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− | I bless the world because I bless myself. | + | I [[bless]] the world because I bless myself. |
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− | No one can give unless he has. In fact, giving is proof of having. We have | + | No one can give unless he has. In [[fact]], giving is [[proof]] of having. We have |
| made this point before. What seems to make it hard to credit is not this. No | | made this point before. What seems to make it hard to credit is not this. No |
− | one can doubt that you must first possess what you would give. It is the | + | one can [[doubt]] that you must first possess what you would give. It is the |
− | second phase on which the world and true perception differ. Having had and | + | second [[phase]] on which the world and true [[perception]] differ. Having had and |
| given, then the world asserts that you have lost what you possessed. The | | given, then the world asserts that you have lost what you possessed. The |
− | truth maintains that giving will increase what you possess. | + | [[truth]] maintains that giving will increase what you [[possess]]. |
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− | How is this possible? For it is sure that if you give a finite thing away, your | + | How is this possible? For it is sure that if you give a [[finite]] thing away, your |
− | body's eyes will not perceive it yours. Yet we have learned that things but | + | [[body]]'s eyes will not [[perceive]] it yours. Yet we have learned that things but |
− | represent the thoughts that make them. And you do not lack for proof that | + | represent the [[thoughts]] that make them. And you do not lack for proof that |
− | when you give ideas away, you strengthen them in your own mind. Perhaps | + | when you give [[ideas]] away, you strengthen them in your own [[mind]]. Perhaps |
− | the form in which the thought seems to appear is changed in giving. Yet it | + | the form in which the thought seems to appear is [[changed]] in giving. Yet it |
− | must return to him who gives. Nor can the form it takes be less acceptable. | + | must return to him who gives. Nor can the [[form]] it takes be less acceptable. |
| It must be more. | | It must be more. |
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− | Ideas must first belong to you, before you give them. If you are to save the | + | [[Ideas]] must first belong to you, before you give them. If you are to save the |
− | world, you first accept salvation for yourself. But you will not believe that | + | world, you first [[accept]] [[salvation]] for yourself. But you will not [[believe]] that |
− | this is done until you see the miracles it brings to everyone you look upon. | + | this is done until you see the [[miracles]] it brings to everyone you look upon. |
− | Herein is the idea of giving clarified and given meaning. Now you can | + | Herein is the idea of giving [[clarified]] and given [[meaning]]. Now you can |
| perceive that by your giving is your store increased. | | perceive that by your giving is your store increased. |
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− | Protect all things you value by the act of giving them away, and you are | + | [[Protect]] all things you [[value]] by the act of giving them away, and you are |
| sure that you will never lose them. What you thought you did not have is | | sure that you will never lose them. What you thought you did not have is |
− | thereby proven yours. Yet value not its form. For this will change and grow | + | thereby proven yours. Yet value not its [[form]]. For this will [[change]] and [[grow]] |
− | unrecognizable in time, however much you try to keep it safe. No form | + | unrecognizable in [[time]], however much you try to keep it safe. No form |
− | endures. It is the thought behind the form of things that lives unchangeable. | + | [[endures]]. It is the thought behind the form of things that lives unchangeable. |
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− | Give gladly. You can only gain thereby. The thought remains, and grows in | + | Give gladly. You can only gain thereby. The [[thought]] remains, and [[grows]] in |
− | strength as it is reinforced by giving. Thoughts extend as they are shared, | + | [[strength]] as it is reinforced by giving. Thoughts extend as they are [[shared]], |
| for they can not be lost. There is no giver and receiver in the sense the | | for they can not be lost. There is no giver and receiver in the sense the |
− | world conceives of them. There is a giver who retains; another who will | + | world [[conceives]] of them. There is a giver who retains; another who will |
| give as well. And both must gain in this exchange, for each will have the | | give as well. And both must gain in this exchange, for each will have the |
| thought in form most helpful to him. What he seems to lose is always | | thought in form most helpful to him. What he seems to lose is always |
| something he will value less than what will surely be returned to him. | | something he will value less than what will surely be returned to him. |
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− | Never forget you give but to yourself. Who understands what giving means | + | Never forget you give but to yourself. Who [[understands]] what giving means |
− | must laugh at the idea of sacrifice. Nor can he fail to recognize the many | + | must [[laugh]] at the idea of [[sacrifice]]. Nor can he fail to recognize the many |
− | forms which sacrifice may take. He laughs as well at pain and loss, at | + | forms which sacrifice may take. He laughs as well at [[pain]] and loss, at |
− | sickness and at grief, at poverty, starvation and at death. He recognizes | + | sickness and at [[grief]], at [[poverty]], [[starvation]] and at [[death]]. He recognizes |
− | sacrifice remains the one idea that stands behind them all, and in his gentle | + | sacrifice remains the one idea that stands behind them all, and in his [[gentle]] |
− | laughter are they healed. | + | laughter are they [[healed]]. |
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− | Illusion recognized must disappear. Accept not suffering, and you remove | + | [[Illusion]] recognized must disappear. [[Accept]] not suffering, and you remove |
− | the thought of suffering. Your blessing lies on everyone who suffers, when | + | the thought of suffering. Your [[blessing]] lies on everyone who suffers, when |
− | you choose to see all suffering as what it is. The thought of sacrifice gives | + | you [[choose]] to see all suffering as what it is. The thought of [[sacrifice]] gives |
| rise to all the forms that suffering appears to take. And sacrifice is an idea | | rise to all the forms that suffering appears to take. And sacrifice is an idea |
− | so mad that sanity dismisses it at once. | + | so mad that [[sanity]] dismisses it at once. |
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− | Never believe that you can sacrifice. There is no place for sacrifice in what | + | Never believe that you can sacrifice. There is no place for [[sacrifice]] in what |
− | has any value. If the thought occurs, its very presence proves that error has | + | has any [[value]]. If the thought occurs, its very [[presence]] proves that [[error]] has |
− | arisen and correction must be made. Your blessing will correct it. Given | + | arisen and [[correction]] must be made. Your blessing will correct it. Given |
| first to you, it now is yours to give as well. No form of sacrifice and | | first to you, it now is yours to give as well. No form of sacrifice and |
− | suffering can long endure before the face of one who has forgiven and has | + | suffering can long [[endure]] before the face of one who has [[forgiven]] and has |
| blessed himself. | | blessed himself. |
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− | The lilies that your brother offers you are laid upon your altar, with the ones | + | The lilies that your brother offers you are laid upon your [[altar]], with the ones |
| you offer him beside them. Who could fear to look upon such lovely | | you offer him beside them. Who could fear to look upon such lovely |
− | holiness? The great illusion of the fear of God diminishes to nothingness | + | [[holiness]]? The great [[illusion]] of the [[fear of God]] diminishes to nothingness |
− | before the purity that you will look on here. Be not afraid to look. The | + | before the [[purity]] that you will look on here. Be not [[afraid]] to look. The |
| blessedness you will behold will take away all thought of form, and leave | | blessedness you will behold will take away all thought of form, and leave |
− | instead the perfect gift forever there, forever to increase, forever yours, | + | instead the [[perfect]] gift forever there, forever to increase, forever yours, |
| forever given away. | | forever given away. |
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− | Now are we one in thought, for fear has gone. And here, before the altar to | + | Now are we one in thought, for [[fear]] has gone. And here, before the [[altar]] to |
− | one God, one Father, one Creator and one Thought, we stand together as | + | one God, one Father, one [[Creator]] and one Thought, we stand together as |
− | one Son of God. Not separate from Him Who is our Source; not distant | + | one Son of God. Not separate from Him Who is [[our Source]]; not distant |
− | from one brother who is part of our one Self Whose innocence has joined us | + | from one brother who is part of our one [[Self]] Whose [[innocence]] has joined us |
− | all as one, we stand in blessedness, and give as we receive. The Name of | + | all as one, we stand in blessedness, and give as we [[receive]]. The Name of |
− | God is on our lips. And as we look within, we see the purity of Heaven | + | God is on our lips. And as we look within, we see the purity of [[Heaven]] |
− | shine in our reflection of our Father's Love. | + | [[shine]] in our [[reflection]] of our [[Father's Love]]. |
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− | Now are we blessed, and now we bless the world. What we have looked | + | Now are we [[blessed]], and now we bless the world. What we have looked |
| upon we would extend, for we would see it everywhere. We would behold it | | upon we would extend, for we would see it everywhere. We would behold it |
− | shining with the grace of God in everyone. We would not have it be | + | [[shining]] with the [[grace]] of God in everyone. We would not have it be |
| withheld from anything we look upon. And to ensure this holy sight is ours, | | withheld from anything we look upon. And to ensure this holy sight is ours, |
− | we offer it to everything we see. For where we see it, it will be returned to | + | we offer it to [[everything]] we see. For where we see it, it will be returned to |
− | us in form of lilies we can lay upon our altar, making it a home for | + | us in form of lilies we can lay upon our altar, making it a [[home]] for |
− | Innocence Itself, Who dwells in us and offers us His Holiness as ours. | + | [[Innocence]] Itself, Who dwells in us and offers us His Holiness as ours. |
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| [[Category: Workbook I]] | | [[Category: Workbook I]] |
| + | [[Category: Sharing]] |
| + | [[Category: Sacrifice]] |