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 %IDENTIFY TRANSCEND VALUES IDEALS HEALTH INTEGRITY 890905

     When  we  are  sick and confused it is  not  easy  to
identify  the transcendent values and ideals  which  would
lead us out of our confusion and ill health.  When we  are
very  sick  we cannot wisely prescribe the way to  recover
health,   for  serious  sickness impairs  our  ability  to
perceive and understand our own condition of sickness.

     The  essence of understanding is the clear perception
of  differences,   and in serious sickness our  perception
becomes  clouded and indistinct;  confused,   parts  fused
together so that they cannot be distinguished.  That which
is not perceived clearly cannot be communicated truly.

     Our  sickness is serious when we cannot perceive  the
difference   between  our  self  and  others;   when   the
boundaries between us and others are clouded,  indistinct,
and confused. In serious sickness we cannot know ourselves
and  be  true  to  ourselves  because  we  cannot  clearly
perceive  the  differences  between  our  own  selves  and
others.  When we cannot perceive such differences,  we can
not truly represent them.

     Clear perception,  understanding and communication of
important  differences entails integrity all  around.   If
there   is   no   unifying/integrative   principle   which
distinguishes  "A"   from  "B",  then  we  cannot  clearly
perceive,   understand  or communicate "A"   and  "B"   as
distinct realities;  no matter what sort of realities  may
be entailed.  If we ourselves lack integrity through  some
form of disintegrative sickness,  our perception is  bound
to be clouded,  confused,  and lack understanding;  and so
also  must  be our communications.  If those with whom  we
would  be in communication lack integrity,  our efforts at
communicating  with  them  will  be  frustrated  by  their
inability  to  perceive and understand the differences  to
which  we point;  even if we do so with great clarity  and
elegance  of  expression.  Even if we  express  the  truth
clearly,   our effort is futile if it is  not  apprehended
clearly.

     When  the  personal relationships in a community  are
sick  and confused,  it is difficult for the community  to
identify  the  transcendent values and ideals which  would
lead  it  out  of its confusion and ill  health.   When  a
community is very sick, it cannot wisely prescribe the way
to  recover health;  for serious communal sickness impairs
all  members'   ability  to perceive  and  understand  the
pervasive condition of their sickness.

     Serious  communal  sickness entails  confusion  about
ideals  and  values,  and about the consequences of  being
dedicated to the dominant ideals and values which  leaders
in  the  community embody.  Such confusion can  extend  to
confusion  about the difference between ideals and  values
on  the one hand;  and techniques and technologies on  the
other hand. When technocrats are respected as wise leaders
because of their technical abilities, it is not clear that
there  are any differences between ideals and  techniques,
or between values and technologies.  When confusion is  so
complete that such differences are obscured,  a  community
will have great difficulty in dealing with its sickness.

     All  sicknesses undermine both personal and  communal
health and well-being. Transcendent values and ideals lead
the  way  towards  both personal and communal  health  and
well-being; pervasive integrity. When values which are not
transcendent  are  treated as if they  were  transcendent,
they    lead   towards   both   personal   and    communal
disintegration  in  many  forms of sickness  and  illness;
i.e., being poor in mind, heart, spirit, and body.

     It  may  be  easier to point  to  characteristics  of
values  and  ideals which are not transcendent,   than  to
point to characteristics of transcendent values.

     Transcendent   values   do  not   lead   people   and
communities in ways that lead to their disintegration.

     Transcendent   values   do  not   lead   people   and
communities to behave in ways which lead to many forms  of
malnutrition, sickness, perverted relationships, coercion,
dishonesty, violence, personal manipulations, etc.

     Transcendent  values  do not lead people  to  justify
their   actions   upon  narrow  and   highly   specialized
considerations,    rather  than  upon  comprehensive   and
integrative considerations.

     The  first  step towards identifying  and  respecting
transcendent  values is to recognize that many values  and
ideals which are treated with the ultimate of respect  are
in  practice disintegrative in effect.  It is  foolish  to
respect values and ideals which sound good in theory,  but
which   in   practice  lead  to  personal   and   communal
disintegration.    It  is  important  to  recognize   that
respected  people  in sick communities often are  lead  by
disintegrative values and ideals.  Respectability is not a
reliable measure of values and ideals in a community where
dishonesty and personal manipulations are honored.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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