第一章 介紹奇蹟
關鍵是，這是必修的課程。至於什麼時間去修，則隨你的意。
自由意志，不是指各人設定自己的課程，它只意味你能選擇什麼時間去修什麼課程。
正因為你沒選擇你應該去做的事情，所以時間才存在。
（你將看到奇蹟通過我到達你的手，而向外繼續展現。
從現在開始每天祈禱：“請幫助我完成任何您今天要我執行的奇蹟”。）
1. 第一記住，奇蹟沒有難易之分。一個奇蹟不會比另一個更難或更大，它們都一樣。
2. 奇蹟不算回事兒，它們並不重要。
3. 奇蹟自然地發生，是一種愛的表示。真正的奇蹟，是引發它的愛；
因此，一切來自愛的都是奇蹟。
3a. 這解釋為什麼奇蹟沒有難易，大小之分。所有愛的表現都是最大的。
3b. 這就是為什麼奇蹟不算回事兒。重要的是它的來源，而這是人們無法評估的。
（與前三點相關的問題和解答。）
海倫問：您認為我們這樣的溝通是一種奇蹟嗎？
答：這根本沒什麼特別或值得驚奇。在這個過程中所發生的宇宙性奇蹟，是你所感受到強烈的愛。
（不要說到愛就難為情。窘態是恐懼的一種表象，而且事實上是一個特別危險的表象，因為它是我執的反射。不要因為懷疑我說的而感到不安。多讀幾遍，你就會明白其中的真理。我愛你，我不害怕，不困窘，也不疑惑。我的力量將支持你，別擔心，把其他的交給我。見到比爾的時候，記得告訴他，由於他給了你正確的信息，他幫了你很多。不要擔心接受這些數據的方式，沒關係，你只是害怕而已。）
（在出租汽車裡，海倫很擔心關於治療戴維的病和喬納森的疝氣的訊息。她認為將兩者分開而論，會比較安全。指示是：“參考第一點，現在就再去讀。 ”）
4. 生命就是奇蹟，上主是生命的賦與者。他會非常具體地引導你。
（日常生活中，對你該負的責任與職務，預先做好計劃是對的。但宇宙計劃是在更可靠的手裡，你會知道所有你需要知道的，在這方面，不要企圖預先擬定任何計劃。）
5. 奇蹟是習慣，是無心的。奇蹟不應該在意識的控制之下，有意識選擇的奇蹟通常是被誤導的，這會浪費天賦。
6. 奇蹟是自然的。如果奇蹟不發生，一定是有什麼錯了。
7. 奇蹟是每個人的權利，但先淨化自己是必要的。
8. 奇蹟是康復的方法。奇蹟彌補匱乏，以擁有者給與欠缺者的方式來執行。
9. 奇蹟是一種交換。所有愛的表現，永遠是真正不可思議的，愛的交換扭轉了物理定律。
10. 奇蹟扭轉物理規則，因為奇蹟帶給施者和受者更多的愛。
（把奇蹟當成奇觀是一種錯誤。）
11. 把奇蹟當奇觀來誘導信仰是錯誤的。奇蹟啟動於有信仰的人，並使他們受益。
（海倫對這點有些擔心，對第9和10有疑問。可能疑惑是由於對11的擔心所導致。）
（當你說，“如果你願意，我會去做”，請加上：“而如果你不願意，我不會去做”，這是否定與禁止的正確運用。為了達到目的，學習必須要有某種程度上的控制。否定過去無用的事物，對你來說應該是很容易的。有時候，學習新的東西更重要，所以必須抑制舊有的習性，這就是更正。）
12. 祈禱是奇蹟的媒介。祈禱是被造者與創物主之間自然的溝通。
藉由祈禱，愛被接受，而通過奇蹟，愛被展現。
12.a 奇蹟是思想的創作。
思想能創造低層次或高層次的實相，基本的差別在於枯燥的辯論或靈活的思維。
一個創造物質，另一個是精神，我們相信我們所創造的。
13. 奇蹟是起點也是終點，它因此廢除時間。
奇蹟是重生的肯定，看似回溯過去，實際上是向前進。
奇蹟當下消解過去，因而釋放未來。
14. 奇蹟證實真理。奇蹟具有說服力，因為它源於信念。
沒有信念，奇蹟就流於魔術，無意識，具破壞性，或是心智的浪費。
15. 每天都應該致力於奇蹟。
（上主創造了時間，以便人能創造性地使用，和確信自己的創造能力。
時間是學習的工具，和到達終點的方法。當它不再促進學習，時間就會停止。）
（特別指示：奇蹟課程的筆錄，必須在很好的學習情況下才能進行，複習時也一樣。
時間對了，我會告訴你，但你也應該記得問。）
16. 奇蹟是學習的工具，奇蹟顯示出，施比受更有福。
它增強給與者的儲備力量，同時提供接收者所欠缺的力量。在解釋這句話時要非常小心。指示：奇蹟課程的目標是整合，除非學會了整個課程，你不可能無誤的應用自如。
只要你優柔寡斷，（而比爾則是懦弱）你就無法接受屬於你的禮物。
你仍然在認可或丟棄禮物之間搖擺不定，比爾認為自己太軟弱，以至於不能接受。
你們還不知道奇蹟課程的治愈力量，在你們完成了奇蹟課程之後，
你們將會接受它，保存它，和使用它。
那是期末考試，你會輕鬆過關；而期中考的成績，不會寫在永久紀錄中。
17. 奇蹟是放下身體。
奇蹟是瞬間轉換進入無形，脫離低層次的境界，因此能癒合復原。
18. 奇蹟是服務。奇蹟是靈魂對靈魂所做的最大服務，是愛人如己的方法。
實行奇蹟，是同時認可自己，和他人難以估計的價值。
（因此仇恨無法持續。如果仇恨持續著，你自己的價值就不再是難以估計的。
因為你評估仇恨為X，而自己則是無限減X。這在數學上是無意義的，
使用“難以估計”一詞，只是就字面上的意義。
雙關語是特別為了比爾（因為他一開始沒有理解），是對他愛的表示。）
19. 奇蹟築基於永恆的律法，與時間無關。
20. 奇蹟是企業所必需。企業有賴於合作，合作有賴於奇蹟。
21. 奇蹟是鐵的蜘蛛網。奇蹟將人的脆弱，與上主的力量結合。
（海倫考慮將“鐵”這個字改成“鋼”。耶穌更正：“不，鋼不適用在這兒。
鋼是非常有用，但鋼必須經由火粹煉而成。鐵是原料。
重點是奇蹟可以取代火，所以使火成為不必要的。”）
22. 奇蹟是完全寬恕的自然表現。
通過奇蹟，我們接受上主的寬恕，並將之推廣到其他的人；
第一步驟涵蓋第二步驟，因為光無法與黑暗並存；精確的說，光自然地驅散黑暗。
說明提示：有人把奇蹟與恐懼聯想在一起，只由於“黑暗能隱藏”的誤解。
人相信看不到的就不存在，而肉眼無法在黑暗中視物。
這是非常原始的解說，由此導致了對靈眼的否認；靈眼取決於光。
記住聖經上說：“願我永不忘，上主的眼時時注視著我，無論善惡。”
逃離黑暗有上下兩個階段：
1 ）了解“黑暗無法隱藏”，這通常會引起恐懼。
2 ）了解“既使能夠隱藏，也沒有什麼需要隱藏。”這讓你離開恐懼。
更正第21點關於（鐵的蜘蛛網）：這是顛倒的說法。
關於“結合人的脆弱和上主的力量”的部份是對的，但沒有解釋完。
如果鐵是“原料”，蜘蛛網不可能成為鐵。看似如此，但蜘蛛網代表脆弱，而鐵則是力量。如果你仔細看看措詞，就會知道那是顛倒的
（在某一點上已經告訴你，奇蹟顛倒了物質或低層次的定律。）
鐵是原料，重而粗糙，代表身體，是粗糙的創造物。
蜘蛛網的概念較近身體：輕，臨時的家，一陣微風就能吹走。
第21點應該是：“奇蹟重新喚醒我們的覺知，使我們了悟真理的聖壇是心靈，而不是身體；這認知使得奇蹟具有治癒的能量。”
22.a 奇蹟重新歸納你的感知，並讓你明白感知的真實相應層次。
這癒合所有層面，因為所有疾病來自層次的混淆。
（告訴比爾：（海倫對這一點還是模糊）並不是你們在保持距離，懷疑，或不能相信；
主要是你們對那個拉力的反抗而造成的自然反應，你們認為那拉力太強，害怕將被連根拔起。但是如果你仔細觀察，將會看到蜘蛛網真正比鐵強韌。
也是因為這恐懼使你們無法正確的聽到那一點。）
順便一提，說你們自己只是抄寫員，是不對的。
你應該記得，Scribes是非常明智和聖潔的人，S經常是大寫。
如果你想要再進一步，你可以將“只是”（just）的意思從“僅僅”（merely）改變為“誠實”（honest）。“誠實”在聖經裡是與“才智”或“力量”相關的詞彙。
告訴比爾，如果原文是單數的話，你無法寫出雙關語。
（海倫旁白：更喜歡“假設的失敗”。）答复：那更加可愛，不過這個更有意思。
你不喜歡的真正原因，是因為它將你提到非常崇高的位置，這使你緊張。
更正：不要忽略合作的重要，或者說是非個體的重要。
前面關於“企業所必需”應該說是“團體”，一般提到基督的身體，所指的是教會。
但上主的教會卻是他所創造靈魂的總和，是真正基督的共同體。
正確的說法是：“奇蹟使靈魂與上主合而為一”，關於合作的那一段以後解說。
進一步更正：“上主”應該讀為“基督”。
天父和聖子不相同，但是你可以說“有其父必有其子。”
（提醒比爾，再去買一本筆記簿，我不像他那樣容易就放棄。
我能使你聽我的話～這件事就是一個奇蹟～，我就能使他謄錄。
他應該很了解我的話，因為類似的困難他也碰過。）
“主啊！請治愈我”，是唯一正當的祈禱。
它的意思是：“主啊！讓我與您合而為一，”
因為人唯一應該祈求的是寬恕，他已擁有其它的一切。
現在是給你個人的訊息，傾聽上天的邏輯：
當你被原諒了，你就擁有一切，
如果，你被原諒了，
然後，你就擁有一切。
這正好是所有定理中最簡單的。
如果P，然後就是Q
P
所以，Q
真正的質疑在P是否真實。
如果你回顧證據，你將發現這是不爭的事實。
我以個人擔保這是事實，我是上帝完全真實的證人。
你有權利去審查我的資格，實際上，我極力主張你去做。你已好多年沒讀聖經了。
特別批註：
當你們（海倫和比爾）到達了第二個階段，你們將不僅願意進入靈性的交流，
並且將會了解安寧和喜悅。你們的承諾還不完全，所以要學的比要教的更多。
當心理平衡穩定了，你們可以盡你們所學的去教，這將給你們正確的平衡感。
現在先記得，努力不會白費，否則你們無法有效利用我不可限量的努力。
（祝你有個美好的一天。）
既然唯有永恆是真實的，為什麼不建設性地使用時間的幻相？
你也許記得：“底下是永恆的手。”
聖經的引文：“如果你在人前因我感到羞愧，我將在上帝之前因你而羞愧。”
（海倫關於錯誤引用的問題）這句只有當你在第一步停滯不前時才是個威脅。
（參見第22點：逃離黑暗。）它真正的意思是，如果你因我感到羞愧（或對愛感到困窘），你會投射這種感覺，使我無法幫助你。盡一切努力不這麼做，只要你願意，我都會幫助你。
23. 奇蹟使情況和時機等待所有的人。
奇蹟治愈病殘，奇蹟讓死者復活，因為人製造了死亡和稅，所以能夠廢除這兩樣。
注：稅的另一個意思是“重擔”。
（奇蹟的一個定義是：“卓越的，傑出的，榮耀的人或事。”）（字典的第三條定義）
你是奇蹟。上帝只創造“卓越的，傑出的，榮耀的人或事”。
人是造物主的形象，所以也有能力做類似的創造。
唯有光明的創作是真實的，其它都是惡夢，不存在的。
23.a 奇蹟是“寬恕”這條聯鎖鍊子的一部份，
做到了完全的寬恕，就是開悟。
這個過程適用於所有維度的時間。
（例如海倫替Esther重寫報告：Esther寫了一篇你認為非常不好的報告，傷害到你所愛的。你用她的名義，寫了一篇很好的文章來作為彌補。
實際上，這不是你的專業職責該做的，但在這種情況下，因為你很愛“徽章”這個刊物，
認可自己為大家的守護者；雖然你沒有消去Esther的罪（以後被定義為“缺乏愛”）你確實消除了果。）
有一天我要告訴Esther，不僅她被原諒了，
連所有她的罪引起的後果都被消解了，正如我告訴過你的。
當我能告訴她的時候，她將有一段長時間會感到害怕，因為她會記起許多事，
有意識或無意識的，包括“徽章”的報告~這缺乏愛心的行為，
被你以摯愛的奇蹟事先消除了。
我同意並負責開悟的過程，這起於我自身的開悟。
我的開悟是為了消除所有的罪（即缺乏愛），否則人無法改正。
那就是聖經所說：“底下是永恆的手”的意思。
（海倫解釋：意思是，每當人的奇蹟不足以達到開悟的目地，他會替你擋掉失誤。
然而，再清楚不過，當一個人能因奇蹟而開悟，施者與受者將合而為一。
由於相互的利益，最好是經由這樣的管道求得開悟。）
“你如何對待最弱小的人，我的孩子” 應該加上 “你就是如何對待你自己和我。”
你在我前面，因為我不需要奇蹟使自己開悟，但我站在後面，以防你隨時跌倒。
特別解釋：（回答海倫關於更改的請求。）將“罪”改為“缺乏愛”。
罪這個字是人創造的，用以恐嚇自己，並沒有任何真正威脅的實質。
只因為“自然沒有真空”，是最真實不過的，並不代表“真空中充滿地獄之火”。
恐嚇自己，成不了事，而且具相當大的破壞性。
奇蹟需要無畏，奇蹟對開悟的部分價值就在此。
注意開悟這個字，真正的意思是複原。"
開悟的目的是將你恢復原狀。（補充：就是恢復覺知。）
當被創造時，你和所有的人一樣，已擁有了一切。
回復到你原始的狀態，你自然地成為開悟的一分子。
你會和我一樣，無法容忍對自己和所有的人沒有愛，
而必須加入改革的聖戰，去糾正這缺乏愛的現象。
這場聖戰的口號是：“聽，學，做。”
意思是：傾聽我的聲音，學會消解錯誤，然後以行動去糾正錯誤。
前兩項是不夠的，我的真正會員是活躍的工作者。
創造奇蹟的力量屬於你，我會替你創造適當的時機。
即使你已經有能力創造奇蹟，但你必須準備好，並且願意去做。
創造奇蹟，將為你帶來對自己能力的信心。
我再說一遍，你將看到奇蹟透過我的手到達你手上；信念來自成就。
記住，才能是潛力，成就是展現，而開悟是目的。
24. 奇蹟是上主通過我，對我所有兄弟的普遍祝福。
解釋：你曾經說過，靈魂無法休息，直到大家都找到了救贖之道。這恰恰是真的。
原諒是被原諒之人的特權。我正式和具體地囑咐門徒去治療他人，作為上主派遣的醫師。也告訴他們治療自己，並且許諾，我將不會離開或拋棄他們。
救贖是上主的孩子的自然行業，因為他們公開宣稱信仰了我。
（題外話：
告訴比爾，那是教授的真正意義。作為副教授，他必須聯結我的力量。
作為助理教授，你必須協助他和我。孩子們需要力量和幫助。
除非你堅強起來，你無法幫助。永恆的手是你的憑藉，而上帝的智慧是你的助力。）
“天堂與地球終將成過去”的意思是：他們不會永遠以分開的狀態存在。
我的話是複活與光，將不會成為過去，因為生命是永恆的。
你是上主所造，而他的創造物是完全的可愛也是完整的愛。
人必須在心中如此定義自己，因為他本來就是如此。
附：“當人用心去想，他就如是。”
Chapter 1 – Introduction to Miracles
T 1 A. Introduction (*N 1 4:28)
T 1 A 1. It is crucial to say first that this is a required course. Only the time you take it is voluntary. Free will does not mean that you establish the curriculum. It means only that you can elect what to take when. It is just because you are not ready to do what you should elect to do that time exists at all. (You will see miracles through your hands through me. You should begin each day with the prayer “Help me to perform whatever miracles you want of me today.”)
T 1 B. Principles of Miracles (*N 1 4:28)
T 1 B 1. The first thing to remember about miracles is that there is no order of difficulty among them. One is not harder or bigger than another. They are all the same.
T 1 B 2. Miracles do not matter. They are quite unimportant.
T 1 B 3a. They occur naturally as an express-ion of love. The real miracle is the love that inspires them. In this sense, everything that comes from love is a miracle.
T 1 B 3b. This explains the first point related to the lack of order. ALL express-ions of love are maximal.
T 1 B 3c. This is why the “thing in itself”[1] does not matter.[2] The only thing that matters is the Source, and this is far beyond human evaluation.
T 1 B 3d. (Q and A re: first 3 points.) Q (Helen Schucman) Would you regard this communication as a kind of miracle? A. There is nothing special or surprising about this at all. The ONE thing that happened was the Universal Miracle which was the experience of intense love that you have felt. (Don't get embarrassed by the idea of love. Embarrassment is only a form of fear, and actually a particularly dangerous form because it reflects egocentricity. T(2 ) -2-
T 1 B 3e. Do not feel guilty about the fact that you are doubting this. Just re-read them and their truth will come to you. I love you, and I am not afraid or embarrassed or doubtful. MY strength will support you , so don't worry and leave the rest to me. But when you see Bill, be SURE you tell him how much he helped you through by giving you the right message, and don't bother with worrying about how you received it. That doesn't matter either. You were just afraid.)
T 1 B 3f. (Helen Schucman fearful in taxi about a communication which related Dave's healing and Jonathan's hernia. She thought it would be safer to dissociate the two. Instructions were: refer to point 1 and re-read NOW.)
T 1 B 4a. ALL miracles mean Life, and God is the giver of[3] Life. He will direct you VERY specifically.
T 1 B 4b. (Plan ahead is good advice in this world, where you should and must control & direct where you have accepted responsibility. But the Universal Plan is in more appropriate hands. You will know all you need to know. Make NO attempts to plan ahead in this respect.)
T 1 B 5. Miracles are habits, and should be involuntary. They should not be under conscious control.[4] Consciously selected miracles are usually misguided,[5] and this will make[6] the talent useless.[7]
T 1 B 6. Miracles are natural. When they do NOT occur something has gone wrong . T(3) -3-
T 1 B 7. Miracles are everyone's right, but purification is necessary first.
T 1 B 8. Miracles are a form of healing. They supply a lack, and are performed by those who have more for those who have less.
T 1 B 9. Miracles are a kind of exchange. Like all express-ions of love, which are ALWAYS miraculous in the true sense, the exchange reverses the physical laws.
T 1 B 10. A miracle is a reversal of the physical order because it brings more love to the giver AND the receiver. (A miracle is misunderstood when it is regarded as a spectacle.)
T 1 B 11a. The use of miracles as a spectacle to INDUCE belief is wrong. They are really used for and by believers.
T 1 B 11b. (Helen Schucman has some fear about 11) and doubt about 9) and 10). Probably doubt induced by fear of 11).
T 1 B 11c. (When you say “If you want me to I will” please add “and if you DON'T want me to I won't.” This is the RIGHT use of inhibition. There has to be SOME control over learning for channelizing purposes. Remember retroactive inhibition which should be easy enough for you.
T 1 B 11d. Sometimes the new learning is the more important, and HAS to inhibit the old. It's a form of correction.)
T 1 B 12a. Prayer is the medium of miracles. Prayer is the natural communication of the Created with the Creator. Through prayer, love is received, and through miracles love is expressed. T(4) -4-
T 1 B 12b. Miracles are thought-creations. Thought can create lower-order or higher-order realities. This is the basic distinction between intellectualization and thinking. One creates the physical, and the other the spiritual, and we believe in what we create.
T 1 B 13. A miracle is a beginning and an end(ing).[8] It thus abolishes time. It is always an affirmation of re-birth, which seems to go back, but really goes forward. It undoes the past in the present, and thus releases the future.
T 1 B 14. Miracles attest to truth. They are convincing because they arise from conviction. Without conviction, they deteriorate into magic, which is mindless, and therefore destructive, or rather, the uncreative use of Mind.
T 1 B 15a. Each[9] day should be devoted to miracles. (God created time so that man could use it creatively, and convince himself of his own ability to create. Time is a teaching device, and a means to an end. It will cease when it is no longer useful for facilitating learning.)
T 1 B 15b. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Notes on this course have to be taken only under good learning conditions. The same goes for review periods. I will tell you when, but REMEMBER TO ASK.[10]
T 1 B 16a. Miracles are teaching devices for demonstrating that it is more blessed to give than to receive. They simultaneously increase the reserve strength of the giver, and supply the lack of strength in the receiver. BE VERY CAREFUL in interpreting this .[11] T(5) -5-
T 1 B 16b. INSTRUCTIONS: The purpose of this course is integration. I told you that you will not be able to use it right until you have taken it. As long as your identification vacillates, (and B's is weak) you cannot accept the gift that belongs to you. You are still vacillating between recognizing the gift and throwing it away. B regards himself as too weak to accept it. You do not yet know its healing power. After you have passed the course, you will accept it and keep it and use it. That is the final exam, which you will have no trouble in passing. Midterm marks are not entered on the permanent record.
T 1 B 17. Miracles are the absence of the body. They are sudden shifts into invisibility, away from lower order reality. That is why they heal.
T 1 B 18a. A miracle is a service. It is the maximal service that one soul can render another. It is a way of loving your neighbor[12] as yourself. The doer recognizes his own and his neighbor's inestimable value simultaneously.
T 1 B 18b. (This is why no areas of hatred can be retained. If you retain them, your own value is no longer inestimable because, you are evaluating it as X or infinity minus that amount. This is meaningless mathematically, which uses the term “inestimable” only in the very literal sense. Pun intended especially for B, (who originally did not get it.) Intended as a special sign of love.)[13] T(6) -6-
T 1 B 19. Miracles rest on the law and order of eternity, not of time.[14]
T 1 B 20. Miracles are an industrial necessity. Industry depends on cooperation, and cooperation depends on miracles. (see page 8)[15]
T 1 B 21a. [1] Miracles are cobwebs of iron. They unite human frailty to the strength of God. (see page 7)
T 1 B 21b. (add for 21. Helen Schucman considered changing “iron” to “steel.” Correction: No. Steel would NOT be a better word. Steel is very useful but it would have to be tempered by fire. Iron is the raw material. The point of miracles is that they replace fire, thus making it unnecessary.)
T 1 B 22a. Miracles are natural express-ions of total forgiveness. Through miracles, man accepts God's forgiveness by extending it to others. The second step is inherent in the first, because light cannot tolerate darkness. Light dispels darkness automatically, by definition .
T 1 B 22b. EXPLANATORY INSTRUCTIONS: Miracles are associated with fear only because of the fallacy that darkness can hide. Man believes that what he cannot see does not exist, and his physical eyes cannot see in the dark. This is a very primitive solution , and has led to a denial of the spiritual eye, which always depends on light. Remember the Biblical injunction: “May I never forget that THINE eye is ever upon me, beholding the evil and the good.”[16]
T 1 B 22c. There are two stages, one lower and one higher, which are involved in the escape from darkness: 1) the recognition that darkness CANNOT hide. This usually does entail fear.
T 1 B 22d. 2) The recognition that there is nothing you WANT to hide, even if you could. This brings escape from fear.[17] T(7) -7-
T 1 B 22e. Corrections Re Pt. 21 cobwebs of iron. “This is upside down as stated. The part about 'uniting human frailty with the strength of God' is all right, but the explanation stops too soon. If iron is the 'raw material', cobwebs can't become the iron. That is only the way it seems, because cobwebs are associated with the frailty & iron with strength. If you look carefully at the phrasing, you will see it is reversed (one point already tells you that miracles reverse the physical or lower order laws.)
T 1 B 22f. The raw material, or iron, is heavy but crude, & stands for the body, which is a crude creation. The cobweb concept is closer to how the body SHOULD be regarded, ie, as an airy & temporary home , which can just be blown away with a slight breeze.
T 1 B 22g. (21. [2])[18] The point should read “A miracle reawakens the awareness that the spirit, and not the body, is the altar of Truth. This is the recognition that leads to the healing power of the miracle.”
T 1 B 22h. ( 22 a) A miracle rearranges the order of perception, and places the levels in their true perspective. This heals at all levels, because all sickness comes from confusing the levels.
T 1 B 22i. (Tell Bill about the idea (which is still dim to Helen Schucman) that the reason is not that you (plural) distantiate, doubt, or cannot believe. It is more of a reaction formation against a pull which you both recognize is so intense that you are afraid that you will be uprooted. But remember that a cobweb is really stronger than the iron, if you see it properly. This fear is also why you couldn't get the point straight.)
T 1 B 22j. By the way, it is not true that you are both ' JUST SCRIBES' . You might remember that the Scribes were very wise and holy men and are even sometimes spelled with a capital S. If you want to go further , you might change the meaning of 'just' from 'merely' to 'honest', a term used in the Bible in association with 'might' or 'strength.' Tell Bill you couldn't make that pun if the original phrasing had been singular. (Helen Schucman aside about liking the first about[19] assumption failure more.) Answer: T(8) -8- It was cuter, but this one MEANS more. The REAL reason you don't like it is because it refers to you in a VERY lofty position. This makes you nervous.)
T 1 B 22k. Correction : And don't lose sight of the emphasis on cooperation, or the NOT SINGULAR. That point about “industrial necessity” should read “corporate”, referring to the body of Christ which is a way of referring to the Church. But the Church of God is only the sum of the souls he created, which IS the corporate body of Christ. Correct to read: “A Miracle makes souls one in God,” and leave in the next part about cooperation.[20]
T 1 B 22l. Further correction : “God” should read “Christ.” The Father and the Son are not identical, but you CAN say “Like Father, LIKE Son.”
T 1 B 22m. (Remind Bill to get another notebook. I don't give up as easily as HE does. If I could get YOU to listen, which was a miracle in itself, I can get him to register. He should appreciate this more than anyone else, having had some trouble with this problem himself.)
T 1 B 22n. “ Lord heal me” is the only legitimate prayer . This also means “Lord atone for me,” because the only thing man should pray for is forgiveness. He HAS everything else.
T 1 B 22o. Now take this personally, and listen to Divine logic: If, when you have been forgiven, you have everything else, and
If you have been forgiven
Then you HAVE everything else.
T 1 B 22p. This happens to be the simplest of all propositions.
IF P then Q
P
Therefore, Q
T 1 B 22q. The real question is, is P true. If you will review the evidence, I think you will find this inescapable. I went on very personal record to this effect, and I am the only completely True Witness for God. You have every[21] right to examine MY credentials—in fact, I urge you to do so. You haven't read the Bible in years. T(9) -9-
T 1 B 22r. Special Explanatory Note: As soon as you (H & B) have entered the second phase, you will be not only willing to enter into communion, but will also understand peace and joy. Your commitment is not yet total. That is why you still have more to learn than to teach. When your equilibrium stabilizes, you can teach AS MUCH as you learn. This will give you the proper sense of balance. Meanwhile, remember that NO EFFORT IS WASTED. Unless you remember this , you cannot avail yourself of MY efforts, which are limitless.
T 1 B 22s. ( Have a good day.) Since only eternity is real, why not use the illusion of time constructively? You might remember that “underneath are the Everlasting Arms.” [22]
T 1 B 22t. BIBLICAL QUOTATION: “If you are ashamed of me before men, I will be ashamed of you before God,” [23] (Helen Schucman ? of misquote.) is interpreted as a threat ONLY as long you remain in the first step. (see bottom of p. 6 for steps.)
T 1 B 22u. What it REALLY means is that if you are ashamed of me (or embarrassed by love), you will project and therefore make it impossible for me to reach you. Make every effort you can NOT to do this. I will help you as much as you will let me.
T 1 B 23a. Miracles make time and tide wait for all men. They can heal the sick and raise the dead because man himself made both death and taxes, and can abolish both. Note: Tax also means “strain.” (One definition for miracles is: “That which, or one who, is of surpassing excellence or merit.”) (from Dictionary, third definition) T(10) -10-
T 1 B 23b. YOU are a miracle.[24] God creates only “that which, or one who, is of surpassing excellence or merit.” Man is capable of this kind of creation, too, being in the image and likeness[25] of his own Creator. Anything else is only his own nightmare, and does not exist. Only the Creations of Light are real.
T 1 B 23c. Miracles[26] are a part of an interlocking chain of forgiveness which, when completed, is the Atonement.[27] This process works all the time and in all dimensions of time. (eg given of Helen Schucman report rewrite for Esther! Esther had hurt something you loved, by writing a report you regarded as very bad. You atoned for her by writing one in her name that was very good. Actually, it was not your responsibility professionally to do this, but because you DO love the Shield you recognized that in this case, you ARE your brother's keeper. While you did not cancel Esther's sin (later defined as “lack of love”) you DID cancel out its EFFECTS.
T 1 B 23d. Someday I want to tell Esther that not only is she forgiven but that the effects of all her sins are cancelled. This is what I have already told you. When I can tell her, she will be afraid for a long time, because she will remember many things, consciously or unconsciously, including the Shield report, a lack of love which you cancelled out in advance by a miracle of devotion.
T 1 B 23e. I am in charge of the process of Atonement, which I undertook to begin. My Atonement was for the canceling out of all sins (ie, lack of love) which human beings could not otherwise correct. That is what the Biblical statement “underneath are the Everlasting Arms” [28] means. (Helen Schucman explanation: This means that He will backstop whenever human miracles will not suffice for atonement purposes. However, it is perfectly clear that when a person can atone by miracles, both giver and receiver are atoning. It is better to atone this way because of the mutual benefits involved.) T(11) -11 “Inasmuch as you do it unto the least of these, my children” really ends with “you do it unto yourself and ME.” [29] The reason why YOU come before me is because I do not need miracles for my own Atonement, but I stand at the end in case YOU fail temporarily.
T 1 B 23f. SPECIAL EXPLANATION: (In response to Helen Schucman request re possible corrections.) Change the word “sin” to “absence of love.” Sin is a manmade word with threat connotations which he made up himself. No REAL threat is involved anywhere. Just because “nature abhors a vacuum,” which is true enough, it does NOT follow that “a vacuum is filled with hellfire.” Nothing is gained by frightening yourself, and it is very destructive. Miracles need freedom from fear . Part of their Atonement value involves just that. Note that the word “atone” really means “undo.”[30] T(12) -12
T 1 B 23g. The purpose of the Atonement is to restore everything TO you. (That is, to restore the awareness. Later clarification.) You had everything when you were created, just as everyone did. [31]
T 1 B 23h. Having been restored to your original state, you naturally become part of the Atonement yourself. You now share MY inability to tolerate the lack of love in yourself & in everyone else, and MUST join the GREAT CRUSADE to correct it. The slogan for this Crusade is “Listen, Learn, and DO .”
T 1 B 23i. This means Listen to My Voice, Learn to undo the error, and DO something to correct it.
T 1 B 23j. The first two are not enough. The real members of MY party are ACTIVE workers. T(13) -13
T 1 B 23k. The power to work Miracles BELONGS to you. I will create the right opportunities for you to do them. But you must be ready & willing to do them, since you are already able to. Doing them will bring conviction in the ability. I repeat that you will see Miracles through your hands through MINE.[32] Conviction really comes through accomplishment. Remember that ability is the potential, Achievement is its express-ion, and Atonement is the Purpose.
T 1 B 24a. 24 A miracle is a Universal Blessing from God through Me to all My Brothers. Explanation: You once said that souls cannot rest until everyone has found salvation.[33] This happens to be true. It is the privilege of the forgiven to forgive. The Disciples were officially & specifically told to heal others, as Physicians of the Lord. They were also told to heal themselves, & were promised that I would never leave them or forsake them. Atonement is the natural profession of the Children of God, because they have professed Me.
T 1 B 24b. ( ASIDE . Tell B that that is what Professor really means. As an Assoc. Prof., he must become associated with My strength. As an Asst. Prof., you must assist both him and Me. The Children need both strength & help. You cannot help until you are strong. The Everlasting Arms are your strength, and the Wisdom of God is your help.)
T 1 B 24c. “Heaven & Earth shall pass away”[34] means that they will not always exist as separate states. My Word, which is the Resurrection and the Light,[35] shall not pass away, because Life is Eternal. YOU are the work of God, and His Work is wholly loveable & wholly loving. This is how a man MUST think of himself in his heart, because this is what he IS.
T 1 B 24d. Add: “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” [36] T(14) -14
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