Sunday, April 19, 2015

The Burden Series: Careers and Money


The ascension career can be likened to the spiritual path of the mortal, though the scale in time is much larger. It is a measurement of spiritual growth, as well as a growth in work capabilities. The ascension career exists as the combination of learning, work, rest, and the personal developments gained therein. The spiritual life of an individual more closely resembles this, as it is all about reaching a state of being that is greater than the sum of its parts. Spirituality elevates man above the elements of normal life, beyond both the outward and inward observations of human identity and experience. It is about an expansion of future potential and its realization, to say the least. It also brings man on the path of greater expressions of truth, beauty and goodness.

Since our journey through the morontia spheres toward Havona is described as a career, many may liken it to an earth career, though smaller in scale. However, a work career is often about public life, not personal life. More so, it is about labor and making money. This money is then used for survival, safety, and pleasure. There are other uses for money, of course, but these are the common uses. Work is most certainly necessary for life, unless one has a large inheritance.

Careers are the overall trend of work performed, and they are lopsided. They do not create an accurate picture of a person, as they do not always capture what a human does to learn or relax. Growth accumulates in these three areas of life, yet only part of such is used to measure a person's worth in a society. Labor involves the social life of the individual. It records how one interacts with others in society. A good career is an important goal, because there is so much clear value seen within it, but it is not the only valuable thing attainable.

One need not a good job in order to find self-validation in life, nor happiness. It is not the temporal career that should have focus, but the future work of ascension. And if the attainment of wealth becomes the primary goal of the mortal, he or she will not only leave the earth poor in physical wealth, but spiritual wealth as well. All that can be taken beyond is stored within the soul to be resurrected, and what remains with the individual is the accumulation of spiritual value created within the life that is lived.

To understand this value, remember what was said of spirituality. This is the value that determines the future potentials of the being. It also reflects how close to perfection one currently is, and the possible speed one can reach relative perfection as well. What was not learned in mortal life must be learned later, and likely at a slower pace than what was possible before death. Yet this future life of ascension and learning cannot be the sole concern of the mortal. After all, one cannot gain wisdom during mortal life if one does not survive for very long. Clearly, people must work to support themselves, and in balance with the personal evolution of thought and spirit. Money cannot remain as the prime reason for service or for life, as it retards the future progress of the personality. An individual should serve others out of love, and receive money as payment for expenses. However, if this is not the motivation, such funds will likely be used as fuel for an individual's selfish desires, and one cannot serve both God and money.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Analysis of the Self: Identity and Being

So what is identity, exactly? It is often used synonymously with either personality or being, but it is neither. Identity is both an objective and subjective construct that defines and categorizes an individual. Identity is a part of being, as well as personality, which also shapes identity. All remain a single construct that helps define self, the unification of which, requiring all three elements, as well as many more.

Objective:

A person’s identity is a creation of who a person is, what they do, what they think, etc. It is both a person’s status and the totality of their life records on High. At bare minimum, one is identified as a free will creature. The identity of a free will being requires the existence of a personality received by the Father. Identity itself requires existence. Future status (or a possible change in status) is also a part of identity, making someone mortal or immortal. All in all, objective identity consists of the various facts of existence – truths that are not altered by perspective.

Subjective:

A person’s identity is both an outward and inward perspective of self, thus making identity perceived being. Subjective identity progresses and regresses. It changes with the circumstances of the individual, as well as everyone else. This is a direct contradiction to personality, which is a permanence in the presence of change, so identity can change when personality does not. It is also important to note that since identity acts as part of the totality of a being, “being” is largely a subjective term as well. Thus, a person’s total being is adjusted along with identity, as there are changes in perception and experience. All in all, identity can be both existential and experiential in expression.

We have now more or less established what creates identity, so what are all of the contributing factors for being? They are likely the following:

Personality
Mind
Soul
Body
Identity
Circumstance
Knowledge
Wisdom
Growth
Experience
History
Goals
Opportunity/Potentials
Inopportunity/Non-potentials
Physical Environment
Social Environment