Without denying that there is an interplay between the social-physical orders and behavior, it is putting the cart before the horse when ultimate blame is attributed to factors beyond our control. Failure to take responsibility for personal actions chains the soul to the dungeon of conditioned behavior and thereby inhibits the spiritual growth that is its destiny. Sabian philosophy teaches that devotion is the sacrifice of lesser interests to greater ideals. This is never merely an inner experience of deep feeling nor is it simply a matter of reciting pious phrases.
Devotion makes transcendental values real in everyday life.
This approach to creative living is based on Ibn Gabirol's Fountain of Life Book III, Chapter 48. Here the Teacher again explains the nature of the three souls. A practical application of the concept of devotion would be to consciously forego an emotional outburst through an act of will. Through this act you are choosing a path of higher values rather than reacting to the conditioned response of an undisciplined mind.