Welcome to active meditation.
A Course in Miracles,
Lesson 133.
I will not value what is valueless.
Our two extended practice periods of 15 minutes each begin with this.
Repeat after me.
I will not value what is valueless.
Only what has value do I seek.
Only what has value do I desire to find.
Today,
We list the criteria by which to test all things you think you want.
Unless they meet these sound requirements,
They are not worth desiring at all,
For they can only replace what offers more.
Let's consider the tests.
First,
If you choose a thing that will not last forever,
What you choose is valueless.
A temporary value is without all value.
Time can never take away a value that is real.
Now say to yourself,
Repeat in your mind,
If I choose a thing that will not last forever,
It is valueless.
Repeat,
If I choose a thing that will not last forever,
It is valueless.
If you choose to take a thing away from someone else,
You will have nothing left.
The one who seeks to take away has been deceived by the illusion that loss can offer gain.
Yet,
Loss must offer loss,
And nothing more.
Say to yourself,
After me,
I will not choose to take something away from someone else.
Repeat,
I will not choose to take something away from someone else.
What is the gain to you in learning this?
It is far more than merely letting you make choices easily and without pain.
Heaven itself is reached with empty hands and open minds,
Which come with nothing to find everything and claim heaven as their own.
We will attempt to reach this state today with self-deception laid aside,
And with an honest willingness to value only the truly valuable and the real.
Ask yourself,
Why is the choice you make a value to you?
What attracts your mind to it?
What purpose does it serve?
And so,
We come to the criterion for choice that is the hardest to believe,
Because its obviousness is overlaid with many levels of obscurity.
Say to yourself,
If I feel guilty about my choice,
The choice has failed the test.
If I feel guilty about my choice,
The choice has failed the test.
All things are either valuable or valueless.
All things are either worthy or not of being sought at all.
All things are either entirely desirable or not worth the slightest effort to obtain.
Choosing is easy just because of this.
Quality is nothing but a screen of smoke,
Which hides the very simple fact that no decision can be difficult.
Repeat in your mind,
If I choose a thing that will not last forever,
It is valueless.
I will not choose to take something away from someone else.
If I feel guilty about my choice,
The choice has failed the test.
Is the choice of value to me?
What attracts my mind to it?
What purpose does it serve?
And what waits for everyone,
Who reaches unencumbered to the gate of heaven,
Which swings open as God comes?
Should you begin to let yourself collect some needless burdens?
Should you believe you see some difficult decisions facing you?
Be quick to answer with this simple thought.
I will not value what is valueless,
For what is valuable belongs to me.
I will not put a thunder on this.
If I choose a thing that will not last forever,
It is valueless.
I will not choose to take something away from someone else.
I will not put a thunder on this.
Each choice you make brings everything to you,
Or nothing.
I will not value what is valueless,
For what is valuable belongs to me.
I will not put a thunder on this.
Each choice you make brings everything to you,
Or nothing.
If you learn the tests by which you can distinguish everything from nothing,
You will make the better choice.
I will not value what is valueless.
Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.
Herein lies the peace of God.
