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ACIM Workbook - Lesson 184 (view source)
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, 17:23, 30 October 2014Created page with 'Image:lighterstill.jpgright|frame <center>'''The Name of God is my inheritance.'''</center> The Name of God is my inheritance. You live by symbol...'
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<center>'''The Name of God is my inheritance.'''</center>
The Name of God is my inheritance.
You live by symbols. You have made up names for everything you see.
Each one becomes a separate entity, identified by its own name. By this you
carve it out of unity. By this you designate its special attributes, and set it
off from other things by emphasizing space surrounding it. This space you
lay between all things to which you give a different name; all happenings in
terms of place and time; all bodies which are greeted by a name.
This space you see as setting off all things from one another is the means by
which the world's perception is achieved. You see something where nothing
is, and see as well nothing where there is unity; a space between all things,
between all things and you. Thus do you think that you have given life in
separation. By this split you think you are established as a unity which
functions with an independent will.
What are these names by which the world becomes a series of discrete
events, of things ununified, of bodies kept apart and holding bits of mind as
separate awarenesses? You gave these names to them, establishing
perception as you wished to have perception be. The nameless things were
given names, and thus reality was given them as well. For what is named is
given meaning and will then be seen as meaningful; a cause of true effect,
with consequence inherent in itself.
This is the way reality is made by partial vision, purposefully set against the
given truth. Its enemy is wholeness. It conceives of little things and looks
upon them. And a lack of space, a sense of unity or vision that sees
differently, become the threats which it must overcome, conflict with and
deny.
Yet does this other vision still remain a natural direction for the mind to
channel its perception. It is hard to teach the mind a thousand alien names,
and thousands more. Yet you believe this is what learning means; its one
essential goal by which communication is achieved, and concepts can be
meaningfully shared.
This is the sum of the inheritance the world bestows. And everyone who
learns to think that it is so accepts the signs and symbols that assert the
world is real. It is for this they stand. They leave no doubt that what is
named is there. It can be seen, as is anticipated. What denies that it is true is
but illusion, for it is the ultimate reality. To question it is madness; to accept
its presence is the proof of sanity.
Such is the teaching of the world. It is a phase of learning everyone who
comes must go through. But the sooner he perceives on what it rests, how
questionable are its premises, how doubtful its results, the sooner does he
question its effects. Learning that stops with what the world would teach
stops short of meaning. In 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.
Think not you made the world. Illusions, yes! But what is true in earth and
Heaven is beyond your naming. When you call upon a brother, it is to his
body that you make appeal. His true Identity is hidden from you by what
you believe he really is. His body makes response to what you call him, for
his mind consents to take the name you give him as his own. And thus his
unity is twice denied, for you perceive him separate from you, and he
accepts this separate name as his.
It would indeed be strange if you were asked to go beyond all symbols of
the world, forgetting them forever; yet were asked to take a teaching
function. You have need to use the symbols of the world a while. But be
you not deceived by them as well. They do not stand for anything at all, and
in your practicing it is this thought that will release you from them. They
become but means by which you can communicate in ways the world can
understand, but which you recognize is not the unity where true
communication can be found.
Thus what you need are intervals each day in which the learning of the
world becomes a transitory phase; a prison house from which you go into
the sunlight and forget the darkness. Here you understand the Word, the
Name which God has given you; the one Identity which all things share; the
one acknowledgment of what is true. And then step back to darkness, not
because you think it real, but only to proclaim its unreality in terms which
still have meaning in the world that darkness rules.
Use all the little names and symbols which delineate the world of darkness.
Yet accept them not as your reality. The 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. Use all the names the world bestows
on them but for convenience, yet do not forget they share the Name of God
along with you.
God has no name. And yet His Name becomes the final lesson that all
things are one, and at this lesson does all learning end. All names are
unified; all space is filled with truth's reflection. Every gap is closed, and
separation healed. The Name of God is the inheritance He gave to those
who chose the teaching of the world to take the place of Heaven. In our
practicing, our purpose is to let our minds accept what God has given as the
answer to the pitiful inheritance you made as fitting tribute to the Son He
loves.
No one can fail who seeks the meaning of the Name of God. Experience
must come to supplement the Word. But first you must accept the Name for
all reality, and realize the many names you gave its aspects have distorted
what you see, but have not interfered with truth at all. One Name we bring
into our practicing. One Name we use to unify our sight.
And though we use a different name for each awareness of an aspect of
God's Son, we understand that they have but one Name, which He has given
them. It is this Name we use in practicing. And through Its use, all foolish
separations disappear which kept us blind. And we are given strength to see
beyond them. Now our sight is blessed with blessings we can give as we
receive.
<center>''Father, our Name is Yours. In It we are united with all living''</center>
<center>''things, and You Who are their one Creator. What we made ''</center>
<center>''and call by many different names is but a shadow we have''</center>
<center>''tried to cast across Your Own reality. And we are glad and''</center>
<center>''thankful we were wrong. All our mistakes we give to You, that''</center>
<center>''we may be absolved from all effects our errors seemed to''</center>
<center>''have. And we accept the truth You give, in place of every one''</center>
<center>''of them. Your Name is our salvation and escape from what we''</center>
<center>''made. Your Name unites us in the oneness which is our''</center>
<center>''inheritance and peace. Amen.''</center>
[[Category: Workbook I]]
<center>'''The Name of God is my inheritance.'''</center>
The Name of God is my inheritance.
You live by symbols. You have made up names for everything you see.
Each one becomes a separate entity, identified by its own name. By this you
carve it out of unity. By this you designate its special attributes, and set it
off from other things by emphasizing space surrounding it. This space you
lay between all things to which you give a different name; all happenings in
terms of place and time; all bodies which are greeted by a name.
This space you see as setting off all things from one another is the means by
which the world's perception is achieved. You see something where nothing
is, and see as well nothing where there is unity; a space between all things,
between all things and you. Thus do you think that you have given life in
separation. By this split you think you are established as a unity which
functions with an independent will.
What are these names by which the world becomes a series of discrete
events, of things ununified, of bodies kept apart and holding bits of mind as
separate awarenesses? You gave these names to them, establishing
perception as you wished to have perception be. The nameless things were
given names, and thus reality was given them as well. For what is named is
given meaning and will then be seen as meaningful; a cause of true effect,
with consequence inherent in itself.
This is the way reality is made by partial vision, purposefully set against the
given truth. Its enemy is wholeness. It conceives of little things and looks
upon them. And a lack of space, a sense of unity or vision that sees
differently, become the threats which it must overcome, conflict with and
deny.
Yet does this other vision still remain a natural direction for the mind to
channel its perception. It is hard to teach the mind a thousand alien names,
and thousands more. Yet you believe this is what learning means; its one
essential goal by which communication is achieved, and concepts can be
meaningfully shared.
This is the sum of the inheritance the world bestows. And everyone who
learns to think that it is so accepts the signs and symbols that assert the
world is real. It is for this they stand. They leave no doubt that what is
named is there. It can be seen, as is anticipated. What denies that it is true is
but illusion, for it is the ultimate reality. To question it is madness; to accept
its presence is the proof of sanity.
Such is the teaching of the world. It is a phase of learning everyone who
comes must go through. But the sooner he perceives on what it rests, how
questionable are its premises, how doubtful its results, the sooner does he
question its effects. Learning that stops with what the world would teach
stops short of meaning. In 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.
Think not you made the world. Illusions, yes! But what is true in earth and
Heaven is beyond your naming. When you call upon a brother, it is to his
body that you make appeal. His true Identity is hidden from you by what
you believe he really is. His body makes response to what you call him, for
his mind consents to take the name you give him as his own. And thus his
unity is twice denied, for you perceive him separate from you, and he
accepts this separate name as his.
It would indeed be strange if you were asked to go beyond all symbols of
the world, forgetting them forever; yet were asked to take a teaching
function. You have need to use the symbols of the world a while. But be
you not deceived by them as well. They do not stand for anything at all, and
in your practicing it is this thought that will release you from them. They
become but means by which you can communicate in ways the world can
understand, but which you recognize is not the unity where true
communication can be found.
Thus what you need are intervals each day in which the learning of the
world becomes a transitory phase; a prison house from which you go into
the sunlight and forget the darkness. Here you understand the Word, the
Name which God has given you; the one Identity which all things share; the
one acknowledgment of what is true. And then step back to darkness, not
because you think it real, but only to proclaim its unreality in terms which
still have meaning in the world that darkness rules.
Use all the little names and symbols which delineate the world of darkness.
Yet accept them not as your reality. The 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. Use all the names the world bestows
on them but for convenience, yet do not forget they share the Name of God
along with you.
God has no name. And yet His Name becomes the final lesson that all
things are one, and at this lesson does all learning end. All names are
unified; all space is filled with truth's reflection. Every gap is closed, and
separation healed. The Name of God is the inheritance He gave to those
who chose the teaching of the world to take the place of Heaven. In our
practicing, our purpose is to let our minds accept what God has given as the
answer to the pitiful inheritance you made as fitting tribute to the Son He
loves.
No one can fail who seeks the meaning of the Name of God. Experience
must come to supplement the Word. But first you must accept the Name for
all reality, and realize the many names you gave its aspects have distorted
what you see, but have not interfered with truth at all. One Name we bring
into our practicing. One Name we use to unify our sight.
And though we use a different name for each awareness of an aspect of
God's Son, we understand that they have but one Name, which He has given
them. It is this Name we use in practicing. And through Its use, all foolish
separations disappear which kept us blind. And we are given strength to see
beyond them. Now our sight is blessed with blessings we can give as we
receive.
<center>''Father, our Name is Yours. In It we are united with all living''</center>
<center>''things, and You Who are their one Creator. What we made ''</center>
<center>''and call by many different names is but a shadow we have''</center>
<center>''tried to cast across Your Own reality. And we are glad and''</center>
<center>''thankful we were wrong. All our mistakes we give to You, that''</center>
<center>''we may be absolved from all effects our errors seemed to''</center>
<center>''have. And we accept the truth You give, in place of every one''</center>
<center>''of them. Your Name is our salvation and escape from what we''</center>
<center>''made. Your Name unites us in the oneness which is our''</center>
<center>''inheritance and peace. Amen.''</center>
[[Category: Workbook I]]