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ACFIP Newsletter 
Issue 16 - March 2008

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

___________________________________________________________________________


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

CONTENTS:
* How do I forgive?
* Not making the error real
* Two Stories
* Workshops
* Books and Audio Materials for Sale
* Links
* Inspirational Quotations

(As I am away in June the next newsletter will not come out until early July.)

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 notice 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 summaries of help.
You can find them at http://www.acfip.org/sum.html and http://www.acfip.org/art4.html

Regards
Michael Dawson
http://www.acfip.org

___________________________________________________________________________


HOW DO I FORGIVE?

It is impossible to forgive another, for it is only your sins you see in him. You want to see them there, and not in you. That is why forgiveness of another is an illusion.
The Song of Prayer. S-2.I.4:2-5

What is forgiveness?
We can only begin the process of forgiveness when we start to realise how much alike we are to the person we wish to forgive. When we cannot forgive someone it is because we cannot forgive ourselves for the same problem, albeit in another form. For example, a woman may hate her husband for his loud aggressive outbursts of anger whilst she may never have made him suffer in this way. However, her anger is just as strong as his but is given a different expression by her. When she feels angry she may withdraw herself and cut off from him emotionally. Her husband's anger mirrors her own which she has not forgiven in herself.

The Course teaches that forgiveness recognises that what we thought was done to us we truly did to ourselves, for we can only deprive ourselves of the peace of God; therefore we forgive others for what they have not done to us, not for what they did. True forgiveness recognises an attack as a call for love and correction (T-12.I.8). Forgiveness is letting go of the past, is letting go of whatever we think people, the world, or God has done to us as well as whatever we think we have done to them. Forgiveness is a shift in perception. Everyone is our brother or sister coming from love or fear. Their attack, which comes from fear, is a plea for our love. Our only problem is the belief in separation from God, our only healing is by joining with each other through forgiveness.

The three stages of forgiveness
Kenneth Wapnick has identified in the Course three stages or steps on the path of forgiveness which I find helpful in understanding what true forgiveness is.

1. First we must take back our projections onto the world and take responsibility for our own pain. We must stop pointing our fingers at people and situations and accusing them of hurting us and see that they are mirroring to us the areas we have not healed/forgiven in ourselves. In fact these people and situations merit our thanks for showing us what is in our unconscious for without them we would not see the forces that drive us.

The secret of salvation is but this: that you are doing this unto yourself.
T-27.VIII.10:1

2. After realising that there is nothing to blame 'out there' we normally fall into the trap of feeling guilty on finding that the problem is in us. Our ego believes it has separated from God and wants to stay that way. It tells us we should feel guilty for our sins for in this way we come to take this world of separation seriously. Guilt always demands punishment and this prevents us from releasing our pain. During this second stage of forgiveness we come to see how deeply attached we are to our guilt. Guilt is the sum of the negative thoughts we have about ourselves. It appears as a sacrifice not to feel justified in being a victim and the desire is to hang onto our anger, jealousy, greed, etc. Although guilt is painful it is what we are familiar with and we prefer it to the increase in self-responsibility we know will come to us when we lose our attachment to being a victim. We can now choose to decide that guilt no longer serves us and that we would like it to be undone. This shift needs help from outside the ego thought system for we cannot do it by ourselves. Our little willingness to change, to shift our perception, opens the way for the third stage of forgiveness.

3. In this final stage our guilt is undone by the Holy Spirit, Who was always there behind the barrier of our guilt, and peace returns to our mind. However, until we perform the first two steps He cannot take the third. Our steps can be likened to making a hole in our protective barrier we have erected to God's love allowing His love to pour in and dissolve our guilt.

The following prayer from A Course In Miracles contains within it the three stages of forgiveness.
The Course urges us to use it whenever we are not joyous.

I must have decided wrongly, because I am not at peace.
I made the decision myself, but I can also decide otherwise.
I want to decide otherwise, because I want to be at peace.
I do not feel guilty, because the Holy Spirit will undo all the
consequences of my wrong decision if I will let Him.
I choose to let Him, by allowing Him to decide for God for me.
T-5.VII.6:7-11

Perhaps the shortest and most powerful definition of forgiveness is:
Forgiveness... is still, and quietly does nothing..… It merely looks, and waits, and judges not.
W-pII.1.4:1,3

Here we are asked to be the compassionate witness of what we perceive which includes all our thoughts and the events in the world. We are also being asked to release our judgements of good and bad, holy and unholy, right and wrong, evil and good, etc., and not try to change our or others' egos. The ego loves to be taken seriously, but to love or hate it only makes it real. If we can watch it without judgement it will eventually fade away into the nothingness from which it came. To try to modify it, no matter how well intentioned, will only keep it living longer.

At the deepest level of experience we will come to realise that we are not our ego but still "at home in God dreaming of exile" (T-10.I.2:1.) We will discover that we are still as God created us, the one Christ, perfect and eternal and that nothing can harm us. What then will there be to forgive?

..... in complete forgiveness, in which you recognise that there is nothing to forgive, you are absolved completely.
T-15.VIII.1:7

---------------------------------------------------------------

NOT MAKING THE ERROR REAL

In our day-to-day lives we are surrounded by challenges that need resolving. The ego is quick to jump in and take everything very seriously and declare any errors we have made as real and then tries to 'solve' them. By making errors real the ego ensures that we keep our focus firmly on the time/space illusion he has created and away from the source of real help - the Holy Spirit.

You do not understand how to overlook errors, or you would not make them. It would be merely further error to believe either that you do not make them, or that you can correct them without a Guide to correction. And if you do not follow this Guide, your errors will not be corrected...the way to undo them, therefore, is not of you but for you.
T-9.IV.2:2-7

To help us understand the nature of the problem, and how it is resolved, we can turn for help to the analogy found in dreams. Imagine you are asleep and having a nightmare. In the dream you are caught in a situation where you appear to be in danger from other people. It all seems very real and the ego is busy 'helping' you deal with the situation. This help will, of course, be some form of denial and projection resulting in defence or attack. The nightmare seems so real that you start to shout aloud and wake your partner who turns on the bedside light. In your dream you become aware of the light, realise you are having a nightmare, and wake up. You look around the familiar room and breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank God none of that was real!", you say to you partner. "I thought I was such a sinner in that dream and that I had no other recourse but to attack to save myself."

Did the light come into your dream and protect you? Did the light attack your enemies? Did it do anything except remind you that it was a dream and nothing was really happening - that you made it all up? You feel no guilt about what you did in the dream as no sin was committed. The errors were not real and the light coming on reminded you of that.

Now you appear to be back in 'reality'. But are you?

All your time is spent in dreaming. Your sleeping and your waking dreams have different forms, and that is all. Their content is the same.
T-18.II.5:12-14

The Course informs us that there is no difference between sleeping dreams and 'waking dreams' where we think we are a body in need of protection by our ego. Even the slightest tinge of irritation tells us we believe something real has happened to disturb our peace and our anger will now restore the situation to what we want by attempting to make others feel guilty (T-15.VII.10). We have made the error real again. However, the same solution awaits us as it did in the nightmare. We cannot heal ourselves but we can invite healing from the One who can give it. There is a light in our mind, the Holy Spirit, who is the memory of who we really are.

A memory of home keeps haunting you, as if there were a place that called you to return, although you do not recognize the voice, nor what it is the voice reminds you of.
Workbook Lesson 182

If we can put aside the urge to 'fix' ourselves and realise we only know how to create problems and not heal them, we can create the gap in our defences for the light of the Holy Spirit to shine away our pain. The external situation that was thought to be responsible for our pain may be unaltered, but our perception of it will now be different and we will be at peace. A miracle has occurred. Did the light of the Holy Spirit do anything? Did it act in the world and affect form? No, it simply reminded us that there was another way of seeing the situation. Light does not attack darkness. Darkness is simply the absence of light. When you switch on a lamp in a darkened room the dark does not hide under the carpet. The Holy Spirit reminded us that the error we perceived is not real. It is of the same nature as the nightmare.

The Voice of the Holy Spirit does not command, because it is incapable of arrogance. It does not demand, because it does not seek control. It does not overcome, because it does not attack. It merely reminds. It is compelling only because of what it reminds you of. It brings to your mind the other way, remaining quiet even in the midst of the turmoil you may make.
T-5.II.7:1-6

Sometimes in a dream you realise you are dreaming but still continue to dream. This is called lucid dreaming. At the moment you realise you are dreaming any problems you might have been having immediately disappear in the happy realisation that you are making up all the content in the dream and your reaction to it. And now you can change your response.

The journey we take with A Course In Miracles shows us that with the Holy Spirit's help we can change our response to any circumstance, now matter how seemingly dire, and accept the miracle the Holy Spirit is always extending to us.

___________________________________________________________________________

STORY 1: Heralds Of Eternity
by 'acimmonk'
http://www.acimmonk.com/

"This is a story about the perception of shared interests, and the Experience of Love it brings.

Yesterday morning I had one of the most beautiful and profound experiences of my life. I connected with a brother. This particular brother happened to be my wife. She asked me to share our experience on my blog, so here I am. Let me tell you what happened.

Around 8am we decided we would spend some time studying A Course in Miracles. I quickly sprawled in an easy chair by the window in our bedroom that I often sit in while reading the Course. She was at the desk a few feet away, typing a couple quick emails before settling down to read with me. Over the next five minutes, I interrupted her 4-5 times with passages, quotes, thoughts and random ideas about what I was reading. Finally, I noticed strain in her face, and asked her what was wrong.

'You keep interrupting me and I can't finish these emails!'

In that moment, I had an experience that may have been a whole lifetime, or many lifetimes, in the making. Instead of her call for love unconsciously and automatically triggering my wrong mind, it unconsciously and automatically triggered my right mind.

It happened 'of itself'. Without my conscious contribution or effort, the Holy Spirit came rushing into my mind. From within His perception, I profoundly recognized her call for love as my own, her need as my need, my answer to her as my answer to myself, her healing as my healing. In that instant I felt as deeply connected to her as I have ever felt to another human being. I saw no separation between the two of us, only a singular need. A shared interest.

Her call for love was our call for God.

Everyone, everywhere, in every moment, is either giving love or calling for it. In every call for love we proclaim we are lost and looking for Heaven. It is an expression of the fear we won't ever find our way back Home, nor be welcomed There if we did. This is our shared interest, one that stretches across the whole of humanity; across every border, belief, and depths of each heart that beats upon this earth. When you are able to recognize a call for love in such stark terms, you recognize it as an echo of the same desperate longing you feel from deep within yourself, and your natural desire is to want to rush to meet the call for love... with love.

When Bonnie made her call for love to me, I rushed to meet it as effortlessly as a spent wave sweeps back into the ocean. In her words I heard only the plaintive cry, 'Separation from God is real! I'm scared! Please help me!'

On the level of form, I didn't consciously decide how to respond; I was watching myself respond. I went to her and hugged her. In my mind all I could hear were the words, 'It (the separation) didn't happen. You didn't do anything. You are pure and innocent', but when I opened my mouth, the words I heard myself whisper were, 'It's ok, everything is ok. I know. I know. It's ok.'

She could sense I was talking about a deeper level, and a flood of emotion began to pour from her. (She later told me she felt a sudden anger at my response because it made me innocent, and she the guilty one.) She became angrier, obviously about something much deeper than mere interruptions. As I held a calm space of love and acceptance for her, she began to cry in her anger, and tighten in resistance. (She later explained that it felt like a safe place for her to explore the horrible idea that she was not acceptable [to God], and to really see if it was true.)

The more safety and stability the Holy Spirit provided through me, the freer she felt to more fully experience and express her fear that God found her unacceptable. As her fury grew, I'd again hear the words, 'It didn't happen', but when I opened my mouth, it was always something different that came out; words that seemed to better match where she was, and what she needed, in that moment. As I spoke the words to her, I had the experience of the Holy Spirit saying the same things to me. I felt as if it was my mind that was being healed. I felt perfectly calm, free, joyful, strong, light-hearted and safe.

As her anger peaked, she said things I can't even remember. They didn't matter. Whatever she said was reinterpreted in my mind so that the only thing I heard was, 'Please tell me it isn't true!' When she finally realized she was totally safe, totally loved, she completely relaxed and soon proclaimed she felt 'super duper peace, acceptance and relaxation!' I was left with an acute and heartfelt sense of gratitude for the opportunity to heal our mind.

The result of this experience is that we both feel freer to look at our egos and forgive ourselves, each other, and everyone. That's the nature of the miracle, "They bring more love both to the giver and the receiver" (T-1.I.9:3), and I'm excited that it's starting to become second nature to me, part of my unconscious. That I'm allowing myself to be led.

Another aspect of the experience was how close I felt to God.

"Heaven is... merely an awareness of perfect Oneness, and the knowledge that there is nothing else; nothing outside this Oneness, and nothing else within." (T-18.VI.1:5-6)

The reflection of Heaven, here within the dream of separation, is the giving up of separate interests and seeing only shared interests. Seeing only one call and one need. This joining with our brothers mirrors the Oneness of Heaven, and gives us a consistency of right-minded perception that puts us under the guidance of the Holy Spirit Who leads us Home.

When we see in another our own need for God, we are no longer apart. And in our joining we begin to hear the Heralds of Eternity, the Song of Heaven. We stand together now, my brother and I, on the bridge Home. Hand in hand we return into the Light of Heaven."

___________________________________________________________________________

STORY 2: The Power of Acceptance

(The following is taken from a letter I recently received from a friend.)

"My main teacher over the last years has been Eckhard Tolle. I used to listen to the tape version of 'The Power of Now' several times a day or during the night, just to help me to get out of the dark holes I seemed to find myself in. Basically I was in a lot of pain over the breakup of my relationship, over the falling apart of my life and of course, over the fact that it was all my own fault…

At some point I was again in a place of despair and there came the thought: "This is it, I have reached my limit, I cannot go through this level of pain any longer!" I was listening to Eckhard talk about the pain body, and I heard him say, "All pain is resistance and all resistance pain". So I thought: if I am in that much pain, what am I resisting? Then it hit me: of course, I am resisting everything that I do not want in my life! Next thought: What would it take to drop resistance? Would I be willing to accept, that even this moment of despair could have a purpose? That even this pain, this difficulty is brought to me by life in order to change my pattern, and to deal with it in a different manner? Next thought: I cannot know that it isn't. Next thought: Well, if life brings me exactly what I need, even if I don't like it, it's only to help me take my next step into liberation. And if that's so, then there is no problem! Everything is as it should be!

In that moment I could see my pain body still doing a dance, but it was not me. I was just the witness and I was in peace. I felt that I was standing on new ground. A very small ground indeed, but new ground nonetheless. Nothing outside had changed, only my perspective. Next thought: Could  this be it? Could it be so easy? There was a sense of peace which had nothing to do with outside circumstances. Since then I have noticed that in my meditations  there is more and more silence in my head, a sense of space and deep peace to which I can return any time. In my day to day activities I am dropping into the present moment more and more frequently, when there is no thought, just noticing.

Now the whole thing is like a game that I seem to be part of, and I am curious to see what the next turn will bring. There is more and more insight and understanding of what I have been reading about, but now it is more a lived experience. Many practical questions are still unresolved, but I don't worry anymore."

___________________________________________________________________________


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.

___________________________________________________________________________


WORKSHOPS

A Course in Miracles Workshops in AUSTRALIA in 2008
Led by Michael Dawson

Clare, Sth. Aust. - April 5-6, 2008
(2 hours drive north of Adelaide)

The Key to Inner Peace.
Moving from a somebody to a nobody

A Course in Miracles workshop

You are not special.
If you think you are, and would defend your specialness
against the truth of what you really are, how can you know the truth?
A Course in Miracles

One day, I discovered I didn't need a personal history, so, like drinking, I dropped it.

Carlos Castaneda in Tales of Power

As we release our beliefs, concepts, seeking, self-importance and goals, peace and joy will return.
When we no longer defend our self-created image (ego), awareness of our eternal spiritual reality awakens.
Exercises to help undo our ego and listen within will be given.

No previous knowledge of A Course in Miracles is required.


DATE:
April 5-6, 2008

TIME:
Sat. 5 April 9.30am - 5.30pm
Sun. 6 April 9.30am - 4.30pm

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

COST:
Booking Fee (non-refundable) - $60 to cover basic costs
Workshop Fee - by donation at the workshop.
Food provided.

---------------------------------------------------------------


Hillier (Gawler) Sth. Aust. - April 12-13, 2008
(40 minutes drive from the centre of Adelaide)

Awakening to Our Spiritual Reality.
A Course in Miracles workshop

You do not have to seek reality. 
It will seek you and find you when you meet its conditions. 
A Course in Miracles  T-8.IX.2:4-5


The deepest but forgotten truth about ourselves is that we are one with the love and mind of God. Identification with our bodies and personalities blinds us to our spiritual reality. The Course teaches us how to awaken from this dream of separation from God and to experience joy and peace. If our intention to awake is sincere and we have the humility to realise we know nothing and are willing to be taught by spirit we will meet the conditions of awakening. In the end everyone will overcome their fear to awaken and joyously remember what they have forgot. This workshop aims to help bring that time nearer by learning to forgive the blocks we have created to God's love for us.

Topics will include:
What is enlightenment?
Why we fear to awaken.
Traps on the spiritual path.
Pointers on the path
Not knowing-the need for humility
Sinlessness
Development of trust-the ladder home
Forgiveness
Undoing our blocks to guidance


Exercises will be used to help remove the obstacles to peace and open to the guidance within.

No previous knowledge of A Course in Miracles is required.


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

TIME:
Sat. 12 April 9.30am - 5.00pm
Sun. 13 April 9.30am - 5.00pm

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

For Details Contact:
Pamela St. Claire
Tel: 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


---------------------------------------------------------------

GERMANY 2008 WORKSHOPS

Bonn - Sat. 14 - Sun. 15 June, 2008

Awakening to Our Spiritual Reality.
A Course in Miracles workshop


You do not have to seek reality.
It will seek you and find you when you meet its conditions.
A Course in Miracles T-8.IX.2:4-5



The deepest but forgotten truth about ourselves is that we are one with the love and mind of God. Identification with our bodies and personalities blinds us to our spiritual reality. The Course teaches us how to awaken from this dream of separation from God and to experience joy and peace. If our intention to awake is sincere and we have the humility to realise we know nothing and are willing to be taught by spirit we will meet the conditions of awakening. In the end everyone will overcome their fear to awaken and joyously remember what they have forgot. This workshop aims to help bring that time nearer by learning to forgive the blocks we have created to God's love for us.

Topics will include:
What is enlightenment?
Why we fear to awaken.
Traps on the spiritual path.
The need for a full heart and an empty mind.
Not knowing.
Obstacles to peace
Development of trust
Forgiveness and guidance

Exercises will be used to help remove the obstacles to peace.

No previous knowledge of A Course In Miracles is required.


Introductory talk on A Course in Miracles - evening Fri 13 June

CONTACT:
Albert-Schweitzer-Haus
Beethovenallee 16
Bonn 53173
Germany
Tel: 0228 - 364737
http://www.albert-schweitzer-haus-bonn.de


---------------------------------------------------------------


FREIBURG - Sat. 7 - Sun. 8 June, 2008

Awakening to Our Spiritual Reality.
A Course in Miracles workshop
10am to 6pm


You do not have to seek reality.
It will seek you and find you when you meet its conditions.
A Course in Miracles T-8.IX.2:4-5



The deepest but forgotten truth about ourselves is that we are one with the love and mind of God. Identification with our bodies and personalities blinds us to our spiritual reality. The Course teaches us how to awaken from this dream of separation from God and to experience joy and peace. If our intention to awake is sincere and we have the humility to realise we know nothing and are willing to be taught by spirit we will meet the conditions of awakening. In the end everyone will overcome their fear to awaken and joyously remember what they have forgot. This workshop aims to help bring that time nearer by learning to forgive the blocks we have created to God's love for us.

Topics will include:
What is enlightenment?
Why we fear to awaken.
Traps on the spiritual path.
The need for a full heart and an empty mind.
Not knowing.
Obstacles to peace
Development of trust
Forgiveness and guidance

Exercises will be used to help remove the obstacles to peace.

No previous knowledge of A Course In Miracles is required.

Introductory talk on A Course In Miracles - evening Fri 6 June at 8pm.

LOCATION of workshop:
Center Margarete Sennekamp
Schauinslandstr. 39
79100 Freiburg-Günterstal
Germany
(Tram 4, Klosterplatz)

CONTACT:
Sophia-Institut
Margarete Sennekamp
Adalbert-Stifter-Str. 16
79102 Freiburg
Germany
Tel/Fax: 0761 - 73930
www.Sophia-Institut.de


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.

_______________________________________



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

___________________________________________________________________________


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:
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
http://glynbo.proboards84.com/index.cgi?board=acim

Belief.net ACIM discussion:
This Belief.net web-based discussion is hosted by Joe Jesseph.
http://www.beliefnet.com/boards/discussion_list.asp?boardID=34272


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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

---------------------------------------------------------------

      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


---------------------------------------------------------------

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

---------------------------------------------------------------

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

---------------------------------------------------------------

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

---------------------------------------------------------------

     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, Black Dot Publications, 2003





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

EMAIL: mdawson@acfip.org
WEBSITE: http://www.acfip.org


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