Difference between revisions of "ACIM Manual for Teachers - Section 29"
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− | This manual is not intended to answer all questions that both teacher and | + | [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=A_Course_in_Miracles_-_Contents#Manual_for_Teachers 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 | + | [[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 | + | terms of a brief summary of some of the major [[concepts]] in [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=A_Course_in_Miracles_-_Contents#The_Text the text] and |
− | workbook. It is not a substitute for either, but merely a supplement. While it | + | [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=A_Course_in_Miracles_-_Contents#Workbook_Part_I 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 | + | 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. | + | 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. | 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 | Others might do better to begin with the workbook. Still others may need to | ||
− | start at the more abstract level of the text. | + | start at the more [[abstract]] level of the text. |
− | Which is for which? Who would profit more from prayers alone? Who | + | 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 | + | 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 | + | answer these questions alone. Surely no [[teacher of God]] has come this far |
− | without realizing that. The curriculum is highly individualized, and all | + | without realizing that. The [[curriculum]] is highly individualized, and all |
− | aspects are under the Holy Spirit's particular care and guidance. Ask and He | + | 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 | + | 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 | 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? | + | 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 | Be glad you have a Teacher Who cannot make a mistake. His answers are | ||
always right. Would you say that of yours? | always right. Would you say that of yours? | ||
− | There is another advantage,--and a very important one,--in referring | + | There is another [[advantage]],--and a very important one,--in referring |
− | decisions to the Holy Spirit with increasing frequency. Perhaps you have | + | [[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 | 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 | + | 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 | + | 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 | + | 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 | + | [[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. | + | 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 | 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 | + | that following the Holy Spirit's guidance is [[necessary]] merely because of |
− | your own inadequacies. It is the way out of hell for you. | + | 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 | + | Here again is the [[paradox]] often referred to in [[ACIM|the course]]. To say, "Of myself |
− | I can do nothing" is to gain all power. And yet it is but a seeming paradox. | + | I can do nothing" is to gain all [[power]]. And yet it is but a seeming paradox. |
As God created you, you ''have'' all power. The image you made of | As God created you, you ''have'' all power. The image you made of | ||
− | yourself has none. The Holy Spirit knows the truth about you. The image | + | 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 | + | 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. | + | 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 | 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 | 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 | + | [[decisions]] bring benefit to all, being wholly devoid of [[attack]]. And therefore |
− | incapable of arousing guilt. | + | incapable of arousing [[guilt]]. |
− | Who assumes a power that he does not possess is deceiving himself. Yet to | + | 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 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 | + | 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 | + | 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 | 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 | + | 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 | + | 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. | + | 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 | + | [[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 | 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. | + | 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 | + | 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 | + | [[understands]] the requests of your [[heart]], and answers them. Does this mean |
− | that, while attack remains attractive to you, He will respond with evil? | + | 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 | + | 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 | + | 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 | + | 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, | + | 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 | + | 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 | + | [[protect]] him still. And how much more than this does [[your Father]] love His |
Son? | Son? | ||
− | Remember you are His completion and His Love. Remember your | + | Remember you are His completion and [[His Love]]. Remember your |
− | weakness is His strength. But do not read this hastily or wrongly. If His | + | [[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 | + | 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, | + | 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 | + | 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 | 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 | + | [[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 | + | [[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 | + | created so he is. In [[confidence]] I place you in His Hands, and I give thanks |
for you that this is so. | for you that this is so. | ||
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[[Category:Manual for Teachers]] | [[Category:Manual for Teachers]] | ||
[[Category: Holy Spirit]] | [[Category: Holy Spirit]] | ||
+ | [[Category: Prayer]] |
Revision as of 21:54, 10 October 2015
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 have 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.