Spirituality * Culture * Self-Expression

Month: May 2019

Do We Need to “Perfect” the Soul?

In mysticism, there is talk of the Source – the spiritual place from which all Light, Life and Love – all aspects of the universe – emanate. All things that exist, including humans with their notion of a soul, emerged from this primary facet of the world. Eventually all things will return to the Source. The human spirit, in the fullness of time, will also re-unite with Divine Spirit and become one with the Source. The reunion is an inevitable part of the process of Being and there is nothing that individuals really need to do to make it happen. Billions of ages might need to elapse before this reunion with Source is accomplished by all, but it will happen. And in that time humans as we are aware of them today will have long since moved on as a natural consequence of evolution. The Spirit, the Soul, the Divine aspect of Self, however, will continue to be recognizable. This is the piece of the Source that stays pure, despite being covered up with the mantel of materiality.

When someone stumbles upon the spiritual or mystic path, the tiny pure spot within develops a strong yearning and desire to connect again with Source. If this yearning is acknowledged it grows more intense. Then the new mystic will seek ways and means to cultivate this purer Self. It may require experimentation, trial and practice to find the tools and methods of cultivating the pure Self that is most appropriate for the individual. Sometimes the flowering of the soul is instantaneous. Meditation and contemplation seem to be common tools used by everyone on the Path. Other methods are also possible. Eventually, perhaps after many lifetimes, the pure Self within becomes strong enough to dominate the personality. As this continues, the mystic becomes less and less dependent on material things and more and more concerned with becoming one with God, the universe, the Source. At some point, the true Inner Self is able to emerge completely and exist as an individual personality without the need of a material body. This is considered a high level of spiritual perfection.

When we speak of the perfection of the soul, we mean that the soul – our true Inner Self – is strong enough to free itself from the bonds of the flesh and is then able to pursue a more direct path towards union with the Source. Eventually and without any effort, the souls of all beings will attain this perfected state through the long and natural process of evolution. The mystic, however, is eager to quicken this process and passionately strives to bring about the liberation and perfection of the soul as soon as possible. Is it necessary to perfect the soul? No. But to the mystic it is one of the few goals worth pursuing.

Ben Franklin’s 13 Virtues

Ben Franklin, one of the greatest minds in history and one of my personal favorite people, is known for achievements in a dozen fields of human endeavor. We know him as a scientist, inventor, humorist, entrepreneur, composer, diplomat, revolutionary, public servant, principal architect of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and so much more and, possibly, as the first self-improvement/personal development expert, too.

According to his Autobiography, when Franklin was 20 years old, he was returning to Philadelphia after spending some time in England. He decided to use the almost 3-month journey to develop a plan of conduct that would help him become a more virtuous and successful person. His plan consisted of working on integrating the 13 virtues listed below into his daily life.

Franklin’s plan was to commit to focusing on just one virtue per week, rather than trying to transform himself all at once. At the end of the 13th week, he would start all over again and continue cycling through the list four times a year. He followed this plan, as closely as possible, every week until his death at the age of 79. Working on these virtues gave him a sense of comfort and happiness and an effective guide through all the struggles to come for his entire life.

Ben Franklin’s 13 Virtues Chart

Franklin created a chart for each virtue and used it to track his progress. The first letter of each day was listed on the top of the chart and the first letter of each virtue was indicated down the left-hand side. Each day, He would add a dot to the appropriate spot on the chart if he felt he had fallen short of meeting that particular virtue. He was known to have carried these charts with him as a reminder of his personal plan of conduct.

These 13 virtues are no less relevant today than they were in Franklin’s time. Next to each virtue on the list is Franklin’s definition. Read through the list and maybe you’ll want to take a crack at this program, yourself.

1. Temperance (“Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.”)
2. Silence (“Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.”)
3. Order (“Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.”)
4. Resolution (“Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.”)
5. Frugality (“Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.”)
6. Industry (“Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.”)
7. Sincerity (“Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.”)
8. Justice (“Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.”)
9. Moderation (“Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.”)
10. Cleanliness (“Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.”)
11. Chastity (“Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.”)
12. Tranquility (“Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.”)
13. Humility (“Imitate Jesus and Socrates.”)

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