1. This manual is not intended to answer all questions that both teacher and pupil may raise. 2In fact, it covers only a few of the more obvious ones, in terms of a brief summary of some of the major concepts in the text and workbook. 3It is not a substitute for either, but merely a supplement. 4While it is called a manual for teachers, it must be remembered that only time divides teacher and pupil, so that the difference is temporary by definition. 5In some cases, it may be helpful for the pupil to read the manual first. 6Others might do better to begin with the workbook. 7Still others may need to start at the more abstract level of the text.
2. Which is for which? 2Who would profit more from prayers alone? 3Who needs but a smile, being as yet unready for more? 4No one should attempt to answer these questions alone. 5Surely no teacher of God has come this far without realizing that. 6The curriculum is highly individualized, and all aspects are under the Holy Spirit’s particular care and guidance. 7Ask and He will answer. 8The responsibility is His, and He alone is fit to assume it. 9To do so is His function. 10To refer the questions to Him is yours. 11Would you want to be responsible for decisions about which you understand so little? 12Be glad you have a Teacher Who cannot make a mistake. 13His answers are always right. 14Would you say that of yours?
3. There is another advantage,—and a very important one,—in referring decisions to the Holy Spirit with increasing frequency. 2Perhaps you have not thought of this aspect, but its centrality is obvious. 3To follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance is to let yourself be absolved of guilt. 4It is the essence of the Atonement. 5It is the core of the curriculum. 6The imagined usurping of functions not your own is the basis of fear. 7The whole world you see reflects the illusion that you have done so, making fear inevitable. 8To return the function to the One to Whom it belongs is thus the escape from fear. 9And it is this that lets the memory of love return to you. 10Do not, then, think that following the Holy Spirit’s guidance is necessary merely because of your own inadequacies. 11It is the way out of hell for you.
4. Here again is the paradox often referred to in the course. 2To say, “Of myself I can do nothing” is to gain all power. 3And yet it is but a seeming paradox. 4As God created you, you have all power. 5The image you made of yourself has none. 6The Holy Spirit knows the truth about you. 7The image you made does not. 8Yet, despite its obvious and complete ignorance, this image assumes it knows all things because you have given that belief to it. 9Such is your teaching, and the teaching of the world that was made to uphold it. 10But the Teacher Who knows the truth has not forgotten it. 11His decisions bring benefit to all, being wholly devoid of attack. 12And therefore incapable of arousing guilt.
5. Who assumes a power that he does not possess is deceiving himself. 2Yet to accept the power given him by God is but to acknowledge his Creator and accept His gifts. 3And His gifts have no limit. 4To ask the Holy Spirit to decide for you is simply to accept your true inheritance. 5Does this mean that you cannot say anything without consulting Him? 6No, indeed! 7That would hardly be practical, and it is the practical with which this course is most concerned. 8If you have made it a habit to ask for help when and where you can, you can be confident that wisdom will be given you when you need it. 9Prepare for this each morning, remember God when you can throughout the day, ask the Holy Spirit’s help when it is feasible to do so, and thank Him for His guidance at night. 10And your confidence will be well founded indeed.
6. Never forget that the Holy Spirit does not depend on your words. 2He understands the requests of your heart, and answers them. 3Does this mean that, while attack remains attractive to you, He will respond with evil? 4Hardly! 5For God has given Him the power to translate your prayers of the heart into His language. 6He understands that an attack is a call for help. 7And He responds with help accordingly. 8God would be cruel if He let your words replace His Own. 9A loving father does not let his child harm himself, or choose his own destruction. 10He may ask for injury, but his father will protect him still. 11And how much more than this does your Father love His Son?
7. Remember you are His completion and His Love. 2Remember your weakness is His strength. 3But do not read this hastily or wrongly. 4If His strength is in you, what you perceive as your weakness is but illusion. 5And He has given you the means to prove it so. 6Ask all things of His Teacher, and all things are given you. 7Not in the future but immediately; now. 8God does not wait, for waiting implies time and He is timeless. 9Forget your foolish images, your sense of frailty and your fear of harm, your dreams of danger and selected “wrongs.” 10God knows but His Son, and as he was created so he is. 11In confidence I place you in His Hands, and I give thanks for you that this is so.
8. And now in all your doings be you blessed.
2God turns to you for help to save the world.
3Teacher of God, His thanks He offers you,
And all the world stands silent in the grace
You bring from Him. 4You are the Son He loves,
And it is given you to be the means
Through which His Voice is heard around the world,
To close all things of time; to end the sight
Of all things visible; and to undo
All things that change. 5Through you is ushered in
A world unseen, unheard, yet truly there.
6Holy are you, and in your light the world
Reflects your holiness, for you are not
Alone and friendless. 7I give thanks for you,
And join your efforts on behalf of God,
Knowing they are on my behalf as well,
And for all those who walk to God with me.
8AMEN