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Word Gems
exploring self-realization, sacred personhood, and full humanity
A Course In Miracles
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The Purpose of the Course
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return to "The Course" main-page:
From the introduction:
The Course -- which has three sections, "Text," "Workbook for Students," and "Manual for Teachers" -- asserts that "this is a course in mind training," in "how to know yourself" and "how to awaken." The Course does not seek to establish another religion of the Earth; that, "a universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible but necessary." This "universal experience" is accomplished by opening one's spirit to God who will teach us directly; until we follow this path, we remain in a form of spiritual insanity and darkness. As such, this "is a required course" for all human beings, destined to become godlike; "only the time you take it is voluntary." The essence of the sought-for right-mindedness is made possible by "removing the blocks to the awareness of love's presence" within the hidden inner person. Not everyone will study this book, as such, but everyone, if they wish to be sane and escape the ego's suffering, will become student in this universal classroom of sacred evolvement.
Forget not that the motivation for this course is the attainment and the keeping of the state of peace…
This Course is a beginning, not an end … No more specific lessons are assigned, for there is no more need of them. Henceforth, hear but the Voice for God … He will direct your efforts, telling you exactly what to do, how to direct your mind, and when to come to Him in silence, asking for his sure direction and His certain Word.
[The Course aims] at removing the blocks to the awareness of [true] love's presence [residing within the soul].
I have already indicated that you cannot ask me to release you from fear [as it is your responsibility to choose love]... If I intervened between your thoughts and their results, I would be tampering with a basic law of cause and effect... I would hardly help you if I depreciated the power of your own thinking. This would be in direct opposition to the purpose of this course.
This course makes no attempt to teach what cannot easily be learned… what is yours will come to you when you are ready.
To learn this course requires willingness to question every value that you hold. Not one can be kept hidden and obscure but it will jeopardize your learning. No belief is neutral. Every one has the power to dictate each decision you make. For a decision is a conclusion based on everything you believe.
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