T-21.III:Faith, Belief and Vision

1. 1All special relationships have sin as their goal. 2For they are bargains with reality, toward which the seeming union is adjusted. 3Forget not this; to bargain is to set a limit, and any brother with whom you have a limited relationship, you hate. 4You may attempt to keep the bargain in the name of “fairness,” sometimes demanding payment of yourself, perhaps more often of the other. 5Thus in the “fairness” you attempt to ease the guilt that comes from the accepted purpose of the relationship. 6And that is why the Holy Spirit must change its purpose to make it useful to Him and harmless to you.

2. 1If you accept this change, you have accepted the idea of making room for truth. 2The source of sin is gone. 3You may imagine that you still experience its effects, but it is not your purpose and you no longer want it. 4No one allows a purpose to be replaced while he desires it, for nothing is so cherished and protected as is a goal the mind accepts. 5This it will follow, grimly or happily, but always with faith and with the persistence that faith inevitably brings. 6The power of faith is never recognized if it is placed in sin. 7But it is always recognized if it is placed in love.

3. 1Why is it strange to you that faith can move mountains? 2This is indeed a little feat for such a power. 3For faith can keep the Son of God in chains as long as he believes he is in chains. 4And when he is released from them it will be simply because he no longer believes in them, withdrawing faith that they can hold him, and placing it in his freedom instead. 5It is impossible to place equal faith in opposite directions. 6What faith you give to sin you take away from holiness. 7And what you offer holiness has been removed from sin.

4. 1Faith and belief and vision are the means by which the goal of holiness is reached. 2Through them the Holy Spirit leads you to the real world, and away from all illusions where your faith was laid. 3This is His direction; the only one He ever sees. 4And when you wander, He reminds you there is but one. 5His faith and His belief and vision are all for you. 6And when you have accepted them completely instead of yours, you will have need of them no longer. 7For faith and vision and belief are meaningful only before the state of certainty is reached. 8In Heaven they are unknown. 9Yet Heaven is reached through them.

5. 1It is impossible that the Son of God lack faith, but he can choose where he would have it be. 2Faithlessness is not a lack of faith, but faith in nothing. 3Faith given to illusions does not lack power, for by it does the Son of God believe that he is powerless. 4Thus is he faithless to himself, but strong in faith in his illusions about himself. 5For faith, perception and belief you made, as means for losing certainty and finding sin. 6This mad direction was your choice, and by your faith in what you chose, you made what you desired.

6. 1The Holy Spirit has a use for all the means for sin by which you sought to find it. 2But as He uses them they lead away from sin, because His purpose lies in the opposite direction. 3He sees the means you use, but not the purpose for which you made them. 4He would not take them from you, for He sees their value as a means for what He wills for you. 5You made perception that you might choose among your brothers, and seek for sin with them. 6The Holy Spirit sees perception as a means to teach you that the vision of a holy relationship is all you want to see. 7Then will you give your faith to holiness, desiring and believing in it because of your desire.

7. 1Faith and belief become attached to vision, as all the means that once served sin are redirected now toward holiness. 2For what you think is sin is limitation, and whom you try to limit to the body you hate because you fear. 3In your refusal to forgive him, you would condemn him to the body because the means for sin are dear to you. 4And so the body has your faith and your belief. 5But holiness would set your brother free, removing hatred by removing fear, not as a symptom, but at its source.

8. 1Those who would free their brothers from the body can have no fear. 2They have renounced the means for sin by choosing to let all limitations be removed. 3As they desire to look upon their brothers in holiness, the power of their belief and faith sees far beyond the body, supporting vision, not obstructing it. 4But first they chose to recognize how much their faith had limited their understanding of the world, desiring to place its power elsewhere should another point of view be given them. 5The miracles that follow this decision are also born of faith. 6For all who choose to look away from sin are given vision, and are led to holiness.

9. 1Those who believe in sin must think the Holy Spirit asks for sacrifice, for this is how they think their purpose is accomplished. 2Brother, the Holy Spirit knows that sacrifice brings nothing. 3He makes no bargains. 4And if you seek to limit Him, you will hate Him because you are afraid. 5The gift that He has given you is more than anything that stands this side of Heaven. 6The instant for its recognition is at hand. 7Join your awareness to what has been already joined. 8The faith you give your brother can accomplish this. 9For He Who loves the world is seeing it for you, without one spot of sin upon it, and in the innocence that makes the sight of it as beautiful as Heaven.

10. 1Your faith in sacrifice has given it great power in your sight; except you do not realize you cannot see because of it. 2For sacrifice must be exacted of a body, and by another body. 3The mind could neither ask it nor receive it of itself. 4And no more could the body. 5The intention is in the mind, which tries to use the body to carry out the means for sin in which the mind believes. 6Thus is the joining of mind and body an inescapable belief of those who value sin. 7And so is sacrifice invariably a means for limitation, and thus for hate.

11. 1Think you the Holy Spirit is concerned with this? 2He gives not what it is His purpose to lead you from. 3You think He would deprive you for your good. 4But “good” and “deprivation” are opposites, and cannot meaningfully join in any way. 5It is like saying that the moon and sun are one because they come with night and day, and so they must be joined. 6Yet sight of one is but the sign the other has disappeared from sight. 7Nor is it possible that what gives light be one with what depends on darkness to be seen. 8Neither demands the sacrifice of the other. 9Yet on the absence of the other does each depend.

12. 1The body was made to be a sacrifice to sin, and in the darkness so it still is seen. 2Yet in the light of vision it is looked upon quite differently. 3You can have faith in it to serve the Holy Spirit’s goal, and give it power to serve as means to help the blind to see. 4But in their seeing they look past it, as do you. 5The faith and the belief you gave it belongs beyond. 6You gave perception and belief and faith from mind to body. 7Let them now be given back to what produced them, and can use them still to save itself from what it made.

1. 所有的特殊关系都以罪为目标。
它们设法以合一的假相来混淆视听，并与真相讨价还价。
你应当知道，讨价还价不是谈条件就是设限制；你必会痛恨与你建立有条件关系的弟兄的。
“公平”常是你讨价还价的借口，有时你也会要求自己付出，然而，更多的时候你是在要求别人付出。
你想用“公平”帮你安抚这别有居心的关系所带给你的罪恶感。
为此之故，圣灵必须先改变这关系的目的，这个关系才会对祂有用而对你又无害。
2. 你若接受这一改变，等于是同意为真理腾出空间。
罪之“因”便一逝不返了。
你可能还会“想象”自己仍在承受罪的苦果，但至少那已不是你的人生目的，你也愈来愈不想要它了。
没有人会允许别人换掉自己所渴望的目标，因为人心一旦订立目标，必会特别珍惜而且爱护有加。
心灵会忠于这一目标，不论走得愁眉苦脸或欢天喜地，它都会满怀信心，锲而不舍。
信仰一旦夹杂了罪，人们便感受不到它的力量。
但信仰若与爱同行，人们便能随处认出它的力量。
3. 信仰确有移山倒海之力，你为何感到如此惊讶？
对信仰来讲，这不过是雕虫小技。
信仰甚至囚禁得了上主之子，只要他相信自己被囚，便会受到囚禁。
因此，只要他不再相信这些桎梏，不认为它们囚禁得了他，而全心相信自己是自由的，他就自由了。
你不可能同时信仰两个截然相反之物。
你对罪的信仰有多深，你对神圣性的信仰就会降低多少。
同理，你对神圣性的信仰有多坚固，你对罪的信仰就能粉碎多少。
4. 信仰、信念与慧见，都是助你达成神圣目标的工具。
圣灵有赖它们的助力来领你进入真实世界，脱离你所信仰的虚幻世界。
这是祂为你指出的方向，祂眼中也只有这一目标。
当你徘徊于歧路时，祂会用这唯一的目标来提醒你。
祂的信仰、信念和慧见都是为你而准备的。
等你全盘接下祂的礼物、放下你自己的一套之后，你就无需再仰赖它们了。
因为信仰、信念和慧见只有在你抵达千古不易之境以前才有意义。
天堂对它们一无所知。
然而，若要抵达天堂，你又非靠它们不可。
5. 上主之子不可能没有信仰，至于他要相信什么，却是他自己的选择。
“不信”，并不表示他没有信仰，而是指他误信了不存在之物。
即便他相信的是幻相，信仰的力道依旧不减，因为上主之子会因而相信自己一无所能。
结果，他不再相信自己，却对自己的幻相坚信不疑。
因为你自己打造出来的那一堆信仰、知见与信念，只会帮你找到罪而忘失了千古不易之境。
这条疯狂的路出自你的选择，因着你对这一选择的信仰，你所渴望之物便被你弄假成真了。
6. 过去你用来追踪罪的伎俩，如今圣灵都能善加利用。
祂会借用你旧有的道具，反其道而行，带你远离罪恶。
但祂只会着眼于你使用的伎俩，却不追究你当初打造这些道具的意图。
祂也无意由你手中夺走它们，只因在祂眼中这些道具的确能帮你完成祂对你的旨意。
你打造的知见只是为了褒贬弟兄而已，结果却与他们一起落入罪的陷阱。
圣灵则把这知见转换为一种教学工具，让你明白你真正想要看的只是神圣关系。
如此，你才可能对生命的神圣本质生出信仰，因渴望而相信它，只因你真心想要得到它。
7. 一度被罪所利用的工具，如今皆转而为神圣本质效命，信仰与信念也会随此慧见而生。
你所认定的罪，其实只是一种限制；不论你把哪位弟兄拘限在一具身体内，你都会因为怕他而恨他。
凡是你不肯宽恕的人，你会把他打入身体的牢狱，因为身体是你玩得最上手的犯罪工具。
你的信仰与信念就这样转到身体上了。
反之，生命的神圣本质只愿释放你的弟兄，它会先消除你的恐惧，借此化解你的恨意；这是治本之道，而非治标。
8. 凡是愿把弟兄由身体释放出来的人，自然一无所惧。
因他们已放弃了罪的伎俩，矢志撤除身体加之于人的一切限制。
只要他们真心瞩目于弟兄的神圣本质，他们的信仰与信念就能越过形体之见，为慧见撑腰，不再从中作梗。
但他们必须先心甘情愿地正视过去的信仰如何拘限了自己的世界观，且诚心渴望把信仰的力量转向他处，准备接受上天赐他的另一观点。
奇迹必会随之而至，由你的信仰中诞生。
凡是决心不再瞩目于罪的人，必会喜获慧见而迈上神圣之路的。
9. 至于相信罪的人，必会认为圣灵是在要求牺牲；唯有如此，他们的阴谋才能得逞。
我的弟兄，圣灵深知牺牲一无所用。
祂从不跟人讨价还价。
你若企图跟祂谈条件，你对祂就会开始转惧为恨了。
祂给你的礼物不是世间任何一物所能望尘莫及。
你就要认出这一真相了。
将你的觉知融入那始终合一之境吧！
只要你对弟兄报以信心，你必会平安抵达此境的。
因“那一位”正为你护守着祂所爱的世界，使它不受一丝罪的污染；因着它的纯洁无罪，它才会在你眼中显得美若天堂。
10. 你如此相信牺牲，它在你眼中才会显得威力无穷；你从未意识到，正是牺牲之念让你的眼睛视而不见。
因牺牲必然是指一具身体向另一具身体索取代价。
心灵不可能要求自己牺牲或接受其他心灵牺牲的。
身体其实也无此能耐。
牺牲的动机出自心灵，心灵企图以身体为工具，为自己相信的罪效命。
因此，凡是重视罪的人势必把心灵与身体混为一物。
如此，牺牲便转为一种限制的伎俩，也成了怨恨的理由了。
11. 你认为圣灵会担心这类事情吗？
祂岂会赐给你祂一心想帮你躲避之物？
你也许会认为祂是为你好才这样剥削你。
但“好意”与“剥削”是相反的两极，不论你怎么为它们拉关系，也不会串连出任何意义的。
这好比说，月亮与太阳是同一个东西，只因一个夜间出现，一个白天出现，故它们必有关连。
问题是，你必须等到这个隐退，才能看到那个出现。
而且，一个带来光明，一个只能在黑暗中看见，怎么可能是同一物？
何况双方都不会要求对方作任何牺牲的。
它们不过是势不两立而已。
12. 身体是为了充当罪的牺牲品而打造出来的；你在黑暗中所看到的身体就是如此。
但在慧见的光明下，身体则是另一番景象。
你开始相信它能为圣灵的目标效力，而赋予它力量帮助盲者复明。
盲者的目光才能跟你一样越过身体去看。
你便如此赋予了身体一种超乎现实的信仰与信念。
由于你一度把知见、信念与信仰从心灵层次打入身体层次，
现在该把这些知见和信念交还给制造它们的主人了，让心灵发挥其用，把你从自己打造的身体拯救出来。
1.一切特殊關係的目標都離不開罪。
因為它們在與實相做條件交換，而那似有實無的結合則需為了它們而改造。
別忘了，條件交換就是在設定界限，而任何弟兄只要與你同在一有限的關係裡，你就會恨他。
你或許會以「公平」之名來維繫這一條件交換，有時你會要求自己付出代價，但更多時候或許是在要求別人。
所以，你企圖以此「公平」來平息內心的罪咎，而這一罪咎則出自你接納並賦予這段關係的目的。
為此之故，聖靈必須轉變這一目的，以使這段關係有用於祂，而無害於你。
2.接納了這一轉變，便等同於接納「為真理騰出空間」的觀念。
罪的源頭早已消失。
你儘能想像自己仍在經歷它的後果，但那已不是你的目的，而你也不再想要它了。
任何人都不會允許自己渴求的目的遭人撤換，因為這世上最受珍惜與保護的莫過於心靈接納的目的。
不論是懷著冷酷或感到幸福，它都會跟隨這一目的，並永遠抱持信心，乃至信心必會帶來的堅持。
你若把信心的力量投之於罪，就必然對其視而不見。
但你若將其投之於愛，就必能認出它來。
3.信心能夠移山倒海，這又有什麼可怪的？
在它的大能跟前，這確實是小事一樁。
畢竟，信心也能囚禁上主之子——只要他相信自己已遭囚禁。
而他若獲釋，不過是因為他已不再相信那些腳鐐手銬；不再相信它們能監禁他，並轉而把自己的信心投之於解脫。
沒有人能把同等的信心投諸兩個相反的方向。
你對罪投以多少信心，就會從神聖性那兒拿走多少。
而你給予神聖性多少，就會從罪那兒移除同等的量。
4.信心、信念、與慧見即是你達成神聖性目標的途徑。
聖靈將會藉著它們領你去往真實世界，並遠離一切你曾投以信心的幻相。
這就是祂的方向；也是祂唯一看得見的方向。
一旦你四處遊蕩，祂就會提醒你只有一個方向。
祂的信心、信念、與慧見都是為了你而有的。
一旦你徹底接納了它們，而非你自己的，你就不再需要它們了。
因為信心、信念、與慧見只有在你尚未達致確定不移之境時方有意義。
天堂對此聞所未聞。
但你卻能藉著它們去往天堂。
5.上主之子絕不可能缺乏信心，但他卻能決定其去向。
不信不同於缺乏信心，而是把信心投之於虛無。
投之於幻相的信心亦不致缺乏力量，因為正是基於這個，上主之子才會相信自己失去了力量。
為此，他對自己抱持著不信，但卻對他錯看的自己深信不疑。
因為信心、感知、與信念都是你營造的，以便能丟失確定性，並尋獲罪的蹤跡。
是你選擇了這一瘋狂的去向，而藉著對此選擇投以信心，你也營造了你所渴求的東西。
6.聖靈能夠運用一切罪的途徑，而你則企圖藉此尋獲罪的蹤跡。
一旦為祂所用，它們就會領你朝著遠離罪的方向前進，因為祂的目的就在反方向上。
祂見到的是你運用的途徑，而非你營造它們時所欲達成的目的。
祂不會由你手裡拿走它們，因為它們在祂眼裡仍有價值；亦即，能幫你找回祂願你擁有的一切。
你營造了感知，為的是在自己的弟兄裡挑三揀四，並與他們一同尋找罪的蹤跡。
聖靈則把感知視為手段，並以此教導你神聖關係的慧見才是你唯一想要看見的。
如此，你才會把自己的信心交付給神聖性；渴望它，並相信它，因為你有此渴望。
7.信心與信念則會隨之與慧見聯手，因為過往曾服務於罪的所有手段如今都已重新導向了神聖性。
因你心目中的罪即是限制，而你也會憎恨那些你企圖限制於身體的弟兄，因你心懷恐懼。
你若拒絕寬恕他們，就會將他們貶為一具具身體，因為你對罪的途徑再熟悉不過。
身體於是凝聚了你的信心和你的信念。
但神聖性會釋放你的弟兄，並藉著移除恐懼來除去怨恨，它會深入其根源，而非僅僅將其當作一項病徵。
8.任何人若樂意將自己的弟兄由身體中釋放，便能一無所懼。
他們選擇讓聖靈來移除所有的限制，進而揚棄罪的途徑。
他們一旦渴求能在神聖性中看見自己的弟兄，信心與信念的力量就會令他們的眼光遠遠超越身體，並維繫慧見，而非阻撓它。
但首先他們得選擇認清自己的信心如何大大限制了自己對世界的了解，而一旦獲致另一種觀點，就會渴求能將它的力量安放於此。
隨之而來的奇蹟亦衍生自他們的信心。
因為任何人只要選擇不往罪的方向去看，聖靈就能賜予他們慧見，並引領他們去往神聖性。
9.任何人一旦相信了罪，就必會相信是聖靈在要求犧牲，畢竟這些人相信他們的目的就是這麼完成的。
弟兄啊，聖靈深知犧牲只會使人一無所獲。
祂不做條件交換。
而你若試圖限制祂，就會對祂心生怨恨，只因你心懷恐懼。
祂給你的禮物則超過天堂另一端的任何事物。
認出它的時機到了。
令你的覺知結合於那業已結合的存在吧。
你給弟兄的信心能使你做到這點。
因為祂愛這世界，祂正是為了你而著眼於斯；祂眼裡的世界並無任何罪的汙點，而此處的純潔景象也使其美妙有如天堂。
10.你對犧牲的信心已為其賦予了它在你眼裡的巨大力量；但你尚未了悟正是它才使你無法看見。
因為犧牲必然是一具身體在搾取另一具身體。
心靈既無法要求自己犧牲，也無法接受它。
而身體亦然。
犧牲的動機內在於心靈，它企圖利用身體來落實罪的手段，因它相信了罪。
為此，那些相信罪有其價值的人便不免相信心靈與身體的結合。
於是犧牲也總會成為限制的手段，乃至怨恨的手段。
11.你還以為聖靈會關切這個嗎？
祂的目的若是要領你遠離它，就不會將它送到你手裡。
你以為祂會為了令你受益而剝奪你。
但「受益」與「剝奪」卻屬對立之物，因而無法在任何方面成就有意義的結合。
這就好比你說，因為月亮和太陽會隨著白晝與黑夜出現，所以它們必會結合為一。
但你若見到其中一個，表示另一個必已消失在你的眼前。
而發出光明的那一個也不可能與須在黑暗裡才能叫人看見的另一個大同小異。
二者都不會向對方索要犧牲。
但它們的存在卻都仰仗彼此的缺席。
12.心靈造出身體，就是為了給罪獻祭，因此你仍能在漆黑之中看見它。
但在慧見的光照下你卻能以不同觀點看它。
它會服務於聖靈的目的，而你也能對此抱以信心，並賦予它力量，使其成為協助盲者復明的有效手段。
而他們一旦睜眼去看，他們的目光就會如你的一般超越身體。
你賦予身體的信心與信念屬於無形無相之境。
你已把感知、信念、與信心由心靈賦予了身體。
如今，讓它們返回製造它們的主體，好讓它仍能運用它們來拯救自己脫離它所營造之物。