Tagged: Tao te ching
Truth and moral standards
When I read that quote, a sense of elation invaded me.
Great insight!
That quote is not coming from thinking, that is by conditioning.
For mainstream, there is “good and bad.” For mainstream, morality is about choosing “good” over “bad.”
Let me pretty up that word “morality,” so it has a “good” reception in our mind: To be “ethical.” 🙂
I don’t know who the author of that quote is or what he does. It doesn’t matter.
Nevertheless, let me add another spin on that “insight.”
There cannot be “the only truth” as we are dealing with perceptions. That is why, there is no “good or evil.” That is known as duality. Duality is another perception.
However, there is cause and effect. Every action will bring its own effect which will be experienced by the originator of that action.
Isn’t “cause and effect” another perception? 🙂
Yes and No. 🙂
Test it for yourself. Anything we “do” has a consequence. Anything “we” think may not…( A thought came to me, rather than “I” thought a thought… “I thought I saw a pussy cat”… 🙂 )
That is “karma 101” explained by religious groups and philosophies.
That is how for some religions there are “good actions” and “bad actions.”
Nevertheless, actions are neutral without intentions.
The consequences will happen based on our intention.
If my intention has an ulterior motive, if my intention is to separate, to segregate, to bring antagonism, to “rob” from the Totality, the consequences will be suffering for the “doer.”
Some individuals do not realize that their intention behind the action drives the consequence. That is why, we need to check our feelings. If I feel angry, my intentions will come out with that anger which means separation.
In “Religion 101” we were stuck with actions only as “good or bad.”
“Sex is bad.” “Marriage is good.” “Divorce is bad.”
The above is very easy to label and to promote for followers to follow.
It is very difficult to check the intentions, for the only person that could know is the one acting.
“But, I gave her a box with chocolates… I wanted to be “good” with her… and she turned them down.”
The perception of the intention could be heard by some accurately and misunderstood by others.
That is how it is easier to stick with actions as “good and bad.” It is safe, simple but not complete.
When the great Tao is forgotten,
Kindness and morality arise.
When wisdom and intelligence are born,
The great pretense begins.” ( Tao te Ching – Ch 18)
Another good insight! If we think about it, if we try to rationalize it, we will not understand.
Insight comes from knowing, from being able to recognize something without thought. It is intuitive.
Being good :-)
“Eat your broccoli and because you are such a good boy, then you can eat ice cream!”
“He is a good person: hard-working, a family man, churchgoer, good citizen involved in civic duties…”
“He is a hero. He fought for us to preserve our freedom against the enemy…”
The phrases above are very common. See how every one of them defines what is “good.”
No wonder, most of us believe that to be “good” means to “do” something “good.”
“Good” is an open word which we could define as we wish as long as we wear the “moral” robes.
“If you want to go to heaven, you need to “do” this.”
“Being good” is a human invention. Something “moral” to move someone to act in a determined fashion.
Moreover, there is no way that a human being could be “good,” because that word is another fantasy created by our clever moral mind.
Neither could a human being be “bad”…Who’s bad? 🙂
“A truly good man is not aware of his goodness,
And is therefore good.
A foolish man tries to be good,
And is therefore not good.”
Wait a minute… Why is that something “moral” is bad?
-It is not “bad”… It is man created according to his needs and wants…when he is no longer in touch with the Totality.
“The kind person acts from the heart
and accomplishes a multitude of things.
The righteous person acts out of piety,
yet leaves many things undone.
The moral person will act out of duty,
and when no one responds
will roll up his sleeves and use force.”
Tao te Ching – CH 38
Blasphemy, Avyakt7!
🙂
When we perform any activity, there is a consequence. Do we see that? Until we do not see that there is a consequence, we will still believe in fantasy tales about this image of “goodness.”
Eating your entire broccoli does not make you “good.”
Being a workingman and a family man and churchgoer does not make you “good” either.
Killing other human beings in the name of freedom does not make you a “hero.”
There is no recipe to go to “heaven.”
There is a movie going on in life. All actors are dependent on each other. There is interbeingness. All of them are related whether someone sees that or not, for the movie includes all actors. It is in that awareness when we could act without thinking in a “moral” way to “try to be good.” There is no need for that.
When the awareness is in Totality, then there is common good.
The issue is when a particular actor does not look at the total package but only to an image that he ought to pursue. In other words, everything that exists is important as long as it serves him.
It is that “ego” which becomes an obstacle in feeling and being in touch with Totality.
Thus, any activity coming from that “ego” consciousness will be “egotistical.”
Being “egotistical” is not “bad.” It is just living on one side of the coin that is individuality. That is “modern living” with consequences for humanity.
When we are conscious of Totality, the individual is part of it.
Could we see that?
The above is the first step into deeper things.
Note that Avyakt7 didn’t use a religious story of salvation or punishment for all to make everyone “good.” This is not about fear anymore.
The time to stop playing with “dolls, lollipops and broccoli for ice cream” has elapsed.
No, we will not get ice cream if we eat our broccoli.
We could see, however; that there is a time for broccoli and there is one for ice cream. None is better than the other, but both are important to experience enjoyment and harmony, just like the consciousness of individuality cannot be wholesome without being in Totality.
Labeling things as “good” or “bad” does not give us the chance to see the “bigger picture,” the movie… that is Life.
On Oneness
In the map of “oneness,” there are many fingers pointing to the map, but our understanding depends on walking our particular path…
Below some food for thought 🙂
“I confess that there is nothing to teach: no religion, no science, no body of information which will lead your mind back to the Tao. Today I speak in this fashion, tomorrow in another, but always the Integral Way is beyond words and beyond mind. Simply be aware of the oneness of things.”
Hua Hu Ching CH 8
“In practice, Bap and Dada are such constant companions that you cannot separate them, even if you wanted to: sometimes you experience the companionship of both to be so close that it is as though they are one. In the same way, the company between two should be that of oneness: not that you are one, but that you are equal.”
Avyakt BapDada July 11 1974
“The Tao gives birth to One.
One gives birth to Two.
Two gives birth to Three.
Three gives birth to all things.
All things have their backs to the female
and stand facing the male.
When male and female combine,
all things achieve harmony.
Ordinary men hate solitude.
But the Master makes use of it,
embracing his aloneness, realizing
he is one with the whole universe.”
Tao Te Ching Ch 42
“The Truth is One; Sages name it variously…”
Rig Veda.
“Let there one strength and one support, and one teacher. Neither follow the dictates of one’s own mind, nor the dictates of others. Follow the instructions of One and experience the sweetness of One. There should not be sweetness in any other individual or object. If there is oneness in this way, the soul loves solitude, and going into the depths of one – the soul loves the word “one”.”
Avyakt BapDada November 23, 1989
The “Me” versus the “Others” syndrome.
“In Brahmin life, receiving is in giving.”
Avyakt Murli April 28, 2013
“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
The Bible- New Testament: Luke 6:38
The Master has no possessions.
The more he does for others,
the happier he is.
The more he gives to others,
the wealthier he is.Tao te ching verse 81
He who gives liberally goes straight to the gods;
on the high ridge of heaven he stands exalted.Rig Veda 1.125.5
The above quotes mention one of the universal spiritual “truths,” that is: If you give, you receive.
That line has been used by many spiritual teachers without further explanation.
How does it work?
In the last writing about “We do what we are,” it was mentioned that there is an inner being (soul) who is part of the “whole,” that universal “spirit” is known as the Drama, the Tao, or the Creation. (depending on your religious beliefs) That is life in itself.
That “soul” by itself has no awareness of duality. Has no awareness of separation from anything.
When that “soul” has a role to perform in life; then the awareness of individuality arises as the soul identifies with the uniqueness of a body. Then, a personality is developed. From One, many appear.
Note how the primal absence of knowing the concepts of “you and Me,” change and develop into that separation as we know it.
A role in life, goes through the awareness of a soul as “me.” Then automatically, “you” arises.
Many religious and spiritual teachings have taught, “giving is receiving,” with the assumption that we are “separate.” Then, a selfish motive of acquiring for the self is corrected when the “moral standard” of being “good” is taught.
That is “share with others.” “Give to others.”
Nothing wrong with those teachings, but in a deeper view we can see that there is no “self” neither the “other” unless we identify with the body and the role in life.
That identification is an illusion, which separates, something that is One from the beginning. But it could be experienced as “many” as “you and me,” only if our consciousness does not allow us to see that both “One,” and “many” are valid perspectives.
Thus, whatever “I” do, will come back to “me,” for there is no “other.”
A “soul” performing a role in life accomplishes that through a thought, which will materialize in the physical world as an “action.”
That is what we know as “karma.” That activity could be colored by egoless-ness, which is lack of expectation and desires; that is “without individuality” or it could be full of ego.
The return of ego is further separation. That means, suffering.
Once we understand that egoless “doing” is truly harmony with the original oneness; then the “other” merely is a “mirror” for lack of a better name.
The actions we perform, are the seed transforming into a flower. We will eat that fruit sooner or later. The fruit is already latent in the seed.
That is why, according to how we ARE, would be the quality of our activities.
We cannot “do” good actions, if we are not “good.”
Activities by itself do not have a moral standard. Moral standards are made up by a society engulfed in duality.
Someone in harmony with the whole, with that Drama of life; works as an ego-less agent of “doing.” He could only do “good,” for as he is; so are his activities.
Let us say that a dentist “falls in love” with one of his patients.
Dr. Drill likes Rose so much, that he gave her a “huge” break for the cost of his dental services.
Dr. Drill would go to the extremes of showing his care for Rose.
Obviously, Dr, Drill had an expectation. He wanted Rose to return his “love.”
Because Dr. Drill’s activities are not “self-less,” Dr. Drill opened himself for the experience of duality.
If Rose responds positively to Dr. Drill’s approach; then Dr. Drill will be “happy.” At the same time, Dr. Drill would learn a new “proven” way to manipulate people, which will have a 50-50 chance of working with “most people.” Those activities will bring their own consequence for manipulation is not a “good deed.”
If Dr. Drill is rejected. Then, Dr. Drill will be “unhappy” and disappointed and with that his “love,” could turn around into “hate.” Note that duality.
On the other hand, a “self-less” approach has no consequence other than enhancing that sense of Selfless-ness, which will come back to Dr. Drill; enhancing his well being beyond duality. That is spiritual happiness.
The seed was there, it produced a flower and the fruit will be eaten by the one who let that seed appear.
Question: Om shanti…you said about three books which you think worth reading , can you give me name of other two books besides what you mentioned of Mr. Eckhart tolle ….
Thank you for your question!
Dear soul,
I did not mention that “I think those 3 books to be worth reading.” I only mentioned that I have read only 3 books from cover to cover in my life time… and I mentioned, that Mr. Tolle’s book is worth reading for anyone interested in knowing ego, emotions and thoughts.
The other 2 books are:
1) The “Tao te Ching” by Lao Tzu. ( Unbelievable depth in such short book – A good read to understand Gyan deeply. I also recommend “Hua Hu Ching” attributed to the same author. )
2) “Cien años de soledad ” By Gabriel Garcia Marquez. (I read this book before Gyan. The main theme being loneliness in its different aspects. This novel had the gift of keeping someone wanting to “read more” – It is considered a “masterpiece” of Spanish literature.)
Best wishes!
Exploring the Depth of Living 