THE REALITY OF UNITY

THE REALITY OF DUALITY

We are all created in the image of God; God is love and omnipresent. While we all experience fear, love is our inherent nature. Love is the spiritual embrace in Oneness. Love is an unconditional, integrative force. Love is real.

The world is divided between good and evil, us versus them. Fear is the emotion that prevails and guides all action. It is the negative emotion that blinds us to the light of love. Fear is an illusion of the mind, projecting blame and guilt.

Justice as love. Resolves conflict in ways that support harmony, balance, and unity. Justice as love brings about healing, restoration, and reconciliation. 

Justice as vengeance. Approaches conflict in ways that facilitate revenge, separation, and control. Justice as vengeance results in disunity, inequality, and repeated injustice.

The moral code for dealing with conflict is the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you;" loveyour enemies; because what I do to others creates a consciousness pattern that returns to me.

The moral code for dealing with conflict is the covenant, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," and other duality found in nearly all religious traditions. It can only result in more hurt, for what I send forth from my mind and heart returns to me in some form.

Monomorality. One moral standard, as reflected in the Golden Rule and other similar spiritual teachings, guides my conduct. How I wish to be treated is how I treat others. My moral standard is measured by who I am, not by the immorality of my enemy. I am accountable for my actions. Monomorality is based on the premise, I receive good when I give it to others, for giving and receiving are one. It generates peace and harmony.

Dual Morality. The application of two standards of morality, justified by the belief I am moral but my enemy is immoral, even when we do the same thing. It justifies inflicting hurt on others, as in the rule, an eye for an eye. My violence is deemed moral, but my enemy's is immoral. I am not even responsible for my violence—my enemy made me do it. My enemy, in the same mindset, sees himself as the moral one and me as immoral. Dual morality results in endless war and discord.

Monomorality is the opposite of dual morality.  Through the ages, it has successfully been marginalized by those who control through fear and violence. Now, what has changed is the possibility of total annihilation using modern technology not available to adversaries in the past. Adopting monomorality as our standard is the means to preclude total nuclear destruction.

The dual morality of "an eye for an eye" was codified in the Code of Hammurabi, circa 1790 BCE. At that time, it was seen as progressive, because it at least required proportionality between the wrong suffered and the retaliation sought. Modern technology often obliterates this proportionality, but this code still underlies the justification for war and destruction, no matter how all-encompassing the scale, as we revert to "a head/body for an eye."

Holonomy. The law of wholeness. Only by seeing the whole and its many parts is there enough information to understand root causes and find solutions to diverse problems. In seeing the whole, shared interests emerge. As any one problem is solved, others are resolved.

Fragmentation. Breaks a system into parts and looks only at fragments of the whole. Information is incomplete, the ability to find solutions is blinded, and blame is projected where it best serves my interests. With each added fragment, new problems arise.

Power. Built on trust and gained through forgiveness, honesty, generosity, and other positive virtues. Unlimited in scope, it fosters peace, enhances joy, and engenders safety. Power poses no threat to anyone. Others are inspired to emulate those who possess power, which spreads without coercion. Power is economical, requiring the expenditure of minimal energy to accomplish much.

Control. Built on fear and gained through dominance imposed on the physical level. Often achieved by superior physical might, and through mental and emotional duress aimed at undermining access to power. Limited in scope to where physical control and dependence can be maintained. Undermines security; incites rebellion. Control is wasteful, requiring massive expenditures of energy, while it achieves little.

Cooperation and mutual support. The health and well-being of the whole comes from cooperation among the many parts. Every thought is potentially creative; cooperative thought is exponentially creative. Advances are both material and spiritual.

Competition and rivalry.  A zero sum game, "winner" take all. Results in limitation, fear of losing, jealousy when another "gets ahead." I'm never secure in my ephemeral "victories." Advances made through competition are material, never spiritual. Failure of the parts to cooperate leads to disease.

At the cellular level, the energy created by love sends the signal to the cells that the environment is safe. This permits the cells to function in the growth mode. Good health is maintained by the cells— continued growth and regeneration in this field of positive energy. The well-being of the whole is reflected in the wellness of all the cells.

At the cellular level, fear sends the signal to the cells that they must switch to protection mode, a state that precludes growth while survival is the focus. If this state exists for more than brief periods, the cells cease to grow or regenerate, and disease results. When it"s a long-term strategy, this negative energy causes systemic breakdown until extension "wins."

1

Bible, Matthew 5:38-48; a principle taught in one way or another by all the Spiritual Masters in all major religious traditions.

2

Code of Hammurabi; Bible, Exodus 21:24-25; found in nearly all religious traditions in one form or another.

3

David Bohm, Wholeness and the Implicate Order, (Padstow, Great Britain: T.J. Press (Padstow) Ltd., 1980), 156-157.

4

ACIM, T-7.IX.6.

5

ACIM, T-7.VIII.1.11.