OrEd-T-22.3-My Brother's Sinlessness.1
16. The opposite of illusion appears to be disillusionment. They seem to be the only alternatives and different from each other. In truth they are the same. Both bring the same amount of misery, though each seems to remedy the misery the other brings. Every illusion carries pain and suffering in the dark folds of heavy covers where it hides its nothingness. Yet in these dark and heavy covers, are those who seek illusions, covered and hidden from the joy of truth. Truth is the opposite of illusions. But to the ego, truth is meaningless.
17. What else but joy could be the opposite of misery? To leave one kind of misery and seek another is hardly an escape. To change illusions is to make no change. The search for joy in misery is senseless, for how could joy be found in misery? All that is possible in the dark world of misery is to select some aspects out of it, see them as different, and define the difference as joy. Yet to perceive a difference where none exists will surely fail to make a difference. Truth is the opposite of illusions because it offers joy.
18. Illusions give to their believers guilt, suffering, sickness and death. The form is irrelevant. In reason's eyes, no form of misery can be confused with joy. Joy is eternal. Joy does not turn to sorrow, for the eternal cannot change. I can be sure that any seeming happiness that does not last, is really fear. But sorrow can be turned to joy, for time gives way to the eternal. Everything in time does change. Illusions will change to other dreams that are equally unreal. This is no difference. But if the change is real and not imagined, Illusions must give way to truth, and the timeless remains unchanged.
19. One illusion, cherished and defended against the truth, makes all illusions real, and all truth meaningless. All truth is the same, and all misery is the same. But they are different from each other in every way, every instance, and without exception. To believe that one exception can exist, is to confuse what is the same with what is different. This is the uncompromising power of belief. And if the belief excludes one living thing from forgiveness, there is faith in sin, not in innocence. Reason will tell me that the only way to escape from misery is to recognize it and go the other way.
20. Both reason and the ego tell me this, but their interpretations are different. The ego assures me that for me never to see guilt in anyone is impossible. And if this is the only means to escape from guilt, then the belief in sin will be eternal. Reason looks on this another way, seeing the source of an idea as what will make it true or false. For an idea does not leave its source. Therefore, if escape from guilt was given to the Holy Spirit as His purpose by God, and nothing God wills can be impossible, the means for its attainment are more than possible. The means must be there, and I must have the means.
21. Now I must choose between myself and an illusion of myself. This is a crucial period in this course, for here the separation of myself and the ego must be made complete. There is no point in trying to avoid this decision, for it must be made. I have the means to let the Holy Spirit's purpose be accomplished, and with their use I will gain faith in them. No one undertakes to do what has no hope of being done, and to the ego this is impossible. I know what my Creator wills is possible, but the self I made does not believe it is so. Faith/belief can fall to either side, but reason tells me that joy lies only on one side and misery on the other. OrEd-T-22.3-My Brother's Sinlessness.1
16. The opposite of illusion appears to be disillusionment. They seem to be the only alternatives and different from each other. In truth they are the same. Both bring the same amount of misery, though each seems to remedy the misery the other brings. Every illusion carries pain and suffering in the dark folds of heavy covers where it hides its nothingness. Yet in these dark and heavy covers, are those who seek illusions, covered and hidden from the joy of truth. Truth is the opposite of illusions. But to the ego, truth is meaningless.
17. What else but joy could be the opposite of misery? To leave one kind of misery and seek another is hardly an escape. To change illusions is to make no change. The search for joy in misery is senseless, for how could joy be found in misery? All that is possible in the dark world of misery is to select some aspects out of it, see them as different, and define the difference as joy. Yet to perceive a difference where none exists will surely fail to make a difference. Truth is the opposite of illusions because it offers joy.
18. Illusions give to their believers guilt, suffering, sickness and death. The form is irrelevant. In reason's eyes, no form of misery can be confused with joy. Joy is eternal. Joy does not turn to sorrow, for the eternal cannot change. I can be sure that any seeming happiness that does not last, is really fear. But sorrow can be turned to joy, for time gives way to the eternal. Everything in time does change. Illusions will change to other dreams that are equally unreal. This is no difference. But if the change is real and not imagined, Illusions must give way to truth, and the timeless remains unchanged.
19. One illusion, cherished and defended against the truth, makes all illusions real, and all truth meaningless. All truth is the same, and all misery is the same. But they are different from each other in every way, every instance, and without exception. To believe that one exception can exist, is to confuse what is the same with what is different. This is the uncompromising power of belief. And if the belief excludes one living thing from forgiveness, there is faith in sin, not in innocence. Reason will tell me that the only way to escape from misery is to recognize it and go the other way.
20. Both reason and the ego tell me this, but their interpretations are different. The ego assures me that for me never to see guilt in anyone is impossible. And if this is the only means to escape from guilt, then the belief in sin will be eternal. Reason looks on this another way, seeing the source of an idea as what will make it true or false. For an idea does not leave its source. Therefore, if escape from guilt was given to the Holy Spirit as His purpose by God, and nothing God wills can be impossible, the means for its attainment are more than possible. The means must be there, and I must have the means.
21. Now I must choose between myself and an illusion of myself. This is a crucial period in this course, for here the separation of myself and the ego must be made complete. There is no point in trying to avoid this decision, for it must be made. I have the means to let the Holy Spirit's purpose be accomplished, and with their use I will gain faith in them. No one undertakes to do what has no hope of being done, and to the ego this is impossible. I know what my Creator wills is possible, but the self I made does not believe it is so. Faith/belief can fall to either side, but reason tells me that joy lies only on one side and misery on the other.
