Reading the work by Carroll Blair titled, Human Natures of Animal and Spiritual is as if Socrates had come to
dinner at my home. With an economy of
words, a divine perception, along with honesty from his heart, Carroll Blair
tells of the conflict in humans between that of their animal, or lower self,
and that of their spiritual self. For it
is only the shedding of such primitive instincts can one achieve the highest
manifestation of the word “humane.”
Written in a succession of terse yet poignant thoughts,
Carroll Blair unmistakably possesses a gifted perception in Human Natures. He studies humans from an epistemological point-of-view,
explaining how corruption of obeying one’s ego leads to result in “lower
actions” such as greed. How only
selflessness can embody spiritual actualization. For example, here are some excerpts:
Corruption
is at the core of the worldly and animal nature at the core of corruption.
Like
the nature from which it comes, the interest of greed is narrow, its vision,
short –– profit at any cost –– the consequences, long.
Without
wisdom and courage love cannot be, and much of what passes for love is (as
saccharine to sugar) a substitute for the real thing.
Carroll Blair is quite the philosopher. That is an understatement. His wisdom is analogous to the sun – as being
in its presence is warm and comforting, yet after exposure a burn of anxiety
within your mind may occur. Human Nature should have a warning label: Caution:
Overexposure to reflective criticism and sobering realization of one’s own
dichotomy of being both an animal and human may result in life changing
experiences.
As discomforting as much as reassuring, you cannot help but be
changed by Carroll Blair’s pontifications. This book is not only recommended, it should be required reading by all. The sooner people shed ego, greed and
corruption, and aspire towards love and spiritual development; the sooner
Carroll Blair will see the impact of his work on humanity as having a positive
effect. You cannot just shed one’s life
doings in a moment of transition. As
Carroll Blair so perceptively puts it:
There is no such
happening as a death bed conversion -- from animal nature to spiritual.
Though one could have a
feeling of what the essence of spirituality is in one’s final moments, it could
not convey what it is to spend a life ever growing through inner work, becoming
more kind, more humble and compassionate as the years pass, learning what it means
to live a truly spiritual life.
