Text: "The secret of salvation [Salvation from what? From your own self-created illusions whether they be illness, guilt, shame, pain or thinking you are something other than who you really are: an expression of Diety; i.e., Love.] is but this: that you are doing this unto yourself. [You've created in your own mind all that your think you are and currently suffer from.] No matter what the form of the attack, this still is true. Whoever takes the role of enemy and of attacker, still is this the truth. [There are those individuals or groups or circumstances "raised up" (by self's own inner creation efforts) in our dreamland illusion to prove to us we are correct in our assessments of who we think we are. Thus demonstrating to us we are Creators of our own worlds.] Whatever seems to be the cause of any pain and suffering you feel, this is still true. For you would not react at all to figures in a dream you knew that you were dreaming. Let them be as hateful and as vicious as they may, they could have no effect on you unless you failed to recognize it is your dream. [Stop and look dispassionately upon your own creation as your own. The attacker (sickness, enemies, etc.) are not doing it to you. You are doing it to yourself to teach yourself you are author of the scenario being acted out for your more whole understanding. And when you do this to yourself you ARE THE ATTACKER.] This single lesson [Realizing you are sole author of your life.] learned will set you free from suffering, whatever form it takes. The Holy Spirit [Your Higher Self, Cosmic Awareness, Whole Mind.] will repeat this one inclusive lesson of deliverance until it has been learned, regardless of the form of suffering that brings you pain. [Ever notice you encounter the same scenarios time and again?] Whatever hurt you bring to Him He [Your Whole Mind which can be accessed via the quietness during meditation, deep contemplation or prayer.] will make answer with this very simple truth. For this one answer takes away the cause of every form of sorrow and of pain. [The Cause being your own self-created illusions being a product of your egoic mind.] The form affects His answer not at all, for He would teach you but the single cause of all of them [you], no matter what their form. And you will understand that miracles [perceived effects from an unpreceived causes] reflect the simple statement, "I have done this thing, and it is this I would undo." Bring, then, all forms of suffering to Him Who knows that every one is like the rest. He sees no differences where none exists, and He will teach you how each one is caused. None has a different cause from all the rest, and all of them are easily undone [healed] by but a [this same] single lesson truly learned. Salvation is a secret you have kept but from yourself. The universe proclaims it so. Yet to its witnesses you pay no heed at all. For they attest the thing you do not want to know. They seem to keep it secret from you. Yet you need but learn you chose but not to listen, not to see. [Egoic willfulness of blaming someone else or something else instead of assuming complete personal responsibility for self's thoughts and actions.] How differently will you perceive the world when this is recognized! [You will be awake!] When you forgive the world your guilt, [The guilt you feel against yourself and that you project onto the world. Your guilt, shame, pain and suffering is an attack by you against yourself as a form of self-incrimination or self-condemnation.] you will be free of it. [The first and last freedom!] Its innocence does not demand your guilt, [You making yourself guilty does not substantiate the world's innocence.] nor does your guiltlessness rest in its sins. [Nor are you made innocent by blaming someone else or the world.] This is the obvious; a secret kept from no one but yourself. And it is this that has maintained you separate from the world, and kept your brother separate from you. [We blame others and the world and that somehow justifies our pious standoffishness which is an attack against them.] Now need you but to learn that both of you are innocent or guilty. The one thing that is impossible is that you be unlike each other; that they both be true. [Innocence and guilt are both illusory egoic constructs but it is the situation encountered that is a neutral teacher for both participants, created equally by each for each's growth.] This is the only secret yet to learn. [This is the only secret knowledge ever needing learning.] And it will be no secret you are healed." [When this knowledge is learned it will shine from your face for all the world to behold.] A Course In Miracles, annotations by Dale Pond 9/16/02

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