I think what you have written has great value and importance but could use a bit of clarification. Our own general who is the jewel of our own inner kingdom, who fights on behalf of our kingdom and to advance the will of his sovereign in accord with the will of Heaven, advances and retreats without concern for reward and reputation— but neither does he reject them should they arrive, as long as they be helpful aids in continuing his work as a general.
Even when applying this war metaphor in aid of shaping and controlling our inner spirit’s successful interaction with the outer world, it may be helpful to recall that generals and sovereigns are, themselves, at the top of “monkey pyramids”. To the extent any being, metaphorical or material, rises in a social pyramid, it is only a trap if they become diverted from their initial goal in favor of strategies to rise ever higher on whatever overlapping Venn monkey pyramids they may belong to, simply for the act of rising for its own sake.
Very often success in one’s inner goals overlaps with outward rewards; and the rewards themselves, surveyed with strategic clarity, provide opportunities for further victories that would not be present otherwise. For instance, an actor getting a chance for the first time to play a lead role will suddenly be the center of attention and gain a huge (mainly etheric, it now seems to me, having some experience of the effect once upon a time) charge from it all along the whole process, not just in the actual performance. If they expend all this charge in partying and never actually learn their lines, the won a battle but lose a war; if they work hard but perform only to please, giving a shallow performance that wows certain audiences but ties them on a path of having access and opportunity only on the shallower end of the art, without connection for the inner sovereign’s artistic interests. But if they work hard, dig deeper tham is comfortable, follow their inner muse and not only wow the audience, but move them with artistic truth, they not only gain in reputation and reward; they also have opportunity, access and choice in choosing more interesting projects that might allow them to express their soul’s deeper will.
In the metaphorical sense of our inner army, outward successes bring us access to new troops and resources to wage our battles. The tricky part— where the trap lies— is that the higher goal of the war should always stays the top priority. Seeking to attain new troops and resources can never come at the expense of the higher goal, and if the qualities of the troops or resources are not right for the battles at hand (e.g. more food when what you need is fortification, more archers when what you need is scouts) then it is detrimental to your cause to seek them.
By the way, when you wrote that last sentence, did you actually have a third test in your mind, or were you just trying to provoke thought?
no subject
Even when applying this war metaphor in aid of shaping and controlling our inner spirit’s successful interaction with the outer world, it may be helpful to recall that generals and sovereigns are, themselves, at the top of “monkey pyramids”. To the extent any being, metaphorical or material, rises in a social pyramid, it is only a trap if they become diverted from their initial goal in favor of strategies to rise ever higher on whatever overlapping Venn monkey pyramids they may belong to, simply for the act of rising for its own sake.
Very often success in one’s inner goals overlaps with outward rewards; and the rewards themselves, surveyed with strategic clarity, provide opportunities for further victories that would not be present otherwise. For instance, an actor getting a chance for the first time to play a lead role will suddenly be the center of attention and gain a huge (mainly etheric, it now seems to me, having some experience of the effect once upon a time) charge from it all along the whole process, not just in the actual performance. If they expend all this charge in partying and never actually learn their lines, the won a battle but lose a war; if they work hard but perform only to please, giving a shallow performance that wows certain audiences but ties them on a path of having access and opportunity only on the shallower end of the art, without connection for the inner sovereign’s artistic interests. But if they work hard, dig deeper tham is comfortable, follow their inner muse and not only wow the audience, but move them with artistic truth, they not only gain in reputation and reward; they also have opportunity, access and choice in choosing more interesting projects that might allow them to express their soul’s deeper will.
In the metaphorical sense of our inner army, outward successes bring us access to new troops and resources to wage our battles. The tricky part— where the trap lies— is that the higher goal of the war should always stays the top priority. Seeking to attain new troops and resources can never come at the expense of the higher goal, and if the qualities of the troops or resources are not right for the battles at hand (e.g. more food when what you need is fortification, more archers when what you need is scouts) then it is detrimental to your cause to seek them.
By the way, when you wrote that last sentence, did you actually have a third test in your mind, or were you just trying to provoke thought?