Applying ACIM Teachings

It's one thing to read a book or attend a workshop or meditate daily. How can we apply what we have learned out there, to the world.

How do we apply ACIM principles to the world? What are some ways we can actually walk our talk. If we want to change the world as we see all over Zaadz, how can we do it if we are cloistered around our computers. How can we take the mission “out there” .

Discuss…..

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

This has been a hectic week…….really busy……….one of those “there's not enough hours in the day” weeks.  We have a guest teacher from India at the Yoga Studio this week and our yoga classes have been going nonstop each evening since Monday.  Yesterday's class was over 3hrs long on top of a full work day.  Oh yes, the studio hosting the guest teacher is about an hour's drive from me………………….in rush hour 

I'm pooped!!  Dragging my tail.  Dead on my feet tired.  It's a good tired………an “I'm really feeling connected” tired……but tired none less.

Last night after, class I went a local dept.store to pick up some items they were holding for me.  I had called earlier in the day to verify the items were available and was assured they were & that they would hold them.  So I dragged my tired rear to the Dept. Store to get the items.  

The Dept. Store is about 30 mins away from the yoga studio. 

I arrive at the store at around 8:45pm (they close at 10pm) and went to customer service.

A very nice young man informed me two of the items I had requested were actually not available.  The store had tried to call to give me a head's up, however they only had my home number and I had left directly from work to drive to the one hr away yoga class.

Well Rats!   Thought I.   It was a matched set.  what they were holding for me was of no use with out the companion pieces.

“Let me check our other stores,” the nice young man offered.  “wonderful”, I said.

Bingo!!  Another store had the companion items and they were only about 20 to 30 mins from the store I was at.

I purchased the held items at the first store and set off……………at this point fantisizing about falling into my wonderful bed………………….to store #2.

I arrive at store # 2, go to customer service……..it's very busy……..so I stand in line.

Finally my turn up front.  I explain my situation, two items being held for me, store # 1 had called on my behalf.

“Oh yes, ” says the very pleasant young lady, “Allow me to get them for you.”

She returns a few minutes later………………………..WRONG ITEMS!!

“Oh dear,” says she, “I need to call the department manager”

“That's fine,” says I

The department manager comes…..”Oh, I thought these were the items you needed.  I'm sorry.  Let me look to see if we have the others in stock.

“Inventory says we have four sets,” says the industrious young lady who helped me first.

“Oh good,” says the manager and off she goes to the stock room.

She returns five minutes later

“I need a flashlight”  off she goes again. 

This doesn't bode well.

It is now 9:40pm.  I  have worked a full day and taken 3hrs of yoga.  I had planned on making a quick stop on the  way home to purchase these items and now my plan has turned into two stores and a bunch of time and I still had an hour's drive ahead of me to get home and crawl into my unbeliveably wonderful bed.

The manager returns fifteen minutes later.

“I have two sets.  One set is being  held for another customer and the other set is on a trailer that won't be unloaded until Monday.   I have no idea where the other two are I am really sorry.”

Okay…………………..hmmmmmm………

(I could get really pissy here, thinks I.  I'm tired.  I'm disappointed.  I did everything correctly.  I called before I came.  I agreed to go to another location because I was assured my desires would be met and now I'm here empty handed!!)

(No, actually,  worse than empty handed because I have a partial set of this stuff out in my car that is basically worthless unless I have a complete set so that means more time to return what I had already purchased.)

“Is there another store nearby you could check?”  I ask.  It is now 9:45

Yes!  says the Manager  “Let's call Columbus” (an hour away in the other direction)

'Anything closer” say I hopefully.

'Not really” says she.

Okay, say I

She calls.

They have it.

She guarantees they have it.

They will hold it indefinetly to allow me to travel and I will be guarenteed the price.

i looked at the manager.  She looked tired too. 

I couldn't believe I was on the verge of allowing myself to become upset over some “things”!!  Some petty little “things”!  Was it worth sending that kind of destructive energy out into the Universe for a lost bit of time and petty things?!!

“Thank you”, say I. 'I really appreciate your efforts”

“I feel just awful” says the manager, “It was my mistake that brought you hear.”

“It's okay” says I.  “Mistakes happen.  Besides, you know what they say, 'the sweetest things come to those who wait'.  Just think how happy I'll be when I finally have a complete set!!”

“That's kind of you to say” says the Mangager, “It makes me feel better.”

“I bet you've had a long day” says I

” I have” says she, ” and I'm glad it's almost over”

Me too! says I, as I turn to leave.    “I'll be thinking of you & all your help when I grinning over my complete set”

“I hope so”, says she

The point of this dissertation is I feel I've learned that if we take the time to try to see more fully the world around us and not just our narrow, self-centered perspective, we will find a bit more peace in our lives and can then offer that peace to others.

The End 

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

Wow, what a great story…. to see beyond the minute details and see the bigger more important picture! Awesome!

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

Bruce, you said it………….TRULY AWESOME. 

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

 How do I influence, become aware of, and encourage the making of miracles every day?

My daughter is 7 years old and was born with Down syndrome. Every day I wake up to the her smile, her hugs and I nurture her and care for her . Then I send her out into the world as the child/teacher she is and I wait excitedly for the daily reports of the miracles she makes in just being herself. Knowing I was the vessal which she passed through onto the earth pleases me greatly . Simple loving gestures are my daughter's specialty. She is a miracle and she knows it. There is no ego to get in her way and others sense that when they are close to her. When she was an infant , folks would come up to us in most any public place wanting to lay their hands on her. Once when I was in the Food Lion  shopping with Jessie a group of sage wise women came over and started whispering to her and stroking her cheek. Then they smiled at me and moved on-as if saying thank you for bringing their fellow soul back to earth for them to connect with.

I have yet to read the Course in Miracles-but I am guessing that making of the miracles is understanding the simplest of truths. We are all interconnected. We are of soul groupings. We seek each other across time and space and in these moments we must share ourselves in the ways which may seem the most unusual or the most mundane.

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

 Hi Katrina,

Here is the first part of the text of ACIM… have a look….. it explains miracles from a far different place then the “hocus-pocus” and magic we believe miracles are.

 I love this section, let me know what you think!

  *     *      *     *      *     *      *     *      *     *      *     *      *     *      *     *      *     *      *     *      *     *    

Principles of Miracles from the Beginning of A Course in Miracles…

1. There is no order of difficulty in miracles. One is not “harder” or “bigger” than another. They are all the same. All expressions of love are maximal.

2. Miracles as such do not matter. The only thing that matters is their source, which is far beyond evaluation.

 3. Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love. The real miracle is the love that inspires them. In this sense everything that comes from love is a miracle.

4. All miracles mean life, and God is the giver of life. His voice will direct you very specifically. You will be told all you need to know.

5. Miracles are habits, and should be involuntary. They should not be under conscious control. Consciously selected miracles can be misguided.

6. Miracles are natural. When they do not occur something has gone wrong.

7. Miracles are everyone's right, but purification is necessary first.

8. Miracles are healing because they supply a lack; they are performed by those who temporarily have more for those who temporarily have less.

9. Miracles are a kind of exchange. Like all expressions of love, which are always miraculous in the true sense, the exchange reverses the physical laws. They bring more love both to the giver and the receiver.

10. The use of miracles as spectacles to induce belief is a misunderstanding of their purpose.

11. Prayer is the medium of miracles. It is a means of communication of the created with the Creator. Through prayer love is received, and through miracles love is expressed.

12. Miracles are thoughts. Thoughts can represent the lower or bodily level of experience, or the higher or spiritual level of experience. One makes the physical, and the other creates the spiritual.

13. Miracles are both beginnings and endings, and so they alter the temporal order. They are always affirmations of rebirth, which seem to go back but really go forward. They undo the past in the present, and thus release the future.

14. Miracles bear witness to truth. They are convincing because they arise from conviction. Without conviction they deteriorate into magic, which is mindless and therefore destructive; or rather, the uncreative use of mind.

15. Each day should be devoted to miracles. The purpose of time is to enable you to learn how to use time constructively. It is thus a teaching device and a means to an end. Time will cease when it is no longer useful in facilitating learning.

16. Miracles are teaching devices for demonstrating it is as blessed to give as to receive. They simultaneously increase the strength of the giver and supply strength to the receiver.

17. Miracles transcend the body. They are sudden shifts into invisibility, away from the bodily level. That is why they heal.

18. A miracle is a service. It is the maximal service you can render to another. It is a way of loving your neighbor as yourself. You recognize your own and your neighbor's worth simultaneously.

19. Miracles make minds one in God. They depend on cooperation because the Sonship is the sum of all that God created. Miracles therefore reflect the laws of eternity, not of time.

20. Miracles reawaken the awareness that the spirit, not the body, is the altar of truth. This is the recognition that leads to the healing power of the miracle.

21. Miracles are natural signs of forgiveness. Through miracles you accept God's forgiveness by extending it to others.

22. Miracles are associated with fear only because of the belief that darkness can hide. You believe that what your physical eyes cannot see does not exist. This leads to a denial of spiritual sight.

23. Miracles rearrange perception and place all levels in true perspective. This is healing because sickness comes from confusing the levels.

24. Miracles enable you to heal the sick and raise the dead because you made sickness and death yourself, and can therefore abolish both. You are a miracle, capable of creating in the likeness of your Creator. Everything else is your own nightmare, and does not exist. Only the creations of light are real.

25. Miracles are part of an interlocking chain of forgiveness which, when completed, is the Atonement. Atonement works all the time and in all the dimensions of time.

26. Miracles represent freedom from fear. “Atoning” means “undoing.” The undoing of fear is an essential part of the Atonement value of miracles.

27. A miracle is a universal blessing from God through me to all my brothers. It is the privilege of the forgiven to forgive.

28. Miracles are a way of earning release from fear. Revelation induces a state in which fear has already been abolished. Miracles are thus a means and revelation is an end.

29. Miracles praise God through you. They praise him by honoring his creations, affirming their perfection. They heal because they deny body-identification and affirm spirit-identification.

30. By recognizing spirit, miracles adjust the levels of perception and show them in proper alignment. This places spirit at the center, where it can communicate directly.

31. Miracles should inspire gratitude, not awe. You should thank God for what you really are. The children of God are holy and the miracle honors their holiness, which can be hidden but never lost.

32. I inspire all miracles, which are really intercessions. They intercede for your holiness and make your perceptions holy. By placing you beyond the physical laws they raise you into the sphere of celestial order. In this order you are perfect.

33. Miracles honor you because you are lovable. They dispel illusions about yourself and perceive the light in you. They thus atone for your errors by freeing you from your nightmares. By releasing your mind from the imprisonment of your illusions, they restore your sanity.

34. Miracles restore the mind to its fullness. By atoning for lack they establish perfect protection. The spirit's strength leaves no room for intrusions.

35. Miracles are expressions of love, but they may not always have observable effects. 36. Miracles are examples of right thinking, aligning your perceptions with truth as God created it.

37. A miracle is a correction introduced into false thinking by me. It acts as a catalyst, breaking up erroneous perception and reorganizing it properly. This places you under the Atonement principle, where perception is healed. Until this has occurred, knowledge of the Divine Order is impossible.

38. The Holy Spirit is the mechanism of miracles. He recognizes both God's creations and your illusions. He separates the true from the false by his ability to perceive totally rather than selectively.

39. The miracle dissolves error because the Holy Spirit identifies error as false or unreal. This is the same as saying that by perceiving light, darkness automatically disappears.

40. The miracle acknowledges everyone as your brother and mine. It is a way of perceiving the universal mark of God.

41. Wholeness is the perceptual content of miracles. They thus correct, or atone for, the faulty perception of lack.

42. A major contribution of miracles is their strength in releasing you from your false sense of isolation, deprivation and lack.

43. Miracles arise from a miraculous state of mind, or a state of miracle-readiness.

44. The miracle is an expression of an inner awareness of Christ and the acceptance of his Atonement.

45. A miracle is never lost. It may touch many people you have not even met, and produce undreamed of changes in situations of which you are not even aware.

46. The Holy Spirit is the highest communication medium. Miracles do not involve this type of communication, because they are temporary communication devices. When you return to your original form of communication with God by direct revelation, the need for miracles is over.

47. The miracle is a learning device that lessens the need for time. It establishes an out-of-pattern time interval not under the usual laws of time. In this sense it is timeless.

48. The miracle is the only device at your immediate disposal for controlling time. Only revelation transcends it, having nothing to do with time at all. 49. The miracle makes no distinction among degrees of misperception. It is a device for perception correction, effective quite apart from either the degree or the direction of the error. This is its true indiscriminateness.

50. The miracle compares what you have made with creation, accepting what is in accord with it as true, and rejecting what is out of accord as false.

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

I see much of what I believe laid out here. I am going to write more specifics later when I have the time to truly focus my thoughts and respond in something that resembles intelligence.

i don't believe in hocus pocus-well except in Frosty the Snow Man-he is a cute rabbit. Yes I spend alot of time with young children.

I do believe in magick-as in the arts of divination, connecting with sub conscious, energy healing- Magick to me is standard… I know that's confusing-but I see magick and miracles and the Source in everything. The Universe is magickal.

Given the rate of miscarriage -life itself is a miracle. Okay-there is all those scientific rational studies-which as a thinking person I find fascinating. But they don't come close to explaining what I felt during pregnancy, birth, and the losses I have felt. The Mystery, The Source, The Universe, God… and on and on-what ever we call it.. I see myself as a co creator within it…and yet lost without it… and well there is more-but I've got to do mundane things.

Will be more clear in the next offering.

Blessings,
Katrina

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

Hello Bruce,

I keep trying to come up with some realy inspiring response to the ACIM -and all I can come up with is - Yes!!! I get that. But I am a mystic-so how do we take this and give to the anyone that wants this guidance.
I think maybe it's my age or the fact that I have not been in the corporate world or academia.  I wish that the folks who wrote this would have put more into simpliying things so that all of us commoners would be able to take more from it. It has a gnostic flair-we have this knowledge and certain folks if your pure and as smart as we are-you will understand the blessing. All the rest-well of us mere mortals-oh well that's too bad. Try harder, study more… How ridiculous. Universal wisdom is just that-and translators and scribes for the Universe are in my opnion as a scribe, translator, guide for the Universe is almost obligate to do their very utmost best to make things so clear that their is no disconnect.  It's  not as user friendly as I would like.

I went out to the ACIM.org site to find out more about the authors-and I'm glad they stopped and decided to connect with something other than Freudian concepts and their ego's.  Obviously this world(at least the Western world) is driven by the old regimen or WASP guidelines that ACIM does address.  I'm sure this has helped them-and others to find a way to be nicer to each other.

What is missing is the ideal that the Holy Spirit is also a WASP-I have to chuckle at that one. Sophia is not a WASP-She is not a HIS OR A HE… I could accept a combination of the HE and SHE of God.  There is no HIS voice that guides my life.

Miracles are natural-I agree.  They are also group efforts and part of life maps… Miracles are everyone's right, But purification is necessary- Well my mother wasn't purified-as she gave birth to me-and I was a miracle.  I had a doctor tell me that just last night over dinner. Miracles happen in unpure places and unpure people everyday. I think some spirit guide was messing with them when they channeled some of this.

Each day should be devoted to miracles-as in simple love and caring and nurturing. Sometimes I forget there is a whole group that really don't get that simple universal truth. I tend to avoid those folks. Which makes me a Hermit sometimes, labeled antisocial sometimes.

I was looking for something deeper, it wasn't really there…

Katrina

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

If I may weigh in with my two cents worth.

I feel Miracles occur in accordance with our Spiritual perception.   As Bruce posted with the list from the book; miracles are a method of communication from the Highest Source to us at a level through which we are able to comprehend.

As we grow in Spirit, gaining awareness, Miracles come more readily present and eventually even become common place.  They become the norm rather than the exception…..observable in every facet of living as the natural expression of the Divine in our lives. 

Ultimately, our awarness of God, the HIghest Source, is so keen, Miracles cease to be necessary because we are in direct communication and no longer need Miracles to serve as an interpretor.

I also feel we can become easily “caught” in the seemingly mysterious aspects of Miracles when, in actuality, as Children of the Most High the presence of  this Spiritual Power is part of our Divine Birthright. 

This is not to say that Miracles aren't glorious, because they truly are, however, it is the Source from which the Miracles emanate which is glorious.  And the impact Miracles have of bringing the Presence of God to the forefront of our awareness can not be understated.

When we begin to understand the communication principle guiding the Miracles and their orientation,  the impact of Mircales begin to warm the soul rather than amaze the mind.

When Christ said, “He who has ears, let him hear', I don't feel it was a chastisment.  I think it was, instead, an observation that those who can percieve with new eyes or new ears will hear/see the Truth and the Wisdom of His message of Spirit.   This message is ubiquitious, gender-less, and available to all. 

However the change or the abiltiy to experience this message has to come from within the individual.  It is an intimate and personal experience and, as such,  can not be given to anyone from anyone.  It only occurs thru Christ consciousness/awarness.

It's not that some of us need to try harder of study more.  The Wisdom is there, waiting to be redeemed.  It's the personal transformation for the redemption which is missing and that transformation happens on the Soul's timeline in accordance with Divine Will. 

Living in Spirit is surrendering each second of our lives to God, and putting nothing before that experience.  It is as simple and as user friendly as that. 

When this surrender happens, the things of the world fall away and we find a richness of Spirit that is beyond discription within the confines of language.  Therefore there can be no intereptation because none is possible.

I think ACIM does extremely well putting a mortal face on an immortal concept.

Christ also said. “in my Father's house are many mansions.”  Perhaps this means there are many levels of awareness and The Father's house is open to all regardless of perception. 

I'm using “Father” here in the conventionality of language  to referrance The Source and not as a gender bias.  Here again we deal with the restraints of an imperfect method of communication to express what is, as when we experience Miracles, perfect.

Love & Light,
Alex

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

Thanks Alex for a great and clear response!

 Was trying to do it and been just swamped with work so your .25 is welcome anytime!

B 

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

Hi Katrina,

What a lovely dialog you have initiated!!

I love that you say “Each day should be devoted to miracles-as in simple love and caring and nurturing” because I truly feel these seemingly simple acts contain the catalyst for all miracles.

And, as you have also stated, birth is a wonderous miracle.  Each time a soul enters our plain of existance, it is as teacher/student regardless of circumstances surrounding the entrance.  Who can possibly know the impact of such a miraculous event even if the evidience of such isn't readily apparent.

I believe, and someone please correct me if I'm in error, when The Course speaks of purification It speaks to the receptive nature of the individual to recognize the God force in manifestation.  At some level, one must possess a purity of awareness…..however fleeting…..to recognize the presence of Spirit in the guise of miraculous.

Humanity at large is expert in embracing duality.  Sliding the dimmer switch back and forth between Light and less Light.  Purity can sometimes be misconstrued as goodness or morality….in other words, more Light rather than less.  However, we all know of situations where someone has demonstrated pure moments of clarity….God awareness…..and is still capable of living what would be percieved as an impure existance.

It is those rare moments of purity……those moments when love and caring and nurturing surface no matter how briefly….that The Course explains is parlied into the Miracles which ocur in those places deemed impure by our limited understanding.

I'm with you Katrina!  Miracles are natural and are a direct emanation from Love.  In fact, they are the Perfect evidence of Love.

Thank you soooo very much for allowing me the opportunity to reach out to my touchstone once again.  It is a wonderful gift you have given us here!!!

Love & Light,
Alex

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

Hi Bruce,

I note you listed only 50 miracles.  Are you aware of the HLC - Hugh Lynn Cayce edition of ACIM (Edgar Cayce's son) and also what is known as the Urtext ACIM?  Both are early manuscripts and show much editing has been done to the blue book material. 

There are actually 53 miracles.  The ACIM blue book resulted from material, Helen Shucman's notes, which material had been edited although Ken Wapnick and others made claim it hadn't been.  

Btw, I am in search of Helen's notes.  Apparently there are copies circulating the internet.  Please anyone who may have a copy, let me know.  Some dedicated course scholars are working at reconstructing the original information back to it's original content. One of he ways I help is by proofreading. 

One imporant line left out of the edited versions is the author saying “You will see miracles through your hands through Me” 

The HLC is one of the early manuscripts.  It a manuscript of the scribed material,  that was given to Hugh Lynn Cacey.  This copy was discovered in the Cayce Library when the court battle over copyright was in process.

Deborah

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

Hi Deborah,

Yes I am familiar with the earlier versions of the Course and the story of how the Course came to be rather fascinating and have read everything I can find on the subject. 

I know some “students” have discredited some aspects of the Blue copy and yet I trust that Helen and Bill would have not compromised the teachings before it went to press.

 I have a friend who was in the first ever ACIM study group many years ago and she tells many stories of the stuff the Course brought up for people.

I do wonder however what is to be found or uncovered by the reconstruction to it's original content and what purpose it would serve, rememberance or separation. I would only hope that it is for curiosity as opposed to finding fault or flaw in the current version.

Would appreciate hearing if you find any of Helen's notes!

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

If I happen on Helen's notes Bruce, I certainly will circulate them to anyone who would like a copy.  

Jesus tells us to never underestimate the power of denial of the ego.  We know what happened to Jesus when he walked the earth.  We know the corrections ACIM spells out of biblical errors. We also know Helen fought the course along her journey.  It is no secret Helen's ego gave her great grief and challenge with regards to scribing of the course.  I personally don't trust her ego any more than I trust my ego.  :) 

We know a one word error can change a meaning,  totally.  Even just proofreading the course shows many errors.  No criticism intended.  Facts are neutral, not negative nor positive.

I don't think divine guidance with regards to ACIM stopped with Helen. :)  If some are guided to help Jesus make sure the word he wants delivered, is delivered as he intends, then I trust the work is all done to support Jesus rather than to criticize what was done by others.  Just the facts. :) 

One purpose is to have the manuscript Jesus fully intended us to have, complete and as accurate as can be.  I would say that would serve rememberance, rather than separation.  

In your explorations of ACIM in this pod, am I to understand discussions follow the blue book and no other editions? 

Deborah 

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

My partner and I have been attending counseling sessions with a student/teacher of A Course In Miracles (before this summer I had never heard of it). In conjunction with counseling I began reading Marianne Williamson's book, A Return to Love. The result so far, has been a transformation of my perception and the resurrection of my relationship.

In response to the question that began this discussion, how do we apply ACIM principles to the world, I call attention to myself as an example of a result of the application of ACIM principles!

Let me say a few words about my counselor: The first thing I noticed about his counseling style was that he is a participant in the process. He doesn't hold himself apart as an impartial observer as other counselors I've worked with have attempted, and indeed as they seem trained to behave/believe. From session one he said that our healing was his healing and that the energetic exchange was of value to him. Just this week I began to really get what he meant and believe, on a deep level, how this is true. He has embodied the lesson of separateness as an illusion - he walks his talk.

Second, the principle(s) that I have found most accessible and relevant is that in every moment we choose to respond out of fear or out of love, from judgment or from acceptance. Our perception of time plays into this insomuch as we bring the pain of the past to bear on the present. Carrying the past with us promotes a fear response and judgment. When we release the past and stand firm in the present we see through innocent eyes, accepting what is for what it is. Each moment is an opportunity to see through love, to respond from love, and love is total acceptance.

As with any new profound insight, I am seeing reflections everywhere. The most entertaining parallel is in the methods of Cesar Millan, the ”Dog Whisperer”. He says that dogs live in the moment, that any dog can be rehabilitated/healed, and he does this by helping them return to their natural state of being! Something I have noticed in nearly every show is him teaching the people to cease nurturing an anxious mind (petting and giving affection while the animal is nervous, scared, aggressive, etc.), and instead to encourage and reinforce a calm-submissive state of mind. He says that the human being must be the pack leader and be calm-assertive. Calm-assertive is an apt description of my state of mind when I feel balanced!

That's it for now, with one exception. To Alex: I appreciated your interpretation of the statement “In my father's house are many mansions.” In addition to that, I'd like to add my take on it which has been that the many ‘mansions' refer to the many paths to god. Each holy book, each edition of each holy book, each religion, church, temple, etc. is a mansion. Only the difference in form leads us to believe that we are separate, or that we seeking a separate goal. Of course this is a false perception - every road leads to God. It matters not which road you choose, or how pockmarked or perfect the road may appear, as long as you get there.

Elena

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

Elena,
 “As with any new profound insight, I am seeing reflections everywhere. The most entertaining parallel is in the methods of Cesar Millan, the ”Dog Whisperer”. He says that dogs live in the moment, that any dog can be rehabilitated/healed, and he does this by helping them return to their natural state of being! Something I have noticed in nearly every show is him teaching the people to cease nurturing an anxious mind (petting and giving affection while the animal is nervous, scared, aggressive, etc.), and instead to encourage and reinforce a calm-submissive state of mind. He says that the human being must be the pack leader and be calm-assertive. Calm-assertive is an apt description of my state of mind when I feel balanced!”

This is a great example.  It also works with children.  Thanks for putting it into this perspective.  We can do the same things with our own anxious mind.

JahaRa

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

The best way to find the un-edited books is to look at used bookstores for versions published before 1992.  The old 3 book hard back is probably the best bet if you can find it.

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

Bruce,

You list of 50 miracles from ACIM, but I have not seen all of them in the text.  Can you tell me the page numbers that you found these, and what printing of the course you are using? 

Thanks.

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

To me the central teaching of the course is that we should practice forgiveness, not in a traditional sense in which we imagine that someone has done something wrong that we excuse, but in the course's sense that sees that no wrongdoing ever truly occurred.  Maintaining this “right view” to use a Buddhist term, is my daily practice. Or really I should say my daily effort, since I actually hit upon it so rarely. But I do try, and see myself improving in the frequency with which I succeed. The more I am able to remember that we are all innocent the more I contribute my light to the world and effortlessly refrain from spreading ill-will.

 By the way, I want to let members of this pod know that I recently started a new pod called Lose Your Mind which you can check out at http://pods.zaadz.com/lightvision and I hope you will. It's brand new so of course I'm the only member right now, so I'd really love it if you would join, especially if you have an interest in discussing certain aspects of ACIM with people who might be interested in using it to dismantle their mental constructs but who may not already understand that it does that. I find that it does that for me anyway, though my primary practice is still Buddhism.

Re: Applying ACIM Teachings

Skydancer,
  I like the way you put that - “that we imagine that someone has done something wrong that we excuse”.   Usually when I catch myself feeling hurt or angry about something someone did/said it turns out that on closer examination I am really angry at myself for my part in it.  So, of course it seems harder to forgive self than some imagined external, but in reality it is part of the illusion as well, so the 'right view' includes ourselves as well.