“The kingdom involves the realization of our personalities according to the inner plan established within us by God; hence, the unfolding of a Self that predates and transcends the ego.”
This quote is by John A. Sanford from his book The Kingdom Within: The Inner Meaning of Jesus’ Sayings. Dr. Sanford was a Jungian analyst, an Episcopal priest, a speaker, and the author of several books. I encourage you to read The Kingdom Within as well as any of the other books he wrote.
One of the reasons I am drawn to Jungian psychology is that many of its concepts correspond to religious teachings and spirituality. And one of the reasons I think so highly of Dr. Sanford was his ability to clearly write about that interrelationship.
In many of my posts I refer to our inner voice, and I encourage all of us to try to discern its guidance as we travel our life journeys. Sanford’s words “according to the inner plan established within us by God” cause me to reflect upon how our Creator cares for each one of us, made each of us a unique creation, and gives us guidance. Sanford saying the inner plan is an “unfolding” expresses that it is a process that continues throughout our lifetime. And his words “predates and transcends the ego” emphasize that our Creator’s plan for us comes from a source greater than our ego.
The main purpose of the ego is to carry out the guidance we’re given from within. That’s a very important purpose. Making choices, expressing ourselves, and doing actions based on that which we discern gives to our lives a sense of meaning that is not present otherwise. Many people who do not have a sense of purpose or meaning feel that way because they approach life at only an ego level, either never having learned about or not accepting the truth that the unconscious affects our thinking, words, and actions far more than we realize. The ego is a smaller part of our total being than is the unconscious. It is only when we’ve grown in consciousness that we are able to have some understanding of this. Therefore, endeavoring to become more conscious is vital.
It wasn’t until I began meeting with a Jungian psychotherapist many years ago that I became aware of the ways the unconscious affects our lives without our realizing it. Through my work with the therapist and by reading about Jungian psychology and related topics, I began to grow in consciousness. I’m able to say from personal experience that I’m living a more purposeful and meaningful life as a result. I can also say from personal experience that I make mistakes, that the inner guidance is not always clear to me, and that I have to be watchful of when my ego desires get in the way of my inner work.
But continuing to endeavor to follow the “unfolding of the Self,” to use Sanford’s words, is what matters most. That is why I share Sanford’s quote with you. And that is why in my other posts I share the quotes of other people whose words of wisdom can help all of us to grow in consciousness and to live more meaningful lives.
