RE:To the group on the question of evil

February 20, 2006

Dear list,

Perhaps I should be less cryptic. I, personally, think that it's

very important to distinguish between the world of ABSOLUTE TRUTH and

the RELATIVE world of MAYA (the world that comes into existence

through the "pairs of opposites"). On the deepest level of Truth, as

Brian says, evil does not exist, bad actions do not exist, adharma

does not exist, suffering does not exist. In the relative world of

Maya ( which most of us live in) opposites DO exist and, in fact,

exist through inter-relationship. If we do not distinguish between the

relative and the absolute, we can find ourselves excusing things that

are, in human terms, inexcusable. This is something I have seen happen

a little too often and why I (again this is simply my personal

opinion) feel that the distinction between these two states of being

are important to note.

best regards,

sadhvi

February 20, 2006

Thanks for expanding upon what you wrote. I feel you may have

misunderstood me.

"bad" is a loaded word. I use it very carefully and very rarely. I like

the word "wrong" better because it implies only that our action is wrong

and there's no morality associated with it. Bad implies guilt and guilt is

an affliction of mind.

We can be wrong within ourselves but be right according to everyone else,

and conversely we can be right within ourselves and be wrong according to

everyone else. Examples of that abound. That's the duality of right and

wrong and one of the major sources of conflict that arise at the end of

Satyugha.

As for the absolute truth. I only know one absolute truth. Here's a story

to express it.

I was invited to eat dinner with Shree Maa and Swamiji. I was sitting next

to and in lite conversation with Maa while Swamiji ate and listened.

I mentioned that the previous week I had realized the highest truth. She

said, "Oh, what's that?"

I replied, "There is no truth."

She and Swamiji laughed heartily.

But I was unsure why She was laughing (and I wanted to make sure I wasn't

wrong, Self doubt is the biggest enemy of consciousness) so I pressed her,

"Its true isn't it?"

She laughed and said, "yes, its true."

Its understandable for us to say that there is an absolute truth and a

relative truth within reality, but I don't believe it is so. I believe

solely in right and wrong from an individual level. We, as individuals, as

beings who carry their own universe within their hearts and minds, always

have a choice and consciousness always whispers what's right for us. If we

follow that consciousness we will bring peace to our internal universe and

express that peace into the world. If we deny consciousness or are

ignorant of its presence within us, then we may make the right choice or

we may not, depending solely upon the afflictions of the mind.

To get back on topic: It is a mistake to do the wrong thing, but it is not

evil, because evil does not exist.

Mistakes do not make us evil, they make us human.

Specifically for Linda: when we are children we make few choices, because

we don't have consciousness for choice making. We are subject to the

choices of the adults who are around us and thus we are inocent of any bad

choices they make. Its only after we grow up that we may take over and

begin to make choices according to our own light. And those choices always

offer us a path that undoes nearly all the bad decisions that were made

for us. And if these choices cannot undo what was done, then they make

what was done unimportant and we are able to let go of our choiceless

past.

Gayatri is the Goddess of goodness. Her mantra helps liberate us from past

bad choices by enveloping and invigorating the positive aspects of our

mind.

Do her mantra and let her put your mind at ease.

No one is evil, they just make bad choices and some follow the bad choices

to the worst possible outcome to teach us to not do the same.

I bow to those who teach me the way of Zen, by showing me the opposite

extremes. They are powerful teachers.

Brian

> Dear list,

> Perhaps I should be less cryptic. I, personally, think that it's

> very important to distinguish between the world of ABSOLUTE TRUTH and

> the RELATIVE world of MAYA (the world that comes into existence

> through the "pairs of opposites"). On the deepest level of

> Truth, as

> Brian says, evil does not exist, bad actions do not exist, adharma

> does not exist, suffering does not exist. In the relative world of

> Maya ( which most of us live in) opposites DO exist and, in fact,

> exist through inter-relationship. If we do not distinguish between the

> relative and the absolute, we can find ourselves excusing things that

> are, in human terms, inexcusable. This is something I have seen happen

> a little too often and why I (again this is simply my personal

> opinion) feel that the distinction between these two states of being

> are important to note.

> best regards,

> sadhvi

> Visit your group "" on the web.

>

February 20, 2006

thank you for this, sadhvi, cause

it articulates well these differences and is important to remember, i

think.

nityashakti wrote: