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− | Forgiveness is the key to happiness. | + | [[Forgiveness]] is the key to [[happiness]]. |
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− | Here is the answer to your search for peace. Here is the key to meaning in a | + | Here is the answer to your search for [[peace]]. Here is the key to [[meaning]] in a |
| world that seems to make no sense. Here is the way to safety in apparent | | world that seems to make no sense. Here is the way to safety in apparent |
− | dangers that appear to threaten you at every turn, and bring uncertainty to | + | [[dangers]] that appear to threaten you at every turn, and bring uncertainty to |
− | all your hopes of ever finding quietness and peace. Here are all questions | + | all your [[hopes]] of ever finding [[quietness]] and peace. Here are all questions |
| answered; here the end of all uncertainty ensured at last. | | answered; here the end of all uncertainty ensured at last. |
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− | The unforgiving mind is full of fear, and offers love no room to be itself; no | + | The unforgiving [[mind]] is full of [[fear]], and offers love no room to be itself; no |
| place where it can spread its wings in peace and soar above the turmoil of | | place where it can spread its wings in peace and soar above the turmoil of |
| the world. The unforgiving mind is sad, without the hope of respite and | | the world. The unforgiving mind is sad, without the hope of respite and |
− | release from pain. It suffers and abides in misery, peering about in darkness, | + | release from [[pain]]. It suffers and abides in misery, peering about in [[darkness]], |
| seeing not, yet certain of the danger lurking there. | | seeing not, yet certain of the danger lurking there. |
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− | The unforgiving mind is torn with doubt, confused about itself and all it | + | The unforgiving mind is torn with [[doubt]], [[confused]] about itself and all it |
− | sees; afraid and angry, weak and blustering, afraid to go ahead, afraid to | + | sees; afraid and [[angry]], [[weak]] and blustering, afraid to go ahead, afraid to |
− | stay, afraid to waken or to go to sleep, afraid of every sound, yet more | + | stay, afraid to waken or to go to [[sleep]], afraid of every sound, yet more |
− | afraid of stillness; terrified of darkness, yet more terrified at the approach of | + | afraid of stillness; terrified of [[darkness]], yet more terrified at the approach of |
− | light. What can the unforgiving mind perceive but its damnation? What can | + | light. What can the unforgiving mind [[perceive]] but its [[damnation]]? What can |
− | it behold except the proof that all its sins are real? | + | it behold except the [[proof]] that all its [[sins]] are real? |
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− | The unforgiving mind sees no mistakes, but only sins. It looks upon the | + | The unforgiving mind sees no [[mistakes]], but only sins. It looks upon the |
− | world with sightless eyes, and shrieks as it beholds its own projections | + | world with sightless eyes, and shrieks as it beholds its own [[projections]] |
− | rising to attack its miserable parody of life. It wants to live, yet wishes it | + | rising to [[attack]] its miserable [[parody]] of life. It wants to live, yet wishes it |
− | were dead. It wants forgiveness, yet it sees no hope. It wants escape, yet can | + | were dead. It wants [[forgiveness]], yet it sees no [[hope]]. It wants [[escape]], yet can |
| conceive of none because it sees the sinful everywhere. | | conceive of none because it sees the sinful everywhere. |
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− | The unforgiving mind is in despair, without the prospect of a future which | + | The unforgiving mind is in despair, without the prospect of a [[future]] which |
− | can offer anything but more despair. Yet it regards its judgment of the world | + | can offer anything but more despair. Yet it regards its [[judgment]] of the world |
− | as irreversible, and does not see it has condemned itself to this despair. It | + | as irreversible, and does not see it has [[condemned]] itself to this despair. It |
− | thinks it cannot change, for what it sees bears witness that its judgment is | + | thinks it cannot [[change]], for what it sees bears witness that its judgment is |
− | correct. It does not ask, because it thinks it knows. It does not question, | + | correct. It does not ask, because it thinks it knows. It does not [[question]], |
| certain it is right. | | certain it is right. |
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− | Forgiveness is acquired. It is not inherent in the mind, which cannot sin. As | + | [[Forgiveness]] is acquired. It is not [[inherent]] in [[the mind]], which cannot sin. As |
− | sin is an idea you taught yourself, forgiveness must be learned by you as | + | sin is an idea you taught yourself, forgiveness must be [[learned]] by you as |
− | well, but from a Teacher other than yourself, Who represents the other Self | + | well, but from a [[Teacher]] other than yourself, Who represents the other [[Self]] |
| in you. Through Him you learn how to forgive the self you think you made, | | in you. Through Him you learn how to forgive the self you think you made, |
− | and let it disappear. Thus you return your mind as one to Him Who is your | + | and let it disappear. Thus you return [[your mind]] as one to Him Who is your |
| Self, and Who can never sin. | | Self, and Who can never sin. |
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− | Each unforgiving mind presents you with an opportunity to teach your own | + | Each unforgiving mind presents you with an [[opportunity]] to teach your own |
− | how to forgive itself. Each one awaits release from hell through you, and | + | how to forgive itself. Each one awaits release from [[hell]] through you, and |
− | turns to you imploringly for Heaven here and now. It has no hope, but you | + | turns to you imploringly for [[Heaven]] here and now. It has no hope, but you |
− | become its hope. And as its hope, do you become your own. The | + | become its [[hope]]. And as its hope, do you [[become]] your own. The |
| unforgiving mind must learn through your forgiveness that it has been saved | | unforgiving mind must learn through your forgiveness that it has been saved |
− | from hell. And as you teach salvation, you will learn. Yet all your teaching | + | from hell. And as you teach [[salvation]], you will learn. Yet all your teaching |
| and your learning will be not of you, but of the Teacher Who was given you | | and your learning will be not of you, but of the Teacher Who was given you |
| to show the way to you. | | to show the way to you. |
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− | Today we practice learning to forgive. If you are willing, you can learn | + | Today we [[practice]] [[learning]] to [[forgive]]. If you are willing, you can learn |
− | today to take the key to happiness, and use it on your own behalf. We will | + | today to take the key to [[happiness]], and use it on your own behalf. We will |
− | devote ten minutes in the morning, and at night another ten, to learning how | + | devote ten minutes in the [[morning]], and at night another ten, to learning how |
− | to give forgiveness and receive forgiveness, too. | + | to give forgiveness and [[receive]] forgiveness, too. |
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| The unforgiving mind does not believe that giving and receiving are the | | The unforgiving mind does not believe that giving and receiving are the |
| same. Yet we will try to learn today that they are one through practicing | | same. Yet we will try to learn today that they are one through practicing |
− | forgiveness toward one whom you think of as an enemy, and one whom you | + | forgiveness toward one whom you think of as an [[enemy]], and one whom you |
− | consider as a friend. And as you learn to see them both as one, we will | + | consider as a [[friend]]. And as you learn to see them both as one, we will |
− | extend the lesson to yourself, and see that their escape included yours. | + | [[extend]] the lesson to yourself, and see that their escape included yours. |
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− | Begin the longer practice periods by thinking of someone you do not like, | + | Begin the longer [[practice]] periods by [[thinking]] of someone you do not like, |
− | who seems to irritate you, or to cause regret in you if you should meet him; | + | who seems to [[irritate]] you, or to cause [[regret]] in you if you should meet him; |
| one you actively despise, or merely try to overlook. It does not matter what | | one you actively despise, or merely try to overlook. It does not matter what |
− | the form your anger takes. You probably have chosen him already. He will | + | the form your [[anger]] takes. You probably have chosen him already. He will |
| do. | | do. |
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− | Now close your eyes and see him in your mind, and look at him a while. | + | Now close your eyes and see him in [[your mind]], and look at him a while. |
− | Try to perceive some light in him somewhere; a little gleam which you had | + | Try to [[perceive]] some [[light]] in him somewhere; a little gleam which you had |
− | never noticed. Try to find some little spark of brightness shining through the | + | never noticed. Try to find some little [[spark]] of brightness shining through the |
| ugly picture that you hold of him. Look at this picture till you see a light | | ugly picture that you hold of him. Look at this picture till you see a light |
| somewhere within it, and then try to let this light extend until it covers him, | | somewhere within it, and then try to let this light extend until it covers him, |
− | and makes the picture beautiful and good. | + | and makes the picture [[beautiful]] and [[good]]. |
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− | Look at this changed perception for a while, and turn your mind to one you | + | Look at this [[changed]] [[perception]] for a while, and turn your mind to one you |
− | call a friend. Try to transfer the light you learned to see around your former | + | call a friend. Try to [[transfer]] the light you learned to see around your former |
− | "enemy" to him. Perceive him now as more than friend to you, for in that | + | "enemy" to him. [[Perceive]] him now as more than friend to you, for in that |
− | light his holiness shows you your savior, saved and saving, healed and | + | light his [[holiness]] shows you your [[savior]], saved and saving, healed and |
| whole. | | whole. |
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| Then let him offer you the light you see in him, and let your "enemy" and | | Then let him offer you the light you see in him, and let your "enemy" and |
− | friend unite in blessing you with what you gave. Now are you one with | + | friend [[unite]] in [[blessing]] you with what you gave. Now are you one with |
| them, and they with you. Now have you been forgiven by yourself. Do not | | them, and they with you. Now have you been forgiven by yourself. Do not |
− | forget, throughout the day, the role forgiveness plays in bringing happiness | + | forget, throughout the day, the role forgiveness plays in bringing [[happiness]] |
| to every unforgiving mind, with yours among them. Every hour tell yourself: | | to every unforgiving mind, with yours among them. Every hour tell yourself: |
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