Life requires the capacity to understand problems and to resolve them. This is usually a rational capacity that includes knowledge, analytical power and clarity of thinking.
The highest stage of the self-transformation process is egolessness, but structure building is strengthening of the ego.
The strengthening of the personality is a stage that we must go through prior to transcendence. Weakness of the ego leads to regression into the fragmented state instead of transcending toward the spiritual state.
The importance of the development of this intermediate stage can be found in the writings of spiritual classics. such as Bhagavard Gita, Swami Prabhavananda -the sermon on the mount according to Vedanta, Collins, Mabel -Light on the path seek in the heart the source of evil and expunge it … only the strong can kill it out. The weak must wait for is growth, its fruition, its death.”
The integration constitutes three stages:
- Fragmented- the different parts of the consciousness function somewhat independently and often conflict with one another. The rational faculty is not yet capable of integrating the different aspects of the personality. It's expected that as we mature, these different parts will become integrated. In many of us, however, this integration doesn't occur as we grow up, leading to dissociation, instead of differentiation. Differentiation is richness, whereas dissociation is pathological. When there is fear or hurt, these emotions react independently of reason and may overpower reason. These emotions, behaviors or tendencies may be contradictory to each other. A symptom of the fragmented level is ineffectiveness in our affairs such as work, relationships, health and inner peace. When we are fragmented, then it is necessary for us to undertake what is sometimes called a structure building program- to strengthen the integration of our personality with our rational faculties. Push buttons such as fears and unwholesome needs and desires should be processed and neutralized. Our hierarchy of values and priorities should be clarified. The will shall be strengthened. [I'm still in this stage and it is ok.]
- Integrated: we assess which aspects of our life are not working well, and we undertake a program to improve these aspects. In a strained relationship, avoidance is a temporary solution, whereas self-awareness, listening and effective communication are permanent solutions. In sleeplessness, pills are palliatives, whereas awareness and normalization of our stresses will lead to an enduring solution to the problem. Integration makes us capable in a worldly sense. We are efficient and effective in what choose to do, to be, to have. It is a skill that we need to learn.
- Transcendent: the spiritual consciousness and intuitive wisdom play a growing role. An awareness emerges in us that goes beyond the rational.
Structure building goals:
- Values and priorities are clear. When we perceive a conflict in a situation, we have little hesitation to decide in a certain direction that will be consistent with our highest values, even if there is apparent sacrifice in terms of more basic needs.[? I don't understand if it is basic needs, how can we sacrifice it for a higher needs. Those lower level needs must be met before we can move upwards?]
- Unwanted push buttons are no longer dominant. They are subservient to higher reason. Our higher will is now superior to the desires of the lower triangle of the personality. Whenever there is a conflict between the will and the desires or needs ,the will prevails more often. [how?- more like empty words- but seductive]
- The rational faculty is healthy. We can recognize fallacious reasoning. We can see the points of view of others, whether we agree or not. Muddled thinking is minimized. [skills building by learning and practice]
Structure building methods:
- Self-awareness processing: leading to the minimization of tension, stress and the various conditioned push buttons in our subconscious that cause emotional distress and confused thinking.
- Self-mastery: the capacity to carry out what is perceived to be the highest choices of our rational faculty
- Effective relationships: the capacity to deal effectively with human conflicts
- Seven-day program: practice in strengthening the will over the desires
- Self-inventory: a self-assessment of what is working and not working in our life as an indicator of what structure to strengthen in our ego.
The integration process involves internal coherence within a structure, such as reason, and between structures, such as between reason and emotion.
Intra-structural integration: we harbor contradictory beliefs and are not even aware of it. We need the motivation to clarify intellectual issues and beliefs. A deliberate effort to read, discuss and write helps to strengthen such mental weakness.
The same internal fragmentation is seen in our emotional natures. Our pendulum-like moods represent the contradictory emotional states that we may have in the same situation or environment.
Inter-structural integration-between structures: a recognition of what they are-contradictions- and then adopting approaches to make them congruent. It entails the permanent disappearance of one or both of the contradictory tendencies or beliefs. It entails the strengthening of the view or behavior that is most consistent with reality.
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