This space you see as setting off all things from one another is the means by which the world’s perception is achieved. ²You see something where nothing is, and see as well nothing where there is unity; a space between all things, between all things and you. ³Thus do you think that you have given life in separation. ⁴By this split you think you are established as a unity which functions with an independent will.
Such is the teaching of the world. ²It is a phase of learning everyone who comes must go through. ³But the sooner he perceives on what it rests, how questionable are its premises, how doubtful its results, the sooner does he question [the world’s] effects. ⁴Learning that stops with what the world would teach stops short of meaning. ⁵In its proper place, it serves but as a starting point from which another kind of learning can begin, a new perception can be gained, and all the arbitrary names the world bestows can be withdrawn as they are raised to doubt.
Use all the little names and symbols which delineate the world of darkness. ²Yet accept them not as your reality. ³The Holy Spirit uses all of them, but He does not forget creation has one Name, one meaning, and a single Source which unifies all things within Itself. ⁴Use all the names the world bestows on them but for convenience, yet do not forget they share the Name of God along with you. (A Course in Miracles Workbook Lesson 184, W-184.2;7;11. See also ACIM Lesson 184 Insights.)
The “life” we experience is a game of make believe we play in our mind. We imagine myriad forms and give them names to convince ourselves they are real. Then we set up a system of learning to teach us how to use these make-believe forms to function in this make-believe world. We so thoroughly reinforce these lessons in make-believe, we forget we made up all these forms. In this forgetting, we do not perceive that we are responsible for this world seeming to exist.
The Course is teaching us how to undo these heavily reinforced lessons of the ego. Because this world is so alien to the truth of our oneness with all that is, it seems difficult to comprehend the world is all made up. We are not asked to completely dismiss the illusionary world in one fell swoop. But we are called upon to work with the Holy Spirit to use the forms of the world for Its purpose.
The purpose of the forms is changed from reinforcing division to helping us teach ourselves and our brothers that only the unity of Love is real. Books become means to learn a new way of perceiving. Words become means to teach Love instead of hate. Print and electronic media become means to unify rather than divide.
As teachers of God, we are called to join the Holy Spirit’s purpose with our thoughts and actions. As we do this, we awaken from the dream that played a game of separation. We remember Love is our Identity.
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