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PART II

5. What Is the Body?

W-pII.5.1. The body is a fence the Son of God imagines he has built, to separate parts of his Self from other parts. 2 It is within this fence he thinks he lives, to die as it decays and crumbles. 3 For within this fence he thinks that he is safe from love. 4 Identifying with his safety, he regards himself as what his safety is. 5 How else could he be certain he remains within the body, keeping love outside?

W-pII.5.2. The body will not stay. 2 Yet this he sees as double safety. 3 For the Son of God's impermanence is "proof" his fences work, and do the task his mind assigns to them. 4 For if his oneness still remained untouched, who could attack and who could be attacked? 5 Who could be victor? 6 Who could be his prey? 7 Who could be victim? 8 Who the murderer? 9 And if he did not die, what "proof" is there that God's eternal Son can be destroyed?

W-pII.5.3. The body is a dream. 2 Like other dreams it sometimes seems to picture happiness, but can quite suddenly revert to fear, where every dream is born. 3 For only love creates in truth, and truth can never fear. 4 Made to be fearful, must the body serve the purpose given it. 5 But we can change the purpose that the body will obey by changing what we think that it is for.

W-pII.5.4. The body is the means by which God's Son returns to sanity. 2 Though it was made to fence him into hell without escape, yet has the goal of Heaven been exchanged for the pursuit of hell. 3 The Son of God extends his hand to reach his brother, and to help him walk along the road with him. 4 Now is the body holy. 5 Now it serves to heal the mind that it was made to kill.

W-pII.5.5. You will identify with what you think will make you safe. 2 Whatever it may be, you will believe that it is one with you. 3 Your safety lies in truth, and not in lies. 4 Love is your safety. 5 Fear does not exist. 6 Identify with love, and you are safe. 7 Identify with love, and you are home. 8 Identify with love, and find your Self.