Unlike most spiritual teachings, a course in miracles is written on an intellectual level. It contains sophisticated metaphysical, theological and psychological concepts.
However, it is possible for anyone to use the Course as a spiritual path. It teaches that forgiveness involves moving from the ego’s wrong-minded content of sin, guilt, attack and fear, to the Holy Spirit’s right-minded content of forgiveness, love, innocence and wholeness.
The first step
The first step of forgiveness in a course in miracles is to recognize that the cause of any problem is always within yourself. The Course teaches that it is impossible to blame another for what you experience, because the outside world is just a reflection of your current beliefs and understandings. You must accept that you are responsible for all of your upsets and that there is no hierarchy in illusions; every negative state is equally illusory.
This recognition allows you to begin the process of letting go of your psychological investment in this world and returning to your oneness with God. This process is not done overnight, and it shouldn’t be - because if it was, fear would arise. It takes time to undo the ego and prepare the mind for the higher life form that is your home. This preparation starts with the practice of forgiveness, which is an essential part of the Course’s healing process.
Once you have recognized that the source of your upsets is your unconscious guilt, the next step in forgiveness is to offer it to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will then replace it with a right-minded thought system, and you will find yourself free of the problem. This is what the Course calls true forgiveness.
In the beginning, you may notice that you still have a desire to believe that what you are experiencing is real. This is because the ego wants to keep its grip on your mind so that you will not remember that this world is not your true home and that bodies are not who you really are.
However, as you continue to practice forgiveness, you will see that all of your upsets are equally illusory and do not have any impact on the real world or the reality of your spiritual Self. You will also come to realize that everyone else is secretly terrorized by the same made-up guilt and fear that you are, and that they too yearn for forgiveness, peace and love. The only difference is that you are willing to offer your problems to the Holy Spirit so that He can replace them with His Own.
The second step
The second step of forgiveness is recognizing that the origin of any problem lies within your mind. The Course teaches that the world outside you is merely a reflection of your current beliefs and understandings. Until you recognize this, it will be impossible to forgive others, because you will believe that they caused the problem. To recognize this is to acknowledge that you are the cause of any negative emotion you experience, and therefore, it will be your responsibility to let it go.
The third step of forgiveness is turning the problem over to God, or universal energy. This is the only step that does not depend on you, and it happens automatically when you complete steps 1 and 2. When you do this, your problem becomes the perfect learning tool for bringing you back to oneness with God.
Once you have recognized that the problem always comes from within your mind, it is time to look at your relationship with God. The Course teaches that this is what true forgiveness is all about. Forgiveness is the process of letting go of your psychological investment in the world and returning to your natural home in Heaven. It is a similar process to lucid dreaming, except it is on a much grander scale.
In a practical sense, the Course suggests that you practice going within and asking Jesus for help, even if you are not in a state to ask for forgiveness. You can use this technique when you are feeling upset about something, such as a problem with your spouse, a co-worker or a neighbor. The Course also teaches that you can practice this at the level of your body, as well, if it feels appropriate.
For example, if you are angry at your husband for using weed, you can ask him to join you in the dream of reality, and focus on the love that you share with him. This can help you forget the tension and anger that you feel, and allow you to see that your problems are not in the world around you.
The third step
Forgiveness is the key to returning to God. But how do you forgive yourself? A Course in Miracles offers a practice that helps you do just that. This process allows you to retrain your mind to see the world differently. It teaches you how to see others as perfect and innocent just like yourself. It also teaches you how to forgive yourself for everything that has ever happened to you.
The first step is to realize that the world you see is illusory. This is the metaphysical principle that is foundational to the Course's teachings. Once you understand this, the other steps begin to fall into place. The next step is to recognize that everything that happens is a choice. This is a big one for many people, but the Course offers an alternative that is easy to practice and can be very helpful.
Another step is to remember only the loving choices you have made, and forget the rest. This is a very important point that the Course stresses. It is the way that you will begin to forgive yourself for what you have chosen, and the way that you will return to God's love. This will require a major shift in your thinking. It will take away the belief that you are a victim of this world, and replace it with the belief that you are at peace with God.
The final step is to ask the Holy Spirit for help in your forgiveness journey. This is a daily practice that the Course suggests, and it involves handing over your day to Him and asking for His guidance. He will help you to recognize the choices that lie ahead of you, and he will help you to choose the path to peace.
This is a very powerful and transformative spiritual practice. It is a very effective tool for healing and forgiveness, and it can be applied to any situation in your life. It can change how you perceive the world and the people in it, and it can open your heart to the love that is there.
The fourth step
The final step in forgiveness involves giving everything to the Holy Spirit so that He can exchange it for God’s reality. This is an important point because it demonstrates that you are truly ready to let go of your identification with the world and what happens in it. It also reflects that you are willing to let go of the fear and frustration that you have been holding onto. This step is an important part of allowing the peace and love of forgiveness to enter your life.
Forgiveness is a process that requires time, and this time must be taken at the level of the mind. The first step in forgiveness is recognizing that the problem always comes from within. This is because the external events are merely symbols of your current beliefs and understandings. Therefore, the only way to change these beliefs is by letting them go. This is why the Course teaches that you must forgive yourself and everyone else in order to find true freedom.
Once you recognize that the ego’s tales of separation are illusory, you can begin to forgive yourself. This is because you will begin to remember that there was no sin, but only a mistaken perception. You must accept that your brother is innocent and not your enemy, and you must forget all the other things you have chosen to keep in your mind.
As you do this, you will feel the Holy Spirit’s loving presence enter your heart and mind. It will help you to release the ego’s identification with this world and its painful situations. You will realize that everyone shares your deep yearning for forgiveness, peace and love. This is because, on some level, everyone is secretly terrorized by the same made-up guilt and fear that you experience.
In the end, forgiveness is really a form of love. It is a gift that you give to yourself so that you can return to the loving reality of God’s Love. By doing this, you will be able to forgive all the things you have ever done and allow yourself to return home to Him.
