Be In The World, Not Of The World

To effectively neutralize the effects of Duality's ever-moving pendulum of Opposites, it helps if one works to develop an attitude of intelligent detachment. We're not asked to be cruel or un-caring, we are asked to recognize the origins of what the physical realms present to us from one moment to the next. We are then advised to not allow these presentments to grab hold of us mentally or emotionally and wring an impulsive reaction out of us.

Again, one is not being advised to become a robot, or to not have empathy, compassion for others, etc. One is being advised to act intelligently to life stimuli, instead of blindly re-acting to situations out of ignorance. Things happen (for the better) when one can adopt such an attitude while on the physical plane.

The following from "Serving Humanity" by Alice Bailey.

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Detachment

You must develop the attentiveness of the One who looks on at life and at the life struggle of others. It is necessary for you to learn that when you can avoid identifying yourself so closely with people, refraining from suffering so consciously with them, you can be of greater service to them, and a finer friend and helper. Therefore, for you, detachment is an outstanding requirement and a quality to be cultivated.

This is not the detachment of of self-protection or of self-immunization or of aloofness, but that soul detachment which works from soul levels and -- seeing all life in the Light which streams from the soul -- regards everything from the standpoint of Eternity. You must see people truly, and as they are -- with their faults and their virtues, their divinity and their humanity.

You ought to acquire that inner, divine detachment which sees life in its true perspective. A man is thus left free and untouched by aught that may occur. The ideal attitude for you is that of the Onlooker who is in no way identified with aught that may happen on the physical and emotional planes, and whose mind is a limpid Reflector of Truth. This truth is intuitively perceived , because there are no violent mental reactions or emotional states of response.

Work with detachment and, because you are demanding nothing for the separated self, all things will therefore come to you.

The Middle Way

Your personality attachments must develop into a deeper attachment to the souls within the forms. Thus understanding grows. There is a vice of detachment as well as a vice of attachment, and the true Servant of the Plan seeks the middle way.

Divine Indifference

You must learn to view what is said or suggested by any group brother, with a complete and carefully developed "divine indifference". Note the use of the word "divine" for it holds the clue to the needed attitude. It is a different thing to the indifference of not caring, or the indifference of a psychologically developed "way of escape" from that which is not pleasant; nor is it the indifference of superiority.

It is the indifference which accepts all that is offered, uses what is serviceable, learns what can be learnt, but is not held back by personality reactions. It is the normal attitude of the soul to the not-self. It is the negation of prejudice, of all narrow preconceived ideas, of all personality tradition, influence or background. It is the process of detachment from "the world, the flesh and the devil".

What is indifference? I wonder...if you understand the significance of this word "indifference"? It means, in reality, the achieving of a neutral attitude to that which is regarded as the Not-self. It is active repudiation without any concentration upon that which is repudiated.

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Remember to "Be In the World, Yet Not of The World".

~~ g