A gentle and inviting journey into the core concepts of, "A Course in Miracles" (ACIM) and an uncorrupted message from the Messenger, and/or God's Helper Within.
Made available to us, via excerpts from the "sayings" Gospel of Thomas (GT), is a series of statements called Logia. The Logia are presented as uncorrupted versions, shared by Pursah, an Ascended Master,* and previously included as part of Gary Renard's, "Your Immortal Reality." If one had a wish to be able to travel with Jesus 2000 years ago, and to hear Him speak, this might be a good as it gets for a while. The Logia are nicely framed by an outstanding introduction and epilogue, as well as abundant and supportive index material. ACIM concepts appear to be in concert with the Logia.
This author continuously references Gary Renard's insightful works, "Disappearance of the Universe" (DU) and, "Your Immortal Reality" (YIR) as well as ACIM. Pursah's restatements of some of the Gospel of Thomas language from Nag Hammadi, and earlier finds, form the central core of the book. Just as healing can be described as, "removing what does not belong," so does Pursah's language "heal" some of the Logia in Thomas (via Hag Hammadi "editing" and interpretations) and help to refresh our experience with it. Pursah removes what does not belong. The sayings are now clear and concise and without editorial corruption, it would seem. Sitting with them silently a while, they seem to come alive within for me. The corruption of centuries of interpretation has been stripped away for us.
The bottom line for me here is that the Message survives 2000 plus years since the Messenger appeared to leave us. "Metanoia" IS the Message whose Real meaning (change of thought) was misinterpreted along the way. In his discussion, the author serves the reader well as he clearly demonstrates the nexus between the Logia and ACIM. The Message IS alive within all of us and is a (the?) fundamental precept of ACIM. We need now only wake up to our Reality by our assiduous application of the Message--change of thought (from pervasive guilt to quantum forgiveness)--or "Choose once again." The author also demonstrates that the Message survives the trappings of two thousand years of obfuscation of ego thought.
I just love the way in which, "The Da Vinci Code" is very briefly handled by this author. Yes, it is an exciting suspense story and yes, it contains some fabrication--poetic license, BUT, it stirred something deep within that impelled me to resume my spiritual journey. I'm reminded of the line from Hamlet, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" which, in this context, evokes an inner stirring to, once again, look at, and then beyond Church authority regarding "absolutes." Emergent here, as assisted by the author, and as I look more closely, is that many of the "absolutes" are ego-based. Yes, as I look, I still stand on the shoulders of the Church teachings, and other teachings, but now I have an option of another way of seeing things. I am now afforded the benefit of contrast by which Spirit teaches me so often. Some "absolutes" DO fall away, then, as I allow another way to emerge. This is certainly part of my experience with "Closing the Circle." But, I don't attack what I have replaced in my journey of looking and choosing once again. It's a "roots and wings" attitude on my part, and I feel this sort of spirit in the author's work.
The author reveals the effect of Paul's egoic thought processes on the early Church Scripture without attempting attack on Paul--although MY ego thought system might wish to take it as so in a "knee-jerk" style. The impetus, perhaps, for the "Jefferson Bible" is nicely established, in addition. Jefferson's "apologia" cover letter (1820) to William Short, which forms part of Forrest Church's introductory text of my copy, was truncated, and important information deleted. We find the complete letter in this book as part of the supporting material. Near the end of the book, the author acknowledges something to the effect that much of the early development of Christianity was the result of good intentions. Some, of course, was not. But rather than provoke conflict, the author appears to sensitively invite consideration of this information. He even invites the reader to come up with his/her own responses to the Logia presented and discussed. Ultimately, he reasons that if this is not your path, stay with what you have going.
Never does the author long lose sight of ACIM principles in this work. As soon as an idea is presented, ACIM, GT, DU and/or YIR are referenced. I came away from my read with a feeling of congruity amongst the four, provided by this new book--albeit in somewhat different form. But then it's content that counts, in the long run, and the form fits as it is needed. Ken Wapnick is acknowledged as the fine ACIM teacher that he is several times in the book. This book is perhaps not an intro to ACIM, but a worthy addition to any current ACIM student's library. It delves into the root level of conflict AND reveals the royal road (metanoia) to resolution.
The bibliography is extensive and shows a broad path to understanding found in the pages of this book. I would like to see a "back-of-the-book" index in the next edition for search and navigation, as well as some help (footnote interpretations) with my meager Latin skills as there are a few Latin phrases that escape me at present--but that's my shortcoming. This author is impressive AND insightful as he fills in some of my "blanks," connects a few "dots," and closes a number of "circles" for me.
* "Ascended Masters" could be thought of as another term (if one finds the title uncomfortable) for a seemingly separated source of uncorrupted "right mind" correctional information which we, by egoic "default" choice, decide to keep hidden from ourselves. Other titles could be, Helper Within, Comforter, Paraclete, Holy Spirit, et al--and are generally experienced as separate and apart from us in the condition in which we think we exist. Ultimately, Jesus, as the greatest symbol of Love in the Western World, would play this role for us--a Teacher of Teachers of God. In the dream, then, it's different strokes for different folks as long as a belief in duality, or separateness, is embraced by "each" of us. But, in any case, we must not let "theology" delay us in our discernment of Our Message.
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