The Owner’s Manual

I don’t know if it’s a man thing or a mind thing… but a lot of people – mostly men – don’t like to be seen reading instructions. Do you remember the VCR players that everyone used to have in their home and they were always sitting there blinking on and off because they weren’t programmed? It seemed to be in everyone’s home, at least in the majority that I went in. Maybe a lot of people were just too busy to read the instructions.

It really allows the VCR player to work to its top potential when it’s programmed and operates as it was intended to work, right? Turns on to record your favorite TV show while you’re at work and then plays it for you that night or weekend. Pretty cool technology at the time.

A Course in Miracles is the same way:

We have helpful instructions on the very first pages of the Preface after “What It Is,” these instructions came directly from Jesus. They are concise, telling us what the Course says, what it means to us and it clearly defines the way I should approach reading and practicing the study of the Course to achieve the very Best! Desired results.

If we don’t follow the instructions we are bound to require more time and more lessons in attainment of the purpose and goal of the Course. I’m sure you have met people who’ve been following the Course for 20 or 30 years and don’t really get it or have the experience that it offers.

It’s like trying to graduate from college without going to class or without reading the material for the class. You may eventually finish but what’s the real point in going?

The first introduction in the beginning of the Course says that the lessons are “To be practiced with great specificity as will be indicated….”

In the early part of the unedited manuscript of the Course, (the Urtext) Jesus busted Helen several times for not listening and she and Bill both for habitual mind wandering, and that’s okay, we all do it until we don’t.

To Helen: P.S. The reason you have been late recently (for work) because you were taking dictation is merely because you didn’t remember to ask me when to stop. This is an example of the “indiscriminate or uncontrolled” miracle-working we already spoke of. It is well-meant but ill-advised.

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Start Here:

Where should I start?

  Ask and you shall receive.

 Jesus is telling us the same  thing. We need to ask Him for instructions in every situation or we can go with Decide for me in Chapter 14 III 16 – asking the Holy Spirit, our inner teacher,  and that works  pretty well.

Also, notice from the beginning of the Workbook Lessons in the Introduction there are timers for the length of time you practice the idea for each day, eyes open or closed. Morning or evening and several times hourly if possible. This is the specificity He is talking about. No more than one lesson a day. You can stay on the same lesson for a few days but you want to make sure you’re not analyzing it too much in the head.

At the end of Part I after Workbook Lesson 200, the instructions say that if we review our thoughts the Holy Spirit bestows on us and if we understand, practice, accept the lesson and apply them to what happens throughout the day, one is enough… for thus is freedom given us from all we did not know and failed to understand. Enlightenment can be accomplished in one lesson fully understood, practiced, accepted and applied. Hallelujah!

The three most important insights I can offer is (1) follow exactly what each of the introductions say  and in Part II of the Course starting with Part II Introduction – (2) Welcome the Father to come (this is a quiet and sacred space). I usually do this every morning, don’t be in a hurry here. He has promised that His Son will not remain unanswered. We say the words of invitation that his voice suggests and then we (3) wait for Him to come to us. This is where we rest in God, hand on heart if you like.  This is what I do.  : )

From here when you read the next 145 Workbook Lessons, do it very slowly and especially welcome the prayers as dialogue with the Father from you to Him and from the Father to you.

Listen to God

Sit quietly, slowly read the  lesson title and lesson and italicized prayer for the next 145 Workbook Lessons, invite the Father and wait right there for at least 5 minutes. If you are in too big a hurry here you will  miss the whole direct  experience the Course offers  in the Introduction and you will likely spend your time with the next 145 lessons in vain.

“Words will mean little now.” We use them but as guides on which we do not now depend… “For now we seek direct experience of truth alone.” This is in the quiet space…

I just recently discovered this and it opened up Workbook Lessons 200 to 360 in a whole new way for me. Mostly in quiet communion with God Presence. It’s like Christmas morning to a little kid – now only its way more satisfying and it doesn’t leave you wanting something else a few days later. Here you connect with your God Self…

The Goal and promise of the Course is complete Enlightenment and Awakening within one year. Really? YES!
Give the next week’s lessons a test drive “the way it says to do it” and see if you don’t have a brand new experience Listening to God.

I Love You.

Blessings,
Bill (Rishi) Free