A Course in Miracles - Hardcover

Helen Schucman

4.19

32,265 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 156649138X ISBN 13: 9781566491389

Publisher: Welcome Rain Publishers, 2006

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The great classic work, A Course in Miracles, is devoted to teachings about who we are, our relationships to God and with each other, and the actually mental nature of our bodies and the world. There are three constituent parts to the Course: The Text, a Workbook for Students, and the Manual for Teachers. The Text lays out the theoretical foundation for the metaphysical system of the Course. The Workbook contains a series of 365 Lessons to be practiced daily for the purpose of retraining the mind and healing our perception. Finally, the Manual contains information for and about advanced teachers of God. The Course is also about miracles, which students understand to be, in part, a shift in perception to healed vision. But miracles are more than a shift in perception, because the shift has consequences in the world as we see it. The Course is a self study educational program for retraining the mind that is spiritual, rather than religious, in its perspective.

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Review:

The acim ("A Course in Miracles") is a unique metaphysical course. I have a few pointers and ideas here to consider. I do not attempt to alter or miscreate the "course" in any way but to offer a spin on it. Know this; the course is not that revolutionary as it borrows most of its concepts and ideas from Hindu and possibly Zoroastrian thought systems. These are the main issues I have with the "course"; The cause of the separation just does not make sense to me as presented by the "course". The solution is also seemingly single minded, aka "silver bullet" theory that Americans are so fond of. The problem for me is the ever present philosophical issue is whether to accept or reject the "reality" we dream? This is the million dollar question that faces philosophers and thinkers. The intellectual notion is to reject it but there is a big problem lies therein too. So the actual answer to me at least is to accept life and live it knowing that it is a dream. Personally, I do not have a problem of rebirth and live a life of a child or 20-year old unless the circumstances are just too hard. Who knows that ahead of the time? You cannot fight the dream only gradually accept and realize that taking it seriously is unwise. I know many people who ended up cracking up because they "fight" the ego too hard. As for the cause of the separation, I have learned it differently in Yoga and it makes more sense, at least to me. What I have learned as the "first cause" as it was a "desire of expression" that "made" the Universe as is. The problem is mainly the separation but there are other issues too. But even since it is not created but emanated from Infinity. (A perfect god (infinity) cannot "create" the imperfect Universe, hence the emanation.) The "course" also lacks addressing issues of importance; i.e. how do we handle injustice, corruption and political issues in the "dream"? Do we even bother voting? Lot of people might misunderstand the "course" and apply it rather single mindedly, I am afraid. I do believe in forgiveness as the key, but there might be other facets too, like "service". I do not believe or like any "silver bullet" theory that "western" esoterism is so fond of. These seeming inconsistencies had stemmed the birth of a cottage industry, writing about a book, teaching the course and of course reinterpreting some of the ideas presented in the over 1000 page of material. Gary Renard is one author, teacher whose interpretation attempts to plug these logical potholes. He, however does not go far enough. Gary had a 9-year long interaction with two ascended masters who rephrased and reinterpreted the main ideas of the "course". My advise is use your intelligence and common sense to understand these important yet unsettling ideas and keep one important fact in mind. The Hindu Vedas had described "acim" long before Jesus ever walked the earth. --Editors' Review (Murine Press)

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