Perfection alone escapes the need of modification or correction. Man, the divine reflection, is not susceptible of alteration, deterioration, or change. Man is eternal; that is, he exists at all times without change. Not so, however, does the human concept of man seem to exist ; for this human concept ever varies, being apparently influenced by the mutations of time, space, and whatever else is included in material belief. The act of perceiving so-called matter is called in Christian Science material perception, the seeming result of material belief. Because material belief is constituted of the ever changing concepts of the so-called human mind, the necessity for unceasing correction is apparent.
That which exists at all times without change is Spirit; and the act of perceiving Spirit is termed spiritual perception. Because spiritual perception deals with the eternal, immutable ideas of Spirit, the permanence of spiritual understanding is apparent. Material belief is cast off as useless by spiritual understanding; and the casting-off process is presented with characteristic clarity by Mrs. Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures"(p. 425) in the brief sentence, "Correct material belief by spiritual understanding, and Spirit will form you anew."
Startling as is the thought of the unreality of mortal mind, this new view becomes natural and practical when the realities of spiritual sense dawn upon one. When a bodily pain seems to appear and spiritual sense annuls it, conclusively proving the allness of good, the recipient of the demonstration feels much as if he had just arrived home after a hazardous journey. When a mental burden appears, and spiritual sense dispels it, demonstrating divine Mind's infinitude, the renewed thought rejoices in a state that commends itself as entirely normal. The result of correcting "material belief by spiritual understanding" is as when one walks out of a chilly, damp, dark cellar into the fragrance and the sunshine of a warm June morning.
