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Holistic ethics

Fragment two - four directions

by Suzanne Ross

Roger Walsh, who was raised in outback Australia, is Professor of Psychiatry, Philosophy and Anthropology at Irvine University, California. In his recent book, Essential Spirituality, he names 'wholeness' amongst his "potent metaphors of transformation".

Walsh comments that various spiritual traditions and modern day psychologists consider that "our minds are sadly splintered and dissociated into warring fragments" and that spiritual practices "heal and whole the mind and restore us to unity of mind and purpose" (p 23).

My previous article, Fragment one: in search of ethical unity outlined four fragments – the body, the mind, the heart and the spirit of ethics. Whilst Roger Walsh's words "splintered and dissociated" feel a little strong it is hard for us to hold all the fragments together, all the time.

It's as if we venture out for the day taking with us some of the fragments but not all. Perhaps we don't even know of their existence. Consciously or unconsciously we may choose to leave them behind, as we fear they will cause complications. We do, afterall, like an 'easy life".

It is so normal to forget them. We have Body, Mind and Spirit Festivals – these festivals no doubt have a heart. We also have seminars on Corporate Spirit. Can the spirit of an organisation be split from the organisational, body, mind and heart? Did Oscar Wilde have only half the story when he wrote: "There is nothing that will cure the senses but the soul and nothing that will cure the soul but the senses"?

There is also the question of the fragments actually being 'at war'. I don't perceive these ethical fragments as particularly warring, nor as intrinsically unworthy. Each fragment seems good and whole in its own right. The unification into the larger whole is simply better.

Four worthy fragments

In nature and history the number four is important. In nature we have four directions, four seasons, four phases of the moon and four significant times in our day – sunset, sunrise, midday and midnight. In our religious and spiritual life there are numerous examples including the four archangels, Buddhism's Four Noble Truths, four alchemical processes and four evangelists.

Thales, the first recognised philosopher, reflected on the basic material from which everything is made. He knew from mythology the importance of the four elements – earth, air, fire and water. Thales finally decided on water whereas a later philosopher, Heraclitus, thought fire was the basic material. We also have Plato's four cardinal virtues: "Let Prudence direct you, Temperance chasten you, Fortitude support you and Justice be the guide of all your actions".

TS Eliot penned his Four Quartets and William Blake his Four Zoas of reason, passion, instinct and imagination which bear a striking resemblance to body, mind, heart and spirit. Meanwhile in life we hope for a lucky break, searching for the elusive 'four-leaf clover'.

Across time and culture some sets seem to appear universally. These are the four directions – north, south, east and west and the four elements – earth, air, fire and water and of course body, mind, heart and spirit.

In her book, The Four Directions Evie Pikler writes: "Life, Love, Law and Light are natural gifts from the Great Mystery". Each of these she connects to the four directions and 'our fragments", Light to Mind, Law (lore) to Soul (spirit), Love to Heart and Life to Body.

The crest in the diagram below adds Pikler's categories.

Crest of ethics illustration.

Our personal 'crest of ethics'

This may involve answers to these questions:

Spirit of ethics - eternal truth and lore:

How do I see the 'true' essence of ethics?
How do I see ethics in relation to these?
How do I see ethics in relation to these?

Heart of ethics – love and compassion:

With whom do I have significant relationships?
What is the nature, the quality and the character of these relationships?

Mind of ethics – light and learning:

How do I think about ethics?
How do I develop, learn and grow as an ethical person?
What thoughts, strategies and mindsets help my ethical exploration?

Body of ethics – life, work and play:

What is my personal code of ethics?
What are my core values and principles?
What systems, procedures and models do I use when these conflict?
Is there a gap between my espoused code and my lived code?
What support systems do I have to help me live my code?

What do you think are the questions one would need to ask if one were to formulate an organisational or professional crest?

If wholeness is good, why fragment it?

The answer is simple – because we are human. Since we have, to varying degrees, a desire for pleasure, instant gratification, perfection, control, certainty and simpleness, we will feel anxious when our desires are not met. Whilst we have a basic desire for unity and completeness we also have a preference for pleasure and comfort over pain and discomfort.

The complexity of life and society and the fundamental degree of uncertainty make us anxious. In the forward of Simon Longstaff's book Hard Cases, Tough Choices, Hugh Mackay writes (p.4):

But we must finally accept that this really is the Age of Discontinuity or the Age of Uncertainty – call it what you will – and insecurity goes with the territory.

Similarly, Simon Longstaff writes (p.4):

It is my view that ambiguity and uncertainty are written into the human condition ... Equal values (goods) can pull in opposite directions.

We have in-built defence mechanisms which protect us against threat. If we are unable to tolerate the discomfort, we will seek comfort through defence mechanisms like projection, denial, rationalisation, displacement, regression and of course splitting.

The degree to which we use these defences varies dramatically according to the individual's personality, predisposition, circumstances, support systems and previous experiences and culture. Stress within one's self and one's environment is also involved.

We use the bricks and mortar of defences to build a false world. We expend extensive energy keeping this fantasy alive. There will be, however, moments of discomfort where we get a glimpse of the unsolid rock upon which we have built.

The more we use defences to create distance from reality, the less practice we have with healthy psychological tools. Eventually a chasm exists between the 'real self' and the 'false self. We reach a point, as in the cartoon, where everything has to be altered to fit the picture so that we can cope. If the only tool you have is a hammer ... then everything looks like a nail.

Cartoon of hammer with a nail.

Breakthrough or break up

In an article by Jean Houston published in the book The Way Ahead she talks about a new breed of heroes called "people of the breakthrough". These people, Jean says, know our small efforts will truly make a difference to the future of humanity.

When faced with the complexity, uncertainty and enormity of life today, she writes that: "If meaning eludes them they act 'as if' it was there and keep on working until it shows up". Houston continues: "Nor are they afraid of bouts of despair that occasionally attend the quest for the Pattern that Connects, knowing full well that this suffering is integral to the coming of wisdom" (p 8).