To you, this innocent body, I offer you to the Holy Spirit and forgive. How could something that never existed be guilty of anything? I return your innocence, and in you, I embrace my own.
The body is often at the center of our concerns. We associate it with our identity, our value, our pleasures, and our sufferings. Yet, behind these perceptions lies a profound truth: the body is innocent. It can neither attack nor be attacked. It has no power of its own. Recognizing this marks a turning point: when we stop projecting guilt onto the body, we open the way to forgiveness and lasting inner peace.
The body is often at the center of our concerns. We associate it with our identity, our value, our pleasures, and our sufferings. Yet, behind these perceptions lies a profound truth: the body is innocent. It can neither attack nor be attacked. It has no power of its own. Recognizing this marks a turning point: when we stop projecting guilt onto the body, we open the way to forgiveness and lasting inner peace.
innocent body
The Body and the Secret Dream: An Illusion Without Power
In the unconscious, the body is often burdened with guilt. It is perceived as proof of separation, an attack on our source of love, on God. Yet it is merely a neutral tool, a projection of the secret dream in our mind. It reflects what we wanted to believe: infinity confined to the finite, the limitless made limited, unity fragmented into multiplicity, the eternal turned mortal.
"The body is a dream. Like the other dreams it seems to contain, sometimes it seems to be pleasant, but it can also appear frightening." – ACIM, T-18.VII.3.1
This projected guilt transforms the body into a battleground. We try to control it, change it, or make it a refuge for our fears. But in truth, the body can do nothing. It cannot attack us or save us. It is entirely neutral.
"The body is a completely neutral thing. What makes it a problem is the thought attached to it. The body can do nothing on its own; it reflects only the state of mind of the one who perceives it." – Kenneth Wapnick
The Ego's Use of the Body: Control, Fear, and Distraction
innocent body
The ego uses the body to reinforce the illusion of separation. This manifests as a constant fear of its degradation, illness, or death. Even in our "virtuous" actions, the ego is often at work.
1. The Pursuit of Perfection and Control
Paying attention to one’s diet, exercise, or bodily care can be an act of love. But when motivated by fear of aging, illness, or not being "enough," it becomes a projection of guilt. It is not the body we are trying to care for but an unconscious fear we are attempting to mask."The body seems to prove that you can be attacked, that you are vulnerable, that you can die. These ideas are the foundation of the separation dream." – ACIM, T-19.IV.B.6
innocent body
2. The Fear of Death
The body’s death is a central obsession for the ego. It fuels constant fear, leading to desperate attempts to prolong life or avoid the inevitable.
"Clinging to the idea that one is a body is the root of all fears. Realize you are beyond it, and fear will vanish." – Ramana Maharshi
3. Physical Distractions
Sensory pleasures and material comforts are often used as escape mechanisms to avoid looking within. But these distractions only reinforce the idea that we are limited to the body, keeping us further from true peace.
The Body in Service to the Holy Spirit: A Tool for Union
When we stop using the body as a means of defense or distraction to nourish the ego’s illusions, it can be placed in service to the Holy Spirit. The body then becomes a tool for forgiveness, communication, and unity. In this new perspective, it is no longer about changing or repairing the body but transforming its purpose to reflect peace and love rather than fear and separation.
The Use of the Body in Relationships
In relationships, the ego uses the body as a tool for manipulation or guilt. This can manifest in several ways:
1. Allowing Mistreatment to Atone for Guilt
The ego may push us to accept unjust treatment or destructive behaviors, convincing us that we deserve them. For instance, staying in an abusive relationship or tolerating physical or emotional abuse becomes an unconscious form of self-punishment. The body is used as a means to atone for deeply buried guilt.
2. Seeing the Other’s Body as Possession
In some relationships, we perceive the body of the other as an extension of our own. We demand that it meets our expectations, whether in terms of appearance, behavior, or proximity. This reductive view turns the other into an object of possession, sustaining the illusion of separation.
3. Projecting Guilt onto the Other
Sometimes, we use the body of others as a "target" for our judgments and anger. This may manifest as physical criticism, blaming others for their actions, or even holding them overly responsible for our happiness or suffering. This use of the body by the ego perpetuates the illusion that the other is separate from us and thus "responsible" for our experiences."Everything you perceive in the other is merely a reflection of what you refuse to see in yourself." – ACIM
Toward Simplicity: The Body in the Holy Spirit
1. Cooking with Simplicity and Joy
Cooking becomes a moment to be fully present. Instead of choosing foods out of fear ("this will harm me"), we follow a natural inspiration. Preparing a meal becomes an act of loving attention, not just for the body but also for others. A simple dish made with sincerity and gratitude nourishes much more than the physical body.
2. Exercising as an Act of Gratitude
Exercise no longer serves to control the body or avoid guilt but becomes a celebration of movement. A walk, a run, dancing, or yoga is no longer about "fixing" oneself but about savoring the body as a simple tool for expression, free from pressure or performance goals.
3. Paying Sincere Attention in Interactions
When guided by the Holy Spirit, simple gestures become expressions of love. A handshake, a kind look, a hug, or attentive listening allows the body to connect rather than defend or manipulate. These interactions, however mundane, reflect an intention of unity and sharing.
4. Resting Without Guilt
Rest becomes sacred when we recognize the body as a valuable yet temporary tool. Taking a moment of calm or a nap is no longer seen as laziness but as a way to recharge an instrument we use respectfully.
5. Working in Connection with the World
Even seemingly mundane work – writing emails, serving clients, or responding to requests – can become a vehicle for unity. When guided by the Holy Spirit, these actions extend inner peace. Work done calmly and without expectations reflects love in action.
"When the body is put in service to forgiveness, it ceases to be a source of conflict. It becomes a witness to the mind at peace, and a tangible expression of love and kindness." – Kenneth Wapnick
The Return to Innocence
When we use the body with the Holy Spirit, even the simplest gestures become expressions of unity and love. We then understand that the body was never guilty, just as we never were.
"The body is innocent, for it has done nothing. It cannot attack or be attacked. In recognizing this, you remember that you, too, are innocent, beyond all judgment." – ACIM
Thus, what was once used to divide becomes a tool for union. The body no longer obstructs our peace but becomes a witness to our freedom.
am sharing with you the mantra that accompanies me every day:
"May only beautiful and positive words come out of my mouth; may my gestures and actions be filled with love and kindness, directed both towards myself and others."
With gentleness.
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