David Hoffmeister shares an experience he had while practicing A Course in Miracles workbook lesson 163, “There is no death. The Son of God is free.” He had the experience that there truly is no death and that death is the ego. A woman in front of David had collapsed on the ground and stopped breathing in the grocery store he was in while practicing the ACIM lesson. When David had the experience that there truly is no death, the women seemed to be a reflection of mind and simultaneously began breathing again. What does Jesus mean by, “There is no death. The Son of God is free”? He’s really saying, “There is no ego. The Son of God is free.”
Heart Opening
Following the Holy Spirit and Relationships
David explains how listening to and following the Holy Spirit brings peace and joy, as old relationships seem to be let go and new relationships that serve the Holy Spirit’s purpose come into awareness. Jesus says in A Course in Miracles that the only right use of judgment is asking yourself, “How do I feel?” If you start to get prompted to call certain people, and after the call you feel a certain vitality, then it shows the prompt came from the Holy Spirit. You listened, followed, and got the experience. If you find yourself being depressed, feeling fatigued or dispirited, and saying, “Wow, I’m glad I got that over with.” Then the prompts are coming in from guilt. All these relationships have guilt in them. Now the Holy Spirit is saying, the way out of the guilt is giving all the relationships to the Holy Spirit.
Non-judgment, Trust, Opening Up
David Hoffmeister shares about opening up and experiencing non-judgment. This New Zealand retreat was in 2008 in Waiwera.
The Intellectual Defense
Often people say about the Course, “Ah, at last, a spiritual approach for intellectuals!” For different reasons, one might think that highly intelligent people, Christians, or even atheists may take to it, but the responses are not predictable. Emotions are sometimes overwhelming, too strong to want to feel. ACIM is not meant to cover over these, but to reveal them. Movies and music can help. In this way, life will seem fresh and like an adventure. Stuffing feelings or using the lessons as affirmations or mantras will only stunt your spiritual understanding.
My Self Is Ruler
In order to awaken, we must accept our invulnerability as Spirit and make it manifest by the attitude that, in truth, we cannot be hurt. Unquestioned beliefs will always block this from awareness, controlling one’s decision-making process through fear and leading to a robot-like life. Therefore, one MUST begin to get in touch with all unconscious conditioning and learn to let it go with Spirit.
How Do I Let Go of “Me”?
Open your heart to love and start to feel that God is within you. Receive his gifts by listening to and following what is given. Meet those who have given their life over to the Course. Allow yourself to fall apart and come undone. The struggle comes from identifying with the self. Accept the gifts that are in front of you and surrender!
Hearing Internal Wisdom
Ready to hear your own internal wisdom speaking instead of the racket of ego? When ego thoughts are very loud, it can be hard to hear the whisper of your heart. Tune in. At first you begin with tiny impressions that seem to lead you by their feeling nature. They are very subtle. Watch for synchronicity. It can often be quite simple and practical. As you open yourself to guidance more and more, it can become like a clear stream of thought. The same Presence speaks to everyone, yet it is highly individualized.