Relationships | Attack Thoughts, Beliefs and Concepts, Christ-Identity, Communication, Dark and Intense Emotions, Family, Fear, Hayama Japan, Jesus, Listen and Follow, Living in Community, Movie-Watching, Needs, Perception, Prayer, Projection, Self-Concepts, Series Putting God First Japan Retreat, Special Relationship, with Friends
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.
Spiritual Practice | Anger, Beliefs and Concepts, Body Issues, Bringing Illusions to the Truth, Death, Divine Providence, Empty Your Mind, Expectations, Guidance, Guilt, Hayama Japan, Healing, Jesus, Living in Community, Miracle Worker, Miracles, Needs, Non-Judgment, Personality Self, Playfulness, Prayer, Purpose, Self-Concepts, Series Putting God First Japan Retreat, Sex and Sexuality, Signs and Symbols, Special Relationship, The Bible, True Forgiveness, True Joy, True Peace, Unified Perception
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.
