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− | The belief in order of difficulties is the basis for the world's perception. It | + | The [[belief]] in order of difficulties is the basis for the world's [[perception]]. It |
− | rests on differences; on uneven background and shifting foreground, on | + | rests on [[differences]]; on uneven background and shifting foreground, on |
− | unequal heights and diverse sizes, on varying degrees of darkness and light, | + | unequal heights and diverse sizes, on varying degrees of [[darkness]] and [[light]], |
− | and thousands of contrasts in which each thing seen competes with every | + | and thousands of [[contrasts]] in which each thing seen competes with every |
| other in order to be recognized. A larger object overshadows a smaller one. | | other in order to be recognized. A larger object overshadows a smaller one. |
− | A brighter thing draws the attention from another with less intensity of | + | A brighter thing draws the [[attention]] from another with less [[intensity]] of |
− | appeal. And a more threatening idea, or one conceived of as more desirable | + | [[appeal]]. And a more threatening idea, or one conceived of as more desirable |
− | by the world's standards, completely upsets the mental balance. What the | + | by the world's standards, completely upsets the mental [[balance]]. What the |
− | body's eyes behold is only conflict. Look not to them for peace and | + | body's eyes behold is only [[conflict]]. Look not to them for [[peace]] and |
− | understanding. | + | [[understanding]]. |
| | | |
− | Illusions are always illusions of differences. How could it be otherwise? By | + | [[Illusions]] are always illusions of differences. How could it be otherwise? By |
| definition, an illusion is an attempt to make something real that is regarded | | definition, an illusion is an attempt to make something real that is regarded |
− | as of major importance, but is recognized as being untrue. The mind | + | as of major importance, but is recognized as being untrue. [[The mind]] |
− | therefore seeks to make it true out of its intensity of desire to have it for | + | therefore seeks to make it true out of its intensity of [[desire]] to have it for |
− | itself. Illusions are travesties of creation; attempts to bring truth to lies. | + | itself. Illusions are travesties of [[creation]]; attempts to bring [[truth]] to [[lies]]. |
| Finding truth unacceptable, the mind revolts against truth and gives itself an | | Finding truth unacceptable, the mind revolts against truth and gives itself an |
− | illusion of victory. Finding health a burden, it retreats into feverish dreams. | + | illusion of [[victory]]. Finding [[health]] a [[burden]], it retreats into feverish dreams. |
− | And in these dreams the mind is separate, different from other minds, with | + | And in these [[dreams]] the mind is separate, different from other minds, with |
− | different interests of its own, and able to gratify its needs at the expense of | + | different interests of its own, and able to [[gratify]] its needs at the expense of |
| others. | | others. |
| | | |
| Where do all these differences come from? Certainly they seem to be in the | | Where do all these differences come from? Certainly they seem to be in the |
− | world outside. Yet it is surely the mind that judges what the eyes behold. It | + | world outside. Yet it is surely the [[mind]] that judges what the eyes behold. It |
− | is the mind that interprets the eyes' messages and gives them "meaning." | + | is the mind that [[interprets]] the eyes' messages and gives them "[[meaning]]." |
| And this meaning does not exist in the world outside at all. What is seen as | | And this meaning does not exist in the world outside at all. What is seen as |
− | "reality" is simply what the mind prefers. Its hierarchy of values is projected | + | "[[reality]]" is simply what the mind prefers. Its [[hierarchy]] of [[values]] is [[projected]] |
− | outward, and it sends the body's eyes to find it. The body's eyes will never | + | outward, and it sends the [[body]]'s eyes to find it. The body's eyes will never |
| see except through differences. Yet it is not the messages they bring on | | see except through differences. Yet it is not the messages they bring on |
− | which perception rests. Only the mind evaluates their messages, and so only | + | which perception rests. Only the mind [[evaluates]] their messages, and so only |
− | the mind is responsible for seeing. It alone decides whether what is seen is | + | the mind is [[responsible]] for seeing. It alone decides whether what is seen is |
| real or illusory, desirable or undesirable, pleasurable or painful. | | real or illusory, desirable or undesirable, pleasurable or painful. |
| | | |
− | It is in the sorting out and categorizing activities of the mind that errors in | + | It is in the sorting out and categorizing activities of [[the mind]] that [[errors]] in |
− | perception enter. And it is here correction must be made. The mind | + | [[perception]] enter. And it is here [[correction]] must be made. The mind |
− | classifies what the body's eyes bring to it according to its preconceived | + | [[classifies]] what the body's eyes bring to it according to its preconceived |
− | values, judging where each sense datum fits best. What basis could be | + | [[values]], judging where each sense datum fits best. What basis could be |
| faultier than this? Unrecognized by itself, it has itself asked to be given | | faultier than this? Unrecognized by itself, it has itself asked to be given |
| what will fit into these categories. And having done so, it concludes that the | | what will fit into these categories. And having done so, it concludes that the |
− | categories must be true. On this the judgment of all differences rests, | + | categories must be true. On this the [[judgment]] of all differences rests, |
− | because it is on this that judgments of the world depend. Can this confused | + | because it is on this that judgments of the world depend. Can this [[confused]] |
| and senseless "reasoning" be depended on for anything? | | and senseless "reasoning" be depended on for anything? |
| | | |
− | There can be no order of difficulty in healing merely because all sickness is | + | There can be no order of difficulty in [[healing]] merely because all sickness is |
− | illusion. Is it harder to dispel the belief of the insane in a larger | + | [[illusion]]. Is it harder to dispel the [[belief]] of the [[insane]] in a larger |
− | hallucination as opposed to a smaller one? Will he agree more quickly to | + | [[hallucination]] as opposed to a smaller one? Will he agree more quickly to |
− | the unreality of a louder voice he hears than to that of a softer one? Will he | + | the unreality of a louder [[voice]] he hears than to that of a softer one? Will he |
| dismiss more easily a whispered demand to kill than a shout? And do the | | dismiss more easily a whispered demand to kill than a shout? And do the |
| number of pitchforks the devils he sees carrying affect their credibility in | | number of pitchforks the devils he sees carrying affect their credibility in |
| his perception? His mind has categorized them all as real, and so they are all | | his perception? His mind has categorized them all as real, and so they are all |
− | real to him. When he realizes they are all illusions they will disappear. And | + | real to him. When he realizes they are all [[illusions]] they will disappear. And |
| so it is with healing. The properties of illusions which seem to make them | | so it is with healing. The properties of illusions which seem to make them |
− | different are really irrelevant, for their properties are as illusory as they are. | + | different are really irrelevant, for their properties are as [[illusory]] as they are. |
| | | |
− | The body's eyes will continue to see differences. But the mind that has let | + | The [[body]]'s eyes will continue to see [[differences]]. But [[the mind]] that has let |
| itself be healed will no longer acknowledge them. There will be those who | | itself be healed will no longer acknowledge them. There will be those who |
| seem to be "sicker" than others, and the body's eyes will report their | | seem to be "sicker" than others, and the body's eyes will report their |
− | changed appearances as before. But the healed mind will put them all in one | + | changed [[appearances]] as before. But the healed mind will put them all in one |
− | category; they are unreal. This is the gift of its Teacher; the understanding | + | category; they are unreal. This is the gift of its Teacher; the [[understanding]] |
| that only two categories are meaningful in sorting out the messages the | | that only two categories are meaningful in sorting out the messages the |
− | mind receives from what appears to be the outside world. And of these two, | + | mind [[receives]] from what appears to be the outside world. And of these two, |
− | but one is real. Just as reality is wholly real, apart from size and shape and | + | but one is real. Just as [[reality]] is wholly real, apart from size and shape and |
− | time and place--for differences cannot exist within it--so too are illusions | + | [[time]] and place--for differences cannot exist within it--so too are illusions |
| without distinctions. The one answer to sickness of any kind is healing. The | | without distinctions. The one answer to sickness of any kind is healing. The |
− | one answer to all illusions is truth. | + | one answer to all illusions is [[truth]]. |
| + | |
| [[Category:Manual for Teachers]] | | [[Category:Manual for Teachers]] |
| + | [[Category: Illusion]] |
| + | [[Category: Perception]] |
| + | [[Category: Healing]] |