A Course
In Miracles

Authorized Online Edition
Workbook For Students

 
 

5.

What Is the Body?

1. 1The 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. 1The 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. 1The 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. 1The 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. 1You 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.