good and evil

[bluestarman1]

Is good and evil simply societal judgement calls?

[Leon]

It is simple at the centre is a saying "Allow all of life to prosper, do not hinder it" Now what could be classed as Good or Evil is dependent on how you see life, your own moral code. It is not for me to say what is good or evil, but the scale moves towards one end or the other, all depending on whether you are allowing life to prosper or not.

[Ishtahota]

Good and Evil is just a product of duality consciousness. Also tiny men and women with great big EGO's use good and evil as an excuse not to take responsibility for their actions. While in duality if we have a Christ we must also have an anti christ. If we have good we must also have evil also. It is all really an illusion, it is just a product of our duality consciousness.

[gruntal]

I think good and evil is more a choice then an absolute state of being or judgement. However, having said that, I know there are things that are better for everybody then other things are. History proves this to be true.

I have heard of sensitive people claiming to see or percieve things of great evil but I am very skeptical of that. I think we made a big mistake in classifying inanimate objects in that way. I do remember a chapter in Frank Herbert's novel DUNE that Paul Attreides could see possible future scenarios in things after he imbibed a sufficient amount of spice i.e. malange but it was just various future possiblities he was seeing. A fascinating allegory I think of phychic atunement. Has anyone here actually felt that?

[Floraloak]

Good = Grace Opens Opportune Developments
Evil = Live (backwards)

Simply put... do we allow ourselves to live moving forward into the opportunities that open before us or do we live backwards by worrying, not trusting, and giving into fear?

The choice is ours....

[bluestarman1]

great replies. Sort of validates my coin analogy. Good and evil are two sides of the same coin. We are constantly forced to flip that coin. It always lands on its edge. Its up to us to push the coin one way or the other. Even then there are times when we can't be sure which side of the coin we are looking at.

Thanks

[Leon]

This topic remind me of a poem by Kahlil Gibran, It follows my words.

Of the good in you I can speak, but not of the evil.
For what is evil but good tortured by its own hunger and thirst?
Verily when good is hungry it seeks food even in dark caves, and when it thirsts it drinks even of dead waters.


You are good when you are one with yourself.
Yet when you are not one with yourself you are not evil.
For a divided house is not a den of thieves; it is only a divided house.
And a ship without rudder may wander aimlessly among perilous isles yet sink not to the bottom.


You are good when you strive to give of yourself.
Yet you are not evil when you seek gain for yourself.
For when you strive for gain you are but a root that clings to the earth and sucks at her breast.
Surely the fruit cannot say to the root, "Be like me, ripe and full and ever giving of your abundance."
For to the fruit giving is a need, as receiving is a need to the root.


You are good when you are fully awake in your speech,
Yet you are not evil when you sleep while your tongue staggers without purpose.
And even stumbling speech may strengthen a weak tongue.


You are good when you walk to your goal firmly and with bold steps.
Yet you are not evil when you go thither limping.
Even those who limp go not backward. But you who are strong and swift, see that you do not limp before the lame, deeming it kindness.


You are good in countless ways, and you are not evil when you are not good,
You are only loitering and sluggard.
Pity that the stags cannot teach swiftness to the turtles.


In your longing for your giant self lies your goodness: and that longing is in all of you.
But in some of you that longing is a torrent rushing with might to the sea, carrying the secrets of the hillsides and the songs of the forest.
And in others it is a flat stream that loses itself in angles and bends and lingers before it reaches the shore.
But let not him who longs much say to him who longs little, "Wherefore are you slow and halting?"
For the truly good ask not the naked, "Where is your garment?" nor the houseless, "What has befallen your house?"

[bluestarman1]

seems like we can always count on Kahlil to sum it up nicely. Off the subject I plan on paraphrasing Gilbran on the urn that holds my ashes. "The white wings of death have scattered his days..." will be etched there.