Suffering is an emphasis upon all that the world has done to injure you.
Here is the world’s demented version of salvation clearly shown. Like to
a dream of punishment, in which the dreamer is unconscious of what
brought on the attack against himself, he sees himself attacked
unjustly, and by something not himself. He is the victim of this
“something else,” a thing outside himself, for which he has no reason to
be held responsible. He must be innocent because he knows not what he
does, but what is done to him. Yet is his own attack upon himself
apparent still, for it is he who bears the suffering. And he cannot
escape because its source is seen outside himself.

Now you are being shown you CAN escape. All that is needed is you look
upon the problem as it IS, and not the way that you have set it up. How
could there be another way to solve a problem which is very simple, but
has been obscured by heavy clouds of complication, which were made to
KEEP the problem unresolved? Without the clouds, the problem will emerge
in all its primitive simplicity. The choice will not be difficult,
because the problem is absurd when clearly seen. No-one has difficulty
making up his mind to let a simple problem be resolved if it is SEEN as
hurting him, and also very easily removed.

The “reasoning” by which the world is made, on which it rests, by which
it is maintained, is simply this: “YOU are the cause of what I do. Your
presence JUSTIFIES my wrath, and you exist and think
APART from me. While you attack, I must be innocent. And what I suffer
from IS your attack.” No-one who looks upon this “reasoning” exactly as
it is could fail to see it does not follow, and it makes no sense. Yet
it seems sensible because it LOOKS as if the world were hurting you. And
so it seems as if there is no need to go beyond the obvious in terms of
cause.

There is INDEED a need. The world’s escape from condemnation is a need
which those within the world are joined in sharing. Yet they do not
recognize their common need. For each one thinks that if he does his
part, the condemnation of the world will rest on him. And it is this
that he perceives to BE his part in its deliverance. Vengeance must have
a focus. Otherwise is the avenger’s knife in his own hand, and pointed
to himself. And he must see it in another’s hand, if he would be a
victim of attack he did not choose. And thus he suffers from the wounds
a knife he does not hold has made upon himself. This is the PURPOSE of
the world he sees. And looked at thus, the world provides the means by
which this purpose seems to be fulfilled.

The means ATTEST the purpose, but are not themselves a cause. Nor will
the cause be changed by seeing it apart from its effects. The cause
PRODUCES the effects, which then bear witness to the cause, and not
themselves. Look, then, beyond effects. It is not here the cause of
suffering and sin must lie. And dwell not on the suffering and sin, for
they are but reflections of their cause.

The part you play in salvaging the world from condemnation is your OWN
escape. Forget not that the witness to the world of evil cannot speak
except for what has seen a need for evil in the world. And this is where
your guilt was first beheld. In separation from your brother was the
first attack upon yourself begun. And it is this the world bears witness
to. Seek not another cause, nor look among the mighty legions of its
witnesses for its undoing. They SUPPORT its claim on your allegiance.
What conceals the truth is not where you should look to FIND the truth.
The witnesses to sin all stand within one little space. And it is HERE
you find the cause of your perspective on the world.

Once you were unaware of what the cause of everything the world appeared
to thrust upon you, uninvited and unasked, must really be. Of one thing
you were sure; of all the many causes you
perceived as bringing pain and suffering to you, your guilt was not
among them. Nor did you, in any way, request them for yourself. This is
how ALL illusions come about. The one who makes them does not see himself
as making them, and their reality does not depend on him. Whatever cause
they have is something quite apart from him, and what he sees is
SEPARATE from his mind. He cannot doubt his dreams’ reality because he
does not see the part he plays in making them, and making them seem
real.

No-one can waken from a dream the world is dreaming FOR him. He becomes
a part of someone else’s dream. He cannot choose to waken from a dream
he did not make. Helpless he stands, a victim to a dream conceived and
cherished by a separate mind. Careless indeed of him this mind must be,
as thoughtless of his peace and happiness as is the weather, or the time
of day. It loves him not, but casts him as it will, in any role that
satisfies its dream. So little is his worth that he is but a dancing
shadow, leaping up and down according to a senseless plot conceived
within the idle dreaming of the world.

This is the only picture you can see, the one alternative that you can
choose, the other possibility of cause, if you be NOT the dreamer of
your dreams. And this is what you choose, if you deny the cause of
suffering is in YOUR mind. Be glad indeed it is, for thus are you the
ONE decider of your destiny in time. The choice is yours to make between
a sleeping death and dreams of evil or a happy wakening and joy of life.
What could you choose between BUT life or death, waking or sleeping,
peace or war, your dreams or your reality? Yet if the choice is really
given you, then you must see the causes of the things you choose between
exactly AS they are and WHERE they are. What choices can be made between
two states, but one of which is clearly recognized? Who could be free to
choose between effects, when only one is seen as up to him?

An honest choice could never be perceived as one in which the choice is
split between a tiny you and an enormous world, with different dreams
about the truth in you. The gap between reality and dreams lies not
between the dreaming of the world and what you dream in secret. THEY are
one. The dreaming of the world is but a part of your own dream you gave
away, and saw as if it were its start and ending, both. Yet was it
started by YOUR secret dream, which you do not perceive, although it
caused the part you see and do not doubt is real. How could you doubt it
while you lie asleep, and dream in secret that its cause is real?

A brother separated from yourself, an ancient enemy, a murderer who
stalks you in the night and plots your death, yet plans that it be
lingering and slow; of this you dream. Yet underneath this dream is yet
another, in which you become the murderer, the secret enemy, the
scavenger and the destroyer of your brother and the world alike. Here is
the CAUSE of suffering, the space between your dreams and your reality.
The little gap you do not even see, the birthplace of illusions and of
fear, the time of terror and of ancient hate, the instant of disaster,
all are here. Here is the CAUSE of unreality. And it is here that it
will be undone.

YOU are the dreamer of the world of dreams. No other cause it has, nor
ever will. Nothing more fearful than an idle dream has terrified God’s
Son, and made him think that he has lost his innocence, denied his
Father, and made war upon himself. So fearful is the dream, so seeming
real, he could not waken to reality without the sweat of terror and a
scream of mortal fear, unless a gentler dream preceded his awaking, and
allowed his calmer mind to welcome, not to fear, the Voice that calls
with love to waken him. God willed he waken gently, and with joy. And
gave him means to waken without fear. Accept the dream He gave instead
of yours. It is not difficult to change a dream when once the dreamer
has been recognized.

Rest in the Holy Spirit, and allow His gentle dreams to take the place
of those you dreamed in terror, and in fear of death. He brings
forgiving dreams, in which the choice is not who is the murderer and who
shall be the victim. In the dreams He brings, there IS no murder and
there IS no death. The dream of guilt is fading from your sight,
although your eyes are closed. A smile has come to lighten up your
sleeping face. The sleep is peaceful now, for these are happy dreams.

Dream softly of your sinless brother, who unites with you in holy
innocence. And from this dream, the Lord of Heaven will Himself awaken
His beloved Son. Dream of your brother’s kindnesses instead of dwelling
in your dreams on his mistakes. Select his thoughtfulness to dream about
instead of counting up the hurts he gave. Forgive him his illusions, and
give thanks to him for all the
helpfulness he gave. And do not brush aside his many gifts because he is
not perfect in your dreams.

He represents his Father, Whom you see as offering both life and death
to you. Brother, He gives but life. Yet what you see as gifts your
brother offers represent the gifts you dream your Father gives to you.
Let all your brother’s gifts be seen in light of charity and kindness
offered you. And let no pain disturb your dream of deep appreciation for
his gifts to you.