As humans we think, we feel, and we act. These three things are constantly creating the stories of our lives. Although some people may claim to not partake in one of those variables, it’s simply untrue. At some level of consciousness we are always thinking and feeling. For some people these deeper levels of consciousness may be foreign, but they do exist, they are occurring, and they are affecting you just the same.
From my reading of several authors and books, like Emanuel Swedenborg, Dr. Caroline Leaf, Carl Jung, the Bible and other sources, I've been noticing a continual reference to the pattern of "three's", and how these patterns affect our lives. Because of the constant and repetitive references to “three” I thought it may be something important to begin looking into. Here I have written out some of these patterns and ideas. Maybe these will stir some thought.
According to Dr Caroline Leaf, a neuroscientist, what we Think, Feel & Choose makes up our "mind". What we 1) Think & 2) Feel, together create what we 3) Choose to believe in our "minds", or our consciousness, and/or how we choose to respond. This could be simplified as, what we Think & Feel creates our Chosen Response.
That example shows that our thinking (variable 1) and our feeling (variable 2) combine to create our choice, and/or response (variable 3). The three are one, although they are also each separate.
Emanuel Swedenborg, a scientist, theologian and philosopher from the 1700’s, shared a similar thought. He explained that throughout the created universe, from the smallest to largest examples, we can see these basic three levels; 1) Purpose & 2) Means which together become a 3) Result. For anything to exist, whether good or bad, tangible or intangible, it must first have a Purpose, then a Means to fulfill that purpose and finally the result; which is the purpose and the means combined.
As a basic example we can see that anything that we purpose, or intend, is then carried out by a means. Our purpose, or intention combined with the carried out means creates a result. If it is my purpose, my intention to be kind then I will find a means, a way to be kind. The original purpose combined with my means of carrying out kindness results in an act of doing kind acts.
A biblical example would be what the bible describes that God did, in Genesis. 1) Let us create. This was what God purposed, or intended. 2) Speaking. This was the means in which to make the purpose occur. 3) Creation. This was the result. The purpose, or intention of “Let Us Create'', combined with the means - Speaking, resulted in creation. Creation is the evidence, or result of both the purpose and the means.
The first two variables fully exist and are seen in the end result. Any result will always be the evidence of the original purpose and the means combined. An intention of Love will make a means through Wisdom. Love will show itself through Wisdom, resulting in Service - acts of love. This is why we cannot truthfully say that we intended, or purposed, one thing if that purpose is not evident in the final result.
“Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
James 2:18 NLT
“If anyone says ‘I love God’, and hates his brother, he is a liar…
1 John 4:20
We can say we love God, or people, etc., but what we truly purpose, intend, or love is proven true by the result. Whatever we truly love will find a means to express itself through its matching wisdom; and that love and wisdom will result in some type of “serving”, or action.
Ultimately this rule of “three’s” can be proven true whether a motive is good or evil.
[Love - Wisdom - Service] is similar to [Desire - Thought - Action]
If I love myself then I will have a desire or intention to please myself. Perhaps my Desire is to have a self gratifying sexual experience. My Desire will create a thought (a low level of wisdom, which is actually not wisdom, but falsity, although it seems wise to that low level of love or desire). This thought is a means, a way to make this happen. The desire and thought then result in the action. This action, or “self serving” was the result of the love I chose, and the wisdom that I chose.
If I Love others then I will have a desire or intention to do what is good for others. If I truly Love others, then that love will find a means, by Wisdom and wise thought, through which to Serve others. A true Intention of Love for others will result in the acts of love and service toward others.
We are all constantly choosing what we will Love. Either God and others, (heavenly love), or ourselves and the world, (hellish love). In each moment, many times each day, we choose a love, or a desire. That love will find a means, through wisdom or thought. That love and its wisdom will then result in some type of action, or service; either service to God and others, or service to ourselves and the world.
The sun is another interesting example of “three’s”. Our sun is fire. Fire emits both light and heat. The sun itself is all three variables; Fire, Light and Heat. The sun is also the earth's major source for life. Without the sun, nothing could continue to live.
Without the fire of the sun there would be no light or heat. All three variables are needed for life and growth. We know that without light things cannot grow. We also know that without heat or warmth there can be no growth. As seen in winter, light without heat does not bring forth growth, or life.
The fire of the sun can be compared to Love, or God who is Love. The Light can be compared to His Spirit of Truth, or Wisdom. The heat, or warmth, is like the goodness and comforting warmth that touches us on the earth; just as The Son came to the earth touching, healing, comforting and showing examples of God’s goodness. All three are needed, all three are unique attributes, yet they are all from One and the same source.
[Fire - Light - Warmth] = [Love - Wisdom (Truth) - Goodness (Acts of Love)]
The Father (Pure Love) & The Spirit (Pure Truth or Wisdom) are together seen perfectly joined in the result of The Son, Jesus Christ - who is the container, the manifestation, of both pure Love and pure Truth, or Wisdom. 1) The Father (whom we cannot see) and 2) The Spirit (whom we cannot see) together are made visible, and exist in 3) The Son.
Each variable needs the others for the positive effects of the sun to occur. Likewise, if we say we have Wisdom or Truth, yet don't have Love, then we are nothing. If we say we have Love, but have no Good works to show it, then there was no love. Love is only true Love when it is joined with Wisdom and shown in our actions, in our doing.
Wisdom, or truth, which brings Light, is nothing without love. It's only a noisy sound. Wisdom or truth alone, without love, is like Light shining on a plant with no heat or warmth. Like plants in the light of daytime, during a cold winter, the light alone won't bring life or growth. Without both the Goodness of Love (warmth) and Wisdom (light) there is no life or growth.
With these examples we can begin to see how many things work together within "three’s".
Father, Spirit & Son.
Fire, Light & Heat.
Love, Wisdom & Service
Purpose, Means & Result
Desire, Thought & Action
Feel, Think & Choose
Heart, Soul & Strength
Intending, Understanding & Doing
Warmth, Light & Growth
Will, Discernment & Action
In psychology Carl Jung, a well known psychiatrist, taught that there are three levels of consciousness; The self (Ego), Personal unconscious & Collective unconscious. In some sects of Christianity it is taught there are three levels to an individual's being; Spirit, Soul & Body.
In my current ability of understanding and experience it seems that I have also identified three levels of "being", or "consciousness". There is a basic level of consciousness. The lowest and most easily identifiable level of thinking. This level is home to my basic logical thinking, learning and decision making. I’ll call this “Primary Consciousness”
Over time I discovered that my life and actions weren't fully aligning with what I thought that I believed. I began to discover that there were other areas of my mind, or consciousness, that felt and believed differently than the more simplistic, logical and "basic" parts of my brain.
Carl Jung once referred to this deeper part of us in a quote, saying,
"Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate."
Similarly in the book of Proverbs it states that, "As a man believes (thinks and/or feels) in his heart, so is he."
I began to learn that a deeper unconscious, or subconscious part of me also exists. A second level, or layer, of consciousness exists within me, and is me. It is me just as much as the first and most easily identifiable level is. Yet, I had been unaware of this subconscious level. That deeper level is the "unconscious" that Carl Jung refers to; and it is “the heart" that the Proverb refers to. This level I'll refer to as “secondary consciousness”.
While I am certain there is also a, “Third level of consciousness”, I am currently unable to correctly articulate this level. In some sects of Christianity this level would be labeled as your “spirit”. According to Dr. Caroline Leaf, and Dr. Eben Alexander, a neurosurgeon, this third level of consciousness is the “real you” that exists at a quantum level, or in the quantum realm.
With the discoveries of these truths and mysteries, of “three’s”, it seems that there is much to be learned from this understanding. God Himself clearly reveals Himself to us as One, yet with three levels, layers or attributes. (Ex: Father, Spirit, Son. / Love, Wisdom and Goodness). Like the sun, God is all three aspects: fire, light and warmth. Yet, He is One.
“...the Lord your God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:4,5
God is one. Yet He is also three layers or manifestations, as I have discussed. Likewise, you and I are each only one human being, yet we have three levels or layers of consciousness. In the verse above it instructs us to Love God with three separate layers, or levels of our being. Here is where the wisdom lies. We must search and discover these deeper areas of our beings. Then we must get all three levels of ourselves to love the same thing and to intend the same thing.
Your results, and actions in life will be evidence of what some level of your consciousness is intending. The results and actions are evidence of the Love and Wisdom, or Desire and Thought, that some part of your consciousness is choosing. If we know this then we have the ability to find the causes within ourselves. To assist with these discoveries, pray as David did, “Lord search me, and see if there is any wicked or selfish way within me.”
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