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       %EXPERIENCE LOVE POWER JUSTICE LET GO DETACH 910523

     To enjoy love with justice we must become willing and
able  to  let  go of our self  defensive  technologies  of
rules,   codes,  laws,  legalisms,  moralisms,  and  other
alienative  weapons;  for when such defensive weapons  are
used  in alienative ways,  our use of them generates  much
which we experience as being evil.

     We  cannot  defend ourselves with our weapons of self
defense,   without thereby generating alienation  and much
that we experience as being evil.

     The value  of any system of ideal and values  depends
upon whether or not it leads its incarnations to  increase
or  decrease  their enjoyment of experiences of love  with
justice.    Each system of ideals and values includes both
the  ideals and values which the system affirms,  and  the
implicit messages which the system gives regarding how the
people  who  are  the incarnation of  the  system  are  to
properly view themselves and others who fail to live up to
the   expectations   generated   by  the   system.     The
consequences  of the incarnation of each system of  ideals
and values depends upon:

    1.  The values and ideals affirmed,

     2. The implicit messages regarding reflexive views,

    3.  The behavior of incarnations of the system.

     4. How its incarnations reflect upon the system and
    upon themselves in relation to the system.  Whether or
not  a system of ideals and values leads its  incarnations
to  enjoy both personal and communal integrity  with  both
love  and justice is a key to recognizing whether or   not
the    system  is  worthy  of   continued   respect    and
affirmations.

     When  a  system  of  ideals  and  values  leads   its
incarnations  to  be  unable to enjoy  both  personal  and
communal integrity with both love and justice,  it becomes
necessary to ask what aspect of the system must be let  go
in order to transcend its limitations:

    1.  The values and ideals affirmed,

     2. The implicit messages regarding reflexive views,

    3.  The behavior of incarnations of the system,
    The  power of a system of ideals and values to promote
the enjoyment of both personal and communal integrity with
both  justice  and  love  depends upon how  it  leads  its
incarnations  to exercise power.   When a system leads its
incarnations to regard power as a tool which is  available
for  use  by  isolated persons to strive  to  achieve  the
fulfillment of their own isolated goals, ideals and values
without concern regarding alienation; the system lacks the
power  to  promote  the  enjoyment of  both  personal  and
communal integrity with both justice and love.

     It is  difficult to let go of inadequate  systems  of
ideals  and values, because they seem to be a secure basis
for self defense.   They seem to be the basis for personal
and communal security.   Yet inadequate systems of  ideals
and  values are the roots of most of what we experience as
being evil;  i.e.,  alienative.   When we are NOT enjoying
both personal and communal integrity with both justice and
love,   we  need to reflect upon how we are being lead  by
each  of the above four aspects of our systems  of  ideals
and values.

     It is not enough to affirm our ideals and values.  It
is  not  enough  to rededicate ourselves to  the  task  of
living  in keeping with our ideals and values.   It is not
enough to be willing to make greater sacrifices in support
of our ideals and values.   It is not enough to be seen as
embodying  and  defending our ideals and  values  in  more
perfect ways.    We may,  in doing such things,  undermine
our  personal   and  communal  integrity,    and  make  it
impossible for us to enjoy love with justice.

     If we honestly consider each of the essential aspects
of   our  system  of ideals and values,  we  may  come  to
realize  that   there  are some aspects of our  system  of
ideals  and values  which we must be willing to let go of,
in  order  to enjoy  both personal and communal  integrity
with  both love and justice.    When we become willing  to
let  go  of  such aspects  of  our systems of  ideals  and
values,     we   will  become  able to see our  system  of
ideals and values in the light  of love and justice;   and
so  become free to do what we  need to do,   in  order  to
cooperate  in the enjoyment of both personal and  communal
integrity with both justice and love.

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