I was thinking too of how the Adjuster works in the mind. Doesn’t he consider both the egoistic needs of the individual and the altruistic motive, putting a preference on the altruistic option? Doesn’t the Adjuster gently urge us toward that goal?
103:2.7 Moral choosing is usually accompanied by more or less moral conflict. And this very first conflict in the child mind is between the urges of egoism and the impulses of altruism. The Thought Adjuster does not disregard the personality values of the egoistic motive but does operate to place a slight preference upon the altruistic impulse as leading to the goal of human happiness and to the joys of the kingdom of heaven.
I find some of the narration above slightly confusing in that some of the words used implies something different and might need additional explanation? Where if we can agree that “egoistic” can be defined as: “being centered in or preoccupied with oneself and the gratification of one’s own desires; self-centered (opposed to altruistic )”, then the use of the word “needs” as opposed to “motive” as presented in the UB quote, and its reverse usage implication to “altruistic”, might imply confusion of understanding?
A human may have an egoistic need to be “preoccupied with oneself” and desire self gratification, which might not be considered as being selfish because everyone should have some form of comfort in their environment, but when these “egoistic needs” dominate the individual whereby sharing with others is limited to specific conditions based on a loyalty to these needs over an altruistic (“unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others”) option, there should be little behind the motives. The “egoistic motive” has value when it does not dominate over the altruistic needs, as might be considered as the basic needs of others less fortunate, whereby one is willing to share the benefits of the egoistic need with others. Then an “altruistic impulse” might motivate the equalization egoism with altruism?
(1602.7) 142:6.8 Nicodemus was thoroughly sincere. He was deeply impressed but went away bewildered. Nicodemus was accomplished in self-development, in self-restraint, and even in high moral qualities. He was refined, egoistic, and altruistic; but he did not know how to submit his will to the will of the divine Father as a little child is willing to submit to the guidance and leading of a wise and loving earthly father, thereby becoming in reality a son of God, a progressive heir of the eternal kingdom.
(1602.6) 142:6.7 And Nicodemus said: “But how can I begin to lay hold upon this spirit which is to remake me in preparation for entering into the kingdom?” Jesus answered: “Already does the spirit of the Father in heaven indwell you. If you would be led by this spirit from above, very soon would you begin to see with the eyes of the spirit, and then by the wholehearted choice of spirit guidance would you be born of the spirit since your only purpose in living would be to do the will of your Father who is in heaven. And so finding yourself born of the spirit and happily in the kingdom of God, you would begin to bear in your daily life the abundant fruits of the spirit.”
