A Course in Miracles – Workbook for Students and Manual for Teachers

A Course in Miracles, first published in 1976, is a three-volume book that includes the Text, a 669-page theoretical foundation; the Workbook for Students, containing 365 daily lessons to train the mind along the lines of the Text; and the Manual for Teachers, which extends the thought system of the Course.
Text

When A Course in Miracles was published in 1976, it had a powerful impact on many people. Its author, Helen Schucman, claimed to have received it through a process she called “inner dictation.” The three-volume set has sold more than three million copies, without any paid advertising, and has had an effect on people of every faith.

The Course is a grand symphony of ideas, offering a unique perspective on reality and the path to happiness. Its thought system is both spiritually inspiring and intellectually sophisticated, combining spiritual inspiration with deep psychological understanding of such topics as belief systems and defense mechanisms.

The Workbook is a companion to the Text, providing a practical application of its teachings. Each lesson contains a short passage from the Text, followed by questions to be answered. The lessons are meant to be done daily, but there is no pressure to complete them in a year; most a course in miracles students take longer. Each lesson has a suggested reading list, and there are also helpful suggestions for meditation and prayer. In addition, each day’s ACIM Lesson Insight on the Pathways of Light website provides a more detailed explanation of the lesson’s application.
Manual for Teachers

The Manual for Teachers, or the third book of the Course in Miracles set (three books plus a supplement), was written in question and answer form to provide answers to some of the more likely questions that would arise. It also contains a clarification of many of the terms the Course uses, explaining them within the theoretical framework of the Text and Workbook.

ACIM, as the curriculum is called, mixes Christian terminology with Eastern mysticism, perennial philosophy and modern psychological insights. Its popularity and public awareness have been boosted by such writers as Marianne Williamson, Jerry Jampolsky, Iyanla Vanzant, and Gary Renard. It is also a major influence in the field of attitudinal healing.

It is an antidote to the fear that underlies most of human behavior and leads to wars, violence and suffering in the world. It is based on the principle that undoing guilt through forgiveness can lead to peace and universal love. It also presents a shift in perspective from fear to love, which fosters healing and sanctification of relationships. Although it expresses its teaching in traditional Christian terms, it is nonsectarian and universal spiritual teaching.

Although it can be read by any student, the Manual for Teachers is primarily intended for those who have completed both the Text and the Workbook and plan to teach the Course to others. This extension of the Course’s thought system is a powerful thought-reinforcement mechanism. Moreover, it is through this teaching — the extension of forgiveness to others — that the ideas in the Text and Workbook become fully enthroned as one’s dominant thoughts.

It was scribed by Helen Schucman through a process of inner dictation that she identified as coming from Jesus Christ. She was a psychologist and faculty member at Columbia University. The three-volume set was published in 1976. It has sold over three million copies worldwide, without any paid advertising, to people of every religious background and from all walks of life. It has been translated into twelve languages, and the Foundation for Inner Peace has served as its publisher, distributor, and copyright holder.
Supplements

When first published in 1976, A Course in Miracles was a revelation to many. It challenged conventional thinking, and although often questioned and debated, it has gained wide acceptance as a modern spiritual classic. Its principles offer a way to find peace and happiness by healing the mind.

A Course in Miracles, or ACIM as it is also known, contains a curriculum that is intended to assist its readers in spiritual transformation. Its premise is that the greatest “miracle” one can achieve is to gain a complete awareness of love’s presence in his or her life.

The Course consists of three books: the 669-page Text, which describes the theoretical foundations of its thought system; the 488-page Workbook for Students, with 365 daily lessons designed to train the mind to follow the teachings of the Text; and the 92-page Manual for Teachers, which answers questions most likely to arise during study of the Course and clarifies some of its terms. There are two additional supplements, Psychotherapy: Purpose, Process and Practice and The Song of Prayer, which present a more practical application of the Course’s teachings.

Throughout the years, many different versions of the Course have been published and distributed, both in hardcover and paperback. This Combined Volume is the only edition authorized by Helen Schucman, the Course’s Scribe, to include both the Text and Workbook in one volume. It includes all the material contained in those editions, plus the Supplements, Psychotherapy and Song of Prayer.

Whether you are a new or returning student to the Course, this is a great place to start. Pathways of Light’s David Hoffmeister guides you through the first chapter of the Text and a lesson from the Workbook every day, followed by profound commentary. Each lesson is recorded for you to listen at your convenience, or you can download it for free.