Day 291

8. What is the Real World?

The real world is a symbol, like the rest of what perception offers. yet it stands for what is opposite to what you made. Your world is seen through eyes of fear, and brings the witnesses of terror to your mind. The 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.

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. The real world shows a world seen differently, through quiet eyes and with a mind at peace. Nothing but rest is there. There are no cries of pain and sorrow heard, for nothing there remains outside forgiveness. And the sights are gentle. Only happy sights and sounds can reach the mind that has forgiven itself.

What need has such a mind for thoughts of death, attack and murder? What can it perceive surrounding it but safety, love and joy? What is there it would choose to be condemned, and what is there that it would judge against? The world it sees arises from a mind at peace within itself. No danger lurks in anything it sees, for it is kind, and only kindness does it look upon.

The real world is the symbol that the dream of sin and guilt is over, and God's Son no longer sleeps. His waking eyes perceive the sure reflection of his Father's Love; the certain promise that he is redeemed. The real world signifies the end of time, for its perception makes time purposeless.

The Holy Spirit has no need of time when it has served His purpose. Now 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. That instant is our goal, for it contains the memory of God. And 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.

Today's Lesson:

This is a day of stillness and of peace.

Christ's vision looks through me today. His sight shows me all things forgiven and at peace, and offers this same vision to the world. And I accept this vision in its name, both for myself and for the world as well. What loveliness we look upon today! What holiness we see surrounding us! And it is given us to recognize it is a holiness in which we share; it is the Holiness of God Himself.

This day my mind is quiet, to receive the Thoughts You offer me. And I accept what comes from You, instead of from myself. I do not know the way to You. But You are wholly certain. Father, guide Your Son along the quiet path that leads to You. Let my forgiveness be complete, and let the memory of You return to me.

Miracles I'm noticing:

I was awakened at around 3:45 this morning for whatever reason, and couldn't get back to sleep. I'm reminded of something Wayne Dyer says in many of his lectures from one of his favorite poets, Rumi - do not go back to sleep. Here is the entire poem:

The breeze at dawn

Has secrets to tell you

Don't go back to sleep

You must ask

For what you really want

Don't go back to sleep

People are going back and forth

Across the doorsill

Where the two worlds touch

The door is round and open

Do not go back to sleep

So I got up and wrote and thought and meditated and came up with some pretty neat ideas for some new classes and new insights and new actions.

And now, as I get around to reading today's lesson, I have a very deep connection with what is written here - so much so that it brings tears to my eyes.

I've been reading Wayne's new book Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life about his year-long study of the Tao. The main message there is to allow instead of control. I wrote this morning about flow and getting into the groove, examining our thoughts and determining the Truth. And today's lesson says "This day my mind is quiet. ... I do not know the way to You. But You are wholly certain."

Just let go. Let the current - God - carry you. That is certain. We don't have to be pillars of strength and fountains of knowledge. We don't have to be anything - just BE. How much do we really trust? Let today be your experiment.

This is a day of stillness and of peace.

Just ALLOW.

Just BE.

Blessed and grateful.