I quite enjoy one of Mahler’s songs, set to a poem by Friedrich Rückert, “Ich bin von die Welt abhanden gekommen,” or “I am lost to the world.” The piece begins with a beautiful and haunting English horn solo against a background of woodwind and harp, followed by strings. 

Lost to the world – an inner meaning

“Lost to the world.” What does “the world” mean? When we look at sacred literature, we often see references to leaving the world, or dying to the world. One of the most important lessons I have learned about this literature is to always look for the inner meaning. What would it mean when applied to my internal world?

Whenever you hear about the communion of bridegroom and bride, about dancing, music and feasting, do not take these things in a material or worldly manner, for the things they denote are spiritual and inexpressible. 
– Philokalia, Symeon Metaphrastis

In my internal life, everything that distracts me from my wish to be present must be “the world.” The world is the many I’s, the constant flow of input from the four centers. While these perceptions are very real on their level, spiritually, they often distract and dull the desire to be present. What is not “the world” are my efforts to be present, and the various thoughts and emotions that serve to support this effort.

Separating the real and the false

However, it is not enough just to know this. To leave the world, we must begin a process of separating the more real and the less real in ourselves. 

Essence is the truth in man; personality is the false. A man’s real I, his individuality, can grow only from his essence. – Gurdjieff

The world represents ‘personality’ in man. It is the result of all the impressions that enter a person throughout a lifetime. To begin to move away from the world, a man must first return to his essence, as he or she was as an infant, but this time with self-awareness. Essence has a natural relationship to whatever is in the present moment. Yet this relationship is clouded over by the many I’s of personality. 

Turning away from the world

Sin for man is a turning away from the most worthy Creator and a turning toward the inferior things He has created. – St. Augustine

This running is nothing else than a turning away from all creatures and being united to the Uncreated. – St. Dionysius, quoted by Meister Eckhart

Here, from two credible sources, we see the idea of turning away from created things, or, literally, creatures, to the Creator—”the Uncreated”—as Meister Eckhart says. In order to turn, we must have a point on which to turn, an axis. This is our essence being present to the moment. Once we are in this more real world, we are able to turn. We can leave the world of the many ‘I’s, and enter the world of the divine. Suddenly, we stand in a new relationship to everything around us, intimately connected to other people, to the words in a book, or to the world of nature. And behind all these, to the divine that created them. 

Mahler’s lyrics

I am lost to the world
with which I used to spoil so much time.
It has heard nothing from me for so long –
it may well believe that I have died.

Lost to the world means lost to the world of personality, no longer distracted by the calling of the ten thousand I’s. If we become identified with the I’s, then we give them importance and lose our presence. 

And I am not interested at all
whether it believes me to be dead.
And I certainly cannot deny it,
for I am really dead to the world.

Dead to the world means that we have turned away from it to the divine inside and outside of ourselves, through essence presence.

I have died to the world’s turmoil
and I am resting in a quiet realm.

The turmoil of the world is nothing external; instead, it is the constant calling of the many ‘I’s. The quiet realm is essence, connected to the present moment. 

I live alone in my heaven,
in my loving, in my song.

When we are in this heaven of presence, this state of loving, this wordless song of existence, we are (contrary to the lyrics) in no way alone, but intimately connected to the highest.

David Tuttle, with over forty years in the work, has contributed various article for the Fourth Way Today include The Uncarved Block, An Apollo Walk and The Cascade Fire.