*I am delighted to share this excerpt from Bill Thetford’s Life Story about the bumpy start both he and Helen had in bringing A Course In Miracles to us:
“And while the Course came in a form, which I never anticipated, I did regard this as the answer to my question that there must be another way and that I was determined to find it. … We also began in a state probably of panic. At the very beginning, I had trouble even typing some of this material accurately, which appeared in the form of telltale typos. For instance, when the term “salvation” came up I reversed the letters “a” and “l” and wrote “slavation.” Or when it said, “you and your brother” I remember dropping an “r” and typing you and your “bother.”
I also had a little trouble with things like “crucifixion” which I spelled initially “fiction”—crucifiction. So there were lots of conflicts that we both experienced in trying to transcribe the material and the difficulties and anxieties of getting it down. But I realized the first step was to simply get it down and then, once we had it, we could begin to study what it said.
Initially, too, when we got through the dictation of the “Fifty Principles of Miracles” that came first in the Text—and after reviewing these principles very carefully—I realized that if they were true than I would have to reevaluate absolutely everything in my life. I would really have to change my mind. For me, that was extremely threatening. I didn’t see how it was possible to do that. It seemed to me that a challenge was being presented, and it appeared to be more than I could cope with.
On the other hand, since I didn’t know where this was leading—although seemingly in the right direction—I thought the only thing to do was to go with it and not try to affect a premature closure. I didn’t know what I was capable of learning. Yet, this seemed like a very big job, and I wasn’t sure I was up to it. But later I realized it’s only a little willingness that is necessary. Readiness does not imply mastery—simply some willingness for change. I recognized that I had some willingness to do that. The more I read of this material, the more sense it made. There was nothing about it which really seemed bizarre, except that it was a totally different thought system than I had grown up with. It was certainly not the thought system of my colleagues …
When it said you have but two emotions, fear and love, I realized that that answered this endless hierarchy of emotions, which we have plagued ourselves with in psychology and psychiatry. And basically that’s true. If I am fearful, I cannot feel loving. When I am loving, I don’t know anything about fear. So there was a kind of practical value to these concepts. And, of course, the application of them was something different. This meant gradually beginning to shift our minds. “
*We are currently around #24 of the “Fifty Principles of Miracles” that Bill spoke of. I personally am mesmerized by it.
Text and reflection follow:
pg. 20
The Relationship of Miracles and Revelation
*This was underlined in the Urtext, signifying a heading.
Remember the point about Miracles as a means of organizing different levels of consciousness.
Miracles come from the (subconscious)(below conscious)level.
*This is because that is where the confusion originates for each of us, Jesus included.
*It is in the subconscious that the spark of Christ’s confused DNA that energetically carries the “guilty conscious” that resulted in the Plan of Salvation that was prepared at the dawn of time. The witness of true forgiveness (which is “the Miracle” because this cannot be of God), delivers Christ (meaning Jesus and each of us) from His confusion and nightmare. In so doing, he is also delivered from space and time.
Revelations come from the above conscious level.
*They come from the Holy Spirit who is able to be in the presence of truth.
The conscious level is in between & reacts to either sub or super-conscious impulses in varying ratios.
*Ego is the subconscious that is attached to the body in a home/hate relationship that must stay in a state of unquestioning. (see pg. 114 Urtext ACIM, 1st paragraph)
*Note that Jesus uses the language used by the psychiatric field that both Helen and Bill were professors in at that time. He speaks from their vantage point, just as he would with you. (i.e. Sigmund Freud, a leading psychologist)
Freud was right about the classification, but not the names.
He was also right that the content of consciousness is fleeting.
Consciousness is the level which engages in the world, and is capable of responding to both external & internal impulses.
He was also right that the content of consciousness is fleeting.
Consciousness is the level which engages in the world, and is capable of responding to both external & internal impulses.
Having no impulses from itself, and being primarily a mechanism for inducing response, it can be very wrong.
*This statement sheds light on something about the NOW, that is talked about so much today. The conscious levels may be considered vertical; sub, conscious, and super. While the past, present, future may be considered horizontal with NOW being at the crossroads, which is the place you are at any moment.
*This is what has been taught to us by meditation teachers for ages and recently by Eckhart Toole’ who asks us to reach for that non-thinking mode.
*Is it “non-thinking” that we want or is there a duty, that we sense, which may be the Miracle that Jesus is trying to help us understand? This may be a question worth asking ourselves. ACIM has been presented as if this is a world we can correct. But is that what Jesus is after?
*Jesus always spoke of another world. A way of perception that was so dramatic that we could no longer see the world we have at the moment. It is still here amongst us yet we are the wrench that will turn this around. We each have an active part in it.
*Each day we delay is endless suffering and turmoil on the earth. Jesus has given us the power to stop time as we understand it. It is there for the taking.
Till next time, God bless, Namaste~
http://www.miraclevision.com/acim/urtext/acim-urtext-2003-upe-ready-edition.pdf
(* Remember I claim no special gifts, they are just my thoughts after a lifetime of trying to understand the will of God, as Jesus taught it, and share it with others from my place of understanding. My comments are as follows: (*…) With the text being in bold print. Crossed out words and phrases from the Urtext did not copy here, so they are made mention to in my comments if they appear in the transcript. Please bring the Spirit with you to the reading.)
(* Remember I claim no special gifts, they are just my thoughts after a lifetime of trying to understand the will of God, as Jesus taught it, and share it with others from my place of understanding. My comments are as follows: (*…) With the text being in bold print. Crossed out words and phrases from the Urtext did not copy here, so they are made mention to in my comments if they appear in the transcript. Please bring the Spirit with you to the reading.)
Freedom Principles; At-One-Meant Now 
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