A Course in Miracles has touched the lives of millions. It is a spiritual teaching that is not a religion. It is a self-study curriculum comprising three books: the Text, the Workbook for Students consisting of 365 daily lessons, and the Manual for Teachers.
It is a progressive path for moving from the thought system of fear, time and space, and duality to love, inner peace, and happiness.
What is a Course in Miracles?
A Course in Miracles is a spiritual thought system with three volumes: the 669-page Text, which sets out the concepts that form the curriculum; the 488-page Workbook for Students, which contains 365 daily lessons that teach how to apply the principles of the Text; and the 92-page Manual for Teachers, which provides answers to questions frequently asked by students. The Course is not a religion, but it has attracted thousands of followers around the world who have established hundreds of study groups, and there are also many individual students who use the lessons on their own.
The Course was written by Helen Schucman, a research psychologist who died in 1981. Schucman claimed that the Course had been scribed (written down) by an unidentified voice during a seven-year period between 1965 and 1972, in a process she called inner dictation. The teachings are presented in an unusually poetic language, which has led some to compare it to poetry, and the lessons are filled with a blend of spiritual inspiration and psychological understanding. The Course also encourages the development of psychic abilities, and it describes the ego as a separate identity that must be merged with the true Self.
The main purpose of the Course is to help its students recognize and release the fear that binds them in this world, so they can find love and inner peace. This is accomplished through a one-year "mind training" program, during which the student is taught how to shift his or her beliefs from the thought system of fear and time/space duality to the thought system of forgiveness and inner peace. As the Course teaches in Lesson 332: "Fear binds the world; forgiveness sets it free."
It is important to note that while the Course uses Christian terminology and evokes universal, non-dual spiritual themes, it does not promote itself as Christianity or a religion. The Course says it is only one of thousands of paths that all lead to God, and that "no particular path can be more correct than any other." As a result, while it is influenced by New Thought metaphysics, human potential psychology, and Eastern nonduality, the teachings of the Course differ significantly from true nonduality as described in Hindu scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita and Advaita Vedanta. a course in miracles podcast
What is a Course in Miracles for?
Anyone interested in finding a more peaceful and loving life will benefit from studying a course in miracles. Its teachings are based on forgiveness of self and others, of beliefs and judgments, and of past and present experiences. It is through forgiveness that the mind can be freed to experience a truer version of reality, one where love replaces all illusions of separation. This is what the course calls salvation.
The course is very intellectually sophisticated, with a wealth of metaphysical, theological, and psychological concepts integrated into its thought system throughout its three books. It also uses poetic language and is written in blank verse, making it a challenge for some to grasp. However, these are not obstacles to spiritual healing and awakening. One does not need to be a scholar to benefit from the Course and it can be very accessible for those who do not have a lot of time or energy to devote to study.
Despite the fact that its authorship has been debated since its publication, there is no doubt that many people find the Course to be useful and helpful in their lives. It has inspired devotion and commitment as well as skepticism and dismissal. Ultimately, though, it is up to each individual to decide whether the course speaks to him or her and to take its message to heart.
There is no doubt that the Course is not for everyone, but it does speak to all of us. It offers a restatement of the core wisdom found in all major religions and is ecumenical in its approach. It states that "all paths lead to God" (M.1.4) and that it is only one of many thousands of forms of the universal course.
While the course does use Christian terminology, it is a spiritual teaching and not a religion. It does not claim to be the only path to God and explains that a universal theology is impossible but that a universal experience of God is possible and necessary. It is through forgiveness of the ego that this occurs and it is this experience which the course and all major religious teachings speak of.
What is a Course in Miracles about?
A Course in Miracles is a self-study spiritual thought system. It consists of a 669-page Text that lays out the concepts upon which it is based; a 488-page Workbook for Students, consisting of 365 daily lessons; and a 92-page Manual for Teachers, which provides answers to questions that are frequently asked by people studying the Course. The Course is very intellectually sophisticated, and combines spiritual inspiration with deep psychological understanding of phenomena such as belief and defense systems, perception and identity.
A major theme of the Course is forgiveness. It teaches that our real problems come from our unwillingness to forgive -- not from the actual events in the world around us. When we learn to forgive, our relationships improve, and we find peace and happiness. The Course focuses on forgiveness in both our personal lives and our relationships with the world.
The Course also teaches that the key to happiness is remembering the truth about yourself, other people and God. This is possible through a practice of forgiveness, which helps you distinguish truth from illusions. When you remember the truth, it leads to experiences of perfect love, perfect freedom, and perfect oneness - what the Course and all major religious teachings call salvation.
One of the unique features of A Course in Miracles is that it does not claim to be a religion. While it uses Christian terminology, and refers to Jesus frequently, it is clearly ecumenical in its approach. It states that "a universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible but necessary."
Those who study the Course find that it helps them to become more kind, loving, and tolerant of other people's differences. They also find that they are less angry, depressed and fearful. In fact, if you are willing to take the Course seriously, it can change your whole life. It will help you remember that you are not who your ego says you are, but who you really are -- the Son of God. And that is the only true joy and happiness there is.
What is a Course in Miracles about me?
A Course in Miracles is the Bible of the spiritual but not religious (SBNR) movement. It teaches the core spiritual principles of all major paths to awakening. Those include remembering the truth about ourselves, others, and God, through forgiveness. This frees us from our self-made prisons of guilt and fear, and opens the door to an experience of perfect love, peace, freedom, and oneness — without suffering.
It teaches that all people are spiritual beings, with the same potential for awakening and enlightenment as Jesus Christ. But it also takes a very different approach to spirituality than most Western religions. It is not a religion because it does not have an organized church, no formal hierarchy, and no priesthood. Its authority comes from the experience of its teachings in the minds of its students. It is a self-study spiritual thought system, with a curriculum of three books: The Text, which lays out its concepts; the Workbook for Students, which focuses on practical application rather than faith in a theology; and the Manual for Teachers, which describes two ways to extend the curriculum to other students.
Although it uses Christian terminology, ACIM is ecumenical in its metaphysics and reflects an understanding more aligned with Eastern mysticism. For example, it rejects the Christian belief that Jesus died on the cross to atone for human sin and therefore save us all. It states that Jesus was an advanced being who knew the illusory nature of the physical world and did not need to suffer or die.
Helen Schucman, a former atheist, began having a series of inner visions and heightened dreams in 1965 that led to the dictation of A Course in Miracles. The text was completed 7 years later in 1976. Since then it has sold over 3 million copies and gained a scriptural status for many readers. It has become a modern spiritual classic. As the book has become more widely read, it has brought together followers from a wide variety of backgrounds and traditions who recognize its universal appeal. It has even inspired the creation of a number of small churches that teach and practice ACIM.