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.
Read A Course in Miracles, Chapter 31, Section VII. (pages 662-666)
In paragraph 1 Jesus tells us that, “…changing concepts is salvation’s task.” (1:3) The Holy Spirit uses bridges to lead us from where we think we are to where we are in truth. The Holy Spirit gradually leads us to the recognition that all concepts of the ‘self’ are meaningless in the end.
Our inner Teacher leads us past our individual ‘self’s’ belief in guilt and separation by helping us see the innocence of every brother we see in the dream of separation: “You cannot give yourself your innocence, for you are too confused about yourself. But should one brother dawn upon your sight as wholly worthy of forgiveness, then your concept of yourself is wholly changed. Your ‘evil’ thoughts have been forgiven with his, because you let them all affect you not. No longer do you choose that you should be the sign of evil and of guilt in him. And as you give your trust to what is good in him, you give it to the good in you.” (2:4-8)
We are being led to change our concepts of being individual selves. As we learn from our Inner Teacher to see past the ‘self’ of another, we are helped to release the idea that we are an individual ‘self.’ This forgiveness process of letting go of ego concepts of individuality and differences leads us back to the recognition that in truth we are united as one Self in the Mind of Love.
Jesus answers this very clearly in paragraph 2: “By focusing upon the good (Love) in him, the body grows decreasingly persistent in your sight, and will at length be seen as little more than just a shadow circling round the good. And this will be your concept of yourself, when you have reached the world beyond the sight your eyes alone can offer you to see. For you will not interpret what you see without the Aid That God has given you. And in His sight there is another world.” (3:3-6)
It is the Holy Spirit in our mind that shows us the Light of Love that is the truth of every brother. The Love in every brother is not a dream but the eternal truth of What he is. It is our true Self that shows us this as we are ready and willing to receive the truth.
Jesus encourages us to receive God’s peace as we see only the Love: “Have faith in him who walks with you, so that your fearful concept of yourself may change. And look upon the good in him, that you may not be frightened by your ‘evil’ thoughts because they do not cloud your view of him. And all this shift requires is that you be willing that this happy change occur. …And let the cruel concept of yourself be changed to one that brings the peace of God.” (5:1-3, 7)
In paragraph 6 we learn that it is the concept of an individual self that we hold that brings us the depression, aloneness and sadness that we experience in the dream of separation. We are encouraged to let this false concept be changed instead of insistently holding on to this false idea. Jesus tells us, “Give it (our concept of self) to Him Who understands the changes that it needs to let it serve the function given you to bring you peace that you may offer peace to have it yours. Alternatives are in your mind to use, and you can see yourself another way.” (6:4-5)
The truth is that we are all the same identical Light of God. There are no individual selves. Jesus helps us move past these false concepts of individuality when he says, “All things you see are images, because you look on them as through a barrier that dims your sight and warps your vision, so that you behold nothing with clarity. The light is kept from everything you see. At most, you glimpse a shadow of what lies beyond. At least, you merely look on darkness, and perceive the terrified imaginings that come from guilty thoughts and concepts born of fear.” (7:2-5)
As we are willing to lay down the concept of the individual self, we are returned to the truth of oneness. “And in this single vision does he see the face of Christ, and understands he looks on everyone as he beholds this one. For there is light where darkness was before, and now the veil is lifted from his sight.” (8:6-7)
We receive the answer to this question in paragraph 10: “Who has learned to see his brother not as [a separate self] has saved himself, and thus is he a savior to the rest. To everyone has God entrusted all, because a partial savior would be one who is but partly saved. The holy ones whom God has given you to save are but everyone you meet or look upon, not knowing who they are; all those you saw an instant and forgot, and those you knew a long while since, and those you will yet meet; the unremembered and the not yet born. For God has given you His Son to save from every concept that he ever held.” (10:3-6)
As we become willing to let go of or forgive our concept of self, we are shown the Light of peace and Love that is our true Identity. This willingness to see the Light then extends to all we see. Jesus explains it this way: “For holiness is seen through holy eyes that look upon the innocence within, and thus expect to see it everywhere. And so they call it forth in everyone they look upon, that he may be what they expect of him. This is the savior’s vision; that he see his innocence in all he looks upon, and see his own salvation everywhere. He holds no concept of himself between his calm and open eyes and what he sees. He brings the light to what he looks upon, that he may see it as it really is.” (11:3-7)
Jesus explains how all our seeing depends on whether we want to see hell or Heaven, separation or oneness, the body or the Light of God that is the truth. He tells us, “For seeing can but represent a wish, because it has no power to create. Yet it can look with love or look with hate, depending only on the simple choice of whether you would join with what you see, or keep yourself apart and separate.
“The savior’s vision is as innocent of what your brother is as it is free of any judgment made upon yourself. It sees no past in anyone at all. And thus it serves a wholly open mind, unclouded by old concepts, and prepared to look on only what the present holds. It cannot judge because it does not know. And recognizing this, it merely asks, ‘What is the meaning of what I behold?’ Then is the answer given. And the door held open for the face of Christ to shine upon the one who asks, in innocence, to see beyond the veil of old ideas and ancient concepts held so long and dear against the vision of the Christ in you.” (12:5-6, 13:1-7)
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