David Hoffmeister clarifies the distinction between “error” and “sin.” Error is a mistake that is correctible, but sin is a belief that there is something dark and devious that is stronger than Love. This is a crazy idea! David shares how our only function is acceptance the correction—the grace is already there! So, how does one practically experience this truth? By giving one’s mind over to Spirit, we open to the joy of true service.
Error and Sin
How Can I Know the Christ Mind?
What would it be like to live in a state of grace forever? Someone compliments you, then the next moment curses you, then leaves your life forever. What if none of this had any effect on you? You simply stayed happy no matter what the passing objects did or didn’t do. The Christ Mind does not get offended. It is always content, always peaceful, always still.
Are You Holding on to the Belief in Sacrifice?
Are you holding on to the belief in sacrifice? The ego-mind believes that sacrifice is possible. When you practice having the awareness that everything is mind, this belief in sacrifice comes up into question. How could sacrifice be real, if everything is mind? This questioning is an opportunity for a resurrection in the mind! Holding on to a belief is what gives seeming life to an identity that is separate from the Love of God. Therefore your true identity seems covered over by this belief, much like a cloud covers the sun.
The Lie of “The Wages of Sin Is Death”
In traditional Christianity the cost of man’s eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is death. You did something wrong to God and must pay a ransom. Jesus, the innocent one, was crucified and the ransom was paid. Belief in the ego costs you the awareness of God. The wages of error (missing the truth) is the illusion of suffering.
Give up Protecting
Give up the idea of protection. What are you protecting? Evil is not real. There is nothing other than God. The ego is not real. Only the truth is true. You are the dreamer.
The Belief in Separation
The belief in separation is actually the belief in impossibility. The ego created the world. God did not create the world. You can’t connect a God of Love to a distorted perceptual world where there seem to be so many problems. We have a belief in the concept of duality. This is an error. This very error has to be exposed. We have to look at this error together and expose its falsity. This whole world was made as a giant hiding place. Duality is in the mind, not in the world. When the mind decided to take the idea seriously (forgot to laugh) the whole cosmos was created as a giant fig leaf to cover up the belief in shame and guilt. You have to look within and see and expose the shame for the nothingness it is instead of trying to project it into time and space. The problem is not time and space, it is in your mind that made up the belief. We need to release the error and realize that it has no consequence. The instant the error seemed to arise the Answer was given.
Exposing Private Thoughts
To learn “A Course in Miracles,” you must question every value that you hold. At our Monastery we have two guidelines that help us do this: “No Private Thoughts,” and “No People-Pleasing.” Every day people expose their private thoughts at expression sessions.
The Ego Is a Perceptual Problem
You made the ego by believing in it. The ego IS the big bang! An experience (beyond the ego) will come to end your doubting. This will not be another theological concept. It will be an experience.
Denial and Suppression
If you notice the mechanism of denial and suppression, you’ll notice the ego uses it to hold on to secrets and private thoughts. You can smile, put on a happy face, have a stiff upper lip. You can maintain a facade of dignity and peace, and even have a pride about the surface level things. But if you have an inner churning, the thoughts surrounding that upset need to be expressed and released. Jesus points the mind towards a purified state of being. Healing takes place as you clean and clear the mind.
Allow Yourself to Be Spiritually Awakened
You cannot wake yourself, but you can allow yourself to be spiritually awakened. Resign now as your own teacher and call for Spirit’s help. Be “taught through,” by demonstrating a forgiving attitude. Desire the peace of mind that you deserve. You may encounter ego backlash. Don’t analyze the darkness; say “oops” and hand it over to the Holy Spirit.