Product Description

The Message of "A Course in Miracles" is a two-part work, the purpose of which is to provide a comprehensive overview of the teachings of "A Course in Miracles," with discussion and guidelines on how to avoid some common misconceptions of these teachings. Volume One, All Are Called, could indeed carry the subtitle, "What 'A Course in Miracles' Says," while Volume Two, Few Choose to Listen, could be subtitled "What 'A Course in Miracles' Does Not Say." Thefocus of the first volume is therefore on what the Course actually teaches, while the sequel focuses on the ways in which students have misunderstood "A Course in Miracles", not only believing it is teaching something it is not, but also denying what its message truly is.

The first book provides students somewhat acquainted with the teachings of "A Course in Miracles" with a summary which will help meet their needs for an in-depth presentation of the Course's principles, including a discussion of the practical implications of these principles with regard to religious and spiritual practice, and ethical, moral, and behavioral issues.

The purpose of Few Choose to Listen, as stated in the Introduction is "to guide students in how to avoid certain potential mistakes or confusions as they read, study, and implement into their daily lives the teachings of "A Course in Miracles." Such sidestepping of errors will, it is hoped, be of help in clearing the way for the student to be more accessible to the Holy Spirit's 'particular care and guidance' (M-29.2:6)."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #234245 in Books
• Published on: 1997-06
• Format: Box set
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 2
• Binding: Paperback
• 450 pages

About the Author
Kenneth Wapnick has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and has been working with "A Course in Miracles" since 1973, when he joined Helen Schucman, scribe of the Course, and William Thetford at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. In addition, he worked closely with Helen preparing the final manuscript of the Course. Since that time he has lectured widely on "A Course in Miracles", as well as conducted a practice in psychotherapy. He has written many books on the Course and he has also produced numerous tape sets explaining and discussing the principles of the Course. He is President and co-founder with his wife Gloria of the Foundation for "A Course in Miracles" in Roscoe, New York, which is the copyright holder of the Course, as well as being its teaching center. Together they have travelled nationally and internationally giving workshops on the Course.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
From the General Introduction:

Early in the text of A Course in Miracles, referring to the famous biblical quotation, Jesus exhorts his students: I cannot choose for you, but I can help you make your own right choice. "Many are called but few are chosen"...should be, "All are called but few choose to listen." Therefore, they do not choose right. The "chosen ones" are merely those who choose right sooner. Right minds can do this now, and they will find rest unto their soul (T-3.IV.7:11-15; italics mine).

...The focus of the first book is therefore on what the Course actually teaches, while the sequel focuses on the ways in which students have misunderstood A Course in Miracles, not only believing it is teaching something it is not, but also denying what its message truly is. Pages 362-364 in All Are Called (Vol. One):

In an important statement from the text, already cited, Jesus succinctly summarizes A Course in Miracles' metaphysical view and its attitude towards the phenomenal and illusory world: The body was not made by love. Yet love does not condemn it and can use it lovingly, respecting what the Son of God has made and using it to save him from illusions (T-18.VI.4:7-8). It is here that we see the central divergence of A Course in Miracles from practically every other spirituality that has been taught, for it reflects a purely non-dualistic metaphysics that nonetheless does not denigrate, dismiss, or deify the body or the physical world. Since we believe that the body and the world are real, in his teachings in the Course Jesus treats them as if they were real, offering a wonderful example of his own teaching from workbook Lesson 184:

It would indeed be strange if you were asked to go beyond all symbols of the world, forgetting them forever; yet were asked to take a teaching function. You have need to use the symbols of the world a while. But be you not deceived by them as well. They do not stand for anything at all, and in your practicing it is this thought that will release you from them. They become but means by which you can communicate in ways the world can understand, but which you recognize is not the unity where true communication can be found.

Thus what you need are intervals each day in which the learning of the world becomes a transitory phase; a prison house from which you go into the sunlight and forget the darkness. Here you understand the Word, the Name which God has given you; the one Identity which all things share; the one acknowledgment of what is true. And then step back to darkness, not because you think it real, but only to proclaim its unreality in terms which still have meaning in the world that darkness rules.

Use all the little names and symbols which delineate the world of darkness. Yet accept them not as your reality. The Holy Spirit uses all of them, but He does not forget creation has one Name, one meaning, and a single Source which unifies all things within Itself. Use all the names the world bestows on them but for convenience, yet do not forget they share the Name of God along with you (W-pI.184.9-11; italics mine).

When properly understood, A Course in Miracles' central message of forgiveness does not make the error of believing in the reality of the phenomenal world, which hating the body would certainly reinforce, reflecting the ego's unconscious need and investment to perpetuate at least some semblance of belief in the reality of the material world and the body. On the metaphysical level (Level I), there is nobody out there to forgive. However, on the level of our experience (Level II), our projected internal guilt appears to be present in another person. And so it is with that experience of attack on others that we must begin the process of forgiveness.

Jesus' goal for his students is that they become advanced teachers of God which, as we have seen, is roughly analogous to the Platonic notion of the philosopher-king. Both figures are asked to be fully present to the world and its citizens, to be messengers and models. Remembrance of the truth, once attained, becomes the goal for all people. Just as Plato's prisoner must return from the light to awaken his fellow prisoners still chained in darkness, so are we asked by Jesus in A Course in Miracles to be instruments of that light's extension for the world:

In your [holy] relationship you have joined with me [Jesus] in bringing Heaven to the Son of God, who hid in darkness. You have been willing to bring the darkness to light, and this willingness has given strength to everyone who would remain in darkness....You who are now the bringer of salvation have the function of bringing light to darkness....And from this light will the Great Rays [of Christ] extend back into darkness and forward unto God, to shine away the past and so make room for His eternal Presence, in which everything is radiant in the light (T-18.III.6:1-2; 7:1; 8:7). From the Introduction to Vol. Two: Few Choose to Listen: Few Choose to Listen is divided into chapters that reflect the different kinds of errors students are prone to make. We begin with a discussion of the three books of A Course in Miracles themselves, and how each is an import part of the integrated curriculum. This includes a consideration as well of the two supplements that were scribed after the Course -- Psychotherapy: Purpose, Process, and Practice and The Song of Prayer -- and their relationship with A Course in Miracles. This chapter is followed in turn by discussions of the Course's use of language, the roles of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, including the important distinction between form and content, the relevance or irrelevance of groups on A Course in Miracles, with specific reference to students joining together in networks, communities, churches, etc., and finally a discussion of making the error real and the dangers of minimizing the ego.

Customer Reviews

"The Message of A Course In Miracles" is a two-volume set
A COURSE IN MIRACLES says, "The name of Jesus as such is but a symbol. But it stands for a love that is not of this world." The Course also says that, "A Symbol must stand for something other than itself." Further, the Course says, "Words are symbols of symbols, thus they are twice removed from reality." In Course theory, reality is a non-specific, completely abstract state where no time, no form, and no individual identity exist.

Built upon this metaphysical framework, the student comes to realize that Jesus as spoken of in the Course is only a symbol. This is not the literal Jesus of the Christian era. When the "scribe" of the Course said it was channeled from Jesus, what she meant was that the Course is channeled from that place of infinite love within her mind. That place exists within all of our minds. The "scribe" of the Course chose to call that place of love within her mind "Jesus." But the scribe of the Course never meant it literally. The Course metaphysics are based upon the idea that no individual identity exists, so how could it literally mean that Jesus (someone with an individual identity) channeled this Course? What it really means is that Jesus is a symbol, and the word "Jesus" is twice removed from reality (in reality, as defined by the Course, there are no names). But in this physical and temporal world we do have names, and many of us have suffered because of or are afraid of the very word "Jesus." It could be said that more healing is needed regarding that very name "Jesus" than any other name in the world. And that is why the Course uses that name, so that we will confront the name and come to terms with how much pain it causes so many of us. And upon confronting that pain, we will heal from it. And we will come to realize that what Jesus stands for in A COURSE IN MIRACLES (non-judgmental and abstract love that does not die and knows nothing but Itself), is actually within us. "Is he the Christ? O yes, along with you.(Clarification of Terms, page 87)"

A COURSE IN MIRACLES distinguishes two levels of reality: Level One, and Level Two. In Level One there is no time, no matter, no form, no individual identity. There is only the abstract presence of Love as God. Level Two, however, is this physical world that we live in. Within this world there certainly is evil, hatred, war, and anger, and the Course would never deny that. But in Course theory this entire world - the entire world! - is an illusion (not just the "bad" things in the world are illusions, but everything in the world. Anything that changes, grows, or dies, is an illusion in Course theory [and everything in this world does]). But it is while living in this illusory world that we learn the lessons of forgiveness that will lead us back to our awareness of Level One (Heaven).

This book, THE MESSAGE OF A COURSE IN MIRACLES, expands on these very complex concepts. In this book Kenneth Wapnick talks about the fact that A COURSE IN MIRACLES is a "perfect non-duality." The Course teaches that God and only God is real, and everything else illusory. Further, God has nothing to do with this physical world which is the domain of the ego. God doesn't even know that we exist as individuals.

I would recommend these books to students who have been studying the Course for about a year or more, but not necessarily for beginners. Some terribly complex ideas are covered in these two books. For a beginner, perhaps the book THE MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT A COURSE IN MIRACLES, also by Kenneth Wapnick (along with his wife, Gloria Wapnick). My own personal opinion of these books? I love them! They are a little slice of heaven for me.

A must read for the Course student
I don't know of a better resource for the serious ACIM student than this book. While not a quick and easy read (like the Course itself) the student is brought closer to understanding the metaphysics of the Course as well as avoiding mistakes common to all Course students.

A thorough, very helpful two volumes for Course students
For twenty-eight years the author of these two volumes has been intimately associated with "A Course in Miracles." He was a close companion of the woman who channeled ("scribed") the Course, Helen Schucman. To my mind he is the most authentic teacher of the Course. Those who know him as I do know that he teaches both by example as well as through his writings and classes.

I read the disparaging comments by another reviewer and know that this reviewer belongs to an organization which seeks to discredit Dr. Wapnick. The claim about finances is totally inaccurate. Ken and Gloria started the "Foundation for A Course in Miracles" in 1984. It is a non-profit Foundation which has received income from donations, the sale of books and tapes, and from the classes and workshops it offers -- all moderately priced. Over the 16 years since its inception this Foundation has grown and has acquired assets which include 90 acres of lakeside property in the Catskill mountains of New York where its study and retreat center has been located. This property inlcudes ten buildings and the equipment necessary to maintain them. A 1998 financial statement indicated that this non-profit Foundation had $9 million in assets. It's officers, which include Ken and Gloria, are paid a salary.

Wapnick's teachings are thoroughly documented in the Course and are designed to help students better understand and study it for themselves. This is a very important and valuable two-volume set for any serious student of ACIM. I highly recommend it.