Doug Sparks

August 17, 2020 by ACIM teacher Doug Sparks The terms ‘simple’ and ‘easy’ are so often found together to describe the same thing that it is not surprising that the two terms are often unconsciously conflated. This is of little or no consequence most of the time since what is simple is often also easy. Not so, however, when the term ‘simple’ is applied to ACIM, as Jesus does throughout his course. Ironically, it is the Course’s simplicity that is hard for us to grasp. In describing his course, Jesus says … For here we have an answer, clear and plain beyond deceit in its simplicity. All the complexities the world has spun of fragile cobwebs disappear before the power and the majesty of this extremely simple statement of the truth (W-pI.122.6:6-7). Understandably, when one begins reading and perhaps, studying ACIM, it can take some time to adjust one’s thinking to align with its thought system. While the writing style is unfamiliar to most readers in the beginning, it is what the Course says that is so challenging. The most basic metaphysical premise of ACIM … that there is no world (W-pI.132.6:2) … confronts our belief in the reality of our perceptions. Thus begins the process of realizing that our self/ego generated experience is not the truth. We must develop the humility to question the assumption that our perceptions are correct, and the honesty to recognize that we are wrong about all of our perceptions when they are generated from the ego. This course is simple, […]