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| truth must look upon [[illusions]]. | | truth must look upon [[illusions]]. |
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− | Anger in response to perceived magic thoughts is a basic cause of fear. | + | [[Anger]] in response to [[perceived]] magic [[thoughts]] is a basic cause of [[fear]]. |
− | Consider what this reaction means, and its centrality in the world's thought | + | Consider what this [[reaction]] means, and its centrality in the world's thought |
− | system becomes apparent. A magic thought, by its mere presence, | + | system becomes apparent. A magic thought, by its mere [[presence]], |
− | acknowledges a separation from God. It states, in the clearest form possible, | + | acknowledges a [[separation]] from [[God]]. It states, in the clearest form possible, |
− | that the mind which believes it has a separate will that can oppose the Will | + | that [[the mind]] which believes it has a separate will that can oppose the [[Will |
− | of God, also believes it can succeed. That this can hardly be a fact is | + | of God]], also believes it can succeed. That this can hardly be a fact is |
− | obvious. Yet that it can be believed as fact is equally obvious. And herein | + | obvious. Yet that it can be believed as [[fact]] is equally obvious. And herein |
− | lies the birthplace of guilt. Who usurps the place of God and takes it for | + | lies the birthplace of [[guilt]]. Who [[usurps]] the place of God and takes it for |
− | himself now has a deadly "enemy." And he must stand alone in his | + | himself now has a deadly "[[enemy]]." And he must stand alone in his |
− | protection, and make himself a shield to keep him safe from fury that can | + | [[protection]], and make himself a shield to keep him safe from fury that can |
− | never be abated, and vengeance that can never be satisfied. | + | never be abated, and [[vengeance]] that can never be [[satisfied]]. |
| | | |
− | How can this unfair battle be resolved? Its ending is inevitable, for its | + | How can this unfair battle be resolved? Its ending is [[inevitable]], for its |
− | outcome must be death. How, then, can one believe in one's defenses? | + | outcome must be [[death]]. How, then, can one believe in one's [[defenses]]? |
− | Magic again must help. Forget the battle. Accept it as a fact, and then forget | + | Magic again must help. Forget the battle. [[Accept]] it as a fact, and then forget |
| it. Do not remember the impossible odds against you. Do not remember the | | it. Do not remember the impossible odds against you. Do not remember the |
− | immensity of the "enemy," and do not think about your frailty in | + | immensity of the "enemy," and do not think about your [[frailty]] in |
− | comparison. Accept your separation, but do not remember how it came | + | comparison. [[Accept]] your separation, but do not remember how it came |
− | about. Believe that you have won it, but do not retain the slightest memory | + | about. [[Believe]] that you have won it, but do not retain the slightest [[memory]] |
− | of Who your great "opponent" really is. Projecting your "forgetting" onto | + | of Who your great "opponent" really is. [[Projecting]] your "forgetting" onto |
| Him, it seems to you He has forgotten, too. | | Him, it seems to you He has forgotten, too. |
| | | |
− | But what will now be your reaction to all magic thoughts? They can but | + | But what will now be your [[reaction]] to all [[magic]] [[thoughts]]? They can but |
− | reawaken sleeping guilt, which you have hidden but have not let go. Each | + | reawaken [[sleeping]] [[guilt]], which you have hidden but have not let go. Each |
− | one says clearly to your frightened mind, "You have usurped the place of | + | one says clearly to your frightened [[mind]], "You have [[usurped]] the place of |
| God. Think not He has forgotten." Here we have the fear of God most | | God. Think not He has forgotten." Here we have the fear of God most |
| starkly represented. For in that thought has guilt already raised madness to | | starkly represented. For in that thought has guilt already raised madness to |
− | the throne of God Himself. And now there is no hope. Except to kill. Here is | + | the [[throne]] of God Himself. And now there is no [[hope]]. Except to kill. Here is |
− | salvation now. An angry father pursues his guilty son. Kill or be killed, for | + | [[salvation]] now. An angry father pursues his guilty son. Kill or be killed, for |
− | here alone is choice. Beyond this there is none, for what was done cannot be | + | here alone is [[choice]]. Beyond this there is none, for what was done cannot be |
| done without. The stain of blood can never be removed, and anyone who | | done without. The stain of blood can never be removed, and anyone who |
− | bears this stain on him must meet with death. | + | bears this stain on him must meet with [[death]]. |
| | | |
− | Into this hopeless situation God sends His teachers. They bring the light of | + | Into this hopeless situation God sends [[Teachers of God|His teachers]]. They bring the light of |
− | hope from God Himself. There is a way in which escape is possible. It can | + | [[hope]] from God Himself. There is a way in which [[escape]] is possible. It can |
− | be learned and taught, but it requires patience and abundant willingness. | + | be learned and taught, but it requires [[patience]] and [[abundant]] willingness. |
− | Given that, the lesson's manifest simplicity stands out like an intense white | + | Given that, the lesson's manifest [[simplicity]] stands out like an [[intense]] white |
− | light against a black horizon, for such it is. If anger comes from an | + | [[light]] against a black horizon, for such it is. If anger comes from an |
− | interpretation and not a fact, it is never justified. Once this is even dimly | + | [[interpretation]] and not a fact, it is never [[justified]]. Once this is even dimly |
− | grasped, the way is open. Now it is possible to take the next step. The | + | grasped, the way is open. Now it is possible to take the next [[step]]. The |
− | interpretation can be changed at last. Magic thoughts need not lead to | + | interpretation can be [[changed]] at last. Magic thoughts need not lead to |
− | condemnation, for they do not really have the power to give rise to guilt. | + | [[condemnation]], for they do not really have the [[power]] to give rise to guilt. |
| And so they can be overlooked, and thus forgotten in the truest sense. | | And so they can be overlooked, and thus forgotten in the truest sense. |
| | | |
− | Madness but seems terrible. In truth it has no power to make anything. Like | + | Madness but seems terrible. In [[truth]] it has no [[power]] to make anything. Like |
− | the magic which becomes its servant, it neither attacks nor protects. To see | + | the [[magic]] which becomes its servant, it neither [[attacks]] nor protects. To see |
| it and to recognize its thought system is to look on nothing. Can nothing | | it and to recognize its thought system is to look on nothing. Can nothing |
− | give rise to anger? Hardly so. Remember, then, teacher of God, that anger | + | give rise to anger? Hardly so. Remember, then, [[teacher of God]], that anger |
| recognizes a reality that is not there; yet is the anger certain witness that you | | recognizes a reality that is not there; yet is the anger certain witness that you |
− | do believe in it as fact. Now is escape impossible, until you see you have | + | do believe in it as fact. Now is [[escape]] impossible, until you see you have |
− | responded to your own interpretation, which you have projected on an | + | responded to your own interpretation, which you have [[projected]] on an |
| outside world. Let this grim sword be taken from you now. There is no | | outside world. Let this grim sword be taken from you now. There is no |
− | death. This sword does not exist. The fear of God is causeless. But His Love | + | [[death]]. This sword does not exist. The [[fear]] of God is causeless. But His [[Love]] |
− | is Cause of everything beyond all fear, and thus forever real and always true. | + | is Cause of [[everything]] beyond all fear, and thus forever real and always true. |
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| [[Category:Manual for Teachers]] | | [[Category:Manual for Teachers]] |
| + | [[Category: Fear]] |
| + | [[Category: Anger]] |