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Harmony Points of Reflection (16)
Spiritual Equilibrium’s Four Tendencies
The word “equilibrium” suggests balance. What kind of balance are we talking about?
Spiritual Equilibrium is the key to happiness in TempTerra. It all comes down to balancing the Four Contributors to Spiritual Equilibrium: Heart, Soul, Might, and Mind.
Holy scriptures have spoken of these for millennia. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam each reference these Four Contributors, urging us to weigh their Tendencies equally in all decisions, big or small.
Four Tendencies shape the interplay between our choices and emotions, steering our spiritual journey. Each Tendency acts as a counterbalance to the others.
Every Tendency holds equal potential for power and influence. When these Four Tendencies are out of balance, negative outcomes inevitably follow.
If I’m hearing you correctly, then whenever I find myself in a bad situation, I should check my Spiritual Balance.
Yes, and this applies not only to individuals but also to groups—and even entire countries. Take the United States right now, for example. It’s in serious trouble because it has fallen drastically out of Spiritual Balance!
I really want to understand this concept. Can we take some time to go over it?
Within every Garb-Soul bonding, two competing Psyches wrestle for influence over the Spiritual Heart. It is vital to understand the complex and overlapping implications of this struggle, which is by ALL’s design.
As we know, emotions are stirred and stewed within the Spiritual Heart, rising like steam to form the essence of life. Emotions, as the word implies, drive action and motion.
Didn’t you once say it’s like a contest between Ego and Self?
It is all part of the intricate jungle of temptations and distractions crafted by ALL. Egoism reflects self-interest, where choices are driven by personal gain. In contrast, Altruism embodies selflessness, where actions stem from concern for others.
The tension between these two forces shapes the moral and spiritual journey of every Garb.
Harmony Point #16: Spiritual Equilibrium
Let me ask you to explain why Garb reasoning is inherently unreliable.
In the context of this discussion, I guess? Let me think about it for a sec. Okay, here’s what I’m thinking: Humans focus on egoism because we can only know what our senses tell us.
Know?
Okay, you got me! We only trust what our senses tell us. Hmm… it’s like the same mistake when someone says they “tell it like it is.” In reality, they’re just “telling it like they see it.” Back to the senses.
Yes, Reasoning processes sensory data and shapes decisions. However, it is often limited by the quality of that input and the inherent biases in human thought.
Well, everyone thinks differently. That’s why, even with the same set of facts, people can come to completely different conclusions about the right or best course of action.
It goes deeper than just reasoning. Returning to the idea of trust versus knowledge—where do humans place their ultimate trust? Do they depend on sensory data, flawed as it may be, or on the deeper wisdom that the Soul offers?
Well, some people trust in God. Others trust themselves. Still others put their trust in other people.
What if I disagreed? What if I argued that trust in God is merely a product of the Mind, shaped by reasoning and contemplation? Think about that before you respond.
I suppose you’re right. Even the idea of God is something we have to think through first and then decide how much, if at all, we wanna embrace. I guess that choice comes down to reasoning right from the start. But I’m kinda losing where you’re going with this.
Humans, by ALL’s design, instinctively place their trust in what they can observe, above everything else. This is what makes trusting something as intangible as the Infinite Source, ALL, so difficult to comprehend.
And to wrap your head around – literally! One’s head… as in, the Mind. But the Soul? It has no problem accepting the truth of ALL’s omniscient presence.
Good. Now think about the logical extension of where one places their faith, their trust. Where one chooses to place that trust directly shapes their choices and actions.
If trust is rooted in the tangible—what the senses pick up—then decisions are guided by the physical world. But if trust is placed in something beyond the visible, like ALL, then choices are more in line with a higher, spiritual purpose.
It is the ultimate contest between Egoism and Altruism.
I see that now. Altruism is defined as “unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others.” It also mentions “behavior that might not benefit or could even harm oneself, but helps others.”
Does that sound familiar? Like something we have discussed before?
Oh! I think you’re talking about God’s Love Energy, right? That God is Pure Energy, and this Energy is expressed as Love. And God needs to expand that Love, to make it blossom eternal. To just Be! Right? And that’s why God created Souls—to have others to shower His Love on. And Souls are hoping like crazy that Garbs will practice Agape Love? Am I close?
Yes, you are seeing it clearly now. In TempTerra, Altruism represents the highest expression of ALL’s Love, manifested through the actions of the human host, the Garb.
Altruism and Egoism are polar opposites—one embodies selflessness and divine love, while the other focuses on self-interest and personal gain.
And that’s just another way that Mind and Soul pull in opposite directions on the Spiritual Heart. I totally get it now!
If I were to suggest that the Mind’s perspective constructs a Compiled Reality, while the Soul’s view reflects an Absolute Reality, would you agree?
Absolutely. For us humans, reality is pretty much what we make of it. Maybe that’s why we describe people with extreme mental challenges as “out of touch with reality.”
But when I think about everything we’ve discussed, even the most mentally compromised person still has a Soul. And that Soul is just as divine, authentic, and legit as anyone else’s.
More to the point, the Soul, even when constrained by the limits of a fragile brain, remains just as powerful as any other Soul.
Because all Souls are connected to God’s Power. And this Power is a limitless Love Energy.
That means even someone with cognitive disabilities can still embody and express the highest levels of Love.
That’s right! Last night, I saw a human interest story on the Evening News about the Special Olympics. The frontrunner was just a few yards from the finish line when he stopped, turned around, and ran back to help the second-place runner who had fallen.
Altruism… alive and well, not at all diminished by a feeble Mind. Can you guess why?
Easy! It’s because Altruism comes from the Soul, while Egoism comes from the Mind.
Let us explore another contrast between Garbs and Souls. How might their views on charity differ? Take a moment to reflect on that.
I’m not sure what you’re getting at. Can you help me out? Maybe ask a more specific question?
How would an egoist feel about charity, about the well-being of someone else? Likely, they’d see it through the lens of self-interest, perhaps questioning what they stand to gain or how it serves their own needs.
Well, an egoist acts like the sun in their own little universe. They expect everything and everyone to orbit around them! Everything they encounter in life is judged in terms of how it benefits them.
An interesting choice of wording, “terms,” indeed. It suggests that even acts of charity might be seen as conditional, bound by what terms and conditions most benefit the egoist.
Are you saying humans are naturally transactional? That they view every interaction with others in terms of what’s in it for them?
Do they think there is enough to go around? Likely not. An egoist tends to view resources as limited, fostering a mindset of scarcity and competition rather than abundance and sharing.
Enough of what?
Does it matter?
Okay, I get what you’re saying. Regardless of what the resource is, humans tend to think there are limits on how much of it exists. Whether it’s true or not, that’s how they see it.
Do humans not say that “perception is reality?”
And they worry that if they give to others, there won’t be enough left for themselves.
How does this attitude shape their actions? It drives them to act out of self-preservation, making choices based on their limited perception of scarcity, often leading to competition and hoarding rather than generosity and cooperation.
They’re stingy. They hoard. Never satisfied with what they’ve got. Always wanting more. They live in constant fear of having less someday. They dread the rainy day.
Yes, we could say they operate with an Attitude of Poverty, even if, in reality, they are extremely wealthy. Their perception of scarcity keeps them focused on what they lack, rather than what they have.
Yes! I can totally see how the Altruist operates from a completely different perspective—an Attitude of Prosperity.
Very good. I was about to offer that. Now that you have, explain why this is so.
Let me think. Okay—the Altruist views TempTerra through the Soul’s eyes. And the Soul knows it has access to God’s abundance, so it’ll never go without. Naturally, the Soul sees itself as incredibly wealthy and eternally prosperous.
To summarize, we can infer that one’s level of Faith—spiritual faith—regardless of religion, is deeply connected to their perspective on abundance versus scarcity.
Those with strong faith tend to trust in the abundance of the Universe or ALL, while those with weaker faith may operate from a place of fear, viewing life through an Attitude of Poverty. This faith shapes their choices, influencing how they interact with others and the world around them.
What jumps out at me is that if someone claims to believe in God—and that “it is our Father’s great pleasure to give us the Kingdom”—then…
Stop right there! Can you recite the entire verse, not just a portion? There is far more to appreciate in this citation than simply acknowledging that ALL desires everyone to be prosperous.
Let me look it up. I haven’t memorized the entire New Testament either. Okay—it’s from Luke 12:32. It says, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy.”
It continues, “Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.”
Can you see now why I had you fully read it ? Is Jesus not illustrating the logical extension of an Attitude of Prosperity?
I get it now. The main point is that we shouldn’t be obsessed with collecting earthly things that will eventually be destroyed, stolen, or worn out. And we shouldn’t be stressing about getting what we need while we’re here, either.
Let me tell you the Legend of the Magic Chalice. It is an old parable, shared with Humanity millennia ago. But like so many pieces of wisdom, it has been twisted and reworded over time. You might know it by a more familiar phrase: “a glass half-full or half-empty.”
Okay. So, please tell me the parable.
Once upon a time, there was a mystical potion, shimmering with an otherworldly light, swirling like liquid stardust in a crystal decanter. Its scent—a mix of exotic spices and sweet florals—instantly transported you to a moonlit garden in full bloom.
Each sip brought the potion to life, igniting the senses with a surge of energy. It wasn’t just a drink—it was an experience. A revitalizing elixir that restored both body and spirit, leaving behind a trail of magic.
Wow. I can just picture it.
Now, on the table, next to the pitcher sat a long-stemmed glass chalice – a Magical Chalice, to be exact. No matter how much elixir was poured in or taken out, the liquid would always settle at 50% of the chalice’s volume.
You mean it could never be more than half-empty or half-full? How does that even work?
If you were to try filling the glass to the top, the level wouldn’t budge. On the other hand, if you drank from it or spilled some, no matter how much was taken, it would magically refill right back to the 50% mark.
You said this was a parable. What is the moral of the story?
You tell me. In the context of what we discussed earlier.
Give me a minute to think. We were just talking about attitudes of Poverty and Prosperity, right? I guess the lesson is simple. We’ve got two choices when it comes to facing the slings and arrows of life.
Go on…
If we go through life led by our human Mind, we’ll adopt an Attitude of Poverty. Everything and everyone will be seen through a material lens, with the constant fear that our supply will run out.
No matter how much we have—even if it’s plenty—we’ll always crave more. No matter what we gain, the glass will always seem half-empty, driving us, like a madman, to chase after more.
To chase what is forever out of reach: the rest. No matter how hard we may pursue it, there will always be more just beyond our grasp.
Agreed! On the flip side, if we live life guided by our Soul’s unshakable confidence, we’ll naturally adopt an Attitude of Prosperity. We’ll understand that no matter how much we enjoy the richness God provides—even when we share it—there will always be more than enough.