The foundations of God's master plan are the development of the intellectual, physical and spiritual dimensions of our humanity. These are the areas of growth; not to be done alone but in a dynamic relationship with society and in history.
The writer distinguishes three different aspects of our life forms:outer appearance, the mental form and the core form. The body presents us with the outer appearance, the intellect with the current form and the spirit with the core form.
The example he gives is dancing. The dancing would be the outer appearance, the joy that comes from the dancing the current form, and the sense of fulfillment is the core form. Or when singing: the singing of the words of a song is the outer appearance. The relishing of the words and music is the current form, and the oneness that I have with what I am doing is the core form. How much are we conscious of the core form? We are usually conscious only of the first two forms.
Our efforts in life usually are directed to changing our physical, intellectual and spiritual forms. It is in the failure to do this that we fail to understand the meaning of life and live with an emptiness and inflict pain on our self and on others. The writer even mentions a few individuals who made this clear in their teachings on happiness; even the hedonist would agree, since it is something embedded in the laws of nature.
When we live not only in the physical and mental dimensions but in the spiritual dimension, we maintain a relationship with what we have received from God. And those with a consciousness of God and an understanding that these inclinations come from God will desire to be united to the will of God. By "giving thanks and being at one with the God who made us," he says, "will make us more merciful and willing to help others, and when necessary, to be reconciled with our situation whatever it may be, and to work to the limits of our capabilities."
