Judgment, like other
devices by which the world of illusions is maintained, is totally
misunderstood by the world. It is actually confused with wisdom
and substitutes for truth. As the world uses the term, an individual
is capable of "good" and "bad" judgment, and
his education aims at strengthening the former and minimizing the
latter. There is, however, considerable confusion about what these
categories mean.
What is "good
judgment" to one is "bad judgment" to another.
Further, even the
same person classifies the same action as showing "good"
judgment at one time and "bad" judgment at another time.
Nor can any consistent criteria for determining what these categories
are be really taught. At any time, the student may disagree with
what his would-be teacher says about them, and the teacher himself
is inconsistent in what he believes.
"Good judgment"
in these terms does not mean anything. No more does "bad."
It is necessary for
the teacher of God to realize not that he should not judge, but
that he cannot. In giving up judgment, he merely gives up what he
did not have. He gives up an illusion; or better, he has an illusion
of giving up. He has actually merely become more honest.
Recognizing that
judgment was always impossible for him, he no longer attempts
it.
This is no sacrifice.
On the contrary, he puts himself in a position where judgment through
him rather than by him can occur. And this judgment is neither "good"
nor "bad." It is the only judgment there is, and it is
only one: "God's Son is guiltless, and sin does not exist."
The aim of our curriculum,
unlike the goal of the world's learning, is the recognition that
judgment in the usual sense is impossible. This is not an opinion,
but a fact.
In order to judge
anything rightly, one would have to be fully aware of an inconceivably
wide range of things, past, present, and to come.
One would have to
recognize in advance all the effects of his judgments on everyone
and everything involved in them in any way. And one would have to
be certain there is no distortion in his perception, so that his
judgment would be wholly fair to everyone on whom it rests, now
and in the future. Who is in a position to do this? Who except in
grandiose fantasies would claim this for himself?
Remember how many
times you thought you knew all the "facts" you needed
for judgment, and how wrong you were! Is there anyone who has not
had this experience? Would you know how many times you merely thought
you were right, without ever realizing you were wrong? Why would
you choose such an arbitrary basis for decision-making? Wisdom is
not judgment; it is the relinquishment of judgment.
Make then but one
more judgment. It is this—there is Someone with you Whose
judgment is perfect.
He does know all the
facts, past, present, and to come. He does know all the effects
of His judgment on everyone and everything involved in any way.
And He is wholly fair to everyone, for there is no distortion in
His perception.
Therefore lay judgment
down, not with regret but with a sigh of gratitude. Now are you
free of a burden so great that you could merely stagger and fall
down beneath it. And it was all illusion. Nothing more. Now can
the teacher of God rise up unburdened and walk lightly on. Yet it
is not only this that is his benefit. His sense of care is gone,
for he has none. He has given it away, along with judgment. He gave
himself to Him Whose judgment he has chosen now to trust instead
of his own. Now he makes no mistakes. His Guide is sure. And where
he came to judge, he comes to bless. Where now he laughs, he used
to come to weep.
It is not difficult
to relinquish judgment. But it is difficult indeed to try to keep
it. The teacher of God lays it down happily the instant he recognizes
its cost. All of the ugliness he sees about him is its outcome.
All of the pain he looks upon is its result. All of the loneliness
and sense of loss, of passing time and growing hopelessness; of
sickening despair and fear of death—all these have come of
it. And now he knows that these things need not be. Not one is true.
For he has given up their cause, and they, which never were but
the effects of his mistaken choice, have fallen from him. Teacher
of God, this step will bring you peace. Can it be difficult to want
but this?
