ACIM Monk
A Course in Miracles Monk
Monastery of the Mists: My process and experiences as a monastic student of A Course in Miracles and Ken Wapnick
September 4th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Test.
Update: All of the galleries in the The Abbey now have their own whispers.
September 4th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Monk, you are just WAY cool.
September 5th, 2009 at 6:01 am
Jamie – did you paint those – and photo the sunset? I felt something indescribingly when I saw “the moment when my father died.” Those clouds…ahhhh…a purity, gratefulness, simplicity. And I love you very much
September 5th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Hi Nina: You have good timing. Today is my father’s birthday, and last night I had a very nice dream about him that began with, “Jamie, can you hear me?” and was followed by a conversation of warm words and the kindest tones.
The story behind the photo “the-moment-my-father-died” is this: Two years ago my dad was dying of cancer, and it was a Saturday night, and for the first and only time in my life, I opened up the program “Paint” that comes with every computer. I almost absent-mindedly created this little scene, and then at the end, in the top right corner (you have to click on the photo to see the larger version in order to see this) I sort of peeled back the daytime sky, and drew a nighttime sky.
At that moment my mother called and told me my father had died.
A couple hours later when I came back to my computer, I looked at the picture and could see how I was unconsciously drawing a symbolic picture of the transition from life to death, or from life to the after-life. Even the mountain looks like the face of a man staring up into the sky, contemplating both.
I didn’t touch the picture again, so the last stroke of the computer paintbrush would have been the moment before the phone rang.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:47 am
I just wanted to say how touched i was by this post, thank you so much for sharing it.
September 5th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I love that your father came through in whatever way he did. And it was when i clicked on the little photo, before you wrote this, and saw the “other” sky, that I felt the release and gratitude.
And did you do the watercolorsunset too?
September 5th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Dear Monk: thank you for sharing with us this, looking at the painting of the day your father died, I had a beautiful moment of peace. No grief, no suffering, only peace. Thank you again, I have a lot of things about my father I have to look at, and this is going to help me. I want to feel that peace with regard to him. Love, Lisi
September 6th, 2009 at 9:58 am
monk- there is something about your moving-to-the-usa picture that is haunting to me. Not sure what it is. And the full moon picture is exceptional.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Nina: I’m not sure who painted the watercolor (internet), but my ex-girlfriend in Australia did the oil painting (orangey sun), and the computer-painted red sunset after I told her about my experience.
I think the experience first occurred in a dream not long after I moved to Australia. One evening, in the first months after arriving in Australia, I was swimming at Cottesloe Beach in Perth, at sunset. I learned why they called it the Sunset Coast. As the sun touched the water on its descent, it appeared larger than I’d ever seen it, and its red rays cut a swath all the way from the horizon to where I stood neck-deep in the warm and peaceful Indian ocean.
Normally faraway, the sun suddenly seemed so close and, drenched in its crimson rays, I felt a sense that God was bathing me in His light.
Sometime after that I had a dream that was similar, but now I was eye-deep in the water, and the sun was rising from behind the ocean, and in my dream I gasped at the incomprehensible magnitude of its Light and Presence. It was indescribably Big, but kept getting bigger. Doubling, and doubling again. I was overwhelmed by the love I felt and the sense of… otherworldly Magnitude.
It felt like something in me was opening to something much Greater, and it was a powerful experience in my dream. After that, however, while I had the dream several more times, I started having the same experience in meditations (in almost every meditation for awhile, and I was never a prodigious meditator). It would occur after one or two minutes. Sometimes I would close my eyes, and it would begin immediately. It was like the vision and experience was following me around.
The computer-painted picture comes the closest to depicting what I saw, but the vantage point would have to be that the ocean was a millimeter below my eyes for it to be more exact. And the sun would have to be five times as big, and the scope of what I could see would have to be ten times as large.
I LOVED the oil-painting, which she finished after I came to the States. She was preparing to send it to me when water was spilled on it and ruined it. :(
I haven’t again had the dream or vision since coming to the USA.
September 6th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
for me, the water-color one is closest to the impression i get from your descriptions. The sun is personal, alive, for me, and I feel the numinosity of it, and the wonder and grace of the experience. Thank you for those sunset-water-memories.
September 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Part of the reason I wanted to create The Abbey galleries is because I think we tend to like pictures that remind us of a spiritual vision, idea or experience. In first sharing the pictures, maybe we’ll eventually get around to sharing our various experiences with each other, and that would be nice.
September 6th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Really was touched by the explanation of the painting ‘the moment my dad died’. Thanks.
September 6th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Jamie, do you mean sharing experiences like i did here – or?
September 6th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Jamie…
Thanks for sharing about the sunset picture and your dad. What a neat syncronosity. I so like the one you label as your favorite…the dwarfed monk walking under the tall trees. It says so much!
Hugs!
September 6th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Starsha, what a beautiful image!!! Loved it.
September 6th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Yes, Hi Starsha! It is a very beautiful image. When I saw it and looked at it for a while, I had the thought, “I want to be that when I grow up.”
September 10th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Since I have the whole day to myself today, I came here for the first time. I immediately was touched to the point of tears with your “….Dad…” picture. I still have both of my parents who are well into their 80’s…. What an unbelievable place to be at this moment…..enjoying the beautiful pictures, listening to the monastery music…. When I read your whispers about your Dad picture….
With Love and Gratitude~
September 11th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Jamie such glorious and touching sharings. Just back from a long trip away…catching up. The Abbey is awesome. Love it all…still exploring.
Thank you again
September 15th, 2009 at 2:12 am
I liked the monk painting. It touched me deeply. Very simplistic, symbolic… very very nice. Thank you :)
September 24th, 2009 at 12:28 am
I really like the original oil painting of the Monk. It reminds me or Jesus appearing to the two disciples on the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection. The disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. I am not to good with computers but I am going to try and put some pictures up in the abbey. I will try to put a picure up of what I am talking about.
It as if the Monk is caught between 2 worlds in your picture. The light is his truth, the Christ. The road seems to be ending, and taking him to his journeys end. He doesn’t walk alone.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Lisa & Leni
Thank you … that picture is one of my favorite inspirations; she just looks so peaceful up there.
September 26th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Jamie, I loved your additions “Inner Quiet” and “Monk by the Sea.” I am drawn to those that have that sense of quiet aloneness… like there is a brief space where we are the real “You” and all is peace. The first has a feeling of his knowing who he is and the second has the feeling of a threshold—of being just a breath away from being “There.”
September 26th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
oooh I like the one you call ‘Surrender’. It speaks to my current disquiet about learning to trust and activates the part of me that longs to surrender to Him. I can hear the small Christ child in me whisper “there’s nothing I want more’… Thx.
September 26th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
‘Surrender’- I’m speechless.
September 26th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Crumbs…and I feel peace…some part of me is trying to argue no no no this isn’t peace this is ugly ,crimes against humanity, yada yada yada…..but I feel peace and I see beauty that I can’t put into words…So Debbi, may I borrow some of yours from day 11? ” They really ARE innocent of my projections”.
October 4th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
And i happened on this only today, which happens to be the day my mom died in 2000, and read your story about the picture of the day your dad died. Guess i was just guided to see that today. Very reassuring. My sisters and i always say she decided – 10 – 4, over and out. (It’s also the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, so she may have found something she had lost.) Thank you, my Monk.
love, katrina
October 21st, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I like your new pictures, “Almost Home” and “The ego”… What a contrast they offer! One is making some progress… another is circling and going nowhere, always the same thing.. They represent for me my choice. How am I going to look at this supposed lifetime? Do I really want to listen to the same old phonograph again this time? (There isn’t even a record on it!! It’s saying NOTHING!) Or do I want to see it as a time to put away my childish imaginary playthings and take the Peaceful Way Home.
D♡G, which one do you want? For that is the one you shall have…
Great pictures, thanks Head Monk!
D♡G
October 21st, 2009 at 8:35 pm
The bowls are awesome!!!
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Gabrielius, Lawrence: Thanks for your comments on The Lone Monk (that’s the title of the painting). I love its simplicity and symbolism, too. It now hangs in the front room up here in the mountain monastery. It is directly across the room from my chair so that when I look up that’s what I see. A definite source of inspiration.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:45 am
If you build it, they will come…
November 1st, 2009 at 11:06 am
Magic hammock……… — the bowl makes me envious – hope to see more of the Tibetan stuff there!!!!!!!
November 21st, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Two photos added: Halifax and Perth.
You might notice we have discovered how to put descriptions beneath the photos. If you would like a description added to one of your photos, please send it to Jane-Admin along with the relevant picture title.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Monastery music updated with “Tear Drops” from the movie soundtrack “The Road Home”. It is (presently) piece #18.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Beautiful skylines..
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Just a note to anyone submitting a picture to the Abbey: Some people have submitted ’small’ pics in terms of kilobytes — your thoughtfulness is appreciated, but please feel free to send Jane-Admin your highest quality picture. Don’t worry about size in kilobytes or megabytes — we will reduce it so that it loads quickly and is not blurry (if original isn’t already blurry).
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:21 am
“The Road Home”- is that the Chinese movie also titled “My Mother Father”? loved that movie, simple but so beautiful
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:26 am
Hi Joy: Yes, that’s the one. I loved the movie, too.
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:34 am
Oh so nice tohear – one of my alltime favorites! I look at it now and then again and again.
AND I know another Chinese film that you might enjoy: “The Thousandth string.”
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:43 am
Thanks for the recommendation, Nina.
I’ve been considering adding a movie room… the downside is that I don’t like to know anything about a movie before I watch it. Like when Bernard recently sent me “As It Is In Heaven” (a Swedish film), my new favorite movie, I didn’t know anything about it. I just opened his package and put it in the computer and watched it, and pow! That’s how I like to experience movies.
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:51 am
Thanks Monk and Nina, and good morning to you. I really enjoy Chinese movies, I studied Mandarin for several years at school and while I’ve forgotten a lot of it it’s still so familar. I’ll be sure to check out The Thousandth String!
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Monk i agree… the less i know about any movie the more enjoyable it is. I love movies now that i can watch them without being afraid.
Sometimes i`ll watch one and not like it all and not because it`s not well done. I very often dont know why , so then i will watch it again wanting to see it differently and end up loving it !
p.s. Have you seen “Life is Beautiful “? I try really hard not to recommend it because my recommendees have all hated it.
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Winnie,
Love that movie. Thanks for a reminder. I’ll pick up a copy to watch again. Also wanted to respond to your query a while back as to how I’m doing. Been meaning to respond but somehow got lost as to which room it was whispered so I’m taking the opportunity now. I’m doing fine Winnie. Thanks again. My husband ‘visited’ me a few times after he departed and after the second time I asked him to move on. While he was living we have always argued as to whether there is life after death. I think it was his way of telling me “you’re right Leni”.
You know I’m wondering myself about other monklings: Ninjanun, LA Annie, Meredith, to name a few. Hope they’re all doing fine.
On another note, advance Happy Thanksgiving to all as I may not be able to visit the Monastery for a few days. You think we might have a Thanksgiving dinner? Maybe we should ask Deb and Texanne and RuthAnne. Love pumpkin pies. Love, Leni
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Leni, I am so glad to hear from you. I will pick up that movie too, Winnie. Thanks.
Speaking of Thanks, Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday. All that food. Cooking and eating is my hobby. Pumpkin Pie for Leni coming up. They didn’t call me Ruth-Anne of the Pumpkins for nothing, you know.
(Well it might have been also for that Pumpkin Liquer we brought out on Debbi’s birthday. We got in SO MUCH TROUBLE.)
Anyhoo….Of course we will have a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner here at the monastery. We have so much to be thankful for.
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Like each other.
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I think it only right that I be I mean bring the “turkey”… { ;-)
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Yep. It’s only right DoG. You’re (on for) the turkey. I have to work (I KNOW!!) so I will prepare some pie and stuff early and be here later. Start thawing now.
(The turkey I mean of course)
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Leni, so glad to hear you are fine :)…. I feel closer now to my husband than ever, but a few years after he died, i began experiencing lots of resentment and anger towards him.
I must have very cleverly hidden it during our marriage cause i so desperately wanted to be happily married……. hugs to you !
………………….
If there is one thing America has got that i wish Australia had, it`s Thanksgiving. I think it`s just lovely, and perfectly timed being a month before Christmas.
December 14th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
That photo of perth, Australia – it reminds me of the bridge in the winterwoods: it has the same colors and stripes in the water.
So beautiful.
January 15th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
I just saw the painting the moment my dad died. I also read Nina’s whisper regarding it. I was struck by the 3 clouds and thought of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Then I counted the stars and there are eight, unless part of the painting is missing. So, I found a lot of interesting symbolism in connection with it.
Number of the perfection, the infinity. In mathematics the symbol of the infinity is represented by a 8 laid down.
Symbol of the cosmic Christ.
Number figuring the immutable eternity or the self-destruction. It represents also the final point of the manifestation.
In China, the 8 expresses the totality of the universe.
Number of the balance and of the cosmic order, according to the Egyptians.
And there’s a lot more. It seems dad is doing OK for himself within the illusion, and there is a good chance illusions are no longer a part of his reality. I mean just think of all the karma he burned raising such a trouble maker.
Having said all of that, I am deeply touched by such a validation of your Love for each other. It is truly a beautiful gift from your Father.