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.

Chapter 13: The Guiltless World

Section VIII: From Perception to Knowledge

Read ACIM Chapter 13, Section VIII (pages 258-260)

Why does the Holy Spirit teach that there is no time?

The Holy Spirit is the bridge between perception and knowledge. Were we not dreaming of separation with perception of time and space, there would be no need for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings us a message of timelessness that releases us from perception. “He teaches that the past does not exist, a fact with belongs to the sphere of knowledge, and which therefore no one in the world can know.” (1:3)

His message of timelessness heals our perception so that we can see the truth in our brother without the past. As we align our minds with the Holy Spirit, we move toward perfect perception, the vision of Christ. “Perception can reach everywhere under His guidance, for the vision of Christ beholds everything in light.” (2:7)

How does Jesus define knowledge in the Course?

Jesus knows that we do not understand knowledge and cannot experience it while we believe we are in this world of separate bodies. Knowledge is the awareness and beingness of oneness, which is always the same, everywhere and forever. Being eternal, knowledge is changeless. Being one, there is no ‘other’ to perceive. We are told, “Aspects of reality can be seen in everything and everywhere.” (3:8) This is another way of saying, “God is in everything I see.” (WB Lesson 29) Like a hologram, every aspect is whole and contains the whole. Because knowledge cannot be partial and reflects only wholeness, every aspect of knowledge contains all knowledge. We are an aspect of knowledge because we are in the Mind of God.

With Christ’s vision, what do we see?

We cannot experience knowledge while we still place our belief in separation, which Jesus tells us “is merely a faulty formulation of reality, with no effect at all.” (3:5) Because of our faulty thinking we need the Holy Spirit, Who is the bridge between the Father and the Son. “[The Holy Spirit] is a Thought of God, and God has given Him to you because He has no Thoughts He does not share. His message speaks of timelessness in time, and that is why Christ’s vision looks on everything with love.” (4:3-4) Christ’s vision gives us glimpses of the wholeness of Heaven.

As we are willing to accept miracles (changes in perception) from the Holy Spirit, we see our brother without the past and therefore as he really is. Without the past we see no differences and “see that every aspect is the same, perceived in the same light and therefore one. Everyone seen without the past thus brings you nearer to the end of time by bringing healed and healing sight into the darkness, and enabling the world to see.” (5:3-4)

What happens when we offer true perception to every brother?

As we offer true perception to every brother, we heal our minds and bring healing to the world. As we offer true perception, we become witnesses to the fact that everyone is the same. Without the past there are no differences. “There is one miracle, as there is one reality. And every miracle you do contains them all, as every aspect of reality you see blends quietly into the one Reality of God.” (6:3-4) As we see through Christ’s vision, we see that every brother is the same and we are the same as every brother. This is the miracle that shows us that the Sonship is one and we have never left our Father.

As we become witnesses to the one reality of Love in everyone, the truth is returned to our awareness. We bless and we are blessed. We return to our awareness of oneness. “God waits your witness to His Son and to Himself.” (10:4) As we practice beholding the Light, which is always there behind the “faulty formulation of reality,” we… “Help Him to give His gift of light to all who think they wander in the darkness, and let Him gather them into His quiet sight that makes them one.” (5:6)

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