Course In Miracles
IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOU DON'T KNOW...
Marianne Williamson is one of our world's most prominent spiritual teachers. She became well known when she entered the Oprahsphere, and served as her "spiritual advisor." Years later, she made a run for the US presidency. It was cut short because, in my opinion, the world just isn't ready for her. Yet. (...and I say that with a knowing smile)
Marianne is one of the elite who have mastered the nearly un-masterable book called "A Course in Miracles." To say it is dense would be an understatement. The "Course" was written in 1976 by Helen Schucman, who claims that the manuscript was dictated to her - word for word - by the master, Jesus. Through Helen, He teaches that humanity's greatest miracle is when one gains full awareness of love's presence in one's life. Still, some have labeled the teachings and book as "New Age psychobabble" or a "Satanic seduction." But it seems highly counterintuitive to label love as psychobabble or satanic.
Every line in the book is a mind-bending, life-altering experience. And I mean Every. Single. Line. I am fairly certain that many who have read the book share the experience of having to read, and re-read, and then re-read again. And again. Glancing back on pages prior, I reviewed a section I had bookmarked on page 7. The title of the subchapter is "Revelation, Time and Miracles." There is one line - ONE LINE - that I somehow glossed over in previous reads. This time, it stuck.
"REVELATION UNITES YOU WITH GOD. MIRACLES UNITE YOU DIRECTLY WITH YOUR BROTHER."
Now, unlike Marianne Williamson, I am no expert on the "Course." So far from it. But I'll share with you why this has impacted me so deeply and profoundly.
In the process of my awakening to all things light and love, I have had a hard time putting into words my experience. It's easy for people who have not undergone a spiritual transformation to label those of us who have as crazy. But that one line in the "Course" provides awakened beings with great comfort because REVELATION validates the relationship we have with God. It is the experience of knowing God, which is unexplainable to anyone outside of you. It is what I like to think of as inner knowing...this sense of trust in a power and force greater than you, but at the same time at the core of your own essence and being. As Jesus says in the "Course," "Revelation is intensely personal and cannot be meaningfully translated."
I recall a situation with a friend who I believe is convinced, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I have lost my marbles. I recall saying to him once that perhaps he just hasn't had the experience that I have, which would render him as unknowing of that which has become my guiding light. It's a little like me finally able to balance and successfully ride a bicycle, while he is still rocking the tricycle. There is no judgment on my side... he simply hasn't learned to ride on two wheels yet. But some people who have not had the experience, or were not born into instant knowing and trust in a higher power, are quick to judge the awakened beings based on human definitions of sanity. I have spent countless hours (probably adding up to days or even weeks!) defending myself in similar situations. That stops now.
What that subchapter in the "Course" taught me is that I owe no one an explanation of my experience because it is unknowable for anyone other than myself. That also means that I have released the need to defend myself. Instead, I am choosing to silently wish upon my detractors an awakening experience of their own. Ultimately, it is their soul's choice to experience it or not. But to me, wishing the experience for them is the equivalent of wishing someone well. Because I really believe that there is no greater gift in the world than the gift of REVELATION.
As my wise father used to say, "if you don't know that you don't know, you don't know that you don't know." So you can't blame the haters. But through REVELATION, Jesus teaches us to ignore them, including those who label the "Course" as nothing but satanic, new age psychobabble.
***If you feel inclined to read the "Course," you can pick up a copy online at the Foundation for Inner Peace. https://shop.acim.org