"The Way of G-d"

Part 1: "The Fundamental Principles of Reality"

Ch. 3: "Mankind"

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Ramchal begins by pointing out that a certain cosmic condition had to exist if we're ever to achieve perfection on our own, and to thus draw close to G-d. We humans had to have been pre-programmed to be of two minds, if you will: body-oriented, and soul-oriented. And each must do its best to hold sway.

This touches upon a prevailing attitude which we’d do well to discuss at this point. Many would argue that the idea that we’re inherently dualistic (i.e., that we’re part-this and part-that), is spurious. "We aren't partly soul-oriented, partly body-oriented", they’d insist, "we're wholly *body and soul* oriented."

While the point's well taken, it's nonetheless misguided.

The truth be known, if we were to pull back a great distance-- say from a "G-d's eye-view"-- we'd determine that we *were* indeed wholly body and soul oriented, that the breakdown into two isn't actually real, and that from that perspective we're indeed whole beings comprised of a body-soul. (Many make reference to this idea when they speak of the "mind-body connection".)

But despite the utter truth of that, looking at things from that perspective is absurd-- and counter-productive. For we don't *experience* ourselves from a "G-d's eye-view". Our very real, very human struggles-- and our victories, too-- are based on the fact that we experience a split in ourselves. One huge and electric part of us experiences the whole of us as of this earth, while another huge and electric part experiences the whole of us as transcendent.

Granted, there are great and holy individuals who *know* there isn't a split, who indeed experience the whole of themselves in everything they do, and don't struggle within their beings. But the great preponderance of us simply don't experience that, and are "of two minds" in this world.

Hence it would be wise to accept the reality we experience if we're ever to evolve into the experience of utter reality.

Our next point is that Ramchal depicts body and soul in a rather unique way. He portrays the body as "earthy" and "cloudy", and the soul as "intelligent" and "clear".

The body is apparently "earthy" because it's comprised of the same elements everything else on earth is. And the soul is apparently "intelligent" because the least earthy thing we know of is pure abstract thought.

The two other depictions of body and soul-- "cloudy" and "clear"-- offer another insight. For we find that while cloudiness and clarity are indeed two points on an illumination continuum, neither is an extreme.

For were we to draw such a continuum we'd lay it out thusly (with an infinite number of degrees in between):

Pitch black cloudy clear glaringly bright.

Ramchal’s point thus seems to be that being body-oriented (i.e., being "cloudy") isn't at all the most material you can be-- being "pitch black" or evil is. And being soul-oriented (i.e., being "clear") isn't at all the most spiritual you can be-- being "glaringly bright" or G-dly is.

His argument would then be that we'd each do well to determine just where we lie on the continuum over-all, and to strive higher.

And Ramchal's final point here is that once the soul dominates the body, both are elevated and the individual achieves perfection. Whereas when the body dominates the soul, both are denigrated and the individual is denied his or her perfection, and is even said to be rejected by G-d. How daunting a thought!

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