1. Judgment, like other devices by which the world of illusions is maintained, is totally misunderstood by the world. 2It is actually confused with wisdom, and substitutes for truth. 3As the world uses the term, an individual is capable of “good” and “bad” judgment, and his education aims at strengthening the former and minimizing the latter. 4There is, however, considerable confusion about what these categories mean. 5What is “good” judgment to one is “bad” judgment to another. 6Further, even the same person classifies the same action as showing “good” judgment at one time and “bad” judgment at another time. 7Nor can any consistent criteria for determining what these categories are be really taught. 8At any time the student may disagree with what his would-be teacher says about them, and the teacher himself may well be inconsistent in what he believes. 9“Good” judgment, in these terms, does not mean anything. 10No more does “bad.”
2. It is necessary for the teacher of God to realize, not that he should not judge, but that he cannot. 2In giving up judgment, he is merely giving up what he did not have. 3He gives up an illusion; or better, he has an illusion of giving up. 4He has actually merely become more honest. 5Recognizing that judgment was always impossible for him, he no longer attempts it. 6This is no sacrifice. 7On the contrary, he puts himself in a position where judgment through him rather than by him can occur. 8And this judgment is neither “good” nor “bad.” 9It is the only judgment there is, and it is only one: “God’s Son is guiltless, and sin does not exist.”
3. The aim of our curriculum, unlike the goal of the world’s learning, is the recognition that judgment in the usual sense is impossible. 2This is not an opinion but a fact. 3In order to judge anything rightly, one would have to be fully aware of an inconceivably wide range of things; past, present and to come. 4One would have to recognize in advance all the effects of his judgments on everyone and everything involved in them in any way. 5And one would have to be certain there is no distortion in his perception, so that his judgment would be wholly fair to everyone on whom it rests now and in the future. 6Who is in a position to do this? 7Who except in grandiose fantasies would claim this for himself?
4. Remember how many times you thought you knew all the “facts” you needed for judgment, and how wrong you were! 2Is there anyone who has not had this experience? 3Would you know how many times you merely thought you were right, without ever realizing you were wrong? 4Why would you choose such an arbitrary basis for decision making? 5Wisdom is not judgment; it is the relinquishment of judgment. 6Make then but one more judgment. 7It is this: There is Someone with you Whose judgment is perfect. 8He does know all the facts; past, present and to come. 9He does know all the effects of His judgment on everyone and everything involved in any way. 10And He is wholly fair to everyone, for there is no distortion in His perception.
5. Therefore lay judgment down, not with regret but with a sigh of gratitude. 2Now are you free of a burden so great that you could merely stagger and fall down beneath it. 3And it was all illusion. 4Nothing more. 5Now can the teacher of God rise up unburdened, and walk lightly on. 6Yet it is not only this that is his benefit. 7His sense of care is gone, for he has none. 8He has given it away, along with judgment. 9He gave himself to Him Whose judgment he has chosen now to trust, instead of his own. 10Now he makes no mistakes. 11His Guide is sure. 12And where he came to judge, he comes to bless. 13Where now he laughs, he used to come to weep.
6. It is not difficult to relinquish judgment. 2But it is difficult indeed to try to keep it. 3The teacher of God lays it down happily the instant he recognizes its cost. 4All of the ugliness he sees about him is its outcome. 5All of the pain he looks upon is its result. 6All of the loneliness and sense of loss; of passing time and growing hopelessness; of sickening despair and fear of death; all these have come of it. 7And now he knows that these things need not be. 8Not one is true. 9For he has given up their cause, and they, which never were but the effects of his mistaken choice, have fallen from him. 10Teacher of God, this step will bring you peace. 11Can it be difficult to want but this?