A Course in MIracles

The other day I gave a 20 minute talk on A Course in Miracles and because it was a short talk, I thought I'd put it in my blogg.
It all started with Helen Schucmann and a psychologist colleague who when trying to organise a new University course came up against all sorts of conflicts among the people also trying to set up this specialty course. And they said .."there must be a better way" Almost in answer to this question came ACIM.

Helen wrote down every word of all of the course that she heard coming into her mind, from a source she felt was in some way, divine. If she refused to write the words down, the source would wait until she would be ready and continue from where she had left off. In this way, ACIM took seven years to write, and another five to get in into book form.

Here briefly then is the course;
There are only  two thought systems
The Ego's thought system and it is based on Fear
The Holy Spirit's thought system and it is based on Love
[For those who feel uncomfortable with terms like Holy spirit, substitute Universal Mind, or Oneness. It's just a way of talking. ACIM is not religiously based. It is a spiritual work that goes right to the heart of love., compassion and unity]

Here then are the two thought systems compared;

The Ego excludes, always separating, dividing
The Holy spirit always is inclusive, showing oneness

The Ego judges and divides
The The Holy spirit forgives and embraces

The Ego shows only scarcity
The The Holy spirit Provides plenty

The Ego shows the illusion of truth
The The Holy spirit demonstrates truth

ACIM's purpose is to provide you with the ability to see the difference between seeing only fear and seeing only love, so a choice can be made. Choice makes only sense when you are aware that there is choice.

Lack of choice is like not knowing that the nightmare of last night was a dream and is finished. The Ego's thought system makes no distinction between night and day mares that seem grindingly continuous. With the Ego, there is no waking up. ACIM''s great contribution to sanity is that it helps you to wake from dreams of fear and despair, and into the light.

ACIM's is a very big book, and my simplification as left out much truth. There is much about ACIM on the net and other books that provide an easier introduction as well. ACIM is divided into 3 books, now all published together as one. The middle book is the practical, hands on experiential one. It takes a minimum of a year to complete.But I think a year to wake from unending nightmares, is no hardship.
Paul