1. While we have recognized that the ego\u2019s plan for salvation is the opposite of God\u2019s, we have not yet emphasized that it is an active attack on His plan, and a deliberate attempt to destroy it. \u00b2In 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. The ego\u2019s fundamental wish is to replace God. \u00b2In fact, the ego is the physical embodiment of that wish. \u00b3For it is that wish that seems to surround the mind with a body, keeping it separate and alone, and unable to reach other minds except through the body that was made to imprison it. \u2074The limit on communication cannot be the best means to expand communication. \u2075Yet the ego would have you believe that it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Although the attempt to keep the limitations that a body would impose is obvious here, it is perhaps not so apparent why holding grievances is an attack on God\u2019s plan for salvation. \u00b2But let us consider the kinds of things you are apt to hold grievances for. \u00b3Are they not always associated with something a body does? \u2074A person says something you do not like. \u2075He does something that displeases you. \u2076He \u201cbetrays\u201d his hostile thoughts in his behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. You are not dealing here with what the person is. \u00b2On the contrary, you are exclusively concerned with what he does in a body. \u00b3You are doing more than failing to help in freeing him from the body\u2019s limitations. \u2074You are actively trying to hold him to it by confusing it with him, and judging them as one. \u2075Herein is God attacked, for if His Son is only a body, so must He be as well. \u2076A creator wholly unlike his creation is inconceivable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. If God is a body, what must His plan for salvation be? \u00b2What could it be but death? \u00b3In 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. \u2074The body\u2019s apparent reality makes this view of God quite convincing. \u2075In fact, if the body were real, it would be difficult indeed to escape this conclusion. \u2076And every grievance that you hold insists that the body is real. \u2077It overlooks entirely what your brother is. \u2078It reinforces your belief that he is a body, and condemns him for it. \u2079And it asserts that his salvation must be death, projecting this attack onto God, and holding Him responsible for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. To this carefully prepared arena, where angry animals seek for prey and mercy cannot enter, the ego comes to save you. \u00b2God made you a body. \u00b3Very well. \u2074Let us accept this and be glad. \u2075As a body, do not let yourself be deprived of what the body offers. \u2076Take the little you can get. \u2077God gave you nothing. \u2078The body is your only savior. \u2079It is the death of God and your salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. This is the universal belief of the world you see. \u00b2Some hate the body, and try to hurt and humiliate it. \u00b3Others love the body, and try to glorify and exalt it. \u2074But while the body stands at the center of your concept of yourself, you are attacking God\u2019s 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. \u2075Your chosen savior takes His place instead. \u2076It is your friend; He is your enemy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8. We will try today to stop these senseless attacks on salvation. \u00b2We will try to welcome it instead. \u00b3Your upside-down perception has been ruinous to your peace of mind. \u2074You have seen yourself in a body and the truth outside you, locked away from your awareness by the body\u2019s limitations. \u2075Now we are going to try to see this differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9. The light of truth is in us, where it was placed by God. \u00b2It is the body that is outside us, and is not our concern. \u00b3To be without a body is to be in our natural state. \u2074To recognize the light of truth in us is to recognize ourselves as we are. \u2075To see our Self as separate from the body is to end the attack on God\u2019s plan for salvation, and to accept it instead. \u2076And wherever His plan is accepted, it is accomplished already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10. Our goal in the longer practice periods today is to become aware that God\u2019s plan for salvation has already been accomplished in us. \u00b2To achieve this goal, we must replace attack with acceptance. \u00b3As long as we attack it, we cannot understand what God\u2019s plan for us is. \u2074We are therefore attacking what we do not recognize. \u2075Now we are going to try to lay judgment aside, and ask what God\u2019s plan for us is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6<\/sup>What is salvation, Father? 7<\/sup>I do not know. 8<\/sup>Tell me, that I may understand.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 9<\/sup>Then we will wait in quiet for His answer. 10<\/sup>We have attacked God\u2019s plan for salvation without waiting to hear what it is. 11<\/sup>We have shouted our grievances so loudly that we have not listened to His Voice. 12<\/sup>We have used our grievances to close our eyes and stop our ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 11. Now we would see and hear and learn. \u00b2\u201cWhat is salvation, Father?\u201d \u00b3Ask and you will be answered. \u2074Seek and you will find. \u2075We are no longer asking the ego what salvation is and where to find it. \u2076We are asking it of truth. \u2077Be certain, then, that the answer will be true because of Whom you ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 12. 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 of the infinite Creator of infinity, Who created you like Himself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2<\/sup>What is salvation, Father? 3<\/sup>I do not know. 4<\/sup>Tell me, that I may understand.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 5<\/sup>He will answer. 6<\/sup>Be determined to hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 13. One or perhaps two shorter practice periods an hour will be enough for today, since they will be somewhat longer than usual. \u00b2These exercises should begin with this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3<\/sup>Holding grievances is an attack on God\u2019s plan for salvation. 4<\/sup>Let me accept it instead. 5<\/sup>What is salvation, Father?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 6<\/sup>Then wait a minute or so in silence, preferably with your eyes closed, and listen for His answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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