A Talk Given on a Course in Miracles: An Introduction

My husband recently decided he wants to study the Course (I have been at it considerably longer) and this book is truly a great introduction/summary for understanding the metaphysics and principles of the Course. Kenneth Wapnick knew Helen and William (scribes) personally and they knew his understanding was brilliant. Kenneth's ability to convey the principles of "A Course In Miracles" is invaluable. No matter how long you have studied the course, this book is truly excellent and worth your time.

I have been a student of A Course in Miracles (ACIM) for almost a year and a half. So you can see that I'm very new at it. It's not the easiest book to understand, but before I began I had read Gary Renard's Disappearance of the Universe. I recommend his book unconditionally, by the way. But there were still gaps in my understanding. This tiny book by Wapnick is a perfect gem. He takes very complicated issues and breaks them up in such a way that my reaction was - "Of course!". For instance, he talks about how the course represents three different thought systems: One-mindedness (Heaven), wrong-mindedness (ego), and right-mindedness (Holy Spirit). Then he talks about the course being written on two levels (the difference between the One Mind and the split mind, and the difference between wrong and right-mindedness). He also uses wonderful images. One of my favorites is where he talks about the mind being healed gradually, but us not being aware of it and getting discouraged. He says, though, that we must think of it as going around and around a well. We are getting closer and closer to the bottom, but to us it seems that we are going in circles. I can't recommend this book highly enough. I'm on my second time thru it, and figure that I will reread it at least one more time after that.

The very last chapter is about Jesus, forgivness, and the crucifixion. For the first time, I understand how transcending effect can undo cause. By forgiving, I can undo the effect of an attack. A cause which had no effect wasn't actually a cause, now was it? If I can undo cause, I have erased guilt. Without guilt, there is only innocence. This is how we can absolve the world we see of sin. Amazing!Now, consider this. This principle has to work both ways. If I can undo cause by not being effected, then I can create cause by being effected. I can feel loved, and elect you as the cause of it. (Yes, it's still illussion, but what a delicious illussion. The reason it's illussion, is that in either case, I am secretly the cause... shhhh, don't tell anybody).

This is a 135-page transcript of a May 9th, 1981 workshop led by Mr. Wapnick in Madison, Connecticut. It is broken down into five chapters: CHAPTER ONE: "The Story of A Course In Miracles" - In this chapter Kenneth Wapnick gives an overview of the "scribing" of the Course and the two key characters involved: Drs. Helen Schucman and William Thetford. My favorite part of this chapter is the retelling of the highly symbolic dreams Helen had before the scribing began, and the trip that Helen and William took to Chicago. "And this is my true church," Helen heard when she offered to help a young lady she met in the airport; this lady was afraid because she had just left her husband and was about to take her first flight. CHAPTER TWO: "One-mindedness: The World of Heaven" - In this chapter, Mr. Wapnick tells the reader that A COURSE IN MIRACLES represents three different thought systems: One-mindedness, which represents Heaven; wrong-mindedness, which represents the thought system of the ego; and right-mindedness, which represents the thought system of the Holy Spirit. Obviously, it is the thought system of Heaven - One-mindedness - that is discussed here. CHAPTER THREE: "Wrong-mindedness: The Thought System of the Ego" - In this chapter the thought system of the ego is discussed. This includes: sin, guilt, fear, denial and projection, the attack-defense cycle, and the "special relationship" where one loves in another what appears to be lacking within oneself. CHAPTER FOUR: "Right-mindedness: The Holy Spirit's Thought System" - In this chapter we learn that right-mindedness is based on viewing this world as the classroom in which we learn the lessons of forgiveness. The relationship between anger and forgiveness is discussed, as well as the meaning of the word "miracle" as used in A COURSE IN MIRACLES (the Course has its own unique definition of the word). CHAPTER FIVE: "Jesus: The Purpose of His Life" - Jesus' role as the symbolic source of A COURSE IN MIRACLES is discussed. The Course's reinterpretation of the crucifixion is also discussed. What I found most interesting about this chapter is Mr. Wapnick's interpretation of Jesus' anger in the Temple. And I like this line: "Ultimately, we cannot accept the Course if we do not accept the fact that death is an illusion." Throughout all of the above chapters, questions and answers are exchanged between the audience and presenter. I like this because it gives the feeling of having been there, as though you are not reading this book by yourself. This "conversational" format also provides an occasionally much-needed breath of air, since the topics covered can be very intense and the ego has great resistance to listening. As with almost all books published by Foundation for A Course In Miracles, this book ends with a vision statement for the Foundation as well as an index to all Course references and their place in the Course proper. There is also a catalogue of other Foundation publications. This is a cute l