But what exactly is the soul, one may ask? A fair question that I can only answer inexactly. For this blog I use it in the context of a couple of definitions. It is that part of us connected to everything else in the universe; this can be one definition. Another is derived from that part of us which relates to the greater collective, the fact that we evolved as social beings in a hunting and gathering society. As I ever strive to come down out of the mystical to act in the grounded, I commonly use the latter definition (and also for this purpose, I often use the term primal soul).
It is often said that we are all 'one', that we're all related. While I expect that's true, the modernist probably doesn't feel that way, which is a reality that we must contend with. Yet there's no denying our social emotions, such as shame, love, etc. Consequently, when referring to the soul, it's on surer ground when attempting to construct a persuasive argument to define it as related to the greater collective in the various forms it may take (i.e., marriage, family, community, nation, etc.).
Because of our soul, because of our collective nature, because of our capacity recognize one's own self in another through sympathetic love -- however one puts it -- the cross cultural divine law as laid down by the true prophets to love each other as you love yourself is ever the optimum of human flourishing. The harm one does to another, even though it may be unintended or the circumstances force one into it, will still register in the soul in the form of shame and dampen the spirit.
As D.H. Lawrence asserted in his time, the mind can go wrong. It is common that the mind doesn't recognize this internalized shame. Also common is to feel hatred to another because that other in some way causes the mind to confront the internalized pain of the shame. But rather than confront that painful, shameful truth, the mind often latches onto an imaginative construct of reality that validates one's actions. But it only validates on the level of the mind but not in the soul. And ironically, Lawrence's life serves as an example of this and suffered for it, as I interpret it, for running off with another man's wife.
The essential problem is our consciousness, our worldview, our imaginative construct of reality, being misaligned with the soul. One may cite competition and self-interest as a motivational force in human nature and not be wrong; but as much of the free market enables, it should be a force that ultimately promotes others as it promotes one's self. If it fails to do this in any way, no matter how much one may apply reason, human evolution won't rest until a society is attained that's aligned with the soul
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