The movie provoking all the media attention right now is the "Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson and his film company, Icon Productions.
But after witnessing a recent interview of the movie star, Mel Gibson, by ABC's Diane Sawyer, the movie seems to also be a sort of personal unveiling of a transformed human being.
If there was such a thing as a "poster child" for the "Four Levels of Happiness," in the Life Principles program, Mel Gibson would win as the hands-down favorite.
Powerful as his movie is in portraying the last 12 hours of Jesus' betrayal, crucifixion, death, and resurrection, this movie-star-turned-director's own life story is a compelling example of one who has returned miraculously from a journey into his own personal hell.
The death and resurrection so apparent in Gibson's own life in his interview was an extra bonus for those watching who have survived bottoming out spiritually and morally while rising to the heights of fame, financial success, and influence only to discover the great void that can exist there.
To anyone familiar with Father Spitzer's "Four Levels of Happiness," it is apparent that this Hollywood director followed the script exactly foretold by Spitzer's philosophical journey into life, the choices we make, and where it can and cannot lead us.
Gibson explains how his stardom drew him at first to living essentially at Happiness Levels 1 and 2--or self-absorption and ego gratification--and then predictably hit the crises that follow with such preoccupation of self and things. He tried everything, wanted more, and grew emptier to the point of suicide. Then he saw the light.
Gibson explained that he had a personal "flaw" where he "would get addicted to anything." After living a life of luxury, including indulging in drug and alcohol abuse, he bottomed out. At one point, he contemplated throwing himself out of a window.
"I was looking down thinking, 'Man, this is just easier this way.'" He realized suddenly that he had reached the depth of "spiritual bankruptcy." He concluded in his despair:
"There's nothing left." He had everything the secular utopia had to offer, and found he felt completely empty. Gibson said that the "good news" was that this "pain is a precursor to change." Or as Father Spitzer suggests that during such crises we can move out of our fixations toward love and selflessness.
Gibson found himself reinvestigating his faith, returning to his Judeo-Christian roots. He moved from a preoccupation of self, to a level of learning to love others, and to ultimately desire the love of God, moving from Happiness Levels 1 and 2 to Levels 3 and 4.
In reading Scripture, Christ's passion became a reliving of Gibson's own inner pain and struggle. He recognized his part in crucifying in his own life the message of Jesus – a message of self-giving love. The resurrection in Gibson's life was mirrored in the making of this movie.
The movie industry, media and advertising worlds, really exemplify the sort of environments where such personal catastrophes can be nurtured. It provides the perfect "hothouse" climate for growing addictions, psychosis, egoism, and zeal to gain all that the material world can offer. But because we are so much more than mere matter ourselves, our spiritual, emotional, and moral inner realities are left to starve in this lopsided universe which our culture seems so preoccupied with presently.
But, our souls cry out for more.
The material world is, after all, morally neutral. It is how we use this matter, for good or ill, which makes the difference in having wealth, or talents, or things in general, affecting how we see and treat ourselves and others. For better or for worse, we are given access to all that this life and planet offers. What we choose to do from there will either feed or starve our non-material souls.
Seeking the ultimate truth, beauty, and good in Happiness Levels 3 and 4 – that is, seeking love and, ultimately, the God of Love – became Gibson's discovery in his journey from self-destruction to hope and faith.
In his interview he expressed a desire that this film about Christ's death will inspire people in their search for meaning and healing in their lives.
But contemplating Mel Gibson's own death and resurrection is certainly a very good place to see how transformation can occur in lives both famous and relatively unknown if we but look beyond our material reality.
For the complete interview, go to:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/Primetime/Entertainment/mel_gibson_passion_040216.html
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A Brief Summary of the Four Levels of Happiness
Happiness Level 1:
The first and most basic level of happiness comes from things outside ourselves and involves one or more of the five senses. The pleasure they give is immediate and direct such as eating an ice cream cone, buying a brand new car, or going on vacation. Their pleasure is short-lived and intermittent. They must be replaced by yet another ice cream cone, or new car, or vacation. Until such replacements take place our happiness is on hold.
Happiness Level 2:
The second level of happiness involves the ego. (Ego is Latin for I) This kind of happiness comes whenever I am in control, the focus of attention, the object of admiration, whenever I see myself as superior to others. Hence, whenever I win, gain power, am admired, or gain popularity I feel happy and pleased with myself. My ego has been affirmed. That which I think is the most important thing in the world (me) has received approval.
Happiness Level 3:
The second level of happiness is not totally satisfying. There is something missing. Humans also desire love, truth, goodness/justice, beauty, and being. These desires are often expressed in acts of charity—seeking cures, being concerned with one’s neighbor, making sacrifices, or forgiving personal injuries. We want to make the world a better place and so we offer our lives, time, energy, and talent for the welfare of others. Our happiness, we learn, cannot be separated from the happiness of others. The common good is an integral part of our personal happiness.
Happiness Level 4:
Even the third level of happiness does not exhaust the scope of human desire. Humans are pulled by their desire for the sublime, something beyond their imagination, beyond their complete understanding. To be sure, they desire love, goodness, truth, beauty, and being as they experience them in the world; but they also desire these in their perfected and unlimited form. Those of faith recognize this as their desire for God. For those having no faith, they can treat this as an awareness of a seemingly unconditional horizon surrounding human curiosity, creativity, spirit, and achievement.
