Understanding these various selves that exist within the whole self is only the beginning of the task before us. From here, we must learn to live with the thought always in mind that we are using only parts of our full potential at any given time. This is an easy thing to do if we often remember the fact that we are several types of self working together. Concentrate on this thought to make it a part of the conscious mind; part of the conscious mental body that you use every day. Be aware of this knowledge at all times.

    People who are not aware of their other selves, who do not really know what they are, or realize the need for self-understanding, often find themselves suffering needlessly. Many mental and emotional problems, and other health problems as well, are caused by internal conflicts of the various factions of the self. If you have a bad dream, a gut feeling, a strange thought, a funny sensation, an abnormal action or pain, take the time to think about it. Relax into a state of openness and receptivity to yourself. These parts of our self are our tools. Learn to use them, or you will cause yourself problems that could have been avoided.

    These selves within also become less individual in nature the higher they are from reality. The Passive Physical Body and the Conscious Mental Body are the main centres of individuality. The Active Physical Body and the Subconscious Mental Body are unique to the individual, but are very much the same nature as they are in every other human being on the planet. The highest of the selves, the True Whole Self, is the part that is lacking, almost entirely, any individuality at all. This is the part that is closest to divine. If we all knew of this part of ourselves, and could be at this level at will, there would never be any conflict between any two or more individuals. It is unfortunate that we are not that way, but we can be if we learn to be.

    The attainment of the harmonious self in complete consciousness is not so far off as one might imagine. It is only a matter of adding a new program to the personality. While the physical body reaches a point of maximum growth early on in life, the mental body is designed to keep right on growing and changing. New experiences add new things to who and what we are everyday of our lives. Some are very subtle, so much so that they go often unnoticed. Some experiences have a very profound impact upon us. These are most often the experiences that are extremely frightening, even life threatening. We learn things much quicker from pain than we do from pleasure. As we try to approach the highest form possible as a mortal human being, we will find that the experiences of the body of flesh and bone have less and less impact upon us. This is due to the fact that the lowest form of humanity has far more in common with the other animal forms of life than the divine form that we were designed to achieve.

    Throughout the ages, the ways to enlightenment, attainment, salvation, and realization of the full potential of the species have always required a movement of the soul away from the material and into the spiritual realm of reality. All of the greatest teachers of all time are in agreement on this subject. All of those who have known, have seen the world the way it is. The material world is as a trap for the souls of the divine. It is an all out barrage on the senses and sensibilities of the human being that can be overwhelming at times. It is far too easy to live in it and think that you are not much better or different than the other animals. Even those who know better often find themselves reverting in times of trouble and crisis. When you are suffering, it is hard to remember that nothing in the material world is as permanent as your soul. The things in the material can corrupt us only if we let them, for the greater parts of the True Whole Self are immortal and eternal.

    To fully grasp the reality of the True Whole Self, and the harmonious balance that must be attained with it, one must have some understanding of these intangible principles. The very first must be the immortality of the soul. This has to be a fact, for no one is capable of imagining oblivion. We cannot comprehend not existing in some way or another. We might think of such oblivion as being totally dark, cold, silent, and without any sensations at all, but since we can still imagine this existence, we must still be aware. Furthermore, it has already been proven, both in theory and practice, that matter can only change its form, but can neither be created or destroyed. The laws that pertain to matter must also apply to energy, as energy is the basis of matter. Beyond this scientific proof, there is also more.

    Intangible things, such as thoughts and ideas, are quite real, but they are not subject to the same rules as the tangible things are. For example, we can analyze the teaching of Jesus that describes personal treasures gained from the world. He says, in Matthew 6:19,
 

    "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven…"
 
 

    This is an example of the differences between tangible and intangible things; between material and immaterial things. It is quite correct in the truth that it presents. Just as the physical body is a thing of no more than material collected together by the individual, that will only be yours for the time of your life, so are all material possessions subject to degradation, decomposition, decay, and loss. The material things we keep must have a place. If they are valuable they must be locked up. In any event, they do us no good when we die. Someone else will take them then. When dealing with the material possessions, it is true that "you can’t take it with you." The immaterial things are quite different though. For the most part, they are all free to own, but are much more valuable. They do not require any place to lock them up except in your own memory. You can also give them away an infinite number of times and still possess them. Intangible things do not exist in any real material sense, so they do not show any signs of aging or corruption by the elements of nature. They do not wear out ever. These things cannot be taken away from you either. If you keep them as secrets, there is no way anyone will ever get them, not even upon your death. And also, the old saying does not apply to the immaterial things you collect and possess. You can and will take them with you when you leave the world of the living.

    All of this knowledge is crucial to understanding yourself for who and what you really are. Without the knowledge of the self at such a level, it is impossible to understand the others that you must know in your lifetime, and form positive, productive, and beneficial relationships with. The most significant and important of these relationships being with a member of the opposite sex. In a very real sense, the understanding of the self is essential to understanding the Divine creators as well. Knowing thyself is crucial to knowing of the Divine. The Divine sees the individual as but a part of itself. If that part be known then it can be real. To recognize and know of the divine self is to attain salvation.

Copyright 2000 by J.S.Graham