Lesson 291
8. What Is the Real World?
8. What Is the Real World?
1. The real world is a symbol, like the rest of what perception offers. ²Yet it stands for what is opposite to what you made. ³Your world is seen through eyes of fear, and brings the witnesses of terror to your mind. ⁴The real world cannot be perceived except through eyes forgiveness blesses, so they see a world where terror is impossible, and witnesses to fear can not be found.
2. The real world holds a counterpart for each unhappy thought reflected in your world; a sure correction for the sights of fear and sounds of battle which your world contains. ²The real world shows a world seen differently, through quiet eyes and with a mind at peace. ³Nothing but rest is there. ⁴There are no cries of pain and sorrow heard, for nothing there remains outside forgiveness. ⁵And the sights are gentle. ⁶Only happy sights and sounds can reach the mind that has forgiven itself.
3. What need has such a mind for thoughts of death, attack and murder? ²What can it perceive surrounding it but safety, love and joy? ³What is there it would choose to be condemned, and what is there that it would judge against? ⁴The world it sees arises from a mind at peace within itself. ⁵No danger lurks in anything it sees, for it is kind, and only kindness does it look upon.
4. The real world is the symbol that the dream of sin and guilt is over, and God’s Son no longer sleeps. ²His waking eyes perceive the sure reflection of his Father’s Love; the certain promise that he is redeemed. ³The real world signifies the end of time, for its perception makes time purposeless.
5. The Holy Spirit has no need of time when it has served His purpose. ²Now He waits but that one instant more for God to take His final step, and time has disappeared, taking perception with it as it goes, and leaving but the truth to be itself. ³That instant is our goal, for it contains the memory of God. ⁴And as we look upon a world forgiven, it is He Who calls to us and comes to take us home, reminding us of our Identity which our forgiveness has restored to us.
Lesson 291
This is a day of stillness and of peace.
1. Christ’s vision looks through me today. ²His sight shows me all things forgiven and at peace, and offers this same vision to the world. ³And I accept this vision in its name, both for myself and for the world as well. ⁴What loveliness we look upon today! ⁵What holiness we see surrounding us! ⁶And it is given us to recognize it is a holiness in which we share; it is the Holiness of God Himself.
2. This day my mind is quiet, to receive the Thoughts You offer me. ²And I accept what comes from You, instead of from myself. ³I do not know the way to You. ⁴But You are wholly certain. ⁵Father, guide Your Son along the quiet path that leads to You. ⁶Let my forgiveness be complete, and let the memory of You return to me.