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OrEd-T-25.4-Fundamental Law-Perception
23. The extent to which I value guilt, to that extent I will perceive a world in which attack is justified. The extent to which I recognize that guilt is meaningless, to that extent I will perceive attack cannot be justified. This is in strict accord with vision's fundamental law: I see what I believe is there, and I believe it is there because I want it there. Perception has no other law than this. The rest stems from this, to hold it up and offer it support. Adapted to this world, this is perception's form of God's more basic law, that love creates itself and nothing but itself.
24. This world could not have been created by the Mind for which perception has no meaning. Therefore, God's laws do not pertain directly to this world ruled by perception. Yet His laws are reflected everywhere here, though the world is not real at all. God could not separate Himself entirely from His son's belief, because His Son believes the world is real. God can not enter His Son's insanity with him, but He could be sure sanity went there with him, so the Son would not be lost forever in the madness of his wish.
25. Knowledge does not rest on choosing. Knowledge has only one Creator, and only one law. However, this world was made by two, and these two see things differently. To each, perception has a different purpose and serves a different goal. Perception is determined by the purpose and the goal I choose. Perception is the perfect frame to set off specialness--the battleground to wage its wars, the shelter for the illusions it would make real. Every illusion is upheld and justified in its perception.
26. There is another Maker of the world. It is the link to the laws of God, adapted to the needs the Son of God believes he has in form. He corrects the false belief that a world can be made without a link to keep it within the laws of God. Corrected error is the end of error. Thus God has protected His Son, even in error. In the world made by error, this other Maker has another purpose, that can reconcile perception's goal with His Creator's purpose. He perceives only perfect sinlessness, giving instant and complete forgiveness to all.
27. Nothing remains even an instant, to obscure the sinlessness that shines unchanged. Specialness attempts to put sinlessness out of mind, and light up the body instead. But the lamps of Heaven are not for specialness to see them where it will. If specialness chooses to see them where they could never be, and I agree, then the Maker of the world must correct my error, lest I remain in darkness. Everyone here has entered darkness, but not alone. For he has come with Heaven's Help within him, ready to lead him out of darkness into light at any instant.
28. The instant he chooses can be any instant, for help is there, awaiting only his choice. And when he chooses to avail himself of what is given him, he will see each situation that he thought justified anger before, turned into an event which justifies love. He will hear plainly that the calls to war he heard before are really calls to peace. He will perceive that where he attacked there is another altar where he can equally and happily bestow forgiveness. And he will reinterpret all temptation as just another chance to bring him joy. How can a misperception be a sin? I let all my brother's errors be a chance for me to see the workings of the Helper, helping me see the world He made, instead of mine.
29. What is justified? What do I want? These two questions are the same. And when I see them as the same, my choice is made. For it is seeing them as one that brings release from the belief that there are two ways to see. This world has much to offer to my peace, and many chances to extend my own forgiveness. Such is its purpose for those who want to see peace and forgiveness come to them, and offer them the light.
30. The Maker of the world of gentleness has perfect power to offset the world of violence and hate that seems to stand between me and His gentleness. There is no hate in His forgiving eyes. And it need not be in mine. Sin is the fixed belief perception cannot change. What has been damned is damned and damned forever, being forever unforgivable. If then it is forgiven, the perception of sin must have been a mistake. And thus change is made possible. The Holy Spirit knows that what He sees is far beyond the chance of change. Sin cannot encroach on His vision, for sin has been corrected by His sight. And thus it must have been an error, not a sin. What specialness claimed could never be, is done. Sin is always preserved when attacked by punishment. But to forgive is to change it from error into truth.
31. The Son of God could never sin, but he can wish for what would hurt him. And he is able to think that he can be hurt. But this could only be a misperception of himself. Is this a damning sin or a forgivable mistake? Does he need condemnation or help? Is it my purpose that he be damned or saved? I will remember that what my brother is to me, is my choice for my future. For I make this choice now, the instant when all time becomes a means to reach a goal. I will recognize that in this choice the purpose of the world I see is chosen and will be justified. Then I will make my choice.
23. The extent to which I value guilt, to that extent I will perceive a world in which attack is justified. The extent to which I recognize that guilt is meaningless, to that extent I will perceive attack cannot be justified. This is in strict accord with vision's fundamental law: I see what I believe is there, and I believe it is there because I want it there. Perception has no other law than this. The rest stems from this, to hold it up and offer it support. Adapted to this world, this is perception's form of God's more basic law, that love creates itself and nothing but itself.
24. This world could not have been created by the Mind for which perception has no meaning. Therefore, God's laws do not pertain directly to this world ruled by perception. Yet His laws are reflected everywhere here, though the world is not real at all. God could not separate Himself entirely from His son's belief, because His Son believes the world is real. God can not enter His Son's insanity with him, but He could be sure sanity went there with him, so the Son would not be lost forever in the madness of his wish.
25. Knowledge does not rest on choosing. Knowledge has only one Creator, and only one law. However, this world was made by two, and these two see things differently. To each, perception has a different purpose and serves a different goal. Perception is determined by the purpose and the goal I choose. Perception is the perfect frame to set off specialness--the battleground to wage its wars, the shelter for the illusions it would make real. Every illusion is upheld and justified in its perception.
26. There is another Maker of the world. It is the link to the laws of God, adapted to the needs the Son of God believes he has in form. He corrects the false belief that a world can be made without a link to keep it within the laws of God. Corrected error is the end of error. Thus God has protected His Son, even in error. In the world made by error, this other Maker has another purpose, that can reconcile perception's goal with His Creator's purpose. He perceives only perfect sinlessness, giving instant and complete forgiveness to all.
27. Nothing remains even an instant, to obscure the sinlessness that shines unchanged. Specialness attempts to put sinlessness out of mind, and light up the body instead. But the lamps of Heaven are not for specialness to see them where it will. If specialness chooses to see them where they could never be, and I agree, then the Maker of the world must correct my error, lest I remain in darkness. Everyone here has entered darkness, but not alone. For he has come with Heaven's Help within him, ready to lead him out of darkness into light at any instant.
28. The instant he chooses can be any instant, for help is there, awaiting only his choice. And when he chooses to avail himself of what is given him, he will see each situation that he thought justified anger before, turned into an event which justifies love. He will hear plainly that the calls to war he heard before are really calls to peace. He will perceive that where he attacked there is another altar where he can equally and happily bestow forgiveness. And he will reinterpret all temptation as just another chance to bring him joy. How can a misperception be a sin? I let all my brother's errors be a chance for me to see the workings of the Helper, helping me see the world He made, instead of mine.
29. What is justified? What do I want? These two questions are the same. And when I see them as the same, my choice is made. For it is seeing them as one that brings release from the belief that there are two ways to see. This world has much to offer to my peace, and many chances to extend my own forgiveness. Such is its purpose for those who want to see peace and forgiveness come to them, and offer them the light.
30. The Maker of the world of gentleness has perfect power to offset the world of violence and hate that seems to stand between me and His gentleness. There is no hate in His forgiving eyes. And it need not be in mine. Sin is the fixed belief perception cannot change. What has been damned is damned and damned forever, being forever unforgivable. If then it is forgiven, the perception of sin must have been a mistake. And thus change is made possible. The Holy Spirit knows that what He sees is far beyond the chance of change. Sin cannot encroach on His vision, for sin has been corrected by His sight. And thus it must have been an error, not a sin. What specialness claimed could never be, is done. Sin is always preserved when attacked by punishment. But to forgive is to change it from error into truth.
31. The Son of God could never sin, but he can wish for what would hurt him. And he is able to think that he can be hurt. But this could only be a misperception of himself. Is this a damning sin or a forgivable mistake? Does he need condemnation or help? Is it my purpose that he be damned or saved? I will remember that what my brother is to me, is my choice for my future. For I make this choice now, the instant when all time becomes a means to reach a goal. I will recognize that in this choice the purpose of the world I see is chosen and will be justified. Then I will make my choice.