Why sin is a perception

It takes a body to sin.  If you only perceive people as bodies then you will only see them as capable of sin. This will cause you to live in fear of the sin that you see everywhere in everyone.  If you believe that people are more than just their bodies then you will be able to look past any perceived sin to find out what the real source of their behavior is and what would be an appropriate response, if any.  Yes, I do believe in pure concentrated evil and I'm not talking about that.  I'm talking about smaller things we judge others for on a daily basis.  In this journal entry I am trying to be mindful of this concept and find ways to apply it in my life.

A Course In Miracles (ACIM) says in Ch 22, p476 :

"Let not the form of his mistakes keep you from him whose holiness is yours.   Let not the vision of his holiness, the sight of which would show you your forgiveness, be kept from you by what the body's eyes can see.  Let your awareness of your brother not be blocked  by your perception of his sins and of his body.  What is there in him that you would attack except what you associate with his body, which you believe can sin?  Beyond his errors is his holiness and your salvation.  You gave him not his holiness, but tried to see your sins in him to save yourself.  And yet, his holiness is your forgiveness.  Can you be saved by making sinful the one whose holiness is your salvation?"

I particularly like the part where it says, "You gave him not his holiness, but tried to see your sins in him to save yourself.".   Psychologists might call that projection.  It happens without your conscious knowledge and takes dedication and awareness and persistence to be able to catch it in the moment it is happening.   Everyone is or has been guilty of it, the pot calling the kettle black. This is a major recurring theme in ACIM, the idea of crucifying your brother in the hopes of saving yourself.  It is an image and a concept that fascinates me. 



That is how I believe you are saved today, in the here and now, through the kindness and understanding of others. Perhaps if there is anything we could possibly need to be saved from, it is ourselves. I do believe we can take responsibility for saving ourselves based upon how we treat others and not wait on someone else to magically grant us salvation without us having to put forth any effort. Aren't things more valuable when they are earned instead of granted anyway?