Difference between revisions of "ACIM Manual for Teachers - Section 13"
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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? | ||
[[Category:Manual for Teachers]] | [[Category:Manual for Teachers]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Sacrifice]] |
Latest revision as of 21:33, 7 October 2015
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?