Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
As you listen to our podcasts or read our blogs, especially Rose’s, you may notice references to quotations and definitions from A Course in Miracles (ACIM), .
We ( Mac and Rose) have both studied A Course in Miracles (ACIM) at various stages in our lives. Rose continues to work with it daily. The Highest Road is not an ACIM platform, per se. However, we have found that the Course expresses valid foundational principles which can be helpful to anyone on a spiritual and personal development path, whether or not they wish to study ACIM itself. It’s very likely that you will have come across quotes or extracts from ACIM without being aware of their origin.
Any references to ACIM in our podcasts and blogs are shared because of the precision and clarity which ACIM can bring to the topic in hand. Our use of these references in no way implies that you have to become a student of ACIM to follow the Highest Road of authentic empowerment.
One Form of the Universal Curriculum
As we have written elsewhere, the essence of the Highest Road, the essence of Truth itself, of what has also been called the Perennial Philosophy, has been expressed in countless ways throughout the ages. Each culture and age has brought forth its own version of the perennial wisdom that lies at the heart of the great religions and spiritual systems. Such wisdom is beyond time, space and definition and no one system can fully contain it. Indeed, it might be wise to be wary of any system that claims to have the one and only truth!
A Course in Miracles describes itself as but one form of the universal curriculum of growth. And note that it is called “A” Course in Miracles, not “The” Course in Miracles! Thus, it does not claim any kind of monopoly on truth. In one sense it is published anonymously. Its scribes Helen Schucman and Bill Thetford did not have any personal sense of ownership of or attachment to the materials. Therefore, their names do not appear as authors on the cover of the published book.
A universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible but necessary: C -In-2
ACIM represents one form of this perennial wisdom for our own time. One of its scribes, Bill Thetford, described the Course as a Christian Vedanta. Correspondingly, many students of Buddhism recognize that core principles are equally expressed both in Buddhism and the Course, albeit in very different language.
Self-study Program
A Course in Miracles” (ACIM) is a spiritual and metaphysical self-study program that aims to assist people in achieving spiritual transformation, inner peace, and a shift in perception. It teaches that our thoughts and perceptions are the cause of our suffering. Its core teachings revolve around the concepts of forgiveness, love and the power of our thoughts. It posits that the world we see is an outside picture of an inward condition. It asks us if we would we rather be right or happy.
ACIM is, in essence a spiritual mind training program. It offers a roadmap for finding the peace for which everyone yearns. We teach peace to learn it and remember that, in your brothers (other people) you but see yourself. Offering peace to others is a way of having it ourselves, and a natural result of having it, is sharing it.
Recognizing this peace, and extending it in the world, requires removing the obstacles, the fears and fantasies, anger and aggression, defences and distortions that keep our true identity from being known to us. Moveover, as we relinquish these obstacles, we discover that we never really needed them in the first place. Rather, we find that our True Self has no need of anger, fear or defensiveness. Our True Self is naturally loving, joyous and peaceful.
Traditional Language
Sometimes when people browse through the Course, they find the language off-putting. It appears very traditionally Christian and seems to be very gender-based. For example, it describes God as “He” and as “Father.” It doesn’t mean that God is a man! It’s expressing in that way because that’s how people often think of God or have been taught to think of God.
ACIM is couched in traditional Christian terms because it was created to help to correct some of the distorted thinking in Judeo-Christianity. It corrects some of the misgivings and misunderstandings we may have about Source or God, about sin, about our power, about love and forgiveness and much more.
The Course acknowledges that many people may have been taught to be afraid of God. Indeed, while growing up, some of us heard talk of “putting the fear of God into you.” If that is a stumbling block for you, you can substitute whatever word you are most comfortable with i.e. Source, the Divine, the Holy Spirit or whatever resonates most for you. As the Course itself says, “Words are but symbols of symbols.”
Mistaken Identity
The “miracles” the Course describes are not miracles in the traditional sense like turning water into wine or raising the dead. A miracle, in the Course’s parlance, is at its core a shift in perspective from fear to love. The central aim of the Course is peace.
“This course was sent to open a path of light to us, and teach us, step by step, how to return to the eternal Self we thought we lost.“ W Review V, 5.4
A Course in Miracles offers a path of awakening. Like other paths, ACIM suggests that our usual perception, awareness and sense of identity are clouded and distorted. The Course, especially the Workbook with its lessons for every day of the year, deals directly with the root causes of human suffering. It offers a means of correcting perceptual distortions so that we may see ourselves and the world more clearly. It thus offers the means through which we can return to our natural state of wholeness and peace. This transformation of perception is what the Course means by a “miracle.”
Thus, ACIM is one of many systems which assist us in clearing misperceptions and a profound sense of separation. In a sense, while we feel separate, alone and afraid, we are suffering from a case of mistaken identity.
Clearing the blocks to awareness of Love
The focus of A Course in Miracles is more on becoming aware of and clearing the distortions in our thoughts and perceptions than it is on beautiful descriptions of love or heaven or philosophy.
As the introduction says: “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.” T – In-1
This is reminiscent of Michelangelo’s description of how he created his magnificent sculptures, for example David. “I removed everything that wasn’t David”.
At the same time, there are also some exquisitely poetic passages that touch my heart every time I come across them.
Love is Letting Go of Fear
A well-known phrase closely associated with A Course in Miracles is “Love is letting go of fear.” However, this is not a direct quote from the Course. It is, rather, the title of the 1979 New York Times bestseller written by psychiatrist Dr Gerald C Jampolsky. For anyone who finds the language or sheer length of ACIM daunting, Jampolsky’s book is a gentle introduction, focussing on 12 of the Course’s daily lessons, which he calls Lessons for Personal Transformation.
Familiar phrases from ACIM
Perhaps you recognize some of these often quoted ACIM phrases but have not been aware of their origin:
- Forgiveness is the key to happiness
Here is the answer to your search for peace. Lesson 121
- I am never upset for the reason I think
There are no small upsets. They are all equally disturbing to my peace of mind. Lesson 5
- Giving and receiving are the same
To offer forgiveness is the only way to have it, for giving and receiving are the same. “What it says.”
- When you meet anyone it is a holy encounter.
As you see him, you will see yourself. As you treat him, you will treat yourself. As you think of him, you will think of yourself. T – 8. 111. 4
- I am not the victim of the world I see
You are making a declaration of independence in the name of your own freedom. Lesson 31
- Do you prefer that you be right or happy?
T-29.V11.1
- I could see peace instead of this
Peace of mind is clearly an internal matter. It must begin with your own thoughts and then extend outwards. Lesson 34
- The world you see … is an outside picture of an inward condition.
Projection makes perception… Seek not to change the world, but choose to change your mind about the world. ~T- 21.in.1
- I am responsible for what I see
Deceive yourself no longer that you are helpless in the face of what is done to you. T – 21.11.2
Our Deepest Fear is not that we are inadequate
Or perhaps you are familiar with this oft-quoted passage which many have incorrectly ascribed to Nelson Mandela. In actuality, it is a passage from Marianne Williamson’s “A Return to Love”, a book inspired by A Course in Miracles.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Teachers and Resources
Any internet search will give you a fuller description of ACIM if you feel a nudge to explore it. There are also several teachers who have brought ACIM to life in different ways and with different emphases. While some provide a gentle introduction, others offer a more scholarly approach. All are valid and useful in their own way and at different stages in one’s own exploration of ACIM.
I’d recommend you to check them out (many have material on YouTube, for example). It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and you may find others who resonate for you.
Useful places to start
- Dr Ken Wapnick, who worked closely with ACIM’s scribes, Helen Schucman and Bill Thetford
- Marianne Williamson, author of the bestselling “A Return to Love”. Marianne has been speaking and writing about ACIM for decades.
- Carol Howe, a close friend of Bill Thetford. Her delightful commentaries on all the Workbook lessons are available on YouTube
- Alan Cohen, author of “A Course in Miracles Made Easy.” As the title suggests, Alan has a way of making the course accessible in both his writings and his many videos on YouTube
- Robert Perry and Allen Watson: I found their commentaries on the Workbook lessons particularly helpful. True ACIM scholars.
- David Hoffmeister: author of several books. Many videos on YouTube
- Thomas Wakechild: author of “A Course in Miracles Workbook for Dummies.” Don’t let the “Dummies” bit put you off. It’s extremely clear and well written.
- Study guide from the Foundation for Inner Peace: https://acim.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Study-Guide-for-ACIM-Foundation-for-Inner-Peace-1.pdf
- James Twyman, a long-term student of the Course, has composed music to go with each of the Workbook lessons. His latest initiative is to put the lessons not just to music but to dance. A great way to integrate the lessons while having fun and moving! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCk1Y6zP0Rs
ACIM Music and Audio
I’d also recommend Neda Boin, a gifted musician and singer, many of whose songs are based on ACIM.
This song, based on Workbook Lesson 264, always touches me deeply.
And hardly a day goes by when I don’t listen to Martin Weber Caspers’ reading of the Text and Workbook. I appreciate his leisurely reading of the text, giving it a more contemplative feel. And a bonus is that his reading is accompanied by his own musical compositions. Available on Audible.
Annotation of Course References
For ease of reference, it is standard practice to give the exact location in the source materials of any quotations. This enables readers to find the original context of the quotations, and, just as importantly, respects the publishers’ wishes.
For a clear description of the standard annotation, see this article: https://www.acimblog.com/resources/annotations/
Useful Resource or Foundational System
In my early ACIM-studying days I found the language off-putting. I started doing the Workbook years ago and it just didn’t resonate. However, I have now grown into it and understand why the Course uses the language it does. In recent years, I’ve treasured ACIM as a rich resource and have deeply valued its coherence as a mind-training curriculum.
Similarly, if you can get beyond that language, or ease your way into it, you may discover some very profound truths within its pages. Or you might like to look into the work of some of the ACIM teachers listed above.
For some people, ACIM is their foundational spiritual system. For others it is something to dip into now and again. Either way it is a rich resource for which I am eternally grateful.
Acknowledging Source Materials:
“All quotes on this website are from A Course in Miracles, copyright ©1992, 1999, 2007 by the Foundation for Inner Peace, 448 Ignacio Blvd., #306, Novato, CA 94949, acim.org and [email protected], used with permission.”
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