A Course in Miracles Text Made Simple

To gain the most from A Course in Miracles Text Made Simple, we recommend that
you read the corresponding chapter and section in the Text of the Second or
Third Edition of A Course in Miracles published by the Foundation for Inner Peace.

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Chapter 10: The Idols of Sickness

Section IV: The End of Sickness

Read ACIM Chapter 10, Section IV (page 187-189)

How do we let go of the ‘god of sickness’?

In this section Jesus very clearly defines how to let go of the “god of sickness.” He guides us to see the unreality of ego by judging it correctly for the nothingness that it is. When we fight or react against the ego in another or in ourselves, we are making it real, thus holding on to it. When we see the ego is merely nothing, we will not fight it or value it. We will just let it go because we recognize that it is nothing.

As we are willing to end our engagement with the ego, reality will be there to see. Reality is always there, but when our minds are filled up with the belief system of the ego, there is no room to see that only God (or Love) is real. “Knowledge cannot dawn on a mind full of illusions, because truth and illusions are irreconcilable.” (2:5)

What central idea of the Course releases us from guilt and fear of punishment?

One of the central ideas of the Course is that God is Love and nothing else and what He creates is exactly like Himself in all respects. There is nothing else that He has created and only what He creates is real. As we learn to wholly embrace this thought, it leads us to complete release from guilt because, being God’s creation, we must have the same characteristics that God has and God could not be guilty. Understanding this neutralizes all beliefs that God could ever condemn or punish. It also means that since we were created to have the exact same attributes as God, then we could no more condemn, punish or do harm than He. This is our release from guilt and fear of punishment. With this release comes peace.

We have believed in a god of condemnation and punishment only because of our belief that separation is possible. We believe we have separated by judging against God. We then project that belief on God and believe He will judge against us as we have judged against Him. It is this projected image of a false self that we fear in God. The Course is teaching us to recognize that what God did not create could not be real and therefore does not exist. This releases us from fear because we see that only Love is real. We can rest in the peace of knowing total harmlessness.

What happens when we fully realize that the ego is nothing?

Sickness perceived anywhere in the Sonship is perceived through the split mind. In truth we are perfect Love. “If God created you perfect, you are perfect. If you believe you can be sick, you have placed other gods before Him.” (1:4-5) As we let go of the belief that we could be separate or sick, the reality of our perfection dawns upon our minds. When we fully recognize the ego as nothing, the veil of illusion disappears and what is real is revealed automatically. “What you have made is so unworthy of you that you could hardly want it, if you were willing to see it as it is. You will see nothing at all. And your vision will automatically look beyond it, to what is in you and all around you. Reality cannot break through the obstructions you interpose, but it will envelop you completely when you let them go.” (5:7-10)

Why does God’s peace belong to us and can never really be lost?

God created our mind as one with His Mind. God’s Mind is at peace and so when we are in our right mind, we are in peace. “Peace is yours because God created you. And He created nothing else.” (6:7-8) The way to wake up is to withdraw our belief from everything that does not reflect God’s oneness. God shared His oneness with us so we are one with the Sonship and one with God. Opening our minds to see as the Holy Spirit sees helps us see the spark of God in every brother. We help every brother as we do this because our minds are joined. “The power of one mind can shine into another, because all the lamps of God were lit by the same spark.” (7:5)

No matter how deeply we sink into the shadows of separation, the peace of God remains with us. We can never truly lose our connection with Him. Because peace is always with us, it is always there to be felt. There is no one who has not at least glimpsed the Light of Love, the peace of Love, in himself or a brother. It is never completely forgotten, though it may be denied. We need only open our minds to the spark and it will lead us to the Great Rays that keep us forever joined with God’s Light.

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