I’m Kenneth.
The purpose of this site is to answer this seemingly simple question: ’What is A Course in Miracles?‘
In my journey as a spiritual seeker, I’ve been through many, many different belief systems in the field of spirituality and personal development. I’ve been Christian, Atheist, Agnostic and Buddhist at various stages in my life. I have read hundreds and hundreds of spiritual, ‘new age’, psychology, self-help and personal development books. Some were utter rubbish. Some were better than others. Some brought about dramatic results in my life. But none of them made complete sense on a metaphysical level and yielded results in daily life.
When I found A Course in Miracles in 2005, I knew that my search was over. There was a deep resonance within, an inner knowing that this was it. It was incredibly rational, inspiring and practical. It was entirely metaphysically coherent, without religious dogma. It was difficult to understand the material at first, as was getting past the Christian terminology. But as I later learnt, these are but teaching tools that the author of the Course intentionally uses.
The impetus for this site came about through an inner sense of prompting (what A Course in Miracles calls the Holy Spirit) for me to study and teach the Course more intensively. In this regard I have absolute certainty in what I am writing, because in truth, I am neither the interpreter or author – the Holy Spirit is. I am merely a conduit.
There is a fair amount of misinformation available online about A Course in Miracles. Many spiritual teachers pick and choose quotes from A Course in Miracles, as it fits their purposes. Many interpret A Course in Miracles as they see fit, and engage in endless intellectual and philosophical speculation. Many will examine individual ideas from the Course in detail while missing the big picture.
I do not think there is any interpretation as to what A Course in Miracles says. It says what it says. I think it presents some very ancient and very profound Truths that have been available to mankind since the earliest Hindu texts. The difficulty lies in being aware of what is metaphorical and literal – and for this, it is essential to know what the Course is saying in totality. My goal, thus, is to present to you the core ideas of A Course in Miracles. Amongst them are:
- The dream-like nature of the world
- Happiness is a decision that one makes
- Psychological well-being is found through changing one’s perceptions about the world, and not changing the world
- The importance of listening to one’s inner guidance – what the Course calls the Holy Spirit
- Spirituality is not about doing or learning more – it is about undoing our barriers to Love
Most importantly,
- The central practice and importance of forgiveness in our daily lives
Forgiveness is the answer to attack of any kind. So is attack deprived of its effects, and hate is answered in the name of love. T-26.VII.17:2-3
So who is the author of A Course in Miracles? While this will certainly be highly controversial and outright nonsense for many – I cannot deny what my research and my intuition have led me to believe. I have no doubt that the author of A Course in Miracles is the entity known as Y’shua / Jeshua / Jesus.
There is a reason why I believe A Course in Miracles is one of the most important spiritual documents on our planet today. I think it is crucially important because it is what Jesus actually wanted to say 2000 years ago, without any kind of distortion.
This site also serves as a resource about A Course in Miracles materials – videos, excerpts, other websites, but mainly books. Just as there are no ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ spiritual paths, there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ books about A Course in Miracles. However, in the words of Sir Francis Bacon:
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.
I’m sure you will agree this is remarkably true in our age of information overload! I am a book junkie, and through my extensive reading I have found a few truly excellent authors and books, and it is my intention to recommend these to you. I do not have any affiliations with any of the authors – I do this out of my sincere desire that these books guide you in your path as they have wonderfully done for me.
So where does one start?
1. A Summary of A Course in Miracles is my executive summary of A Course in Miracles: where it came from, what it says, and how it is presented. I have also done an hour-long video presentation on ‘What is A Course in Miracles?’.
2. If you have time for a movie, this two part documentary is excellent. You will see and hear many of the principal characters in the history of the Course, such as Bill Thetford, Helen Schucman and Kenneth Wapnick. Part One is largely historical, and Part Two goes into what it says and its application.
3. Disappearance of the Universe by Gary Renard, in my opinion, is THE book of choice for any new student for a good overview of A Course in Miracles. I have bought dozens of copies of this book for friends and family. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
4. If you aren’t afraid to dive into the deep end, Kenneth Wapnick might be for you: he has many, many materials available, online and in print. You can find them at the Foundation for A Course in Miracles, where he is the principal teacher.
I am updating this site constantly, and also write about my personal journey with the Course on my blog. I also post ACIM-related quotes on this site’s Facebook page.
I wish you the very best in your path.
Love, Light, Peace and Joy
Ken
Enjoy 'Disppearance' - it was a great clarification on Jesus and Christianity for me. Love, Ken -
Except for being a financial Guru your story reads as mine! I read and tried to understand a lot of books on spirituality in the past twenty years. The course of miracles I am studying now for three years and it certainly changed my life. In a positive way!
Hi Hans, glad to hear from you and glad you found this site! I wouldn't call myself a financial guru though..
Ken…same here…I found the ACIM after a troubled relationship…have read I can't remember how many spiritiual books..I wish I had kept track of what I read and when I read them because I truly believe it was a mystical literary journey…and still is…one book turns me onto another…and it was in that fashion that I was lead to ACIM. It's been 10 years now…I turn to it here and there..have done some of the exercises and put the book down for a year or more..only to pick it up..read a section with greater undestanding…do a few more exercises..and then get wayleighed again…This past couple of months however, I have had a stronger urge to examine the websites, the Youtube videos…I read Renards' books last year and DU truly was the "can opener" for me…but I would encourage you to read, if you haven't already, The Celestine Prophecy…if memory serves me correctly, that was the book that "put me on the path". I have children now…and because of THIS site, have just read them the first two chapters of The Children' Material..the journey continues!
May the Blessings be…
Hello Kenneth and fellow ACIM devotee.
Thank you for a great site. I've passed it on to many who have shown curiosity about ACIM and needed some insite on what it is about. I'm very grateful to be one of those who has been graced by such spiritual insight. I was led to ACIM just over 10 or so years ago and was lucky to have Marianne Williamson as the minister at the Unity Church I attended. It's been a wonderful and exciting journey thusfar. Sending miracles and love your way. Lisa (Detroit, MI)
Hi Lisa! Thank you for your kind words and passing it on. Yes I feel blessed to have found ACIM myself, especially at a (relatively) young age.
Blessings, Ken
Hey Ken
Why all the hang wringing and implications about the difficulty of understanding A Course in Miracles when all your links to Wapnick and Renard indicate you are a proponent of the simplistic and easily explain “No one else is there,” spiritual solipsism of Wapnick and Renard?
A worth-less dead-end solipsism which up front is the very authority problem and denial of any distinction between Creator and created which is the basis for Atonement and forgiveness.
To be sure, Ken, there is no notion of “forgiveness,” in non dualism, where there is only God and God clearly doesn’t need forgiveness. Instead forgiveness is a part of an honest, straight reading of the Course material predicated again on the distinction between Creator and created and then irrationally shoe horned into Wapnick’s non dual metaphysics which makes no sense to either practicing non dualists or proponents of an honest, largely literal reading of the Course’s metaphysics of Creative Idealism.
This post is to simply advise you as a new student that there are clearly other valid interpretation of ACIM other than Wapnick, Renard and Perry, and under the radar of blatant commercialism there are likely hundreds of thousands of course students who view the course as self study with the guidance of a real, not metaphorical Holy Spirit and do not read or understand ACIM as spiritual solipsism.
I post regularly at Iworkmiracles.com http://iworkmiracles.com/
I would be happy to discuss or debate any of the issue at this site, if you’d like.
Hi John,
Thanks for writing. I'll try to address some of your points, but I feel that this might be a discussion which might not be very productive due to certain factors so I will try to keep it short:
1. I disagree with your view that there are many interpretations of ACIM. I am of the opinion that it says what it says, and there is no interpretation.
2. If you think the Wapnick / Renard 'spiritual solipsism' is simplistic and easily explained, good for you. I am trying to explain this view on the internet, nothing more. I'm sure many others will find it very simple as well, it's just that I think it's hard to find this information presented in a clear way on the internet, this is my role. Also, simple and easy are completely different things. We all know that from our forgiveness lessons.
3. I agree that you that God clearly doesn't need forgiveness and there is no notion of forgiveness in Heaven. It says so in the Course it's a illusory tool to undo the illusion!
I'm just doing my bit to share what's worked for me. It will not work for everybody. I am writing for those who will benefit from this information. So, to be blunt, if it doesn't work for you – then this site is probably not for you! We all have our own paths and that's fine.
Peace
Ken
Ken, my smile is wide and my heart is light.
You have succinctly expressed, and even clarified, my own sentiments.
I feel a deep sense of recognition, and find myself powerfully inspired to intensify my studies.
Hi Adam, glad to be of help! Thank you for telling me. Peace, Ken
Great work Ken and I like your transparent fresh look on the information your path has lead you too. We are all exploring the nothingness and unknown wonder of this universe. Thank you for your involvement and dedication to your passion.
Thank You Kenneth for all the great knowledge i have got from your site, thank you. Best regard from Kjell
You are most welcome Kjell! Thanks for letting me know. Peace, Ken
Hi Kenneth,
Your site has appeared in my life like all other things, at the perfect time. When I read about your experiences, I feel a great connection, and your articles resonate deeply with me. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Drinking deeply,
Kalai (Sg)
Hi Kalai,
I am grateful to be able to be part of the process. Love and Light, Ken
Thanks for letting me know! Like yourself, my life has been full of 'coincidences'
Hi Ken, keep up the great work and spreading the message of Jesus.
I am involved in making a new website about all this.
I think we are online next week. You might like to check this out: http://www.mom-nederland.nl
Frans
I like your blog, Ken. I like it better than the page on Facebook.
You love Ken Wapniks teaching. Rightfully so. He is the best of the best jewels among Course teachers.
Ken Wapnik tells us we shall not try to compare different spiritual path with ACIM and try to seek for similarities.
Indeed there is nothing like ACIM. Neither Ho'oponopono nor LOA, they both aim on this world and both stay in duality, even if they seem to be similar. I am very familiar with both of them.
They are encouraging us to make our 'prisons' nicer. The danger is that, if we apply successfully what they teach (and this is possible) we forget that we do not want to stay in prison, be it terrible or beautiful, but to get free.
The course aims on going Home, which is not this world.
Much love to you and all here, and keep on your sharing of the clear and true view on ACIM by Ken Wapnik and Gary Renard!
A hug!
Thanks Ken, may I suggest that anyone who wants to pursue a spiritual goal read any of the books by Dr. David R. Hawkins.
Hello, Stephen and Ken, and all desiring truth…or not. Could not believe the good fortune in being able to attend Dr. Hawkins’ presentation in Seattle just weeks after being introduced to him via Wayne Dyer’s, “Power of Intention.” I was coming to the end of a year so challenging, I told a friend I felt like I was disappearing. “I’ve got a book for you,” she said, loaning me the book you, Ken, really captured in your review–”Disappearance of the Universe.” That was back in 2004.
Just want to add my hearty recommendation for DU, and how either it or author Gary Renard’s second book refers to Hawkins. It cleared a boat-load of questions up.
Thank you also, Ken, for the interview re. ACIM’s translation into Chinese. You are inspired.
Ken-Godspeed it appears the “celestrial acceleration” has begun.Thanks for your part in getting us back home and out of this detour into fear.
My question is where do you think this is going in linear time or the movie?
I enjoy writing ACIM inspired poetry -it appears here.
http://bobdogkid.wordpress.com/
bobdogkid
Hi bobdogkid! It’s my pleasure to do my part in the Atonement. Where is this going? Well – we’re on a journey to nowhere aren’t we?
I had a quick look at your stuff – Great poetry! Much love, Ken
I have been working ACIM for the past few months. My family and friends have seen a change in me that they can not explain. I just keep telling them I am working the course most of them have no idea what I what I am talking about, but I just tell them it has been helping me. How my story started was any time in my life in my life there has to be a better way it would pop up in one form or another. About a couple of months ago it was time and now I don’t think I could ever go back to the way I was before. I keep having people ask why am I so happy, and I just tell them I am working the course. In the short time that I have been working I am having this larg amount of art work coming through me.
Hello Kenneth, that’s wonderful.
Thanks for sharing, would love to see your at! Peace, Ken
Hello Ken … hello friends of ACIM,
first, please forgive my poor use of the English language, as I was born in the US but moved to Germany over 30 years ago.
Ken, thank you for presenting a wonderful and amazingly colorful approach to ACIM!
I am an ACIM-beginner, really trying to get comfortable with the material … but encountering strong inner resistance again and again as soon as the Course’s language becomes very Christian.
My spiritual background is cleary eastern … Yoga and Buddhism … and the Christian approach turns me off so utterly that I am afraid I will not find my way into the Course.
In case you, Ken … or any of you readers have had similar feelings in starting out with ACIM … PLEASE let me know how you managed to overcome the inner resistance and how it is possible to become friends with the idea of Jesus being the savior, the “brothers”, the sonship, “Christ controlled”, etc.., when one has no positive connection to Christian ideas at all.
I feel very drawn to the Course, especially after having read “A Return to Love” by Marianne Williamson … but on the other hand I feel almost repelled by the emphasis on Christian concepts. So I would really appreciate some help from people who have experienced similar difficulties.
And … sorry, Ken, if this is not the right place for such requests. Perhaps you could give me a recommendation for where to go with this. Unfortunately there is no study-group here in Berlin.
Love and peace
Irene
Hi Irene!
Thank you for your kind words..
Yes – resistance to Christian language is not uncommon at all! All of us have a forgiveness lesson in some way or form with ‘Christianity’ – whatever that means. I personally come from a Buddhist background as well – and what was helpful to me was how Buddhist / Hindu the ideas were in ACIM. Jesus and Buddha were really saying the same things. What the Church teaches is not what Jesus was teaching 2000 years ago. I would focus on the content of what is being said (ie. the ideas), rather than the form (ie. the language being used).
Have you read The Disappearance of the Universe by Gary Renard? It’s a great start to ACIM.
Love
Ken
Thank you, Ken! It is reassuring to know that your background is also Buddhist, and that you have found a positive approach to the Course. I have watched your video on the similarities between Buddhism and ACIM (which is actually how I found your website) and loved it! Nevertheless did I get that dark feeling once I began to actually read the Course.
I really wonder where my aversion to the Christian concepts came from, as I was not raised specifically Christian. Probably my mind was just never able to accept the personified God and the father and son business, and I have great difficulty in grasping the crucifiction-salvation idea as well as the idea of sin. The eastern traditions felt so much warmer and brighter and also much more locigal to me immediately.
But you are right, of course, that my focus should lie on the concept of ACIM and not the spcific words … which is not easy, since that dark feeling hits me every time I read them. Probably I will get over that once I understand more of what I am reading
.
No, I have not yet read “The Disappearance of The Universe”, but I have ordered it and it should be arriving soon. Looking very much forward to this book.
Ken .. your site is a real blessing! I find it to be truly intelligent as well as filled with passion and love.
Love
Irene
Irene, when I read what you have written, I feel great joy and fulfilment in having helped you and in the way I could. I am deeply appreciative of you letting me know.
Enjoy ‘Disppearance’ – it was a great clarification on Jesus and Christianity for me. Love, Ken