A Course in Miracles
Manual for Teachers
Section 29
As for the Rest . . .
This manual is not intended to answer all questions that both teacher and
pupil may raise. In fact, it covers only a few of the more obvious ones, in
terms of a brief summary of some of the major concepts in the text and
workbook. It is not a substitute for either, but merely a supplement. While it
is called a manual for teachers, it must be remembered that only time
divides teacher and pupil, so that the difference is temporary by definition.
In some cases, it may be helpful for the pupil to read the manual first.
Others might do better to begin with the workbook. Still others may need to
start at the more abstract level of the text.
Which is for which? Who would profit more from prayers alone? Who
needs but a smile, being as yet unready for more? No one should attempt to
answer these questions alone. Surely no teacher of God has come this far
without realizing that. The curriculum is highly individualized, and all
aspects are under the Holy Spirit’s particular care and guidance. Ask and He
will answer. The responsibility is His, and He alone is fit to assume it.
To
do so is His function. To refer the questions to Him is yours. Would you
want to be responsible for decisions about which you understand so little?
Be glad you have a Teacher Who cannot make a mistake. His answers are
always right. Would you say that of yours?
There is another advantage,–and a very important one,–in referring
decisions to the Holy Spirit with increasing frequency. Perhaps you have
not thought of this aspect, but its centrality is obvious. To follow the Holy
Spirit’s guidance is to let yourself be absolved of guilt. It is the essence of
the Atonement. It is the core of the curriculum. The imagined usurping of
functions not your own is the basis of fear. The whole world you see
reflects the illusion that you have done so, making fear inevitable. To return
the function to the One to Whom it belongs is thus the escape from fear.
And it is this that lets the memory of love return to you. Do not, then, think
that following the Holy Spirit’s guidance is necessary merely because of
your own inadequacies. It is the way out of hell for you.
Here again is the paradox often referred to in the course. To say, “Of myself
I can do nothing” is to gain all power. And yet it is but a seeming paradox.
As God created you, you all power. The image you made of
yourself has none. The Holy Spirit knows the truth about you. The image
you made does not.
Yet, despite its obvious and complete ignorance, this
image assumes it knows all things because you have given that belief to it.
Such is your teaching, and the teaching of the world that was made to
uphold it. But the Teacher Who knows the truth has not forgotten it. His
decisions bring benefit to all, being wholly devoid of attack. And therefore
incapable of arousing guilt.
Who assumes a power that he does not possess is deceiving himself. Yet to
accept the power given him by God is but to acknowledge his Creator and
accept His gifts. And His gifts have no limit. To ask the Holy Spirit to
decide for you is simply to accept your true inheritance.
Does this mean that
you cannot say anything without consulting Him? No, indeed! That would
hardly be practical, and it is the practical with which this course is most
concerned. If you have made it a habit to ask for help when and where you
can, you can be confident that wisdom will be given you when you need it.
Prepare for this each morning, remember God when you can throughout the
day, ask the Holy Spirit’s help when it is feasible to do so, and thank Him
for His guidance at night. And your confidence will be well founded indeed.
Never forget that the Holy Spirit does not depend on your words. He
understands the requests of your heart, and answers them. Does this mean
that, while attack remains attractive to you, He will respond with evil?
Hardly! For God has given Him the power to translate your prayers of the
heart into His language. He understands that an attack is a call for help. And
He responds with help accordingly. God would be cruel if He let your
words replace His Own. A loving father does not let his child harm himself,
or choose his own destruction. He may ask for injury, but his father will
protect him still. And how much more than this does your Father love His
Son?
Remember you are His completion and His Love. Remember your
weakness is His strength. But do not read this hastily or wrongly. If His
strength is in you, what you perceive as your weakness is but illusion. And
He has given you the means to prove it so. Ask all things of His Teacher,
and all things are given you.
Not in the future but immediately; now. God
does not wait, for waiting implies time and He is timeless. Forget your
foolish images, your sense of frailty and your fear of harm, your dreams of
danger and selected “wrongs.” God knows but His Son, and as he was
created so he is. In confidence I place you in His Hands, and I give thanks
for you that this is so.
And now in all your doings be you blessed.
God turns to you for help to save the world.
Teacher of God, His thanks He offers you,
And all the world stands silent in the grace
You bring from Him.
You are the Son He loves,
And it is given you to be the means
Through which His Voice is heard around the world,
To close all things of time; to end the sight
Of all things visible; and to undo
All things that change.
Through you is ushered in
A world unseen, unheard, yet truly there.
Holy are you, and in your light the world
Reflects your holiness, for you are not
Alone and friendless.
I give thanks for you,
And join your efforts on behalf of God,
Knowing they are on my behalf as well,
And for all those who walk to God with me.
AMEN…
Manual for Teachers
Section 29
As for the Rest . . .
This manual is not intended to answer all questions that both teacher and
pupil may raise. In fact, it covers only a few of the more obvious ones, in
terms of a brief summary of some of the major concepts in the text and
workbook. It is not a substitute for either, but merely a supplement. While it
is called a manual for teachers, it must be remembered that only time
divides teacher and pupil, so that the difference is temporary by definition.
In some cases, it may be helpful for the pupil to read the manual first.
Others might do better to begin with the workbook. Still others may need to
start at the more abstract level of the text.
Which is for which? Who would profit more from prayers alone? Who
needs but a smile, being as yet unready for more? No one should attempt to
answer these questions alone. Surely no teacher of God has come this far
without realizing that. The curriculum is highly individualized, and all
aspects are under the Holy Spirit’s particular care and guidance. Ask and He
will answer. The responsibility is His, and He alone is fit to assume it.
To
do so is His function. To refer the questions to Him is yours. Would you
want to be responsible for decisions about which you understand so little?
Be glad you have a Teacher Who cannot make a mistake. His answers are
always right. Would you say that of yours?
There is another advantage,–and a very important one,–in referring
decisions to the Holy Spirit with increasing frequency. Perhaps you have
not thought of this aspect, but its centrality is obvious. To follow the Holy
Spirit’s guidance is to let yourself be absolved of guilt. It is the essence of
the Atonement. It is the core of the curriculum. The imagined usurping of
functions not your own is the basis of fear. The whole world you see
reflects the illusion that you have done so, making fear inevitable. To return
the function to the One to Whom it belongs is thus the escape from fear.
And it is this that lets the memory of love return to you. Do not, then, think
that following the Holy Spirit’s guidance is necessary merely because of
your own inadequacies. It is the way out of hell for you.
Here again is the paradox often referred to in the course. To say, “Of myself
I can do nothing” is to gain all power. And yet it is but a seeming paradox.
As God created you, you all power. The image you made of
yourself has none. The Holy Spirit knows the truth about you. The image
you made does not.
Yet, despite its obvious and complete ignorance, this
image assumes it knows all things because you have given that belief to it.
Such is your teaching, and the teaching of the world that was made to
uphold it. But the Teacher Who knows the truth has not forgotten it. His
decisions bring benefit to all, being wholly devoid of attack. And therefore
incapable of arousing guilt.
Who assumes a power that he does not possess is deceiving himself. Yet to
accept the power given him by God is but to acknowledge his Creator and
accept His gifts. And His gifts have no limit. To ask the Holy Spirit to
decide for you is simply to accept your true inheritance.
Does this mean that
you cannot say anything without consulting Him? No, indeed! That would
hardly be practical, and it is the practical with which this course is most
concerned. If you have made it a habit to ask for help when and where you
can, you can be confident that wisdom will be given you when you need it.
Prepare for this each morning, remember God when you can throughout the
day, ask the Holy Spirit’s help when it is feasible to do so, and thank Him
for His guidance at night. And your confidence will be well founded indeed.
Never forget that the Holy Spirit does not depend on your words. He
understands the requests of your heart, and answers them. Does this mean
that, while attack remains attractive to you, He will respond with evil?
Hardly! For God has given Him the power to translate your prayers of the
heart into His language. He understands that an attack is a call for help. And
He responds with help accordingly. God would be cruel if He let your
words replace His Own. A loving father does not let his child harm himself,
or choose his own destruction. He may ask for injury, but his father will
protect him still. And how much more than this does your Father love His
Son?
Remember you are His completion and His Love. Remember your
weakness is His strength. But do not read this hastily or wrongly. If His
strength is in you, what you perceive as your weakness is but illusion. And
He has given you the means to prove it so. Ask all things of His Teacher,
and all things are given you.
Not in the future but immediately; now. God
does not wait, for waiting implies time and He is timeless. Forget your
foolish images, your sense of frailty and your fear of harm, your dreams of
danger and selected “wrongs.” God knows but His Son, and as he was
created so he is. In confidence I place you in His Hands, and I give thanks
for you that this is so.
And now in all your doings be you blessed.
God turns to you for help to save the world.
Teacher of God, His thanks He offers you,
And all the world stands silent in the grace
You bring from Him.
You are the Son He loves,
And it is given you to be the means
Through which His Voice is heard around the world,
To close all things of time; to end the sight
Of all things visible; and to undo
All things that change.
Through you is ushered in
A world unseen, unheard, yet truly there.
Holy are you, and in your light the world
Reflects your holiness, for you are not
Alone and friendless.
I give thanks for you,
And join your efforts on behalf of God,
Knowing they are on my behalf as well,
And for all those who walk to God with me.
AMEN…