Tribe.net. Local Connections Renata http://aCourseInMiracles.tribe.net/thread/600432ec-6c01-4d28-884b-565fd53a5a20#9ec39bc6-c5a6-4c64-8abe-05e07d2d02b1 2008-06-25T00:31:30Z 2008-06-25T00:31:30Z

Hi: I'm just beginning with Marshall Rosenberg's and have been studying Miracles on a daily basis for the last three years. I was amazed with your comment because it is very much what I have been thinking about it. In fact, I was thinking Marshall may unknowingly be talking about forgiveness, while describing it as empathy. This also reminds me of the "one problem, one solution" the Course talks about. Besides your comment on removing attention on fear, blame, etc. I understand that empathic communication means not under or over stating your own value in comparison to the person you talk to, but actually talking to your equal. This gives me the sense of brotherhood of The Course. ACIM is for sure a big influence in my life, I still have to study more on non-violent communication; yet I foresee an important contribution to the path.

Renata 2008-06-25T00:31:30Z Newt http://aCourseInMiracles.tribe.net/thread/600432ec-6c01-4d28-884b-565fd53a5a20#9e8de0de-5f27-4109-993d-94a06d9606c7 2008-05-22T02:11:13Z 2008-05-22T02:11:13Z

Yesterday's lesson for me was #63 "Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world." And today I found myself launching a social network designed to (hopefully) bring more empathy into the lives of, well, as many people as possible as quickly as possible. Empathy, as I "use" it in my life and work, means first just being present with someone, no matter what they're experiencing or doing. No attention is given to fear, and therefore none is given to blame, criticism, defensiveness etc. The experience of the person I'm with is like my own - they're experiencing feelings I've experienced and needs I've experienced, no matter how "egoic" their experience. I've been there too in some way, even if I've never said exactly what they're saying or done what they're doing. Implicit in this is a sense that there is nothing for which they need to be judged, and hence nothing for which they need to be "forgiven" in the traditional sense. For me then, empathy is very closely related to forgiveness as ACIM defines it. Incidentally, my version of empathy is inspired by Marshall Rosenbergs "Nonviolent Communication" - so I'm very interested to hear from anyone who is living with ACIM and NVC as big influences in their life. If you're interested in the empathy network check out http://empathynow.ning.com/

Newt 2008-05-22T02:11:13Z