Difference between revisions of "ACIM Manual for Teachers - Section 12"
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− | The answer to this question is--one. One wholly perfect teacher, whose | + | The answer to this [[question]] is--one. One wholly [[perfect]] [[teacher]], whose |
− | learning is complete, suffices. This one, sanctified and redeemed, becomes | + | [[learning]] is complete, suffices. This one, sanctified and redeemed, [[becomes]] |
− | the Self Who is the Son of God. He who was always wholly spirit now no | + | [[the Self]] Who is the Son of God. He who was always wholly [[spirit]] now no |
− | longer sees himself as a body, or even as in a body. Therefore he is | + | longer sees himself as a [[body]], or even as in a body. Therefore he is |
− | limitless. And being limitless, his thoughts are joined with God's forever | + | limitless. And being limitless, his [[thoughts]] are joined with God's forever |
− | and ever. His perception of himself is based upon God's Judgment, not his | + | and ever. His [[perception]] of himself is based upon God's Judgment, not his |
− | own. Thus does he share God's Will, and bring His Thoughts to still deluded | + | own. Thus does he [[share]] [[God's Will]], and bring His Thoughts to still [[deluded]] |
− | minds. He is forever one, because he is as God created him. He has | + | [[minds]]. He is forever one, because he is as God created him. He has |
− | accepted Christ, and he is saved. | + | [[accepted]] [[Christ]], and he is saved. |
− | Thus does the son of man become the Son of God. It is not really a change; | + | Thus does the son of man [[become]] the Son of God. It is not really a [[change]]; |
− | it is a change of mind. Nothing external alters, but everything internal now | + | it is a change of [[mind]]. Nothing external alters, but [[everything]] internal now |
− | reflects only the Love of God. God can no longer be feared, for the mind | + | [[reflects]] only the [[Love of God]]. God can no longer be [[feared]], for the mind |
− | sees no cause for punishment. God's teachers appear to be many, for that is | + | sees no cause for punishment. [[God's teachers]] appear to be many, for that is |
− | what is the world's need. Yet being joined in one purpose, and one they | + | what is the world's need. Yet being joined in one [[purpose]], and one they |
− | share with God, how could they be separate from each other? What does it | + | [[share]] with God, how could they be [[separate]] from each other? What does it |
− | matter if they then appear in many forms? Their minds are one; their joining | + | matter if they then appear in many [[forms]]? Their minds are one; their joining |
is complete. And God works through them now as one, for that is what they | is complete. And God works through them now as one, for that is what they | ||
are. | are. | ||
− | Why is the illusion of many necessary? Only because reality is not | + | Why is the [[illusion]] of many [[necessary]]? Only because [[reality]] is not |
− | understandable to the deluded. Only very few can hear God's Voice at all, | + | understandable to the deluded. Only very few can hear [[Ta|God's Voice]] at all, |
− | and even they cannot communicate His messages directly through the Spirit | + | and even they cannot [[communicate]] His messages directly through the [[Spirit]] |
− | which gave them. They need a medium through which communication | + | which gave them. They need a [[medium]] through which communication |
− | becomes possible to those who do not realize that they are spirit. A body | + | becomes possible to those who do not [[realize]] that they are spirit. A [[body]] |
− | they can see. A voice they understand and listen to, without the fear that | + | they can see. A [[voice]] they understand and [[listen]] to, without the [[fear]] that |
− | truth would encounter in them. Do not forget that truth can come only | + | [[truth]] would encounter in them. Do not forget that truth can come only |
− | where it is welcomed without fear. So do God's teachers need a body, for | + | where it is welcomed without fear. So do [[God's teachers]] need a body, for |
− | their unity could not be recognized directly. | + | their [[unity]] could not be recognized directly. |
− | Yet what makes God's teachers is their recognition of the proper purpose of | + | Yet what makes [[God's teachers]] is their [[recognition]] of the proper [[purpose]] of |
− | the body. As they advance in their profession, they become more and more | + | the [[body]]. As they advance in their [[profession]], they [[become]] more and more |
− | certain that the body's function is but to let God's Voice speak through it to | + | certain that the body's [[function]] is but to let [[Ta|God's Voice]] speak through it to |
− | human ears. And these ears will carry to the mind of the hearer messages | + | human ears. And these ears will carry to [[the mind]] of the hearer messages |
− | that are not of this world, and the mind will understand because of their | + | that are not of this world, and the mind will [[understand]] because of their |
− | Source. From this understanding will come the recognition, in this new | + | Source. From this understanding will come the [[recognition]], in this new |
teacher of God, of what the body's purpose really is; the only use there | teacher of God, of what the body's purpose really is; the only use there | ||
really is for it. This lesson is enough to let the thought of unity come in, and | really is for it. This lesson is enough to let the thought of unity come in, and | ||
− | what is one is recognized as one. The teachers of God appear to share the | + | what is one is recognized as one. The teachers of God appear to [[share]] the |
− | illusion of separation, but because of what they use the body for, they do not | + | [[illusion]] of [[separation]], but because of what they use the body for, they do not |
− | believe in the illusion despite appearances. | + | [[believe]] in the illusion despite [[appearances]]. |
− | The central lesson is always this; that what you use the body for it will | + | The central lesson is always this; that what you use the [[body]] for it will |
− | become to you. Use it for sin or for attack, which is the same as sin, and you | + | [[become]] to you. Use it for [[sin]] or for [[attack]], which is the same as sin, and you |
− | will see it as sinful. Because it is sinful it is weak, and being weak, it suffers | + | will see it as sinful. Because it is sinful it is [[weak]], and being weak, it suffers |
and it dies. Use it to bring the Word of God to those who have it not, and | and it dies. Use it to bring the Word of God to those who have it not, and | ||
− | the body becomes holy. Because it is holy it cannot be sick, nor can it die. | + | the body becomes [[holy]]. Because it is holy it cannot be sick, nor can it die. |
When its usefulness is done it is laid by, and that is all. The mind makes this | When its usefulness is done it is laid by, and that is all. The mind makes this | ||
− | decision, as it makes all decisions that are responsible for the body's | + | [[decision]], as it makes all decisions that are [[responsible]] for the body's |
− | condition. Yet the teacher of God does not make this decision alone. To do | + | condition. Yet the [[teacher of God]] does not make this decision alone. To do |
− | that would be to give the body another purpose from the one that keeps it | + | that would be to give the body another [[purpose]] from the one that keeps it |
− | holy. God's Voice will tell him when he has fulfilled his role, just as It tells | + | holy. [[Ta|God's Voice]] will tell him when he has fulfilled his role, just as It tells |
− | him what his function is. He does not suffer either in going or remaining. | + | him what his [[function]] is. He does not suffer either in going or remaining. |
− | Sickness is now impossible to him. | + | [[Sickness]] is now impossible to him. |
− | Oneness and sickness cannot coexist. God's teachers choose to look on | + | Oneness and sickness cannot coexist. [[God's teachers]] [[choose]] to look on |
− | dreams a while. It is a conscious choice. For they have learned that all | + | [[dreams]] a while. It is a [[conscious]] choice. For they have learned that all |
− | choices are made consciously, with full awareness of their consequences. | + | choices are made consciously, with full awareness of their [[consequences]]. |
− | The dream says otherwise, but who would put his faith in dreams once they | + | The dream says otherwise, but who would put his [[faith]] in dreams once they |
are recognized for what they are? Awareness of dreaming is the real | are recognized for what they are? Awareness of dreaming is the real | ||
function of God's teachers. They watch the dream figures come and go, shift | function of God's teachers. They watch the dream figures come and go, shift | ||
− | and change, suffer and die. Yet they are not deceived by what they see. | + | and [[change]], suffer and die. Yet they are not [[deceived]] by what they see. |
They recognize that to behold a dream figure as sick and separate is no | They recognize that to behold a dream figure as sick and separate is no | ||
− | more real than to regard it as healthy and beautiful. Unity alone is not a | + | more real than to regard it as [[healthy]] and [[beautiful]]. Unity alone is not a |
thing of dreams. And it is this God's teachers acknowledge as behind the | thing of dreams. And it is this God's teachers acknowledge as behind the | ||
dream, beyond all seeming and yet surely theirs. | dream, beyond all seeming and yet surely theirs. | ||
[[Category:Manual for Teachers]] | [[Category:Manual for Teachers]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Teachers]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Salvation]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Illusion]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Body]] |
Latest revision as of 17:52, 6 October 2015
The answer to this question is--one. One wholly perfect teacher, whose
learning is complete, suffices. This one, sanctified and redeemed, becomes
the Self Who is the Son of God. He who was always wholly spirit now no
longer sees himself as a body, or even as in a body. Therefore he is
limitless. And being limitless, his thoughts are joined with God's forever
and ever. His perception of himself is based upon God's Judgment, not his
own. Thus does he share God's Will, and bring His Thoughts to still deluded
minds. He is forever one, because he is as God created him. He has
accepted Christ, and he is saved.
Thus does the son of man become the Son of God. It is not really a change; it is a change of mind. Nothing external alters, but everything internal now reflects only the Love of God. God can no longer be feared, for the mind sees no cause for punishment. God's teachers appear to be many, for that is what is the world's need. Yet being joined in one purpose, and one they share with God, how could they be separate from each other? What does it matter if they then appear in many forms? Their minds are one; their joining is complete. And God works through them now as one, for that is what they are.
Why is the illusion of many necessary? Only because reality is not understandable to the deluded. Only very few can hear God's Voice at all, and even they cannot communicate His messages directly through the Spirit which gave them. They need a medium through which communication becomes possible to those who do not realize that they are spirit. A body they can see. A voice they understand and listen to, without the fear that truth would encounter in them. Do not forget that truth can come only where it is welcomed without fear. So do God's teachers need a body, for their unity could not be recognized directly.
Yet what makes God's teachers is their recognition of the proper purpose of the body. As they advance in their profession, they become more and more certain that the body's function is but to let God's Voice speak through it to human ears. And these ears will carry to the mind of the hearer messages that are not of this world, and the mind will understand because of their Source. From this understanding will come the recognition, in this new teacher of God, of what the body's purpose really is; the only use there really is for it. This lesson is enough to let the thought of unity come in, and what is one is recognized as one. The teachers of God appear to share the illusion of separation, but because of what they use the body for, they do not believe in the illusion despite appearances.
The central lesson is always this; that what you use the body for it will become to you. Use it for sin or for attack, which is the same as sin, and you will see it as sinful. Because it is sinful it is weak, and being weak, it suffers and it dies. Use it to bring the Word of God to those who have it not, and the body becomes holy. Because it is holy it cannot be sick, nor can it die. When its usefulness is done it is laid by, and that is all. The mind makes this decision, as it makes all decisions that are responsible for the body's condition. Yet the teacher of God does not make this decision alone. To do that would be to give the body another purpose from the one that keeps it holy. God's Voice will tell him when he has fulfilled his role, just as It tells him what his function is. He does not suffer either in going or remaining. Sickness is now impossible to him.
Oneness and sickness cannot coexist. God's teachers choose to look on dreams a while. It is a conscious choice. For they have learned that all choices are made consciously, with full awareness of their consequences. The dream says otherwise, but who would put his faith in dreams once they are recognized for what they are? Awareness of dreaming is the real function of God's teachers. They watch the dream figures come and go, shift and change, suffer and die. Yet they are not deceived by what they see. They recognize that to behold a dream figure as sick and separate is no more real than to regard it as healthy and beautiful. Unity alone is not a thing of dreams. And it is this God's teachers acknowledge as behind the dream, beyond all seeming and yet surely theirs.