Is storytelling good or bad? The ego made up all the stories, and will use storytelling to justify emotions and to reinforce the personality identity. Yet storytelling can also be used by the Spirit to heal and bless. The real question to ask is, “What is the point, the purpose, of the story?” Just as Jesus only told stories that had a clear point and purpose to them, so too should we be equally mindful as to why we are telling a story.
Self-Honesty
ACIM and Raising Children
Every symbol and image that you see with the body’s eyes is a reflection. When you look at a child, you can see the child as a mirror of your mind. Any grievances and limits you see in the child are within your own mind. If you are practicing ACIM and raising children, you see what is taking place in your thoughts. As children go through grade school and into high school, you can look at your own beliefs about authority, normalcy, education and success.
What Is True Happiness? How Can I Find It?
You have been exerting a lot of mind energy trying to find love, freedom, happiness, and peace in the wrong direction: the world. Put all of your trust in the Spirit, and look closely and honestly at where your mind energy goes. What are you invested in? What are you putting your trust in? Nutrition, economics, being liked? A Course in Miracles teaches us, that to find lasting peace and happiness, we must start to withdraw our attention and focus from the thoughts of this world—the ego belief system—and start reinvesting our trust in that which will bring true fruition, true peace of mind. What is true happiness? It is not found in this world. You are entitled to peace, happiness, and joy; but you have forgotten who you are and are looking to the world for these things. The Holy Spirit is calling you out of this world and its belief system. This is the only worthy cause to put your mind energy into. It is one thing to say the words, “I trust you Holy Spirit and I want to hear you.” But most of the work with A Course in Miracles is taking a very close, honest look at the idea of, What have I invested in? It isn’t even a matter of having more trust. You can run a “guilt trip” on yourself even for that. For example, “I don’t have enough trust, I need to trust more.” It isn’t so much a more-or-less-thing, but it is withdrawing our belief and trust in the ego’s belief system and instead trusting in guidance.
How Did the Separation Occur?
There is no true answer to the question, “How did the separation happen?” A short while into the scribing of A Course in Miracles, Helen and Bill asked Jesus, “Wait a minute! How could the separation have happened in the first place!?” Jesus’ answer was, “You can tell by your emotions that you believe it happened!” In this humorous and insightful video, David expounds on this answer from Jesus by explaining how the Course was written for the mind that believes in the separation and therefore must meet the mind where it believes it is. All the things of this world which hold no value are magnified by the ego as a distraction. It is an upside-down and backwards world we live in.
Honest About Spirituality
There is no trace of individuality in the oneness of heaven. When you honestly express your divine spirituality, even with family members, you will attract joyful witnesses. People tire of metaphysics. Be happy and simple. Shine your light. Let Spirit guide you into fun.
Choosing the Miracle
This is a clip from the May/June 2010 retreat at the Living Miracles Monastery on choosing the miracle, which is a happy, peaceful state of mind no matter what seems to be going on.
Suicidal Depression without Judgment
Allow yourself to feel what you feel without judging it. Don’t conclude anything about your identity as a result. Suicidal depression is the conclusion that your life is worthless, but your ego laughs and pursues you beyond the grave. Just let the feelings come and go, release them.
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.
David’s Satsang
David speaks with depth and humor on copyright lawsuits, non-dualism, debt, completion, the world, One Mind, judgment, denial, projection, daily practice, cause and effect, the ego, time, Krishnamurti parables, and forgiveness.
No Private Thoughts and Emotions
There are no private thoughts. Any thoughts that you believe are private are not real. They are meaningless. ACIM daily lessons ask you to practice this early on in your training with lesson eight, “my mind is preoccupied with past thoughts,” and ten, “my thoughts do not mean anything.” The first step in healing is to let all of the emotions up, whether you label them bad or good. Talk about them. Imagine how much faster your relationships would heal if you were open to sharing your emotions. It’s the fastest way to undo the egoic people-pleasing pattern!
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