Survive at All Costs ... The Physical Realm's Prime Directive.
We all sometimes wonder why some people behave like "animals".
We even wonder where our own rages and wild feelings of chaos
originate. Although we might find them unusual as they can
conflict with our values, indeed, animalistic behavior is as
much a part of us as our skin. While the skin is there to
protect our inner organs and vessels, the animalistic behavior
is there to protect the existence of the physical being---an
outer skin of sorts.
The physical realm of our being only has one objective:
survival. In its rawest form, the body must remain intact and it
will do so at any risk to its surroundings. Beat up the
neighbor. Get food. Kick the dog. Procreate. Survive at all
costs! It is never satisfied with anything. When the half-full
glass is filled, it wants a bigger glass.
Perhaps the Universe realized that it erred up by putting out an
organism that would go so far as to kill and destroy just to get
food. Imagine what would happen at fast food joints at lunch
time! So, to balance the strength and instincts of the physical,
the Universe developed the creative intellect of the soul. The
souler being is easily satisfied and is bent on happiness,
living, and enjoying. Or, was this blatant survival mode of the
physical creation intended to behave as such to protectively
house its souler component? Which one came first?
I know this sounds like the old "chicken and the egg", but
indeed, it is a valid question to ponder. However, consider the
variations to the ideas of the physical and souler interaction
and existence. If indeed the body came first, then the soul is
instantiated simply to control the instincts of the physical.
But, if the soul came first, then each body is created solely
for an individual soul to live, grow, and learn in this physical
Universe. What a wonderful combination! A calm, cool, and
collected soul to manage an out of control physical host. This
means that the two are together for a reason, but are separate.
In today's world, by applying some of these thoughts, indeed, it
seems that we tend to focus more on the physical because the
thirst for physical fulfillment is unquenchable. However, while
obtaining satisfaction for the soul is actually simple, we've
been taught that "never the two shall meet" as our society
readily concedes to the physical and rarely accepts the virtual,
conceptual, non-physical realm of the souler.
Is it beneficial to roam the world just surviving or do we want
to live? To survive implies that a challenge exists in which we
must survive. This is where the physical thrives---finding
solutions that inhibit survival. If it is not fighting for
survival, in its rawest form, it will find an issue to initiate
the survival mode. We search. We hunger. We strive. We fight for
everything that can fulfill the need to survive in the physical
realm. In the end, out of the massive struggles to survive,
we've learned nothing and have nothing except for the twisted
feelings that we harbor and turn unto fears and new unhealthy
components for our belief systems.
However, to live by the souler implies a challenge-free life of
free will---or does it? In the physical realm, we can only open
doors we can touch. In the souler, we can examine possibilities
and open doors that we never thought physically possible. This
is because we're delving into a non-physical realm in which we
must evaluate, create, and establish our futures. Managing
creative intellect and turning it into a physical reality can
require effort, but it is much more rewarding in the end.
Realize that there are two "yous". There is your physical and
your souler. The physical operates in black and white. The
souler, in the full range of the spectrum. By allowing the
souler to come to the surface, we allow the creative intellect
of the Universe to rule as opposed to blatant survival instincts
of the individual physical being. It takes effort as well, but
the work is fulfilling because we satisfy the souler as well as
the physical realms. Consider it as a hierarchy of control
within your being. Satisfying the souler satisfies us as a whole
and calms "the savage beast".
--- About the Author ---
Edward B. Toupin, Ph.D. is an author, publisher, life-strategy
coach, counselor, Reiki Master, and technical writer living in
Las Vegas, NV. His research focus is on cognitive
transformations, epistemology, and metaphysical topics. His
experiences have spawned a new series of articles and a book
project entitled "Dynamics of Life" that peers into the hidden
recesses of our physical and spiritual interactions.