| Heaven & Attaining Inner Peace The Edge Interview with Marianne Williamson by Doug Crandall Marianne Williamson, an internationally acclaimed author and lecturer who has published eight books, four of which -- including the mega bestseller A Return to Love and the newly-released Everyday Grace -- have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, will present a lecture on "What Heaven Means Now" and sign books in Kansas City at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 24, at Christ Church Unity, 1000 NE Barry Road. Music will be provided by Daniel Nahmod. Ticket prices are $100, $38 and $17. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Christ Church Unity at (816) 436-0200. Williamson's books include Illuminata, A Woman's Worth and Healing the Soul of America. She also edited Imagine: What American Could Be in the 21st Century, a compilation of essays by some of America's most visionary thinkers. She has been a popular guest on numerous television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, Good Morning America and Charlie Rose. She has lectured professionally since 1983. In 1989, she founded Project Angel Food, a meals-on-wheels program that serves homebound people with AIDS in the Los Angeles area. Today, Project Angel Food serves more than 1,000 people daily. Williamson also co-founded the Global Renaissance Alliance (GRA), a worldwide network of peace activists. The mission of the GRA is to harness the power of non-violence as a social force for good. She spoke with The EDGE by phone from her office in the Detroit area about her June appearance in Kansas City. Most, if not all, of your work uses as its foundation the teachings of A Course In Miracles (ACIM). Can you tell our readers a little about the course and what it entails? Marianne Williamson: A Course In Miracles has been described, I think by Jerry Jampolsky, as a self-study program of spiritual psychotherapy. It is mind training in the relinquishment of a thought system based on fear and the acceptance instead of a thought system based on love. The goal of ACIM is the attainment of inner peace. It's a kind of practical goal of the course. That was well put. Is it something that is necessary and beneficial for people, in the sense that many claim to be seeking inner peace? Williamson: First of all, ACIM does not claim to be for everyone. If it is for you, you know it. Millions of people are looking for ways to attain a greater sense of peace, and for some of us ACIM is a part of our path. You will be speaking in Kansas City on June 24, and the topic of your discussion will be "What Heaven Means Now." Can you tell our readers just what heaven does mean now? Williamson: ACIM says that heaven is not a condition or a place, but rather an awareness of our oneness. The world is so fractured today and there is so much separation and conflict, so one of the most critical questions facing us as individuals and as a species is, "How can we extend ourselves beyond the barriers that divide us? How can we close the gap that causes such pain and destruction?" What does that mean for our readers now? In other words, how would finding a sense of heaven within change that in the world today? Williamson: All change begins with a change inside ourselves, with our own attitudes and feelings. So if we find a deeper awareness of oneness and unity and peace inside ourselves, we show up as people more capable of contributing at a higher level in the world around us. Perhaps leading us to then help solve the myriad of problems facing us in the world today? Williamson: Sometimes the problem is in our own home, with our own family. Sometimes the issues are the problems we face in the world around us. It doesn't really matter. The point of ACIM is that we think we have many different problems, but we really only have one, and that is separation from God. When we heal that separation within ourselves, all of the circumstances around us begin to change. How is this different, or is it different, from the traditional teachings of the world's major religions regarding what heaven is? Williamson: I think ACIM is based on the universal principles that are found in all the great religious teachings of the world. Right, and I agree. However, it seems like most people have a view that heaven is some place other than where they are right now, and that they must meet certain conditions before they can ever enter heaven's gates. And this only happens after we die. Yet ACIM is clear that the only time that truly exists is right now, which strongly indicates that one need not wait to attain the peace of heaven. What would you say to people that could help them reconcile their belief in a "future" heaven with actually being in heaven now? Especially considering this seemingly ever increasing fearful world we live in? Williamson: Well, that's fine. I'm not trying to convince anybody of anything. I'm simply presenting the metaphysical teachings in a book like ACIM. ACIM has a radically different view on such things. It teaches us that we are eternally innocent and God is not out to punish us for our sins, but rather he corrects our mistakes. ACIM is a teaching of radical forgiveness, and that radical forgiveness begins with God's attitude towards each of us. That doesn't mean don't make mistakes or that we will not be held accountable for those mistakes. It simply means that the spirit of God is corrective and healing, rather than angry and punishing. As I was considering what questions to ask you for this interview, my wife said something that struck me as being quite profound. She said, "Heaven has never changed. How could it have?" With this thought in mind, can you tell our readers what ACIM says about "original sin" and our purported fall from grace that is so prevalently taught by many of the world's religions? Williamson: ACIM doesn't speak about original sin, because there isn't any. It doesn't speak about a fall from grace. What it says is that we were created in heaven, that what God created never changes, and that in fact we are still there. The world as we know it is a mortal hallucination in which we think that we are where we are not. The material world is, of itself, of that illusion. Holy and beautiful when we surrender it to God to use for his purposes, but still a step away from our true reality. In your view, is there a place called hell? Williamson: Yes. Hell is what the ego, the fear-based ego, makes of any given moment when we perceive ourselves as separate from God and from each other. In ACIM's terms, both heaven and hell exist, but they are right here on Earth. Being an avid student of ACIM myself, if the subject ever comes up, I tell people that I am in heaven now. This usually evokes all kinds of reactions, including those expressing the desire to attain a higher level of peace in their lives to those showing incredulousness at my naiveté and idealism, and even those expressing concern about my eternal salvation. ACIM is clear, however, that there is only one true reality and all else is illusion. Considering the state of the world today, with its terrorism and war, economic chaos, global warming, political and corporate corruption, what would you say to help people remember that we also have at our disposal all the creative force of God and the universe, and that we really can bring about a lasting peace, or Heaven, to our planet? Williamson: I believe in a God who is aware of the terrible problems that occur on this Earth and has sent the Holy Spirit to help us undo them. That spirit exists in each and every one of us. When we ask it to guide our perceptions, we are turned into people God uses to heal the world. God is like the electricity and we are like lamps. When we are plugged into him, we cast the light that removes all darkness. It seems that the problems in the world are so terrible, and in fact they are, in worldly terms, but at the same time they provide the challenge and opportunity for the human race to evolve into the next stage of our journey. Not only as human beings, but also as children of God. The light inside us is greater than the darkness of the world, and when we discover that light, the darkness will be gone. Rumor has it that you recently left your ministerial position at a Church in the Detroit area. What is next for Marianne Williamson? What are your future plans? Williamson: I'm writing a new book, continuing to speak and doing whatever else is in front of me. I think a lot of change is in the air for most everyone today. Most certainly. In fact, you have the dubious honor of being my last interview as an employee of The EDGE newspaper. Williamson: Yes, it's interesting, isn't it? There are lots of doors opening and lots of doors closing. What is the title of your new book? Williamson: It's called "The Gift of Change." (laughing) Oh, perfect... Williamson: (laughing) Yes... When is it due out? Williamson: October or November of this year. There has been much recent publicity regarding the phenomena called Indigo Children, and Crystal Children, those beings who have recently been born into the world and who have purportedly come to help us elevate our consciousness -- our future leaders, if you will. In your view, what can we do now as role models for these children to help them create a peaceful world -- a world where perhaps attaining the peace of heaven is not so naïve after all? Williamson: I think the greatest gift we can give to others is to try to be the best people we can be. Doug Crandall has served as manager and advertising sales representative of the Heartland edition of The EDGE. Copyright © 2004 Doug Crandall |
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JUNE 2004 |
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