I took the book home, but it would be a few days (maybe weeks) before I had the interest to open it up and start reading it. I got through the first few pages, and thought to myself … what IS this? I quickly lost interest, unlike my friend who seemed quite enamoured with the book. I for, whatever reason ... resistance I guess, could not absorb the message in the context it was written. To me, it was like reading Shakespeare, which I am not a fan of! That book wasn't long going back on the shelf, there to sit for approximately a year, untouched.
My friend and I had both been searching for meaning and purpose in life for many years. We started with the idea of feng shui, a Chinese thought system which considers spatial arrangement in relation to energy flow and favorable and unfavorable effects taken into account. Leaving feng shui in the dust, we went on to follow Wayne Dwyer on PBS reading some of his books, as well as Louise Hay, Caroline Myss, Byron Katie, Law of Attraction (Esther and Jerry Hicks) and Eckhart Tolle. It wasn't until we (or my friend) came across videos of David Hoffmeister on youtube, when we became enthralled with David. His teachings seemed to be the catalyst to directing me back at another attempt to reading the text of A Course in Miracles.
I was still having a difficult time grappling with understanding the text. This book just wasn't resonating with me at all! With a couple of chapters behind me, I came across an interview by Kenneth Bok. He was interviewing a gentleman (whom I cannot not remember), but he was explaining his theory on reading A Course in Miracles. Also, having a difficult time understanding the text, and after having his book sitting on the shelf for a lengthy period, he decided to just read through it, as some of it was bound to 'stick'. I decided that this would be my approach from here on forward … to continue trudging through the text in the hopes that I would pick up something from it. I wasn't working then, so would make the experience as pleasant as possible. It was a beautiful summer, and I would venture outside to sit in the yard where I could enjoy the sunshine and the birds singing in the background while I read. I read through a couple of sections daily, and most days did the lessons as well as listening to David's talks on youtube. I can't remember how long it took, but I finally made it to the end, still with the lessons incomplete, but none-the-less, I had accomplished it! I'm not sure, however, if I had retained anything at this point.
It was sometime shortly after that I was introduced to Gary Renard (via the internet) and his book The Disappearance of the Universe. I made the decision to get this book due to its promotion as a supplement to understanding the principles of A Course in Miracles. Even though at times sceptical, I found the book to make the world of difference in my comprehension of the teachings.
It was some time later (a couple of years from my initial introduction to this path) that I would pick up the course book and read through the chapters once again (still working on the lessons). To my surprise and delight, it was like reading a completely different book. I was hooked!
Looking back, I now understand that everything on my path was presented to me, in timely fashion, to bring me to this point of understanding. Everything happens perfectly … the Holy Spirit meets you where you are at … always! One just has to be open to receive.
"The Holy Spirit mediates between illusions and the truth. Since He must bridge the gap between reality and dreams, perception leads to knowledge through the grace that God has given Him, to be His gift to everyone who turns to Him for truth. Across the bridge that He provides are dreams all carried to the truth, to be dispelled before the light of knowledge. There are sights and sounds forever laid aside. And where they were perceived before, forgiveness has made possible perception's tranquil end." (L-281.p7)
I am now a full fledge student living A Course in Miracles teachings. I am currently working on the Mystical Mind Training program (a practical multimedia training program which helps ministerial trainees, miracle workers and teachers of God experience inner peace), have attended retreats, as well as participate in volunteering with transcribing and assist with the restructuring of the Movie Watcher's Guide to Enlightenment (watching your emotions during a movie and releasing what is coming up, can speed up the awakening process).
A Course in Miracles shows us the way out of suffering and into a true place of peace and joy. The only way to experience that amazing healing is to live the teachings day by day.
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