Separateness

Course II - Teaching 14: Separateness

Ineffable happiness is the achievement of the potential state, and pain is the achievement of the active state. In short, life manifests in its whole splendor through suffering. It overwhelms not only human beings with moral martyrdom, physical pain and hidden sorrow, but also pursues men in any form and way.

Course V - Teaching 5: Possessive Effectiveness of Renunciation

Renunciation is the only truth that a man can know because is the opposite attachment –which is falsehood and ignorance–, on which men establish their knowledge. To desire a permanent life and to believe that the world is a lasting good brings every misery, pain and evil to the world.

Course XIV - Teaching 13: Contemplation

Contemplation is the definitive step of the soul from Asceticism to Mysticism. It is called Secret Science of God and Divine Gift because at this point of spiritual development, the soul is directly enlightened by the Masters; that is why some believe and state that it is a gift, a grace of certain privileged souls, but not of all, and even the most advanced souls cannot intend to reach it.

Course XIV - Teaching 13: Mystical Death

Contemplation can be Shadowy or Illuminative. In fact, these divisions are arbitrary because these two states cannot be accurately determined. The soul becomes rather contemplative and remains absorbed by this holy exercise for a longer and longer time.