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Q: If I am living an illusion as it says in ACIM, what is the point of eating well e.g. organic foods, exercising, taking vitamins, etc.? I have always done these sort of things because I want to be healthy. But at 57 years of age, I say what is the point if it’s all an illusion. Thanks.
This is a fabulous question! If this world is a big dream, why should we bother with anything at all?
It boils down to this. “I” exercise/juice/take medicine/take vitamins because I still haven’t accepted that I am ALREADY healed. I still haven’t accepted that EVERYTHING is coming from my sleeping split mind and that all healing comes from within. I still believe the cause of healing is outside of myself, and something that will be achieved “later.” I still believe that I am {insert your name here}. Why? Simply because I still want what I think this world offers.
The reason we SHOULD bother doing anything in the body-self-care-realm at all is because we’ve made the world, the laws of the world, and our bodies VERY REAL for ourselves and so we need to participate in its UNdoing. Stub your toe, and it hurts. If we intellectually say, “I’m going to stop caring for my body because it is an illusion” and then proceed to do so, we’re engaging in what ACIM refers to as “level confusion.” We’re trying to correct ourselves, and we’re taking yet another journey with the ego as our guide. We’re taking over the Holy Spirit’s job and trying to “undo” the false beliefs in our mind alone. We’re likely going to get into trouble because we DON’T REALLY KNOW that the world is an illusion:
“Many have chosen to renounce the world while still believing its reality. And they have suffered from a sense of loss, and have not been released accordingly.” – from Lesson 155
We can only come to TRULY know the unreality of the world through EXPERIENCES, not through understanding ideas. Those experiences come in the form of miracles as we give all of our beliefs to Spirit.
There are 2 key steps to follow in working with our beliefs in the “laws” of the world:
First, allow yourself to be where you are at. The process of undoing our false perceptions is so gentle, and in order to allow that process to occur, we must accept our present state and not hide our present beliefs in the “laws” of nutrition, exercise, etc.
Suggested self-talk:
- “I acknowledge that I believe that this organic kale has the power to heal me.”
- “I acknowledge that I believe these supplements can heal me”
Second, do what you still feel inclined to do (i.e. eat healthy, take vitamins, etc.), but do it WITH the Holy Spirit rather than the ego.
Suggested self-talk:
- “I am willing to look at my belief in the healing power of kale WITH the Holy Spirit (as I chomp down).
- “I am taking these supplements with you, Spirit.
- “Holy Spirit, heal my mind of my belief in this body.”
If I don’t remember to do this while I’m eating or taking vitamins, when I do remember I simply say to myself, “I give it all to you, Spirit”, instead of feeling guilty.
We must take EVERYTHING to the Holy Spirit – even when we eat our kale, drink our organic fresh juice, and eat our non-GMO soybeans. We’ve made idols out of these things and we worship them and believe that they can “save us.” Our beliefs of healing that we put into things like food and medicine, are also known as “magic thoughts” in the Course. We can use these magic thoughts to free ourselves by giving them to the Holy Spirit to be undone.
The Holy Spirit can then give us back the miracle by showing us, in a way that we can understand, that we are mind and that the body simply is a neutral vehicle that cannot suffer. The only thing that can “save us,” is our awakening to the fact that we are not these bodies, have not left God, are not guilty, and only the Holy Spirit can prove to us by our own personal experiences that this is so.
Let’s look at this question through another Course lens. This lens has to do with our belief in death.
The “laws” of the world tell us that to be healthy, we have to eat right, exercise, think positive thoughts, get immunized, etc. What is it that we are hoping to accomplish by doing these things? We’re hoping to delay death – right? If our body is in tip top shape, we hope we can get a few extra years out of the body like we would get a few extra years out of a well-maintained car.
Death is the ego’s strongest evidence that you MUST be a body. The Course teaches us that the ego WANTS us to die because it is the ego’s best PROOF that we must be these bodies and that the separation must be real.
As we know, the Course is gently teaching us that we are NOT a body – that our true self has not left the Mind of God, and that death is a central dream from which all other dreams stem.
So if we’re doing “healthy” things to maintain the body because we’re fearful of bodily harm (in other words if we feel that the body is our responsibility), in a sense, we’re affirming that the body is who we are and that it is real. If we’re affirming that the body is who we are, we’re siding with the ego and choosing for it – and what it wants for us is death. Choosing for the ego subjects the body to sickness and suffering. The body, used by the ego, is used as a separation device, rather than a means to heal our split mind.
“Whenever you attempt to reach a goal in which the body’s betterment is cast as major beneficiary, you try to bring about your death. For you believe that you can suffer lack, and lack IS death. To sacrifice is to give up, and thus to be without, and to have suffered loss. And by this giving up is life renounced. Seek not outside yourself. The search implies you are not whole within, and fear to look upon your devastation, and prefer to seek outside yourself for what you are.” ACIM Sparkle Edition p. 675.
So this might sound like it is wrong to care for the body because that calls forth death. But that is not the case! It isn’t right or wrong, it is a matter of being WHERE WE ARE AT, and learning what our choice of teachers brings to us – either we are inviting the ego or Spirit to be with us on our journey and we will know by the result of the experiences we have.
Our task is the same as mentioned earlier. Rather than doing these “healthy” behaviors with the ego (and continuing to take responsibility for the body), which affirms that the body must be real and therefore calls forth death, we can be doing these things with Spirit INSTEAD of with the ego. The PURPOSE behind doing these “healthy” things changes. Rather than continuing through the dream with the ego as guide, we’re asking Spirit to UNDO the false beliefs in our minds, and we come closer to experientially knowing that our truth far exceeds this tiny speck of separate self that we think we are. We give responsibility and care of the body over to Spirit. Our choice to care for the body is no longer a call for death/ego; it becomes another opportunity to undo our false perceptions and truly heal. It becomes a call for Real Life.
“You need be neither careful nor careless; you need merely cast your cares upon Him because He careth for YOU. You ARE His care because He loves you.” Sparkle edition p. 114
Most importantly, do NOT feel guilty for being where you are at! “A happy learner does not feel guilty about learning.” Remember, guilt is ALWAYS of the ego, so eat your kale, take your vitamins, and exercise with JOY by doing these things WITH SPIRIT rather than with the ego as guide.
Maybe you’ll be guided to keep up your healthy routine, because Spirit is going to meet you where you are at. Maybe you’ll be guided to change it. Maybe your routine will simply fall away. Now that you’re acting WITH Spirit, you’re willing to affirm that you’re not a body, and you take a step closer to truly knowing that nothing can harm you.
Hello Corinne!
What a profound and complex question, but your answer is absolutely fantastic! I love the idea of engaging in the actions of this world WITH the presence and energies of the Divine, as that does take quite a lot of pressure off of us! =) Beautiful post!
Thank you Anthony!
Hi Connie,
I once heard Gary Renard say, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do” We are certainly not at home here but we do seem to be here. I think it’s a good idea to be as balanced as possible in all aspects of our current situation so we can serve well. It’s like the prayer, bless this food to our bodies and us to thy service. If these illusionary bodies function in certain ways, then let’s make sure they function as well as possible so we can use them as our vessels of communication.
Think I’ll go get another cup of green tea. 🙂
Nancy
Hi Nancy – I like how you put this: “We are certainly not at home here but we do seem to be here.” Enjoy your green tea with the Holy Spirit 🙂
I love this-that has become my why. If I take better care of this physical form, it will function more efficiently. My ego will be free from focusing on what ails me & create more space for spirit to be available for service..
Such a great response Corinne! You really helped explain this and provided the exact action steps! Feeling lifted 🙂
I’m so glad Jen! Feeling lifted too…
yes this is so ! I lifted many years in making the dream true by renouncing body care ! Know i am learning with joy and gentleness ! A few days ago i told spirit i had it very difficult with aging all of a sudden , I asked him to help me to accept what i have difficult with to accept ! From nowhere i got infromation about good products and some exersize to help the skin !! My husband laught with it and told me i had to accept my skin as it is ! Seeing the projection of guilt i had and let him spoke it, i told him that i felt that Spirit guided me to help , just until i needed this help ! And know i use this products and execizes with Him , asking Him to remove the believe that i am a body ! In love and gentleness for myself !!! LOVE is the healer, in what way !!! thank you for the reminder ! Annemieke
This is a beautiful example of doing things WITH Spirt, Annemieke! Thank you so much for sharing!
Thing is Body is Matter and all Matter is Energy according to Quantum Physics. So Body is really Spirit. Only in appearance seem different and separate…
I have come to accept that I am not my body, but while I am here residing in it, I will take care of it, just like I take care of my home or my car. While I live in this vessel called my body I want to feel my best for as long as I have and when the vessel is used up, I will move on and take care of the new ‘body’. Just like I would buy a new car when my old one dies. I wouldn’t neglect it just because it’s an ‘illusion’.
I like thinking of the body a vessel that I am / we are residing in right now. Thanks for your helpful comment.
Ii searched on the internet for what A Course in Miracles had to say about exercise. I’ve often been confused and thought at times it wasn’t right to improve the body’s strength and stamina. After reading this, I am much clearer on this issue as I am continuing to embark on an exercise and resistance weight training routine I began almost two years ago that I’ve enjoyed. I’ve often asked myself what my motivation was for doing what I do, and one thing is I know I’m not doing it for is for vanity purposes. I’m currently 59 years old, and although I’m not afraid of leaving this world, I want to be able to be vital in it while I’m here.
The thought that comes to mind is, “I am not a body, but this is my body.”
Hi Steven, I’m glad this post helped clarify things and that you are continuing to embark on an exercise program. I love your statement, “I am not a body, but this is my body.” Thank you for sharing!
Corinne, I really appreciate what you wrote here. It was a clear and concise discussion of the ways we go into our ego with food and health issues. I printed it out and I’ve been reading it every day. It’s always surprising when you really examine yourself to discover how many ways you indulge the ego without recognizing it. All these old patterns have to go!!!
The best answer I have heard about eating and food in general. Personally I love hot dogs and Spirit has guided me to some of the best. Love and Blessings. Lloyd
Your comment is so funny! Thank you Lloyd 🙂
I have been pondering this part of the Course, and thank you. For Lent, which I have never been Catholic, I am focusing on giving up the ” We are not bodies”, and all that encompasses. I walk 4 miles a day, and teach Pilates because I want to be as healthy as I can, still understanding that this is an illusion and have that be OK…. Thank you for helping me to put this into better perspective. My goal is to live with the Holy Spirit all the time, seeing you as me etc.
Thank you very much, I felt how we are connected in all levels of reality. I stopped to judge self and rest of existence. My body and mind is so connected, that changed my attitude towards life & spirit. Just by ego, I used to wake at late nights. But unable to wake up early mornings. My routine works changed, finally effected my mind and could not able to concentrate on my heart purpose. I always followed the Supreme spirit within me. I was in full synchronization. And now I learned a lesson. Though I eat only egg and veg but satisfied.. Every time I eat, I thank the food for spirit. Looking forward some more mind awakening thought from you. Thank you very much….
Thank you Ale! It is all about following the “Supreme Spirit” within. 🙂