I don't know if it's full truth. But they are right about one thing, that is, that people who think that they should be in a certain way, automatically can't be fully satistfied/happy, if they aren't what they think they should be!
There's alot of examples of how this happens, I thought this is a pretty standard one.
society to kid: you should be rich, or at least pretend to be! otherwise you are a loser
And the trouble begins......[;)]
Always be what you are and always stand behind your deeds and face the music be it harmonious or discordant.
In other words when you start being what you "should" be is when you sink into the swamp of discontent and suffering. Trying to fit the mold others set for you will always fail leaving you to struggle to be several incompatible personas and never finding peace and harmony.
Be good if that's what you are. Be bad if that's what you are, but above all be yourself as you are.
2cents & L&L
Jouni
The moment I tried to "fit the mold" was the moment I decended into madness. That happened fully around 17 years of age. There were periods of great lucidity, but overall it was not a great place to be.
The moment I said "Enough!" I was out and back to doing what I want to do, what I need to do. I did have a little help from effexor(about 2-3 weeks worth) to get centered enough to metaphysically get myself out. Not a waste of 20+ years of my life, but I call it well underused. But I'm past that, because dwelling on it gives it power to drag me back [:D]
In my opinion, it's not the what that matters, it's the why. If you are kind to a person because you want something from them, that doesn't necissarily qualify as true kindness, does it? If you hurt someone because you know it will keep many others safe, does that mean you are being evil?
Quotemaybe just being cruel ....a form of cruel disipline is evil if you have a perverse pleasure from it. ...plus it depends on what side you are on.
Doesn't that coincide with my thought? "plus it depends on what side you are one". Sides I assume is the side of good, or the side of evil? But don't you choose sides because of the why, not the what? Does being cruel have to coincide with commiting a cruel act? If you hang someone for a crime, does it count as cruelty? What defines it? Is it cruel because it is painful? Is it cruel because it causes death? If death occures without pain, is it cruel? If punishment is inflicted through pain, but the individual is allowed to live, is that cruel? I stand by my arguement... it's the why, not the what. I don't believe actions have any merit whatsoever. I believe it's the reason the action is taken that is the only thing that matters. Perhaps a good example might be revenge. Imagine a thief breaking into your house. He does this in an attempt to quietly steal all the jewelry you possess. In the middle of the process he wakes your family and they catch him in the act. He then kills them all because they have seen him. Is it wrong to kill that person, even cause him pain during his death? There may be cruelty involved, and pleasure in causing such cruelty, but is it not justified? Though many would say no (two wrongs don't make a right), I would have to say yes. I would say it is justified and there is no cruelty in it. Perhaps there may be evil intensions. But should evil acts be rewarded with acts of kindness? And if I knew I had to answer to God for my actions, wouldn't it be something worth answering to? Consider the love you have for you children, husband, or wife. If they were murdered for gold or jewels, and you killed their murderer, would you not be willing to stand accountable before God and defend your position, regardless of good or evil? I still fully believe, it's the why, not the what, that matters.
Considering being held accountable for your own actions... I truly agree. That is why I would be willing to face God for my actions. In the long run one might regret the act committed, but at the time it was committed it was believed to be the right choice, and God would understand that. Circumstances change. As for committing an act because they believe it is good in their own eyes, even if it is not good in the eyes of others, I would say this... a great misconception in this world is that a million people are smarter than one. I by no means make any comparison to my own decisions compared to Christs... but if Christ considered the opinions of everyone else, then He would not have gotten His message across. He knew that His way was the right way, and if someone disagreed He did not "aim to please". Rather, he died for what He knew was right. Obviously those who crucified Him did not agree, but that never made him wrong. Many people disagreed with the actions of Gandhi, but he knew he was right despite the opposition of others he still went through with his beliefs for what he believed to be in his countries favor. After all, hindsight is 20/20. Even though majority rules, that does not mean majority is correct. The masses can be easily blinded by one man. In history it has always been one man that has brought change and innovation to the world. All that is required is to convince the lesser minds. So good and evil is not necessarily black and white. Hitler and his army believed they were doing good. USA fighting in the war against them believed they were also doing good. In hindsight everyone can make their own decision about who was right... but during, that's a different story.
Don't let anyone controll your life. Live it to the fullest and you hsould turn out OK.
I often wonder if I would suffer less for being human if I hadn't been brainwashed with Christian morals since birth.
I wonder the same thing, Tyciol, but I doubt it. Morals are instilled more by schooling than religion.
So the real question is, would we have suffered less if we weren't brainwashed by schooling?
Ahh, but see, if you hadn't have been brainwashed, you wouldn't have known what brainwashing looks like. Therefore, it was only a matter of time before you fell into the trap anyway. Now that you've had the experience, you can be wary of it and you can avoid it from ever happening again... hopefully :D