We frequently hear about certain souls who for one reason or another drift their way across that invisible divide that makes up humanities so quaint, yet so real definition of projecting a great sense of spiritual civility towards another. Then the thought eventually crosses the mind, what exactly brings someone to the point of such a maximum imperative that they think it’s worth their own destruction or worse yet that of their fellows, to act in any un-civil way toward another? Often I’ll just sit and shake my head and ask myself the same questions that everyone else asks; why? Oh, there are the pundits, the behavioral forecasters who quite enjoy the quarterbacking after the fact. There are the ones who seem to rather numb themselves out to frequent happenings thinking that a mechanized reaction will shield them somehow. Then there are the souls who seem oblivious to such things. It’s been said that in ignorance there is bliss. How can ignorance bring about personal peace though one tends to wonder after a while? No matter really, these are all qualitative matters that don’t really define much, except to remind one, of something…

I knew someone once who tried to start an organization surrounding the virtue of civility. Oh there were token members, and people who called the effort noble. But in the end, it too just became a namesake for a dream that sailed a ship forever on its voyage, never seeming to reach a port of call to unload its ideas. But the dream itself isn’t all that new. I’d draw attention to a little bit of history for one moment and a brilliant mind that just so enjoyed expansion in many directions. The person was Benjamin Franklin. He had determined that to be civil in and amongst others, did require some semblance of commitment to self. The act need be started with oneself before the proxy of results could be expected to compliment some other. He had determined that he would set out on a daily basis and consciously think on some personal trait, some virtue that might set him off down the road of continual compliment that would then by attrition annex itself into the lives of others simply by the act of self commitment, determination and practice. Here was the root of what became known as his “habitude of all these virtues” that made life amongst others worth the experience. In his own words he stated “my intention being to acquire the habitude of all these virtues, I judged it would be well not to distract my attention by attempting the whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at a time; and, when I should be master of that, then proceed to another, and so on till I had gone through the thirteen; and as the previous acquisition of some might facilitate the acquisition of others, I arranged them with that view as stated.”

1. Temperance – Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation

Temperance was first in his view as in his opinion it tended to procure that coolness and clearness of head, which is so which is so necessary where constant vigilance was to be kept up and guard maintained against the unremitting attraction of ancient habits and the force of perpetual temptations.

Now, in and amongst our own modern-age communities, there is hardly a difference really where the minds and acts of souls are concerned when amongst one another. People are people after all, and while yes differences do exist in mindsets and cultures, I will dare the assertion that a sense of decency between civil peoples doesn’t depend on the cultures norms, but rather to the soulful spirit that exists between all living souls. This being at least somewhat agreed as existing, then I would dare the question:

Based upon Franklins thirteen habitudes, which regardless of the age of the words themselves would still apply today, perhaps their absence only adds to some level of strife? Then again, might some truly hold to the belief that they do not? Perhaps a sense of common spirituality between people has nothing at all to do with virtue? This I do doubt however…

I would ponder the cause of thought in how temperance applies to your life today as Mother, as Father, as Sibling or as a friend to someone else? Does such a concept matter to anyone and if so how and given this thought, is there a tie into an active and very real sense of spirituality? Such thoughts do tend to be healthy I think as I do think they are good for a society.

The idea does stand as fascinating though, don’t you think?

The second of his habitudes that I think holds some fascinating ideals when one thinks on how pertinent it can be to anyone’s inner perspective when in relationship to another. Whether this relates to complete strangers or to ones family, there are always times and places where this value carries paramount importance.

2. Silence – Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

In this the second of these principles, how often has one seen it marked in reference to a trait, that’s as so much a benefit for one person, yet a bane of and by another depending on the given results of some interaction amongst people. Many a thinker surely has reproached the connection between and both written about and spoken of the virtue of silence in concert with the art of conversation. Where the tongue and the ear are concerned, both are meant to be trained together, yes? Well, when an objective peek is given to this principle in ones life, without a doubt there lay times where just about everyone must be able to relate a moment or a time when one of these conflicted with the other to some bad end.

It was referred to briefly by Franklin in this way; “ Silence would be more easy (referring to temperance as in the first virtue); and my desire to gain knowledge at the same time that I improved in virtue and considering that in conversation it was obtained rather by the use of the ears than of the tongue, and therefore wishing to break a habit I was getting into of prattling, punning and joking, which only made me acceptable to trifling company, I gave Silence the second place. This and the next virtue “order”, I expected would allow me more time for attending to my project and my studies.”

Clearly as in his own case, most people in today’s busy and hectic world would admit in at least the mildest degree that the virtue of silence has frequently seemed to have been lost in the sea of life’s activities. I can clearly recall a time when the process of the Socratic Method was being instructed and encouraged in some groups I was a part of. This being the case, it was a rather simple thing to talk in the manner of others and to do as they did, but the relevance to the issue or topic was also dependent on ones ability to stay silent for long periods of time, allowing ones mind to digest the nature of the topic being discussed. At some moments, when the mind seemed especially sharp, retorts and statements of commentary often leading to absurdity, poured right out. Then in a latter moment, when silence wasn’t observed, the triple meaning to someone’s thought became lost in a sea of others voices and vocal-over statements. Sometimes some would listen, and other times they wouldn’t. It became apparent to me in time that the greater benefit was gained by those who practiced silence in discipline, than by those who could speak the loudest. In the end though, good points and much learning was a benefit. More so for those who eventually learned of the art-form of listening to what someone had to say and think on, than of always speaking. One of the greatest traits of this community that I always found attractive was the ability of people to ask questions, give their point of view, and others to ask questions and then give their point of view. From this comes a collective consciousness that everyone learns from. Socrates was so correct I think in this regard.

Not so different a world one would think, between what was then, and what is now?

3. Order-Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have their time.

Now the virtues of a personal sense of orderliness in ones life hardly requires anyone’s recognition. In a spiritual sense however, how can the manner of ones orderliness in life possibly affect ones own spirituality? Can and does the value keeping an order to ones life and to ones manner have any direct bearing on a sense of personal spirituality and does it affect ones relations to another? Everyone can recall the proverbial intellect, or that family member, or any one individual who keeps their office desks looking like a cyclone crossed its path. The more amazing event is when someone comes seeking a document or to verify some detail, only then to watch the individual pull the correct paper or note from this pile of prodigious wreckage with hardly an effort. One then begins to wonder, just who is better ordered in life? Sometimes the manner of ones order, whether it remains in the wake of the vacuum, the duster and the filing cabinet, or in the wake of the eye that paints the canvas of their own picture remains a singular affection. The important thing that comes out of this is the result it carries across to another and the effect that’s created overall. You be the judge.

Take the remaining virtues that were drafted in his novel thinking some two hundred and seventy plus years ago. In reading these through, and allowing the ponder of some thought, it didn’t take all that long for me to begin to attach some objective relationship between some fiber of these ideals and some manner of the spiritual whether this remained an individual thing or to attach these to a society. Take a read:

4. Resolution-Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve

5. Frugality-Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.

6. Industry-Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cur off all unnecessary actions.

7. Sincerity-Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. Justice-Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. Moderation-Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. Cleanliness-Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.

11. Tranquility-Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

12. Chastity-Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.

13. Humility-Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Now, allowing for an individual interpretation of some of the more reserved among these as we associate them to the openness of our common day world as compared to the world of the early eighteenth century, what remains begins to create a picture in the mind does it not?

Would it not create some wonder about the degree of personal spirituality that this individual must have felt on an inner plane as he related to his fellow man, if not towards some great spirit of his own understanding? Certainly the thinking of one man cannot be taken as a blueprint for anyone’s life, if not the moral standing of anyone at all as viewed by each person. It does create some wonder however. Many of the individuals who seem to enamor the respect of people as this relates to a sense of spirituality in their lives and in their actions towards others, does carry many of these themes in their presentations. It might just be that the values that some people carry along for their own benefit, become as like some personal spiritual challenge they create for themselves in life, as it seems that Franklin did challenge himself with on a daily basis.

Of course, nobody is perfect and certainly he might say, he wasn’t!

Interesting thinking though…

As Always,

WD

Copyright 2009 WD Allan, spiritualitymoment.com.

All Rights Reserved

Source – The Works of Franklin, Walter J. Black Inc., copyright 1932.