The Purpose & Focus of Our Task

We set tasks to create opportunities to observe the behaviour of the hellish proprium, and our identification with it. We are not working to change it or make it better; we are working to affirm what the Word teaches concerning it and its nature. It is our acceptance of what the Word teaches concerning the hellish proprium that weakens and breaks its power. Alternatively, when we are in states of denial regarding what truths teach concerning its nature, it holds power over us. To see it in the light of truths from the Word is also to see the mercy of the Lord. When we see evil for what it is, as destructive of all spiritual life, then we will seek the Lord’s help to be separated from it. Separating from evil involves seeing the evil for what it is.  The freeing is in the seeing.

The purpose and focus of our task is to support a change of mind, to become more conscious of how the inner and outer dimensions of life connect and are brought into proper and harmonious relationship, through the practice of the Word. The task helps to hold situations and circumstances of everyday life in the frame of our spiritual focus; where our mental and emotional states are illuminated, and may be examined; and where we are reminded of the Lord’s love for our salvation.

Through practice we recognise and experience that truths are true, and how they are true; and in this process the structures of our mind are reorganised – by the act of seeing itself. And this is not ordinary ‘seeing’ because a conscious awareness of the recognition of truth causes an engagement with that truth, and a desire to relate ourselves to it. This is possible through the practise of truths from the Word because an experience of recognition arises from the good of charity, which is present in those truths that we practise.  It is the way the Word as the Lord continually saves us.

Outer Life Conditions are Not the Focus

The change of mind also includes the direction of our focus. In Logopraxis we seek to maintain focus on the inner life of the mind with its thoughts and affections which, as they change, will also change our relationship to outer-life conditions – but changing those conditions themselves is not the focus. It is perhaps one of the most difficult things of all, to withdraw our attention from the external world with its events, circumstances, and people – and not see it as being the cause of how we feel internally. But from a Logopraxis perspective, external events and people are not held responsible for how we think and feel, but instead may be seen as triggers for emotional states in us that rely on hidden beliefs structures, that we have overlooked. The real cause of our responses is found in the quality of our mental life, which, through Logopraxis, is supported by the focus given to applying the truths from the Word to our life.

Proper Use of Outer Life Conditions

Outer life conditions can be used as reminders to bring attention to our task. For example:

• ‘When I am talking with others, I will remember to…’ (statement from your task goes here).
• ‘When I am running late and get in my car I will…..’ (statement from task).
• ‘When I feel angry, I will remember….’ (statement from task).

The inner and outer dimensions of life then come into a new relationship. This can be seen when we become aware of the quality of our inner responses as we look to meet outer-life demands; in our effort to work faithfully and sincerely in our dealings with others; and to operate with integrity so far as our external employments, relationships, situations, and circumstances are concerned. Logopraxis work is psychological work, and we’re called to work with the Word in a way that brings light to our inner mental life for purposes of self-examination.

Setting our Task Upfront as Opposed to Working from Hindsight

Working from hindsight is when we review what the week has brought us, and then use this to frame a task or connect with the Text. This can certainly aid in getting us started in drawing connections between the Text and seeing it illustrated in our life experience. However, there are real advantages in working consciously with a task so that we allow the Text to shape our life, in the sense of what we actually attend to in real time. One of the subtle differences you will notice in these two ways of engaging with the Text is that working from hindsight is much more passive. To work upfront with a task requires an effort – ‘as of self’ – that can open up possibilities for something higher to enter our consciousness when we remember our task in the present moment.

Perseverance

Step 3, of forming a Task, can take a couple of days, and if you’re stuck then certainly talk to your Life Group facilitator, as they will likely have been through a similar experience. What often happens when we look to implement a task is that all kinds of difficulties arise that seem to stand in the way of doing it, even to formulating the task itself. The presence of these difficulties and resistances gives us something to work with, and if we do that work from our understanding of the Text, then we are in the experience of the Lord building a new will within our growing understanding of truths. Without resistance there is no opportunity provided for self-compulsion and the building of a new will in spiritual matters. So, from a Logopraxis perspective, this freedom, found within the struggle to form a task, is the ability to compel oneself to work.

Summary

• We become more conscious of how the inner and outer worlds are connected, and separated, through the practise of the Word.
• The task helps to frame outer life experience within a spiritual focus.
• Outer life conditions are not the focus in LP, although the natural mind views external life as the cause of its internal states.
• Outer life conditions can be used as triggers to remember to bring attention to our task, which may lead to outer life being transformed into something that directly supports inner work.
• Changing our external life in order to change our emotional state is an inversion of reality.
• Work to become aware of how different it is to work from a predetermined task compared to creating a task in hindsight.
• The real cause of our responses is found in the quality of our mental life.
• Conscious work with a task from the Text in real time, not in hindsight.
• The effort to work ‘as of self’ can open possibilities for something higher to enter.
• There is value and meaning in the struggle and resistance that is brought up by the task. Without resistance there is no opportunity for self-compulsion and the building of a new will in spiritual matters.
• Freedom, found within the struggle to form a task, is the ability to compel ourselves to work.