A Course in Miracles by Kinokuniya

 

A Course in Miracles is a self-study spiritual thought system. It consists of three volumes: the Text, Workbook for Students and Manual for Teachers.

Though ACIM uses Christian terminology,a course in miracles it expresses an ecumenical spirituality and emphasizes that it is only one of “many thousands” of forms of the universal Course.
What is a Course in Miracles?

A Course in Miracles is a self-study spiritual thought system that consists of three books: The Text, which lays out the fundamental concepts of the course; the Workbook for Students, comprised of 365 daily lessons that emphasize practical application of its teachings; and the Manual for Teachers, which answers questions about the application of the teachings. The Course is not a religion, though it uses Christian terminology and evokes universal, non-dual spiritual themes. Its goal is the transformation of the mind so that it can experience God’s Love.

The Course was received by Helen Schucman through a process of inner dictation beginning in 1965. She agreed to scribe the book, and her name appears on the cover, although she refers to herself as “the scribe” and claims that it is “the voice of Jesus” that dictated the Course. It was published in 1976 by the Foundation for Inner Peace, and it has since sold over 3 million copies worldwide.

ACIM is about waking up from the dream that we call life and remembering who we really are, and what is truly real. It is about forgiveness – of ourselves, others and the world. It is a process of changing our beliefs, perceptions and attitudes so that we can change the way we look at the world. It is a way of seeing and experiencing the perfect love, peace, freedom and oneness that all major spiritual paths speak of.

The language of the Course is poetic and often written in blank verse, making it reminiscent of some of the world’s great literature. It is also intellectually sophisticated and combines spiritual inspiration with deep psychological understanding of such topics as belief systems and defense mechanisms.
What is the Text?

A Course in Miracles is a three-volume set that includes a 669-page Text, which describes the theoretical foundation of the Course’s thought system; a 488-page Workbook for Students, containing 365 daily lessons designed to train the student’s mind along the lines described by the Text; and a 92-page Manual for Teachers, which answers questions that students may have and clarifies certain terms used in the other two books. An appendix contains a glossary of key terms that is helpful for new students.

The language of the Course is extraordinarily poetic, and much of it is written in blank verse. It has been compared to some of the world’s great literature, and the intellectual sophistication of its thought system combines spiritual inspiration with a deep understanding of such psychological concepts as belief and defense systems, perception, and identity. It is not a religion, but a spiritual teaching that is universally applicable because it applies to everyone, regardless of their beliefs and experiences.

A Course in Miracles has no particular spiritual or religious bias, and while it uses Christian terminology, it is ecumenical in nature and makes no claim to be the only way. It is, instead, a spiritual path that emphasizes a peaceful mind.

The Workbook includes a page of reading material for each day, and it is important to study it every day, as this helps reinforce the training of the mind to accept love rather than fear. It is recommended that you read it with an open mind, and that you allow the Holy Spirit (or Jesus) to guide your understanding. This is because the curriculum of A Course in Miracles is individualized and your internal Teacher will direct your learning as He sees fit.
What is the Workbook?

The 365 daily lessons in the workbook help students to apply the ideas in the Text. Some of the ideas may seem radical to a student at first. But the point is to accept and experience them — not to judge them.

The workbook offers a practical approach to unwinding the ego thought system and releasing the beliefs that cause fear, anxiety, and suffering. The lessons are short and require little time, although they may need to be read several times for their full impact. They are meant to be done on an ongoing basis, paced according to the individual’s comfort level with new spiritual concepts.

A Course in Miracles is a universal curriculum that can be used to teach others about forgiveness, the transformation of consciousness through love, and living in an illusory world. Its language is poetic, and its thought system blends Christian theology with Eastern mysticism, perennial philosophy, and modern psychological insights. Unlike most spiritual teachings, ACIM has no formal church or organization, and there is no hierarchy of authority.

It is a book about learning to recognize the love that is God’s constant presence, available everywhere and always. It is a book that challenges our most fundamental assumptions and offers a path to a life of joy and fulfillment. It has influenced a wide range of spiritual writers, and has acquired an almost biblical status among many readers. It has become a global movement that includes thousands of self-study groups and hundreds of teachers. The curriculum is presented in three books: the Text, the Workbook for Students, and the Manual for Teachers. There are also a Glossary of Terms and two Supplements.
What is the Manual for Teachers?

As the name implies, this manual provides teachers with an in-depth teaching of what it means to teach the Course. It focuses on the role of the teacher, who is not merely the instructor of its concepts, but rather a spiritual shepherd or mentor who guides his pupils as they walk along the Course’s path. He helps them deal with their egoic thoughts; offers them healing; assists them in understanding the Course’s ideas; and decides what aspects of its lessons they should work on at any given time.

The teacher is also a counselor and healer, helping his pupils cope with the pains of life as they learn to forgive. He is expected to accept his role as a teacher of the Course with complete devotion and dedication. Throughout the manual, he is encouraged to share his experiences of forgiveness with his pupils in order to inspire them to do the same.

In the third book of A Course in Miracles, there is a section called “Clarification of Terms.” This appendix provides answers to many questions that students are likely to ask, and defines the key terms that are used in the course. Although it is written in question and answer format, the clarification of terms is not meant to replace the theoretical framework of the Text or the Workbook for Students.

Although the course uses Christian language, it emphasizes that it is only one form of a universal curriculum, and that all forms lead to God. It does not claim to be the only way, and encourages its students to use it in a non-denominational manner. This non-sectarian approach is reflected in its emphasis on experience over theology.
What is the Foundation for Inner Peace?

The purpose of the Foundation for Inner Peace is to uphold and support Jesus’ holy teaching of A Course in Miracles, both as the Text and Workbook. It was designed from the very beginning to help students understand and apply its principles in their lives. This is why the curriculum of the Course contains both a Text and a Workbook, as well as daily lessons that guide students in applying its principles.

Helen Schucman, the channel and scribe of A Course in Miracles, was aware that its non-dualistic thought system would be considered flagrantly heretical to many, and unacceptable to others. It was also clear to her that the Course needed to be presented as it was received: a pure Text and Workbook, without any additions or deletions.

In 1975, she assigned copyright of A Course in Miracles to the Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP). Since then, FIP has been the publisher, disseminator, and holder of the trademark and copyright, with approximately one million copies in circulation worldwide. FIP has also shepherded translations of the Course into twenty-seven languages.

In 1999, the original HLC version of the Text and Workbook was discovered in the ARE Library. Until then, FIP had been the only published edition of A Course in Miracles. When Ken Wapnick and his Foundation began suing people around the world for using the Course in any form with out their FIP copyright, it became obvious that there was another version of the Workbook and Text, which had been kept hidden. This is the version of A Course in Miracles that is used by a large number of people, including myself. This is called the UR Text. It is much easier to read than the FIP text, and has Soul reinstated and the chapters of the Workbook reordered. It is also smaller, so it is easier to carry.