Unbranded belief
Beliefs are like brands. Brands are carriers of identity, the thing that makes Toyota different than Honda even though both are essentially a box on four wheels. People assign feelings to beliefs. They like it, hate it or are indifferent to it. Our minds cannot resist it apparently, because it needs road signs to operate. Identities are mental objects we create in our minds that serve as those road signs.
When people fight, if its not over limited resources, its over identities. Democrats vs Republicans. Liverpool vs. Manchester United. Sony Playstation vs. Nintendo Wii. Guru A vs. Guru B.
It always ends up the same way. Us versus them.
That's why if its clear that the mind is getting distracted over brands of beliefs, I try to shrug off these brands. I try to avoid getting drawn into situations where people argue that a good person wearing Brand X is better than a good person wearing Brand Y. Maybe its naive but I'd like to believe that good is good, no matter what brand you wear.
Vitamin C is vitamin C, regardless of whether it comes from an orange or a mango. Whether one prefers oranges or mangoes is a matter of personal taste, certainly nothing to lose sleep over.
If there could be an unbranded world, what would a good person be like? I think I found something that is closest to my ideal of a good person. A good person is one who:
1. Respects life
2. Is giving
3. Respects the body
4. Manifests truth
5. Acts with a clear mind
6. Sees the good in others, not faults
7. Realizes self and other as one, not elevate the self and blame others
8. Gives generously
9. Actualizes harmony, doesn't show anger
These are actions that I think most people would agree as beneficial, whatever their brand of belief is.
6 comments:
Phew, that's quite a list! Better amend the 'good person' part to 'Saint' :)
Haha. Actually the list is just a zen interpretation of the 5 precepts. One that emphasizes the "Do's" first rather than the "Do Nots":
1. Affirm life; Do not kill
2. Be giving; Do not steal
3. Honor the body; Do not misuse sexuality
4. Manifest truth; Do not lie
5. Proceed clearly; Do not cloud the mind
6. See the perfection; Do not speak of others
errors and faults
7. Realize self and other as one; Do not elevate the self and blame others
8. Give generously; Do not be withholding
9. Actualize harmony; Do not be angry
10. Experience the intimacy of things; Do not defile the Three Treasures (Buddha, dhamma, sangha)
It might look like a tall order but I think an ordinary decent person may already be doing half of it without even realizing it.
I think it is always easier to put things in words than to act. Not trying to be negative but this is what happens most of the time in reality. Researches showed that most people do not behave like the way they thought they would.....
I say it is really tough, even though it isn't impossible.
Sure, its tough to put it all into action. This is about ideals and principles though. We all need compasses to move forward and that's what lists like this are for, something to aspire to be.
Interesting discussion. Yes, I understand the point that you're driving at. Each of the precepts or the 'Zen reinterpretation' is not a rule per se. It's a spectrum where one progresses slowly to higher levels whenever one is ready for it.
For instance, the precept to 'Not Killing' or affirming life sounds simple enough. Yet, what about pesky mosquitoes? Even worst, when your house is infected with termites. Can one maintain one's precept perfectly?
Another example, is to avoid intoxication. If you're on a night out with your boss and fellow managers and they aggressively ask you to drink up, do you refuse and become a party pooper? The more sensitive one becomes, the harder it is to maintain these precepts.
Just my 5cents opinion :)
From my own experience, doing these things lightens the mind. Its interesting how "Actualize harmony; Do not be angry" can free one of having to carry regret and a guilty conscience. The benefits of self control are often immediate.
Btw, I'm quite well known as the guy who orders coke when everyone else orders beer and whisky. The sober one gets to drive the drunk ones home and I've saved up quite a few favors over the years, LOL.
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