The “Text” presents the theory of the Course and has built into its study the development of the experience of forgiveness that is the Course’s goal for the student. In this regard, A Course in Miracles states that “its goal for you is happiness and peace.” (Text, p. 241) (T-13.II.7:1) The Text also explains the basis for fear and guilt, and how they can be overcome through miracles, which are defined as maximal “expressions of love.” The miracle is defined as the shift in perception from fear to love.

The “Workbook for Students” consists of 365 lessons, an exercise for each day of the year. This one-year training program begins the process of changing the student’s mind and perception, though it is not intended to bring one’s learning to completion. As stated in the Preface to the Course, “At the end, the reader is left in the hands of his or her own Internal Teacher, Who will direct all subsequent learning as He sees fit.” (Preface: ix)

The “Manual for Teachers” is written in question-and-answer form and provides answers to some of the more likely questions a student might ask. It also includes clarification of a number of terms the Course uses, explaining them within the theoretical framework of the Text and for their practical application through the Workbook.

A Course in Miracles was “scribed” by Dr. Helen Schucman through a process of inner dictation she identified as coming from Jesus. A clinical and research psychologist and tenured Associate Professor of Medical Psychology, she was assisted by Dr. William Thetford, her department head, who was also a tenured Professor of Medical Psychology at the Medical Center where they both worked.

A Course in Miracles was first published in 1975, the year Dr. Schucman assigned copyright of the Course to the Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP). In 1996 FIP assigned the copyright and trademark to the Foundation for A Course in Miracles (FACIM). There are currently over one and a half million copies of the Course in circulation worldwide. Translations in Africaans, Bulgarian, Chinese, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovene, Spanish, and Swedish are also available, with many other translations now in progress.

What exactly, then, is A Course in Miracles? The summary introduction, which appears in its Text, is quite succinct and brief. It reads:

“This is A Course in Miracles. It is a required course. Only the time you take it is voluntary. Free will does not mean that you can establish the curriculum. It means only that you can elect what you want to take at a given time. The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love’s presence, which is your natural inheritance. The opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite.

This course can therefore be summed up very simply in this way:

Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.
Herein lies the peace of God.

And he suggests that making ACIM your life is actually detrimental to y your understanding of, and living into, the Course.

Some recommend you do the lesson for February 28th again. Others recommend you pick any lesson from the year, so far, and review.

No matter what you choose, here’s an interview with David Hoffmeister from Feb. 29th, 2016 – a Leap Year.

Enjoy! 🙂

“Nothing I See Means Anything”

And while I don’t consider myself a “teacher” of A Course In Miracles, it seems that my particular way of explaining some of its concepts really helps people understand.

One of the ways I share my personal experience and perspectives is through my “morning walk” videos.

So today, without further ado, I invite you to join me on a morning walk. 🙂

Since some people have asked, here’s the link the shirt I’m wearing in this video.

Topics include: Peace, Illusion, Upset, Judgment, Forgiveness, The Past, Love, Present Moment, Time, Vision, Choice, Creation, Music is “Wind” by Brian Crane.

Topics include: Meaninglessness, Insanity, Reality, Real Thoughts, Illusion, Gratitude, Peace, Fear, Suffering, Creation, God‘s Will. Music is “In The Court Of The Mermaid” by Narada.

Gary also shares how his fear of public speaking was actually a lesson in forgiveness, and how we can see our lives kind of like a movie…

So that we can experience forgiveness more directly and easily.

“A miracle is a shift in perception from fear to love.”

“Let go of your story so the Universe can write a new one for you.”

“There is no peace without forgiveness.”

“We do not heal the past by dwelling there; we heal the past by living fully in the present.”

“Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn.”

“Inner peace doesn’t come from getting what we want, but from remembering who we are.”

“If I choose to bless another person, I will always end up feeling more blessed.”

“Joy is what happens when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.”

“There can be no darkness where I provide the light.”

“People hear you on the level you speak to them from. Speak from your heart, and they will hear from theirs.”

“If you give your life as a wholehearted response to love, then love will wholeheartedly respond to you.”

“If you’re busy regretting the past, then a new future can’t come in.”

“You must learn a new way to think before you can master a new way to be.”

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

“If your eyes were open to all the beauty in the world, you would be overwhelmed with joy.”

“Dear God, Please send to me the spirit of Your peace. Then send, dear Lord, the spirit of peace from me to all the world. Amen.”

“The love is real in any situation; everything else is just an illusion.”

It won’t take long to recognize this video stars a character very very familiar to you: Your ego.

And as Scott Grace (creator of this poem and video) says, “You’ll laugh your way into enlightenment.”

Enjoy! 🙂