In this video, Lillian Paes, translator of A Course In Miracles into Portuguese – Um Curso Em Milagres (UCEM), talks with Bruce Rawles about the intensity and dedication required to translate the content of ACIM’s pure non-dual metaphysics – beyond merely the form – into another language. She recalls her close collaboration with Dr. Kenneth Wapnick at Roscoe, New York during this multi-year process of refining the translation to ensure the utmost clarity of the meaning beyond merely the accuracy of the words. In some cases, she would spend considerable time examining the roots of specific words in order to optimize the transfer of the underlying meaning. She also recounted how she learned to find deeper inner beauty through this process of deeper inquiry and introspective exploration of where the Course is leading us all through the practice of forgiveness.
Lillian recited three of her favorite passages from the Course, the first two from Chapter 18, section V, the first a great reminder of how clueless we are without the constant guidance of our Inner Kindness Teacher:
“Prepare you now for the undoing of what never was. If you already understood the difference between truth and illusion, the Atonement would have no meaning. The holy instant, the holy relationship, the Holy Spirit’s teaching, and all the means by which salvation is accomplished, would have no purpose. For they are all but aspects of the plan to change your dreams of fear to happy dreams, from which you waken easily to knowledge. Put yourself not in charge of this, for you cannot distinguish between advance and retreat. Some of your greatest advances you have judged as failures, and some of your deepest retreats you have evaluated as success.” T-18.V.1
“I desire this holy instant for myself, that I may share it with my brother, whom I love.
It is not possible that I can have it without him, or he without me.
Yet it is wholly possible for us to share it now.
And so I choose this instant as the one to offer to the Holy Spirit, that His blessing may descend on us, and keep us both in peace.” T-18.V.7:3-6“Dream softly of your sinless brother, who unites with you in holy innocence. And from this dream the Lord of Heaven will Himself awaken His beloved Son. Dream of your brother’s kindnesses instead of dwelling in your dreams on his mistakes. Select his thoughtfulness to dream about instead of counting up the hurts he gave. Forgive him his illusions, and give thanks to him for all the helpfulness he gave. And do not brush aside his many gifts because he is not perfect in your dreams. He represents his Father, Whom you see as offering both life and death to you.
Brother, He gives but life. Yet what you see as gifts your brother offers represent the gifts you dream your Father gives to you. Let all your brother’s gifts be seen in light of charity and kindness offered you. And let no pain disturb your dream of deep appreciation for his gifts to you.” T-27.VII.15-16
She also shares – with “humorous horror” – the discovery that the printed cover of the first edition had a glaring typo in gold lettering – a spurious letter “X” – which was due to a printing error – quite the forgiveness opportunity, and a reminder that we can afford to gently laugh at the insanity of our belief in error that cannot be corrected.
This video was recorded July 26, 2020.