Indy Boswell

During the consideration that resulted in the formulation of my Pyramid of Virtues, I reviewed the thoughts and ideas of several philosophers and spiritual leaders before me. As part of that process I came across several different definitions (or explanations) offered for the various items that form my Pyramid. Now, I humbly submit my own definition (or explanation) for the virtues of my Pyramid, beginning with Love and ending appropriately with Poverty of Spirit.

Love is the greatest of all the virtues and sits at the top of my Pyramid. Real Love is not a function of the brain or lesser organs, but instead, Real Love comes from the very depths of one’s soul and is eternally internal. As Vivekanada expressed it best: Extreme Love and the Highest Knowledge Are One. In other words, Real Love is our Essence. After you and me and God, Love must be the first word defined. All other words are in some way derived from it.

Faith is the ability to let go and to Love the Divine within all of one’s power. Faith is the most important virtue after Love. It is most easily achieved through introspection and/or Awe. Faith is in constant warfare with Doubt (Faith’s ugly opposite).

Charity is Love for Others. Generally better known as the Golden Rule or Ethic of Reciprocity, Charity sits alone together with Faith on the second plateau of my Pyramid. Although Charity is an absolute necessity for the continuance (or existence) of a species, it is not a requirement for Exponential Reality. Charity is simply Good Karma.

Purity is the ability to see yourself in others and God in all (including yourself).

Fairness in Judgment is the application of Wisdom prior to carrying out Charity (the Golden Rule/Ethic of Reciprocity) with Purity. Wisdom rather than Knowledge is Judgment’s best ally. Prejudice (prejudging without a basis founded in truth) is Judgment’s worst enemy.

Friendship is the inward expression of kindness to one’s own self and the outward expression of kindness to others (reciprocated or not). Outside of Kindness, Forgiveness is one of Friendship’s best traits.

Patience is peacefulness. Although always useful, it is best applied in times of turmoil. Faith is Patience’s greatest ally.

Truthfulness is a series of ordered words put together in such a way that they pass the test of being error free on all levels of consciousness.

Strength is fortitude. Strength is the brick house in the tale of the three little pigs built on the rock referred to in the Sermon on the Mount.

Temperance is moderation under freedom’s control.

Courage is Faith in action and Strength channeled outward. Courage is what gives one the ability to pursue one’s dreams. Courage should always be deployed with a Poverty of Spirit.

Prudence is the wise application of Courage tempered. In other words, it is the wisdom to understand what one can and cannot change.

Humility is the outward display of one’s relationship to the Divine.

Poverty of Spirit is detachment. As the Meister says: Poverty of Spirit is to want nothing, to know nothing, and to have nothing. There is nothing greater than to Love with a Poverty of Spirit, and it is no coincidence that essentially the very first words we hear Jesus speak in the New Testament are the following: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Buddha would smile in agreement.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 at 5:58 am and is filed under Enlightenment, Spirituality, Virtues. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.