"Mike" wrote ...

I agree with you that Wayne does not teach ACIM.

In trying to understand eots I have read as much as I can
about Advaita Vedanta and Nisargadattta Maharaj in an
attempt to understand the way the terms 'no thing',
'nothing' and 'nothingness' are used. I did not go to the
trouble of rereading the Upanishads, however.
Hinduism is prominent in eots from as far as I can tell.
Buddhism less so.

For me, what is lacking in eots was first lacking in
Hinduism from which it draws so much. What is that
you ask? Simply put, understanding of the very specific
way Sanskrit terms were used eons ago. Advaita Vedanta
bases all of its validity on the belief that their is a single
substance and so all distinctions are merely perceptions,
illusions, maya. there is nothing to seek because all is
one in essence. By ridding the mind of all language (essentially)
one experiences the nothingness of everything. "The I
am is nothingness. From nothingness the I-am-ness
has appeared."

It could very well be that Advaita is a valid path. It is not
the path of ACIM and any similarities to ACIM are
coincidental.

The only way ACIM could allow for the existence
of nothingness is if one were to find oneself in the position
of hearing neither the Voice of the Holy Spirit nor the
voice of the ego. In this regard nothingness is merely
non-existence.

Hi Mike,

I have no idea what Wayne teaches, so i can't go there. But as far as the
parallels of ACIM and eastern teachings...
i see much more than coincidental similarities.
Probably..., the most of which would be what the Course calls the Holy
Spirit.
Although the eastern teachings do not use this particular word to express a
more Whole awareness,
ACIM does use other words and expressions in describing the Holy Spirit.
One i find most relevant is..... "the very Idea of Healing".
From the perspective of ego, left brain, small self... ect., this "Idea of
Healing" or Voice for God... may be recognized as an actual "Voice".
But as we move our full attention into the reception of this "Voice"..., we
actually merge into this "Voice" ... and a greater awareness where "words"
no longer exsist... nor are they needed.
When we move beyond the association of the ego, we ARE in a Healed state of
Being....
the "Idea" has manifested Itself, and removes any further need of HS or any
"Idea of Healing".
It is in this Whole state of awareness that the eastern teachings become
clear and understandable.
Just my 2 cents...,
Hope all is well,
Jim