The Remembrance

By Rob Backus

A book written with as guideline: A Course In Miracles. It is not an ''addition'' or a ''modification''. This book contains only ideas set forth by the author after reading this beautiful Course.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rob Backus
• Release date: Mar 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9789083236513

Book preview

Title Page and Copyright Statement

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The Remembrance

By Rob Backus

Distributed by Smashwords.

All quotes from A Course in Miracles in this document are used with permission, copyright ©1992, 1999, 2007 by the Foundation for Inner Peace, 448 Ignacio Blvd., #306, Novato, CA 94949, www.acim.org and [e-mail]

The Author has added some emphasis such as italics and boldface type to some of the used quotes. This emphasis is not used in the original version of ACIM. Nothing about the text in the quotes has been altered.

All quotes from ´´The Disappearence of the Universe´´ have been used with permission by the author Gary Renard, www.garyrenard.com.

The ideas set forth in this book are the personal interpretation and understanding of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the copyright holders of A Course In Miracles

Table of Contents

Preface

Terminology

Explanation Annotation System

Declaration of Terms

PART Ι

Chapter 1 – Nothing real can be threatened

Chapter 2 – The Idea of Forgiveness

Chapter 3 – The Holy Trinity

Chapter 4 – Context for learning ACIM or this Remembrance

Chapter 5 – Past, Now, Future

Chapter 6 – Which Self-Realizations need to come?

Chapter 7 – Projection makes Perception

Chapter 8 – Conditioning

Chapter 9 – Responsibility

Chapter 10 – Victim role

Chapter 11 – The Body

Chapter 12 – Paradoxes

Chapter 13 – Time is a flat circle

Chapter 14 – Difference spiritual growth and therapy or psychotherapy

Chapter 15 – Short Chapters

Chapter 16 – Pieces of Gary Renard’s book and Prayer from ACIM

Chapter 17 – The 3 Key Points

Chapter 18 – Additional information on learning ACIM and this Remembrance

Chapter 19 – Tips & Tricks

PART II

Chapter 1 – Views of Spiritual Teachers who have lived or are still alive

Chapter 2 – Inspirational Psychological/Philosophical Quotes

Chapter 3 – Buddhism

Chapter 4 – Duality in this world as a Tool

Chapter 5 – The Stream of Thoughts and the Unconscious Consequences

Chapter 6 – Quantum Physics and Quantum Mechanics

Chapter 7 – Metaphysics and Mythology

Chapter 8 – Synchronicity

Chapter 9 – Esoteric

Chapter 10 – Bible Verses Translated

Chapter 11 – NAVAJO

Chapter 12 – Conclusion

Chapter 13 – Closing word

Attachments

Bibliography

Meditations

Beautiful sentences from ACIM

About the writer

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Preface

Abbreviations:

ACIM = A Course In Miracles

Last summer I came into contact with A Course in Miracles myself, and after this I got the inspiration to share this beautiful news, which is actually nothing new, with everyone who is interested in it. I typed a lot of things myself but also copied many things literally from the Course. Every time I've done this, I've clearly stated this. The difference should be obvious between my own writing and that which comes from the Course. I have in no way tried to exceed the Course or give my own interpretation of things. In my view there is no substitute for A Course in Miracles. There are many other things covered in this Course that are not covered here. I have not tried to replace the Course in any way or to create something new, the Course is a complete work, it has everything you need from information to daily lessons to a teacher's handbook.

I got a lot of information off the internet. Google, Youtube, Wikipedia and so on. I am therefore not convinced that I made and put it all together myself. I know that the needed help is always present, both outside of me and within me. All quotes from ACIM are used with permission from the Inner Peace Foundation, the publisher and organization behind

A Course In Miracles. www.acim.org

I also got a lot of information from Gary Renard's book called: ''The Disappearance of the Universe''. Again, all quotes from this book are used with permission from Gary. Furthermore, there is information from the well-known psychologist Carl Jung, and the book that I have read by him called: ''Man and his symbols''

Furthermore, Eckhart Tolle's books: ''The Power of Now'' and ''A New Earth'' inspired me in my ''beginning phase'' to continue on this spiritual path. Through one of these books, I eventually ended up at A Course in Miracles, which for me personally answered all the questions I've ever had. Everything I wanted to know, about myself and about the world, everything I've ever been looking for, is brought to Light in this Course.

Gary Renard's books were of great value in this regard. ACIM can be difficult to learn at first glance, because of the Shakespearean word and sentence usage. This was not the case for me, but I can imagine that others experience this differently. Every sentence has a lot of depth and meaning. Do not let this stop you, after all, you cannot understand everything that is discussed intellectually or with your rational mind.

Gary's books reflect on the Course in a funny, playful way and allow things to be ''understood'' for you personally in a new frame. This while there is no substitute for the Course itself. Gary’s book is one of, if not the best, way to get an introduction to what ACIM has to offer.

I am convinced that ACIM could not have been written by any living being on earth. The language, the resounding truth you feel inside when reading the sentences and the uncompromising character are out of this world. I have literally encountered no contradiction in reading the entire textbook of ACIM, even though the textbook alone is almost 700 pages. The additional items such as the Handbook for Teachers, Prayer and Psychotherapy also shine with truth.

Before coming into contact with the Course, I read a lot about philosophy, psychology, and mythology. After going through the Course, I started to see all of these things in a different light. Hence the inclination came from me to add all this into this remembrance. In my view there are many different spiritual paths to follow in this world, and ACIM is certainly not the only one. What struck me, however, is that they may look different from their shape, but they all actually try to tell and convey the same thing. I personally think this is wonderful. They all lead, if properly observed, to 1 goal, and that is back to your actual home from which you have never really been away.

The ego will start asking you many questions about the content of ACIM or this remembrance. Questions that are not answered here. Try not to be misled by this. The ego has no power over you as long as you don't believe it yourself. The ego will want to know how it is possible that the things discussed here are all true. This is because the ego has no identity, it is fragile, prone to decay and misfortune, and will never be able to realize what the real truth about you really is.

This remembrance uses repetition as a learning tool, because the mind is very powerful. This is the same way how you have convinced yourself that you are the ego, which you are absolutely not. Many years you have invested in your own illusiory thoughts, and after a while they became normal and real for you. We are going to try to reverse this in the same manner, the undoing of the ego by repeating some important concepts over and over again.

The Declaration of Terms has been completely copied from ACIM, so it doesn't directly relate to the things I typed. They can give you a better idea of what this remembrance is largely about. It is indicated on all quoted paragraphs from ACIM. If you want to study ACIM, which I highly recommend, you might want to start with Gary Renard's book called The Disappearance of the Universe. Gary's book is the perfect introduction to ACIM. This will give you a good foundation to start with the Text and Workbook. Also carefully reading the Declaration of Terms of ACIM again can be of great value in the beginning. But basically, there is no standard method to start studying ACIM, it is a self-study course.

This remembrance is made up of 2 parts. Part 1 is closely related to the topics covered in ACIM and focuses mainly on spirituality and the metaphysics of the Course, if we may give it a name. Part 2 focuses more on things I've looked into from other disciplines like psychology and philosophy and goes a little deeper into the metaphysics of this world. In fact, everything described in ACIM is also closely related to metaphysics, because it cannot be scientifically proven. This doesn't mean it isn't true, of course, but you'll have to find out for yourself. The fact that you are not yet aware of the light that shines in you does not mean that it is not there. That is why awareness is so important in the early stages of your journey.

You will probably discover that there are quite a few similarities between these 3: spirituality, psychology and philosophy. For me, spirituality predominates because we can't understand so much with our own psyche, and we don't have to. In contrast, the other 2 can provide fun and informative additions to the full story.

Short summary recommendation if you want to start ACIM:

1) Read this remembrance completely and then possibly also start with Gary Renard's book: ''The Disappearance of the Universe'' in combination with carefully reading the Declaration of Terms of ACIM that I also included in this remembrance. This should give you a good foundation before starting ACIM.

2) When you have taken the time to do this, start reading the Textbook of the Course. If you are already ready, you can start by doing 1 lesson from the Workbook every day. There are a total of 365 lessons, so 1 lesson every day for a year.

3) Later, you can then move on to additional pieces of the Course, such as psychotherapy, prayer, and the teacher's handbook. Again, this is just a recommendation, everyone learns in their own way.

If you have any questions about the material, or if you want further explanation about certain topics, you can contact me. You can visit my website: https://dereisorg.wordpress.com/ (the website is Dutch but you can always contact me, or you can just email me at:

[e-mail]

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Terminology

Just a reminder before you get started. The terms and words used in this remembrance have no meaning by themselves. Words are the symbols of the symbols that you will soon find out. What matters with the use of symbols is not the definition, but the content of the symbol. What does it mean to you? This is something you should explore and try to experience. This means that they have no value of themselves as mere words.

Don't be put off by the Christian terminology found in ACIM, which I've adopted in this remembrance. Anything in ACIM or in this remembrance has nothing to do with christianity. It is not a new ´´religion´´, it is not something to ´´believe in´´ or to take a particular belief from. The truth works the same for everyone, whether you are aware of it or not doesn't matter. In fact, you don't have to believe strongly in everything in ACIM or in this remembrance, it will still work for you. How beautiful is this? See the contrast with the ancient learned religions, where you were told that if you didn't believe in it, you simply didn't belong or couldn't use it.

This truth is for everything and everyone.

The word God is only a word, it has no meaning of its own. The word Holy Spirit is just a word, it has no meaning of its own. The word Son of God is just a word, it has no meaning of its own. They are all as neutral as they are neuter. They are the words we humans use to refer to something that cannot be explained in words at all. The same, of course, applies to the word love.

Therefore, try not to fall for this when male or female terminology is used. Everything in this remembrance is for everything and everyone and relates to everything and everyone. There really can be no differences. Moreover, truth merely is, it cannot in fact be explained or understood in words or symbols.

You can even, if you like, replace the words that are used with a word that appeals to you more or one that you like better. This will absolutely not change or alter its working for you because words are just symbols. For example, you can use the Source instead of God. For the Holy Spirit the Universal Inspiration or Universal Intelligence, and for the word Christ for example Buddha. These words are only used as teaching aids to awaken your consciousness to reality. So as long as there is learning to be done, its meaning will have value, however, when you remember who you really are, all these words will lose their meaning for you too, because you will experience your oneness again.

Do not try to understand everything you read on an intellectual level. This is not possible. This truth, power or knowledge or whatever you want to call it does not originally come from ourselves. We cannot comprehend this with our own limited consciousness. Try to look at what it does to you, inside of you, as you read and practice. Do you feel a lot of resistance? Then these are the points for you that deserve extra attention. We could call them your bottlenecks. Try to be very honest with yourself about this. Do you feel a weird sense of peace or some sort of deeper confirmation that all of this could be true? Nice! Just let it work for you as it works for everyone else, we don't need to understand this ourselves on an intelligence level.

The information in the beginning can seem a bit radical, don't let that stop you, even if you start to experience some fear or anxiety while reading. Nothing can happen and you are completely safe. These feelings arise because you have run away from perhaps most of the information contained herein thus far, supposedly blocked it from your consciousness, and kept it this way completely in your unconsciousness. Unconscious is equal to ignorance.

You already know all the information described here. This knowledge is present in everyone, you have only forgotten it and only need to remember it. Your true Self is only happy that you are finally getting to work. He has waited a long time for this moment, in complete tranquility and certainty that one day you will discover and remember the truth about yourself, who you really are.

It may be that a lot is repeated in other words, in fact there is nothing more to it. Repetition, repetition, repetition and remembrance, remembrance, remembrance. In fact, you are not learning anything new, this knowledge has always been inside you. There will be a response from deep within you, whether you feel it consciously or not, it doesn't matter for a moment, but this response will give you motivation and confirmation that you've finally started your way Home again, the place you never were really gone from, only in your own thoughts.

A tip before you start reading: you will automatically try to understand everything on a thinking level, or put it in the rational category of your thinking system at this moment. You've probably done this all your life up to now in everything you wanted to learn. Try not to do this if you become aware of this. Try to read, and even if you don't understand what it says, try to listen to what your inner Self is trying to tell you. There will be reactions and answers, but you can only notice or experience them if you are not thinking yourself. Just see what it does to you on an inner level, not what seems to be going through your mind as you read.

It doesn't matter what you call something, in terms of word or form, what matters is what it means to you. While you are reading, do not try to interpret or modify the content of the pieces from ACIM or perhaps my written pieces yourself. This really has no purpose, and can only cause confusion, and you should find out for yourself as you progress.

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Explanation Annotation system

There is a super convenient annotation system on the acim.org website that you can use to look up phrases yourself. You can copy a piece of text and paste it in Microsoft word, and you will automatically receive the correct annotation.

Explanation of how the system works:

The numbering of A Course in Miracles provides course students with a method to reference a specific passage within the course and its supplements.

Here's an example:

"You will first dream of peace, and then awaken to it." (T-13.VII.9:1)

T = Text

13 = Chapter 13

VII = Section VII (of Chapter 13)

9 = Paragraph 9 (in Section VII)

1 = Line 1 (of Paragraph 9)

Another example:

"Forgiveness is the final goal of the curriculum." (M-4. X.2:9)

M = Manual for Teachers

4 = Section 4

X = Part X (of Section 4)

2 = Paragraph 2 (of Part X)

9 = Line 9 (of Paragraph 2)

Additional abbreviations:

in = introduction(s)

r = Review (workbook)

fl = Final Lessons (workbook)

C = Clarification of Terms (in the Manual for Teachers)

ep = Epilogues (end of Workbook and Clarification of Terms)

P = Psychotherapy: Purpose, Process and Practice

S = The Song of Prayer

The abbreviation OE stands for Original Edition, so the first edition of ACIM in English. The pieces from the OE cannot be found in the edition that is sold today. Certain pieces were later removed from this edition, which I did incorporate into this remembrance.

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DECLARATION OF TERMS

This Declaration of Terms is directly from ACIM. It has no direct relation to this remembrance, so to speak, the words that I have used. It is considered a kind of foundation before you start, so that you can get used to the terms. I have included it so that you can get used to your idea of what the words may mean. 6 terms are explained that form a common thread throughout the story:

Introduction

‘’1. This is not a course in philosophical speculation, nor is it concerned with precise terminology. ²It is concerned only with Atonement, or the correction of perception. ³The means of the Atonement is forgiveness. ⁴The structure of individual consciousness is essentially irrelevant because it is a concept representing the original error or the original sin. ⁵To study the error itself does not lead to correction, if you are indeed to succeed in overlooking the error. ⁶And it is just this process of overlooking at which the course aims.’’

‘’2. All terms are potentially controversial, and those who seek controversy will find it. ²Yet those who seek clarification will find it as well. ³They must, however, be willing to overlook controversy, recognizing that it is a defense against truth in the form of a delaying maneuver. ⁴Theological considerations as such are necessarily controversial, since they depend on belief and can therefore be accepted or rejected. ⁵A universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible but necessary. ⁶It is this experience toward which the course is directed. ⁷Here alone consistency becomes possible because here alone uncertainty ends.’’

‘’3. This course remains within the ego framework, where it is needed. ²It is not concerned with what is beyond all error because it is planned only to set the direction towards it. ³Therefore it uses words, which are symbolic, and cannot express what lies beyond symbols. ⁴It is merely the ego that questions because it is only the ego that doubts. ⁵The course merely gives another answer, once a question has been raised. ⁶However, this answer does not attempt to resort to inventiveness or ingenuity.

⁷These are attributes of the ego. ⁸The course is simple. ⁹It has one function and one goal. ¹⁰Only in that does it remain wholly consistent because only that can be consistent.’’

‘’4. The ego will demand many answers that this course does not give. ²It does not recognize as questions the mere form of a question to which an answer is impossible. ³The ego may ask, How did the impossible occur?, To what did the impossible happen?, and may ask this in many forms. ⁴Yet there is no answer; only an experience. ⁵Seek only this, and do not let theology delay you.’’

‘’5. You will notice that the emphasis on structural issues in the course is brief and early. ²Afterwards and soon, it drops away to make way for the central teaching. ³Since you have asked for clarification, however, these are some of the terms that are used.’’

(ACIM, C-in.1:1–5:3)

1. Mind – Spirit

‘’1. The term mind is used to represent the activating agent of spirit, supplying its creative energy. ²When the term is capitalized it refers to God or Christ (i.e., the Mind of God or the Mind of Christ). ³Spirit is the Thought of God which He created like Himself. ⁴The unified spirit is God’s one Son, or Christ.’’

‘’2. In this world, because the mind is split, the Sons of God appear to be separate. ²Nor do their minds seem to be joined. ³In this illusory state, the concept of an individual mind seems to be meaningful. ⁴It is therefore described in the course as if it has two parts; spirit and ego.’’

‘’3. Spirit is the part that is still in contact with God through the Holy Spirit, Who abides in this part but sees the other part as well. ²The term soul is not used except in direct biblical quotations because of its highly controversial nature. ³It would, however, be an equivalent of spirit, with the understanding that, being of God, it is eternal and was never born.’’

‘’4. The other part of the mind is entirely illusory and makes only illusions. ²Spirit retains the potential for creating, but its Will, which is God’s, seems to be imprisoned while the mind is not unified. ³Creation continues unabated because that is the Will of God. ⁴This Will is always unified and therefore has no meaning in this world. ⁵It has no opposite and no degrees.’’

‘’5. The mind can be right or wrong, depending on the voice to which it listens. ²Right-mindedness listens to the Holy Spirit, forgives the world, and through Christ’s vision sees the real world in its place. ³This is the final vision, the last perception, the condition in which God takes the final step Himself. ⁴Here time and illusions end together.’’

‘’6. Wrong-mindedness listens to the ego and makes illusions; perceiving sin and justifying anger, and seeing guilt, disease and death as real. ²Both this world and the real world are illusions because right-mindedness merely overlooks, or forgives, what never happened. ³Therefore it is not the One-mindedness of the Christ Mind, Whose Will is One with God’s.’’

‘’7. In this world the only remaining freedom is the freedom of choice; always between two choices or two voices. ²Will is not involved in perception at any level, and has nothing to do with choice. ³Consciousness is the receptive mechanism, receiving messages from above or below; from the Holy Spirit or the ego. ⁴Consciousness has levels and awareness can shift quite dramatically, but it cannot transcend the perceptual realm. ⁵At its highest it becomes aware of the real world, and can be trained to do so increasingly. ⁶Yet the very fact that it has levels and can be trained demonstrates that it cannot reach knowledge.(ACIM, C-1.1:1–7:6)’’

2. The Ego – The Miracle

‘’1. Illusions will not last. ²Their death is sure and this alone is certain in their world. ³It is the ego’s world because of this. ⁴What is the ego? ⁵But a dream of what you really are. ⁶A thought you are apart from your Creator and a wish to be what He created not. ⁷It is a thing of madness, not reality at all. ⁸A name for namelessness is all it is. ⁹A symbol of impossibility; a choice for options that do not exist. ¹⁰We name it but to help us understand that it is nothing but an ancient thought that what is made has immortality. ¹¹But what could come of this except a dream which, like all dreams, can only end