Q: What true value can be derived from worldly life?
A: The world can be seen as an optimal stimulus of inner growth as it is merely a projection of the ego in overt dramatic expression. It is best to learn from it rather than to be seduced by its illusions or entrapped by them via identification or attachment. The worldly panorama reflects the entire scale of the levels of consciousness in their most overt display. The panorama is like a school of discernment where the extremes serve to reveal the essence that underlies appearance. All seeming events present learning opportunities.
Q: How then should one best relate to the world?
A: To be “in” it but not “of” it. The world is a means and not an end.
The Map of Consciousness Explained: pg. 130-131