T-15.I

The Two Uses of Time

Chapter 15 — The Holy Instant

Time is reinterpreted: the ego uses it to prove guilt and death, while the Holy Spirit uses it to open the Holy Instant and restore joining.

Practice with this section Read the source text at acim.org/acim/en

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Motifs

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Motif Contents

24 occurrences

Primary

Time ▲ Milestone Time serves guilt or awakening, depending on purpose. Holy Instant Holy Instant named: a clean present shared in holiness. Holy Spirit Give the Holy Spirit one instant, and time is healed.

Pillar

Ego The ego uses time to make death feel inevitable and near. Fear Fear belongs to past and future; the present undoes it. Guilt Ego-time runs on guilt, promising endless punishment and fear. Teaching–Learning Time can teach fear or peace—offer it to the Holy Spirit.

Supporting

Guiltlessness Holy present: absolved now, you escape guilt by giving release. Means—End One teacher uses time to deepen guilt; the other to undo it. Changelessness Time serves learning until the holy instant reveals the unchanging. Death / Suffering Ego uses time to aim at death; the Holy Spirit uses time for life. Kingdom Heaven is given now; trade a tiny instant of fear for it. Peace Use time to learn peace: this instant absolves and steadies the mind.

Minor

Giving / Receiving The holy instant cannot be private: give release, receive release. Miracle An offered instant becomes release shared: time serves the holy instant. Salvation Give a little instant; receive salvation from change and eternity’s remembrance. Joining The holy instant is real only as one shared release. Memory of God A tiny holy instant restores the remembrance of eternity now. Punishment Believing in hell makes vengeance feel endless and inevitable. Willingness Give one instant; share it with your brother and let Heaven enter. Attack Withholding your brother’s release keeps you in time’s attack cycle. Temptation Asking how long it will take and attacking are both temptations—return to this instant.

Echo

Illusions Change is an ego story told to disturb the holy present. Invulnerability Purity is outside time; nothing in the dream can stain it.