ACFIP Newsletter 
Issue 10 - September 2006

Quarterly Newsletter of the Australian Centre for Inner Peace

Michael Dawson
PO Box 125, Point Lookout
North Stradbroke Island,
Queensland 4183,
Australia

Email: mdawson@acfip.org     
Web site: http://www.acfip.org


CONTENTS:
•Article - A Course in Miracles and Forgiveness
•Healing Section - Forgiveness
•Workshops
•Books and Audio Materials for Sale
•Links
•Inspirational Quotations


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Welcome to the TENTH issue of the Australian Centre for Inner Peace Newsletter.

If you wish to read previous issues please go to http://www.acfip.org/newsletterarchive.html.

If your email address ends with .au I put your address on my Australian list for advance warning of workshops I am giving in Australia. If you do not want to be on this list please let me know. If you reside in Australia and want to be on this list, but you address does not end in .au, please email me and I will include it.

If you are new to the Course you might find my summary of help. You can find it at http://www.acfip.org/sum.html

Regards

Michael Dawson
http://www.acfip.org

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ARTICLE


A Course In Miracles and Forgiveness
Reprinted from the The Findhorn Book of Forgiveness. Findhorn Press
by Michael Dawson www.acfip.org

Origin of the Course:
The Course came as an answer to a call for help from two people, Dr. Helen Schucman and Dr. William Thetford, professors of medical psychology at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. They worked together in a prestigious and highly academic setting. Their relationship was difficult with each often blaming the other for their own lack of peace. One day, to Helen's surprise, Bill announced, "there must be another way" in which they could relate to each other. Helen agreed to join him to find out what this better way could be. This is an example of what the Course would call a ‘Holy Instant’ where, instead of seeking to separate from another, a decision is made to join in a common goal. Almost immediately Helen began to experience a heightened awareness, highly symbolic dreams and strange images which lasted three months and preceded the actual writing of the Course. She also started to hear an inner voice which she knew to be Jesus. This was a further shock to Helen who described herself as atheistic in belief. During October 1965 Jesus told Helen, "This is A Course In Miracles, please take notes". Helen described this voice in the following way:

It made no sound, but seemed to be giving me a kind of rapid, inner dictation which I took down in a shorthand notebook. The writing was never automatic. It could be interrupted at anytime and later picked up again. (Preface to A Course in Miracles)

Helen would take down what the voice said and the following day, before work started, Bill would type it up. This process lasted seven years with the Course being published in 1976.

What the Course consists of:
The Course consists of three books: Text, Workbook for Students and Manual for Teachers arranged in a self-study format. The text sets forth the thought system of the Course and is largely theoretical. The concepts in the text are practically applied through the 365 lessons of the Workbook, one for each day of the year. The Manual for Teachers provided answers to the more common questions a student might ask.

Two supplements to the Course were published later entitled Psychotherapy: Purpose, Process and Practice and The Song of Prayer.

What the Course says:
The Course makes it clear that it is not the only spiritual path we should follow - There are many thousands of other forms, all with the same outcome (M.1.4:2). Although anyone can derive benefit from the Course it will not appeal to everyone. It is written on a high intellectual level and for most of us it requires a life time of patient study and practice.

Many Christian terms are used and there are over 700 references to the Bible. However, the Course uses many of these terms with entirely different implications. We are not depicted as sinful, guilty creatures who have displeased God and are thus worthy of punishment unless we sacrifice and atone for our sins. Instead our sinless, formless spiritual nature is emphasised. Jesus seeks to awaken us to this truth about ourselves through his path of forgiveness.

The Course’s Christian context is often a problem for students. However, the Course emphasises we are never upset by what we perceive in the world but only the unforgiven content of our mind that the world is mirroring back to us. In this way we can even use the Course’s language to help us with forgiveness.

A similar problem often exists for students with regard to Jesus being the author of the Course. As he says of himself:

I am constantly being perceived as a teacher to be exalted or rejected, but I do not accept either perception of myself. .... Some bitter idols have been made of him who would be only brother to the world. Forgive him your illusions, and behold how dear a brother he would be to you. (T-4.I.6:7, C-5.5:7-8)

Here again we are being given an opportunity to see what the symbol of Jesus is reflecting back to us. For those wishing to explore this further please see my article Forgiving Jesus on my website (www.acfip.org).

The Course is written on two levels - metaphysical and practical. Metaphysics investigates what is truth and what is illusion. The following quotation is from the metaphysical level of the course.

You dwell not here, but in eternity.
You travel but in dreams, while safe at home.
(T-13.VII.17:6-7)

The practical teachings of the Course seek to awake us to the reality contained in that statement.

Jesus teaches us that this universe is not our real home. What is true is eternal which means it was never born. Anything that has a beginning must have an end and as such is not real. As God is eternal so must His creations be. His creations exist outside of time and space and therefore can not be threatened by change or death. What we mistakenly take as real changes all the time and death can strike at any moment. The Course sums this up on the first page of the Text:

Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.
Herein lies the peace of God
(T-introduction.2:2-4)

Our true reality is really eternal, changeless, perfect formless spirit in complete oneness with God. What God did not create does not exist, apart from in a dream. In contrast our world is one of form, bound by time, is always changing and is far from perfect. Thus God could not of made this physical universe or know of its existence. What we take as reality, this time-space world, is really a dream from which forgiveness will awaken us. Its only value is as a classroom of forgiveness.

Of course, the world does not seem like a dream to most of us. But then our dreams last night also seemed real when we were dreaming them. Why does the Course refer to the universe as a dream? The symbology of the Adam and Eve story in the Old Testament can help us here. Adam and Eve were happy in the garden (Heaven) until an idea came that perhaps things could be even better if they ate of the forbidden fruit. This fruit is described in the Course as the thought of separation and is referred to as the ego. To be separate from God and do our own thing is impossible. But to dream of it is not. In our desire for autonomy and individuality the Course says we fell asleep so our wishes could come true in our dreams.

Into this dream we bring fearful thoughts of what we have done to our creator. Believing we have knocked God off his throne and stolen his power has left us with a strong thought that we have sinned. This thought must leave us feeing very guilty and we expect there will be a just punishment forthcoming from God. This is depicted in Genesis as God storming into the garden of Eden looking for the two transgressors who are trying to hide from his retribution behind a bush. On being caught they turn to their ego’s for advice on how to handle this situation. The ego’s advice is, as always, to deny and project. “It’s not my fault,” protests Adam, “It was Eve who tempted me”. “But I was persuaded by the snake,” protests Eve. It’s love that makes Heaven “go around” but in our dream world it has become guilt.

Now “we travel but in dreams”, forgetting we are “safe at home”. We seem to have got what we wanted - separation in exchange for the oneness of God and His creation which the Course calls the Christ. Jesus describes himself in the Course as a man who remembered he was the Christ, as we all are. The Christ shares in the love and majesty of God for there is only a perfect oneness in Heaven. Heaven cannot be understood by us who only know time and space, it has to be experienced.

In this dream we strive to be happy believing that with enough time and opportunity the world will provide us with what we want. “If only I can find the right partner, earn enough money, maintain my health, live long, become successful in my job, etc. then I will be happy,” we say to ourselves. Even if all the conditions are met there will always be a lurking fear in the back of our minds that any of these conditions could so easily change. The stock market could crash, our partner may get sick, war could be declared and so forth. We seem to prefer all this uncertainty to honestly saying to ourselves, “I have been wrong. There can never be any lasting peace here. Perhaps there is another way.” (T-30.I.12) And like the prodigal son, in the end all living things will decide to return to their loving Father in Heaven.

The world we have appeared to make is based on murder. We believe, in our unconscious, we had to kill God and take His power to make our world. This thought now manifests here in our dream as every living thing needs to kill something else to continue living and spend much of its time protecting itself or its young from being killed in turn. In the last century over 100 million people died in wars and many more were maimed, raped and tortured. We might say that we are vegetarians but still another life form must always die for us to continue. In contrast to Heaven (where need does not exist) ours is a world of scarcity where we fight over the resources. We need to ask ourselves the question, “Could a loving God have created such a world?” (T-13.in.3) 

Forgiveness is the ‘other way’ which seeks to gently wake us from our nightmare of separation and murder and return us to the awareness of our true home in Heaven. This dream seems so real that without help we would never awaken. When the separation from God appeared to happen (it never did in reality) we took with us into the dream a memory of God (to borrow a phrase from Dr. Kenneth Wapnick) we could never quite forget. The Course calls this the Holy Spirit and without His help we cannot awaken. In this book I have referred to the Holy Spirit as our inner guide.

The Holy Spirit is described as the remaining communication link between God and His separated Sons. In order to fulfil this special function the Holy Spirit has assumed a dual function. He knows because He is part of God; He perceives because He was sent to save humanity. (C-6.3:1-3 ) 

The Holy Spirit knows the truth of our oneness with God but also recognises our illusions so that He can teach us how to overlook them. Jesus is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit and is ever present to help us with our lessons of forgiveness if we but invite him in. As Jesus has transcended his ego his patience is infinite and he will stay with us until the end of time to help us all wake up.

After the seeming separation from God our minds became split into three parts, the ego, the Holy Spirit and the sleeping Son of God who has to decide which of the two voices to listen to. Although the Holy Spirit is always present in our minds ready to teach us another way of looking at the world, we fear to turn to Him for help. We think we have successfully abandoned God, broken up Heaven in the process and escaped into our self-made world where He cannot find us. To have God’s representative in our mind, the Voice for God, is frightening and we prefer to turn to our ego for help. “After all, does not the Holy Spirit work for God,” we exclaim! “And if we turn to Him for help He will punish us for our sins”.

Without the Holy Spirit’s help we are really lost as we have only the advice of the ego left. The ego is a thought we have made and, like any creation, wants to live. Its advice to us is only to ensure its own survival. Its counsel is that to escape from our dreadful feelings of guilt over the separation we need to deny the problem and project it onto the world. Until we learn to try another way we are doomed to repeat our errors. This reinforces our guilt which in turn maintains the ego thought system. The ego’s ‘food’ is guilt and following its advice will always lead to creating more guilt.

Although we seemed to have achieved the goal of separation and individuality we are left feeling that there is something missing in our lives, we no longer feel complete. The Holy Spirit would tell us that what is missing is the oneness with all life and God. But fearing this Voice we have only the ego thought system to turn to. The ego tells us that there is something lacking in us and we can only find it by looking in the world for it. We try to fill the bottomless pit in ourselves by plunging into work, eating, drinking, sex, entertainment and above all by ‘falling in love’. Another person or object now becomes our substitute for God - what the Course describes as a ‘special love’ relationship. As long as each person fulfils the needs of the other the couple remains content for a time. But soon as one breaks this bargain the old feeling of emptiness arises. The door over the inner pain opens again and we try desperately to close it. Our ego will counsel us to attack the other in the hope that s/he will become guilty enough to change his or her behaviour. If this fails the relationship is likely to end and another sought instead.

At this difficult time we could also turn to forgiveness instead of attack. The strife we are experiencing will seem all too familiar. We can ask ourselves, “Perhaps there is another way of looking at this situation. What can I lose by trying?” (Lesson 33) This is an invitation to bring the power of the Holy Spirit into our minds. Our partner can be transformed from enemy to saviour becoming a mirror to our guilt. The relationship is now transformed into the goal of a holy relationship where truth and forgiveness and not ego needs take first place. Nor does it take the other to think this way for it is our change of perception that will bring us peace. The relationship may still end but the forgiveness learnt will take us one more step to peace.

We do not have to learn about love, truth and joy for that was eternally given us and but awaits our welcome.(T-13.VII.9) What we do need to do is to remove the blocks to that awareness and that is the role of forgiveness. Our world is a world where perception rules. (This is unknown in Heaven - in perfect oneness there is nothing to perceive.) Our need is to correct our perception with the aid of the Holy Spirit or Jesus.

What we think is what we perceive. Believing separation to be real that is exactly what we perceive around us. But when we awaken from the dream and realise all is one we can only perceive everything as part of ourselves. To attack another will then be impossible as it will seem as if we are stamping on our own feet. Everyone here perceives a different world because no two people think exactly the same. We can observe this in ourselves when we change moods. When we feel happy the world looks a far nicer place than when we are distressed.

Forgiveness teaches us that the world but reflects our thinking and therefore it is pointless to try to change the world to make ourselves happy. As I quoted earlier:

Projection makes perception. The world you see is what you gave it, nothing more than that. But though it is no more than that, it is not less. Therefore, to you it is important. It is the witness to your state of mind, the outside picture of an inward condition. As a man thinketh, so does he perceive. Therefore, seek not to change the world, but choose to change your mind about the world. (T-21.in.1:1-7)

Of course, we all have our preferences with regard to clothes, climate, food, etc., which is normally linked to our conditioning. There is nothing wrong in this. However, understanding that what we perceive in the world is mirroring our state of mind is the road to lasting peace and joy. Now we have the power, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, to change our mind about the world. We realise its foolish to blame people and circumstances for our unhappiness. Nobody and nothing has that power over us. Until this is seen we are forced to defend the world we have made up by using defence and attack. It takes a lot of work to prop up our illusions about ourselves. If we are invested in being a victim we are forced to see a world populated by persecutors just waiting to have a go at us. Our perception of the world becomes highly selective, filtering out what does not support our beliefs and selecting that which reinforces them. Life now becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Forgiveness is a process where we start to learn our perceptual errors and decide we wish to see things differently. As we correct out perceptions we begin to undo the blocks we have created and true perception or spiritual vision starts to dawn on our minds. The world we once saw as a hostile place out to attack us was but merely mirroring our own belief that attack will get us what we want. When we think anger would get us something of value we also believe others will be thinking the same. This must result in us feeling insecure for now we are waiting to be attacked. This is why Jesus asks us to teach what we want to learn. (T-6.I.6.)

Forgiving this false perception immediately transforms the world we live in. Now, when others attack us we can see they think like we once did and do not realise they are actually reinforcing their own sense of vulnerability. Our new perception is that their attack is a call for our help. (T-12.I.5) Not that they are aware of this, which does not matter, it is that we are now aware of what they are doing as we have forgiven this behaviour in ourselves. Wishing to reinforce the love we feel growing within us we are happy to extend our love to those who attack us.

The form our behaviour will take we cannot know in advance, for what we have learned is under the direction of the Holy Spirit to which we are learning to turn more and more. If we are judged or attacked by another we may be guided to say something, to remain silent, to walk away - the appropriate loving response will be given if we are open to our inner guide.

To the ego the body is its home. How the body looks, what others think of it becomes of prime importance. When it is sick or in pain it is easy for us to focus on the seeming reality of the world. Now the Holy Spirit seems a liar as we say, “Don’t tell me this world is not real. I am in pain!”. But the body does not have a mind of its own. It must be told by the sleeping Son of God what it must feel, when it is to be born and die, whether to be sick or well. With the ego as our guide we play the game of making our body our reality. Once we change our allegiance to the Holy Spirit the body’s function will change. Now the body is perceived as a loving tool of communication instead of as a weapon of attack. This will also produce gains in vitality and health. The purpose of the body will change, no longer being seen as who we think we are. Instead it becomes a vehicle in which we can learn our lessons in our daily classrooms of forgiveness.

How long this journey home takes is entirely up to us. All the answers to all our problems are existing in this present moment, just waiting to be accepted. The Holy Spirit sees time as an illusion we have made as we could have no separate world without it. The ego relies on its past experience to try and solve present problems, and always fails. The Holy Spirit’s answers to our problems are like gifts just waiting to be unwrapped and received. We do not have to earn them or suffer or pray to receive them but simply want them with all our heart. The Holy Spirit will never go against our free will but will come instantly if He is made wholly welcome. (T-13.III.9) But while we think we know better and trust the counsel of our ego the gifts must wait for the day we are ready to accept them. These gifts are but various forms of forgiveness perfectly tailored to match the complexity of our problems. In time we learn His way works and will turn more and more to Him for help.

Step by step as we tread the path of forgiveness, we will be kindly and gently led from our nightmares to happy dreams of forgiveness. (T-13.VII.9) The world we once perceived as dark and threatening will start to be perceived differently. Former enemies are now perceived as our saviours as they offer us the chance to forgive what we have been projecting onto them. Our days become dedicated to finding peace through forgiveness. Our bodies gain vitality as they serves a holy purpose, no longer being perceived as our identity. When all our lessons are finally learnt we will perceive the Christ in all living things. We realise that there is nothing to forgive for what God created is perfect and needs no forgiveness. Further, having left our ego behind there is nothing unhealed to project and therefore nothing to forgive.

With forgiveness complete we enter what the Course calls ‘the real world’. It is still this world but seen differently. Now we walk quietly in peace. Finding the Christ within our own mind it is now impossible to see anything else in the world. People are perceived as either giving love or asking for it. (T-12.II.1) This is the judgement of the Holy Spirit and so becomes ours. Whether the body lives or dies is not important. It will be known when it is time to lay it aside, just as everything else is known. Choice has gone to be replaced by an inner certainty and the need for forgiveness is over.

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HEALING SECTION

Forgiveness


I built up a strong hate relationship with the man who owns the towns hardware store. I often had to go in there and found him the rudest, most overbearing rip-off merchant I'd ever met. After 8 months or so, I vowed never to go in there again, though it mean't a lot of trouble for me. I also decided to put anyone else off going there.

One day, I urgently needed photocopying done of some childrens sanctuary songs for a group the next day. Songs like "The more we are together", "You are beautiful , etc. Of course he has the only photocopier in town. I went in hoping to slip down to his photocopy room and do it myself but instead, he came with me and proceeded to do the photocopying. As he did it, he got interested in the songs and asked me how they went.

I began to sing very very reluctantly these very spiritual songs. He joined in in a gorgeous baritone, rich and full. I think we sang our way through every song!!! This transformed everything. I didn't intend to 'forgive', we just joined and it happened. His voice was so beautiful that I was transfixed and the ridiculousness of the situation appealed to my nature.

I adore the man now and see so many sides of him that were invisible before. Although I still end up buying three things I don't need when I go into his shop, I can admire the fact that he is the only thriving business in the village! I feel so much joy when I remember this incident. I think it should be on a film.

Importantly to me, he didn't change at all, he didn't have to. I wish I could do this as easily with all the other people who annoy me!

[reprinted from The Findhorn Book of Forgiveness. Michael Dawson - Findhorn Press. ]
See http://www.acfip.org/books_tapes.html

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PLEASE NOTE: The Australian Centre for Inner Peace is not a counselling or psychotherapy centre; therefore, we do not offer telephone or email service or counselling, therapy, or crisis intervention for personal problems related to the Course. Please see the Contacts section at the end of this newsletter.

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A Course in Miracles Workshops 2006 Workshops


AUSTRALIA



BRISBANE - 1 day - Sunday 1 Oct
9.30a.m. to 5.00p.m.

Forgiveness is the key to happiness.
- A Course in Miracles 1 day workshop

Here is the answer to your search for peace. Here is the key to meaning in a world that seems to make no sense. Here is the way to safety in apparent dangers that appear to threaten you at every turn, and bring uncertainty to all your hopes of ever finding quietness and peace. Here are all questions answered; here the end of all uncertainty ensured at last.
from A Course in Miracles Lesson 121


Using the spiritual path of A Course in Miracles we will explore how forgiveness can be one of the most powerful tools for restoring the awareness of our spiritual reality. The Course teaches that forgiveness of another is an illusion. Anything that causes us to lose our peace is pointing to something we have not forgiven in ourselves. By using the mirror of our environment we can discover what needs healing within our minds and so climb the ladder of forgiveness that leads to the realisation of the Self that God created.

The workshop will also explore the steps and challenges on our spiritual journey back home and use exercises to help clear the obstacles we have created.

An overview of the Course's metaphysical, psychological and spiritual teachings especially in regard to forgiveness will be covered.
No previous knowledge of the book A Course in Miracles is required.

VENUE:
Relaxation Centre,
cnr Brookes and Wickham Streets,
Fortitude Valley
Brisbane 4006

BOOKINGS:
Relaxation Centre
07 3854 1986
(Please do not book through me)

Times: 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Cost: $55
Bring lunch to share

FEE: $55

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Clare - Sat 28 and Sun 29, October 2006
(2hrs drive north of Adelaide)

A PATH TO INNER PEACE
from the perspective of A Course in Miracles

"The peace of God is everything I want. The peace of God is my one goal; the aim of all my living here, the end I seek, my purpose and my function and my life, while I abide where I am not at home."
Lesson 205. A Course in Miracles

Using material from A Course in Miracles and experiential exercises we will explore how we can, with the help of spirit, remove the obstacles to our peace and joy within.

At our creation we were given peace. We have not lost it but simply covered it over with something we thought was better. Our desire to be separate, special and individual blinds us to our inner spiritual reality. Identification with our body and personality prevents the remembering of who we really are - eternal spirit.

Using the practice of forgiveness we can start to undo the blocks we have erected to the joy and peace within. Forgiveness is the path of awareness, acceptance and asking for help.

We will practise watching our minds without judgement, or as the Course puts it ... (forgiveness) "merely looks, and waits and judges not."

No previous knowledge of A Course in Miracles is required


VENUE:
Clare
SA 5453
(2hrs drive north of Adelaide)

DATE:
Sat 28 and Sun 29, October 2006

TIME:
Sat 28 - 9.30 TO 5.30
Sun 29 - 9.30 TO 4.30

BOOKINGS:
Tel: 08 8842 3114
PO Box 614
Clare, SA 5453

Cost
Deposit: $60
plus a donation

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ADELAIDE -Thurs Nov 2nd 2006

Forgiveness is the key to happiness.
- A Course in Miracles 1 day workshop

Thurs Nov 2 2006
10.00 to 5.00
Here is the answer to your search for peace. Here is the key to meaning in a world that seems to make no sense. Here is the way to safety in apparent dangers that appear to threaten you at every turn, and bring uncertainty to all your hopes of ever finding quietness and peace. Here are all questions answered; here the end of all uncertainty ensured at last.
from A Course in Miracles Lesson 121

Using the spiritual path of A Course in Miracles we will explore how forgiveness can be one of the most powerful tools for restoring the awareness of our spiritual reality. The Course teaches that forgiveness of another is an illusion. Anything that causes us to lose our peace is pointing to something we have not forgiven in ourselves. By using the mirror of our environment we can discover what needs healing within our minds and so climb the ladder of forgiveness that leads to the realisation of the Self that God created.

The workshop will also explore the steps and challenges on our spiritual journey back home and use exercises to help clear the obstacles we have created.

An overview of the Course's metaphysical, psychological and spiritual teachings especially in regard to forgiveness will be covered. No previous knowledge of the book A Course in Miracles is required. VENUE: Cancer Care Centre, 76-78 Edmund Ave, Unley, Adelaide

DATE:
Thurs Nov 2 2006

BOOKINGS:
Cancer Care Centre
08 8373 1470
Tickets can be purchased by phone.

Time 9.30am to 5.00pm
Cost: $75.00

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Hillier SA - Sat 4 and Sun 5 November 2006
(40 minutes drive from the centre of Adelaide)

Opening to the Light
- from the perspective of A Course in Miracles

Forgiveness, on the other hand, is still, and quietly does nothing.... It merely looks, and waits, and judges not.
A Course in Miracles W-pII.1.4. Sat 4 and Sun 5 November 2006
Sat: 9.30 to 5.30
Sun: 9.30 to 4.30

The light, love and joy of God are ever present and wait only our acceptance. We need not earn them as they were freely given at our creation. Nor is sacrifice or suffering required. So why do we rarely experience the light? This workshop will look, firstly, at why we are afraid of the light and the illusions we fear to let go. Our illusions and unforgiveness stand as barriers between us and the light.

The second part of the workshop will focus on overcoming our fear through forgiveness - the path of awareness, acceptance and asking for help.

We will use material from 'The Obstacles to Peace' in the ACIM Text and the 'Development of Trust' in the Manual. Exercises will be used to help identify our illusions and fear of sacrifice so they can be healed through forgiveness. We will practise watching our minds without judgement or as the Course puts it ... (forgiveness) "merely looks, and waits and judges not."

No previous knowledge of A Course in Miracles is required.

See article in the December 2004 newsletter http://www.acfip.org/nl3.html

VENUE
"Riverdell"
Clifford Road
Hillier
South Australia
(40 minutes drive from the centre of Adelaide)

COST
Booking Fee - $30 (non refundable)
Workshop - By Donation
Some accommodation on site - $40
Bring food to share for lunch both days

For Details Contact:
Pamela St Claire
(08) 8322 0444
email: pstclaire@chariot.net.au

People should send their Booking Fee to:

Pamela St Claire
36 The Causeway
O'Halloran Hill  SA 5158
and include a cheque made payable to P. St Claire

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BRISBANE - 1 day - Sun Nov 19, 2006

The following 2 hour (in morning) mini workshop is part of:

A Course in Miracles - a day of coming together
with Robbie Aquillina and other teachers of the Course.
Please see the Relaxation Centre's current newsletter for more details about this regular Course day of talks.

Subject to be announced
from the perspective of A Course in Miracles

with Michael Dawson
VENUE:
Relaxation Centre,
cnr Brookes and Wickham Streets,
Fortitude Valley
Brisbane 4006

BOOKINGS:
Relaxation Centre
07 3854 1986
(Please do not book through me)

Times: 9.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
Cost: $15
Bring lunch to share


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BRISBANE - 1 day - Sunday 10 December
9.30a.m. to 5.00p.m.

Applying A Course in Miracles in Our Daily Lives

The Course asks us to use our daily life as a classroom of forgiveness. We will explore how we can find peace when challenged by money, anger, hate, sex, relationships and sickness. Exercises will be used to help us identify and heal the issues that confront us.
No previous knowledge of the book A Course in Miracles is required.

VENUE:
Relaxation Centre,
cnr Brookes and Wickham Streets,
Fortitude Valley
Brisbane 4006

BOOKINGS:
Relaxation Centre
07 3854 1986
(Please do not book through me)

Times: 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Cost: $55
Bring lunch to share

_________________________________________________

NEW ZEALAND

Forgiveness is the key to happiness.
- A Course in Miracles 1 day workshop near Wellington, New Zealand


Sat Dec 2 2006
9.30 to 5.30

Here is the answer to your search for peace. Here is the key to meaning in a world that seems to make no sense. Here is the way to safety in apparent dangers that appear to threaten you at every turn, and bring uncertainty to all your hopes of ever finding quietness and peace. Here are all questions answered; here the end of all uncertainty ensured at last.
from A Course in Miracles Lesson 121


Using the spiritual path of A Course in Miracles we will explore how forgiveness can be one of the most powerful tools for restoring the awareness of our spiritual reality. The Course teaches that forgiveness of another is an illusion. Anything that causes us to lose our peace is pointing to something we have not forgiven in ourselves. By using the mirror of our environment we can discover what needs healing within our minds and so climb the ladder of forgiveness that leads to the realisation of the Self that God created.

The workshop will also explore the steps and challenges on our spiritual journey back home and use exercises to help clear the obstacles we have created.

An overview of the Course's metaphysical, psychological and spiritual teachings especially in regard to forgiveness will be covered.
No previous knowledge of the book A Course in Miracles is required.


COST
By donation

BOOKINGS
Places on the workshop must be reserved beforehand. To reserve your place please send half your donation as a non-refundable deposit. Make cheques payable to K.Dussler


Workshop Contact:
Krissy Dussler
15 Haumia Street
Paekakariki
New Zealand
Tel: 04 2927 228 2004
Email: krissydussler@xtra.co.nz

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GERMANY 2007 WORKSHOPS

RAVENSBURG - 1 day w/s Sat 23rd June 2007

RELATIONSHIPS AS PATH OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH
- from the perspective of A Course in Miracles 

with Michael Dawson
9.30 to 5.30

Learning to understand ourselves
by seeing how we relate to others.

"When you meet anyone, remember it is a holy encounter.
As you see him you will see yourself. As you treat him you will treat yourself.
As you think of him you will think of yourself. Never forget this, for in him
you will find yourself or lose yourself." from "A Course in Miracles"


A relationship based on truth and awareness is one of the most powerful tools for healing and growth. How we relate in the instant we pass someone in the street, how we relate to our friends, an employer, family members or our partners all provides us with mirrors reflecting our own beliefs about ourselves and the world.

In our lives we create barriers to the presence of peace and love within us. We pursue substitutes of power, money, sex, possessions, status and so on, which can never satisfy the yearning within for deeper fulfilment - our relationship with God.

In this workshop, using the mirror of relationships, we will look at what needs to be healed in ourselves and how, by changing our relationships based on dependency to ones based on honesty and forgiveness, we can discover a path that will return us to the awareness of love's presence within us. A gentle and safe space is created enabling participants to trust and go deep.

This workshop is not specifically for partners. It is designed for anyone who wishes to improve how they relate to others in any type of relationship.

An introduction to the Course’s metaphysical, psychological and spiritual teachings especially regarding relationships will be covered.


Location of workshop:

ULEN Centre
Felz - 88212
Ravensburg
Germany


CONTACT

ULEN Centre
Felz - 88212
Ravensburg
Germany
Tel: 49 [0]751-26985 (Sybil)
Tel: 49 [0]751-24896 (Christiane)

Fax: 49 [0]751-3527933
Email: uelen@t-online.de


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FREIBURG - weekend w/s Sat 30 June and Sun 1 July 2007

The Healing Power of Forgiveness
- from the perspective of A Course in Miracles 


Sat 30 June/Sun 1 July 2007
Cost: 160 EUR

10 to 6pm

Forget not that the healing of God's Son is all the world is for.
That is the only purpose the Holy Spirit sees in it, and thus the only one it has.
Until you see the healing of the Son as all you wish to be accomplished by the world,
by time and all appearances, you will not know the Father nor yourself.
A Course in Miracles T-24.VI.4:1-3

How can we heal ourselves and help others to heal? The Course asks us not to try to change ourselves or others but to look past our perceptual errors, our distorted self-concepts, which is to forgive.

Forgiveness, like the miracle, does not 'do' anything but undoes the judgement we hold against ourselves and others. What we find disturbing are but symbols of what is unhealed in our minds.

The cause of all disease lies in the mind and not the body.
This workshop will explore what is meant by 'healing' and how forgiveness can restore our minds to peace - the condition in which God is remembered. We will also investigate how we can help others to heal themselves and the differences between the true and false healing.

Exercises will be used to help contact the source of healing in our minds so it can be extended to ourselves and others.

No previous knowledge of A Course in Miracles is required.

Introductory talk on A Course in Miracles - evening Fri 29 June at 8pm. Cost 10 EUR


Location of workshop:
Center Margarete Sennekamp
Schauinslandstr. 39
79100 Freiburg-Günterstal
Tram 4, Klosterplatz

Contact:
Sophia-Institut
Margarete Sennekamp
Adalbert-Stifter-Str. 16
79102 Freiburg
Tel/Fax : 0761-73930
www.Sophia-Institut.de
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Biography
Michael discovered A Course in Miracles whilst visiting the Findhorn Foundation in 1982. He subsequently became a member of the Foundation for about six years and involved himself with healing and teaching. In 1994 he published Healing the Cause - A Path of Forgiveness which serves as an introduction to the Course. His second book, The Findhorn Book of Forgiveness (Findhorn Press) uses exercises, stories and case histories to guide the reader to inner peace through forgiveness. Michael now lives in Australia and gives workshops on the Course world-wide.

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BOOKS AND AUDIO MATERIALS FOR SALE - by Michael Dawson

Books:
Healing the Cause - A Path of Forgiveness. Findhorn Press. 1994
The Findhorn Book of Forgiveness. Findhorn Press. 2003

For more details and how to purchase please visit: http://www.acfip.org/books_tapes.html

Audio Tapes and CDs
Since 1986 I have been conducting healing workshops in the UK and abroad, and have continually experimented to find healing and forgiveness exercises that are effective. I have found that a particular exercise can be effective for one person but not another. Accordingly, I was led to develop a series of exercises. Over the years workshop participants asked if these exercises could be put onto audio cassettes and CDs so they could repeat them. This has resulted in the Healing the Cause - Exercise series - Tapes 1 to 4 (2 exercises on each tape) and CD1 and 2 (4 exercises on each CD)

For more details and how to purchase please visit: http://www.acfip.org/audio.html

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CONTACTS

Resources
Foundation for A Course In Miracles
41397 Buecking Drive, Temecula, CA 92590
Tel: 909 296 6261 Fax: 909296 9117

Books, videos, CDs and audio tapes by Kenneth and Gloria Wapnick are available from their web site http://www.facim.org

Question and Answer Service:
Their electronic outreach section has a question and answer service http://www.facimoutreach.org/ on the theory and practice of the Course. Their database of hundreds of questions and answers is searchable and you can ask your own questions.

Their publications can also be ordered in Australia at:
Adyar Bookshop
230 Clarence Street
Sydney, NSW 2000

Foundation for Inner Peace - the publishers of A Course in Miracles
http://www.acim.org/

ACIM study groups.
Go to The Miracle Distribution Center http://www.miraclecenter.org/ for the largest and most frequently updated list of A Course in Miracles study groups available anywhere.

Miracles Studies Australia  http://www.miracle-studies.net.au lists study groups for Australia and new Zealand

A Course In Miracles Pen Pals
The Miracle Network http://www.miracles.org.uk hosts a A Course in Miracles pen pals group:
To join this e-mail discussion group, send your e-mail address to e.pals@miracles.org.uk. They will send you updated lists of other e.pals and inform them of your e-mail address.

A Course In Miracles Chat Groups
http://miraclesalliance.no-ip.org/acim_chat_groups.htm

http://glynbo.proboards84.com/index.cgi?board=acim
The aim of this board is to provide a place for people to chat about ACIM. Any related discussions are more than welcome and I believe helpful! - moderated by Glyn Milhench

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INSPIRATIONAL QUOTATIONS

About three or four times a week I send a short quotation from some spiritual teacher or poet to people who have requested some uplifting thoughts. I have included some below. If you wish I can add your name to the email list.


Do understand that you are destined for enlightenment.
Co-operate with your destiny, don't go against it, don't thwart it.
Allow it to fulfil itself.
All you have to do is to give attention to the obstacles created by the foolish mind.

Nisargadatta Maharaj

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      When you listen to the voice in your head, that
is to say, do not judge. You'll soon realize: there
is the voice, and here I am listening to it, watching
it. This I am realization, this sense of your own
presence, is not a thought. It arises from beyond
the mind.
     
- Eckhart Tolle
The Power of Now


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In your light I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems.

You dance inside my chest,
where no one sees you,

but sometimes I do, and that
sign becomes this art.

- Rumi

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One is more likely to awaken through surrender than through seeking to waken. The effort to awaken is the effort of ego, whereas to surrender is to give up all efforts and to place oneself in the hands of a vast force that is more powerful than any realization of non duality.

When one finally gives up one's futile attempts to make reality conform to one's own wishes, and allows it to unfold on its own terms, all the energy that was tied up in foolish attempts to manipulate the universe is freed up.

Mariana Caplan
Halfway Up the Mountain - The Error of Premature Claims to Enlightenment

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Yet searching is inevitable here. For this you came, and you will surely do the thing you came for. But the world can not dictate the goal for which you search, unless you give it power to do so. Otherwise, you still are free to choose a goal that lies beyond the world and every worldly thought, and one that comes to you from an idea relinquished yet remembered, old yet new; an echo of a heritage forgot, yet holding everything you really want.

A Course in Miracles Lesson 131

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There's one great delusion that lies at the core
of all of our suffering: the false belief in the reality
of the separation of life and in the subsequent
true existence of an individual ego.

All fervent attempts to control or to mortify this
illusory ego through penance, rituals and sacrifice,
however, will only serve to intensify the delusion
that this ego is actually very real and that it only
needs to be, somehow, subdued, conquered or
destroyed.
      
- Chuck Hillig


Seeds for the Soul
Chuck Hillig
Black Dot Publications, 2003