and he trusts that He will show him how to learn it. (M-14.4:7-8) | I do not judge this lesson as hard or easy. I trust that my Teacher will show me how to learn it. |
| Judge not, for you but judge yourself. (M-15.2:8) | I will judge not, for I but judge myself. I will judge [name] not, for I but judge myself. |
| It is not up to God’s teachers to set limits upon Him, because it is not up to them to judge His Son. And to judge His Son is to limit his Father. (M-22.7:3-5) | It is not up to me to judge you, for to judge God’s Son is to limit the Father. It is not up to me to judge myself, for to judge God’s Son is to limit the Father. |
| Herein does he receive Atonement, for he withdraws his judgment from the Son of God, accepting him as God created him. (M-22.7:8) | I withdraw my judgment from the Son of God, accepting him as God created him. |
| It is in the instant that the therapist forgets to judge the patient that healing occurs. (P-3.II.6:1) | It is in the instant that I forget to judge [name] that healing occurs. |
| Yet it is when judgment ceases that healing occurs. (P-3.II.7:1) | It is when judgment of [name] ceases that healing occurs. |
[Please note: ACIM passages quoted in this article reference the Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP) Edition.]