A brain is given, a mind developed, a soul cultivated. The first is sane, the next profound, the last purely sublime.

♣ The rational brain, appointed to man for better or worse, growth or stagnation, always craves proximity to a developed mind and soul. Alone, the rational brain succumbs to doldrums, tedium, restlessness.

Mind and soul constitute the rational brain’s only inner support, its only compatible partners. Combined, the three can grow a rich and burgeoning inner life. Without the flourishing inner life drawn from mind and soul, however, the rational brain, no matter how advanced, enjoys but shreds of the true meaning, wholesome pursuit, clear direction, gripping intensity and high aspiration otherwise gained by the synergy.

In the absence of a thriving inner life born of mind and soul and entrance into the brain of nettling doldrums, tedium, restlessness, what’s right seems counterintuitive, boring, hard, restrictive, what’s wrong instinctive, thrilling, easy, liberating. Insight blinds. Distinction blurs. Confusion rages. Truth languishes. Joy stifles.

The rational brain bereft of mind and soul begins to hunger but is thwarted. Short of nourishment the rational brain forms a nagging void and feeling pangs of hunger ventures outside to the semblance of nutrition that constitutes vice. The rational brain seeks to fill the nagging void with vice. Vice proves incompatible, insufficient, untenable. Soon the nagging inner void deepens. To compensate, the rational brain consumes more vice without avail. The void sinks to a veritable abyss. The rational brain begins to starve. Blinding insight, blurring distinction, languishing truth, stifling joy, raging confusion all compress, implode on themselves and finally reduce to nothingness. What vestiges of mind and soul remain start to die and the rational brain gradually follows.

–♦©M. D.Phillips–awincingglare.com