1. Minds that are joined and recognize they are, can feel no guilt. 2For they cannot attack, and they rejoice that this is so, seeing their safety in this happy fact. 3Their joy is in the innocence they see. 4And thus they seek for it, because it is their purpose to behold it and rejoice. 5Everyone seeks for what will bring him joy as he defines it. 6It is not the aim, as such, that varies. 7Yet it is the way in which the aim is seen that makes the choice of means inevitable, and beyond the hope of change unless the aim is changed. 8And then the means are chosen once again, as what will bring rejoicing is defined another way and sought for differently.
2. Perception’s basic law could thus be said, “You will rejoice at what you see because you see it to rejoice.” 2And while you think that suffering and sin will bring you joy, so long will they be there for you to see. 3Nothing is harmful or beneficent apart from what you wish. 4It is your wish that makes it what it is in its effects on you. 5Because you chose it as a means to gain these same effects, believing them to be the bringers of rejoicing and of joy. 6Even in Heaven does this law obtain. 7The Son of God creates to bring him joy, sharing his Father’s purpose in his own creation, that his joy might be increased, and God’s along with his.
3. You maker of a world that is not so, take rest and comfort in another world where peace abides. 2This world you bring with you to all the weary eyes and tired hearts that look on sin and beat its sad refrain. 3From you can come their rest. 4From you can rise a world they will rejoice to look upon, and where their hearts are glad. 5In you there is a vision that extends to all of them, and covers them in gentleness and light. 6And in this widening world of light the darkness that they thought was there is pushed away, until it is but distant shadows, far away, not long to be remembered as the sun shines them to nothingness. 7And all their “evil” thoughts and “sinful” hopes, their dreams of guilt and merciless revenge, and every wish to hurt and kill and die, will disappear before the sun you bring.
4. Would you not do this for the Love of God? 2And for yourself? 3For think what it would do for you. 4Your “evil” thoughts that haunt you now will seem increasingly remote and far away from you. 5And they go farther and farther off, because the sun in you has risen that they may be pushed away before the light. 6They linger for a while, a little while, in twisted forms too far away for recognition, and are gone forever. 7And in the sunlight you will stand in quiet, in innocence and wholly unafraid. 8And from you will the rest you found extend, so that your peace can never fall away and leave you homeless. 9Those who offer peace to everyone have found a home in Heaven the world cannot destroy. 10For it is large enough to hold the world within its peace.
5. In you is all of Heaven. 2Every leaf that falls is given life in you. 3Each bird that ever sang will sing again in you. 4And every flower that ever bloomed has saved its perfume and its loveliness for you. 5What aim can supersede the Will of God and of His Son, that Heaven be restored to him for whom it was created as his only home? 6Nothing before and nothing after it. 7No other place; no other state nor time. 8Nothing beyond nor nearer. 9Nothing else. 10In any form. 11This can you bring to all the world, and all the thoughts that entered it and were mistaken for a little while. 12How better could your own mistakes be brought to truth than by your willingness to bring the light of Heaven with you, as you walk beyond the world of darkness into light?