Soul – our true being and guide
This is our true authentic self, rather than a made-up imaginati=
on of
who we are. It is not an idea about our self that we got from media, nor fr=
om
religion, and it is not merely an imitation of other people. Our soul is our
true authenticity, our true self; it is who we really are in essence. But we
cannot know this unless we are completely honest inside, and open to the
feeling and the knowing of who we really are. It is not enough to me=
rely
be told about what the soul is or about what our spiritual essence is. We n=
eed
to actually experience. On our own, we need to actually discover who are.
Our soul is our inner core nucleus. It ought to be as obvious as the su=
n is
to the earth. Our soul is our inner realness deep inside, our innermost
essence. This is what we can trust; because ultimately we must trust oursel=
ves.
Hopefully we have some people whom we can trust, but ultimately we have our=
own
self to trust... if we can. But there is much to be cautious about and even
sometimes self-critical about, regarding our personality patterns and habit=
s.
Yet there is one central part of our being that we can most sincerely trust,
which is our inner soul. Our soul is the divine truth in us, the divine lov=
e,
and the divine goodness. It is that within, which we know is truth, love and
goodness. But our soul is so often unrecognized, unacknowledged, and even
forgotten.
The soul can also be looked upon as a guide; meaning that our inner soul
can be our love-wisdom guide. We don't need anyone else, though of
course we can be helped by teachers and various spiritual teachings. This m=
eans
that we can look to our inner being, our inner soul, for true guidance in l=
ove
and wisdom. And as we succeed in this, we will gradually build greater trus=
t in
our own being.
Soul – our inner spiritual Potential
One very important understanding about the soul is that it is our in=
ner
spiritual potential. This is the simplest and most important understand=
ing.
Maybe one's soul has not yet been experienced directly. Maybe it has not yet
been discovered or realized. But then, try to understand that the soul is y=
our
inner spiritual potential. It is not yet realized and maybe not really being
expressed as yet; but understand that your soul is still within you - it is
within you as your divine potential. A potential is an inherent capacity, or
ability, or possibility, which has not yet been actualized or manifested. I=
t is
like a seed within the deep soil of oneself, which has yet to emerge, yet to
appear, yet to come forth. It is meant to come forth, but this requires
necessary water and other nutrients and also care; otherwise, it might not =
grow
at all but instead just remain as a hidden seed. The soul is meant to emerg=
e in
us, but there is no guarantee of this and in many people it is never realiz=
ed.
People have many ideas about the soul, about what it is or else about i=
f it
exists at all. But let us begin a simple inquiry, without a lot of metaphys=
ical
or theological ideas getting in the way. Make a self inquiry about whether =
or
not you have any inner spiritual potential. Reflect upon this question with
sincerity and honesty. Or look at a child you love, and ask inside if you
believe they have any inner spiritual potential. Even if you do not
particularly see this spiritual potential, do you believe that the child has
such potentials within them. If this is true, then this is the soul.
The soul is simply a word for our inner spiritual potential. That's wha=
t it
means. There are more complex aspects to what the soul is, how it develops =
and
how it carries on, but first we need to have a simple, essential understand=
ing
of the soul.
Most everyone, from the very religious to the very atheist, would proba=
bly
agree that a child has inner potentials and also that they, the person, have
inner potentials. We usually feel this is true about ourselves and also oth=
ers.
Of course though, we might not have so much faith that these inner potentia=
ls
will get actualized. Actualization is quite another story. We all have
potentials as yet actualized, but there is no guarantee in the
actualization.
Yet some people might question or be confused about the meaning of &quo= t;spiritual" in this understanding of soul. That is, what distinguishes spiritual potential from ordinary human potential? Spiritual potentials are extra-ordi= nary potentials, beyond what science would assume are physical potentials -- suc= h as learning a language, communication, climbing, making tools, building, and o= ther abilities we have that have been carried forward through human evolution. <= o:p>
However, spiritual potentials are those remarkable possible character
traits that appear to be almost unexplainable; such as a deep sense of love=
and
a caring for others, a sense of belonging with all of life, an inner urge to
harmonize and to be a good, helpful person, or an inner motivation to impro=
ve
the quality of our self and become a better person, or to work for justice =
and
fairness in the world. A more esoteric potential would be the potential for
realizing the Divine, or God. We have many spiritual potentials; these are =
just
a few them.
Soul Realized
So, we each have this spiritual potential, this soul. But in some peopl=
e it
is closer to being actually evident, while in others it is more deeply hidd=
en
and perhaps obscured.
Thus, we each have a spiritual soul, with spiritual potentials, =
but
this soul may not yet be realized by the person, nor expressed through him/=
her.
So in this case, we would say that they have a soul, but it is still=
in
latency, because they do not yet have any realization, consciousness=
, or
experience of it. As such, then, their soul is non-existent and unreal to t=
hem
- that is, it is non-existently unreal to their
present consciousness and understanding. Because if one does not have any
experience of their soul, and if the soul is not really expressing through =
the
person; then what really does the person have? They still have a
latent soul containing spiritual potential, but they don't have any
realization or expression of this, and therefore their soul non-existent in
their life.
One could then say that they don't really have a soul as yet. Some
spiritual teachings will speak in this way. But it's important to not
misunderstand what those teachings are really meaning. They don't mean that=
the
person is without a soul as potential; they simply mean that the person has=
no
soul, as yet, in their consciousness and in their life. It would be more cl=
ear
to say that this person has not yet realized their soul, or that their soul=
has
not yet actualized through them or has not yet developed in t=
hem.
Each soul is, in essence and at first, a potential and a
possibility. So we say the soul is, in essence, a potential. But the real
purpose and possibility of our soul is to become actualized through =
our
mind/feeling/body -- which we are calling the personality. This is the
Our soul wants to embody. It wants to manifest. It wants to be realized=
and
expressed in life. Of course though, this is who we really are; we are the =
soul
in essence and in truth. But this outward part of us, the personality,
usually gains the most attention and identification. This personality vehic=
le,
which we most often know as our self, is just one half of who we are in tot=
al.
Our other half is our soul - and yet the soul is most often unknown,
unrealized, and unexpressed in many people.
The very purpose and aim of the soul is to be actualized in life, which
means to be realized and expressed. So, the very purpose and aim of our life
should be to realize and express our inner soul - our inner spiritual
potentials.
Soul actualization
Now that we have some understanding of what the soul is, we can proceed
further. The soul begins as potential, which we can understand as the soul
essence, or in other words, the essence of what the soul is is =
potential.
Our inner spiritual potential, as soul, can also be understood as our spiri=
tual
seed -- with all of our potential spiritual qualities in it. But then this =
seed
of soul potential does not have to merely remain as potential. It can start=
to
develop and actualize. This development/actualization is like a baby develo=
ping
from its egg, or like a plant growing from its seed.
Our soul is first like a seed in us -- in the deeper structure of our
psyche. For many, this will remain as just a seed, because it has not
actualized in us. Yet the soul is meant to be developed and become actualiz=
ed
into what it can be. The soul is meant to develop into a manifested
soul-personality. The possibility is this. The soul seed can develop, by st=
ages,
into a full flowering tree. But this is its potential -- which may or may n=
ot
be actualized. Soul development, or actualization, requires sufficient
conditions. The soul has its own will-impulse to develop and actualize, but
this will depend on the personality and other conditions. Development of the
soul see requires the necessary nurturing conditions of good soil, sufficie=
nt
water and lots of light.
Good soil is the condition of the physical body and its physical
conditions. It is best that the physical body is healthy and vitally energe=
tic.
Water is the love and other good emotional energy we give to our self.
Notice that we can give love and good emotions to our own self, as well as
others giving good emotions to us; so it is not just about what we receive =
from
others. Our inner soul needs love, just as our outer personality needs love=
. So
give love to your inner soul. Give care and love. Treat the inner divine se=
ed
in yourself, or this inner divine child, with love and care.
Thirdly, the inner soul seed requires lots of light, which is the light=
of
our mind. We give light to our inner soul when we recognize the importance =
and
beauty of this deeper core in our self. And we give further light when we
understand more about our soul. Recognition and understanding are the main =
ways
to give light to our soul, and also to the soul of others.
Finally, it is necessary that the personality ego receive=
the
soul. The personality ego is the controlling manager or director in the
personality; it is the 'I will' of the personality. So this personality wil=
l,
which is who you are in most moments, needs to be receiving of the inner so=
ul.
You need to be in a receiving mode, in relation to your soul; that is, be o=
pen
to the soul and receive in recognition what the soul is, or who the soul is=
--
or in other words, who you really are. This is known as receiving and allow=
ing
the soul to flourish.
The soul needs to be allowed to come into blossom. The soul is
essentially like a seed, but it wishes to come forth and blossom. But to
blossom more fully in our consciousness and life, our soul needs recognition
and attention. Finally, it needs to be allowed to reveal itself.
Our soul is our innerness, our inner essence, which is spiritually good,
loving, caring, and wanting to manifest this spiritual essence. Our soul is
like a child within us; not a selfish or egotistical child, but a spiritual
child with pure heart and pure mind, made of pure love and pure light. So i=
n us
already is this spiritual purity, this inner love and light, this inner
beingness who really cares about life and others, and who really wants to
manifest the most goodness and beauty possible.
But this soul within us might still be very weak and not so powerful. In
fact, this is the usual state of the soul in most people. Not so powerful. =
Or
very often it is so weak and undeveloped that it is rarely even noticed. So=
the
soul within us is spiritually pure and full of love, but usually it is
undeveloped and weak. It is undeveloped because it has not been given enough
attention and love. It is weak because our outer personality and other soci=
al
power-houses are so dominating.
Our soul is so often hidden from our experience, because the forces of =
our
own outer personality and also of others around us are so dominating and
overpowering. Our inner soul is dominated and overpowered by the forces of =
our
practical mind, our reactive emotions, our social conflicts and practical
problems. Social drama and also personality patterns keep our consciousness=
so
occupied, that our inner soul is unnoticed, unrecognized.
Thus, psychologically, the soul is weak compared to the personality. But
the soul can grow. The soul can develop and become more real and powerful in
our life.
How can the soul develop? -- by our love and attention. By our recognit=
ion.
By our encouragement. By our receptivity. And by our allowing of the soul to
come forth, to speak forth and creatively manifest.
Notice the relational connection between soul and child. The children
around us are like souls in progress. So, how we can best relate with child=
ren
is much the same as how we can best relate with our soul, and help our soul
develop further.
Three important conditions for the soul's=
realization
and actualization in personal life:
First, soul development/actualization depends on the existential condit=
ions
of one's life - which includes physical and social conditions. For example,=
it
will be a difficult condition for the soul to develop, from potential to
actualization, if the person's physical environment is full of danger and
threat, or if the social environment is full of uncaring people or fighting=
. The
physical and social environment needs to be nurturing, with love and recogn=
ition;
rather than oppressive, threatening, or confusing. This is all the basis of=
any
psychological healthy development. <=
/span>
Next, soul development depends on the personal condition - which is the
condition of personal attitude and will. In other words, the person them se=
lf
plays an essential role in their own soul realization/actualization. This is
because there needs to be a favorable relationship, in the person, between the personality ego and the inner latent
soul. The inner soul of a person cannot emerge into wakeful consciousness, =
nor
actualize into expression, unless there is some degree of agreement and all=
owing
from the personal ego. Our ego is the normal everyday ‘director’=
; or
‘captain’, or that I-self which is normally in control of perso=
nal
decisions and actions.
From the personal ego there needs to be an attitude of wanting to disco=
ver
the soul within and also an attitude of allowing the soul to emerge. For it
could be a problematic obstacle if the person, or ego, is not at all caring
about their inner soul, or inner truth. Or even worse if the person is push=
ing
the soul away from emergence, in order to avoid the changes in life that may
come about with soul realization.
Then thirdly, soul development depends on higher help, which could come
from living teachers and healers, or from invisible angels, guides or maste=
rs.
This condition of higher help is necessary; yet this higher help will surely
come if the other conditions are welcoming. And sometimes even, there can be
higher help in spite of the other kinds of conditions being poor. As well, a
general help comes from an inherent force in the soul itself, which ultimat=
ely comes
from the Divine Being of God.
So in the development of the soul, there can be help from spiritual
teachers, or even from inner-world guides, but this is only possible if the
outer world distractions and 'worldly salesmen of modern society' do not do=
minate
the person's psyche. We each have access to guardian angels and inner
masters/guides, who wish to help our spiritual soul grow, but these must
inevitably compete with the forces of society, media, family and friends. F=
or
there are many forces vying for one's personal attention and, thus, many wa=
ys
to be sidetracked from possible spiritual help, either outer help or inner
help.
Soul realization and development also requires some extra effort, beyond
the ordinary 'go with the flow'. Realization of the soul requires
efforts of attention and meditation, as well as efforts to be truly honest =
and
authentic. Expression of the soul requires efforts of creative work and
perseverance.
So remember that real work is also required; real effort. Allowing is an
essential attitude, in relation to the soul emerging, but if we do not make
extra efforts as well, then it won't happen. This is because effort moves
energies; thus, effort is always needed in any spiritual or healing or
transformational success.
Also required is a two-fold attitude of allowing and denying.
We need to allow our inner soul to come forth and be expressed --
through our mind, emotions, and actions. Yet we also have to deny ou=
r personality-self
to fixate on things and on habits. Remember that the personality-self -- of
mind, emotions, and actions -- can be the beautiful expresser of the spirit=
ual
soul, but it can also be the habitual oppressor of the soul. So the conscio=
us
ego self, who we are as manager of self, has to allow the soul, but also ha=
s to
occasionally deny the habits and reactions of self.
Unfortunately though, there is no guarantee that our soul will be reali=
zed
or expressed. Our spiritual potential, our soul, may not ever get realized =
or
actualized, because of our personality fixations. Also, the world around us=
can
sidetrack our possible attention and recognition of our soul. So, both world
and our self can be diversions that prevent soul realization and expression=
.
Three aspects of the soul
... three developing parts of the soul: consciousness, will, and love.
These are the three aspects of soul; also known as the three kinds of
petals of the soul flower. Consciousness is the awakening of the soul; the =
soul
awakening from sleep; the soul potential becoming actually conscious. For at
first the soul is just a latent potential, a sleeping seed, a spiritual
possibility. Yet within the soul itself is the potential for being consciou=
s.
Once this happens, we can then say that the soul is awake or conscious.
But this soul consciousness is relative in its degree. In other words, =
the
power of consciousness is developing, which means that at first there is so=
me
degree of consciousness but not very much. So the degree of consciousness, =
in
the soul, will be a gradual development -- requiring time and energy.
Esoterically, it is understood that a soul will develop over many lifetimes,
known as soul progression or soul evolution. And one essential aspect of th=
is
development is consciousness -- which is the soul realizing and knowing its=
own
spiritual potentials -- that =
is, to
the degree of its developed consciousness.
The second aspect of soul in the process of development is will. This c=
an
also be understood as an inner drive or also as an inner power to achieve. =
This
will of the soul to achieve is not just an ordinary will to achieve. Many
people have a will to achieve, which comes from the ordinary human ego, but=
the
soul will to achieve is to do with spiritual achievement, spiritual
actualization, expression of spiritual potentials and qualities. It is the
spiritual will inside us, our creative spiritual will. It is our inner driv=
e or
urge to express our spiritual potentials. Though when this spiritual will is
combined with consciousness, it is experienced as a conscious, intentional =
will
to spiritually express and to manifest the highest, the best, the most
beautiful.
Next, the third aspect of soul is love. <small>And this should not imply that this is of third
importance, because all of the aspects are equally significant. </small&=
gt; This aspect of soul really includes all of the finest
spiritual virtues of our soul; but we summarize all of these into the word,
love. So we are using the word love in a very general and inclusive =
way.
Or we could also understand that all of the finest virtues of self derive f=
rom
the greatest quality of all, love. The love qualities include compassion,
caring, appreciation, cooperation, generosity, a sense of belonging, and ma=
ny
other qualities -- all within the potential or the essence of the soul. But=
if
love and all of these qualities only remain as potential, or remain in late=
ncy,
then the great Purpose of life has not yet been achieved.
One purpose of the soul is realization and the other is expression.
Realization requires the development of consciousness. Expression requires =
the
development of will. Love and all of the spiritual qualities within us need=
to
be realized and expressed. For unless our love is realized and expressed, it
remains in soul latency, or remains simply as soul potential.
Importantly, the love that is latent inside us will first need to be
realized. Realization has to come before expression. One has to realize lov=
e,
know love, before it can be expressed. And the same can be said for any oth=
er
spiritual quality. First realization, then expression; but both are signifi=
cantly
essential in the great Purpose of life.
Yet, the actual expression of soul is a step more difficult than
realization. It requires will as well as consciousness. But also, the
expression of soul will require cooperation and agreement in the personalit=
y-self.
For remember that the vehicle for soul expression is our own personal self =
--
which we are calling the three-fold personality (or 'person')=
of
thinking mind, feeling emotions, and physical body/activity. This is also
sometimes called the lower self; while the soul is the higher self.
Soul-developmen=
t
Preface about certain word uses and meanings:
So now, at this point in our study of the soul, we have to make a
distinction between two meanings of
soul development, and hopefully we can avoid semantic confusions.
In the discussions just presented above, and in some other chapters, the
word development is often used =
in
relation to the soul, as in “soul development,” or “devel=
oping
the soul.” This seems to be an appropriate, understandable use of the
term for that context of discussion. In other words, the use of such terms =
or
phrases makes sense in that kind of discussion -- discussing about how our
inner soul can develop in us, from an inner latent seed of potential to an
actualized and realized living reality. That is, our soul will hopefully &#=
8216;develop’ from latency to act=
ual
livingness in our whole self. To speak in this way makes perfect sense and =
is
understandable.
But there is another sense or meaning of the term, soul development, wh=
ich
we also need to use, but for a different context of discussion. This other
meaning of soul development per=
tains
to the soul in its own process of development, which will continue on
through many lifetimes. This is a whole subject in itself. Though it is very
related to the subject of soul realization and actualization in the personal
life, which has been previously discussed and which is a prerequisite knowi=
ng
before this next subject can be understood.
Thus, in these teachings about soul, the term ‘soul development’=
or
‘soul developing’ is
sometimes used in the context of the soul ‘developing in our personal=
ity
life’.
But it is also used in the context of the soul ‘developing in its=
own
right’ (and so having a slightly different meaning). In this context,=
we
might also us the term, ‘soul-building’, which would have an
equivalent meaning.
In the first context, respectfully, the term soul-personality develo=
pment
would be more to the point. But in the context of that discussion, this more
complex term would be cumbersome and also would lack a normal english
vernacular meaningfulness. Therefore, we only use this terminology in certa=
in
specific discussions.
For example, it can be said that soul-personality development is the development of an alignment and fusion between soul =
and
personality. This soul-personality development is crucial in our own lifeti=
me;
for without it, there cannot be any personal realization of the soul=
, no
mental realization, no personal experience of the soul or of being a soul.
Also, there could not be any conscious expression of the soul qualities, un=
less
the soul and personality vehicles are in alignment and in agreement.
Soul-development
Soul development is further explained in some other sections, but the i=
dea
is like this. Think of the soul essence as a foci of pure spiritual potenti=
al.
And think of it as a flower seed. Then, this soul essence begins to develop
into a soul flower with 12 petals, of which there are three kinds:
consciousness, will, and love petals. These also correspond to the three pr=
imary
colors. Then, as the soul develops, in all of these three ways, this
development (as the flower) carries on into other lifetimes.
But in each lifetime, this soul has to be re-discovered by the
personality-self. And remember that the personality-self, including the
personal ego, has to first develop in its own right, and then also has to
develop its own coherent unity, before it is able to be a mental, emotional=
and
physical vehicle for soul realization and expression. The re-discovery of o=
ne's
soul, then, becomes crucial, and it may not happen in a lifetime nor even in
many lifetimes, because this is dependent on personality circumstances or t=
he
circumstances of that person.
So if the life circumstances are unfavorable for soul discovery, or soul
realization, then it probably won't happen. But also, the personality has to
first become receptive and inquisitive in relation to the soul, and secondl=
y,
it has to come into a favorable cooperation with the soul. Then thirdly, it=
has
to come into alignment and agreement with the soul. All of this necessary to
achieve a true self-realization, or personal realization, of the soul, as w=
ell
as true expression. And this is the soul-personality development, or also k=
nown
as soul-personality fusion.
Then, when there is soul-personality fusion and alignment, the soul can
work through the personality self -- through the mental, emotional, =
and
physical aspects of oneself. This becomes our opportunity for conscious
realization of our soul, or what can be called soul-consciousness, a=
nd
also this is our soul's opportunity to be expressive through our thoughts,
feelings and actions.
Then additionally, in the more esoteric side of things, this
soul-personality fusion also becomes the soul's opportunity to develop furt=
her
-- that is, to develop its soul-petals... of consciousness, will, and love.=
In
other words, the soul itself is able to develop further - by the realization
and actualization of its inner essence of spiritual potential. In effect, o=
ur
soul is discovering evermore of its spiritual essence -- which is the essen=
ce
of God -- and this is the evolutionary process of the soul.
Yet a key understanding in this is that the soul's further development,
progression, and evolution depend on the energies and experiences attained =
in
actual lifetimes. In other words, it is the actual energies, experiences and
challenges found in physical life that are necessary for the further
development of our soul; that is, if the soul is even discovered.
Soul-personality fusion
So, once there is some degree of soul discovery and soul-realization, we
need to develop our soul-personality fusion -- which is aimed at bringing o=
ur
soul into a complete realization and expression through our three-fold
personality vehicles. This could be understood as building the soul in us --
building the soul into our personality. This will require certain qualities=
of
attitude, such as allowing and agreement. Yet we don't have to create the
soul's wisdom, beauty and love; for these are already in the soul. We simply
have to recognize, receive, allow and accept the beautiful qualities of our
inner soul.
At first, I as personal ego will be making a relationship with my inner
soul, and my attitude will be more receptive. But later, when this fusion h=
as
become truly successful, then I as soul will be making a relationship with =
my
personality, and the attitude will then be more active. The experience and =
the
relationship flips the other way, as it were.
So in the process of soul-personality fusion, these different experienc=
es
of relationship often flip back and forth. And this may be cause to confusi=
on
in certain discussions, if one person is speaking about the work to do from
their personality perspective, while another person is speaking about the w=
ork
to do from their soul perspective. The first person might be talking about =
the
need for receptivity and allowing, in relation to what is divine within; wh=
ile
the other person might be talking about the need for active creative
structuring, in relation to the personality vehicles. So meaning sometimes
depends on what part of the process one is in at the time.
Next, once there is sufficient fusion, and once we are consciously the =
soul
and working as a soul, then we embark on the path of conscious soul development, which is the soul building s=
oul,
or soul developing itself. Though a better term for this, from the soul
perspective, is soul unfoldment, because the so=
ul is
unfolding its own inner spiritual potentials. It isn't really developing
itself, as if creating itself; rather, it is continuously discovering its
spiritual potential - the Divine within it and then seeking to express this=
in
life and in the world. Nonetheless, we call this process a soul development,
because the soul is being developed, strengthened, and expanded.
So then, how does the soul develop?
It develops by light, love and creative struggle.
Remember first that the soul is made of the energies of consciousness, =
love
and will. So one energy of the soul is light, which is consciousness. The s=
oul
is made of light and thus requires greater light in order to develop,
strengthen, and expand. This light comes from consciousness. Therefore, the
first step to take is to bring consciousness to the soul, which is like lig=
ht
nourishing the flower of soul. Thus, the personal mind, our mind, needs to =
give
consciousness to the inner soul. This means to give to our soul a conscious
recognition and attention. Just as any child needs and often demands attent=
ion
and recognition, so too our soul child within needs attention and recogniti=
on.
This is how we can give consciousness/light to our soul, to help our soul f=
use
into us and to help further develop our soul.
... Ultimately, the best development for the soul and also the best way=
for
soul-fusion, is to be soul-conscious. This is different from being merely
ego-conscious. Ego-consciousness is somewhat ordinary for the average perso=
n.
It is to be conscious of one's self power of choice, or of what it is to be=
a
decision-maker. There is nothing at all negative about this ego-consciousne=
ss,
just as there is nothing wrong with having a power of choice or of being a =
decision-maker.
The ego is the part of our total self that chooses. Its two aspects are
consciousness and will. Ego is conscious of the world around it, to some
degree, and it has some degree of power to choose how to act in this world =
and
how to obtain some kind of success. All of this is quite ordinary; though s=
ome
egos certainly function better than others. Yet one limitation of the ego is
that it is self-centered and self-serving, unless it is infused with some of
the soul - which is world-centered, life-serving, and has the power of real
love.
Now at first, the spiritual work will be for the personal ego to decide=
dly
give consciousness to the inner soul. This will begin as recognition and
acknowledgement and also appreciation, and then it can become a fully atten=
tive
consciousness of the soul. Then, as the ego is giving consciousness to the
soul, by basically being aware of the soul, the soul is becoming nourished =
by
this consciousness, just as a tree or plant is nourished by the energy of
light. So, as the soul is nourished by this light, or nourished by the ego
giving consciousness to it; the soul's power of consciousness begins to gro=
w as
well. Then eventually, the soul gains enough consciousness that there is now
soul-consciousness in oneself. Or in other words, our soul is now conscious=
and
awake in us. This is the fusion.
The soul is also made of the various energy-qualities of love, so this =
is
also what the soul needs in order to develop and expand. Fundamentally, we =
can
help to build the soul in us, and also develop the soul itself, by the ener=
gies
of love. The soul is made of love, and thus our own love is from this very =
soul
that is in us. Every moment we are in the energy of love, or in the caring =
and
givingness of love, we are then strengthening our soul of love. The key her=
e is
that love builds upon love. Love reinforces and strengthens love. So any lo=
ve
and devotion and caring we give towards our inner soul is a great nourishme=
nt
for our soul, like a water of love nourishing our flower of soul.
Thus, our soul is nourished by the light of consciousness and the water=
of
love. In fact we are all nourished by light and love. At first, the ego must
give to the soul this light and this love. For at first, the soul is like a
fragile and shy child, and the ego has to be a nourish=
er
of this soul-child. But then gradually the soul is strengthened by the love=
and
light we give it, until eventually at some point the spiritual power of our
soul awakens so much that infuses into the personal vehicles of mind, emoti=
on
and physical activity. The main energy which often holds this back is the
self-centeredness and other compulsions of the ego.
So the very process going on here is a transformational dynamic between
soul and self-ego. The ego actually gains its love and consciousness from t=
he
spiritual soul; and then, as ego gives this love and consciousness back to
soul, the soul develops further by this nourishment. This is the interrelational dynamic between ego and soul; until
eventually, hopefully, they will be fused into one. Once there is real fusi=
on
and unity between ego and soul, then the experience is of one-self, I-being,
soul-self being conscious and loving in the world. And as this I-soul-self
becomes even more conscious in life and more loving, it develops and expands
further as a continuing soul being.
The third important way for the soul to develop is by intentional
struggle towards betterment or perfection. Within the soul is this w=
ill
towards being better, or towards a finer perfection (though there probably =
is
no absolute or final perfection). This can also be experienced as a will to
bring forth beauty, harmony, love, justice, or truth.
The soul is made of love, light, and will. The soul's will is its power=
to
create or to manifest the qualities of love, beauty and truth. This power, =
this
will and this motivation are within our soul.
Every step of will and intentional struggle towards these aims is also a
step further in soul-development. Here is an explanation. Within each soul =
are
the infinite divine potentials of God. The three primary potentials are intelligence, love, and the will-to-betterment=
.
These are the powers and motivations of the soul, but only to the extent th=
ey
are actualized. In the beginning the soul is essentially just these potenti=
als.
But the path of the soul is to realize and actualize these potentials. So a=
s a
soul, this is our path and purpose. Then, whatever is realized and actualiz=
ed
is carried on through physical lifetimes, as well as possibly unfolding fur=
ther
in any lifetime; and so this is the path of the soul. Thus, the realization=
and
actualization of divine potentials is the path and purpose of the so=
ul,
or what is also called the soul's unfoldment, o=
r its
development.
So then the next question is how this happens. How does the soul's pote=
ntial
unfold into actualization, which then develops and progresses the soul? First of all understand that it ha=
ppens
by practice and occurrence.
For example, intelligence is unfolded from its potential by the use<=
/i>
of intelligence, by the actual practice and occurrence of intelligence. For=
as
intelligence is practiced and used, it develops. This is how anything is
developed: by practice and use. So why would the soul be practicing and usi=
ng
its potential intelligence? For use in practical life, or for the purpose of
serving something needed. This is why the soul can only unfold and develop =
in
its physical lifetimes. It needs a physical and social world, in order to
unfold its potentials, because this is where the opportunities are, the
opportunities for practice and use. This is where the circumstances arise t=
hat
demand or need a greater unfoldment of our pote=
ntial
intelligence, and so these circumstances-of-need bring out from us what wou=
ld
otherwise remain as mere potential inside us.
Thus, the circumstances-of need give us a necessary opportunity to use =
and
practice our soul potential of intelligence, and so actualize the potential
within. The same can be said of love. Our soul has an infinite potential of
love, which is the divine love of/from God. But we need opportunities and
circumstances-of-need, in order for our inner potential of love to come for=
th
into actualization and expression. We need real circumstances and opportuni=
ties
to practice love. And by practice and expression of love, our love is furth=
er
unfolded and developed. So may we cherish all opportunities for love, and m=
ake
use of them; just as we might appreciate all opportunities for using/applyi=
ng
our inherent intelligence and so developing it further.
Circumstances-of-need also give us opportunities to actualize our soul
power of will. The essential power of will is to do things and get things d=
one.
The soul power of will is more specifically aimed at bettering, improving, =
and
perfecting our life and also the world/life around us. The will of the soul=
is
also called the will-to-good, which is an inner motivation inherently within
us. This is also the inner will or intention to bring forth greater love,
harmony and intelligence into the world.
So again, circumstances-of-need provide important opportunities for our
spiritual will to come forth and be actualized from its inherent potential,
because circumstance with need inspire our spiritual will to help, heal and
improve. In other words, our spiritual will, or soul-will, requires a true =
need
for its inspiration and enactment. So when we see a true need -- a need to
help, heal or improve -- then our inner spiritual will tends to get inspire=
d by
this, because that is what the spiritual will aims to do, and also to bring
forth love, harmony, beauty, and wisdom, ... the hallmarks of spiritual
evolution.
So understand that every instance inside our self of will-to-good, of
will-to-serve, of will-to-love, or will-to-beauty, or any will to help, hea=
l or
improve, is itself a development of our soul's power of will. Every step
forward in a will-to-good, will-to-serve, will-to-improve, or will-to-love =
is
a step forward in soul development in the aspect/function of spiritual will.
Every moment of will or also intention, in a life-serving or life-improveme=
nt
direction, is a step forward in soul development. This is because the aspec=
t of
will in our soul is further developed by circumstances and moments of its
actualization.
Yet we must also understand that will and intention are not quite enoug=
h.
We also need to struggle, effort, and work. So for this development of the =
soul
inside us, or the soul as we are, we also need intentional struggle, also
called intentional work or intentional efforts. We need to work, to do real
work and make real efforts towards the Spiritual aims known by our heart and
intellect. To know the spiritual aims and to love the aims are not enough. =
We
also need to make efforts and work towards these aims. So every effort,
struggle and work that we do with intention (conscious intention towards the
spiritual aim) is an exercising of the soul's will -- which develops=
the
soul's 'muscle-power' of will and actualizes the soul's spiritual
potential. And any of this requires circumstances and opportunities which c=
ould
only be found in this earth life.
As well, in any instance of intentional effort or struggle, there is an
energy transformation. This is because in such instances there is a resista=
nce
or possible an inertia that has been overcome... that is, transformed inside
us. For we are not really speaking about outward struggle here; but more so
inward struggle. Outward struggle is an ordinary thing; it is one direction=
or
desire against another. But there is an inner transformation of energy when=
we
engage in an inner intentional struggle or inner effort, because we are then
engaging and transforming some kind of resistance or old pattern in our sel=
f.
The laws of energy are that any intention or enactment will bring forth
actual energy from potential energy. All actual energies ultimately come fr=
om
the greater source of potential energy.&nb=
sp;
Also one could consider these ideas:
Realizing the need for transformation.
Realizing that need is very
powerful.
Building the soul with the energy struggle of transformation.
Building our soul is, esoterically, building our solar body, our body of
soul-ar light.