Lessons in Truth

The connection between the Universal Mind and our own individual minds is one of the most difficult things to express in words, but once it dawns upon you, it is easily understood.

In reality, there is only one Mind (or Spirit, which is life, intelligence, etc.) in the universe; and yet, there is a sense in which we are individual or separate—a sense in which we possess free will and are not merely puppets.

A human being is composed of spirit, soul, and body. Spirit is our central, unchanging "I," the part of us that has never changed since infancy and will never change throughout all eternity. That which Christian Scientists A religious movement founded by Mary Baker Eddy in the 19th century, emphasizing the spiritual nature of reality and the power of prayer for healing. call the "mortal mind" is the realm of the intellect, where we perform conscious thinking and exercise our free will. This part of our being is in a constant process of change.

In our descent, or our springing forth from God into the material world, the spirit is the innermost part—closest to God; the soul is the "clothing," so to speak, of the spirit; and the body is the external clothing of the soul. Yet, in reality, all are one, making up the whole person—just as steam is at the center, water is next, and ice is the external form, all being the same substance in different degrees of condensation. In thinking of ourselves, we must not separate spirit, soul, and body, but rather hold all as one if we would be

strong and powerful. Humanity originally lived consciously in the spiritual part of itself. We "fell" The "Fall of Man" is interpreted here not as a historical event of sin, but as a shift in human awareness from the spiritual to the physical world. by allowing our consciousness to descend into the external or more material part of ourselves.

"Mortal mind"—the term so frequently used and so distracting to many—is the "error consciousness," which gathers its information through the five senses from the outside world. It is what the Apostle Paul calls the "carnal mind" original: "carnal mind"; from Romans 8:6. In this context, it refers to a mindset focused on physical desires and sensory perceptions rather than spiritual truths. as opposed to the spiritual mind. He states plainly: "To be carnally minded [or to believe what the carnal mind says] is death [sorrow, trouble, sickness]; but to be spiritually minded [that is, to be able to quiet the carnal mind and let the Spirit speak within us] is life and peace."

The Spirit within you is the Divine Mind, the real mind; without it, the mortal mind would disappear, just as a shadow—which looks so very real—disappears when the object that casts it is removed.

If you find this subject of the "mortal mind" and "Universal Mind" puzzling, do not worry about it, and above all else, do not argue about it. Simply set it aside for a time; as you continue with these lessons, you will find that one day the truth will flash upon you with perfect clarity.

There are today two classes of people, as far as mentality goes, who are seeking deliverance out of...