Before elaborating on that question, remember that as you surrender your will to God's, the Holy Spirit will lead you to the perfect teacher that will assist you on your spiritual path, even if that implies going to someone who uses a tool or specific technique. Although an illusion will never lead you to truth, an illusion could be employed in order to prepare you for your journey home.

Just remember that whenever you put your attention in the realm of illusion, all you are doing is strengthening your belief in the illusion. Or should I say, strengthening the belief in your projection. That's why the Course reminds me: "When you have been caught in the world of perception you are caught in a dream. You cannot escape without help, because everything your senses show merely witness to the reality of the dream." So the question is not whether the illusion (teacher, technique) is good or bad but whether the illusion is pointing you in the right direction, which is to listen to the part of you that Knows. For if the illusion keeps your attention away from you, you are now looking out into the dream for answers, where they can never be found. Let me warn you here. Because what I just said could easily be misinterpreted. When I said that "it is not whether is good or bad but whether the illusion is pointing you in the right direction," what I mean by right direction is the recognition that the tool, technique or teacher is not necessary. That's a trap employed by the ego in order to keep you going back to the tool, technique or teacher, thinking that it has anything to do with your healing or spiritual progress. The Truth is within, and only through the Holy Spirit, or I could also say, through the invisible part of you that Knows, you can access the Truth.

Using a particular technique as a vehicle for finding answers is the same as using a dream figure to lead you out of the dream and that's why they will not work consistently. That being said however, if the technique employed by the teacher serve as a way to help reduce fear in you, so that you can then become more receptive to the Holy Spirit's work, even when the technique itself is an illusion, in the larger scheme of things, it is serving a purpose. For it is now being employed by the Holy Spirit's ultimate outcome. The key however, is to remember that every time you keep your attention on any illusion, you are acknowledging the reality of the illusion, even when the illusion is disguised as a guru, sage, master teacher or something alike.

Yes, it does not matter whether the illusion looks like a very loving and wonderful teacher, you must remember that the life of the ego is at stake here. Your ego can easily disguise itself as a saint as well as a traitor. Put it in another words, the ego knows you better than you do. If you look at the teachings of Christ or the Buddha, just to name a few, they never gave specific answers in regards to how to do anything. They could not even explain what the experience of enlightenment was for that is only attained as a result of wanting God more than anything else. They used their teachings to point you in the direction where the answers are, within you. They did so, not only by words but by example. And that is one thing the Course reminds us as teachers, that we are teaching what we are taught. Because remember that there is only one of us here. So you are always teaching yourself! Therefore if you believe in the illusion you'll teach what you believe. So do you want to know what you are teaching? Look at the people you are studying with. Listen to the things you are saying. Notice what you see when you look out into the world. That's exactly what you are teaching. So in order for you to undo all that, you must first be willing to listen to the voice within that knows the Truth.

Jesus always said, "...the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he, doeth the works." [John 14:10] That symbolizes true surrender and trust. Not an easy thing to do when we have created a world of illusion that seem so real. Yet, Jesus never bought into the illusion. In the words of Christ, when the illusion would offer his assistance what would he say? "Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." [Luke 4:8] Which is another way of saying, "doubt, stay behind me, or illusion, stay behind me.

So who are you worshiping? The gods of the illusion with their beliefs and techniques? Or the God within? You have no idea how many emails I get from people who worship their teachers and their gurus trying to get me to study with them or to pay attention to what they have to say. So what I do is, I first sit still, and if I am bothered by the email, I use that opportunity to practice forgiveness. Then I listen to my Inner Voice. If it feels right, I am open to explore the hidden gift(s) that may be in there for me. Otherwise, I just see it as another opportunity for me to say: "Get thee behind me,..." Which by the way, it is what has been happening since I have been trusting my inner guidance through the practice of peace and forgiveness.

This whole book could be summarized in one single sentence. "Be still and listen." If you do just that, your actions will be in alignment with the part of you that knows from now to eternity. Your experience in this dream would be far much pleasant and loving. And your journey home, or should I say, your remembrance of Who you really are will accelerate tremendously.

Nick Arandes was part of the self-help movement for close to 20 years. Published 4 books, produced CDs and DVDs, wrote countless articles and touched the lives of many people worldwide before becoming homeless, broke and diagnosed with a thyroid tumor. Then something happened that forever changed his life! A miraculous turn of events led him to the teachings of A Course in Miracles. As a result of putting the principles of The Course into practice, and experiencing a powerful inner transformation, he published What Happens When You Let God. To find out more about Nick's work, or to order your copy of the book, simply log on to: www.TruthAndMiracles.com