What is Real?

K, re-reading my email response, I can sum up the ACIM theology thus:

"Either EVERYTHING is REAL and/or NOTHING IS REAL."

"Everything is Real" is Dualism, and describes the human experience.

"Nothing is Real" is Non-Dualism, and is how THE ALL (GOD) sees things from its own perspective, since everything that IS is but a thought (or meditation) in the mind of God.

So once again we are presented with the "Divine Paradox".

Your success in helping others understand the ACIM conceptual universe will be dependent upon your ability to successfully communicate this Paradox and what we should do about it.

Quotes from the Kybalion:

The Universe in Mental. The ALL is SPIRIT, which may be thought of as a Universal, Infinite, Living Mind. Matter, energy, life, reality are all manifestations of Spirit.

The divine paradox of the Absolute vs. the Relative.

In the Absolute (God's) sense, everything is Relative (Illusory)
In the Relative (Man's) sense, everything is Absolute (Real)

Absolute Truth = Things as the mind of God knows them.
Relative Truth = Things as the highest reason of Man understands them.

And while to THE ALL the Universe is unreal and illusionary, a mere dream or result of meditation - nevertheless, to the finite minds forming a part of that Universe, and viewing it through mortal faculties, the Universe is very real indeed, and must be so considered. While on the plane of matter, we must recognize its phenomena. We may control matter, but we do so by applying the higher forces. It is folly to deny the existence of matter in its relative aspect.

Our business in the Universe is not to deny its existence, but to LIVE, using the Laws that rise from lower to higher - to live up to the best that is in us, so far as is possible.

The half-wise, recognizing the comparative unreality of the Universe, imagine that they may defy its Laws - such are vain and presumptuous fools, and they are broken against the rocks and are torn asunder by the elements by reason of their folly.
The truly wise, knowing the nature of the Universe, use Law against laws; the higher against the lower; and by the Art of alchemy transmute that which is undesirable into that which is worthy and thus triumph. Mastery consists not in abnormal dreams, visions, and fantastic imaginings or living, but in using the higher forces against the lower - escaping the pains of the lower planes by vibrating on the higher. Transmutation, not presumptuous denial, is the weapon of the Master.

So, what's the practical import of all this as it relates to the Primary Duality?

I think it relates to how we make our choices! Given the relative absolute reality of physical phenomena, do we choose based upon Separatism or from Unity ?

To me the whole key depends upon the existence of God and Spirit and higher planes of reality, and upon our relationship to this "reality" and the means to know them. This is where intuition comes in. There must be a development of our self (and our sense of "Self" ) to create a body (K18) capable of this direct perception. Otherwise, we're doomed to following rules laid down by others and the concept of duty to the collective.

Kant

One Approach to this problem was proposed by Immanuel Kant:

Kant's Philosophy: The phenomenal world is not real, and so reality as perceived by man's mind is a distortion and delusion. Kant tries to save religion from science, but in so doing, declares that we can't ever know the higher reality.

Ethics: "Always act as if the maxim from which you act were to become through your will a universal law of nature".

Whether this Categorical Imperative becomes a vehicle for liberation or bondage depends upon our ability to discern the Universal Laws from which we act. The fact is that we always act in accordance with Universal Law ("Through me its unfailing wisdom takes form in in thought and word") So the Categorical Imperative is a call for us to come to know these Laws!

So it can take two directions, based upon the initial premise of whether God/Sprit/Higher Reality is knowable or not.

If one can't ever come to know God (and the Universal Laws from which we act), then God becomes merely a hobgoblin used by the rulers in order to enforce duty to the tribe, and religion becomes little more than devil worship (K15) - acting to appease a fearsome and little understood force.