Unfolding Detachment

One upon a time as this mind’s awareness of Truth grew the natural result was that this mind came to experience that it was “in the world but not of the world”, as the popular phrase goes. This meant that it felt that it was still a self operating in the world but that it had a growing awareness that its interest was really in Truth. It was a lot like being at a party but standing on the edge of the room and watching the party rather than fully participating in it.

Then this mind attained an experience of detachment that was “not in the world but aware of the world”. This meant that it no longer lived through the self to fulfill a sense of lack but that there was still a world in its awareness. This was a lot like being outside of the house in which a party was occurring but still being aware that there was a party.

Now this mind is attaining an awareness that it is “not in a world but aware of a meaningless idea of a world”. This is like being in a quiet place and remembering that once it had an idea, far distant now, of a party that was only ever an idea.

In the A Course in Miracles community there is a lot of talk about “observing the world” and “observing your thoughts”. This practice comes naturally as a mind’s awareness of Truth results in it experiencing itself as apart from the world and its own thoughts about the world. At first this detachment is vague but grows as one’s awareness of Truth grows. This first experience of observing helps a mind to gain an awareness that the ego’s (personal thought system’s) thoughts are not the mind. Since the mind can observe them, the mind cannot be them. This practice results in the first two experiences described above. It is done by mind as a “decision maker” or “learner”. This is when it still makes sense to mind that it has a choice between Truth and illusion. Mind seems to be making a choice, or a decision, to detach from the thought system (ego) about a self. Mind is becoming aware, very dimly at first but stronger as time goes on, that the self and its world is not reality.


Beyond the decision maker or learner-mind is Mind Itself. Mind Itself observes it all: the ego, the world, the decision maker, the mind’s growing awareness of Truth. The Observing Mind is always present. It is not something that a mind practices; It is something that a mind allows. This leads to the latter experience described above.

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Learn about the books The ACIM Mentor Articles, The Plain Language A Course in Miracles, 4 Habits for Inner Peace, and Releasing Guilt for Inner Peace at www.acimmentor.com. 

Comments

Anonymous said…
"Forgiveness must be practiced for the world cannot perceive its meaning nor provide a guide to teach you its beneficence. There is no thought in all the world that leads to any understanding of the laws it (forgiveness) follows nor the Thought that it reflects. It (forgiveness) is as alien to the world as is your own reality. And yet it joins your mind with the reality in you. Today we 'practice' true forgiveness that the time of joining be no more delayed. For we would meet with our reality in freedom and in peace. Our 'practicing' becomes the footsteps lighting up the way for all our brothers who will follow us to the reality we share with them." Lesson 134
Anonymous said…
It is only my experience but when you begin to take practice seriously the gaps between being in the holy instant decrease.
suzanneberry said…
I feel I'm becoming aware, at last, of the difference between form and content. I'm taking what causes fear to rise and looking past the form of the fear to the content—which is always only the fear of Love's Presence and the fear of that particular form is lessening. This post is exactly what I needed to read today...but why am I surprised? I am so gently being led, whenever I allow it. Thank you.
Frank C said…
Sometimes I think that I'm sad because the party is over, but then I realize that I'm actually upset because I'm no longer able to pretend that there ever was a party, a house or a world separate from me... and then I finally rejoice in allowing myself to let go of that illusion so that I may embrace the Truth...

I'd rather be happy than right!
Unknown said…
"The human footsteps leading to perfection are indispensable" A quote by Mary Baker Eddy from her text book Science & Health.
Aleta said…
Frank C -- I have that very same experience!

Liz - thanks for this inspiring post. I love how you explain the thought system of the Course. I often pull out my print-outs of your essays from your blog - The Theology of ACIM Simplified, and Understanding "One Mind," because even though I've been studying and applying the Course since 2007, sometimes it is helpful for me to have a clear explanation of what is going on (or NOT going on!).
Unknown said…
"The human footsteps", is this another way of saying; the practice of forgiveness leading to God is indispensable ? Both Helen and Mary called themselves "scribes" of the messages they brought, but whereas Mary form a cult (CS)around herself,Helen shrunk back and got out of the way.Helen was the means and the content (ACIM) was able to thrive,thank God.IMHO.
Christine said…
Actually, Mary Baker Eddy did not want to "start her own religion", and all that that entailed. It was more of a "suffer it be so now" type of thing. She had to have had a "strong personality" to have lead and to have been such a dedicated and clear thinker - humble in her listening to God/the Holy Spirit, etc. She was not expressing the ego of the personal mind, but rather she was an unwaivering extension of Mind. You gotta remember mid 19th century - oh my, women couldn't even vote! It's a wonder she got anything done - and she was a huge publisher, too.
Just facts - I'm not jumpin' on ya, George!
Unknown said…
Thanks,Christine,I agree with you entirely.Reading Peel's biography of MBE lead me to her,and I will never let her go !For me ACIM is a continuation of S&H.How blessed we are to have such women as Helen and Mary.
Christine said…
And now Liz!
carolynshawgo said…
I am noticing that as I am becoming more aware, I am less identified with drama. My granddaughter is ill and it is a recurring illness and the last time she had it, I was devastated because I was so identified with the world. It isn't as if I don't care this time it just that I have a sense that all is well and I don't identify with her illness. It is a very pleasant detachment..I feel as if everyone is doing the best they can with what they believe.

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