Lesson 108.To give and to receive are one in truth.
(1) Vision depends upon today's idea. The light is in it, for it
reconciles all seeming opposites. And what is light except the
resolution, born of peace, of all your conflicts and mistaken thoughts
into one concept which is wholly true? Even that one will disappear,
because the Thought behind it will appear instead to take its place. And
now you are at peace forever, for the dream is over then.
(2) True light that makes true vision possible is not the light the
body's eyes behold. It is a state of mind that has become so unified
that darkness cannot be perceived at all. And thus what is the same is
seen as one, while what is not the same remains unnoticed, for it is not
there.
(3) This is the light that shows no opposites, and vision, being healed,
has power to heal. This is the light that brings your peace of mind to
other minds, to share it and be glad that they are one with you and with
themselves. This is the light that heals because it brings single
perception, based upon one frame of reference, from which one meaning
comes.
(4) Here are both giving and receiving seen as different aspects of one
Thought whose truth does not depend on which is seen as first, nor which
appears to be in second place. Here it is understood that both occur
together, that the Thought remain complete. And in this understanding is
the base on which all opposites are reconciled, because they are
perceived from the same frame of reference which unifies this Thought.
(5) One thought, completely unified, will serve to unify all thought.
This is the same as saying one correction will suffice for all
correction, or that to forgive one brother wholly is enough to bring
salvation to all minds. For these are but some special cases of one law
which holds for every kind of learning, if it be directed by the One Who
knows the truth.
(6) To learn that giving and receiving are the same has special
usefulness, because it can be tried so easily and seen as true. And when
this special case has proved it always works, in every circumstance
where it is tried, the thought behind it can be generalized to other
areas of doubt and double vision. And from there it will extend, and
finally arrive at the one Thought which underlies them all.
(7) Today we practice with the special case of giving and receiving. We
will use this simple lesson in the obvious because it has results we
cannot miss. To give is to receive. Today we will attempt to offer peace
to everyone, and see how quickly peace returns to us. Light is
tranquility, and in that peace is vision given us, and we can see.
(8) So we begin the practice periods with the instruction for today, and
say:
<To give and to receive are one in truth.
I will receive what I am giving now.>
Then close your eyes, and for five minutes think of what you would hold
out to everyone, to have it yours. You might, for instance, say:
<To everyone I offer quietness.
To everyone I offer peace of mind.
To everyone I offer gentleness.>
(9) Say each one slowly and then pause a while, expecting to receive the
gift you gave. And it will come to you in the amount in which you gave
it. You will find you have exact return, for that is what you asked. It
might be helpful, too, to think of one to whom to give your gifts. He
represents the others, and through him you give to all.
(10) Our very simple lesson for today will teach you much. Effect and
cause will be far better understood from this time on, and we will make
much faster progress now. Think of the exercises for today as quick
advances in your learning, made still faster and more sure each time you
say, "To give and to receive are one in truth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The commentary on this lesson is an excerpt from Kenneth Wapnick's eight volume
series of
books, called: "Journey Through the Workbook of A Course in Miracles," which can
be purchased at the following site:??~ M. Street
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lesson 108."To give and to receive are one in truth."
*The title gives us the two principle themes of this lesson: giving and
receiving are one; and, derived from the first, our inherent unity as
God's Son. Remembering our Oneness as Christ is the ultimate goal of
Jesus' teaching.*
(1:1) "Vision depends upon today's idea."
*Vision has nothing to do with our eyes, which literally do not see. All
"seeing" reflects a choice we made in our minds for the teacher we want.
If it is the ego, our eyes will see separation; if Jesus, they will
bring back to us his message of oneness. In a separated world, oneness
means shared needs and interests. Despite our different paths, we share
the same hope and goal. Understanding the unity of sharing is the
essence of vision, and why giving and receiving are the same: the Son
gives to himself, who gladly receives the gift from his self.*
(2:1) "True light that makes true vision possible is not the light the
body's eyes behold."
*Vision has nothing to do with seeing auras, physical light, or
experiences in the world. Its light is only in the mind and beyond
sensory perception. Simply stated, it is the light of truth, a thought
within the mind that waits upon our decision to "see" it.*
(3:1) "This is the light that shows no opposites, and vision, being
healed, has power to heal."
*Vision heals the belief in separation, the source of all sickness.
Joining with Jesus, we join with the entire Sonship, ending the
separation as its ends sickness. That is why vision and healing are the
same.
We experience vision by denying, not what our eyes see, but that our
perceptions mean something. Thus the early lessons teach that everything
here is meaningless, for <we> have provided the meaning, which serves to
prove that we are right and Jesus is wrong: separation is alive, well,
and powerful, for look what it has accomplished. These thoughts are
meaningless, however, because they come from nothing, and their darkness
is shined away by the light of truth.*
(4:1) "Here are both giving and receiving seen as different aspects of
one Thought whose truth does not depend on which is seen as first, nor
which appears to be in second place."
*Once again, in the specialness bargains on which our relationships are
based, there is a giver and receiver; and we want to be on top, giving
as little as possible to receive as much as we can. To correct this ego
axiom of <I win, you lose>, Jesus says later in the workbook: "I choose
the second place to gain the first." (W-pII.328) When I no longer have
to be number one, First Cause and the author of my existence, I choose
to be God's Effect. I thus remember I am one with my Source, which puts
me first because in God there is no first and second. We "belong to the
First Cause, created by Him like unto Himself and part of Him"
(T-14.IV.1:7-8):
"The first in time means nothing, but the First in eternity is God the
Father, Who is both First and One. Beyond the First there is no other,
for there is no order, no second or third, and nothing but the First."
(T.14.IV.1.7)
In the dream, we reflect the truth of our oneness by living without
winners and losers, happily understanding we do not have to steal love,
destroy another to get what we want, or be right. If we learn this
lesson, realizing we all are part of the one Son, we will have attained
the non-judgmental state of mind in which there is only vision.*
(4:3 - 5:3) "Here it is understood that both occur together, that the
Thought remain complete. And in this understanding is the base on which
all opposites are reconciled, because they are perceived from the same
frame of reference which unifies this Thought."
"One thought, completely unified, will serve to unify all thought. This
is the same as saying one correction will suffice for all correction, or
that to forgive one brother wholly is enough to bring salvation to all
minds. For these are but some special cases of one law which holds for
every kind of learning, if it be directed by the One Who knows the
truth."
*The message is clear: all is <one>. We have learned that in forgiving
one person totally we have forgiven everyone, because one brother is all
brothers. Recall the following statement, here placed more fully in the
context of generalizing the Holy Spirit's lessons of forgiveness:
"Leave, then, the transfer of your learning to the One Who really
understands its laws, and Who will guarantee that they remain unviolated
and unlimited. Your part is merely to apply what He has taught you to
yourself, and He will do the rest. And it is thus the power of your
learning will be proved to you by all the many different witnesses it
finds. Your brother first among them will be seen, but thousands stand
behind him, and beyond each one of them there are a thousand more."
(T-27.V.10:1-4)
Thus Jesus says that our only responsibility is to accept the Atonement
for ourselves (T-2.V.5:1), which we apply to our special relationships.
Within that specialness is found the entirety of the ego's thought
system and the world's, just as my forgiveness is found the entirety of
the Holy Spirit's thought system -- one problem, one solution.*
(6) "To learn that giving and receiving are the same has special
usefulness, because it can be tried so easily and seen as true. And when
this special case has proved it always works, in every circumstance
where it is tried, the thought behind it can be generalized to other
areas of doubt and double vision. And from there it will extend, and
finally arrive at the one Thought which underlies them all."
*In other words, when I practice the idea for today and ask Jesus' help
to forgive, I learn to generalize from a single relationship to all
relationships.
The term <double vision> has the meaning here of <duality>. When I see
things in double, I see in opposites, an expression of duality. Thus I
practice with my current special relationship by asking Jesus to help me
shift from a perception of differences to one of shared needs and goals.
Such practice will help me generalize to every aspect of my life. The
<one Thought> refers to God's Love, the Oneness that is the source for
all experiences of oneness -- shared interests -- in the world. My
diligent and dedicated daily practice fosters the generalization that
enables me to learn that the principle of "giving and receiving are the
same" heals my split mind, "in every circumstance where it is tried." *
(7) "Today we practice with the special case of giving and receiving. We
will use this simple lesson in the obvious because it has results we
cannot miss. To give is to receive. Today we will attempt to offer peace
to everyone, and see how quickly peace returns to us. Light is
tranquility, and in that peace is vision given us, and we can see."
*Eager to learn the lesson in the specific circumstances of our lives,
we allow our Teacher to generalize our learning to the world. We choose
to <give> forgiveness, so that we may <receive> it. Borrowing from the
inspiring imagery of the text's closing pages, we see these tiny,
scattered threads of forgiveness grow into one inclusive chorus of love,
bringing light and peace to the Sonship, united and healed in Christ's
tranquil vision of oneness" (T-31.VIII.11:5).*
(8) "So we begin the practice periods with the instruction for today,
and say:
To give and to receive are one in truth.
I will receive what I am giving now.
Then close your eyes, and for five minutes think of what you would hold
out to everyone, to have it yours. You might, for instance, say:
To everyone I offer quietness.
To everyone I offer peace of mind.
To everyone I offer gentleness."
*These "affirmations" of our right-minded decision represent the truth
to which we bring our wrong-minded thoughts of separation and <one or
the other>: I win, you lose. I choose to let this principle go so I may
receive the quietness, peace, and gentleness I offer you, my brother in
illusion as well as truth.*
(9:1-3) "Say each one slowly and then pause a while, expecting to
receive the gift you gave. And it will come to you in the amount in
which you gave it. You will find you have exact return, for that is what
you asked."
*How wonderful to learn that when we give we receive, and how
instructive to see our resistance to accepting the truth that our
guiltlessness deserves the peace and love we give to our brothers! If we
do not experience this peace, it is because we are not offering it. The
reader may recall this stunning line from the text, to which we add the
one that follows it:
"If he speaks not of Christ to you, you spoke not of Christ to him. You
hear but your own voice, and if Christ speaks through you, you will hear
Him." (T.11.V.18.6)
Regardless of the ego actions of others, our perception has <only> to do
with a decision our minds make. We must always receive what we ask for;
we must always receive what we give: guilt or forgiveness, separation or
unity.*
(10:1-2) "Our very simple lesson for today will teach you much. Effect
and cause will be far better understood from this time on, and we will
make much faster progress now."
*My pain, unhappiness, and misery are the inevitable result of my belief
that the ego is right and a better teacher than the Holy Spirit. The
<effect> -- what I receive -- directly follows its <cause> -- what I
give. I give only what I wish to learn: the ego's separation or the Holy
Spirit's Atonement. Accepting this fact without argument speeds us along
the pathway Home.*
