Why this conflict?
Conflict occurs due to clash between the two opposing human natures of body and soul. This usually surfaces when a moral decision has to be made. The greater the moral decision, the greater the inner conflict. The body gravitates toward transitory comforts and sensual pleasures. It desires to quit, to dream, to drown in passions, to procrastinate. The body says: Give me some food, warmth, a pillow. Let me take it easy. On the other hand, The soul desires meaning, accomplishment, permanence, greatness, reality and truth. Then these two forces clash. We want to be tough, but we feel like being marshmallows. We want to be great, but we don’t feel like making the effort. We want to be independent, but we feel like being seduced. And even when we’re not aware of it, this conflict is raging within us. Peace only comes when we resolve that inner strife.What is peace?
peace unto you—it really refers to a wish for inner peace. Because all the pleasures in the world are just stepping stones to peace of mind. Shalom, which means wholeness, completion and perfection. Peace of mind is independent of external circumstances. The righteous talk to their bodily desires, while evil people let their desires talk to them. Hedonists believe that we should surrender to the body and follow its whims. But a lustful pleasure never lasts long, and usually leaves a bitter after taste. Every time you give in to the body’s desires—when you lose your temper, fail to stand up for your beliefs, or succumb to lust—the good feeling lasts only a moment, and then you end up getting depressed and angry with yourself. Self-respect, the only real peace, comes from siding with the soul.
How to balance?
To get to the body to desire what the soul wants. Because there’s no way to achieve peace by giving in to the body. Your soul will simply not give up. Never. But the body can go along with the soul. Of course it hurts a little to walk away from an immediate pleasure. But we can survive without it. Getting your body to agree with the soul doesn’t mean you have to crush the body. The body’s drive is a positive force to be harnessed. The trick is to teach the body to supply the same energy and enthusiasm when pursuing meaning, as it does when pursuing a candy bar. The body is where the passion is, where the power is.
Train your body to be in tune with your soul. When you feel the body’s resistance, talk to it. Cajole it. Reassure it. Suppose I started exercise. But body starts protesting- Come on, Don’t be He Man! Exercising causes lots of problems- joint pain in old age, tiredness, etc etc. finally we give up saying it is worthless. Only firm willpower can squelch the body’s resistance and get it to comply. How? By constantly reassuring it of the higher value of being in shape, thin and healthy. This is what you really want… Imagine how much better you’ll feel… You’ll be respected…You’ll live longer.
Few months later, if you miss a day of exercising, the body says, “Hey, what’s going on? I missed the pleasure of that workout!” Figure out what you want and overrule the body. Paint the prospects in glowing terms, until you reduce the body’s anxiety. Keep drilling until the body’s resistance has worn down and becomes your soul’s willing partner. Just like Exercising, you can measure it: How much drilling will it take before the body goes along with my goal? It may take awhile for the body to adjust—but it becomes increasingly easier. Be ready for that madness of the body fighting you and don’t let go. Because if you let go, then the body will run wild! The soul wants to be good and to help people. So let the soul drive your body, Do not allow body to resist, the balance would come itself.
SOUL’S GOALS, BODY’S DRIVE
When we’re locked in a moral battle and both choices seem equally tempting, how do we know which “voice” is talking? If the result of a decision will be comfort and ease, then it’s probably our body talking. Whereas if the result will be more kindness and patience, then that’s our soul. The key is to focus our goals. If we don’t understand what our soul really wants, then we’ll be locked in a constant battle. The soul wants to be good and to help people. Beware of people who are into illusions of peace. They may say, “I want to do the right thing,” but they may be too hysterical to sit down and discuss the issues. The body is afraid of losing it’s control. People who are into the real stuff say, “Come, let us reason together.” The soul is not afraid.BIG CAUSE FOR PEACE
One of the best ways to get the body into spiritual meaning is to have a cause.
A person needs to focus their life around a cause that’s bigger than they are. This way, the body will pull itself together on the side of the soul. When we’re fighting for something we believe in, the “body-soul conflict” almost automatically comes to a halt. We are willing to go to any lengths because the body’s voice is submerged in an overwhelming cause.That’s why, all over the world and throughout history, people have sacrificed their lives for higher causes.
Nationalism is one example of how this plays out. War, as destructive as it is, creates a cause bigger than the individuals fighting. It was reported following a recent war that children were asking their parents, “When are we going to have another war?” The parents said, “What do you mean? War is terrible!” The children said, “When we were at war, our nation was united, there was no quarreling, everyone was kind to one another. War was so nice!”
That’s the irony. When a nation is fighting for its survival, there’s a sense of inner peace. People don’t worry about pettiness like the neighbor’s new car, or the cleaner who over-starched the shirts. There is something more important. We’ll listen carefully to any workable idea. We’ll let anyone lead as long as he’s capable. We lift ourselves into the greatness of the cause.
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