While we have recognized that the ego’s plan for salvation is the
opposite of God’s, we have not yet emphasized that it is an active
attack on His plan, and a deliberate attempt to destroy it. In the
attack, God is assigned the attributes which are actually associated
with the ego, while the ego appears to take on the attributes of God.
The ego’s fundamental wish is to replace God. In fact, the ego is the
physical embodiment of this wish. For it is this wish which seems to
surround the mind with a body, keeping it separate and alone; and unable
to reach other minds except through the body which was made to imprison
it. The limit on communication cannot be the best means to expand
communication. Yet the ego would have you believe that it is.
Although the attempt to keep the limitations which a body would impose
is obvious here, it is perhaps not so apparent why holding grievances is
an attack on God’s plan for salvation. But let us consider the kinds of
things which you are apt to hold grievances for. Are they not always
associated with something a body does? A person says something we do not
like; he does something that displeases us, he “betrays” his hostile
thoughts in his behavior.
We are not dealing here with what the person is. On the contrary, we are
exclusively concerned with what he does in a body. We are doing more
than failing to help in freeing him from it’s limitations. We are
actively trying to hold him to it by confusing it with him, and judging
them as one. Herein is God attacked, for if His Son is only a body, so
must He be as well. A creator wholly unlike his creation is
inconceivable.
If God is a body, what must His plan for salvation be? What could it be
but death? In trying to present Himself as the Author of life and not of
death, He is a liar and a deceiver, full of false promises and offering
illusions in place of truth.
The body’s apparent reality makes this view of God quite convincing. In
fact, if the body were real, it would be difficult indeed to escape this
conclusion. And every grievance that you hold insists that the body is
real. It overlooks entirely what your brother is. It
reinforces your belief that he is a body, and condemns him for it. And
it asserts that his salvation must be death, projecting this attack onto
God, and holding Him responsible for it.
To this carefully prepared arena, where angry animals seek for prey and
mercy cannot enter, the ego comes to save you. God made you a body. Very
well. Let us accept this and be glad. As a body, do not let yourself be
deprived of what the body offers. Take the little you can get. God gave
you nothing. The body is your only savior. It is the death of God and
your salvation.
This is the universal belief of the world you see. Some hate the body,
and try to hurt and humiliate it. Others love the body, and try to
glorify and exalt it. But while it stands at the center of your concept
of yourself, you are attacking God’s plan for salvation, and holding
your grievances against Him and His creation, that you may not hear the
Voice of truth and welcome it as Friend. Your chosen savior takes His
place instead. It is your friend; He is your enemy.
We will try today to stop these senseless attacks on salvation. We will
try to welcome it instead. Our upside-down perception has been ruinous
to our peace of mind. We have seen ourselves in a body and the truth
outside us, locked away from your awareness by the body’s limitations.
Now we are going to try to see this differently.
The light of truth is in us, where it was placed by God. It is the body
that is outside us, and is not our concern. To be without a body is to be
in our natural state. To recognize the light of truth in us is to
recognize ourselves as we are. To see our Self as separate from the body
is to end the attack on God’s plan for salvation, and to accept it
instead. And wherever it is accepted, it is accomplished already.
Our goal in the longer practice periods today is to become aware that
God’s plan for salvation has already been accomplished in us. To achieve
this goal, we must replace attack with acceptance. As long as we attack
it, we cannot understand what God’s plan for us is. We are therefore
attacking what we do not recognize. Now we are going to try to lay
judgement aside, and ask what God’s plan for us is:
“What is salvation, Father? I do not know.
Tell me, that I may understand.”
Then we will wait in quiet for His answer.
We have attacked God’s plan for salvation without waiting to hear what
it is. We have shouted our grievances so loudly that we have not
listened to His Voice. We have used our grievances to close our eyes and
stop our ears. Now we would see and hear and learn. “What is salvation,
Father?” Ask and you will be answered. Seek and you will find.
We are no longer asking the ego what salvation is and where to find
it. We are asking it of truth. Be certain, then, that the answer will be
true because of Whom you ask. Whenever you feel your confidence wane and
your hope of success flicker and go out, repeat your question and your
request, remembering that you are asking them of the infinite Creator of
infinity,Who created you like Himself:
“What is salvation, Father? I do not know.
Tell me, that I may understand.”
He will answer. Be determined to hear.
One or perhaps two shorter practice periods an hour will be enough for
today, since they will be somewhat longer than usual. These exercises
are as follows:
“Holding grievances is an attack on God’s plan for salvation.
Let me accept it instead.
What is salvation, Father?”
Then wait a minute or so in silence, preferably with your eyes closed,
and listen for His answer.