{Detachment}[13th August 1982]

[Redbook2:245-246][19820813:1945f]{Detachment}[13^th August 1982]

19820813.1945

[continued]

Perhaps it would be more* practical to see the distinction in the motive for acting on another: is one's interest in the other for his own sake, or for one's own? This, of course, has nothing to do with what one believes to be the case: in fact, the satisfaction of one's own prejudices about what is good for others may have the same effect as the exploitation of others for one's own direct satisfaction. A certain detachment must be cultivated, therefore, in one's observations of (and dealings with) others. Without this degree of detachment, whatever one's belief, the exercise of influence will become an exercise of Will; with this detachment, it may give rise in others to the ability to benefit from their own Inner Guidance.

'Detachment' sounds remote, but isn't; sounds like the antithesis of Love, but is not: seems so only because what we think of as Love is generally a self-centred desire. Far from being antithetical to it, true Love can only function where there is sufficient Detachment.

*[See last two entries before last previous entry.]

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