1. The spiritual soul is the source of life for all the levels
of our being.
2. The lower levels must be developed to a certain threshold
of complexity before the higher can begin to manifest through
them.
a. brain must be sufficiently developed for mental life
b. mental and emotional levels must be developed to manifest
spiritual life.
3. Damage to a lower level impedes manifestation of a higher
level through the damaged level.
a. mental life cannot manifest when the brain is damaged.
b. spiritual life cannot manifest when the emotional level is
damaged.
4. Attachment to any level impedes realization and integration
with the other levels. This is especially true of the identity
states appropriate for each level.
5. To seek the higher level without developing and healing the
lower levels could result in damage to the lower, or else lack of
integration and holiness.
6. To intensify activities in a given level diminishes
intensity of energy in other levels.
a. excessive mental activity will tire the body
b. excessive physical activity will diminish mental
sharpness.
7. The preternatural and supernatural levels interact with and
influence human development. Faith opens us to these levels.
Identity States
1. Body Ego - identity based on bodily experience.
a. Develops early in life; constantly up-dated.
2. Mythico-Emotional Ego - identity conferred by group.
a. Group "story" imparts identity and meaning.
b. Self-concept based on how others treat one, on roles
designated by group, on group identifications and labels.
c. Religion and spirituality about belonging to
community.
3. Mental Ego - adult identity
a. Self-concept based on roles, self-judgments, and
identifications that one has chosen out of mythico-emotional
structure, and which one has added.
b. Mental ego arbitrates between the outside and inside
worlds. --personality, the face we show the world
--shadow, the self we hide from the world
c. Religion and spirituality about personal relationship with
God. Ideas about God still influencing relationship.
4. Soul self - spiritual identity
a. Self-identity as mysterious, here/now
presence-in-freedom.
b. Self-concept transcended.
c. Authentic self-expression; no self to hide from the
world.
d. Contemplative spirituality predominates. God is known as
here/now loving Presence, at one with the soul and all
creation.
