The True Root of All Evil...

[KevinWestern]

Selfishness is the root of all evil, despair, hate, pain, suffering, etc in this world. The only way we are going to experience peace here on earth is if we learn (as a whole) to unselfishly love everyone and everything.

I'm a believer in the idea that everything in the Universe is ultimately One thing, and that duality (ie the illusion of separateness that we experience as physical beings here on earth) is the cause of all problems here on earth.

Separateness leads to selfishness.
Wholeness leads to unselfish love.

Anyone have similar views? Thoughts?

 

[Votto]

Selfishness is the root of all evil, despair, hate, pain, suffering, etc in this world. The only way we are going to experience peace here on earth is if we learn (as a whole) to unselfishly love everyone and everything.

I'm a believer in the idea that everything in the Universe is ultimately One thing, and that duality (ie the illusion of separateness that we experience as physical beings here on earth) is the cause of all problems here on earth.

Separateness leads to selfishness.
Wholeness leads to unselfish love.

Anyone have similar views? Thoughts?

Why is selfishness "evil"?

Is there anyone who is not selfish?

 

[KevinWestern]

Why is selfishness "evil"?

Is there anyone who is not selfish?

There are enlightened people here on Earth who have transcended the illusion of separateness and hence are (truly) no longer selfish. The ego has vanished. Very rare, however. Jesus was thought to be one, and the same goes for the Buddha.

Also, selfishness comes in varying degrees. A "little" selfishness might not have a profound effect (many people are largely good & caring), but extreme selfishness will tend to have a much larger "evil" (if you want to call it that) effect. Either way, selfishness is never (in the end) a good thing.

Think about it. Compare a world full of people who think only about themselves, and will consume vast amounts of resources from places they can care less about (because they know that they won't be around in 50 years to face the consequences), ..with a world full of people who are 100% aware that every resource they consume will have some sort of an effect on someone else (and will curb their habits in the best interests of the overall world community).

Which world will be filled with more suffering in the end?


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[HelenaHandbag]

Any human behavior can be detrimental, when taken to an absurd extreme.

Claiming any one as the universal root of evil is just too simplistic for words.

 

[KevinWestern]

Any human behavior can be detrimental, when taken to an absurd extreme.

Claiming any one as the universal root of evil is just too simplistic for words.

That's completely fine if you believe that, however I am asserting there is just one root - the bi-product of the illusion of separateness (which is selfishness).

Perhaps can you provide an example of "a problem" where selfishness wasn't the root cause?

Maybe that would be an interesting place to start from.


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[thebrucebeat]

Any human behavior can be detrimental, when taken to an absurd extreme.

Claiming any one as the universal root of evil is just too simplistic for words.

So 1 Timothy is wrong?
Scripture is wrong?
I can accept that.

 

[DriftingSand]

Selfishness is the root of all evil, despair, hate, pain, suffering, etc in this world. The only way we are going to experience peace here on earth is if we learn (as a whole) to unselfishly love everyone and everything.

I generally agree with the first portion of your post. I also think everyone would be better off if no one particular group tried to force their agenda on others.

I'm a big fan of helping others from the kindness of your heart. There's few greater expression of love than voluntary acts of charity.

 

[KevinWestern]

Any human behavior can be detrimental, when taken to an absurd extreme.

Claiming any one as the universal root of evil is just too simplistic for words.

So 1 Timothy is wrong?
Scripture is wrong?
I can accept that.

So, although I'm not a Christian - specifically, in the Religious sense - I'm a rather spiritual guy and in the ideas/circles I run with Jesus is often regarded as one of the rare "highly enlightened" beings that have walked on the face of the planet.

What was his only commandment? It was "to love one another" (ie the "New Commandment")

Separateness leads to selfishness (ie I want this for myself, I need this for my country)
Wholeness and the idea we're all One leads to unselfish love (ie I won't hurt you because you are essentially "me")

Kinda interesting, isn't it?

 

[emilynghiem]

Selfishness is the root of all evil, despair, hate, pain, suffering, etc in this world. The only way we are going to experience peace here on earth is if we learn (as a whole) to unselfishly love everyone and everything.

I'm a believer in the idea that everything in the Universe is ultimately One thing, and that duality (ie the illusion of separateness that we experience as physical beings here on earth) is the cause of all problems here on earth.

Separateness leads to selfishness.
Wholeness leads to unselfish love.

Anyone have similar views? Thoughts?

Unforgiveness is what causes any flaw to escalate into further harm.

People can be equally selfish, but as long as we forgive each other for it, we can deal with our selfish desires and work around our differences and still help each other equally.

With unforgiveness, unless we choose to forgive, it is going to project and attract negativity in a vicious cycle.

Perhaps it is the cause of selfishness getting out of hand.

Some people blame fear also, as lack of faith, and this causes negativity in relations.

Again, as long as we can forgive we can overcome fear with love.

but where we cannot forgive, then fears get out of hand and cause projection
in a negative cycle.

So any of these negatives can be corrected or checked if we agree to forgive
the fact or reasons we have selfish desires or fears.

 

[KevinWestern]

I generally agree with the first portion of your post. I also think everyone would be better off if no one particular group tried to force their agenda on others.

I'm a big fan of helping others from the kindness of your heart. There's few greater expression of love than voluntary acts of charity.

Agree. If you think of things in the grand scheme, unselfishly loving others and EVERYTHING living around you (including plants, animals) will only result in the best of results.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

ObamaCare is the root of all Evil

 

[Lonestar_logic]

Money is the root of all evil.

 

[KevinWestern]

Selfishness is the root of all evil, despair, hate, pain, suffering, etc in this world. The only way we are going to experience peace here on earth is if we learn (as a whole) to unselfishly love everyone and everything.

I'm a believer in the idea that everything in the Universe is ultimately One thing, and that duality (ie the illusion of separateness that we experience as physical beings here on earth) is the cause of all problems here on earth.

Separateness leads to selfishness.
Wholeness leads to unselfish love.

Anyone have similar views? Thoughts?

Unforgiveness is what causes any flaw to escalate into further harm.

People can be equally selfish, but as long as we forgive each other for it, we can deal with our selfish desires and work around our differences and still help each other equally.

With unforgiveness, unless we choose to forgive, it is going to project and attract negativity in a vicious cycle.

Perhaps it is the cause of selfishness getting out of hand.

Some people blame fear also, as lack of faith, and this causes negativity in relations.

Again, as long as we can forgive we can overcome fear with love.

but where we cannot forgive, then fears get out of hand and cause projection
in a negative cycle.

So any of these negatives can be corrected or checked if we agree to forgive
the fact or reasons we have selfish desires or fears.

I agree Emily in that there are other things (ie branches) that lead to pain, suffering (for example, not forgiving). However, let's consider the ROOT.

What was the cause of the argument that now requires you to forgive someone for? I bet you it was selfishness.

 

[DriftingSand]

I generally agree with the first portion of your post. I also think everyone would be better off if no one particular group tried to force their agenda on others.

I'm a big fan of helping others from the kindness of your heart. There's few greater expression of love than voluntary acts of charity.

Agree. If you think of things in the grand scheme, unselfishly loving others and EVERYTHING living around you (including plants, animals) will only result in the best of results.

I fully believe in treating animals kindly but I admittedly enjoy a good steak from time to time. I also love plant life and the wilderness in general but don't mind the idea of farming plants for food or trees for homes. In other words, I do have a few limits as to how much I will "love" those things that are necessary for life and shelter.

 

[KevinWestern]

Money is the root of all evil.

Money only manifests "evil" when people seek it for selfish reasons. Money is just a piece of paper - a store of value that can be very useful. In a society where everyone loves one another unselfishly, money would not "cause" evil to occur.

Selfishness is the root.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Snickers candy is the root of all evil

"The Cather in the Wry" is the root of all evil

 

[KevinWestern]

I fully believe in treating animals kindly but I admittedly enjoy a good steak from time to time. I also love plant life and the wilderness in general but don't mind the idea of farming plants for food or trees for homes. In other words, I do have a few limits as to how much I will "love" those things that are necessary for life and shelter.

Of course. However, it is wholly possible to sustain yourself on plant life - for example - and be completely healthy.

"The taste" - that enjoyment - is an expressing of selfishness. You'd rather keep that experience and sacrifice the life of the cow vs. let the cow live and eat a less "enjoyable" plant.

But PLEASE NOTE I am the same way when I say this. I'm not lecturing. I ******* love a rare steak, lol. I eat meat all the time. I don't claim to be some superior, enlightened being.


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[boedicca]

Selfishness is the root of all evil, despair, hate, pain, suffering, etc in this world. The only way we are going to experience peace here on earth is if we learn (as a whole) to unselfishly love everyone and everything.

I'm a believer in the idea that everything in the Universe is ultimately One thing, and that duality (ie the illusion of separateness that we experience as physical beings here on earth) is the cause of all problems here on earth.

Separateness leads to selfishness.
Wholeness leads to unselfish love.

Anyone have similar views? Thoughts?

Why is selfishness "evil"?

Is there anyone who is not selfish?

Indeed. Someone who is selfish is aware of his self-interest. A truly rational, selfish person will want to live a happy, fulfilling life...which usually means having positive relationships with others (unless said person is a hermit).

The truly EVIL people are self-absorbed ones who don't care if they hurt others. A selfish person would care because he recognizes that such behavior is ultimately destructive.

As the new Libertarian manifesto goes: Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff.

I think that's a pretty good philosophy.

 

[Lonestar_logic]

Money is the root of all evil.

Money only manifests "evil" when people seek it for selfish reasons. Money is just a piece of paper - a store of value that can be very useful. In a society where everyone loves one another unselfishly, money would not "cause" evil to occur.

Selfishness is the root.

A lot of people die for "just a piece of paper".

Money by itself isn't evil, it's what the love of money does to people that makes it so.

Money is extremely addictive.

1 Timothy 6:10

 

[KevinWestern]

As the new Libertarian manifesto goes: Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff.

I think that's a pretty good philosophy.

It’s interesting you bring this up. Most of the people who kind of jive with this "Oneness" philosophy often get mistaken for wanting a “one government”, etc. Totally not the case. Socialism/communism usually means that a government will FORCE people to give to others. That's not the idea.

The philosophy laid out in the OP will only truly work if people are completely free and find it in themselves to be unselfishly loving and caring. They can’t be “forced” to come to this conclusion; they instead must be free and allowed to reach this conclusion on their own.

Unfortunately, I don’t know if Libertarianism will work with a group of selfish individuals and societal structures.

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