A COURSE IN MIRACLES

Combined Volume

Third Edition

PREFACETEXT

WORKBOOK FOR STUDENTSMANUAL FOR TEACHERS

CLARIFICATION OF TERMS

Supplements:Psychotherapy: Purpose, Process and

PracticeSong of Prayer

FOUNDATION FOR INNER PEACE

Published by the Foundation for Inner PeaceP.O. Box 598, Mill Valley, CA 94942

www.acim.org

Combined Volume (Third Edition) copyrighted2007 by the Foundation for A Course in Miracles,www.facim.orgPortions also independently copyrighted

All right reserved. No copyrighted portions oraspects of this book may be reproduced ortransmitted in any form or by any means,electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,recording, video, or by any information orretrieval system, without prior written permissionof the Foundation for A Course in Miracles, 41397Buecking Drive, Temecula, CA 92590,www.facim.org

A Course in Miracles was first published in threevolumes in June, 1976 by the Foundation forInner Peace

ISBN 978-1-883360-35-1978-1-883360-25-2 Hard coverISBN 978-1-883360-24-5 Soft cover & KindleVersionISBN 978-1-883360-26-9 Mass MarketPaperback

Back Cover

The Combined Volume, Third Edition of A Coursein Miracles is the only edition that contains in oneplace all of the writings that Dr. Helen Schucman,its scribe, authorized to be printed. It is publishedsolely by the Foundation for Inner Peace, theorganization chosen by Dr. Schucman in 1975 forthis purpose.This Combined Volume also includes theSupplements to A Course in Miracles:“Psychology: Purpose, Process and Practice” and“The Song of Prayer.” These sections areextensions of the Course principles, which weredictated to Dr. Schucman shortly after shecompleted A Course in Miracles.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents: PrefaceTable of Contents: TextTable of Contents: Workbook Lessons 1-120)Table of Contents: Workbook (Lessons 121-240)Table of Contents: Workbook (Lessons 241-365)Table of Contents: Manual for TeachersTable of Contents: Clarification of TermsTable of Contents: PsychotherpayTable of Contents: Song of Prayer

PREFACE

How It CameWhat It IsWhat It Says

A COURSE IN MIRACLES

TEXT

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1.THE MEANING OF MIRACLESI. Principles of MiraclesII. Revelation, Time and MiraclesIII. Atonement and MiraclesIV. The Escape from DarknessV. Wholeness and SpiritVI. The Illusion of NeedsVII. Distortions of Miracle Impulses

Chapter 2.THE SEPARATION AND THE ATONEMENTI. The Origins of SeparationII. The Atonement as DefenseIII. The Altar of GodIV. Healing as Release from FearV. The Function of the Miracle WorkerA. Special Principles of Miracle Workers

VI. Fear and ConflictVII. Cause and EffectVIII. The Meaning of the Last Judgment

Chapter 3.THE INNOCENT PERCEPTIONI. Atonement without SacrificeII. Miracles as True PerceptionIII. Perception versus KnowledgeIV. Error and the EgoV. Beyond PerceptionVI. Judgment and the Authority ProblemVII. Creating versus the Self-Image

Chapter 4.THE ILLUSIONS OF THE EGOIntroductionI. Right Teaching and Right LearningII. The Ego and False AutonomyIII. Love without ConflictIV. This Need Not BeV. The Ego-Body IllusionVI. The Rewards of GodVII. Creation and Communication

Chapter 5.HEALING AND WHOLENESSIntroductionI. The Invitation to the Holy Spirit

II. The Voice for GodIII. The Guide to SalvationIV. Teaching and HealingV. The Ego’s Use of GuiltVI. Time and EternityVII. The Decision for God

Chapter 6.THE LESSONS OF LOVEIntroductionI. The Message of the CrucifixionII. The Alternative to ProjectionIII. The Relinquishment of AttackIV. The Only AnswerV. The Lessons of the Holy SpiritA. To Have, Give All to AllB. To Have Peace, Teach Peace to Learn ItC. Be Vigilant Only for God and His Kingdom

Chapter 7.THE GIFTS OF THE KINGDOMI. The Last StepII. The Law of the KingdomIII. The Reality of the KingdomIV. Healing as the Recognition of TruthV. Healing and the Changelessness of MindVI. From Vigilance to PeaceVII. The Totality of the KingdomVIII. The Unbelievable Belief

IX. The Extension of the KingdomX. The Confusion of Pain and JoyXI. The State of Grace

Chapter 8.THE JOURNEY BACKI. The Direction of the CurriculumII. The Difference between Imprisonment andFreedomIII. The Holy EncounterIV. The Gift of FreedomV. The Undivided Will of the SonshipVI. The Treasure of GodVII. The Body as a Means of CommunicationVIII. The Body as Means or EndIX. Healing as Corrected Perception

Chapter 9.THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE ATONEMENTI. The Acceptance of RealityII. The Answer to PrayerIII. The Correction of ErrorIV. The Holy Spirit’s Plan of ForgivenessV. The Unhealed HealerVI. The Acceptance of Your BrotherVII. The Two EvaluationsVIII. Grandeur versus Grandiosity

Chapter 10.

THE IDOLS OF SICKNESSIntroductionI. At Home in GodII. The Decision to ForgetIII. The God of SicknessIV. The End of SicknessV. The Denial of God

Chapter 11.GOD OR THE EGOIntroductionI. The Gifts of FatherhoodII. The Invitation to HealingIII. From Darkness to LightIV. The Inheritance of God’s SonV. The “Dynamics” of the EgoVI. Waking to RedemptionVII. The Condition of RealityVIII. The Problem and the Answer

Chapter 12.THE HOLY SPIRIT’S CURRICULUMI. The Judgment of the Holy SpiritII. The Way to Remember GodIII. The Investment in RealityIV. Seeking and FindingV. The Sane CurriculumVI. The Vision of ChristVII. Looking Within

VIII. The Attraction of Love for Love

Chapter 13.THE GUILTLESS WORLDIntroductionI. Guiltlessness and InvulnerabilityII. The Guiltless Son of GodIII. The Fear of RedemptionIV. The Function of TimeV. The Two EmotionsVI. Finding the PresentVII. Attainment of the Real WorldVIII. From Perception to KnowledgeIX. The Cloud of GuiltX. Release from GuiltXI. The Peace of Heaven

Chapter 14.TEACHING FOR TRUTHIntroductionI. The Conditions of LearningII. The Happy LearnerIII. The Decision for GuiltlessnessIV. Your Function in the AtonementV. The Circle of AtonementVI. The Light of CommunicationVII. Sharing Perception with the Holy SpiritVIII. The Holy Meeting PlaceIX. The Reflection of Holiness

X. The Equality of MiraclesXI. The Test of Truth

Chapter 15.THE HOLY INSTANTI. The Two Uses of TimeII. The End of DoubtIII. Littleness versus MagnitudeIV. Practicing the Holy InstantV. The Holy Instant and Special RelationshipsVI. The Holy Instant and the Laws of GodVII. The Needless SacrificeVIII. The Only Real RelationshipIX. The Holy Instant and the Attraction of GodX. The Time of RebirthXI. Christmas as the End of Sacrifice

Chapter 16.THE FORGIVENESS OF ILLUSIONSI. True EmpathyII. The Power of HolinessIII. The Reward of TeachingIV. The Illusion and the Reality of LoveV. The Choice for CompletionVI. The Bridge to the Real WorldVII. The End of Illusions

Chapter 17.FORGIVENESS AND THE HOLY

RELATIONSHIPI. Bringing Fantasy to TruthII. The Forgiven WorldIII. Shadows of the PastIV. The Two PicturesV. The Healed RelationshipVI. Setting the GoalVII. The Call for FaithVIII. The Conditions of Peace

Chapter 18.THE PASSING OF THE DREAMI. The Substitute RealityII. The Basis of the DreamIII. Light in the DreamIV. The Little WillingnessV. The Happy DreamVI. Beyond the BodyVII. I Need Do NothingVIII. The Little GardenIX. The Two Worlds

Chapter 19.THE ATTAINMENT OF PEACEI. Healing and FaithII. Sin versus ErrorIII. The Unreality of SinIV. The Obstacles to PeaceA. The First Obstacle: The Desire to Get Rid of It

i. The Attraction of GuiltB. The Second Obstacle: The Belief the Body isValuable for What It Offersi. The Attraction of PainC. The Third Obstacle: The Attraction of Deathi. The Incorruptible BodyD. The Fourth Obstacle: The Fear of Godi. The Lifting of the Veil

Chapter 20.THE VISION OF HOLINESSI. Holy WeekII. The Gift of LiliesIII. Sin as an AdjustmentIV. Entering the ArkV. Heralds of EternityVI. The Temple of the Holy SpiritVII. The Consistency of Means and EndVIII. The Vision of Sinlessness

Chapter 21.REASON AND PERCEPTIONIntroductionI. The Forgotten SongII. The Responsibility for SightIII. Faith, Belief and VisionIV. The Fear to Look WithinV. The Function of ReasonVI. Reason versus Madness

VII. The Last Unanswered QuestionVIII. The Inner Shift

Chapter 22.SALVATION AND THE HOLY RELATIONSHIPIntroductionI. The Message of the Holy RelationshipII. Your Brother’s SinlessnessIII. Reason and the Forms of ErrorIV. The Branching of the RoadV. Weakness and DefensivenessVI. The Light of the Holy Relationship

Chapter 23.THE WAR AGAINST YOURSELFIntroductionI. The Irreconcilable BeliefsII. The Laws of ChaosIII. Salvation without CompromiseIV. Above the Battleground

Chapter 24.THE GOAL OF SPECIALNESSIntroductionI. Specialness as a Substitute for LoveII. The Treachery of SpecialnessIII. The Forgiveness of SpecialnessIV. Specialness versus SinlessnessV. The Christ in You

VI. Salvation from FearVII. The Meeting Place

Chapter 25.THE JUSTICE OF GODIntroductionI. The Link to TruthII. The Savior from the DarkIII. Perception and ChoiceIV. The Light You BringV. The State of SinlessnessVI. The Special FunctionVII. The Rock of SalvationVIII. Justice Returned to LoveIX. The Justice of Heaven

Chapter 26.THE TRANSITIONI. The “Sacrifice” of OnenessII. Many Forms; One CorrectionIII. The BorderlandIV. Where Sin Has LeftV. The Little HindranceVI. The Appointed FriendVII. The Laws of HealingVIII. The Immediacy of SalvationIX. For They Have ComeX. The End of Injustice

Chapter 27.THE HEALING OF THE DREAMI. The Picture of CrucifixionII. The Fear of HealingIII. Beyond All SymbolsIV. The Quiet AnswerV. The Healing ExampleVI. The Witnesses to SinVII. The Dreamer of the DreamVIII. The “Hero” of the Dream

Chapter 28.THE UNDOING OF FEARI. The Present MemoryII. Reversing Effect and CauseIII. The Agreement to JoinIV. The Greater JoiningV. The Alternate to Dreams of FearVI. The Secret VowsVII. The Ark of Safety

Chapter 29.THE AWAKENINGI. The Closing of the GapII. The Coming of the GuestIII. God’s WitnessesIV. Dream RolesV. The Changeless Dwelling PlaceVI. Forgiveness and the End of Time

VII. Seek Not Outside YourselfVIII. The Anti-ChristIX. The Forgiving Dream

Chapter 30.THE NEW BEGINNINGIntroductionI. Rules for DecisionII. Freedom of WillIII. Beyond All IdolsIV. The Truth behind IllusionsV. The Only PurposeVI. The Justification for ForgivenessVII. The New InterpretationVIII. Changeless Reality

Chapter 31.THE FINAL VISIONI. The Simplicity of SalvationII. Walking with ChristIII. The Self-AccusedIV. The Real AlternativeV. Self-Concept versus SelfVI. Recognizing the SpiritVII. The Savior’s VisionVIII. Choose Once Again

WORKBOOK FOR STUDENTSINTRODUCTIONPART ILESSON 1.Nothing I see in this room [on this street, fromthis window, in this place] means anything.LESSON 2.I have given everything I see in this room [on thisstreet, from this window, in this place] all themeaning that it has for me.LESSON 3.I do not understand anything I see in this room[on this street, from this window, in this place].LESSON 4.These thoughts do not mean anything. They arelike the things I see in this room [on this street,from this window, in this place].LESSON 5.I am never upset for the reason I think.LESSON 6.I am upset because I see something that is notthere.LESSON 7.I see only the past.LESSON 8.My mind is preoccupied with past thoughts.LESSON 9.I see nothing as it is now.

LESSON 10.My thoughts do not mean anything.LESSON 11.My meaningless thoughts are showing me ameaningless world.LESSON 12.I am upset because I see a meaningless world.LESSON 13.A meaningless world engenders fear.LESSON 14.God did not create a meaningless world.LESSON 15.My thoughts are images that I have made.LESSON 16.I have no neutral thoughts.LESSON 17.I see no neutral things.LESSON 18.I am not alone in experiencing the effects of myseeing.LESSON 19.I am not alone in experiencing the effects of mythoughts.LESSON 20.I am determined to see.LESSON 21.I am determined to see things differently.LESSON 22.

What I see is a form of vengeance.LESSON 23.I can escape from the world I see by giving upattack thoughts.LESSON 24.I do not perceive my own best interests.LESSON 25.I do not know what anything is for.LESSON 26.My attack thoughts are attacking myinvulnerability.LESSON 27.Above all else I want to see.LESSON 28.Above all else I want to see things differently.LESSON 29.God is in everything I see.LESSON 30.God is in everything I see because God is in mymind.LESSON 31.I am not the victim of the world I see.LESSON 32.I have invented the world I see.LESSON 33.There is another way of looking at the world.LESSON 34.I could see peace instead of this.

LESSON 35.My mind is part of God’s. I am very holy.LESSON 36.My holiness envelops everything I see.LESSON 37.My holiness blesses the world.LESSON 38.There is nothing my holiness cannot do.LESSON 39.My holiness is my salvation.LESSON 40.I am blessed as a Son of God.LESSON 41.God goes with me wherever I go.LESSON 42.God is my strength. Vision is His gift.LESSON 43.God is my Source. I cannot see apart from Him.LESSON 44.God is the light in which I see.LESSON 45.God is the Mind with which I think.LESSON 46.God is the Love in which I forgive.LESSON 47.God is the strength in which I trust.LESSON 48.There is nothing to fear.

LESSON 49.God’s Voice speaks to me all through the day.LESSON 50.I am sustained by the Love of God.REVIEW IIntroductionLESSON 51.The review for today covers the following ideas:LESSON 52.Today’s review covers these ideas:LESSON 53.Today we will review the following:LESSON 54.These are the review ideas for today:LESSON 55.Today’s review includes the following:LESSON 56.Our review for today covers the following:LESSON 57.Today let us review these ideas:LESSON 58.These ideas are for review today:LESSON 59.The following ideas are for review today:LESSON 60.These ideas are for today’s review:LESSON 61.I am the light of the world.

LESSON 62.Forgiveness is my function as the light of theworld.LESSON 63.The light of the world brings peace to every mindthrough my forgiveness.LESSON 64.Let me not forget my function.LESSON 65.My only function is the one God gave me.LESSON 66.My happiness and my function are one.LESSON 67.Love created me like itself.LESSON 68.Love holds no grievances.LESSON 69.My grievances hide the light of the world in me.LESSON 70.My salvation comes from me.LESSON 71.Only God’s plan for salvation will work.LESSON 72.Holding grievances is an attack on God’s plan forsalvation.LESSON 73.I will there be light.LESSON 74.

There is no will but God’s.LESSON 75.The light has come.LESSON 76.I am under no laws but God’s.LESSON 77.I am entitled to miracles.LESSON 78.Let miracles replace all grievances.LESSON 79.Let me recognize the problem so it can be solved.LESSON 80.Let me recognize my problems have been solved.REVIEW IIIntroductionLESSON 81.Our ideas for review today are:LESSON 82.We will review these ideas today:LESSON 83.Today let us review these ideas:LESSON 84.These are the ideas for today’s review:LESSON 85.Today’s review will cover these ideas:LESSON 86.These ideas are for review today:LESSON 87.

Our review today will cover these ideas:LESSON 88.Today we will review these ideas:LESSON 89.These are our review ideas for today:LESSON 90.For this review we will use these ideas:LESSON 91.Miracles are seen in light.LESSON 92.Miracles are seen in light, and light and strengthare one.LESSON 93.Light and joy and peace abide in me.LESSON 94.I am as God created me.LESSON 95.I am one Self, united with my Creator.LESSON 96.Salvation comes from my one Self.LESSON 97.I am spirit.LESSON 98.I will accept my part in God’s plan for salvation.LESSON 99.Salvation is my only function here.LESSON 100.My part is essential to God’s plan for salvation.

LESSON 101.God’s Will for me is perfect happiness.LESSON 102.I share God’s Will for happiness for me.LESSON 103.God, being Love, is also happiness.LESSON 104.I seek but what belongs to me in truth.LESSON 105.God’s peace and joy are mine.LESSON 106.Let me be still and listen to the truth.LESSON 107.Truth will correct all errors in my mind.LESSON 108.To give and to receive are one in truth.LESSON 109.I rest in God.LESSON 110.I am as God created me.REVIEW IIIIntroductionLESSON 111.For morning and evening review:LESSON 112.For morning and evening review:LESSON 113.For morning and evening review:

LESSON 114.For morning and evening review:LESSON 115.For morning and evening review:LESSON 116.For morning and evening review:LESSON 117.For morning and evening review:LESSON 118.For morning and evening review:LESSON 119.For morning and evening review:LESSON 120.For morning and evening review:LESSON 121.Forgiveness is the key to happiness.LESSON 122.Forgiveness offers everything I want.LESSON 123.I thank my Father for His gifts to me.LESSON 124.Let me remember I am one with God.LESSON 125.In quiet I receive God’s Word today.LESSON 126.All that I give is given to myself.LESSON 127.There is no love but God’s.

LESSON 128.The world I see holds nothing that I want.LESSON 129.Beyond this world there is a world I want.LESSON 130.It is impossible to see two worlds.LESSON 131.No one can fail who seeks to reach the truth.LESSON 132.I loose the world from all I thought it was.LESSON 133.I will not value what is valueless.LESSON 134.Let me perceive forgiveness as it is.LESSON 135.If I defend myself I am attacked.LESSON 136.Sickness is a defense against the truth.LESSON 137.When I am healed I am not healed alone.LESSON 138.Heaven is the decision I must make.LESSON 139.I will accept Atonement for myself.LESSON 140.Only salvation can be said to cure.REVIEW IVIntroduction

LESSON 141.My mind holds only what I think with GodLESSON 142.My mind holds only what I think with God.LESSON 143.My mind holds only what I think with God.LESSON 144.My mind holds only what I think with God.LESSON 145.My mind holds only what I think with God.LESSON 146.My mind holds only what I think with God.LESSON 147.My mind holds only what I think with God.LESSON 148.My mind holds only what I think with God.LESSON 149.My mind holds only what I think with God.LESSON 150.My mind holds only what I think with God.LESSON 151.All things are echoes of the Voice for God.LESSON 152.The power of decision is my own.LESSON 153.In my defenselessness my safety lies.LESSON 154.I am among the ministers of God.

LESSON 155.I will step back and let Him lead the way.LESSON 156.I walk with God in perfect holiness.LESSON 157.Into His Presence would I enter now.LESSON 158.Today I learn to give as I receive.LESSON 159.I give the miracles I have received.LESSON 160.I am at home. Fear is the stranger here.LESSON 161.Give me your blessing, holy Son of God.LESSON 162.I am as God created me.LESSON 163.There is no death. The Son of God is free.LESSON 164.Now are we one with Him Who is our Source.LESSON 165.Let not my mind deny the Thought of God.LESSON 166.I am entrusted with the gifts of God.LESSON 167.There is one life, and that I share with God.LESSON 168.Your grace is given me. I claim it now.

LESSON 169.By grace I live. By grace I am released.LESSON 170.There is no cruelty in God and none in me.REVIEW VIntroductionLESSON 171.God is but Love, and therefore so am I.LESSON 172.God is but Love, and therefore so am I.LESSON 173.God is but Love, and therefore so am I.LESSON 174.God is but Love, and therefore so am I.LESSON 175.God is but Love, and therefore so am I.LESSON 176.God is but Love, and therefore so am I.LESSON 177.God is but Love, and therefore so am I.LESSON 178.God is but Love, and therefore so am I.LESSON 179.God is but Love, and therefore so am I.LESSON 180.God is but Love, and therefore so am I.Introduction to Lessons 181-200.LESSON 181.

I trust my brothers, who are one with me.LESSON 182.I will be still an instant and go home.LESSON 183.I call upon God’s Name and on my own.LESSON 184.The Name of God is my inheritance.LESSON 185.I want the peace of God.LESSON 186.Salvation of the world depends on me.LESSON 187.I bless the world because I bless myself.LESSON 188.The peace of God is shining in me now.LESSON 189.I feel the Love of God within me now.LESSON 190.I choose the joy of God instead of pain.LESSON 191.I am the holy Son of God Himself.LESSON 192.I have a function God would have me fill.LESSON 193.All things are lessons God would have me learn.LESSON 194.I place the future in the Hands of God.LESSON 195.

Love is the way I walk in gratitude.LESSON 196.It can be but myself I crucify.LESSON 197.It can be but my gratitude I earn.LESSON 198.Only my condemnation injures me.LESSON 199.I am not a body. I am free.LESSON 200.There is no peace except the peace of God.REVIEW VIIntroductionLESSON 201.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 202.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 203.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 204.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 205.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.

LESSON 206.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 207.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 208.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 209.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 210.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 211.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 212.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 213.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 214.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 215.

I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 216.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 217.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 218.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 219.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.LESSON 220.I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as Godcreated me.PART IIIntroduction1. What Is Forgiveness?LESSON 221.Peace to my mind. Let all my thoughts be still.LESSON 222.God is with me. I live and move in Him.LESSON 223.God is my life. I have no life but His.LESSON 224.God is my Father, and He loves His Son.

LESSON 225.God is my Father, and His Son loves Him.LESSON 226.My home awaits me. I will hasten there.LESSON 227.This is my holy instant of release.LESSON 228.God has condemned me not. No more do I.LESSON 229.Love, which created me, is what I am.LESSON 230.Now will I seek and find the peace of God.2. What Is Salvation?LESSON 231.Father, I will but to remember You.LESSON 232.Be in my mind, my Father, through the day.LESSON 233.I give my life to God to guide today.LESSON 234.Father, today I am Your Son again.LESSON 235.God in His mercy wills that I be saved.LESSON 236.I rule my mind, which I alone must rule.LESSON 237.Now would I be as God created me.LESSON 238.

On my decision all salvation rests.LESSON 239.The glory of my Father is my own.LESSON 240.Fear is not justified in any form.3. What Is the World?LESSON 241.This holy instant is salvation come.LESSON 242.This day is God’s. It is my gift to Him.LESSON 243.Today I will judge nothing that occurs.LESSON 244.I am in danger nowhere in the world.LESSON 245.Your peace is with me, Father. I am safe.LESSON 246.To love my Father is to love His Son.LESSON 247.Without forgiveness I will still be blind.LESSON 248.Whatever suffers is not part of me.LESSON 249.Forgiveness ends all suffering and loss.LESSON 250.Let me not see myself as limited.4. What Is Sin?LESSON 251.

I am in need of nothing but the truth.LESSON 252.The Son of God is my Identity.LESSON 253.My Self is ruler of the universe.LESSON 254.Let every voice but God’s be still in me.LESSON 255.This day I choose to spend in perfect peace.LESSON 256.God is the only goal I have today.LESSON 257.Let me remember what my purpose is.LESSON 258.Let me remember that my goal is God.LESSON 259.Let me remember that there is no sin.LESSON 260.Let me remember God created me.5. What Is the Body?LESSON 261.God is my refuge and security.LESSON 262.Let me perceive no differences today.LESSON 263.My holy vision sees all things as pure.LESSON 264.I am surrounded by the Love of God.

LESSON 265.Creation’s gentleness is all I see.LESSON 266.My holy Self abides in you, God’s Son.LESSON 267.My heart is beating in the peace of God.LESSON 268.Let all things be exactly as they are.LESSON 269.My sight goes forth to look upon Christ’s face.LESSON 270.I will not use the body’s eyes today.6. What Is the Christ?LESSON 271.Christ’s is the vision I will use today.LESSON 272.How can illusions satisfy God’s Son?LESSON 273.The stillness of the peace of God is mine.LESSON 274.Today belongs to love. Let me not fear.LESSON 275.God’s healing Voice protects all things today.LESSON 276.The Word of God is given me to speak.LESSON 277.Let me not bind Your Son with laws I made.LESSON 278.

If I am bound, my Father is not free.LESSON 279.Creation’s freedom promises my own.LESSON 280.What limits can I lay upon God’s Son?7. What Is the Holy Spirit?LESSON 281.I can be hurt by nothing but my thoughts.LESSON 282.I will not be afraid of love today.LESSON 283.My true Identity abides in You.LESSON 284.I can elect to change all thoughts that hurt.LESSON 285.My holiness shines bright and clear today.LESSON 286.The hush of Heaven holds my heart today.LESSON 287.You are my goal, my Father. Only You.LESSON 288.Let me forget my brother’s past today.LESSON 289.The past is over. It can touch me not.LESSON 290.My present happiness is all I see.8. What Is the Real World?LESSON 291.

This is a day of stillness and of peace.LESSON 292.A happy outcome to all things is sure.LESSON 293.All fear is past and only love is here.LESSON 294.My body is a wholly neutral thing.LESSON 295.The Holy Spirit looks through me today.LESSON 296.The Holy Spirit speaks through me today.LESSON 297.Forgiveness is the only gift I give.LESSON 298.I love You, Father, and I love Your Son.LESSON 299.Eternal holiness abides in me.LESSON 300.Only an instant does this world endure.9. What Is the Second Coming?LESSON 301.And God Himself shall wipe away all tears.LESSON 302.Where darkness was I look upon the light.LESSON 303.The holy Christ is born in me today.LESSON 304.Let not my world obscure the sight of Christ.

LESSON 305.There is a peace that Christ bestows on us.LESSON 306.The gift of Christ is all I seek today.LESSON 307.Conflicting wishes cannot be my will.LESSON 308.This instant is the only time there is.LESSON 309.I will not fear to look within today.LESSON 310.In fearlessness and love I spend today.10. What Is the Last Judgment?LESSON 311.I judge all things as I would have them be.LESSON 312.I see all things as I would have them be.LESSON 313.Now let a new perception come to me.LESSON 314.I seek a future different from the past.LESSON 315.All gifts my brothers give belong to me.LESSON 316.All gifts I give my brothers are my own.LESSON 317.I follow in the way appointed me.LESSON 318.

In me salvation’s means and end are one.LESSON 319.I came for the salvation of the world.LESSON 320.My Father gives all power unto me.11. What Is Creation?LESSON 321.Father, my freedom is in You alone.LESSON 322.I can give up but what was never real.LESSON 323.I gladly make the “sacrifice” of fear.LESSON 324.I merely follow, for I would not lead.LESSON 325.All things I think I see reflect ideas.LESSON 326.I am forever an Effect of God.LESSON 327.I need but call and You will answer me.LESSON 328.I choose the second place to gain the first.LESSON 329.I have already chosen what You will.LESSON 330.I will not hurt myself again today.12. What Is the Ego?LESSON 331.

There is no conflict, for my will is Yours.LESSON 332.Fear binds the world. Forgiveness sets it free.LESSON 333.Forgiveness ends the dream of conflict here.LESSON 334.Today I claim the gifts forgiveness gives.LESSON 335.I choose to see my brother’s sinlessness.LESSON 336.Forgiveness lets me know that minds are joined.LESSON 337.My sinlessness protects me from all harm.LESSON 338.I am affected only by my thoughts.LESSON 339.I will receive whatever I request.LESSON 340.I can be free of suffering today.13. What Is a Miracle?LESSON 341.I can attack but my own sinlessness, And it is only that which keeps me safe.LESSON 342.I let forgiveness rest upon all things, For thus forgiveness will be given me.LESSON 343.I am not asked to make a sacrifice

To find the mercy and the peace of God.LESSON 344.Today I learn the law of love; that what I give my brother is my gift to me.LESSON 345.I offer only miracles today, For I would have them be returned to me.LESSON 346.Today the peace of God envelops me, And I forget all things except His Love.LESSON 347.Anger must come from judgment. Judgment is The weapon I would use against myself, To keep the miracle away from me.LESSON 348.I have no cause for anger or for fear, For You surround me. And in every need That I perceive, Your grace suffices me.LESSON 349.Today I let Christ’s vision look upon All things for me and judge them not, but give Each one a miracle of love instead.LESSON 350.Miracles mirror God’s eternal Love. To offer them is to remember Him, And through His memory to save the world.14. What Am I?LESSON 351.

My sinless brother is my guide to peace. My sinful brother is my guide to pain. And which I choose to see I will behold.LESSON 352.Judgment and love are opposites. From one Come all the sorrows of the world. But from The other comes the peace of God Himself.LESSON 353.My eyes, my tongue, my hands, my feet today Have but one purpose; to be given Christ To use to bless the world with miracles.LESSON 354.We stand together, Christ and I, in peace And certainty of purpose. And in Him Is His Creator, as He is in me.LESSON 355.There is no end to all the peace and joy, And all the miracles that I will give, When I accept God’s Word. Why not today?LESSON 356.Sickness is but another name for sin. Healing is but another name for God. The miracle is thus a call to Him.LESSON 357.Truth answers every call we make to God, Responding first with miracles, and then

Returning unto us to be itself.LESSON 358.No call to God can be unheard nor left Unanswered. And of this I can be sure; His answer is the one I really want.LESSON 359.God’s answer is some form of peace. All pain Is healed; all misery replaced with joy. All prison doors are opened. And all sin Is understood as merely a mistake.LESSON 360.Peace be to me, the holy Son of God. Peace to my brother, who is one with me. Let all the world be blessed with peace throughus.FINAL LESSONS.IntroductionLESSONS 361 to 365.This holy instant would I give to You. Be You incharge. For I would follow You, Certain that Yourdirection gives me peace.

EPILOGUE

MANUAL FOR TEACHERSINTRODUCTION

1. WHO ARE GOD’S TEACHERS?

2. WHO ARE THEIR PUPILS?

3. WHAT ARE THE LEVELS OF TEACHING?

4. WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OFGOD’S TEACHERS?I. TrustA. Development of TrustII. HonestyIII. ToleranceIV. GentlenessV. JoyVI. DefenselessnessVII. GenerosityVIII. PatienceIX. FaithfulnessX. Open-Mindedness

5. HOW IS HEALING ACCOMPLISHED?I. The Perceived Purpose of SicknessII. The Shift in PerceptionIII. The Function of the Teacher of God

6. IS HEALING CERTAIN?

7. SHOULD HEALING BE REPEATED?

8. HOW CAN PERCEPTION OF ORDER OFDIFFICULTIES BE AVOIDED?

9. ARE CHANGES REQUIRED IN THE LIFESITUATION OF GOD’S TEACHERS?

10. HOW IS JUDGMENT RELINQUISHED?

11. HOW IS PEACE POSSIBLE IN THIS WORLD?

12. HOW MANY TEACHERS OF GOD ARENEEDED TO SAVE THE WORLD?

13. WHAT IS THE REAL MEANING OFSACRIFICE?

14. HOW WILL THE WORLD END?

15. IS EACH ONE TO BE JUDGED IN THE END?

16. HOW SHOULD THE TEACHER OF GODSPEND HIS DAY?

17. HOW DO GOD’S TEACHERS DEAL WITHMAGIC THOUGHTS?

18. HOW IS CORRECTION MADE?

19. WHAT IS JUSTICE?

20. WHAT IS THE PEACE OF GOD?

21. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF WORDS INHEALING?

22. HOW ARE HEALING AND ATONEMENT

RELATED?

23. DOES JESUS HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE INHEALING?

24. IS REINCARNATION SO?

25. ARE “PSYCHIC” POWERS DESIRABLE?

26. CAN GOD BE REACHED DIRECTLY?

27. WHAT IS DEATH?

28. WHAT IS THE RESURRECTION?

29. AS FOR THE REST…

CLARIFICATION OF TERMS

INTRODUCTION

1. MIND–SPIRIT

2. THE EGO–THE MIRACLE

3. FORGIVENESS–THE FACE OF CHRIST

4. TRUE PERCEPTION–KNOWLEDGE

5. JESUS – CHRIST

6. THE HOLY SPIRIT

EPILOGUE

SUPPLEMENTS

PSYCHOTHERAPY: PURPOSE, PROCESS,PRACTICE

Introduction

1. THE PURPOSE OF PSYCHOTHERAPYIntroduction

2. THE PROCESS OF PSYCHOTHERAPYIntroductionI. The Limits on PsychotherapyII. The Place of Religion in PsychotherapyIII. The Role of the PsychotherapistIV. The Process of IllnessV. The Process of HealingVI. The Definition of HealingVII. The Ideal Patient-Therapist Relationship

3. THE PRACTICE OF PSYCHOTHERAPYI. The Selection of PatientsII. Is Psychotherapy a Profession?III. The Question of Payment

SONG OF PRAYER

1. PRAYER

IntroductionI. True PrayerII. The Ladder of PrayerIII. Praying for OthersIV. Praying with OthersV. The Ladder Ends

2. FORGIVENESSIntroductionI. Forgiveness of YourselfII. Forgiveness-to-DestroyIII. Forgiveness-for-Salvation

3. HEALINGIntroductionI. The Cause of SicknessII. False versus True HealingIII. Separation versus UnionIV. The Holiness of Healing

PREFACE

This Preface was written in 1977, in response tomany requests for a brief introduction to A Coursein Miracles®. The first two parts–How It Came;What It Is–Helen Schucman wrote herself; thefinal part–What It Says–was written by theprocess of inner dictation described in thePreface.

How It Came

A Course in Miracles began with the suddendecision of two people to join in a common goal.Their names were Helen Schucman and WilliamThetford, Professors of Medical Psychology atColumbia University’s College of Physicians andSurgeons in New York City. It does not matterwho they were, except that the story shows thatwith God all things are possible. They wereanything but spiritual. Their relationship witheach other was difficult and often strained, andthey were concerned with personal andprofessional acceptance and status. In general,they had considerable investment in the values ofthe world. Their lives were hardly in accord withanything that the Course advocates. Helen, theone who received the material, describes herself:

Psychologist, educator, conservative in

theory and atheistic in belief, I was workingin a prestigious and highly academic setting.And then something happened that triggereda chain of events I could never havepredicted. The head of my departmentunexpectedly announced that he was tired ofthe angry and aggressive feelings ourattitudes reflected, and concluded that “theremust be another way.” As if on cue, I agreedto help him find it. Apparently this Course isthe other way.

Although their intention was serious, they hadgreat difficulty in starting out on their jointventure. But they had given the Holy Spirit the“little willingness” that, as the Course itself was toemphasize again and again, is sufficient to enableHim to use any situation for His purposes andprovide it with His power.To continue Helen’s first-person account:

Three startling months preceded the actualwriting, during which time Bill suggestedthat I write down the highly symbolic dreamsand descriptions of the strange images thatwere coming to me. Although I had grownmore accustomed to the unexpected by thattime, I was still very surprised when I wrote,“This is a course in miracles.” That was myintroduction to the Voice. It made no sound,

but seemed to be giving me a kind of rapid,inner dictation which I took down in ashorthand notebook. The writing was neverautomatic. It could be interrupted at any timeand later picked up again. It made me veryuncomfortable, but it never seriouslyoccurred to me to stop. It seemed to be aspecial assignment I had somehow,somewhere agreed to complete. Itrepresented a truly collaborative venturebetween Bill and myself, and much of itssignificance, I am sure, lies in that. I wouldtake down what the Voice “said” and read itto him the next day, and he typed it from mydictation. I expect he had his specialassignment, too. Without his encouragementand support I would never have been able tofulfill mine. The whole process took aboutseven years. The Text came first, then theWorkbook for Students, and finally theManual for Teachers. Only a few minorchanges have been made. Chapter titles andsubheadings have been inserted in the Text,and some of the more personal referencesthat occurred at the beginning have beenomitted. Otherwise the material issubstantially unchanged.

The names of the collaborators in the recording of

the Course do not appear on the cover becausethe Course can and should stand on its own. It isnot intended to become the basis for another cult.Its only purpose is to provide a way in which somepeople will be able to find their own InternalTeacher.

What It Is

As its title implies, the Course is arrangedthroughout as a teaching device. It consists ofthree books: a 669-page Text, a 488-pageWorkbook for Students, and a 92-page Manualfor Teachers. The order in which students chooseto use the books, and the ways in which theystudy them, depend on their particular needs andpreferences.The curriculum the Course proposes is carefullyconceived and is explained, step by step, at boththe theoretical and practical levels. It emphasizesapplication rather than theory, and experiencerather than theology. It specifically states that “auniversal theology is impossible, but a universalexperience is not only possible but necessary”(Manual, p. 77). Although Christian in statement,the Course deals with universal spiritual themes.It emphasizes that it is but one version of theuniversal curriculum. There are many others, this

one differing from them only in form. They alllead to God in the end.The Text is largely theoretical, and sets forth theconcepts on which the Course’s thought system isbased. Its ideas contain the foundation for theWorkbook’s lessons. Without the practicalapplication the Workbook provides, the Textwould remain largely a series of abstractionswhich would hardly suffice to bring about thethought reversal at which the Course aims.The Workbook includes 365 lessons, one for eachday of the year. It is not necessary, however, to dothe lessons at that tempo, and one might want toremain with a particularly appealing lesson formore than one day. The instructions urge onlythat not more than one lesson a day should beattempted. The practical nature of the Workbookis underscored by the introduction to its lessons,which emphasizes experience through applicationrather than a prior commitment to a spiritualgoal:

Some of the ideas the workbook presents youwill find hard to believe, and others mayseem to be quite startling. This does notmatter. You are merely asked to apply theideas as you are directed to do. You are notasked to judge them at all. You are asked onlyto use them. It is their use that will give them

meaning to you, and will show you that theyare true.Remember only this; you need not believethe ideas, you need not accept them, and youneed not even welcome them. Some of themyou may actively resist. None of this willmatter, or decrease their efficacy. But do notallow yourself to make exceptions in applyingthe ideas the workbook contains, andwhatever your reactions to the ideas may be,use them. Nothing more than that is required(Workbook, p. 2).

Finally, the Manual for Teachers, which is writtenin question and answer form, provides answers tosome of the more likely questions a student mightask. It also includes a clarification of a number ofthe terms the Course uses, explaining themwithin the theoretical framework of the Text.The Course makes no claim to finality, nor are theWorkbook lessons intended to bring the student’slearning to completion. At the end, the reader isleft in the hands of his or her own InternalTeacher, Who will direct all subsequent learningas He sees fit. While the Course is comprehensivein scope, truth cannot be limited to any finiteform, as is clearly recognized in the statement atthe end of the Workbook:

This Course is a beginning, not an end…No

more specific lessons are assigned, for thereis no more need of them. Henceforth, hearbut the Voice for God…He will direct yourefforts, telling you exactly what to do, how todirect your mind, and when to come to Himin silence, asking for His sure direction andHis certain Word (Workbook, p. 487).

What It Says

Nothing real can be threatened.Nothing unreal exists.

Herein lies the peace of God.This is how A Course in Miracles begins. It makesa fundamental distinction between the real andthe unreal; between knowledge and perception.Knowledge is truth, under one law, the law of loveor God. Truth is unalterable, eternal andunambiguous. It can be unrecognized, but itcannot be changed. It applies to everything thatGod created, and only what He created is real. It isbeyond learning because it is beyond time andprocess. It has no opposite; no beginning and noend. It merely is.The world of perception, on the other hand, is theworld of time, of change, of beginnings andendings. It is based on interpretation, not onfacts. It is the world of birth and death, founded

on the belief in scarcity, loss, separation anddeath. It is learned rather than given, selective inits perceptual emphases, unstable in itsfunctioning, and inaccurate in its interpretations.From knowledge and perception respectively, twodistinct thought systems arise which are oppositein every respect. In the realm of knowledge nothoughts exist apart from God, because God andHis Creation share one Will. The world ofperception, however, is made by the belief inopposites and separate wills, in perpetual conflictwith each other and with God. What perceptionsees and hears appears to be real because itpermits into awareness only what conforms to thewishes of the perceiver. This leads to a world ofillusions, a world which needs constant defenseprecisely because it is not real.When you have been caught in the world ofperception you are caught in a dream. You cannotescape without help, because everything yoursenses show merely witnesses to the reality of thedream. God has provided the Answer, the onlyWay out, the true Helper. It is the function of HisVoice, His Holy Spirit, to mediate between the twoworlds. He can do this because, while on the onehand He knows the truth, on the other He alsorecognizes our illusions, but without believing inthem. It is the Holy Spirit’s goal to help us escape

from the dream world by teaching us how toreverse our thinking and unlearn our mistakes.Forgiveness is the Holy Spirit’s great learning aidin bringing this thought reversal about. However,the Course has its own definition of whatforgiveness really is just as it defines the world inits own way.The world we see merely reflects our own internalframe of reference–the dominant ideas, wishesand emotions in our minds. “Projection makesperception” (Text, p. 445). We look inside first,decide the kind of world we want to see and thenproject that world outside, making it the truth aswe see it. We make it true by our interpretationsof what it is we are seeing. If we are usingperception to justify our own mistakes–our anger,our impulses to attack, our lack of love inwhatever form it may take–we will see a world ofevil, destruction, malice, envy and despair. All thiswe must learn to forgive, not because we are being“good” and “charitable,” but because what we areseeing is not true. We have distorted the world byour twisted defenses, and are therefore seeingwhat is not there. As we learn to recognize ourperceptual errors, we also learn to look past themor “forgive.” At the same time we are forgivingourselves, looking past our distorted self-conceptsto the Self That God created in us and as us.

Sin is defined as “lack of love” (Text, p. 11). Sincelove is all there is, sin in the sight of the HolySpirit is a mistake to be corrected, rather than anevil to be punished. Our sense of inadequacy,weakness and incompletion comes from thestrong investment in the “scarcity principle” thatgoverns the whole world of illusions. From thatpoint of view, we seek in others what we feel iswanting in ourselves. We “love” another in orderto get something ourselves. That, in fact, is whatpasses for love in the dream world. There can beno greater mistake than that, for love is incapableof asking for anything.Only minds can really join, and whom God hasjoined no man can put asunder (Text, p. 356). Itis, however, only at the level of Christ Mind thattrue union is possible, and has, in fact, never beenlost. The “little I” seeks to enhance itself byexternal approval, external possessions andexternal “love.” The Self That God created needsnothing. It is forever complete, safe, loved andloving. It seeks to share rather than to get; toextend rather than project. It has no needs andwants to join with others out of their mutualawareness of abundance.The special relationships of the world aredestructive, selfish and childishly egocentric. Yet,if given to the Holy Spirit, these relationships can

become the holiest things on earth–the miraclesthat point the way to the return to Heaven. Theworld uses its special relationships as a finalweapon of exclusion and a demonstration ofseparateness. The Holy Spirit transforms theminto perfect lessons in forgiveness and inawakening from the dream. Each one is anopportunity to let perceptions be healed anderrors corrected. Each one is another chance toforgive oneself by forgiving the other. And eachone becomes still another invitation to the HolySpirit and to the remembrance of God.Perception is a function of the body, and thereforerepresents a limit on awareness. Perception seesthrough the body’s eyes and hears through thebody’s ears. It evokes the limited responses whichthe body makes. The body appears to be largelyself-motivated and independent, yet it actuallyresponds only to the intentions of the mind. If themind wants to use it for attack in any form, itbecomes prey to sickness, age and decay. If themind accepts the Holy Spirit’s purpose for itinstead, it becomes a useful way ofcommunicating with others, invulnerable as longas it is needed, and to be gently laid by when itsuse is over. Of itself it is neutral, as is everythingin the world of perception. Whether it is used forthe goals of the ego or the Holy Spirit depends

entirely on what the mind wants.The opposite of seeing through the body’s eyes isthe vision of Christ, which reflects strength ratherthan weakness, unity rather than separation, andlove rather than fear. The opposite of hearingthrough the body’s ears is communicationthrough the Voice for God, the Holy Spirit, whichabides in each of us. His Voice seems distant anddifficult to hear because the ego, which speaks forthe little, separated self, seems to be much louder.This is actually reversed. The Holy Spirit speakswith unmistakable clarity and overwhelmingappeal. No one who does not choose to identifywith the body could possibly be deaf to Hismessages of release and hope, nor could he fail toaccept joyously the vision of Christ in gladexchange for his miserable picture of himself.Christ’s vision is the Holy Spirit’s gift, God’salternative to the illusion of separation and to thebelief in the reality of sin, guilt and death. It is theone correction for all errors of perception; thereconciliation of the seeming opposites on whichthis world is based. Its kindly light shows allthings from another point of view, reflecting thethought system that arises from knowledge andmaking return to God not only possible butinevitable. What was regarded as injustice done toone by someone else now becomes a call for help

and for union. Sin, sickness and attack are seen asmisperceptions calling for remedy throughgentleness and love. Defenses are laid downbecause where there is no attack there is no needfor them. Our brothers’ needs become our own,because they are taking the journey with us as wego to God. Without us they would lose their way.Without them we could never find our own.Forgiveness is unknown in Heaven, where theneed for it would be inconceivable. However, inthis world, forgiveness is a necessary correctionfor all the mistakes that we have made. To offerforgiveness is the only way for us to have it, for itreflects the law of Heaven that giving andreceiving are the same. Heaven is the naturalstate of all the Sons of God as He created them.Such is their reality forever. It has not changedbecause it has been forgotten.Forgiveness is the means by which we willremember. Through forgiveness the thinking ofthe world is reversed. The forgiven world becomesthe gate of Heaven, because by its mercy we can atlast forgive ourselves. Holding no one prisoner toguilt, we become free. Acknowledging Christ in allour brothers, we recognize His Presence inourselves. Forgetting all our misperceptions, andwith nothing from the past to hold us back, wecan remember God. Beyond this, learning cannot

go. When we are ready, God Himself will take thefinal step in our return to Him.

A Course in Miracles

TEXT

INTRODUCTION

T-in.1. This is a course in miracles. It is a requiredcourse. Only the time you take it is voluntary.Free will does not mean that you can establish thecurriculum. It means only that you can elect whatyou want to take at a given time. The course doesnot aim at teaching the meaning of love, for thatis beyond what can be taught. It does aim,however, at removing the blocks to the awarenessof love’s presence, which is your naturalinheritance. The opposite of love is fear, but whatis all-encompassing can have no opposite.T-in.2. This course can therefore be summed upvery simply in this way:

Nothing real can be threatened.Nothing unreal exists.

Herein lies the peace of God.

Chapter 1.THE MEANING OF MIRACLES

I. Principles of Miracles

T-1.I.1. There is no order of difficulty in miracles.One is not “harder” or “bigger” than another. Theyare all the same. All expressions of love aremaximal.T-1.I.2. Miracles as such do not matter. The onlything that matters is their Source, which is farbeyond evaluation.T-1.I.3. Miracles occur naturally as expressions oflove. The real miracle is the love that inspiresthem. In this sense everything that comes fromlove is a miracle.T-1.I.4. All miracles mean life, and God is theGiver of life. His Voice will direct you veryspecifically. You will be told all you need to know.T-1.I.5. Miracles are habits, and should beinvoluntary. They should not be under consciouscontrol. Consciously selected miracles can bemisguided.T-1.I.6. Miracles are natural. When they do notoccur something has gone wrong.T-1.I.7. Miracles are everyone’s right, butpurification is necessary first.T-1.I.8. Miracles are healing because they supplya lack; they are performed by those who

temporarily have more for those who temporarilyhave less.T-1.I.9. Miracles are a kind of exchange. Like allexpressions of love, which are always miraculousin the true sense, the exchange reverses thephysical laws. They bring more love both to thegiver and the receiver.T-1.I.10. The use of miracles as spectacles toinduce belief is a misunderstanding of theirpurpose.T-1.I.11. Prayer is the medium of miracles. It is ameans of communication of the created with theCreator. Through prayer love is received, andthrough miracles love is expressed.T-1.I.12. Miracles are thoughts. Thoughts canrepresent the lower or bodily level of experience,or the higher or spiritual level of experience. Onemakes the physical, and the other creates thespiritual.T-1.I.13. Miracles are both beginnings andendings, and so they alter the temporal order.They are always affirmations of rebirth, whichseem to go back but really go forward. They undothe past in the present, and thus release thefuture.T-1.I.14. Miracles bear witness to truth. They areconvincing because they arise from conviction.Without conviction they deteriorate into magic,

which is mindless and therefore destructive; orrather, the uncreative use of mind.T-1.I.15. Each day should be devoted to miracles.The purpose of time is to enable you to learn howto use time constructively. It is thus a teachingdevice and a means to an end. Time will ceasewhen it is no longer useful in facilitating learning.T-1.I.16. Miracles are teaching devices fordemonstrating it is as blessed to give as to receive.They simultaneously increase the strength of thegiver and supply strength to the receiver.T-1.I.17. Miracles transcend the body. They aresudden shifts into invisibility, away from thebodily level. That is why they heal.T-1.I.18. A miracle is a service. It is the maximalservice you can render to another. It is a way ofloving your neighbor as yourself. You recognizeyour own and your neighbor’s worthsimultaneously.T-1.I.19. Miracles make minds osne in God. Theydepend on cooperation because the Sonship is thesum of all that God created. Miracles thereforereflect the laws of eternity, not of time.T-1.I.20. Miracles reawaken the awareness thatthe spirit, not the body, is the altar of truth. This isthe recognition that leads to the healing power ofthe miracle.T-1.I.21. Miracles are natural signs of forgiveness.

Through miracles you accept God’s forgiveness byextending it to others.T-1.I.22. Miracles are associated with fear onlybecause of the belief that darkness can hide. Youbelieve that what your physical eyes cannot seedoes not exist. This leads to a denial of spiritualsight.T-1.I.23. Miracles rearrange perception and placeall levels in true perspective. This is healingbecause sickness comes from confusing thelevels.T-1.I.24. Miracles enable you to heal the sick andraise the dead because you made sickness anddeath yourself, and can therefore abolish both.You are a miracle, capable of creating in thelikeness of your Creator. Everything else is yourown nightmare, and does not exist. Only thecreations of light are real.T-1.I.25. Miracles are part of an interlocking chainof forgiveness which, when completed, is theAtonement. Atonement works all the time and inall the dimensions of time.T-1.I.26. Miracles represent freedom from fear.“Atoning” means “undoing.” The undoing of fearis an essential part of the Atonement value ofmiracles.T-1.I.27. A miracle is a universal blessing fromGod through me to all my brothers. It is the

privilege of the forgiven to forgive.T-1.I.28. Miracles are a way of earning releasefrom fear. Revelation induces a state in which fearhas already been abolished. Miracles are thus ameans and revelation is an end.T-1.I.29. Miracles praise God through you. Theypraise Him by honoring His creations, affirmingtheir perfection. They heal because they denybody-identification and affirm spirit-identification.T-1.I.30. By recognizing spirit, miracles adjust thelevels of perception and show them in properalignment. This places spirit at the center, whereit can communicate directly.T-1.I.31. Miracles should inspire gratitude, notawe. You should thank God for what you reallyare. The children of God are holy and the miraclehonors their holiness, which can be hidden butnever lost.T-1.I.32. I inspire all miracles, which are reallyintercessions. They intercede for your holinessand make your perceptions holy. By placing youbeyond the physical laws they raise you into thesphere of celestial order. In this order you areperfect.T-1.I.33. Miracles honor you because you arelovable. They dispel illusions about yourself andperceive the light in you. They thus atone for your

errors by freeing you from your nightmares. Byreleasing your mind from the imprisonment ofyour illusions, they restore your sanity.T-1.I.34. Miracles restore the mind to its fullness.By atoning for lack they establish perfectprotection. The spirit’s strength leaves no roomfor intrusions.T-1.I.35. Miracles are expressions of love, butthey may not always have observable effects.T-1.I.36. Miracles are examples of right thinking,aligning your perceptions with truth as Godcreated it.T-1.I.37. A miracle is a correction introduced intofalse thinking by me. It acts as a catalyst, breakingup erroneous perception and reorganizing itproperly. This places you under the Atonementprinciple, where perception is healed. Until thishas occurred, knowledge of the Divine Order isimpossible.T-1.I.38. The Holy Spirit is the mechanism ofmiracles. He recognizes both God’s creations andyour illusions. He separates the true from thefalse by His ability to perceive totally rather thanselectively.T-1.I.39. The miracle dissolves error because theHoly Spirit identifies error as false or unreal. Thisis the same as saying that by perceiving light,darkness automatically disappears.

T-1.I.40. The miracle acknowledges everyone asyour brother and mine. It is a way of perceivingthe universal mark of God.T-1.I.41. Wholeness is the perceptual content ofmiracles. They thus correct, or atone for, thefaulty perception of lack.T-1.I.42. A major contribution of miracles is theirstrength in releasing you from your false sense ofisolation, deprivation and lack.T-1.I.43. Miracles arise from a miraculous state ofmind, or a state of miracle-readiness.T-1.I.44. The miracle is an expression of an innerawareness of Christ and the acceptance of HisAtonement.T-1.I.45. A miracle is never lost. It may touchmany people you have not even met, and produceundreamed of changes in situations of which youare not even aware.T-1.I.46. The Holy Spirit is the highestcommunication medium. Miracles do not involvethis type of communication, because they aretemporary communication devices. When youreturn to your original form of communicationwith God by direct revelation, the need formiracles is over.T-1.I.47. The miracle is a learning device thatlessens the need for time. It establishes an out-of-pattern time interval not under the usual laws of

time. In this sense it is timeless.T-1.I.48. The miracle is the only device at yourimmediate disposal for controlling time. Onlyrevelation transcends it, having nothing to dowith time at all.T-1.I.49. The miracle makes no distinction amongdegrees of misperception. It is a device forperception correction, effective quite apart fromeither the degree or the direction of the error. Thisis its true indiscriminateness.T-1.I.50. The miracle compares what you havemade with creation, accepting what is in accordwith it as true, and rejecting what is out of accordas false.

II. Revelation, Time and Miracles

T-1.II.1. Revelation induces complete buttemporary suspension of doubt and fear. Itreflects the original form of communicationbetween God and His creations, involving theextremely personal sense of creation sometimessought in physical relationships. Physicalcloseness cannot achieve it. Miracles, however,are genuinely interpersonal, and result in truecloseness to others. Revelation unites you directlywith God. Miracles unite you directly with yourbrother. Neither emanates from consciousness,

but both are experienced there. Consciousness isthe state that induces action, though it does notinspire it. You are free to believe what you choose,and what you do attests to what you believe.T-1.II.2. Revelation is intensely personal andcannot be meaningfully translated. That is whyany attempt to describe it in words is impossible.Revelation induces only experience. Miracles, onthe other hand, induce action. They are moreuseful now because of their interpersonal nature.In this phase of learning, working miracles isimportant because freedom from fear cannot bethrust upon you. Revelation is literallyunspeakable because it is an experience ofunspeakable love.T-1.II.3. Awe should be reserved for revelation, towhich it is perfectly and correctly applicable. It isnot appropriate for miracles because a state ofawe is worshipful, implying that one of a lesserorder stands before his Creator. You are a perfectcreation, and should experience awe only in thePresence of the Creator of perfection. The miracleis therefore a sign of love among equals. Equalsshould not be in awe of one another because aweimplies inequality. It is therefore an inappropriatereaction to me. An elder brother is entitled torespect for his greater experience, and obediencefor his greater wisdom. He is also entitled to love

because he is a brother, and to devotion if he isdevoted. It is only my devotion that entitles me toyours. There is nothing about me that you cannotattain. I have nothing that does not come fromGod. The difference between us now is that I havenothing else. This leaves me in a state which isonly potential in you.T-1.II.4. “No man cometh unto the Father but byme” does not mean that I am in any way separateor different from you except in time, and timedoes not really exist. The statement is moremeaningful in terms of a vertical rather than ahorizontal axis. You stand below me and I standbelow God. In the process of “rising up,” I amhigher because without me the distance betweenGod and man would be too great for you toencompass. I bridge the distance as an elderbrother to you on the one hand, and as a Son ofGod on the other. My devotion to my brothers hasplaced me in charge of the Sonship, which Irender complete because I share it. This mayappear to contradict the statement “I and myFather are one,” but there are two parts to thestatement in recognition that the Father isgreater.T-1.II.5. Revelations are indirectly inspired by mebecause I am close to the Holy Spirit, and alert tothe revelation-readiness of my brothers. I can

thus bring down to them more than they can drawdown to themselves. The Holy Spirit mediateshigher to lower communication, keeping thedirect channel from God to you open forrevelation. Revelation is not reciprocal. Itproceeds from God to you, but not from you toGod.T-1.II.6. The miracle minimizes the need for time.In the longitudinal or horizontal plane therecognition of the equality of the members of theSonship appears to involve almost endless time.However, the miracle entails a sudden shift fromhorizontal to vertical perception. This introducesan interval from which the giver and receiver bothemerge farther along in time than they wouldotherwise have been. The miracle thus has theunique property of abolishing time to the extentthat it renders the interval of time it spansunnecessary. There is no relationship betweenthe time a miracle takes and the time it covers.The miracle substitutes for learning that mighthave taken thousands of years. It does so by theunderlying recognition of perfect equality of giverand receiver on which the miracle rests. Themiracle shortens time by collapsing it, thuseliminating certain intervals within it. It does this,however, within the larger temporal sequence.

III. Atonement and Miracles

T-1.III.1. I am in charge of the process ofAtonement, which I undertook to begin. Whenyou offer a miracle to any of my brothers, you doit to yourself and me. The reason you come beforeme is that I do not need miracles for my ownAtonement, but I stand at the end in case you failtemporarily. My part in the Atonement is thecancelling out of all errors that you could nototherwise correct. When you have been restoredto the recognition of your original state, younaturally become part of the Atonement yourself.As you share my unwillingness to accept error inyourself and others, you must join the greatcrusade to correct it; listen to my voice, learn toundo error and act to correct it. The power to workmiracles belongs to you. I will provide theopportunities to do them, but you must be readyand willing. Doing them will bring conviction inthe ability, because conviction comes throughaccomplishment. The ability is the potential, theachievement is its expression, and theAtonement, which is the natural profession of thechildren of God, is the purpose.T-1.III.2. “Heaven and earth shall pass away”means that they will not continue to exist asseparate states. My word, which is the

resurrection and the life, shall not pass awaybecause life is eternal. You are the work of God,and His work is wholly lovable and wholly loving.This is how a man must think of himself in hisheart, because this is what he is.T-1.III.3. The forgiven are the means of theAtonement. Being filled with spirit, they forgive inreturn. Those who are released must join inreleasing their brothers, for this is the plan of theAtonement. Miracles are the way in which mindsthat serve the Holy Spirit unite with me for thesalvation or release of all of God’s creations.T-1.III.4. I am the only one who can performmiracles indiscriminately, because I am theAtonement. You have a role in the Atonementwhich I will dictate to you. Ask me which miraclesyou should perform. This spares you needlesseffort, because you will be acting under directcommunication. The impersonal nature of themiracle is an essential ingredient, because itenables me to direct its application, and under myguidance miracles lead to the highly personalexperience of revelation. A guide does not controlbut he does direct, leaving it up to you to follow.“Lead us not into temptation” means “Recognizeyour errors and choose to abandon them byfollowing my guidance.”T-1.III.5. Error cannot really threaten truth,

which can always withstand it. Only the error isactually vulnerable. You are free to establish yourkingdom where you see fit, but the right choice isinevitable if you remember this:

Spirit is in a state of grace forever.Your reality is only spirit.Therefore you are in a state of grace forever.

Atonement undoes all errors in this respect, andthus uproots the source of fear. Whenever youexperience God’s reassurances as threat, it isalways because you are defending misplaced ormisdirected loyalty. When you project this toothers you imprison them, but only to the extentto which you reinforce errors they have alreadymade. This makes them vulnerable to thedistortions of others, since their own perceptionof themselves is distorted. The miracle worker canonly bless them, and this undoes their distortionsand frees them from prison.T-1.III.6. You respond to what you perceive, andas you perceive so shall you behave. The GoldenRule asks you to do unto others as you wouldhave them do unto you. This means that theperception of both must be accurate. The GoldenRule is the rule for appropriate behavior. Youcannot behave appropriately unless you perceivecorrectly. Since you and your neighbor are equalmembers of one family, as you perceive both so

you will do to both. You should look out from theperception of your own holiness to the holiness ofothers.T-1.III.7. Miracles arise from a mind that is readyfor them. By being united this mind goes out toeveryone, even without the awareness of themiracle worker himself. The impersonal nature ofmiracles is because the Atonement itself is one,uniting all creations with their Creator. As anexpression of what you truly are, the miracleplaces the mind in a state of grace. The mind thennaturally welcomes the Host within and thestranger without. When you bring in the stranger,he becomes your brother.T-1.III.8. That the miracle may have effects onyour brothers that you may not recognize is notyour concern. The miracle will always bless you.Miracles you are not asked to perform have notlost their value. They are still expressions of yourown state of grace, but the action aspect of themiracle should be controlled by me because of mycomplete awareness of the whole plan. Theimpersonal nature of miracle-mindednessensures your grace, but only I am in a position toknow where they can be bestowed.T-1.III.9. Miracles are selective only in the sensethat they are directed towards those who can usethem for themselves. Since this makes it

inevitable that they will extend them to others, astrong chain of Atonement is welded. However,this selectivity takes no account of the magnitudeof the miracle itself, because the concept of sizeexists on a plane that is itself unreal. Since themiracle aims at restoring the awareness of reality,it would not be useful if it were bound by laws thatgovern the error it aims to correct.

IV. The Escape from Darkness

T-1.IV.1. The escape from darkness involves twostages: First, the recognition that darkness cannothide. This step usually entails fear. Second, therecognition that there is nothing you want to hideeven if you could. This step brings escape fromfear. When you have become willing to hidenothing, you will not only be willing to enter intocommunion but will also understand peace andjoy.T-1.IV.2. Holiness can never be really hidden indarkness, but you can deceive yourself about it.This deception makes you fearful because yourealize in your heart it is a deception, and youexert enormous efforts to establish its reality. Themiracle sets reality where it belongs. Realitybelongs only to spirit, and the miracleacknowledges only truth. It thus dispels illusions

about yourself, and puts you in communion withyourself and God. The miracle joins in theAtonement by placing the mind in the service ofthe Holy Spirit. This establishes the properfunction of the mind and corrects its errors, whichare merely lacks of love. Your mind can bepossessed by illusions, but spirit is eternally free.If a mind perceives without love, it perceives anempty shell and is unaware of the spirit within.But the Atonement restores spirit to its properplace. The mind that serves spirit is invulnerable.T-1.IV.3. Darkness is lack of light as sin is lack oflove. It has no unique properties of its own. It isan example of the “scarcity” belief, from whichonly error can proceed. Truth is always abundant.Those who perceive and acknowledge that theyhave everything have no needs of any kind. Thepurpose of the Atonement is to restore everythingto you; or rather, to restore it to your awareness.You were given everything when you werecreated, just as everyone was.T-1.IV.4. The emptiness engendered by fear mustbe replaced by forgiveness. That is what the Biblemeans by “There is no death,” and why I coulddemonstrate that death does not exist. I came tofulfill the law by reinterpreting it. The law itself, ifproperly understood, offers only protection. It isthose who have not yet changed their minds who

brought the “hell-fire” concept into it. I assureyou that I will witness for anyone who lets me,and to whatever extent he permits it. Yourwitnessing demonstrates your belief, and thusstrengthens it. Those who witness for me areexpressing, through their miracles, that they haveabandoned the belief in deprivation in favor of theabundance they have learned belongs to them.

V. Wholeness and Spirit

T-1.V.1. The miracle is much like the body in thatboth are learning aids for facilitating a state inwhich they become unnecessary. When spirit’soriginal state of direct communication is reached,neither the body nor the miracle serves anypurpose. While you believe you are in a body,however, you can choose between loveless andmiraculous channels of expression. You can makean empty shell, but you cannot express nothing atall. You can wait, delay, paralyze yourself, orreduce your creativity almost to nothing. But youcannot abolish it. You can destroy your mediumof communication, but not your potential. Youdid not create yourself.T-1.V.2. The basic decision of the miracle-mindedis not to wait on time any longer than isnecessary. Time can waste as well as be wasted.

The miracle worker, therefore, accepts the time-control factor gladly. He recognizes that everycollapse of time brings everyone closer to theultimate release from time, in which the Son andthe Father are One. Equality does not implyequality now. When everyone recognizes that hehas everything, individual contributions to theSonship will no longer be necessary.T-1.V.3. When the Atonement has beencompleted, all talents will be shared by all theSons of God. God is not partial. All His childrenhave His total Love, and all His gifts are freelygiven to everyone alike. “Except ye become aslittle children” means that unless you fullyrecognize your complete dependence on God, youcannot know the real power of the Son in his truerelationship with the Father. The specialness ofGod’s Sons does not stem from exclusion butfrom inclusion. All my brothers are special. If theybelieve they are deprived of anything, theirperception becomes distorted. When this occursthe whole family of God, or the Sonship, isimpaired in its relationships.T-1.V.4. Ultimately, every member of the family ofGod must return. The miracle calls him to returnbecause it blesses and honors him, even thoughhe may be absent in spirit. “God is not mocked” isnot a warning but a reassurance. God would be

mocked if any of His creations lacked holiness.The creation is whole, and the mark of wholenessis holiness. Miracles are affirmations of Sonship,which is a state of completion and abundance.T-1.V.5. Whatever is true is eternal, and cannotchange or be changed. Spirit is thereforeunalterable because it is already perfect, but themind can elect what it chooses to serve. The onlylimit put on its choice is that it cannot serve twomasters. If it elects to do so, the mind can becomethe medium by which spirit creates along the lineof its own creation. If it does not freely elect to doso, it retains its creative potential but places itselfunder tyrannous rather than Authoritativecontrol. As a result it imprisons, because such arethe dictates of tyrants. To change your mindmeans to place it at the disposal of true Authority.T-1.V.6. The miracle is a sign that the mind haschosen to be led by me in Christ’s service. Theabundance of Christ is the natural result ofchoosing to follow Him. All shallow roots must beuprooted, because they are not deep enough tosustain you. The illusion that shallow roots can bedeepened, and thus made to hold, is one of thedistortions on which the reverse of the GoldenRule rests. As these false underpinnings are givenup, the equilibrium is temporarily experienced asunstable. However, nothing is less stable than an

upside-down orientation. Nor can anything thatholds it upside down be conducive to increasedstability.

VI. The Illusion of Needs

T-1.VI.1. You who want peace can find it only bycomplete forgiveness. No learning is acquired byanyone unless he wants to learn it and believes insome way that he needs it. While lack does notexist in the creation of God, it is very apparent inwhat you have made. It is, in fact, the essentialdifference between them. Lack implies that youwould be better off in a state somehow differentfrom the one you are in. Until the “separation,”which is the meaning of the “fall,” nothing waslacking. There were no needs at all. Needs ariseonly when you deprive yourself. You act accordingto the particular order of needs you establish.This, in turn, depends on your perception of whatyou are.T-1.VI.2. A sense of separation from God is theonly lack you really need correct. This sense ofseparation would never have arisen if you had notdistorted your perception of truth, and had thusperceived yourself as lacking. The idea of order ofneeds arose because, having made thisfundamental error, you had already fragmented

yourself into levels with different needs. As youintegrate you become one, and your needsbecome one accordingly. Unified needs lead tounified action, because this produces a lack ofconflict.T-1.VI.3. The idea of orders of need, which followsfrom the original error that one can be separatedfrom God, requires correction at its own levelbefore the error of perceiving levels at all can becorrected. You cannot behave effectively whileyou function on different levels. However, whileyou do, correction must be introduced verticallyfrom the bottom up. This is because you thinkyou live in space, where concepts such as “up” and“down” are meaningful. Ultimately, space is asmeaningless as time. Both are merely beliefs.T-1.VI.4. The real purpose of this world is to use itto correct your unbelief. You can never controlthe effects of fear yourself, because you madefear, and you believe in what you made. Inattitude, then, though not in content, youresemble your Creator, Who has perfect faith inHis creations because He created them. Beliefproduces the acceptance of existence. That is whyyou can believe what no one else thinks is true. Itis true for you because it was made by you.T-1.VI.5. All aspects of fear are untrue becausethey do not exist at the creative level, and

therefore do not exist at all. To whatever extentyou are willing to submit your beliefs to this test,to that extent are your perceptions corrected. Insorting out the false from the true, the miracleproceeds along these lines:

Perfect love casts out fear.If fear exists,Then there is not perfect love.But:Only perfect love exists. If there is fear, It produces a state that does not exist.

Believe this and you will be free. Only God canestablish this solution, and this faith is His gift.

VII. Distortions of Miracle Impulses

T-1.VII.1. Your distorted perceptions produce adense cover over miracle impulses, making it hardfor them to reach your own awareness. Theconfusion of miracle impulses with physicalimpulses is a major perceptual distortion. Physicalimpulses are misdirected miracle impulses. Allreal pleasure comes from doing God’s Will. This isbecause not doing it is a denial of Self. Denial ofSelf results in illusions, while correction of theerror brings release from it. Do not deceiveyourself into believing that you can relate in peace

to God or to your brothers with anything external.T-1.VII.2. Child of God, you were created to createthe good, the beautiful and the holy. Do not forgetthis. The Love of God, for a little while, must stillbe expressed through one body to another,because vision is still so dim. You can use yourbody best to help you enlarge your perception soyou can achieve real vision, of which the physicaleye is incapable. Learning to do this is the body’sonly true usefulness.T-1.VII.3. Fantasy is a distorted form of vision.Fantasies of any kind are distortions, becausethey always involve twisting perception intounreality. Actions that stem from distortions areliterally the reactions of those who know not whatthey do. Fantasy is an attempt to control realityaccording to false needs. Twist reality in any wayand you are perceiving destructively. Fantasiesare a means of making false associations andattempting to obtain pleasure from them. Butalthough you can perceive false associations, youcan never make them real except to yourself. Youbelieve in what you make. If you offer miracles,you will be equally strong in your belief in them.The strength of your conviction will then sustainthe belief of the miracle receiver. Fantasiesbecome totally unnecessary as the whollysatisfying nature of reality becomes apparent to

both giver and receiver. Reality is “lost” throughusurpation, which produces tyranny. As long as asingle “slave” remains to walk the earth, yourrelease is not complete. Complete restoration ofthe Sonship is the only goal of the miracle-minded.T-1.VII.4. This is a course in mind training. Alllearning involves attention and study at somelevel. Some of the later parts of the course rest tooheavily on these earlier sections not to requiretheir careful study. You will also need them forpreparation. Without this, you may become muchtoo fearful of what is to come to makeconstructive use of it. However, as you studythese earlier sections, you will begin to see someof the implications that will be amplified later on.T-1.VII.5. A solid foundation is necessary becauseof the confusion between fear and awe to which Ihave already referred, and which is often made. Ihave said that awe is inappropriate in connectionwith the Sons of God, because you should notexperience awe in the presence of your equals.However, it was also emphasized that awe isproper in the Presence of your Creator. I havebeen careful to clarify my role in the Atonementwithout either over- or understating it. I am alsotrying to do the same with yours. I have stressedthat awe is not an appropriate reaction to me

because of our inherent equality. Some of thelater steps in this course, however, involve a moredirect approach to God Himself. It would beunwise to start on these steps without carefulpreparation, or awe will be confused with fear,and the experience will be more traumatic thanbeatific. Healing is of God in the end. The meansare being carefully explained to you. Revelationmay occasionally reveal the end to you, but toreach it the means are needed.

Chapter 2.THE SEPARATION AND THE ATONEMENT

I. The Origins of Separation

T-2.I.1. To extend is a fundamental aspect of Godwhich He gave to His Son. In the creation, Godextended Himself to His creations and imbuedthem with the same loving Will to create. Youhave not only been fully created, but have alsobeen created perfect. There is no emptiness inyou. Because of your likeness to your Creator youare creative. No child of God can lose this abilitybecause it is inherent in what he is, but he can useit inappropriately by projecting. The inappropriateuse of extension, or projection, occurs when youbelieve that some emptiness or lack exists in you,and that you can fill it with your own ideas insteadof truth. This process involves the following steps:First, you believe that what God created can bechanged by your own mind.Second, you believe that what is perfect can berendered imperfect or lacking.Third, you believe that you can distort thecreations of God, including yourself.Fourth, you believe that you can create yourself,and that the direction of your own creation is upto you.T-2.I.2. These related distortions represent a

picture of what actually occurred in theseparation, or the “detour into fear.” None of thisexisted before the separation, nor does it actuallyexist now. Everything God created is like Him.Extension, as undertaken by God, is similar to theinner radiance that the children of the Fatherinherit from Him. Its real source is internal. Thisis as true of the Son as of the Father. In this sensethe creation includes both the creation of the Sonby God, and the Son’s creations when his mind ishealed. This requires God’s endowment of theSon with free will, because all loving creation isfreely given in one continuous line, in which allaspects are of the same order.T-2.I.3. The Garden of Eden, or the pre-separation condition, was a state of mind in whichnothing was needed. When Adam listened to the“lies of the serpent,” all he heard was untruth.You do not have to continue to believe what is nottrue unless you choose to do so. All that canliterally disappear in the twinkling of an eyebecause it is merely a misperception. What is seenin dreams seems to be very real. Yet the Bible saysthat a deep sleep fell upon Adam, and nowhere isthere reference to his waking up. The world hasnot yet experienced any comprehensivereawakening or rebirth. Such a rebirth isimpossible as long as you continue to project or

miscreate. It still remains within you, however, toextend as God extended His Spirit to you. Inreality this is your only choice, because your freewill was given you for your joy in creating theperfect.T-2.I.4. All fear is ultimately reducible to the basicmisperception that you have the ability to usurpthe power of God. Of course, you neither can norhave been able to do this. Here is the real basis foryour escape from fear. The escape is broughtabout by your acceptance of the Atonement,which enables you to realize that your errorsnever really occurred. Only after the deep sleepfell upon Adam could he experience nightmares.If a light is suddenly turned on while someone isdreaming a fearful dream, he may initiallyinterpret the light itself as part of his dream andbe afraid of it. However, when he awakens, thelight is correctly perceived as the release from thedream, which is then no longer accorded reality.This release does not depend on illusions. Theknowledge that illuminates not only sets you free,but also shows you clearly that you are free.T-2.I.5. Whatever lies you may believe are of noconcern to the miracle, which can heal any ofthem with equal ease. It makes no distinctionsamong misperceptions. Its sole concern is todistinguish between truth on the one hand, and

error on the other. Some miracles may seem to beof greater magnitude than others. But rememberthe first principle in this course; there is no orderof difficulty in miracles. In reality you areperfectly unaffected by all expressions of lack oflove. These can be from yourself and others, fromyourself to others, or from others to you. Peace isan attribute in you. You cannot find it outside.Illness is some form of external searching. Healthis inner peace. It enables you to remain unshakenby lack of love from without and capable, throughyour acceptance of miracles, of correcting theconditions proceeding from lack of love in others.

II. The Atonement as Defense

T-2.II.1. You can do anything I ask. I have askedyou to perform miracles, and have made it clearthat miracles are natural, corrective, healing anduniversal. There is nothing they cannot do, butthey cannot be performed in the spirit of doubt orfear. When you are afraid of anything, you areacknowledging its power to hurt you. Rememberthat where your heart is, there is your treasurealso. You believe in what you value. If you areafraid, you are valuing wrongly. Yourunderstanding will then inevitably value wrongly,and by endowing all thoughts with equal power

will inevitably destroy peace. That is why the Biblespeaks of “the peace of God which passethunderstanding.” This peace is totally incapable ofbeing shaken by errors of any kind. It denies theability of anything not of God to affect you. This isthe proper use of denial. It is not used to hideanything, but to correct error. It brings all errorinto the light, and since error and darkness arethe same, it corrects error automatically.T-2.II.2. True denial is a powerful protectivedevice. You can and should deny any belief thaterror can hurt you. This kind of denial is not aconcealment but a correction. Your right minddepends on it. Denial of error is a strong defenseof truth, but denial of truth results in miscreation,the projections of the ego. In the service of theright mind the denial of error frees the mind, andre-establishes the freedom of the will. When thewill is really free it cannot miscreate, because itrecognizes only truth.T-2.II.3. You can defend truth as well as error.The means are easier to understand after thevalue of the goal is firmly established. It is aquestion of what it is for. Everyone defends histreasure, and will do so automatically. The realquestions are, what do you treasure, and howmuch do you treasure it? Once you have learnedto consider these questions and to bring them

into all your actions, you will have little difficultyin clarifying the means. The means are availablewhenever you ask. You can, however, save t