CHAPTER III.
THE SECOND, OR RELATIONAL SPHERE.
The subject now to be considered is that of the
second sphere of mind, both in its perceptions and
affections. Our last discourse was upon what we denominated
the first sphere, which was characterized as
being a sphere of self-love or lusting after self-gratification.
The individual in this sphere was described
as being in the lowest department of his mind, and as
allied in his affinities with the lowest pleasures of existence.
It was remarked that this plane of lust could
be manfested as well in the intellectual, moral, and
religious plane, as in the animal or physical plane.
The criterion by which we determine whether it is
selfishness is to inquire whether the motive prompting
to activity has for its object desire after gain. If
this is the ruling impulse, then the individual's love is
the love of self. Though the grossness of the lust may
depend upon the direction given it, yet it is essentially
the same whether exercised in the moral, intellectual,
or physical plane. An individual who sought the
happiness of another without reference to his own interests
was described as belonging to the second sphere.
He would seek association by the affinity of his moral
or second-sphere nature.
