David Hoffmeister speaks about humility and how peace, freedom, and intimacy are part of our natural birthright.
Humility
Curiosity vs. Surety
In this talk, David Hoffmeister uses A Course in Miracles principles to guide the mind towards a new perspective. ACIM is a pointer towards non-dual awareness. All temporary symbols eventually fade away into the awareness of the Self. The truth is a state of pure stillness. Following this brings an actual experience that everything else is just props. They are now used by Holy Spirit and happily laid aside when no longer helpful. Therefore we need not be afraid to let everything up into awareness. It will be healed for it is already healed!
Undoing Education
On the question of education, the deepest truest goal is consistent peace of mind. For decades, education has been seen as the answer to all the world’s problems. It hasn’t worked. Jesus says that you have over-learned an impossible lesson. You have taught yourself that you are separate from God and you perpetuate this. If you were a teacher and you gave a child an impossible learning goal, that would be cruel. A goal that could never be accomplished. It would ensure learning failure. The ego is an impossible learning goal. It is a goal of separation. If you continue with this you will never have peace of mind. And so we need to unlearn the thought systems of the world and anything that would perpetuate the separation. David gives an example of his grandmother who was diagnosed with dementia and seemingly remembered almost nothing but was very happy.
The Highest State of Mind: I Don’t Know
The beginner’s mind is the “I don’t know” mind. It’s a beautiful place to live. It’s a wonderful feeling to have no opinions; very freeing. One doesn’t feel dumb or credulous; just free. And everything that is needed in any situation is given without any vote from you at all.
Right or Happy?
Would you rather be right or happy? If you are not happy, what do you see as the problem? Money, family, job, health … or is the complex list of issues just a distraction device? As you become aware of where the problem is, you can move towards the solution instead of continuing with the distractions. ACIM daily lessons 79 and 80 direct the mind towards this awareness. Lesson 79 gives you the thought: “Let me recognize the problem so it can be solved.” (W-79) Lesson 80 moves into: “Let me recognize my problems have been solved.” (W-80)
Dismantling the Ego
Dismantling the ego is a journey that is guided by by the Holy Spirit. To the ego, the dismantling seems to be a big threat. But it is not an ending, it is an opening. You are opening to a completely new way of being. You enter into the journey with out any clue of where the path will lead. It’s like a ride at an amusement park where the floor keeps dropping out, free-falling until there is nothing left to grasp. At times many memories surface, childhood memories, dark closets, closed doors. It is about opening these doors until there is nothing left.
I Do Not Know!
The Awakening process is humbling until you reach the state of complete non-judgment: “I do not know what this is and I will not use my past learning to judge it. I am going to accept it as it is.” Pristine innocence. Forgiveness is only necessary when there has been judgment. David Hoffmeister tells the story of being humbled as he took the journey of using the ACIM daily lessons. The floor seems to drop out from beneath you.
A Course in Miracles Is a Tsunami
“A Course in Miracles” says that the world is backwards and upside down, that you are asleep and dreaming. As you follow the Course, it brings up intense emotions and upheavals in your life. It can seem to be a difficult journey. But when you go deeper, the rewards are immense. In our community, we rely on Guidance. We see that that the skills we formerly used to prop up pride are now humbly used for love.
Vanity and Pride
David Hoffmeister responds to a question about vanity and pride and how to deal with wanting to be recognized and/or to be in the spotlight. The important question is always, “what is the purpose?” You are here to experience the constancy of divine Mind. You won’t find it in trying to change your behavior or in self-improvement. Those all still involve pride, trying to come up with a better self. But God created us perfect. You don’t have to prove your worthiness. You are already perfect. Simply trust and you will be carried through to the experience of your perfect purity and innocence!
True Empathy
True Empathy is staying with the Christ, with what is real and true, regardless of the form or circumstance. David Hoffmeister shares about a life experience using true empathy while visiting a dying man in a Catholic home. This was not the David character speaking but instead, the experience of giving himself over for the Holy Spirit’s purposes in an uncompromising way. The ego and its thick layers of people-pleasing covers over the small, little self.
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