A Place Where You May Find Peace

By A.C. Ping

This is the first book in the Experiential Trilogy that follows the internationally acclaimed personal development books BE, DO and FAITH. It tells the true story of what happened when A.C. Ping went to South Africa to live on an idyllic farm in the Drakensberg Mountains.

It is a story about following dreams and the mystical world of African shamanism.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.C. Ping
• Release date: Apr 4, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458177346

A.C. Ping

A.C. Ping has traveled the World and lived in Australia, the UK, USA and Africa. He is the author of 8 books including the trilogy of personal development books BE, DO and FAITH that have been published internationally and translated into 11 different languages. Now available in E book form is the second 'experiential' trilogy of books 'A Place Where You May Find Peace', 'Release Your Fear' and 'The Self Mastery Toolbox'. "I've read all three of A. C. Ping's books in this "series": BE, DO, and FAITH. Now, I am going to re-read them all and try to put what I've learned into daily practice. Not that Ping is trying to give you 5 easy steps to enlightenment or anything like that... rather, he provides clarity and insight on many of the things that hold you back and drag you down, and points the way toward a healing, all-encompassing kind of faith--not limited to a particular religion or religion in particular. What makes Ping's voice so unique: He walks a tightrope above New-Age, Pseudo-Science, and Religion... but walks the tightrope exceedingly well. He never falls into the safety net of what has already been said a million times in a million self-help books. His voice is fresh without being trendy or commercial. He spices things up with the occasional curse word or two. He's down-to-earth, witty, and doesn't try to be your guru. He's more like a great friend who offers wonderful perspective and insight without coming across as a flawless, know-it-all. So rare!! I recommend these books highly! Start with BE, follow up with DO, and then feel the refreshing healing in FAITH. You won't regret it!" Review on Amazon.com For more information about A.C. Ping and the work he does with individuals and organizations, visit the website www.acping.net

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A Place Where You May Find Peace

by A.C. Ping

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

A.C. Ping on Smashwords

A Place Where You May Find Peace

Copyright © 2011 by A.C. Ping

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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For Tara

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 – One World Ends

Chapter 2 – Fractured Reality

Chapter 3 – Initiation

Chapter 4 – Do You Have Any Herbs?

Chapter 5 – We Believe

Chapter 6 – Cuts

Chapter 7 – Bhatela

Chapter 8 – Free At Last?

Chapter 9 – A Glimpse of Truth

Chapter 10 – The War Begins

Chapter 11 – My Story Versus Your Story

Chapter 12 – Needling

Chapter 13 – Hamba Mange

Chapter 14 – The Black Dog

Chapter 15 – Mapoch

Chapter 16 – The God Solution

Chapter 17 – Blood on the Doorstep

Chapter 18 – The Idealist and the Realist

Chapter 19 – The Girl in the Red Dress

Chapter 20 – Graduation

Chapter 21 – Let Go Now

Chapter 22 – A Place Where You May Find Peace

About the Author

Introduction

"Experience is nothing if you’re unconscious to it"

Anonymous

If you are silly enough to write books boldly proclaiming that you not only have some idea about life but that you also have some answers about how to achieve your dreams, then you should at least be willing to lead by example

Such was my answer to the repeated questions I faced as I went through the painful process of selling up everything I had and preparing to move to South Africa to take over the farm of my dreams.

It had been a difficult decision to make but every time I asked myself What would you advise someone in the same situation? the answer was clear. Go for your dreams!

You only get one chance at life!

You’ll never know unless you try!

I knew that I could do anything I wanted to as long as I set my mind to it. I’d written about how to do it in the books BE and DO. I’d spent a good five years talking about it in workshops, coaching other people and living it as pretty much everything I wanted came my way.

But there was something missing. Some great triumph or test of creation that would indelibly stamp the word ‘success’ in my mind.

Then along came the farm.

Way back before the success of the books, I’d spent time in South Africa as a change management and leadership consultant. The contract had come out of the blue whilst I was working in London.

Actually that’s not exactly true – I should say the contract came to the fore at the end of a twelve month period in which I had read, I think, eight of Wilbur Smith’s novels all set in South Africa. To someone who believes in serendipity it was a clear sign (or so the part of me that wanted to go said) and something that was easy to say yes to despite South Africa, at that time, being the number one most dangerous tourist destination in the world, and Kwazulu-Natal being the most dangerous province.

In any case, we had been contracted to conduct a leadership program for the Kwazulu-Natal Health Department and so our chosen base for the six month program was the Drakensberg Mountains. The Dragon Mountains, or the Wall of Spears, as the Zulus call them.

Oh yes, I should note that it was and still is Zulu country. Where we stayed was just down the road from where the battle, made infamous by the Michael Caine movie ‘Zulu’, actually happened.

To someone seeking adventure the idea of going to the most dangerous province in the number one most dangerous tourist destination in the world AND getting the opportunity to work with Zulus – well what can I say? Where do I sign?

So, off we went to South Africa and to cut a long story short – as this is not the story but simply the intro… we completed the training program and then I was left with plenty of money, some free time and a burning desire to do a long term retreat. So, I looked didn’t I? and along came the Farm. A five hundred acre piece of paradise bordering on the World Heritage listed Drakensberg Mountains, with a river running through it, a dam full of fish which was frequented by hundreds of birds and right along side it a little Zulu hut that had been spruced up to make it the perfect hide away.

That was my home for three months. I only saw people every ten days or so when I came out of hiding to get supplies or went for walks in the mountains where I would run into Zulu ladies cutting grass for thatching.

I fell in love with the place during that time. Something in my whole being shifted as I sat day after day staring at those mountains and watching the birds on the dam.

Fast forward five years and I’m visiting South Africa from Australia. My friend Klara, who I’d done the initial training program with, has since moved to South Africa, married a Zulu man, had a child and set up a small farm.

The farm – my farm - is now for sale – but – and here’s the cruncher – it can’t be sold due to land claims on the property.

I want it really badly. I’ve spent five years dreaming about the time I spent there and wishing that it could be mine.

Why don’t you offer to lease it with an option to buy it once the land claims get resolved? asks Klara.

And that was it. Three months later I’ve returned to Australia sold all that I owned, wound up businesses, said goodbye to friends and family, and found myself back at the farm – my farm. Not just staying there – no, no, no – living there, breathing there, BEING there.

This then, is the story of the farm – Ekuthuleni – A place where you may find Peace. The follow on from the trilogy of books BE, DO and FAITH – or maybe some might say – the application of the books…

Chapter 1 – One World Ends

"You must unlearn what you have learned."

Yoda

In my mind now I can neatly divide time and experience into two parts - ‘Before the accident’ and ‘After the accident’. It’s not that there was a great time gap in between but as I slowly regained consciousness it was as if I was returning from a place of great emptiness where I had been for a very long time.

I imagine I now know how a computer feels when someone hits the reset button – everything is instantly deleted. There’s nothing solid to grasp onto, nothing that defines one’s self – just a vast black void.

I blinked my eyes, a sharp pain shot through the right side of my head adding to the ringing in my ears and the dense, heavy throbbing that enveloped my skull. I could see the grassy side of a hill. I looked down and discovered I was sitting, rag doll like, in the middle of the road surrounded by a pool of my own blood.

I had an overwhelming urge to lie down and go to sleep. Close my eyes and simply let go… But something within me screamed a warning. I licked my lips and tasted more blood. It was more than a trickle. I reached up and tried to stop the flow. Holding my hand over my nose stemmed the tide only for a moment. I reached further up and felt open wounds above my eyes.

I was hurt badly. I needed to save myself. Fighting the increasing urge to sleep I looked around and saw the bike. The twisted remains of the frame and further away the buckled front wheel.

The memory rushed back. A sick feeling filled my entire being.

‘Why didn’t you listen?’ I screamed to myself.

I’d been riding to work. A fourteen kilometre trip along a small country bitumen road that wound its way up and down hills and through the mealie fields until it met with the main road into the valley. I’d been doing the ride for weeks, slowly getting fitter and fitter as I adapted to the thinner mountain air.

The night before as I’d wheeled the bike inside I’d had a feeling that something was wrong with it. To say that I heard a voice is wrong – I think feel a voice is more correct. In any case I felt that there was something wrong with the steering. That I might find myself in a situation where I would have no steering.

The following morning I was running late. I’d been caught up in something at the farm so when I finally came to wheel the bike outside and felt the same warning I dismissed it with an arrogant, ‘I know better’. Hedging my bets though, I at least had the common sense to leave the little puppy, Izzie, at home. I had been carrying her in a little shoulder bag strung around my neck and had I taken her that morning would have landed right on top of her and no doubt killed her.

Running late I pushed the mountain bike hard along the undulating bitumen road. About half way there, enjoying my increased level of fitness, I powered down a slight hill in top gear. Hurtling along at over forty kilometres per hour I heard the sound of metal twisting. I looked down at the front wheel just in time to see the end of the axle snap off with a loud twang. Nothing now held the front wheel onto the forks and the last thing I remember was seeing the forks heading towards the road.

So, there I was sitting in the middle of the road with blood pouring from me and death beckoning my arrival…

I wasn’t ready to die!

I knew I needed to get someone to help me. Luckily my backpack was within reach. I gave up on trying to stop the blood flow and instead concentrated all my efforts on getting the pack and finding the cell phone that was inside. Moments later I held the phone – ‘Please be within range’ – I prayed.

One bar of signal – my spirits lifted. I dialled the main house at Meadowsweet Farm. It was where Savannah, the girl that I had been seeing for the past couple of months, lived.

My head pounded. Light flickered in my vision. I struggled to stay upright.

No answer.

I dialled Klara on her cell phone. It rang and rang and rang…

‘You’re going to die on the side of a deserted road in Africa’ a little voice said.

I wanted to lie down.

‘Please make the pain stop’

‘Just lie down and close your eyes. Go to sleep.’ replied the voice.

Something snapped in my head.

‘YOU’RE NOT GOING TO DIE HERE!’

It was the same voice that had warned me about the bike. Its presence was reassuring. I gathered up the last bit of energy I had and dialled the office at the Meadowsweet Farm – maybe Savannah was already at work.

Jabu the administration assistant answered immediately. I had no energy for celebrations only enough to ask to speak to Savannah. After an eternity she came to the phone.

‘I’ve had an accident’, I mumbled, ‘It’s an emergency please come and get me’

I told her where I was and then that was it. I passed out again.

Back to the place of emptiness.

I don’t know how long I stayed there but the next thing I knew I was being held upright by a Zulu lady, Thandi. She was telling me I was going to be alright but that I needed to go to the hospital. I didn’t know where I was again.

Then I saw Savannah’s car pull up in the background. I saw her get out of the car and come running over. I saw the horrified look on her face when she saw me. I saw her try to hide her panic.