David Hoffmeister speaks on Integrity, and how to come into this as a true experience through deep spiritual practice based on the teachings of A Course in Miracles. Integrity is generally associated to the form, but is really about Integrity of mind, the Divine Purpose underneath everything.
Without Integrity, peace of mind remains an affirmation instead of an actual experience. Integrity depends on consistency and purity of thought. Integrity is usually associated with the form, but, actually, to be in Integrity requires us to get in touch with the Purpose underneath the things of form.
"Honesty does not apply only to what you say. The term actually means consistency. There is nothing you say that contradicts what you think or do; no thought opposes any other thought; no act belies your word; and no word lacks agreement with another. Such are the truly honest. At no level are they in conflict with themselves. Therefore it is impossible for them to be in conflict with anyone or anything." – ACIM (M-4.II.1)
Enjoy this beautiful writing by David Hoffmeister on Integrity, and how to come into this as a true experience through deep spiritual practice.
“It is possible to desire, believe, think, feel, perceive, and act with consistency by following the Holy Spirit, and ONLY by following the Holy Spirit!”
Integrity: Living in Divine Purpose
There can be no more important trait in authentic Awakening than Integrity, for without Integrity peace of mind remains an affirmation instead of an actual experience. Integrity depends on consistency and purity of thought, and without alignment with the Holy Spirit, Integrity will seem out of reach and guilt will seem real in awareness. It is possible to desire, believe, think, feel, perceive, and act with consistency by following the Holy Spirit, and ONLY by following the Holy Spirit! Another name for the ego is deception, and when deception is believed in, the illusion of guilt seems very real indeed. Affirmations, mantras, and well-wishing can never become substitutes for looking within and exposing the belief system of the ego. Pockets of guilt must be exposed and voluntarily given to the Holy Spirit, and as this occurs, it becomes apparent that the guilt was never real.
Confusion results from the attempt to serve two masters and see two worlds. Yet it is impossible to see two worlds that have no meeting point. There is no going back to the past, and there is no way to really repeat the past. The past can only be forgiven or released. Innocence and guilt arise from two different thought systems. One is real; one is not.
God is a God of Pure Love and Innocence, and therefore Union with God can only be experienced in a State of Innocence. Guilt is always a sure sign that the mind is listening to the ego and afraid of the Holy Spirit's Voice. Guilt is a way of closing down and shutting off, an attempt to be separate and alone and isolated. The Holy Spirit offers healing and waits patiently for guilt to be exposed—willingly, voluntarily.
That is why I often emphasize that it is important to share what is on your mind and keep nothing hidden. For in Truth there is nothing to hide. Yet this is only experienced by not attempting to deny or protect the guilt as it rises into awareness. Unprotected guilt dissolves in the Light of Love so effortlessly, but it takes enormous effort to hide guilt and keep it concealed behind multitudes of appearances and idols. Have you ever asked yourself, "Why am I attempting to hide the guilt I feel? Why do I hold on to guilt so tightly? What am I afraid will happen if I let go of this guilt? What is it that I value in this world that I really believe the Holy Spirit will take away?"
Resistance is futile for it has no Purpose. Salvation is no compromise of any kind. Yet Salvation has no cost. Could the giving up of nothing for the remembrance of Everything ever be considered a cost? The perceived world may have seemed comfortable and familiar at times, yet it always carried a sense of guilt, insecurity, or uneasiness.
The insane "reason" that the mind fears letting go of the familiar and opening to God is the terror of the "Unknown." Yes, that's right—the distorted world has become the "known" to a mind asleep and dreaming, and God has thus become the Big "Unknown." As long as it seems valuable to cling to the "known" (ego), guilt will seem real in awareness. The Moment the mind decides to accept the Big "Unknown" (God), guilt is gone forever, and Christ and God are Known. It really IS this simple!
“In God there are no secrets, no mysteries. In God Everything is openly revealed... Pull up the shades and open the blinds. Only the anticipation will seem to frighten a mind so accustomed to the dark.”
Say what you mean, and mean what you say. Listen to the Holy Spirit, and this is not difficult; listen to the ego, and this will seem impossible. Do not hide from Me, Beloved One, for I Love You forever and ever. Hiding presumes the arrogant belief that there is something that must be hidden. In God there are no secrets, no mysteries. In God Everything is openly revealed. God is only Light. Pull up the shades and open the blinds. Only the anticipation will seem to frighten a mind so accustomed to the dark. Bathed in God's Light it is obvious that there is only Light.
God's Plan is to be happy and joyful and at peace. If you do not feel these emotions springing up and bubbling over, you are trying to follow an alien voice and a plan for keeping guilt concealed. Be not afraid to change course immediately, to change your tune at once, for you are entitled to miracles and the joy of working miracles.
There is no way to experience Joy fully if people-pleasing still holds an attraction for you. For people-pleasing is the attraction to and maintaining of guilt. Should this temptation arise in your holy mind, pause a Moment, and remember the gratitude you have experienced deep within. Let the Strength of gratitude carry your awareness beyond the fear and the guilt. Remember All that our holy Purpose offers, and step forward in the Strength of our Divine Innocence.
You have taken many steps inward. You have experienced many miracles. The openings and shifts have seemed very fast, very fast indeed. There are many more that will seem to follow. Make fast your unlearning, for our Purpose can have no exceptions or compromises to be Itself. The perception of the multitudes fades into one healed tapestry of forgiveness. Now is the time.
Be not afraid to Call on Me, My Beloved. Be not tempted to turn away. I see our Perfect Innocence. There is nothing to seek in the world. There is no body's approval that is required to accept our retreat into Eternal Innocence. The seeming advance into the world was always an illusion. Let go of the "business" of the world, for it has served, and it is forever behind Us Now.
Heaven is approached as the world is seen as meaningless. You are the Meaning that the world was made to hide. You are God's Glory as the Christ! You are not letting anybody down in accepting Atonement. There is no cost to Salvation, Everyone is with Us in Atonement. How could it be otherwise? All shines brightly in the Innocence of Love Divine.
"In you is all of Heaven. Every leaf that falls is given life in you. Each bird that ever sang will sing again in you. And every flower that ever bloomed has saved its perfume and its loveliness for you. What aim can supersede the Will of God and of His Son, that Heaven be restored to him for whom it was created as his only home? Nothing before and nothing after it. No other place; no other state nor time. Nothing beyond nor nearer. Nothing else. In any form." – ACIM (T-25.IV.5)
Showerings of Peaceful Love,
David
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Thank you all . Love you all.