A Course in Miracles Text Made Simple

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.

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Chapter 6: The Lessons of Love

Section V-A: To Have, Give All to All

Read ACIM Chapter 6, Section V. A. (pages 104-106)

How does the Holy Spirit use the body?

In this section, Jesus reinforces that we share one mind with him and this one mind is our life. He reminds us again that we are not our body. “The body is the symbol of what you think you are. It is clearly a separation device, and therefore does not exist.” (2:2-3) As we are willing to listen to our inner Teacher, the Holy Spirit uses the body as a learning device. The Holy Spirit teaches us how to reconnect with what is real and reorients our thinking to oneness so that we can return to identifying with our one shared mind. The Holy Spirit brings us to miracle mindedness, where we see clearly that the body is just an ego device for separation and is not part of us.

What is the ego’s use for death?

When we join with the ego thought system, which is the belief in separation from God’s eternal oneness, the body and death seem real. Death is the ultimate ‘demonstration’ that separation is real. The ego has a death wish for us for death seems to confirm the ego’s reality. Thinking we are separate from Love is depressing.

If we want out of this world and the body is not real, is suicide a solution?

Because of the ego’s faith in separation, it thinks killing the body is a solution for depression. Belief in separation is why depression and suicide are so prevalent in our world. Trying to destroy the effect of our belief does not change the belief. From this frame of reference we can see that suicide is futile since, “...nothing is accomplished through death because death is nothing. Death is an attempt to resolve conflict by not deciding at all.” (1:2,6) Since the ego believes the body has power, it thinks that doing something with or to the body has an effect. But since the body is merely an effect of our thoughts, it has no power of its own. “Like any other impossible solution the ego attempts it will not work.” (1:7) It is only through changing our minds that dreams will end and the ego will disappear.

What heals the body?

The miracle demonstrates that it is the mind that heals the body. The mind is what is real because it is shared and the body does not exist. Being a symbol of separation, the body cannot be a part of us. Jesus tells us, “The body is the symbol of what you think you are. It is clearly a separation device, and therefore does not exist.” (2:2) We are learning to change our beliefs about what we think we are. In truth, we are one mind and not a separate body.

What does, “To have, give all to all” mean?

Sharing one mind means sharing Love equally with all. “Only one equal gift can be offered to the equal Sons of God, and that is full appreciation. ...there must be no range in what you offer to your brother.” (4:7,9) As we truly integrate the truth that every brother is equal as Love and is nothing else, it becomes easier to automatically offer full appreciation equally to everyone. This frame of mind translates into our communication or sharing of Love, which is communion.

In this section Jesus reinforces the preliminary step we must take, which is, “To have, give all to all.” (5:13) As we turn in this direction, we put ourselves, instead of the ego, in charge of our journey. It is the beginning step in reversing our upside down perception of reality. We are assured that when we make this choice we will be helped, for we realize we are no longer alone. Giving all to all reflects an openness to the truth that our brother is part of us and we are joined as one in the Mind of God.

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