ACIM reminds us that everything in the world is an idea and they are all unreal. Because they are all equally unreal, there are no conflicting ideas. Yet there is an actual real idea behind them, called Christ. You are an idea of the Mind of God. Christ lives forever in the Mind of God and has not left the Source. That is what you are waking up to. That is where all this is going to: an endless mind being an idea in the Mind of God. That is Oneness. Any time your mind goes into any kind of upset, it indicates that there is something to forgive.
Guilt
Bringing Karma to a Point of Decision
In this talk, David Hoffmeister shows us that the “karma” we seem to carry can be brought to a decision point. David Hoffmeister used ACIM as a tool in his Awakening, and now teaches Jesus’ message at gatherings all over the world. ACIM is a mind training map, showing the way to true forgiveness. Enjoy this talk on karma and forgiveness. Let’s wake up together! The repetitive situations associated with karma are a manifestation of the looping in the mind. This comes from believing in an illusory past and future which obscures the present. This looping can be ended instantly by bringing karma to a decision point. In this way, we can let go of grievances and forgive the world.
The Most Important Thing in This Lifetime
The most important thing in this lifetime that you seem to be in is mind-watching! It is the most important thing you can do. Dis-identify with judgmental thoughts and grievances. When you dissociate from those thoughts, you can see that you are not those thoughts. You are not a stream of guilt thoughts! Your identity is pure innocence. Jesus in ACIM asks you to give up all goals and find present peace.
Raising Children While Practicing ACIM
Raising children while practicing ACIM can be very powerful! This experience gives you the opportunity to learn from your children. Just because you feel you are in a bigger body with a bigger brain and have read more books does not mean that you are superior. Learn the lesson of perfect equality! Nothing can obscure this perfect equality. Resign from this role of superiority and instead see what is going on in your own mind. Relationships in the world mirror your mind. Children deserve gratitude for mirroring back your belief system. A parent’s darkness and guilt may be acted out by children. If you unconsciously believe in abandonment, you will see scenes of abandonment. Find fearful beliefs in yourself and let them go. As you find inner joy and love, your children will witness to it. Lessen the sense of control. Children are our equals.
Stop People-Pleasing, Reduce Stress and Worry
Stop people-pleasing and you will feel how wonderful life can really be. The people-pleasing defense mechanism is subtle, insidious, and heavily engrained. You’ve been raised with the belief that people-pleasing is good—please your boss, your spouse, your children, etc. Meanwhile, people have all of these underlying currents of conflicts inside. Acknowledge your feelings! Let Spirit give you your yes’s and no’s, and say what you need to say.
Self Acceptance
It is exhausting to try to be perfect all of the time. Self acceptance is very relaxing. You can give up the need to be important, well liked, more intelligent, or better looking. Get off of the treadmill of self-improvement! Instead, expose all of the subtle secrets that the ego tries to keep. The secrets hide your true identity from you. Your true identity is already perfect! Your identity is beyond the forms in this world. Your identity is Spirit. You were created perfect, beautiful, and innocent. There is no need to improve a thing about yourself. Relax into self acceptance. Give yourself over to the miracle.
Healing through Relationships
Healing through relationships is practical. Use the relationships that you have in your life now to heal your mind and awaken. You don’t have to be in a monastery chanting “hail Mary” or “om!” It is possible to go through your day and listen to the Holy Spirit without interrupting your regular activities in any way. You will see how the Spirit can use everything you believe in: relationships, spiritual practices, the job you seem to have, the family concept. Anything you believe, the Spirit will lightly use to loosen your mind from it to help you feel more in the unified awareness, the quantum field. If you have a partner or friend, you can tell them what is on your heart.
The Transcendent Experience
Sexuality requires judgment; there are levels of sexuality and preferences. The world of concepts needs to give way to the transcendent experience of Oneness. In this experience, questions dissolve in Forgiveness.
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.
Trying to Control My Behavior
When you feel addicted to something in the world, it feels like your actions are the problem. It seems that if you could stop or regulate the behavior, you’d be home free. You’re thoughts say, “I just need to control my behavior. But how?” The main addiction of the mind is judgment. But the mind wasn’t created to judge; it was created to “be.” So trying to control it, on any level, doesn’t work. At some point, you’ll have to do a major mind “overhaul,” and look at all thoughts about cause and effect.