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42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Combined volume of two pamphlets "scribed" by Helen Schucman, April 29, 2002
These are two pamphlets combined into one volume. They were taken down in the same "inner dictation" that produced A COURSE IN MIRACLES. The first pamphlet is: PSYCHOTHERAPY: PURPOSE, PROCESS, AND PRACTICE. Introduction Chapter 1: The Purpose of Psychotherapy Chapter 2: The Process of Psychotherapy I. The Limits on Psychotherapy II. The Place of Religion in Psychotherapy III. The Role of the Psychotherapist IV. The Process of Illness V. The Process of Healing VI. The Definition of Healing VII. The Ideal Patient-Therapist Relationship Chapter 3: The Practice of Psychotherapy I. The Selection of Patients II. Is Psychotherapy a Profession? III. The Question of Payment Forty-seven pages in all, this is recommended reading for all students of A COURSE IN MIRACLES. But Kenneth Wapnick PhD., himself a psychiatrist, has suggested that this booklet be read after the student of the Course has read the Course proper. Also, he cautions against anyone taking this booklet to their therapist unless the therapist has asked for it or is familiar with the Course. As with the Course proper, this booklet is primarily intended for personal study in aiding the reader in healing his own perspective. The second pamphlet in this volume is: THE SONG OF PRAYER Chapter 1: Prayer Introduction I. True Prayer II. The Ladder of Prayer III. Praying for Others IV. Praying with Others V. The Ladder Ends Chapter 2: Forgiveness Introduction I. Forgiveness of Yourself II. Forgiveness-to-Destroy III. Forgiveness-for-Salvation Chapter 3: Healing Introduction I. The Cause of Sickness II. False versus True Healing III. Separation versus Union IV. The Holiness of Healing Forty-four pages in all, this is a beautifully written booklet that ends with one of my favorite passages in all of the Course material: "So now return your holy voice to Me. The song of prayer is silent without you. The universe is waiting your release because it is its own. Be kind to it and yourself, and then be kind to Me. I ask but this; that you be comforted and live no more in terror and in pain. Do not abandon Love. Remember this; whatever you may think about yourself, whatever you may think about the world, your Father needs you and will call to you until you come to Him in peace at last." - Paragraph 10, page 44 Kenneth Wapnick, PhD., founder of "Foundation for A Course In Miracles" has commented that THE SONG OF PRAYER is important in the Course curriculum in part because it is the only place within all the scribed material (A COURSE IN MIRACLES, as well as SUPPLEMENTS TO A COURSE IN MIRACLES) in which "forgiveness-to-destroy" is mentioned. In Course theory, true forgiveness means that you forgive another for what they have not done; this entails recognizing that the one who has "sinned" against you is not a body in reality, that individual identity is an illusion, and that the world is not real. From that perspective, one is able to see how illusory sin is and that in reality there is nothing to forgive. What you are really doing by forgiving is remembering that the other is a part of yourself and there is no sin in reality. Forgiveness, therefore, is ultimately an illusion. But, as the Course points out, it is the only illusion in this world that does not lead to other illusions. "Forgiveness-to-destroy," on the other hand, makes sin very real and then excuses it. What really occurs is a reinforcement of guilt and the belief in the separation both from the other person and from God. "Forgiveness-to-destroy" is therefore a ploy of the ego, an attempt to perpetuate itself. These two pamphlets are invaluable, but Mr. Wapnick suggests that they be viewed as they are titled: supplements. In other words, it is best to wait until one has read the three volumes of the Course proper before one tackles this material. And these pamphlets are best if viewed in the context of the Course material and thought system, not as their own separate entities.
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