T-16.I

True Empathy

Chapter 16 — The Forgiveness of Illusions

Empathy is purified by choosing the Holy Spirit’s interpretation, so relationships stop bonding through shared suffering and become places where healing, joining, and help are given without sacrifice.

Practice with this section Read the source text at acim.org/acim/en

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Motifs

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Motifs by Paragraph

Select motifs to find the paragraphs they share.

7 paragraphs

Motif¶	1	2	3	4	5	6	7

Primary
In true empathy, the Holy Spirit does the relating through you.
Pillar
The ego’s empathy bonds through shared pain, not healing.
True empathy steps aside from pain-sharing and lets the Holy Spirit heal.
Empathy heals by joining strength, not entering another’s pain.
Supporting
True empathy is taught by the Holy Spirit, not by shared weakness.
Ego empathy selects favorites; Holy Spirit meets needs without loss.
Minor
False empathy bonds through shared suffering, secrecy, and need.
True empathy refuses the past and listens in the present.
True empathy joins strength, not suffering; it refuses to make pain real.
Invite true empathy: let the Holy Spirit do the relating through you.
Ego empathy joins in weakness; true empathy refuses to weaken.
True empathy rests on Love’s strength, not on weakness.
True empathy refuses secrecy because the Holy Spirit serves the whole.
Echo
Joining another’s pain can preserve the illusion it should release.
Suspend judging to let true empathy heal; judgment decides wrongly for you.
Invite the Guest: prayer as still welcome that blesses relationships.
When judgment tempts, let empathy be guided—not used for triumph.
Secret helping assumes scarcity; the Holy Spirit meets needs without loss.
Don’t substitute ego fixes; let true empathy deliver the miracle.

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Motifs