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 with 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 their 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 effects,
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 which
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 we 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 this is so accepts the signs
and symbols which 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 which 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 play 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
which 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 which 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, but 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 single lesson learning ends.
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 He has given as the answer to
the pitiful inheritance we 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 we must
accept One Name for all reality,
and realize the many names we gave
its aspects have distorted what we 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
that kept us blind. And we are given strength
to see beyond them. Now our sight is blessed
with blessings we can give as we received.|
"Father, our Name is Yours. In It we are
united with all living things and You
Who are their One Creator. What we made
and call by many different names is but
a shadow we have tried to cast across
Your Own Reality. And we are glad
and thankful we were wrong. All our mistakes
we give to You, that we may be absolved
of all effects our errors seem to have.
And we accept the truth You give in place
of every one of them. Your Name is our
salvation and escape from what we made.
Your Name unites us in the Oneness which
is our inheritance and peace. Amen." "
~ Original Handscript of ACIM
