I Taught the World to Teach Me
I Taught the World to Teach Me – In this session, David Hoffmeister emphasizes the importance of loyalty to the Spirit, the inner teacher, over personal desires and external opinions. This loyalty stems from truth and a deep connection with the Holy Spirit, not the ego’s demands. David shares parables of taking full responsibility for our state of mind by recognizing that we taught the world to teach us. By keeping this empowering thought in mind, it’s possible to remember that we don’t need to wait for externals to choose to be happy.
Coming Together with the Purpose of Healing
Coming Together with the Purpose of Healing – David Hoffmeister explores the perceptual problem, which pertains to the belief that the subject and the object are different, that the observer is different from the observed, and that the personality-self is different from the world that surrounds it. When we see an issue in the world, it really is just a split in the mind. This belief can result in significant problems such as conflict, climate change, and hunger, all of which can be traced back to the division within the mind. “Let me recognize the problem so it can be solved,” (W-79) and “Let me recognize my problems have been solved.” W-80 By examining the projected world, we often fail to identify the core problem because it manifests in many forms. You may resolve a few problems today, only to encounter more tomorrow. Therefore, the key lies in our perspective, which stems from our interpretation.
Relax, Step Back, and Unwind from the World
Relax, Step Back, and Unwind from the World – David Hoffmeister shares about the importance of placing the future in God’s hands, a concept that requires enormous trust. This trust is crucial as we have been conditioned to learn the past and plan the future. Trust is the foundation of a teacher of God and allows us to relax and feel divine ease. During this profound talk, David also gives an overview of the very first Strawberry Fields Festival in 2009. Jesus tells us to go from nightmares to waking with a transition between happy dreams and gentle waking. This process helps us feel softer and gentler, making the struggle and challenge easier. Enjoy this deep discussion with the participants that goes deep and yet fun.
Opening to Deeper Prayer
Opening to Deeper Prayer – David Hoffmeister begins this 4-day Japan retreat by exploring the concept of undoing the self-concept—a conditioned expectation that obstructs our understanding of the world. The ego arises from the mind’s pursuit of self-improvement, crafting illusory goals that keep the mind preoccupied and detached from its boundless nature. The ego’s game is endless, as it neither begins nor concludes. The purpose of our practice is to abandon the pursuit of temporal goals and relinquish the false identity—the mask of the ego. In doing so, we experience the mind’s all-encompassing nature, recognizing that the world, society, and everything once perceived as external are within the mind. As the mind reaches a state of rest, the external world reflects this peace, becoming more harmonious.
A Path of Gentle Letting Go
A Path of Gentle Letting Go – In this session, David Hoffmeister speaks about Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, focusing on self-actualization as the top goal. This concept is based on the Greek belief that ‘know thyself’ is the ultimate goal of human development. The ego attempts to deny this through hypnotism, mesmerism and imagination, covering the truth with unreal images. Atonement, the correction, is the awareness that the separation never happened.
Teaching the Holy Instant
Teaching the Holy Instant – At the beginning of this talk, David Hoffmeister discusses the concept of choice and the duality of life. We seem to live in a world of duality, where one of the primary goals is to find a life partner. We can see even that is dualistic because even a successful life match involves two, while reality involves only one.
A Prayer for Healing
A Prayer for Healing – David Hoffmeister reminds us the chapel, the monastery, the church, and religion all mean the same thing. It means experience. It is the state of our heart and the state of our mind. It is not a structure. It is not an institution. It is not a theology. It has no history and no future. This instant is the only time there is. We pray together for God to use our perception so that perception may disappear.
Going Beyond Sickness
Going Beyond Sickness – David speaks about the need to release all false self-concepts and answers a set of questions in-depth about sickness and living an inspired life instead of one based on fear of consequences.
It’s All About Intuitive Presence
It’s All About Intuitive Presence – In this session, David Hoffmeister discusses the spiritual journey, a lifelong journey of prayerful presence and deep connection. He talks about the importance of letting go of anything hidden and letting it move through, the importance of authenticity and accepting emotions rather than trying to hide them.
Living Without Expectations
Living Without Expectations – David Hoffmeister explores in detail what it means to practice living every day without expectations. This means letting go of all outcomes and ideas of getting anything. In order to keep our heart open, we need to be vigilant for the beautiful gift that Jesus is offering us in every moment. When we let go of all expectations and all ideas of how things should appear and what should happen, this brings the mind into a sense of focus on the present, releasing fear of consequences and our past conditioning. Then we can rest in the trust that everything that happens is for one reason only: our present joy!
Moving Beyond Perception
Moving Beyond Perception – A session of lightness and laughter as many topics are addressed in a deep and thorough way. Relationships, roles, moving beyond perception, and remembering to ask “What is it for?” A few participants share authentically and deeply from the heart, and David responds with helpful parables, healing examples, and many encouraging thoughts of the Holy Spirit.
Give Up Nothing for Everything!
Give Up Nothing for Everything! – In this session, the theme of the holy instant is explored, as it is difficult for humans to accept holiness in a world of linear time. The Holy Spirit helps us see the whole picture, allowing us to forgive ourselves and walk day by day, moment by moment, in trust.
From Dark Dreams to the Light
From Dark Dreams to the Light – In this talk, David Hoffmeister uses parables from Star Trek to delve into the deep metaphysics of the Course, illustrating what it means to be dreaming and to Awaken, on this journey from darkness to the light.
Retranslate Your Perception
Retranslate Your Perception – David Hoffmeister starts this session by emphasizing the importance of perfect equality in our perception of the world. No one is ahead or behind. We can practice forgiveness by letting judgments come up and letting them go. Differences are judgments, and when we fall asleep, we forget God and Heaven, leading to intense fear and chaos. The holy instant allows us to see our brothers and sisters in a new way.
Follow The Joy!
Follow The Joy! – In this talk, David Hoffmeister discusses the intuitive guidance that helps us let go of the personality-self. This guidance can be experienced through interactions with people, signs, symbols, and dreams. The world is an impossible situation, and something inside us jumps for joy when we are clueless about it. This state of joy can lead to laughter and synchronization, which are signs of awakening. By focusing on what truly matters and letting go of past interpretations, we can experience great happiness and joy!
Giving as God Gives
Giving as God Gives – God only gives. We remember the love in giving. The world was made by the ego for getting something. The Holy Spirit uses the world of images for forgiveness and release, to remember the joy and blessings! When we truly give, we forget the ego and remember the light!