Author’s Note
It is hoped that these notes may be of value to anyone interested in good vision. They are primarily addressed, however, to the student of Christian Science, who has learned that in all things there are divine laws with which we must comply. Mary Baker Eddy’s spiritual vision was both scientific and Christian. The teaching in her book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, opens the eyes of the understanding, not only in terms of precise spiritual illumination, but also in a practical, healing manner. The viewpoint from which these notes are written is to be found in her statement on p. 561 : 16-20 : “John saw the human and divine coincidence, shown in the man Jesus, as divinity embracing humanity in Life and its demonstration, — reducing to human perception and understanding the Life which is God.”
The processes both of spiritual growth and of divine healing are essentially activities of vision. Such terms as illumination, higher views, discernment, distinguishing between the false and the true, are the commonest analogies for spiritual understanding. True vision reveals that “in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God” (Hosea 1 : 10).
These notes, which have arisen out of practice, are offered as suggestions for the student’s own exercise of Christian and scientific seeing. They are not intended to be exhaustive, but may serve as a basis for individual exploration.

John L. Morgan Elmdon Saffron Walden May, 1963    Essex, England

Abbreviations used in this book:
S. & H.    Science and Health

Ret.        Retrospection and Introspection

CSH.       Christian Science Hymnal

Some Notes on True Vision

MIND is the all-seeing Mind, which reveals the infinite and brings the light of intelligence. This is the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Mind shows me that vision is spiritual light, not material organs. With this light, I know that vision is the illumination of idea, revealing the meaning and significance of all things. It is not obtaining information from material forms, nor the effort to see matter. Mind reveals “the deep and secret things” which “eye hath not seen.” Possessed of this Mind, I know I can see, for I look from cause rather than from effect.
Nothing is hid from my vision, for Mind presents the idea I need to see every instant. Mind’s vision is ever active and tireless, and it calls for “the perpetual exercise of the Mind-faculties.”* I exercise this vision in intelligent looking, in seeking, in noticing, in the desire to see real ideas where the senses notice only matter. My seeing is fully alert and attentive, for it is the presence of Mind.
Mind creates my vision, owns it, controls and governs it, and never hands it over to the machinery of eyesight. What I miscall my eyes are but a limited sense of real vision; they are really servants of the divine outlook, and they are obedient to the Mind that sees all.
S. & H. 121 : 17-24 S. & H. 284 : 28-32 S. & H. 263 : 32-12 S.&H. 485:4-5
* S.&H. 487:6-12,M.H. S. & H. 488 : 23-24 S. & H. 572 : 19-12 S. & H. 151 : 20-28

SPIRIT is the only true conception of being, quite sep- arate from the human concept and always correcting it. Correcting the view is a function of Spirit, and so spiritual clear-sightedness is natural to me, distinguishing all things as they really are.
Through Spirit I see all things rightly, clearly, correctly, distinctly, spiritually. This gives me discernment, so that I differentiate between one idea and another, also between true and false. This firmament of Spirit gives me percep- tion, perceptiveness, perspicacity. It opens the eyes of my understanding. It shows me what is real, and what is unre- al.
The clear sight of Spirit does not blind me to faults and errors. Rather I detect them more clearly — but as unrealities. I discern only the good and the true to be real, and so my eye is single. I positively look for the real, the good and the true. In Spirit, good vision is natural, and it is irreversible.
Because Spirit is forever unfolding reality, my vision is daily increasingly clearer. I am glad to see old concepts and false opinions disappear. Spirit brings me new views, the true, new idea, and so brings to birth in my vision the new man.
It is Spirit that does the seeing, not flesh, and the senses of Spirit are indestructible and perfect. My outlook is always positive, never negative, because my vision is spiritual.
S. & H. 264 : 13-15 S.&H. 476:32-4 S. & H. 502 : 9-14
S. & H. 281 : 28-30 S. & H. 323 : 32-6 S. & H. 505 : 20-22 S. & H. 582 : 1-2
S. & H. 586 : 3-6 Matt. 6 : 22

SOUL is the faculty of spiritual sense, which gives me inner vision, or spiritual insight. This intuitive Soul-sense is inner apprehension and seeing, and it is entirely non-sensual. It enlarges my perception of character, revealing the real identity and nature of whatever I behold.
Through the penetration of Soul I see through sin’s disguise to the sinless man within. I do not confuse ap- pearance with reality. I can see beyond the symbols to the actuality of ideas. As my vision rises, the symbols are transformed.
The senses of Soul function not through corporeal or- gans, but through the exercising of spiritual sense, — as music is appreciated not through physical sense organs, but through musical sense. Understanding this will nor- malize and quicken the so-called organs of vision, for Soul is the exchange-point in our practice.
Soul supercedes sense. Therefore I do not look on any- one sensually, nor do I mistake the outer form for the true identity. The veils of sense and self do not impair my vision in Soul, but I perceive definitely “what eye hath not seen.” In Soul, my vision is never related to the self-centered “me,” but looks out selflessly, as the sun shines.
Through the vision of spiritual understanding I am al- ways translating objects of sense into ideas of Soul. I can see with exactitude and instant focus whatever I need to see, because I am identified with perfect vision.
The dry land of Soul gives me stability, self-assurance and self-confidence. Therefore I know who I am, and am undisturbed, so that I look out unself-consciously, steadily and calmly. From my dry land, my vision is unvarying, per- manent, free from conflict, and unfettered by mortal belief. My sight is untouched by anxiety or stress, but dwells on God.
Soul balances the inner with the outer, the left with the right. Starting with the kingdom within, I can set to work to “make this earth our Father’s kingdom” also. What I behold with the material senses must be brought to coincide with spiritual sense. Spiritual apprehension is my vision; its practice is my eyesight.
S.&H. 91:16-21 S.&H. 214:5-8,26-1 S.&H. 263:28-31 S.&H. 315:11-20
S. & H. 258 : 21-24, 31-1 S.&H. 585:9-11

PRINCIPLE confers the grand, impersonal view, in which I see, in a measure, as God sees. I see everyone impersonally as the perfect idea of the perfect Principle. I see man as that which is Principled — “that which,” not “he who.” (See S. & H. 475 : 5, 19-22.) I see that every attribute man has is a quality of God, and that without his operative divine Principle man does not exist. I see that neither bad human nor good human is the divine image and likeness, for man is found in his divine Principle.
No personal sense hides from me the divinity of man; no blind human wilfulness prevents me seeing what Principle requires of me. My personal judgments and prejudices do not occupy my outlook and so preclude the detached appraisal that Principle gives me.
The viewpoint of Principle shows me that everything is governed in perfect justice and equity and righteousness. “What’s right” and not “who’s right” is the criterion in my eyes. Therefore I do not look for wrong, and what I see as wrong I detect as an impersonal lie.
Because I know that Principle is the only “I,” my sight is not falsified by self-advantage, or rivalry, or inferiority. I look out from “the mount of vision.”* I love to see right ideas and actions for their own sake.
The functioning of my vision is governed harmoniously by the divine Principle of vision, for the potency and efficiency of all ideas resides in their governing Principle.
Psalm 36 : 9 John 5 : 19 Ret. 76 : 23-26
S. & H. 330 : 13-15 S. & H. 300 : 28-32 S. & H. 560 : 22-30
* S.&H. 561:8-9 S. & H. 304 : 16-19