The true sense of cleavage and really serious difficulty
comes, however, when two things have occurred. These might be stated to be as follows: 1.
The self-consciousness of the man has reached a point where his desires are so dominant
and compelling that he becomes aware of their strength, and also simultaneously of his
inability truly to satisfy them, coupled with the recognition that there is an aspect of
himself which does not truly want to do so. The sense of frustration then descends upon
him and he becomes painfully aware of what he wants and of what he would be if his desires
were met and satisfied. He is then torn in two directions: his desire-mind keeps him
dwelling in the realm of longing, of hope and of wish, whilst his brain and his physical
nature bring to him the conviction that nothing he wants is possible and if possible, does
he really want it? This is true of the man whose objective is the satisfaction of his
material longings or of the man who is responding to the desire for intellectual or
spiritual [422] satisfaction. In the one case the cleavage begins to appear in the lower
aspects of his desire nature. In the other it appears in the higher aspects, but in both
cases the lines of the cleavage are clear. The conflict has begun and two possibilities
lie ahead:
- Eventual
acquiescence of a nature which ends the life in futility, deep depression and a sense of
frustration which runs all the way from a submissive life of acceptance to those many ways
of escape which push a man into the dream world, into the land of illusion, into a state
of negativity and even over the border to death through self-destruction.
- A furious
conflict, based on a refusal to be molded by circumstance or environment. This drives a
man on to success and to achievement of his desire or it breaks him on the wheel of life,
either physically or mentally.
2. Cleavage
comes also when the man fails to use his God-given intellect and so is unable to choose
between the essentials and the non-essentials, between right direction and wrong goals,
between the various satisfactions which appeal to the various aspects of his lower nature
and eventually between the higher and the lower duality. He must learn to grasp the
distinction between:
- Submission to the inevitable and submission to the urge of his own desire.
Recognition of capacity and recognition of potentiality. Many conflicts would be solved
through the summation, understanding and right use of recognized assets, thus eliminating
impossible goals and the consequent inevitable frustration. When this part of the conflict
[423] has been overcome, then potentiality can emerge in recognition and become power in
expression.
Recognition of individual goals and group goals, between the ability to be social or
anti-social. Much is being done along these lines but the emphasis is still upon the
individual and not upon the group. When this is the case, we become responsible for
anti-social groups.
I have mentioned only three of many possible recognitions but the resolution of the
cleavage for which these are responsible will result in the liberation of a large majority
of sufferers. It might perhaps be said that the release of many whose cleavage lies
primarily in the realm of the desire nature, leading to the sense of frustration and a
break in the life continuity of interest, can be cured by
- Attention
first of all to the physical equipment and to the glands, particularly to the thyroid
gland, plus the regulation of the diet.
- Attention to
the physical coordination of the patient, for physical coordination is the outer
expression of an inner process of integration and much can be done by training.
- Interpretation
of the life and the environment, given in terms of appreciation. Ponder on this.
- Decentralization
through
- The providing of right interests and the right kind of education and vocational
training.
- Cultivation of the power to recognize and meet surrounding need, thus evoking the desire
to serve and providing the sense of satisfaction which comes from accomplishment and
appreciation. [424]
- The careful and slow transmutation of desire into aspiration.
Reorientation
to higher goals and the development of the sense of right direction. This involves
- The cultivation of a wider vision.
- The formulation of an inner program, intelligently compiled, and suitable for the
point in evolution but not so advanced as to be impossible.
- The avoidance of those steps and activities which are doomed to failure.
Later, when
the above is somewhat grasped, there must be the search for, and the development of, any
creative faculty, thus meeting the desire to be noticed and to contribute. Much artistic
effort or literary and musical effort is based on the desire to be the center of attention
and is not based on any true creative ability. It is the sense of "I, the dramatic
actor". This rightly used and developed, is of real value and importance.
The
elimination of the sense of sin, of disapprobation, with its concomitants, revolt,
suspicion and an inferiority complex.
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