Principle 4
The Principle of Proportion
Things Are Well When They Move Together Not In Isolation
The Principle we chose to consider this week is #4 from chapter 13 of the book (The
Inner Look). It is also called “The Principle of Proportion” it says: “Things are well
when they move together not in isolation.”
At next week’s meeting we can compare and discuss our experiences of, and
considerations about, this Principle and it’s applications. Perhaps that will
lead to an interchange of points of view, or an enriching of our own
perspectives. Either way, remember, the Principles are not “morals” or “laws”.
They are not meant as external guidelines but as aids to configuring a way of
approaching life based on registers of unity (agreement with myself) and
contradiction. Internal unity is registered when my thinking, feeling and
actions go in the same direction and aren’t warring with each other. That’s
why the Principles are sometimes called Principles of Valid Action. A valid
action, is unitive, ends in others, and is something we want to repeat.
In his commentaries on his Message Silo had this to say about The Principles:
Chapter XIII sets forth the “Principles of Valid Action.” It deals with the formulation of a
behavior in life that is presented for those who wish to develop a coherent life built on
two basic internal registers: that of unity and that of contradiction. In this way, the
justification for this “morality” is found in the registers that it produces, and not in
particular ideas or beliefs tied to one place, time, or cultural model. The register of
internal unity that is being sought is accompanied by certain indicators that should be
taken into consideration. These are: 1.The sensation of internal growth; 2. Continuity in
time; and 3. Affirming that one would want to repeat it in the future. The sensation of
internal growth appears as a true and positive indicator that always accompanies the
experience of personal improvement. Regarding continuity in time, it means that
through comparison with later, or imagined, or remembered situations, one is able to
confirm that the validity of the experience does not change, even with changing
circumstances. Lastly, if after the act one wishes to repeat it, we can say that the
sensation of internal unity affirms the validity of this action. On the contrary,
contradictory actions might have some of the characteristics of unitive actions, or none
of them, but they never have all three.
There exists, nevertheless, another kind of action that we cannot strictly call “valid,” but
neither can we call them “contradictory.” While such an action does not prevent our
development, it does not produce great improvement either. These actions can be more
or less disagreeable or more or less pleasurable, but from the point of view of validity
they do not add anything or take anything away. These types of actions are the
everyday actions, the mechanically habitual actions. They are perhaps necessary for
our subsistence and coexistence. But according to the model of unitive and
contradictory actions that we have been examining, such an action does not in itself
constitute a moral act. The Principles, referred to as “Principles of Valid Action,” are
classified as: 1. The Principle of Adaptation; 2. The Principle of Action and Reaction; 3.
The Principle of Opportune Action; 4. The Principle of Proportion; 5. The Principle of
Acceptance; 6. The Principle of Pleasure; 7. The Principle of Immediate Action; 8. The
Principle of Comprehended Action; 9. The Principle of Liberty; 10. The Principle of
1
Principle 4
The Principle of Proportion
Things Are Well When They Move Together Not In Isolation
Solidarity; 11. The Principle of Negation of Opposites, and 12. The Principle of
Accumulating Actions.
Here are some of the considerations about this principle. I’m drawing them
largely from conversations with many people. Also from materials we created
over the years to illustrate various aspects of the principles. I’m sorry that in
most cases I can’t credit specific individuals for their contributions but if I can
I will.
Most of us will not find it difficult to imagine, or remember, a situation where by
striving towards a goal many other things in our life were not given the care and
attention they required. These kinds of situations often result in “accidents” that
even make the attaining of our goal more difficult or even impossible. Worst of all, if
we do reach it – having wrecked havoc in our life as a whole – we may find ourselves
with the bitter consequence of discovering that our all-important goal is much less
rewarding than we imagined.
Who hasn’t discovered such stories in daily life as well as in fiction: a person
sacrifices love, friendship or family in the pursuit of fame and fortune (or whatever
it is they consider “prestigious”). As a consequence they sacrifice their health, their
loved ones and the values they once held sacred. Even if they attain their goal they
don’t have the health to enjoy it, or loved ones to share it with or values that give
our lives meaning.
Things are well when they move together not in isolation is a sort of tautology. That is
it’s true almost by definition like saying: all bachelors are unmarried. Its truth
follows from the fact that one’s life is a whole and requires overall, not just partial,
balance and development. That doesn’t mean that everything should be considered
of the the same value. On the contrary, things have different importance and need to
be prioritized accordingly. In fact it is only by having clear priorities and acting
accordingly that everything will truly act together.
The origins of the following story are unclear but regardless of its pedigree, you may
find it casts an interesting light on this principle.
The Four Magicians
There were four magicians who were friends. Three of them were very learned but
lacked wisdom. The fourth didn’t know as much as the others but had excellent
judgment. One of the others said to her: “What use is judgment without knowledge.
You might understand whether something is good, or bad, but not know how to
attain one situation or the other.
2
Principle 4
The Principle of Proportion
Things Are Well When They Move Together Not In Isolation
The youngest of them added that they could illustrate this in action. “Tomorrow” he
said, “we must be in Persepolis but it’s a long way. In fact a distance our camels
could never make in one day. But thanks to our learning we can shorten the path.”
They asked their wise companion to bring the camels while they consulted their
books. When he returned they began to cast their spells. One cast a spell that
stretched the camel’s legs to an amazing length. Another enlarged its whole body so
four of them could sit between its humps. And the next, made its neck so long it
could raise its head over any sandstorm and see the most distant points.
The next morning however only 3 of the magicians mounted this extraordinary
steed. The wise magician only said, “Better three rather than four when the
problems multiply”. The others laughed at their fearful friend and raced off to the
distant city.
They started their journey at a great clip but soon slowed down to a crawl. Belatedly
they discovered that this giant camel needed much more food and water than they
had brought. Its long neck could no longer support its massive head and now it had
to run along its neck on the ground like a serpent slithering after its prey.
Finally, weakened and off balance, the monster collapsed like a tower built with a
weak foundation. So they did not arrive to their important meeting and the business
opportunity they were pursuing was lost. Happily, their friend was waiting for their
return with food and drink already laid out.
On another occasion the four were walking along and came across the body of a
dead lion. Wanting to prove for once and all the superiority of their knowledge the
learned ones said: “Not long ago this once noble beast moved with grace and
strength its body full of vital force. Let us do something for this poor animal. But this
time let us agree beforehand so that all the parts agree and coincide in their action,
forming a reasonable whole. The problem with that business with the camel was not
a failure of our individual ability but of our not working together. And so they
agreed on a plan.
The first one said: “I know how to unite the skeleton”. The second said: “I can heal
skin, muscle and blood.” The third added: “I can give it life.”
Before they could begin their wise friend interjected: “perhaps this isn’t the best of
ideas. After all it is a lion.” “Idiot” cried the one who could join bones: “what kind of
magician fears a lion?” “Yes” said the one who could heal the muscles, bone and
blood: “who ever heard of a magician who needed to fear anything?” And the one
who knew the secret of life added: “we will reduce your judgment to nothing”. “In
that case”, said their friend: “wait a moment while I climb this tree.”
3
Principle 4
The Principle of Proportion
Things Are Well When They Move Together Not In Isolation
With that the others proceeded with their plan. Of course the line ate them all. When
it had padded away the wise magician climbed down from the tree and walked on.
illustration by Rafael Edwards
Remember you can find The Inner Look and Silo’s Commentaries on the
Message, along with the rest of Silo’s writings (in many languages) on
www.silo.net
And along with other activities, materials etc of Silo’s Message at
http://silosmessage.net/index.asp?LANG=EN
Some of the English version of his works have been published and hard copies
are available. See for example: www.latitudepress.com
There are (so far) 2 Parks of Study and Reflection in North America. These are
Red Bluff (www.redbluffpark.org) in California and Hudson Valley
(www.hudsonvalleypark.org) in New York. The Parks of Study and Reflection
are projects built and paid for by individuals inspired by Silo’s teachings. More
information is available on their websites.
4