4th Grace: The Grace of Enlightenment
The Grace of Introspection

Biblical Inspiration: 4th Commandment
Remember the Sabbath Day and Keep It Holy

Gratitude Statement

I am grateful for the Grace of Enlightenment (Gift of Introspection) through which my human persona, injected by my Soul’s insatiable yearning for Spiritual Growth, is guided to adopt Right Principles and achieve Right Conduct, and periodically check my progress thereto.

Inspirational Message

In Genesis, at the end of each day God reviews his work effort. Of course, He always concludes that ‘it was good.’ Why wouldn’t it be? God is Perfect. So why the contradiction? Answer: The biblical inclusion is a metaphor teaching us that we need to check our work on a periodic basis to make sure ‘it is good.’

Now, we all know that our work will never be perfect. After all, we humans are not infallible. We make mistakes. To think otherwise is the height of arrogance. We can assume that at any moment, in any decision, on any day, in any week – we will make mistakes. This means we will predictably fall short of maintaining Right Principles or engaging in Right Conduct. We will blunder. This is the curse, and blessing, of being human.

The Latin word ‘sabattum’ comes from the Hebrew word, ‘shabbat,’ which is often mistakenly translated to mean ‘rest.’ But the word ‘Shabbat’ is actually a compound word, comprised of ‘Shav,’ which means to sit, and ‘ba-eit’ which means house. Not this surely comes close to the idea resting on the seventh day of each week, hanging out at home with family and friends.

But this would miss the greater instruction. The word ‘shav’ also means ‘to dwell.’ And what if ‘ba-eit’ is not ‘house,’ but ‘home?’ Then we are called on, weekly, to dwell in our home. A subtle difference, to be sure. But if our true home is Everly, then during our short vacation in TempTerra we can travel there in our mind. ‘In my mind I’m going to Carolina…’ Sorry I love James Taylor.

So, if you meditate, if you transport yourself to that space where the music of Everly vibrates every cell of your body, then you will have the appropriate perspective for self-examination. And that – self-critique – is the true meaning of Shabbat, of Sabbath.

Now, when we conduct this self-inspection, we can be certain to find that we fell short of Perfection. For that is what it means to be human. And upon this realization, Right Principles and Right Conduct mandate two actions from us.

First, we consider whether we have wrong anyone by our Attitudes and Conduct. If we have, then the first order of business is to make amends. We must genuinely regret what we have done, and make every effort not to do so again.

Second, seeing that we lacked the ability to fight off all temptations, we ask God to give us the strength and wisdom to do better in the following week.

It is critical that you understand how the Spiritual Heart works, for without that awareness you can never succeed in strengthening your Principles or Conduct. In a nutshell, the Spiritual Heart performs two interdependent functions. First, it receives and weighs the competing influences of Mind and Soul. Second, it converts that measure into emotions which in turn provoke physical activity.

Know this about the Mind! Its influence is entirely of the physical realm, as discerned through the five senses. Its Influence is entirely materialistic. Most significant, the Mind only spawns counter-productive Influences. All of our negative or counter-productive instincts emanate from the Mind.

Know this about the Soul: Its influence is entirely of the spiritual realm, derived directly from God and based on Infinite Wisdom. Most significant, the Soul can only yield productive Influences. All of our positive instincts emanate from the Soul.

A biblical passage, holy to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, refers to giving love ‘with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy might, and with all thy mind.’ The word Might is a euphemism for every materialistic manifestation here in TempTerra. Among other things, it refers to power, strength, wealth, social standing, political status, economic class, and so forth.

All human actions fall under Might. Might is thus motivated by Heart. And the emotions that Spiritual Heart emits reflect the balance of two competing Influences, Mind and Soul.

The Real You instinctively knows that Love is best expressed through Right Principles and Right Conduct. Weekly, we would be well served, in both TempTerra and in Everly, to examine our performance and correct ourselves accordingly.

4th Grace Belief Statements

Spiritual Heart: I believe that the personality I display in TempTerra results from the mechanics and operations of my Spiritual Heart, which draws insights from the Mortal Mind and the Spiritual Soul and then animates my Physical Conduct.
Biblical Heart: I believe that ‘Heart,’ as referenced in the Bible, refers to a Spiritual Heart that is responsible for determining the purpose and passion of each and every one of our Words and Actions, and that accurately reflects our Personality’s biases and inclinations.
Biblical Might: I believe that ‘Might,’ as referenced in the Bible, refers to the material manifestation of our Personality’s Inclinations, as motivated by our Spiritual Heart.
Biblical Mind: I believe that ‘Mind,’ as referenced in the Bible, represents conclusions reached through mental Reasoning applied to observations and interpretations of Physical Phenomena made at a Conscious level.
Sensory Phenomena: I believe that Mind’s predominant informational source for decision-making is feedback from the five senses as they encounter Physical Phenomena affecting them.
Human Perceptions Inherently Flawed: I believe that our five senses are extremely
limited sensors. Therefore, perceptions made with our best Consciousness are
necessarily incomplete, superficial, and thus necessarily flawed.
Predisposed to Senses: I believe that the natural tendency of the human Mind is to base its decisions mainly on Conscious awareness of Physical Phenomena. Yet the Mind can receive insights from the Soul if the Mind is sufficiently silent and receptive.
Biblical Soul: I believe that ‘Soul,’ as referenced in the Bible, refers to Divine inspiration and guidance provided predominantly through the voice of one’s Conscience.
Right Principles and Right Conduct: I believe that the Ten Graces for Spiritual
Growth were sanctioned by ALL to offer a comprehensive guide to Right Principles and Right Conduct which, if dutifully followed, yields the greatest range of opportunities to Spread Love.
Conscience, Voice of Soul: I believe that one’s Conscience is the voice of the Soul striving to calibrate the Spiritual Heart’s trajectory toward Right Principles and Right Conduct. Therefore, one is well-advised to heed pangs of the Heart rising from a nagging Conscience.
Mind-Soul Tension: I believe that Mind and Soul are in constant tension, this tug-of-war being perhaps the ultimate manifestation of Temptation. Therefore, if we conscientiously listen for our Soul’s voice and heed its advice, we will be led to Spread Love with every choice.
Spiritual Equilibrium: I believe that Spiritual Equilibrium – when Mind and Soul are in balance – is the healthiest precondition for all human endeavors, whether individual or societal.
Temptation: I believe that the intended effect of each Temptation instance is to throw our Spiritual Personality off balance. Such Temptations typically appear as negative emotions.
Seeking Perfection: I believe that ALL built it into the DNA of all humans to seek perfection. This may explain our universal interest in sports, competition, education, science, fine arts, curiosity, puzzles, games, mysteries, etc. We wish to continuously challenge ourselves.
Impulse to Self-Improve: I believe that the starting point for Spiritual Growth’s pursuit is an unequivocal impulse to better one’s self. Therefore, we would be wise to follow our Spiritual Aspirations at every opportunity.
Gift of Introspection: I believe that ALL graced humans, unlike any other creatures of Creation, with the gift of Introspection, the ability to examine one’s own thoughts and feelings. This is a crucial prerequisite to one’s achievement of Spiritual Growth.
Meditation: I believe that Meditation is a powerful way to reflect on our performance to date. To super-charge the experience, I invite my Soul to offer its honest critique.
Contrition: I believe that Meditation reaches no useful end without me being contrite as to any personal performance that may have fallen short of Right Principles or Right Conduct.
Seek Forgiveness: To be contrite, I must feel sorrow and remorse for improper or objectionable behavior, and seek forgiveness from those so impacted by my indiscretions.
Meditative Prayer: I believe in the potency of Meditative Prayer, a broadly structured approach to asking Universe for spiritual shepherding as we navigate the minefields of TempTerra’s challenges. The structured approach involves Recognition of ALL, Reaffirmation of Unity, Request for Guidance, Gratitude for Assistance, and Release of Concern.