Links
Following are four separate website lists, followed by Links +. The first lists sites offering original Course material (eg The Urtext, the Thetford redaction or HLC edit, and the Second Edition available from the Foundation for Inner Peace), either in book, electronic or audio form. The second contains links to Australian and New Zealand Course related sites. The third lists some of the major Course sites worldwide. The fourth comprises sites listing other Course sites. A google search lists no less than one and a half million references to the Course; hence the fourth category. While the four categories below may be by no means comprehensive, they are offered with a few brief comments as a starting guide to the serious researcher.
Original Course Material
Technically speaking, the original Course material comprises the contents of Helen Schucman’s handwritten notebooks (the Course Notebooks). The USA copyright office is the repository of these notebooks (or a copy). It is generally accepted that Bill Thetford typed up the notes as transcribed to him by Helen on a regular, if not almost daily, basis (the Urtext or typed transcript of the Course). In the Urtext material itself the Source of the material dictated to Helen appoints Bill as editor. Bill is understood to have followed this direction (in collaboration with Helen). Bill’s edit came to be known as the “Hugh Lynn Cayce” or “HLC” version (and subsequently, also as the Thetford redaction or the “sparkly” book or version).
According to Dr Kenneth Wapnick, he then edited the “HLC” version (in collaboration with Helen). The result was the Second Edition of the Course.
A list of the Course material, then, would include: -
The Course Notebooks, commenced in 1965;
The Urtext, also commenced in 1965;
The Hugh Lynn Cayce or HLC version, or Thetford redaction, completed by 1972;
The Second Edition, first printed in 1976;
The “Sparkly” Edition, first printed in 2002; and finally
The Original Edition of A Course in Miracles, first printed in 2007.
Course Notebooks
Helen Schucman’s handwritten notebooks (or a copy), held by the USA copyright office.
Urtext
The typed transcript of the handwritten notes as dictated by Helen to Bill.
Doug Thompson – ACIM & URTEXT FILES
Website: http://ca.geocities.com/dthomp74ca/
Hugh Lynn Cayce or HLC version (the Thetford redaction)
Doug Thompson – Miracles Pathway Fellowship
Website: http://ca.geocities.com/dthomp74ca/
Second Edition
Foundation for Inner Peace
Website: www.acim.org
“Sparkly” Edition
Thetford Foundation – only available in Australia and New Zealand
Website: www.thetfordfoundation.org
[Note – the “sparkly” edition comprises the edit attributed to Bill Thetford. It has a “sparkly” blue cover.
Original Edition of A Course in Miracles
Course in Miracles Society – available worldwide
Website: www.jcim.net
[Note – this “original” edition also comprises the edit attributed to Bill Thetford. It has a navy blue cover.]
“Sparkly” Edition - audio version – Course Audio
Website: www.notabody.com/course_audio.htm
[Note – this is an Australian site]
Original Edition - in electronic and audio form – again, refer to the Course in Miracles Society website: www.jcim.net
Australian and New Zealand Course related websites
A – KNOWN “SPARKLY” BOOK SITES
B – OTHER SITES
A – KNOWN “SPARKLY” BOOK SITES
Theresa Lees – School of the Heart
Website: www.theresalees.com
An exciting paradigm in education - supporting parents and children to learn to access and develop Heart Intelligence through creative play and healing thorugh sound, colour and movement. Based on the Queensland Sunshine Coast, Theresa uses the “sparkly” book.
Stephen Calder – Not A Body
Website: www.notabody.com
Stephen offers a direct link to source material, plus a comprehensive audio introduction to the Course. The readings are from the “sparkly” book and the audio can be downloaded.
Margo Knox – Live to Learn
Website: www.margoknox.com
Using the power of forgiveness Margo offers assistance to explore your full potential. Margo uses the “sparkly” book.
Josie Franco – Holistic Kinesiology
Website: www.ntpages.com.au/therapist/13976
Josie uses the “sparkly” book.
Barbara Caulley - Sound Basis
Website: www.soundbasis.com.au
Both Barbara’s first two books have as their reference the “Sparkly” Edition. A trained teacher and theologian, Barbara offers a unique study opportunity to serious students of the Workbook of A Course in Miracles in her first book “Self Revealed.”
Her second book “Elijah Incorporated” Barbara describes as follows: -
“This book is A Course in Miracles in action
through the vehicle of a Bible story.
It enables the student
to identify the way to apply the Workbook Lessons to everyday situations.
It addresses every meandering thought,
Every reaction and response to mundane daily experiences,………”
Plus, Barbara has now written three further books. To find our more, visit Barbara’s website.
David – based on the “sparkly” book
Website: www.acimdownunder.com
Salvation from death through the action of forgiving love.
B – OTHER SITES
Bill & Pam McDonald – Miracle Link Australia
Website: http://users.bigpond.net.au/miracle_link/index.html
Miracle Link Newsletter for students of ACIM.
Daan Dehn – A Course in Miracles - New Zealand
Website: www.miracles.org.nz
Daan hosted a Course in Miracles TV program in the USA for a time in the 90’s. Daan’s site contains writings and photos.
James Hale - Miracle Studies Australia
Website: www.miracle-studies.net.au
Michael Dawson – Australian Centre for Inner Peace
Website: www.acfip.org
Author Michael runs ACIM workshops on North Stradbroke Island, Qld.
Patricia and Donatus Michalka - Attitudinal Healing - Perth Western - Australia
Website: www.lifefocus.com.au/index.html
The first International Centre for Attitudinal Healing was established in the USA in 1975 by well-known psychiatrist and author Dr Jerry Jampolsky, who was closely associated with those first involved with the Course at that time.
Major Course Websites Worldwide
Circle of Atonement (USA)
Website: www.circleofa.org/index.php
Robert Perry and Allen Watson, among others, present the Course.
Course in Miracles International (ACIMI) (USA)
Website: http://acimi.com
The international arm of Endeavor Academy.
Course in Miracles Society (USA)
Website: www.jcim.net
Publisher of the Original Edition of A Course in Miracles in 2007. The edition here referred to is the edit attributed to Bill Thetford.
Disappearance of the Universe (DU) – the book
Website: www.garyrenard.com
Gary Renard’s experiences with the Course, as related in his first book, have almost certainly spearheaded a renaissance; reviving the interest of many former lapsed students as well as introducing the first time reader to the material in a simple, yet instructive manner. Thank you Garry!
Endeavor Academy (USA)
Website: www.endeavoracademy.com
Known as the “Master Teacher,” Charles Anderson unravels the mystery of the Course to students at this residential teaching academy in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
Foundation for A Course in Miracles (FACIM) (USA)
Website: www.facim.org
Ken and Gloria Wapnick’s teaching foundation, based in California. Dr Wapnick edited what is now published as the Second Edition of A Course in Miracles, with the assistance of scribe Helen Schucman. The Second Edition is distributed worldwide by the Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP).
Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP) (USA)
Website: www.acim.org
Original publisher of the Course in three volumes in 1976 and current distributor of the Second Edition of A Course in Miracles worldwide, together with its numerous translations. Headed up by Judith Skutch Whitson and Robert Skutch. Translations supervised by William Whitson. Based in California.
Miracle Network (UK)
Website: www.miracles.org.uk
Northwest Foundation for A Course in Miracles (USA)
Website: www.nwffacim.org
Paul Tuttle channels Raj who presents discourses upon the message of the Course. Audio and video presentations, plus daily teachings from the “sparkly” book. Basedin Kingston, Washington.
Links to Other Course Websites
Article by Doug Thompson on the Thetford edit (Hugh Lynn Cayce version).
Website: www.jcim.net/Dthompson_faq.htm
Course in Miracles Links
Website: www.fearlessbooks.com/ContStory6.html
Favourites
Website: www.notabody.com/favorite.htm
Other Miracle Sites
Website: www.miraclestudies.webcentral.com.au/OtherSites.html
Miracle Link Australia
Website: http://users.bigpond.net.au/miracle_link/index.html
Links +
Book List (a few classics for the first time reader)
The Disappearance of the Universe – Gary Renard 2003 (In this his first book Gary’s guides instruct him in the practical application of the ideas presented in A Course in Miracles. Insightful and fun to read.)
The Infinite Way – Joel Goldsmith (Joel Goldsmith’s experiences and writings preceded the first publishing of the Course in 1976)
Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing – Jed McKenna (The title literally speaks for itself. Light and fun to read.)
Illusions – Richard Bach (A contemporary story with a timeless message.)
The Holographic Universe – Richard Talbot (Quantum physics for the layman – looking at the effect of mind upon the universe and everything in it. A fascinating book with many interesting stories.)
ARTICLES
Miracles - OK, If This Is Really A Course In Miracles, What About The Miracles?
Forgiveness - The Central Theme of the Course
The Urtext of A Course in Miracles – Taking Advantage of the Celestial Speed-up
Miracles
OK, If This Is Really A Course In Miracles, What About The Miracles?
The Course is literally about miracles.
The way to miracles is not so much learning another skill. It is almost the opposite; an undoing of your past learning which will lead to a new way of thinking. The Text explains the theory, or understanding, of the experience resulting from diligent application of the Workbook lessons.
“Concern yourself not with miracles for the nature of miracles you do not understand.” [T 380, Para. 3 Line 4]
The Workbook lessons consist of a series of progressive and interrelated steps, or exercises, which require practice. There is a sequence in the steps. This means that it is important to commence at lesson 1 and practice only one lesson daily, as directed. Nor will merely reading a daily lesson suffice. It is in the application of the idea contained in the particular lesson, throughout the day, that rapid progress will be made.
A miracle is beyond what can be explained. A miracle transcends time, in that it involves a shortening of time. As such, it is not subject to the physical laws of the universe. If it were otherwise it would not, by definition, be a miracle. Nor is a miracle controllable. One explanation might be to say that as you become “miracle minded” miracles will start to occur around you. However, the form of the miracle is not up to you, for you do not know what will be truly helpful. “Christ inspires all miracles, which are really intercessions.” And “Prayer is the medium of miracles.” These last two statements have been extracted from numbers 32 and 11 of the Principles of Miracles in Chapter one of the Text.
As the Course puts it: “The miracle does nothing. All it does is to UNDO. And thus it cancels out the interference to what has been done. It does not add, but merely takes away. And what it takes away is long since gone, but being kept in memory, appears to have immediate effects. This world was over long ago. The thoughts that made it are no longer in the mind that thought of them and loved them for a little while. The miracle but shows the past is gone, and what has truly gone has no effects. Remembering a cause can but produce illusions of its presence, not effects.” [Chapter 21, Para. 1, Page 645]
Chapter 1 of the Text contains some fifty-three odd miracle principles. Here are just a few:
“There is no order of difficulty among miracles. One is not “harder” or “bigger” than the other. They are all the same. All expressions of love are maximal.” [No 1]
“Miracles are habits and should be involuntary. They should not be under conscious control. Consciously selected miracles can be misguided.” [No 5]
“Miracles are natural. When they do NOT occur something has gone wrong.” [No 6]
“Miracles are everyone’s right, but purification is necessary first.” [No 7]
“Each day should be devoted to miracles. The purpose of time is to enable man to use it constructively. Time is thus a teaching device, and a means to an end. It will cease when it is no longer useful in facilitating learning.” [No 15]
So, what about the miracles? It is really up to you.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness: The Central Theme of the Course
The Course is about mind, the healing of your mind through forgiveness. It could be said that the Course is all about ideas. Let’s take the following:
“God is an IDEA”; and [Text page 362, Para. 2, line 6]
“YOU are an idea” [Text page 362, Para. 2, line 8]
as a starting point. An example of the dilemma of “egoic” mind is contained in Lesson 304 in Part 2 of the Workbook.
But before we commence, what does the Course mean by “ego?” Chapter 15 of the Text (page 369, paragraph 4, line 4) contains the statement “The body is the symbol of the ego, as the ego is the symbol of the separation. And both are nothing more than attempts to limit communication, and thereby to make it impossible.” Thus, in the context of the ideas presented in the Course, “egoic” mind is one that is focussed on identification with the body.
Now to Lesson 304. In this lesson all three essential elements are present. For want of a better let us call them the problem, the remedy and the result. The problem is identified as “projection,” the remedy as “forgiveness,” and the result as “an experience.” Yes, “experience” is what the Course is all about. It is not just theoretical, but highly practical in its application to everyday life!
Now to the example contained in Lesson 304:
The Problem: “projection” – a description of the error.
“And what I look on is my state of mind reflected outward.” [WB 448, L 304, line 3]
This is the idea of projection. Implicit in the explanation of “projection” is the idea that projection is false perception; that what I think I see merely mirrors or “reflects” my state of mind. I have judged myself as guilty and have projected this idea onto the world to avoid feeling my own guilt. Although I have been mistaken in this belief I must change my mind by practicing forgiveness to resolve the problem.
The Remedy: “forgiveness” – the action of my will required to correct the error.
“I would bless the world by looking on it through the eyes of Christ.” [WB 448, L 304, line 4]
This illustrates forgiveness in action. I can forgive what I have judged against. I can do this by blessing everything I see (without exception). This requires practice. It may not be as easy as it appears. This is a specific action of mind. It requires will power. It is necessary because I have misjudged everything I see. I must simply stop judging.
The Result: “an experience.”
“And I will look upon the certain signs that all my sins have been forgiven me.” [WB 448, L 304, page 5]
“Certain signs” here refer to an experience. I will have direct experience of my corrected thinking whenever I successfully will my thinking as directed. Faith is not required – merely an open mind and a little willingness. The experience will be personal.
Lesson 304 contains but one example of the “theory” of forgiveness. Theory is one thing. Practice is another. Only by regular practice (in this example forgiveness takes the form of “blessing everything I see”) can I expect forgiveness to become a habit.
For a further understanding of the error of “projection,” we need only proceed to Lessons 311 and 312:
“I judge all things as I would have them be.” [Lesson 311]
“I see all things as I would have them be.” [Lesson 312]
These lessons illustrate the action of a mind that first judges, and then projects this judgement onto the world. The mind then thinks it understands what it sees; not realizing it had already decided what it wanted to see. This false perception follows judgement although, to the mind, they may appear to be simultaneous. Mind then reacts to what it has (previously) decided to see, in unawareness of that decision; a vicious circle in which the mind entraps itself; an endless cycle of misjudgement, false perception and (inevitably) inappropriate action.
The solution is not the conventional “power of mind” idea. It is not so much deciding what to see in place of false projection. Rather, it is an “undoing” of the action of a mind that constantly judges. This “undoing” occurs by grace. But I need be prepared to let my judgements go. Simply applying each daily lesson to my world, as directed in the context of the lesson itself, without resistance i.e. with a little willingness, will suffice.
Lessons 311 and 312 describe the error, while Lessons 313 to 320 offer the solution in a series of steps, as follows:
“Now let a new perception come to me.” [Lesson 313]
“I seek a future different from the past.” [Lesson 314]
“All gifts my brothers give belong to me.” [Lesson 315]
“All gifts I give my brothers are my own.” [Lesson 316]
“I follow in the way appointed me.” [Lesson 317]
“In me salvation’s means and ends are one.” [Lesson 318]
“I came for the salvation of the world.” [Lesson 319]
“My Father gives all power unto me.” [Lesson 320]
Judgement in the context of forgiveness
It may be helpful to understand what the mind does when it judges. A simple illustration of the false logic relied upon by the egoic mind to form its judgements is contained in Lesson 7 of the Workbook. This is the first idea about time that the Course presents. Lesson 7 - “I see only the past.” - is considered by some to be a key lesson and is the rationale for the six preceding ones:
“It is the reason why nothing that you see means anything.
It is the reason why you have given everything you see all the meaning it has for you.
It is the reason why you do not understand anything you see.
It is the reason why your thoughts do not mean anything, and why they are like the things you see.
It is the reason why you are never upset for the reason you think.
It is the reason why you are upset because you see something that is not there.”
If the statement “I see only the past” (Lesson 7) is true, it follows that the statement “I see nothing as it is now” (Lesson 9) is also true. Judgement (or false perception) occurs when the mind projects a past experience into the future, thereby avoiding the present moment i.e. seeing the “now,” which can only occur without reference to any past idea, emotion or experience.
Yet another example is contained in Lesson 325. In just a few words this lesson elegantly and succinctly illustrates the steps taken by mind when it judges, thus: -
“All things I think I see reflect ideas.”
“This is salvation’s keynote: What I see reflects a process in my mind, which starts with my idea of what I want. From there, the mind makes up an image of the thing the mind desires, judges valuable, and therefore seeks to find. These images are then projected outward, looked upon, esteemed as real and guarded as one’s own. From insane wishes comes an insane world. From Judgement comes a world condemned. And from forgiving thoughts a gentle world comes forth, with mercy for the holy Son of God, to offer him a kindly home where he can rest a while before he journeys on, and help his brothers walk ahead with him and find the way to Heaven and to God.”
The “Course” is designed to train the mind to let go false perception and gently lead it towards a true perception of the world. Yet, true perception itself is not the final step (“Projection makes perception.”) [Chapter 21, line 1]; these words are merely symbols and can at best but hint at the experience to come. A beautiful passage from Chapter 21, page 501, line 4 expresses it thus:
“Listen, - perhaps you catch a hint of an ancient state not quite forgotten; dim, perhaps, and yet not altogether unfamiliar, like a song whose name is long forgotten, and the circumstances in which you heard completely unremembered. Not the whole song has stayed with you, but just a little whisp of melody, attached not to a person or a place or anything particular. But you remember, from just this little part, how lovely was the song, how wonderful the setting where you heard it, and how you loved those who were there and listened with you.
The notes are nothing. Yet you have kept them with you, not for themselves, but as a soft reminder of what would make you weep if you remembered how dear it was to you. You could remember, yet you are afraid, believing you would lose the world you learned since then. And yet you know that nothing in the world you learned is half so clear as this. Listen, and see if you remember an ancient song you knew so long ago, and held more dear than any melody you taught yourself to cherish since.
Beyond the body, beyond the sun and stars, past everything you see and yet somehow familiar, is an arc of golden light that stretches as you look into a great and shining circle. And all the circle fills with light before your eyes. The edges of the circle disappear, and what is in it is no longer contained at all. The light expands and covers everything, extending to infinity forever shining, and with no break or limit anywhere. Within it everything is joined in perfect continuity. Nor is it possible to imagine that anything could be outside, for there is nowhere that this light is not.
This is the vision of the Son of God, whom you know well. Here is the sight of him who knows his Father. Here is the memory of what you are; a part of this, with all of it within, and joined to all as surely as all is joined in you. Accept the vision which can show you THIS, and not the body. You know the ancient song, and know it well. Nothing will ever be as dear to you as is this ancient hymn the Son of God sings to his Father still.
And now the blind can see, for that same song they sing in honor of their Creator gives praise to them as well. The blindness which they made will not withstand the memory of this song. And they will look upon the vision of the Son of God, remembering who he is they sing of. What is a miracle but this remembering? And who is there in whom this memory lies not? The light in one awakens it in all. And when you see it in each other, you ARE remembering for everyone.”
“This is the only thing that you need do for vision, happiness, release from pain and the complete escape from sin, all to be given you. Say only this, but mean it with no reservations, for here the power of salvation lies:
“I AM responsible for what I see.
I chose the feelings I experience, and I decided on the goal I
would achieve.
And everything that seems to happen to me
I asked for, and received as I had asked.”
Deceive yourself no longer that you are helpless in the face of what is done to you. Acknowledge but that you have been MISTAKEN, and all effects of your mistakes will disappear.”
A comment upon the Ur-text of A Course in Miracles
Taking Advantage of the Celestial Speed-Up
While contemporary spirituality tends to be vaguely reminiscent of all perennial wisdom, what is different is this moment of time we find ourselves in. Perhaps not different when we look out upon the world and see the same struggles and battles that have been fought seemingly once again, but different in that contemporary spirituality as well as scientific exploration points to an evolutionary possibility that can be found within each and every one of us and has motivated many to see things differently. It was this motivation that brought about the contemporary spiritual masterpiece which is A Course in Miracles.
When two Columbia Medical Centre psychologists, one an ex-CIA employee, came together for this purpose what was gifted this present moment of human history was the birth of a Divine psychology issued from the mind of humanity's evolutionary role model Jesus. The evolutionary leap that can be taken advantage of in this Divinely deemed period of “celestial speed-up,” lies not in his crucifixion, he confides to Helen Schucman, but in his resurrection.
The Divine Psychology of Singular Reality which is presented offers a means by which perception can be “inspired” and lead toward the Mind of Universal Creation (God) by making it “PARALLEL” to God's way of thinking. Parallel lines as we have been convinced by modern mathematical theory converge perceptually at the point we call infinity, and while that event horizon seems to be a long way off in a distant future time, the more suspect and thereby convinced we become that time is merely part of our consciousness and therefore not a ruling factor outside ourself, our relationship to time and therefore time itself undergoes radical change.
Our guide to this change is the evolutionary time traveller Jesus come back into time as A Course in Miracles to give us a step-by-step way to make that quantum leap ourself. It is his reinterpretation of what has become classical psychology and use of contemporary scientific theory wherein which the self accepted terms of our own existence can undergo radical shifts, catalysing the “INNER LIGHT” to break open, illuminating our consciousness, our awareness, and offer us a new fearless view of where we actually are, rather than the morass of time bound existence where we thought we were.
Historically A Course in Miracles has been available for some 30 years, but what is exciting more and more healing professionals and being unearthed for evolutionary theoreticians from many disciplines is the covertly available material that had previously been excluded due to the radically controversial nature of what was actually said in intimate moments of communication between Helen and Jesus, and Helen, Bill Thetford and Jesus. The focus of these notes and what Jesus obviously knew would come from them are allowing many of those who studied the material in privacy of their closets to once again come joyfully out in the open.
In this climate of renewed enthusiasm a fresh view of the advent of this new age of enlightenment complicated by years of misunderstanding the material itself, dawns upon minds and hearts seeking resolution to age old paradoxes of existence as well as ending what has been up till now the apparent frustration of separation of the hearts and minds of scientists from their own Divine source of inspiration which eggs them on in the search for a unified theory of existence that can't be found in a consciousness of separation and compartmentalisation of personality.
What is becoming more and more evident is the simplicity of how we can take advantage of this period of “Celestial Speed-Up” by merely reading what was actually said. In redefinition of the terms of our own psyche, the new understanding comes forward as the fear of changing time gives way to a fearless new motivating factor allowing understanding to outbound time itself and merge with the infinite wisdom of eternal creation. From there, well… for each there is a radical discovery that can be brought back and shared to shed light upon varied disciplines of problem solving which seems to have bogged down the inability of the species to go past it's cyclical repetition of misunderstanding and slow learning processes.
We stand in the time and place, the meeting point where the point for abysmal horror of apocalypse or quantum evolutionary leap once more face us individually as a species. Seen rightly, you could not fail to choose wisely. Yet until now the guide for seeing rightly has been the illusion and frustration that comes with the failure to understand the true power that lies with each and every one of us. The closet door opens as the right way of seeing becomes acceptable. Just don't let the brightness of the light fool you… the solution lies not in fission but in fusion!