Temptation

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Definition

The wish to make illusions real, to remain in suffering and accept a false identity, presenting itself as an attractive alternative to truth and freedom.

Arc in Brief

In the Text, temptation is the ego’s invitation to choose guilt, attack, or body‑identity again—and tempted moments can be used to choose the Holy Spirit instead.

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257 sections

Section	Temptation

Text Introduction
Introduction
T-1. The Meaning of Miracles
I. Principles of Miracles
II. Revelation, Time and Miracles
III. Atonement and Miracles	Temptation becomes the cue to drop an error and choose guidance.
IV. The Escape from Darkness
V. Wholeness and Spirit
VI. The Illusion of Needs
VII. Distortions of Miracle Impulses
T-2. The Separation and the Atonement
I. The Origins of Separation
II. The Atonement as Defense
III. The Altar of God
IV. Healing as Release from Fear
V. The Function of the Miracle Worker
VI. Fear and Conflict
VII. Cause and Effect
VIII. The Meaning of the Last Judgment
T-3. The Innocent Perception
I. Atonement without Sacrifice
II. Miracles as True Perception
III. Perception versus Knowledge
IV. Error and the Ego
V. Beyond Perception
VI. Judgment and the Authority Problem
VII. Creating versus the Self-Image
T-4. The Illusions of the Ego
Introduction
I. Right Teaching and Right Learning	The pull to be a body is understood—and gently undone.
II. The Ego and False Autonomy
III. Love without Conflict	A brief prayer turns temptation into a guidance cue.
IV. This Need Not Be	Watch the ego’s lure calmly and withdraw your investment.
V. The Ego-Body Illusion
VI. The Rewards of God
VII. Creation and Communication
T-5. Healing and Wholeness
Introduction
I. The Invitation to the Holy Spirit
II. The Voice for God	When the wrong voice tempts, call for help and rejoin.
III. The Guide to Salvation
IV. Teaching and Healing
V. The Ego’s Use of Guilt
VI. Time and Eternity
VII. The Decision for God
T-6. The Lessons of Love
Introduction
I. The Message of the Crucifixion
II. The Alternative to Projection
III. The Relinquishment of Attack
IV. The Only Answer
V. The Lessons of the Holy Spirit	Temptation whispers “just this once”—refuse exceptions to vigilance.
T-7. The Gifts of the Kingdom
I. The Last Step
II. The Law of the Kingdom
III. The Reality of the Kingdom
IV. Healing as the Recognition of Truth
V. Healing and the Changelessness of Mind
VI. From Vigilance to Peace
VII. The Totality of the Kingdom
VIII. The Unbelievable Belief
IX. The Extension of the Kingdom
X. The Confusion of Pain and Joy
XI. The State of Grace
T-8. The Journey Back
I. The Direction of the Curriculum
II. The Difference between Imprisonment and Freedom
III. The Holy Encounter
IV. The Gift of Freedom
V. The Undivided Will of the Sonship
VI. The Treasure of God
VII. The Body as a Means of Communication
VIII. The Body as Means or End
IX. Healing as Corrected Perception	Sickness-thinking tempts—choose correction of perception instead.
T-9. The Acceptance of the Atonement
I. The Acceptance of Reality
II. The Answer to Prayer
III. The Correction of Error
IV. The Holy Spirit’s Plan of Forgiveness
V. The Unhealed Healer
VI. The Acceptance of Your Brother
VII. The Two Evaluations
VIII. Grandeur versus Grandiosity
T-10. The Idols of Sickness
Introduction
I. At Home in God
II. The Decision to Forget
III. The God of Sickness
IV. The End of Sickness
V. The Denial of God
T-11. God or the Ego
Introduction
I. The Gifts of Fatherhood
II. The Invitation to Healing
III. From Darkness to Light	Temptation offers substitute comfort—return to God’s Will in peace.
IV. The Inheritance of God’s Son
V. The “Dynamics” of the Ego
VI. Waking to Redemption
VII. The Condition of Reality
VIII. The Problem and the Answer
T-12. The Holy Spirit’s Curriculum
I. The Judgment of the Holy Spirit
II. The Way to Remember God
III. The Investment in Reality
IV. Seeking and Finding
V. The Sane Curriculum
VI. The Vision of Christ
VII. Looking Within	When the death‑wish tempts, look within for the witness of life.
VIII. The Attraction of Love for Love
T-13. The Guiltless World
Introduction
I. Guiltlessness and Invulnerability
II. The Guiltless Son of God
III. The Fear of Redemption
IV. The Function of Time
V. The Two Emotions
VI. Finding the Present
VII. Attainment of the Real World	⬥Temptation is the detour from light—remember what you truly want.
VIII. From Perception to Knowledge
IX. The Cloud of Guilt
X. Release from Guilt
XI. The Peace of Heaven
T-14. Teaching for Truth
Introduction
I. The Conditions of Learning
II. The Happy Learner
III. The Decision for Guiltlessness	Guilt’s pain can seem attractive—choose guiltlessness instead.
IV. Your Function in the Atonement
V. The Circle of Atonement
VI. The Light of Communication
VII. Sharing Perception with the Holy Spirit
VIII. The Holy Meeting Place
IX. The Reflection of Holiness
X. The Equality of Miracles
XI. The Test of Truth
T-15. The Holy Instant
I. The Two Uses of Time	Asking how long it will take and attacking are both temptations—return to this instant.
II. The End of Doubt
III. Littleness versus Magnitude
IV. Practicing the Holy Instant
V. The Holy Instant and Special Relationships
VI. The Holy Instant and the Laws of God
VII. The Needless Sacrifice
VIII. The Only Real Relationship
IX. The Holy Instant and the Attraction of God
X. The Time of Rebirth
XI. Christmas as the End of Sacrifice
T-16. The Forgiveness of Illusions
I. True Empathy	When judgment tempts, let empathy be guided—not used for triumph.
II. The Power of Holiness
III. The Reward of Teaching
IV. The Illusion and the Reality of Love
V. The Choice for Completion	Special‑relationship ritual tempts—remember love is content, not form.
VI. The Bridge to the Real World
VII. The End of Illusions	Ask not to wander: receive only what God gives.
T-17. Forgiveness and the Holy Relationship
I. Bringing Fantasy to Truth
II. The Forgiven World
III. Shadows of the Past
IV. The Two Pictures
V. The Healed Relationship	When a relationship turns holy, ego temptation surges to make you escape.
VI. Setting the Goal
VII. The Call for Faith	Faithlessness offers counterfeit peace—look calmly without using it.
VIII. The Conditions of Peace
T-18. The Passing of the Dream
I. The Substitute Reality
II. The Basis of the Dream
III. Light in the Dream	Don’t snatch faith back—temptation would return you to darkness.
IV. The Little Willingness
V. The Happy Dream
VI. Beyond the Body
VII. I Need Do Nothing	Release replaces the exhausting fight against temptation.
VIII. The Little Garden
IX. The Two Worlds	At fear’s edge, temptation says “abandon Help”—stay with it.
T-19. The Attainment of Peace
I. Healing and Faith
II. Sin versus Error	Ego tempts you to call it sin—call it a mistake instead and be free.
III. The Unreality of Sin	Temptation makes sin “real”—remember the cost and choose correction.
IV. The Obstacles to Peace
T-20. The Vision of Holiness
I. Holy Week	Temptation lingers in crucifixion—let innocence lead you beyond.
II. The Gift of Lilies
III. Sin as an Adjustment
IV. Entering the Ark	Temptation trades freedom for imprisonment—refuse both roles.
V. Heralds of Eternity
VI. The Temple of the Holy Spirit
VII. The Consistency of Means and End
VIII. The Vision of Sinlessness
T-21. Reason and Perception
Introduction
I. The Forgotten Song
II. The Responsibility for Sight
III. Faith, Belief and Vision
IV. The Fear to Look Within
V. The Function of Reason
VI. Reason versus Madness
VII. The Last Unanswered Question	When truth feels threatening, the glint of sin tempts you back.
VIII. The Inner Shift
T-22. Salvation and the Holy Relationship
Introduction
I. The Message of the Holy Relationship
II. Your Brother’s Sinlessness	One exception keeps temptation alive—end partial forgiveness.
III. Reason and the Forms of Error
IV. The Branching of the Road
V. Weakness and Defensiveness
VI. The Light of the Holy Relationship
T-23. The War Against Yourself
Introduction	Lift a brother from littleness when temptation strikes.
I. The Irreconcilable Beliefs
II. The Laws of Chaos
III. Salvation without Compromise
IV. Above the Battleground	Temptation to attack—stay above the battleground and choose a miracle.
T-24. The Goal of Specialness
Introduction
I. Specialness as a Substitute for Love
II. The Treachery of Specialness
III. The Forgiveness of Specialness
IV. Specialness versus Sinlessness
V. The Christ in You
VI. Salvation from Fear	Temptation is seeing the unreal and believing you can suffer.
VII. The Meeting Place
T-25. The Justice of God
Introduction
I. The Link to Truth
II. The Savior from the Dark
III. Perception and Choice	With the Helper chosen, temptation becomes a chance to bring joy.
IV. The Light You Bring
V. The State of Sinlessness
VI. The Special Function
VII. The Rock of Salvation	Temptation is the sacrifice bargain: someone must lose.
VIII. Justice Returned to Love
IX. The Justice of Heaven
T-26. The Transition
I. The “Sacrifice” of Oneness
II. Many Forms; One Correction
III. The Borderland
IV. Where Sin Has Left
V. The Little Hindrance
VI. The Appointed Friend
VII. The Laws of Healing
VIII. The Immediacy of Salvation
IX. For They Have Come
X. The End of Injustice	Victimhood tempts with private innocence—release the grievance.
T-27. The Healing of the Dream
I. The Picture of Crucifixion
II. The Fear of Healing
III. Beyond All Symbols
IV. The Quiet Answer
V. The Healing Example
VI. The Witnesses to Sin
VII. The Dreamer of the Dream
VIII. The “Hero” of the Dream
T-28. The Undoing of Fear
I. The Present Memory
II. Reversing Effect and Cause
III. The Agreement to Join
IV. The Greater Joining
V. The Alternate to Dreams of Fear
VI. The Secret Vows
VII. The Ark of Safety
T-29. The Awakening
I. The Closing of the Gap
II. The Coming of the Guest
III. God’s Witnesses
IV. Dream Roles
V. The Changeless Dwelling Place
VI. Forgiveness and the End of Time
VII. Seek Not Outside Yourself
VIII. The Anti-Christ
IX. The Forgiving Dream
T-30. The New Beginning
Introduction
I. Rules for Decision
II. Freedom of Will
III. Beyond All Idols
IV. The Truth behind Illusions
V. The Only Purpose	When an idol tempts, remember its cost and keep walking.
VI. The Justification for Forgiveness
VII. The New Interpretation
VIII. Changeless Reality	Temptation wants one private dream untouched—let the miracle include it.
T-31. The Final Vision
I. The Simplicity of Salvation	Temptation is choosing the wrong lesson—reassess when you feel bad.
II. Walking with Christ
III. The Self-Accused	Overlearn a new first response when temptation appears.
IV. The Real Alternative
V. Self-Concept versus Self
VI. Recognizing the Spirit
VII. The Savior’s Vision	▲All temptation is one choice: keep misery or accept Heaven.
VIII. Choose Once Again	★Temptation says you’re weak—answer by choosing again in strength.

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