What Is the Body? Practical application from the teachings of A Course in Miracles



"1. The body is a fence the Son of God imagines he has built, to separate parts of his Self from other parts. ²It is within this fence he thinks he lives, to die as it decays and crumbles. ³For within this fence he thinks that he is safe from love. ⁴Identifying with his safety, he regards himself as what his safety is. ⁵How else could he be certain he remains within the body, keeping love outside?


2. The body will not stay. ²Yet this he sees as double safety. ³For the Son of God’s impermanence is “proof” his fences work, and do the task his mind assigns to them. ⁴For if his oneness still remained untouched, who could attack and who could be attacked? ⁵Who could be victor? ⁶Who could be his prey? ⁷Who could be victim? ⁸Who the murderer? ⁹And if he did not die, what “proof” is there that God’s eternal Son can be destroyed?

3. The body is a dream. ²Like other dreams it sometimes seems to picture happiness, but can quite suddenly revert to fear, where every dream is born. ³For only love creates in truth, and truth can never fear. ⁴Made to be fearful, must the body serve the purpose given it. ⁵But we can change the purpose that the body will obey by changing what we think that it is for.

4. The body is the means by which God’s Son returns to sanity. ²Though it was made to fence him into hell without escape, yet has the goal of Heaven been exchanged for the pursuit of hell. ³The Son of God extends his hand to reach his brother, and to help him walk along the road with him. ⁴Now is the body holy. ⁵Now it serves to heal the mind that it was made to kill.

5. You will identify with what you think will make you safe. ²Whatever it may be, you will believe that it is one with you. ³Your safety lies in truth, and not in lies. ⁴Love is your safety. ⁵Fear does not exist. ⁶Identify with love, and you are safe. ⁷Identify with love, and you are home. ⁸Identify with love, and find your Self." ACIM, W-pII.5.1:1–5:8