****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
A Course in Miracles has been my source of inspiration for twenty years. I owe my interest in it to a friend in SF who must have noticed that I needed a lot of help. I am very grateful for Bob's kindness. The words of this book have worked wonders for my heart. As far as I am concerned, the course is the definitive text on healing. i use the principles in my therapy practice and they work flawlessly. Some may not realize that the course has spawned many self-help books over the past 30 years, beginning with Jampolsky's "Love is letting go of fear" and including Williamson's "A return to love."This little book is my very best friend. Although I have a nice collection of great books from around the world, written throughout the ages, the course is my favorite and the only one i read on an ongoing basis. Perhaps it owns my heart because it was written with a soothing, lyrical rhythm. Perhaps I like it because it was written in English so that I could better understand and trust it (I have noticed that translators can unintentionally mistranslate). Perhaps it is because it is straightforward, demystifies, is poetic and lovingly supportive all at the same time.If there is only one concept you learn from this book, you will be light years ahead. "Is it love or is it fear?" This is the most important question to ask of all thought and feelings. Love or fear? That is the litmus test. If you feel fear, breathe into it and it will melt away; after all, the word "spirit" means breath and it is well known that spirit/love is the healer. If you feel love, enjoy it, treasure it.Some people think the course is overly complicated but the fact is that the course is very, very simple. Its message is clear. It repeats over and over concepts we need to internalize: "Love one another," "Judge not," "Forgive," "You are spirit," "Perfect love casts our all fear," and other simple facts that make all the difference in the quality of life. And it repeats its message until it is in our bones.The course supports our movement toward love. Its scope is universal. A Buddhist will hear Buddha's voice in it; a Christian will hear Christ, a Taoist will hear Lao Tsu, and I see someone heard Socrates. Sometimes people need to learn the language of the course, becasue it uses some words differently than conventional religions, but it is worth going beyond the terminology. Its value is too great to allow language to stand in the way.Read it with an open mind and heart and you will regain your trust and faith in 1) your own path, whatever that is, 2) in your own purity and 3) the goodness of life.I always suggest people begin with Chapter 18... it is so lovely.
