3. First, they must go through what might be called “a period of undoing.” 2This need not be painful, but it usually is so experienced. 3It seems as if things are being taken away, and it is rarely understood initially that their lack of value is merely being recognized. 4How can lack of value be perceived unless the perceiver is in a position where he must see things in a different light? 5He is not yet at a point at which he can make the shift entirely internally. 6And so the plan will sometimes call for changes in what seem to be external circumstances. 7These changes are always helpful. 8When the teacher of God has learned that much, he goes on to the second stage.
4. Next, the teacher of God must go through “a period of sorting out.” 2This is always somewhat difficult because, having learned that the changes in his life are always helpful, he must now decide all things on the basis of whether they increase the helpfulness or hamper it. 3He will find that many, if not most of the things he valued before will merely hinder his ability to transfer what he has learned to new situations as they arise. 4Because he has valued what is really valueless, he will not generalize the lesson for fear of loss and sacrifice. 5It takes great learning to understand that all things, events, encounters and circumstances are helpful. 6It is only to the extent to which they are helpful that any degree of reality should be accorded them in this world of illusion. 7The word “value” can apply to nothing else.
5. The third stage through which the teacher of God must go can be called “a period of relinquishment.” 2If this is interpreted as giving up the desirable, it will engender enormous conflict. 3Few teachers of God escape this distress entirely. 4There is, however, no point in sorting out the valuable from the valueless unless the next obvious step is taken. 5Therefore, the period of overlap is apt to be one in which the teacher of God feels called upon to sacrifice his own best interests on behalf of truth. 6He has not realized as yet how wholly impossible such a demand would be. 7He can learn this only as he actually does give up the valueless. 8Through this, he learns that where he anticipated grief, he finds a happy lightheartedness instead; where he thought something was asked of him, he finds a gift bestowed on him.
6. Now comes “a period of settling down.” 2This is a quiet time, in which the teacher of God rests a while in reasonable peace. 3Now he consolidates his learning. 4Now he begins to see the transfer value of what he has learned. 5Its potential is literally staggering, and the teacher of God is now at the point in his progress at which he sees in it his whole way out. 6“Give up what you do not want, and keep what you do.” 7How simple is the obvious! 8And how easy to do! 9The teacher of God needs this period of respite. 10He has not yet come as far as he thinks. 11Yet when he is ready to go on, he goes with mighty companions beside him. 12Now he rests a while, and gathers them before going on. 13He will not go on from here alone.
7. The next stage is indeed “a period of unsettling.” 2Now must the teacher of God understand that he did not really know what was valuable and what was valueless. 3All that he really learned so far was that he did not want the valueless, and that he did want the valuable. 4Yet his own sorting out was meaningless in teaching him the difference. 5The idea of sacrifice, so central to his own thought system, had made it impossible for him to judge. 6He thought he learned willingness, but now he sees that he does not know what the willingness is for. 7And now he must attain a state that may remain impossible to reach for a long, long time. 8He must learn to lay all judgment aside, and ask only what he really wants in every circumstance. 9Were not each step in this direction so heavily reinforced, it would be hard indeed!
8. And finally, there is “a period of achievement.” 2It is here that learning is consolidated. 3Now what was seen as merely shadows before become solid gains, to be counted on in all “emergencies” as well as tranquil times. 4Indeed, the tranquility is their result; the outcome of honest learning, consistency of thought and full transfer. 5This is the stage of real peace, for here is Heaven’s state fully reflected. 6From here, the way to Heaven is open and easy. 7In fact, it is here. 8Who would “go” anywhere, if peace of mind is already complete? 9And who would seek to change tranquility for something more desirable? 10What could be more desirable than this?