David Hoffmeister speaks in New York City about overcoming the terror of divine silence and joining with everyone you meet regardless of what anyone believes.
Stillness
You Can Let Go of Your Agenda
The ego’s agenda is the problem, and when we let go of it, what flows is miraculous. With mind training we can reach a state of mind that is prior to judgment. It is not like you stop judging, the mind just reaches a state where it has no judgment.
What Is Meditation and ACIM
In this clip, David Hoffmeister has been asked about meditation. He says that “A Course in Miracles” is a pathway to meditation. The Course is designed to remove any obstacles to peace that are in the mind. This leads perfectly into being able to meditate without the “monkey mind” and all its distractions. The latter part of this talk introduces the idea of living from inspiration and not doing things merely from a sense of obligation. Here, true peace and freedom is found. “What is meditation?” is a question many people ask. This video answers the questions: “How do I meditate?” and “How can I get into a state of relaxation through meditating using the ‘A Course in Miracles’ Workbook?” Being in a state of mindfulness deepens the meditative state and gives a sense of stress relief.
Peace of Mind
David talks about accepting Correction within the context of the invitation to expose error.
The Script Is Written
A clip, from the May/June 2010 retreat at the Living Miracles Monastery, looking at the metaphor of “the script is written” and freeing the mind from the belief in choice in form in order for the mind to relax into stillness. “Seek not to change the world, but choose to change your mind about the world.” (T-21.in.1:7)
Interactive Sharing
We teach what we believe through our attitudes. My life is an open book. I wanted to have heart-to-heart talks with people, and do that for a living. How surprising to find that this was possible! All answers are tucked away inside our hearts. At the Monastery, we are very attentive to our emotions; we learn to remove these obstructions to peace. “There are no small upsets,” (W-5.4:3) it says in A Course in Miracles. We literally crucify ourselves when we hold onto them.
Inquiry into Consciousness
In meditation we observe our thoughts, yet self-inquiry is the pathway inwards to stillness. As I inquired into myself, I found that beneath my faulty perceptions were fear-based emotions, and beneath them were my thoughts. And what drove my thoughts was my belief system. The core belief of the ego thought system is linear time. This is the root of all conflicts. The ego made linear time to cover over the present moment. The ACIM Workbook is the beginning of self-inquiry. It leads you to an open mind and to the experience of miracles.
I Need Do Nothing
Busy, busy, busy. The ego counts on your business. When you give the mind permission to merge with the stillness of Spirit, you experience being. It is so different from doing! The ego is a constant “doer,” while the Spirit is still. This is as simple as it gets: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) Cultivate the place of stillness and light in your mind and watch as all thoughts you bring there disappear into light.
Transfer of Training
Transfer of training is a powerful step into your own mind. David Hoffmeister discusses how fear is allowed to arise, be exposed, and be released through a combination of relationships and meditation practice. As you practice stillness, all relationships become your mirror. They reflect back fear or love. With new awareness, you can watch a screen of your own thoughts. You discover your own hidden beliefs! You see what you’ve been holding on to! And what you see might be what the Holy Spirit uses to help you awaken. As you look at your mirrors, ask yourself, “What issues have I been holding on to subconsciously? What have I been trying to hide by projecting it out onto others?”
Indulgence and Repression
Let’s move beyond the two extremes of indulgence and repression. Is there another way? David Hoffmeister, “A Course in Miracles” teacher, discusses the practical way of exposing and releasing the thoughts that surface in awareness as the mind undergoes the forgiveness process. Helena offers her practical experience and examples and David illustrates the metaphysics and the forgiveness process with practical metaphors.