A few months ago, I was doing a paper on the metaphysical interpretation of the Hebrew scriptures. One of my challenges was to interpret the Ten Commandments. What might they mean if we didn’t interpret them literally, but metaphysically?

The seventh commandment is:

You shall not commit adultery.

Metaphysically – this refers to controlling your thoughts – your focus. But what does this really mean in practical, everyday life?

The first commandment – no other gods:

Before I jump into the seventh commandment, I find it helpful to be reminded of the first commandment, because all of the Ten Commandments are really based on this one! In a previous post “Which God do you serve?“, I talked about the first Commandment:

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;  you shall have no other gods before me.

I prefer the version of this as found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5:

I AM is our God, the I AM alone. You shall love the I AM with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

Butterworth describes this acknowledgement of the existence of the Divine as:

To have no other gods before THE ONE is to have the awareness of the allness of God.

Butterworth, Eric MetaMorality: A metaphysical approach to the Ten Commandments, Unity Books, Unity Village MO, 1988 p.3.

Adultery – being of two minds

When we look at the definition of “adultery” from a metaphysical perspective – we find that it means to have mixed thoughts. To be focused on errors in our mind (ego) as well as to be focused on I AM. And these errors have their existence in feelings that are not under the dominion of I AM.

Rather than being single-minded, it is being “of two minds” – double-minded. Butterworth expresses this as:

It is something that takes place in the mind, as an attitude, a perception, a motivation, and then goes forth into some form of action.

Butterworth, Eric MetaMorality, p.91.

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Being of two minds, according to the Macmillan dictionary, is being unable to make a decision or being uncertain about something. This can occur when our emotions are in conflict with our thoughts. When we are caught between I “should” and I “want”. Or when we are caught between fear and faith.

Our multiple minds

We know, from neuroscience, that our mind is divided into two hemispheres, which in and of themselves may cause some internal conflicts! In fact, we often speak of people as being left-brain or right-brain.

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We also speak of people wearing their heart on their sleeve, being a slave to their passions or emotions, and being thoughtless.

We talk of hard-headed or hardhearted.

And at the same time, we suggest people follow their heart, listen to their heart, or think things through carefully.

On a totally different level, we refer to gut instinct or not having the guts to move forward. We talk about gut-wrenching panic and a gutless wonder. And no guts, no glory.

But, at the end of the day, you only have one head – one brain in that head! It is only when the two hemispheres work in harmony that we achieve levels of wisdom that are otherwise unobtainable!

Furthermore, if you are able to reach a place of inner alignment, where your heart, head and gut are all working together in beautiful harmony – you are on your way to achieving much more than you thought possible!

This is why I want to talk about adultery
– double-mindedness –
being of two minds!

How do you live with a split focus?

The problems that arise when you are “of two minds”:

When you are undecided, perhaps with divided interests or loyalties, it often seems to others (and perhaps even to yourself) that you are wavering, uncertain and two-faced. Perhaps it feels that at times you are speaking from behind a mask – never quite true to yourself or what you believe.

Perhaps the challenge you are facing is one of doubt, you want to believe, but are feeling insecure of your faith and trust. Wavering between faith and fear; between trust and anxiety.

This leads you to take hypocritical actions – treating people or situations differently. And so, you may be accursed of double-standards, hypocrisy or even two standards of integrity.

But the root of the problem is deep – one of being trapped between your senses (smell, taste, sight, sound & touch) – what you perceive to be happening in your life – and your faith!

At the end of the day – nonetheless – it is not about rejecting one part of you and choosing to show only part of yourself to the public.

Can you trust that what you are creating will come into existence in spite of the challenges and obstacles that you are currently facing?

Most of us have faith, but just not enough! And so, while we want to believe without fear and doubts, we still acknowledge that we are not quite there!

With all my heart – I AM – searching for faith

And so, we search for the Divine with all our heart – hoping to find that missing faith, so that we can be certain in the face of the challenges! If only it were easy to find that connection with Divine Love! Unfortunately, most of us experience a breakdown, long before we experience the breakthrough.

So much of our lives – and lies – has to be completely peeled away, before we achieve that level of saying “I have searched with all my heart & soul“.

But, when we start this search, and then we keep looking back, looking over our shoulder at what was, we allow our fear to continue to have a place in our lives!

This call of “be ye perfect” – is a call to being whole and complete. To be entire – not of two minds!

This is not rejection of part of yourself – rejection of the fear and only holding onto the faith. It is reaching a place of wholeness. Of acknowledging your fear and still choosing faith.

To focus exclusively on Oneness – with all your being.

While we cannot choose our emotions – we have total choice over our behaviours. We can choose where to place our focus and attention!

Acknowledge you feel the fear, but do it anyway!

What will you choose to focus on?

Your power lies in being able to control where you choose to focus – in spite of feeling fearful and scared, you may choose to step out in faith. In spite of anxiety or anger, you can choose wise decisions.

The man of wisdom is never of two minds; the man of benevolence never worries; the man of courage is never afraid.

Confucius

While it may be true that you have two hemispheres of your brain and you have heart, mind and soul – you can make a conscious choice to bring all of these into alignment. You bring all of these parts of you under the mastery of Oneness.

Choose to be perfect – to be whole and complete.

I’m not saying this will be easy – but I am saying that when you do this, you will reap the rewards of no longer being torn between serving two masters! Faith and fear will no longer live together – tearing you apart inside.

From this place, you will notice that your path becomes straight, in communion with the presence of the Divine within you.

When you are in complete alignment – heart, mind and soul – you will discover you take inspired action, because you are sure of the way forward in following your purpose: being wholly you.