The Thetford Foundation gives away the “sparkly” edition of A Course in Miracles. This edit of A Course in Miracles – a book in three parts – a Text, a Workbook and a Manual – is generally known as the “Hugh Lynn Cayce” version, or the “Thetford” redaction, but is commonly called the “sparkly” edition, referring to the cover of the book.
The Origin of the “Course”
In 1965, two people had apparently reached an impasse, both in their professional and personal relationships. The two people were Bill Thetford and Helen Schucman, professors of medical psychology at Columbia University’s College of Physicians. When Bill unexpectedly declared: “There must be a better way!” Helen immediately agreed to join him in finding a better way.
Approximately four months later an “inner Voice” heard only by Helen began dictation of the Course by saying “This is a course in miracles, please take notes.” Helen cooperated with the “Voice” assisted by Bill, her friend and associate. During dictation the “Voice” identified itself as one who had incarnated on earth as the historical Jesus. Helen’s original notes were typed up each day by Bill as transcription continued. These typed notes are known as the Urtext or original typescript.
Bill’s further task (as directed by “Helen’s inner Voice”) was to edit the Urtext into chapters and generally make it presentable for printing in book form. Apart from deleting personal references to the two scribes, and re-organising some of the material, a comparison with the Urtext material (now readily available on the internet) suggests every attempt was made to reproduce the message in its originally dictated form.
A copy of Bill’s edit came to light in the Edgar Cayce Library where it was apparently deposited after having been entrusted to Edgar’s son Hugh Lynn Cayce. Thus by popular usage it has come to be referred to as the “Hugh Lynn Cayce” version or the “Thetford” redaction.
The “sparkly” book (Bill’s edit) was first published in book form in September 2002 in Australia.
Only a Preface has been added. Entitled “The Use of Terms,” it was reportedly scribed by Helen in 1975.
About the Foundation
The Thetford Foundation was established on the Sunshine Coast in the State of Queensland, Australia in August 2004. It is a non-profit trust funded solely by donations.
The name “Thetford” was chosen to acknowledge Bill Thetford, the editor of the material contained in the “sparkly” book.
About the “sparkly” book
Two additional pages appeared in the Preface to the first edition of the “sparkly” book. While not included in this second and current edition now on offer the following is an extract:
PREFACE
“It is the Word of God, to be kept holy forever…”
“This time there will be no failure, no loss of truth, no
misunderstanding and no misinterpretation.
I will direct its growth as it reaches from the paper on which
it was written into the hearts for which it was intended.”
(Special Message 12/31/1975)
As preface to this edition of A Course in Miracles, we acknowledge our realization of the truth of the words spoken to us through Helen Schucman as those of Jesus, “the Way, the Truth and the Life.”
To you and all our brothers, we offer this edition of his A Course in Miracles.
The task of editing, deciding which material would be excluded from the original dictation and that to be included in the published version, was entrusted to William Thetford. The edit of the Text used herein is Bill’s, as he was directed by Jesus. The Workbook and Manual are as close to the unedited generation of “scribed” dictation from Jesus to Helen as is available to us at this time.
Similarly, the CAPITALIZATION and hyphenation of some of the words, along with the use of parenthesis and punctuation, remain consistent with the style of the “scribes” used in the source material.
We recognize and honor the original intent of our Savior Jesus to be known as author with Helen as a “just” scribe whose name is not to be associated with authorship, but with the willingness to hear his voice and take notes.
“Do not attempt to break God’s copyright,
because His Authorship alone can copy right.”
(UR Text, 12/11/1965)
The Purpose of the “Course”
The purpose of the “Course” can be discerned from the many statements contained in the material itself. However, for the first time user, a few key comments might include the following, not necessarily in order of importance or appearance therein: -
- It is a course in mind training.
- The mind-training exercises, if undertaken, will lead to correction of perception.
- It is literally a course in “miracles,” whereby one can learn to become “miracle-minded.”
- “Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love.”
- Forgiveness is the mechanism of miracles.
- Spirit (through the grace of God) is the mediator, Jesus being the manifestation of Spirit.
- Finally, the ultimate goal of the Course is the healing of your mind.
What the “Course” is [extracts from The Use of Terms in the Preface]
“This is not a course in theoretical philosophy, nor is it concerned with precise terminology in connection with origins. It is concerned only with Atonement, or the correction of perception.”
“This course remains within the ego framework, where it is needed. It is always the ego that questions because it is only the ego that doubts.”
“The course is simple. It has one function and one goal.”
“The ego will demand many answers this Course does not give. It does not recognize as questions the mere form of a question to which an answer is impossible. The ego may ask, “How did the impossible occur?”, “to what did the impossible happen?”, and may ask this in many forms. Yet there is no answer; only an experience. Seek only this, and do not let theology delay you.”
“What is the ego? Nothingness, but in a form that seems like something. In a world of form the ego cannot be denied, for it alone seems real.”
“What is a miracle? A dream as well. But look at all the aspects of this dream, and you will never question any more.”
“The miracle forgives; the ego damns. Neither need be defined except by this.”
“Forgiveness is for God and toward God but not of Him. It is impossible to think of anything He created that could need forgiveness. Forgiveness, then, is an illusion, but because of its purpose, which is the Holy Spirit’s, it has one difference. Unlike all other illusions, it leads away from error and not towards it. Forgiveness might be called a kind of happy fiction; a way in which the unknowing can bridge the gap between their perception and the truth.”
The Test of Truth [extracts from Chapter 14 of the Text, page 342]
“Yet the essential thing is learning that you do not know.”
“You have one test, as sure as God, by which to recognize if what you learned is true. If you are wholly free of fear of any kind, and if all those who meet, or even think of you, share in your perfect peace, then you can be sure that you have learned God’s lesson, and not yours.”
“When your peace is threatened, or disturbed in any way, say to yourself,
“I do not know what anything, including this, means.
And so I do not know how to respond to it.
And I will not use my past learning as the light to guide me now.”
“Those who remember always that they know nothing, but who have become willing to learn everything, will learn it. But whenever they trust themselves, they will not learn. They have destroyed their motivation for learning by thinking they already know. Think not you understand anything until you pass the test of perfect peace, for peace and understanding go together, and never can be found alone. Each brings the other with it, for it is the law of God they be not separate. They are cause and effect, each to the other, so where one is absent the other cannot be.”
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