The separation of the world into “good” and “bad” is an illusion.
When I divide the world into “good” and “bad,” I artificially divide the universe, which is whole, into parts that don’t exist and attempt to live in a distinction that is not distinct - like trying to swim in the river but not the water. Impossible.
The mission of fighting for something I see as “good” is a fight against every other potentially good thing I must now define as “bad.” It closes the door on peace.
Before I arbitrarily name something “good,” “not good” cannot exist (and vice versa). It all begins with a painful argument with the reality of the oneness of the universe. Then, flailing to right what I falsely name “wrong,” I make things worse by amplifying my painful sense of separation. Which only ever brings more suffering to my world.
A few examples of people fighting for “good:”
The Crusades
The Inquisition
War
Incarceration
Punishment in general
Revenge
Shaming
All these things emerge from an argument with reality and they’re all tragically painful for the one engaging in the argument.
It appears that we’ve all engaged in these kinds of acts and no one does it without the ironclad belief that they are fighting in the interest of good against something bad.
But what is “good” or “bad” before my opinion? Before I lay a story over what is? In a very literal, scientific way, there can be no good or bad before I have a thought and believe it. Before that, there is only what is. And when I can get really still and sit in it, I find that “what is,” prior to my story, before the meaning I assign to it, is always peaceful and kind. So no fight is necessary to achieve the peace I’m seeking. Only the dropping of this story that invents a good, and therefore a bad.
So how do I live in my story where there is apparent good and bad? Do I just live however I choose? Can I invent whatever story I want?
It’s not a matter of “can I.” It’s what happens. It’s what we all do. Every story is invented. Every life is chosen (if subconsciously). The question is, “What life do I choose now?”
And when I don’t believe in a “good” or “bad,” I have no reason to do bad in the name of good (which is how all bad is done.)
If I cannot believe in “good” and “bad,” who will I ever be moved to hurt? Who will I ever be moved to hate? Who will I ever be moved to cheat, silence, overpower, or overwhelm?
I just live in my invented story and the peaceful, kind universe signals me through my own suffering EVERY TIME I slip out of alignment with what is and begin to believe something that runs counter to my and the universe’s kind and peaceful True Nature (which are the same one thing). And then I can return to the gift of what is.
When I know how to read it, I recognize that my suffering is always pointing me back to my true nature.
If I get still and question my stressful thoughts, the issue of how to live will never be in question.
I’ll simply live in accordance with the benevolent universe and allow myself to be lived and loved by it.