T. 31. IV. 3 – 8. Jesus: “It is true indeed, that among the choices the world offers you, all of which will end in death, there is no real choice at all. But this is not, in its entirety, the greater lesson that you need to learn. This is the first part, however!
This first part has a purpose, though, and in accepting it you come to understand why it is necessary. Why would you seek for your salvation by trying another worldly road, another person as an idol, or another place, when you have learned the way the lesson starts, although perhaps not yet perceive what it is for? This lesson’s purpose is the answer to the search that all must undertake who still believe there will surely be another worldly answer to be found. Seek not within the world, even another signpost that would point to still another road!
Learn now, but without a moment’s despair, that there is no hope of answer in the world! But do not judge and turn away from the greater lesson that is only just begun with this honest recognition! No longer look for hope where there is none!
Make fast your learning, and understand you but waste your time unless you go beyond what you have learned here, to what is yet to learn. For from this lowest point in darkness will your learning lead to heights of happiness, in which you see the purpose of the lesson shining clear, and perfectly within your learning grasp.
Unless he understood the real futility of the world, who in it would be willing to be turned away from all its roadways? Is it not essential he begin with this acknowledgement, if he were to seek another way beyond the world instead? For while he sees a choice where there is none, what power of decision can he use?
The great release of power must begin with his learning where it really has a use. And what decision has power if it be applied in situations without any real choice? The learning that the world ‘can offer but one choice,’ no matter what its form may seem to be, is the beginning of acceptance of the idea that there is a real alternative instead. To fight against this recognition is to defeat your purpose here!
You did not undertake this course to learn to find a worldly road the world does not contain. The search for different pathways in the world is but the search for different ‘alternatives to truth.’ And this delusional attempt merely keeps the truth from being reached! Think not that happiness is ever found by following a road away from it! To do so makes no sense, and cannot be the way.
To you who seem to find this course to be too difficult to learn, let me repeat, ‘That to achieve a goal you must proceed in its direction, not away from it!’ And every road that leads the other way will clearly not advance the greater purpose you have found. If this be difficult to understand, then is this course impossible to learn. But only then! For otherwise, it is a simple teaching in the obvious!
There is a real choice that you have power to make when you have looked with honesty on the alternatives. Until that point is reached, you have no choice, and you can but decide how you would choose the better to deceive yourself again!”