ACIM Glossary T-Z
T
teacher of God
One whose function is to teach others on behalf of God; a bringer of salvation, a savior, a miracle worker. This term is used only in the Manual for Teachers, which is written for experienced students of the Course who are ready to take on their special function. The Manual mentions two forms that this function may take. One is that of a healer, who goes to physically ill patients to extend the healing power of the miracle. The other is that of a spiritual teacher, who joins with pupils and teaches them his path of awakening. The following process of development is described: 1. A beginning teacher of God is one who has made one deliberate choice in which he saw someone else's interests as the same as his (see M-1.1). His pupils then are drawn to him and join with him in the common goal of learning the same spiritual path (see M-2). 2. Through these holy relationships he becomes an advanced teacher of God who acquires the ten characteristics of God's teachers (see M-4). 3. He finally transcends the world and becomes a Teacher of teachers (see M-26.2). From his position beyond the body he now will guide and inspire those teachers who are still in the body, working through them to save the world. See extension, teaching.
teaching
Conventional: Imparting to others intellectual facts or concepts. This is done primarily through words and is a special activity engaged in a small portion of one's time. ACIM: The extension of one's fundamental thought system (either the ego's or the Holy Spirit's) to others. This is done not so much by the form of our communication, but by the content we are communicating. Thus it is done primarily by demonstration. And it is done all the time; we cannot help but teach. Our special function is to extend right-minded ideas (e.g. forgiveness) to others. In this sense, teaching is synonymous with healing. As we see these ideas go forth from us and heal others, our belief in them becomes strengthened (see giving/receiving). Teaching, then, is the way in which we truly learn (see learning); thus the phrase, "As you teach so shall you learn" (T-5.IV.6:4). See extension, teacher of God. See M-In.
temptation
The inner pull to engage in egoic thinking or behavior. This temptation seems to be an involuntary pull towards some forbidden pleasure, which has an unfortunate after-effect of guilt. Yet it is really a voluntary wish, a wish for guilt, hell and misery (see T-31.VII.10:1). We must learn, however, that temptation is simply "another chance to choose again" (T-31.VIII.4:2), through response to temptation.
Thoughts of God
Thoughts as we know them are private, fleeting products of an individual mind. Yet these are not real thoughts. In contrast, Thoughts of God are eternal, formless realities, without birth or death, beginning or end. They are not private, but infinitely shared. They are not pictures of reality but are reality itself. We, His Sons, are Thoughts of God. See T-30.III.7-8.
thought system
An interrelated system of ideas that is centered on a view of who you are, provides a picture of reality and your relationship with it, and provides goals and how to attain them. You use your thought system to organize your reality. It is the basis for your thoughts, emotions, perceptions and behaviors. There are only two thought systems, the ego's and God's (or the Holy Spirit's, which is a reflection of God's). Each one is internally consistent, yet they are diametrically opposed in foundation, in nature, and in result. You cannot reconcile them by combining them or vacillating between them. You must choose all of one and none of the other. The Course treats its own thought system as a version of the Holy Spirit's and claims its thought system is consistent, complete (see W-pI.42.7:2), cohesive, and includes no fear. See T-11.In.1.
time
The linear progression of separate moments that is the context for change, attack, birth and death. 1. There is no time in reality, in eternity, and thus time is an illusion. 2. Time resulted from our apparent shattering of the one moment of eternity in the separation. Time's separate moments are really only a single moment, a fragment of eternity seen as non-eternal and as multiple. All of time, and the long journey it contains, took only a tiny instant in eternity (see T-26.V.3) before it was answered by God and was ended (see Holy Spirit). We are now at the end of time looking back on it, mentally reviewing it like we would a past conversation or movie (see M-2.2-4). We cannot change the basic progression of our movie (since it already happened), but we can "fast forward" through parts of it by accepting miracles (see T-1.II.6). 3. The ego tries to make time last forever by seeking to endlessly repeat the past. It tells us to take revenge for past injustices. Yet this is really a trick to get us to repeat past sins and so reinforce present guilt and fear of future punishment. 4. The Holy Spirit places all His focus on now, on undoing the past by releasing others from it (see forgiveness) and entering the present moment (see holy instant), the only moment that is real and the only moment in which we can change our minds. In the present moment we can experience eternity, since the present is a shard of eternity (see T-17.IV.11:15). From this present moment a new future can extend, which does not repeat the past and which will lead us back to eternity. This is the only purpose of time.
true perception
The goal of the Course; salvation. Usually called vision or Christ's vision; called "spiritual sight" early in the Text. The sight which comes out of the state of right-mindedness and looks upon the real world. True perception is the opposite of false or conventional perception. False perception sees the projection of our insane illusions. It sees a world of sin, of forms, changes and differences. It condemns what it looks on and separates from it in fear. True perception, on the other hand, sees everything as it truly is: perfect. It sees only sinlessness, innocence, holiness (see W-pI.158.7), seeing always the same maximal light of Christ in everything (see face of Christ). It forgives all it sees, blessing it with miracles and joining with it in love. True perception does not function like conventional perception. Rather than seeing through our body's eyes (see C-4.2:1), it sees through the eyes of Christ in us (and thus operates irrespective of distance or changes in lighting). Rather than seeing bodies, it sees holiness. Rather than using the brain to interpret sense data, it is born as a pure "knowing" straight from the Christ in us (see T-22.I.2). Rather than seeing visual images, it sees pure content, pure meaning (as when a sudden recognition prompts one to say, "I see"; see T-22.III.1:4-7). It may, however, be symbolized and preceded by the seeing of light around visual objects (see W-pI.15.2-3). From the perspective of true perception, all that our eyes now see will be reinterpreted. We will experience forms as unreal, as transparent (see W-pI.159.5), and will mentally look past them to the light of holiness. We will see all forms as having the same purpose: forgiveness. And we will let the Holy Spirit interpret people's behavior for us, focusing on the loving behavior and interpreting all other behavior as a call for love. True perception is our natural sight and is available to us whenever we want it. If it is achieved with respect to anything, it will transfer to everything. However, one exception will block its transfer (see W-pI.In.5). When true perception is complete, God will take the final step and carry us over into knowledge.
truth
Root meaning: What is true, real, fact; the opposite of illusion. ACIM: Transcendental reality or Heaven, beyond time and space, including all ideas inherent in reality. Only that is true, real, only that is Fact. All else is illusion. Truth was created by God. It is total, indivisible, all-inclusive, constant, changeless. It cannot be destroyed and when attacked it does not respond. It cannot be perceived, learned nor believed. It can only be known (see knowledge). It is given; truth is not up to you to establish. Truth is only joy and safety. The truth about you is grandeur, perfection. Yet you have feared truth and denied it (see denial), making illusions instead. Truth and illusions are mutually exclusive. To discover truth you must search out all that interferes with it (see T-14.VII.2:1). You must learn to distinguish between truth and illusion, letting illusions go without exception. Then "truth will dawn upon you of itself" (T-8.VI.9:11). See bringing darkness to light, illusions to truth. See W-pI.152.2-5.
U
unhealed healer
One who tries to heal without accepting the Atonement for oneself; the ego's version of the true miracle worker. "By definition, he is trying to give what he has not received [e.g. healing]" (T-9.V.1:4). The unhealed healer does not believe there is no order of difficulty in miracles, and so finds many things too difficult to heal (see T-5.VII.2). He makes sin and sickness real, and then tries to dispel them. He does not know how to give, and instead wants to get (gratitude and money) from his patients. He thinks he is in charge of the healing situation. The Course specifically mentions two examples of unhealed healer (see T-9.V). 1. The unhealed psychotherapist, who uncovers his patient's dreams and unconscious material in order to find out the "truth" about the patient—that she is sick and victimized. He then tries to alleviate this condition by telling her that she is not responsible for it. 2. The unhealed theologian, who believes in the reality of sin (for himself and those he is helping), and thus fears God's retribution and hopes God will magically take the sin away. See T-7.V.7. See also the Psychotherapy pamphlet, 2.VII.4-7, 3.III.2:1.
universe
Conventional: The totality of physical existence, which includes stars, planets and galaxies. ACIM: The totality of true existence, true reality, which was created by God and is "beyond the sun and stars" (M-20.6:11), "beyond the petty sum of all the separate bodies you perceive" (T-15.VIII.4:5). It is a virtual synonym for God's creation, the sum total of what He created, in that it can refer to the Sonship in its heavenly state or in its separated state.
V
veil
1. Anything that blocks our awareness of reality, or our awareness of the real world. The Course mentions the veil of time, of guilt, of fantasies. Veils seem dark and heavy but are thin and easily lifted by our desire to see past them. 2. Specifically, the veil across the face of Christ (the image here is of a facial veil). This veil is the fear of God, the final obstacle to peace. It is also said to be specialness, idols, the attraction of guilt and death, the gap between us and our brother. We reach the place before the veil by joining with our holy relationship partner. In order to look on the veil without terror, we must first be willing to look on our partner with forgiveness. Then together we will lift the veil and look on the face of Christ. Then we will rise in resurrection past the veil and disappear into the Presence beyond the veil: God. See T-19.IV(D).
vigilance
The mental stance of being constantly alert and watchful, especially for threat. Vigilance only occurs within the split mind, in which each half is a threat to the other. 1. "The ego exerts maximal vigilance about what it permits into awareness..." (T-4.V.1:3). Now we currently exercise vigilance on the ego's behalf. 2. The Holy Spirit also exerts maximal vigilance, and we must learn to be vigilant on His behalf. We must learn to be alert to all temptation to think with the ego (see response to temptation) and to allow into our minds only what God put there. Then we will go beyond the split mind and thus beyond vigilance. See T-6.V(C), T-7.VI.
vision
See true perception.
Voice for God, God's Voice
See the Holy Spirit.
W
will
Conventional: One's desire or intention; what one wants or intends to happen. The mental faculty by which one sets in motion what one wants to happen. ACIM: The faculty by which one creates or extends in Heaven (see creation and extension). Will is undivided. It requires a whole, united mind with absolutely no ambivalence or uncertainty. Strictly speaking, will exists only in Heaven. The split mind is inherently divided and thus is incapable of willing or creating. It can only wish or make or choose (see choice). See Will of God.
Will of God
Root meaning: What God "wants" and has ordained; the instrument of God's expression and creation. Conventional: Generally refers to God's plan for our lives, which often includes sacrifice. Thus it is used to explain all those things that are painful, tragic and hard to understand, but must be accepted because they are God's Will. ACIM: God wills only Heaven, only unlimited love and happiness without end (see creation). God's Will is limitless, changeless power that can never be opposed. It is not gradual in accomplishment but creates instantaneous and eternal Fact. 1. In Heaven, you were created by God's Will and are God's Will—the extension of His Mind, Spirit and Self. His Will for you is perfect happiness, eternal oneness with Him and with your brothers. 2. On earth, you believe that your will and God's Will are in opposition. This is because you have identified with an alien will, for His Will and your true will are one and the same. You are His Will. Fearing His Will thus means fearing your own will and your own reality. Since His Will is not an alien will, it cannot be forced upon you but must be freely welcomed. 3. God's Will for you on earth is contained in His plan for salvation (see W-pI.100:2-4).
witness
Something which points to the truth of something else. Primary meaning: the effect of a cause, the existence of which points to the reality of the cause (see cause and effect). 1. In Heaven, you are the witness to your Cause, God, establishing Him as Father and Creator (see T-13.VIII.9:2). 2. In Heaven, your creations are witness to your own fatherhood (see T-9.VI.5:5). 3. On earth, all perceptions witness to the thought system, the state of mind, that caused them (see T-21.In.1:1-5). 4. The ego uses physical and emotional evidence, such as fear and physical illness, to witness to its own supposed reality (see T-8.VIII.3:5-4:9). 5. The miracles you do bear witness to the power of the Holy Spirit within you (see T-14.X.6:10). 6. Those whom you heal become witnesses to the healing, the holiness, in you, and so become your saviors (see T-13.VI.9:2). 7. Those whom you attack bear witness to the ego in you. 8. Your health and invulnerability witness to the innocence in your brother, to the fact that his sin had no effect on you and so was not a cause.
Word of God
Christian: Often used to refer to the Bible or to Jesus as the Logos. ACIM: The message of salvation that God speaks to us through His Voice (the Holy Spirit) in answer to the separation, by which the separation disappears. The one unified Word from which come all the Holy Spirit's specific words, teaching and guidance (see W-pI.198.6). Basically synonymous with the Atonement, forgiveness, and God's plan for salvation. This "Word" is not a verbal word, but it is a kind of symbol, which stands for the changelessness of God's Love. Verbal approximations would thus include, "I am as God created me"; and "My Son is pure and holy as Myself" (W-pII.276). It is our function to speak this Word to the world, to let this Word guide our words so that they become human symbols of God's Word (see M-21.5). When we clear away the words we have written on the world (the meanings we have ascribed to it) we will see only God's Word written on it, transforming it into a symbol of Heaven (see W-pI.192.4:1). This is the final perception in which all symbols vanish. Does not refer to the Bible, nor Jesus, nor the Course (though these may in fact reflect the Word of God). See W-pI.125.
world
The physical earth and entire physical realm, which is an illusion. A realm of time, in which all things change and have a beginning and an end. A realm of space, in which all things are separate and lonely, trapped in bodies. A realm of fear, in which all things are under constant attack. A realm of pain, because everything attacks and nothing satisfies. A realm of insanity, governed by the "laws" of chaos (see T-23.II). A realm of death, in which all things must die. God did not create the world (see W-pI.152.6-7), for it is literally Heaven's diametric opposite (see T-16.V.3:6) in which everything is upside down and backwards from reality (see T-18.I.5-6). It is not our home, for it is not our place of origin, it does not shelter us and we do not belong here. Instead of God, we made the world as an opposite to Him, a place His Love and Oneness could enter not (see W-pII.3.2:1-4), a way of proving the Will of God has been overthrown. It is our projection, which seems to prove that separation, sin and fear are objective realities thrust on us from without, rather than subjective ideas that we can let go at any time. It is our dream, which was dreamt out of the idea of sin, out of the lesson that "God's Son is guilty" (T-31.I.7:4; see "God's son is guiltless"). As such, the very nature of the world is to constantly punish us for our supposed sinfulness and guilt, attacking us with pain, sickness and death (see T-13.In.2-4). This "proves" that fear is real (and fear is the essence of the ego). And it "proves" that fear of God is justified, for we assume that God made this world of fear and death. The world has no objective existence: "There is no world!" (W-pI.132.6:2). It is merely a set of ideas inside our sleeping minds in Heaven. The world will disappear when we let this set of ideas go (see M-14). Rather than trying to change the world to suit our wishes, we must choose to see the world differently. The Holy Spirit sees it as a teaching device for bringing us home (see T-5.III.11:1), as "a place where the Son of God finds his freedom" (W-pI.RI.57.3:6), as a place whose only purpose is forgiveness (see M-14.2:1-6). He teaches us to see the real world. Our function is to save the world, to be the light of the world. "World" sometimes refers to both the illusory form of the world, which will vanish, along with the real minds that seem to be present here, which need healing, saving, and will return to Heaven (see W-pI.184.8:1-3). See T-18.IX.3-4, T-25.VII.4, W-pI.132.
wrong-mindedness
The opposite of right-mindedness, the state of mind based on the ego's thought system, which is the source of false perception (see description in true perception) and of all human ills. "Wrong-mindedness listens to the ego and makes illusions; perceiving sin and justifying anger, and seeing guilt, disease and death as real" (C-1.6:1). Used only in the first four chapters of the Text and clarified in the Clarification of Terms.
Y
you
The person the Course addresses itself to. A sleeping Son of God, who remains in Heaven, part of the Christ and at one with God, yet who dreams that he is an ego, a frail, sinful human being living in a body in the world of space and time. The tiny part of your total identity that is asleep and needs redemption, that has a separated or split mind, that thinks private thoughts, experiences painful emotions and can choose (see choice) between the ego and the Holy Spirit. Not the ego, for the ego is only an idea in your mind, a self-concept you have mistaken for yourself. It is not real and cannot be redeemed. Not the Christ, strictly speaking, for the Christ cannot fall asleep. However, since in Heaven part and whole are one, the part of you that is asleep and dreaming is one with your entire Self, the Christ. It is already perfect and redeemed. See T-6.IV.6.
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