Category: Libro de Ejercicios

My only function is the one God gave me.^I

1. Today’s idea reaffirms your commitment to salvation.

²It also reminds you that you have no other function but this.

³Clearly, both thoughts are necessary in order to reach a wholehearted commitment.

⁴Yet salvation cannot be your only goal while you still assign value to others. ^II

⁵Fully accepting salvation as your one and only function necessarily involves two phases.

⁶The first is the recognition that your function is salvation.

⁷The second is the relinquishment of all other goals you have invented for yourself. ^III

2. Only thus can you take your rightful place among the Saviors of the world.

²Only thus can you truly say, “My only function is the one God gave me.”

³And only thus will you find peace of mind.

3. Today, and during the coming days, set aside ten to fifteen minutes for a longer practice period in which you will try to understand and accept what today’s idea really means.

²This idea offers you an escape from all the difficulties you perceive.

³It places in your hands the key to the door of peace, which you yourself have closed.

⁴And it is the answer to all the seeking you have undertaken since the beginning of time.

4. If possible, try to do the longer practice sessions at approximately the same time each day.

²Also try to decide in advance when that time will be, and to adhere to it as best you can.

³The purpose of doing this is to organize your day in a way that sets aside time for God, just as you do for all the trivial goals and pursuits you will follow.

⁴This is part of the long-range training your mind needs so that the Holy Spirit can use it consistently in accordance with the purpose He shares with you. ^IV

5. Begin this longer practice by reviewing today’s idea.

²Then close your eyes, repeat the idea silently once more, and carefully examine your mind for any thoughts that arise.

³At first, do not try to focus only on thoughts related to today’s idea.

⁴Rather, try to notice any thought that comes up and interferes with it.

⁵Observe each one as it appears, without engaging with it or becoming concerned, and then dismiss it by saying:

⁶This thought reflects a goal that is blocking me from accepting my only function.

6. As time goes on, the interfering thoughts will become harder to find.

²Nevertheless, spend another minute trying to uncover a few of the idle thoughts that may have previously slipped by unnoticed, but do not strain or become anxious.

³Then say to yourself:

⁴Let my true function be written upon this clean slate.

⁵You do not need to use these exact words, but try to reach a state of willingness in which your illusory goals can be replaced by the truth.

7. Finally, repeat today’s idea once more and devote the remainder of the practice to quietly reflecting on how important this is to you.

²Think of the relief you will feel when you accept it, for it will resolve your conflicts once and for all.

³And also realize how deeply you truly want salvation, despite the foolish ideas you may still hold to the contrary.

8. In the shorter practice periods, which should be done at least once every hour, use this form in applying today’s idea:

²My only function is the one God gave me.

³I want no other and I have no other.

⁴At times, close your eyes as you practice, and at others, keep them open and look around you.

⁵What you now see will change entirely when you wholeheartedly accept today’s idea.

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^I The identity of something is its meaning, and the meaning of something is its function; therefore, the identity of anything is its function. Identity is the same as function.

Your function, then, is to be what you are—to exercise your identity. Your function is to realize and live fully the Love, the Truth, and the Power (the three aspects of Being) with which you came into existence when God created you.

^II If you attempt to be something other than what you truly are, you will be completely lost in that peripheral self that is your ego. You will “malfunction,” and your heart—that infallible guide of your mind—will let you know it.

Your function in this world is salvation, which, in reality, is nothing more than recovering your true function: to create in eternity as your Father creates. Thus, we can interpret salvation as a “transitory” function, one that is understandable only in illusory terms. You, Son of God, have no need to be saved from anything, for God created you eternally perfect. But you, ego, are certainly in great need of being saved from that which never happened, but which you believe in within your dream of separation. Realize that this Lesson speaks of the function of the character, of the egoic mind—the one who is doing this Course.

That little self knows and manages only illusions, so what else can you speak to it of but illusions? Salvation, or Atonement, is the benevolent illusion through which the individual mind awakens to its true identity.

Therefore, save yourself by being in this world who you truly are: the Love, the Truth, and the Power of God’s Peace, for that is your happiness.

^III The idea for today has a dynamic perfectly opposite to that of the preceding Lessons. It is a Lesson in taking away, not in adding.

Imagine your mind as an untended garden to which you have invited a gardener—Jesus—to make it orderly and beautiful. Now look at what that gardener has done. In Lessons 61, 62, and 63, He planted some seeds that, in time, will become a beautiful plant bearing wonderful fruit—the fruits of your forgiveness. In yesterday’s Lesson, number 64, the gardener devoted Himself to tending the plant and watering it.

Today’s Lesson, however, is very different. The gardener knows that it is now necessary to remove all the weeds growing wild in the neglected garden. The thing is, this gardener cannot perform that task; He can only plant seeds. He cannot remove anything from the garden, because it is you who planted those things—you who are the lord, master, and owner of the garden. He cannot take away anything that you have put there.

It is quite likely that you will deny having planted those aberrant things yourself. Perhaps you will say that others planted them, or that the wind brought them. But that is not true. Only you hold the key to your garden; no one can do anything there without your permission. If you believe otherwise, you do not know yourself well. No one—not Jesus, not even God Himself—can alter your garden in the slightest. In fact, to say that Jesus has planted seeds in your garden or watered them is not exactly true. He has merely brought you the seeds and left them at the garden gate for you to plant, tend, and water. No one can enter your garden or touch anything there; it is strictly private.

Well, that is not exactly so either, because the fence around the garden is something you yourself have put up, and that is precisely what has made that little plot of an infinite landscape that stretches beyond the horizon a private, personal space. And to be even more precise, it must be said that the fence limiting your “property” is imaginary. In truth, that fence is more like a proclamation you made to the four winds, claiming that small space for yourself alone, and, of course, that had to be respected until you decided to revoke it. Such is your power.

Given this situation, in today’s Lesson the gardener tells you, quite sensibly, that unless you uproot those barren plants that have never borne fruit, your new crop will not prosper—it is impossible. The fertile soil of your garden cannot effectively nourish everything you have planted there. All the plants will compete for nourishment. So you will have to choose what to keep and what to remove. And remember, the process of uprooting belongs to you alone, for you have already declared to everyone that not even God may enter your garden.

This process of uprooting the weeds of your mental garden is essential for the seeds of forgiveness and peace to flourish. The weeds represent those thoughts of judgment, resentment, and fear that you have cultivated over time. Though they may seem deeply rooted and difficult to remove, you have the power to choose to release them.

Each time you uproot a weed, you make space for the light of love and truth to shine more brightly in your mind. This act of clearing is not a punishment but a liberation. By letting go of what does not serve you, you allow your garden to become a reflection of the beauty and harmony that have always been within you.

So today, become aware of the weeds that have grown in your garden. Acknowledge that you planted them, but also remember that you have the power to remove them. With each thought of forgiveness, you are pulling up one of those barren weeds and making room for the fruits of peace and happiness to grow in abundance.

The gardener—Jesus—is there to guide and support you, but the choice to clear your garden is yours. Trust that in doing so, you are fulfilling your function as the light of the world and contributing to the salvation of all.

[iv] The truth is that if your little garden is in chaos, it is because you have been lazy and irresponsible. First, you came up with the foolish idea of having a garden just for yourself, and then you did nothing about it. Your power is immense, your will always fulfills itself, but your decisions always carry consequences. If you plant a lemon tree, do not expect to harvest oranges. If you think that is possible, it is because you believe in magic and think you can cheat the sacred law of cause and effect.

The human being is not evil, but childish; he does not need to learn new things, but to mature; he need not seek great revelations, but rather stop drugging himself with childish fantasies. A happy life requires a sound mind—that is, a mind that is ordered and directed toward a single purpose, in which there are not multiple aspirations and opposing desires competing with one another, stressing and weakening it. That is why this Lesson is devoted to making you aware of your mental dispersion and the many interests that fragment your mind and disturb your heart.

The call to discipline may well intimidate you, but be honest—do you think it is possible to achieve anything without it? If you think so, you still believe in magic, and your childish mind harbors fantasies that some fairy godmother will fix the problems you yourself have created. Do not waste time—mature, get to work, choose well, and begin discarding what does not serve you.

If you are still afraid of making such radical changes in your way of thinking, do the following: tell yourself that you will do exactly what these Lessons say, precisely as instructed here, but only for a set period. Put all your will and all your strength into fulfilling what is asked of you scrupulously, and open your eyes wide. Look with absolute honesty at the effects this is having on your life, and then make a decision: continue with this path, now with more confidence and filled with faith; or throw this book away and look for something else; or carry on as before—but never stop halfway.

Remember that the process of bringing order to your mind and your life is not a punishment but a liberation. By clearing the clutter and focusing on what is essential, you are creating space for peace and clarity to blossom. It is not about renouncing everything you love, but about discerning what truly nourishes you and brings you closer to your purpose.

Discipline need not be synonymous with rigidity or suffering. It can be an act of love toward yourself, a way of honoring your potential and your capacity to create a meaningful life. Each time you choose to focus on what truly matters, you are taking a step toward maturity and fulfillment.

So, even if it may seem difficult at first, trust the process. The fruits of discipline and inner order are incomparable: a calm mind, a peaceful heart, and a life aligned with your true Being. Do not fear making radical decisions if necessary; sometimes that is the only path to genuine happiness.

Let me not forget my function.

1. Today’s idea is simply another way of saying: “Lead me not into temptation.” ^I

²The purpose of the world you see is to obscure your function of forgiveness and to offer you justification for forgetting it.

³It is the temptation to abandon God and His Son by adopting a physical appearance.

⁴This is what the body’s eyes behold. ^II

2. Nothing the body’s eyes seem to see can be anything but a form of temptation, for this was the body’s inherent purpose.

²Yet we have learned that the Holy Spirit has another use for all the illusions you have made, and therefore He sees another purpose in them.

³To the Holy Spirit, the world is a place where you learn to forgive yourself for what you think are your sins. ^III

⁴Under this new perception, the physical appearance of temptation becomes the spiritual recognition of salvation. ^IV

3. Our recent lessons have told you that your function here is to be the light of the world—a function God has given you.

²It is only the ego’s arrogance that leads you to question this, and only its fears that make you believe you are unworthy of the task God Himself has entrusted to you.

³The salvation of the world depends on your forgiveness, for that is how the Son of God escapes all illusions—and therefore, all temptation.

⁴And that Son of God is you. ^V

4. Only by fulfilling the function God gave you will you be happy.

²And this is because your function is to be happy, using the means that make happiness inevitable.

³There is no other way.

⁴Therefore, every time you choose whether or not to fulfill your function, you are really choosing whether or not to be happy. ^VI

5. Let us remember this today.

²Let us do so in the morning, at night, and throughout the day as well.

³Prepare yourself in advance for all the decisions you will make today by remembering that each one is really very simple.

⁴Each will lead to either happiness or unhappiness.

⁵How can a decision so simple be difficult to make?

6. Do not let the form of the decision deceive you.

²The complexity of the form does not imply complexity of content.

³It is impossible that any decision on earth have a content different from this one simple choice. ^VII

⁴This is the only choice the Holy Spirit sees.

⁵Therefore, it is the only choice that exists.

7. Let us then practice these thoughts today:

²Let me not forget my function.

³Let me not try to substitute mine for the one God gave me.

⁴I want to forgive, and be happy.

⁵Spend at least ten to fifteen minutes once today reflecting on this, with your eyes closed.

⁶Thoughts related to these will come to your mind to support you, if you remember how crucial your function is—to you, and to the world.

8. In your frequent applications of today’s idea throughout the day, spend several minutes reviewing these thoughts, and then think about them and nothing else.

²This may be difficult at first, especially since you have not yet mastered the mental discipline it requires.

³You may need to repeat often: “Let me not forget my function” to help you focus.

9. The shorter practice sessions are to be done in two different ways.

²At times, do the exercises with your eyes closed, trying to focus on the thoughts you are using.

³At other times, keep your eyes open after reviewing the thoughts, and then look slowly around you without focusing on anything in particular, and say to yourself:

⁴This is the world I am to save.

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^I Matthew 6:13: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever and ever.”

To fall into temptation is nothing more than to betray yourself by adopting a role that does not belong to you and turning away from your true essence. It is to assume a false identity, a mask that conceals what you really are. The result is always predictable: suffering, confusion, and unrest, for you are trying to be something you are not.

Imagine that you are like a tool designed for a specific purpose. When it is used according to its design, everything flows naturally and efficiently. In the same way, you were created by Love in His likeness, with a single function: to love. In this world of illusions, that function unfolds by loving what is real and forgiving what is not. When you love and forgive, you fulfill your purpose; the result is harmony, peace, and a deep inner satisfaction.

But when you succumb to the temptation to act outside your purpose—when you attempt to attack, judge, or cling to illusions—you will inevitably experience discomfort and conflict. You are simply not designed for that. Always remember your purpose: to love and forgive. Everything else is temptation, a detour that can only lead to suffering.

Review your past experiences and you will have to acknowledge that this logic applies relentlessly. Every time you have strayed from your function of loving and forgiving, the result has been the same: pain, conflict, and a sense of emptiness. On the other hand, when you have chosen to love and forgive, you have found peace and fulfillment. Experience itself is the most compelling evidence of this immutable truth.

^II The purpose of what our eyes see, in the form of physical appearance, is to provide an excuse to justify our attacks. The images our eyes perceive shout at us: “Don’t you see this is real? You must protect yourself from it! Attack it or it will destroy you!”

^III However, the Holy Spirit tells you: “Forgive it, let it go, it is not real. What you are seeing are your own ‘sins,’ those you believe you have committed, and since you despise them, you project them outside yourself, and that is where you see them. Those sins are imaginary, the threats you believe you see are imaginary as well, and the very body that seems to suffer them is nothing but an illusion of yourself in your holy mind.”

Of course, this seems “incredible” because your mind can only “believe” in illusions. Your mind was not created to believe but to create—and this is not a play on words but the truth. Yet you will never be able to “believe” it; that is what you are. It may be helpful to grow accustomed to the idea that, with your limited mind, you will never be able to “believe” in the truth—and that is so for the simple reason that your mind is not limited. Believing that it is, is merely another belief.

Relax, pray, and trust in the Voice of the Holy Spirit. That is all you need to do. Follow His guidance, forgive, and you will see how the world around you changes by itself and begins to shine. You do not need to believe this either; simply do it and open your eyes.

^IV This means that, since you are dreaming—and will continue to do so until the world disappears—you will see the story of your own salvation unfold within your dream as well: images that are nothing more than symbols of your desires and fears.

What else could your salvation, the Atonement, and the miracles be but a happy story within a dark dream? You, Son of God, do not deal in stories; you remain perfect, whole, and complete, just as God created you in eternity.

^V Realize that the incessant inner dialogue with which you are always chattering to yourself is precisely the voice of your ego. Those thoughts you cannot stop are the ones that “mean nothing,” as you have learned in previous Lessons. In truth, that is the only thing you need to forgive, the only thing you need to let go of without giving it importance.

Also realize that your thoughts are one thing, and the awareness of those thoughts is another. Both are illusory, but they belong to different orders. You can identify with your thoughts and rush into action, but you can also identify with the part of your mind that is aware of those contents. When you do this, you in some way “step back,” move away from them, and disengage from their dictates. One could say that in this way you free yourself a little from compulsive thinking and its demands. Meditation is nothing more than that—but nothing less.

Therefore, when your ego tries to convince you that seeing yourself as “the light of the world” is madness, pay it no mind. Understand that the ego is simply fulfilling its function flawlessly, for that is why it appeared in your mind: to persuade you that you are indeed separate from God. Let it fulfill its function, and you calmly devote yourself to yours, which is the one God Himself assigned to you.

^VI To truly accept this, only a bit of honesty is required—nothing more. Briefly review the story of your life and try to remember those moments when you felt joy in your heart and peace in your mind. Your past will confirm that you reached that state in moments of forgiveness and Atonement with the world. But you need not go that far; forgive now, and the present will confirm it just as surely. And if you keep forgiving, your future will also, without doubt, be joyous and peaceful.

^VII At times, you may feel a bit overwhelmed having to choose between two options that appear before you, both of a strongly negative nature: “to condemn or to forgive.” It may help you to interpret forgiveness in a more positive way.

You can also view that duality in terms of “to suffer or to celebrate,” for ultimately, to forgive is to celebrate the truth; it is the joyful celebration that you are innocent, invulnerable, and loved by God—and if you are, then so is everything you behold.

Forgiveness is not an act of condescension or sacrifice, but a celebration of truth. Each time you choose to forgive, you are remembering that love is the only reality and that the illusions of separation and conflict hold no power over you. In forgiving, you not only free yourself, but also radiate light all around you, contributing to the healing of the one mind we all share.

Remember that your function is not to change the world, but to change your perception of the world, for what sense does it make to change illusions? In doing so, you are fulfilling your role as the savior of the world, bringing peace to all minds through your forgiveness. And in that act of love, you find the happiness and peace that are your natural inheritance.

So when you face a situation that challenges you, remember who you are and why you are here. You are the light of the world, and your forgiveness is the means through which that light shines. Choose to forgive, choose to be happy, and let the world see the glory of God through you.

The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness.

1. How holy you are, who hold the power to bring peace to every mind!

²How blessed, that you can learn to recognize the means by which this comes about through you!

³What other purpose could bring you greater happiness? ^I

2. With such a function, you are indeed the light of the world.

²The Son of God places his trust in you for his redemption.

³And you can give it to him, for it is yours to give.

⁴Do not accept any trivial purpose or meaningless desire in its place, or you will forget your function and leave the Son of God in hell.

⁵This is not a vain request.

⁶You are being asked to accept salvation, so that it may be yours—and then you may give it. ^II

3. Aware of the importance of this function, we will gladly remember it often today. ^III

²We will begin the day by acknowledging our function, and end it thinking of it.

³And throughout the day, we will repeat as often as we can:

⁴The light of the world brings peace to every mind through my forgiveness.

⁵I am the means God has appointed for the salvation of the world.

4. If you close your eyes, it will likely be easier to let thoughts related to these ideas come to you during the one or two minutes you should devote to them.

²But do not wait for such an opportunity.

³Do not let any chance pass by to reinforce today’s idea.

⁴Remember that the Son of God depends on you for his salvation.

⁵And who is His Son, but your very Self?

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^I The purpose of forgiveness is to release from guilt and fear. In this world, everyone feels guilty and afraid for countless reasons. How could you not bring peace to your brothers when you forgive them and encourage them to be freed from guilt and fear?

You have the power to bring peace to others! You can learn to do it! It will not be you who does it, but it will be done through you. You are the channel, and the Power of God will do the rest. That is the Will of God, and you can be sure that nothing will make you happier.

This Lesson is a powerful reminder of your true identity and function in the world. You are not a separate and limited being, but the light of the world, a channel through which the love and peace of God can flow to heal all minds. By forgiving, you are clearing away the obstacles that prevent this light from shining, allowing the miracle of salvation to manifest.

The idea that the Son of God entrusts His redemption to you may seem overwhelming, but it is important to remember that you are not alone in this task. The Power of God works through you, and your function is simply to be willing to serve as an instrument of His Love. By accepting this function, you are not only contributing to the salvation of the world, but also acknowledging your own salvation.

The practice of repeating today’s idea throughout the day helps you keep your mind focused on your true purpose. Each time you remember that you are the light of the world and that your forgiveness brings peace to all minds, you are reinforcing your connection with truth and strengthening your commitment to healing.

Thus, this Lesson not only invites you to forgive, but also to recognize the transforming power that resides within you. In doing so, you are taking a crucial step toward fulfilling your function as a teacher of God and toward experiencing the peace and happiness that are your natural inheritance.

^II How could you not be the light of the world if you dedicate yourself to it! The angels of God are astonished when they see you act in this way, and they reverently salute the human being who saves the Son of God. What a function lies within your reach! How could you think of doing anything else? Moreover, you are paid for it with your own salvation. And you are not paid in the future—you are paid on the spot! The very instant you forgive, your heart fills with joy. Could there be a better offer?

This passage is a powerful and encouraging reminder of the magnitude of your function and of the immediate reward you receive when you fulfill it. There is no task nobler or more rewarding than to be an instrument of forgiveness and, therefore, of salvation. Each time you choose to forgive, you not only release others from the chains of illusion, but you also free yourself.

The joy you experience in forgiving is tangible proof that you are aligning with the truth of your Being. That joy is not something you must wait for in a distant future; it is a gift you receive the very moment you decide to release judgment and open yourself to love. It is the confirmation that you are fulfilling your function and remem-bering who you truly are.

The angels of God, beings of light and love, celebrate your choice to forgive because they recognize that, in doing so, you are contributing to the healing of the one mind we all share. Your forgiveness not only benefits you but also has a profound impact on collective consciousness, helping to dispel the shadows of separation and restore unity.

So why would you choose anything else? Why settle for trivial purposes or insubstantial desires when you have the opportunity to take part in the salvation of the world? Each act of forgiveness is a step toward peace, both for you and for everyone. And the reward—that joy that fills your heart—is the proof that you are on the right path.

Remember: there is no greater happiness than that which you experience when you forgive, for in that act you are remembering your true nature and your connection with God. Choose forgiveness, choose to be the light of the world, and let your heart be filled with the joy that only love can bring!

^III Today, you will indeed rejoice as you remind yourself that your function is to bring peace to others through your forgiveness, but true joy will come when you are blessed with the opportunity to find yourself in a situation that requires your forgiveness. Then you will be able to shine and illuminate the world by doing what God asks of you and for which you are perfectly prepared; then you will truly fulfill your function by forgiving.

When that happens—when something disturbs you, when darkness gathers around you and your heart contracts, wavering between fear and anger—open your eyes and remember: you are the savior of the world, and you are perfectly capable of learning, resolving, and healing that Lesson that life has placed before you and that God wants you to learn.

In that moment, invoke the Power of God within you, and clothed in such magnificence, forgive. And you will see what happens immediately. Your mind will be filled with light, your heart will leap with joy, and the angels of God will join hands, beholding you with reverence. And Jesus will smile—so proud of you!

This passage is a call to action, an invitation to live fully your function as the savior of the world. There is no greater opportunity to shine than when you face a situation that seems dark or difficult. It is in those moments that you can choose to forgive, and in doing so, you not only transform your own experience but also radiate light all around you.

Forgiveness is not an act of weakness but of divine strength. In forgiving, you are choosing to see beyond appearances and to recognize the truth that we are all one in the love of God. This act of courage and faith does not go unnoticed in the heavenly realms. The angels celebrate your choice, and Jesus, your brother and guide, rejoices with pride as He watches you fulfill your sacred function.

So when you find yourself facing a challenging situation, remember who you are and why you are here. You are the light of the world, the savior who brings peace through forgiveness. And each time you choose to forgive, you are remembering your true identity and contributing to the healing of the one mind we all share.

Let your light shine, and let the world see the glory of God through you!

My function is to forgive because I am the light of the world.

1. Your forgiveness is what will bring this world of darkness into the Light.^I

²Your forgiveness is what allows you to recognize the Light in which you see.

³Forgiveness is the proof that you are the light of the world.

⁴Through your forgiveness, you remember the truth about yourself.

⁵Therefore, in your forgiveness lies your salvation. ^II

2. The illusions you hold about yourself and about the world are one and the same. ^III

²That is why all forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. ^IV

³Your goal is to discover who you are, for you have denied your Identity by attacking Creation and its Creator.

⁴Now you are learning how to remember the truth.

⁵To do so, you must replace all attack with forgiveness, so that thoughts of Life may take the place of those of death.

3. Remember that every time you attack, you are calling upon your own weakness, while every time you forgive, you are invoking the strength of Christ in you. ^V

²Do you begin to understand, then, what forgiveness can do for you?

³Forgiveness will clear your mind of all feelings of weakness, strain, and fatigue.

⁴It will wash away all fear, guilt, and pain.

⁵And it will restore to your awareness the invulnerability and the power God gave His Son.

4. Let us rejoice in beginning and ending this day by practicing today’s idea, and in calling upon it as often as possible throughout the day.

²This will make your day as joyful for you as God wants it to be.

³And it will also cause those near you to share that joy with you, as well as those who seem far from you in space and time. ^VI

5. As often as you can, and with your eyes closed if possible, say to yourself:

²My function is to forgive, because I am the light of the world.

³I want to fulfill my function so that I may be happy.

⁴Then spend a minute or two considering your function, and the happiness and freedom it will bring.

⁵Let thoughts related to today’s idea come to you, for your heart will recognize these words, and in your mind lies the awareness that they are true.

⁶And if you become distracted, repeat the idea and add:

⁷I want to remember this because I want to be happy.

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^I You are here to save the world… in your mind, which is where it truly resides. That is the only world that “exists,” and the only one that needs salvation. And you will save it by forgiving it—by letting go of every judgment you have made about it.

It is a world built on absences of Love, but remember this: absences do not exist. In truth, you are only forgiving—releasing—your mistaken ideas, precisely because they are not true, because they do not serve you, and because they harm you. Your heart reminds you of this constantly. Listen to it. Whenever you “feel” bad, it is because what you are thinking is not true.

Why would you hold on to all those lies in your holy mind?

When you forgive, you feel well. The world becomes bright. Can you not see this? Do you not want to be happy? Would you rather persist in conceiving interpretations that bring you pain?

You have already seen in previous Lessons—and it has been made quite clear—that you relate only to your own interpretations, that what you call “reality” means nothing in and of itself. You are the one who has given everything the meaning it has for you. And the fact that those meanings may seem to match those of many others does not make them valid; it only means they are reliable, because you have agreed upon them together.

You have absolute control over your mind, but you are unaware of it because you deny it—and then use that very power to convince yourself that you are powerless. You can use your mind to interpret in any way you choose, and thereby live in the world you desire.

Therefore, desire wisely. Desire to see differently. Ask for a way of seeing the world that will make you happy, and your heart will tell you that now you are using your mind rightly.

Align yourself with the guidance of your heart, not with the dictates of the world. The world’s dictates were conceived to sustain the disheartening belief that you are separate from everything. That is not true—yet, unfortunately, you can believe it. Once again: that does not serve you.

Trust your feeling. Trust your heart.

By choosing to forgive and to release judgment, you are freeing your mind from the chains of illusion and allowing the light of truth to shine through you.

This act of forgiveness not only transforms your perception of the world, but also draws you nearer to the happiness and peace that are your natural inheritance.

Remember: the world you see is a reflection of your mind, and by changing it, you change everything you experience. Choose to see with the eyes of Love, and the world will become a place of light and harmony.

^II Perhaps you recall these words from the Introduction to theText: “This Course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the obstacles to the awareness of love’s presence, which is your natural inheritance.” Well, forgiveness is exactly that: removing the obstacles to the awareness of love’s presence.

Forgiveness is not an act of condescension or sacrifice; it is a process of mental release. In forgiving, you are not justifying or accepting what you consider to be errors or harm, but rather you are letting go of the judgments that cloud your vision and keep you from recognizing the truth. Those judgments are the obstacles that separate you from the awareness of love, which is your essence and your divine inheritance.

When you forgive, in truth, you are forgiving yourself for having condemned your brother, for that has been your “sin”: thinking ill of him; that is the only element in your mental universe that makes sense to call “sin.”

You are saying: “I prefer to see beyond this illusion. I choose to free my mind from the shadows of fear and resentment, so that the light of love may shine unimpeded.” This act of detachment not only transforms your perception of the world, but also brings you closer to the direct experience of love, which has always been present but which you had veiled with your mistaken interpretations.

Forgiveness, therefore, is not something you do for others, but for yourself. It is a gift you give yourself, a conscious decision to leave behind what hurts and limits you, so as to open to the fullness of your Self. In forgiving, you align with the truth that love is the only real thing, and that everything else is mere illusion you can choose to release.

Thus, forgiveness becomes the key that opens the door to the awareness of love, allowing you to remember who you really are: a being of light, love, and peace, eternally connected to the Source of all that is.

^III Because the world is nothing but the projection of the idea you hold of yourself.

This assertion is fundamental for understanding the nature of your experience. The world you perceive is nothing but a mirror that reflects the beliefs, judgments, and perceptions you harbor in your mind. If you see yourself as separate, limited, vulnerable, or lacking, the world you project will be filled with conflict, fear, and scarcity. On the contrary, if you recognize your true identity as the Son of God, whole and perfect, the world you experience will begin to reflect that light and that peace.

The world, in itself, has no meaning of its own. It is a blank canvas upon which you project your thoughts and beliefs. That is why Jesus teaches that “the world you see is what you have put there to see.” Each situation, each relationship, each circumstance is an opportunity to observe what is in your mind and to choose to see differently.

When you become aware that the world is a projection of your mind, you understand that you do not need to change the external world in order to be happy. What you need is to change the idea you have of yourself. By freeing yourself from false beliefs and embracing the truth of your Self, the world you project is automatically transformed.

This is the power of forgiveness: by releasing judgments and mistaken interpretations, you remove the obstacles that keep you from seeing the light of love in you and in all that surrounds you. The world then ceases to be a place of conflict and becomes a reflection of the peace and unity that have always been present in your mind.

Remember: the world is nothing but a dream, a temporary projection of the mind. Your true reality lies beyond it, in the eternity of love. In changing your perception, you are not changing the world itself, but awakening to the truth that the world was never real. And in that awakening, you find the peace that has always been your inheritance.

^IV You have built an idea of yourself based on limitations, and therefore you limit everything. To limit is to separate. What is functioning now in your mind is simply the fragmenting idea of separation, infinitely fractalized and projected outside you. It is nothing but that, and moreover, it is false; but, once again, you can believe in it and thus lend it a spurious existence.

Each time you forgive, it is a gift you give yourself, and your heart rejoices in it. Your mind is now confused, because it is free and can think whatever it pleases. It can think any nonsense, but it cannot make it true, and it never will be. Your heart is not free, because it is not cause but the effect of your mind’s thinking. You are free to think, but not to feel. You will always feel in accordance with how you think; in this there is no choice.

Forgiveness is a present you give to Heaven and to yourself, and your heart simply confirms it for you. In forgiving, you are choosing to release the illusions that bind you and to open to the truth that you are free, complete, and eternally united to the Source of all love. This act of release not only transforms your perception of the world, but also brings you closer to the direct experience of the peace and happiness that are your natural inheritance.

Remember: forgiveness is not an act of weakness, but of strength. It is the conscious decision to leave behind what limits you and to embrace the truth of your Self. In doing so, you not only free yourself, but you also contribute to the healing of the world, for in changing your mind, you change the world you project.

Thus, forgiveness becomes a bridge between illusion and truth, between fear and love. It is the greatest gift you can give yourself and the world, because in forgiving, you are remembering who you really are: a being of light, love, and peace, eternally connected to the Source of all that is.

^V This is the strength of meekness. As mentioned in the Manual for Teachers, in M-5.IV.2:1-2: “… God’s teachers are wholly gentle. They need the strength that gentleness brings, for it is in this that their function of salvation becomes easy for them.” Meekness is not weakness, but a powerful quality that arises from the understanding that there is no need to struggle, defend, or impose. In being meek, you recognize that your true strength does not come from yourself, but from God, and that it is in surrender that you find your most authentic power.

Remember also that, through your forgiveness, you invoke the Power of God. As noted in M-5.I.1:5-8: “… (the world) is governed by a Power that is in them but not of them. This Power is what keeps all things safe. Through this Power, God’s teachers look on a forgiven world. Once this Power has been experienced, it is impossible to trust again in one’s own petty strength.”

Forgiveness is the means by which you connect with this divine Power. In releasing judgments, resentments, and illusions, you open to the presence of God in your mind and allow His Love and His Strength to flow through you. This Power is not something you can generate by yourself; it is a gift you receive when you choose to align with truth and leave behind the ego’s falsehoods.

Meekness and forgiveness go hand in hand, for both require that you relinquish the idea that you are in charge or that you need to control anything. Instead of trusting in your own limited strength, you trust in the Power of God, which is infinite and ever-present. In doing so, you become a channel of His Love and His Peace, and the world you perceive is transformed into a reflection of that light.

Thus, meekness becomes an expression of your true strength, and forgiveness the key that allows you to access the divine Power. Together, they guide you toward the fulfillment of your function as a teacher of God, helping you to see a forgiven world and to remember the unity that has always been.

^VI It is important that you realize that forgiveness has the healing power of the miracle. Forgiveness, in fact, is the antechamber of the miracle. By undoing illusions, forgiveness leaves your mind clean and receptive, allowing the light of truth to work the miracle. That is why forgiveness not only induces the healing miracle in your mind, but also in the minds of those who seem to be separate from you in the illusory realm of space-time, because, ultimately, it is the same mind.

Forgiveness acts as a bridge between illusion and truth. By releasing judgments, resentments, and false perceptions, you clear the way for the Love and Light of God to flow freely through you. This act of release not only benefits you, but also has a profound impact on the collective mind, for in reality there is no separation. What you heal in yourself, you heal in everyone.

The miracle is the natural expression of a mind that has been purified by forgiveness. It is not a magical or supernatural event, but a change in perception that allows you to see beyond illusions and recognize the truth. When you forgive, you are choosing to see with the eyes of love instead of those of fear, and that is what makes the miracle possible.

Remember that forgiveness is not an act of condescension or sacrifice; it is a gift you give to yourself and the world. In forgiving, you are affirming that you prefer peace to conflict, love to fear, and truth to illusion. And in doing so, you are contributing to the healing of the single mind we all share.

Thus, forgiveness becomes a powerful tool to transform not only your life, but also the world you perceive. In choosing to forgive, you are choosing light over darkness, unity over separation, and love over fear. And in that choice, you find the peace and happiness that have always been your inheritance.

I am the light of the world.

1. Who is the light of the world but the Son of God? ^I

²This, then, is nothing but a declaration of the truth about yourself.

³It is the opposite of pride, arrogance, or self-deception.

⁴It does not describe the self-concept you have made.

⁵It does not refer to any of the traits you have assigned to your idols.

⁶It refers to you as you were created by God.

⁷It simply states the truth.

2. To the ego, today’s idea is the epitome of self-glorification.

²But the ego does not understand humility, for it confuses it with self-debasement.

³Humility means accepting your role in salvation and refusing to accept any other.

⁴It is not humility to insist that you cannot be the light of the world if that is the function God has given you.

⁵To claim that this cannot be your function is mere arrogance, and arrogance always belongs to the ego. ^II

3. True humility requires you to accept today’s idea, because it is the Voice of God that tells you it is true. ^III

²This is an initial step toward accepting your true function on earth.

³It is a giant stride toward taking your rightful place in salvation. ^IV

⁴It is a clear affirmation of your right to be saved, and a recognition of the power that has been given you to save others.

4. It is helpful for you to think about this idea as often as possible today.

²It is the perfect answer to all illusions, and therefore to all temptation.

³This idea brings every image you have made about yourself to the truth, and helps you leave in peace, unburdened and certain of your purpose. ^V

5. As many practice sessions as possible should be undertaken today, although each need not last more than a minute or two.

²You should begin by saying to yourself:

³I am the light of the world.

⁴That is my only function.

⁵That is why I am here.

⁶Then, think about these statements for a short while, preferably with eyes closed if the situation allows. ^VI

⁷Let related thoughts come to you, and repeat the idea to yourself if your mind begins to wander and drift away from the central thought. ^VII

6. Be sure to begin and end the day with this practice.

²In this way, you will awaken acknowledging the truth about yourself, reinforce it throughout the day, and go to sleep reaffirming your function and your only purpose here.

³These two sessions may be longer than the others, if you find them helpful and wish to extend them.

7. Today’s idea goes far beyond the petty views the ego holds of what you are and what your function is.

²As the bearer of salvation, this is, of course, necessary.

³This is the first in a series of giant steps we will take in the weeks to come.

⁴Today, try to begin laying a solid foundation for these advances.^VIII

⁵You are the light of the world.

⁶And God has built His plan for the salvation of His Son upon you.

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^I Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
John 8:12 “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying: ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’”
John 9:5 “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

The expression “light of the world” appears 42 times in the Course: 9 in the Text and 33 in the Workbook.

In the following Lessons, the three aspects of the Self, known as the celebrated divine triad, will be addressed consecutively: Light (Lessons 61, 62, 63, and 75), Love (Lessons 67 and 68), and Will (Lessons 73 and 74). The purpose of these Lessons is to help you identify with these three aspects of your true Self.

^II Faced with such ideas, you may feel the tendency to look for a curious compromise. You understand and accept the notion of the ego, and also, to a certain extent, you grasp the concept of the Son of God, sympathizing with the idea that this is your true identity. Yet, surprisingly, you conceive of a third identity, to which you give no name but which you consider as “yourself.” This peculiar figure wavers uncertainly between the nefarious ego—when you see yourself thinking or doing something you deem bad—and a “more neutral” or perhaps “more benevolent” state of mind. This arises from the repugnance you feel at fully identifying with your ego, to which you attribute essentially evil qualities.

In reality, this is not so. First, it is important to understand that the ego is not an entity and has no existence whatsoever. The term ego is used in this Course to refer to a misuse of the mind, and that is a matter of degree. Jesus explains to you that a part of your holy mind is malfunctioning; he calls it “the lower or wrong part” of the mind, and he also tells you that this is the ego’s domain, the realm of illusions. Absolutely all your human experience occurs in that realm, in that mind. It is the stage of the world, of time and space. It is the illusion into which the Son of God’s mind plunges when it believes in the idea of separation. The idea itself is madness, and what that mind experiences is not true: it is a hallucination.

You, Son of God, are eternally in the Heart of God. You, as a human being, are always in the ego, in a state of erroneous mentality to a greater or lesser degree. When you condemn, you are absolutely mistaken; when you forgive, you are far less confused, but you are still in your ego. And the Son of God is wholly unaware of what either one means.

This Course is mental training for the ego mind, to help it function better, to stop experiencing nightmares, and finally to awaken to its divine condition. The mental illness you suffer is extraordinarily insidious, and the identity you have built for yourself is completely submerged in it, to the point that you have no valid perspective; fish do not know they live in water. You cannot save yourself. You do not know what is truly best for you. That is why Atonement does not depend on you.

You are the Love of God and you are not in this world, but while you believe you are, it is helpful for you to see yourself as the light of the world, thus dissipating somewhat the shadows of this dark imaginary place.

^III Today’s Lesson is of paramount importance, for it opens the way to true humility, the humility of your ego, the only one truly needed. The word humility comes from the Latin humus, which refers to fertile earth produced from the decomposition of living things. Notice the symbol well: the undoing of what seems alive, of apparent “living beings,” fosters a fertile ground for true Life to be born—your Self.

You undoubtedly have a host of opinions about yourself, and it is also evident that you believe those definitions are correct, for otherwise you would not hold them. That omniscient character you ascribe to yourself—believing that what you think is true—is the arrogance of the ego that Jesus exposes here. Your ego, which knows nothing, dictates to you a definition of your own identity that you accept without question, and from that insane idea of yourself you project an equally insane world.

This Lesson offers you a different vision of what you are. You need not believe it immediately, but it is essential that you give it a chance. From humility, open your mind and invite this new perspective to take root in you. Then, observe how you feel when you host such a guest.

True humility does not consist in belittling yourself, but in recognizing that the definitions you have accepted about yourself are illusory, and that in your essence you are something far greater and truer than your ego could ever conceive. By opening to this idea, you allow the light of truth to begin to dispel the shadows of illusion, preparing the ground for the awareness of your real Self to blossom.

^IV This Lesson is the first of the “giant steps” in the Workbook. The other Lessons identified as giant steps are 66, 94, 127, 130, 135, and 194.

^V Luke 2:29–30, 32 “Lord, now You let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation […] a light to enlighten the Gentiles.”

This is Simeon speaking, who, after having seen the child Jesus—the light of the world—declares that he can now die in peace. Similarly, here, having recognized that your true condition is to be the light of the world, you can take the first giant step and begin to leave behind in peace your false identity.

Just as Simeon found fullness and peace in beholding the divine light, you too can experience a profound release in recognizing your true essence. This recognition is not a mere intellectual act, but a spiritual awakening that allows you to let go of the bonds of illusion and move toward the truth of your Self.

This first step does not involve a titanic effort, but a conscious surrender to the truth that already dwells within you. By leaving behind the false identity you have constructed, you draw near to the peace that arises from knowing who you really are: the light of the world, a pure reflection of divine love and perfection.

Just as Simeon could rest in peace after his encounter with the sacred, you too can find tranquility and certainty by embracing your true nature. This is the beginning of a transformative journey, in which each step takes you farther from the shadows of illusion and closer to the fullness of your Self.

^VI This practice of reflecting on the statements is undoubtedly similar to the practice of the First Review you have just completed. In both cases, it is a mental exercise in which you invite yourself to adopt the ideas presented, reminding yourself of their benefits and supporting your decision with clear and conscious reasoning.

During the First Review, you focused on internalizing the key ideas, recalling their meaning and how they can transform your perception. Similarly, by reflecting on the statements presented to you now, you are reinforcing your commitment to a new mental framework, one that frees you from the ego’s illusions and draws you closer to the truth of your Self.

This process is not merely repetitive, but profoundly transformative. By reminding yourself of the benefits of these ideas and supporting your decision to accept them rationally, you are cultivating a mind more open and receptive to truth. Each time you review these concepts, you clear the path a little more toward clarity and inner peace.

In essence, this practice is a mental training that prepares you to live from a higher perspective, where illusions lose their power and the light of truth shines more brightly. Just as the First Review laid the foundation for deep change, this practice continues building upon that foundation, guiding you toward a fuller understanding of your true identity.

^VII This is the practice of letting related thoughts come, which was formally introduced in Lesson 42. Consult that Lesson for detailed instructions.

^VIII Luke 6:48 “He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.”

These are the ideas for today’s review: W-46–W-50

1. W-46 “God is the Love in which I forgive.”

²God does not forgive because He has never condemned.

³Those who are guiltless cannot blame, and those who have accepted their innocence see nothing to forgive.

⁴Yet forgiveness is the means by which I will recognize my innocence. ^I

⁵It is the reflection of God’s Love on earth.

⁶Forgiveness brings me so close to Heaven that God’s Love can reach down to me and raise me to my home.

2. W-47 “God is the Strength in which I trust.”

²It is not through my own strength that I forgive.

³It is through the strength of God in me, which I remember as I forgive. ^II

⁴As I begin to see, I recognize His reflection on earth.

⁵I forgive all things, because I feel the strength of God arise in me.

⁶And I begin to remember the Love I chose to forget, but Which has not forgotten me.

3. W-48 “There is nothing to fear.”

²How safe the world will look to me when I can see it!

³It will not look anything like what I imagine I see now.

⁴Everyone and everything I see will lean toward me to bless me.

⁵I will recognize in everyone my dearest Friend.

⁶What could there be to fear in a world that I have forgiven, and that has forgiven me? ^III

4. W-49 “God’s Voice speaks to me all through the day.”

²There is not a moment in which God’s Voice ceases to call on my forgiveness to save me.

³There is not a moment in which His Voice fails to direct my thoughts, guide my actions and lead my feet. ^IV

⁴I am walking steadily on toward truth.

⁵There is nowhere else I can go, because God’s Voice is the only voice and the only guide that has been given to His Son.

5. W-50 “I am sustained by the Love of God.”

²As I listen to God’s Voice, I am sustained by His Love.

³As I open my eyes, His Love lights up the world for me to see.

⁴As I forgive, His Love reminds me that His Son is sinless.

⁵And as I look upon the world with the vision He has given me, I remember who I am. ^V

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^I This is a very simple and perfectly accessible idea, for it is easy to experience; it works in every circumstance without exception. Whenever you truly forgive, your heart leaps with joy, freeing itself from a heavy burden and rising light and happy. This always happens, without possibility of exception. If you truly forgive, your heart will confirm with certainty that this profoundly benefits your soul.

Attention! The opposite is also true. Whenever you feel bad, when your heart is heavy and cries out in pain, it is because you are thinking something that is not true and you are harming yourself. Your heart is a sure guide to truth. Listen to it. Pay attention to your emotional states, for they are there precisely to show you how you are using your mind. Do not ignore their warnings. Always choose to be happy. And when you feel bad, when your heart alerts you, remember that what you were thinking must be false; seek a new way of seeing it and correct your mind.

Awareness of your emotions and healthy mental vigilance are indispensable requirements for navigating safely through a world of illusions. Use these resources well, for they will literally save your life.

^II These two lines are fundamental because they reveal the key to true forgiveness. You are the one who decides to forgive; that is your choice and your role in the process. Yet forgiveness is carried out through the Strength of God in you.

You cannot forgive on your own, which is logical, for you were the one who condemned. Now you are the one who has chosen forgiveness, who has made a new decision and chosen to free yourself from condemnation. But forgiveness becomes effective through the Strength of God in you, which is infallible.

Therefore, there is no justification for saying “I cannot forgive.” Be honest with yourself and admit, in any case, “I do not want to forgive,” for the only thing required of you in this process is your willingness, nothing more. Once you are willing, the Strength of God will take care of the rest, freeing you from resentment and restoring your peace.

When Jesus mentions here “your own strength,” he refers to that which you ascribe to yourself, the strength of your ego. In reality, your true and only strength is the Strength of God, for He gave you His Own Strength when He created you. You possess no other strength than that, for the one you now think you have belongs to the realm of illusions and exists only in your imagination.

Whenever you think of some quality you assign to yourself, one that can be measured or compared with that of others, realize that you are speaking of your ego, and that what you are thinking of is not real. All those qualities or virtues you perceive in yourself or in others are but your own imaginings; they have no reality. You may speak of exalted qualities you behold with satisfaction, even striving to cultivate them to be more humble, generous, trusting, brave, kind, courteous, or whatever it may be; it does not matter. All of this is imaginary and refers to characteristics of your ego.

And there is nothing wrong with it. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be a better person. But notice a small detail: you are not a person, nor will you ever be; you are the Son of God, and you are perfect exactly as you are right now. You do not need to improve; you only need to recognize your rightful glory.

To follow faithfully what this Course proposes may seem to make you a better person, more loving and less critical, but that is because this Course operates within the realm of illusion. Remember G-1.3:1: “This Course operates within the ego’s domain, for that is where it is needed.”

You, Son of God, do not need to improve; you were created perfect… and you remain so in Reality. In truth, the only thing you need is to stop taking seriously that absurd idea that you are separated from your Father. It is not true, and moreover, it harms you; it does you injury.

Notice all the ideas you review today: they are simply statements of the condition of your true identity. They speak of characteristics of different aspects of your own Self, but contemplated from the perspective of illusion. All this is part of your mind training, of the purification of that “lower part” of the mind in which you believe you live, and which will enable you to access miracles. Remember Principle 7 of miracles: “Everyone is entitled to miracles. But before this comes purification.” This purification occurs when these ideas become your habitual way of thinking.

^III The result of true forgiveness is the total acceptance of that which you have forgiven. When you truly forgive, you offer unreserved acceptance, and there is no greater power in this world than full acceptance, because there is no deeper yearning in the human heart.

No one can resist your acceptance, for that is precisely what all seek from others and from themselves. In genuine acceptance, fear has no place. That is why, in a forgiven world, there is nothing to fear, for acceptance dissolves all judgment and all fear, revealing the peace that has always been present.

^IV  Luke 1:79 “To shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

The Voice of God speaks to me all through the day; this is true, but do I listen? Or is it, rather, that my mind is absorbed in the incessant inner monologue, in the ego’s voice?

To hear the Voice of God, it is necessary to quiet the mind. Only in inner silence can His guidance be perceived.

Remember how Jesus reformulates the biblical quotation: “Many are called, but few are chosen.” In reality, it should say: “All are called, but few choose to listen” (T-3.VIII.19:2).

^V We conclude today’s Lesson with this beautiful thought, echo of the ancient biblical psalms:

In the stillness of my heart, I recognize Your Presence.

In the light of Your Love, I find my true Self.

No darkness can conceal Your Glory, nor illusion cloud my vision.

You are my strength, my refuge, and my peace.

In You, all fear dissolves, and only the certainty of Your eternal Love remains.

Today I choose to remember who I am in You, and rest in the safety of Your Perfect Creation.

Amen.

This prayer, inspired by the depth and rhythm of the psalms, invites us to connect with the divine essence that dwells within us, reminding us that beyond the illusions of the ego, our true identity is eternal and perfect in God.

Today we review the following: W-41 to W-45 ^I

1. W-41 “God goes with me wherever I go.”^II

²How can I be alone when God always goes with me?

³How can I be uncertain and insecure when perfect certainty resides in Him?

⁴How can I be disturbed by anything when He rests in me in absolute peace?

⁵How can I suffer when love and joy surround me through Him?

⁶Let me not cherish illusions about myself.

⁷I am perfect because God goes with me wherever I go.

2. W-42 “God is my strength. Vision is His gift.”^III

²Let me not look to my own eyes to see today.

³Let me be willing to exchange my pitiful illusion of seeing for the vision that is given by God.

⁴Christ’s vision is His gift, and He has given it to me.

⁵Let me call upon this gift today, so that this day may help me to understand eternity.

3. W-43 “God is my Source. I cannot see apart from Him.”^IV

²I can see what God wants me to see.

³I cannot see anything else.

⁴Beyond His Will lie only illusions.

⁵It is these I choose when I think I can see apart from Him.

⁶It is these I choose when I try to see through the body’s eyes.

⁷Yet the vision of Christ has been given me to replace them.

⁸It is through this vision that I choose to see.

4. W-44 “God is the Light in which I see.”^V

²I cannot see in darkness.

³God is the only Light.

⁴Therefore, if I am to see, it must be through Him.

⁵I have tried to define what seeing is, and I have been wrong.

⁶Now it is given me to understand that God is the Light in which I see.

⁷Let me welcome vision and the happy world it will show me.

5. W-45 “God is the Mind with which I think.”^VI

²I have no thoughts I do not share with God.

³I have no thoughts apart from Him, because I am not apart from His Mind.

⁴As part of His Mind, my thoughts are His and His Thoughts are mine.

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^I The five ideas for today are absolutely true, but it is also true that they are absolutely incredible. You do not believe them. If you did, you would not be here. In fact, you are not here, but because instead of believing the truth these Lessons express, you have chosen to believe something else, you now believe you are in this world, which is not true at all.

To believe is to think that what you imagine is true. But truth cannot be imagined; truth can only be being, because you are the truth. Yet that, too, is incredible, because you cannot imagine it either. The only thing you can imagine are illusions, because that is precisely what illusions are: imaginings. Images are not real, because reality is perfectly abstract, and you are real; that is why you cannot imagine what you are, you can only be it.

To believe is to misuse the mind. Your mind was created to create, not to believe. Believing is good for nothing, so do not worry at all if you cannot believe the five ideas for today; it is perfectly natural. You will never be able to believe them; they are intrinsically unbelievable because they are the truth. Do not worry. You are the Son of God, even if you do not believe it, nor can believe it. Do not waste time trying to believe; simply trust and work.

Jesus does not ask you to believe in the ideas he proposes. Today it is especially worthwhile to read slowly again the introduction to this Workbook:

“Some of the ideas you will find hard to believe, and others may seem quite startling. This does not matter. You are merely asked to apply them to what you see. You are not asked to judge them, nor even to believe them. You are merely asked to use them. Their use is what will give them meaning to you and will show you that they are true. Remember only this: It is not necessary to believe the ideas. It is not necessary to accept them. And it is not necessary to welcome them. Some of them you may actively resist. None of this will matter or lessen their efficacy. But do not allow yourself to make exceptions in applying the ideas contained in the exercises. Whatever your reaction to the ideas may be, use them. Nothing more than that is required.”

^II This is a supremely powerful thought. The more you use it, the greater will be its effects. It will transform your life and fill you with trust and certainty. It is not enough merely to repeat it; you need to reflect it in every one of your actions. Strive to embody this powerful idea at all times.

For learning to be truly effective, it must be fully experienced in its two dimensions. The first is receptive: it consists in opening yourself completely to the idea you wish to root in your mind. The second, equally important or even more so, is when you internalize that idea by sharing it with others.

That is why you should not only repeat to yourself that God always goes with you; act as someone who truly feels His presence. Do this and watch the results.

^III This thought calls upon humility. With God you can do all things; without Him, you will live only a dream of fear, loneliness, and death. By linking your strength with God, you make yourself invulnerable to discouragement, danger, and temptation.

Apply this idea just as you did the previous one: do not merely repeat it; put the Strength of God into action and use it in everything you do. Always reject any thought of weakness and be realistic: God is with you and infuses His Strength into everything you undertake in faith.

^IV To think that you can see something meaningful without God is as illusory as believing you can know reality by watching television. You may convince yourself of it, but it remains an absurd idea. Whenever the world depresses or frightens you, you may be absolutely sure that you are seeing nothing real; you are simply dreaming. You have fallen into a deep hypnotic sleep, and what you believe you see is nothing but an illusion.

The eyes of the body were not made to see reality, but to dream. The problem is that your thought system is inverted and you interpret everything backwards. Reality is not outside you; Reality is the Kingdom of God that dwells within you and that, in essence, you are.

In this world, you can only glimpse “aspects” of Reality in the form of reflections of love in everything you behold. These flashes of love are the echoes of truth that transcend the world’s illusions and remind you of your divine origin. When you succeed in seeing with the eyes of the spirit, you recognize the light behind appearances and perceive the divine essence that connects everything and everyone.

Accepting this requires a deep change in your way of seeing and understanding. It is an inner transformation that leads you to look beyond forms and appearances to recognize the eternal and immutable. In doing so, you begin to awaken from the dream of the world and remember your true identity.

^V Notice that everything depends on what you want to see. If you use the world’s light to interpret what lies before you, you will continue to see the sad and guilty world that almost everyone sees here, which is the one you have granted yourself until now. But is that what you want to keep seeing? Is that what you want to keep feeling?

^VI Recognize that you still do not understand well what the mind is nor what it means to think. You call thinking the act of relating concepts through preestablished functions. That is not true thinking; that is only processing data.

The world distinguishes between “human intelligence” and “artificial intelligence” and is surprised that a machine can “think” as well as or better than a human. The world has not yet realized that there is nothing surprising about this, that human intelligence is also artificial, and that is why machines can emulate it. That is nothing but algorithmic thinking: applying certain functions to certain concepts. Nothing more.

Thinking is creating, it is engendering Life from Life. Thinking is extending existence; it is what you do when you create in heavenly reality, and thus you bring forth your Creations, Son of God.

Today we review the following: W-36 to W-40

1. W-36 “My holiness envelops everything I see.”^I

²The perception of the real world comes from my holiness.

³Having forgiven, I no longer see myself as guilty. ^II

⁴I can accept the innocence that is the truth about me.

⁵When I look upon the world with understanding eyes, I see only its holiness, for I am looking only at the thoughts I hold about myself.

2. W-37 “My holiness blesses the world.”^III

²The perception of my holiness does not bless me alone.

³Everyone and everything I see in its light shares in the joy it brings me.

⁴There is nothing that is excluded from this joy, because there is nothing that does not share my holiness.

⁵As I recognize my own holiness, the holiness of the world shines forth for all to see.

3. W-38 “There is nothing my holiness cannot do.”^IV

²The healing power of my holiness is limitless, because its power to save is limitless.

³But what is there to be saved from except illusions?

⁴And what are all illusions except false ideas about myself?

⁵My holiness undoes them all by affirming the truth about me.

⁶In the presence of my holiness, which I share with God Himself, all idols disappear.

4. W-39 “My holiness is my salvation.”^V

²Since my holiness saves me from all guilt, recognizing it is recognizing my salvation.

³And it is also recognizing the salvation of the world.

⁴Once I have accepted my holiness, nothing can make me afraid.

⁵And because I am not afraid, everyone shares my understanding—which is God’s Gift to me and to the world. ^VI

5. W-40 “I am blessed as a Son of God.”^VII

²In this lies my claim to all that is good, and only what is good.

³I am blessed as a Son of God.

⁴All good things are mine because God intended them for me.

⁵I cannot suffer any loss, deprivation, or pain because of Who I am.

⁶My Father supports me, protects me, and guides me in all things.

⁷His care for me is infinite, and it is always with me.

⁸I am eternally blessed as His Son. ^VIII

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^I My holiness envelops everything I see because now I see everything from my holiness. It has always been there; the difference is that now I recognize it in myself.

^II Forgiveness and prayer are the only resources available to you in this world of illusion. You walk in fear, absorbed in your own thoughts of condemnation, sin, and death; you see them as though they were outside yourself, unaware that they are of your own making. This lack of responsibility for the world you believe you see is what makes you a victim of yourself. Forgive what you think you see, not out of moral superiority and goodness, but because none of it is real; it is the product of your own hallucinations, and you do not want to go on suffering.

The greatest difficulty you will face in approaching your own liberation is that you have not yet truly decided that, indeed, you want to stop suffering. You have confused pleasure with pain, and you perceive them in reverse. Notice the perverse pleasure you find in guilt and vengeance, and you will realize it is so. The suffering of others often consoles you; your own suffering you sometimes find redemptive.

What this Course calls “true perception” will free you from these false interpretations. This is not yet true vision, but it is what leads you toward it. It is the necessary process of purification through which you must pass in order to claim your right to perform miracles.

^III My holiness blesses the world because that is what holiness does; that is its condition. Holiness is the condition of existence; existence is holy and creates by extending itself. In the world, that extension, that creation, is called “to bless.”

^IV In reality, holiness can only do one thing: extend what it is. Do not ask holiness for anything else, for it cannot give it to you. Do not ask it to “improve” your illusions or to adjust reality to your expectations, for that would only perpetuate the deception. Holiness does not accommodate illusions; it simply dissolves them by affirming the truth.

What it will do, however, is see itself in everything it beholds. By recognizing its own essence in all things, it undoes the false ideas you hold about yourself, freeing you from illusions. The world is not real; it is a mirror in which you see reflected the idea you have of yourself. But when you look with holiness, you no longer see distorted projections, but a reflection of the truth you share with God. Then all idols vanish, and the only thing that remains is what has always been: holiness itself, your true condition.

^V My holiness is my salvation because my holiness is my condition. My holiness is the truth about me, whether I recognize it or not.

^VI From this side of the mirror, here in this world of illusions, real values such as holiness are incomprehensible to you. You have so limited your mind that you are only able to handle illusory concepts; that is why the notion of holiness seems inaccessible to you. The realm in which you believe you live is a perfect inversion of Heaven, and that is why it is much easier for you to deal with negative concepts.

Given your sad situation, you may better understand this idea if you say: “My innocence is my salvation.” The idea of innocence you understand well, for it is a negative concept. It comes from the Latin innocens, formed from the negative prefix in- and the word nocens, which comes from the verb nocere, “to harm.” Therefore, innocent means “not harmful,” and that you can understand and accept.

Do not be surprised, then, by the “negative” character of this Course, which advocates concepts such as “forgive”—NOT to take into account—, “meditate”—NOT to consider your own thoughts—, or “listen to the Voice of the Holy Spirit and follow His guidance”—NOT to decide for yourself. The Gospel Jesus already warns: “My kingdom is NOT of this world.”

Heaven and world are antithetical concepts, as are God and self. The inversion of the thought system this Course proposes leads you to reality by the denial of the illusory. If these “negative” postulates inspire you with some fear or sadness, realize that this is because you still harbor some hope of finding something of value in this world you believe you inhabit.

But realize two things: this is NOT life, and your legitimate aspirations to be happy will never be fulfilled in what changes. Not only do you deserve more than you think you want; you deserve everything, for everything was given you, and you will never be content with less than that.

^VII I am blessed because God created me through His blessing. This is irrevocable, as is everything God creates; this, too, cannot change. I may tell myself whatever I please and believe it, but that cannot change reality. The only thing that can change, and indeed does change, are my opinions about myself and about everything, which proves their insubstantiality.

^VIII These five Lessons, so inspiring, are nevertheless quite difficult to accept from our human perspective of identification with false personal identities. But that is precisely the reason we are doing this Course: to change the idea we have about ourselves.

I will feel as holy as I allow myself to feel, and as I see myself, so will I see everything else. What I behold with benevolent eyes will confirm the holiness I have granted myself. It is a virtuous circle of positive affirmations grounded in a truth I still find difficult to recognize, but which will become more evident as I practice it.

If these five maximalist ideas seem excessive to you because they confront too sharply the image you hold of yourself, do not give up. Use them, but moderate them a degree: instead of reading “holiness,” read “goodness,” and perhaps they will then seem more acceptable to you. Remember: the important thing is not that you come to see yourself as holy—though you are—but that you move in that direction.

If you are still unable to recognize holiness in yourself, at least improve the opinion you hold about others and about the world. Stop thinking about yourself and focus only on the good, on the positive aspects of everything around you. Be grateful to God, to others, and to life, and thus, without realizing it, you will end up reconciling with yourself.

Today we review the following: W-31 to W-35

1. W-31 “I am not the victim of the world I see.” ^I

²How can I be the victim of a world that can be entirely undone by my decision?

³My chains are loosened.

⁴I can drop them off just by desiring to do so.

⁵The prison door is open.

⁶I can leave simply by walking out.

⁷Nothing holds me in this world.

⁸Only my wish to stay keeps me a prisoner.

⁹I would give up these insane desires and walk into the sunlight at last.

2. W-32 “I have invented the world I see.”^II

²I made up the prison in which I see myself.

³Only by recognizing this will I be free.

⁴I have deceived myself into believing it is possible to imprison the Son of God.

⁵I was bitterly mistaken in this belief, but I do not want to continue believing it.

⁶The Son of God must be forever free.

⁷He is as God created him, and not what I would make of him.

⁸He is where God would have him be, and not where I tried to hold him prisoner.

3. W-33 “There is another way of looking at the world.” ^III

²Since the purpose of the world is not the one I ascribed to it, there must be another way of looking at it.

³I see everything upside down, and my thoughts are the opposite of truth.

⁴I see the world as a prison for the Son of God.

⁵Then the world must really be a place where he can be set free.

⁶I would look upon the world as it is, and see it as a place where the Son of God finds his freedom.

4. W-34 “I could see peace instead of this.”^IV

²When I see the world as a place of freedom, I will realize it reflects the Laws of God instead of the rules I made up for it to obey.

³I will understand that peace, not war, abides in it.

⁴And I will perceive that peace also abides in the hearts of all who share this place with me.

5. W-35 “My mind is part of God’s. I am very holy.” ^V

²As I share the peace of the world with my brothers, I begin to understand that this peace comes from deep within myself.

³The world I look upon reflects the light of my forgiveness and returns that light to me.

⁴In this light I begin to see what the illusions I held about myself were hiding.

⁵Now I begin to understand the holiness of all living things, including myself, and their oneness with me.

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^I You are only a victim of yourself: of your own interpretations, of the stories you tell yourself. Take a close look: you spend all your time chattering with yourself in your mind. You sustain your particular description of the world with that incessant talk that consumes you. Observe that compulsive and unstoppable dialogue well: it never ceases. You cannot stop it. It is an endless story you repeat to yourself all the time, reflecting the fears and desires of your ego. It is riddled with small or large resentments and revenges, with small or large gestures through which your ego expresses its sense of grandiosity, retaliation, and vainglory. None of that is you. It is nothing but an immense foolishness that keeps you hypnotized in a nonexistent world.

This is what Jesus refers to when he says in Lesson 10: “My thoughts do not mean anything.” You may know someone who suffers from logorrhea and speaks compulsively and incessantly. They are unaware of others and do not use their words to communicate anything to anyone. They are utterly insensitive to the needs or interests of those before them. Their minds work very, very poorly. It is the tiresome and pitiful monologue of drunkards.

And the same thing happens to you, except that you do not usually voice aloud that boring narrative. Keep in mind that while you are telling yourself all that nonsense—those stories engendered from apparent affronts and desires of the past—you are missing the present right before you. That is why your mind “is preoccupied with past thoughts”; that is why “you have invented the world you see.”

To stop the internal dialogue and to see with innocent eyes what lies before you is a prodigious feat that you are completely incapable of achieving; but if you ask for it with your whole heart, it will be granted. To approach it, you can begin first by becoming aware of that compulsive chatter, which is really a monologue. As soon as you notice it, it will cease, but after a while, without realizing it, it will return. Then, notice it again, and it will once more stop. Do not despair; on the contrary, rejoice. You are simply beginning to become aware of how the ego functions in your mind. This is, no doubt, an unpleasant perception, but it will affect you only if you identify with it. In reality, you are beginning to disassociate yourself from that sickly way of using your mind.

Forgive that dialogue you hold with yourself; let it pass, do not judge it or condemn it: it is not real. In fact, that voice you hear has nothing to do with you; that is not who you are. Yet the discourse contains, woven within itself, the notion that what you hear comes from you and are your own thoughts. And, in truth, it is not so; but that is the reason why it is so hard for you to let it go.

^II My mind knows only the stories it tells itself about everything. The world does not exist, but my mind tells itself a story about a world it imagines, just as it does while it sleeps and says it dreams. My mind invents worlds without end. At times, I recognize that those worlds I imagine are fantasies, but most of the time, the stories I tell myself bear a label that says: “This is real.” Once I have read that label and believed what it says, I am utterly lost to truth, and only suffering will lead me to seek an alternative.

Yet suffering is not necessary at all. Train and discipline your mind to systematically forgive the ego’s narrative.

^III Indeed there is another way of seeing the world, but it is not up to me to say what it is. In fact, I find myself now in a pitiful situation precisely because I assigned myself that role of deciding what the world is. I do not know, but I will be told. It is a knowledge that will surface in my mind when I simply allow it.

^IV Of course! Peace is an absolutely real concept; conflict, however, is an invention. Be radical about this. It is a non-negotiable reality. Always refuse conflictive interpretations; they are unreal and you do not want them.

^V This is the only truth. Dare to embrace it, even if only for an instant, and you will have opened the doors of your release. Familiarize yourself with this idea, and it does not matter if you do not yet believe it.

The best way, the fastest and most effective way to embrace it is to ascribe holiness to others. Set your will on seeing your brother as holy, even if your mind and your gut reject the idea. Insist on it with absolute determination.

You may be certain that, in time, your efforts will be rewarded, and you will begin to see the world and everyone in it with benevolent eyes, and at the end of it all, even yourself.

Today we review the following: W-26 to W-30

1. W-26 “My attack thoughts are attacking my invulnerability.” ^I

²How can I know who I am when I see myself under constant attack?

³Pain, sickness, loss, aging, and death seem to threaten me.

⁴All my hopes, desires, and plans appear to be at the mercy of a world I cannot control.

⁵Yet perfect safety and complete fulfillment are my inheritance.

⁶I have tried to exchange my inheritance for the world I see. ^II

⁷But God has safeguarded it for me.

⁸My own real Thoughts will teach me what it is.

2. W-27 “Above all else I want to see.” ^III

²By recognizing that what I see reflects what I think I am, I realize that Vision is my greatest need.

³The world I see bears witness to the fearful nature of the image I have made of myself.

⁴If I am to remember who I am, it is essential that I let this image of myself go.

⁵When it is replaced by truth, Vision will surely be given me.

⁶And with that Vision, I will look upon the world and on myself with gentleness and love.

3. W-28 “Above all else I want to see things differently.”^IV

²The world I see maintains the fearful image I have of myself and ensures its continuation.

³As long as I see the world as I see it now, the truth cannot enter my awareness.

⁴I will let the door behind this world be opened to me, so I may look past it to the world that reflects the Love of God.

4. W-29 “God is in everything I see.” ^V

²Behind every image I have made, the truth remains unchanged.

³Behind every veil I have drawn across the face of Love, its Light remains untouched.

⁴Beyond all my insane desires is my will, united with the Will of my Father.

⁵God is still everywhere and in everything forever.

⁶And we who are part of Him will look past all appearances and recognize the truth beyond them all.

5. W-30 “God is in everything I see because God is in my mind.” ^VI

²In my own mind, behind all my insane thoughts of separation and attack, is the knowledge that all is one forever.

³I have not lost the knowledge of who I am because I have forgotten it.

⁴That knowledge has been kept for me in the Mind of God, Who has not left His Thoughts.

⁵And I, who am among them, am one with them and One with Him.

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^I To feel vulnerable—that is, to think that you can lose or that something of real value to you can be diminished—undermines the very foundation of trust, which is the fundamental characteristic of God’s teachers. You cannot lose anything real, for everything real was given you by God forever, and this cannot change throughout all eternity.

Yet it is evident that you can be confused about what you are and tell yourself something else. Hence this Course is summed up in the recognition that “Nothing real can be threatened.” Remember that “only your own thoughts can affect you,” and your thoughts of attack and condemnation—which are the same—certainly endanger the idea you hold of yourself in your mind.

In truth, your attacks and condemnations cannot in any way change your true condition as the Son of God, but they do affect your fictitious identity, which is all you know while you believe you are in time. Forgiveness, and even prayer as you now understand it, serve to heal that small part of your holy mind in which your ego resides. That part of your mind is absolutely real, but what it conceives is not.

The purpose of this Course is precisely to heal that. The part of your mind where the Holy Spirit dwells needs no healing.

^II In Genesis 25:29–34 we read the story of Esau, who gives up his inheritance in exchange for a bowl of lentils. In this case, your inheritance is the “perfect safety and complete fullness” of Heaven, which you have tried to relinquish in exchange for the world you now behold.

^III This is a very serious statement. It expresses the firm will to place true vision before everything to which you assign value in this world. To say this from the heart is the expression of a deep longing; it is the true “spiritual call.” With this—as with everything—you must be very honest.

Vision is unfailingly granted to all who desire it with their whole heart, and in this there are no exceptions. If you do not truly see the Love of God underlying all things, it is because you prefer to see something else. Your lack of honesty, your resistance to recognizing your true desires, is what leads you to attack this Course, which is perfectly honest; you are not.

Honesty is a basic characteristic of God’s teachers; in fact, it is the first within time. Without honesty, nothing can be done. Work on it before all else and ask yourself if, in truth, vision is the most important thing for you. If it is not, it is probably best for you to plunge into the world and try to attain what you consider more important than seeing. Soon you will see that it was a mistake, and you will begin to understand the importance of vision for freeing your mind from the inevitable suffering you will encounter.

It is always better to turn back on your path with your eyes open than to go forward with your eyes closed, deceiving yourself. But this is not necessary. Deep within your heart there is a profound longing to enjoy your rightful heritage. Persevere with humility and trust in finding it, and it will not be hard, for it is what lies behind all your worldly desires. You do indeed want that, but you are a little confused.

^IV This is the thought that must arise in your mind whenever your heart indicates, through its unease, that you are misusing your mind. You ask for a new interpretation of the dream you are immersed in because the one your ego has given you makes you suffer. You are perfectly within your rights to do so, and it is what serves you best. If you do not, what you will hear next is the ego’s proposal to “fix” that situation, and that will inevitably lead you to disaster… as it always has.

^V Only the innocent, those who know themselves to be sinless, can see God in all things. Those who condemn themselves see only their own “sins” all around them. Do not condemn yourself or condemn others; it is not worth it, it harms you, and it serves no purpose but to make you suffer. Forgive, and you will see God.

^VI You may be absolutely certain that this is so; the issue is that you have reserved a part of your mind for yourself alone. What has led you to this is your own sense of personal importance. The idea you have of yourself is not important, for it is absolutely false; do not uphold, support, or defend it. In the very instant you abandon all sense of personal importance, you will become utterly unreachable by suffering and enjoy the safety and peace of the truly humble.