What is A Course In Miracles?

 A Course in Miracles (ACIM) is a spiritual text that aims to help individuals achieve inner peace and happiness through a transformation of their perception of the world. The book was written by Helen Schucman, a psychologist, in the 1970s, and it consists of three main sections: the Text, the Workbook for Students, and the Manual for Teachers.

The Text provides a philosophical and theoretical foundation for the Course, explaining its central concepts and ideas. The Workbook for Students contains 365 lessons, one for each day of the year, that are designed to help the reader apply the Course's teachings to their daily life. The Manual for Teachers offers guidance for those who feel called to share the Course's message with others.

At its core, the Course teaches that the world we experience is an illusion created by our own minds, and that true reality lies beyond our physical senses. It suggests that the source of all our problems is our belief in separation from God, and that our ultimate goal is to return to a state of unity with our Creator.

The Course teaches that forgiveness is the key to healing our relationships with ourselves and others, and that love is the only real answer to all problems. It offers a path of spiritual transformation that involves releasing our ego-based thinking and embracing a higher perspective based on love, compassion, and forgiveness.

While the Course is rooted in Christian theology and terminology, it is non-denominational and can be applied to any spiritual or religious tradition. Its teachings have been embraced by millions of people around the world, and it is widely regarded as a powerful tool for spiritual growth and personal transformation.

At Unitarian Universalism A Way Of Life we try to integrate the metaphysical spiritual concepts of the Course with the seven principles and six sources of Unitarian Universalism. This integration takes a relatively high level of cognitive understanding, but the religious experience is available to anyone who is willing to adopt the suggested practices of forgiveness and unconditional love.

Skill 5 - Awareness of the Ego self/Higher Self - Who is driving my life?

The idea of an ego self and a genuine self is accepted in psychology and is a significant concept in Spiritual Intelligence. The ego self is the façade which we put forward to get along, to belong, to manipulate others to interact with us to achieve our goals.

The Higher Self is the genuine self, the real deal, what I really think, what I really feel, what I really prefer. The Higher Self is honest while the ego self is false. The question raised by this skill in Wigglesworth’s model of SQ is to what extent are we aware of the difference, and know where we are coming from at any particular time?

The indicator question is “Can you consistently hear the voice of your Higher Self? The possible answers are “low”, “medium”, or “high.”

There are many examples of using this skill such as going to confession after examining our conscience for mistakes (sins) we have made. In Twelve Step programs the fourth step, “do a fearless moral inventory” and report it to another human being, is a significant example.

In Psychotherapy, the client can express what they really think, what they really feel, and what they really prefer in a non anxious, non judgemental relationship. Good psychotherapy contributes to an awareness of the Higher Self.

The level of competence in the skills of spiritual intelligence is equivalent to one’s mental health.

SQ 21 0 The Twenty-One Skills Of Spiritual Intelligence

 During March 2023 UU A Way Of Life will continue the discussion of Cindy Wigglesworth's book, SQ 21: The Twenty-One Skills of  Spiritual Intelligence. The posts which are part of this discussion are tagged SQ.

Consider the ocean of which we are drops.

When you imprison yourself you are losing sight of your true identification with me and with the Father. Your identification is with the Father and with the Son. It cannot be with One and not the Other. If you are part of One you must be part of the Other, because They are One. The Holy Trinity is holy because It is One. If you exclude yourself from this union, you are perceiving the Holy Trinity as separated. You must be included in It, because It is everything. Unless you take your place in It and fulfill your function as part of It, the Holy Trinity is as bereft as you are. No part of It can be imprisoned if Its truth is to be known. T-8.IV.8:5-13

A Course in Miracles (p. 290). Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

The metaphysics of A Course In Miracles is based on the idea of the non dual Oneness,  what we call “God.” All of creation is part of this non dual Oneness. The separation is the work of the ego and the Course teaches is not real.

In Unitarian Universalism some of us join together to affirm and promote the awareness of the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part.

"If God is male, then the male is God."

 

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Unconditional loving is the bestowing of freedom.

 

Freedom is the only gift you can offer to God’s Sons, being an acknowledgment of what they are and what He is. Freedom is creation, because it is love. Whom you seek to imprison you do not love. Therefore, when you seek to imprison anyone, including yourself, you do not love him and you cannot identify with him. T-8.IV.8:1-4

A Course in Miracles (p. 290). Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

Unconditional love is the gift of freedom which God gives to us and wants us to give to each other. If we offer conditional love we imprison others and ourselves.

In Unitarian Universalism some of us join together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. The affirmation and promotion of inherent worth and dignity is the gift of unconditional love. It is said that every person is worth more than their worst act.

Today it is suggested that we consider that unconditional loving is the bestowing of freedom.

What path will we pursue: conditional love or unconditional love?

If you want to be like me I will help you, knowing that we are alike. If you want to be different, I will wait until you change your mind. I can teach you, but only you can choose to listen to my teaching. T-8.IV.6:3-5

A Course in Miracles (p. 289). Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

Jesus is reported to have said by Matthew in Chapter 22, verse 14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Jesus in A Course In Miracles says something quite different: All are called but most don’t listen.” Jesus says he will wait for he is willing to teach but the student has to be willing to listen and learn.

In Unitarian Universalism, some of us join together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Most people wander around aimlessly looking for who knows what or even chase madly after snipes like they are in a Boy Scout snipe hunt. The aphorism says, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” Jesus taught about the non dual Oneness and unconditional love, but most people were enmeshed in the things of the ego and didn’t listen or if they listened, rejected his teaching.

Today it is suggested that we consider what teaching we will pursue: the path of unconditional love or the path of conditional love?