Violence is in the mind, not in the world. The ego belief system opposes oneness, opposes love, opposes God. The ego belief system is what is violent and abusive. Judgment is violent. Egoic perception is violent. Jesus gave us the two most helpful words in all of history: “Judge not.” Therefore, when you have a major upset and are perceiving violence in the world, the most helpful thing you can do for yourself is ask for help in perceiving differently. Only true forgiveness can heal the perception of violence.
Abuse
No Need to Defend Yourself
Unwinding from the world is a process. You start to see every situation as just a situation of thoughts. Jesus taught defenselessness, saying when a man asks for your coat, give him your cloak as well. This is a high teaching! The Spirit of Love has nothing to defend, so when we are aligned with Love, we have nothing to defend. David Hoffmeister shares that he has given his life over to Spirit to be a living demonstration of Jesus’ teachings. He has worked on his own consciousness, praying rather than trying to change people or defend. We can live in abundance and innocence. All is divine perfection!
Bullying
Seeing something out of alignment with your heart calls for prayer to see it differently. Watching your mind and paying attention to emotions and reactions is a key to going deeper and allowing a purification of ego judgments. All perception is selective remembering and any amount of upset is still an aspect of mind. It always goes back to your own mind. Belief in “bullying” can be “pulled back” to be seen as a belief in control. If there’s any kind of control or bullying in your mind, it is believed to be much safer to see it acted out in the characters of the world-consciousness projected outward. David Hoffmeister gives a reminder of what the “A Course in Miracles” says about this: “Seek not to change the world, but choose to change your mind about the world.” (T-21.Intro.7)
Linger Not in Time
Linger not in time. Time is an illusion. You are not meant to live your life guarding against fearful outcomes. It is the ego that would hold you, guilty, in time. You will never be innocent as a human being. You are guilty in time, but not in eternity. And you are spirit. You never really incarnated. The Holy Spirit shows you that there is no time and would not have you linger in it.
The Body Is a Projection
The body is a projection. Does Spirit inhabit the body? No. Ego animated life is like a Disney cartoon. It has no life; it is just quickly flickering images. Remember Pinocchio? He wanted to be a “real boy;” to think he had autonomy. It’s as though we decide to go back to letting the body be “God’s puppet”—let Him “pull the strings” instead of trying to make the body a real concern for us. How shall I use this body? What is it for? Only for communicating Love; to let the Voice for God speak through it. This could sound really boring to the ego.
Dissatisfied with Religion
The ego can even misuse the idea of “opening up” to the experience of guidance. There has been so much abuse in the name of Christianity that we are left with a bad taste in our mouths concerning churches and theological principles/practices. We may even be dissatisfied with religion altogether. This is a journey of “unlearning,” washing our minds free of all concepts—even the ones we thought of as “good.”
Defensiveness in Relationships
When defensiveness in relationships arise ask yourself, “What am I defending?” In all cases it’s some aspect of our own self-concept; some aspect or image of what we’ve identified with. The deeper you go into spirituality, you start to realize that however it looks on the screen of the world, you are only ever talking or listening to yourself. The ego feels it is lacking and incomplete, and so it looks at a relationship partner to fill that lack. It thinks it deserves love and it looks for a partner to fulfill that love.
The Awakening Experience
Thoughts produce feelings. Awareness of the body is unnatural; the body is just a projection of the mind. It is a practice that takes you to an inner awareness. When you have practiced well, the body will not feel at all. Don’t judge bodily feelings. The body is nothing. Mind-body-spirit connection is all part of the projection as there is no connection between Spirit-Mind and the body. The Body seems to surround you, but there is nothing outside you. The mind-body connection seems to be real as the the mind is deceived into thinking it is a body, separate from other bodies. Mind and body have no meeting place. Mind and Spirit are one.
Healing
A parable-filled David Hoffmeister/”A Course in Miracles”-inspired talk! David shares many stories of extending the joy of Love. When you are ready, the Holy Spirit will let the Presence of Love pour through you. Your joy will radiate and the healing of your mind will offer comfort to the world. There is nothing wrong with the temporary use of magic to alleviate pain and suffering. Yet there is a solution that will bring eternal relief. Mary Baker Eddy said to pray first; to use the power of the mind. Become consistently miracle-minded to heal your fragmented perception. The ultimate goal is not symptom removal but Awakening.
Healing from Abuse
Healing from abuse means working with thoughts and beliefs. David Hoffmeister addresses the question of healing the belief in abuse, mentioning that Jesus works from the bottom up and must meet the mind with what it believes. Specific memories are a starting point, though the healing occurs when the “cause” is seen in the mind and released.