Changes

==The Process of Illness==

==The Process of Illness==

1. As all therapy is psychotherapy, so all illness is mental illness. It is a judgment on the Son of God, and judgment is a mental activity. Judgment is a decision, made again and again, against creation and its Creator. It is a decision to perceive the universe as you would have created it. It is a decision that truth can lie and must be lies. What, then, can illness be except an expression of sorrow and of guilt? And who could weep but for his innocence?

1. As all [[therapy]] is [[psychotherapy]], so all illness is mental illness. It is a [[judgment]] on the Son of God, and judgment is a [[mental]] activity. Judgment is a [[decision]], made again and again, against [[creation]] and its [[Creator]]. It is a decision to [[perceive]] [[the universe]] as you would have created it. It is a decision that [[truth]] can [[lie]] and must be lies. What, then, can illness be except an [[expression]] of sorrow and of [[guilt]]? And who could [[weep]] but for his [[innocence]]?

2. Once God's Son is seen as guilty, illness becomes inevitable. It has been asked for and will be received. And all who ask for illness have now condemned themselves to seek for remedies that cannot help, because their faith is in the illness and not in salvation. There can be nothing that a change of mind cannot effect, for all external things are only shadows of a decision already made. Change the decision, and how can its shadow be unchanged? Illness can be but guilt's shadow, grotesque and ugly since it mimics deformity. If a deformity is seen as real, what could its shadow be except deformed?

2. Once God's Son is seen as [[guilty]], illness becomes [[inevitable]]. It has been asked for and will be [[received]]. And all who ask for illness have now [[condemned]] themselves to seek for remedies that cannot help, because their [[faith]] is in the illness and not in [[salvation]]. There can be nothing that a [[change]] of [[mind]] cannot effect, for all external things are only [[shadows]] of a decision already made. Change the decision, and how can its [[shadow]] be unchanged? Illness can be but [[guilt]]'s shadow, grotesque and ugly since it mimics [[deformity]]. If a deformity is seen as real, what could its shadow be except deformed?

3. The descent into hell follows step by step in an inevitable course, once the decision that guilt is real has been made. Sickness and death and misery now stalk the earth in unrelenting waves, sometimes together and sometimes in grim succession. Yet all these things, however real they seem, are but illusions. Who could have faith in them once this is realized? And who could not have faith in them until he realizes this? Healing is therapy or correction, and we have said already and will say again, all therapy is psychotherapy. To heal the sick is but to bring this realization to them.

3. The descent into [[hell]] follows [[step]] by step in an [[inevitable]] [[course]], once the decision that [[guilt]] is real has been made. Sickness and [[death]] and misery now stalk the earth in unrelenting [[waves]], sometimes together and sometimes in grim succession. Yet all these things, however real they seem, are but [[illusions]]. Who could have [[faith]] in them once this is realized? And who could not have faith in them until he realizes this? [[Healing]] is therapy or [[correction]], and we have said already and will say again, all therapy is [[psychotherapy]]. To heal the sick is but to bring this [[realization]] to them.

4. The word "cure" has come into disrepute among the more "respectable" therapists of the world, and justly so. For not one of them can cure, and not one of them understands healing.

4. The word "cure" has come into disrepute among the more "respectable" therapists of the world, and justly so. For not one of them can cure, and not one of them [[understands]] [[healing]].

At worst, they but make the body real in their own minds, and having done so, seek for magic by which to heal the ills with which their minds endow it. How could such a process cure? It is ridiculous from start to finish. Yet having started, it must finish thus. It is as if God were the devil and must be found in evil. How could love be there? And how could sickness cure? Are not these both one question?

At worst, they but make the [[body]] real in their own [[minds]], and having done so, seek for [[magic]] by which to heal the ills with which their minds endow it. How could such a [[process]] cure? It is ridiculous from start to finish. Yet having started, it must finish thus. It is as if [[God]] were the [[devil]] and must be found in evil. How could [[love]] be there? And how could sickness cure? Are not these both one question?

5. At best, and the word is perhaps questionable here, the "healers" of the world may recognize the mind as the source of illness. But their error lies in the belief that it can cure itself. This has some merit in a world where "degrees of error" is a meaningful concept. Yet must their cures remain temporary, or another illness rise instead, for death has not been overcome until the meaning of love is understood. And who can understand this without the Word of God, given by Him to the Holy Spirit as His gift to you?

5. At best, and the [[word]] is perhaps questionable here, the "healers" of the world may [[recognize]] [[the mind]] as the source of illness. But their [[error]] lies in the [[belief]] that it can cure itself. This has some merit in a world where "degrees of error" is a meaningful [[concept]]. Yet must their cures remain temporary, or another illness rise instead, for [[death]] has not been overcome until the [[meaning]] of [[love]] is understood. And who can understand this without the [[Word of God]], given by Him to the [[Holy Spirit]] as His gift to you?

6. Illness of any kind may be defined as the result of a view of the self as weak, vulnerable, evil and endangered, and thus in need of constant defense. Yet if such were really the self,

6. [[Illness]] of any kind may be defined as the result of a view of [[the self]] as [[weak]], [[vulnerable]], evil and endangered, and thus in need of constant [[defense]]. Yet if such were really the [[self]],

defense would be impossible. Therefore, the defenses sought for must be magical. They must overcome all limits perceived in the self, at the same time making a new self-concept into which the old one cannot return. In a word, error is accepted as real and dealt with by illusions. Truth being brought to illusions, reality now becomes a threat and is perceived as evil. Love becomes feared because reality is love. Thus is the circle closed against the "inroads" of salvation.

defense would be impossible. Therefore, the defenses sought for must be [[magical]]. They must overcome all limits [[perceived]] in the self, at the same time making a new self-concept into which the old one cannot return. In a word, [[error]] is [[accepted]] as real and dealt with by [[illusions]]. [[Truth]] being brought to illusions, [[reality]] now becomes a threat and is [[perceived]] as [[evil]]. [[Love]] becomes feared because reality is love. Thus is the circle closed against the "inroads" of [[salvation]].

7. Illness is therefore a mistake and needs correction. And as we have already emphasized, correction cannot be achieved by first establishing the "rightness" of the mistake and then overlooking it. If illness is real it cannot be overlooked in truth, for to overlook reality is insanity. Yet that is magic's purpose; to make illusions true through false perception. This cannot heal, for it opposes truth. Perhaps an illusion of health is substituted for a little while, but not for long. Fear cannot long be hidden by illusions, for it is part of them. It will escape and take another form, being the source of all illusions.

7. Illness is therefore a [[mistake]] and needs [[correction]]. And as we have already emphasized, correction cannot be [[achieved]] by first establishing the "rightness" of the mistake and then overlooking it. If illness is real it cannot be overlooked in [[truth]], for to overlook [[reality]] is insanity. Yet that is [[magic]]'s [[purpose]]; to make illusions true through [[false]] perception. This cannot [[heal]], for it opposes truth. Perhaps an illusion of [[health]] is substituted for a little while, but not for long. [[Fear]] cannot long be hidden by illusions, for it is part of them. It will [[escape]] and take another form, being the source of all illusions.

8. Sickness is insanity because all sickness is mental illness, and in it there are no degrees.

8. [[Sickness]] is [[insanity]] because all sickness is mental illness, and in it there are no degrees.

One of the illusions by which sickness is perceived as real is the belief that illness varies in intensity; that the degree of threat differs according to the form it takes. Herein lies the basis of all errors, for all of them are but attempts to compromise by seeing just a little bit of hell. This is a mockery so alien to God that it must be forever inconceivable. But the insane believe it because they are insane.

One of the [[illusions]] by which sickness is [[perceived]] as real is the belief that illness varies in [[intensity]]; that the degree of threat differs according to the form it takes. Herein lies the basis of all [[errors]], for all of them are but attempts to [[compromise]] by seeing just a little bit of [[hell]]. This is a mockery so [[alien]] to God that it must be forever inconceivable. But the insane believe it because they are insane.

9. A madman will defend his own illusions because in them he sees his own salvation.

9. A madman will [[defend]] his own [[illusions]] because in them he sees his own [[salvation]].

Thus, he will attack the one who tries to save him from them, believing that he is attacking him.

Thus, he will [[attack]] the one who tries to save him from them, believing that he is attacking him.

This curious circle of attack-defense is one of the most difficult problems with which the psychotherapist must deal. In fact, this is his central task; the core of psychotherapy. The therapist is seen as one who is attacking the patient's most cherished possession; his picture of himself. And since this picture has become the patient's security as he perceives it, the therapist cannot but be seen as a real source of danger, to be attacked and even killed.

This [[curious]] circle of attack-[[defense]] is one of the most difficult [[problems]] with which the [[psychotherapist]] must deal. In fact, this is his central task; the core of psychotherapy. The therapist is seen as one who is attacking the patient's most cherished [[possession]]; his picture of himself. And since this picture has [[become]] the patient's [[security]] as he perceives it, the therapist cannot but be seen as a real source of [[danger]], to be attacked and even killed.

10. The psychotherapist, then, has a tremendous responsibility. He must meet attack without attack, and therefore without defense. It is his task to demonstrate that defenses are not necessary, and that defenselessness is strength. This must be his teaching, if his lesson is to be that sanity is safe. It cannot be too strongly emphasized that the insane believe that sanity is threat. This is the corollary of the "original sin"; the belief that guilt is real and fully justified. It is therefore the psychotherapist's function to teach that guilt, being unreal, cannot be justified.

10. The psychotherapist, then, has a tremendous [[responsibility]]. He must meet [[attack]] without attack, and therefore without [[defense]]. It is his task to demonstrate that defenses are not [[necessary]], and that defenselessness is [[strength]]. This must be his teaching, if his lesson is to be that sanity is safe. It cannot be too strongly emphasized that the insane believe that [[sanity]] is threat. This is the [[corollary]] of the "[[original sin]]"; the [[belief]] that [[guilt]] is real and fully justified. It is therefore the psychotherapist's function to teach that guilt, being unreal, cannot be [[justified]].

But neither is it safe. And thus it must remain unwanted as well as unreal.

But neither is it safe. And thus it must remain unwanted as well as unreal.

11. Salvation's single doctrine is the goal of all therapy. Relieve the mind of the insane burden of guilt it carries so wearily, and healing is accomplished. The body is not cured. It is merely recognized as what it is. Seen rightly, its purpose can be understood. What is the need for sickness then? Given this single shift, all else will follow. There is no need for complicated change. There is no need for long analyses and wearying discussion and pursuits. The truth is simple, being one for all.

11. [[Salvation]]'s single [[doctrine]] is the goal of all [[therapy]]. Relieve [[the mind]] of the insane [[burden]] of guilt it carries so wearily, and healing is accomplished. The [[body]] is not cured. It is merely recognized as what it is. Seen rightly, its [[purpose]] can be [[understood]]. What is the need for sickness then? Given this single shift, all else will follow. There is no need for complicated [[change]]. There is no need for long [[analyses]] and wearying [[discussion]] and pursuits. The [[truth]] is [[simple]], being one for all.

 

==The Process of Healing==

==The Process of Healing==

1. While truth is simple, it must still be taught to those who have already lost their way in endless mazes of complexity. This is the great illusion. In its wake comes the inevitable belief that, to be safe, one must control the unknown. This strange belief relies on certain steps which never reach to consciousness. First, it is ushered in by the belief that there are forces to be overcome to be alive at all. And next, it seems as if these forces can be held at bay only by an inflated sense of self that holds in darkness what is truly felt, and seeks to raise illusions to the light.

1. While truth is simple, it must still be taught to those who have already lost their way in endless mazes of complexity. This is the great illusion. In its wake comes the inevitable belief that, to be safe, one must control the unknown. This strange belief relies on certain steps which never reach to consciousness. First, it is ushered in by the belief that there are forces to be overcome to be alive at all. And next, it seems as if these forces can be held at bay only by an inflated sense of self that holds in darkness what is truly felt, and seeks to raise illusions to the light.