ACIM Blog - David Hoffmeister A Course in Miracles

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Healing is the release of private thoughts

Beloved One,

Private thoughts are an ego defense, and we practice their release. Here are some Helpful quotes from ACIM:

Jesus taught us:

"To learn this course requires willingness to question every value that you hold. Not one can be kept hidden and obscure but it win jeopardize your learning. No one can escape from illusions unless he looks at them, for not looking is the way they are protected. There is no need to shrink from illusions, for they cannot be dangerous. We are ready to look more closely at the ego's thought system because together we have the lamp that will dispel it, and since you realize you do not want it, you must be ready." T-11.V.1.

The world of images was made to take the place of God. To forgive the world, you must raise to your awareness the ego belief system that made it. That belief system is in mind. The world is the representation of private thoughts. The world is entirely in mind.

Nothing can happen to you apart from what your mind desires. If you wholly desire the peace of God, that must be your experience. The Holy Spirit uses what was made in hate to teach the meaning of true forgiveness. The miracle will remind you that the false is false, and you will experience peace.

Private Thoughts Block the Holy Instant

If I have no private thoughts, I cannot see a private world. I can also call upon my real thoughts, which share everything with everyone. As my thoughts of separation call to the separation thoughts of others, so my real thoughts awaken the real thoughts in them. And the world my real thoughts show me will dawn on their sight as well as mine. W-54.3. (18)

The holy instant is a time in which you receive and give perfect communication. It is a time in which your mind is open, both to receive and give. It is the recognition that all minds are in communication. It therefore seeks to change nothing, but merely to accept everything. T-15.IV.6

How can you do this when you would prefer to have private thoughts and keep them? The only way you could do that would be to deny the perfect communication that makes the holy instant what it is. You believe you can harbor thoughts you would not share, and that salvation lies in keeping thoughts to yourself alone.

For in private thoughts, known only to yourself, you think you find a way to keep what you would have alone, and share what you would share. And then you wonder why it is that you are not in full communication with those around you, and with God Who surrounds all of you together. T-15.IV.7

Every thought you would keep hidden shuts communication off, because you would have it so. It is impossible to recognize perfect communication while breaking communication holds value to you. Ask yourself honestly, "Would I want to have perfect communication, and am I wholly willing to let everything that interferes with it go forever?" If the answer is no, then the Holy Spirit's readiness to give it to you is not enough to make it yours, for you are not ready to share it with Him. And it cannot come into a mind that has decided to oppose it. For the holy instant is given and received with equal willingness, being the acceptance of the single Will that governs all thought. T-15.IV.8.

The necessary condition for the holy instant does not require that you have no thoughts that are not pure. But it does require that you have none that you would keep. Innocence is not of your making. It is given you the instant you would have it. Atonement would not be if there were no need for it. You will not be able to accept perfect communication as long as you would hide it from yourself. For what you would hide is hidden from you. In your practice, then, try only to be vigilant against deception, and seek not to protect the thoughts you would keep to yourself. Let the Holy Spirit's purity shine them away, and bring all your awareness to the readiness for purity He offers you. Thus will He make you ready to acknowledge that you are host to God, and hostage to no one and to nothing. T-15.IV.9.

Exposing Private Thoughts

It is important to expose private thoughts in order to be in full communication, which is the only state in which God can be known. The ego wants to keep them hidden and will always defend against exposing private thoughts. But exposing private thoughts only seems personal and threatening to the ego that is identified with them. Confession, properly perceived, offers only release.

Having "no private thoughts" is a fast-track for healing. Intense as it may be at first, trusting mighty companions and being willing to "take the lid off" of these feelings and thoughts and to "put it out there" brings peace, because then you can see that the thoughts are not true; they are not reflective of who you are, which allows you to laugh at them. This gives your mind the opportunity to heal. Your relationships then can only become more trusting, loving, open and honest when you continue to trust the Holy Spirit, your right mind, to lead the way.

To Release Private Thoughts

1. Notice them.

2. Bring them to the light by voicing them in an environment of trust. (like the Living Miracles Monastery or one of our retreats)

3. See that they are nothing and detach from them. :) (this takes lots of practice in handing them over and Seeing them with the Holy Spirit.)

Love you soooooo much,


David

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Enjoy these Miracle Videos

Lisa has been joyfully collaborating with Geoff at the Monastery putting together these beautiful videos with excerpts from A Course in Miracles.
Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5y2434BEn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aasM5aV5u08
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCg-RO57ZF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4RiiekzmYQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbXBfZ3g134

Showers of love!