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− | Death is the central dream from which all illusions stem. Is it not madness | + | [[Death]] is the central [[dream]] from which all [[illusions]] stem. Is it not madness |
− | to think of life as being born, aging, losing vitality, and dying in the end? | + | to think of life as being [[born]], aging, losing [[vitality]], and dying in the end? |
− | We have asked this question before, but now we need to consider it more | + | We have asked this [[question]] before, but now we need to [[consider]] it more |
− | carefully. It is the one fixed, unchangeable belief of the world that all things | + | carefully. It is the one fixed, unchangeable [[belief]] of the world that all things |
− | in it are born only to die. This is regarded as "the way of nature," not to be | + | in it are born only to die. This is regarded as "the way of [[nature]]," not to be |
− | raised to question, but to be accepted as the "natural" law of life. The | + | raised to question, but to be [[accepted]] as the "natural" [[law]] of life. The |
− | cyclical, the changing and unsure; the undependable and the unsteady, | + | [[cyclical]], the changing and unsure; the undependable and the unsteady, |
− | waxing and waning in a certain way upon a certain path,--all this is taken as | + | waxing and waning in a certain way upon a certain [[path]],--all this is taken as |
− | the Will of God. And no one asks if a benign Creator could will this. | + | the [[Will of God]]. And no one asks if a benign Creator could will this. |
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− | In this perception of the universe as God created it, it would be impossible | + | In this [[perception]] of [[the universe]] as God created it, it would be impossible |
− | to think of Him as loving. For who has decreed that all things pass away, | + | to think of Him as loving. For who has [[decreed]] that all things pass away, |
− | ending in dust and disappointment and despair, can but be feared. He holds | + | ending in [[dust]] and [[disappointment]] and despair, can but be [[feared]]. He holds |
| your little life in his hand but by a thread, ready to break it off without | | your little life in his hand but by a thread, ready to break it off without |
− | regret or care, perhaps today. Or if he waits, yet is the ending certain. Who | + | [[regret]] or [[care]], perhaps today. Or if he waits, yet is the ending certain. Who |
− | loves such a god knows not of love, because he has denied that life is real. | + | loves such a god knows not of [[love]], because he has denied that life is real. |
− | Death has become life's symbol. His world is now a battleground, where | + | Death has become life's [[symbol]]. His world is now a battleground, where |
− | contradiction reigns and opposites make endless war. Where there is death | + | [[contradiction]] reigns and opposites make endless war. Where there is death |
− | is peace impossible. | + | is [[peace]] impossible. |
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− | Death is the symbol of the fear of God. His Love is blotted out in the idea, | + | [[Death]] is the [[symbol]] of the [[fear]] of God. [[Love of God|His Love]] is blotted out in the idea, |
− | which holds it from awareness like a shield held up to obscure the sun. The | + | which holds it from [[awareness]] like a shield held up to obscure the [[sun]]. The |
| grimness of the symbol is enough to show it cannot coexist with God. It | | grimness of the symbol is enough to show it cannot coexist with God. It |
| holds an image of the Son of God in which he is "laid to rest" in | | holds an image of the Son of God in which he is "laid to rest" in |
− | devastation's arms, where worms wait to greet him and to last a little while | + | [[devastation]]'s arms, where worms wait to greet him and to last a little while |
− | by his destruction. Yet the worms as well are doomed to be destroyed as | + | by his destruction. Yet the worms as well are [[doomed]] to be destroyed as |
| certainly. And so do all things live because of death. Devouring is nature's | | certainly. And so do all things live because of death. Devouring is nature's |
− | "law of life." God is insane, and fear alone is real. | + | "law of life." God is insane, and [[fear]] alone is real. |
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− | The curious belief that there is part of dying things that may go on apart | + | The curious [[belief]] that there is part of dying things that may go on apart |
− | from what will die, does not proclaim a loving God nor re-establish any | + | from what will die, does not proclaim a loving [[God]] nor re-establish any |
− | grounds for trust. If death is real for anything, there is no life. Death denies | + | grounds for [[trust]]. If death is real for anything, there is no [[life]]. Death denies |
− | life. But if there is reality in life, death is denied. No compromise in this is | + | life. But if there is [[reality]] in life, death is denied. No [[compromise]] in this is |
− | possible. There is either a god of fear or One of Love. The world attempts a | + | possible. There is either a god of fear or One of [[Love]]. The world attempts a |
− | thousand compromises, and will attempt a thousand more. Not one can be | + | thousand [[compromises]], and will attempt a thousand more. Not one can be |
− | acceptable to God's teachers, because not one could be acceptable to God. | + | acceptable to [[God's teachers]], because not one could be acceptable to God. |
− | He did not make death because He did not make fear. Both are equally | + | He did not make [[death]] because He did not make fear. Both are equally |
| meaningless to Him. | | meaningless to Him. |
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− | The "reality" of death is firmly rooted in the belief that God's Son is a body. | + | The "[[reality]]" of [[death]] is firmly rooted in the [[belief]] that God's Son is a [[body]]. |
| And if God created bodies, death would indeed be real. But God would not | | And if God created bodies, death would indeed be real. But God would not |
− | be loving. There is no point at which the contrast between the perception of | + | be loving. There is no point at which the [[contrast]] between the [[perception]] of |
− | the real world and that of the world of illusions becomes more sharply | + | the real world and that of the world of [[illusions]] becomes more sharply |
− | evident. Death is indeed the death of God, if He is Love. And now His Own | + | evident. Death is indeed the [[death of God]], if He is [[Love]]. And now His Own |
− | creation must stand in fear of Him. He is not Father, but destroyer. He is not | + | [[creation]] must stand in fear of Him. He is not Father, but destroyer. He is not |
− | Creator, but avenger. Terrible His Thoughts and fearful His image. To look | + | [[Creator]], but avenger. Terrible [[His Thoughts]] and fearful His image. To look |
| on His creations is to die. | | on His creations is to die. |
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− | "And the last to be overcome will be death." Of course! Without the idea of | + | "And the last to be overcome will be [[death]]." Of course! Without the [[idea]] of |
− | death there is no world. All dreams will end with this one. This is | + | death there is no world. All [[dreams]] will end with this one. This is |
− | salvation's final goal; the end of all illusions. And in death are all illusions | + | [[salvation]]'s final [[goal]]; the end of all [[illusions]]. And in death are all illusions |
− | born. What can be born of death and still have life? But what is born of God | + | [[born]]. What can be born of death and still have life? But what is born of God |
− | and still can die? The inconsistencies, the compromises and the rituals the | + | and still can die? The inconsistencies, the compromises and the [[rituals]] the |
| world fosters in its vain attempts to cling to death and yet to think love real | | world fosters in its vain attempts to cling to death and yet to think love real |
− | are mindless magic, ineffectual and meaningless. God is, and in Him all | + | are mindless [[magic]], ineffectual and meaningless. God is, and in Him all |
− | created things must be eternal. Do you not see that otherwise He has an | + | created things must be [[eternal]]. Do you not see that otherwise He has an |
| opposite, and fear would be as real as love? | | opposite, and fear would be as real as love? |
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− | Teacher of God, your one assignment could be stated thus: Accept no | + | [[Teacher of God]], your one assignment could be stated thus: [[Accept]] no |
− | compromise in which death plays a part. Do not believe in cruelty, nor let | + | [[compromise]] in which [[death]] plays a part. Do not believe in [[cruelty]], nor let |
− | attack conceal the truth from you. What seems to die has but been | + | [[attack]] conceal the [[truth]] from you. What seems to die has but been |
− | misperceived and carried to illusion. Now it becomes your task to let the | + | misperceived and carried to [[illusion]]. Now it becomes your task to let the |
− | illusion be carried to the truth. Be steadfast but in this; be not deceived by | + | illusion be carried to the truth. Be [[steadfast]] but in this; be not [[deceived]] by |
− | the "reality" of any changing form. Truth neither moves nor wavers nor | + | the "reality" of any changing [[form]]. Truth neither moves nor wavers nor |
− | sinks down to death and dissolution. And what is the end of death? Nothing | + | sinks down to death and [[dissolution]]. And what is the end of death? Nothing |
− | but this; the realization that the Son of God is guiltless now and forever. | + | but this; the [[realization]] that the Son of God is guiltless now and forever. |
| Nothing but this. But do not let yourself forget it is not less than this | | Nothing but this. But do not let yourself forget it is not less than this |
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| [[Category:Manual for Teachers]] | | [[Category:Manual for Teachers]] |
| [[Category: Death]] | | [[Category: Death]] |