i think it's just a way of setting the cause-reaction principle in the right sight.
the bible tells "in the beginning there was the word"
i'd say "in the beginning there was perception (or imagination)"
the cause is always an idea. the reaction is the act of the body.
when you keep that in your mind, you'll see everything in the world as ideas. even death is the idea of not existing. so the counterpart of death, your perception of life (your body) also has to be just an idea that is mirroring your soul.
sadly most people in the world are always reacting to their circumstances and go through life like lifeless zombies who are hunting the meat. lol
if you want to undestand what it means to be free from circumstances, i highly recommend to read the ephesians letter of paul while keeping in mind that he wrote these lines in jail.