¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

ctrl + shift + ? for shortcuts
© 2025 Groups.io
Date

Urtext

 

Gene Bogart wrote:

"Now, we know that time does not exist." (ACIM Urtext, pg. 35)
Thanks Gene. There's just no getting away from it, is there? The
funny thing is, since most of the people who study the Urtext also
believe that the Hugh Lynn Casey version of the Course was supposed
to be the "final" edit (by Bill) then that would mean there are even
*fewer* differences in meaning when you compare Bill's edit and the
more professional, published one that was done later by Helen, with
Ken acting as her assistant.
The Hugh Lynn version and the blue book are very much the same,
especially in the heart of the Course, Text Chapters 15 on. In other
words, by the end of the Text they both mean the same thing. There
was an artistic process involved for Jesus to get the reader (and an
admittedly fearful Helen) to the truth that the Course is teaching.
Peace, Gary.


Re: Forgiveness question

 

I am continuing to re-read your book, and have just started Chapter
3, "The Miracle." Thanks again, Gary, for being available to us all
here. I am glad that your book is selling so well.
Peace,
Elizabeth

Thanks again Elizabeth. I'll be curious to know your impressions of
the book after another reading, ie. does it sink in more, do you
notice things you didn't notice the first time, will it make it more
helpful to you? Let me know. Love and peace, Gary.


Sticking around

 

Thomas wrote:

It is likely that the volume of
posts here would be greatly reduced without controversy, but we can
still use the site for help with our own healing. I intend to stick
around. Peace y'all
Thomas

Me too, Thomas. Thanks!


Nothing Special

 

Maybe there are those "out there" who are jealous because Arten and
Pursah
appeared to you and not them, Gary. I know I am just a leeetle bit.

As Ossie says ......sighing.

Judy

I think there may be some of that going on, Judy. But I don't
think there's any need for it. Arten and Pursah always stressed how
*no one* should feel slighted if they don't have certain mystical
experiences. For example, most people don't hear Jesus' Voice the way
Helen did, or have what the Course describes in Lesson 15 as "light
episodes" or see The Great Rays or experience Revelation. That's
because everyone's gifts and abilities are different from lifetime to
lifetime. Yet *all* of us either have, or will, experience all
spiritual gifts in one dream lifetime or another. As the Course says,
no one has any powers that are not available to everyone. (M62)
I met Ted Poppe and had a long talk with him in Massachusetts on
July 5. We've had a lot of similar experiences. Yet most of these
experiences come as a result of spiritual work, and especially
forgiveness. So the focus should not be on the illusory gifts but on
the means to healing the mind. Maybe someone doesn't have a lot of
obvious spiritual gifts, but they spend a lifetime forgiving people.
Then in the next illusory lifetime they find that they have all these
spiritual powers and they don't know where they came from!
I know when people used to ask Helen Schucman to ask the Holy
Spirit for advice as to what they should do, she'd sit them down and
pray with them for the Holy Spirit to guide them to forgiveness so
they would better be able to hear His Voice for themselves. So I
think the focus should be put on the means and not the end. Love and
peace, Gary.


Re: Actually, Gene's being nice so far...

Jeanette
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

The Grippe wrote:
?
"So I took it right to Jesus Himself, who's been renting a little walk-up over on Addison Street"
?
LOL
?
I'm quite sure if we are not careful someone will pull the rug on the Atonement, and cause great harm, by sharing their personal metaphysical experiences.
?
?
Jeanette


Re: Hey Gang

 

I did want to say something to Carrie. Both Karen and I have
tried to make friends with you Carrie, but you don't make it easy.
So
I have a request for you. Since this club is supposed to be for
people who have read "The Disappearance of the Universe," (see the
group description) perhaps it would be best if you read the book
all
the way through first and then ask any questions
you have. I noticed you were wondering about things like how could
I
not tell Karen about it all that time, and how could she not know
it
was happening and things like that, but those things are explained
in
the book as you go along. It's not like Arten and Pursah were
appearing to me all the time. Usually there were months in between
the visits. That's one of the reasons the book covers nine years.
Anyway, if you read the whole thing you may find that most of the
questions you ask are answered. After you've read it, then please
ask
any remaining questions you may have. I'll be back in a while. Love
and peace to all, even you guys who I will refer to from now on as
the Newsgroup from Heaven. Love and peace, Gary.


No problem.

I can understand how you'd have a hard time trying to be friends
with me, I feel sort of the same way with believing and trusting you.

Like who knows what else is a lie or in some way,deceiving, that
didn't get found out?

I guess this kind of makes me question things about, and in the
book, as I come to them and think of them. Not getting answered,
getting brushed off and evaded didn't help.

Maybe at some point you can understand why I might find it hard to
automatically believe and trust you, Karen and Patrick, which I guess
you see as making it hard for you to be my friend.

Maybe I have higher standards in the honesty, integrity and
fairness of my "friends".

Even though I hang out on the newsgroup from hell (which is a much
more honest and for real name for it).

Maybe someday I'll write a book that you can read all of to get the
answer to that.

Maybe not, and you can figure it out for yourself.

~ Carrie


Re: Actually, Gene's being nice so far...

sa_grippe
 

Well folks, I was good today and got all my work done, so I can
indulge the extreme pleasure of answering a Classic Gene Post. What
makes it a Classic is his assertion of intellectual superiority,
which he will always go for whole-hog if you give him half a chance.
Case in point:


How you feel about DISAPPEARANCE is admittedly not very
significant
to me, however. As a publisher, I have to pay attention to how
*most*
people respond to the work I do.
That would be fine if it was a romance novel. It would even work if
it was some claptrap about the face on Mars. However, "screw the
intelligentsia" is irresponsible when the subject is salvation,
because now the subject is important.
Hmm... this would imply that because Gene believes the book to be
an "obvious hoax", that makes HIM the Intelligentsia. Those of you
who find the book sound, worthwhile, and inspiring -- the 99.75% of
readers I referred to earlier -- well, you're just not quite up there
in the Smarts Department with Gene. I do hope you'll all write in and
let Gene know how much you appreciate his estimation of your
intelligence. To be dissed by the Intelligentsia is really quite an
honor!

Then there was this:

I think you are acting out your anger and
unforgiveness issues with Jesus, who is, of course, the symbol of
the atonement itself.

AND

Can you live with the ego bargain of selling out Jesus and the
atonement?
Now these are a pretty serious charges! So I took it right to Jesus
Himself, who's been renting a little walk-up over on Addison Street
for about a month now. He read it over and had about the biggest fit
of rolling-on-the-floor-laughing-His-Ass-off I've ever seen. When he
calmed down a little and wiped the tears from His Eyes, Jesus
said, "What does he think I would do if you WERE trying to sell me
out? Smite you? I've been sold out before, you know! Got any pieces
of silver on ya? Oh, this is just TOO funny!"

Well, that just got Him laughing again, then He got the Hiccups, then
He finally settled down and chuckled "Oh, Christ" and I said "Oh
Christ Yourself" and He said, "Thanks! That's the best laugh I've had
all day. Wanna play Putt-Putt Friday?"

I said, "Sure. But You aren't gonna fool around with the timing on
the windmill again when I'm putting, are You?"... and He just winked.

So thanks once again, Gene, for the comic relief. Jesus loves you
(and even me!)... that much I know for sure.


Hey Gang

 

I just got back from a prayer meeting at Peak's Island. It was a
beautiful ferry ride across Portland Harbor to the Island, and five
friends from Massachusetts, including two ACIM workshop leaders and I
went out on a spot overlooking the ocean and meditated and prayed for
Guidance. It was wonderful. What a glorious day. I feel so lucky. The
book has opened up a whole new group of friends for me. I remember a
couple of days ago Stephen (when I was still reading his messages)
said, "You've had a bad run, Gary." Yeah right! All I can say is,
let's hope the second printing of the book has as bad a run as the
first.
I haven't had time to read today's messages yet, and Karen and I
are going to eat dinner and then go out for an ice cream (life is
good.) But when I get back I'll read some messages and maybe answer
some. Thanks for being patient.
I did want to say something to Carrie. Both Karen and I have
tried to make friends with you Carrie, but you don't make it easy. So
I have a request for you. Since this club is supposed to be for
people who have read "The Disappearance of the Universe," (see the
group description) perhaps it would be best if you read the book all
the way through first and then ask any questions
you have. I noticed you were wondering about things like how could I
not tell Karen about it all that time, and how could she not know it
was happening and things like that, but those things are explained in
the book as you go along. It's not like Arten and Pursah were
appearing to me all the time. Usually there were months in between
the visits. That's one of the reasons the book covers nine years.
Anyway, if you read the whole thing you may find that most of the
questions you ask are answered. After you've read it, then please ask
any remaining questions you may have. I'll be back in a while. Love
and peace to all, even you guys who I will refer to from now on as
the Newsgroup from Heaven. Love and peace, Gary.


Re: Re-Posting: I now read all the postsexcept...

ideaofgod
 

--- In Disappearance_of_the_Universe@..., "Judith A.
Peterson" <jupete@p...> wrote:

Maybe there are those "out there" who are jealous because Arten and
Pursah
appeared to you and not them, Gary. I know I am just a leeetle bit.
I'm not. Thank God I won't have Gary's life review.


Re: Actually, Gene's being nice so far...

ideaofgod
 

--- In Disappearance_of_the_Universe@..., "sa_grippe"
<sa_grippe@y...> wrote:

Hmm... I seem to remember "hoaxer," "liar," and "fraud," just for
starters. "Idiotic" and "stupid", or words to that effect, were in
there somewhere.
Applied to you?

On the other hand, I have never questioned your
integrity, intelligence, education, etc., because I feel no need to
do so.
Or because you know it would be obvious nonsense.

How you feel about DISAPPEARANCE is admittedly not very significant
to me, however. As a publisher, I have to pay attention to how
*most*
people respond to the work I do.
That would be fine if it was a romance novel. It would even work if
it was some claptrap about the face on Mars. However, "screw the
intelligentsia" is irresponsible when the subject is salvation,
because now the subject is important. Utter disregard of and contempt
for demonstrable facts in this situation seems to me analogous to
publishing "Open Heart Surgery for Dummies", without checking the
qualifications of the author or getting an opinion on whether it
contained serious errors. I think you are acting out your anger and
unforgiveness issues with Jesus, who is, of course, the symbol of the
atonement itself.

On the first printing of
DISAPPEARANCE, almost sold out now, the positive/negative votes
seem
to be running about 1995 to 5, or an approval rate of 99.75%
(Please
check my math; it wasn't my strong suit in school.) I can live with
that!
Can you live with the ego bargain of selling out Jesus and the
atonement?


Re: PURSAH: "...I PRACTICED THE COURSE FOR 41 YEARS..."

 

The way I took it, Paul, is that Pursah's last life before her
awakening - will not begin until after Gary's death.

--- In Disappearance_of_the_Universe@..., "ps496"
<ps496@y...> wrote:
OK...BUT "THE MANUSCRIPT FOR A COURSE IN MIRACLES WAS COMPLETED IN
1973." IF PURSAH PRACTICED FOR 41 YEARS AND IT TOOK GARY 9 YEARS
TO
WRITE THE BOOK...IT DOESN'T ADD UP.
REFERENCE PAGE 250 IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE UNIVERSE FOR THE
PURSAH QUOTE.
THIS SOUNDS SILLY..SO I NEED SOME CLARIFICATION.
THIS DOESN'T IMPACT MY VIEW OF THE COURSE. I'VE BEEN A STUDENT
FOR
YEARS, SPENDING MUCH TIME IN KEN WAPKNICK LECTURES AND LISTEN TO
HIS
TAPES DAILY.
PERHAPS THIS IS JUST AN EDITORIAL OVERSIGHT.

THANKS,

PAUL


From the moderator to all

 

Yes, the moderator does exist for this message board! I came back
from a 2 week vacation and found more messages than I ever expected.
This board is not edited at all. I started it in April and for a
month there were no members at all since the book wasn't released.
This book has an impact on me in helping me understand some of the
ACIM lessons. To me it is a positive impact - i.e. I am more aware
to forgive in more situations and have less attachments to the
physical forms and illusions. My intention of this message board is
for people to discuss spirituality (based on the views presented in
ACIM and Disppearance of the Universe) and not positionality. I have
read many integrous and interesting discussions on this board and
hope to see more forthcoming. To re-state the description of this
group: The topics of discussion should be focused on the teachings
of ACIM and the experiences of living the Course. Thanks and keep
the posts coming!

Nelson


Re: PURSAH: "...I PRACTICED THE COURSE FOR 41 YEARS..."

 

In a message dated 7/17/2003 2:53:03 PM Eastern Standard Time, ps496@... writes:

IF PURSAH PRACTICED FOR 41 YEARS AND IT TOOK GARY 9 YEARS TO
WRITE THE BOOK...IT DOESN'T ADD UP.
REFERENCE PAGE 250 IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE UNIVERSE FOR
THE
PURSAH QUOTE.

Amazing how the ego finds stuff. I only deal with the content of the Book not the form or specifics ... I go by how it makes me feel in my spirit.

I guess that is why I am very dependent on Teachers at this time ... I loved the way ACIM made me feel (in my spirit) ... but did not understand a word I was reading.

At least with Gary's book it was listening to an ongoing conversation between three people, so I could follow that.

Fascinating.

"Ideas Leave Not Their Source"


Re: I now read all the posts except...

 

--- In Disappearance_of_the_Universe@..., "mstreet"
<mastreet@t...> wrote:

Carrie wrote:
Let's see, adding to that Martha (who seems a lot different than
she was on other boards we've been on together, maybe she is at
least
being honest about how she feels about me and not pretending?)<<

Hi Carrie:

It is true, that a lot of things have just resurfaced, that I had
tried to ignore when first we met. Like, you accusing others of
having secret boards, only to find out that it was <you> who had had
a secret board. Then your complaining about being ignored by others,
and feeling invalidated by them. Yet you doing the exact same thing,
but that is suppose to be okay.

It hasn't been a total loss. I got one more lesson in "shutting
up" (thanks Martha)<<

I did not tell you to shut up Carrie. I just feel that you make
statements that you feel others should apply, but not yourself.
Like "if a brother asks you do something foolish, do it, because it
doesn't matter." When obviously you do not apply this in your own
life. Personally I think it would be foolish to do this, without
first being absolutely certain, that one is receiving guidance from
the Holy Spirit to do this. And then it would be something that is
not harmful to any one.

I know that my responses to you today, were insensitive and for
that I am sorry. You do not deserve to be treated with disrespect,
and I was disrespectful of you. But I have never told you to shut up.

~ Martha
And I never had a "secret board".

Unless you believe what Katie (who believes ACIM is a cult) says.

That's what she called my egroup SongOfPrayer. Which wasn't
secret and for awhile was listed at the top of my open discussion
board.

It's still listed on the top of Nancy's discussion board, even
though it's been closed for over a year (because of Katie).

But if she (and you) keep stating it as a fact, it will become one
and one more reason to see me as a liar and troublemaker.

Whatever you want me to be.

You didn't directly tell me to shut up, but you pretty much
implied this. And it's what others want.

I am working on it.

I appreciate the honest feedback. Remembering it and not
thinking "today is a new day and it's over and done" (when it really
isn't) is still a problem for me.

~ Carrie


Re: PURSAH: "...I PRACTICED THE COURSE FOR 41 YEARS..."

 

From: "ps496"
...IF PURSAH PRACTICED FOR 41 YEARS AND IT TOOK GARY 9 YEARS TO
WRITE THE BOOK...IT DOESN'T ADD UP. ?
REFERENCE PAGE 250 IN...DISAPPEARANCE...I NEED SOME CLARIFICATION.
THANKS, ?PAUL

Hi Paul,

I'm sure Gary will jump in here, eventually, so you can hear this straight "from the horse's mouth" (no offense to Gary... ?or is it, 'no offense to horses'..? ?;^)

But keep in mind that Pursah mentioned (on the previous page, 249), in reference to her final lifetime, in which she practiced the Course for 41 years: "I won't say exactly when in your future it was"... ?So it seems that her 41 years of practicing have most likely not even started yet, by the time frame we seem to be experiencing; hence, no "addition" problems.

Glad to help out, in a timely manner,

Gene


Re: PURSAH: "...I PRACTICED THE COURSE FOR 41 YEARS..."

mstreet
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Hi Paul:
?
No doubt that Gary will explain this to you. It was a puzzle to me too, but that was because I had not finished the book. The ending explains it all. And there is place early on, that you need to take special note of. I think that is why people need to read it a second time, to really get it.
?
~ Martha
?
?
?


PURSAH: "...I PRACTICED THE COURSE FOR 41 YEARS..."

ps496
 

OK...BUT "THE MANUSCRIPT FOR A COURSE IN MIRACLES WAS COMPLETED IN
1973." IF PURSAH PRACTICED FOR 41 YEARS AND IT TOOK GARY 9 YEARS TO
WRITE THE BOOK...IT DOESN'T ADD UP.
REFERENCE PAGE 250 IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE UNIVERSE FOR THE
PURSAH QUOTE.
THIS SOUNDS SILLY..SO I NEED SOME CLARIFICATION.
THIS DOESN'T IMPACT MY VIEW OF THE COURSE. I'VE BEEN A STUDENT FOR
YEARS, SPENDING MUCH TIME IN KEN WAPKNICK LECTURES AND LISTEN TO HIS
TAPES DAILY.
PERHAPS THIS IS JUST AN EDITORIAL OVERSIGHT.

THANKS,

PAUL


Re: PURSAH: "...I PRACTICED THE COURSE F...

 

In a message dated 7/17/03 6:13:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time, lklanglois@... writes:

The way I took it, Paul, is that Pursah's last life before her
awakening - will not begin until after Gary's death.



Hi everyone,

I am going out on a limb, but here is my two cents!? My understanding
of time in the Course, is that is an unreal, and does not exist.? The
Atonement principle is a statement that says the "separation from
God did not occur."? In that "tidy tick of time," all of the ego scripts
were written, and the Atonement is the correction for each corresponding
script.? When the Course says that we are "reviewing mentally what has gone
by," I take it to mean that my decision maker is choosing this part of
the dream I desire to experience as separate from God.? The Course also
tells me that I have also accepted the Atonement, and have let go entirely
of this dream.? It is also says that it never happened, and that I am only
"dreaming of exile, but am awake in God."? In that tidy, tick of time, all
of my past, present and future lives are occurring now, because time
is unreal.? It only seems real, because my mind has programmed my
brain to think linear; however, we are learning that the mind is outside of
time and space.? There are only two thoughts in the mind, and one of
those thoughts teaches separation from God.? That thought is what has
to be identified and changed, because the mind is only dreaming.? There
is noone out there as the Course is allowing us to discover, by looking at
the smokescreen the ego made as a cover for our true Identity in Christ.

I found this helpful too from miracle principle 13 in Text:

"Miracles are both beginnings and endings, and so they alter the
temporal order.? They are always affirmations of rebirth, which seem
to go back but really go forward.? They undo the past in present, and
thus release the future."

Hope I am not too off topic, but this helps me to digest the unreality
of time, and can see Pursah appearing from a future state, to
the present, thorough the past.? It is all occuring right now in this
instant, and all we have to recognize at this point is the importance of
forgiving our dream scripts, to remember the resplendent truth that we
never left home.

Billy





Sharing: Excerpt from Pathwork Guide Lecture No. 257

 



Pathwork Guide Lecture No. 257 (1996 Edition)
Page 4 of 10

But there is an even deeper level of communication which you ignore.
It is still very obscure but once you focus your attention on it, it
will reveal itself as clearly as the levels I have just discussed.
All interactions between human beings ultimately contribute to the
final aim: reconciliation, oneness, brotherhood, love, understanding,
truth. In the final analysis, even the most negative interaction
between individuals serves this purpose.

When two entities--either individual or collective ones--are involved
in a negative interaction, a deeper purpose is being fulfilled, even
if the interaction has a most undesirable result at the moment. The
higher selves of both entities are always at work. The higher self
has not created the negative interaction per se, but it uses what
already exists-- negativity--for the purpose of dissolving it. The
dissolution and transformation of negative material cannot possibly
take place unless there is an outright manifestation. Even if the
entities involved are totally in the dark about the part they
themselves play in this interaction and are still on the level of
self-righteous one-sidedness, they nevertheless serve a higher
purpose. How much more does this happen when entities recognize the
total truth of an interaction that may be hidden from their immediate
view!

So you can see, my friends, that underneath the lower-self exchange,
a higher-self exchange exists simultaneously between the entities in
conflict. This is a very important new thought for you to
contemplate. Just imagine: two people--or groups of people--are at
war on the surface. They hate and accuse each other. They wish each
other the worst and want to harm each other. At the same time, on a
deeper level, these entities agree. They know that what occurs on the
surface serves the common good, serves truth and love, serves their
unity.

On this path, when two of you are at odds with each other and you
work very deeply to come to the truth of the issue, you often
experience a wonderful conciliation in which love unites the same two
individuals who hated and accused each other before. You then
witness what I explained just now. On your earth sphere, in this
dimension, the manifestation of conciliation happens in sequential
time: first the hate, then the search for truth, then love and unity.
On the deeper level of being, there are no such sequences. Truth,
love and unity always exist simultaneously.

Take this new vision into account. It will help you perceive that
every situation, no matter how hopelessly confused and negative it
may appear, simultaneously harbors inner truth, love and unity. Your
understanding of this will accelerate the conciliations on the level
of sequential time, so that enmity/search/truth/love/unity follow
each other in ever quicker succession.

~~~end of excerpt

I decided to share this excerpt. I wasn't sure at first if I should
for the following reasons:

It's not ACIM, and also;

I know that there are others here that are already very much aware of
the deeper level(s)in effect within these types of communications, as
they are, and last;

I knew that finding this today was meant from Spirit to me, as a
reminder to me (personally ~ inner work stuff), about all 'the more'
that's going on re: all the fighting & fussing that happens so much
on boards. (everywhere it seems).

So, I wasn't sure, but then I though ~ oh, what the heck (!) [just
do it!] ... share the dang thing (!) [laughing at myself] It helps
and it's a good reminder.

~shrug~
so ... here it is!
:-)
~love to all~
Deb


Re: I know what I'm going to do

 

It's actually a bit more interesting than just a case of "was time created or made?".
~ Stephen

"Now, we know that time does not exist." (ACIM Urtext, pg. 35)