In Praise of ACI: a video interview with ACI Senior Teachers Peter & Marija Moertl

Peter and Marija visited Sedona not long ago, and we took the opportunity to ask them a few questions about why they value the 18 ACI Foundation Courses.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/OxntMJuq_7E

Moderator: What are the five coolest things about studying ACI courses?

Marija: So what is it for you?

Peter: For me, the main thing with ACI is that I realized through studying that I have a bigger vision for myself and a purpose in life that I've never had before.

M: Wow. That's a cool thing. I agree. That's it for me also. For me, ACI was where I found all the answers to all my questions about life because there's some deeper questions everyone has, but it's kind of, you don't know even who to ask. And guaranteed–in ACI you will get answers to every question you ever had in life. That's the coolest thing about ACI.

What else?

P: One other thing that ACI gave me, which is difficult to see in the beginning–I think we both had that experience–is that you create a new family of spiritual and like-minded people who all have a vision of life, which is extremely compassionate, loving and huge. And it's impossible, I think, to find something like that.

M: True. Absolutely agree. I remember I was so worried at the beginning that I will lose all my old friends and I will be lonely because my friends don't know ACI.  Peter told me, don't worry, you will have so many new friends. And now I'm like, oh my God. It's hundreds and thousands of people all over the world. They are so cool. It's really the best people of this planet, really. Oh, one more thing. For me, it's the coolest thing for me ever. Because of ACI, I met my husband. 

P: I share that. One of the coolest things for me also, is that because of ACI you met your husband!

M: No, really, you know, it was my first class. I went from Moscow to Kiev. I didn't even know who the teacher was, so I showed up and here, well here is the teacher, and there is a very interesting story. But we basically met that day and that's it. Next day…next day he asked me to move in with him. That was it.

P: And she did. That’s even more incredible. You can ask, but she did! The last thing for me, maybe for both of us, I don't know. If you actually study the 18 ACI courses or the lam rim programs, you will never be alone again. Even when you are lonely. In your mind, you will know where you want to go and you will always feel supported.

M: Yes, and any difficult times, you cannot feel so difficult anymore, because you have support and because you have the knowledge. Now, I cannot imagine how you can live without that knowledge. Seriously, it's very addictive. Be careful.

P: Exactly. In a good way. So go study ACI!

M: It's amazing.

Moderator: Second question: What is each of your favorite ACI course and why?  

M: That's so hard! Because all of them are cool.

P: It’s so easy! 

M: Which one for you? 

P: You first.

M: Okay. The first thing that comes to my mind, strangely, is ACI 1. I don't know. It really affected my mind in such a deep way when I heard it for the first time. It was ACI 1, actually. Peter taught me even privately that course, and I was listening, listening to Geshe Michael's recordings, and then I heard it later several times. But the first time when I heard ACI 1, it's like, wow, really? I didn't even know that there are certain people and beings who figure out how the world works. 

P: So true.

M: And how you can reach completely different states of being–that it is even possible. And they describe everything. That was like, wow, a shock.

P: It's so, it's a great point. It's true. For me, you know, I get teased by our friends–Max Dzhabali, who is our organizer–and the team, they're always saying, you always, when you start teaching a new ACI course, you say this is your favorite course, so which one is it? And the fact is, I'm not lying when I say that. So honestly, I think we have taught ACI 3 more than six times and all the ACI courses more than once, I think most of them. The best course for me is the next one because it always comes at the right time. There's always a breakthrough in my mind and something shifts in a tremendously deep level, and every course that I listen or teach is at that point in time, the best one for me. That's the truth.

M: Oh my God, that's the best answer.

Moderator: And the third question: what is the funniest thing that has happened to you guys in teaching an ACI course?

M: Oh, no, that one is hard because there are so many funny things happening in ACI. The first thing I remember is a translator–actually for Peter in Moscow. We were teaching ACI and the translator couldn't translate at all.

P: Oh, right.

M: Like there was something about cows and she couldn't pronounce the word. That was so– 

P: Well you know, when the prana goes high… I remember the lady, she's actually living in Canada.

M: She now is a great translator. 

P: She's living in Canada, I think.

M: Yeah. 

P: And her English is outstanding. But the energy gets so high that sometimes something shifts in your mind and you just…!  

M: Because it's a very deep knowledge, you know. 

P: And she was so embarrassed. I was like, don't worry, this is kind of normal for ACI.

I remember one thing specifically, which I still--it makes me so happy when I think about it. Tim organized a big public talk in Kiev with 500 people for a Karma of Love kind of story. And it was in a way, a promotion or a pre-talk for ACI 13. And ACI 13 if you are new, you know, it's a respectable course. Let's say it like that. It's not an easy one. I do not recommend to start with ACI 13.

And I remember on stage we were talking about, like, some people were asking what's next, are you doing programs? And we said, yes. You know, next weekend we're going to Europe and  we're going to teach thirteen (ACI 13). And I remember saying, but you know--

M: Don't come. 

P: Don't come if you haven't done anything before.

M: And all 500 people in the audience are new people. 

P: New completely. So then--

M:  We say, don't come to our program. 

P: We start–well, because it's a really hard one.

M: It's difficult.

P: And we don't want to scare people away.

And then during the weekend, at the end of the first weekend of the class four or five, I finally asked the question, which you are supposed to ask in the beginning. I said, who is new? Who is here for the first time? Thinking no one is going to–

Two women put their hands up.

I'm like, how did you get here?

She said, well, we were at your public talk and we thought we'd come anyway and we love it. And they are still around years after.

M: Still with us. P: And one of them is a PhD in physics, so she said thirteen was perfect for her. So you never know. You know, it's such an amazing use of seeds too.

Moderator: Thank you both very much!

M: Yay!