I rebelled (quietly) at the implications of my college professor's assessment. The course was a New Testament study. In recounting the healing of the Gadarene, ^{See Mark 5 .} he explained that Jesus, with a hypnotic look in his eyes, freed the man.

Christ Jesus was not a mesmerist. His healing works represented the very opposite of control by one mortal mind over another. The Saviour's healing view was empowered by God, the one divine Mind. Later, while studying the spiritual interpretation Mary Baker Eddy gives to the Bible term "eyes," I thought of that healing Jesus had accomplished. She writes: "Eyes. Spiritual discernment,—not material but mental." And she concludes the definition, "Jesus said, thinking of the outward vision, 'Having eyes, see ye not?' (Mark viii. 18.)" ^{Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 586.} Yes, Jesus healed because of his God-impelled vision, his genuine spiritual discernment. He envisioned man's God-given purity, man's unopposed perfectibility. Jesus' spiritually illumined consciousness enabled him to perceive reality while others were seeing from the standpoint of distorted mortal belief.

Actually, Christ Jesus was the only one in that crowd whose view was entirely free of hypnotic influences. He saw the spiritual facts clearly. He pictured man's real being. Others saw the individual from a mesmerized, materialistic perspective. Mrs. Eddy comments on this pure "spiritual discernment" that the Master so consistently exercised: "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." ^{Ibid., pp. 476-477.}

The Bible offers many accounts of people who exercised a vision that reached far beyond the limits of material sight. And their spiritual discernment brought healing, restoration, freedom. Elisha was once surrounded by the Syrians. While the corporeal senses reported what appeared to be a hopeless situation, Elisha recognized, through spiritual sense, God's presence all around. The Bible explains that he also helped his frightened servant see that they were embraced by divine protection: "Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." ^{II Kings 6:17.}

How can we today perceive more of God's presence? How can we experience the kind of spiritually enlightened vision, the "correct view," that heals? "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man...." In Science—the Science of Christ—we find an understanding of reality. In Science we begin to discern the man of God's creating. He isn't a man produced by matter. Nor is he generated and sustained by a material mentality. Christian Science explains man to be entirely spiritual. His form, substance, identity, are defined by divine Spirit, not by matter—that is, not by limitation, fear, ignorance.

But to insist that we find man "in Science" is not to imply that this is simply an intellectual exercise. In fact, it involves deep spiritual regeneration. The Science of Christ calls for an overturning in consciousness; it demands a humility that enables us to admit man's present perfection as the image of God. We begin to recognize individual being more in terms of purity and goodness, joy and health.

As we find ourselves envisioning these truths through genuine inspiration, we see our surroundings in a new light, a more spiritual setting. And the effect of this discernment is to bless human experience, to release it to some extent from mortal limitation. The reason is that God empowers true vision, and the clarity with which we see His creation serves to remove fuzzy mortal belief.

And as we come to see more spiritually, we'll relinquish the human tendency to view events or people or places from a mortal or evil standpoint. The Bible occasionally makes reference to an "evil eye." In his Sermon on the Mount, Christ Jesus warned, "If thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness." ^{Matt. 6:23.} While some people, through superstition or mistaken theology, may consider the concept of the "evil eye" as an ability to curse or adversely affect another, Christian Science brings the saving Christ to mankind and denies real power to such facets of material sense; the Christ restores and enriches our original spiritual sense. In Science we are called on to outgrow even an angry glance, a fearful stare, an envious gaze—and thoughts producing them. Such worldliness must submit to the virtue and purity of a more spiritual vision. John reminds us: "All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." ^{I John 2:16,17.}

In addition to freeing ourselves from seeing our fellow beings with a worldly perspective, we'll learn to see ourselves more spiritually. If we perceive our own identity from the standpoint of divine Love, then others will begin to see us more in that light. We'll less likely be recognized in terms of a limited, finite personality. We will see others more spiritually.

Of course, all of this doesn't mean we will be unaware of the challenges and needs of mankind. Jesus knew the man's need to be free of a withered hand; he understood the aggressiveness of the insanity that was claiming the Gadarene; he was well aware the woman had been caught in the act of adultery and was now standing before the crowd an accused sinner. But he saw beyond—even through—the material evidence; his seeing was divinely active, not materially passive. He exercised true spiritual discernment, and this Mind-impelled action enabled him to recognize God's creation of perfection; it gave him the capacity to heal.

Divine Science explains the nature of Truth. It enriches our spiritual vision. When we see with spiritual discernment, mistaken views give way and healing takes place.

NATHAN A. TALBOT