WE are not ourselves ultimates
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WE are not ourselves ultimates
1
SINCE WE are not ourselves ultimates, we cannot know ultimate Purpose.
The present purpose seems to be evolution by means of functioning. The
objective of evolution is twofold. On the one hand it is the development
of the independent individual. On the other it is the coordination of the
individuals so developed into a functioning Unity.
This dual objective is the Aim with which we must be concerned. It is the
rod by which we must measure our ambitions, activities and deeds. Are
they in furtherance of this Universal Aim? Provincial divergences of
ethics must yield to this simple criterion. So the development of
ourselves as individuals in evolution becomes our first obligation.
2
When this doctrine of self-development was first offered us by the
Invisibles we shied away. In common with most of our generation we had
been brought up on an ethic of "doing for others," of "unselfishness," of
"service." We had not lived up to that ideal. As children we had often
endured the finger of scorn and the epithet "Selfish!" And as grown-ups
we had more than once had an uncomfortable feeling we were not "doing our
duty" by others. The idea that maybe we had been at least partly right
all along looked too much like wishful thinking.
But the Invisibles persisted. A little here, a little there, they
infiltrated their subject. Finally they treated it to a full-length
discourse.
"You must," said they, "learn to understand what necessary over-emphasis
has obscured. This is that the word 'selfish' has also an obverse, a
meaning of usefulness, even a meaning of necessity. Like all ingredients
of life, it has its necessary proportion.
"Your first duty in development, not only for your own sake but for the
sake of the greater whole, is the establishment of a homogeneous,
close-knit, invulnerable core of yourself as an individual. Until you
have so established a center or nucleus, no matter how small, in which
your conviction is absolute that it is the germ center of yourself as a
separate eternal entity in cosmos, any venturing outside your boundaries
is unwarranted and will inevitably prove more or less disastrous. Even
the natural instinctive eagerness of outfling must be withheld until that
sure core of integration is assured.
"This primary central establishment is the first indispensable step in
the creation of the eternal self. Whether it takes a decade, a
half-century, a whole lifetime, or the repeated incarnations of a number
of phases, NO FORWARD MOVEMENT CAN SAFELY, EFFECTIVELY OR CONSTRUCTIVELY
BE ATTEMPTED UNTIL THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED. OUTSIDE engagements can succeed
only after this fact. Thenceforward this central self becomes a citadel
for withdrawal from mistaken or premature outgoings. Such outgoings,
before the complete and homogeneous occupation of this center, leave a
tenuosity behind your back permeable by usurping forces which a firmer
establishment would have automatically excluded. Therefore, stop AT THIS
POINT OF DEVELOPMENT until the assurance is gained, no matter what
implication even to yourself such a course may seem to have of
selfishness, self-centeredness, lack of outside response and
responsibility, or any of the other reproachful concepts of which this
use is the constructive obverse.
"Here is a truth so profound and yet so simply stated that I would have
it in a separate paragraph:
"OUTGIVNG IS NEVER CONSTRUCTIVELY EFFECTIVE UNLESS IT IS AN OVERFLOW.
From "With Folded Wings"
By Stewart Edward White
SINCE WE are not ourselves ultimates, we cannot know ultimate Purpose.
The present purpose seems to be evolution by means of functioning. The
objective of evolution is twofold. On the one hand it is the development
of the independent individual. On the other it is the coordination of the
individuals so developed into a functioning Unity.
This dual objective is the Aim with which we must be concerned. It is the
rod by which we must measure our ambitions, activities and deeds. Are
they in furtherance of this Universal Aim? Provincial divergences of
ethics must yield to this simple criterion. So the development of
ourselves as individuals in evolution becomes our first obligation.
2
When this doctrine of self-development was first offered us by the
Invisibles we shied away. In common with most of our generation we had
been brought up on an ethic of "doing for others," of "unselfishness," of
"service." We had not lived up to that ideal. As children we had often
endured the finger of scorn and the epithet "Selfish!" And as grown-ups
we had more than once had an uncomfortable feeling we were not "doing our
duty" by others. The idea that maybe we had been at least partly right
all along looked too much like wishful thinking.
But the Invisibles persisted. A little here, a little there, they
infiltrated their subject. Finally they treated it to a full-length
discourse.
"You must," said they, "learn to understand what necessary over-emphasis
has obscured. This is that the word 'selfish' has also an obverse, a
meaning of usefulness, even a meaning of necessity. Like all ingredients
of life, it has its necessary proportion.
"Your first duty in development, not only for your own sake but for the
sake of the greater whole, is the establishment of a homogeneous,
close-knit, invulnerable core of yourself as an individual. Until you
have so established a center or nucleus, no matter how small, in which
your conviction is absolute that it is the germ center of yourself as a
separate eternal entity in cosmos, any venturing outside your boundaries
is unwarranted and will inevitably prove more or less disastrous. Even
the natural instinctive eagerness of outfling must be withheld until that
sure core of integration is assured.
"This primary central establishment is the first indispensable step in
the creation of the eternal self. Whether it takes a decade, a
half-century, a whole lifetime, or the repeated incarnations of a number
of phases, NO FORWARD MOVEMENT CAN SAFELY, EFFECTIVELY OR CONSTRUCTIVELY
BE ATTEMPTED UNTIL THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED. OUTSIDE engagements can succeed
only after this fact. Thenceforward this central self becomes a citadel
for withdrawal from mistaken or premature outgoings. Such outgoings,
before the complete and homogeneous occupation of this center, leave a
tenuosity behind your back permeable by usurping forces which a firmer
establishment would have automatically excluded. Therefore, stop AT THIS
POINT OF DEVELOPMENT until the assurance is gained, no matter what
implication even to yourself such a course may seem to have of
selfishness, self-centeredness, lack of outside response and
responsibility, or any of the other reproachful concepts of which this
use is the constructive obverse.
"Here is a truth so profound and yet so simply stated that I would have
it in a separate paragraph:
"OUTGIVNG IS NEVER CONSTRUCTIVELY EFFECTIVE UNLESS IT IS AN OVERFLOW.
From "With Folded Wings"
By Stewart Edward White
Guest- Guest
Re: WE are not ourselves ultimates
I couldn't quite take that all in,Stephen...
Forgive my ignorance but are they saying that we should be a little selfish at times?
Joan
Forgive my ignorance but are they saying that we should be a little selfish at times?

Joan
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Re: WE are not ourselves ultimates
Yes.But not in a really selfish way.You are entitled to say
No when you feel it is just to much.That is how read it.
Stephen
No when you feel it is just to much.That is how read it.
Stephen
Guest- Guest
Re: WE are not ourselves ultimates
Thought it might be that,Stephen. Strange because reading my horoscope today (yes,I do read them...
It said 'Think of yourself today'
Joan

It said 'Think of yourself today'
Joan
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Re: WE are not ourselves ultimates
Stephen, White is correct in what he is saying. So Stephen how are you coming along with the establishment of a homogeneous, close-knit, invulnerable core of yourself as an individual? And just for fun, do you think that there is relationship between the above and the "die before you die" experience? John
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Re: WE are not ourselves ultimates
Dear John,
Core self is for me an oxymoron.I have never
discovered either a core or a self.Yet there is a realness
that answers to the question "who am I?" with the answer
"I am that which asks the question"
This "that " is a constant and for me equates to my beingness.This beingness is not a thing nor is it an
object .It is like the space between words.It is what
defines me without being a me.It is immanent in me and
I am immanent in it.Thus my core self is this constant feeling of wholeness which is irreducible.
Function wise I would call it equanimity or balance.
With regard to this non state persisting .The proof of it
is in normal living.Does it work?Can I consistently return
to this space after the traumas and difficulties of life?
I am not completely certain.Up to now it seems reasonably consistent.
How this relates to "die before you die" I can not give you an answer.
I do know(for myself at least) that the development of a constructive and
kindly character seems to be the essential ingredient to maintain a personal
integrity at death.
None of this needs long hours of meditation but an
attentive awareness,an ability to accept less than ideal
personal behaviour in oneself ,a willingness to embrace others and a flexibility to switch attitudes.
Stephen
Core self is for me an oxymoron.I have never
discovered either a core or a self.Yet there is a realness
that answers to the question "who am I?" with the answer
"I am that which asks the question"
This "that " is a constant and for me equates to my beingness.This beingness is not a thing nor is it an
object .It is like the space between words.It is what
defines me without being a me.It is immanent in me and
I am immanent in it.Thus my core self is this constant feeling of wholeness which is irreducible.
Function wise I would call it equanimity or balance.
With regard to this non state persisting .The proof of it
is in normal living.Does it work?Can I consistently return
to this space after the traumas and difficulties of life?
I am not completely certain.Up to now it seems reasonably consistent.
How this relates to "die before you die" I can not give you an answer.
I do know(for myself at least) that the development of a constructive and
kindly character seems to be the essential ingredient to maintain a personal
integrity at death.
None of this needs long hours of meditation but an
attentive awareness,an ability to accept less than ideal
personal behaviour in oneself ,a willingness to embrace others and a flexibility to switch attitudes.
Stephen
Guest- Guest
Re: WE are not ourselves ultimates
skfarblum wrote:Dear John,
Core self is for me an oxymoron.I have never
discovered either a core or a self.Yet there is a realness
that answers to the question "who am I?" with the answer
"I am that which asks the question"
This "that " is a constant and for me equates to my beingness.This beingness is not a thing nor is it an
object .It is like the space between words.It is what
defines me without being a me.It is immanent in me and
I am immanent in it.Thus my core self is this constant feeling of wholeness which is irreducible.
Function wise I would call it equanimity or balance.
With regard to this non state persisting .The proof of it
is in normal living.Does it work?Can I consistently return
to this space after the traumas and difficulties of life?
I am not completely certain.Up to now it seems reasonably consistent.
How this relates to "die before you die" I can not give you an answer.
I do know(for myself at least) that the development of a constructive and
kindly character seems to be the essential ingredient to maintain a personal
integrity at death.
None of this needs long hours of meditation but an
attentive awareness,an ability to accept less than ideal
personal behaviour in oneself ,a willingness to embrace others and a flexibility to switch attitudes.
Stephen
Stephen that was very well said! "Does it work?" I love that one also



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Re: WE are not ourselves ultimates
Thank you John for kind and sensible comments.
I am very grateful to you for haven given me the chance
to write a little on my personal philosophy.I generally
don't like to write about me.
These philosophies are really just "different strokes for different folks" and with regard to myself perhaps it more of "fools go in where angels fear to tread".
I repect immensly your strength of character to write so honestly about yourself.
I am happy I could share a little with you my ideas.I
personally feel I have more to learn from you than what
little I can offer.
Thank you for this nice exchange it has quite made my day.
Stephen
I am very grateful to you for haven given me the chance
to write a little on my personal philosophy.I generally
don't like to write about me.
These philosophies are really just "different strokes for different folks" and with regard to myself perhaps it more of "fools go in where angels fear to tread".
I repect immensly your strength of character to write so honestly about yourself.
I am happy I could share a little with you my ideas.I
personally feel I have more to learn from you than what
little I can offer.
Thank you for this nice exchange it has quite made my day.
Stephen
Guest- Guest
Re: WE are not ourselves ultimates
skfarblum wrote:Thank you John for kind and sensible comments.
I am very grateful to you for haven given me the chance
to write a little on my personal philosophy.I generally
don't like to write about me.
These philosophies are really just "different strokes for different folks" and with regard to myself perhaps it more of "fools go in where angels fear to tread".
I repect immensly your strength of character to write so honestly about yourself.
I am happy I could share a little with you my ideas.I
personally feel I have more to learn from you than what
little I can offer.
Thank you for this nice exchange it has quite made my day.
Stephen
And thank you also Stephen. These topics that you are posting have been helpful to me. Almost everything that I know is based on personal experience, so experiences coming from other sources (at least to what interests you



sunmystic- Administrators
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Re: WE are not ourselves ultimates
In the teachings of the Invisibles they frequently speak of the
wisdom of explaining matters in simplicities.In fact they said
mankind in general is here to learn a few simplicities which can
be learnt in every type of human situation.
They would not reveal these simplicities as it would defeat the purpose
of human life.We have to live in order to discover them.
Without asking the Invisibles what would you think are these simplicities.
I will tell you what I think.
The first is self-awareness.The next is the knowledge of separateness.
third is the ability to learn and finally the ability to communicate.
Stephen
wisdom of explaining matters in simplicities.In fact they said
mankind in general is here to learn a few simplicities which can
be learnt in every type of human situation.
They would not reveal these simplicities as it would defeat the purpose
of human life.We have to live in order to discover them.
Without asking the Invisibles what would you think are these simplicities.
I will tell you what I think.
The first is self-awareness.The next is the knowledge of separateness.
third is the ability to learn and finally the ability to communicate.
Stephen
Guest- Guest
Re: WE are not ourselves ultimates
skfarblum wrote:In the teachings of the Invisibles they frequently speak of the
wisdom of explaining matters in simplicities.In fact they said
mankind in general is here to learn a few simplicities which can
be learnt in every type of human situation.
They would not reveal these simplicities as it would defeat the purpose
of human life.We have to live in order to discover them.
Without asking the Invisibles what would you think are these simplicities.
I will tell you what I think.
The first is self-awareness.The next is the knowledge of separateness.
third is the ability to learn and finally the ability to communicate.
Stephen
The "invisibles" (I asked them anyway



sunmystic- Administrators
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Re: WE are not ourselves ultimates
Dear John,
Everything you wrote makes complete sense to me.
Again you impress me with your determination.
I would say without the difficulties you had to face you
probably would not be what you are today,and this I
mean in a very positive way.
Life may be a free gift,but that does mean there is not room for strength and excellence.
Stephen
Everything you wrote makes complete sense to me.
Again you impress me with your determination.
I would say without the difficulties you had to face you
probably would not be what you are today,and this I
mean in a very positive way.
Life may be a free gift,but that does mean there is not room for strength and excellence.
Stephen
Guest- Guest
Re: WE are not ourselves ultimates



sunmystic- Administrators
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