Ramon’s Comments (group member since Nov 19, 2015)

Ramon’s comments from the ACIM: Listen, Learn and Act group.

T.Y. wrote: "Hi no I haven't either but I have a couple people I met on Facebook reading my book and they rave about it so was just wondering- I was stunned to hear of a follow up to ACIM"

Personally, I would not call any of these a 'follow-up.' A Course in Miracles: The Text Workbook for Students, Manual for Teachers can stand on it's own merits without any need of any follow-up.

That said, however, I like reading the experiences of others. And there are plenty of 'other' books out there. Like the one I shared in my earlier post, which I read in 2001-2002.

I suggest that you ignore the term 'follow-up' and just treat it as the experience of the author. The experience that you yourself had didn't inspire you to call your book a 'follow-up.' You base your experience on the teachings of A Course in Miracles: The Text Workbook for Students, Manual for Teachers and that connection is all that is really necessary. Your book is your experience -- and I hope that it isn't the only experience that you will ever have.

Over the years I have read a number of books claiming to be follow-ups to A Course in Miracles: The Text Workbook for Students, Manual for Teachers.

Mari Perron is a practicing Catholic and began the receiving of messages from a voice that identified itself as an angel going by the name of “Peace.” (from the Forward in A Course of Love). Many of us still read the Bible and follow a particular denomination of Christianity; or, other systems that depend on faith to maintain it. As for myself, I follow the Russian Orthodox denomination, which is simply Traditional Catholic.

Mari Perron's book, along with others that I have read over the years, will not be the last of these books as many will want to write about their own experiences. For example: The Other Voice: A Companion to the Text of the Course, Chapters 1-15.

Thank you for bringing this information to our group. Some ACIM teachers branch out - some do healing - some just teach or lecture - and some write books or articles. Many of us just read and want to hear what others think or share what they themselves think.

As to your question - No, I have never heard of ACOL or Mari Perron. Her website offers the first twenty chapters free for download, which I have done. I will read these twenty chapters and share my opinion of them hear.

I received my copy of The Truth of Love: A memoir of one woman's spiritual quest to know love in the mail today - three days early - and I am so happy. The first time I ever ordered a book from amazon.com and they are fast.

So, in additional to the other books I am currently reading, I will start reading this one. I reserve different times for different books. I have to set my mind to go to a certain place to read a book like this.

T.Y. wrote: "Hi Ramon, I just finished making my new website. What do you think? :)
www.womanrunningwithwolves.com"

WOW!! The visual effect caught me right from the start. Very nice pictures. Provides a little bit more about who you are as an individual. And while I don't get caught up in the feminine point of view, I have no doubt that other females will be able to relate to that aspect.

Tina, your website is very good. I like it.

T.Y. wrote: "http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/6036/v... this is the link to the recipe I use all the time. It is in uk measurements though... if you do use it, you can get away with using half the ..."

Thank you for the recipe and the tips. I can convert the uk measurements. The picture of the brownies looks great - made my mouth water. I put this recipe on my things to do list.

T.Y. wrote: "Ramon wrote: "My copy of The Truth of Love: A memoir of one woman's spiritual quest to know love will be here on May 2. That will give me a chance to finish up on a couple other boo..."

Yes - I'm in the USA. And I would like it if you could share the recipe of your vegan brownies. I love baking cakes too, but haven't ever made brownies before. In the cooking class, I think our first dish will be beef stew. The main focus in this particular class is to use a 4 quart slow cooker.

My copy of The Truth of Love: A memoir of one woman's spiritual quest to know love will be here on May 2. That will give me a chance to finish up on a couple other books I've been reading. I start a new cooking class on Thursday. So I can read while I sample any new dish I make. That's the bad thing about cooking - You get to eat whatever you make. Actually I'm a good cook.

I have read a few pages of her book on amazon.com and it reads like a - well - a memoir. Imagine that. I can't find a copy of The Truth of Love: A memoir of one woman's spiritual quest to know love at my usual place where I get books and this book is less than $9.00. I will have to order more books, up to $25.00, so I can take advantage of the free shipping. No problem - my 'Want to Read' list is pretty long.

From what I have learned so far, Tina has been to many places. I can't imagine living in a location where war is all around. An interesting life and I can hardly wait to learn how She feels and thinks during these times of hardship.

This folder is where we can discuss topics about T.Y. Chambers' personal experiences. I encourage our members to get a copy of her book - The Truth of Love: A memoir of one woman's spiritual quest to know love - I found that she is very open to discuss her experiences and we are most fortunate to have her as a member here.

I know that I will have much to ask of her. Especially in the area of her thought process in using the concepts and principles found in A Course in Miracles: The Text Workbook for Students, Manual for Teachers.

Wow! That is a very interesting summary. Like you, ACIM has been following me for more than 15 years. And, until I came to Goodreads, haven't had anybody to interact with on the subject.

I bring up some of the things I understand when asked, but for the most part, I try to keep it simple. Understanding how this material follows us in life has not been a topic here - yet - but feel free to elaborate and lets get the others to comment on this topic as well.

We welcome to our group. Finally staying a member of one of the other ACIM groups has paid off.

She is an author and we are truly happy to have her as one of our members.

Angelanadine wrote: "I may be totally off the mark here, but here is where my thoughts go with this, or similar, points:

I perceive there to have been a blizzard that dumped a lot of snow here. Since I just moved nort..."

You make me smile - I do many things everyday that I know aren't real. It's only when I think of the unreality of it that I recognize the illusion. I cleaned my refrigerator out yesterday because I thought it needed it.

Julie wrote: "I am having great difficulty getting through the lessons. I believe the problem may be that I am thinking too literally.

For example: Lesson 14, Page 23

"God did not create and so it is not real...."

LESSON 14.
God did not create a meaningless world.
The idea for today is, of course, the reason why a meaningless world is impossible. What God did not create does not exist. And everything that does exist exists as He created it. The world you see has nothing to do with reality. It is of your own making, and it does not exist.
The exercises for today are to be practiced with eyes closed throughout. The mind-searching period should be short, a minute at most. Do not have more than three practice periods with today’s idea unless you find them comfortable. If you do, it will be because you really understand what they are for.
The idea for today is another step in learning to let go the thoughts that you have written on the world, and see the Word of God in their place. The early steps in this exchange, which can truly be called salvation, can be quite difficult and even quite painful. Some of them will lead you directly into fear. You will not be left there. You will go far beyond it. Our direction is toward perfect safety and perfect peace.
With eyes closed, think of all the horrors in the world that cross your mind. Name each one as it occurs to you, and then deny its reality. God did not create it, and so it is not real. Say, for example:
God did not create that war, and so it is not real.
God did not create that airplane crash, and so it is not real.
God did not create that disaster [specify], and so it is not real.
Suitable subjects for the application of today’s idea also include anything you are afraid might happen to you, or to anyone about whom you are concerned. In each case, name the “disaster” quite specifically. Do not use general terms. For example, do not say, “God did not create illness,” but, “God did not create cancer,” or heart attacks, or whatever may arouse fear in you.
This is your personal repertory of horrors at which you are looking. These things are part of the world you see. Some of them are shared illusions, and others are part of your personal hell. It does not matter. What God did not create can only be in your own mind apart from His. Therefore, it has no meaning. In recognition of this fact, conclude the practice periods by repeating today’s idea:
God did not create a meaningless world.
The idea for today can, of course, be applied to anything that disturbs you during the day, aside from the practice periods. Be very specific in applying it. Say:
God did not create a meaningless world. He did not create [specify the situation which is disturbing you], and so it is not real.

“While God did not create the blizzard, the snow was real” - as real as you believe it was. But – the only things that are actually real, are only those things that God created. It is interesting that you can say that God did not create the blizzard, but yet, you believe the snow as real. Just like Adam - in the garden of Eden. God created Adam – whole – not lacking anything – and yet Adam believed that he was naked – lacking something.

I think that you are doing great. It is one thing to see with your eyes and yet another thing to tell your mind that the thing you think you see with your eyes isn't really real. I had the same problem the first time I took the course too. Don't worry about it. Just continue to move forward.

Julie wrote: "I haven't been active in this group recently because much of what I've been reading I can connect with. Today it occurred to me, that our personal connections within the reading might be beneficial..."

Everything that you tell your daughter, she listens to. She may not acknowledge it actively, but everything you say is heard and becomes part of her memory. It may not have any effect on her today - tomorrow - or next week, but like seeds in the soil, they will grow and become fruitful. Just tend to the garden in her mind every chance you get.

Julie wrote: "A topic index can be found at www.facimoutreach.org. I find this to be a very helpful resource and highly recommend visiting the site."

Thank you, Julie, for posting this link.

As I am reading and when I am interacting with our group members, I know that by helping myself and others, I am progressing.

I have realized a level of understanding by reading;

I have realized another level of understanding by listening to others express their level of understanding;

I have realized another level of understanding by sharing what I understand with others;

And, I have realized yet another level of understanding when I apply what I have realized to situations in my own journey.

I thank the members, of our group here, for their active participation in my journey.

Angelanadine wrote: "Hi Ramon,

Thanks for the reply. I pondered this a little while I slept on it, but still don't fully understand.

So yes, what was said, our body being an illusion, yes. To put this into a differen..."

You are still perceiving in terms of space. Take the concept of space out of the equation. Then ask yourself - What do you have left when there is no space?

And, in terms of time - take the concept of time out of the equation. Then ask yourself - What do I have left when there is no time?

Space limits.

Time limits.

You, as a spiritual being, have no limits.

Response to your question - can you tell me what chapter this is in?

(T-1.VI.3) - T-1 means: Chapter 1, THE MEANING OF MIRACLES

(T-1.VI.3) - VI means: Subsection VI, The Illusion of Needs

(T-1.VI.3) - 3 means the third paragraph in that subsection.

(T-8.V.2) - T-8 means: Chapter 8, THE JOURNEY BACK

(T-8.V.2) - V means: Subsection V, The Undivided Will of the Sonship

(T-8.V.2) - 2 means: the second paragraph in that subsection.

Well Nadine, it's probably not the answer you would expect, but here it goes.

Because the body is an illusion of the mind, you do not actually leave the body - as you are not really in the body in the first place. The body, and in fact, everything you perceive, is an illusion (the soup, the bowl and the pot).

It's covered in the book. For instance:

A Course in Miracles states: Ultimately, space is as meaningless as time. Both are merely beliefs. T-1.VI.3.

From this statement alone we can say - since we believe that our bodies occupy space and space is merely a belief, then the body likewise must also be a belief.

What your really asking is, what are we. We are the image and likeness of God. And since God is Spirit, then we, being the image and likeness of God, are also Spirit.

A Course in Miracles states: The undivided will of the Sonship is the perfect creator, being wholly in the likeness of God, Whose Will it is. You cannot be exempt from it if you are to understand what it is and what you are. By the belief that your will is separate from mine, you are exempting yourself from the Will of God which is yourself. Yet to heal is still to make whole. Therefore, to heal is to unite with those who are like you, because perceiving this likeness is to recognize the Father. If your perfection is in Him and only in Him, how can you know it without recognizing Him? The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself. There is no separation of God and His creation. You will realize this when you understand that there is no separation between your will and mine. Let the Love of God shine upon you by your acceptance of me. My reality is yours and His. By joining your mind with mine you are signifying your awareness that the Will of God is One. T-8.V.2.

If you would like, I could find and provide you with Bible verses that express the same thing.

Why can't we understand that? Because we are perceiving from a worldly view and not from a spiritual view. I'm surprised that I still believe that I have hair on my head cause it took me some time (which isn't real either) for me to understand this.

We will work together to understand all that we need to understand.

Julie wrote: "I did go through the video list, but none of the titles indicated to me which videos would be the right ones to watch. Do you happen to know the names of any of them?

Thank you."

Start with - A Course in What?! - 042: A Course in Miracles - Ch. 3: VI. Judgment & the Authority Problem (P. 1)

Then there is:

A Course in What?! - 043: A Course in Miracles - Ch. 3: VI. Judgment & the Authority Problem (P. 2)

A Course in What?! - 044: A Course in Miracles - Ch. 3: VI. Judgment & the Authority Problem (P. 3)

A Course in What?! - 045: A Course in Miracles - Ch. 3: VI. Judgment & the Authority Problem (P. 4)

I downloaded them about an hour or so ago.

They are pretty good. I'm on my third one.