Difference between revisions of "ACIM Manual for Teachers - Section 20"
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− | It has been said that there is a kind of peace that is not of this world. How is | + | It has been said that there is a kind of [[peace]] that is not of this world. How is |
− | it recognized? How is it found? And being found, how can it be retained? | + | it [[recognized]]? How is it found? And being found, how can it be retained? |
− | Let us consider each of these questions separately, for each reflects a | + | Let us consider each of these [[questions]] separately, for each [[reflects]] a |
− | different step along the way. | + | different [[step]] along the way. |
− | First, how can the peace of God be recognized? God's peace is recognized | + | First, how can the peace of [[God]] be [[recognized]]? God's peace is recognized |
at first by just one thing; in every way it is totally unlike all previous | at first by just one thing; in every way it is totally unlike all previous | ||
− | experiences. It calls to mind nothing that went before. It brings with it no | + | [[experiences]]. It calls to [[mind]] nothing that went before. It brings with it no |
− | past associations. It is a new thing entirely. There is a contrast, yes, between | + | [[past]] [[associations]]. It is a new thing entirely. There is a contrast, yes, between |
this thing and all the past. But strangely, it is not a contrast of true | this thing and all the past. But strangely, it is not a contrast of true | ||
− | differences. The past just slips away, and in its place is everlasting quiet. | + | [[differences]]. The past just slips away, and in its place is everlasting [[quiet]]. |
− | Only that. The contrast first perceived has merely gone. Quiet has reached | + | Only that. The contrast first [[perceived]] has merely gone. Quiet has reached |
− | to cover everything. | + | to cover [[everything]]. |
− | How is this quiet found? No one can fail to find it who but seeks out its | + | How is this [[quiet]] found? No one can fail to find it who but seeks out its |
− | conditions. God's peace can never come where anger is, for anger must | + | conditions. [[God]]'s [[peace]] can never come where [[anger]] is, for anger must |
− | deny that peace exists. Who sees anger as justified in any way or any | + | [[deny]] that peace exists. Who sees anger as [[justified]] in any way or any |
circumstance proclaims that peace is meaningless, and must believe that it | circumstance proclaims that peace is meaningless, and must believe that it | ||
cannot exist. In this condition, peace cannot be found. Therefore, | cannot exist. In this condition, peace cannot be found. Therefore, | ||
− | forgiveness is the necessary condition for finding the peace of God. More | + | [[forgiveness]] is the [[necessary]] condition for finding the peace of God. More |
− | than this, given forgiveness there | + | than this, given forgiveness there ''must'' be peace. For what except [[attack]] |
− | will lead to war? And what but peace is opposite to war? Here the initial | + | will lead to [[war]]? And what but peace is opposite to war? Here the initial |
− | contrast stands out clear and apparent. Yet when peace is found, the war is | + | [[contrast]] stands out clear and apparent. Yet when peace is found, the war is |
− | meaningless. And it is conflict now that is perceived as nonexistent and | + | meaningless. And it is [[conflict]] now that is perceived as nonexistent and |
unreal. | unreal. | ||
− | How is the peace of God retained, once it is found? Returning anger, in | + | How is the [[peace]] of [[God]] retained, once it is found? Returning [[anger]], in |
− | whatever form, will drop the heavy curtain once again, and the belief that | + | whatever [[form]], will drop the heavy curtain once again, and the [[belief]] that |
− | peace cannot exist will certainly return. War is again accepted as the one | + | peace cannot exist will certainly return. [[War]] is again [[accepted]] as the one |
− | reality. Now must you once again lay down your sword, although you do | + | [[reality]]. Now must you once again lay down your sword, although you do |
not recognize that you have picked it up again. But you will learn, as you | not recognize that you have picked it up again. But you will learn, as you | ||
− | remember even faintly now what happiness was yours without it, that you | + | remember even faintly now what [[happiness]] was yours without it, that you |
− | must have taken it again as your defense. Stop for a moment now and think | + | must have taken it again as your [[defense]]. Stop for a moment now and think |
− | of this: Is conflict what you want, or is God's peace the better choice? | + | of this: Is conflict what you want, or is God's peace the better [[choice]]? |
− | Which gives you more? A tranquil mind is not a little gift. Would you not | + | Which gives you more? A tranquil [[mind]] is not a little gift. Would you not |
rather live than choose to die? | rather live than choose to die? | ||
− | Living is joy, but death can only weep. You see in death escape from what | + | Living is [[joy]], but [[death]] can only [[weep]]. You see in death [[escape]] from what |
you made. But this you do not see; that you made death, and it is but | you made. But this you do not see; that you made death, and it is but | ||
− | illusion of an end. Death cannot be escape, because it is not life in which the | + | [[illusion]] of an end. Death cannot be escape, because it is not life in which the |
− | problem lies. Life has no opposite, for it is God. Life and death seem to be | + | [[problem]] lies. [[Life]] has no opposite, for it is [[God]]. Life and death seem to be |
− | opposites because you have decided death ends life. Forgive the world, and | + | opposites because you have decided death ends life. [[Forgive]] the world, and |
− | you will understand that everything that God created cannot have an end, | + | you will [[understand]] that [[everything]] that God created cannot have an end, |
− | and nothing He did not create is real. In this one sentence is our course | + | and nothing He did not create is real. In this one sentence is [[ACIM|our course]] |
− | explained. In this one sentence is our practicing given its one direction. And | + | explained. In this one sentence is our practicing given its one [[direction]]. And |
− | in this one sentence is the Holy Spirit's whole curriculum specified exactly | + | in this one sentence is the [[Holy Spirit]]'s whole [[curriculum]] specified exactly |
as it is. | as it is. | ||
− | What is the peace of God? No more than this; the simple understanding that | + | What is the [[peace]] of [[God]]? No more than this; the simple [[understanding]] that |
− | His Will is wholly without opposite. There is no thought that contradicts | + | His Will is wholly without [[opposite]]. There is no thought that [[contradicts]] |
− | His Will, yet can be true. The contrast between His Will and yours but | + | [[Will of God|His Will]], yet can be true. The contrast between His Will and yours but |
− | seemed to be reality. In truth there was no conflict, for His Will is yours. | + | seemed to be [[reality]]. In [[truth]] there was no [[conflict]], for His Will is yours. |
Now is the mighty Will of God Himself His gift to you. He does not seek to | Now is the mighty Will of God Himself His gift to you. He does not seek to | ||
keep it for Himself. Why would you seek to keep your tiny frail imaginings | keep it for Himself. Why would you seek to keep your tiny frail imaginings | ||
− | apart from Him? The Will of God is One and all there is. This is your | + | apart from Him? The [[Will of God]] is One and all there is. This is your |
− | heritage. The universe beyond the sun and stars, and all the thoughts of | + | [[heritage]]. [[The universe]] beyond the [[sun]] and [[stars]], and all the [[thoughts]] of |
− | which you can conceive, belong to you. God's peace is the condition for His | + | which you can [[conceive]], belong to you. God's peace is the condition for His |
− | Will. Attain His peace, and you remember Him. | + | Will. [[Attain]] His peace, and you remember Him. |
[[Category:Manual for Teachers]] | [[Category:Manual for Teachers]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Peace]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Attainment]] |
Latest revision as of 16:36, 9 October 2015
It has been said that there is a kind of peace that is not of this world. How is
it recognized? How is it found? And being found, how can it be retained?
Let us consider each of these questions separately, for each reflects a
different step along the way.
First, how can the peace of God be recognized? God's peace is recognized at first by just one thing; in every way it is totally unlike all previous experiences. It calls to mind nothing that went before. It brings with it no past associations. It is a new thing entirely. There is a contrast, yes, between this thing and all the past. But strangely, it is not a contrast of true differences. The past just slips away, and in its place is everlasting quiet. Only that. The contrast first perceived has merely gone. Quiet has reached to cover everything.
How is this quiet found? No one can fail to find it who but seeks out its conditions. God's peace can never come where anger is, for anger must deny that peace exists. Who sees anger as justified in any way or any circumstance proclaims that peace is meaningless, and must believe that it cannot exist. In this condition, peace cannot be found. Therefore, forgiveness is the necessary condition for finding the peace of God. More than this, given forgiveness there must be peace. For what except attack will lead to war? And what but peace is opposite to war? Here the initial contrast stands out clear and apparent. Yet when peace is found, the war is meaningless. And it is conflict now that is perceived as nonexistent and unreal.
How is the peace of God retained, once it is found? Returning anger, in whatever form, will drop the heavy curtain once again, and the belief that peace cannot exist will certainly return. War is again accepted as the one reality. Now must you once again lay down your sword, although you do not recognize that you have picked it up again. But you will learn, as you remember even faintly now what happiness was yours without it, that you must have taken it again as your defense. Stop for a moment now and think of this: Is conflict what you want, or is God's peace the better choice? Which gives you more? A tranquil mind is not a little gift. Would you not rather live than choose to die?
Living is joy, but death can only weep. You see in death escape from what you made. But this you do not see; that you made death, and it is but illusion of an end. Death cannot be escape, because it is not life in which the problem lies. Life has no opposite, for it is God. Life and death seem to be opposites because you have decided death ends life. Forgive the world, and you will understand that everything that God created cannot have an end, and nothing He did not create is real. In this one sentence is our course explained. In this one sentence is our practicing given its one direction. And in this one sentence is the Holy Spirit's whole curriculum specified exactly as it is.
What is the peace of God? No more than this; the simple understanding that His Will is wholly without opposite. There is no thought that contradicts His Will, yet can be true. The contrast between His Will and yours but seemed to be reality. In truth there was no conflict, for His Will is yours. Now is the mighty Will of God Himself His gift to you. He does not seek to keep it for Himself. Why would you seek to keep your tiny frail imaginings apart from Him? The Will of God is One and all there is. This is your heritage. The universe beyond the sun and stars, and all the thoughts of which you can conceive, belong to you. God's peace is the condition for His Will. Attain His peace, and you remember Him.