I was strongly challenged by the Course to understand a message that is so different from what I had been taught, and experienced. It was difficult to accept that the world is a meaningless dream; we are all the victimless sinless son of God; all forgiveness is self-forgiveness. Another challenge came from the Course’s Shakespearian writing style. The Holy Spirit prompted me to transfer my handwritten Course notes to an Excel spreadsheet. After making the spreadsheet, I could identify all of the common topics as they were presented throughout the Course. Then, under each of the topics, I listed the Course quotes that presented that topic by page, paragraph, and sentence numbers. And then it became apparent to me – every Course Chapter, and every Course Lesson was contributing to the same set of topics, telling the same story from different perspectives, over and over. In my opinion, the Course gives its students a consistent message throughout, with no contradictions, and it’s mostly about forgiving the Level II illusion.
Every part of the Course supports every other part of the Course, and I found that if I really understood one chapter or one lesson, I had most of what I needed to understand 100% of the Course. And, for the first time, I understood the Course well enough to apply it earnestly without resistance.
Now I could see the Course’s big picture. It amazed me how well-written, comprehensive, and cohesive the Course is. The Course also answers three basic questions about existence: Where did I come from? What am I doing here? Where am I going?
Now I can effortlessly read the Course with clarity, and understanding. This is one of the miracles I have received and the reason I want to share the Course. “I give the miracles I have received.” (ACIM, W-159)
Shortly afterward, I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to share my understanding of the Course with more students than just my Course study group. I realized he was suggesting that, with His help, I could write a book about the Course using the common topics (underlined above) as chapter titles. This is how my book, A Course In Miracles CLARIFIED, was born.
Unfortunately, most beginning Course students have no idea that they have two invisible and contradicting inner teachers: The Holy Spirit, and the ego.
Most beginning students have never realized they were listening to either teacher; much less how to distinguish between these two teachers. Beginning students of the Course are so “upside down” in their thinking, that they haven’t a clue concerning what the Course is trying to get across to them. You can actually spend a lifetime trying to understand and apply the Course with little success, and I speak from experience! As its title indicates A Course in Miracles CLARIFIED is a quick and easy guide to help you through the Course in less time and with less frustration than most Course students experience.
First and foremost, A Course in Miracles shows us how to think for ourselves and how to take control of our lives. Now we have to ask, “Who wouldn’t want this for us?” Our ego. That’s who. Your ego will tell us that the Course is too difficult to understand and apply. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit will encourage you to read and understand the Course Text, and will help you to successfully apply the 365 daily lessons.
In spite of the fact that the Course identifies all of us as potential teachers of the Course, and 92 Course pages are dedicated to the “Manual for Teachers;” there are those who believe Course students should not engage an outside teacher, but should only rely on their “Inner Teacher” to explain the Course to them. The thousand plus books that have been written about the Course and hundreds (possibly thousands) of Course teachers testify to the fact that outside help (books and teachers) is absolutely necessary.