What is the purpose of my relationships? Are they helping me towards my goal of present peace? Notice your own symbols of encouragement. See also where you are compromising. Compromise at any level is a killer of present moment awareness. With this world being created as a trap, compromise is then a trap within a trap. The very moment we compromise, we imprison ourselves in a concrete mold of limitation. No wonder it’s hard to function in the world.
Partnership
Discernment
David opens the session by talking about how, on the spiritual journey, the ego feels like it’s getting chased out of its hiding places like a spider down in a well. Also, how, at times, the spiritual journey can get disorienting as things start to seem less “solid” and more surreal, but how this starts to be experienced as relaxing and new. There are also phases when there don’t seem to be external witnesses for the Spirit, and this is a call to go deeper and rely more on the inner guidance. He also talks about letting the Spirit speak through you without censorship. But when you share this message, it is not always going to go over well with people, and that’s okay. There’s no need to convert people to “A Course in Miracles.” It’s always about peace for oneself and that’s it. David talks about when someone once asked him why he goes anywhere if everything is perfect, and he affirms that, “Yes, there’s no impetus to change anything.” The ego will try to commercialize spirituality like what’s happened to most holidays. Jesus is just a symbol of the unreality of this world and the Love that is true. You don’t need to be perfect in form. Accept your perfection only in Spirit. Be gentle with yourself and follow the prompts you receive.
Monogamy and Relationships
The ego wants to maximize pleasure, so the temptation is to change relationship partners. Spirit-given assignments, on the other hand, are commitments guided by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit knows how to use the mirroring that is going on to undo previous mistakes and false beliefs so as to maximize healing. Spiritual communities are helpful in the same way, as the mirroring shows you very quickly what you believe so you can forgive and let go!
Romantic Relationships vs. Holy Relationships
When we try to compare romantic relationships vs. holy relationships, we have to be willing to expose everything and be true to ourselves. Romantic relationships are based on mutual need-fulfillment, on the “getting” mechanism. It keeps us in a closed state of mind, cut off from the greater love. Holy relationships are undefined, guided, and collaborative. Personal differences are set aside. They are dedicated to a higher purpose and are intensely joyful.
To Know Thyself You Need to Forgive
To know thyself as an eternal being, you must practice forgiveness. This video follows a discussion on the purpose of marriage. David Hoffmeister goes into depth on the discipline of practicing forgiveness. David shares that the Holy Spirit has given you all of the forms in your classroom and now you must decide to use them for the purpose of going beyond this world. Is a spouse the form you’ve been given? Let this form take you into the awareness of your eternal self.