25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Book on ACIM, November 28, 2009
This review is from: Awakening Through a Course in Miracles (Paperback)
I studied A Course in Miracles for 19 years and thought I understood it. But reading Awakening Through A Course In Miracles took me to a much deeper level. What is so different about this book is that the author, David Hoffmeister, has been there and done that. Since his awakening almost two decades ago, David has clarified the message of the Course across the United States and in over 20 foreign countries. He consistently speaks with the wisdom and unconditional love of the Christ Mind.
The book is a selection of David's best teachings and small group dialogues on key Course topics. His desire is that you clarify your understanding and accept God's plan for salvation, healing and happiness. Jesus assures us that God's plan for salvation works and David is living proof that it does.
I found it comforting to see that David teaches in the same way Jesus does. In the first chapter of the Course Jesus says, "I did not attempt to counteract error with knowledge, but to correct error from the bottom up. I can erase all misperceptions from your mind if you will bring it under my guidance. Sane perception induces sane choosing. I cannot choose for you, but I can help you make your own right choice."
David takes the same practical approach, "We come together open to having errors of thought and misperceptions healed or corrected from the bottom up. In other words, we do not start with the abstract (Love of God, Knowledge, Heaven) as a solution to perceived problems."
This is why David's dialogues with students make good learning devices. He says, "The process could be described as a very open dialogue in which no questions, concerns, or topics are off limits; a kind of spiritual psychotherapy in which everyday perceived problems are traced back to the false beliefs and resulting misperceptions in the mind... Cultivating a sincere intention to discern the nature of ego thought, raising it to awareness, leads you to a greater willingness to choose peace instead of fear."
David makes the metaphysical context readily understandable. The book contains two annotated charts: one clarifies the Course's projector analogy and the other explains the Five Levels of Mind. The two biggest eye-openers for me involved relationships and the reversal of cause and effect.
A Course in Miracles is a self-study program in forgiveness. Forgiveness is the means by which the thinking of the world is reversed and God is remembered. After reading it, "the reader is left in the hands of his or her own Internal Teacher," the Holy Spirit. My problem was that, after reading the Course, I still could not clearly and consistently hear the Holy Spirit. At times my enthusiasm for the Course wavered and I was not always certain of my direction.
But when I read David's book I had a powerful, uplifting experience. I learned the importance of these words in the Manual for Teachers about the developing teacher: "When he is ready to go on, he goes with mighty companions beside him... He will not go on from here alone." David is now my mighty companion and I am sure of my direction. David wrote Awakening Through A Course In Miracles so that all of us might come to awakening more quickly.
Andrew LeCompte is the author of Creating Harmonious Relationships.
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
After the workbook, then what?, January 15, 2010
This review is from: Awakening Through a Course in Miracles (Paperback)
Anyone that has done the ACIM strictly as a self-study course without help from others is at a genuine disadvantage because of the complexity of the teaching. It would be very easy after one year to slack off and miss the essential nature of daily forgiveness lessons and deeper insights to hasten the coming of the voice for God.
David Hoffmeister and Gary Renard are two essential teachers with worldwide reputations who are shining stars at bringing new life and depth to the course in a vernacular style that is very helpful and inspiring to keep your focus where it belongs. This book coupled with the hours of free audio and video easily available on the web from David can bring the tipping point that will make all the difference. Highly recommended.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comments from Marianne Williamson, Gary Renard, more..., December 15, 2009
This review is from: Awakening Through a Course in Miracles (Paperback)
Awakening Through A Course In Miracles clarifies the essential wisdom of A Course In Miracles in a progressive way from the basic to the most advanced teachings. It brings true peace and joy, and it focuses on practical application. The book is a thorough compilation of many of David Hoffmeister's teachings and offers miraculous Clarity of the metaphysics and application of Principles. Experience ACIM from a living demonstration on earth. (347 pages softcover)
"I feel deep gratitude for you brother. Your presence in our mind is a great Blessing to the entire Sonship." -Gary Renard, David's friend and author of Disappearance of the Universe, Your Immortal Reality: How to Break the Cycle of Birth and Death, and Fearless Love: The Answer to the Problem of Human Existence."
"A book that gives the real scoop on A COURSE IN MIRACLES is a treasure for any serious student of its teaching. David Hoffmeister does just that in his book "Awakening through a Course in Miracles." I learned from it and so will you." -Marianne Williamson, author of Return to Love, The Gift of Change, Illuminata, Everyday Grace: Having Hope, Finding Forgiveness, and Making Miracles, and many other inspired books and audio CDs and videos.
"I have always appreciated David's openess and honesty and his willingness to explore and share the central reachings of A Course In Miracles." -Jon Mundy, author of Awaken To Your Own Call: Exploring A Course in Miracles, Missouri Mystic, Listening To Your Inner Guide, and publisher of Miracles Magazine.. Jon was also a personal friend of ACIM scribe Helen Schucman.
Awakening Through a Course in Miracles
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