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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Previous Section • Next Section • Chapter Index

Chapter 8: The Journey Back

Section III: The Holy Encounter

Read ACIM Chapter 8, Section III (pages 141-143)

How do we receive understanding and enlightenment?

In the beginning of this section, Jesus reminds us that we can receive understanding and enlightenment because it has already been given to us. The decision to accept enlightenment is the decision to listen to the Holy Spirit, Who knows the perfect way to help us. Learning the Holy Spirit’s lessons requires our willingness to receive his teaching, which leads us to the experience of perfect joy and peace. It is only when we wish for the experience of individuality that the Holy Spirit’s Voice is blocked.

How do we block the extension of Love?

When we think of ourselves as alone and separate, we are blocking the extension of Love. Love’s Will is to eternally extend. Being Love’s extension, the Son’s will is also to extend Love. Love is our Father so the extension of the Father and the Son “is the result of Their oneness, holding Their unity together by extending Their Will. This is perfect creation by the perfectly created, in union with the Perfect Creator.” (3:2-3)

What does how we view others have to do with returning to Heaven?

Jesus explains that how we view others will either keep us locked in the dream of separation or be a path leading us Home to the full awareness of our oneness in Love. “When you meet anyone, remember it is a holy encounter. As you see him you will see yourself. As you treat him you will treat yourself. As you think of him you will think of yourself. Never forget this, for in him you will find yourself or lose yourself. Whenever two Sons of God meet, they are given another chance at salvation.” (4:1-6)

Our power is lost to us when we think we are alone. We can only know our power and glory by accepting our oneness with everyone in Love. It is our responsibility to ourselves and to our brothers to recognize the loving Self we share that unites us with our Creator. We do this by forgiving the illusions we have held about ourselves and our brothers.

Our brother is in the Kingdom and remembering this helps us remember our Identity and our function. We are all Love and our function is to extend Love. “You can encounter only part of yourself because you are part of God, Who is everything.” (7:1) Extending Love is how we remember we are Love. We can remember to do this in every situation with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our willingness to listen and be led is all that is needed.

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