“Which commandment is the first of all?”
Mark 12:28
Dear members and friends,
What is the original nature of humanity? It is a question that has sparked debate since the very first self-conscious humans formed communities. Are we naturally selfish, or are we inherently compassionate?
Throughout history, philosophers have argued passionately for both sides. Yet the experiential truth of human history shows that we are rarely 100-percent one or the other. Instead, we are a complex mixture of both. Spiritually speaking, our original nature is potentially good, but practically chaotic. According to Swedenborg, we were created as vessels to receive the divine, but that reception can only happen voluntarily, in a state of absolute spiritual freedom. Swedenborg called this state equilibrium, or a perfect balance where the influences of heaven and hell carry equal weight, leaving our minds free of influences.
While modern dictionaries define chaos as “complete disorder and confusion,” ancient Daoist philosophy views chaos differently. In Daoism, chaos is the primordial, natural state of harmony before human artificiality disrupts it. If we look at our own spiritual “chaos” through this lens, being undefined is actually a gift. It means our final nature is not predetermined; it must be actively shaped by each of us based on what we choose to value. However, the wisest saints throughout history offer a strict warning: we must be absolutely careful when defining what is “good,” because human nature has a powerful tendency to default to selfishness.
This is exactly why Jesus’ answer to the scribe in the Gospel of Mark is so revolutionary. When asked which commandment is first of all, Jesus replies:
“The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’”
Acknowledging a power greater than ourselves is not superstitious; it is a conscious, intelligent choice. It is the only way to break free from the captivity of a self-centered worldview. Without grounding ourselves in the Divine, our moral compass easily defaults to: “If it makes me feel good, it must be good.” To love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength means to live with a sharp, constant awareness of the weight of our choices. When we choose compassion and empathy over self-interest, we fulfill our ultimate purpose: acting as true vessels that bring divine love into a waiting world.
My brothers and sisters in God, this week let us take a moment for deep self-reflection: In the quiet equilibrium of your mind, which side of your nature will you choose to strengthen today?
Blessings,
Rev. Junchol Lee