(SPIRITUAL ETHICS [continued])[9th April 1987]

[Redbook3:153-154][19870409:1345h](SPIRITUAL ETHICS [continued])[9th April 1987]

19870409.1345.

[continued]

At root, the problem* is one of differing priorities. Generally, Individuals and Communities have a scale of priorities on which material considerations and social obligations come highest, and Spiritual affairs fairly low, if they are recognised at all (There are exceptions). Individuals interested in Spiritual Development tend to move gradually towards a state in which it is the most important thing in their lives. The former scale of priorities could be described as Outer, the latter Inner. On the Inner scale, everything else tends gradually to become subordinated to the requirements of the Spirit: and where other people's ideas of their own welfare do not fit in with this personal scale of priorities, they are generally ignored.

To put it another way, a problem which to an Outer point of view will **appear to require a material (or Outer) solution, to an Inner point of view will appear to require a mental (or Inner) solution, e.g. an adjustment of material expectations in the Outer viewpoint.***

/*(In my part-developed state, I had wanted to say “often (but not always)” of the Inner view: but it is possible in practice, and maybe essential in theory, that ultimately the Inner viewpoint will never need to compromise).*/

Only to an Outer (e.g. political) point of view will an adjustment to lower the material expectations seem like a betrayal of faith – Outer faith; to an Inner (i.e. Spiritual) point of view it is an act of faith, at least; or at best, an act of Knowledge, an Act of Truth.****

*[See last previous entry.]

**[See /*...*/ in text above.]

***{cf. p.74 [[Redbook3:74-75][19870329:1210x](Church Material [continued])[29^th March 1987]].}

**** -- An act of self-denial. <930418>

(ref. Discussions on the Church and Politics [above] [Redbook3:106-111][19870404:1821](THE CHURCH AND POLITICS {1})[4th April 1987]; [Redbook3:146][19870408:1218e](THE CHURCH AND POLITICS{2})[8th April 1987]].)

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