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 [we] are at peace
forever, for the dream is over [now].
True light which makes true vision possible
is not the light the body's eyes behold.
It is a state of mind which 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.
This is the light which shows no opposites,
and vision, being healed, has power to heal.
This is the light [which] 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 [which] heals because it brings
single perception, based upon one frame
of reference from which one meaning comes.
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.
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.
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.
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 [note] how quickly peace returns to us.
Light is tranquility, and in that peace
is vision given us, and we can see.
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."
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 this 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.
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."
