Val Scott: An Open Letter to Ken Wapnick and Judith Skutch (May 16, 1997)

AN OPEN LETTER TO KEN WAPNICK AND JUDY SKUTCH WHITSON

A COURSE IN MIRACLES IS NOT "SPECIAL"

Dear Ken and Judy,

I am writing to you through this open forum because I have come to the conclusion that it is now time to stop shadow boxing in darkness behind the scenes with you and to come right out in the open about "the copyright issue" which appears to be bedeviling the Course world these days - an issue" which I have now come to regard as some kind of a true blessing  in disguise among us, because it has literally forced a great number of us Course students and teachers - our so-called "Course community" - to take a good look at what is really going on inside of us these days - spiritually speaking - and how Jesus and/or the Holy Spirit seem to be completely left out of our general consciousness at the moment - as though They suddenly have no say whatever when it comes to matters deemed to be pertaining only
to "Caesar's world."  And so I find myself moved to address this matter with you again, now in public - in fact, the more public the better - having exhausted all other recent approaches with you, none of which has been acknowledged - much less responded to - having consciously chosen, apparently, to separate yourselves from even long-term Course friends like me (see APPENDIX at end, excerpts culled from an earlier document), whose only desire up to this point has been to meaningfully share with you their spirit-based thoughts and feelings on this matter, which they feel so much a part of,  and to sincerely offer you their ongoing love and support, often at the risk of being greatly misunderstood or misperceived in terms of their personal motivations.  Instead, you appear to have now become totally embroiled in Caesar's world exclusively - through lawyers, publishers, and other specialists - all of whom seem to believe in, or have a vested interest in, resolving spiritual issues through legal means or formal law suits.

As you know, I have a professional background in the field of non-adversarial labor-management relations, and if there is one thing that I have learned during my 30-years of experience in this field, it is that when lawyers and experts are brought into help with what are clearly human relations problems, all that is "enabled" is more conflict, or more fear. In other words, with "professional conflict enablers" brought into the picture - because of their backgrounds, motivations, and professional training - all that prevails is ego - and not much else.  So the message for me has always been - as a professional who believes that we are, individually and collectively, totally responsible for literally everything going on within our human relationships (and never to blame) - is to first make sure that we get rid of  any and all "hired guns" we may have brought in to take over matters which are our own personal responsibility.  Which, to me, means using "experts" ONLY for technical or facilitating purposes - thus leaving responsible decision making where it truly belongs: with the people being directly affected.

So, in the world of Caesar, if I find myself somehow forced to choose between resolving so-called worldly problems with you and your foundationsthrough either the litigation process or by placing it before the general public in a responsible but open-ended way,  I would opt for the general public approach every single time - as I am now willing to do.  So, as far as I am concerned, whether this is the beginning of that kind of process or not, my dear friends and Course colleagues, it is now up to you.  Certainly I have done my utmost to communicate with you in every other way I can think of.

As you know, my full case on the copyright issue has been placed before you many times over the years, but you have never chosen to address it at any time.  My most recent and most comprehensive effort takes the form of two lengthy letters to Whit and Judy, which can be found on my web site under the title of HEALING THE COURSE WORLD under the web address of: http://www.netshop.net/~valscott/ - which covers the whole territory.  What I would like to add to this now are the following points now in my conscious mind:

1. You will recall, the difficulties you and I have had over Course matters in recent years all emanated from that law suit you and four other Course authors launched against Saul Steinberg, the original printer of the Course, for allegedly stealing what was deemed to be other people's "intellectual property" - an action, irrespective of what was originally perceived, which I found to be in serious conflict with anything that I could relate to in terms of "living the Course with truth and integrity" - and accordingly said so to you in a number of polite but confrontive ways - which, unfortunately, was never appreciated by you, and led to a rapid cooling of our personal friendship on your part.  My central point was that you and your two foundations were among our highest profile "demonstration models" within the Course community, and that this litigation approach to resolving problems between or among us could only raise fear levels with everyone, and was most certainly, in my mind - as well as in my heart - anything BUT an example of  "forgiveness in action"  from our most eminent Course leaders.  That law suit, as you know, never got anywhere; but it most certainly has left behind a legacy of bitterness and disillusionment - right up to this day.  Now I see virtually the same process being re-enacted, or repeated, with Penguin-FIP's law suit against The New Christian Church of Full Endeavor, or Endeavor Academy, for copyright infringement.  So, from my standpoint, it's the same thing all over again. And, once more, I ask: "Why?"  Are our two major Course foundations only capable of thinking in terms of litigation when worldly conflicts arise between or among us - as they inevitably will?  Are these the so-called "fruits" of over 20 years of Course study we are now supposed to honor, cherish, and perhaps even emulate!?

2. Who really "owns" the Course?  Indeed, can it be owned legitimately at all?  In short, who does the Course REALLY "belong" to?   An even better question, I suggest, is who "should" own the Course?  To whom does it belong - if we are to use such terms?  Wouldn't the answer be to Jesus? And if we step back a moment - and reflect carefully on the true nature of the Christ Mind - can we really imagine that the Christ Mind would be in any way interested in such a silly thing as a "copyright"?  I very much doubt it.  I realize that your two foundations would have us believe that Jesus "told" Helen to get the Course copyrighted.  And all our troubles, you might say, could be traced to that so-called instruction.  But I have not seen any clear evidence that that instruction was actually even given to Helen in the manner reported.  Or if it was, that it could be considered at all reliable - quite apart from its likelihood.  As you know, I have never for one moment "bought" the Jesus "wanted us to do this" or Jesus "asked us to do this" contention, or argument, because I have never seen any actual documentation to support that he did anything even remotely close to that.  I have asked both of you to refer me to the source of the documentation which you claim exists in support of these assertions or declarations, and neither of you, to date, has seen fit to even respond to this kind of  request.  All I know is that the idea first appeared in Bob Skutch's book, JOURNEY WITHOUT DISTANCE, which was based on one of many drafts of Helen's long fussed-over autobiography (which was never completed), and that Ken did not mention anything at all about the issue of copyright in his definitive book on Helen, ABSENCE FROM FELICITY, most probably because he dismissed entirely this kind of specificity coming from Jesus via Helen.  Here is what is recorded in that book on this subject:

There also is the group of small messages Helen took down over a period of time, that we came to refer to as "Special Messages."  In the main, these involved "celestial pep talks," wherein Jesus offered us encouragement by guaranteeing a successful outcome to all things.  Some of these even became quite specific as to WHEN this success would or might come.  None of these predictions, however, came to fruition, and on any kind of observable or experiential level, none of the positive more general predictions came to pass either.  The reader may recall here Helen's statement in her letters to Bill about recognizing that it was not a good thing for her to become involved with specifics and the future.  (From pages 393-95.)

... That is why in A Course in Miracles itself there is no mention of specific outcomes, the forms in which the content of forgiveness would be expressed.  In fact, it says of itself: "This is a course in cause (content) and not effect (form)" (text, p. 52).  These special messages, therefore, while inspired in part, became contaminated by Helen's other self, which tried to help in a form SHE decided would be helpful.  That is why Jesus taught:  "Trust not your good intentions.  They are not enough" (text, p. 355), and why in the earlier weeks of the dictation he was urging Helen to ask him FIRST before she decided to be helpful to others.

Thus, Bill and I came to feel that these messages were highly influenced by Helen's own need to be encouraged, and to encourage others.  This seemed to be especially the case, again, whenever the message became specific as to time, place, or person.  Thus, we never felt that in the main, these had the same legitimacy or authenticity as did A Course in Miracles or the pamphlets, in none of which did it ever appear that Helen's ego had contaminated the information in any way.  We realized that the same could not be said about these messages, and thus they have never been published.... Incidentally, it is important to note in this regard that all these messages date from Judith Skutch's arrival on the scene and our discussions about publication, etc. ... this was the period when great emphasis was placed on receiving the answers to specific questions, leading inevitably to a concern for what was going to happen in the future.  This emphasis and concern was largely absent before, and we shall see later how this adversely affected Helen's hearing.

My most recent personal communication to FIP on this kind of thing took place as recently as September 4th, 1996, and reads as follows:

Dear Whit and Judy,

I have been talking to some Course brothers recently about what the
Foundation for Inner Peace has publicly announced - and has posted over
Internet - that Jesus, in one of his channelings to Helen in 1978 (?), let
it be known to her in some authoritative way that the publishing of the
Course would be turned over to a commercial publisher at some point in the
future - and that you, Judy, have been making this fact known to Course
audiences for some ten or more years.

I should tell you that I have no difficulty accepting your decision to
take this step at face value - because it makes sense to me.  However, at
the same time, and for entirely different reasons, I would also like to
know if this Jesus "instruction" - or was it a "prediction"? - is available
through the Foundation in some kind of printed form; and if so, whether it
might be shared with me and others in the Course community in the form in
which it actually came through.

Would that be possible?

If so, I would greatly appreciate it if you would be kind enough to send
me a copy - with many thanks.

Again, there has been no response from FIP of any kind to this letter.

3. My contention, therefore, is that the statements that have been
published by FIP and FACIM are highly suspect at best in the light of the
foregoing evidence, and that it is most unlikely that Jesus - the Christ
Mind - would be involved in the sort of things which have been attributed
to him recently - indeed, for all the reasons you will find in Ken's book,
ABSENCE FROM FELICITY.  And here, I suggest, Ken cannot have it both ways!
So will the real Ken Wapnick please stand up!?  The Course community is
interested in finding out the truth here.  I say, the whole idea of
copyright for FIP is an unsustainable one, and that the FIP should get out
of the copyright business altogether - period!  And, I suggest, RIGHT NOW -
without hesitancy - and concentrate instead entirely on maintaining
publishing standards for the Course and overseeing  its translations
program - and not concern itself at all with how the Course is going to be
used.  Jesus and the Holy Spirit will attend to that, and need, I suggest,
no help whatever from worldly foundations of any kind.  If this means
letting Endeavor Academy do what they want to do with Course materials, let
them!  What does it really matter? 

So what I am  suggesting is that FIP fire all of the lawyers who are
presently involved in this case; withdraw its law suit against GCP and its
associations; and make it absolutely clear to Penguin as well as the whole
Course world that it is getting out of the "policing the Course and the
Course community" business in every way; and is going to concentrate,
instead, entirely on translations and maintaining high standards of
scholarship and fellowship within the Course community as a whole; and
place ALL of its trust and energy into nothing less than Jesus and the Holy
Spirit; and, in the process, hopefully, also become some kind of a model
spiritual foundation as well.

Or step aside and let some other institution do that job within the Course
community.  Because if it doesn't, FIP's very source of legitimacy, I
suggest, will be gradually withdrawn from the more serious and dedicated
students and teachers among us. 

Those are the two choices as I see them at this moment.

In short, getting into the FIP-FACIM merger and copyright fight with GCP
has been a mistake which can now be corrected through a simple decision.
All one needs to do is recognize - before it is too late - that it was an
"off Course" decision, which now can be corrected through simple
self-forgiveness all around - and, of course, unconditionally.

4. Finally, let us remember, and in true humility, that the Course itself -
beautiful, wonderful, and perfect though it may be to so many of us who
faithfully follow this path - the Course itself makes it clear that it is
still only ONE PATH AMONG THOUSANDS. 

Which to me means that the Christ Mind is manifesting Itself in Its own way
throughout our dream IRRESPECTIVE of what some of us may flatter ourselves
with  in terms of what we may do, or may not do, with the Course. 

FOR THE CHRIST MIND IS NOT LIMITED TO SIMPLY THE COURSE!   

In short, the Jesus of the Course does not consider his Course to be a
special one in any way.  All I am adding here - in the foregoing context
- is the simple message that neither should we!

In short, the copyright issue is NOT A BIG ISSUE.  Only the ego would have
us see it any other way.  Indeed, it could actually be a blessing in our
lives to the extent that we can all let go of it - completely - and get on
in with the real work of our spiritual awakening.

In love and peace,

Val

  Val Scott: Forgiveness is Always ... "A Better Way" (July 4, 1999)

Dear Ken and Gloria,

With all the 365 Workbook lessons, we are told that we need only to
truly "get" one of them in order to understand and fully appreciate what
the Course is essentially teaching. As I recently shared with you over
the phone, Ken, the lesson which has registered with me the most in
recent years has been Lesson 71, "Only God's plan for salvation will
work," which for me means simply putting forgiveness first in our lives
- at all times - and never anything less than that.

I experience myself, as I believe you both know, as a "transformer"
within the dream, and not as some kind of mystic. So, for me, this is
both the fastest as well as the most direct way to experience "the happy
dream" the Course speaks of in preparation for "the real world." In
short, as Lesson 71 clearly teaches, the only way that will truly "work"
within our world of illusions.

So, as a Self-assigned transformer (if you will), that is the particular
mandate which I have been "given" by the Holy Spirit and find myself to
be essentially guided by. Within that specific context, then, it has
become very clear to me what I am to "do" in this world - and most
especially right now. I am to put God's plan before anything else in
my life - or, again, forgiveness first.

For me, it doesn't get any more simple than that. So, within the
context of that kind of simplicity, I "see" this kind of a scenario
before us, which I would like to place into a six-month time frame in
case Y2K - that "wild card" everyone is speculating about, but haven't
a clue what to "do" with (especially world-wide) - becomes a factor to
take into account within time and space considerations.

In short, what I am suggesting is why not use Y2K as a possible "reason"
to help us accelerate our own transformation?

Meaning, nothing less than using God's plan to transform the world as
we now know it within the next six months. In short, do our utmost to
fully "wake up" in that kind of time frame.

Honestly, why not?

That would require a miracle, of course. So let us begin the process by
thanking the Holy Spirit in our minds that there are no degrees of
difficulty when it comes to forgiving the world, especially since our
goal is, literally, "a forgiven world." That's what miracles are for,
are they not? So, very seriously and sincerely, why not take a leap of
faith in this specific direction - here and now?

In terms of operating assumptions, I am currently functioning from two
premises.

My first premise is that it would be both helpful and practical to "come
from" the assumption that we, as a spiritual community, have just less
than six months on the calendar to make a significant impact on the
world as we currently know it. The ego will quickly tell us, of course,
that such an assumption is completely unrealistic, cleverly reminding
us, perhaps, that the Course teaches that total transformation will take
"millions of years." However, unless your experience is completely at
variance with mine, I don't believe the Holy Spirit would view this
particular suggestion in that kind of light. He would, I suggest, see it
within the context of our choosing "freedom now," would He not? In any
event, I invite you to check that out for yourselves. One cannot be too
sure about such matters!

My second premise is that it is incumbent on ACIM students and teachers
to be willing to give honest-to-God leadership in this kind of
world-wide forgiveness venture, simply because, in "top line" terms, we
have the least excuse not to become the pioneering "demonstration
teachers" the world is calling for. Indeed, if not us, then who -
especially in terms of a collective mass of "helpful" energy?

But first - very obviously - we need to "get our own act together" as a
community of forgiveness-oriented brothers and sisters. Which means that
it makes very good sense to begin with our existing leadership. And most
especially, I suggest, with those who have assumed that role and
responsibility up to this point in time, such as yourselves. Which is
why I am addressing you in this particular way.

As you see, given my particular premises and operating assumptions -
which, again, I invite you to check out with the Holy Spirit in your own
minds if you happen to think they are in any way unsound - I have come
to the conclusion that we have nothing less than an absolutely
magnificent opportunity to demonstrate to ourselves and to the world as
a whole how forgiveness - God's plan - actually works within the
illusion of time and space, beginning with the specific healing of our
own spiritual community. Because if God's plan could be demonstrated
to work for us, it would be obvious that it could work anywhere, would
it not?

So, with this sense of urgency and commitment, what I would like to
propose is that we consciously "get our ACIM act together" immediately,
and not waste any more time - and most specifically before September, I
would like to suggest, at which time a CBS 48 Hours program, as you
know, is scheduled for a mass release around the world on the general
subject of "miracles" within Western culture. As one who was interviewed
at length for this program, I suspect, as a very interesting feature for
the 48 Hourse tabloid-viewing audience, the program will be pandering to
the present turmoil between FACIM and the Course community, and most
particularly with respect to the copyright infringement case between
FACIM and Endeavor Academy. In short, we will be witnessing the
introduction of the Course and some of its teachings to a huge TV
audience; but, ironically, it will also be highlighting a ludicrous and
absolutely meaningless conflict between the ACIM establishment and a
perceived cult! Needless to declare, what a combination! What a way to
introduce the Course to the masses around the world! And we, I suggest -
all of us - are completely responsible for this situation. Are we not?
Indeed, in worldly terms, who else would be?

So what I am recommending is nothing less than, within the next two
months, consciously and voluntarily transforming our whole internal ACIM
scene so that, at the very least, the present CBS show becomes totally
out of date and, in fact, irrelevant by the end of the summer - which
would call out for, I suggest, perhaps an entirely new kind of approach
for CBS to take - this time, based on how the Course's teachings can
and actually do work within the ACIM community itself. Now, that, I
suggest, would be a whole different kind of news and entertainment for
the masses of the world to experience at this point of our human
evolution!

And so I ask myself, why not consciously "go" for this? And I also ask
the Holy Spirit. And He says - guess what? - "Why not?" also! But once
again, check that out for yourselves, and especially if you think that
all I am doing here is projecting onto others another one of the ego's
devious dreams within the dream.

Anyway, as you see, all I am really suggesting here is that you are in
the position to make it totally unnecessary for the following mass
mailing to go out as planned. All it would require, it seems to me, is a
little willingness on your part to welcome into your heart the message
below right now - rather than later.

So, very literally, your choice. I look forward to welcoming your
response, dear friends, whatever you may decide.

In love, peace, truth, and joy,

Val

 EARLY COURSE ASSOCIATIONS

JUDY SKUTCH WHITSON first introduced me to the Course at Princeton
University in 1979; welcomed me into her home in California on several
occasions; introduced me to several of her friends and "leading lights"
of the Course world, such as Jerry Jampolsky, Bill Thetford, and Ken
Wapnick; and, as a result of our relationship, trusted me to bring into
being a Course-based organization, Inner Peace Unlimited, which was to
become, among other things, the "official" distributor of A Course in
Miracles in Canada. (Co-founded in 1988 in Ottawa with Barbara and Alan
Reid, my original holy relationship partners, it is now a thriving
business under their capable leadership and is called The Canadian
Foundation for the Awareness of Miracles.)

Through her willingness and cooperation, Judy helped make possible the
Course's comprehensive presence in Canada - for which she has my
complete and undying gratitude, along with that of countless others.

KEN WAPNICK was my first Course teacher and, as such, has made an
absolutely enormous contribution to my spiritual development. As a
result of Judy's introduction (Judy Skutch Whitson, who first introduced
the Course to me), I flew from Ottawa to New York to meet him personally
and spent some leisure time with him and his wife, Gloria, in their home
(where I also had the memorable experience of sleeping in the room with
the original manuscripts of A Course in Miracles -- which, of course, I
took the liberty of perusing very fondly before I went to sleep!).

Our long-time association has included sponsoring the first Ken Wapnick
workshop in Canada, subsequent visits to the Wapnicks in New York,
enthusiastic sales of their books and tapes through Inner Peace
Unlimited, as well as Ken and Gloria very graciously, and out of pure
friendship, serving as my "best man" and my second wife's "matron of
honor" when we wed at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York (with
Ken's friend, the Rev. Jon Mundy, officiating), following a one week
Wapnick-led Course intensive. Ken and his teachings, not to mention his
personal friendship, have been paramount to my spiritual development. In
fact, I don't believe there is a book or a set of Wapnick tapes (until
very recently) which I haven't read or heard many times over -- so
influential Ken and Gloria have been in my life.

ROBERT PERRY has been the second foremost influence on my development as
a Course student, and in many respects I find myself fully aligned or in
agreement with most of his spiritual and metaphysical assumptions. I met
him through letter writing in the late 80's, when I first came across
his booklet, Introduction to A Course in Miracles. I sponsored, or was
instrumental in sponsoring, workshops for him in several cities in
Canada and generally did my utmost to help Robert become recognized as a
major Course theorist. We also became good friends over the years,
during which Robert was most helpful in assisting Inner Peace Unlimited
become firmly established as a Course entity in Canada.

In addition to our personal relationship, I have read, studied, and
carefully assimilated just about everything he and his associates at The
Circle of Atonement have published to date, and have tremendous respect
for his commitment and integrity -- both as a Course theorist as well as
a good friend.

......................

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Val Scott is a "social entrepreneur" who for most of his personal and
professional life has focused on non-adversarial, all-win approaches to
human relationships.

He has an unusual set of credentials, having served as an education
director, general manager, executive director, chief executive officer,
and consultant to a number of labor, management and
professional-employee organizations in both the private and public
sectors of the Canadian economy. In the course of his career he gained a
nation-wide reputation for his innovative work in the field of
labor-management relations, and most particularly as it pertained to
large groups of professional engineers and scientists.

Val was born and raised in China, of English parents, and received his
formal education in private Chinese, French, English and Canadian
schools; and later, as an adult extension student, through Queens
University and the University of Toronto, he graduated with a degree in
Sociology and Political Science.

He has also been active in partisan electoral politics as a Canadian
social democrat, ran for Parliament on five occasions on behalf of the
New Democratic Party of Canada, and for six years served as a school
trustee and vice chairman of the second largest school system in Canada
at that time (110,000 children), the North York Board of Education.

As A Course in Miracles student and teacher of God for almost 20 years,
he is fully aware, of course, that the Holy Spirit will use anything and
everything that is given to Him on behalf of God's plan for salvation.
Among the things that Val has turned over to the Holy Spirit for His use
is his so-called personality - which can be superficially viewed in a
variety of ways, such as a "Double Virgo with his Moon in Libra," an
"INTJ" in the Myers Briggs system, and an "Enneagram One" type based on
a typology originally developed by the Sufis and the Jesuits.

In terms of spiritual politics, the historical teachers who have inspired him most have been Jesus of Nazareth, Mohandas Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

...................................

Val Scott

3476 Overlander Drive

Kamloops, BC

Canada V2B 6X5

Phone: (250) 579-7631. E-mail: valscott@wkpowerlink.com