Which Version of ACIM Is Legit?
People feel strongly about the different versions* of A Course in Miracles, about what was edited or left out. What amazes me, although I guess it shouldn’t given the divisive nature of the ego, is the lack of empathy in seeing the best in their brothers.
It should be obvious that everyone involved with the original preparation and publication of A Course in Miracles was motivated by Love. Not human love, but the inner grace that guided them and they chose to follow. Everyone followed the best they could. What we see in our brother is what we see in ourself.
Vision reveals everyone is Innocent. Of what could anyone involved in delivering A Course in Miracles be guilty? “You have no idea of the tremendous release and deep peace that comes from meeting yourself and your brothers totally without judgment.” (T-3.VI.3:1)
Over the years, I’ve bought every version of the Course to see for myself if the differences are significant and concluded that any version of A Course in Miracles can heal the split mind. How can that be? Because I’m following the Author, not the editor.
“All fear comes ultimately, and sometimes by way of very devious routes, from the denial of Authorship. The offense is never to God, but only to those who deny Him. To deny His Authorship is to deny yourself the reason for your peace, so that you see yourself only in segments. This strange perception is the authority problem.” (T-3.VI.10:4-7)
Jesus guides us all throughout the Course to ask, “What is the purpose?” of every decision. He doesn’t leave us hanging. Over and over, in various ways, he tells us, “The sole responsibility of the miracle worker is to accept the Atonement for himself.” (T-2.V.5:1) Atonement is waking up! Atonement is the end of ego interference and the recognition that separation never occurred. Forgiveness, complete non-judgment, is another way of describing meaningful purpose.
Both Atonement and forgiveness release the belief in false identity — the ego — and it is recognized that we are not bodies, we are free, for we are still as God created us: Being. Debates and arguments are for doers. Doers are people who want to maintain identification with the ego and avoid undifferentiated Being at all costs.
There are those who state that crucial material was left out of ACIM, without explanation. But anyone who is truly interested can read Absence from Felicity by Ken Wapnick, Journey Without Distance by Rob Skutch and Understanding A Course in Miracles by D. Patrick Miller, to name a few books that give background on the subject. Click here to read what Gary Renard has to say. And here for Rev Tony Ponticello’s view and his response to Gary.
But don’t get caught up in a “camp” — that’s schismatic, which is exactly what the ego wants, misses the point of ACIM entirely, and is just plain silly. Anyway, do you want to read about A Course in Miracles, or do you want to follow the guidance of A Course in Miracles?
It seems to me that Helen Schucman became a clearer transmitter for the Voice from God as she became more comfortable with the scribing process. Personally, I have no problem with early distortions of Jesus’ Message and personal material meant for her and Bill Thetford being kept private. We still have over 1200 pages of wisdom repeating the same idea simply because we are too deaf, dumb and blind to get it the first time!
Read the Introduction to the Text: “Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God.” Read (even better, practice) Lesson 189: I feel the Love of God within me now. It says, “Forget this world, forget this course, and come with wholly empty hands unto your God.”
Isn’t it obvious that wasting time on which version is “right” is an ego ploy? What an ironic distraction! Any Course student worth his or her salt would recognize that in a heartbeat. A Course in Miracles isn’t important! The versions aren’t important! Read any version you prefer. They are all part of the illusion.
The worthy thing about the Course is its Message of Generalization — we are all the Same One – and ACIM offers us the method of forgiveness for finding that out. If you have any questions, and you are a true Course student, how about bringing them to the Holy Spirit and getting the Answer you need Directly?
And remember, the Holy Spirit’s Answer is a silent Love, a still Peace, a unified Oneness. There is no specific information. Specifics and information are not of the Abstract Mind of God.
I write this to get it off my chest. I would hope we can have a respectful conversation about this subject — and about any and every subject, for that matter. Anyone who attacks, points a finger or assigns blame is totally missing the point of A Course in Miracles. Okay, I’ve said it. Now let’s all choose again and go Home together. Namaste.
*Different versions of ACIM include the originally published books from the Foundation for Inner Peace, the publishing arm founded by Judith Skutch; editing done by Helen Schucman and Ken Wapnick (at first there were three separate books: the Text, Workbook for Students, and Manual for Teachers; eventually they were bound under one cover), the Urtext, the original version, the sparkly edition, and now, A New Edition, compiled by Robert Perry and published by his organization, the Circle of Atonement, among others.
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Q: Ever since I began studying the Course, I have been questioning my forgiveness practice. Am I doing it right? It’s hard to tell. Your technique of slowing down, breathing, feeling what I feel, placing my hand on the “troubled area” and giving it to the Holy Spirit has helped me. After the first time I tried this, I felt like a major chunk of guilt was released. But how do I know?
A: How do you know if you’re doing the forgiveness practice right? Well, Jesus says you will feel lifted up and carried ahead. He says you will smile on everyone you see and walk with lightened footsteps; your mind will be lit with happiness and love. He says that forgiveness sparkles on your eyes as you awake and soothes your forehead while you sleep.
“And let me sleep sure of my safety, certain of Your care, and happily aware I am Your Son. As evening comes, let all my thoughts be still of You and of Your Love.” (W-232: Be in my mind, my Father, through the day.)
melt sideways to your ears — sigh with relief as you feel your entire frontal lobe and skull relax … and … thoughts evaporate! Now it’s impossible to judge the usual suspects who get on your nerves 🙂
And if you need a gift idea, I’m so thankful that people say my book, Sweet Dreams of Awakening: 365 Good Night Blessings is a beautiful gift — 
An undivided wholeness of flowing movement. What a delicious phrase! And it neatly encapsulates much of what I teach in the long sitting retreats I lead. Most of the time we experience ourselves as irrevocably separate from everything we can perceive to exist outside of ourselves, but when we truly awaken the body and start surrendering to a breath that can indeed “breathe through the whole body,” we gain access to an alternative dimension of consciousness in which our conventional sense of separation gives way to a ground state of union and undivided wholeness. And the way to this awakening of body—and the doorway into this entrancing dimension of undivided wholeness—is through relaxing so deeply that the body stays in a condition of constant, subtle, flowing, amoeba-like movement in resilient response to the breath. When the physical body stays moving in this way, the current of the life force can be felt to flow freely through as well.