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Thurman,HowardT.,19001981,TheSearchforCommonGround:AninquiryIntotheBasisofMan'sExperienceofCommunity.(Harper&Row,NewYork,NY,1971).[AuthorInformation]
[BibliographicDetails]
TableofContents
TitlePageandCredits
Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword
TheSearchforCommonGround
1:ConcerningtheSearch
II:TheSearchintoBeginnings
III:TheSearchinLivingStructures
IV:TheSearchintheProphet'sDream
V:TheSearchintheCommonConsciousness
VI:TheSearchinIdentity
Bibliography

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TitlePageandCredits
TheSearchforCommonGround
ANINQUIRYINTOTHEBASISOFMAN'SEXPERIENCEOFCOMMUNITY
HowardThurman
HARPER&ROW,PUBLISHERS
NewYork,Evanston,
SanFrancisco,London1817
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THESEARCHFORCOMMONGROUND.Copyright1971byHowardThurman.Allrightsreserved.PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Nopartofthisbookmaybeusedor
reproducedinanymannerwhatsoeverwithoutwrittenpermissionexceptinthecaseofbriefquotationsembodiedincriticalarticlesandreviews.ForinformationaddressHarper&Row,
Publishers,Inc.,49East33rdStreet,NewYork,N.Y.10016.PublishedsimultaneouslyinCanadabyFitzhenry&WhitesideLimited,Toronto.
FIRSTEDITION
LIBRARYOFCONGRESSCATALOGCARDNUMBER:73148441
NA
Toourgrandchildren
Emily...Anton...Suzanne:
Onesingleexperience
Seekingandfindingthecommonground
NA

Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword
IConcerningtheSearch
IITheSearchintoBeginnings
IIITheSearchinLivingStructures
IVTheSearchintheProphet'sDream

ix
xi
1
8
29
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VTheSearchintheCommonConsciousness 56
VITheSearchinIdentity
76
Bibliography
105
ix

Acknowledgments
IexpressmyappreciationtothemanycreativemindsthathavethoughtdeeplyandwrittenclearlyinthevariousareaswhichIhaveexplored.Abibliographyofdirectsourcesappearsat
theendofthebook.
Joyfulappreciationgoestothefollowing:mysecretary,AliceRatner,who,inadditiontothetypingandretypingoftheentiremanuscript,gaveofhertimeincheckingreferencesand
makingsignificantsuggestionsaboutdocumentation,etc.MaryMayTeksewhotypedthefinalchapterfromthehandwrittencopyandwhousedherskillincheckingthemanuscriptfor
errorsthatplayedhideandseekinthepagesofthematerialMrs.AnneChiarenza,mydaughter,whoreadtheentiremanuscriptwiththeskillofacopyeditorandthesensitivityofthe
youngergenerationandfinally,mywife,SueBaileyThurman,whoinsistedthatthiswasanimportantandtimelystatementtobemadeandthatImustmakeit.
xi

Foreword
Thisparticularbookhasbeenmorethanfouryearsinthemaking.Thejourneyhasledmeintoareasofexplorationsomewhatforeigntomyimmediateacademicinterests.Itwasawary
experiencegettingthefeelofanunfamiliarvocabularyastheconceptunfoldedbeforeme.WhenIfinishedthefirstfivechapters,mymindcametoadeadend.Foralongtimeitwasnot
cleartomewhatthemeaningofmypursuitforcommunitywouldbeintermsofthepresenttensionsbetweenblackandwhiteinAmericansociety.
FrommychildhoodIhavebeenonthescentofthetiethatbindslifeatalevelsodeepthatthefinalprivacyoftheindividualwouldbereinforcedratherthanthreatened.Ihavealways
wantedtobemewithoutmakingitdifficultforyoutobeyou.WhenIcompletedthismanuscript,IwasstruckbythefeelingthathereIhadsetdownthecaseinratherformalterms,for
whatrevealsitselfismylifelongworkingpaper.Whatissuggestedandoftenstatedinpreviousbooks,suchasTheCreativeEncounter,JesusandtheDisinherited,andFootprintsofa
Dream,inthepresentvolumecomesfullcircleinawidercontext,rootedinthelifeprocessitself.
xii
Theparadoxofconsciouslifeistheultimateissuehere.Ontheonehandistheabsolutenecessityforthedeclarationthatstatesunequivocallytheuniquenessoftheprivatelife,theawful
senseofbeinganisolate,independentandalone,thegreaturgencytosavorone'spersonalflavortostandoveragainstalltherestoflifeincontainedaffirmation.Whileontheother
handisthenecessitytofeeloneselfasaprimarypartofalloflife,sharingateverylevelofawarenessadependenceuponthesameelementsinnature,caughtupintheceaseless
rhythmoflivinganddying,withnofinalimmunityagainstacommonfatethatfindsandholdsalllivingthings.
Inasense,therefore,Ihavebeenwritingthisbookallmylife.OverandoveragainIhaveaskedmyself:Whatisthecommongroundthatfloatstheprivateadventureoftheindividualor
solitarylife?Isitmerelyconceptual,isitonlythegreatidea,thehungeroftheheartrationalizedintoatranscendentGodidea,concept,ornotion?Orarethesebutthescentoftheeternal
inalllivingthings,perhapsreachingitsapotheosisinman,andinthereligiousmaninparticular?
SuchquestionsbecomeapersonalcrisisforablackmanlivinginAmericansocietyinthelastdecadesofthetwentiethcentury.Atthismomentthereisavasturgencyforseparateness,
forisolatingtheblackexperiencefromtheAmericanexperienceingeneral,andestablishingonthatbasisagrandwindbreakbehindwhichtheblackcommunitycandefineandarticulate
itsuniqueidentityasaselfconsciousparticipantinAmericanand,indeed,worldsociety.Allofthisisinterpretedasanecessarytechniqueofsurvivalbywhichboththeprivateandthe
publiccharactercanbedefined.Intheintensityoftheurgency,thelinesofseparationbetweenblackandwhiteareseenpsychologicallyasbeingabsolute,andeverythinginthepastthat
iscontrariwisemustberegardedasfalse,degrading,andevil.
Thisbookisoneman'sstatementofhowhedealswiththeambiguitiescreatedbytheexistentialperiodinwhichhislifemustbelived.Thereisarelentlessambivalenceformein
honoringthesourcesofmyownintegrityandinspirationwhileatthesametime
xiii
recognizingtheirrelevancetothetimesinwhichIamnowliving.
Inthefirstchapter,Idefinethemeaningofthesearchforthecommongroundinabroadandfundamentallyphilosophicalcontext,inlanguagethatathoughtfulreaderwillnotfindtoo
involvedorabstruse.Iurgethereadertofollowthethreadofthebasicthesisassetforththere.
Thesecondchapterexaminesthe"racialmemory"assetforthinthequeryaccountsofcreationthattellofa"timewhen"therewasharmonyandcommunityamongalllivingthingsasa
partofthegivennessoftheCreatortohiscreation.Itwasatimeofthe"wholenessofinnocence"withnoactive,divisiveprincipleatwork.Thatinnocencewaslost,andthelongstruggle
forcommunityfamiliartomankindwasbegun.Thisracialmemoryisuniversalandisnotuniquetoanyparticularcultural,religious,orethnicorigin.
Thethirdchapterdealswiththecharacterofthesearchasfoundimplicitinalllivingstructures,includingmanandsomeoftheproblemscreatedbyhisautonomyandselfconsciousness.
ThefourthchapterinterpretsthemeaningofthesearchasdefinedinUtopias.Inthedreamsoftheseersandprophets,harmony,bydefinition,isbuiltintothestructuredsocieties.What
weseeisadeliberatecreationofthedreamerandanechoofwhatheseeksintheimmediateworldinwhichhislifeisbeinglivedout.
Thefifthchapterisalookatthecommonconsciousnessbindingalllivingthingsandthewayinwhichtheseparateforms,dividingonekindoflifeoroneparticularexpressionoflifefrom
another,seemtobefinalandabsolute.Attentionisgiventotheexperienceofgoingbehindthedivision,forinstance,betweenmanandanimalstodiscovertheircommongroundasa
truebasisofcommunicationandunderstandingbetweenthem.
Thefinalchapterexploresthemeaningofthesearchforidentity,whichisthemoodandnecessityfortheblackman,who,forthefirsttimeinAmericansociety,isbeginningtothinkof
himselfasanintegralpartofthesocietyinhisownright.Thisintensiveandincreasingpolarizationinthesocietyhasbroughttheissueofidentity
xiv
intosharpfocusforminorities,therebyallowingthemtorejectallarbitrarysocialclassificationsarisingfromthelargersociety.
Forthereligiousman,thereridesalwaysonhishorizonatimeless,transcendentmonitorbywhichnotonlyisthedirectionofhislifesomehowguidedbutalsobywhichheisstabilizedin
themidstofthecontradictionsofhisexperience.Butthisdoesnotreleasehimfromthenecessityofseekingalwaystolocatehisprofoundestreligiousinsightsintheverystructureofhis
lifeasalivinghumanbeing,spawnedfromthewomboftheearth,andasaparticipantinthatwhichsustainsandsupportsalllifeontheplanet.Ultimately,allthedualismsofhis
experienceasacreaturemustexhaustthemselvesinacorroboratingunityfundamentaltolifeandnotmerelydependentuponthatwhichtranscendslifebywhatevernameheseeksto
patronizeit.
IdreamedIsawaland.Andonthehillswalkedbravewomenandbravemen,handinhand.Andtheylookedintoeachother'seyes,andtheywerenotafraid.
AndIsawthewomenalsoholdeachother'shands.
AndIsaidtohimbesideme,"Whatplaceisthis?"
Andhesaid,"Thisisheaven."
AndIsaid,"Whereisit?"
Andheanswered,"Onearth."
AndIsaid,"Whenshallthesethingsbe?"
Andheanswered,"IntheFuture."
OliveSchreiner
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TheSearchforCommonGround
1

1:ConcerningtheSearch
AnoldmanwithadoublebitaxeIscaretakerattheGoreplace.Thecattle,exceptafewwildhorns,diedinthatfirethehorsesGrazehighupthedarkhillnobodyever
comestotheinfamoushousethepain,thehateandtheloveHaveleftnoghost.Oldmenandgrayhawksneedsolitude,Hereitisdeepandwide."Winterandsummer,"
theoldmansays,"rainandthedroughtPeacecreepsoutofwar,waroutofpeacethestarsriseandtheysetthecloudsgonorthAndagaintheygosouth.Whydoes
Godhuntincircles?Hashelostsomething?Isitpossiblehimself?Inthedarknessbetweenthestarsdidhelosehimselfandbecomegodless,andseekshimself?"
"DoesGodexist?Nodoubtofthat,"theoldmansays."Thecellsofmyoldcamelofabody,

2
BecausetheyfeeleachotherandarefittedtogetherthroughnervesandbloodfeeleachotherallthelittleanimalsAretheoneman:thereisnotanatominallthe
universes"Butfeelseveryotheratomgravitation,electromagnetism,light,heat,andtheotherFlamings,thenervesinthenight'sblackflesh,flowthemtogetherthestars,
thewindsandthepeople:oneenergy,Oneexistence,onemusic,oneorganism,onelife,oneGod:starfireandrockstrength,thesea'scoldflowAndman'sdarksoul."
"NotatribalnorananthropoidGod.Notaridiculousprojectionofhumanfears,needs,dreams,justiceandLovelust.""AconsciousGod?Thequestionhasno
importance.ButIamconscious:whereelseDidthisconsciousnesscomefrom?NobodythatIknowofeverpouredgrainfromanemptysack.Andwho,Iwouldsay,but
God,andaconsciousone,Endedthechiefwarmakerswiththeirwar,sohumorously,suchaccuratetiming,andsuchAppropriateends?..."
ROBINSONJEFFERS1
Thereissomethingsoprivateandpersonalaboutanactofthoughtthattheindividualmayveryeasilyseemtobeaprivateislandonaboundlesshumansea.Toexperienceone'sselfis
toenterintoasolitaryworldthatisone'suniquepossessionandthatcanneverbecompletelyandutterlyshared.Hereistheparadox.Amanisalwaysthreatenedinhisverygroundbya
senseofisolation,byfeelinghimselfcutofffromhisfellows.Yethecanneverseparate
3
himselffromhisfellows,formutualinterdependenceischaracteristicofalloflife.
Theneedtocareforandtheneedtobecaredforisanotherexpressionofthesamebasicidea.Itisunnecessarytoresorttomoralorreligiousauthorityforamandateorforaninjunction.
Suchneedsareorganic,whatevermaybetheirpsychologicalorspiritualderivatives.Therefore,whenevertheindividualiscutofffromtheprivateandpersonalnourishmentfromother
individualsorfromparticularindividuals,theresultisawastingaway,astarvation,afailureofhislifetobesustainedandnourished.Studiesshowthatsomefiftyyearsago,whenan
effortwasmadetotrackdownthecauseofthedeathofmorethanhalfofthechildrenwhodiedduringthefirstyearoflife,itwasfoundtobeduetoadiseaseknownasmarasmus.This
diseasewasalsoknownasinfantileatrophyordevility,comingfromtheGreekwordmarasms,meaning"wastingaway."Thediscoverywasmadethatsuchbabieswerenotneglected
asfarastheirphysicalcare,cleanliness,andthelikewereconcerned.Rather,whatwaslackingwasthefreeandeasyaccessofthechildtothepsychicnourishmentmadepossible
throughmotherlove.Perhapsitislargelyforthisreasonthathospitalstodaykeeptheinfantforasshortaperiodaspossible.Whentherealmotherisnotavailable,motherlove
substitutesareprovided.Ihaveheardofaninstanceinwhichamother'sheartbeatwasputonatapeandthesoundamplifiedthroughthepublicaddresssysteminahospitalnurseryfor
thebenefitofallthebabies.
Thehumanspiritcannotabidetheenforcedlonelinessofisolation.Weliterallyfeedoneachotherwherethisnourishmentisnotavailable,thehumanspiritandthehumanbodyboth
sickenanddie.Itisnotanoverstatementthatthepurposeofallofthearrangementsandconventionsthatmakeuptheformalandinformalagreementsunderwhichmenliveinsocietyis
tonourishoneanotherwithoneanother.Thesafeguardsbywhichindividualsorgroupsofmenestablishtheboundariesofintimateandcollectivebelongingaremeantultimatelyto
guaranteeselfnourishment.Allofthese
4
arebutsocialexpressionsoftheunderlyingexperienceoflifewithitself.Lifefeedsonlifelifeisnourishedbylife.Itislife'sexperiencewithitselfthatestablishesthegroundforthedogma
thatlifeiseternal.
Toseeknourishmentisabuiltinurge,aningredientoflifeinitssimplestormostcomplexmanifestations.Thecreativepushthatexpressesitselfinthiswayisthemannerbywhichlife
realizesitself.Thedescriptivetermthatcharacterizessuchbehavioris"actualizingpotential."Whereverlifeisobservedthisisitsprimaryactivityorbusiness.Inthissensealllifeis
engagedingoalseeking.
Thedegreetowhichthepotentialinanyexpressionoflifeisactualizedmarkstheextenttowhichsuchanexpressionoflifeexperienceswholeness,integration,community.Theclueto
communitycanbefoundintheinnercreativeactivityoflivingsubstances.Themorehighlydevelopedtheorganism,themorepronouncedseemstobethemanifestationoftheclue.Cells
andorganismsalwaysshowcertaincharacteristicsofdirection,persistence,andadaptabilityintheireffortstorealizethemselves,toroundthemselvesout,tofulfillthemselves,to
become,toripeninintegrationinfine,toexperiencecommunity.Themorehighlydevelopedtheorganism,themoreplainlymanifestarethesecharacteristics.
Itseemsreasonabletosay,then,thatthe"intent"ofcreationisthatlifelivesbyconstantlyseekingtorealizeitselfinestablishedforms,patterns,andunits.Expressedinthisway,itmust
notbethoughtthatlifeisstatic,somethingthatisset,fixed,determined.Thekeywordtorememberalwaysispotential:thatwhichhasnotyetcometopassbutwhichisalwayscomingto
pass.Itisonlythepotential,theundisclosed,theunfinishedthathasafuture.Ifinditdifficulttothinkoflifeapartfromthenotionofpotentialindeed,theyseemsynonymous.Tobesure,
lifeisnotfinishedyetcreationisstillgoingon,notonlyinthespinningofnewworlds,systems,nebulae,andgalaxiesintheinfinitudeofspace,notonlyintheinvisibleworldwhere
chemicalelementsarebornandnourishedtosupportconglomeratesofmatteryettoappearatsomefaroffmoment
5
intime,butalsointhehumanbody,whichisstillevolving,inthehumanmind,whichsoslowlyloosensitscorporalbonds,andinthehumanspirit,whichforeverdrivestoknowthetruthof
itselfandofitsfellows.
Inhumansociety,theexperienceofcommunity,orrealizedpotential,isrootedinlifeitselfbecausetheintuitivehumanurgeforcommunityreflectsacharacteristicofalllife.Inthetotal
panoramaoftheexternalworldofnature,thereseemstobeapatternofstructuraldependabilityandcontinuity,orwhatmaybecalledaninnerlogic,thatmanifestsitselfinforms,
organizationalschemes,andinawidevarietyoftimespacearrangements.Themoststrikingpatternofallisthatthereseemstobeaffinitybetweenthehumanmindandallexternal
forms,afactthatmakesanunderstandingoftheworldpossibleforthemind.
Thereligiousbasisforsuchaninterpretationofcommunityistheaffirmation,whichtomeiscategorical,thattheMindofGodrealizesItselfintime,andthatthereareobservablepatterns
orsequencesinallcreation.ThusGodisthoughtofasCreator.Fromthispointofview,alltimespacemanifestationsofsubstanceinshort,allthings,evenexistenceitselfare
regardedastheMindofGodcomingtoItselfintimeandspace.Thisisevidentinhistoryandinnature.Existenceitselfisconstruedasdivineactivity.Thereseemstobeaprincipleof
rationalityinallexistence,andthesignificanceofthiscanbefoundintheorderinlife.True,whatseemstobeaprincipleofrationalityasexpressedinobservableorderinlifemaybea
limitationofminditself.Yetitisthisassumptionofinherentlogicinthefunctioningofthemindthatmakescomprehensionoftheexternalworldpossible.
IrecognizethefactthatinusingtheformalnameCreator,Iamusinganthropomorphicterminology.Idothisquitedeliberately,becauseIfinditquiteimpossibletothinkofactionand
thisisimplicitinthetermasanabstraction.Whileitistruethatwhenthemindisconcernedwithsomethingasvastasexistenceitself,anykindoflimitationisparadoxical,ifnot
contradictorynevertheless,themindasathinkingentitycanonlymakesenseofthis
6
complexitybyusingsymbolsthatcanstandforideasandfieldsofcomprehension.Behindthe"thisnessandthatness"ofexperienceandobservationonehastosensesomethingmore.
Whatevertermisusedtoexpressthisdimension(alsoalimitingword)simplyextendstheboundaryitdoesnotgetridofit.Onemayusethetermgroundorinfinitude,or,toborrowa
phrasefromNorthrup,"theundifferentiatedaestheticcontinuum"orEckhart'snamelessnothingorGodheadashedistinguishesitfromGodoracontemporarytheologian'sterm,"God
aboveGod."Allthesephrasesareanattempttoescapethedilemmaofpureexistencethat,tothemind,ismeaningless.
Themanwhoseekscommunitywithinhisownspirit,whosearchesforitinhisexperienceswiththeliteralfactsoftheexternalworld,whomakesthishisformalintentasheseekstobring
orderoutofthechaosofhiscollectivelife,isnotgoingagainstlifebutwillbesustainedandsupportedbylife.Andfortheworldofmodernmanthisiscrucial.Intheconflictsbetweenman
andman,betweengroupandgroup,betweennationandnation,thelonelinessoftheseekerforcommunityissometimesunendurable.Theradicaltensionbetweengoodandevil,as
manseesitandfeelsit,doesnothavethelastwordaboutthemeaningoflifeandthenatureofexistence.Thereisaspiritinmanandintheworldworkingalwaysagainstthethingthat
destroysandlayswaste.Alwayshemustknowthatthecontradictionsoflifearenotfinalorultimatehemustdistinguishbetweenfailureandamanysidedawarenesssothathewillnot
mistakeconformityforharmony,uniformityforsynthesis.Hewillknowthatforallmentobealikeisthedeathoflifeinman,andyetperceivetheharmonythattranscendsalldiversities
andinwhichdiversityfindsitsrichnessandsignificance.
Theorderincreationandtheorderlydisorderthatseemtocharacterizewhatisregardedasrandomactivityincertainaspectsoftheworldexternaltoman,theconceptsinthemindthat
arederivativesofman'sexperiencewithhissenses,andthoseotherconceptsthatseemtotaketheirformfromtheboundlessebbandflowoftheimagelesstidesthatwashtheshoresof
thehumanmind
7
andspiritalltheseexpressanauthenticcreativitythatisMindatwork,andmanisanessentialpartoftheorder.Whatisobservedasastructureoforderlinessordependabilityinany
andallexpressionsoflife,fromthesimplestformstothemostcomplex,isseenmostdramaticallyintheabilityofmantocreate,toconceptualize,toplan,tofunctionpurposefully,andto
implementintimeandspacewhatisideaorthoughttothemind.Fromwithinthenarrowcircleofman'smindtherecanbenothoughtoractionthatisnotinvolvedinsomeformofintent

intentasaformofvolition,focusedorunfocused,deliberateorunconscious.Inman'sexperiencewithlife,withinhimatalllevelsandabouthiminvariedmanifestationsintimespace
intervals,heisapartoftheworldoffactsandmeaning,suggestingcreativeintent.Itseemsreasonable,then,toassumethatwhereverlifeisfound,evidenceofcreativeintentmustalso
existinthatwhichisbeingexperienced,reactedto,observed,orstudied.Onesuchsign,andthemostcrucialone,isthewaylifeseeksalwaystorealizeitselfinwholeness,harmony,
andintegrationwithinthepotentialthatcharacterizestheparticularexpressionoflife.Themostnaturalquestionthatcomestomind,therefore,whenevermenreflectuponortryto
rationalizetheirexperiencesoflifeis:Howdidlifegetstarted?Whatwasthebeginningofitall?
8

II:TheSearchintoBeginnings
Itisnaturalthatmanshouldconcernhimselfwithbeginnings.Thisisapartofthecuriosityofthemind.Withoutittherewouldbenoexplorationoftheworldandtherewouldbenogrowth.
ThetwinqueriesthathauntthemindareWhyandHowperhapstheorderismostoftenreversed,HowandthenWhy.Thisisaninherentcharacteristicofminditisnotuniquetoany
particularageofman,culture,orsociety.Contemplationconcerningoriginsisapartofthecuriosityoftherace.
Suchcontemplationmayariseoutoftheneedtohaveexperiencemakesense,tomakeitfitintosomekindoforderinthesimplestandmostelementarymanner.Oritmayexpressitself
outofakindofsophisticationasmanseekstorelatetohisworldmeaningfullyinanefforttomanipulateittoprivateends,tocontrolit,ormasteritinestablishinghisownemotional
security.Butwhatevermaybethereason,theessentialcharacteristicbehaviorpersistsaswewanttoknowhowtheworldbegan,wherewecamefrom,andwhatthemeaningoflife,and
Life,is.
Whenweexaminethevariousaccountsofhowtheworldbegan,
9
theoriginoflifeingeneral,andman'sworkinparticular,wearefacetofacewithwhathasbeenaptlycalledthe"memoryofalostharmony."Onenoticesimmediatelythatideasaboutthe
originofmanarecompletelyseparatedfromwhateveristhoughtofastheoriginoflife.Theoriginoflifeisneverseparatedfromtheoriginoftheworld.Thisisamostintriguing
realization.Itisasifthesenseofcommonoriginisinescapable.Broodingoverthebillofparticularsofcreationthereisthenotionofanactivecontinuum,orspirit,orvitalcomplexthatis
beingdemonstrated.Alwaysthemanifestationisanexpressionofaninternalorder.Whatemergesoutofthebroodingformlessnesscalledchaos,isorder.Anypartofnaturesay,a
rock,atree,oramanisanexpressionoforder.Therelationbetweenarock,atree,andamanisalsoanexpressionoforder.Wherethemindcannotseeorder,itseeschaos.Chaosis
alwaysgivingwaytoorderasknowledgeandinsightdevelop.
Thetotalimpactofthisconceptwasbroughthometomemanyyearsago.WhenIwasasmallboygrowingupinDaytonaBeach,Florida,Iearnedmoneydoingvariouschores.Oneof
myregularchoreswastocollectdiscardednewspapersandmagazinesfromcertainhomesandtakethemfordisposaltothecitydump.Onceeachmonththerewasincludedone
magazinecalledTheAtlanticMonthly.Itwasprintedonheavy,enameledpaperthatmadeitveryhardtoburn.Butthisisnotthethingthatstandsoutinmymemorymostdramatically.
No.WhatremainsinmymindmostclearlyisafullpageadvertisementofaHamiltonwatch.InthecenterofthepagewasareproductionofRodin's"Thinker."Thispictureaffectedme
profoundly.Infact,IwassoenamoredofitthatItriedtoreproducethepose,thestance,thefurrowedbrow,thechinrestingontheflatsideofthefistthesebecameformehallmarksof
thoughtandprofundity.IpracticedtheposewheneverIhadasparemomentandsomethingtoleanagainst.Oneday,Irecall,mymothertoldmysistertocallmetodoanerrand.Iwas
leaningagainstthefenceperfectingmystance.ItoldhertotellmymotherthatIwasthinking.Needlesstosay,Ididnotrepeatthatagain.
YearslaterIvisitedtheMetropolitanMuseumofArtinNew
10
YorkCity.IntheRodingalleryIsawareproductionofthe"Thinker."AsIwalkedawayfromthefigure,myhandsbehindme,myheadbowed,mymindburiedinthought,Isuddenlyfound
mywayblockedbythebaseofapedestal.WhenIlookedup,IwasstandinginthepresenceofthebackviewofRodin's"HandofGod."Herewasthebackofthegreathand,thelong,
gracefulfingers,threeinfullviewsupportedbythegiantthumb.SlowlyImademywayaroundtothefrontofthehandandwhatIsawtheretransfixedmeinmyplace:thegianthand,and
alwaysthemightythumb,yetdeepinthepalmofthehandthechaoticstuffoflife.Infact,thehanditselfseemedtoemergeoutofakindofchaoticconglomerate.Andyet,fromwithinthe
hand,comingupoutofthisstuffoflife,weretheshapelybodiesofhumanbeings.Itwasasifadreamoforder,implicitinchaositselfandyetbroodingoverchaos,werebeingheldin
terribletensionoverthestuffoflife,untilthestuffoflifebegantorespondinshapeandform,whichwasbutamanifestationofitsownpotential.Suchwastheconceptoftheartistasit
realizeditselfinhismedium.Inhiscreationhesaystomankind:Thisishowwecametobe.Thisismyinterpretationoftheracialmemoryofalostharmony.
Inthesearchfortruthonthepartofastronomers,physicists,geologists,biologists,andotherscientists,awidevarietyofhypothesesandtheorieshavedevelopedandwillcontinueto
developinalltheyearsthatliferemainsintactonourplanet.AsLorenC.EiseleyremindsusinanarticleinHarper'sMagazineofOctober1953,"afterhavingchidedthetheologistforhis
relianceonmythandmiracle,sciencefounditselfintheunenviablepositionofhavingtocreateamythologyofitsown:namely,theassumptionthatwhat,afterlongeffort,couldnotbe
provedtotakeplacetodayhad,intruth,takenplaceintheprimevalpast."
InMariaLeach'sTheBeginning:CreationMythsAroundtheWorld,thefirstchapterneatlysummarizesthewaysinwhichthescientificmindhasdealtwiththequestionofbeginnings.The
openingparagraphreads:"TheOldFarmer'sAlmanacsaysthattheworldbeganatnineo'clockinthemorningonWednesday,
11
October26,intheyear4004B.C.ThisisthefamousdateworkedoutbyJamesUssher,ArchbishopofArmaghinIreland,fromhisstudiesofHebrewchronology."
Itisunderstandablethatmanwouldregardhisearthasthecenterofallcreation.Giventhisfact,itisbutastepinlogictoarriveatapositionofhumansupremacyoverallcreation.Outof
thisposition,manmayconcludethathisplaceinspaceisthecenterofallexistenceorexistences.Eventhethoughtthattheremightbeotherinhabitantsintheworldsandsystems
beyondourownmusthavebeenextremelythreateningtotheegosofthosewhofirstconsideredsuchapossibility.
Asimplelistingofsomeoftheimportantscientifictheoriesoraccountsofthebeginningoftheworld,asoutlinedinMariaLeach'sfirstchapter,readsasfollows:"(1)thenebular
hypothesis(2)theeruptionorplanetesimaltheory(3)thetidaltheory(4)thecollisiontheory(5)thecatastrophictheoryorthestoryofthebigblowup(6)thetaleofthelonelyatomsor
thecontinuouscreationtheory."
EachoftheseisanattempttoanswerHow.Throughthisprocessthemindseekstopushbacktheveilofmysterythatshroudstheconceptoforigin.Themindlivesundertheduressofa
strangeandwonderfulurgencyinthisregard.Theimportantthingaboutsuchactivityisthateventhoughtheboundariesorbeginningsofexistencecannotbedefinitelyestablished,
sciencehassucceededinpushingthembackbeyondwhatatonetimewereaccentedlimits.Andthishasaddedenormouslytothescopeofthemeaningofman'slifeandtheworldin
whichthatlifefindsacrucialpartofitsmeaning.
HereacommentfromJ.H.Rush'sstimulatingandcreativebookTheDawnofLifeseemsrelevant:"Whatthisgropingintothepasthasgivenusisnothinglessthanaradicallynewway
ofthinkingabouttheuniverseandourplaceinit.Tomymind,thisnewapproachisthemostfundamentalofallthechangesthatsciencehasbroughttoourlivesandthoughts,themost
farreachinginitsimplicationsforourunderstandingofnatureandourselves.Itistheprincipleofevolution."
12
Sincethen,accordingtoDr.Rush,Lifefindsitreassuringforitspurposesnottothinkofabeginningorbetter,thebeginningbutrathertothinkofBeginningavastseriesofcreative
pushes,eachoneafterthemannerofitsown"idiom"orgenius,asitwere.Ofcourse,suchtheorizingdoesnotprecludethenotionofaboundlessextensionofavibrantcontinuumfrom
whichmovesanunnumberedseriesofBeginnings,alwayswiththepossibilitythataBeginningmaybegetaBeginningadinfinitum.
Whatisrelevanthereisthatthereisimplicitinalltheseprobabledevelopmentsaninherentorder,harmony,integration.Thisisnotasformalactsofconsciousnessbutratherasthe
patternorcharacteristicofthewaythecreationsareformed.Itisnotnecessarytosaythatitisthewaythecreationsarefashioned.
Thescientifictheoriesleaveoutanyelementsthatwouldindicateanotionofintrinsicpurposeordesign.Theyseemtowanttodealwiththematterofbeginningswithoutintroducingthe
ideaofaCreatorortheutterlyreligiousterm,God.Anysuchnotionsareexpressed,ifatall,byimplication.Thisisasitshouldbe.Forscienceisbutoneofthemoodsofthehumanspirit.
"Itdoesnotimplythattheothermoodsarefatuousorfatileitdoesnotholdthatthetruthsitenablesmentodiscoveraretheonlytruths."
Inthecreationaccountsthathavegrownordevelopedoutoftheseedbedofcultureandthespiritualandreligiousaspirationoftherace,somethingisinevidencethatisoutsidetherange
andperspectiveofscience.Anattemptismadetoaccountformorethantheexternalworldofnature,ortheelementsthatmakeupthenaturalenvironmentofman.Nothinglessthan
facingtheissueofWhyisworthyofbeingtransmittedfromgenerationtogenerationinmyriadformsamongallthechildrenofmenwherevertheyarefound.Herewecomeuponthe
creationmythsherewegetfleetingandsometimessustainedviewsoftheCreatoratwork,fashioningtheworldandbringingintoconsciousnessathingcalledlifeandtheliving
experience.

Itisinmanyoftheseaccountsthattheconceptofintentappears.
13
InpracticallyeveryrecordedinstancetheCreatoror,insomeinstances,theCreatorshassomethinginmindthatheseekstobringtopassintheactofcreation.Thisdoesnot
becomeapparentuntil,inthesequenceofcreation,manappears.Atthatmomenttheorganicharmonyintheinterrelatednessofallcreationbecomesapartofthequalityoflifeitself,a
partoftheexperiencedintentofalllivingthings.Anditreachesitsmostimpressivearticulationinthebehaviorofhumanbeings.Whenlifeappears,itisalreadycommittedtorealizing
itselfbythekindofinnerharmonyandintegrationthatisthewaylifereproducesitselfandpersists."Thefullnessoftime"isasuggestivephrase,meaningtheexperienceofcommunity
withinanorganismwhenitsissuecomesforthandmakesabidforthecontinuityoftheform.
Ishallnowexaminetworemarkablecreationaccounts,thefirstasfoundintheJudeoChristianreligioustradition,thesecondasexpressedinthecreationmythoftheHopiIndians.Let
mecautionthereaderthatIhavenodesiretodoviolencetoanyman'sparticularreligiousfaith.IamsimplyputtingthestoryofAdamandEveintheGardenofEden,asfoundinthe
BookofGenesis,intheperspectiveofthecreationaccountasithasoccurredthroughouthumanhistory.Inthissense,theGenesisstoryisacreationmythoneofmany.Inexplaining
myuseoftheterm"myth,"IcannotdobetterthangivethedefinitionasfoundinWebster'sNewIntercollegiateDictionary,whichissufficientlysimplesoastoavoidanydetailed
excursionintoanthropology:"Amythisastory,theoriginofwhichisforgotten,ostensiblyhistoricalbutusuallysuchastoexplainsomepractice,belief,institutionornaturalphenomenon."
Themyth,therefore,undertakestoanswerarealquestionaboutcurrentlyexperienced,continuouseventsinthecommonlife.Inthecreationmyth,whichisapartofourreligious
heritage,thequestionthatittriestoanswerisuniversal:Howdidtheworldgetstartedhowdiditcomeintobeinginthefirstinstance?Howwasmanbornoriginallywhentherewereno
parents?Howdidmanandallhisdifficultiesstarttoevolve?
TheauthorortheauthorsofGenesistellthefollowingstory:On
14
thesixthdayofcreation,afterGodcreatedlightandmadetimeandspace,matterinallitsforms,organicandinorganic,
Godsaid,"Lettheearthbringforththelivingcreaturesafterhiskind,cattleandcreepingthingsandbeastsoftheearthafterhiskind."Anditwasso...AndGodsawthat
itwasgood.ThenGodsaid,"Letusmakemaninourimageafterourlikenessandlethimhavedominionoverthefishofthesea,andoverthefowloftheair,andoverthe
cattle,andoveralltheearth,andovereverycreepingthingthatcreepethupontheearth."SoGodcreatedmaninhisownimage...maleandfemalecreatedHethem.
AndtheLordGodtooktheman,andputhimintotheGardenofEdentodressitandtokeepit.AndtheLordGodcommandedtheman,saying,"Ofeverytreeofthe
gardenthoumaystfreelyeatbutofthetreeoftheknowledgeofgoodandevil,thoushaltnoteatofit:forinthedaythatthoueatestthereofthoushaltsurelydie.
Theaccountcontinueswiththeidyllicpictureofharmony,ofcommunity,oftranquility.SoinfluentialhasthesymbolismoftheGardenofEdenbecomeinourheritagethatwhenwewishto
describesomethingutterlybeautifulandtruthful,wesaythatitisliketheGardenofEden.Andbythiswemeanquiteconcretelythathereiscommunity,wholeness,harmony,withno
invasionofthedivisivenessoutofwhichdiscord,disharmony,dissentarise.Butitistheharmonyofinnocence,aharmonythatisgivenasapartofthegivennessoftheCreatortoHis
creation.
Buttheauthorisnotthrough.Hesays:
Theserpentsaiduntothewoman,"HathGodsaid,YeshallnoteatofeverytreeoftheGarden."Andthewomansaiduntotheserpent,"Wemayeatofthefruitofthe
treesoftheGarden,ButofthefruitofthetreewhichisinthemidstoftheGarden,Godhassaid,Yeshallnoteatofit,neithershallyetasteit,lestyedie."
AndtheserpentsaidtoparaphraseHowstupidcanyoube?don'tyouknowwhyGodtoldyouthis?HeknowsthatifyoueatthefruitofthetreeyouwillbecomejustasHeis.And
thenyouwillbeautonomous.Hewillnotbeabletocontrolyou.
15
SothewomanwasconvincedandtriedtoconvinceAdamandthusmakeheractionbindingforhimaswell.Adamatethefruitofthetreeofknowledgeofgoodandevil,shatteringthe
communityofinnocence.Strife,discord,enmity,disharmony,suffering,violencealloftheseflowed,andtheywereconstruedasbeingatvariancewiththeintentoftheCreatorinthe
creationormakingoflife.
InthiscreationaccountAdamisinnocent,buthehasthepotentialofbehaviorthatwilldestroyhisinnocence.Healsohasthepotentialofharmony,andthisisapartofthedialectical
dimensionofhisnature.ThisformerpotentialisepitomizedinEve,whoisapartofAdam.ThusAdamhasthepotentialforharmonyanditsmaintenanceaswellasthepotentialforthe
disruptionofharmony.WhenthepotentialfordisharmonyisactualizedinAdambyhisvolitionalactcontrarytotheCreator'sintent,heloseshissenseofcommunitywiththerestof
creation.Heloseshisinnocence,andinthelossofhisinnocence,forthefirsttime,hebecomesaresponsiblecreatureresponsibletotheCreator,foritistheCreator'sintent,in
creatinghim,thathehasviolatednowheisalsoresponsibletohimselfforhisactions.
OritmaybesaidthatinAdaminnocenceisgiventhestateofinnocencethatisgivenmakesitclearthatAdamisasifhewerefreshborn,asaccordingtotheaccountheis.This
potentialisactualizedwithoutachievementorstruggle.Heexperiencesaviewofwhathislifeoughttobeandinfactisbut,whenheviolatestheintentoftheCreatorinherentinhim,he
separateshimselffromthatexperience.Heisforcednowtowinit,toachieveitbyhisownstruggle.Aslongasthepotentialisafactgiveninhiscreation,Adamisanactiveparticipantin
communityalongwithallcreation.Thereisnoresponsibilityforactionsolongashefunctionsoutofinnocence.
InthecreationmythoftheHopiIndians2thenamegiventotheFirstWorldcreatedbytheCreatorTaiowawasTokpela,orEndless
16
Space.BeforetheexistenceofthisFirstWorldtherewasonlytheCreator."Allelsewasendlessspace.Therewasnobeginning,andnoend,notime,noshape,nolife."Timeandform
andshapeallsubstanceexistedonlyinthemindoftheCreator.
Hisfirstactwastoconceivethefinite,thebounded,thelimited.All"thisness"and"thatness"cameintobeingbyhisprojection.Hencethefinitewasfirstaconcept.Inordertomakethe
finitemanifestitselforestablishanexistenceinitsownauthenticityorright,hecreatedashisfirstactSotuknang,sayingtohim:"Ihavecreatedyou,thefirstpowerandinstrumentasa
person,tocarryoutmyplanforlifeinendlessspace.IamyourUncle:youaremyNephew.Gonowandlayouttheseuniversesinproperordersotheymayworkharmoniouslywithone
anotheraccordingtomyplan."
SotuknangwenttoworktoaccomplishwhattheCreatorintended.Hebroughtsolidsubstanceoutofendlessspaceandgavetoitshapeandformandestablisheditasnineuniversal
kingdomsdividedasfollows:oneeachfortheCreatorandhimselfandsevenothersforthelifethatwasyettocome.
Taiowawaspleased.ThenheorderedSotuknangtoaccomplishthesameendswithwaters,whichheplacedonthesurfacesoftheuniversesinanequalmanner.Thewaterswere
dividedequallyamongtheuniverseshalfsolidandhalfwater.
Next,thenephewwasdirectedtocreateforcesofairtosurroundthewaterswithpeacefulmovement.Eachuniversehadgreatforcesofairarrangedintogentleorderandrhythmaround
eachuniverse.
Taiowawaspleased.Hethenorderedhisnephewtocreatelifeanditsmovementtoroundoutthefourpartsofauniversalplan.
AfterthisSotuknangwenttoTokpela,theFirstWorld,andtherehecreatedwomantobehishelper.HenamedherKokyangwuti,SpiderWoman.Assoonasshecametolifeshequeried,
"WhyamIhere?"alwaysthepersistentquestionofthehumanspirit.Thenephewsaid,"Lookaboutyou.Hereisthisearthwehavecreated.Ithasshapeandsubstance,directionand
time,abeginningandanend.Butthereisnolifeuponit.Weseenojoyfulmovement.We
17
hearnojoyfulsounds.Whatislifewithoutsoundormovement?Soyouhavebeengiventhepowertohelpuscreatethislife.Youhavebeengiventheknowledge,wisdom,andloveto
blessallthebeingsyoucreate.Thatiswhyyouarehere."Shehadbeencreatedtocreate.
TheSpiderWomanobeyed.Shemixedearthwithhersalivaandmoldeditintotwotwinbeings.SheproceededtocoverthemwithawhitecapeofcreativewisdomandsangtheCreation
Songoverthem.Assoonassheuncoveredthem,thetwinssatupandaskedthesamequestion:"Whoarewe?Whyarewehere?"
ThentheSpiderWomansaidtotheoneontheright:"YouarePoqanghoyaandyouaretohelpkeepthisworldinorderwhenlifeisputuponit.Gonowaroundalltheworldandputyour
handsupontheearthsothatitwillbecomefullysolidified.Thisisyourduty."Orderhadtobegroundedasintegralintheearth.

Tothetwinontheleftshesaid,"YouarePalongawhoyaandyouaretohelpkeepthisworldinorderwhenlifeisputuponit.Thisisyourdutynowgoaboutalltheworldandsendout
soundsothatitmaybeheardthroughouttheland.WhenthisisheardyouwillbeknownasEcho,forallsoundechoestheCreator."
Thetwinsobeyed.MountainsandvalleyswerefashionedastheearthwasfirmedbythehandofPoqanghoya,whilePalongawhoyasoundedhiscallandallthevibratorycentersalong
theearth'saxisresounded."Thewholeearthtrembledtheuniversequiveredintune."Thewholeworldbecameattuned,resoundingthepraiseoftheCreator.
Whentheirspecialworkwascompletedtheyweresent,onetothesouthpoleandtheothertothenorthpole,tokeeptheearthrotatinginanestablishedharmony,orrhythm.Onewas
instructedtokeeptheearthsolidandfirmwhiletheotherwasassignedtokeeptheairingentlemotionandtosendouthiscallforgoodorforwarning.Thesedutieslookedtowardthe
futurebecausecreationhadnotyetfullybeenaccomplished.
NowtheSpiderWomansetaboutthecreationoftheworldofnature:trees,plants,bushes,eachwithitsownnameandorderof
18
life.Thenfollowedbirdsofallkindsandanimals,eachoneinitsownlineoflife,withitsownpeculiarorspecialname.Shecoveredeachwiththesubstanceofherwhitemantledcape,
whichtheywouldshareinthewisdomoftheCreator."Somesheplacedtoherright,sometoherleftothersbeforeandbehindher,indicatinghowtheyshouldspreadtoallfourcornersof
theearthtolive."
WhenTaiowasawwhatshehaddonehewaswellpleasedandsaid,"Itisreadynowforhumanlife,thefinaltouchtocompletemyplan."
AtthispointwemayobservethattheintentoftheCreatorinreadyingtheworldformanwastoestablishorderandharmony.Thesewerebuiltintotheveryfabricofcreation.Oneis
remindedofanexperienceofAdmiralByrdattheSouthPolewhenhewasalone,quiteremovedfromthecampbase.Hestoodoutsidehishutandseemedtoheartheharmonyof
creationinthevastquietoftheAntarctictwilight.
Thedaywasdying,thenightbeingbornbutwithgreatpeace.Hereweretheimponderableprocessesandforcesofthecosmos,harmoniousandsoundless.Harmony,
thatwasit!Thatwaswhatcameoutofthesilenceagentlerhythm,thestrainofaperfectchord,themusicofthespheres,perhaps.
Itwasenoughtocatchthatrhythm,momentarilytobemyselfapartofit.InthatinstantIcouldfeelnodoubtofman'sonenesswiththeuniverse.Theconvictioncamethat
thatrhythmwastooorderly,tooharmonious,tooperfecttobeaproductofblindchancethat,therefore,theremustbepurposeinthewholeandthatmanwaspartofthat
wholeandnotanaccidentaloffshoot.Itwasafeelingthattranscendedreasonthatwenttotheheartofman'sdespairandfounditgroundless.Theuniversewasa
cosmos,notachaosmanwasasrightfullyapartofthatcosmosaswerethedayandnight.
Isthisthepreludetowhatthepoetsawwhenhesays,referringtoman,"Grandastherestmaybe,heruinsit?"Weshallsee.
Inthecreationofmankind,SpiderWomanfollowedthesamegeneralprocedureasbefore,exceptthatshechosefourcolorsofearth:yellow,red,white,andblack.Shemixedtheearth
with
19
saliva,moldeditintoshapes,thencoveredthemwiththewhitesubstanceofhercape,creativewisdomitself.ThefirstfourmenweremadeintheimageofSotuknang,afterwhichshe
createdfourotherhumanbeingsinherimagetobetheirpartners.Whentheywerealluncoveredtheycametolife,butnotuntilthemantleofcreativewisdomhaddoneitsworkinthem.
Whenthemantlewaslifted,theywerealive.Thiswasthetimeofthedarkpurplelight,thefirstphaseofthedawnofcreation"whichfirstrevealsthemysteryofman'screation."
Whentheyfirstawokeandbegantomove,theirforeheadsweredampandasoftspotwasinthecrownoftheirheads.Thismarkedthesecondphaseofthecreationofman,thetimeof
theyellowlight,foritwasnowthatthebreathoflifeenteredman.
Thenthesunappearedtodrythemoffandtohardenthesoftspotintheirheadsthistomarkthetimeoftheyellowlightasthethirdphaseofthedawnofcreation.Man,nowfully
formed,wasreadytofacehisCreator,fashionedinHisimage.
TheSpiderWomansaidtothem:"ThatistheSun.YouaremeetingyourFathertheCreatorforthefirsttime.YoumustalwaysrememberandobservethethreephasesofyourCreation.
Thetimeofthethreelights,thedarkpurple,theyellow,andthered,revealinturnthemystery,thebreathoflife,andthewarmthoflove.ThesecomprisetheCreator'splanoflifeforyou
assungoveryouintheSongofCreation."Thiswasthetimeoftheredlight.
Becausetheyhadnotbeengiventhepowerofspeech,theFirstPeopleoftheFirstWorldcouldnotanswerher.SoSotuknangwassummoned.TheSpiderWomansaidtohim,"Asyou
commandedme,IhavecreatedtheseFirstPeople.Theyarefullyandfirmlyformedtheyareproperlycoloredtheyhavelifetheyhavemovement.Buttheycannottalk....SoIwant
youtogivethemspeech.Alsothewisdomandthepowertoreproduce,sothattheymayenjoytheirlifeandgivethankstotheCreator."
Itwasdone.Adifferentlanguagewasgiventoeachcolor.Theyweregiventhewisdomandthepowertoreproduceandmultiply.
ThenSotuknangsaidtothem,"WithalltheseIhavegivenyou
20
thisworldtoliveonandtobehappy.ThereisonlyonethingIaskofyoutorespecttheCreatoratalltimes.Wisdom,harmony(community),andrespectfortheloveoftheCreatorwho
madeyou,mayitgrowandneverbeforgottenamongyouaslongasyoulive."
IntheirhappinesstheFirstPeoplebegantomultiply.
Thenatureofman,asconceivedintheHopicreationmyth,clearlyillustratesmybasicthesisconcerningorder,harmony,andactualizedpotentialasreflectedintheracialmemoryofa
"forgottenharmony."Asaresultoftheworkofthemantleofwisdom,whichwascentraltotheprocessofcreation,manknewthattheearthwasalivingentitylikehimself.Theearthitself
wasaliveandliving.TheCreatorbreathedthroughtheearth.Suchistheexperienceofmanypersons,eveninourtime,wholiveclosetotheearth.Itseemstobealivenotmerelyvital
butalive!TheHopiideawasthatthosecreatedintheFirstWorldknewthattheyweremadefromthefleshoftheearthandwerenourishedatherbreast.Thegrassuponwhichall
animalsfedwasthemilkofherbody.Tothem,thecornplantwasalsoalivingentitywithabodyverymuchliketheirown.ItwasasimplesteptomakeEarthMother,CornMother.
Theyknewtheirfatheralsointwodimensions.First,aswehaveseen,theyknewhimastheSun.Thisisnotdifficulttounderstandorappreciate,forthesun,thegreatsourceoflife,was
notknowntothemuntilheappearedatthetimeoftheredlight.IntheseconddimensiontheywereawarethatthesunwasbutthefacethroughwhichlookedTaiowa,theirCreator.
Alwaystheyfeltthemselvestobeinimmediateandprimaryrelationshipwiththeuniversalentitiesoutofwhichtheyhadcometheirhumanpartsweremerelychannelsthroughwhich
theCreatorcreated.
Themythgoesintominutedetailconcerningtherevealingsacramentalcharacterofthededicatoryceremony,fromthetimeofthebirthofachildtothatclimacticmomentwhenthe
motherisabletostepforward,presentingherchildtotherisingsunwiththesewords:"FatherSun,thisisyourchild."
TheHopichild'sfirstsevenoreightyearsarecarefreeandfull
21
ofvitalirresponsibility.Thenhemusttakeanactivepartinthereligiousaspectofthecommonlife.Hemustnowlearnthatdespitethefactofhishavinghumanparents,histrueparents
aretheuniversalentitiesofwhichinsomerealsensehisparentsarebutsymbolsMotherEarthandFatherSun.Allfleshcomesfromtheformerandalllifefromthelatter.Alwayshe
participatesintheveryessenceofthesetwouniversals.Hefindsalsothattherearetwodimensionswithinhimself.Heisamemberofanearthlyfamilyandclan,andheis,aswell,a
citizenoftheuniverse.Amoremodernwayofsayingthisisthatheisbothaspacebinderandatimebinder.TheseFirstPeoplesensedthemysteryoftheirownparenthoodaswellas
theirownstructureandnature.
ThemythseekstointerpretoraccountforthewayinwhichtheintentoftheCreatorcouldmakeitselfmanifestinthebehavioroftheFirstPeople.Onvariouspartsofthebodywere
openings.Atthetopoftheheadwasthe"opendoor"throughwhich"hereceivedhislifeandconnectedwithhisCreator."Duringthelastphaseofcreationthissoftspotwashardened
thedoorwasclosed,nottobeopeneduntilthetimeofdeath,whenhedepartedfromhisbodyevenashehadentered.
Themostexcitingdevelopmentintheaccountdescribesthesecondcenter,thebrain,justbeneaththesoftspot.Itiswiththisorgan,thispartofhimself,thathelearnedtothinkabout
himself,theworld,andhowhewastofunctioninit.Accordingtothemyth,therealfunctionofthethinkingorganwastodiscovertheintent,theplan,oftheCreator.

Thethirdcenterwasthethroat,throughwhichhereceivedthebreathoflifeandthroughwhichhewasabletogivebackhisbreathinsound.Moreandmoreashebecameacquainted
withhimselfheusedthiscentertogivepraisetohisCreator.
Thefourthcenterwastheorganthatpulsatedwiththevibrationoflifeitself,theheart.Herewasthecenteroffeeling,inwhichheexperiencedthegoodoflifesolongashewasofone
heartbutwhenevilfeelingsenteredhebecameoftwohearts.Itisinthiscenterthathesensedthepurposeoflife.
Finally,therewasthefifthcenter,thesolarplexusthethrone
22
inmanthatwasoccupiedbytheCreator,andfromwhencehedirectedallthelifeofman.
TheFirstPeoplewereoneinbodyandmindthereforetheydidnotknowsickness.Sicknesscameonlywhentheinnercommunityofbodyandmindwasdisruptedbyevil.Thepeople
werepure,innocent,andhappy.ThesamequalityobtainshereasintheGardenofEden.Thepeoplemultipliedandgrew,coveringthefaceoftheland.Despitethefactthattheywereof
differentcolorsandspokedifferentlanguages,theywereonepeopleandunderstoodoneanotherwithoutspeechortalking.Thesamewastrueofthebirdsandanimals.Differentforms
therewere,buttherewasonelife,nourishedbyMotherEarthandsiredandsustainedbytheSun,throughwhichtheCreatorworkedorcreated.
Intime,theFirstPeopleforgottheoriginalcommandtorespecttheCreatorastheconditionoftheircreationandcontinuity.MoreandmoretheyforsookHisplanandintentthatthe
peopleandtheanimalsshouldallbeone.SimultaneouswiththeirestrangementfromtheplanofCreation,therecameamongthemtheTalker,intheformofabirdcalledMochni.Hekept
talkingamongthem,alwaysmakingthesamepointthatthepeopleandtheanimalswerefundamentallydifferentandthatthesamewastrueofthepeoplewhosecolorsandlanguages
varied.Accordingly,thedifferenceswereabsoluteandmadeatruedistinctionbetweenpeoplesandbetweenpeopleandanimals.
Differencesnowbecamenotmerelyapparentbutdramatic.Theanimalsbegantodrawawayfromman,andmenbegandrawingawayfromoneanother.Fear,thegreatenemyof
community,appeared.ThefinalseparationamongthepeoplewasbetweenthosewhorememberedtheplanandintentoftheCreatorandthosewhodidnot.
ItisunnecessarytofollowthefateoftheHopisthroughalltheexperiencesofnewcreationsandfreshstarts,includingthefinalorFourthWorld.Thecommonthreadremains:creation
withtheharmonyofinnocence,thelossofinnocencewithadisintegrationoftheharmony.Waters'summarywillsuffice:
23
ManiscreatedperfectintheimageofhisCreator.Thenafter"closingthedoor,""fallingfromgrace"intotheuninhibitedexpressionofhisownhumanwill,hebeginshis
slowclimbbackupward.Withinhimareseveralpsychologicalcenters.Ateachsuccessivestageofhisevolutiononeofthesecomesintodominantplay.Alsoforeach
stagethereiscreatedaworldbodyinthesameorderofdevelopmentashisownbody,forhimtobecomemanifestupon.Wheneachsuccessiveperiodofdevelopment
concludeswithcatastrophicdestructiontotheworldandmankind,hepassesontothenext....Inthefourthstageofdevelopmenthereachesthelowestandmidpointof
hisjourney.TheFourthWorld,thepresentone,isthefullexpressionofman'sruthlessmaterialismandimperialisticwillandmanhimselfreflectsthegrossappetitesofthe
flesh.Withthisturnmanrisesupward,bringingintopredominantfunctioneachofthehighercenters.Thedooratthecrownoftheheadthenopens,andhemergesintothe
wholenessofallCreation,whencehesprang.ItisaRoadofLifehehastraveledbyhisownfreewill,exhaustingeverycapacityforgoodorevil,thathemayknowhimself
atlastasafinitepartofinfinity.
Thiscreationmythrepeatstheprimordialthemethatdramatizestheancienthungerofthespiritofmanforaspiritualorderthatisneverquitecompletelyhisbutisanintegralpartofa
realitythatnourishesinhimthe"memoryofalostharmony,"amemorylatentinthesoulandnotdistilledfromthechangingthingsofmerephysicalobservation.Inthiswaytheinnerunity
oftheknownandtheknowermaybepreserved,andthealmostmythicintuitionofrealitytherebyrelatedtoitsconceptualandrationalformsofexpression.
Here,asinGenesis,community(wholeness)isgiventoillustratetheintentoftheCreatorincreation.Itisasifamodelofcommunityisprovidedthatmanmightknowthemeaningoflife.
HehasthepotentialthatmaybeactualizedinhimasthefulfillmentoftheintentoftheCreator.Butitmustbepointedoutalsothatmanhasthepotentialfortherejectionoftheintentof
theCreator.ButtheCreatorisinsistentthatuliimatelyhisintentwillnotbedefeated.AndthisbecomesatoncethehopeforbothmanandtheCreator.Theracialmemorytroublesman's
sleepandgrieveshiswakinghours,makinghimdreamofpeaceeveninthemidstofwar.
24
Inthesetwocreationaccounts,thestartingpointformanonearthisasituationthatisorderly,whole,complete,integratedaclimateofcommunity.Thisisthegreatracialassumption
abouttheoriginofmanandthelivingcontextinwhichheistogrow,develop,andmultiply.Theexperienceoftherace,however,atanymomentintime,isanacuteawarenessofthe
absenceofharmony.Howcanthecruelvicissitudesofdisharmony,discord,disorderbetoleratedwithoutasenseofultimatedespair?Therefloatsfromthedimregionofancientmemory
theracialassurancethatthisconditionisnotnormal,buttheresultofsomething"other"thathasbeensetforthandestablished.(Interestinglyenough,thereisnoefforttoattemptto
explaintheoriginalfactofcommunity,exceptthatitisapartofthegivennessofthecreativeact.)Therewasatimetheexperienceoflifewaswholeandcontinuityobtainedthroughand
inallitsmanifestations.ItwaswhenlifewasfreshfromthemindoftheCreatororfromthewomboftheearththatitwasuntarnishedandinnocent.ThiswasgivenbytheCreatorasthe
alreadyactualizedpotential,asiftheCreatorwantedmantoknowwhathistrueintentwasinbringinglifeintobeing,andthisexperienceoftrueintentwastoserveasaconstanttutor,
remindingmaninthemidstofallofhisdivisions,chaos,disorder,andbrokenharmonythathewasmadeinandforharmony.Thusmanwouldneveraccepttheabsenceofcommunityas
hisdestiny.Whenheasks,then,whatlifewaslikebeforetherewaspain,hate,bitterness,andviolence,thewordcomesbackthatlifewasbeautifulandwhole,tranquilandfullofpeace.
Manhaslostthisdimensioninhisjourneyhehassinnedandmissedtheway,sotheseaccountsremindusbuttheecho,thesoundofharmony,hasnotdiedinhisdream.Itlivesinhis
myths,andwhathehearsintheechoisattimesmorerealthanthedistortionsthroughwhichhepassesinhisdaybydayendeavor.Again,theimportantcluetotheCreator'sintentisto
befoundintheracialmemoryofwhatlifewaslikewhenlifebegan.
Theexperienceofcommunityasman'sactualizedpotentialmustbedistinguishedfromtheexperienceofcommunityaspotential.
25
Theexperienceofcommunityasinstantfactistheexperienceofinnocence.Thesemythsshowclearlythatthepotentialfordisharmonyalsoresidesinman.Markyou,bothgoodandevil
arepotential,buttheaccountstakepainstoexplainthatthesamplethatmanispermittedtoexperienceasexplicitinhiscreationiscommunity,thegood.Thepotentialfordisharmonyis
triggeredbyhisexerciseofchoice,byvolition,inwhichhecommitshimselftothechoice.Oncethisisdone,heisnolongerinnocent.Oncemanhasembarkeduponhisjourney,these
twopotentialsexistinhimasparallellinesthatcannotmerge.Itisnotuntilheachievesgoodnessthattheymayblendintocreativesynthesis.Man'soriginalexperienceofcommunityis
bothpotentialandactualizedpotentialwithintheframeworkofinnocence.Duringthisperiodthethingsthatworkagainstcommunityaredormant.Theexperienceofcommunitybased
uponinnocenceobtainssolongaselementsofdisharmonyarenotapparent.Thereispresentthefreedomandabandonmentofinnocence,andyetthefreedomisnotabsolute.Freedom
hasmeaningonlywithreferencetolimitationsinsomeform.ThefactthatAdamandEvewerenotpermittedtoeatthefruitofthetreeofknowledgegavemeaningtotheexperienceof
freedom.Theyalsolackedresponsibilityinallaspectsoftheirlifeexceptwithreferencetoeatingtheforbiddenfruit.Wherethereisprohibition,thereiscostorpenaltyhence
responsibilityisinevitable.
Responsibilityoperatesattwolevelswhereactionsareconcerned.Thereistheresponsibilitythatflowsautomaticallyfromtheactitself,whichsetsinmotionelementsthataredormant
priortotheact.Byhisacttheindividualprecipitatesachainreactionbeforewhichhemaybehelplessandbywhichheiscarriedontotheconclusionofthelogicoftheactitself.
InthestoryoftheGardenofEden,Adam'sactwasofthatkind,asweretheactsoftheFirstPeopleintheFirstWorldoftheHopi.Awholeseriesofeventsfollowed,inbothinstances,
throughouttheworldofnatureandbeyond,whichwerenotviableuntilthecrucialactoractswereperformed.Inthissensetheresponsibilityfortheactisimpersonal.Secondly,thereis
alsoaprofoundelementof
26
personalresponsibilityhere.ThisisshowninitiallybyAdam.Hefeelsguilty,herealizesthatheisnaked,heisashamed.Somethinginhimisbrokendownandheisnolongeratpeace.
Heaccusesthewoman,hehidesfromGod,andhiswholeworldisthrownoutofharmony.Heisfacedwiththeresponsibilityforhisaction.Butitdoesnotstopthere.Thestorycontinues:
ThentheLordGodsaidtothewoman,
"Whathaveyoudone?"Thewomansaid,
"Itwastheserpentthatmisledme,soIateit."SotheLordGodsaidtotheserpent,
"Becauseyouhavedonethis,themostcursedofallanimalsshallyoube,andofallthewildbeasts.Onyourbellyyoushallcrawl,andeatdust,aslongasyoulive.Iwill
putenmitybetweenyouandtheworld,andbetweenyourposterityandherstheyshallattackyouinthehead,andyoushallattackthemintheheel."Tothewomanhe
said,

"Iwillmakeyourpainatchildbirthverygreatinpainshallyoubearchildrenandyetyoushallbedevotedtoyourhusband,whileheshallruleoveryou."Andtotheman
hesaid,
"Becauseyoufollowedyourwife'ssuggestions,andatefromthetreefromwhichIcommandedyounottoeat,
Cursedshallbethegroundthroughyou,
Insufferingshallyougainyourlivingfromitaslongasyoulive
Thornsandthistlesshallitproduceforyou,sothatyouwillhavetoeatwildplants,
Bythesweatofyourbrowshallyouearnyourliving,untilyoureturntotheground,
Sinceitwasfromitthatyouweretakenfordustyouare,andtodustyoumustreturn."
Whenthrougharesponsibleactonhispart,anactofdeliberatechoice,thatwhichisdormantandthereforepotentialbecomesactiveorbecomesactualizedpotential,thenthetwo
parallellinesmergeinhimandasenseofguiltbecomeshisportion.Thisguilthastobepurgedbeforehecantriumphingoodness.Whatismeantherecanbestbeunderstoodby
examiningthedifferencebetweengoodnessandinnocence.Thatwhichisinnocentisessentiallyuntried,
27
untested,unchallenged.Itiscompleteandwholeinitselfbecauseithasknownnothingelse.Wheninnocenceislostbecauseofviolation,howeverdefined,somethingintheindividual
beginsworkingtorecoveralostgrace.Whenthequalityofgoodnesshasbeenreestablished,agreatchangehastakenplace.Eyesareopened,knowledgeisdefined,andwhatresults
isthetriumphofthequalityofinnocenceoverthequalityofdiscordanewsynthesisisachievedthathasinittheelementoftriumph.Thatis,achildisinnocent,butamanwhohas
learnedhowtowinnowbeautyoutofugliness,purityoutofstain,tranquilityoutoftempest,joyoutofsorrow,lifeoutofdeathonlysuchamanmaybesaidtobegood.Butheisno
longerinnocent.
ManwasputoutoftheGardenofEdenwithhisinnocencelost,hissenseofcommunitywithinhimselfandwithalloflifecorrupted,thevictimofguiltandstruggle,withallthetempests
thatrevolvearoundtheheadofthetorturedspirit.Thejudgmentisverysolemn."ThereforetheLordGodsenthimfromtheGardenofEden,totillthegroundfromwhencehewastaken.
SohedroveoutthemanandheplacedattheeastoftheGardenofEdenCherubim,andaflamingswordwhichturnedeverywaytokeepthewayofthetreeoflife."
InlikemannertheFirstPeopleoftheHopimythweresentforthontheRoadofLifetowanderandstruggleandsufferuntiltheycametotheirownplaceuntiltheycamehometo
themselves,untiltheybecamewhole.
Thestoryofman'sstruggleontheplanet,hauntinghimashebuildshiscultures,hiscivilizations,asheerectshisaltarsandmakeshissacrificesbeforehisGod,istofindhiswaybackto
theGardenofEden,whichmustyetbeachieved.Toachievecommunityinthemidstofallthethingshebroughtuponhimselfbyhisowndeeds,thingsthatworkmostagainstcommunity,
istosweeppasttheangelwiththeflamingswordandbuildanewhomeintheGardenofEden.Atman'smomentsofgreatestdespairheisinstinctivelyunwillingandperhapsunableto
acceptthecontradictionsofhislifeasfinalorultimate.Somethingdeepwithinremindshimthatthe
28
intentoftheCreatoroflifeandthelivingsubstanceisthatmenmustliveinharmonywithinthemselvesandwithoneanotherandperhapswithalloflife.Whenheseekstoachieveit,
eveninhislittleworldofbelongingandmeaning,whatisatfirstthedimracialmemorystirringdeepwithinhimbecomesthepaeanofagreattranscendentchorusrejoicinghimonhis
way.
Itmaybethatman'sexperienceofhimselfasachildofnatureandthelongjourneyofhisorganismtoselfconsciousnessandreflectivethoughtmayyieldanothercluetowhatseemsto
bethegroundofcommunityintheintegrityoflifeitself.
29

III:TheSearchinLivingStructures
Itisinordertoexplorethemeaningofman'sexperienceofcommunitybothasachildofnatureandasakinsmanofalllivingthings.Forthepurposeofourdiscussion,lifeisviewedinat
leasttwoverybasicdimensions.Thefirstislifeinthesenseofexistence,ofprocess,ofmanifestationindeed,ofenergyitself.Herelifeisthoughtofascreation,asavastallpervasive
qualitywithaninfinitenumberofconfigurationsandforms.Consideredinthisway,wethinkoflifewithoutparticularconsciousnessasweexperienceitorknowit,butratherasrhythmic
movement,asebbandflow,asintegrationanddisintegration,asorderlinessanddisorderliness.Insuchaview,thenotionofbeginningandendinghasnomeaning.Lifesimplyis.
Whenthenotionofbeginningisintroducedintothisviewoflife,themindcomesupagainstadeadendbecausethereisnowhereforbeforetolocateitselfasanideainthemind.Hence,
intermsofthisdimensionoflife,suchwordsasoriginorstartingplacearemeaningless,buttheyarebynomeanswithoutvalueasanecessityofthought.Forreligion,thecreation
accounts,myths,orquerystories
30
respondtosuchanecessityforscience,thecreationhypothesesundertakethesameassignment.Thedifference,however,isthatthelattermaybeadeductionfromaseriesof
interpretationsofobservationandverylimitedexperimentation,whichdeductionmaygivetotheinvestigationoftheexternalworldconsiderablesubstanceandmeaning.Intermsof
humanlifeanditsmeaninginthetotalenterprise,thecreationmythsmayprovejustasfruitful.
Letusnowspelloutbrieflywhatseemstobeagatheredmeaningoflifeinthisfirstdimension.Whatconfrontsusatonceistheunbelievableimmensityoftheuniverseintimeandspace.
Modernstudiesoftheuniversedealwithcosmicprocessesratherthanwithafixedandthereforelimiteduniverse.WhenIwasaboyIregardedthestarsasfixed,stationaryobjectsinthe
skyaboveinfact,therewasaperiodwhenIthoughttheywerepeepholesthroughwhichGodlookeddownupontheworld.Thevastcosmicprocessesgatherintheirsweepnotonly
energytransfersandtransformationsthataltertheformandtheshapesofunitsintheuniverse,butalsotheprogressiveorevolutionarychangesintheuniverseaswell.Suchprocesses
accountfortheoriginandfluxofmatteritself.Inaword,itseemsthatsuchprocessesareinpartobservedtobeexpressionsofmeaningfulpatternsorconstructs.Itwouldseemthat
althoughthestarsareinfiniteinnumber,thekindsofstarsarerelativelyfewthatstarschangewithtime.Theyareofacertaincharacteristicwhentheyoriginate.Thesecharacteristics
changeoverlongperiodsoftimeuntilthestarscometoanend,scatteringtheirmatterandenergybackintotheuniverseasawhole.Ofsuchisthebackgroundoflifeonourearth,and
fromthisprocessweareassuredthatalltheenergyandmatterthatgointothemakingoflivingthingsontheearthwerecreated,andeligiblenichesforlifewereprovided.
Lifeinaccordancewiththisfirstdimensionseemstoberealizingitselfintheallinclusiveimmensityoftheuniverse.Itseemstobelivingitselfout,andinsodoing,thereseemtobe
discerniblepatterns,areasofstructuredrelationsthatprovideobservablestability.Ofcourse,themomentsuchtermsaspatternsandstructures
31
areused,themindthinksintermsoforganizationofsomekind.Andorganizationsuggestsplan,design,purpose.Buttheuseoftheterm"life"inthisfirstdimensionpresentsaviewof
organizationwithoutthecorrelativenotionofactiveconsciousness.Accordingtothisview,thereareagenciesorforces,suchasenergy,magneticfields,andtheworkhorseofthe
concept:stimulusandresponse.Therearesuchelementsofthe"given"calledproperties,energizedparticles,andsoforth.Inallofthisthoughttheoneideaseemstobetoridthemind
ofthenecessityforpositingaFirstCause,aCreator,asupernaturalBeing,withoutatthesametimeunderminingtheconceptoforder,behavior,andintegrationinthatpartofthenatural
worldinwhichmindasweknowitisnotactivelypresent.Everyeffortismadetomakeevensuchatermasimmanenceunnecessarybecauseitstwin,transcendence,mightslipby
unnoticed.
Nevertheless,recentinvestigationsconfirmthenotionthattheuniverseisauniverse.Thereseemstobeavast,almostincomprehensibleinterrelatednesstyingalltogether.AsLawrence
FranksuggestsinhisNatureandHumanNature:
Natureisbothstableandorderlybutalsoplasticandflexible,capableofenteringnewpatternsanddiversifiedcombinations,asweseeinthevarietyofstructuresand
organismsofthegeographicalenvironment.Buteventhesevariedformsandproductshavenotexhaustedthepossibilitiesandpotentialities....Oneachlevelof
organizationdifferentpossibilitiesappearastheconstituentparts,bytheirinteractionorganizeintonewconfigurationsinwhichconstituentsbehavedifferentlyasthey
participateinadifferentorganizationorfield.
Furtherheadds:

Everysingleelectron,everysingleemissionorradiationofenergy,aswellaseveryatom,moleculeorlargerconfigurationis,therefore,resonatinginitsfield,actively
participatinginmaintainingandoperatingalargerconfigurationand,thus,theuniverse.
Theuniverseisnowconceived,notassometidylittlerestrictedcollectionofplanetsandtheirsun,governedbyarbitrarypowerordeterministic
32
forces,butasaspacetimemanifoldofalmostunbelievablemagnitudeandahistorygoingbacktowards,butneverreaching,abeginningandafutureofunlimitedtime,
withacapacityforselfregulationandselfdirection.
Perhapsitismerelyalimitationoflanguage,butitseemstomesignificantthatthelattertermsarevaluejudgmentsrelatingtoconsciousness.
Sincewearenotonlylivingintheuniversebuttheuniverseislivinginus,itfollows,then,thatmanisanorganicpartoftheuniverse.Inhisorganismheexperiencestheorderand
harmonyoftheuniverse.Infact,itwouldnothavebeenpossibleforhimtoemergehadcertainconditionsnotbeenmaintainedsothatlifeforhimandallhismultitudinouskinsmencould
besustained.
Wecomenowtowhatseemtobethemostincrediblemanifestationsofdirectivenessonthepartoflifeintheaspectunderdiscussion,namely,theestablishingofpreciseconditionsfor
theexistenceandmaintenanceoflifeonearth.Thereareatleasttwofactsthatmustbetakenintoaccountattheoutset.Thefirstisthatthebackgroundoflifeinitsseconddimension
(consciousness,awareness,irritability)cannotbeseparatedfromthefunctioningoflifeinitsfirstdimension.Theactivityofstars,ofwhichoursunisaminorone,involvesthe
condensationofprimordialmatterintotheconfigurationsofatoms,whichconfigurationsareindissolublyinvolvedinthesubstanceofalllivingorganisms.Andstellaractivityprovidesthe
planetaryplatformforthedevelopmentoforganisms.
Thesecondincrediblemanifestationofapparentdirectivenessisthefactthatlifeonearthisveryrestrictedinitsterritoryofoccupancy.Itisconfinedtoathinshellthatincludesuniquely
theinterfacesamongland,air,andwater.Itseemsthatlifecannotexistveryfardowninthelandmasses,norveryhighintheatmosphere,norintheabyssoftheoceans(exceptina
verylimitedway)."Life'shabitat,"statesCliffordGrobstein,"istherelativelythinzonewhereland,sea,andskymeet."Thetechnicaltermisbiosphere.Thisextraordinaryphenomenonis
butanotherexpressionoftheordermechanismbymeansofwhichlife"knows"whatitmustdoinordertorealizeitself,itslimitationsandboundariesinwhichit
33
actualizesitspotentialorexperiencescommunity.Thebasisforthisbehaviorisinthefactthattheenergeticfoundationofalllifeisconvertedsolarenergy"theradiatedoutputof
thermonuclearfusioninthecoreofthesun,"statesGrobstein.Hencelightiscrucialtomaintenanceoflife.Thisfactisapartofthepracticalknowledgeofallwhohavehadany
experiencewithgrowingthings.Butthelightisfilteredthroughakindofprotectivecoveringsurroundingtheearththatadmitssocalledcosmicraysfromthesuninwhatmayberegarded
asnonlethalorbrokendoses.Again,lifeisnotequallydistributedeverywhereinthebiosphereorinthezonewhereland,sea,andskymeet.Thetotalquantityofmaterialmakingupthe
livingorganismsinanygivenareawithinthehabitablezoneiscalledbiomass.Thetotalbiomassontheplanethasneverandperhapscanneverbemeasured.Withinthebiomassitis
crucialtomythesistopointoutthatherealsoorder,organization,ischaracteristicof"behavior."AgainGrobstein:"Afundamentalpropertyofthebiomassisitsorganizationinto
assemblagesofdifferentkindsofunitsgroupsororganismsthatexistincharacteristicassociationswitheachotherandwiththeirenvironment."Suchassociationsareseenas
functionalgroupingsessentialtowhatisgoingoninthewholebiomassanditscomponentorganisms.Suchasecondarycharacteristiciscalledecosystem.
Thustheuniverseisnotonlyvastandoverwhelminginitsimmensity,itisalsominutelystructuredandcoordinated,maintainingitselfbyaboundlessenergythatconfiguratesinrich
variety,eachconfigurationintegratedwithotherunitstocomprisethetotalityoftheuniverse.Therearesystemswithinsystemswithinsystems,allheldtogetherandcontainedbya
"boundless"boundlessness.Thereareapparentlynofixedlimitswithinthesweepoftheuniverse,onlyacumulativeheterogeneityheldtogetherbytherelativestabilityofrelationships
throughthedynamiccharacteristicsofakindofmagneticfieldorseriesoffields.
Thepointatwhichtheseconddimensionoflifebecomesevidentisatablendingoforfadingfromoneintotheother.Inotherwords,therearenoapparentsignpostsmarkingthepointin
timeandspaceatwhichtheinanimatebecomesanimate.
34
Itisinthelifeoftheorganismthatthemeaningofcommunitywithinourdefinitiontakesonitsmostfruitfulsignificance.Webegin,then,withthewaylifefunctionsintheareasof
concentrationwherelivingorganismsaretobefound.Theseareasdependupontheuseofenergyfromthesun.Notallofthecomponentswithinagivenareacancapturethisenergy.
Thosethatareabletotaketheirenergyneatareselfnourishinginthepresenceoflight.Theyliveonlightandsimpleorganicsubstances,whichtheyconvertfornourishmentandwhich
inparttheycastoffasenricheddecomposition.Suchselfnourishingorganismsaremainlygreenplants,whichmakeuponelargecomponentofalllivingorganisms.
Asecondkindoforganismmustsecureitssolarenergyinasecondarymannerbyconsumingcomponentsofthefirstclassification.Theseareanimalsthatfeedongreenplantsthattake
theirsolarenergydirectlyandbuildupnewcomplexcompoundsessentialtotheirownneeds.Inthisprocessofnourishmenttheyreleasesmallermoleculesthatarecrucialrawmaterials
forthethingsuponwhichtheyfeed.Thusweseeabasiccycleofenergyandmaterialsthatsustainsthetotallifeinthegivenarea.Hereisafleetingglimpseofthedynamicnatureofthe
lifewithinanygivenareaofthebiomass.Therearemanysuchsystemsandeachhasametabolismofitsown.Thepotentialinanygivenexpressionoflifeisactualizedandbecomes
involvedinthisveryprocessintheactualizingofthepotentialofsomeotherformoflifeuponwhichitisdependent.Thecycleisendless,andtheintegrationofanyformcannotbe
thoughtofasindependentofasimilarprocessinotherforms.Hereisstructuraldependencyexpressiveofanexquisiteharmonytheverygeniusoftheconceptofcommunity.Thereisa
constantandflowinginteractionbetweentheorganismandthelargerenvironment,andeachchangeintheenvironmentisreflectedintheorganism.Infact,itseemsverydifficulttomake
acleardistinctionbetweentheexternalandinternalenvironmentoftheorganism.
Studiesinthefieldmakethepointthatthereiswithintheinternal
35
environmentahighlysensitivesystemofcommunication.Thechiefagentisblood,withitsnetworkofchannelsthroughwhichitflowsthroughoutthebody.Initscontinuousmovement
fromtheheartthroughthearteriesandveins,itisburdenedwithtraffictoandfromthevariousorgans.Itfiltersselectivelyfromthelungsandtheintestinesthatwhichwillbetakenout,
absorbed,oreliminatedatsomeotherpointalongitscirculatoryjourney.Thewonderisthatthebloodiskeptstablebytheactivitiesofthevariousorganswithinthesystem.Itis
dependent,forinstance,uponthelungs,kidneys,andliverforitsbasicregulation,whileatthesametimeitcarriestotheseorganswhatiscrucialtotheirownpeace.Hereisthe
operationofcomplex,intricate,patternedbehaviorasifitwerecommittedtomemoryatsomefarofftimeinanunknowablepast.
Inasmuchasallthebodilycellsaresustainedbythenourishmentreceivedfromtheirgeographicalenvironment,thosecellsthataredeepwithinthebodycouldnotlivewithoutthelife
givingfoodsuppliedbythebloodstream.Itisthroughtheworkoftheredcellsthatoxygenissuppliedtothoseorgansthatneeditforsurvivalorsustenance.
Whenwetakeacursoryviewofthewhitecells,forinstance,weseethemfunctioningprimarilyasscavengers,maintainingtheintegrityofthebloodstreamandthetissues.Theyarethe
defendersofthefaith,asitwere.Someoftheveryspecializedcellsofthebodyhaveapparentlylosttheirprimitivecapacityofselfdefenseandmustrelyuponthebloodstreamfortheir
protection.Communicationandprotectionarecharacteristicfunctionsofthebloodstreaminorderthattheharmonyoftheorganismmaybemaintainedanditspotentialmaybeactualized
throughorganicdevelopment,fulfillment,anddeath.
Justascrucialtotheprocessofsystemmaintenanceisthefunctionofbloodplasma.Itsdifferentelementsandspecificfunctionsholdincriticalbalanceadynamicreserveofwhatis
neededbydifferentpartsoftheorganismfornourishmentandprotection.Thesensitivitythatmakesforimmunityagainstcertaindiseasesandthe
36
recurrenceofotherstheprovisionofessentialchemicalsinsteadysupplyoruponspecialdemandthestabilizingoftheinternalenvironmentoftheorganismbybalancingitsown
constituents,bydrawinguponthestoredreservesorbystimulatingvariousorganicsystemstodecreaseorincreaseactivityandtosupplymoreoreliminateanyexcessthroughwell
definedchannelsofeliminationallthesearepartofthemagicalpowerororderlyfunctionofthebloodplasma.
Thelymphaticsystemmaybecalledasecondarychannelofcommunication.Inthissystemfluidscirculateamongthedifferenttissuesandorgans,makingavailableundersystemic
duressadditionalwhitecellsattimesofemergencywithintheorganism.Itkeepsthedifferentinternalfunctionsinterrelatedandcoordinated.Withinthelymphaticsystemtherearespecial
pocketsorreservoirscallednodes,wheretheinvadersintheorganismsareisolatedanddestroyedbythewhitecellmilitiaofthebody.Itistobenotedthatacertainkindofdiscrimination
infunctionmaybelacking,becauseundercertainconditionsthelymphaticsystemmaydistributeinfectionsandmalignanciesaswell.
Theuncannydevices,mechanisms,processes,orcharacteristicswithinthehumanbodybywhichhealthandimmunitytohostileinvasionaremaintainedseemtoexpressbehaviorthatis
notapartoftheselfconsciousactivityoftheorganismassuch.Inotherwords,itdoesnotseemtoberelatedtothefunctionofthemindasweknowit.Thereissomethinginthebody
itselfthatrecognizesproteinsofotherlivingorganismsasstrangersandthatiscapableoforganizingandcarryingoutanattackagainstthem.Iftheycannotbedestroyed,theymustbe

incarceratedinsomewayuntiltheycanbeejectedortheirdangerneutralized.Thepowertorecognizeanddestroysuchinvadersiscalledimmunity.Itisahighlyorganizeddefense
systemandprovesitselfincombateverydayinthelivesofbothhumanbeingsandanimals.
Whenaninvasionoccursonasmallscalebyascoutingpartyofproteins,thedefensesthrowthemout.Ifithappensagain,thereisjustlyaccentuatedopposition,andthepossibilityofa
diseasedeveloping
37
fromtheactivityoftheinvadersisreducedandoftennotpossible.Itiscuriousthatthedefensemechanismseemsto"remember,"andaslongasthememoryisactive,immunityagainst
thediseaseistheresult.
InDr.FrancisD.Moore'sdiscussionoftissuetransplantationasitwasdevelopedatthePeterBentBrighamHospitalinBoston,ateachingfacilityaffiliatedwiththeHarvardMedical
School,hemakesthepointthattheimmunityprocesshastwoleadingcomponents:theantigenandtheantibody.Theantigengeneratesantagonismitisthesubstancethatexertsan
immuneresponse,anditisusuallyaprotein.Whenanantigengainsentranceintothebodyitcallsforthspecificantagonists,theantibodies.Thesearealsoproteinsandare
manufacturedbyspecialtissuesthataredevotedtotheprocessofimmunity.Theantibodies,togetherwithasubstancecalled"complement,"immobilizetheinvadingproteinantigen,thus
preparingitfordisposalorelimination.
Anawarenessofthebattlethatmayberagingagainsttheinvadersisoftenevidencedintheorganismbyariseintemperatureandafeelingofdiscomfort.Iftheantibodieswin,peaceis
restored,thelostharmonyisrecovered.Iftheylose,theorganismdies.Butthereisathirdpossibilityoralternative:theantigenmaybepermittedtoremainintheorganismwithoutbeing
molested.Inotherwords,theantigenmaybetoleratedfor"goodbehavior."
Inthetransplantingoftissuesfromonebodytotheother,itisapparentthatthetransplantedtissuesmustcontainantigensthatareresistedbythehostbody.Thisistruenotwithstanding
thefactthatthenewtissuewillpossiblysavethelifeofitsnewhost.Themechanismofdefensethatguaranteesimmunityagainstinvasionisautomatic,anditisimpossibleforthebody
todecidewhenandunderwhatcircumstancestoresistinvasionongroundsthataresecuredbythebehaviorpatternoftheorganismitself.Themosteffectivewaytoachievethisisby
makingittemporarilyimpossibleforthenewhosttomakeantibodies,thusrenderingitdefenselessuntilsuchtimeasthetransplantcanbecomeestablished,makingdefensiveresistence
unnecessary.Thishasbeenaccomplishedfirst
38
withXraysandsubsequentlywithcertaindrugs.Theonlypointofrelevancehereisthattheimmunitysystemseemstooperateonthebasisofwhatinhumanbehaviorwouldbecalled
recognition,tolerance,andmemory.Onecannotescapethethoughtthatallkindsofprecautionshavedevelopedwithinorganismstokeeptheirrelationshipwiththeinternalenvironment
inharmonywiththeexternalgeographicenvironment,sothatlifemayrealizeitselfwithouthindranceinagivenform,therebyexperiencingwholeness,integration,communitywithinthe
tightcircleofitsparticularexistence.Suchanachievementnevertakesplaceinvacuo.
Themajorchannelofcommunicationforsynchronizingthewidevarietyofinternalactiveprocessesintheorganismandforkeepingitinvitalandconstanttouchwiththeexternal
environmentisthenervoussystem.Hereweseeaseriesofhighlyspecializedcellsfunctioninginwaysthatresultfromslowchangesthathavetakenplaceovermillionsofyears.In
addition,thereisavastnetworkofnervefibersconsistingofmanysubnetworksandsubsidiarypatterns.Infact,thenervoussystemisadelicatelyfashioned,interlockingdirectorateof
immenseflexibilityandresponsiveness.Itisanamazingachievementincreativeartistryandefficiency.Sufficeittosaythat,puttingasidetemporarilytheconceptofmindassynonymous
withselfconsciousness,thenervoussystemasaresponsivestructurewithintheorganismisfirmlyestablishedasagoingconcernthatcoordinates,dispatches,transposes,and
crossfilesmessagesthatkeeptheorganisminconstantcorrespondencewithitsexternalenvironmentsoastoguaranteeandperpetuate,tothelimit,thelifeoftheindividualand,beyond
this,tosafeguardthecontinuityofbiologicalorganizationtowhichtheorganismbelongs.
Itisnottobewonderedatthattheconceptofdirectivenessoforganicactivitiesseemstobesoplausible.Ifwebeganwithsuchacomplexstructureasthehumannervoussystemand
movedbackwardintimeasfarasitsdevelopmentisconcerned,wewouldbecomeinvolvedwithsubtleinterwovenandinterdependentstructuresofvariedkindsandfunctions,untilwe
landedinsidethe
39
minutelybalancedintricaciesofthesinglecellsofthehumanbody.Withinthesecellswewouldcomeuponthoseinvisibleconfigurationsofenergythatinformthecellofitsgoalsand
directions,determiningafutureconcerningwhichithasnoawarenessbutaboutwhichithasabsoluteconfidence.Thefartherthesearchiscarriedonthemoreweseemtobemoving
intothegroundofarealitythatshapesandreshapesitself,isselfperpetuatinginitsvitality,andmakesitsrulesoffunctionoutofthetensionscreatedbyahiddenintentbroughttobear
uponarecalcitrantbutresponsiveenvironment.Inshort,theorganismseemstobeaselfmaintaining,reproducing,developingwhole.Man'sexperienceasacreatureisthatofan
alternatingrhythmbetweenhisinternalenvironmentandtheexternal,geographicalenvironmentbywhichheisnurturedandsustained.When,foranyreason,thisrhythmisbroken
throughthemalfunctioningofanyofhisorganicparts,thenautomatically,oftenwithouthisleave,processesaresetinmotionfortherestorationoftheorderlyprocessofunselfconscious
respiration,orhealth.
Indeed,amanbecomesawareofanyparticularpartofhisorganismonlywhenitismalfunctioning.Heregardshimselfasbeingillorsickwhenatsomepointhisorganismis
maladjusted.Therapy,orhealing,isanefforttorestoretheorganismtoharmonyandtorhythm.Acontinuouswearingawayorbreakingdownoftheorganismandacontinuousrepairing
andrebuildingtheprocessesofrenewalandrepairareanintegralpartofthebasicmechanismoftheorganismitself.Itsresourcefulnessinthisregardisbeyondaccuratecalculation.
Butevenheretherearelimits,becauseitisanorganismanditsdwellingplaceisinthatrelativelylimitedareaoftheplanetwhereland,sea,andskymeet.Despitetheprecariousnessof
lifefortheorganism,itseverymoveismarkedbyastructurefunctionalintegrity,sothatactivitiesessentialtolifecanbecarriedoninacoordinatedandintegratedway.Theintentisfor
integration,forwholeness,forcommunitywithinthelimitationsoftheorganismitself.
Inspeakingofthewondrousinteractionsofthehumanbody,Sir
40
CharlesSherringtonbeginsbysayingthatthehumanchildhasatbirthtwentysixmillioncells.Continuing,hesays:
Theyhavearrangedthemselvesinacomplex,whichisahumanchild.Eachcellinallthatmorethanmillionfoldpopulationhastakenupitsrightposition.Eachhas
assumeditsrequiredformandsizeintherightplace.Thewholeisnotmerelyspecificbutisaparticularindividualwithinthespecific.
Inthatindividual,that"persona,"eachcellhastakenontheshapewhichwillsuititsparticularbusinessinthecellcommunityofwhichitisamember,whetheritsskillisto
lieinmechanicalpulling,chemicalmanufacture,gastransport,radiationabsorption,orwhatnot.Morestill,ithasdonesoasthoughit"knew"theminutelocalconditionsof
theparticularspotinwhichitslotiscast.Itknowsnot"up"from"down"itworksinthedark.Yetthenervecell,forinstance,"finds"eventothefingertipsthenervecellwith
whichitshouldtouchfingers.Itisasifanimmanentprincipleinspiredeachcellwithknowledgeforcarryingoutofadesign.Andthispicturewhichthemicroscopesupplies
tous,suppliesusafterall,becauseitisbutapicture,withonlythestaticform.Thatisbuttheoutwardandvisiblesignofadynamicactivity,whichisaharmonyintimeas
wellasspace.
Concerningdifferentiatingcellsindevelopment,Sherringtonsays:
They,asthecasemayrequire,pouroutcementwhichbinds,orfluidinwhichtheyshallmovefreeortheyholdhandsforsurerandmoresensitivecontact.Somewillhave
changedtheirstuffandbecomerigidbone,or,harderstill,theenamelofatoothsomebecomefluidaswatersoastoflowalongtubestoofinefortheeyetosee.Some
becomeclearasglass,someopaqueasstone,somecolourless,somered,someblack.Somebecomefactoriesofafuriouschemistry,somebecomeasinertasdeath.
Somebecomeenginesofmechanicalpull,somescaffoldingsofstaticsupport.Eachoneofallthemillionsuponmillionsfinallyspecializesinsomethinghelpfultothe
whole....Itisasifthelifeofeachoneofallthosemillionshasunderstooditsspecialpart.Thusarisesthenewintegralindividualtobe.
41
Thissummaryofman'sexperienceofhiscreaturehoodsuggeststhatmanisinaveryrealsenseoneoftheproductsoftimeboundevolutionaryprocessesexhibitingcharacteristicsthat
weassociatewiththeactivityofmind:directionandpurpose.Theveryexistenceofmindinmanmaybebutanexpressionofman'stotalresponsetothehistoryofhisorganism.Butonce
theexistenceofmindbecamepossibleandthereforeapartoftherealityofman'sexperienceoftheworldandofhimself,thewaywasopenforhimtododirectlyanddeliberatelyand
purposefullywhatnaturehasdonethrougheonsoftimeandwithmuchtrialanderror.Itmaybethatthemeaningofhisexperiencewillbearitsrichestfruitsonlywhenhisbrainismore
fullydeveloped,thustyinghisfutureinextricablyintothegroundofhiscreaturehood.Itisnotunreasonable,then,toassumethatasheseekscommunitywithinhimself,withhisfellows,
andwithhisworld,hemayfindthatwhatheisseekingtododeliberatelyisbutthelogicofthemeaningofallthathasgoneintohisowncreation.
IbelievethatGodstandsinrelationtoallexistencesomewhatasthemindinmanstandsinrelationtohistimespaceexistence.

Weturnnowtoexaminehowourthesisappliestoman'sdreamsandanticipationsofhispossiblefutureasexpressedinhisprojectionscalledUtopias.
42

IV:TheSearchintheProphet'sDream
Thereseemstobeanintimateconnectionbetweentheviewoflifeasseenthroughthesymbolismofthecreationmythsandthedreamofthefutureasseenthroughtheeyesofthe
prophet,theseer,andtheUtopian.Oneishiddendeepwithinthemysteryofanunrecordedpast,thearticulationofaprimordialstirringinthehumanspirittheotherisaprojectionintoa
chartlessfuture,inwhichthepoweroftheimaginationandthereflectionsofthemindcanmovefreelywithinapredeterminedstructure.Inthemyth,thecreatedworldexistedfirstinthe
formlessnessofchaosorinthemindofthegodsorgodintheUtopias,thecreatedworldswerefashionedoutofelementsintheheartandyearningsofmenwhowerepartofthetimes
inwhichtheylived.
Utopia'smostpronouncedcharacteristicisalimitedandcontainedcommunityinwhichthepotentialoftheindividualaswellasthatofthesocietycanbeactualized.Everyelementis
definedinamannerthatmakesitspresenceidenticalwithitsfunction.Inotherwords,Utopiasarecustommade,eventhoughmenmustliveinthem.Itisasifanentiresocietyand
physicalenvironmentwere
43
fashionedtoorder.Eversincemenbegantoreflectuponthemeaningoftheirownlivesandexperiencesandtosetthemdowninwrittenform,thedreamofwhatlifecouldbeifhas
occupiedasignificantplaceintheircalculations.Communityasitisexperiencedinthefarflunghopesofmeninallagesfindsitsgreatestfulfillmentinapictureofwhatthecollectivelife
ofmanwouldbelikeifitfunctionedinkeepingwithman'shighdestiny.Man"hascontinuedtodreameverofabetterworld,tospeculateastoitspossiblenature,andtocommunicatehis
longingstoothermeninthehopethattheidealmight,atleastinpart,becomereality."Theformandthecharacteroftheimagesvaryinaccordancenotonlywiththeprivatehopesand
frustrationsofthedreamerbutalsoinaccordancewiththeidealizedsocialformoftheparticularperiodinwhichthedreamerlived.
Asmentionedearlier,manhasaninnerandanouterenvironment.Whatistrueofmanasabiologicalcreatureisalsotrueofhimasaperson.Hehasaninnerworldofmeaning,feelings,
aspirations,thathasitsownparticularreality.AsJaneStegersuggests:"Theinnerlifemaybeasfullofadventure,explorations,hopesandfears,andperilousseas,astheouterlife....
Thereisawideotherworldwithin,deepharborsofthought,marvelousseasofcontemplation,waitingtobeexplored."Intimesofgreatstressandstrainintheouterenvironment,men
tendtoretreatorescapeintotheinnerworldasaplaceofshelterorrefuge.Insomecases,retreatisanendinitselfinothers,menturntotheinnerenvironment,bringingwiththemthe
articulateurgencytobuildoutoftheirimaginationawayoflife,aworldorderthathasnotimeorplaceinthepresentbutcanbereleasedassomethingthat,ifitspowerwereabsolute,
wouldcometopasssomewhere,sometime.Havingbeenreleasedfromthebindingstrictureofthepresentcircumstance,theycanbuildwholenewworldsfullofallthatislackingintheir
presentexperience.Inthissense,Utopiasmayberegardedasmechanismsofescapeforthosewhoarenothardyenoughtocopewiththeissuesandvicissitudesoflifeasitmustbe
lived.
Butthisisnotthewholepicturebyanymeans.Anyreviewof
44
UtopianliteratureshowsthatoftenUtopiasofoneagearegearedtothebasicstructureofthatperiodandpointthewaytoafreshpossibilityformankindinthearduousstruggleto
actualizeitsownpotentialifnotnow,thenhereafter.Butthehereafterisintheworld,notintheheavens.
LewisMumfordmakestheinterestingdistinctionbetweenUtopiasthatareplacesofrefugeforthespiritandthosethatundertaketoprojectaplaceofreleaseatsometimeinthefuture.
TheformerhecallsUtopiasofescape,thelatterUtopiasofreconstruction."Thefirstleavestheexternalworldthewayitisthesecondseekstochangeitsothatonemayhave
intercoursewithitinone'sownterms.Inonewebuildimpossiblecastlesintheairintheotherweconsultasurveyorandanarchitectandamasonandproceedtobuildahousewhich
meetsouressentialneedsaswellashousesmadeofstoneandmortararecapableofmeetingthem."
Utopiasarerootedintheverystructureofman'sconsciouslife.Thereisaspiritthathoversoverallthegenerationsofmanthatrejectsthecontradictionsofhisprivateandsociallifeas
beingeitherultimateorfinal.Itrefusestoaccepttheideathatlifeasitisbeinglivedismeaningless.Ifthemeaningthatamanseekscannotbeapartofthepresentfact,ifthetestingof
hiscurrentexperiencecanmakeroomonlyforthepositiveanddestructive,thenheprojectshimselfbeyondthepresentintothefuture,whichholdssecurelyagainstthevicissitudesof
thepresent.Ofcourse,fortheindividualthismayeasilybeexpressedinakindofwishfulthinking,thespiralingovertonesofamindunabletodealwiththerealitiesofitsliteral
experience,butthisisnotthewholestorybyfar.Overagainstallofthediscontinuityofanyage,continuityalwayspressesandneveryields.Evenwhenmenaresurethatwhattheyseek
isadreamthatcanneverberealizedintheirlifetimeorinthelifetimeofallwholiveatthepresentmoment,theydaretosay,nevertheless,thatitwillcometopass,sometime,
somewhere.
WhattheUtopianliteraryformrepresentsinhumanexperienceisessentiallythequalityofhopeaboutthehumansituationandaboutthefuture.Ibelaborthispointbecauseitiscritical.It
issoeasytodismissUtopiasastheaberrationsofdistortedmindsoras
45
expressionsofemotionalinstability.True,therearesomeweirdpicturesofthefuturethatseemtospringfullblownoutofmindsthathavelosttheirbearing.Buttheyarenotcharacteristic
eitheroftheliteratureoroftheconceptofUtopia.Herewearefacetofacewiththefundamentalideathatthroughallgenerationsmenhavegatheredfromthequalityoflifeitself.No
experience,noeventatanyparticularmomentintimeexhauststhemeaningandthe"intent"oflifeasreflectedinthewaylifelivesitselfout.Thisiswhysoveryoftenmenareunwillingto
scaledownthehorizonoftheirhopes,dreams,andyearningstotheleveloftheeventsoftheirlives.Solongasthereisaconvictionthatapotentialhasnotbeenactualizedeitherinthe
individual,thesociety,orintheworld,therationalnecessityandpossibilityofarealizedfuturemustbehonored.WhattheUtopiadoesistogiveformandplacetosuchactualizationasa
concreteexistence,atleastintheimaginationandinthedream.
Nowletustakearatherintimatelookatcertainlargedreamsofcommunityinwhichmen,voicingtheneedsandaspirationsoftheirtime,havegivenformandorganizationtothe
commonlifeinaccordancewithparticularplansandgoals.Sometimes,asintheBookofIsaiah,idyllicfulfillmentincludesmanandnature.SuchaperiodisusheredinbyanactofGod,
asinthecreationoftheworldinGenesisGodisthebeallandendallinit.WearegivenavividpictureoftheidealandhopeofkingshipinJudahthekinghasthegiftofsuperhuman
wisdomhehasthisbydirectendowmentfromGod.Itisthisthattheprophetmeanswhenhesays:
AndthespiritoftheLordshallrestuponhimThespiritofwisdomandunderstanding,ThespiritofknowledgeandthefearoftheLord.Heshallnotjudgebywhathiseyes
seeOrdecidebywhathisearshearButwithrighteousnessheshalljudgethepoor,AnddecidewithequityforthemeekoftheearthAndheshallsmitetheearthwiththe
rodofhismouthAndwiththebreathofhislipsheshallslaythewicked.
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Righteousnessshallbethegirdleofthewaist,Andfaithfulnessthegirdleofhisloins,Andwolfshalldwellwithlamb,AndtheleopardshallliedownwiththekidAndthecalf
andthelionandthefatlingtogetherAndalittlechildshallleadthem.ThecowandthebearshallfeedTheiryoungshallliedowntogetherAndthelionshalleatstrawlike
theox,Thesucklingchildshallplayovertheholeoftheasp.Andtheweanedchildshallputhishandontheadder'sden.Theyshallnothurtordestroyinallmyholy
mountain,FortheearthshallbefulloftheknowledgeoftheLordAsthewaterscoverthesea.
HeretheintentoftheCreatorincreationisthatcommunityshallbealiteralfactinthefulfillmentoflifeateverylevel.Theactualizationofthispotentialisthedreamthatisnourishedin
eachexpressionoflife.Animalsandmenalikeshareinthisdream.Herewehaveanechoofthemythsofcreationwhentherewasnoinitialenmitybetweenmanandanimals.Atalater
point,certainexperienceswillbefullydiscussedinwhichmanandanimalsestablishedalivingsenseofcommunitywitheachother.
IturnnowtoanotherkindofUtopiaPlato'sRepublic.ThiswasapoliticalUtopiadatedroughly427347B.C.ThesedatescoverthegeneralperiodduringwhichAthensfoughtherlong
anddisastrouswarwithSparta.Itwasatimeofdefeat.IntheRepublicistobefoundPlato'sanswertothedespairanddisillusionmentofhiscontemporaryworld.Platorejectstheidea
thatthecontradictionsoflifeareinthemselvesfinal.Whensocietyashehadknownitwasfallingapart,itwasapsychologicallyappropriatemomentfortheveryfoundationsofsocial
organizationtobeexamined,andforthemeaningandsignificanceofjusticetobeconsideredinacommunitythatwasintentionallyconceivedandbuilt.Whatheseekstoenvisionisan
idealcommunity.
47
Howdoesheproposetodoit?ItisinterestingtoobservethatPlatoisseekingtocorrectpresentevilsbyprojectingaStateinwhichtheseevilsdonotappear.Moralvirtueisidenticalwith
politicalvirtueinhisState.Thefundamentalgoalbeforehimisthesearchforjustice,sinceitseemseasiertounderstandthemeaningofjusticewhenconsideringtheStatethanwhen
tryingtoseparatethemotivesinthelifeofthesolitaryindividual.TheStatehaslocation,asitisaphysicalfact.Itisadefinitepieceoflandwhoselimitsaredeterminedbythenecessities
oftheideaandwherethosewholivewithinitsboundariesaretiedtogetherbytheownershipofcommongoods,commontheaters,andsoforth.Thereisawidevarietyofcommon

interestswhichcanbesatisfiedbypeoplewhowork,play,andthinktogether.TheStatedevelopsitsfunctiontomeettheneedsofitscitizens.Itisacityregionnearenoughlandto
supplythefoodneededbytheinhabitants.Butweneednottarryoverthedetailsofitstopography.Eachgroupofcitizenslivesinthesectionthathasutilityforitsparticularfunctionor
callingintheState.
Thereisalimitedandcontrolledpopulation,makingitpossibleforthepotentialofeachindividualintheStatetobeactualized.Thecitizensliveintentionallivesthisisthetruebasisof
theirfreedom.Itisdifficultforustoimaginewhatthisislikebecauseourownexperienceincommunitydoesnoteasilyprovideforintentionalliving.Wearemovedbywantsanddesires
thataremostoftenartificallycreatedandstimulated.Weorderourlivesinaccordancewithgoals,thefulfillmentofwhichleavesusworldweary,physicallyexhausted,andspiritually
hungry.Platodoesnotwantanygroupwithinhissocietytohavereasontobehappierthananyother.Hecomparesthecommunitytoahumanbeingwhoispossessedofwisdom,valor,
temperance,andjustice.Thefirstthreevirtuesarerelateddirectlytoaparticularclassinthecommunity:wisdomtotherulers,valortothedefenders,andtemperancetoallclasses.The
latterbydefinition"istheorderingorcontrollingofcertainpleasuresordesiresthisiscuriouslyenoughimpliedinthesayingofamanbeinghisownmaster."
48
Thereisalsorecognitionofthedualpotentialinthesoulofman,aninsightsharedbythecreationaccountspreviouslydiscussed."...inthehumansoulthereisabetterandalsoaworse
principleandwhenthebetterhastheworseundercontrol,thenamanissaidtobemasterofhimselfandthisisatermofpraisebutwhenowingtoevileducation,orassociation,the
betterprinciple,whichisalsothesmaller,isoverwhelmedbythegreatermassoftheworseinthiscaseheisblamedandiscalledtheslaveofselfandunprincipled."TheState,then,is
calledmasterofitselfifinitthewordstemperanceandselfmasteryexpresstheruleofthebetterpartovertheworse.Ifsuchisthecase,thenthereisanessentialharmonyand
integrationwithinit.
ThefunctionoftemperancebothintheindividualandintheStateistocreateandpreserveharmony.SuchharmonyispossibleonlywhenthepotentialsoftheStateanditscitizensare
mutuallyrealized."Temperance...extendstothewholeandrunsthroughallthenotesofthescale,andproducesaharmonyoftheweakerandthestrongerandthemiddleclass,
whetheryousupposethemtobestrongerorweakerinwisdomorpowerornumbersorwealth,oranythingelse."
ButwhatofjusticeintheState?Forafterall,thisistheessentialquestofthegrandundertakingintheRepublic.Justicehastodowithprivateandpublicmorality.Amanmayneithertake
whatisanother's,norbedeprivedofwhatishisown.ThistakesusbacktotheoriginalprincipleoftheState:onemanshouldpracticeonethingonly,thethingtowhichhisnatureisbest
adapted.Thequestionofwhowilldeterminethisorhowtheindividualwillknowforhimselfisgivennosatisfactoryanswer.Socialjustice,then,isdefinedasaconditioninwhichevery
personhasanddoespeacefullywhatitishisrighttohaveandtodohefillstheplaceforwhichheisfitted.Fortheprivate,innerlifeoftheindividual,thesamethingobtains.Thefaculties
oftheindividualareasintegratedinhisinnerlifeastheindividualisintegratedinthecommonlifeoftheState.Hereisthebasisforarigid,functionalclassstructure.Thereisno
psychologicalormoralproblemforPlatohere,
49
becausehereflectstheageandtheperiodinwhichhelived.Onceitisassumedthatmenarebornwiththebasicequipmentthatdefinestheirplaceandfunctioninsociety,theneachis
fulfilledwhenthispotentialisrealized.Fromthispointofvieweventhenotionofjusticeisderived.
Thefundamentalerrorinthispositionistheassumptionthatawisdomcapableofdeterminingthepotentialfortheindividualcaneverbetheuniqueandinfallibleknowledgeofanyperson
orgroupofpersons,howeverwiseandsensitiveandintelligenttheymaybe.Thebasicprinciplegrowingoutofourworkingdefinitionofcommunitymustnotbeforgotten.Itisthe
experienceinwhichthepotentialisbeingactualized.Alwaysitisanopenquestionastotheprecisenesswithwhichpotentialcanbedeterminedevenbytheindividualhimself.Certainly,
itisintolerabletosetupsocialcategoriesorclassesinthesociety,andthenbysuchpredeterminationselectindividualsandtheirprogenywhoautomaticallykeepcarryingontofillall
vacanciesintherankandfile.
Someattemptismadetomeetthebasicinequitiesofsocialstratificationasfarastheindividualpersonisconcerned.Thisisachievedthroughtheworkoftheguardiansorrulers.They
havethepowertoadministerwhatsomeonehasaptlycalled"themedicinallie."Everyeffortismadetokeeptheyouthfromanyconditioningthatwouldmakethemrebelagainstthe
societyonbehalfoftheirownfulfillmentandselfrealization.Inshort,theyouth'ssenseofhisownpotentialisgiventohimbytheguardiansanditbecomespsychologicallytrueand
binding.
TosummarizePlato'snotionofUtopia,itisinordertoquotethemostfamousofallthequotationsfromtheRepublic:
Untilphilosophersarekings,orthekingsandprincesofthisworldhavethespiritandthepowerofphilosophy,andpoliticalgreatnessandwisdommeetinone,andthose
commonernatureswhopursueeithertotheexclusionoftheotherarecompelledtostandaside,citieswillneverhaverestfromtheirevils,no,northehumanrace,asI
believe,andthenonlywillthisourStatehaveapossibilityoflifeandbeholdthelightofday.
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ThemeaningoftheRepublicformypurposehereliesinthefactthatitrevealsthepossibilityofcommunallivingwithoutthedeprivationsandthespiritualdegenerationduetopersonal
frustrationandlargecollectiveconflicts.Itmakesthecasethatitiswithinthescopeofthepowersofmindandimaginationtoorderaworldinwhichthedestinyofmanisagoodand
healthfuldestiny.Despitethefactthattheprojectionofthedreamhasallthebasicelementsofafiction,thedreamitselfisajudgmentuponlifeasPlatowaslivingit,anditsprangoutof
thesoilofthatlife.Inthissensethereisarealitytoitthatbecomesasourceofinspirationandreassurancetoallthosewhoweresharersinthecommonlifeoftheperiod.
FromatleastthetimeofPlatotothepresent,Utopiashavecontinuedtomoveinandoutonthehorizonofmen'sminds.Theliteratureisabundantanditreflectsacertainpersistencein
thehumanspirit,runningtheentiregamutofhumanhopes,aspirations,andjudgment.SomeoftheUtopiasarefantasticinimagery,dealingwiththebizarre,theesoteric,andthewhole
spectrumoftheimagination.Someofthemelecttopinpointaparticularaspectofdisorderincontemporarysocietyasthestartingpointandfromthere,inavastprojectionofthe
imagination,awholeneworderofcorrectionandredemptionisenvisaged.
ItisveryclearthatthereligionofChristianityhashadnosmallpartinthedreamoffulfillmentforthechildrenofmen.Themoodofotherworldlinesshascontributedtothisdevelopment.
Theideaisthatbeyondthepresentorder,withitsfrustrations,sin,andbrokenharmony,thereisanotherorderinwhichGodwilldowithouthindrancewhathumansinandfrailtymadeit
difficulttoachieveinanygrandscaleinthepresentworld.Thiswouldbeachievedattheendoftheage,whenHisKingdomwouldbetotallyestablished,orattheendoflifeforthe
individualbeliever.Herewesee,onceagain,therecognitionthatthecontradictionsoflifearenotfinal,thatwhatmenexperienceasprivateorcollectivedisasterneednotberegarded
withhelplessnessbytheChristian.TobesuretheChristianisapilgrimintheworld.Heisamemberofthe
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"ColonyofHeaven,"tousethePaulinephrase.TheKingdomofGodwouldbeusheredinbyChristataclimacticmomentinhumanhistory.TheNewJerusalemwouldcomedownfrom
theskyandalltheanointedoneswouldbegatheredupinitssalvation.ButtheBookofRevelationspeaksforitself:
ThenIsawagreatWhiteThrone,andOnewhowasseatedthereon:fromhispresenceearthandskyfled,nomoretobefound.
AndIsawthedead,highandlowstandingbeforethethrone,andbookswereopened
Alsoanotherbook,thebookofLife,wasopened
Andthedeadwerejudgedbywhatwaswritteninthesebooks,bywhattheyhaddone...
ThenIsawtheNewHeavenandthenewearth,forthefirstheavenandthefirstearthhadpassedawayandtheseaisnomore.
AndIsawtheholycity,thenewJerusalem,descendingfromGodoutofheaven...
AndIheardaloudvoiceoutofthethrone,crying,
Lo,God'sdwellingplaceiswithmen,
Withmenwillhedwelltheyshallbehispeople,
AndGodwillhimselfbewiththem:
Hewillwipeeverytearfromtheireyes,
Anddeathshallbenomore

Nomorewailingorcryingorpain,
Forthefirstthingshavepassedaway.
Continuing,theauthorgivessubstanceanddimensiontotheNewCity:
Sohecarriedmeoff,raptintheSpirit,toahugehighmountain.whereheshowedmetheCity,theholyJerusalem,descendingfromGodoutofheaven,withthegloryof
God.
Thesheenofitresembledsomerarejewellikejasper,clearascrystalithasahugehighwallwithtwelvegates...threegatesontheeast,threegatesonthenorth,three
gatesonthesouth,andthreegatesonthewest...
AndthewalloftheCityhastwelvefoundationstones...
Thefoundationstonesofthecitywallareadornedwithallsortsofpreciousstones,
52
AndtheCityneedsnosunormoontoshineuponit,fortheGloryofGodilluminesit,andtheLamplightsitup.
Byitslightwillthenationswalk
Andintoitwillthekingsofearthbringtheirglories...
Nothingprofane,nonewhopracticesabominationorfalsehoodshallenter.butthosealonewhosenamesarewrittenintheLamb'sBookofLife.
Inessence,herearealltheelementsofUtopia,withtheimportantdifferencethatitisnotmadebythehandsofman.ItisaspecificcreationbyGod,asseenbytheSeerofPatmos,inthe
samewaythat,inthecreationaccount,theworldandallthereinwasmade.Itisapostponementintoafuturelifeofalltherealgoodthatwasdeniedinthepresentlife.Itisnotopentoall.
Thereoperateshereaprofoundprincipleofselectionalldoctrinesofsalvationseemtobeinvolvedwithsomeformofcharacterdiscrimination.Forthosewhoaresavedthefull
realizationofalltheirradiantpossibilitiesareavailabletothem.Whateverthepresentexperiencesmaybe,forthosewhofeelthattheyaresaved,thetranscendentfutureholdsa
fulfillmentnotpossibleinthepresent.TheintentoftheCreatorisblocked,frustratedintime,butHeistheCreatoroftimehenceHisintentwillbecomemanifest,ifnotintime,thenoutof
time.AsJobsays,"Withorwithoutmyflesh,IwillseeGod."
TheproblemraisedforthosewhoarenotoftheFaithisnotresolved.ThereissomethingexclusiveaboutallUtopiasandthisisevertheirtragicflaw.Buttheydorevealwhatthedreamer
thinksofasthehighestend,themostauthenticunfoldingoflifeatitsbestandhighest.Andthisisimportantforourbasicconcept,despiteitsotherworldlyaspects.
ItremainsnowtotakeasummarylookatamorepreciselyworldlyUtopiathanhasbeenconsideredthusfarinourdiscussion.NeartheendoftheMiddleAges,SirThomasMore,
ChancellorunderHenryVIII,wroteUtopia.Hisnamehasbecomesynonymouswiththeworditself.InUtopiaweseeasettinginwhichthechiefendincommunityistohavemengrowto
thefulleststatureoftheirspecies.Suchcanbeaccomplishedonlyina
53
communityinwhicheachmemberisabletosharefully.
ThePortuguesescholarRaphaelHythlodaytellsthestoryofthisfabulouscommonwealth.Heisshowntobeamandisenchantedwiththelifeofhistimes.Thecontradictionsand
paradoxesaboundoneveryside.Muchofwhathedescribeshasanalltoofamiliarring:manyoftherichthriveonthepoor,thesmallfarmerisforcedfromthelandbythelarge
combines,soldiershomefromthewarsfindnojobsandslightwelcome,luxuryandmiserystandindefiantcontrasttoeachother.Thepoorbeseechandtheproudfilch,vagrantsand
thievesarejailed,executed.Thewholeworldisgraywithmisery.
Hythloday'ssolemncommentaryis:"Aslongasthereisanypropertyandwhilemoneyisthestandardofallotherthings,Icannotthinkthatanationcanbegovernedjustlyorhappilynot
justbecausethebestthingswillfalltotheworsemennothappilybecauseallthingswillbedividedamongafew,therestbeinglefttobeabsolutelymiserable."
TheopeningupoftheNewWorldandtherenascenceofFrenchphilosophymadepossiblethekindlingofanewdreamconcerningthehumansituationanditspossibility.AnewUtopia
firestheimaginationandrevealstheirhopesaboutthepersonalandcollectivedestinyoftheindividualandtherace.
Utopiaisaplace.ItexistedinMore'simagination."TheIsleofUtopiacontainsinbreadth200miles,savingthatitcomesintowardsbothends...whichfashionthewholeislandlikethe
newmoon.Betweenthetwocornersthesearunsindividingthembyelevenmiles....
"Thereareintheisland54cities...allsetandsituatedalike,andinallpointsfashionedalike,noneofthemdistantfromthenextaboveoneday'sjourneyafoot."Theunitofpoliticallife
isthecityregion,asintheRepublic.
Theeconomicbaseofthesocietyisagriculture.Thereisdiversifiedfarmingeggsarehatchedbyincubators.Everybodyknowsthescienceandartofagriculture.Therearespecial
tradesandcrafts.Thereisnomenialwork,assuch.Thechiefrulersarecalled
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magistratestheirmainresponsibilityistoseethatnoonelivesinidleness.
Thereisalsoaplannedeconomy,coveringbothproductionanddistributionofgoods.Everycareisgiventoseethatthepopulationofeachcityisstabilized.Whenthenumbergrowstoo
largeinanygivencity,itsexcessisputintootherfamilieswherethepopulationisbelowtheestablishedaverage."Ifthemultitudethroughoutthewholeislandexceedtheduenumber,
theychooseoutofeverycitycertaincitizensandbuildupatownundertheirownlawsintheneighboringland,wheretheinhabitantshavemuchunoccupiedground.Iftheinhabitantswill
notdwellwiththem,tobeorderedbytheirlaws,theydrivethemoutoftheirboundsandiftheyresisttheymakewaragainstthem."
Everyoneissurethatheshallalwaysbesuppliedsohedoesnothavetohoard.Thereisnofearofwant,which,accordingtoMore,makesmengreedyandlustful.Thereisasharp
distinctionbetweentrueandfalsepleasures.Allpleasureisfalsethathassomestingorbitternessinit,suchasloveforfineclothes,orheapingofwealth,orgambling,andsoforth.The
truepleasuresarethosewhichhavetodowiththebodyandthemind.
Tothesoultheygiveintelligenceandthatdelectationthatcomesfromcontemplationoftruthorthegoodlifepast.Thepleasuresofthebodyoccurwhendelightisfeltby
thesensesaswhenweeatanddrink,orwhenitchingiseasedwithscratching,orinthequietoruprightstateofthebodyforeveryman'sproperhealthisdelectableof
itselfandisthefoundationofallpleasure....
Theycountthepleasuresofthemindthechiefestofall.Thechiefpartofthemcomefromtheexerciseofvirtueandconsciousnessofthegoodlife....Theybeginevery
dinnerandsupperbyreadingsomethingthatpertainstogoodmannersandvirtue.
OntheIslandofUtopiapeoplehaveachancetodeveloptheirownpositiveandconstructivepotentialities.Theassumptionisthatthiscanbestandperhapsonlybedoneinthekindof
controlledenvironmentdedicatedtothisend.Theindividualexperiences
55
cannotbeseparatedfromthecollectiveandcommunalexperiencetheyarelinkedtogetherinseparably.Hereweseeacompleterejectionofthewayoflifethatwastheclimateinwhich
Morelivedbutnotasanendinitself.Thereisanotheralternative,anotherpossibility.Theessenceofitisalreadyinthemindandspiritofman.TheIslandofUtopiaisits,forinstance.
Mumford,inhisstoryofUtopia,hasamostcreativesummaryofthetotalmeaningofUtopiasinthelifeofman:
Tocultivatethesoilratherthansimplytogetawaywithajobtotakefoodanddrinkratherthantoearnmoneytothinkanddreamandinvent,ratherthantoincreaseone's
reputationinshort,tograspthelivingrealityandspurntheshadow.Thisisthesubstanceoftheutopianwayoflife.Inthisutopiaofthenewworld,everymanhasthe
opportunitytobeamanbecausenoonehastheopportunitytobeamonster.

CommunityastheUtopiandreamisapartofthebasicaspirationofthehumanspirit.ItisnotimportantatanyparticulartimeandplacethattheUtopiadoesnotbecomeliteralfactit
reveals,however,whattheimaginationofmanhastosayaboutthetruepossibilityofthehumanspirit.Thisdreamexpresseswhatmanseesashispotentialifhewereatlibertyto
fashionaworldinaccordancewithhisneeds,hishopes,hisdestiny.Deepwithinhimselfheknowsthatifhesettlesforanythinglessthanthis,hedeniestheprofoundintentofhisown
spirit,whichisonewiththeintentoftheCreator.
Weturnnowtoanexaminationofsomeofthewaysbywhichcommunityisrealizedintheselfconsciousrelationshipbetweenmanandotherconsciousexpressionoflifeinhis
environment.
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V:TheSearchintheCommonConsciousness
Asktheverybeasts,andtheywillteachyouAskthewildbirdstheywilltellyouCrawlingcreatureswillinstructyou,FishintheseawillinformyouForwhichofthem
knowsnotthatthisistheEternal'sway,Inwhosecontrolliveseverylivingsoul,AndthelifeofmanJob.
InalecturesomefortyyearsagobyDr.WilliamW.Keen,professoremeritusofsurgeryatJeffersonMedicalCollegeinPhiladelphia,thereisadescriptionofsurgeryperformedonthe
brainofayoungwomansufferingfromepilepsy.Shehadobservedthattheattackusuallystartedinherleftthumbandthenspreadtotherestofherbody.Thesurgeonreasonedthatif
hecouldpreventtheattackfromstartinginthethumb,theentirefitwouldnotcometopass.Initially,theproblemwastolocatetheprecisecenterinthebrainthatcontrolledthemotor
actioninthethumb.Drawingupon
57
hisknowledgederivedfromanimalexperimentation,heknewwheretheprecisecenterwaslocated.Whenthedoctoropenedtheskullofthepatientandidentifiedthespotcorresponding
tothethumbcenterinanimals(i.e.,thegreattoeofthefrontfoot),hecutoutasmallcubefromeachside."Thehumanbraincenterandtheanimalcenterforthethumbwereprovedtobe
preciselyidentical."
Observationsandtheexperimentationsaboundthatindicatenotmerelyacommonoriginformanandnonhumananimals,forthewidevarietyoflivingformsontheearth,butthatinthe
growthanddevelopmentofformsoflifemuchofthejourneyisidentical.Lifeseekingtorealizeitselfinanygivenexpressiondrawsuponawiderangeofexperienceandusesidentical
devices,gadgets,andutilitarianforms.Thus,livingthingsdonotmerelyhaveincommontheiroriginandthefactthateachisconscious,buttheyalsoseemtohavelevelsof
communicationthattendtomakeforaharmoniousrelationship.Thecreationaccountsseemtotakethisfactforgranteditisthelogicoftheprocessthatbroughtformsoflifeintobeing
inthefirstplace.Whatmenhavediscoveredthroughtheagesisthatnotonlyisthereanaffinitythatthemindhasfortheexternalworld,butalsothatthereisanaffinitybetweenman's
ownconsciousnessandthemanyformsofconsciousnessaroundhim.Themoreawaremanbecomesofthisthemorehediscoversthathisownsenseofselfseemstobegreatly
enlarged,andalloflifeseemstobemoreintimatelyapartofhimandheapartofit.
Itisimportanttoobservethatthisawarenessmaybeexperiencedbytwodifferentformsoflifewithoutaprevioushistoryofassociation.WhatIamsuggestingisthatthereissuchathing
asageneralexperienceoflifethattwoformsmayshareatthesamemomentintimewithoutresistanceandwithoutthreat.
Thefollowingexperienceillustratesmymeaning:WhenIwasasmallboyIwentacrossthemeadowtovisitwithoneofmychums.IwasrunningaroundthehousewhenIheardavoice,
whichcamefromaknockonthewindowpane.Ilookeduptoseemyfriend'sfatherstandingintheroom.Assoonashecaughtmyattentionhemotionedformetoturnaroundandcome
intothe
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housethroughthefrontdoor.WhenIenteredtheroomhepointedthroughanopenwindow.ThereIsawhisbabygirl,lessthanayearold,sittinginthesandplayingwitharattlesnake.It
wasanamazinganddeeplyfrighteningexperiencetowatch.Thechildwouldturnthesnakeoveronitssideanddovariousthingswithhimthesnakewouldcrawlaroundher,thencrawl
back.Itwasapparentthattheywereplayingtogether.
Iwassentbackintotheyardtostandguardtokeepanyonefromcomingaroundthehousetofrightenthem.Foriftheirharmonywerebrokenbysuddendisharmonycreatedbynoiseor
suddenmovement,therewouldhavebeenviolenceonearth.Afterawhilethebabygrewtiredofplaying,turnedaway,andstartedcrawlingtowardthebackstepsthesnakecrawled
towardsthewoodsontheedgeoftheyard.Itwasthenthatthefatherdrewabeadonthesnake'sheadwithhisshotgun,killinghiminstantly.Itwasasiftwodifferentexpressionsoflife,
normallyantagonistictoeach,haddroppedbackintosomecommongroundandtherereestablishedasenseofharmonythroughwhichtheywererelatingtoeachotherataconscious
level.
Moreobviouskindsofcommunicationtakeplacebetweenmembersofthesamespeciesorfamily.Thelifethatisrealizingitselfineachonecannotberegardedasadistinctundertaking,
butratheritmustbeseenasasingleexpressionoractivity,orseenasanorganism.Thebasicaimisalwaysthesame:toaidtheprocessbywhichpotentialsareactualized.Foritisonly
inthiswaythatthecontinuityofthespeciescanbeguaranteed.Andfortheparticularspeciesandtheindividualsinit,thisiscommunity.Thepointofeachsolitaryformoflifeisthatinit
lifeitselfmaynotbedefeated.
First,then,individualharmonymustobtainwithintheparticularorganism,thenwithinthegroupoforganismsthatareimmediatelyorganicallyrelatedtooneanother.Onbehalfofthiskind
ofendeavorawidevarietyofmethodsofcommunicationisemployed.Sincetheindividualandcollectiveharmoniesaredependentuponnourishmentandreproduction,thesetwo
aspectsoflifearealwaysguaranteedasfaraspossiblebythebehaviorpatternorthereflex
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actionoftheindividuals.Thebasicpurposeofallcommunicationfindsitsmeaninghere.Thematingcalls,theparticularsoundsindicatingdangerorfeartheseareallcommonplace.
TheindividualhowleramongtheCentralAmericanhowlingmonkeyscommunicateshismessage,givingforthhisreactiontoatleastninedifferentsituationsonesoundindicatesan
invasion,anotherindicatesmerelythatthegroupisbeingthreatenedorthattheindividualhowlerissuspicious,oronemonkeysuggestsachangeindirectionthathewantsthegroupto
take.
RobertArdreycommentsthatthecrowdistinguishesthehunterfromothermennotbythegunhecarriesbutbythedeadbirdinhishand.Itseemsthatthepersonalidentification
becomesrootedintheconsciousnessofeverymemberoftheflockbythetimbreoftheoutcry.
Otherflocks,whichhavenotthemselveswitnessedthemurderoftheirkind,willhearandtakeupthecryandsothehunter'sbadreputationmaybespreadthrougha
wholeregion.Hemaychangehishuntingways....Evenso,generationsofcrowsyetunbornwilllearnthatthisparticularmanhasacrowrecord,andmustberegarded
foralltimesasabadrisktocrowwelfare.Soanimalsocietybecomesthepermanentrepositoryforanimalexperience,survivingthedeathofindividualmembers.
Ofcourse,wedonotknowpreciselyhowtoassessthewidevarietyofmeansbywhichinsectsandanimalsestablishovertcommunicationwithoneanother.Butwheretherearesounds
thatcanbeheardbythehumanear,particularsoundsandthereactionstothemareobservedoveralongenoughperiodtoprovidethebasisforsomejudgmentastotheirmeaning.
Sufficeittosaythatsomekindofcodeisoperativeonbehalfofthe"intent"oflifeasweseeitfunctioningunderourscrutiny.
Thewholeprocessbecomesmorecomplicatedwhencommunicationbetweenmanandotherformsoflifeisunderexamination.Itisnotunreasonabletomethatsomeelemental
communicationcantakeplacebetweenmanandflowersorplants.WhatIamabouttosaymayseemtobeatrickoftheimagination,butseveralyears
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agowhenmyroseswerenotdoingwell,eachnightIwouldgooutandexpressorallymyconcernfortheirwellbeing,eventothepointofgentlypattingthebranches,notmerelybecause
ofthethorns.ItmaybethatwhatIrecognizedasaresponseintermsofgrowthandblossommayhavebeenduetotheextraattentionthatIgavethembecauseofmyconcern.
Whenweturntocommunicationwithanimalsthegroundseemsmoresecure.TheorganicbasisforresponsivebehaviormaybefoundintheobservationmadebyDr.Keenatthe
beginningofthischapter.Atanyrate,thewholeareaisworthexplorationbecausethebasisofcommunityasaselfconsciousanddeliberateexpressioninthesocietyofmenmaybe
rootedhere.
WhenIwasten,Iwasadeliveryboyforameatmarketinourtown.Ihaddeliveredanordertothekitchenofaparticularfamilyandwasintheactofmountingmybicyclewhenalarge
Dalmatiandog,withoutmakingasound,jumpedfromanearbyporch,ranbetweenmyrightlegandthebicycleandtorealargepieceoffleshoutofmylegmuscle.Ihadnotnoticedhim
beforetheattack.Thefrightandthepaingaveafundamentalshocktomynervoussystem.SoprofoundwasthetraumathateventothisdayImustmakeadisciplinedefforttobeatease
inthepresenceofanydog,howeverfriendlyhemaybe.Itisabattlethatmustalwaysbewonininitialcontact,ormymutedpanictakesover.Becauseofmylovefordogs,each
encounterhasitsownuniquechallengeuntilabasisofcommunityisestablishedandmaintained.

Oneillustrationwillsuffice.IwasinvitedtospendtheafternoonvisitingafamilyinatownwhereIwasavisitinglecturerforseveralmonths.ThefirsttimeIwentthereIwasaccompanied
byamemberofthefamily.WecamethroughthekitchenandweregreetedbythestirringbarkofalargeGermanshepherddog.Asweenteredthesonheldthedogbythecollarwhilehis
motherspoketothedog.Hecontinuedtobark,hiseyessetonmeinamannerthatwascompletelyunnerving.IknewonceagainthatmyworkwascutoutformewhetherornotIever
intendedtoreturntothefarmforothervisits.ImademydecisionandabovehisbarksIspoketothe
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dog,callinghimbyname,announcingthatwewouldhavetolearntoknoweachother.Hefollowedusintothelivingroomwherewesatonacouch.Hestoodinthedooruntilwewereall
settled,nevertakinghiseyesfromme.Atlength,helaydowninthedoorwaywithhisfaceinmydirection.AfterafewminutesofgeneralconversationIwasleftaloneinthelivingroom.
Nowheraisedhisheadlookingdirectlyatme.WhenIwascompletelyinchargeofmyselfIsaid,"Iknowyourjobistokeepwatch,sotodayIdonotblameyou.Youarejustdoingyour
job.ButIwanttoknowyouandIamsurethatyouwilllikemewhenyouknowme."Hesimplylookedatmewithoutmakingasoundormovinganypartofhisbody.Iwasrelievedthat
therewasnoobvioussignofangerorfear.
Whenoneofthemembersofthefamilyreturned,Iaskedhertositnearmeonthecouchtoexplainsomepictures.Immediatelythedogcameoverandrestedhisheadonherhand,
alwayslookingatme.ThensheexplainedtohimthatIwasafriend.
AgainIwasleftalone.Thistimehedidnotgotohispostatthedoorbutlaydownnearby.AperiodofsomefiveminuteshadpassedwhenIturnedcompletelyinhisdirection,callinghim
byname,saying,"DoyouknowwhyIreacttoyouasIdo?Well,I'lltellyou.WhenIwasasmallboy...andsoforth.NowdespitethatexperienceIlikedogsverymuch.Doyouknow
something?YouhavethelargestpawsIhaveeverseenonadog.SinceIhavebeenamanIhavehadtwodogs.Doyouknowwhattheirnameswere?BarriemoreandKropotkin."By
thistimehehadgottenupfromthefloor,stoodonhisfeetinalazymanner,andstartedwalkingtowardthedoor.Helookedbackatme,thenstoppedasifhewerelistening.
Meanwhile,Icontinuedmyconversation."It'stoobadthatyoudon'twanttostay.Ifyouwillstaywithmesothatwecanreallygetacquainted,I'llscratchyouwhereyouitchbutcan't
scratch.Andthatisawonderfulfeeling!Comeonover,I'llbecarefultobeginintheobviousplace,likeunderyourcollar."Ilookedsteadilyathimandwaited.Slowlyheturnedandwalked
inmydirection,paused,andthencameovertome.Despiteeverything,Icould
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hardlymanagemyinnertension.Hesniffed,beginningdownatmyankles,thenmytrousers,andfinallyherestedhishugeheadinthecrevicebetweenmyknees.ForthefirsttimenowI
touchedhim,runningmyhandalongthebackofhisneck,andgentlyIbeganascratchingmassagingmotionuntilmyfingerswereunderthechainaroundhisneck.Nowtherealworkof
scratchingbegan.
AllthewhileIwastalking,tellinghimaboutmytwodogsbutwatchinghiseyesandbeingawareofhisreflexesorresponses.AtonepointInoticedthathiseyesbegantogetthatfar
awaylookandhiseyelidsclosedeversoslightly.Withthatasacluemyhandsmovedtohislongnose,whichIscratchedwithdelicateskill,allthewaytobeneaththeeyelidsandabove.
Hiseyeswerehalfclosednow."Areyoureadynowfortherealgoodyorhaveyouhadenoughfornow?Iaminnohurry,itisuptoyou."Istopped,waitedbutdidnotremovemyhand.
Heswishedhisbigbushytail,nuzzledhisheadmoredeeplybetweenmyknees,andwaited,lookingatme.Itookthistomean:keepgoing.SoIdid.WiththepalmofmyhandImadea
rotatingmotion,withincreasingpressureontheoutsideofhisrightear.Hisdelightinthiswasobvious.WithgreatcareItookmyindexfingerandmassagedtheinsideofhisouterear.I
coveredalltheinnersurfacewithmyprobingfinger,massagingandpressing,pressingandmassaging,untilhiseyesclosedentirely.WhenIfinished,hesniffedmeoverfromshoesto
knees,turnedandwalkedoutoftheroom.
Intheweeksthatfollowed,eachtimeIcamehestoodguardwithhisfrighteningbarkbutitlastedashortertimeoneachsucceedingvisit.Finallywhenheheardmyvoicehewouldstop
barking.WhenIenteredthehousehewouldcomeovertogreetme.Asalways,Ihadmymoments,butfromthefirstday'sadventureourunderstandingdeepened.ThelasttimeIsaw
himweplayedtogetherforafewminutesintheyardandhadourpicturetaken.
Iamconvincedthatthereisagroundofunitybetweenanimalsandmanofwhichanyoralcommunicationisbutsymbolicorvehicular.Theoralcommunicationmustbeofsuchsounds
thattheyunlockthedoorbetween.Howthisisdonewedonotknow.
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Thenotionthatmanisthehigheranimalandallothersarelower,thedevelopmentofelaborateselfconsciousnessinman,theabilitytothinkreflectivelythatisauseofthemindthat
givesitthesenseoflivingitsownlifeapartfromthebodyalloftheseandkindredideashaveerectedagreatwallbetweenmanandotheranimals.Thesenseofseparatenessfromthe
restofnatureissomarkedthatmantendstoseehimselfasbeingoveragainstnature.Indefenseofthisconceit,variousdogmasandeventheologieshavebeendeveloped.Mypointis
notthatthesenseofseparatenessisnotauthenticbutmerelythatitisnotabsolute.Lifeisalwaysseekingtorealizeitselfinmyriadformsandpatternsofmanifestation.Theseformsand
manifestationsincludetheorganicstructureaswellasdiffusedconsciousnessorawarenessatitsmostelementallevelandselfconsciousnessinitsprofoundestexpression.
Fearkeepsthedoorsbetweensealed.Itisabasicresponsetothreat.Oversomanyyearsmenandanimalshavelivedessentiallyapartfromeachotherandthepredatoryinstinct,
particularlyamongmen,hasbeensocrucialintheirsurvivalthatanynotionofcommunitythatmovesoutbeyondtheprotectiveenclosureisfatuousandillusory.Butwherethereis
deliberateacceptancebetweenmenandanimals,afreshpossibilityofenlargedmeaningforeachemerges.Isuspectthatundersuchcircumstanceseventhepotentialofeachlife
undergoesaradicalexpansion.Oncetheacceptancehastakenplace,evenancientenmitybeginstogivewayandnewmeaningsemerge.
InHotchner'sPapaHemingwaythereisanarrestingillustrationofthepossibilitiesofcommunicationonceacceptanceisassured.Accordingtohisstory,Hemingwayenjoyedgoingtothe
RinglingBrotherscircuswhenitcametoNewYork,andhehadalifetimepassgiventohimbyhisfriendJohnRinglingNorth.Onthisoccasion,accompaniedbyHotchner,Hemingway
wenttoMadisonSquareGardensometimebeforethecircusopened.Theyfoundtheirwaybelowwheretheanimalswereintheircages.ItshouldbepointedoutthatHemingwaythought
thatcircusanimalsweremoreintelligentthanotheranimalsbecauseintheirexperience
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ofacceptancebytheirtrainerstherehadbeenagreaterdevelopmentontheirpart.Theacceptanceenlargedthepotential,orsoitseemed.
WhentheywentdownbelowHemingwaywasdrawntothegorilla.Naturally,thekeeperwasquitenervousabouthavinganyman,andparticularlyastrangertothecircus,gettoocloseto
hischarge.ButHemingway
stoodclosetothecageandtalkedtothegorillainastaccatocadenceandkepttalking,andfinallythegorilla,whoappearedtobelistening,wassomovedhepickeduphis
plateofcarrotsanddumpeditontopofhisheadthenhestartedtowhimpersuresigns,thekeepersaid,ofhisaffection.
Naturallythiscreatedquiteasensationamongallthekeepersandtrainers.Allofthemwantedhimtoseehowwelltheirparticularchargescouldrespond.Butheinsisted
thattheonlywildanimalwithwhomhehadrealtalkingrapportwasthebear.Whenhestoppedinfrontofthepolarbearcage,thisanimalwasswingingbackandforth
acrosstheenclosure.
"Heisverynasty,Mr.Hemingway,"thebearkeepersaid."Ithinkyou'rebetterofftalkingtothisbrownbear,whohasagoodsenseofhumor."
"Ishouldgetthroughtohim,"Ernestsaid,stayingwiththepolarbear,"butIhaven'ttalkedbeartalkforsometimeandImayberusty."Thekeepersmiled.Ernestedgedin
closetothebars.Hebegantospeaktothebearinasoft,musicalvoicetotallyunlikethegorillalanguage,andthebearstoppedpacing.Ernestkeptontalking,andthe
words,orIshouldsaysounds,wereunlikeanyIhadeverheard.Thebearbackedupalittleandgrunted,andthenitsatonitshaunchesand,lookingstraightatErnest,it
begantomakeaseriesofnoisesthroughitsnose,whichmadeitsoundlikeanelderlygentlemanwithseverecatarrh.
Thekeeperwascompletelyastoundedandexpresseditwithavibrantoath.AsHemingwaywalkedawayfromthecagethebearstaredafterhim,bewildered.
"It'sIndiantalk,Ernestsaid.I'mpartIndian.Bearslikeme.Alwayshave."
Tomanypeopleevencommunicationbetweenanimalsofthesamekindisunthinkable.Butanyseriousthoughtconcerningor
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observationofvariousanimalsandinsectswillrevealwhatmaybecalledthelanguageofthekind.Withintheparticularfamilyorclassgrouping,throughmillionsofyears,therehave
developedbehaviorpatternsfoundusefulintheunfoldingpotentialofeach.Thesqueakofbabybatsinadarkgrottomaysoundlikebedlamtothehumanearbuttotheindividualmother
herbaby'ssqueakisdifferentfromalltherest.Andthisisnotsurprising.Thereisaprivatelifeofeverylivingthingalivingfromtheinside.Thisiswherethe"intent"ofcreationis
dramaticallyinevidence,whenthepotentialgathersforthepushintorealization.

Iwonderwhatitfeelsliketotrytogetinside?Inoneofmymostbelovedbooks,referredtoearlier,JaneSteger'sLeavesFromaSecretJournal,shemusesonthisidea.
Whatintheworldmakesthesegreenleaves?Ohno,Idon'twanttoknowwhattheyarecomposedof.Abotanistmighttellmethat.WhatIwanttoknowiswhythesap
everstartedtorunupthetree,upthetrunk,alongthelimbs,intothebuds,tospreadthemoutintoleaves.Perhapsthewaytofindoutwouldbetogetinsidethetreeone's
self,anebulouspersonality,torunwiththesapupthetrunk,outthelimbs,intotheleavesandmaplekeys,andtherehearthecommandtostop.Theendisasamazingas
thebeginning.Whydoestheurgeoflifeceasewithleavesandseedvessels?Howdoesitknowwhentostopwhenitstypeiscompleted?Ifthiscommandtohaltdidn't
comeouttherightmoment,thebreathoflifethatisinthetreemightgoonbeyondleavesandbloomintoallsortsofgreenfantasticabortionsthatwouldspoilthetype....
Itisamiraclethattreesstopwiththemselvesthatmapletreesareonlymapletrees,appletreesonlyappletrees,andoaktreesonlyoaks.Theurgeoflifemightsoeasily
haveflowedonintoamaelstromofconfusion,asortofcrazyquiltofcreation.
Thesame,ofcourse,istrueofeverytype.Whydopigsstopatpigs,andhumanbeingsathumanbeings....Eachtypemayhavecomeupfromsomethingelse,andbe
slowlydriftingontoanotherdevelopmentnevertheless,ateachstageitisitself,andnotaconfusedmedley....Theurgeoflifealwaysamazedme,butIneveruntilnow
realizedthemarvelofitsstoppingwheneachcreationiscompleted....
Iwouldliketogetinsideofmymapleandseewhatitfeelsliketobe
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atree.PerhapsIwasatreeoncelongago,atonestageofmyjourneyfromanatomtoanangel....IcanscarcelyrememberthetimewhenIdidnothavethis
inexplicableyearningtogetinsideofgrowingthingsandtaste,asitwere,theirconsciousness.
LeonardDubkinreferstothesameideainrelatinghisexperiencewithbats.ByaccidenthediscoveredacolonyofbatsinanemptyChicagolot.Throughmanydaysandnightshe
learnedthehabitsofthecolonyandwitnessedtheactualbirthofanalbinowhomhecalledtheWhiteLady.Thisbecamethetitleofhisstory.Thelittlealbinobatandhebecamefriends
shewasabletoaccustomherselftothescentofhisfingerssothathewouldberecognizedandultimatelytrusted.OnthepointunderdiscussionhereDubkinsays:
Sciencecantellusmanythingsabouttheothercreaturesaroundus,ourneighborsontheplanetearthitcangiveusadetailedexplanationofthephysicalmakeupof
eachspecies,ofhowitlivesandgetsitsfoodandraisesitsyoung.Butsciencecannottelluswhatitisliketobeabatoranelephantorafly,itcannotprobeintotheinner
consciousnessofalivingbeingandpeerintothesecretreactionstoitsexistence.Andwhileitisimportantthatscienceshoulddiscoverandannouncethefactsabout
otherlivingbeingsontheearth,itseemstomeequallyimportantthatamanshouldoccasionallystepawayfromhisconstantassociationwithotherhumanbeings,and
immersehimselfinlivesdifferentfromhisown,steephimselfsofaraspossibleinthepersonalityandsubjectiveperceptivenessofothercreatures.SothateventhoughI
hadnot,alas,discoveredanynewtheoryaboutbats,eventhoughIhadnotbeentheonetoprovethatbatsfindtheirwayinthedarkbytheuseofhighfrequencysounds,
therewassomeconsolationintheknowledgethatIwasclosertothebatsinthegrotto,moreintimatewiththemandmoreappreciativeoftheirstyleoflife,thanany
scientistintentonhisexperimentscouldeverbe.
Itisentirelypossiblethatwhenamanseemstobecommunicatingwithananimal,heismerelyprojectingontotheanimalhisownframeofreferenceandtherebymakingafalseestimate
orassessmentofwhatistranspiring.Itmaybethatitisatrickofthemindcausinghimtoreadintothebehavioroftheanimaltheresponse
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thatanotherhumanbeingwouldmake.Obviouslywearemovinginarealminwhichitisverydifficulttoseparatefactfromfancy.Thisisnottosaythatfancydoesnothaveitsownreality.
If,however,webeginwiththeconceptofthefundamentalunityoflifethatseemstobethelogicofallthatinvestigation,exploration,andimaginationrevealaboutbeginnings,thenitdoes
notseemunreasonabletomaketheassumptionthatthecontextthatdefinesorlimitsanyparticularexpressionoflifeisbutavariationoftheonebasictheme.Wedonotknowwhatlifeis
becausewehavenotoolsforisolatingit.Butwhatwedoknowisthatlifeischaracterizedbyactivityinsomeform,thatdirectivenessandcreativenessareinherentinlife.Ifoneformof
lifecantranscendorgetbeyondthewall,barrier,orcontextthatseparatesitfromanotherformoflife,thenessentialunityoflifeisconfirmedtothatextent.Outofeachsuchexperience
onegetsaninsightthatcanbeappliedtomyriadexperienceswithmanyformsoflife.Thetoughthingisthattheinheritednotionthatthedifferentexpressionsoflifearenotonlyunique
butareabsolutelyandcompletelydifferentmakestheideaofanunderlyingunitymeaningless.Veryreadilyonewouldagreethatthereoughttobeormustbesomeadequategroundfor
establishingthebasisforunitywithinagivengrouporclassification,sayofanimals,orinsects,orman.Buttohazardthepossibilitythatthesameappliesacrosssuchaclassificationisto
indulgeinafiction.
Itisworthnotingthatfromtimeimmemorialmenhavefeltthattherewasauniversallanguagepriortothecreationofsymbolsofcommunicationsuchaswords.Thislanguageincludedall
livingthingsaswellasman.Weseethisideainitsmostbeautifulandpoeticexpressioninthecreationmyths.Iamherethinkingofsomethingmorefundamentalthananyofthe
illustrationspreviouslygivenhere.
Thereseemstobeadifferencebetweenconfirmingtheunityoflifeamongone'sownkindandconfirmingtheunityoflifeacrosskingdomsorspecies.Inthelatterinstancethemind
temporarilygivesupitssenseofindividualityanddropsbackintoanoriginalcreativecontinuuminwhichboundariesofthehumanselfare
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temporarilytranscended.Theawarenessofconsciousmeaningisnotlostitismerelyenlarged.
AnItaliandukewhowasadoctorandadministratorofItaly'sformerAfricancolonieswroteoutofhisexperiencesabookentitledAGraveforaDolphin.Therearemanyinterestingstories
initaboutchildren,animals,andmagic.Thestoryofinterestformypurposeiscalled"ASermonforWartHogs."ItistheaccountofthePriorofBarentu'sabilitytotalkmeaningfullyto
animals.FortheBigFather(ashewascalled),chattingwithanimalswasamatterofcourseandhehadnodoubtatallthattheanimalsunderstoodwhathemeant.Hewasnotmerely
communicatingorestablishingakindofvagueresponsereaction.Hewassurethathesharedideaswithanimalsandthattheyinturnunderstoodhim.Itisnotclearfromtheaccount
whethertheprocessworkedinreverse.Itwassaidthathelookedattheworldofanimalsfromanangleofhisown.Hedidnotbelievethatmanwasthehuboftheuniverse,butthatman
wasoneofthebillionsofbeingsto"whomGodhadgrantedthegiftoflife."
Theaccountrelatesthatwhenthecropscameupandbegantogrow,thecustomwastodriveaseriesofpolesintothegroundanduponthembuildcrows'nestsinwhichboyswould
secludethemselvesarmedwithslings,inordertokeepthewarthogsfromcomingintodestroythecrops.ItwasobservedthattheBigFathertooknosuchdefensivemeasuresforhis
crop.WhenhewasaskedaboutithesaidthatthewarthogswouldnotdarelaywastelandbelongingtotheMission.Hewasconvincedthattheyweresensibleanimalsandwouldalways
listentoreason.IthadbeenmadeverycleartothemthattheMission'sharvestfedscoresandscoresofpeoplewhohadnolandoftheirown.
AllofthiscameoutinconversationbetweentheauthorandthePriorwhentheformerwasanovernightguestoftheMission.TheprecisestatementoftheBigFatherwas:
Ispeaktothewarthogseveryyear.Everyyearattheendoftheheavyrains,whenthemaizecobsbegintoswell,Itellthemhowmanyfamilies
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getalivingfromourcropsandbegthemnottodesolateourfieldstillnow,Imustsay,theyhavealwayscompliedwithmydesire.Thisyearalso,whenthemoonisfull,I
shallspeakagaintothepoorbrutesIshouldbegladifyouwouldcomewithme.
LaterthateveningwhenallthemonkshadgonetosleeptheBigFatherandhisguestwalkedquietlyoutintotheyardwherethefullmoonwasincompleteplay.Togethertheywalkedfor
amileortwountiltheycametoagladewheretheysatontherootsofalargetree.HeretheBigFatherwithbowedheadbeganprayinginthesurroundingsilencethesnapofthebeads
underhisfingerswasclearlyaudible.
WhentheprayerwasoverthePriorbecameveryalert.
Carryinghisheadslightlyoverhisleftshoulder,hiseyesrivetedonthetreesacrosstheglade,quiveringwithsuppressedexcitement,hestrainedhisears,lettingthebeads
dangleidlyfromhishands.
Farawayastifledthrobbingechoedthroughtheforestandthebigtrunksgaveitbackscatteredamongthetreesstockyshapeswereloominginthedarkness,stumbling
overtheroots,gruntingandgrubbinginthehighgrassnotdaringtocomeintheopen.
TheBigFatherstoodupanddragginghisfeet,stumbledtothecenteroftheglade:withbentheadandclaspedhandshewaspraying.Infrontofhimhereandtherelike
gargoylesbetweenthespiresofacathedral,fangedsnoutspeepedamidthetrunks,andwhenthethrongoffourfootedmonstersgrewthicker,someofthebolderpushed
forward,furrowingrushesandreeds.

Atmyleftthemassivebulkofanoldwarthogtotteredoutintothegladeitsskinwashairless,wrinkledandcreased,themanehadshrunktoafewfadedtuftsandinthe
lumpishknottymuzzletheeyeswereglassyandlifeless.Theoldpatriarch,wornoutwithageandinfirmities,wasblindtwoyounghogsflankeditandwithitssnoutthe
blindancestorclungholdofthetailofafemalewhoactedasguide.
ThePriorspoketotheassemblyofwarthogs.Hespokeintheindigenouslanguageofthearea.Itwasasharingofhimselfwithotherexpressionsoflife,butfromtheinsideofliferather
thantheoutside.Attheendofhisshortspeechhesaidabriefprayer,after
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whichheraisedhishandsandblessedthewarthogs,whowerenotmorethanthreeyardsdistantfromhim.Whenthiswasoverandnotuntil,theymovedbackintotheforestinthemidst
ofmanysnortsandgrunts.
WhenthePriorandtheDukereturnedtotheMission'ssquare,theywentimmediatelyintothechurch.WhiletheMasswasbeingsaidtheDuketriedtosortouttheconfusingconflicting,
andamazingsetofideasandimpressionsinhismind.Itwasnotasifhedidnotknowsomethingfirsthandaboutwarthogs.Asadoctor,onmanyoccasionshehadpatchedupAfricans
whosesideshadbeenrippedupbyoneoftheseanimals.Hehadseendogscompletelyannihilatedbytheirfangs.Andyethehadseenthesesameanimalsbehaveasiftheywerea
quietflockoflambsaroundtheBigFather.Theyseemedtolistentohisspeechasiftheyunderstoodit.Andwhowastheretogainsayit?
Theseweresomeofthethoughtsthathetriedtosortoutinhismind:
Whatunknownpowerhaddraggedtheblindhogoutoftheforest?Whohadtoldtheyoungsowtoleaditintotheglade?WhyhadthehogsslippedawayafterthePrior's
benediction?Obviously,withthatgesturehehaddismissedthembutthen,howhadhemanagedtosummontheherd?Didhereallyknowhowtoextractthestrictest
obediencefromwildanimals?
OneisremindedoftheLittleFlowersofSaintFrancis,whenhesaidtothewildwolfofGubbio:
ThensaidSaintFrancis,"FriarWolf,sinceitpleaseththeetomakeandobservethispeace,Ipromisetoobtainforthee,solongasthoulivest,acontinualsustenancefrom
themenofthiscity,sothatthoushaltnomoresufferhunger,forwellIweenthatthouhastwroughtallthiseviltosatisfythyhunger.ButafterIhavewonthisfavourfor
thee,FriarWolf,Idesirethatthoupromisethmetodohurtneithertomannorbeast.Dostthoupromisethmethis?"Andthewolfbowedhisheadandgavecleartokenthat
hepromisedthesethings.
Beforediscussingtheseaccountsintermsofcommunity,itisinordertoexamineadifferentvariationonthesamebasicthemeof
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communicationwithanimals.In1953,IreadthegalleysofabookwrittenbyAllenBoonecalledKinshipWithAllLife.InnosensedoesBoonemakeanypretensiontobescientificwhat
heundertakesisveryclearintheforeword.Itishisinsightthatmanhasbrokenanoriginalharmonybetweenhimselfandalllivingthings.Hebelievesthatthislostharmonycanbe
restoredifmenlearntomoveingenuinegoodfellowshipwiththeirownspeciesandallothercreatures."Insupportofthisfaith,Ihavesetdowninthefollowingpagesthetruestoriesofa
numberofunconventionalrelationshipswithanimals,reptiles,insects,andevenbacteria.Noneoftheseventureswasplannedorexpected.Theycameintoexperienceaspartofthe
graciousunfoldmentoflifeitself."Hispositionisthatwhenamanbecomesproperlyhumbleandopentotheinstructionofhisfellowcreatures,theysharewithhimtheircumulative
wisdom.Itwashisexperiencethatperfectunderstandingandcooperationbetweenhumanandallotherformsoflifeisunfailingwheneverhumanbeingsarefreetoenterintothe
relationship.
Boone'sgreatteacherwasthefamousmoviestar,Strongheart,aGermanShepherdwhocamefromalonglineofchampionsnotedfortheirabilitytoqualifyaswork,police,andwar
dogs.StrongheartwasbredinGermanyandwasbroughttothiscountrytobetrainedasaperformerbeforethemotionpicturecamera.Hisfamewasinstantsoonhewasamongthe
mostfamousofallmoviepersonalities.
Asaspecialfavortohistrainerandmanager,BooneagreedtokeepStrongheartashisguestforanumberofweeks.Theywereproperlyintroducedandcomfortablyestablishedas
friendsinthenewandtemporaryhome.Verycarefulinstructionshadbeengivenconcerningthecareandattentionthatthefamousdogrequired.AlwaysStrongheartwastalkedtoas
thoughhewereanintelligenthumanbeing.
Whentheyarrivedintheirnewhomeforthefirsttime,Strongheartjumpedoutofthecarassoonasthedoorwasopened,ranupthesteps,openedthefrontdoorwithhisteeth,and
proceededto
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gofromroomtoroominthehouse,checkingalltheclosets,andsoon.Whenhehadcompletedhissurveyhereturnedtohishost,gavethebackofhishandaslightdabwithhistongue,
andcontinuedoutintotheyardtocompletehisinvestigation.
TheproblemBoonefacedwastwofold:HehadtoacceptthefactthatStrongheartwasamostunusualanimal,tosaytheleast,withwhatappearedtobewellintegratedmental
equipmentthathadtobeexploredsensitivelyifitweretobeunderstood.Inthesecondplace,hehadtotrytograspwhatwerethelinesofkinshipbetweenthem"individualexpressions
ofahighlyintelligentuniverse."Fromthebeginningthereseemedtobeevidenceofanextra"something"atworkinthedogtowhichthemostrevolutionaryadjustmenthadtobemade.
Forinstance,onebeautifulspringmorningaftermanydaysofrain,Boonewasseatedathistypewriterdoinghisstintofcreativeworkfortheday."ShallIbeamanandfinishthiswriting
job,orshallIbeamouse,quitthewholethingandtakeStrongheartintothehillsfortherestofthedayandevening?"heaskedhimself.Thedecisiontobeamousecarriedtheday.
Scarcelyafewsecondshadpassedbeforethedogcameburstingintothehouseinatizzy.HelandednearthechairinwhichBoonewasseated,gavehishandadabwiththetongue,
thenrushedintothebedroomtogetanoldsweaterthatwasapartofthehikingequipment.Backintothebedroomhewenttogettheoldbluejeans.Anothertripbrought,oneafterthe
other,thewalkingboots.WhenthesewereassembledthedogbroughtBoone'sIrishwalkingstick.NowheproceededtobarkandjumparoundwithrealexcitementuntilatlastBoone
wasdressed,readyforthehike.
Whathadhappenedhere?Howdidthedogknowwhatwasgoingoninthemindofthisman?Istheresomeexplanationthatcanaccountforallthefactsormustwesettleforthe
descriptionofwhathappenedandleaveitthere?InaconversationwithamancalledMojaveDaninhishomeinthedesert,Boonetriedtofindsomeanswerstohisquestions.Theonly
commenthewasabletoelicit,bearinguponhisproblemofunderstandinghisrelationshipwithStrongheart,werethesewords:"There'sfactsaboutdogsand
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there'sopinionsaboutthem.Thedogshavethefacts,andthehumanshavetheopinions.Ifyouwantfactsaboutadog,alwaysgetthemstraightfromthedog.Ifyouwantopinions,get
themfromthehuman."
OneofthechangesgrowingoutofDan'sadvicewasregularconversationandreadingsessionswithStrongheart.Imayaddthatamongthelonglistofwritteninstructionsleftbythe
dog'strainerwastherequirementtoreadalittlepoetrytohimeachday.ItwasduringthesesessionsthatBoonedeclaresthathechangedhisattitudetowardthedog.Hestopped
treatinghimasadogandbegandealingwithhimasanequalandacompanion.Thusthe"kinshipbarrierscametumblingdown."Slowlytheteachingroleswerereversed.Strongheart
becametheteacherandBoonethepupil."Myteacherandtrainerneededonlyhimself,abitofencouragementfromme,myundividedattention,andenoughspaceinwhichtooperate.
MystudyperiodwaspracticallycontinuousaslongasStrongheartwasobservable,schoolwasinsessionandIwasbeingtaught."
Therewasoneexperiencethatimpressedmebeyondalltheothers.StrongheartledBooneupaveryraggedclimbwhentheyweremakingoneoftheirjauntsawayfromthefamiliar
route.Theycametothetopofahighhillinthelateafternoon.InthedistancewasthePacificOcean,whichlaylikeanenormouspaneofglass.Thewholepanoramawasaglorious
sheenofcrimsonreflectedbythesinkingsun.Togethertheystoodwatchingthesunset.AtlengthStrongheartwalkedtoanearbyledge,satdown,andresumedwatching.Boonejoined
him,sittinginapositionthatenabledhimtowatchthesunsetandthedog.Itwasevidentthatthedogwastakinginthewholeimpactofthesettingastrangeandalmosteeriequiet
settledoverhisentirebodywhilehiseyestookona"distantview."ButwhenBooneshiftedhispositionsoastofollowthedirectionofthedog'sgaze,hediscoveredthatthedogwas
lookingatapointabovethehorizonline."Hewasstaringoffintofathomlessspace.Outtherebeyondtheabilityofmyhumansensestoidentifywhatitwas,somethingwasholdingthe
bigdog's
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attentionlikeamagnet!Anditwasgivinghimgreatsatisfaction,greatcontentment,greatpeaceofmind."
ThisexperienceisverylikeoneinabookcalledTheDynastyofAbu,byIvanAnderson.Hecommentsthatnotonlyelephantsbutseveralotherkindsofanimalshavebeenseentostand
silentlyeverymorningandevening,usuallyjustaboutatdawnandsunset,whetherthesunitselfbevisibleornot.Hecontinues:"Thishasbeenreportedbyallmannerofpeoplethrough

theagesandifitistruewhoiswillingtosaythattheanimalsarenotthenindulginginsomeemotionthatwemightjustlycallpraying,eveniftheybebutmomentsofwideawake
silence,completerelaxationorapparentblankness."
ThereisanunmistakablycleardescriptionofcertainmonkeysinWestAfricawhosecustomitwastositinthetopofthejungletreesquietlyfacingtherisingorsettingsun.Theauthor
describesthefeelingofawethatthisinspiredinhimashewatchedthem.Hewasdrawntotheminastrangeanduncannyway.Soonhefoundhimself"praying"withthem.Inordertobe
opentosuchexperienceshehadtobreakdownhismisconstructedintellectualarmorandacceptasvalidthesuggestionthattheanimalsatsuchtimeswereactually"praying."
InKinshipWithAllLife,thepointthatBooneismaking,notonlyinthestoryofhisexperiencewithStrongheart,butalsointheaccountsdealingwithants,rattlesnakes,skunks,and
houseflies,isalwaysthesame.Itispossiblefortheindividualtomoveoutbeyondtheparticularcontextbywhichhislifeisdefinedandrelatetootherformsoflifefrominsidetheir
context.Thismeansthatthereisaboundlessrealmofwhichallparticularlifeisbutamanifestation.Thiscenteristhelivingthinginmanoranimal.Ifamanorananimalcanfunctionout
ofthatcenter,thentheboundariesthatlimitanddefinecanbetranscended.
Iamnotunmindfulofthereactiontothesepagesthatwouldindicateamisguidedandoverdevelopedsentimentalitycharacteristicofcertainanimallovers.Itwellmaybethatthereisno
basisinfactforauthenticintelligiblecommunicationbetweenmanand
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otheranimals.Butthefactremainsthatwheresuchexperiencesarerecordedorreported,thereisatworkanimportantkindofcommunication.Theinterpretationmaybeerroneous,but
thesenseofbeingintouchacrossthebarriersthatdivideisitselfanimportantpartoftherealityoftheexperience.Ifthemindofmanhasanaffinitywiththeworldexternaltohim,andif
inhisoriginandcontinuityheisachildofnature,thentheexperienceofbeingconsciouslyintouchwithotherformsofconsciouslifearoundhimisavitalpartofalllifethatseekseverto
realizeitselfinitsmanyforms.Whenmenignorethis,thentheirbehaviorveryeasilybecomeswantonlydestructive,andintheirblindness,ignorance,orarrogancetheyforceexpressions
oflifearoundthemtofallshortofactualizingtheirpotential.Intheextenttowhichthistakesplace,communityitselfisdefeatedinthelifeallaroundus.Ifthisisdone,itmaybethatman
himselfiscutofffromactualizinghispotentialandthuscannotknowcommunityinhimselfandintheworldofhisfellow.
Itisnowtimetoapplymythesistotheprivateandcollectivelifeofman.
TruthiswithinourselvesittakesnoriseFromoutwardthings,what'eryoumaybelieve.Thereisanutmostcenterinusall,Wheretruthabidesinfulnessandaround,Wall
uponwall,thegrossfleshhemsitin,Thisperfect,clearperceptionwhichistruth.AbafflingandpervertingcarnalmeshBindsit,andmakeserrorandtoknowRather
consistsinopeningoutawayWhencetheimprisonedsplendourmayescape,ThanineffectingentryforalightSupposedtobewithout.
ROBERTBROWNING,"PARACELSUS"
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VI:TheSearchinIdentity
Ihavealreadyundertakeninbroadoutlinetoindicatethepathalongwhichmyinvestigation,stimulatedbydeeppassion,hastakenmeinmyefforttoexplorethegroundsforcommunity
inthearenathatmarksthedramaofman'slifeontheplanet.Itmaybeanopenquestionastotheextenttowhich"goalseeking"inthebiologicalsenseismanifestintheconsciouslifeof
man.Iftherebearelationship,wecanneverbesurethatweareabletodeterminepreciselywhatthatrelationshipis.Simplybytheveryfactthataparticularphenomenonisbeing
observed,howeveraccuratelyorinaccurately,thephenomenonitselfundergoeschangeevenasdoestheobserver.
AslongasIcanrecallreactingtotheexperiencesoflife,Ihaveobservedinmyselfatendencyevenmore,aninnerdemandfor"wholemaking,"afeelforacompletioninandof
things,forinclusiveconsummation.Experiencesmustsomehowfittogethertheymustmakesensetothemind.Manyyearsagowhenourtwodaughterswereverysmall,theolderone
wasexplainingtotheyoungerthemeaningofGoodFriday.Shewasgivenaveryinteresting
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andconvincingaccountofthestoryofJesusleadinguptoandincludingthecrucifixion.Buttheyoungerchildremainedunsatisfied,andaftermorethanthirtyyearsIcanhearstillher
impatientandfrustratedcry:"Butwhydidtheyhavetokillhim....Why?"Theeventssomehowhadtofittogether.
Totrytomakesenseoutofmyconcernforcommunityandtohonorintelligentlyitsprofoundurgencyinthehumanspiritareatlastthefeelingsthatsentmeforthinthequestthatthese
pagesrecord.InmysearchIhaveexamined,withinthelimitationsofmyskills,theinsightsinherentinthemythsconcerningthecreationoftheworldthosequerystoriesfoundamong
allpeoplesandallculturesastheysoughttoanswertheold,old,yeatimelessquestions:"WhywasIborn?Howdidtheworldgetstarted?Wheredidtheanimalsandmencomefrom?
Whatwasbeforewhentherewerenomen,whentherewerenoanimals?Wasthereanythingatallbeforetherewasaworld?"
IhavelookedlongandhardattheearlyalienationsofmyyouthIhavelived,asmanyothers,throughthefrustrationofalienationandrejection.Ihavehadtodiscover,afterthepatternof
thegraininmywood,thedifferencebetweensolitarinessandloneliness.Ihavehadtowrestlewithmanyspiritualcrisesgrowingoutofwhatseemedtobethecontradictorydemandsof
loveandhate,ofvengeanceandmercy,andofretaliationandreconciliation.Inalloftheseexperiencesthereisapartofmethatseekseverforharmony,forcommunity,forunityand
creativesynthesisinconflictingrelationsandanequallyarticulateurgencywithinmeforwithdrawal,forseparateness,forisolation,andforaggression.ForlongyearsIhavefeltthatthe
formerrestedprimarilyinthedemandsofmyreligiouscommitment,whilethelatterbelongedtothatofmyinwardpartsthathadneveryieldedtotheimperiousdemandsofthereligious
spirit.Butmoreandmorethemakingsofsuchathoroughgoingdualismseemednotonlyintolerablebutalsotheconstructingofanessentiallyfalsedichotomy.
ThusIamdriventoseek,ifhappilyImayfind,abasisforthis"wholemaking"tendencyinmyselfandinmyrelationswiththe
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unfoldingoflifeitselfintheworld.Inotherwords,mysearchhasledmetoseekanswerstotheinsistentquestion:Isthepulltowardcommunitybothwithinmyselfandtheworldofmen
indigenoustolife,orisitamirage,adelusion?Tostatethequestionalittledifferently:Istheresomebasisexternaltoonesselfforthehopesanddreamsofharmoniousrelations
betweenmenofwhateverkind,state,orcondition?Doesthevalidityofthewholemakingtendencyinhumanliferestfinallyuponempiricalsanction,orisitreallyagainstthedrift,the
movementoflifeasweexperienceit?
ThusIbeginwiththeobviouspropositionthatIamnotalientolife.Iamacreaturegroundedandrootedincreatureliness.ThereforeIamaparticipantinthelifeprocessratherthanbeing
anisolatewithinit.Truly,IamaspacebinderasIdescribedearlier,mybodyparticipatescompletelyinthelifeprocessanditisnourishedandsustainedbyancientprocessesasoldas
life,andsetinmotionbeforeanyawarenessoforknowledgeaboutthemwasinevidence.Asacreature,Iamtheinheritorofageoldwisdom.Hencetherecanbenosenseofselfonthe
partoftheindividualwherethereisnoselfconsciousexperienceofthebodyasone'sownunique,private,andpeculiarpossession.Thebodyisaman'sintimatedwellingplaceitishis
domainasnothingelsecaneverbe.Itiscoextensivewithhimself.Ifforanyreasonwhatsoeveramanisalienatedinhisownbodyeitherbyshame,outrage,orbrutality,hissenseof
communitywithinhimselfisrendereddifficult,ifnotimpossible.ItissmallwonderthatoneoftheoldestcreedsoftheChristianfaithcarriesthephrase:Ibelieveintheresurrectionofthe
body.Formanybelieverstheaffirmationthatdeathdoesnotultimatelyseparateamanfromhisbodymakesofdeathalittlething.
Oneisremindedofthestoryofthelittleboywhowasafraidofthedarkwhenhewasputtobed.HismothertoldhimthatitwasperfectlysafebecauseGodwaswithhiminthedark.All
heneededtodowastopraytoGodandHewouldcomforthim.Buttheboywasstillafraid.Atlengthhesaidtohismother,"Mummy,willyoupleaseaskGodtoputsomeskinonand
thenIwillbealright."
Thesenseofselfisrootedintheexperienceofman'sbodyashis
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own.Itisforthisreasonthatwhenmenwishtobreakthewill,theinnerentityofothers,theyresorttodirectandviolentcrueltyupontheirbodies.Theaimhereistoforceamanto
abdicatehisbodyandtherebytobecomeanalieninhisownhouse.Thiscutshimofffromthesustainingsourceofhisownphysicalbeinghebecomesdisembodiedandtothatextent
beingless.
Thereisavastdifferencebetweenanattitude,forwhateverreason,thatundertakestoseparatemanfromhisrootinnatureandonethatseekstohonorone'sbelongingtonatureasa
partofthetotallifeprocess.Thebodyshareswithalllivingthingstheurgencytoactualizeitspotentialasabody.Isitnotreasonabletosuggestthatthetendencyofthemindforwhole
makingor"seeingwhole,"forseekingharmony,forcommunityisrootedintheexperienceofthebodythatinturnisgroundedinalloflife?Ithinkso.
Ofcoursewedonotknowwhenmind,assuch,appeared.Itistoostaticandmechanical,inmyview,toassumethatatsomepointintime,bysomeact,decreeorfiat,mind,appearedin
man.Ofcourse,nooneknowswhatthefactis.Generationsofmenhaveaccommodatedthemselvestothenotionthatseemedtobelongbesttothenecessitiesoftheirthoughtandlife.

Ithasbeenmosthelpfultomeinmysearchtothinkofatimewhenmindasaseparateandconsciousentitydidnotformallyexistinthebody.Tostateitcrudely:themindwasbodybound
butmindassuchwasnot.ManyyearsagoIembodiedtheideaintheselines:
Throughslimyoozesofprimevaloceanbeds,Man'sbody,alivingthing,Climbedslowlyuptheyears.Byfitfulstepsitmadeitsway:Swimming,crawling,climbing,No
stagewasskipped.Atlast,heldtauttwixtearthandsky,Itstooduprighttoshoutdefiancetothehills...Thebodywasmature,AllvitalorgansseemedasoneWithout
consentofmind.
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Themindwasthereminditwasnot:TaxedtothelimitofitspowerItkeptthebodysafe,alivefromeveryharm.Withlifemorefriendly,mindreleased,Thusmanaliving
spirit,woke.
Inlightofthisassumption,andthinkingofthemindasanentityinitself,thetendencyto"seewhole"seemsinherent.Thusthenecessitythatallexperiencemakesenseandthefeelfor
harmonyissuigenerisorgiven.Theclueistobefoundinthenatureofminditself.Allexperience,then,becomesrawmaterialforharmony,fororder,andtheindividualstandseverin
immediatecandidacyforsuchfulfillment.Ifthisistrue,thenitfollowsthatwhenapersonactualizeshisownpotentialhebecomeswhole,harmonized,orfulfilled.Itmustberecalled,
however,thatthepotentialitselfisdynamicandwithoutmeasure.Thus,actualizingpotentialmustmeanalways"asto"someparticulargoal,dream,orprojection.Inthissenseaman's
journeyintolifemaybecharacterizedasaquestforcommunitywithinhimself.Asliferealizesitselfinhumanbeings,whatresultsisattheselfconsciouslevelnotunlikewhathappens
instinctuallyinsocalledsubhumanformsoflife.
AtthispointIamplifythepointmadeinChapter1.Itmaynotseemtoofarfetchedtoexamineaman'sneedtobeloved,tobeunderstood,tobecaredforastheessentialbuildingblocks
fortheactualizingofhispotentialandtheessentialstuffofcommunityamongmen.Everyhumanbeingneedsandisdeeplynourishedbythefeelingofbeingcaredfor,ofbeingdealtwith
totallyorcompletely.Thereisaninexhaustibleassuranceofwellbeingthatfloodsthelifewhenoneisawareofbeingtouchedatacenterinone'sselfthatisbeyondallgoodandevil,
beyondallmeritanddemerit.Thisistruewithoutregardtoculture,background,orcondition.Thereisaninsistentconnectionbetweentheneedforwellbeingandtheelementalnecessity
inallformsoflifetoactualizeitsownpotentialandthusfulfillitself.
Thephrase"tenderlovingcare,"commonlyreferredtoasTLC,describesacertainkindoftreatmentthatmaycharacterizearelationship
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betweenonehumanbeingandanotherorbetweenonehumanbeingandsomeotherformoflife.Suchtreatmentresultsinaninnersenseofharmonyandstabilitythatmakesforgrowth
andfulfillment.Awiderangeoflaboratoryexperimentswithratsandmiceinrecentyearsindicatesquitedramaticallythatthereisaradicaldifferencebetweenthebehaviorofthosethat
aregivenTLCandthosethatarenot.Onesuchreportsuggeststhatthegentledratswererelativelyimmunetotheeffectsofstrainanddeprivationbecausetherewasprobablya
decreaseofACTHoutputfromthepituitaryglands,withlessreleaseofhormonesfromtheadrenalglands,whiletheothersshowednervousadrenalglandswiththenegativeeffectsfrom
suchtreatment.Itisnotnecessarytogointothisaspectofthediscussioningreaterdetail.Sufficeittosaythatwhatappliestorats,etc.,appliestobabiesandtomen.
Theplacetolookfortheemergenceofcommunityinhumanlifeisintheprimarysocialunit,thefamily.Itisherethatthechildfirstbecomesawareofhimselfasaperson.Ithasoften
beensaidthatachildisnotbornhumanbutbecomeshumanonlyinahumansituationorcontext.Itakethistomeanthatintheintimacyofthefamilytheprofoundprocessofthe
unfoldingofpotentialissetinmotion.Thegoaloffulfillmentappearsonthefarhorizonandpersistsasthepullofthelongtimedemotionoftheideal.Thechildmayfailbothwithinand
without,butagainstthatfailuresomethingwars,alwayspushing,alwaysmakingitsclaimfelt.Itistheclaimofthebuildingblocks,thebuiltindemandofthemind,theinsistenceofthe
organism,theupwardpushoftheracialmemory,theglowoftheprophets'demandandthedreamoftheseeritiswhatinreligionisoftencalledthewillofGodastouchingthelifeof
man.
Whathappensifinthelifeofthechildthereisinthefamilynopivotalpointaroundwhichpositiveselfawarenessemerges?Thechildisapttobecomepermanentlycrippled.Thisperiod
ofthechildisalsocharacterizedasatimeofinnocence.Inthatsensethereistherecapitulationofthestoryoftheraceasfoundinthevariouscreationmythsorquerystories.Forthe
child,veryimportantthingsarehappeninginhisorganism,forthetrackisbeinglaid
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thelifejourneyofthebody.Intermsofcommunity,thismeansthatifthechildisforcedbythecircumstancesofhislifetocopewithhisenvironmentasifhewereanadult,hisvery
nervoussystembecomesenragedandanuttersenseofalienationisapttobecomethestyleofhislife.Becauseheisrejectedbylifehebeginstorejecthimself.Theprocessof
withdrawalandalienationbeginsitsdeadlyoperationbeforethechildhasanytoolsforassessingorinterpretingwhatishappeningtohim.Asanunconsciouswindbreakagainstthiskind
ofcommunalsuicide,provisionsaremadewithinthescopeofthecultureforgivingchildrenanearlysenseofbelongingtothegroupasawholeandtoaprimarygroupwithinthelarger
relationshipsthatgivecharactertothetotalsociety.
Thereseemstobeabuiltinresistanceinallhumanbeingsagainstthethreatofisolation.Itisamajorsafeguardagainstthedisintegrationoftheself,forwecannotabidebeingcutoff.
Anditisintheprimaryexperienceoffamilythatthestageissetfortheconstantrenewingandsustainingoftheprivatelifeoftheindividual.Heretherawmaterialsareprovidedfor
establishinganinnerclimateforthegrowthofpersonalityandforgivingfullscopetotheinnerurgeforwholemakingthatinturnincreasesthepossibilityforactualizingthepotentialofthe
individual.Forinsuchasettingtheindividualnotonlyhasanawarenessofbeingcaredfor,butalsothewayisopenedforhimtoemergeasapersoninanenlargedrelationshipof
persons,thefamily.
Insomesocieties,forwhatmaybeawiderangeofreasons,theconceptoftheextendedfamilyhasdeveloped.Thismeansthatnomemberofthefamily,insubstance,iseverlost.One
eveninginNigeria,Mrs.ThurmanandIwerebeingentertainedafterapublicaddressbyanofficialoftheWesternRegion.Ourhostofferedusasoftdrink,gingerbeer.Whenheopened
thebottle,butbeforeservingus,hepouredjustalittleonthefloor,saying,"Tomyancestors."ForjustoneswirlingmomentIfeltasifIweresurroundedbyahostofotherswhowere
suddenlyapartofthismomentofcelebration.Inmodernlifesuchaconceptbristleswithintensecomplications.Howeveritisbutanothermanifestion,in
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fine,oftheneedforbelonging,forbeingcaredfor,which,inturn,isinstinctivetolifeitselfandthereforecannotbeultimatelyaffectedbydeath.Awayhastobefoundforhonoringthis
urgencyoflifeandthehumanspirit.Thefrustrationofthistendencytowholenessinmanisthewitheringblightthatismakingsomuchofmodernlifeawasteland.
Therecognitionofthecontinuingsenseofbelongingisnotonlypresentinthesocalledancestorbutisalsotobefoundinthetotaletiquettesurroundingtheexperienceofdeath.Insome
partsoftheworldIhaveseenthegravesofdeceasedmembersofthefamilyinthefrontyardsofthefamilyhouse.Thissymbolizestheircontinuingpresencethatevendeathcannot
sever.Manyfuneralritesaresuggestiveinthesameway.Therearecluestothisinsistenceinthesustainingwaythatmourningforthedeadhonorstheirpresenceinthemidstofthe
living.
Toberememberedisthepointthatthefamilygroupisapartofalargersocialunitinaneverwideningcircleofbelonging.Theimportanceofplace,ofterritory,oftheearthtakeson
specialmeaning.Manisachildofnatureheisrootedandgroundedintheearth.Hebelongstoit,anditbelongstohim.IrememberhearinganIndianChieffromnorthwesternCanada
say:"IcomefromawayupNorthneartheArcticCircle.Iamapartofthesnow,ice,andwindinwinter.TheseflowintomeandIflowintothem."Mancannotlongseparatehimselffrom
naturewithoutwitheringasacutroseinavase.Oneofthedeceptiveaspectsofmindinmanistogivehimtheillusionofbeingdistinctfromandoveragainstbutnotapartofnature.Itis
butasingleleapthustoregardnatureasbeingsocompletelyotherthanhimselfthathemayexploitit,plunderit,andrapeitwithimpunity.
Thisweseeallaroundusinthemodernworld.Ouratmosphereispolluted,ourstreamsarepoisoned,ourhillsaredenuded,wildlifeisincreasinglyexterminated,whilemoreandmore
manbecomesanalienontheearthandafoulerofhisownnest.Thepricethatisbeingexactedforthisisadeepsenseofisolation,ofbeingrootlessandavagabond.OftenIhave
surmisedthatthisconditionismore
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responsibleforwhatseemstobethephenomenalincreaseinmentalandemotionaldisturbancesinmodernlifethanthepressureseconomic,social,andpoliticalthataboundon
everyhand.Thecollectivepsycheshriekswiththeagonythatitfeelsasapartofthedeathcryofapillagednature.
Nevertheless,theimportanceofterritoryintheexperienceofcommunityremains.Territoryisoneoftheperennialguarantorssupportingman'sexperienceofcommunity.Manhastofeel
athomeifheistobenurturedhomemeansplaceandtheplacemeansterritory.
Inmodernlifethesymbolofhomelandthathasemergedinfullsignificanceisthatofsovereignty.Thusthestatebecomestherallyingpointforestablishingthemeaningandthe
significanceofthelifeofpersonswithinitsboundaries.Thisisthelargerunitythatguaranteesthesmallerprimaryandsecondaryunitswithinitsboundaries.Thissymbolofbelonging
seemstomeetadeepneedinthelifeofmodernmaninamannersomewhatuniqueinmodernhistory.Assuch,itunifiestheindividualandsupersedesallotherintegratingsymbolsthis
isparticularlytrueinasocietywherethereisnostatereligiontosharethesovereigntyofthestate.Itprovidesacommontieforitscitizensandatechnicalgroundforrejectingaliens.It
formallydefinesanoutsiderandestablishesritesandritualsforbelonging.Evenwheretherearebirthrightsuniquetothosewhoarebornwithinitsboundaries,provisionsaremadefor

"categoriesofbelonging"establishedbycustomandguaranteedbylawsthatgovern.Inmodernlifeitissovereigntythatfinallyhasthepowerofvetoandcertificationovertheindividuals
whomakeupthecommonlife.
Thusthestatetakesonatranscendentrole,therebyfulfillingoneofthebasicrequirementsofareligion.Itseekstoanswerthreebasicneedsofthehumanspirit:forasupremeobjectof
devotionandthereforeworship,forawayofthinkingaboutandbelievingintheobjectofdevotion,andforawayoflifeinwhichthespiritoftheobjectofdevotionisexpressed.The
assumptionisthatthecitizenwhoisloyaltosovereigntyexperiencescommunity.He
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livesinaclimateinwhichitisreasonabletoassumethathispotentialcanbeactualizedorthatlifecanunderthecircumstanceorconditionbegivenamaximumopportunitytorealize
itselfinhim.
Suchanotionofsovereigntydoessomethingmore.Itgivesthecitizenanintegratedbasisforhisbehaviorsothatthereisalwaysathandasociallyacceptedjudgmentthatcandetermine
forhimwhenheislost,whenhehasmissedthewaythatis,whenheisoutofcommunity.Itdefinesthemeaningofciviccharacteranddeterminesthekindofcivicresponsibilitythat
maydevelopit.Itmaywithholdsuchresponsibilityandtherebydeterminewhomaydevelopciviccharacter,thetruesymbolofmembership.Again,suchanotioninspiresabasisfora
definitionofselfsacrifice,notonlyofpossessions,butalsooflifeitself.Ifthesacrificeoflifeismadeindefenseofsovereignty,amanisgivenaspecialplaceofhonorandrecognition.If
indefenseoftheintegrityofsovereigntyhetakesthelifeofanother,hisguiltisshortcircuitedbythepaeansofpraiseaccordedtothehero.Acuriousandspeciousdistinctionismade
betweenmurderatthebehestofsovereigntyandmurderwithoutsuchsanction.Finally,thenotioninspiresasenseofparticipatinginacollectiveorcommunaldestiny,thusreaffirmingin
crisisasenseofbelongingtoatranscendententityinwhichtheindividuallifeissomehowtransformedintosomethingsomuchmorethanitself.
Therearemanysymbolsandritualsofsovereigntybywhichthesenseofcommunityiskeptcurrent,fluid,andviable.Symbolssuchasanationalflagandanationalanthemorhymn
cometomind.Thereistheritualthatisapartofthevotingceremonyoretiquette,thevariedcelebrationstocommemoratethenation'sfounding,thespontaneousorstructuredemotions
surroundingthecrisesduetowarwithothersovereignties,etc.Butoneofthemostdramaticritualsforhighlightingthesenseofbelongingisthedeviceofnationaloruniversal
registration,when,underconditionsoflimitedsupplyofcertainconsumergoods,rationingbecomesmandatory.ItismostinterestingtoobservethatwhenourownSovereignStatemade
suchademandofcitizens,manyofthemfeltthemselvesa
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avitalpartofthecommonlifeforthefirsttimeintheirlives.Upuntilthen,manywhosenamesincludedsuchinitialsasJ.B.,forinstance,werenowrequiredbythestatetogivefull
namestosuchinitials.TothemitmeantthattheSovereignStateitselfwantedtoknowpreciselywhotheywereastobothnameandplace.Thedemandsofcommunaldefenseor
communalaggressiongavethemaquickenedsenseofbelongingandparticipation.
Itcanbeveryreadilyunderstoodhowthesovereigntyofthestatemaycreateamajorproblemforthemanofreligion,theassumptionbeingthatsuchamanhasacommitmentanda
senseofloyaltythatmaytranscendhisloyaltytothestate,leadingtoaninescapableandfundamentalconflictinloyalties.Theveryconceptofsovereigntycannotaccommodateitselftoa
dividedloyaltyinanysensethatisabsolute.Suchapositionisintolerabletobothitsintegrityandstability.Oneofthepracticalthoughsilentagreementsbetweenthestateandreligious
institutionistherecognitionofseparatespheresofinfluenceoverthelifeoftheindividual.Withinthetotalterritoryforwhichsovereigntyisresponsiblecertainlimitedareasmaybe
recognizedastemporarilyoutofboundsforthestate.Inourcountrysuchaprovisionismadeintheseparationofchurchandstate,asdefinedintheConstitution.Theimportantthing
hereistoindicatethatsuchadualismislimited,andultimatelythepowerofvetoandcertificationofthelifeoftheindividualrestswiththestate.Anindividualmayabidebythejudgment
andtaketheconsequences.Thereisalonghistoryofthosewhoreservedtherightofvetoandcertificationovertheirownlives,theauthorityofsovereigntytothecontrary
notwithstanding.Butdespitethevariedavenuesofappeal,ofadjustment,ofadjudication,theperogativeofsovereigntyisfinallytosay"yes"or"no,"andtomakeithold.The
rationalizationcoveringsuchaneventualityisthatthesovereignisthepeople.
Itbecomesclearthatifthereareanycitizenswithinthestatewhobydefinition,statedorimplied,aredeniedfreedomofaccesstotheresourcesofcommunityasestablishedwithinthe
state,suchpersonsareassailedattheveryfoundationoftheirsenseofbelonging.
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Itreachesintoaffectwhattakesplaceevenwithintheprimarysocialunit,thefamily,wherecommunityisfirstexperienced.Theterm"secondclasscitizen"isoftenusedtodescribesuch
astatus.Thismeansthatsuchpersonsare"outsiders"livinginthemidstof"insiders,"requiredtohonorthesamedemandsofsovereigntybutdeniedthebasicrewardsofsovereignty.
Thiscollectiveorcommunaldenialoftherightsandthe"rites"ofbelongingcutsdeepintothefabricofthetotallifeofthestate.Inthefirstplace,itcreatesaconditionofguiltinthe
generalsocietythathastobeabsorbedinordertokeeplifetolerablewithinthebodypoliticingeneral.
Thisbecomesanincreasinglycriticalissueastherelationshipsbetweensovereignstatesthemselvesbecomemorecompetitiveintheterrificcrucibleofpowerpolitics.Itisherethatthe
searchforthejugularveinofonestateissoughtbyanotherstateofrelativelyequalstrengthandpoweronasteadilyshrinkingplanet.Thebasiccommodityintheplayofpowerpoliticsis
fortheextensionofcommunityoftheparticularstates.Theaimhereistobringthosewhoareoutofcommunityintoavigoroussenseoftheirownimportance,thusinspiringthehopethat
insuchacquiesencetheywillbeabletorealizetheirownpotential.Thisistheessenceofthecriticalstrugglefortheconquestofthemindsandemotionsofmodernman.Giventhe
loyaltyanddevotionofthese,allotherthingsfollow:acceptanceofstandardsofvalue,newwantsforconsumergoodsimmediatelyavailable,therebymakingnewmarketsthelistis
endless.Itisseenthattheissueturnsontherewardsforbelonging.Butifwithinthecompetingpowersitcanbeclear,orisknown,thatwithinagivensovereigntytherearethosewhoare
bybirthinsidersbutareregardedordefinedasoutsidersnotwithstanding,thenthosewhostandincandidacyforbelongingmaybedeterred,stymied,orsidetracked.Inthelightofthis
analysis,forinstance,itisquitepossiblethatinthemajorstrugglebetweentheSovietUnionandtheUnitedStatesofAmericathefuturebelongstothatpowerwhichisthemost
convincingwitnesstothefactthatitmakesavailabletoallitscitizensthefreedomofaccesstoasocialclimateinwhichtheindividualnotonlyhasan
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authenticsenseofbelonging,butinwhichitisareasonablehopeforhimtoactualizehispotential,therebyexperiencingcommunitywithinhimselfaspartandparceloftheexperienceof
communitywithinthestate.
Theroleofminoritiesinthemodernstateiscrucialnotonlyforthestateasacommunityamongworldstates,butalsofortheexperienceofcommunityonthepartoftheminorities
themselves.Assuggestedearlier,wherevercitizensaredeniedthefreedomofaccesstotheresourcesthatmakeforasenseofbelonging,asenseofbeingtotallydealtwith,the
environmentclosesinaroundthem,resultingintheschizophrenicdilemmaofbeinginsideandoutsideatoneandthesametime.Orworsestill,theyaresubjecttotheacutetraumaof
notknowingatanygivenmomentwhethertheyareoutsidersorinsiders.SuchistheterrifyingfatenotonlyoftheAfroAmericanbutalsooftheMexicanLatinAmerican,theAmerican
Indian,andallthoseethnicstrainsthatmakeupthesocalledThirdWorld.
Ishallpermitmyselftwocommentsonebrief,theotherextendedconcerningthebearingofmythesisoncommunityinthelifeoftwooftheseminoritygroups.
I
TheAmericanIndianistheonlyindigenouspeoplewithintheconfinesofAmericansovereignty.ThemercilessandruthlessattackonthegroundofcommunityinthelifeoftheAmerican
Indianiscompletelyamoral:Touproothimfromterritorythatgavehimararesenseofbelonging,inwhichhecouldactualizehispotentialwithinaframeofreferencethatwastotally
confirming,andatthesametimetokeephiminfullorrelativeviewofhisdevastatedanddesecratedextensionofselfthatthelandsignifiedisauniqueformoftorture,along,slow,
anguisheddying.Theoriginalinsiderisforcedtobecomeanoutsiderinhisownterritory.Therearesomethingsinlifethatareworsethandeathsurelythismustbejudgedassuch.
TheIndianwandershomelessandrootlessasafleetingghostinandoutofourdreamsandlikeBanquo,isaninvisibleguest
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atbothourtimesoffeastingandourtimesofprayer.AnunconsciousguilthasenterednamelesslyintotheveryfiberoftheAmericancharacterandthereisnocatharsistobefound.
Everytimeinoursovereignpowerwechampionthecauseofthosewhoareuprootedintheirownlandandareforcedtowatchtheirsoulswitheranddiewithoutcommunalnourishment,
therehestandsinfullviewbeforeourspiritswhileourwordsfalterandourclaimtochallengefallslimpatourfeet.
II
ThesearchforcommunityonthepartoftheAfroAmericanminoritywithinthelargerAmericancommunityrevealsstillanotherfacetoftheinsideoutsidedilemma.Thoseinterestedina
moreelaboratestatementofmyviewsshouldreadmybookTheLuminousDarkness,ananalysisoftheanatomyofsegregationandthegroundofhope.UnliketheAmericanIndian,the
Africanslavewasuprootedfromhisland,histerritory,andbroughtforciblyseveralthousandmilesawaytoanotherlandcompletelyalientohisspiritandhisgods.Alltiesthatgavehima
senseofbelonging,ofcounting,ofbeingapersonnourishedbyacommunityofpersonswereabruptlysevered,lacerated,tornasunder.Bodiesthatwereemotionallybleedinghulkswere
setdowninthenewworldoftheAmericas.Initiallyhehadnostanding,evenofthatofoutsider.Intermsofhisaccesstothesourcesofnourishmentforcommunity,initiallyhehadnone.
No,noteventhestatusofbeingahumanbeing.ItisnoaccidentthattheNewTestamentGreekwordforslaveissoma,whichmeansbody,athing.

Hewasapartoftheland,theterritory.Tothatextentandthisiscrucialhewasapartofthegroundofcommunity,thelandbywhichtheslaveownersoughttorealizehispotentialin
community.Thussomemeasureofwellbeingtotheslavecouldnotbeseparatedfromthewellbeingoftheslaveowner.Theywereboundbythesamechains.Tosomereaders,sucha
distinctionmayseemmerelyacademicandthereforeunreal.Fortheslave,theprimarysocialgroup,thefamily,restedalwaysuponanunpredictablecontingency.
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Mostoftentheexistenceandtheintegrityofthefamilywereignoredordestroyedwhenontheslavemarketallfamilialtieswerelikeflotsamandjetsamonthetideoftheangrywatersof
bartering.Thosewholivedonagivenplantationwereforcedintoaprimarysocialgroupandgavewhatwasavailabletothechildrenintheirmidst,whiletheirlittlewaryegossqueezed
theirexperiencesforwhatevercouldbefoundtonourishandsustain.
Therewerethreecurrentsflowingthroughthecommunallifeoftheplantationslavefromwhichsurvival,sustenance,andnourishmentcouldbedrawn.Thefirstwashistendencytoward
wholefeeling,towhichmuchofourearlierdiscussionwasdevoted.Itisonewiththeendlesssearchfornourishment,inherentineventhesimplestformsoflife.Heretherewasno
exceptiontheinnernecessitytostakeaclaimfortheselfnotonlytonourishbutalsotosustain.Second,heneededsomeallencompassingdimensiontolife,nativetothespiritual
needsofthehumanspiritandtherawmaterialsbroughtintofocusandsynthesisbythereligiousmood.Third,hefeltthedrive,thetendencyorurgeexpressedinaggression.Aggression
cannotbeseparatedfromtheurgeforandtocommunity.Itmaybethatwegetagrandandawesomepreviewofthesetwointheincipientgroundofhumanbehaviorinwhathasbeen
discoveredaboutthebehaviorofthecellinseekingitsownnourishmentandrejecting,byanuncannydirectedspontaneity,anyintruderthatissensedasathreattotheinner
cohesivenessofthestructureofthecell.Nounderstandingofthesignificanceofcommunitycanescapetheplaceandsignificanceofaggression.Thusitwastheoperationofthistrilogy
inthelifeoftheslavethatmadetheforebearsoftheAfroAmericanoftodayendurethelongnightandgreetthedawnwithancientawareness.
Inthewearyisthmusconnectingtheslavetothepresentthereweremanycataclysms:theWarbetweentheStates,centeringontheissueofslaveryawiderangeoflegalstatutes
definingandredefiningthestatusandrightsoftheslavesandtheirdescendents,whichhavecontinueddowntolatesttimesatleasttwoworldwars,inwhichfinallynodistinctionwas
madebetweencombatantsand
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noncombatantstheriseofcommunismandtheappearanceontheworldsceneoftwoworldpowersinvolvingmorethanhalfoftheearth'spopulation,dedicatedtooneformoranotherof
thedialecticofmaterialism,economicdeterminism,andtheoverthrowingofstatereligionstheriseandfalloftwogreatfasciststatescommittedtothearmedconquestoftheworldthe
usheringinoftheatomicagebyintiatingtheuseoftheatomicbombinwarandthecreationofstockpilesofatomicweaponrysufficienttoprovidetheequivalentof30,000tonsofTNT
explosivesforeveryhumanbeingontheearththemechanizationoflifebyphenomenaladvancesintechnologytherealpossibilityofthediscontinuityoflifeontheplanetthe
explorationsofinnerspacetheimmoralwarinVietnamthelistseemsendless!
Whileallthesethingswerehappening,andnotfundamentallyunconnectedwiththem,therewasthegeneralrevoltofyouthandtheirdisenchantmentwiththesocietyintowhichthey
wereborn.Theresultisthatmoreandmoretheyregardthemselvesasoutsidersinthemidstofthelandoftheirrootsandculture.Intheiracutealienation,theyhaveadiminishingsense
ofbelonging,donotfeelthemselvescaredforandnurturedinaclimatethatmakesthepossibilityofactualizingtheirpotentialremote,ifatallpossible.Twothingscharacterizetheirmood
andtemper:one,theyhavenosenseofplaceandarethereforerootlessanddisorientedintheircontemporaryenvironment,andtwo,thefuturehaslittleifanymeaning,foritis
jeopardizedbywarandthethreatofwars,withthefatefulconsequencesoffullscaleatomicracialsuicideandthedestructionofnatureitself,withoutwhosesustenanceeventhethought
ofsurvivalcomestoagrindinghalt.
AllthesethingshavehadaterrificimpactonthelifeoftheAfroAmericaninsociety.Theyhavecruciallyaffectedhissenseofbelonging,whichwasalwaystenuousandfragile.Several
considerationsshouldbenotedhere.TogetherwiththerestofAmericaheisexperiencingthecollapseofthefamilystructurethatprimarywomboutofwhichemergestheself
consciousurgetocommunityasasenseofbelongingandsupport.Itmustberememberedthat
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notwithstandingthefamilylife'ssurvivaloftheravagesofslavery,thestruggleforindividualeconomicsurvivalintheturbulentwatersoftheperiodofreconstruction,theacutevulnerability
ofthefamilystructureundertheconstantattackoflust,lasciviousness,andoftensecretaffectionofmanyofthewhitemenoftheSouth,and,fromtheturnofthecentury,thepersonality
damagewroughtbymountingsegregationintheregionandinthecountryasawhole,somethingverycreativewasatworkdeepwithinthesocialstructureofNegrolife.Itwasa
counterdefense.Theindividualbegantofeelhimselfpartofalargerprimarystructureinwhichkinshipbybloodwasnotacriterionfortheclaimofbelonging.ForalongtimetheNegro
adultinthecommunitystoodinlocoparentistoanyNegrochild.Itwasnotnecessarytoknowwhothechildwasorwherehelived.Thisgavethechildanimmediatesenseofbeingcared
for,withpositiveresultsinhisownpersonality.Theindividuallifecouldnotbeeasilyseparatedfromthewhole.Anystrangerwhocameintothecommunityhadtobegivenhospitality,for
alldoorsoutsideoftheNegrocommunitywereclosedtohim.Thustherewastheconstantexperienceofoverallidentification.Andthiswasgood.
Itbrokedowndecisivelyandwithdevastatingresults,however,atonecriticalpointwiththewhitecommunity.Theresiduethataccumulatedinthecollectiveandindividualpsycheofthe
blackmanfromtheawfulsense,thatalways,underanyandallcircumstances,hislifewasutterlyatthemercyofthewhiteworld,isthemostimportant,singlecluetothephenomenaof
thepresent.Themostvicious,cruel,andamoralmanifestationofthisfactwaslynching.TheheartrendingyearswhenhundredsofNegroeswerelynched,burned,andbutcheredbywhite
menwhosewomenandchildrenwereoftenspecialspectatorsoftheinhumanceremonyareconvenientlyforgotten.Itisscarcelyrememberedhowlongittooktopassantilynch
legislation.ThebodiesofNegroesremember,andtheirpsychescanneverforgetthisvastdesecrationofpersonality.Theboundariesofanysenseofcommunity,theeffectivenessof
one'slifeasaperson,thebreakdownoftheinstinctualtendencytoward
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wholemaking,thepersonalityviolencefromaggression,thwartedandturnedinonone'sself,thesearchingfeltinthepresenceofthehumiliationofheroes,theguiltinspiredby
anonymousfearsthatliveintheenvironmentthesearesomeoftheshadows,theunconsciousreactiontowhichmustbeunderstoodaswetrytofindcommunityinthepresenceofthe
grimconfrontationsfacingAmericansociety.
Concerningthesocietyasawhole,muchhasbeenwrittenandtherewillbemuchmoreasperspectiveisgainedonthesocialeventsofthepresenttime.Astheoldergeneration,we
havesuddenlybecomeawareofouryouth,asifforthefirsttime.Weareangeredbytheiranger,eventhoughsecretlywemarvelatthecourageoftheiranger.Wearefrightenedbytheir
violence,evenasweponderit.Weareshockedbytheirfailuretorespondtoourvalues,evenaswearehumiliatedbyourownsenseoffailureandinadequacy.Nothingseemstohold.
Nothingseemsadequatetothecrisisthatisuponus.Inourextremitywearetemptedtotakerefugeinoldshibbolethsthatweourselveslongsinceabandoned.Wefindourselvesusing
wordsthathavebeenforsakenbymeaning.Atlastitisbeginningtodawnuponus,thatatsometimeinthepastwhen,wearenotsurewebecameseparatedfromourabsolutes.Itis
fromthelifeofouryouththatwediscoverthatwehavelostourway.We,too,havelittlesenseofbelongingourfeelforwholemakinghasincludedlessandlessoftheworld,ofthewide
rangeofhumanlife,untilweareonlysureofitastouchingourfamily,particularlyourchildren.Now,itoftenseemstous,theyturnandrendusbecausewehavesoughttonourishthem
withthesenseofourfailure.
AllofthisappliestotheoldergenerationofNegroes,butwithevengreaterintensity.Inmanywaystheyhavetriedtoshieldtheirchildrenfromnakedexposuretotheworstandmost
damagingaspectsofwhitesociety.Theyhavestoodguardonthewallsthatseparateanddivide,seekingalwayshowtomakeavirtueofsocialnecessity.Oftenwithsacrificesofwhich
theydarenotspeak,theyhaveboughttimefortheiryouthtoprepareforeffectivelivingwith
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tools,skills,andknowledgeofwhichtheysometimesdreamedbutcouldneverrealize.Manyofthemuprootedthemselvesfromalifethattheyknew,undercircumstanceswithwhichthey
hadlearnedtocope,inorderthattheirchildrenmighthaveawiderrangeofopportunityandacleanerchancetoactualizetheirpotential.Nowtheyarefacedwiththebitterjudgmentof
theirownyouth,denouncingthemascowardsandfoolsbecausetheyweredupedandbetrayedbytheverysocietyfromwhichtheysoughttoprotectthem.Thistheysoughtto
accomplisheitherbyreducingtheexposureoftheiryouthtothatsocietyorbyequippingthemwithafacilitythatmightbeexchangedinthatsocietyforcertainprizesorimmunitiesnot
availabletotherestoftheirkind.
Meanwhile,theseolderoneswereseekingwaysandmeansforpushingbacktheboundariesbyremovingthewallsthatshutthemin.Whatalongandoftenunrewardingstruggle!The
cryintheheartwasformoreroom,moreopportunity,moreofasenseofbelonging.Thusthecirclingseriesofconfrontations,withinandwithoutanyzonesofagreementtheballot,
betterschools,equalschools,thesameschools,thefreedomofaccesstothetotallifeofthecommunityonthesamebasisasothercitizensthelistislongandwearisome,but
whatevermayhavebeenthecontradictions,theywereneverregardedasfinal.Manytriedtokeepbeforetheirviewheroesandheroinesofthepasttobolsterasaggingselfestimatein
thepresent.Buttherewasevertheinsinuatingcircumstance,theheroesfailedwheretheythemselveshadfailedtheywereoutsidersthewalls,sometimesboldanddirect,often
softspokenandindirect,wereeverpresent.
Theheroicqualityoflifewasnotmissing.Butthepreciousingredienthadneverbeenfoundtoprotectorimmunizetheherofromthefinalassaultthatwouldsendhimcrashingtothe
ground!Theherohadtobeamanofcourage,possessingtheacumenofmindandthedisciplineoftrainingthatcouldstandupunderthescrutinyofthesharpestcriticswhoguardedthe
citadelsofpoweruponwhichsocietybaseditssecurity,prowess,andcontrol.Inadditionhemustbeonewhosesenseofcommunitywasdeepinthe

95
throbofNegrolifesothatbetweenhisheartandtheirstherewouldbeaswingingdoorthatnomancouldshut.Histhinking,hisfeelings,andhisdeedsmusttranscendallthatseparates
anddivides.Hemustknowhateandconqueritwithlovehemustknowfearandconqueritwithstrangenewcourage.
Asaresultofaseriesoffortuitouscircumstancesthereappearedonthehorizonofthecommonlifeayoungmanwhoforaswift,staggering,andstartlingmomentmetthedemandsof
thehero.Hewasyoung.Hewaswelleducatedwiththefullcredentialsofacademicexcellenceinaccordancewithidealsfoundinwhitesociety.HewasasonoftheSouth.Hewas
steepedinandnurturedbyfamiliarreligioustradition.Hehadcharisma,thatintangiblequalityofpersonalitythatgathersupinitsmagicthepowertoliftpeopleoutofthemselveswithout
diminishingthem.Inhimthe"outsider"andthe"insider"cametogetherinatriumphantsynthesis.Hereatlastwasamanwhoaffirmedtheonenessofblackandwhiteundera
transcendentunity,forwhomcommunitymeanttheprofoundestsharinginthecommonlife.Forhim,thewallwasatemporaryseparationbetweenbrothers.AndhisnamewasMartin
LutherKing,Jr.
HisstarshotacrosstheheavenslikeHaley'scomet,makingamightyradianceinthelightofwhichancientdwellersindarknesscouldfindtheirwaytobrotherhood.Afresh,coolwind
blewacrossthedesertplacesandthetired,theweary,thefearridden,thehated,andthehaterscouldfindaboldnewcourage.Atlasttherewasavailableapersonalandcollective
catharsis.Herewasanewherowhogavetheassuranceofsucceedingattheverypointthathadprovedsovulnerabletoalltheheroesofthepast.Asaspecialkindofgrace,hehad
achievedthisbythetimetheassassin'sbulletsstruckhimdown.Neveragainwouldtheboundariesbeasestablishedastheywerebeforehiscoming.Inhisownshortandintenselife,
theannouncementwasmadetoallandsundry,farandnear,thatthelifeoftheblackmanwasnotatthemercyofwhitepeople.Thatforbetterorforworsetheyweretiedtogether.No
blackmancouldbewhathispotentialdemandedunlessthewhitemancould
96
bewhathispotentialdemanded.Nowhitemancouldbewhathispotentialdemandedunlesstheblackmancouldbewhathispotentialdemanded.Forhimthiswasliteraltruthand
thereforeliteralfact.Theelementsofanewresiduebeganbuildingupinthepsycheoftheblackman.Andthiswasgood.
Itisnotmypurposeheretodiscussthedeeppolarizationswithintheblackcommunitythatbegantoemergehowever,therearetwoimportantaspectsinthesubsequentunfoldingofthe
wholemakingtendencyoperativeinNegrolife.First,therewastheemergenceofotherheroes.Thepsychologicalconditionfortestingtheherohadbeensetforthinthedynamicsofthe
socialexperienceoftherace.OneofthecharacteristicsoftheawakeningthatfollowedtheemergenceofMartinLutherKingwasasearchforotherheroeswhosemagicwouldmake
roomforthevitalandfundamentalplaceofaggresion,thatdeepdriveinlifesocentraltothelifeofthespecies.Itisnotmerelyprotective,shieldingtolife,butitalsohasaprowlingquality
thatcanscarcelybedistinguishedfrombelligerence.Inthelightofthisneed,thedrivecouldnotbeignoredithadtobeutilized,ifnotonbehalfofcommunity,thenitwasmandatorythat
adifferentconceptofcommunitymustbecreated.Justasnonviolencehadbecomethewatchwordofcommunityinthefirstinstance,violencebecamethewatchwordofthenewconcept.
Whatemergedasthenewconceptofcommunity?Thetendencytowardwholemakingwasatonceselfdefeatingifitdidnotestablishclearcutandfixedboundaries.Withoutsuch
boundariesfreedomitselfhadnosignificance,sothereasoningran.Therefore,itwasonlywithinfixedboundaries,selfdeterminedandthatisthekeywordthatthegoalsof
communitycouldbeexperienced,achieved,orrealized.Thenaturallinesalongwhichtheboundariesshouldbesetwouldbetoseparatethosewhohadbeenhistoricallyvictimizedby
societyfromthosewhohadvictimizedthem.Thebankruptcyoftruststoodfullyrevealed.Whathadbeenwhisperedforsolongbehindcloseddoorsabouttherealrelationbetweenblack
andwhitewasnowshoutedinthestreetsandinthepublic
97
forums,followedbythedemandforradicalseparationbetweenblackandwhite.Therewasthestridentinsistencethatanynotionofinclusivenesswasmerestillusion,andtheterm
"brainwashed"wasappliedtoanyonewithacontrarypointofview.Suchaseparationwasdistinguishedfromsegregationbecauseitwasvoluntaryanddeliberate.Psychologically,it
wouldutilizeaggressioninamannerpositiveandcreativeratherthanpositiveanddestructive.Thewaywasclearnowfortheemergenceofanewkindofhero,onewhowouldbeanew
symbolaprofoundlyangryman,hardandunyielding.Blacknowtookonanewmeaningandtheterm"BlackPower"becameafreshrallyingpointforasaggingselfestimate.Nothing
mustbeasitwasbeforeinschool,church,marketplace,andterritory.ThewindsblewsharpandfierceacrosstheregionsofAmericanlife.
Thiskindofselfestimatesentthebelieversbackintothepast,asfarashumanrecordsextended.Africabecamesymbolicoftheideal,anancient,yethistoricalexpressionofthenew
centerfortheintegrationofthehumanspirit.Manyritualsappearedinvariedformsnewstylesofdress,ofhairgroomingandnewformsofoldculinarydelights.Freshwordsalso
enteredthevocabularysoulfood,dashikis,andtheAfroHairdress,etc.Infine,thenewsenseofcommunitymadefortherejectionofthewhitecommunityratherthanbeingrejectedby
thewhitecommunity.Acausewasmadeoutofthelatterrejectionandanewoffensivewasborn.Theheroesweremenandwomenwhobecameatoncethevoicesofthatrejection.
Theywerelocal,national,andinternational.Thedreamofanewsovereigntywithinthelargersovereigntybecameapparent.Anewpoliticalstructurewithinthelargerpolitical
superstructureputinitschallengingappearance.
Therewereotherformsthatthemoodofthenewsenseofcommunityfoundacceptable.Theuseoflanguagebecameacompletemythology.Nicetiesandrefinementofspeechbecame
anathema,fortheyweresymbolsoftheworldthatwasbeingrejected."Vulgarity"becamethetrademarkofmanywhohadfreedthemselvesofthecontaminationofthewhitesociety.
Oftenthosewho
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stoodfortheoldsenseofcommunityandcontinuedtoworkonitsbehalfwereregardedas"UncleToms."Themanwhowasconcernedaboutsuchthingsasgoodwillandlovebeyond
thenewcommunitywasseenincreasinglyasa"traitor"totheneworder."Blackisbeautiful"becamenotmerelyaphraseitwasastance,atotalattitude,ametaphysic.Inverypositive
andexcitingtermsitbeganunderminingtheideathathaddevelopedoversomanyyearsintoacentralaspectofwhitemythology:thatblackisugly,blackisevil,blackisdemonic
thereforeblackpeopleareugly,evil,anddemonic.Insodoingitfundamentallyattackedthefrontlineofdefenceofthemythofwhitesupremacyandsuperiority.Thepointatwhichtostart
wouldbewiththechildren.Thustherewouldbeapenetrationintotheseedbedwhereideasareplanted,nurtured,anddeveloped.Therebegantoappearnewcentersforblackchildren
thatwerenotmuchconcernedaboutthetraditionaltoolsoflearningreading,writingandarithmeticastheywereaboutuprootingandreplanting.Thatisfundamental.
Inordertodocumentthisnewmoodforaradicallydifferentsenseofcommunity,arereadingofhistorybecameurgent.Suchaconcernwasnotnewinitselfnorwasitparticularlynovel.
ThereweremanyvoicesfromthepastthathadinsisteduponcorrectingthedistortionsofthestoryoftheblackmaninthewesternworldandintheAmericas.Butthevoicesdidnotcarry
farbecausetheywereconfinedlargelytothesophisticated,themostliterate,and,aboveall,tothespecialists.Nowallofthishadtobechangedthefreshwordaboutthepasthadto
taketothestreets,givingrisetoaninformedpublicmindbothwithinandbeyondtheblackcommunity.Ithadtobeacommonknowledgethatwouldgeneratemassenthusiasmfor
buildingadifferentcollectiveselfimage,thusprovidingstatureforthedesigntostakeoutterritoryinthedomainpreviouslydominatedandcontrolledbywhitesociety.Sucha
reexaminationoftherootsofhistorydidnotexcludetheoriginsofthecommonreligion,Christianity.ThisemphasisfounditsmostarrestingstatementintheBlackManifestodeliveredto
thechurches,andintheconceptsoftheBlackJesusandtheBlackMadonna.
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Overall,therehasbeenthereactionofstubbornresistance,shuddersofguilt,warycapitulation,anddesperateeffortstounderstandandcomprehend.Thebehaviorofthecellsofthe
bodyinthepresenceoftheradicalinvasionofothercellsfromforeignbodiesasseeninorgantransplantsmaybemutetestimonytothegroundofsuchbehaviorinpersonality.
ThesummaryabovemustsufficetoindicatetheprofoundseriousnessofthenewconceptofcommunityasitemergedinNegrolife.Therecognitionoftheinstinctualtendencytowhole
makingandtheutilizationoftheequallybasicdrivemanifestedinaggressionwerebothbeingexpressedinestablishinganddefendingtheboundariesseparatingblackfromwhite.It
cannotbeoveremphasizedthattheemergenceofthenewAfricanstatesinthearenaofworldstatesandtheirplaceofinfluenceintheUnitedNationsmustnotbeseparatedfromthe
newconceptofcommunityappearingintheblackcommunity.
Letmymeaningbeclear.Whatweseehappeningisthedeliberate,carefullydelineatedefforttocreatewithinwhitesocietyacommunityofseparatenesswithinwhichanattemptisbeing
madetoestablishadependablesenseofblackautonomy,tomakearticulateacollectivesenseofself,capableofnourishingandsupportingtheindividualasheworksouthisdestinyin
Americansocietyandtheworld.Inordertodothis,ithasseemednecessarytoreduceexposuretoallwhitepersonstoaminimumandtorecognize,infact,thatthewhitemanisthe
enemy,asisindicatedbyhishistorictreatmentoftheblackman.Theassumptionisthatsuchapragmaticpossibilityisquiterealistic.Itcanbecarriedoutwithorwithouthiscooperation,
peacefullyifpossible,violentlyifnecessary.Inasmuchashehasusedfearmosteffectivelyinthepast,inhisefforttoestablishandmaintainthroughouthissocietyartificialandarbitrary
boundariesbetweenhimselfandnonwhites,othersmayusethesameinstrumenttoestablishandmaintainselfdeterminedboundariesbetweenblackandwhite.Thewhitecommunity
hasheldtheblackcommunityinplacebythethreatofviolence,backedalwaysbythepowertoimplementitandtocarryitout.
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Thismeansthatheispsychologicallyandpreciselyvulnerabletothesametacticalmaneuver.Violenceishismostacceptableinstrumentforbothcontrolandsocialchangeashemay
determineit.Thedifferenceinaccesstoandtheavailabilityofthetoolsofviolencebetweentheblackandwhitecommunitiesmustnotbepermittedtoblunttheappealordeflatethe
enthusiasm.Sotheargumentruns.

Onemorestepinthisratherlongsummarizingcritiquemustbetaken.WhathasbeentheoveralleffectofthisconceptofcommunityonAmericansocietyingeneral?Isupposethesocial
historianorpsychologistwouldhaveanimpressiveandexhaustivelist.Iwouldmakethisobservation.Therehavebeenfarreachingeffectsinaccommodatingtheimpactonwhite
society.Manydoorsthathavebeenclosedandsealedarenowopen.Thisistruenotmerelybecauseoftheimpactofthenewpressure,butalsobecausethepressureitselfhasprovided
opportunityfordoingwhatapparentlycouldnothavebeendonebeforewithoutgood,sufficient,anddefensivereasons.Vastareasofsocietythathavebeenawareofbutnotaffectedby
Negrolifehaveletsuchawarenessbecomeeffectiveinmanychangeswithinthesocialpatternsandstructures.
Inmanywaystheantiblackhatemongershavebecomelegitimatizedand,inmanyinstancesbutbynomeansinall,violenceandbrutalityagainstNegroeshavebeengivenmoraland
socialsanction.Byvocaland,mostoften,silentconsentthecryforLawandOrderisgivenaspecific,raciallysinistermeaning.Thesanctityofsovereignty,asdiscussedearlier,
expressedinthepowerofthestatetoexercisevetoandcertificationoverthelivesofitscitizens,isdeclaredtobeinjeopardy,andOrderisseparatedfromandgivenprecedenceover
Justice.ThewilltosegregatethatisinherentinthestructureofAmericansocietyismoreandmorestrippedofitsdisguisesandmakingitselffeltwithoutitscustomaryfaadesatthe
sametimeallkindsofpeopleinthelargersocietyarebeingarousedtomaketheirvoicesheardandtheirpowerfeltonbehalfofthecreationofanAmericansocietyinclusiveofall.Such
personsmaketherejectionofthemorenarrowlyfixedandselfdetermined
101
boundariesoftheblackcommunitytheirstrengthandincentive.Uptoandincludingthepresenttime,nocreativewayhasbeenfoundtoaccomplishthespecificendsofidentityand
healthyselfestimatethatisdevoidofthenegativismsthatseemtobeinherentinthepresentstruggle.
Therearethosewhointerpretwhatishappeningastheworkofafewradicalsandhotheads.Theycannotseeinthestirringsanythingthatissymptomaticoftheshiftingofthegroundof
societythatmakesforcataclysmandupheaval.Thenotionsuggeststhatiftheleaderscanbeeliminated,jailed,orevenkilled,itwouldrestorewhatisregardedasalostharmonyamong
theraces.Othersdeclarethatasicknesshasovertakenthesocietyasawhole,andwhatweareobservingisbutsymptomaticofsomethingfarmoredisturbinginthecommonlife.There
arestillotherstheyarealwaystobefoundwhoseektoexploittheunrestandthezealforthesenseoflimitedcommunityonbehalfofideologiesthatareforeigntothesoilof
Americaanewkindofoutsiderfromanothersocialclimateisbusilyatworkcarryingouthisevildesign.Thissenseofjittersallowshiddenanxietiestosurfacethemselveswithmany
hideous,ugly,andthreateningfaces.Itisthetimeandthemomentwhenthealarmistcomesintohisown,butthecryisfarremovedfromtherealsourceoftheferment.
Itisnotamisstoberemindedthattheremaybemanyareasoflifewithintheblackcommunitythataredisturbedattheturnofevents.Perhapsthesharpestcriticismistheseeming
ignoranceofthechampionsforselfdeterminedseparatenessconcerningthestrugglesofthepast.Theparadoxisascruelasitisapparent.Ontheonehandthereistheinsistenceof
reinterpretationof,andatthesametime,arejectionofpasthistory.Thisevidentlackofasenseofhistoryisamostdamagingcriticism.Thereseemstobenorecognitionoftherelentless
logictyingpresenteventsandideaswithwhathasprecededthemandfromwhichtheycanneverbeseparated.Thecavaliermannerinwhichthisseemstobeignoredisseenasbeing
themereststupidityandignorance.Thereisgeneralalarmoverthewayinwhichtheaggressionturnsonitself,
102
inflictinghavocandwreckageonNegroesthemselves.TherearemanywhohaveliveddeepintheheartofAmericansocietyandknowwithcertaintythattoundertaketobuildcommunity
asaclosedentitywithinthelargesocietyisnotonlysuicidalbutthesheereststupidity,becauseitplaysdirectlyintothehandsofthosepersonsandelementsinsocietywhohavestood
asdefendersagainstanyandallinclusivenessasthetrue(American)basisofcommunity.Whattheywereunabletoaccomplishafterthreehundredyearsisnowbeingdoneforthem
withouttheirhavingtoliftafinger.Theyarewillingtoencourage,tosupportwiththeirmoneyandtheirpowerallmovestowardseparatingblackfromwhite.Atlast,theirmessagehas
gottenthroughtoNegroesandisbeingimplementedbytheminamannernottobeenvisionedbythewildestflightoftheimagination.
Oneofthemostdisturbingfeaturesofthistotalactivityisitseffectonyouth.Thereiswidespreadfeelingandthoughtthattheyoutharebeingusedbyclevermen,manyofwhomare
motivatedbyunselfishconcernsanddedication,tosacrificetheyouthwhiletheirmindsareundevelopedandtheyhavenosurvivalskillsthatenablethemtocopewiththeirenvironment
inthefuture.Thenotionthatsuchyouthareexpendableisascruelasitisselfdefeating.
Butthereisoneindictmentagainsttheoldergenerationthatthepresentmovementbringsintofocus:Blackyouthhavenotbeengivenabindingsenseofidentitythisisnotconfinedto
themexclusivelyandtherehavebeenfewavenuesopentothemforhavingasenseofmembershipinsocietyasawhole.Butthenewandlimitedsenseofcommunity,whose
boundariesareselfimposed,hasprovidedtwothings:(1)abasisforidentitywithacauseandapurposemoresignificanttothemthantheirownindividualsurvival,and(2)afeelingof
membershipwithothersofcommonvalueswithwhomtheycanexperiencedirectandintensecommunication.Whentheyhearthatcalltheydroptheirtoolsandanswer!Noamountof
logic,argumentation,intimidation,orappealhasmeaningwherethosepreciousingredientsarelacking.Ifeelthathere
103
isthecluetotheappealthatthenewcommunitymakestoyouth.Amongtheyoutharenotmerelytobefoundthosewhoarenotstandinginimmediatecandidacyforhigherlearning,
whosedirectprospectsfortheactualizingoftheirpotentialiswithoutpromiseoffulfillment.Thereareotherswhohavetheskillsalready,whosemindsaredisciplinedforfindingsome
measureoffulfillmentinsocietyasitisnowconstituted.Twoofthemostimportanttestsofcommunityaremethereabasisforintegratedactionorbehaviorwithwhichtheindividual
may,can,and,finally,mustidentifyandasenseofmembershipinandbelongingtoacompanyofotherswhoareheldtogetherbycommonvalues,ideals,andcommitments.White
societyhasnotonlyshutthemoutofsuchinvolvement(exceptattimeswhenthesternVoiceofSovereigntysendsforththecalltoarmsindefenseofideasoridealstowhichtheydonot
havethefreedomofaccessandthereforewithwhichidentificationisnoteasy),butalsoithasrobbedthemofanysenseofbelonginginthepresentorinanyimaginablefuture.
Therefore,thenewsenseofcommunitywithinselfdeterminedboundariesseemsthemostrealisticandimmediatelypracticalsolutiontoacruelandotherwiseseeminglyinsoluble
problem.
Itismyconsideredjudgmentthatthepresentsolutionisastopgap,ahaltinthelineofmarchtowardfullcommunityor,atmost,atimeofbivouaconapromontoryoverlookingtheentire
landscapeofAmericansociety.Itistimeforassessingandreassessingresourcesinthelightofthemostancientmemoryoftheraceconcerningcommunity,tohearagaintheclearvoice
ofprophetandseercallingforharmonyamongallthechildrenofmen.Atlengththerewillbegintobetalkofplansforthenewcitythathasneverbeforeexistedonlandorsea.Atthe
centerofthecommonlifetherewillbestrangeandvaguelyfamiliarstirrings.Sometherewillbewhosedreamswillbehauntedbyforgotteneventsinwhichinamomentofinsightthey
sawavisionofawayoflifetranscendingallbarriersalientocommunity.AmongtheelderstatesmenwillbethosethroughwhosebloodtheliquidfiresofMartinLutherKing'sdream
sweptallbeforeitinonegrandsurgeofbeatificglory.They
104
willrememberandwonderatwhattheyseeaboutthem.Itwillbediscovered,howlongandunderwhatcircumstancewillremainamongthemysteries,thatthebarriersofcommunitycan
neverbearbitrarilyestablished,howevernecessitousitmaybetoseektodosoforgoodandsavingreasons.Hereandtherewillbethosewhowillwalkoutunderthestarsandthink
lonelythoughtsaboutwhencetheycameandthemeaningthattheirpresenceintheheavensinspires.Theywillwonderandponderheavythoughtsaboutmanandhisdestinyunderthe
stars.Onedaytherewillstandupintheirmidstonewhowilltellofanewsicknessamongthechildrenwhointheirdeliriumcryfortheirbrotherswhomtheyhaveneverknownandfrom
whomtheyhavebeencutoffbehindtheselfimposedbarriersoftheirfathers.Analarmwillspreadthroughoutthecommunitythatitisbeingfeltandslowlyrealizedthatcommunity
cannotfeedforlongonitselfitcanonlyflourishwherealwaystheboundariesaregivingwaytothecomingofothersfrombeyondthemunknownandundiscoveredbrothers.Thenthe
wisestamongthemwillsay:Whatwehavesoughtwehavefound,ourownsenseofidentity.Wehaveanestablishedcenteroutofwhichatlastwecanfunctionandrelatetoothermen.
Wehavecommittedtoheartandtonervoussystemafeelingofbelongingandourspiritsarenolongerisolatedandafraid.Wehavelostourfearofourbrothersandarenolonger
ashamedofourselves,ofwhoandwhatweareLetusnowgoforthtosavethelandofourbirthfromtheplaguethatfirstdroveusintothe"willtoquarantine"andtoseparateourselves
behindselfimposedwalls.Forthisiswhywewereborn:Men,allmenbelongtoeachother,andhewhoshutshimselfawaydiminisheshimself,andhewhoshutsanotherawayfromhim
destroyshimself.AndallthepeoplesaidAmen.
105

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Notes
nts
1ReprintedbypermissionofJeffersLiteraryProperties.[return]
2FromBookoftheHopibyFrankWaters.Copyright1963byFrankWaters.[return]AllRightsReserved.QuotationsreprintedbypermissionofTheVikingPress,Inc.

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