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ACIM Manual for Teachers - Section 13 (view source)
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<center>'''What Is the Real Meaning of Sacrifice?'''</center>
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
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
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
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
up the things of this world. What could this be but an illusion, since this
world itself is nothing more than that?
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
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
sacrifice. Power, fame, money, physical pleasure; who is the "hero" to
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
associates itself with the body, obscuring its Identity and losing sight of
what it really is.
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
sacrifice,--and it is sacrifice indeed!--all this entails. Now has the mind
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
as a substitute for everything?
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
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
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
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
goals can do otherwise.
You may believe 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,
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,
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
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
God's. If you would sacrifice the truth, they stay in hell. And if they stay,
you will remain with them.
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
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
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
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.
It seems to happen at the "sacrifice" of truth.
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
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
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
learning gives it. The world contains it not. But learn this course and it is
yours. God holds out His Word to you, for He has need of teachers. What
other way is there to save His Son?
[[Category:Manual for Teachers]]
<center>'''What Is the Real Meaning of Sacrifice?'''</center>
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
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
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
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
up the things of this world. What could this be but an illusion, since this
world itself is nothing more than that?
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
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
sacrifice. Power, fame, money, physical pleasure; who is the "hero" to
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
associates itself with the body, obscuring its Identity and losing sight of
what it really is.
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
sacrifice,--and it is sacrifice indeed!--all this entails. Now has the mind
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
as a substitute for everything?
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
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
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
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
goals can do otherwise.
You may believe 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,
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,
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
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
God's. If you would sacrifice the truth, they stay in hell. And if they stay,
you will remain with them.
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
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
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
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.
It seems to happen at the "sacrifice" of truth.
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
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
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
learning gives it. The world contains it not. But learn this course and it is
yours. God holds out His Word to you, for He has need of teachers. What
other way is there to save His Son?
[[Category:Manual for Teachers]]