Today I want to introduce a tool that I’ll be using frequently on the Practical Mysticism YouTube channel and website. The tool is simply the symbol of a triangle. Now this triangle is a metaphor for the split mind or the divided mind as spoken about in both A Course in Miracles, and in The Infinite Way. In today’s discussion, we’ll touch on just the basics of the triangle metaphor and how it applies to the teachings. In future talks we’ll go into more detail, and then also discuss how the triangle metaphor can be applied to mystical practice.
So let’s start with the basic triangle diagram:
Once again, this triangle represents the split or divided mind. In our present condition, ie asleep and dreaming of a world of separation, our mind seems to be divided into two parts which could be roughly classified as Truth and illusion, or Truth and falsehood. Generally put, the top of the triangle represents Truth, and the bottom represents falsehood. The single apex at the top of the triangle represents unified awareness or unity consciousness, and the two angles at the bottom of the triangle represent the consciousness of duality and the false universe. In this metaphor, we’re dividing the top of the triangle from the bottom as indicated by the dotted horizontal line in the image above.
Generally speaking, the perspective at the top of the triangle is “spiritual vision.” Spiritual vision has nothing to do with the body’s eyes but is more of a perspective, an interpretation, an apprehension, or an attitude. It is an attitude of knowing and trusting in an invisible Spiritual Reality of Oneness despite any seemingly contrary evidence provided by the five senses. In addition to knowing and trusting in an ever-present, complete Spiritual Reality, the top-of-the-triangle perspective sees, or understands, that what appears to be an objectively existing universe of matter is an unreal mental universe of images; a false universe of five sense impressions. Furthermore, this false sense universe is seen as one tapestry of illusion. In other words, top-of-the-triangle perception unifies the world of images as one illusion. Hierarchies among the illusory images are not acknowledged.
Top-of-the-triangle perception understands the true relationship of cause and effect. This perspective understands that mind is causative and the world of images is the effect. Strictly speaking, cause and effect are not separate, but speaking of them as if they are can be a helpful way of applying the underlying principle. So, the mystical practice is to work at the causal level, which generally entails being aware of the contents of the mind, and of which perspective one is operating from, and then choosing, if necessary, to drop the beliefs associated with falsehood and rise to the consciousness of Truth.
The triangle apex also symbolizes Eternity, or the closest approximation of Eternity to be found in the dream which could be called the Present Moment, or the Now. The state of mind represented by the top of the triangle is characterized by consistent peace, joy, inspiration, gratitude, and generosity.
The bottom of the triangle represents the erroneous beliefs and perceptions we have when the mind is asleep in the dream of separation. Firstly, the bottom-of-the-triangle perspective erroneously proclaims that I am a separate, objectively existing human being in a great big, objectively existing universe of matter. I am a person and everything in the world is outside of me, and exists apart from me. Furthermore, I am separated from my Creator or Source. This perspective sees and believes in multiplicity, division, and solidity. The bottom-of-the-triangle perception is five sense perception, and the mind that dwells in this state of consciousness believes in the evidence reported by the five senses. Not only does the mind believe the evidence of the senses, but this evidence then informs the subsequent feelings, decisions, and behaviors. At the bottom of the triangle, the mind always seeks outside itself; for safety, for supply, for love, for everything. There is a fundamental misunderstanding of the true nature of cause and effect, and the bottom-of-the-triangle consciousness always attempts to manipulate, change or improve the world of effects.
The triangle bottom is a state of mind enslaved to the belief in linear time. A lot of emphasis is put on the past and the future, and especially on trying to control future outcomes by manipulating effects. The state of mind represented by the bottom of the triangle is plagued by fear, doubt, unhappiness, reactivity, and upset.
Gratefully, we have a choice as to which state of consciousness we will adhere to, and the exercising of this choice is one of the foundational practices on the mystical path. We’ll talk more about the practice of making this choice in subsequent posts, and we’ll discuss in further detail the perspectives at both the top and bottom of the triangle as well as how they fit in with the specific terminology and teachings of The Infinite Way and A Course in Miracles. Thank you so much.
The audio presentation of this blog post, with images and diagrams, can be found on YouTube:
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