Emotion is the natural
survival mechanism against any threat. Lie detectors work by measuring
electrical impulses which indicate the individual's response to attempts to get
at the truth. From this evidence we can conclude that in man, emotional
responses arise not only in reply to danger, but also in defense against the
Truth (which is seen as a threat to the ego).
While emotion is indeed a
survival mechanism for animals and perhaps for plants, in man it takes on a
special significance: emotion is an ego-defense, animal survival-mechanism.
The guilty fear of being
found out, the corrupted soul shields itself with lies and excuses to avoid
being exposed. It takes energy to reject Reality and accept the lie, and that
energy manifests as emotion. It also takes energy to reject and defend oneself
against evil, and that is the divine energy of grace-love.
At the very heart of the
emotional rejection of Truth is a mysterious doubt. The ego (which is trying to
survive as an ego) must doubt Truth to keep from being humiliated. Doubt, you
see, being the opposite of faith, has its own, animal energy (emotion).
From faith in the Truth
comes love, and love is the defense of a Light-seeking soul. Just as faith
joins us to and draws upon the power of God, doubt repels Truth by drawing upon
the power of stress-that emotional-assist factor provided by evil. Emotion is
the primitive, driving force of pride, as love is the divine energy of
humility.
Love is the response of
faith, which appears as non-response in the face of the stress of temptation.
Whosoever is pure and truthful is calm.
Faith is a loving response
to the Master. Doubt, on the other hand, is a defensive response to a different
master-presence. Doubt can always be counted upon to produce emotion and,
conversely, emotion to produce doubt. In other words, emotion can comfort and
keep you blinded to Reality. I am, of course, loading you up for what is to
follow in this text.
~ End of Preview ~
