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− | Although in truth the term sacrifice is altogether meaningless, it does have | + | Although in [[truth]] the term [[sacrifice]] is altogether meaningless, it does have |
− | meaning in the world. Like all things in the world, its meaning is temporary | + | meaning in the world. Like all things in the world, its [[meaning]] is temporary |
− | and will ultimately fade into the nothingness from which it came when there | + | and will [[ultimately]] fade into the nothingness from which it came when there |
| is no more use for it. Now its real meaning is a lesson. Like all lessons it is | | is no more use for it. Now its real meaning is a lesson. Like all lessons it is |
− | an illusion, for in reality there is nothing to learn. Yet this illusion must be | + | an [[illusion]], for in [[reality]] there is nothing to learn. Yet this illusion must be |
− | replaced by a corrective device; another illusion that replaces the first, so | + | replaced by a [[corrective]] device; another illusion that replaces the first, so |
| both can finally disappear. The first illusion, which must be displaced | | both can finally disappear. The first illusion, which must be displaced |
− | before another thought system can take hold, is that it is a sacrifice to give | + | before another [[thought]] system can take hold, is that it is a sacrifice to give |
| up the things of this world. What could this be but an illusion, since this | | up the things of this world. What could this be but an illusion, since this |
| world itself is nothing more than that? | | world itself is nothing more than that? |
| | | |
− | It takes great learning both to realize and to accept the fact that the world | + | It takes great [[learning]] both to realize and to [[accept]] the fact that the world |
− | has nothing to give. What can the sacrifice of nothing mean? It cannot mean | + | has nothing to give. What can the [[sacrifice]] of nothing mean? It cannot mean |
| that you have less because of it. There is no sacrifice in the world's terms | | that you have less because of it. There is no sacrifice in the world's terms |
− | that does not involve the body. Think a while about what the world calls | + | that does not involve the [[body]]. Think a while about what the world calls |
− | sacrifice. Power, fame, money, physical pleasure; who is the "hero" to | + | sacrifice. [[Power]], [[fame]], [[money]], physical [[pleasure]]; who is the "[[hero]]" to |
| whom all these things belong? Could they mean anything except to a body? | | whom all these things belong? Could they mean anything except to a body? |
− | Yet a body cannot evaluate. By seeking after such things the mind | + | Yet a body cannot [[evaluate]]. By seeking after such things the [[mind]] |
− | associates itself with the body, obscuring its Identity and losing sight of | + | associates itself with the body, obscuring its [[Identity]] and losing sight of |
| what it really is. | | what it really is. |
| | | |
− | Once this confusion has occurred, it becomes impossible for the mind to | + | Once this [[confusion]] has occurred, it becomes impossible for [[the mind]] to |
− | understand that all the "pleasures" of the world are nothing. But what a | + | [[understand]] that all the "pleasures" of the world are nothing. But what a |
| sacrifice,--and it is sacrifice indeed!--all this entails. Now has the mind | | sacrifice,--and it is sacrifice indeed!--all this entails. Now has the mind |
− | condemned itself to seek without finding; to be forever dissatisfied and | + | [[condemned]] itself to seek without finding; to be forever dissatisfied and |
− | discontented; to know not what it really wants to find. Who can escape this | + | discontented; to know not what it really wants to find. Who can [[escape]] this |
| self-condemnation? Only through God's Word could this be possible. For | | self-condemnation? Only through God's Word could this be possible. For |
− | self-condemnation is a decision about identity, and no one doubts what he | + | [[self]]-condemnation is a [[decision]] about [[identity]], and no one doubts what he |
| believes he is. He can doubt all things, but never this. | | believes he is. He can doubt all things, but never this. |
| | | |
− | God's teachers can have no regret on giving up the pleasures of the world. Is | + | [[God's teachers]] can have no [[regret]] on giving up the [[pleasures]] of the world. Is |
− | it a sacrifice to give up pain? Does an adult resent the giving up of | + | it a [[sacrifice]] to give up [[pain]]? Does an adult resent the giving up of |
− | children's toys? Does one whose vision has already glimpsed the face of | + | children's toys? Does one whose [[vision]] has already glimpsed the face of |
− | Christ look back with longing on a slaughter house? No one who has | + | [[Christ]] look back with longing on a slaughter house? No one who has |
| escaped the world and all its ills looks back on it with condemnation. Yet he | | escaped the world and all its ills looks back on it with condemnation. Yet he |
− | must rejoice that he is free of all the sacrifice its values would demand of | + | must rejoice that he is [[free]] of all the sacrifice its [[values]] would demand of |
− | him. To them he sacrifices all his peace. To them he sacrifices all his | + | him. To them he sacrifices all his [[peace]]. To them he sacrifices all his |
− | freedom. And to possess them must he sacrifice his hope of Heaven and | + | freedom. And to possess them must he sacrifice his [[hope]] of [[Heaven]] and |
− | remembrance of his Father's Love. Who in his sane mind chooses nothing | + | remembrance of his [[Father's Love]]. Who in his sane mind chooses nothing |
− | as a substitute for everything? | + | as a substitute for [[everything]]? |
| | | |
− | What is the real meaning of sacrifice? It is the cost of believing in illusions. | + | What is the real [[meaning]] of [[sacrifice]]? It is the cost of believing in [[illusions]]. |
− | It is the price that must be paid for the denial of truth. There is no pleasure | + | It is the price that must be paid for the [[denial]] of [[truth]]. There is no pleasure |
| of the world that does not demand this, for otherwise the pleasure would be | | of the world that does not demand this, for otherwise the pleasure would be |
− | seen as pain, and no one asks for pain if he recognizes it. It is the idea of | + | seen as [[pain]], and no one asks for pain if he recognizes it. It is the idea of |
− | sacrifice that makes him blind. He does not see what he is asking for. And | + | sacrifice that makes him [[blind]]. He does not see what he is asking for. And |
| so he seeks it in a thousand ways and in a thousand places, each time | | so he seeks it in a thousand ways and in a thousand places, each time |
− | believing it is there, and each time disappointed in the end. "Seek but do not | + | believing it is there, and each time [[disappointed]] in the end. "Seek but do not |
− | find" remains this world's stern decree, and no one who pursues the world's | + | find" remains this world's stern [[decree]], and no one who pursues the world's |
| goals can do otherwise. | | goals can do otherwise. |
| | | |
− | You may believe this course requires sacrifice of all you really hold dear. In | + | You may believe [[ACIM|this course]] requires [[sacrifice]] of all you really hold dear. In |
− | one sense this is true, for you hold dear the things that crucify God's Son, | + | one sense this is true, for you hold dear the things that [[crucify]] God's Son, |
| and it is the course's aim to set him free. But do not be mistaken about what | | and it is the course's aim to set him free. But do not be mistaken about what |
| sacrifice means. It always means the giving up of what you want. And what, | | sacrifice means. It always means the giving up of what you want. And what, |
− | O teacher of God, is it that you want? You have been called by God, and | + | O teacher of God, is it that you want? You have been [[called by God]], and |
| you have answered. Would you now sacrifice that Call? Few have heard it | | you have answered. Would you now sacrifice that Call? Few have heard it |
− | as yet, and they can but turn to you. There is no other hope in all the world | + | as yet, and they can but turn to you. There is no other [[hope]] in all the world |
− | that they can trust. There is no other voice in all the world that echoes | + | that they can [[trust]]. There is no other voice in all the world that [[echoes]] |
− | God's. If you would sacrifice the truth, they stay in hell. And if they stay, | + | [[God]]'s. If you would sacrifice the truth, they stay in [[hell]]. And if they stay, |
| you will remain with them. | | you will remain with them. |
| | | |
− | Do not forget that sacrifice is total. There are no half sacrifices. You cannot | + | Do not forget that sacrifice is [[total]]. There are no half sacrifices. You cannot |
− | give up Heaven partially. You cannot be a little bit in hell. The Word of | + | give up [[Heaven]] partially. You cannot be a little bit in [[hell]]. The Word of |
− | God has no exceptions. It is this that makes it holy and beyond the world. It | + | God has no exceptions. It is this that makes it [[holy]] and beyond the world. It |
− | is its holiness that points to God. It is its holiness that makes you safe. It is | + | is its holiness that points to [[God]]. It is its holiness that makes you safe. It is |
− | denied if you attack any brother for anything. For it is here the split with | + | denied if you [[attack]] any brother for anything. For it is here the split with |
| God occurs. A split that is impossible. A split that cannot happen. Yet a | | God occurs. A split that is impossible. A split that cannot happen. Yet a |
| split in which you surely will believe, because you have set up a situation | | split in which you surely will believe, because you have set up a situation |
| that is impossible. And in this situation the impossible can seem to happen. | | that is impossible. And in this situation the impossible can seem to happen. |
− | It seems to happen at the "sacrifice" of truth. | + | It seems to happen at the "[[sacrifice]]" of [[truth]]. |
| | | |
− | Teacher of God, do not forget the meaning of sacrifice, and remember what | + | [[Teacher of God]], do not forget the [[meaning]] of sacrifice, and remember what |
− | each decision you make must mean in terms of cost. Decide for God, and | + | each [[decision]] you make must mean in terms of cost. [[Decide]] for God, and |
− | everything is given you at no cost at all. Decide against Him, and you | + | [[everything]] is given you at no cost at all. Decide against Him, and you |
− | choose nothing, at the expense of the awareness of everything. What would | + | [[choose]] nothing, at the expense of the awareness of [[everything]]. What would |
| you teach? Remember only what you would learn. For it is here that your | | you teach? Remember only what you would learn. For it is here that your |
− | concern should be. Atonement is for you. Your learning claims it and your | + | concern should be. [[Atonement]] is for you. Your learning claims it and your |
− | learning gives it. The world contains it not. But learn this course and it is | + | learning gives it. The world contains it not. But learn [[ACIM|this course]] and it is |
− | yours. God holds out His Word to you, for He has need of teachers. What | + | yours. God holds out His Word to you, for He has need of [[teachers]]. What |
| other way is there to save His Son? | | other way is there to save His Son? |
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| [[Category:Manual for Teachers]] | | [[Category:Manual for Teachers]] |
| + | [[Category: Sacrifice]] |