The World You See

The world you see holds nothing that you need to offer you; nothing that you can use in any way, nor anything at all that serves to give you joy. Believe this thought, and you are saved from years of misery, from countless disappointments, and from hopes that turn to bitter ashes of despair. No one but must accept this thought as true, if he would leave the world behind and soar beyond its petty scope and little ways.

Each thing you value here is but a chain that binds you to the world, and it will serve no other end but this.

A Course In Miracles, Lesson 128

Lesson 129 starts:

Beyond this world there is a world I want.
This is the thought that follows from the one we practiced yesterday. You cannot stop with the idea the world is worthless, for unless you see that there is something else to hope for, you will only be depressed. Our emphasis is not on giving up the world, but on exchanging it for what is far more satisfying, filled with joy, and capable of offering you peace.


[...]
It might be worth a little time to think once more about the value of this world. Perhaps you will concede there is no loss in letting go all thought of value here. The world you see is merciless indeed, unstable, cruel, unconcerned with you, quick to avenge and pitiless with hate. It gives but to rescind, and takes away all things that you have cherished for a while. No lasting love is found, for none is here. This is the world of time, where all things end.

Is it a loss to find a world instead where losing is impossible; where love endures forever, hate cannot exist and vengeance has no meaning? Is it loss to find all things you really want, and know they have no ending and they will remain exactly as you want them throughout time? Yet even they will be exchanged at last for what we cannot speak of, for you go from there to where words fail entirely, into a silence where the language is unspoken and yet surely understood. 


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I find it interesting indeed that J speaks of a world beyond the world, and *yet another* realm beyond that… As if any of us would not find the first one to be more than we had ever dared dream of.


"This is the world of time, where all things end.”

It is funny how we usually don’t think about that. Perhaps because it’s so universal that we take it for granted.
If you manage to amass a fortune, it’s very hard work to hold onto it against thieves, taxes, inflation, expenses... If you marry miss Universe, in twenty years she’ll probably have lost her looks and her cheer. If you win Olympic gold, next year somebody else will be the winner.