How does one overcome illusions? ²Surely not by force or anger, nor by opposing them in any way. ³Merely by letting reason tell you that they contradict reality. ⁴They go against what must be true. ⁵The opposition comes from them, and not reality. ⁶Reality opposes nothing. ⁷What merely is needs no defense, and offers none. ⁸Only illusions need defense because of weakness. ⁹And how can it be difficult to walk the way of truth when only weakness interferes? ¹⁰You are the strong one in this seeming conflict. ¹¹And you need no defense. ¹²Everything that needs defense you do not want, for anything that needs defense will weaken you.
⁴In truth you and your brother stand together, with nothing in between. ⁵God holds your hands, and what can separate whom He has joined as one with Him? ⁶It is your Father Whom you would defend against. ⁷Yet it remains impossible to keep love out. ⁸God rests with you in quiet, undefended and wholly undefending, for in this quiet state alone is strength and power. ⁹Here can no weakness enter, for here is no attack and therefore no illusions. ¹⁰Love rests in certainty. ¹¹Only uncertainty can be defensive. ¹²And all uncertainty is doubt about yourself. (A Course in Miracles, T-22.V.1;3:4-12. See also ACIM Text Made Simple.)
The ego sees itself asl alone, against the world. This is a necessary perspective in order to maintain a sense of specialness. From this perspective, it must constantly defend against what it perceives as external to it.
Our true Self sees Itself as one with all that is real. It perceives no differences. Thus it has nothing that needs to be protected. Knowing Itself as one with everything, Its joy comes with extending Love.
This is the world the Holy Spirit guides us to remember. It does not defend against the ego. The Holy Spirit teaches us, very simply, that the ego is nothing and nowhere. As we learn this important lesson, we remember the peace in which we live.
To welcome this state of mind, we turn over all our perceptions to the Holy Spirit. We are willing to accept His loving correction. We will learn that we share the power of God’s Love. Nothing in truth can disturb our peace.
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