“A Course in Miracles” (ACIM) teaches that time is simultaneous. To show the concept of linear time, David Hoffmeister uses a spaghetti string, a noodle. He says that we are like a fish out of water. Or, “a spirit out of spirit—on a noodle!” A spirit who has forgotten spirit and is on a noodle now; that’s pretty difficult. So, if you have had struggles and difficulties in your life, it’s not even surprising, because of the mind’s belief in time. In ACIM, Jesus says that the world was made as an attack upon God. Why would God send you to a world that was made as an attack upon God? That would be mean! Some people may say, “I didn’t ask to be here.” The answer to that is that everyone who believes they are in time asked to be here.
Mind
You See What You Believe
A quick David Hoffmeister ACIM teaching on perception and beliefs. This gets right to the point! David Hoffmeister reminds us that everything we perceive is just symbolic of our own beliefs. Everything you perceive is there by your own decision. You’re seeing a motion picture of what you believe. And you can of course change that. David Hoffmeister uses the example of a Jesus Parade in Stockholm and a Jesus birthday party in the middle of summer in Cincinnati.
Duality
This discussion follows a viewing of a clip from the movie “What the Bleep Do We Know” on quantum physics. There is really just one ego and one projection. Everything that involves duality is part of the projection of the split mind. Fragmentation was made to hide the face of God. The first lesson of the Workbook of “A Course in Miracles” already speaks to this: “Nothing I see means anything.” The ego has invented this whole system to perpetuate guilt. The world looks solid but it is just a projection. God does not know anything of this world. All pain is in the mind and it is only in the mind that it can be resolved.
Exploring Concepts Such as Religion
David defines Christ as love and then says Christianity is a defense against Christ/love. In essence he says this is true of all religions. The ego has taken something in form (e.g., Jesus Christ, Buddha, Mohammed) and then turned it into a religion. David then reinterprets the word “religion” to mean a peaceful state of mind. David does not view himself as belonging to any formal religion but instead part of a religion of oneness and truth.
What Is Consciousness?
What is consciousness? In “A Course in Miracles” (ACIM), the word consciousness is used in a specific way. Jesus teaches in ACIM that consciousness is the domain of the ego, and because it is the domain of the ego it is subject to training. David Hoffmeister talks to us about our right mind and wrong mind. The wrong mind, or the part identified with the ego, is the only part that requires training. Awakening can be seen as a process of popping through the various layers of consciousness. Enlightenment is when you have purified your mind to such an extent you are ready for God to take the final step.
Accepting Atonement Is One Responsibility
The sole responsibility of the Teacher of God, or miracle worker, is to accept the Atonement.
Another Way of Seeing
Rather than emphasize the parts, we begin to think in terms of the whole. Because the Holy Spirit is in our mind, we can see expansively that it is all one.
Individual vs. Group Guidance
There is no group; it’s just a metaphor. There is one Voice. Two who are deeply attuned can hear the same thing at the same time. The guidance is important, not the form. Trust the Holy Spirit’s guidance, listen to it and follow it.
An Abundance of Options
So much of the time, we as humans get hung up by too many options. When you are happy, you get a lot of invitations. People love to be around you. Instead of being confused and overwhelmed, this is an opportunity to remember to connect with Spirit. “What would You have me do? Where would You have me go? What would You have me say, and to whom?” (W-71.9:3-5) are questions you could ask. This is a time for true inner guidance and connection to the Voice of wisdom. David talks about all the places he was guided to visit when he first began to travel to ACIM classes all over the U.S., all the while listening inwardly for directions. Very gradually, it seemed as though that Inner Voice became the voice of Jesus.