Posted by:
Facing Tao
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Date: March 01, 2014 12:23AM
I like many ideas in it, but I also feel something is not right with it, and I can't put my finger on what it is. Few years back I read and listened to some texts by David Hawkins, and had a similar feeling about the material – something was not right. In the end I walked away from Hawkins' materials because there was too much self promotion – egoism – in them, in other words exactly what he was supposed to teach against. I have really enjoyed Eckhart Tolle's materials for the exactly opposite reason — he appears humble, and does not elevate himself.
The book "Conversations with God" really is ACIM made simpler. While it is extremely light reading, ACIM is not. I've listened (as an audio book) about one third of ACIM now, and had to take a break as I find it somewhat depressing to listen to. In the meanwhile I've gone back to listening to more Tolle's seminars & books which I find agreeing almost entirely with. I will finish going through ACIM (at least the text book), though, because of the occasional jewels of thought that are found within.
ACIM is also pretty demanding to read/listen to. Listening while driving I frequently have to rewind the same spot several times to understand what is being said. Furthermore, I find it to be sort of Christian idea mixed with non-duality, so essentially a mix of Christianity and Eastern thought (or, perhaps Christian Gnostisism). Philosophically I agree with many of its points, but not nearly with all as I am philosophically closer to Eastern thought than Christianity.
So, while ACIM is interesting to reflect on, I would recommend reading or listening to Tolle's "The Power of Now" and/or "A New Earth" (he is spot on about many things, such as operation of ego in human relationships..). If you're finding your ways after departure from Morg, you might find Tolle's thoughts more reasonable (at least the audio version of ACIM has a bit preachery ring to it; every time the reader says "GoD", stressing the ending 'd', it reminds me of a televangelist, and I cringe ;). Tolle's thoughts are definitely outside of religions, whereas with all the terminology used in ACIM it is difficult to consider it as non-religious.
Finally, as ACIM is purpoted essentially to be channeled word of Jesus... I'm not so certain that that is the case. Perhaps it is, but perhaps it is not, and so you have to question the source. If it is not as presented, then none of its thoughts cannot be trusted, and there's no way to know.
On the other hand, with Eastern philosophies (which Tolle is near to) there is no need to try to validate that you have a divine source material, but perhaps you just have some "sign posts" left by some enlightened individuals along the way. Through meditation and practice one reaches internal realization of this eventually without need for golden plates, or channeled materials. This is why people within Morg are eternally held back from any real spiritual (self-)realization; they're not given the tools, and trying to access those tools outside of Morg is prohibited to TBMs.