In A Course in Miracles, we are frequently reminded not to focus on the physical form of another but to remember, instead, that the person in front of us is an immortal spirit and a holy son of God, just as we are, because this is the way he was created by God. Jesus asks us to replace the vision that our eyes show us with Christ’s vision.

“…See how the body’s eyes rest on externals and cannot go beyond. Watch how they stop at nothingness, unable to go beyond the form to meaning. Nothing so blinding as perception of form. For sight of form means understanding has been obscured.” T476. We look at the person in front of us and focus on his appearance or on the words he is saying and this, says Jesus, conceals true understanding.

Instead, he asks us to use Christ’s vision when looking upon another—all others, in fact. But what is Christ’s vision? “The Christ in you beholds his holiness. Your specialness looks on his body and beholds him not.” T513. On the previous page of the Text he points out, “Choose, then, his body or his holiness as what you want to see, and which you choose is yours to look upon…Where is your peace but in his holiness? And where is God Himself but in that part of Him He set forever in your brother’s holiness, that you might see the truth about yourself…” In other words, when we perceive the holiness of the person in front of us, we are remembering our own holiness; this will help us overcome the unconscious guilt in our minds due to our belief in the separation from God.

Christ’s vision is a useful tool in the forgiveness process if we remember to use it consistently. If someone is annoying or rude for instance, we do our best to look beyond his appearance and his words by remembering his holiness, as our equal; we are all brothers, since we are all sons of God.