Spirit will draw forth mighty companions with whom there is a feeling of safety to expose things. But this should be done with discernment, under guidance.
Discernment
Show Me, Lead Me, Guide Me
What if the answer to every problem was so easy that it could not be missed? What if it was so available that it is always here now? “A Course in Miracles” teaches us that ‘… trust would settle every problem now.’ It is giving it to us real straight.
From Fear to Love: Transfer of Training
Fear is a getting-mechanism, whereas the miraculous life is about giving; you can only give what you have. It just takes practice to interpret situations in terms of love instead of fear. Don’t deny the negative things that seem to be happening; just accept that this is your perception, and ask for it to be changed. There is a tendency to see the problems outside yourself. Advanced mind training shows you that there actually are no problems. You don’t see the problems because you don’t believe in them anymore. Eventually, we begin to transfer/translate our mind training into everyday life and generalize the perception of love.
All Choices in This World Are the Same
We are often tempted to choose where it’s not really possible. Most of the choices we make in this world are of the same order, and the questions we typically ask make no sense in Reality. Choices become easier when we follow the Holy Spirit (peace); we will feel in harmony and flow with life. Ask only one question in any situation: “What is it for?” That’s very different from the ego saying, “What are the pros and cons here?” A mind in turmoil is not an inspired place from which to make decisions.a
Including Everything In
David Hoffmeister speaks in New York City about reinterpreting “giving up” and “letting go” to including everything into the mind. The process is seeing that judgment and rejection are impossible. Discernment involves practical guidance to accomplish this state of mind.
Rules for Decision
David Hoffmeister A Course in Miracles inspired teacher, explores the rules for decision that Jesus offers. Use the simple practice that Jesus outlines in the course in order to experience peace and happiness. It can seem that you have many decisions to make each day; many questions that pop up in your daily experience. Jesus describes simple steps to take when you experience these moments. When you call on the experience for divine Love, the questions start to disappear!
Discernment
David opens the session by talking about how, on the spiritual journey, the ego feels like it’s getting chased out of its hiding places like a spider down in a well. Also, how, at times, the spiritual journey can get disorienting as things start to seem less “solid” and more surreal, but how this starts to be experienced as relaxing and new. There are also phases when there don’t seem to be external witnesses for the Spirit, and this is a call to go deeper and rely more on the inner guidance. He also talks about letting the Spirit speak through you without censorship. But when you share this message, it is not always going to go over well with people, and that’s okay. There’s no need to convert people to “A Course in Miracles.” It’s always about peace for oneself and that’s it. David talks about when someone once asked him why he goes anywhere if everything is perfect, and he affirms that, “Yes, there’s no impetus to change anything.” The ego will try to commercialize spirituality like what’s happened to most holidays. Jesus is just a symbol of the unreality of this world and the Love that is true. You don’t need to be perfect in form. Accept your perfection only in Spirit. Be gentle with yourself and follow the prompts you receive.
Yes or No
It takes a lot of mind training to become clear about your yes and no. In our community we use the elder brother approach. One who has gone before and who is consistently peaceful is someone to join with. The ego is concerned with autonomy. It takes much letting go of autonomous decisions to come into alignment with the Holy Spirit, to be done through by Spirit.
Is This the Voice of the Holy Spirit or the Ego?
Here is a handy decision-making mechanism: how many decisions are based on fear of consequences? Imagine if love were your only motivator. Ask, “What am I doing this for?” The fear motive is the insatiable desire to get. Let God direct all your doing. The ego thinks you need to get the job, the wife/husband, the house, the kids, etc. Ask the Holy Spirit for the real purpose of this particular decision. Do you want freedom, intimacy, love, peace? Perhaps you think you have to do a lot of things to get them. Follow Spirit/intuition every instant instead. “A Course in Miracles” is like a sharp blade that burrows down into your mind, healing it.
Discerning between the Ego and Spirit
In this David Hoffmeister ACIM teaching, we dive into the topic of discernment. Becoming aware of the difference between the voice of the ego and the Voice of the Spirit is our life’s work. It is a gradual and gentle process. David shares on his own experience of getting in touch with feelings and intuition, following the Spirit, and finding joy and freedom. The best way to discern between the voice of the ego and Spirit is to ask yourself, “How do I feel?” The ego generates a lot of feel-good disguises. But it is impossible to seek for pleasure without finding pain. It is as if you got an electric shock every time you had sex. This discernment work takes deep introspection and inner work. Only the miracle gives you everything you want. Yet it costs you nothing; there is no deprivation. Just follow the tickle of your heart, of your intuition, which will lead you to the truth.