Here is a great gem from David’s ACIM videos. Find out how to pin-point where you get tripped-up with perceiving upsets as being outside of your own mind. See that there is no pain in reality; the thought of pain originates in the sleeping mind. “A Course in Miracles” quotes Jesus’s teaching: “All things work together for good. There are no exceptions except in the ego’s judgment.” (T 4.V.1.1) No exceptions! That means that what the ego experiences as a pain is working for good.
Temptations
False Empathy
False empathy is wrong-mindedness or an attempt to yield to temptation. In the human mask-wearing condition, it seems natural to empathize with erroneous thinking. Self-concept ideas must all be let go of. True empathy identifies with the Christ-self and aligns with the truth, freedom, and joy of the Holy Spirit.
Linear World: Real World
In “A Course in Miracles,” the “real world” is synonymous with the happy dream, the forgiven world, and true perception. Everything is seen as simultaneous, equal, connected, and unified in the moment. What is deemed as valuable in the linear world (money, education, status, credentials, the body’s health, etc.) is seen as of no value in the real world. Seeing this, the mind can rest. It is clear that nothing valuable can truly be left behind. What you are and what God is alone has value and is eternal.
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!
Transform Your Mind into Wholeness
Transform your mind. Give away the filter that is in place that is specialness. Specialness is the desire to get. It is the ego’s lens of seeing the world. Without this filter, you transform your mind into holiness; wholeness. The mind that believes it is separate is not satisfied with its self-image, so it wants to get more. The separate self wants to improve. It is constantly seeking and investing energy and time, and then feeling unsatisfied.
Who Am I Really?
“Who am I really? What am I? Am I a body?” In order to find true authenticity you need to see that you are not a body. The person construct is a mask that needs to be left behind. The ego hears this and says, “uh oh, that’s not good.” Forgiveness leads to the remembrance of abstraction. It takes trust to let go of personal pursuits and the things that you think sustain you. You are sustained by the Love of God.
Peaceful State of Mind
Having an opinion—wanting to change something in the world—is what sickness is. John Lennon and Yoko wanted to bring about world peace through songs and bed-ins, then realized it was really all about their state of mind—that they had to be peaceful. You need to take full responsibility for your state of mind. Everything, without exception, is mind. Trust is at the center and with it come reverence and sustained joy. Give yourself over to the experience. The joy of extending your inspiration wants to burst forth!
Trying to Control My Behavior
When you feel addicted to something in the world, it feels like your actions are the problem. It seems that if you could stop or regulate the behavior, you’d be home free. You’re thoughts say, “I just need to control my behavior. But how?” The main addiction of the mind is judgment. But the mind wasn’t created to judge; it was created to “be.” So trying to control it, on any level, doesn’t work. At some point, you’ll have to do a major mind “overhaul,” and look at all thoughts about cause and effect.